#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:

• How Heather's Choice was born

• Heather's roots in Alaska and the outdoor lifestyle

• Her approach to fueling adventure with healthy, packable meals

• Business lessons from the backcountry

• 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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