James “Cutty” Cunningham isn’t just a grower — he’s a Santa Cruz original and one of the real innovators who helped shape modern cannabis cultivation.From the early days of running a double-wide up in the mountains to leading Fog City Farms, Cutty’s story is pure California hustle. He’s one of those rare people who built everything with his own hands — learning construction, running rooms, fixing problems, and turning obstacles into opportunities.When vertical grows started creating new challenges — hot air, microclimates, uneven canopy performance — he didn’t wait for someone else to solve it. He went into his garage with a longtime friend, sheet metal, blue tape, and a ton of determination. That’s where Vertical Air Solutions (VAS) was born — a system that now powers grows across the U.S. and was eventually acquired by Pipp Horticulture.In this episode, we dive deep into Cutty’s full journey — how a Santa Cruz kid who loved skating and surfing turned a passion for plants into a career built on innovation, grit, and community. You’ll hear how Fog City Farms became a respected name in indoor cannabis, why environment and airflow are everything, and what it really takes to stay alive in this industry when most don’t make it past the first harvest.This conversation is a blueprint for creators, cultivators, and builders — anyone chasing progress in a space that doesn’t wait for you to catch up.
Episodio 11 con Josh Barker – Director de Cultivo en Miami Mango CannabisLa mayoría de los cultivadores aún dependen del control de iluminación analógico 0–10V, pero la realidad es que ese sistema está frenando a las instalaciones. La atenuación analógica se limita a unas 20–30 luminarias por línea, requiere múltiples adaptadores (LMA14s) y corre el riesgo de fallos aleatorios de señal que pueden causar parpadeos no deseados o incluso encendidos “fantasma” durante la noche. En la escala comercial, eso no solo es incómodo—es costoso y arriesgado.En este episodio, conversamos con Josh Barker, Director de Cultivo en Miami Mango, para analizar por qué el control digital de iluminación es el futuro de la horticultura. Desde la integridad de la señal y la capacidad de escalar cientos de luminarias en una sola línea, hasta la función de “último comando” del driver que evita sustos de re-vegetación, y el revolucionario OPA2 digital contactor que elimina el consumo oculto de energía nocturna—esta charla lo cubre todo.También compartimos experiencias del mundo real, incluyendo la famosa “prueba de parpadeo del 4 de julio”, que obligó a los fabricantes a corregir el comportamiento de sus protocolos. Además, obtén un adelanto exclusivo del software Omega Facility, diseñado para unificar la iluminación, el HVAC y las analíticas de cultivo en un solo panel de control.Ya sea que manejes unas pocas salas o una instalación de varias hectáreas, este episodio es imprescindible si estás listo para:Eliminar el consumo fantasma de energía durante la nocheEscalar tus sistemas de iluminación sin multiplicar adaptadores y enredos de cableadoMejorar la seguridad y la confiabilidad del sistema con drivers digitalesPreparar tu cultivo para el futuro con software integrado de gestión de instalaciones💡 Si realmente quieres reducir costos, proteger tus cultivos y escalar de manera más inteligente, el control digital es el único camino a seguir.MANGOTECH STORE – www.mangotech.storeTROLMASTER – www.trolmaster.comTHINKGROW – www.thinkgrow.com
Episodio 11 con Josh Barker – Director de Cultivo en Miami Mango Cannabis
La mayoría de los cultivadores todavía dependen del control de iluminación analógico 0–10V, pero la verdad es que esta tecnología está frenando a las instalaciones modernas. La atenuación analógica alcanza un máximo de unas 20–30 luminarias por línea, requiere múltiples dongles (LMA14s) y corre el riesgo de fallos de señal aleatorios que pueden causar parpadeos no deseados o incluso encendidos “fantasma” durante la noche. En instalaciones a escala comercial, eso no solo es incómodo, sino también costoso y riesgoso.
