Menopause happens to women. And it affects everyone in society. But menopause is not a singular experience for everybody. Every woman has her own journey in this mid-life process. Heather Hirsch, CEO of Health by Heather Hirsch, brings her rare combination of intellect, energy, passion, and creativity to being an advocate and healthcare partner to mid-life women. Whether through social media, panel discussions, or sitting one-on-one with a patient, Heather knows she is making a difference in the lives of so many. As she says, “Women’s health affects everybody.” Let’s have this mid-life conversation today. Tune in to this episode, and let’s make it better for EVERYBODY!

Kimba Williams' energy and passion explode off the screen as she talks about the auspicious meeting of her co-founder on a boat. The chemistry was instant and created the spark that resulted in Kushae. With a broad range of products for feminine care, the company is focused on providing effective, natural, and non-toxic health and hygiene products. Kimba also launched the Foaming Feminine Wash, the gateway drug for female hygiene. It’s interesting what happens when the doctor and diva meet on a trip. Tune in and discover the revolutionary, all-natural, effective solutions for vulvar care.

There is a concern in the industry towards providing safe and comfortable health procedures for women. Female founders have taken it in their hands to make this happen, just like our guest in this episode. Jennifer Fink, Chief Strategy Officer of Lutech Medical, focused on making sure the patient experience for women - whether after a trauma or a gynecological exam - is not fraught with anxiety, concern, and fear. Lutech's digital colposcope changes the interaction between healthcare providers and patients, reducing the potential stress and discomfort both physically and emotionally. Tune in to this conversation and discover how Lutech is revolutionizing the industry.

Jessica Federer, Managing Partner of Supernode Ventures, has a passion for women's health. Her career starts working in government, transitioning to working with government and big pharma. Jessica combines her dynamic background into her new role. She brings her comprehensive approach to looking at women's health not as a point in time but as a multi-faceted challenge. In her line of sight, Jessica focuses on big problems that need better solutions - like cardiovascular health and autoimmune diseases. Listen to this episode and find the value of precision medicine with Jessica Federer.

Combine a mother and daughter, legal and business education and incredible experience to create Thermaband - a new way to manage hot flashes. In this episode, Debbie Dickinson and Markea Dickinson share their story of becoming mother-daughter entrepreneurs creating Thermaband. They discuss how they navigate the challenges of being entrepreneurs in the women's health industry, especially as “people in color”. We'll hear about their unique approach to communication, how they deal with disagreements and conflicts, and how they maintain a healthy balance between family and work. They also talk about how they came up with the idea of Thermaband, the development process, and how their business has grown over the years. Tune in to hear from this dynamic duo on how they face down hot flashes and the challenges of a mother-daughter relationship while navigating the joys and complexities of business.

Many women retire, quit, or take another position outside of medicine due to burnout. In the medical field, how are women treated? In this episode, Dr. Somi Javaid, the founder of HerMD, talks about a women’s health care model that cares for female patients and makes happier patients. The model gives the providers mission-driven work and allows them to practice medicine the way it was intended. Dr. Javaid also added that they could maximize the amount of care under the umbrella of HerMD. Tune in to this episode for an insightful conversation.

HPV diagnostics is currently not very convenient, requiring patients to go to their doctor’s office for the test. Now, 10zyme founder Dr. Angela Pine wants to change that. She wants to improve access to HPV diagnostics by developing quicker, cheaper and more user-friendly tests. Angela joins Alyssa and Rachel in today’s episode as she shares the current state of HPV testing and 10zyme’s goal to create a reliable home diagnostic kit for HPV.

In the beauty industry, transparency and sustainability not only increase standards but also allow consumers to make informed choices about the products they use. Which then ultimately leads to a healthier and more equitable future for all. In this episode, Deb Millard, the President of Stripes and Healthy Aging brands at Amyris, discusses how its commitment to innovation and sustainability is changing the beauty industry. Deb shares her journey and how her children influenced her decision-making at Amyris. She delves into the evolving standards of beauty products and cosmetics, with a particular focus on those for older women. She talks about the importance of having conversations about topics like menopause and reproductive health across generations and genders. Deb also touches on the impact of sustainability and transparency in the beauty industry and how it affects consumers' purchasing decisions. Tune in and learn about science, celebrities, and navigating menopause in the modern world.

