1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: Today on the bright Side, we're talking hormones, health, mysteries, 2 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: and the power of listening to our bodies with Rachel Blank, 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: the founder and CEO of Alara, so women's health tech 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: company that's demystifying hormonal care and making evidence based treatment 5 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: actually accessible. We get into why so many women feel dismissed, 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: what real support can actually look like, and how Rachel 7 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: turned her own confusing and very relatable experience into a 8 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: platform that's helping women everywhere feel more in tune with 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: their bodies and way less alone. 10 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: When I first started the business and I was first 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 2: fund raising, literally, I was told, probably nine times out 12 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: of ten, isn't this niche? Isn't this a niche market? 13 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh, women's health is niche. Women like half 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: the world, and half the world it's like chronic conditions 15 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 2: affecting one in three women. Pretty Much every woman you 16 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 2: talk to has some sort of a story of this 17 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: is my medical issue, this is what I didn't get 18 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 2: care for. 19 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: I'm simone voice and this is the bright side from 20 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. We're talking about women's health and specifically hormone 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: health on the show today, y'all, and I'm sure all 22 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: of us have a horror story that we can share 23 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: that took place inside of a doctor's office. I know 24 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: I do. One time I went to an obguin appointment 25 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: and the doctor left me spread eagle on the table 26 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: while she talked on the phone to her general contractor 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: about why her pool renovation was delayed. I am not joking. 28 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: I am not joking. This actually happened, and I was stunned. 29 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: I was just absolutely flabbergasted, and of course like mortified 30 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: and vulnerable. It felt violated. And this doctor, who was 31 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: a female doctor by the way, proceeded to tell me 32 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: that I had uterine scarring, which felt like a huge 33 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: bomb to drop on me while I'm spread eagle on 34 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: your table and in my early twenties. And she also 35 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: told me I may or may not be able to 36 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: have kids again, zero bedside manner when delivering life altering 37 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: medical information. That was two children ago, guys. So I'm 38 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: happy to report she was wrong. Needless to say, so 39 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: many of us have felt gas lit by the medical community, 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: and if it's happened to you, I am so sorry. 41 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: And this is particularly common when it comes to our 42 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: reproductive health. That's why our guest today is going to 43 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: be such a breath of fresh air. Rachel Blank is 44 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 1: the founder of Alara, a company working to make specialized 45 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: care more accessible for women dealing with hormonal health issues. 46 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: Alara offers hormone and metabolic testing, a process that measures 47 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: things like testosterone, ovarian function, thyroid function, vitamin deficiencies, and 48 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: many many other metrics to help identify imbalances and then 49 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: guide personalized treatment. I started looking into a Lara when 50 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: I was experiencing what I thought were extreme hormonal symptoms 51 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 1: in my own body. I was experiencing really and severe 52 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: hormonal acne, terribly painful periods, severe mood swings, and I 53 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: was basically just you know, going online and googling my 54 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: symptoms to see what was going on. So when I 55 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: came across a Lara, I was like, oh wow, this 56 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 1: is amazing a company that's actually making it easy to 57 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: understand what's happening in our bodies. And before she became 58 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: a Lara's founder, Rachel went through her own confusing, frustrating 59 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 1: health journey herself, and that's exactly why she knew she 60 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: was the woman who had to start this company. So 61 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: today we're diving into all of it her story of 62 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: raising forty six million dollars from a predominantly male venture 63 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: capital industry who thought women's health was niche at the time. 64 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: They couldn't be more wrong. Now you'll hear how Alara 65 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: helps diagnose and treat hormonal conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome 66 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: or PCOS, which is a very common hormonal disorder among 67 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: women who are a free productive age. And we are 68 00:03:56,480 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: also diving into my hormone results in real time with 69 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: a physician from Alara, And let me tell you, I 70 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: learned something about my own fertility in this conversation that 71 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: truly shocked me, and I have not stopped thinking about 72 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: it since. So if you've ever felt like your body 73 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: sending you weird signals that you can't decode, trust me, 74 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: you're not alone. And this one's for you. 75 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 3: All right. 76 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 1: Here's my conversation with Rachel Blank. Rachel Blank, welcome to 77 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: the bright Side. 78 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me, so happy to have you here. 79 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: You created Alara, and it's a company that helps women 80 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: solve their hormonal health problems? What was your why when 81 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:34,799 Speaker 1: starting this company? 