For over 20 years, Antoine McKay has been among the leading actors and directors to hail from the MidWest. He developed his passion for acting at a young age and honed his skills at Eastern Michigan University's prestigious theatre arts program and by studying under world famous acting coach, Uta Hagen.

McKay began his professional acting career at the Second City's Main Stages in Detroit and Chicago, where he wrote and performed in over 20 critically acclaimed shows. His credits include starring roles in countless commercials and television appearances on programs including Detroit 187 (ABC), ER (NBC), Prison Break (FOX), Sports Action Team (NBC).

McKay has appeared in such feature films as The Weatherman, with Nicholas Cage, Someone to Eat Cheese With, alongside Jeff Garland, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, and Osso Bucco, with Mike Starr.

His most recent appearances in FOX's breakout hit show Empire and Comedy Central's Review and South Side.

Antoine has been a long-time resident of Chicago, where he lives with his wife Michelle and their children.

We all know Tommy Chong from That 70's Show or from the Cheech and Chong movies and skits but, did you know Tommy was once and R & B Singer, signed to Motown? Tommy was very much into the R & B scene in Canada and he promoted several concerts in Canada. In fact, he introduced Ike and Tina Turner to Canada and he talks about a night, in Chicago, at The Regal Theater, when Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 opened for his group, Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers. That night lead to Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five getting his shot at Motown. Who knew that Tommy Chong had a whole other life before Cheech and Chong? Tommy's experiences as a bi-racial kid in Canada led to him co writing a chart climbing hit, "Does Your Mama Know About Me?" Hear these and other stories that you have never heard before on The Silver Ash Podcast, High Quality Conversation!

Here is a snippet from The Tommy Chong interview. Tommy talks about meeting Michael Jackson in Chicago when MJ was 10 years old!

Malik Yusef, the WordSmyth, is an avant-garde spoken word poet—with timely lyrics that address and bring attention to national and global issues. Born and raised in Chicago’s south side amongst a humble and sometimes troubled beginning, Malik rose out of those surroundings to become a 24x Grammy award-nominee, 6x Grammy award-winner, and 7x ASCAP award-winner for both pop and R&B. Other credits include Emmy, Peabody, and Tony awards. Some of Malik’s early influences include Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare, Haki Madhubuti, Malcolm X, and Phillis Wheatley.

Most recently, Malik co-wrote "Sandcastles" on Beyoncé’s album Lemonade, and he is featured on Kanye West’s most recent album The Life of Pablo, the Grammy-nominated track "All Day" , Ty Dolla Sign’s album Free TC, and Common’s critically acclaimed album Nobody’s Smiling. He was also a featured producer with the legendary band WAR on their first studio album in 20 years, released in June 2014.

As one of Kanye West’s most trusted contributors, Malik co-wrote and contributed to 15/18 track on The Life of Pablo; he co-wrote eight out the ten songs on Yeezus; he is a writer and artist on Cruel Summer featuring Kanye West and the rest of his G.O.O.D. Music team. Additionally, Malik co-wrote seven songs on Kanye’s Double Platinum, 5th release and Rolling Stone's "Album of the Year" My Dark Twisted Fantasy and Malik is credited as a writer/producer/collaborator on Kanye’s critically acclaimed Film Runaway, which contains much of Malik’s music.

Malik is signed to the world’s largest music publisher, Universal Music Publishing, and is part of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label and affiliated with Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang. It is his pure talent, unparalleled work ethic, and ability to be a trusted advisor, that has allowed Malik to build and maintain incredible industry connections and relationships with the likes of JAY Z, Drake, Katy Perry, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, The Band Perry, Wiz Khalifa, and Adam Levine.

Todd McCormick is a former cancer patient who started using cannabis in 1979, under his mother's supervision while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Todd overcame the cancer and went on to become a lifetime advocate for medical cannabis. Starting in 1994, Todd worked with Jack Herer as an editor of The Emperor Wears No Clothes and after Jack’s passing, he released the 12th edition of the book with memorials to Jack. Todd received the first international prescription for medical cannabis in the Netherlands in 1994, opened the San Diego Cannabis Compassion Club in 1995, and lived in Amsterdam for over a year growing and studying cannabis. Upon return to the US, he became one of the first growers arrested for cultivating cannabis after the passage of proposition 215. His first book, How to Grow Medical Marijuana, was released in 1998. Todd also became one of the first people the federal government denied a medical necessity defense and was forced to self-surrender to a 5 year prison sentence starting on January 3rd, 2000. Upon release from prison in 2004, he went right back to activism and started producing fundraisers at the Playboy Mansion for MPP in 2007, 2008 & 2009, and also in 2009, he produced the THC EXPO, which was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Todd co-produced and is featured in the documentaries, THE UNION: The Business Behind Getting High & THE CULTURE HIGH. Todd also helped produce the book, PROTESTIVAL: A 20 year retrospective of Seattle Hempfest. Todd currently writes for Grow magazine, and will soon be releasing his next book, From Cancer to Cannabis: The Essential Guide to the EndoCannabinoid System. Todd also owns Authentic Genetics and supplies cannabis genetics at: www.AGSeedCo.com In 2012 in Barcelona, Todd received the Cannabis Culture Award alongside Dr. Lester Grinspoon and Sir Richard Branson.

On this episode Steve shares some great stories about his stint as Editor of High Times, drops some little known knowledge about cannabis. Steve shares his stories of activism with Jack Herer and Steve tells us why James Brown would not start his concert until Steve showed up! Only on The Silver Ash, High Quality Cannabis Conversation.

Steve Bloom is a longtime journalist and author with 32 years in the cannabis community. His credits include:

Editor-in-chief of two Centennial Media titles, Marijuana Goes Mainstream and The Complete Guide to CBD.

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, one of the leading sources for marijuana and celebrity news on the web since 2007.

Former editor of High Times from 1988-2007, and producer of the Stony and Doobie award shows and the two Hempilation benefit albums for NORML (1995 and 1998) while at High Times.

Former editor-in-Chief of Freedom Leaf magazine and freedomleaf.com from 2014-2019.

Co-author of Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide to Stoner Language and Life (Abrams Image, 2007) and Reefer Movie Madness: The Ultimate Stoner Film Guide (Abrams Image, 2010) with Shirley Halperin.

Recipient of NORML’s Media & Culture Award in 2004, Cannabis MVP by the Cannabis Business Awards in 2018 and New York NORML Activism award in 2019.
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Meet Chance a marijuana middle man! His official title is a Pot Broker. Chance is a good friend of Chanci Herer and he joins us today to talk about his job as a middleman. Chance also talks about the time when there was so much weed in Oregon, that he was selling pounds for $200-$300! Chance learned how to grow while growing up in Nebraska and turned that talent into a career in cannabis. Also, don't miss an entertaining story about Jack Herer, from his daughter, Chanci.

Meet Mr. CBD, Mark Kunicki! How does a guy that is just starting in the CBD business partner up with some of the G.O.A.T. Icons in the cannabis business, like Willie Nelson, and Redman? Once you take a few minutes and listen to Mark you won't be surprised that he has accomplished those things and more. Take this opportunity to learn about CBD from a well trusted resource in the cannabis business. See why Mark say all CBD is good CBD and how CBD can help with anxiety, stress, and even sleep.