Allison Watkins, Founder and CEO of Watkins-Conti Products, didn't know that when she gave birth to, as she would say, "11 pounds of baby," she would also give birth to a business. After experiencing incontinence and searching for solutions, Allison decided to create a better option. With her indomitable energy and focus, Allison raised money, completed clinical studies, and created Yonifit, a device that comes in 6 sizes for the potential management of SUI symptoms. Learn how Yonifit may solve your problem with SUI (pending FDA approval)! Listen and tune in now!

“A woman’s body is a powerhouse. It can do extraordinary things.” -Kate Roberts, Founder of The Body Agency.   Cultural differences and religion create a gap in sexual health for women. In this episode, Kate Roberts, Founder of The Body Agency, shares a new narrative on women’s health offered by the agency. Kate shares how their website morphs into three parts to help fill the gap with health products, services, and education. She also explains the importance of their partnership with Inspire to become women’s health and sexual wellness partners where they have a safe space to have these conversations and education. Tune in to this episode now!

In today’s fast-paced world, medicine has become very disengaged. It is an assembly line, and building patient relationships seem to no longer be a priority. This is especially true in women’s sexual health, where not only hospital systems but also venture capital companies do not value it. Dr. Rachel Rubin has observed this and made it her mission to create value where no one is. After a career in urology, Dr. Rubin found a space in the healthcare delivery ecosystem to provide different and better care. With a focus on male and female sexual wellness, Dr. Rubin is building different kinds of relationships with her patients and making a difference. She joins us in this episode to discuss how she is reinventing the model by creating a patient-centered model for treating sexual wellness. Tune in to not miss out!

Menstrual cycle is a monthly occurrence for women, but it seems that it is still plagued with misconceptions. Since many see it only as a part of ovulation, a lot of women overlook proper menstrual hygiene. And if complications happen, they are not addressed properly. Danielle Keiser acknowledged this must be resolved immediately, and so she built a career around her unflinching interest in all things cycle-related. Joining Alyssa Dweck and Rachel Braun Scherl, she shares how she changes the conversation and the amount of education around menstruation. Danielle explains how she takes a comprehensive approach to the intersection of emotions, physical, and lifestyle impact of cycles through Madami, bringing this topic to the attention of medical experts, lawmakers, and women themselves.

What do automotive technology and fertility management have in common? As unlikely as this pairing sounds, they both benefit from the power of artificial intelligence. This is why it was quite seamless for Eran Eshed to shift careers from the technology space to fertility management. Ultimately, the fundamentals of the technology were the same, and Eran was just happy to be able to apply his expertise to something that’s very compassionate. Joining Alyssa Dweck and Rachel Braun Scherl on the podcast, the co-founder and CEO of Fairtility shares how his team in Israel developed a way to enhance the process of creating families with the use of AI. He introduces the platform they’re working on that benefits three main stakeholders: embryology labs, physicians, and aspiring parents. He also touches on some of the more controversial aspects of AI in fertility like genetic testing and the impact of AI on the jobs of physicians. Tune in to take a peek into the future of fertility management that’s already happening now!

Women who deal with vaginal adhesions may suffer from extreme discomfort and experience sandpaper-like sex. One of the most practical solutions to this problem is undergoing a dilation therapy. However, this process can be uncomfortable all the same. Aquafit Intimate has created a new approach to dilators to address sexual wellness and intimate health in an enjoyable way. Joining Alyssa Dweck and Rachel Braun Scherl are two of the company’s Co-Founders, Rebecca Sternberg and Varda Messer. They share how they have made dilators more accessible through hydrogel, making this equipment less barbaric than static dilators. Rebecca and Varda also talk about their flexible marketing strategies that allow Aquafit to survive on a shoestring and how they navigate Google that constantly flag their content as explicit.

We have undeniably come a long way when it comes to health. Yet, there is still so much that hasn’t been explored about women’s health. There is a noticeable gap in how women can learn about the different chapters of their lives. Dr. Daisy Robinton, the Co-founder and CEO of Oviva Therapeutics, is elevating conversations around women’s health, helping them live longer, healthier lives. In this episode, she discusses hormones, ovaries, and our overall reproductive health and the current struggles in the space to tackle the unknowns and black boxes on them. Plus, Dr. Robinton shares the great things they are doing at Oviva to help women through ovarian physiology to live with longer vitality and better health.

