Interview by Jack Porcari, Article by Mace Manjarres

When you hear “Top of the Wake and Bake,” the intro greeting to the eponymous podcast series created by producer and host Fritz, AKA Facts SBC, you are transported into the multifaceted world of cannabis. Facts’ interviews with notables such as Backpack Boyz founder Juan Quesada, Puma from VH1’s Black Ink Crew, Jimmy the Green Giant, and even Honeysuckle’s founder Ronit Pinto have contributed to a greater understanding of the plant’s use in everyday life. 

Representing Haitian and Ecuadorian values by embracing community, Bronx native Facts shares insights from those in the legacy to legal to culture spectrum on Wake and Bake. Currently recording Season 3 of the show, he engages guests and audiences in “Sunday Cyph” segments. 

Though the host first had the idea for the podcast in 2019, it was the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns that spurred him to put the wheels in motion. “I was trying to figure out how I can smoke with my peoples,” he explains. “That’s what made me go with Sunday Cyph, because I couldn’t smoke with my friends. [I wanted to] interact with people through love… and see how people feed off of what I do.”

At the time, Facts had just been let go from a managerial job and was spending most of his time caring for his ailing mother. With encouragement from his relative, super producer Buda da Future, by December 2022 he delved headlong into developing Wake and Bake, securing studio space in New York’s famed Engine Room and finding a huge supporter in Ziiploc from the legacy brand ZiiplocZoo. A longtime friend and neighbor, Ziiploc was someone Facts knew from way back; he and Fly Guy Buddy had reputations for procuring exclusive product and for their access to the Big Apple’s supply of Cookies strains.

“Ziiploc was the first person to really see what I was doing in the streets and inquire about taking it further,” Facts affirms. “He wanted to see me thrive… make things happen for the culture.”

Season 1 in the Engine Room brought guests like hip hop group The Joint Cheefs (who created the series’ theme music), “Hawaii” Mike Salman, founder of Chef For Higher, and Snow Milk, a rising New York fashion designer creatively empowered by cannabis. On Wake And Bake’s debut episode, The Joint Cheefs’ Geo The Rican declared, “We are not rappers who smoke, we’re stoners who rap… There is a big difference.” That statement set the tone of cultural fusion that Facts sought to celebrate, and which echoes throughout the show. 

From the beginning, the producer used his platform to bridge the gap between divergent cannabis perspectives. “The unity of evolution is beautiful to me,” he reflects. “How people are working together and starting to look past that East and West Coast crap… We [have] to show love to the West Coast because they started opening up the floodgates for us to know how things work in the legal [marketplace]... It’s only right that we learn from them.”

His conversations with Zack, founder of the meme-based brand Zackwoods, provided a personal turning point. “Once I interviewed Zack… it allowed me to understand both sides,” he asserts. “Zack’s nostalgic vibe and innovative ideas [were] game-changers for the cannabis culture… bringing people back memories. Shout out to Night Owl Buds for making that connection.”

Eager to feature another influential West Coaster “para mi gente,” Facts believed it was fate when Juan Quesada, AKA “Q” of the Backpack Boyz, was in New York City. This interview marked a significant milestone for Wake and Bake, as the two discussed the Lemon Cherry Gelato craze and educated audiences about the impact of “Candy” strains. Quesada’s Backpack Boyz, along with Runtz and Cannatique, introduced the world to Candy. Facts charmed the hesitant Q with his genuine passion and attention to craft.

When the innovator was unable to record in the Engine Room for Season 2, he used the opportunity to strengthen his network ties. Both Metro Bud and Empire Cannabis Club, longtime legacy brands attuned to community education, stepped up to sponsor the show. Jimmy the Green Giant, founder of The Green Giant Shop and creator of Sea Moss-based wellness products, also became a valued sponsor and colleague. 

“[Empire] saw my page and loved what I was doing,” Facts recalls. “They knew I was going to boss up.” He gives grateful shout-outs to all his supporters: “[They] helped me out, no questions asked.” 

Season 2 focused on cannabis for healing and advocacy. Richard DeLisi, formerly the nation’s longest-serving cannabis prisoner, spoke about his journey founding the DeLisioso brand to help others behind bars. CONBUD’s Coss Marte discussed justice and fitness, while Jimmy the Green Giant emphasized Sea Moss as an aid for respiratory health and fighting inflammation. 

“CONBUD also helps inmates with jobs on their way out,” Facts says. “Providing opportunities is love, because coming home, first thing is finding a job and that’s not easy for a convicted felon. Coss has a success rate of 100 percent with everyone he has helped out.”

A poignant chapter in Wake and Bake history occurred with the episode featuring Michael Singh of King Fights Cancer, who detailed how pediatric oncology is being reshaped by medical cannabis. Singh’s advocacy for alternatives to chemotherapy for his young son, King, and his family’s ardent work through their nonprofit - inspired by King’s positive attitude and empathy for fellow young patients - embody hope for a future where the plant can be integrated as a holistic healing modality.

Season 3 of the podcast will weave a tapestry of voices unified by cannabis culture. Facts’ recent foray into Barcelona's cannabis scene promises to enrich the series with a global perspective. For those ready to engage with pioneering dialogue and a diverse prism of stories, Wake and Bake invites you to tune in and join the cultural ascent.

Watch WAKE AND BAKE episodes on YouTube or follow @wakeandbake_show on Instagram.