The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

Sergio Bejar Martinez is the CEO of Blimburn Seeds and BBG Projects and a pioneering figure in the European cannabis industry, with over 20 years of experience spanning seed distribution, publishing, events, and e-commerce.

In 2001, he co-founded Green Guide Europe, one of Spain’s first cannabis wholesalers. By 2003, he had co-founded Soft Secrets Spain and Highlife BCN, leading Soft Secrets to become the country’s top cannabis magazine. From 2004 to 2008, Sergio launched influential trade shows including HILIFE BCN (2004, 2006, 2007) and Sanferweed (2008), helping to shape the cannabis event landscape in Spain.

In 2009, he founded Blimburn Seeds, and in 2012, Green Guide evolved into BBG Projects, shifting focus to proprietary brands and international seed exports, with the U.S. as a primary market. That same year, he co-founded Expogrow Irun, which ran annually until 2022, and later launched Expogrow B2B Barcelona in 2018 to address growing demand for professional cannabis networking events.

In 2017, Sergio brought The ArcView Group to Europe for its first investor event, and in 2019, he co-founded both Homegrown Cannabis Co. and Symple Logistics in the U.S. Most recently, in 2023, he debuted the International Cannabis Awards during Spannabis Week in Barcelona, a global livestreamed event viewed by over 250,000 households.

Today, Sergio leads Blimburn Seeds, a top cannabis seed retailer known for its advanced SEO, e-commerce, and digital strategy. With a proven track record of building brands, launching industry-shaping events, and forging global connections, Sergio continues to be a key force driving the future of cannabis entrepreneurship.

Connect with Sergio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-martinez-bejar-871552254/

Check out Blimburn Seeds Bank's website: https://blimburnseeds.com/

Find Blimburn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blimburnseeds/

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com

The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

Jamie Pearson is an award-winning keynote speaker, writer, accredited investor, board member, and highly respected leader in the cannabis industry. Jamie’s operational success led her to win the International Cannabis Awards 2025 International Woman of the Year, 2024 MJ BizCon Women in Leadership award, to be coined “Wonder Woman” in the 2023 Women of Influence issue of Cannabis Now Magazine and twice, one of the most influential women in cannabis by High Times (2019,2021). Jamie has been a prosperous investor in global real estate on three continents. She speaks German and has split her time between the US and the EU for over 25 years. She is generous with her time and knowledge and currently sits on the board of Rivamo AG, and advisory boards of Hello Again, Dope Drinks, Marley One, and Unlock Healthcare.

Jamie founded and leads The New Holland Group (NHG), a global consulting firm serving clients with international business development & strategy, cross-border IP protection, capital raising, and celebrity partnerships. NHG’s clients include governments, global brands, manufacturers, distributors, dispensary chains, MSOs & MCOs (multi-country organizations).

Before NHG, Jamie spent seven years, including three as the President & CEO, of Bhang Inc., one of the world’s most-awarded infused edible brands, famous for its infused chocolate bars. She executed the global expansion plan, ran the capital markets division, and was the face of the brand, catapulting Bhang from a California favorite to a multi-national phenomenon. When Jamie exited Bhang, the brand was being distributed in 7 US states and 10 countries through licensing deals with the likes of Trulieve, [CSE:TRUL], Indiva [TSX:NDVA], and Origin House [CSE:OH] (now Cresco). Jamie served as the Vice Chairman of Bhang’s Board and was a member of the audit committee.

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielpearsonnhg/

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com

The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

Vicki Strull brings over 25 years of experience as a brand strategist, creative director, and packaging designer. She’s worked with brands like Sappi, HP, Bayer, Coppertone, Pizza Hut, and Wildfare to harness the power of design and packaging to boost sales, create new revenue streams, and build brand loyalty. Vicki has delivered keynotes, webinars, and master classes to CMOs, marketers, and agencies at national and international conferences. She writes a branding and design column for Labels & Labeling Magazine and is an adjunct professor at Tulane University.

Connect with Vicki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickistrull/

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com

The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

This week we are joined by David Paleschuck. With over 20 years of brand and marketing experience serving American Express, MasterCard, PepsiCo, and Microsoft, David specializes in brand strategy, development, management, and integrated marketing. In 2012, David entered the legal cannabis industry as the VP of Licensing & Brand Partnerships at DOPE Magazine and then as Chief Brand Officer at Evergreen Herbal, where he created successful partnerships and award-winning cannabis-infused products. A leading voice in cannabis branding and marketing, David's writings have appeared in various publications, including Forbes, High Times, and Dope Magazine, among others. His book, "Branding Bud: The Commercialization of Cannabis," released in April 2021, became an Amazon bestseller in the branding and green business categories. His second book titled, “Cannabis vs Marijuana: Landscape, Language and Context”, released in April of 2024, continues to shed light on the changing lexicon of cannabis. David is finishing his third book, “The Cannabis Brand Licensing Bible: The Ultimate Guide To Protecting and Scaling Your Cannabis Brand,” releasing in April of 2025. As founder and CEO of the Branding Bud Consulting Group, David consults on many aspects of legal cannabis for those currently in the industry and those wanting to enter it.

Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpaleschuck/

Check out Branding Bud online: https://brandingbud.com/

Check out Branding Bud on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/branding-bud-consulting-group/

Check out David's book Branding Bud: https://brandingbud.com/home

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com

The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

This week we are joined by Raphael Farasat. Raphael Farasat (Raph) is an award-winning creative director and strategist based in Laurel Canyon, California. He has branded over 80 startup consumer brands, now collectively valued over $500 million, and led campaigns for globally recognized companies, including Tesla, Sonos, Fox, Catch Restaurants, rag & bone, and sbe hotels. Raph is a founding partner of numerous consumer lifestyle brands, including Last Crumb, BetterBrand, Sweet Nothings, and Barcode. He is a Guest Lecturer on branding at Stanford University and has been featured in various publications such as Creative Boom, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc., Fast Company, and The Dieline.

Connect with Raphael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelfarasat/

Check out Truffl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truffl/

Check out Truffl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truffl/

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com

The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

This week we are joined by Kathy Reeder. Kathy Reeder has a diverse background in manufacturing, restaurant, and dispensary operations, as well as branding/marketing strategy with a passion for blending education, experience, and creativity. Holding a Master’s in Medical Cannabis Science & Therapeutics, she specializes in product knowledge, consumer education, and retail strategy, helping both businesses and consumers navigate the evolving cannabis landscape. With a mix of insight, innovation, and just the right amount of fun, Kathy brings fresh ideas and expertise to everything she does.

Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyreeder420/

Check out CannaTracker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannatracker/

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com

The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

This week we are joined by Eric Adams. Eric Adams is a passionate entrepreneur and innovator committed to transforming the pet food industry through sustainability and transparency. With over 15 years of experience in food service management and a culinary background from the Culinary Institute of Michigan, Eric combines his expertise in food innovation with his mission to reduce food waste and prioritize pet health.

As the founder of Dog & Whistle, Nevada’s first carbon-neutral pet food company, Eric has successfully raised pre-seed funding and built partnerships with industry leaders while focusing on upcycling ingredients into premium, eco-friendly pet meals and treats. Recognized for his leadership and commitment to sustainability, Eric has been featured on platforms such as SuperZoo and SXSW and is a member of the Chief Sustainability Officer Group with Food Tank.

Driven by his love for pets and the planet, Eric continues to inspire change in the pet food industry by creating products that reflect his values of health, innovation, and environmental responsibility.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-adams-dw/

Check out Dog & Whistle: https://www.dogandwhistle.com/

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com

The Unboxed show is a space for conversation about brand experiences, the challenges and wins across industries and product types, and the impactful additional brand experiences and affinity created through custom-branded packaging and beyond. Whether you are a startup founder looking to expand your brand's reach, a marketing professional looking for some tips, or an enterprise executive looking for inspiration from industry leaders, we have an episode for you.

This week we are joined by Syama Bunten. Syama is the CEO of Scaling Retail, Principal at Big Delta Capital, host of expander podcast Getting Rich Together, and producer of the premiere nationwide event, Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit, where women go to get access to wealth-building opportunities.

Syama's business expertise has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and Forbes, and she has received numerous accolades, including the Positive Leadership Award and Thought Leadership Award for Female Entrepreneurs. She is a sought-after speaker at events such as SXSW, HerWorkplace, and TED Braindate, sharing her insights on wealth creation, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Connect with Syama on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syamameagher/

Check out Scaling Retail: https://www.scalingretail.com/

Within each episode, we ask industry experts the following 5 questions:

- What inspired you to get into the custom packaging industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
- How does custom packaging contribute to creating a unique brand experience, and what are some of the most effective strategies you've seen for achieving this?
- Can you share any success stories or case studies of businesses that have transformed their brand through custom packaging and design?
- What are some of the biggest challenges or roadblocks that businesses face when it comes to custom packaging, and how can they overcome them?
- How do you see the future of custom packaging evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what should businesses be doing now to stay ahead of the curve?

This show is sponsored by @merchantboxes .
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com


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This show is sponsored by Merchant Boxes.
Merchant Boxes is the award-winning custom packaging and sourcing agency leading the charge in extended brand experiences. Having worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet all the way to small batch innovative custom projects for small businesses, Merchant Boxes are the standard in custom packaging.

Check them out here: www.merchantboxes.com