First Smoke of The Day

Brothers Broadleaf: Luxury Blunt Craft, Whiskey Barrel Blunts, Tradition Meets InnovationThis is an extra special episode of FSOTD for all of the blunt smokers out there who think they are rolling up with the finest leaf. Today’s guests are going to redefine your standards for what you believe to be the best tobacco wraps for your flower.Blackleaf is joined in the studio by brothers Dawson and Paxton, founders of Brothers Broadleaf, and fourth-generation cigarmakers, to discuss the art of sourcing and packaging premium tobacco from around the world, what sets Dawson Dudz and Paxton’s Pearls apart from your average cigar, how the brothers are carrying on their family’s legacy, what it means to be running the last operating cigar factory in the US, Old World vs New World tobacco, becoming the gold-standard blunt wrap for Adam iLL and Roll BMC, and so much more.For those unaware, Brothers Broadleaf is a premium brand that began in 2019 and has quickly become known for crafting high-quality, natural tobacco leaf wraps sold direct-to-consumer. They built their reputation by offering hand-selected, unprocessed whole-leaf wraps that deliver a smooth, slow burn for an elevated smoking experience. Based in Tampa, Florida, the brothers have cultivated a strong following through strong attention to detail, consistent quality, and bold branding. With a focus on authenticity and craftsmanship, Brothers Broadleaf has become a go-to choice for smokers who value purity and flavor in their sessions.It’s truly a family affair for Dawson and Paxton of Brothers Broadleaf, which will become glaringly apparent throughout this episode. Blackleaf will ask the brothers what it was like growing up in a tobacco family, to which you’ll hear them romanticize growing up going to cigar conventions in Vegas, and traveling to destinations like Ecuador, Colombia, and Nicaragua to stay on large-scale tobacco farms. Dawson and Paxton will talk about their buyers in South America and how some of them have been sourcing premium leaf for their family for over 35 years.One of the overarching messages Blackleaf permeates in this pod is that, in his experience, if you’re a real blunt smoker these days—you know about Brothers Broadleaf. Few other companies are rolling their cigars with an extra inner leaf, which you’ll hear the back-story on how the brothers’ mom insisted on this addition, and using zero binding agents, making it seamless to break down the cigar and get the perfect leaf with the vein down the middle. With a ridiculous commitment to quality and blunt-smoker standards, Dawson and Paxton will remark in this episode that they still QC every single leaf that’s wrapped and packaged for Brothers Broadleaf. If you’ve ever smoked one of their cigars, there’s 100% chance it passed through their hands to ensure the utmost quality. If you’ve ever wondered what legal hoops and back-bending efforts it takes to work in the tobacco industry and source leaf from all over the globe, this is a great episode to get lost in. Follow @BrothersBroadleaf to get the real inside scoop on what it’s like to be a part of a generations-old family tradition of cigarmaking, but modernizing it to fit the needs and desires of connoisseur blunt smokers everywhere.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

Grove Bags: Mission to Protect Terpenes, Science Behind Grove, Preserving Purity with TerpLocFor this special episode of FSOTD, we want you to forget everything you think you know about packaging and storing the plant post-harvest, including your current perception of a “mylar bag.”Blackleaf is joined in the studio by Jack of Grove Bags, to do the ultimate scientific deep dive into what needs to happen to the plant after it’s been harvested, cured, and trimmed, the exact water activity levels of the ideal nug, what defines quality bud beyond smell and appearance, what “gradual slope” means, and most importantly, how to create the most advanced and effective Passive Modified Atmospheric Packaging.Founded in Cleveland in 2016, Grove Bags is a company that specializes in 🍃 packaging solutions designed to preserve freshness, potency, and terpenes. They developed TerpLoc, a proprietary packaging technology that creates the ideal microclimate to maintain optimal humidity, oxygen levels, and terpene retention. By utilizing multiple layers of high-barrier films, TerpLoc bags prevent degradation, mold growth, and terpene loss, ensuring long-term storage quality for herb on an individual consumer or large-scale commercial level.If you think all plastic bags are the same—you couldn’t be more wrong. Jack dispels a number of urban legends surrounding packaging in this pod, such as how the quality of the material the bag is made from plays a monumental difference in how the bud is preserved. He gives Blackleaf the breakdown on different types of “films” used to make bags for storage and talks about the problematic nature of some food-grade bags like metallic mylars that may actually add static charge to your bud and degrade trichomes.Jack and his team’s passion for showcasing the plant at its optimal expression has led them to work with over 4,000 different companies worldwide, with their bags even meeting rigorous European and Asian standards. Their Grove Bags and TerpLoc technology have become the gold standard for California legends like Alien Labs, Connected, Sherbinski, and Preferred Gardens, as well as for all of the flower entries at this year’s culture-defining Zalympix competition in LA. At one point, Jack even whips out the microscope and crazy water activity level measuring tools to show Blackleaf some of the Zalympix entries and discuss what makes them fire. We go so deep into the science of what makes flower high quality before you even smell, taste, or smoke it in this episode that it will seriously blow your mind. You’ll also get to hear first-hand the evolution of Jack’s journey growing up in Ohio with an older brother who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, to finding the healing power of herb and dedicating his life to it. With legalization spreading across the nation and public perception turning more towards recreational use, we often forget these humbling stories of the plant inspiring people through its medicinal power.The minds behind Grove Bags are not only passionate innovators and literal brainiacs in the packaging space, but also lifelong consumers and true connoisseurs of the most premium grown flower, and it shows in not only their technology but also the people and brands that use it. Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