En este episodio, hablamos con Josh Barker, Director de Cultivo en Miami Mango, para analizar por qué el control de iluminación digital es el futuro de la horticultura. Desde la integridad de la señal y la capacidad de escalar cientos de luminarias en una sola línea, hasta la corrección del controlador “Last Command” que evita el estrés de re-vegetación, y el revolucionario contacto digital OPA2, que elimina el consumo eléctrico oculto durante la noche — esta conversación lo cubre todo.
También compartimos experiencias reales, incluido el famoso “test de parpadeo del 4 de julio”, que obligó a los fabricantes a corregir el comportamiento del protocolo. Además, obtén una vista previa exclusiva de la plataforma de software Omega, diseñada para unificar iluminación, HVAC y análisis de cultivo en un solo panel de control.
Ya sea que manejes unas pocas salas o una instalación de varias hectáreas, este episodio es imprescindible si estás listo para:
Eliminar el consumo eléctrico fantasma durante la noche
Escalar tu sistema de iluminación sin multiplicar dongles ni enredos de cables
Mejorar la seguridad y la confiabilidad del sistema con controladores digitales
Preparar tu instalación para el futuro con software de gestión integrado
💡 Si realmente quieres reducir costos, proteger tu cultivo y escalar de manera más inteligente — lo digital es el único camino a seguir.
La plupart des cultivateurs s’appuient encore sur un contrôle d’éclairage analogique 0–10V, mais la vérité, c’est que cette technologie freine les installations modernes. Le gradateur analogique atteint un maximum d’environ 20 à 30 luminaires par ligne, nécessite plusieurs dongles (LMA14s), et présente un risque d’erreurs de signal aléatoires pouvant provoquer un scintillement indésirable ou même des allumages « fantômes » pendant la nuit. Pour une culture à grande échelle, ce n’est pas seulement gênant — c’est coûteux et risqué.
Dans cet épisode, nous discutons avec Josh Barker, Directeur de la culture chez Miami Mango, des raisons pour lesquelles le contrôle d’éclairage numérique représente l’avenir de l’horticulture. De l’intégrité du signal et la possibilité de connecter des centaines de luminaires sur une seule ligne, à la correction « Last Command » qui évite les risques de re-végétation, jusqu’au contacteur numérique OPA2 révolutionnaire qui élimine la consommation cachée de courant nocturne — cette conversation aborde tous les aspects essentiels.
Nous partageons également des expériences réelles, dont le fameux test de scintillement du 4 juillet, qui a poussé les fabricants à corriger le comportement de leurs protocoles. En prime, découvrez un aperçu exclusif de la plateforme logicielle Omega, conçue pour unifier l’éclairage, la climatisation (HVAC) et les analyses de culture sur un seul tableau de bord.
Que vous gériez quelques salles ou une installation de plusieurs hectares, cet épisode est incontournable si vous souhaitez :
Éliminer la consommation fantôme la nuit
Étendre votre système d’éclairage sans multiplier les dongles ni le désordre des câbles
Améliorer la sécurité et la fiabilité grâce aux pilotes numériques
Pérenniser votre installation grâce à un logiciel de gestion intégré
💡 Si vous êtes sérieux à propos de la réduction des coûts, de la protection de vos cultures et d’une expansion plus intelligente — le numérique est la seule voie d’avenir.
(EPISODE12) In this episode, we sit down with Dylan, CEO of Green Rebates, and Ethan “Free Money” to uncover how cannabis cultivators can leverage utility programs to cover the cost of major upgrades. From Humboldt roots to MJBiz hustle, their story blends personal journeys with practical insights on unlocking rebates for grow lights, fans, controllers, and more.We break down how per-fixture vs. per-watt programs impact payouts, why high-efficiency LEDs, EC/VFD fans, and environmental controls qualify for incentives, and how growers are stacking rebates into six- and seven-figure checks. Case studies include greenhouses that secured over $5 million in lighting rebates. The conversation also explores where rebate programs are strongest right now and how timelines vary across states.This isn’t just another cannabis podcast about strains or branding. It’s about real money and real strategy. Dylan shares his evolution from learning to grow in small spaces to building rebate programs for large-scale facilities. “Free Money” adds his unique path from reality TV to cannabis, showing how unexpected backgrounds can lead to powerful industry opportunities.Whether you’re a cultivator, greenhouse operator, or cannabis entrepreneur, this episode reveals how to turn expensive upgrades into cash-positive moves with the help of utility incentives. Don’t leave free money on the table—learn the rebate playbook and make your next investment the smartest one yet.
