Insights
Writing on conscious leadership, brands, beverage, CPG, M&A, and growth
A working library of long-form essays and short notes — published in industry outlets and on the Taliera journal.
Long form
Essays & deep dives
Strategic perspective on the categories and deals we work in.
From Anticipation to Action: Cannabis Rescheduling Is Now a Federal Reality
What the federal move on cannabis rescheduling actually changes for operators, investors, and brands — and the strategic actions to take now.
The Soil Entrepreneurs Grow In
On the conditions, communities, and culture that let founders actually thrive — and why the soil matters as much as the seed.
Self and All Beyond: From Rand to Socialism, Toward an Integrous Capitalism
A long essay on the false choice between Randian individualism and collectivism — and a case for an integrous capitalism that holds both self and others.
Remembering the Towel: Servant Leadership in a World That Forgot How
Servant leadership isn't soft — it's the hardest, most durable form of leadership. A reflection on the towel, the basin, and what we've forgotten.
The Future of Payments Is Being Written Right Now — Can Everyone Survive?
Stablecoins, real-time rails, and a reshuffled payments stack. Who wins, who loses, and what merchants and brands should be doing today.
IPI Campden Wealth Winter Forum 2026 — Where Capital Meets Conviction
A field report from the IPI Campden Wealth Winter Forum: what family offices are funding, what they're avoiding, and where conviction capital is moving next.
When Hollywood's Master of Reinvention Meets Global CEOs — Lessons
What a Hollywood master of reinvention taught a room full of global CEOs about second acts, brand, and staying relevant across decades.
Why Genius Network's Annual Gathering Just Redefined What's Possible
Takeaways from the Genius Network annual gathering — the people, frameworks, and conversations that reset the bar for what entrepreneurs can build.
Smoke Trail — Season 1, Episode 19: Unleashing the Collective
Episode 19 of the Smoke Trail: on unleashing collective intelligence, building rooms that compound, and what changes when you stop optimizing for the individual.
Smoke Trail — The Paradox of a Globe-Trotting Zen: Bangkok to Kathmandu
A travel essay from Bangkok to Kathmandu on the paradox of a globe-trotting zen — movement, stillness, and what the road keeps teaching.
The Giants Are Colliding, Part 4: Who Controls the Road — How the Referee Left the Field
Regulation, enforcement, and the shifting rules of the game in beverage alcohol — and what mid-market brands need to understand about the new playing field.
The Giants Are Colliding, Part 3: A Decade of Deals, and Why the Game Just Changed
Ten years of M&A in spirits and beverage — the deals that defined the era, and why the playbook that built them no longer works.
The Giants Are Colliding, Part 2: What the Valley of Death Brands Do Next
The mid-market squeeze is real. A practical look at the moves available to brands caught between scale players and emerging challengers.
The Giants Are Colliding: What It Means for Every Mid-Market Spirits Brand in America (Part 1)
The big beverage players are realigning. Here's what the collision at the top means for every mid-market spirits brand trying to grow, raise, or sell.
Short form
Notes & signals
Quick reads — frameworks, observations, and field notes.
Want this kind of thinking on your business?
Let's talk about where you're going and how we can help you get there.
Join The Smoke Trail on LinkedIn
Essays, signals, and field notes on beverage, brands, M&A, and leadership — delivered to your LinkedIn inbox. Read by founders, operators, family offices, and dealmakers.
Free · Published from Smoke Wallin · Unsubscribe anytime