Women who deal with vaginal adhesions may suffer from extreme discomfort and experience sandpaper-like sex. One of the most practical solutions to this problem is undergoing a dilation therapy. However, this process can be uncomfortable all the same. Aquafit Intimate has created a new approach to dilators to address sexual wellness and intimate health in an enjoyable way. Joining Alyssa Dweck and Rachel Braun Scherl are two of the company’s Co-Founders, Rebecca Sternberg and Varda Messer. They share how they have made dilators more accessible through hydrogel, making this equipment less barbaric than static dilators. Rebecca and Varda also talk about their flexible marketing strategies that allow Aquafit to survive on a shoestring and how they navigate Google that constantly flag their content as explicit.

We have undeniably come a long way when it comes to health. Yet, there is still so much that hasn’t been explored about women’s health. There is a noticeable gap in how women can learn about the different chapters of their lives. Dr. Daisy Robinton, the Co-founder and CEO of Oviva Therapeutics, is elevating conversations around women’s health, helping them live longer, healthier lives. In this episode, she discusses hormones, ovaries, and our overall reproductive health and the current struggles in the space to tackle the unknowns and black boxes on them. Plus, Dr. Robinton shares the great things they are doing at Oviva to help women through ovarian physiology to live with longer vitality and better health.

Being a new parent is far from easy: there are so many things to worry about, so many challenges, and things can sometimes spiral out of control. Breastfeeding, postpartum for new moms, preventing infant falls, and so much more are all worries that come with being a new parent. The market is flooded with products that claim to solve these issues and concerns but in reality, you can never be certain that you’ve chosen the right solution. In response to some of these worries there is a product for new parents, both mom and dad, and it’s simply brilliant. The guests on today’s episode, Hayley Mullins and Sarah-Almaza Cox, are the co-founders of Joeyband. Joeyband is a baby sling made of yoga pant material clinically proven and designed for prolonged skin-to-skin care in all new born care settings- something every baby needs and deserves. Joeyband™ is the only product in the market that can be used directly on the Operating Room (O.R.) table during repair, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Labor & Delivery (L&D) unit. This product has been around for a long time, and the impact it has had on babies is simply incredible. Stay tuned to find out more about Joeyband and the ways it can help mothers, fathers and babies connect even more. You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here. TOPICS COVERED: Meet Hayley Mullins, the inventor of Joeyband and Sarah-Almaza Cox, the co-founder of the company that makes Joeyband. Joeyband is a product designed for skin-to-skin infant fall prevention and breastfeeding support, as we learn from Hayley. Infant falls are far more common than we realize, and the goal of Joeyband is to prevent these falls while keeping the baby safely attached to the parent. As soon as the girls launched their website, people became interested and they realized they were onto something big in the healthcare space. Since Joeyband is a non-sterile product, Dr. Dweck wonders whether it can be used immediately on the operating table, or only after the delivery. As Sarah explains, it is especially important to place the baby on mom after a C-section, and this is where Joeyband can make things better. Another question by Dr. Dweck focuses on the difficulties that can arise when babies sleep in the same bed as their parents, and Hayley states that they do not recommend