#94: We're rewinding to one of our favorite episodes with Heather Kelly, the powerhouse behind Heather's Choice — a backcountry meal brand born in Alaska and built for adventure. Heather is an entrepreneur, nutritionist, and outdoor enthusiast who turned her passion for real food and wild places into a thriving business.
In this episode, we talk about:
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How Heather's Choice was born
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Heather's roots in Alaska and the outdoor lifestyle
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Her approach to fueling adventure with healthy, packable meals
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Business lessons from the backcountry
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Why her products are a staple in my pack to this day
Whether you're a hunter, hiker, or weekend warrior — or you've dreamed of turning your passion into a business — Heather's story is one you don't want to miss.
Get our FAVORITE links, codes & more here! Chapters:
00:00 – Fireside Intro & Favorite Camp Snacks Kicking off around the virtual campfire with Heather's go-to snacks and drinks.
02:00 – Growing Up in Alaska Heather shares how her Alaskan upbringing shaped her love for the outdoors.
04:20 – First Outdoor Memory: Rafting at 18 Heather becomes a river rafting guide — a pivotal experience in leadership and confidence.
07:13 – Life After That First Summer What came next after guiding and how those lessons carried forward.
09:40 – Collegiate Athlete & Crew Journey Heather's time rowing in college and how athletics shaped her.
11:10 – Nutrition, Psoriasis & The Wake-Up Call How a health scare led her to explore diet, autoimmune wellness, and food as medicine.
14:18 – Disordered Eating & Recovery Her honest journey through body image, community support, and healing.
16:08 – Eating Psychology & Strength Culture Discussing the mental side of fitness and the impact of your circle.
20:50 – Finding What Fuels You Customizing your diet and tuning into your body's signals.
22:15 – Backcountry Nutrition = Safety & Performance Why what you eat in the wild matters more than you think.
23:15 – Anti-Inflammatory Eating & Autoimmune Healing What Heather eats now and how food helps her manage symptoms.
27:00 – Elimination Diets, Food Sensitivities & Listening to Your Body The evolution of nutrition through the lens of autoimmune support.
30:40 – The Start of Heather's Choice How her health journey led to dehydrated meals for the backcountry.
33:00 – First Products & DIY Growth From sockeye chowder to Shopify and organic buzz.
39:35 – Imposter Syndrome in a Saturated Market Breaking into the outdoor food industry and staying authentic.
44:00 – The Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship The real grind of building a business from scratch.
52:35 – Recipe Development at Heather's Choice How the team creates new meals and flavor profiles.
57:00 – A Day in the Life of Heather Kelly Business, balance, and daily rhythms as a founder.
1:03:00 – Packing Food for the Backcountry Tips on how to prepare and pack the right fuel for your adventure.
1:10:00 – What's Next for Heather's Choice Heather's future plans, personal updates, and ways to follow along.
EPISODE MENTIONS:
Watch the show on YouTube HERE
Heather's IG
Heather's Choice IG
SHOP Heather's Choice Adventure Meals & Snacks
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