82 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 2: In a lot of ways, Alara is really just the 83 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 2: result of me being a really frustrated patient and wanting 84 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: something better for myself. I was diagnosed with PCOS or 85 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 2: polycystic ovarian syndrome about fifteen years ago now, and what 86 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: I found was that it was really hard to get 87 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 2: good ongoing care for my condition. I felt like it 88 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: was hard to find doctors who either wanted to treat 89 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 2: me because I was quote unquote not ready to get pregnant, 90 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 2: so what would they do, or I didn't look like 91 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 2: I had PCOS. And I realized actually that the concept 92 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: of a specialist for chronic conditions didn't really exist, and 93 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 2: so I spent many years kind of trying to figure 94 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 2: things out on my own. I would go on Reddit forums, 95 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: I would go on social media, I would try all 96 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: kinds of diets, and it just occurretinate one point that 97 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: in this day and age, women should not be resorting 98 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 2: to Reddit to solve very common hormonal health challenges. And 99 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 2: so Allara really was what I had always wanted as 100 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: a patient. It was bringing together the best of both 101 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 2: worlds of medicine and nutrition and lifestyle therapy, as well 102 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: as being a place that took women seriously and helped 103 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 2: them through their concerns. 104 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: Whatever they are taking women seriously is huge because I 105 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: know there are so many of us listening right now, 106 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 1: myself included, who feel like we haven't been taken seriously 107 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: in this department. I mean, speaking of not being taken seriously, 108 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: you were diagnosed with PCOS in the most unexpected way. 109 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: How did that happen? 110 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, so my diagnosis is actually kind of a flu. 111 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: I had irregular periods pretty much ever since I started puberty. 112 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 2: I would get my period like once or twice a year, 113 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: And even though I'm the daughter of no Objian, I 114 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: somehow never thought to like ask about this. I actually think, 115 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: in hindsight, a lot of it was because I was ashamed. 116 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: I was ashamed of feeling different than my friends, of 117 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: feeling like the odd one out. 118 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 3: And I know a lot of women can relate to this. 119 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: It's almost like you kind of brush it aside or 120 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 2: don't look into it, because there's a lot of shame 121 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: around of feeling different, especially around things that affect your 122 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 2: fertility and things that we consider what make us a woman, 123 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 2: And so I just let all these symptoms kind of 124 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: get ignored. I had acne, I gained a bunch of 125 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: weight when I got to college, and I had a 126 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 2: bunch of gastro intestinal issues, which we actually know that 127 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 2: there is some thought that there's some overlap between hormone 128 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 2: health issues and GI issues. And in the process of 129 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 2: investigating those, I was getting an ultrasound and it was 130 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,239 Speaker 2: the either the ultra CID or SONOGRAMO notch which one 131 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: it was. The tech for that that said do you 132 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: know you have PCOS? I was like, what are you 133 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 2: talking about? I even know what that is. She said, well, 134 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 2: your ovaries look like textbook PCOS ovaries. And I just 135 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: remember again feeling very alone and scared and ashamed in 136 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: a lot of ways, which, in hindsight to me is 137 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: so upsetting because it's such a common condition. 138 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 3: It affects up to one in five women. 139 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: I've heard you say that receiving that diagnosis, while negative 140 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: and scary, you were able to reframe it as a 141 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: positive because it became this tool, this gateway for you 142 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: to learn more about your own body. 143 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean what to say, Knowledge is power, right, 144 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: and I think especially with women's health care, really we've 145 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: been left in the dark for a long time. 146 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 3: Right. 147 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: If you look at research around women's health, it is underfunded. 148 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: We don't know enough about the female body, and so 149 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 2: I think any information you can have to help empower 150 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 2: you to make better decisions is valuable to you as 151 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: a patient. Something that we see a lot that I 152 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: find so frustrating is we'll see women who don't get 153 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 2: diagnosed with the condition like PCOS until they're in their thirties. 154 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: They've been going through an infertility battle. They they've been 155 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: trying for over a year to get pregnant, and it's 156 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: in the infertility doctor's office that they're being diagnosed with PCOS. Now, 157 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 2: at that point, you've been trying to get pregnant for 158 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 2: a year, you're probably going straight to IVF. You're like, 159 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 2: I will take any desperate measure I need to. But 160 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: in reality, had you known five ten years prior, you 161 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 2: might have been able to make different decisions or do 162 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 2: different things that would set you up more for success. 