This week on Arroyo Grande, Raymond sits down with Cordia Harrington — Founder & Co-Chair of Crown Bakeries Cos., and the legendary “Bun Lady” behind billions of buns for McDonald’s, Burger King, Five Guys, Trader Joe’s, and more. Her rise from single mother of three to one of the richest self-made women in America is a story of grit, faith, and unstoppable determination.

Cordia shares how she went from selling real estate to owning McDonald’s franchises, then took a massive leap at age 43 — selling her stores and taking out a multimillion-dollar loan to build what became Crown Bakeries. She reveals why recessions can be the best time to start a business, what kept her pushing after 31 rejections, and how prayer and persistence guided every breakthrough.

From surviving near-disaster in her bakery to building a family-centered company rooted in integrity and opportunity, Cordia’s story is packed with wisdom for anyone chasing a dream at any age.

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0:00 – Introduction
00:53 – AI Country Song
02:26 – AI Dating Apps
04:03 – AI News Anchor Debuts
05:50 – Why Recessions Help Entrepreneurs
07:14 – Handling “No”
08:18 – Starting in Real Estate
09:21 – Family Motivation
10:31 – McDonald’s Training
11:14 – Applying to McDonald’s
11:36 – Buying Her First Store
14:19 – The McDonald’s Bun Committee
16:30 – Landing the McDonald’s Bun Deal
17:43 – Lessons From Her Journey
18:55 – McDonald’s Standards
20:18 – Learning Every Job
20:54 – Her Company’s Three Goals
21:34 – Arbor Capital Joins
23:19 – Who They Serve
24:18 – Leadership Style
25:58 – Hardest Moment
27:31 – Her Key to Success
28:28 – Advice for Women
30:28 – Arroyo Grande Questionnaire
37:12 – Ray Kroc’s Example