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Derek Riedle Rebrands Cannabis Culture With Civilized

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civilized derek riedle

While celebrating his wife’s birthday, Derek Riedle had an epiphany that has since impacted his career and everyday lifestyle. Like a true entrepreneur, he took the controversial topic of cannabis and created a business opportunity. Derek Riedle is the founder of Civilized, a media company that targets successful professionals who happen to consume cannabis. They cover pop culture, policy, and entertainment, along with in-depth interviews with celebrities and legislative game changers. He has become an industry leader across North America, reshaping the stereotype portrayed through mainstream media.

Derek began using cannabis regularly in his mid-30s as a way to unwind and socialize without the hangovers and empty calories of alcohol. The night of his wife Terri’s birthday in Venice, California, he wrote a plan for a branded digital publishing platform that would elevate cannabis culture, later named “Civilized.” Though the brand is operating out of New Brunswick, Derek planned for Civilized to focus on a North American audience. “It would be a voice for the millions of productive, motivated people who choose to enjoy cannabis as a healthy part of a balanced lifestyle but do not define themselves by it.” They acquired their first investor a month later.

The perception of the use of cannabis is slowly changing. Millions of people have come forward to speak about the medical benefits, helping those with AIDS, cancer patients going through chemotherapy, and those suffering from epilepsy to name a few. Because of this, 28 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico has legalized the medicinal use of cannabis. As for recreational use, light users show an increase of 5.8 points in their IQ in a study done by CMAJ.

Derek Riedle himself is a perfect example of the target audience for Civilized. He is the founder of Revolution Strategy, a strategic communications agency in Canada, and is the co-creator of the television series Real Houses of, featuring extraordinary houses across North America. Derek founded Civilized in 2015 to refine the perception of cannabis users by offering an elevated approach on cannabis culture. “Our mission is to elevate cannabis culture – to be a beacon for millions of productive, motivated adults who choose to consume cannabis responsibly, but are not defined by it. It’s one aspect of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, it’s about encouraging people to live authentically.”

Civilized is working towards becoming the Vanity Fair of cannabis users, speaking to a high-end audience by offering a broad range of content. Derek is working hard to make that happen. “Working in a start-up, I don’t have a routine or anything resembling a typical day. I’m constantly moving between our offices, evangelizing the brand and meeting with investors – so I basically live out of a briefcase. With offices on either side of the continent, it can be physically tough given the time zones and travel involved. Overall, it’s challenging to keep up with the rapid pace of this industry – to get ahead of the opportunities we want to seize.” His entrepreneurial efforts have not gone unnoticed. The former group President and Publisher of Conde Nast Publications, Mitch Fox, has invested in the brand and is a board member at Civilized.

The use of cannabis is more openly accepted than ever before, and Derek plans to fan the flames towards a future where words like “stoner” and “pothead” it is no longer associated with all users. “It’s time we recognize that cannabis is not the boogie man we’ve been taught to fear. With cannabis becoming increasingly normalized, people are realizing that prohibition really doesn’t make sense – the reality is that overall, cannabis is much less harmful to our society than alcohol, which is readily available.”

Jie writes about influencers and startups in various industries. She is a designer turned techie, and when she is not writing, you can find her in her workshop working on her next big project.

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Business

What’s the Best Design Pickle Alternative?

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TLDR: Penji beats Design Pickle with faster delivery, unlimited revisions, and a more intuitive platform that business owners actually enjoy using.

Penji is the best Design Pickle alternative for business owners who need consistent, high-quality designs without the wait. Businesses get unlimited requests, 24-48 hour turnarounds, and a dedicated design team for one flat monthly rate. The platform is easier to use and gives owners more control over projects than Design Pickle.

Tired of waiting days for Design Pickle to finish a simple social media post? Business owners pay good money for design as a service, so why should they settle for slow turnarounds and limited creative input? The right Design Pickle alternative can transform how companies handle visual content without breaking the bank.

1. Penji – The Smart Choice for Busy Owners

Penji gives businesses everything Design Pickle promises, but actually delivers on it. Designs come back in 24-48 hours (not 2-3 days), and clients get unlimited revisions until they’re happy with the result. The dashboard is dead simple to use—just upload a request, add some notes, and designers get to work.

What really sets Penji apart? Clients aren’t stuck with random designers each time. The team learns brand preferences, remembers style choices, and gets better with every project. Plus, if businesses need to pause during slow months, they can do that without losing their spot. See how Penji compares to other services.

2. Designjoy – Premium But Pricey

Designjoy offers high-end design work, but at nearly double the cost of most services. They’re great if budget isn’t a concern and companies only need one designer working on projects. The wait time can be longer since clients work with a single designer who might be juggling multiple accounts.

3. Superside – Better for Agencies

Superside is built more for agencies and large teams than individual business owners. They do solid work, but the onboarding process is complex and companies need to commit to higher-tier plans to get reasonable turnaround times.

Conclusion

After comparing all the major graphic design services, Penji remains the best Design Pickle alternative for business owners who want quality, speed, and value. Companies get professional designs without the enterprise pricing or frustrating delays.

Stop waiting around for designs. Try Penji today and see why thousands of business owners made the switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Penji really faster than Design Pickle? A: 

Yes. Most Penji designs are completed within 24-48 hours, while Design Pickle typically takes 1-2 business days or longer.

What if businesses don’t like the design?

Clients get unlimited revisions with Penji. Just leave feedback and designers will make the changes until everyone’s completely satisfied.

Do businesses need to sign a long-term contract?

Nope. Penji works month-to-month, and companies can pause or cancel anytime. Learn more about flexible plans.