163 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: And so in a lot of ways, for example, I 164 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: feel like I haven't had kids yet, but going into 165 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: that process being equipped about what's going on with my body, 166 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: how do I best approach kind of pregnancy planning and 167 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 2: all of that, and not starting when I actually want 168 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 2: to get pregnant, but giving myself plenty of time to 169 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 2: figure things out first. 170 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: I think is such a powerful tool. 171 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: That's the way it should be done. Yeah, we should 172 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: all be armed with that knowledge, and that knowledge can 173 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: just help us live better lives. It can increase our 174 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: quality of life because the reality is hormones touch everything. 175 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: We're not just talking about PMS or or mood swings 176 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: or hormonal acne. Can you elaborate on the link between 177 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: anxiety and depression and hormones. 178 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, so, and I realized I just talked about pregnancy. 179 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 2: But I think that's such an important point that hormone 180 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 2: health is not just about your reproductive health. And in fact, 181 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: what we've talking about hormones, there are reproductive health hormones, 182 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 2: but there are also metabolic hormones and other hormones in 183 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 2: your body that affect so many different things for you. 184 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 2: So good example is a PCs patient, and I think 185 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 2: a lot of times we think about PCOS or historically 186 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 2: some doctors have thought about PCOS as a reproductive health issue. 187 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 2: How does it affect your fertility, your ovaries, your bloody 188 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 2: get pregnant. But it's not just your ovaries. We know 189 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,199 Speaker 2: that a lot of women with PCs, for example, also 190 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 2: have insulin resistance. The vast majority of patients, and so 191 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 2: that sets them up for things like obesity diabetes. About 192 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 2: half of women with pcos will develop type two diabetes 193 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 2: by the time they're forty without proper interventions. 194 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 3: Staggering, yes, staggering. 195 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 2: And so by focusing just on, you know, the ovary 196 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 2: part of the we miss so much of the rest 197 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: of your health. Another big link is with mental health. 198 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: So we know that women with hormonal conditions like PCOS 199 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: have two to four times higher rates of anxiety and 200 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: depression compared to patients in the typical population. And again, 201 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 2: if you don't have the answer of why are you 202 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 2: experiencing all these symptoms, you don't know how to solve 203 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 2: them and how to get a handle on them, you're 204 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: just kind of left to suffer in a lot of ways. 205 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: I just learned so much just now, and that is 206 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: truly heartbreaking, the fact that this negligence that stems from 207 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: the medical community just overlooking women in our needs is 208 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: actually leading to all these other conditions that are linked 209 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: to hormones. 210 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I will say in defensive doctors for a second, 211 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: I mentioned my dad as an objin, but I think 212 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: really there were two kind of systemic things that I 213 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 2: was noticing that we're instrumental in how I built Alara. 214 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 3: I think one you know, I always say part of 215 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 3: the issue. 216 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 2: Yes, there are some doctors who maybe don't care, but 217 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 2: there are so many doctors who do care. It's just 218 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: so hard in traditional practice settings to give the time 219 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 2: and attention that they want to to patients. 220 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: Okay, so explain that more, like why is it so hard? 221 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: So we think about the objian for example, they're often 222 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 2: practicing in hospital settings or in private equity backed roll ups. 223 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 2: They're operating in person, they've a ton of overhead, They're 224 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 2: seeing like five six patients an hour, right, They're jumping 225 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 2: from office to office. They're oftentimes treating somebody as their 226 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 2: primary care provider. I know so many women who use 227 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: their OB as a primary care provider. And so by 228 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: the time they've done your path, they've done your annual checkup, 229 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 2: they've talked to you about the really high level stuff. 230 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 2: They don't necessarily have time in that seven minute visit 231 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 2: to then go into the complexities of a condition like PCOS. 232 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: In addition to providing patients with data on their hormones, 233 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: you also provide other suggestions as to how to treat 234 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: the hormones right exactly. 235 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 2: So, something I had also noticed in the system was 236 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: that there was a lot of testing going on, and 237 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 2: you're seeing it all the time, right, You'll see startups 238 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: pop up all the time around testing. Testing isn't necessarily 239 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 2: that valuable in it and of itself. Right, If I 240 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 2: tell you that you have abnormal hormones, or maybe I 241 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: tell you that you have normal hormones, but you still 242 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: have symptoms that you're experiencing, how does it really help 243 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: you to just have that information. We need to give 244 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: you the tools to improve your symptoms, and we need 245 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 2: to give you tools that actually of licensed provider is 246 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 2: helping you with and not just saying okay, best of luck, 247 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 2: go figure it out on the internet. 