DNA Genetics: Unique Strains for Hash, Amsterdam Beginnings, Legacy PartnershipWhen we say that today’s guests are responsible for some of the biggest strains in the history of the plant, it’s almost an understatement. We all grew up in the late 90s and early 2000s hearing about the cultural boom in Amsterdam, but these guys were living it.Blackleaf is blessed in the FSOTD studio by none other than Don and Aaron aka DNA Genetics, basically your OG’s OGs, to discuss their migration to Amsterdam, running with legends like Sam the Skunkman and Dave Crockett, how they began breeding seeds in the early 2000s, coming back to the US, and the natural evolution of DNA Genetics that’s turned them into a global brand with more hall-of-fame hitters than you can count.For the uninitiated, DNA Genetics is a renowned breeding company founded in Amsterdam in 2004, known for creating some of the industry's most iconic and award-winning strains. Some of these legendary strains include LA Confidential, Kosher Kush, and Tangie. DNA Genetics continues to innovate and expand with a strong global reputation, influencing the market through collaborations, seed distribution, and cutting-edge breeding techniques.You’ll get to hear Don and Aaron dive deep into their ex-pat lives in Amsterdam and how they got their first building locked down, immediately started blowing massive tree, and had the cops bust down their doors on day 1. They soon partnered with a local coffee shop to grow and slang their creations, eventually having locals come in asking for seeds based on fire herb they blew just down the street. If you’ve ever heard of the “good old days” these were definitely them. You seriously can’t count the number of unbelievable stories that are contained in this pod.Some of the other crazy tidbits that pop up during this episode include the DNA Genetics x Crockett Family Farms origin story and creating Tangie, how B-Real named the 24k strain, the LA Confidential story, how the Chocolope strain got its name on accident, growing seeds from Shantibaba himself, and how they got Barrington Levy to play an unforgettable High Times party in Amsterdam back in the day.Don and Aaron are undeniably living legends in the industry that continue to partner, expand, and take over the world with their renowned genetics. Look out for their upcoming releases with Sensi Seeds through their Breeding Grounds project, a global collaborative breeding project, the likes of which include Sherbinskis, Serge, Humboldt Seed Co., and more.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

If you’ve ever wondered who started the excessive trap packaging epidemic on the East Coast, or what it’s like to get a literal second chance at life, you can’t miss a minute of this interview.Blackleaf is joined once again in the studio by B-Eazy, founder of one of the game’s most prolific flower brands from California to New York, to discuss everything from dropping $10k just to prove you have the best Z, why curators get so much hate versus cultivators, the difference between grabba, fronto, and broadleaf blunts, how the crazy packaging era AND the candy wave are coming to an end, and so much more.If you haven’t had a chance to peep our first interview with B-Eazy, it’s almost better to start there to gain perspective on B-Eazy’s crazy journey that’s led him here today, claiming that he’s “evolving, and going to be the biggest brand in the world.” In the first pod with him, we talk about what it’s like being on rock bottom and losing everything to pushing through the darkness and finding the light by getting a second chance at life with a new kidney.B-Eazy has definitely been busy since we last spoke. He will dive into his new health and fitness regime as well as insane quality control process that leads him and his team to the most premium smoke, such as their ZebraZ strain. B-Eazy will thoroughly discuss his $10k Z competition he did with Proper Doinks that brought in five other heavy-hitting contenders, with Dave of Preferred Gardens taking home the W for his mixed-light Z. One thing you can gather from this new interview is that B-Eazy is still just as competitive as ever, but with a new fire in his belly to reach new heights with his brand. You’ll hear B-Eazy commend our provocative interview with Cali Plug and his, at times, outlandish marketing tactics, in the same breath that he talks about the success he’s achieved and ultimate damage he’s done to the East Coast market when they dropped the Captain Runtz in the cereal box packaging, spawning the wave of crazy out-of-pocket packaging. Much like Cali Plug, B-Eazy has been a longtime purveyor of candy genetics, and in this episode, he boldly claims that he’s moving away from both the gimmicky packaging and tired candy strains as soon as possible. In his own words, “it’s done.” At one point during the conversation, he even claims that the candy wave will be almost completely gone by the end of 2026.There are countless hot takes in this episode from B-Eazy that you can’t miss, especially if you have opinions about brand owners that curate and white-label instead of cultivating themselves. Love him or hate him, B-Eazy has become a strong voice in the culture for new exotic genetics, healthy competition, and going as far as he needs to with marketing efforts to make a splash.The future is looking bright for B-Eazy and his team, Green Lobby and Elusive (@elusive.la), as they keep unearthing the boldest and highest connoisseur-grade flavors and getting them to the people of LA as well as bringing them across the coast to legal cultivators like Mechanic Farms in New York. Follow @b_eazyllc on IG to see all of the updates from one of the game’s most notorious hustlers.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