Episode 11 Featuring Josh Barker - The Director of Cultivation at Miami Mango CannabisMost growers still rely on 0–10V analog lighting control, but the truth is—it’s holding facilities back. Analog dimming maxes out at ~20–30 fixtures per run, forces multiple dongles (LMA14s), and risks random signal failures that can cause unwanted light flicker or even phantom “on” events at night. For commercial-scale cultivation, that’s not just inconvenient—it’s costly and risky.In this episode, we sit down with Josh Barker, Director of Cultivation at Miami Mango, to break down why digital lighting control is the future of horticulture. From signal integrity and scaling hundreds of fixtures on a single line, to the “last-command” driver fix that prevents re-veg scares, to the game-changing OPA2 digital contactor that cuts hidden nighttime amp draw—this conversation covers it all.We also share real-world war stories, including the infamous “4th of July” flicker test that pushed manufacturers to fix protocol behavior. Plus, get a sneak peek into the Omega facility software platform, designed to unify lighting, HVAC, and cultivation analytics under one dashboard.Whether you’re running a few rooms or a multi-acre facility, this is a must-watch if you’re ready to:Eliminate phantom power draw at nightScale lighting systems without multiplying dongles and wiring messImprove safety and failover reliability with digital driversFuture-proof your grow with integrated facility software💡 If you’re serious about cutting costs, protecting your crop, and scaling smarter, digital is the only way forward.
(EPISODE 10) Jeff’s story isn’t just inspiring—it’s a framework anyone can follow.He went from addiction and homelessness to winning awards and leading campaigns for MJ BizCon, Champs, and Craft Farmer. And the playbook that got him there? Simple.Show up. Learn your tools. Ship fast. Document everything. Overdeliver on edits. Build trust by putting people before product.When the Oklahoma market collapsed, Jeff didn’t cling to the past. He pivoted his skills, packed up his family, and rebuilt in California.Thirteen years sober, he’s proof that discipline beats hype, and that purpose builds careers.This isn’t theory. This is battle-tested survival in one of the most volatile industries on earth.Follow Jeff Hooten on Instagram @CasedgodFollow @MangoAfterHours on instagram to keep updatedWWW.MANGOTECH.STORE
(EPISODE 9)Everyone talks genetics. Everyone talks nutrients. But almost nobody is talking about the one variable that changes everything inside the room — spectrum tuning.In this episode of the MangoTech Podcast, host Alex Villegas sits down with Josh Barker, one of the sharpest cultivation minds in the game, to break down what spectrum tuning really means for growers who care about resin, yield, and consistency.This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s raw, straight grow-room talk:🌱 White light – the backbone that drives bulk canopy growth.🌱 Deep Red – the engine behind flower stacking, density, and bulking phases.🌱 Far Red – how to manipulate stretch, trigger the Emerson effect, and unlock timing advantages.🌱 UV – why this “last channel” is the secret weapon for trichomes, oils, and defensive resin production.Josh and Alex dig into the recipes pros are testing right now:How spectrum ratios change depending on cultivar.Why certain strains demand more far red or less UV.The balance between “yield vs quality” when tuning.Real examples of how dialing light correctly added 20–30% resin output.And they don’t hold back on the controversy either — calling out how most growers underuse their lights, how companies mislead people with wattage numbers, and why spectrum tuning is the difference between mid shelf and true top shelf.This is the kind of conversation you don’t hear in glossy ads or shallow grow reviews. It’s the inside look at how spectrum tuning is becoming the Formula 1 of cannabis cultivation.If you’re serious about growing — not just watching plants survive, but watching them perform — you need to hear this episode.👉 Tune in now. Take notes. Start experimenting.Because once you understand spectrum tuning, you’ll never look at light the same again.
