Cody Wellema – After the Fire, Before What’s Next
Cody Wellema is a master hatmaker and the founder of Wellema Hat Co., a highly regarded, California-based custom hat business. For over a decade, Cody built a reputation as one of the country’s premier craftspeople in the art of traditional hatmaking, creating heirloom-quality hats by hand, using vintage tools and techniques that harken back to a slower, more intentional era. His work has been worn by artists, ranchers, musicians, and everyday folks alike, and his shop became not only a destination for finely made hats, but a gathering place rooted in community and craft.
On January 8th of this year, Cody and his family lost their Altadena storefront and workspace in the Eaton Canyon Fire, one of the many devastating fires that destroyed a large part of the greater Los Angeles area in early 2025. In the aftermath, he has navigated an overwhelming combination of grief, logistics, and uncertainty—yet throughout it all, he has maintained a sense of gratitude, humility, and forward-looking optimism that is as rare as it is inspiring. As he puts it, the fire forced a kind of reset—one that, while painful, has given him a blank page and the opportunity to reimagine the next chapter of his creative life.
In this conversation, we talk about Cody’s early entrepreneurial spirit, his deep appreciation for vintage craftsmanship, and how he taught himself the trade by deconstructing old hats and learning from the past. We also explore the role of presence in parenting, the importance of community, and the creative possibilities that can emerge when the old path is unexpectedly cleared. Cody’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and deep care– for people, for his craft, and for doing things the right way.
I was so inspired by Cody’s optimism and gratitude, and I know you will be too. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discussed, including a GoFundMe page that was set up to support Cody and his family during this unexpected time of chaos.
Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy!
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- Wellema Hat Co.
- Cody on Instagram
- GoFundMe page for the Wellemas
- Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/cody-wellema/
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TOPICS DISCUSSED:
- 3:30 – Intro, how’s Cody doing?
- 7:04 – His default wiring is optimism
- 8:49 – Setting an example for the kids
- 10:52 – Roots
- 12:41 – Cody’s evolution
- 17:33 – Heading out on his own
- 19:31 – Getting to hats
- 25:50 – Taking apart old hats
- 28:33 – Monetization
- 30:59 – Hindsight and going all in
- 34:41 – The fear of diving in
- 38:33 – Time to define
- 41:14 – More than just hats
- 46:29 – Blessing in the bad
- 51:59 – Moving on
- 56:00 – Cody’s first time voicing his new idea
- 1:04:59 – Taking the compliments
- 1:08:56 – Figuring out a blank slate
- 1:13:00 – Inspiration recs
- 1:18:16 – Final words of wisdom
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