What does it mean to "battle" in life? For Rich Pauwels, founder of Rich Nuts, it's about embracing every wild turn with grit, humor, and heart.
Rich recently joined Carlos Vasquez on the How to Battle podcast for a conversation that's as raw, inspiring, and nutty as the man himself. They dive deep into Rich’s extraordinary life — from being born in prison, to serving 20 years as a firefighter and paramedic, to founding a premium sprouted nuts brand that's envisioning a regenerative food future.
In classic Rich fashion, he doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff. Growing up with hardship, facing injuries that ended his firefighting career, and launching a business from scratch — these battles didn't break him. They made him.
"You have two choices: You can see life happening to you or for you," Rich shares. "Once I realized life was happening for me, everything shifted."
Of course, Rich brings plenty of laughs too — including his now-infamous confession: "I have only been to jail twice, and neither one of them were my fault." Classic Rich: dropping truth bombs while keeping the spirit light.
Throughout the episode, Rich unpacks:
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How mindfulness and "habit stacking" transformed his daily life
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Why sprouted nuts are the ultimate brain and body fuel (spoiler: your gut will thank you)
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His passionate commitment to regenerative agriculture and healing the planet
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How setbacks became set-ups for his next great adventure
Listening to this conversation, you’ll see how every bag of Rich Nuts carries more than nutrient-dense crunch—it carries a story of resilience, adventure, and pure heart.
If you’re looking for a boost of inspiration (and a few good laughs), grab a bag of our Maple Pecan or Brilliant Balsamic nuts, kick back, and tune in. Because battling life isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up, laughing at the chaos, and creating something beautiful.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
How to Battle Podcast - Episode with Rich Pauwels
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Watch it on YouTube here:
Born in Prison, Forged by Fire: How Richard Pauwels Built Rich Nuts
Ready to taste the richness of life? Shop our full range of gourmet sprouted nuts [here].