Business For Good Podcast

The Meat-Scientist-Turned-Plant-Based-Entrepreneur

by Paul Shapiro 

Oct 1, 2019 | Episode 26

More About Rody Hawkins

Many of the people running plant-based and clean meat companies are vegetarians themselves who often have come out of the animal protection or environmental communities. 

Not Rody Hawkins. 

The man who brought you Oscar Mayer’s Lunchables and other notable products such as Slim Jim is now hoping you’ll buy his soy-based meats. After spending 30 years in the meat industry, Rody co-founded and is the CEO of Improved Nature. You might not have heard as much about Rody’s food tech start-up as some of the more well-publicized names in the field, but he’s already raised millions of dollars and is selling in the US and abroad. 

In this episode, listen to the unlikely story of a meat man who’s now on a mission to efficiently feed the world with plants. 

Discussed in this episode

Improved Nature web site

Rody offered his email: Rody.Hawkins@improvednature.com 

Perky Jerky using Improved Nature plant protein

Dr. Michael Greger on why soy helps prevent cancer

Famed sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clark

Books that have influenced Rody

I Am by Matt Fry