Market Like a Badass with Kristin McFarland

The Source Marketing Group

In highly regulated markets like cannabis and craft beer, badass marketing is necessary for not only surviving but thriving in business. Geared towards women and minorities in business, from marketing coordinators to ambitious entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders, this podcast offers invaluable insights to help you thrive in your industry. You'll gain access to actionable marketing insights that will help you grow your business and market like a badass. Each season of Market Like A Badass features captivating interviews with industry leaders who have mastered the art of marketing in highly regulated markets like cannabis and craft beer. I'll feature marketing stories, tactics, and growth strategies that will help you monetize your customer data and drive more sales.

  1. JAN 27

    Coco Flow: Canna Connect x Back Channel Brewing Collab with Special Guest Spencer Ploessl

    In this episode of Market Like A Badass, Kristin welcomes Spencer Ploessl, Creative Director and marketing strategist who bridges the worlds of cannabis, craft beer, and beverage innovation. As Advisor and Creative Director for Canna Connect in Minnesota, Spencer recently launched Coco Flow - a THC-infused coconut water that is a first of its kind. This special hemp beverage collaboration with Back Channel Brewing Co. showcases what's possible when cannabis and craft beer collide. Spencer shares the inside story of how this collaboration came together, revealing the strategy behind successful brand partnerships in highly regulated spaces. From navigating tolerance variations to educating consumers on minor cannabinoids, Spencer breaks down the creative marketing tactics that work when traditional advertising won't cut it. Plus, he reveals which craft beer branding lessons translate to hemp beverages - and which approaches need to be completely reimagined. On this episode, you will: Discover how the Canna Connect and Back Channel Brewing Co. collaboration came together and what metrics actually matter when launching a co-branded hemp beverageUnderstand how to differentiate hemp beverage brands in an increasingly crowded marketHear real-world tactics for educating consumers about minor cannabinoids and dosing QUICK LINKS Connect with Spencer: SpencerPloessl.com | LinkedIn Check out Canna Connect: www.cannaconnectmn.com Follow Kristin: www.sourcemarketinggroup.com | LinkedIn Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube This episode is part of "Taboo to Tap" - a special season exploring how hemp beverage pioneers are racing to craft billion-dollar beverage brands by mastering the art of compliant and grassroots marketing.

    49 min
  2. JAN 20

    Building the Buzz: Creative Marketing for Hemp Beverage Brands with Special Guest Lisa Hurwitz

    In this episode of Market Like A Badass, Kristin McFarland sits down with Lisa Hurwitz, Founder and CEO of Happi, the female-founded THC beverage brand that's revolutionizing how consumers experience cannabis through thoughtfully dosed, wellness-focused drinks. Lisa shares her journey from CPG and cannabis expertise to launching Happi with a clear mission: creating accessible, low-dose THC beverages. From navigating regulations to choosing the right dosing and marketing strategy, Lisa reveals what it really takes to build a compliant, women-first cannabis beverage brand. On this episode, you will: Discover why Happi chose a low dose philosophy in a market obsessed with high potency - and how this strategic decision opens doors to the canna-curious demographicLearn how being female-founded influences every aspect of product development, from formulation to flavor profiles to packaging designed with women in mindUnderstand the biggest regulatory challenges facing THC beverage brands and how Happi navigates compliance while building a recognizable brandHear Lisa's digital marketing playbook for hemp beverage brands when traditional advertising isn't an option - including email marketing tactics that actually work (and helped them build a 100,000+ person subscriber base)Get insider insights on why it's important for hemp beverage brands and marketers to build trust and provide ample education in the emerging cannabis beverage space QUICK LINKS Shop Happi: www.happihourdrink.com Connect with Lisa: LinkedIn Follow Kristin: The Source Marketing Group | LinkedIn Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify This episode is part of "Taboo to Tap" - a special season exploring how hemp beverage pioneers are racing to craft billion-dollar beverage brands by mastering the art of compliant and grassroots marketing.

    44 min
  3. JAN 13

    From Launch to Liquor Stores: A Blueprint for Building a Hemp Beverage Brand with Special Guest Haylee Jordan