co-sleeping with Joeyband unless you are being observed. Rachel steers the discussion in a new direction: where do they stand in terms of product development, manufacturing, and distribution? Joeyband is used in many hospitals across North America, and they have collected lots of interesting data on topics such as increased breastfeeding, reduced falls, improved patient satisfaction, and so on. Sarah adds that they are based in Canada and that everything is made within North America, which they are very proud of. As Rachel wants to know who pays for the product and where does money changes hands, Sarah explains that hospitals are currently covering the costs, but their goal is to have insurance cover it entirely. Can men use Joeyband? Hayley explains that during the first day of baby’s life dads should have 30 minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact. Sarah also emphasizes that, apart from dads, Joeyband can also be used by physically disabled parents. Joeyband is made of yoga pant material because many new moms wear yoga pants all the time, and the material is soft, stretchy and breathable. While she was practicing obstetrics, Dr. Dweck used to see many anxious postpartum mothers, and one of their most common fears was dropping the baby. The Joeyband team is fully supported and surrounded by medical professionals who help them adjust the product and adhere to clinical guidelines. When it comes to educating parents, each product comes with instructions and tips for using Joeyband. For those interested in the product, there is a website that they can visit and gather all the necessary information. As for the funding, the Joeyband team decided not to take external funding in order to maintain greater control over their business. HOT FLASH: Newborns are dropped in hospitals during delivery much more commonly than reported. It seems that reports from the UK show there is a drop rate of 50 babies per day during delivery.   QUOTES: “Where the product really came from was one of those horrific parenting moments that nobody thinks they’re going to have.” (Hayley) “We don’t recommend co-sleeping with it unless there’s somebody there to observe you.” (Hayley) “It’s a brilliant idea, and obviously your initial response was from the kind of people that you’d want to see it from, and it sounds like there’s clinical support.” (Rachel) “One of the things that I love is that it’s manufactured directly in Canada. The quality of the product is high, we’re bringing jobs, and locally our environmental footprint is low.” (Sarah) “The question that’s burning me right now is whether mean wear this because, you know, skin-to-skin is skin-to-skin whether that’s slightly hairier skin or not so much.” (Dr. Dweck) “Thirty minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin with dad that first day of baby’s life actually rewires his brain to bond with the baby.” (Hayley) “Because of the simplicity in the design that Hayley invented, it’s perfect for parents who may have a physical disability as well.” (Sarah) “I remember trying to make sure that my baby would live in between pediatrician appointments for my first kid. That was my goal, to keep them alive week after week because you really don’t know what you’re doing.” (Rachel) “We made a conscious decision not to take external funding just because we would be able to be in control of our business a little bit more.” (Sarah) “Babies held skin-to-skin cry twelve times less than babies that are not skin-to-skin” (Hayley) FURTHER RESOURCES: Joeyband www.joeyband.com Hayley @Linkedin Sarah @Linkedin  LINKS FOR BUSINE$$ OF THE V: Website: www.businessofthev.com Twitter : @businessofthev Instagram : @businessofthev Subscribe to our Youtube channel : Business of the V - YouTube Dr. Alyssa Dweck: https://drdweck.com Rachel Braun Scherl: Home - Rachel Braun Scherl

