Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Audrey Darrow. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Audrey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

I would include Mind/Body/Soul teaching including meditation because going to school and learning math, history, economics, etc. does not in any way prepare us for the reality of the human existence. If we learn early on that the only way to find peace/ joy and abundance in your outer world is to first find it in your inner world. The outer will transform based on the vibration you carry from your internal.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

In 2003 I got Breast Cancer and had to have double mastectomies, radiation and chemotherapy. I needed a way to take my mind off cancer, so I started a tea company called Dr. B’s Teas. I knew nothing about tea but my favorite doctor had been diagnosed right before me with terminal lymphoma and so I decided to create the teas in her name to inspire others to pick up and go on after a diagnosis and to live life to the fullest. Dr. Malka Benoni was that doctor, and she is still practicing today. I sold 10,000 cans of teas to hospitals and spoke to nurses and doctors about the benefits of tea on our health. After selling out of the teas I got the idea to build my own certified Organic, Vegan, Kosher, Gluten-Free, Allergen/Nut-Free food manufacturing facility to make food bars and to co-pack for other companies. Today I have a line of twenty products under Righteously Raw, Righteous Cacao and our co-packing is called Pure Copacker. We are in an 11,000 sq ft facility in Vista selling throughout the U.S. and in Jimbo’s Naturally, Cream of The Crop, Seaside Market and so many more stores. We make a variety of products for other companies such as food bars, dry ingredients in pouches, vegan, oat milk cheesecakes, enrobed chocolate products, etc.
I work with many start-ups who have so little information about the food start-up journey, and I can share my experiences with them and help them avoid the difficulties that lie ahead of them. 90% of all food business fail early on their path and I make it my mission to work with as many of them as I can to help support their dream and find their own success.
I am a mother of two (one in spirit) and a grandmother of two with one on the way. My beautiful Angel Jaymie Rose Darrow passed at the age of almost 19 from a drowning accident. She was and still is the inspiration behind my Rose Bar to inspire others to pick up after loss and illness and find joy in every moment. Inside every Rose Bar is a beautiful silhouette of Jaymie and a few words to spread love and positive energy in Jaymie’s name to all who try her bar.
At the age of 57 I realized that I was not tone deaf and found a teacher who inspired me to learn to play many instruments. Glenn Pudick is the greatest teacher, and he said the three magic words I had never heard before. Yes, You Can!!! He taught me how to play guitar, then drums and bass and I never looked back at the child or the adult who thought she was tone deaf with no rhythm. What I realized was that someone had put that label on me when I was young, and it became my identity. When I started taking lessons with Glenn, he inspired me and had me playing a John Legend song my first day on the guitar. This taught me in life and in business to never become what others tell you are or must be. I learned that I could do anything if I believe in myself. I now surround myself with people who support and uplift me every day.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Three years ago, when Amazon purchased Whole Foods Markets I and many companies got dropped from their regions and lost about $500,000 a year in revenue. Then as I was reinventing myself, I created five new products to introduce to the country, then the Pandemic hit! As we have been recovering from the last two years, we have been hit hard with massive hikes in employee wages, shortages of people who want to work, hikes in gas/shipping prices, Gas and electric spikes and the increase in all costs for ingredients and supplies. We have been waiting for an SBA loan to come through after being denied once and then being put into reconsideration. We are still going to work every day with the belief that we will overcome all the losses and succeed against all odds. I had to go into my internal world and work on my own fears, self-doubt and so much more to get through these difficulties. As I continue to change my inner world my outer world is becoming more peaceful with less and less fear for my future.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

A few months after I launched my company my daughter passed away. Jaymie Rose Darrow was the first store customer in Santa Barbara (UCSB CO-OP) as she waited patiently for my bars to be ready. She worked at the co-op, and it was because of her excitement for me to create my new company that I continue to bring products to the world in her spirit. Jaymie always told everyone “I Love You” every day and I want to share that love through my chocolate every day for her. I want her to see me live in peace and joy every day because of her inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.righteouscacao.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/righteouslyrawchocolate/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RighteouslyRaw/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-darrow-67680716/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/righteouslyraw?lang=en

Image Credits
https://www.rootsofimpactpodcast.com/s2-e5-healing-ourselves-and-the-world-with-audrey-darrow https://www.facebook.com/RighteouslyRaw/videos/573883273889839/ http://leadlikeawoman.biz/2021/06/