    In this exciting episode of a new season of Market Like A Badass, Kristin gathers hemp beverage experts to explore the season theme "taboo to tap". This new season is all about how hemp beverage pioneers are racing to craft billion-dollar beverage brands by mastering the art of compliant and grassroots marketing. On this episode, Kristin sits down with Haylee Jordan, Co-Founder of Fabric, the Australian-born, US-crafted beverage brand that's redefining what non-alc and THC-infused drinks can be. Fabric is pioneering a new style of high-function fizz that keeps you sharp, sparks creativity, and helps you drop into the moment. On this episode, you will: Discover how Fabric is navigating the complex regulatory landscape to build a compliant hemp beverage brand that can't rely on traditional advertising channels - and why grassroots marketing is their secret weaponLearn the positioning strategy behind "dosed for any moment" and how Fabric is differentiating in an increasingly crowded THC beverage market by focusing on function and communityUnderstand Fabric's approach to building a beverage brand from the ground upHear real-world tactics for educating consumers on THC-infused drinks, functional benefits, and responsible consumptionGet insider insights on partnerships, sampling strategies, and the grassroots marketing tactics that are helping Fabric compete against legacy brands and deep-pocketed competitors QUICK LINKS Shop Fabric: drinkfabric.com Connect with Haylee: LinkedIn Follow Kristin: The Source Marketing Group | LinkedIn Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube This episode is part of "Taboo to Tap" - a special season exploring how hemp beverage pioneers are racing to craft billion-dollar beverage brands by mastering the art of compliant and grassroots marketing.

    45 min
  4. 05/13/2025

    Leveraging Loyalty Tech to Increase Retail Revenue with Special Guest Varun Sharma

    In this episode of Market Like a Badass, host Kristin McFarland, Founder and CEO of The Source Marketing Group, welcomes Varun Sharma, Founder and CEO of Sticky Cards for a dynamic and engaging conversation on cannabis tech. Discover how Sticky Cards is revolutionizing loyalty programs for cannabis retailers with their app-free solution that leverages Apple and Google Wallet. Varun shares insights on overcoming SMS marketing restrictions in the cannabis industry through push notifications, revealing how dispensaries can communicate directly with customers without worrying about carrier policies. Learn about innovative features like geofencing that allow retailers to send location-based notifications to nearby customers, even targeting competitor locations. The conversation covers essential marketing tactics for dispensaries, including: Building customer loyalty and repeat businessCreating effective push notifications that drive store visitsIntegrating loyalty programs with platforms like Klaviyo and BreadstackEnsuring compliance with marketing regulations like CASL and CAN-SPAMUsing geofencing to capture customers when they're near your store Whether you're a cannabis retailer looking to enhance your marketing technology stack or interested in innovative approaches to customer engagement in highly regulated markets, this episode delivers actionable insights to help grow your business. This episode is part of the "Innovation in Cannabis Tech" season of Market Like a Badass. QUICK LINKS https://www.stickycards.co/

    46 min
  5. Learn How Klaviyo Supercharges Ecommerce Growth in Highly Regulated Industries with Special Guest Paul Millar

    05/06/2025

    Learn How Klaviyo Supercharges Ecommerce Growth in Highly Regulated Industries with Special Guest Paul Millar

    Most cannabis, hemp, and other highly regulated businesses are leaving thousands on the table with broken email flows and generic automations. Or even worse, using restrictive technology that makes it harder for your teams to perform and monetize your customer data. But the real pros? They’re using Klaviyo to crush revenue. Klaviyo isn’t just for mainstream ecommerce - it’s a secret weapon for regulated DTC brands and dispensary retailers. In this episode, podcast host and Klaviyo Community Champion, Kristin McFarland, sits down with Klaviyo Community Champion, Paul Millar (CBDfx/Trehouse) to reveal: The power of Klaviyo for highly regulated businesses like cannabis, hemp and CBDThe underused Klaviyo strategies that drive ROI in regulated industries (while staying compliant)Data monetization opportunities by integrating disparate data sourcesPaul’s battle-tested playbook for lifecycle marketing (with real examples)How top cannabis brands structure flows that actually convert (without landing in spam) Spoiler: If you still don't have a solid retention marketing plan and email program, you’re losing. This is how the champions win. Tune in to this episode to hear the Klaviyo Champions break down why Klaviyo is the top choice for compliant growth, whether you’re a DTC hemp company, a growing edible brand, or a dispensary ready to grow and scale! This podcast episode is brought to you by Breadstack Technologies, they build eCommerce software that powers growth at the most progressive dispensaries in North America. QUICK LINKS https://www.klaviyo.com/ https://cbdfx.com/ https://trehouse.com/

    46 min
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

In highly regulated markets like cannabis and craft beer, badass marketing is necessary for not only surviving but thriving in business. Geared towards women and minorities in business, from marketing coordinators to ambitious entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders, this podcast offers invaluable insights to help you thrive in your industry. You'll gain access to actionable marketing insights that will help you grow your business and market like a badass. Each season of Market Like A Badass features captivating interviews with industry leaders who have mastered the art of marketing in highly regulated markets like cannabis and craft beer. I'll feature marketing stories, tactics, and growth strategies that will help you monetize your customer data and drive more sales.