Think your favorite cannabis brand just magically produces fire? Think again. Behind every great grow room is a designer who understands environmental control, HVAC systems, power management, and real cultivation needs. Nic Bucholz is that guy. He’s led the design and build-out of over 14 million square feet of cannabis grow space across the U.S. — including 80% of the Atalanta 420 property builds. In this exclusive Mango After Hours episode, he breaks down the mechanics of scaling, what brands overlook, and why architectural control is as critical as genetics. If you're a grower, builder, or brand owner, this is required listening.@mangoafterhours@drm.design.incwww.mangotech.store
What happens when a legacy grower, engineer, and madman builder walks away from a 32,000 sq ft greenhouse to fix what’s broken in cannabis cultivation? You get TriCleanAir.In this no-holds-barred episode of Miami Mango After Hours, we sit down with Michael, the founder of TriCleanAir—the only guy brave enough to say what everyone’s thinking: “Your HVAC system isn’t built for weed, and it’s costing you big.”We dive deep into:🔥 Why DX and off-the-shelf AC systems fail under real grow room loads🔧 Hydronics vs. Hot Gas vs. Electric Reheat—what actually works🌱 How Michael reverse-engineered his own nutrient mixers and dehums📉 Why growers are wasting 6-figures trying to fix moisture with the wrong tech🇪🇸 His journey from the U.S. to Spain and back, learning industrial seed production💡 How legacy knowledge + true engineering is shaping the future of cultivationIf you're a cultivator, operator, builder, or even just HVAC-curious, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about grow room design. This isn’t theory. This is straight experience, dialed-in systems, and hard truths from a man who's built it all.
What does it take to write the most talked-about cultivation manual in the game?Jack Whipple sat down with us to share how the CCI Black Book was born — not in a boardroom, but in the middle of burnout, bank shutdowns, and a relentless drive to document real-world grow systems.This isn’t just another grow guide.It’s three and a half years of failures, fixes, and 1,400-light reality — written by someone who’s lived every part of it.📘 The story behind the book💡 Lessons from managing multi-site ops🔧 Solving real problems with real data🎙️ Hosted at the MangoTech StoreHit play. This one’s not theory. It’s the blueprint.
Was, wenn das Geheimnis für bis zu 35 % mehr Ertrag bereits in deinem Blätterdach steckt – und du es nur falsch ausgeleuchtet hast?
In dieser Folge werfen wir einen präzisen Blick auf die harten Fakten hinter der inneren Kronenbeleuchtung mit den ICL-300 von ThinkGrow. Keine Theorie – sondern datengestützte Praxis direkt von Josh Barker, Director of Cultivation bei Miami Mango, einer der renommiertesten Indoor-Cannabisanlagen in Sacramento.
Josh hat hunderte Lampen gemanagt, Spektren feinabgestimmt, DLI optimiert und groß angelegte Vergleichstests durchgeführt. Er hat sogar Nächte damit verbracht, ICLs einzeln auszubauen, um ihre Zuverlässigkeit zu prüfen. Wenn er sagt, dass diese Leuchten konservativ 15–35 % mehr Ertrag bringen können – ohne Änderungen am Oberdach – dann ist das fundiertes Wissen, kein Marketing.
Inhalt dieser Folge:
🧪 Die Wissenschaft hinter der photosynthetischen Tiefe
🌈 Effektive Spektrum-Strategien
📈 Echte Ergebnisse aus kontrolliertem Crop Steering
💡 Und die exakte ICL-Konfiguration für maximale Effizienz
Dazu gibt’s ein komplettes Video-Tutorial, das dir die Umsetzung Schritt für Schritt zeigt.