When it comes to caring for our bodies, most of us know that we should be doing a little bit of everything — from eating healthy foods to getting regular exercise, to taking care of our skin. But when it comes to specifically taking care of the hair down there, many women don't know where to start. Today we discuss the lack of vaginal and skincare products aimed at women of color and how our guest is bridging this gap and allowing these women to take care of their pubic area without feeling dazed and confused. Dr. Cynthia Wesley is a practicing physician and an entrepreneur; she is the founder and CEO of Beauty Below, a product line and resource for intimate wellness and beauty for women with dark skin and course hair. Dr. Wesley, or Dr. Cyn, as she is known, is a true warrior for women, and she has used her negative experience dating back to her college years to assist other women in identifying and resolving any issues ‘below the waist’. Stay tuned to find out what products Beauty Below offers, how women of color differ in the area ‘down there’, and how Dr. Cyn fights to empower women of color on a daily basis! You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here. TOPICS COVERED: Meet Dr. Cynthia Wesley, the founder and CEO of a company called Beauty Below. Her company’s hashtag, #BlackVaginaConfidence, speaks volumes about their goals and objectives. According to Dr. Wesley, women of color are more prone to ingrown hairs, dark sports, bacterial vaginosis, and other similar issues. The most important goal is to give women of color confidence and education about their intimate space so that healthcare disparities can be addressed. Just like many other vagipreneurs, Dr. Wesley started this company based on personal experience, as she had been struggling with pubic hair since college. The essential products at Beauty Below are a medicated shave moose, an ingrown hair serum, and pads for dark sports ‘down there’. Dweck wants to know how product formulations were developed and who was involved in the process. There are several differences between white women and women of color when it comes to the area below the waist, which inspired Dr. Wesley to write a book titled Beauty Below, where women can find all sorts of tips and medical advice for properly treating their vaginas. Bacterial vaginosis is directly related to vitamin D deficiency; in other words, if you’re having problems down there, check your vitamin D first! Dweck adds a few more topics to the discussion, including douching, boric acid, and probiotics. Your diet is also very important for your vaginal health since it directly affects the health of your entire body. According to Rachel, Beauty Below launched in July, and Dr. Wesley adds that the products are available on the company’s website. Wesley is still in practice and she’s also running her business, so Dr. Dweck is astounded and wants to know how she does it. Rachel is curious about the origins of the ingredients and the products, and we learn that all products are made in the United States, and all labs are certified. Since this is an ongoing debate, Dr. Dweck asks the following question: Hair or bare down there? Wesley treats all women as if they were close family members, doing her best to help and educate them on their intimate space. Apart from the website, you can also find Beauty Below on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. As for the latest products, Beauty Below has just released their booty bundle, which includes a booty mask, a sugar scrub, and a shower loofah. HOT FLASH: It seems that approximately 80% of women ages 18-65 report that they remove some of all of their pubic hair.   QUOTES: “All women have suffered over the years with the negative connotations that can be associated with our most intimate space, and sometimes that’s exacerbated in women of color.” (Dr. Wesley) “I feel that it’s very important that women of color are confident in their intimate space, confident with being okay with speaking up and learning what they need to learn.” (Dr. Wesley) “I started researching what works and what doesn’t work; I was my personal Guinea pig. And what evolved was Beauty Below.” (Dr. Wesley) “I found out that women of color actually have a different type of lactic acid than white women, and that particular lactic acid has a higher pH, which makes you a little bit more prone to bacterial vaginosis.” (Dr. Wesley) “There was a huge study done at the University of Pittsburgh, and what they discovered is that bacterial vaginosis is directly tied to vitamin D deficiency.” (Dr. Wesley) “I imagine the trust and the connection to your users is critically important and that they want to know where the ingredients are sourced from and where the products are made.” (Rachel) “Hair or bare down there? In my neck of the woods, it seems there’s just not that much hair to deal with, and I don’t think this is a trend that’s going away anytime soon.” (Dr. Dweck) “If you want to do a little bit more down there, for whatever reason, I’m okay with that. You just need to know what your risks are.” (Dr. Wesley) “You have such a clear vision of who you want to help, how you want to help and, very importantly, the tone of the conversation that you want to have.” (Rachel) “Educating women is the cornerstone of Beauty Below.” (Dr. Wesley) FURTHER RESOURCES: Beauty Below www.beautybelowmd.com Dr. Wesley @Linkedin  LINKS FOR BUSINE$$ OF THE V: Website: www.businessofthev.com Twitter : @businessofthev Instagram : @businessofthev Subscribe to our Youtube channel : Business of the V - YouTube Dr. Alyssa Dweck: https://drdweck.com Rachel Braun Scherl: Home - Rachel Braun Scherl