The series of events that have led today’s guest to industry-leading success and innovation in the herb harvesting space almost feels like the plot to an old Nic Cage action flick.Blackleaf is joined in the FSOTD studio by Jay, founder of DriFlower, to discuss their patented HangHarvesting™ Systems, along with his insane journey that involves smuggling Mexican brick 🍃 across the border, getting busted and fleeing the country, having a baby on the beach in Costa Rica, being on the lamb for ten years, finding Bikram Hot Yoga, starting a yoga studio, and eventually turning himself in and serving time before creating one of the 🍃 industry’s biggest innovations for harvesting herb. ​DriFlower has revolutionized herb and hemp harvesting with their patented HangHarvesting™ Systems, setting a new industry benchmark. Their products, such as the Shelving Rack Conversion Kit, enable efficient transformation of spaces into productive 🍃 drying areas. By integrating DriFlower's solutions, cultivators can significantly reduce labor costs, optimize drying space, and minimize product handling. Crafted in the USA, DriFlower's products are synonymous with reliability and longevity, ensuring seamless integration into various growing operations. Jay will discuss, at length, how his products are quintessential to growers of every scale, whether you’re rocking a garage grow or flipping an enormous commercial space.In addition to Jay’s truly innovative DriFlower products, his story is what makes this episode that much more captivating. You’ll get to hear him talk about his 30+ year relationship with the plant, moving from passionate enthusiast to straight up smuggler, taking his first hot dab and falling in love with dabbing, moving pounds from across the border, and how he eventually was busted and fled the country with his then wife and multiple children, then returning to the US and living essentially on the run for a decade, interestingly falling in love with yoga along the way. By the end of this, Jay will talk about his SEVEN CHILDREN and how he was able to find balance in Bikram Hot Yoga, which led to his discovery of the ideal curing method for herb.How many people can say that they went from being a dr*g smuggler on the run for years to hot yoga enthusiast to then graduate from Bikram Choudhury Hot Yoga and then turn themselves into the Feds, serve time, get out, open a legit studio, then have an epiphany about the best way to ever cure bud while doing yoga in a room that’s over 105 degrees? All while moving from Arizona to Mexico to Ohio to Oregon AND fathering over a handful of children?You really can’t miss a minute of this episode whether you’re interested in optimizing your grow systems and SOPs or you just want to hear some (almost) unbelievable stories. Jay proves that there’s a spot for everyone in the industry even if you aren’t actually trying to grow anymore. Follow @driflower on IG to see how he’s saving growers of all sizes massive amounts of labor, time, and increasing their overall quality and yields.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