📺 Hier geht’s zum Tutorial:
• ICL-300 Tutorial mit Tyler Villegas
Wenn du auf Qualität und Effizienz setzt, ist das keine Option – das ist Pflicht.
🎧 Anschauen. Lernen. Nächstes Level erreichen.
¿Y si el secreto para desbloquear hasta un 35% más de rendimiento ya estuviera en tu dosel... pero simplemente no lo estabas iluminando correctamente?
En el episodio de esta semana, nos sumergimos en los verdaderos números detrás de la iluminación del dosel interno usando los ICL-300s de ThinkGrow. No hablamos solo de teoría — esto es experiencia respaldada por datos directamente de Josh Barker, Director de Cultivo en Miami Mango, una de las instalaciones de cannabis indoor más respetadas de Sacramento.
Josh ha supervisado cientos de luces, ajustado espectros, calibrado DLI y realizado comparaciones lado a lado a gran escala. Ha pasado noches retirando ICLs uno por uno solo para probar su confiabilidad. Así que cuando dice que estas luces pueden añadir, de forma conservadora, entre un 15% y un 35% más de rendimiento sin modificar tu configuración del dosel superior, lo dice en serio.
Lo desglosamos todo —
🧪 La ciencia de la profundidad fotosintética
🌈 Estrategias de ajuste espectral
📈 Resultados reales del crop steering
💡 Y la forma exacta de configurar tus ICLs para aumentar el rendimiento de manera inteligente.
Ah, y también lanzamos un video tutorial completo que te guía paso a paso en la implementación.
HAZ CLIC AQUÍ PARA VER EL TUTORIAL
• Tutorial de ICL-300 con Tyler Villegas
Si estás en el juego por calidad y eficiencia, esto no es opcional — es esencial.
🎧 Mira. Aprende. Súbele el nivel.
What if the secret to unlocking up to 35% more yield was already in your canopy — you just weren’t lighting it right?This week’s episode dives into the real numbers behind inner canopy lighting using ThinkGrow’s ICL-300s. We’re not just talking theory — this is data-backed experience straight from Josh Barker, Director of Cultivation at Miami Mango, one of Sacramento’s most respected indoor cannabis facilities.Josh has overseen hundreds of lights, tuned spectrums, dialed in DLI, and run side-by-sides at scale. He’s spent nights pulling ICLs one by one just to test reliability. So when he says these lights can conservatively add 15–35% to your yield without changing your top canopy setup, he means it.We break it all down —🧪 The science of photosynthetic depth🌈 Spectrum tuning strategies📈 Real-world crop steering results💡 And the exact way to set up your ICLs to boost yield the smart way.Oh, and we’re dropping a full tutorial video to walk you through implementation step-by-step.If you’re in the game for quality and efficiency, this isn’t optional — it’s essential.🎧 Watch. Learn. Level up.
You’ve heard the numbers. Now here’s how to actually set it up.In this hands-on tutorial, Tyler Villegas, Manager of The Mangotech Store, walks you through everything you need to know to get your ThinkGrow ICL-300s up and running — the right way.🔗 Common cords and splitter setups🧠 How to group control your lights⚡ Proper wiring for safety and efficiency🌊 Full integration with the Hydro-X systemIf you’ve been wondering how to actually implement ICLs in your grow room — from unboxing to group control — this video covers it all.Here is the DAISY CHAIN CONFIGURATION GUIDEhttps://trolmasterfilese.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ThinkGrow/Model+One/Tech+Sheet/Daisy+Chain+Power+Cord/TDC-1-2-3-4_Tech+Sheet_20231114.pdf🎧 Pair this with the podcast episode for the why.📹 Watch this tutorial for the how.