As the number of businesses devoted to menopause treatment and wellness continues to grow, global innovation focused on the health and wellness wants and needs of women ages 40+ grows as well. As we become more aware of the difficulties that menopausal women face on a daily basis, it is becoming increasingly important to understand these women’s wants and needs in order to help them in the most effective manner. Our hosts, Dr. Dweck and Rachel, are joined today by Denise Pines, co-founder of the FemAging HealthTech Report and a woman whose numerous spheres of interest focus primarily on menopausal women and their inability to be heard, advised and treated properly. FemAging was founded in order to discover what women aged 40-65 truly require, and it is now evolving into something larger and more complex. Denise has also been involved in a number of other projects devoted to menopause health and wellness, and she is here today to tell us all about her personal journey through menopause, as well as the concepts and goals of her multiple projects and businesses. You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here. TOPICS COVERED: Meet Denise Pines, the co-founder of the FemAging Report. Denise is currently at the epicenter of everything that is going on, so she has come to share her vast experience with us. As Denise says, “It all started with a hot flash”. As she began to enter the women’s health market, Denise realized how similar these women were to her. Many women feel like they are the only ones going through menopause because no one is talking about it. Dweck feels that this story really struck a chord since she has many women in her office who are experiencing troubling symptoms and believe that no one else is. We learn more about Denise’s Hot Flash Tea: it helps put GABA back into our brains, which is essentially a receptor in the brain that regulates our sensation of heat. Rachel adds that she has frequently encountered women who had no idea what was wrong when the symptoms appeared and thought that nobody else on Earth was having them. Another point emphasized by both Rachel and Dr. Dweck is the fact that Denise learned about menopause from her mother, which is uncommon among menopausal women. Denise explains that she was aware of some of the symptoms prior to menopause, but she did not experience the same symptoms as her mother did. After experiencing hot flashes, Denise decided to launch WisePause Wellness, a recurring event where menopausal women can get information from qualified physicians. Denise created a survey to determine what menopausal women truly desired. Dweck brings up hormones because there is a huge divide between patients who are okay with hormones and those who are strongly opposed to them. Denise explains that women are still hesitant because they believe the hormones will harm them. Rachel genuinely admires Denise’s extensive experience and remarks that ‘her business card would be the size of a poster’, so she is curious about the goals of FemAging as another one of Denise’s businesses. We learn that FemAging will become a subscription-based platform where can learn more about the latest innovations and solutions in the field of menopause treatment. As Denise points out, only 5% of the physicians are OB-GYNs, and only 25% of them are menopause specialists, so some changes will be required in that area. Dweck adds that OB-GYN residents receive very little training in menopause, resulting s in a shortage of physicians who are trained to help patients. Rachel emphasizes the importance of individuals such as Denise and Dr. Dweck in assisting patients in realizing that doctors are not their enemies and in providing a safe haven for them. Denise brings up another important point: women don’t know how to communicate with their doctors and aren’t always honest with them. To learn more about Denise’s work, you can visit FemAging for the report, WisePause for the event, or Tea Botanics for the hot flash products. HOT FLASH: According to a small survey of US OB-GYN residents at Johns Hopkins, only one in every five residents receives formal training in menopause medicine.   QUOTES: “I tell everyone this all started with a hot flash.” (Denise) “You’ve literally mentioned a day in my life in my office where so many women come in with concerning symptoms and either think they’re having a heart attack or some sort of a neurological problem.” (Dr. Dweck) “I wanted to commend you for asking your mother about her experience because we know from studies that your genetic propensity is going to explain a lot of your menopausal symptoms.” (Dr. Dweck) “Most of the time we hear people say ‘I had symptoms and I had no idea what they were from or if anyone else on the Earth was having them’.” (Rachel) “Consumers can react to things, they can tell you what they don’t like, but it’s much more difficult for any of us to communicate a solution or what we need for something we can’t picture or something we can’t experience or something we’ve never seen.” (Rachel) “I find this huge dichotomy between patients who are hormone-positive and hormone-absolutely-never, and there doesn’t really seem to be much of a middle ground.” (Dr. Dweck) “They are still extremely hesitant to use them and they really still fear that it’s going to harm them, that they’re going to get cancer.” (Denise) “I want to do this menopause survey about the gap between treatment and management of menopause not to cast dispersion on physicians, but to factually reveal women’s experience.” (Denise) “I just wanted to make a comment about how little training residents in OB-GYN get in menopausal care. I think it’s literally a couple of hours if we’re lucky.” (Dr. Dweck) “We need to create more safe havens where patients feel like they can talk to their doctors.” (Rachel) “If you don’t know the symptoms and you don’t have a healthcare practitioner and you don’t know the right questions to ask and you don’t have a vocabulary, you don’t know where to go.” (Rachel) “Women don’t know how to have a relationship with their doctors. Even the patients who love you, there are probably some times when they’re not honest.” (Denise) “I think the medical profession has some work to do in terms of really creating better access.” (Dr. Dweck) “I think it’s a great time to take the wind beneath our wings and really make progress.” (Rachel) FURTHER RESOURCES: FemAging www.femaging.com WisePause www.wisepause.com Tea Botanics www.teabotanics.com Denise @LinkedIn  LINKS FOR BUSINE$$ OF THE V: Website: www.businessofthev.com Twitter : @businessofthev Instagram : @businessofthev Subscribe to our Youtube channel : Business of the V - YouTube Dr. Alyssa Dweck: https://drdweck.com Rachel Braun Scherl: Home - Rachel Braun Scherl