About Me

Howdy, Fam!

My name’s Brian, though most folks know me as Papa Racc—or just Racc. And yes… if it isn’t obvious, I’m proudly and unapologetically a raccoon addict.

Bearded Racc was born during a late-night Discord brainstorming session with my friend Athal while we were trying to come up with a Twitch name. I used to stream. Poorly. Very poorly. 😂 But when Bearded Racc landed, it stuck—and something clicked. The raccoon had a name, a personality, and a future.

The classic raccoon art you see on many of our bottles was created by Raymond, the talented artist behind my original emotes and early racc designs. These days, the torch has been proudly passed to my kiddo, who now serves as the Bearded Racc Co in-house artist for some projects. Working alongside them has been one of the greatest joys of this journey. Their talent is incredible, and yes—I am a very proud Papa Racc.

My amazing wife, Meredith, we’ve been married for over 24 years, and I couldn’t do any of this without her. She is a professor and assistant dean at her college around here, and is really making an impact on the community! I love her brain! I'm especially proud of the path she is forging ahead for herself!

Our kids are just as important to the story.
My oldest, Rob, is a Marine and a correctional officer—an incredibly hard worker with strong values and determination. While military regulations keep him clean-shaven most of the time, he still proudly uses Racc products in his hair… and enjoys growing it out whenever he gets the chance.
My youngest, Bub, is a self-taught artist and avid gamer with a huge heart. He’s creative, kind, and thoughtful, and I’m endlessly proud of the person he’s becoming.

We’re based in Northwest Georgia, just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. While we don’t currently attend in-person events—due to disability-related limitations—we stay very active online, especially on Facebook, which is where most of our community and business live. You’ll also find us on Instagram from time to time.

I’m a former OG Admin of Bearded Brothers United. Many of my fellow former admins are now moderators in our own Facebook community, Raccoon Den. It’s small, growing, laid-back, and full of good people—and we’d love to have you join us.

As for why I do this—there are a lot of reasons. I love being creative. I love taking care of people. I wanted to craft my own scents. And during COVID, I struggled with anxiety—finding that beard oil scents genuinely helped ground me in social situations. This brand is personal.

I personally struggle with mental and physical health issues. Some days are better than others, and honestly it sucks. I've recently had issues we're ruling out about my heart with the cardiologist. I'm working through PTSD and trauma, am bipolar and schizophrenic. I fight with high anxiety issues, and it's rough. But I do my best. I also suffer from imposter syndrome. Legitly. And it's horrible. I just try to do my best, but my guys and family do their best to help me through. I'm blessed. 

I’ve been inspired and supported by some incredible companies and people along the way, including Badass Beard Care, Fable, Bearded Squirrel (TJ taught me much of my foundational knowledge), and Tailored. Their influence continues to push me to be better—for myself and for you. I’m deeply grateful to the former admins and community at BBU for believing in me from the beginning, and I always strive to make them proud.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We’re truly glad you’re here.

— Brian, Papa Racc