He got his dad arrested — now he runs the family empire.Tyler Villegas steps into the spotlight with the unbelievable story of the day everything went sideways. From cops at the door to running MangoTech in Sacramento, this episode peels back the curtain on family chaos, redemption, and the grind behind one of the most unique cannabis shops in California.
In this episode of Mango After Hours, we sit down with Crime Alert, Sacramento’s top security and alarm company, to talk about the recent wave of cannabis dispensary break-ins, how security has leveled up, and what YOU can do to protect yourself and your community.
🔍 Sacramento has seen a spike in dispensary robberies, with criminals targeting cannabis businesses for cash and product. We break down how thieves are getting in, what security measures actually work, and how local businesses are fighting back.
Plus, we dive into how Mango linked up with the Crime Alert crew, share some insane behind-the-scenes stories, and, of course, plenty of laughs along the way.
🔐 Stay safe, stay aware, and tune in for the inside scoop on keeping your city secure!
📢 Willkommen zum MangoTech AeroFan Tutorial-Video! 🚀
Geleitet von Tyler Villegas, Manager des MangoTech Store in Sacramento, Kalifornien, begleitet dieses Tutorial die zweite Episode unseres Podcasts, in der Josh Barker, Direktor für Anbau bei Miami Mango Cannabis in Sacramento, zu Gast ist.
In diesem Video erklären wir die Hauptmerkmale der TrolMaster AeroFans – darunter Installation, Gruppierung und wichtige Erkenntnisse, damit du das Beste aus deinem System herausholen kannst. Egal, ob Anfänger oder erfahrener Grower – dieses Tutorial liefert wertvolles Wissen zur Optimierung deiner Anbauumgebung. Lass uns loslegen! 🌿💨
📲 Folge uns & unseren Partnern!
🔹 The Mango Tech Store: www.mangotechstore.com | IG: @mangotechstore
🔹 TrolMaster: www.trolmaster.com | IG: @trolmaster.agro
🔹 ThinkGrow: www.thinkgrowled.com | IG: @thinkgrowled
Für weitere Updates folge uns auf Instagram → @mangoafterhours 🚀🔥
#MangoTechStore #TrolMaster #AeroFan #GrowTech #CannabisAnbau #IndoorGrow #ThinkGrow
📢 Vítejte v MangoTech AeroFan tutoriálu! 🚀Toto video vede Tyler Villegas, manažer obchodu MangoTech Store v Sacramentu, Kalifornie, a doprovází druhý díl našeho podcastu, kde se k nám připojuje Josh Barker, ředitel pěstování v Miami Mango Cannabis v Sacramentu.V tomto videu si projdeme klíčové vlastnosti AeroFanů od TrolMasteru, včetně instalace, seskupování a důležitých tipů, které ti pomohou vytěžit maximum z tvého systému. Ať už jsi začátečník nebo zkušený pěstitel, tento průvodce ti poskytne cenné znalosti pro optimalizaci tvého pěstebního prostoru. Pojďme na to! 🌿💨📲 Sleduj nás a naše partnery!🔹 The Mango Tech Store: www.mangotechstore.com | IG: @mangotechstore🔹 TrolMaster: www.trolmaster.com | IG: @trolmaster.agro🔹 ThinkGrow: www.thinkgrowled.com | IG: @thinkgrowledPro další novinky nás sleduj na Instagramu → @mangoafterhours 🚀🔥
Welcome to the MangoTech AeroFan Tutorial Video, led by Tyler Villegas, manager of The MangoTech Store in Sacramento, CA. This tutorial is designed to accompany our second podcast, featuring Josh Barker, Director of Cultivation at Miami Mango Cannabis in Sacramento. In this video, we’ll cover the key features of TrolMaster AeroFans, including installation, grouping, and essential insights to help you get the most out of your system. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced grower, this guide will provide valuable knowledge to optimize your setup. Let's dive in!
