EPISODE 67

Bekah O’Shea: Rebuilding Through Fire, Cancer and Creativity | Ride Free Montana, Coup de Rouge and HOWL

What happens when life repeatedly reminds you that time is never guaranteed?

In Episode 67 of the IWD406 Podcast, Julie Walz welcomes fifth-generation Montanan Bekah O’Shea—designer, entrepreneur, founder of Ride Free Montana, co-founder of House of Cowbella, and one of the creative forces behind Coup de Rouge and HOWL: House of West.

Bekah and her husband create handcrafted heirloom leather goods and silver pieces from their family ranch, combining traditional Western craftsmanship with a modern artistic perspective. But the heart of Bekah’s story reaches far beyond the products she creates.

After leaving respiratory therapy and surviving a devastating Colorado wildfire that destroyed her family’s home, Bekah began rebuilding more than a house. She later navigated her daughter’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis and then faced her own breast cancer diagnosis—experiences that changed how she thought about time, creativity, motherhood, collaboration and the life she wanted to build.

Those chapters taught Bekah to release what no longer mattered, pursue the ideas that continued calling her and become more intentional about creating meaningful memories with the people she loves.

In this conversation, Bekah shares how that resilience shaped Ride Free Montana and eventually helped inspire Coup de Rouge—an immersive platform bringing together Western and Indigenous fashion, fine art, film, storytelling, music and performance.

She also introduces HOWL: House of West, a collaborative creative space in downtown Livingston designed to bring artists, thinkers, producers and visionaries together through memberships, experiential events and production resources.

WHY LISTEN?

This episode is for anyone who has experienced an unexpected detour, questioned whether it was too late to pursue a creative dream or wondered how meaningful Montana events and brands are built behind the scenes.

Bekah’s story is an honest look at what it takes to rebuild, collaborate and continue creating when life changes the plan.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How Bekah’s fifth-generation Montana roots shaped her identity
• The influence of her grandmother and Helena’s historic Reader’s Alley
• Why Bekah initially pursued a career in respiratory therapy
• How losing her Colorado home to wildfire changed her direction
• What her daughter’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis taught her about motherhood
• How breast cancer reshaped her relationship with time and creativity
• How Ride Free Montana began on the family ranch
• The process behind its heirloom leatherwork and silver collaborations
• How found materials become meaningful, wearable pieces
• The vision behind Coup de Rouge
• Why Western and Indigenous representation matters within the creative landscape
• How immersive events are helping preserve and expand Montana’s cultural story
• What visitors can expect from the expanded three-day Coup de Rouge experience
• How HOWL is creating space for collaboration in downtown Livingston
• Why the right creative team can turn an ambitious idea into reality
• How Bekah protects her energy while continuing to build

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Bekah O’Shea
03:37 Montana Roots Tour
06:14 Hidden Gems in Seeley
07:47 Reader’s Alley Legacy
15:03 Finding Her Art Path
18:21 Healthcare Detour
25:40 Wildfire Loss and Rebuilding
30:18 Returning to Montana
33:51 Navigating Type 1 Diabetes
40:19 The Beginning of Ride Free Montana
42:24 Leatherwork Takes Off
45:43 Silver Collaborations and Creative Joy
48:16 Designing With Found Materials
50:10 Cancer, Stress and Letting Go
53:32 Resilience Through Chemotherapy
55:26 The Origins of Coup de Rouge
01:01:20 Red Lodge Roots and Meaning
01:05:40 Immersive Show Highlights
01:07:45 The Three-Day Event Experience
01:09:49 Launching HOWL: House of West
01:13:11 Building the Dream Team
01:19:35 Protecting Energy and Decompressing
01:22:03 How to Support the Events
01:26:44 Legacy Quickfire and Pass the Mic
01:31:00 Spotlighting Heidi Martincic
01:36:27 Where to Find Everything

Listen to the full episode and discover how Bekah O’Shea is helping build Montana’s creative future through resilience, collaboration and intentional storytelling.

Listen at: www.iwd406.com/podcast

The IWD406 Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Audible, Castbox and additional podcast platforms.

Watch the full interview and episode features on YouTube:
@IWD406MONTANAWOMEN

SPONSOR + PRODUCTION CREDITS

We are looking for sponsors or collaborators for our podcast.  If you are looking for promotion, IWD406 and the IWD406 Podcast offers long and short format interviews, video production, and is a space for promoting your brand, product, service, event or organization.  Email us today to learn more at jwalz@iwd406.com

We are in partnership with Production by Erickson Media.

The IWD406 Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and work of women shaping business, culture and community throughout Montana.

SPONSORSHIP AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Interested in sharing your business, event or brand with the growing IWD406 audience?

Learn more about podcast sponsorships, promotional partnerships and storytelling opportunities at www.iwd406.com.

Pass the Mic. Share the Story.