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Top Marketing Podcasts for 2025 You Should Be Following Today

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marketing podcasts

Being a marketer means constantly being on the lookout for the latest in marketing trends and news. You’ll be surprised how fast trends come and go, along with the tools that you commonly use for your campaigns. If you’re looking for a trend that never goes out of style, it’s podcasting. Here are the top marketing podcasts to tune in to in 2025:

1. Marketing School

marketing school podcast cover art

Marketing School is hosted by one of the famous names in the marketing industry: Neil Patel. Eric Siu is also another popular figure hosting the show. They update listeners on the newest marketing and SEO trends and information. Plus, they interview content creators and marketers to share their marketing secrets and tips to achieve their goals. It’s a great starter podcast for new marketers in the field. Listen to the famous hosts every day!

2. Social Media Marketing Podcast

marketing podcasts

The Social Media Marketing Podcast should be your go-to podcast if you’re focused on social media marketing. Listen to Michael Stelzner weekly to get the best tips on marketing on social media with the latest tech and trends. If you’re also running out of content ideas, the podcast host also provides tips and insights to help you get started on new strategies. Plus, he interviews marketers and business leaders on how they achieved success with social media marketing.

3. The WARC Podcast

marketing podcasts

The WARC Podcast delivers marketing insights to help you know the latest in marketing for the week. You’ll learn what marketing challenges marketers overcame. Listen to them twice a week for recent trends, interviews, and event recaps. 

4. Duct Tape Marketing

duct tape marketing podcast cover art

Another big name in the marketing sphere is Duct Tape Marketing, which made an impact in 2005. Listen to John Janstch three times a week to listen to interviews with small business owners and marketers, and how they grew their businesses through marketing strategies. Don’t miss out on the trends and tips to supercharge your marketing.

5. Perpetual Traffic

marketing podcasts

If you want tips from expert marketers Ralph Burns and Kasim Aslam, listen to Perpetual Traffic! They specialize in paid traffic tips to help you increase sales and leads! Expect interviews from various experts in different niches. You can also get insights from case studies to help you grow your business. Listen to them twice a week!

6. The Digital Marketing Podcast

marketing podcasts

Do you want to be updated on everything digital marketing? The Digital Marketing Podcast is the best podcast to listen to. Know the latest news, updates, stats, and future of marketing. The hosts also discuss current tech trends in marketing to grow your business. Listen to the hosts twice a week!

7. The Affiliate Guy

marketing podcasts

Are you an affiliate marketer and need expert advice and the latest updates on affiliate marketing? You should listen to The Affiliate Guy. Hosted by Matt McWilliams, he has trained over 320,000 affiliates. 

Think of The Affiliate Guy’s podcasts as engaging audio versions of How-To blogs. Additionally, he interviews entrepreneurs and leaders. Plus, he also references case studies to help you understand how they achieved their goals.

8. Marketing Trends

marketing podcasts

The very apt Marketing Trends podcast updates you weekly with new information and insights about marketing! You can listen to CEOs, CMOs, and other thought leaders share best practices and strategies to grow the biggest brands! Know how you can grow as a leader or an ambitious marketer when you get the latest tips for achieving success.

9. Stand The F*ck Out™

marketing podcasts

Are you tired of hearing or reading the same marketing tip or trend and don’t want to use that strategy anymore? Stand The F*ck Out™ gets straight to the point and doesn’t dilly dally when discussing marketing. Louis Grenier hosts the show and provides evergreen topics. You also get to hear from experienced marketers how their teams executed strategies and got the desired results. Listen to this podcast weekly.

10. Social Pros Podcast

marketing podcasts

Are you interested in learning how social media marketers execute their campaigns for big brands? The Social Pros Podcast should be on your radar. Jay and Adam host the show, which you can listen to weekly. Not only do they discuss recent trends and strategies, but they also discuss team management and other personal conversations on being a marketer.

11. Marketing Over Coffee

marketing podcasts

Do you prefer listening to podcasts in the morning during breakfast? Why not listen to Marketing Over Coffee on the side while enjoying a hearty morning meal? Like other podcasts, you’ll hear the latest tech trends like AI and improved marketing tools. Plus, get insights from the experts like Seth Godin, Rand Fishkin, and Ann Handley! Episodes come out weekly!

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What are the Best Social Media Post Design Services for Startups?

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social media post design services

While startups have limited resources, it doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy high-quality graphics for their social media channels. Here are the best social media post design services that are affordable, fast, and efficient:

Penji

social media post design services

An on-demand graphic design service, Penji tops this list, thanks to its high-quality work, fast delivery times, and flexible pricing plans. It has a team of professional designers that can craft the most amazing social media graphics, logo designs, custom illustrations, and more for as low as $499 per month.

Kimp

social media post design services

A subscription-based design-as-a-service, Kimp offers unlimited graphic designs and videos for as low as $448 (for a limited time only). You can send as many design requests as you can in a month, revisions included. Its turnaround time is 1 to 2 business days, ideal for startups that need to post content regularly. 

ManyPixels

social media post design services

With all-inclusive plans starting at $599 per month, ManyPixels is an excellent option for startups seeking a reliable design solution. A subscription plan includes unlimited design requests, revisions, brands, free stock assets, native source files, and many other graphic design services.

Fiverr

social media post design services

One of the more popular platforms for social media post design services is Fiverr, a freelancer marketplace. Its global platform lets you choose a freelance graphic designer from around the world. You can find one based on their location, rates, expertise, and many other factors. Social media post designs usually start as low as $5 to $20.

Canva Pro

social media post design services

A cloud-based design platform, Canva Pro, has tools to let you create professional-quality social media posts for less. It has thousands of customizable templates, brand kits, and drag-and-drop features to help you boost your social media marketing. It offers a free trial, but if you want to enjoy more of its features, a $15 per month subscription fee is all you need.

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