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Femtech Health PodcastFemtech and women's health podcast. Author: Sheree Dibiase
Femtech and women's health podcast. We talk to leading experts in endometriosis, prenatal postpartum, pelvic floor, biotech and more. Join us weekly for conversations your OBGYN didn't even know existed. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Medicine, Sexuality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Breaking the Cycle: How Reusable Products Are Transforming Menstrual Care and Ending Period Poverty
Episode 49
Tuesday, 1 July, 2025
In this episode, Cherie Hoeger (CEO & co-founder of Saalt) breaks down the “reusable revolution” in period care—menstrual cups, discs, and patented leak-proof underwear—and shows how a B-Corp can combine product innovation with a global mission to end period poverty. You’ll hear practical how-tos, pelvic-floor tips, and a candid look at building a fast-growing fem-tech brand while raising six kids.Timestamps00:00 – 01:00 | Why disposable pads can’t solve period poverty01:00 – 04:00 | Meet Cherie & Saalt’s reusable mission04:00 – 08:30 | From “diaper-feel” to patented thin-dry underwear08:30 – 17:30 | Live demo: folding, inserting & removing cups vs. discs17:30 – 21:00 | Pelvic-floor support, prolapse & bladder leaks21:00 – 25:30 | 1 % give-back, 130 k donations in 50 countries25:30 – 33:00 | Founder life: in-office preschool & work-life integration33:00 – 38:00 | Hanky Panky collab, retail rollout (Target, Whole Foods, REI)38:00 – 44:00 | Packaging that makes periods “cart-worthy”44:00 – end | Vision: bring Saalt to every girl & end period povertyKey Points• Reusable > Disposable – Cups & discs hold 3-6× a tampon, last 10 + years, and slash monthly costs and waste. • Patented Period Underwear – Saalt spent 3½ years engineering the thinnest, driest tech on the market—now powering Hanky Panky’s Confidence Panty line. • Pelvic-Floor Friendly – Discs sit in the posterior fornix (no suction), making them ideal for prolapse, IUDs, heavy lifters, and “sneeze leaks.” • Life-Changing Donations – 130 k products placed in 50 countries; cups keep girls in school and women at work for 10 years on a single purchase. • Customer “Saalt Coaches” – Real humans (not chat-bots) guide users through fit, folds, leaks, PCOS, endo, and more. • Family-First Startup – Cherie & her husband built an on-site preschool and a strict 90-minute “power morning” to juggle six kids and a scaling brand. • Retail Proof – Instagram-worthy packaging helped Saalt hit Target shelves in year 2; now also in Whole Foods, REI, Walmart Teens, and Walgreens.Deep DivesThe Cup & Disc Advantage12-hour wear, medical-grade silicone, hypoallergenic.Discs allow mess-free period sex and added pelvic support.“It’s not bigger than a baby’s head—yes, it fits!”Underwear Tech & Hanky PankyUltra-thin absorbent gusset keeps the surface bone-dry.Holds 3–6 pads’ worth yet feels like everyday lace lingerie.Launched on International Women’s Day; sold out first run.Ending Period Poverty—Reusable or BustDisposable donations create endless cost and waste cycles.Cups + education end absenteeism for a decade on ~$30.Saalt targets eight high-need regions; 95 % adoption rate.Pelvic-Floor & Athletic UseDisc + period underwear combo recommended for marathoners.Cups can even outperform pessaries for some bladder-support users.Work-Life Integration BlueprintReplace “balance” with optimization.Morning ritual: reading, strength training, two mission-critical tasks before email.In-office preschool boosts retention & gender equity.Future VisionGlobal accessibility—“Saalt in every country.”Scale 1 % give-back to eradicate period poverty.Keep innovating where stigma once stalled progress (packaging, education, tech).Notable Quotes“Period poverty will never be solved by disposable products.” – Cherie Hoger“We’re not selling pads or cups—we’re selling confidence.”“A cup in your purse means no more emergency tampon runs.”Find Saalt: saalt.com | Amazon | Target | Whole Foods | REI | Walmart (Teen line)
