Made This Way: Founders Story

Listen on: Spotify

Season 1 / Episode 1

Description

In episode one of Mayfly Rising, host Kimberly Ranalla shares the deeply personal journey that led her from injury and uncertainty to building a movement dedicated to supporting women anglers. Through honest storytelling, Kimberly reflects on her recovery through fishing, the creation of Miss Mayfly Wading Gear, and the experiences that inspired the launch of Mayfly Rising.

Kimberly explores the challenges women face in fishing and outdoor spaces — from lack of representation and properly fitting gear to issues of safety, opportunity, and belonging. She discusses the importance of visibility, inclusivity, and community while calling for greater recognition and investment in women anglers.

Kimberly shares her background as founder and president of Miss Mayfly Wading Gear, describing how a 2014 workplace assault and recovery led her back to fishing, revealed major fit and sizing gaps in women’s waders, and inspired her to create a new sizing system and flexible, women-focused designs.

She emphasizes inclusion as a “way of being,” calls for industry representation and investment across differences, and asks listeners to support Mayfly Rising via contributions, and The Mayfly Society community.

Key Moments

Realizing Women Were Not Truly Being Seen

“How often are women in this space truly seen?”
Kimberly reflects on the lack of representation and authentic visibility for women anglers within the fishing industry.

“You Should Care” — Why Women’s Experiences Matter

One of the episode’s most powerful moments, Kimberly lays out the everyday barriers women anglers face — from gear and safety concerns to exclusion and lack of opportunity — while repeatedly emphasizing why these issues matter to everyone.

Fishing Became Part of Her Healing Journey

“For the first time in two years, I forgot the pain.”
After a life-changing injury, Kimberly describes how wading into the water and fishing helped her reconnect with herself physically and emotionally.

The Moment Miss Mayfly Was Born

“You’re just gonna have to make it.”
While searching unsuccessfully for women’s waders that truly fit, Kimberly realizes she is meant to create them herself.

The Core Message of the Episode

“My purpose was to tell women, ‘You belong.’”
Kimberly shares the deeper realization that her work was never just about waders — it was about helping women feel valued, included, and supported in fishing.

Timestamp

00:00 Welcome to Mayfly Rising

00:47 Why This Podcast Exists

05:24 Why You Should Care

08:33 Meet Kimberly Ranalla

09:38 Fishing Changed Everything

13:27 The Wader Problem

17:03 Building Miss Mayfly

23:26 Sizing Breakthrough

25:46 Designing for Women

27:40 First Waders Launch

28:32 Purpose Beyond Gear

31:12 Extra Plus Turning Point

34:19 Inclusion- The Way We Were Made

38:32 What Comes Next

40:08 Support and Farewell