Tavoya Drain shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Tavoya, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m being called to share my knowledge on a larger scale.
I questioned whether I was ready to teach or lead others in herbalism, but healing has shown me that readiness comes from experience, not perfection.
This season of my life is also about trusting myself more. I’m leaning into intuition and allowing it to guide my next steps, even when the path is unclear.
Each time I listen to my body and follow God’s guidance, alternative options seem to come to the forefront.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m herbalist Voya, mother of four, and have always been passionate about providing meals that truly nourish. My herbalism journey began almost 10 years ago. While on the path to feeding my family healthier meals, I stumbled upon herbalism. I purchased a book on herbs for children and began setting aside simple remedies I learned, preparing for when I might need them.
When my child came down with a fever, I found the courage to try an herbal tea. It worked so well that it sparked a deeper curiosity.
That experience set me on a path of study and exploration, eventually inspiring me to create Audacious Craze. We’re a family-owned holistic wellness brand on a mission to help others understand how, why, and when to use herbs.
We offer organic, family-friendly herbal remedies, personalized consultations and coaching, live tea talks, and free educational resources like our seasonal blog and tea dosage chart.
Our unique approach encourages families to respond instead of reacting to nurture a holistic mindset.
The goal is to build a community bold enough to take charge of their health and embrace the ultimate mission slogan of “slowly changing unnatural habits.”
A great place for families to begin is with my eBook, Elderflower Chronicles: A Parent’s Guide to Reducing Fevers Naturally in Children. It offers insight into how parents can better understand fevers and feel more confident supporting their child’s wellness journey using gentle, natural methods.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Managing my child’s fever with only herbs was a moment that shifted how I see the world. It showed me the power of trusting nature and my intuition.
I share more about that experience in my eBook, Elderflower Chronicles: A Parent’s Guide to Reducing Fevers Naturally in Children. Since then, I’ve had many moments that continue to shape my perspective.
When I later experienced a fever myself, everything I’d learned came full circle. My temperature rose and fell between 99.7 and 102.3, yet I didn’t feel my body was in distress. It felt more like a gentle warmth flowing through me.
I realized that, in supporting the process with herbs that move heat, the fever no longer made me uncomfortable.
We often feel bad when a fever becomes stagnant, resulting in emergent responses with unnatural remedies.
When I was called into energetic herbalism, I saw how our bodies move with the seasons. Each shift in weather reflects what our bodies need, offering its own kind of medicine. That awareness helped me approach wellness with more balance and intuition.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly, no — I’ve never felt like giving up. My path feels so unique that I know I’m in a lane of my own.
The things I’ve experienced are not in the many herbalism books I own, the courses I’ve taken, or even the retreats I’ve attended. Everything I’ve learned and felt aligns divinely with my personal calling.
I have the natural abilities of an eclectic herbalist, which allow me to combine different herbal and ancestral practices to create remedies and teachings that resonate with today’s families. No one else carries my exact gift, and that keeps this journey exciting for me.
When I experience setbacks, they no longer feel like failures. Instead, they feel like redirects that guide me to dig deeper and appreciate the value of the knowledge I share.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I once thought that regular checkups and lab results were the full story of wellness.
It’s clear that numbers can’t always reveal why something is off. They only show the surface, and we often miss the deeper message the body is trying to share.
I’ve learned to see the body as its own intelligent guide. It works in harmony with seasonal shifts and distributes vital nutrients from nature and whole food sources.
For instance, cholesterol plays a role in helping the body create essential nutrients from sunlight. This vital connection can change how we approach wellness, yet it’s rarely discussed.
When things feel out of balance, it’s easy to go for quick solutions instead of reconnecting with the natural sources.
When we respond too fast with quick-fix methods, we sometimes interrupt the body’s natural remedy.
Now, I pay attention to what my body is telling me and respond holistically. This way, I experience wellness I can feel, not just measure with numbers.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m immersed in nature. In those moments, I’m relaxed, my body feels balanced, and I’m more in tune with taking care of myself. Activities like hiking, camping, and embracing the independence nature offers align well with my personality. I often imagine living off-grid and letting life follow its natural rhythm.
Homeschooling my children brings a similar sense of peace. It gives me the freedom to teach in a way that aligns with our family’s values — natural wellness, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. I trust my instincts, adapt when things don’t go perfectly, and find creative solutions, which help me move through life with ease. This approach also reinforces the calm, grounded mindset I bring to my work as an herbalist.
Making herbal medicine brings me another layer of peace. There’s a deep sense of fulfillment in crafting remedies and guiding others to care for their families, connecting me to the work I’m called to pursue.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://audaciouscraze.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audacious_craze/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/Audaciouscraze/