The mystery and majesty of living soil and no-till farming further unfold in this episode with these recurring guests that have been captivating us with their incredible journey and mission to grow the most organic and noseworthy herb possible for years.Blackleaf is joined once again in the studio by Marco and Jake of No Till Kings to discuss classic genetics, building a brand in 2016-17 during the beginning of Prop 64 in California, securing their dream facility in Long Beach, CA, dodging shady business deals, why Sativas are going crazy in the market these days, the entire lineup of fire they’re pushing at legal shops these days, and so much more.Few guests in the history of FSOTD have had a podcast AND grow tour done around the same time just two years apart, so we invite you to look back on the original interview and tour to get a better understanding of why these guys have such staying power in the market. One of the big overarching conversations in this pod that emphasizes that is the amount of hands-on effort and hard work that it takes to run a commercial indoor facility on organic, living soil utilizing “no-till” farming methods. Still profitably operating over 7 years later, No Till Kings have proven that the harder way is sometimes the best way to produce the most fire herb that captivates consumers for years to come.During this episode, you’ll hear Marco and Jake answer nearly every living soil question you could ever ask. These include whether certain strains do better in a no-till system than others, why this method of cultivation brings out the best qualities of the flower, what some good soil and worm brands are for starting your first mix. There’s even a nice little conversation mixed in about the effectiveness of under canopy lights on your commercial grow, and how you can almost guarantee an additional pound per light with the right Faven gear, according to Blackleaf.The story of Marco and Jake, two lifelong friends who bet on themselves to literally do it themselves at an enormous facility down in Long Beach, CA, and have endeavored to hunt all their cuts from seed, AND put in the extra elbow grease to do everything organic and regenerative is truly inspiring and high-key educational if you’re interested in getting away from coco and hydro gear and getting back to the soil.Check out our more recent grow tour by visiting the FSOTD channel and compare it to the original and get a closer look at some of their strains like Lazer Fuel, Mimosa, SFV x Animal Mints, Jack the Ripper, Black Patronus, and more that are showcased throughout this episode. Visit notillkings.com to learn more about their library of pure heat.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

For all the real fans of A-1 smoke, we invite you to try and keep your eyes on our three guests, who line the headstashes of connoisseurs across the nation, as the haze thickens to a dense fog by the end of the pod.Blackleaf is joined in the studio by the real underground kings of tippity-top-shelf genetics from California all the way to New York and beyond, Dustin, Urban Buddha, and The Commission of Watson Supply to discuss all things “actually smoking,” along with stories like trapping out an apartment in the Mission with a double-decker, the current state of the industry, brand building in this day and age, the mythical selection process and soil medium preferences that have brought them winners, and so much more.You’ll hear Dustin delve into his journey with cultivation in NorCal that’s led him to cranking some of the best small-batch herb anyone’s seen these days, building the dream team with Buddha and Commission, and even consulting to referral-based clientele about how to not only maximize and optimize, but also ensure quality. Dustin proudly claims during this pod that he doesn’t mind giving away the sauce or teaching people how to grow because he believes he can “give you the Jedi handbook, but that doesn’t make you Luke Skywalker.”Another prominent topic throughout the episode is hunting the best genetics, the process of selecting them, and then creating the most unique and diverse artwork and designs to house the most fire herb imaginable. Dustin and the team will tell the story of their popular Cold Heat strain and how they finally mastered Z and believe that cuts of that caliber are like a Merlot, and deserve to be showcased by a number of different breeders to highlight subtle, yet incredible nuances. Countless other invaluable topics come up in this episode for anyone who’s currently building, or considering building, a brand in the industry. Dustin, Buddha, and Commission cover a range of questions from Blackleaf such as what defines a “keeper,” the importance of white ash, how to decide mylars vs glass for your artisanal small-batch bud, the best ways to move from the trap into the legal market, and if purpleness even matters these days if you have the right genetics.This conversation contains not only a treasure trove of insight into demanding quality over everything, but also just how much a room gets foggy when four heavy smokers are in the room. Blackleaf specifically goes crazy over their Tropical Depression strain in this pod, which combines Z with Triangle Kush. Discover all of the fire strains contained within this episode and hit @watson.supply with a follow on IG to see all of the heat they’re cooking up and keep your eyes peeled for their goods appearing on the shelves of your local legal shop soon.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

