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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Photos by Farhad Samari
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RESOURCES:
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
Information Referenced:
- Wellema Hat Co
- GoFundMe for the Wellemas
- Cody on Instagram
- NY Times article about Wellema Hat Co. and the Eaton Fire
- Cool video about Cody
- Teal Blake, rancher and creator. One of Cody’s hat-making inspirations.
- Havstad Hat Company
- Duckworth, born in Montana.
- M&P episode with woodworker Geoffrey Keating
- Cody’s profiles of other hat makers.
- Cody’s reading recs: Lonesome Dove series, William Boyd, Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, Picasso’s War.
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these too:
- Logan Maxwell Hagege Returns – On Taking Action & Finding Balance
- Beau Alexander – Paying Homage to the Past, While Focusing on the Future
- Christy Sing Robertson – On Grit, Hard Work, & Going All In
- Anna Borgman – Obsession, Curiosity, and Purpose-Driven Work
- Jenna Pollard – Timber Framing, Organic Farming, Community, and Purpose
- Ivan McClellan Returns – From Behind the Lens to Center of the Arena
- Jesse Griffiths – Humility, Curiosity, and Creative Cuisine
Visit the podcast page for a full, searchable list of episodes
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