In this episode, Jeremy Rivera sits down with Mark Gilliland, founder of Kyoto Botanicals, a THC-free hemp CBD and functional mushroom wellness brand he’s been building for six years. Mark shares the science behind broad-spectrum hemp extraction and his brand-new functional mushroom blend, the regulatory patchwork small wellness brands navigate every day, and what it’s actually like to go from zero SEO knowledge to a six-month, 10-hours-a-day obsession with organic search. The conversation closes with a powerful hot take on momentum — and why stacking small habits can transform both your health and your business. Read the full episode recap

What We Cover

• The science of hemp extraction — decarboxylization, CO2 pressure, and how Kyoto achieves 0.0% THC
• Functional mushrooms 101: lion’s mane, reishi, chaga & cordyceps — and why dual extraction matters
• How the 2018 Farm Bill accidentally created the Delta-8 problem and why THC-free positioning is a regulatory superpower
• Why Mark spent 10 hours a day, 7 days a week teaching himself SEO in a restricted ad category
• The plumber parable: $5 for hitting the pipe, $95 for knowing which pipe to hit
• Slow, methodical product expansion vs. corporate SKU proliferation
• Mark’s hot take on momentum — and how habit stacking quietly changed his entire life

Episode Highlights

“Since the FDA isn’t regulating it as a dietary supplement, it’s really important that individual consumers do the research on the product and the brand they’re buying.” — Mark Gilliland

“I’ve spent the last six months, at least 10 hours a day, seven days a week, teaching myself SEO and just breaking things fast on my site and fixing them.” — Mark Gilliland

“It’s $5 for hitting the pipe, but $95 for knowing which pipe to hit, where and when and how hard.” — Jeremy Rivera