3rd Gen Family: Zkittlez Story, Iconic Terps, Ego Clash Tradition, Breeding WinnersIf you’ve ever wondered what it would’ve been like to be a teenager during the height of Prop 215, living in the Emerald Triangle running and gunning with legends like Jack Herer and Eddy Lepp, you can’t miss a minute of the conversation with this guest.Blackleaf is joined in the studio by none other than Brandon of 3rd Gen Family Farms, Terp Hogz, Moonshine Melts, Dying Breed Seeds, and more to discuss growing up in the right place at the right time in terms of the evolution of the culture, the legend and legacies of Gas Station Bob, Overall Dave, and OGCookieMonster415, as well as his take on the creation of Original Z, the events that led to creating Ego Clash, arguably the world’s premier hash competition, and where the market is currently at with predictions of the future.Brandon is not only one of the most outspoken guests we’ve ever had, but he is also one of the fortunate few who grew up around and learned firsthand from a lot of the legends we worship today. Originally born in LA, Brandon will unravel the story of his journey back to NorCal to his family’s roots, to become a 3rd generation legacy farmer, with his mom first connecting him to Eddy Lepp and Jack Herer who lived down the street.You’ll hear Brandon recall helping Eddy and Jack run their medical programs, selling whole plants to patients after they tied red ribbons around them back in veg, even advertising in the back of High Times magazine. You know, the good times.The real lore that comes to life in this pod is that of Gas Station Bob. Many have heard of this mythical figure responsible for world-famous varieties like Original Z and Rozé. Brandon dives deep into who this man is, his contributions to cultivation and breeding, and how strongly he wants nothing to do with the public eye. Among the rambunctious recollections of his past, Brandon also highlights his stake in hash making. Back when the game was rife with nothing but BHO hounds, Brandon was pushing solventless like a madman, even sweeping cups (much to the dismay of others.) He will also explain his stance on the origins of Original Z, how he believes it’s a descendant of Key Lime Pie, and how he’s able to visually identify real Z off the rip, and that many stopped competing in competitions once he stepped in. These events led him to create Ego Clash, the world’s biggest hash competition that takes place in California and Barcelona.Crazy stories aside, Brandon lets loose a slurry of bold claims in this podcast, such as the assertion that he created Runtz, the medical vibes are dead, and if he had taken over one of Connected’s early facilities there’d be no Alien Labs, and that a price surge in packs is coming, and he needs to be the one to form a high council of industry leaders to standardize quality and pricing.Love him or hate him, Brandon from 3rd Gen Family Farms is a “lifer” in this industry who’s earned his legendary status over and over again, even selling untrimmed pounds of Z to Berner for $4k once upon a time. If you’re a true fan of the industry and stories surrounding the plant, you will either be in stitches or on the edge of your seat for this entire episode. Tune in and try not to get your feelings hurt!Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.

Hemper: Unboxing of Hemper, Classic to Custom, Building a Smokers BusinessIf you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bring a product like a glass piece or accessory from an idea to the manufacturing line and scale it to 20k+ orders, this episode is for you.Blackleaf is joined in the studio by the young legends behind the Hemper brand, Bryan (founder,) and Thai (lead designer,) to discuss their steady growth alongside the industry for the past decade, their wins vs losses in terms of dropping a new piece and accessories every single month for years, how market demand drove them into taking over the cone industry on a side hustle turned overseas pre-roll empire, and of course, all of the crazy stories in between.For the uninitiated, Hemper is an herb accessory brand known for its high-quality smoking products, including glass b0ngs, rolling trays, and subscription boxes. The company was founded in 2015 with the goal of delivering curated smoking essentials directly to consumers. Hemper collaborates with artists and influencers to create innovative, limited-edition designs that appeal to both casual and experienced smokers. The brand has grown significantly, becoming a go-to source for affordable and stylish smoking accessories.The story of how Bryan essentially graduated from college on the East Coast while simultaneously building the dream team to scale Hemper is one that you truly can’t miss. You’ll also hear about Thai’s background working with Hypebeast and Karmaloop on countless creative endeavors from creative design to music videos and more before Karmaloop’s imminent demise and bankruptcy around the time Diddy got involved.A name of interest that comes up in this pod is Rama Mayo, an entrepreneur and visionary known for his significant contributions to the herb and music industries. He co-founded Hall of Flowers, a premier herb trade show, and Green Street, an herb brand agency. Before his ventures with the plant, Mayo spent 15 years in the music industry, working with renowned artists such as Jimmy Eat World, The Hives, and At the Drive-In, and co-founded the record label Big Wheel Recreation. You’ll hear about Rama reaching out to Bryan only 15 months into the business running, insisting they come to Los Angeles to live in the same building as him and run their operation at the Green Street building. Bryan divulges crazy stories surrounding their time at Green Street and running with Rama, meeting essentially every key player in the LA scene pre-2020. One of the biggest topics of conversation in this episode is easily product manufacturing and merchandising. Thai and Bryan weigh in on a number of topics surrounding deciding which glass pieces and accessories to mass produce in the thousands to tens of thousands, doing all their CAD design in-house, which ideas are even worth pursuing, and what goes into developing a full product line for an MSO. The true gem of this pod is when Bryan and Thai talk about their cone side business that’s driven them to set up shop in India. Getting in during a cone shortage around 2017-18, they were able to rapidly scale their factories overseas to now own and operate over a dozen. Bryan will divulge exactly how they were able to meet crazy demand in the millions and presently produce around 30-40% of the world’s pre-roll cones.Any aspiring entrepreneur who loves the plant should sit down for this inspirational episode about how you can build massive empires in this industry without ever having to grow, trim, or cure anything.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can’t find anywhere else.