Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ian Loud. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ian, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I’m 80tyz baby from Dorchester and back then you had to be careful about what hat you rocked or which kicks were on your feet, not so much about colors. But that never stopped me from crossing blocks and I was always good at connecting with others. Getting older I got off the porch and on my bike and spent more time in Roxbury.

I saw so many talented people around me who were overlooked and unheard, and I didn’t want to be one of them. One Toasty Tuesday, while smoking with the homies, I realized that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. That’s when the LOUD HIT ME! It was more than a word, more than herb… literally a frequency, a whole vibration. So I doubled down and was like “Loud Minds” is your relationship with your thoughts. Then it got good to me so I went further and came up with the idea for “Loud Minds TV” – a multimedia platform that transforms conversations into timeless content.

THEN gravity kicked in and I began feeling suffocated and stuck, I knew I had to expand my audience and find a way to connect with people who shared my passion for creativity. So I got up and went to Boston Neighborhood Network and was lucky enough to meet Barbara Barrow Murray, a 7-time Emmy award winner who offered me an internship. With her guidance and mentorship she saved me from a world of calamity and introduced me into a universe of creativity. Since then, I’m always striving to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

I decided to take a chance, even though I had no idea what I was doing. But I had a lot of connections with notable people and strong relationships. I believed that this was a worthwhile endeavor because I knew I had something unique to offer. I had a strong sense of the market and what potential clients needed, even though I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve as a business. I knew the value of what I had and my purpose and where to be. I was aware of the worth of what I possessed and the direction I needed to take to fulfill my purpose.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I consider myself a niche player in a vast market, but I bring a disruptive and impactful approach. I move more like a Jedi Knight, rather than an average stormtrooper, who employs the same techniques as everyone else. Personally I find it amusing because I never deliberately got deep into the cannabis or media industry. Instead, I ummmm unwittingly navigated around it by being true to myself and not fitting in the establishment. Most of my business ventures are through relationships and referrals.

Loud Minds TV creates high-level content that reflects the need for information on cannabis. We make videos about weed that people want to see. We make it easy for people to learn about different types of buds, like strains, products, and brands. Our videos are simple to understand and also share personal journeys about how cannabis affects people.

Our content is handcrafted to be unique in the editorial process, while voicing our concerns and excitement about cannabis publicly! This ensures that our audience gets a truly authentic experience that feels like they’re right there in the room with us.

We smoke the competition by blowing past white collar corporate weed brands and events by capturing timeless moments and creating unique experiences with our products and content. That’s why it’s our goal to end the stigma around this amazing plant.

We cater to a diverse audience, including those who use cannabis for enjoyment, wellness, and socializing. And just like us, our priority is the consumer experience. We are dedicated to lighting up the path for new and experienced smokers.

Our videos focus on three main categories: online, television, and in-person events.

Our online content includes our popular podcast “Loud After Dark” where we do “Loud Reviews”, testing different strains. And we also have “Loud Crumbles” which are like virtual blunts, it’s a fun way to visually experience different types of flowers.

For our television programming, we have “Loud Talks” in-depth interviews with key figures in the cannabis industry, airing on Boston Neighborhood Network.

We also host in-person events. Our most popular is the “Loud Experience”, which is a celebration of art and film, where we premier our footage and products with a performance in a loud-friendly environment.

My sense of pride originates from the community that has emerged from the vibrant experiences we have created. Whether they came together at our events or through our introductions, I have witnessed their relationships flourish and thrive. It is truly gratifying to witness something novel and dynamic emerge, and I am honored to play a role in this process. The ability to foster such connections is a humbling experience, and I am thankful for the chance to contribute. These genuine relationships have given rise to business ventures that breathe new life into areas not typically seen in this era or location.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I got to acknowledge a whole bunch of various factors that contributed to my reputation. But i would say my mother played the pivotal role in shaping my character. She was always involving me in volunteering at different places, participating in non-profit organizations, and supporting various initiatives. She instilled in me the value of community and how we should operate. My mom taught me that it was not about who you were, but how you conducted yourself. She exposed me to different worlds and experiences, to the point where I assumed that everyone had the same upbringing as me. Her ability to bring the world to our neighborhood allowed me to escape the challenges that came with living on our block and opened me up to a world of opportunities.

Subconsciously, I picked up all of these social conditions and made them a part of my being. It became my natural way of walking, talking, and moving. As a result, I became a reflection of my community, embodying its values and ideals. It wasn’t until high school that I realized how much these experiences had shaped me.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

So this new series I’ve been focusing on the world of cannabis and exploring its many aspects. My right-hand man, hipped me that Cookies was opening up its first location on the East Coast and suggested that we take advantage of the opportunity. MAN, I reached out to them through emails, phone calls, and every other form for several months prior to the opening because I knew how significant this opportunity was for me. GUESS WHAT, just a week before the opening, I received a letter, which was basically a cease and desist order, telling me to stop contacting everyone at Cookies. I was not accustomed to this at all and my ego was deflated. But fear not i knew i still had time on my side.

By some stroke of luck, I stumbled upon a new face in my many DMs who turned out to be the Social Equity representative, who reached out to connect me with Ari, who had also been trying to reach me through DMs. We were able to work things out, and with the help of our friend, we were able to bypass the long lines and get access to the opening, which was attended by a concert size crowd of people. It was lit and we even managed to secure an interview with Ross Bradshaw the owner. This experience taught me not to underestimate the power of direct messaging, as it can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.loudmindstv.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudmindsontv/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/LoudMindsTV/
• Twitter: twitter.com/loudmindstv
• Youtube: youtube.com/loudmindstv
• Other: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/loud-after-dark/id1665487530?i=1000594540594