# Labor & Workforce Episodes of The Dime Podcast covering Labor & Workforce: cannabis business conversations with founders, executives and investors. 11 episodes. - Canonical: https://www.dimepodcast.com/topics/labor-and-workforce - Topic index for agents: https://www.dimepodcast.com/topics/labor-and-workforce/llms.txt - All topics: https://www.dimepodcast.com/topics ## Analysis on Labor & Workforce First Principles essays by Bryan Fields. Human written. - [Why Most Cannabis Automation Fails](https://www.dimepodcast.com/newsletter/why-most-cannabis-automation-fails) (January 23, 2026): Automation executes. Robotics adapts. Confusing the two is how cannabis companies make expensive mistakes and lock themselves into the wrong path. Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/newsletter/why-most-cannabis-automation-fails.md ## Episodes - [Robotics vs Automation in Cannabis Manufacturing ft. Nohtal Partansky](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/robotics-vs-automation-in-cannabis-manufacturing-ft-nohtal-partansky) — Nohtal Partansky: In this episode, Bryan Fields talks with Nohtal Partansky, founder of Stardust Robotics, about the real difference between automation and robotics in cannabis manufacturing, and why true… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/robotics-vs-automation-in-cannabis-manufacturing-ft-nohtal-partansky.md - [Chris Ball: Betting It All — What It Really Takes to Build a Brand With Your Name on It: Pain, Patience, and Relentless Faith](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/chris-ball-betting-it-all-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-brand-with-your-name-on-it-pain-patience-and-relentless-faith) — Chris Ball: Chris Ball, founder and CEO of Ball Family Farms, walks through his journey from a Los Angeles legacy-market cannabis seller and felon-turned-social-equity licensee to building a family-run,… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/chris-ball-betting-it-all-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-brand-with-your-name-on-it-pain-patience-and-relentless-faith.md - [The ROI of Pre-Roll Automation: Scaling Quality, Reducing Labor, and Hitting 20K+ a Day ft. Shahar Yamay](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/the-roi-of-pre-roll-automation-scaling-quality-reducing-labor-and-hitting-20k-a-day-ft-shahar-yamay) — Shahar Yamay: Shahar Yamay, CEO of pre-roll automation company Festi Tech, joins The Dime to break down the real ROI math behind switching from hand-filled to automated pre-rolls, including the roughly… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/the-roi-of-pre-roll-automation-scaling-quality-reducing-labor-and-hitting-20k-a-day-ft-shahar-yamay.md - [Fix the Process: Real Cannabis Manufacturing Tools & Optimization Techniques ft.: Murphy Murri](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/fix-the-process-real-cannabis-manufacturing-tools-optimization-techniques-ft-murphy-murri) — Murphy Murri: Cannabis manufacturing consultant Murphy Murri joins Bryan Fields and Kellan Finney to dig into why the industry still lacks agreed-upon best practices for safety, quality, and efficiency, and how… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/fix-the-process-real-cannabis-manufacturing-tools-optimization-techniques-ft-murphy-murri.md - [How Ayr Wellness Is Resizing for Reality — What Operational Efficiency Really Means ft. George DeNardo](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/how-ayr-wellness-is-resizing-for-reality-what-operational-efficiency-really-means-ft-george-denardo) — George DeNardo: Ayr Wellness president George DeNardo joins The Dime to explain how one of cannabis's multi-state operators is shifting from the "plant as many flags as possible" growth era to a discipline of… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/how-ayr-wellness-is-resizing-for-reality-what-operational-efficiency-really-means-ft-george-denardo.md - [Why Cannabis Laws Are a Mess: The Politics and Bureaucracy with Jeff Guillot](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/why-cannabis-laws-are-a-mess-the-politics-and-bureaucracy-with-jeff-guillot) — Jeff Guillot: In this episode of The Dime, hosts Bryan Fields and Kellan sit down with Jeff Guillot, a longtime New York government affairs and lobbying veteran now with MAD Global Strategy, to unpack why cannabis… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/why-cannabis-laws-are-a-mess-the-politics-and-bureaucracy-with-jeff-guillot.md - [The COO’s Playbook: Balancing Automation, Quality, and Efficiency Across 14 States at Verano ft. Trip McDermott](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/the-coos-playbook-balancing-automation-quality-and-efficiency-across-14-states-at-verano-ft-trip-mcdermott) — Trip McDermott: In this episode of The Dime, Verano COO Trip McDermott breaks down how a multi-state cannabis operator manages standardized operations, quality control, and automation across 14 states, 15… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/the-coos-playbook-balancing-automation-quality-and-efficiency-across-14-states-at-verano-ft-trip-mcdermott.md - [How Top Cannabis Companies Keep and Attract Employees ft. Mike Siebold](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/how-top-cannabis-companies-keep-and-attract-employees-ft-mike-siebold) — Mike Siebold: In this episode of The Dime, hosts Bryan Fields and Kellan Finney sit down with Mike Siebold, managing partner at FlowerHire, to unpack how cannabis companies build HR and talent strategy in an… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/how-top-cannabis-companies-keep-and-attract-employees-ft-mike-siebold.md - [Do You Have Cannabis DNA? ft. Kmesh](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/do-you-have-cannabis-dna-ft-kmesh) — Kmesh: In this episode of The Dime, hosts Bryan Fields and Kellan sit down with Kmesh, a cannabis industry career coach and founder of KmeshCan, who spent years as an executive recruiter at Flower Hire… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/do-you-have-cannabis-dna-ft-kmesh.md - [Willie McKenzie: From Legacy California to Profitable 8-Figure Cannabis Operation & Building the Elite Cannabis Operators Mastermind](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/willie-mckenzie-from-legacy-california-to-profitable-8-figure-cannabis-operation-building-the-elite-cannabis-operators-mastermind) — Willie McKenzie: This episode of The Dime features Willie McKenzie, co-founder of Le Coast Holdings, who shares his journey from legacy California cannabis cultivation and personal hardship to building an 8-figure… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/willie-mckenzie-from-legacy-california-to-profitable-8-figure-cannabis-operation-building-the-elite-cannabis-operators-mastermind.md - [The Art of Connection: Inside The Canna Pac with RW Navis](https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/the-art-of-connection-inside-the-canna-pac-with-rw-navis) — Guest: This episode of The Dime features executive recruiter RW Navis, founder of The Canna Pac, discussing the critical difference between true executive headhunting and staffing in the cannabis industry,… Markdown: https://www.dimepodcast.com/episodes/the-art-of-connection-inside-the-canna-pac-with-rw-navis.md --- Markdown variant of any episode, guest, newsletter, answer or topic page on this site: add .md to its URL. Site index: https://www.dimepodcast.com/llms.txt. Complete catalogue: https://www.dimepodcast.com/llms-full.txt