In this episode of Everything Is Personal, Len sits down with Kevin Pattah and Mike Khemmoro, the visionaries behind Mango Cannabis. What started as teenage curiosity about cannabis turned into a lifelong passion — and eventually, one of the fastest-growing cannabis retail brands in Oklahoma, Michigan, New Mexico, and beyond. Kevin and Mike share their journey from immigrant family roots and early work in supermarkets, to battling stigma, navigating legalization, and finally building a respected cannabis brand known for quality, consistency, and culture.
Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction
01:00 – First Encounters with Cannabis
05:20 – Building Community Through Cannabis
07:30 – How Kevin & Mike Met (Poker Night & Family Ties)
11:00 – The Immigrant Hustle & Chaldean Roots
15:00 – Lessons from Parents & Work Ethic
19:00 – From Boarding School to Cannabis Passion
22:00 – Medicinal Side of Cannabis & Family Stories
28:00 – Shifting Family Perspectives on Cannabis
29:30 – Founding Mango Cannabis
33:00 – Why They Chose Oklahoma (Blue Water vs Red Water Markets)
37:00 – The Story Behind the Name “Mango”
41:00 – Early Vision vs Reality of Running a Dispensary
43:50 – Unique Challenges of Cannabis Retail
47:20 – What Sets Mango Apart from Corporate Cannabis
50:40 – Marketing Strategies That Work in Cannabis
55:20 – Branding vs Marketing & Word of Mouth Power
58:10 – The Long-Term Vision for Mango
01:02:00 – Music Memories & First Concert Stories