In this episode, Cassie Abel, founder and CEO of Wild Rye, joins the podcast to share the real story behind building a women-first outdoor apparel brand rooted in the mountain town of Ketchum, Idaho. Cassie opens up about the early chaos of launching Wild Rye, including a flawed first product run, a last-minute brand name change, and the realities of navigating co-founder dynamics. She also talks through the years-long process of expanding into snow outerwear and what it means to lead with intuition in a data-driven industry. This conversation covers decision-making under pressure, the challenges of raising capital and the unique energy that comes from building a brand with heart. It’s a candid and insightful episode for anyone curious about what it takes to grow a purpose-driven business in the outdoor industry. Show Notes: Wild Rye websit e Second Nature Podcast with Cassie Title Nine Pitchfest Women-Led Wednesday Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship Cassie on LinkedIn Christian on LinkedIn The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ KORE Outdoors gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. #koreoutdoors #craftgearfromhere