248 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,839 Speaker 1: Well, I've been really looking forward to this conversation today 249 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: because I am selfishly digging for information about my own hormones, 250 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: and our listeners know that I've gone through so many 251 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: hormonal issues and symptoms, from extremely painful periods to hormonal acne, 252 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: mood swings, thick dark hair growing in unwanted areas of 253 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: my body, and in an effort to destigmatize asking direct 254 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: questions about our health mysteries, we're actually going to discuss 255 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: the results of my hormone panel in real time. So 256 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: for this conversation a Laura's medical director, doctor Tiffany fam 257 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: is here to help. Hi, doctor Tiffany. Welcome to the 258 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 1: bright Side. Thank you so much for having me, Doctor Tiffany. 259 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: What's wild to me about hearing the results for the 260 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: first time is that I could have sworn that I 261 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: was going to get this hormone panel back and it 262 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: was going to be all over the map, that my 263 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: android is are going to be all the way up here, 264 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: my estrogen was going to be all the way down here. 265 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: So it's kind of dumbfounding to me that the results 266 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: were so normal, and yet what I was feeling felt 267 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: so extreme and so abnormal. Could you shed some light 268 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: on that gap between what we're feeling in our bodies 269 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: hormonally and what shows up in test results. 270 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 4: Some of the feelings that patients have when they are 271 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 4: experiencing their symptoms or they know that something is going 272 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 4: on underline, but their test results don't necessarily point to that. 273 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 4: Sometimes there can be a lot of disappointment because it's 274 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 4: much easier to say, yes, I can pinpoint one exact 275 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 4: thing that's wrong, and let's treat that and make you 276 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 4: feel better. At least you know internally that okay, there's 277 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 4: something that we can focus on. However, when the labs 278 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 4: come back normal, I think you're left with more questions 279 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 4: than answers, and that can be quite frustrating. So first off, 280 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 4: I think it's important, you know, as a provider, to 281 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 4: recognize that fact. And secondarily, I talk about the fact 282 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 4: that while you're experiencing these symptoms, your labs are only 283 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 4: part of the picture. Right. While we wish that labs 284 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 4: can be completely diagnostic, we're not always quite there yet 285 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 4: in terms of the science. So what I can say 286 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 4: from your blood work is that number one, testing your 287 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 4: hormones is a very nuanced thing to do because your 288 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 4: hormones are supposed to fluctuate and change throughout different phases 289 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 4: of your life, even throughout your minstrel cycle. So when 290 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 4: I'm looking at your hormones, it really is just a 291 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 4: snapshot of what is going on at that moment. And 292 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 4: if at moment I can't catch what that abnormality is 293 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 4: because the lab results come back normal or we don't 294 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 4: see any glaring underlying conditions that we can diagnose you 295 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 4: with that doesn't necessarily mean you don't have it. What 296 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 4: then we have to do is we have to address 297 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 4: the symptoms. So when we address the symptoms, we understand that, hey, 298 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 4: there is no PCOS that's causing your acne. So I 299 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 4: wouldn't want to recommend PCOS treatment for your acne. I 300 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 4: would want to look at your acne in a different 301 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 4: manner and make sure that I'm addressing other aspects of 302 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 4: your body, such as nutrition, stress levels, diet environment in 303 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 4: order to address your acne. Rather than saying, Okay, your 304 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 4: laves are normal. Let's move on. 305 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: One last thing about my results. Can you tell whether 306 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm in perimenopause or not. 307 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 4: What we can say from your testing in and of 308 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 4: itself is that, in regards to your age, you're still 309 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 4: probably in the range quote unquote of what I would 310 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 4: expect your antibulaarian hormone level or IMH to be, but 311 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 4: probably a little bit on the lower end of the spectrum, 312 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 4: got it. So for someone like yourself, what I would 313 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 4: say is, especially if you're thinking about future fortility, when 314 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 4: do I need to start getting pregnant? Given what I'm 315 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 4: seeing with your AMH number, it's a conversation that I 316 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 4: would have with you and say, let's kind of think 317 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 4: about if you're interested in fertility, what that would look 318 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 4: like for you and whether your AMH is that going 319 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 4: to give us enough information of not whether you can 320 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 4: get pregnant or not, but what is that timeline you 321 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 4: have to get pregnant? 322 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: If that makes sense? Yeah, wow, this is really interesting. 323 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: I didn't know that I was going to be thinking 324 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: about my fertility in this way today, Doctor Tiffany, this 325 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: has been so informative. Thank you so much for joining 326 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: us today. 327 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 4: Absolutely, thanks so much for having me. 328 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: We've got to take a quick break, but we'll be 329 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: right back with more from Rachel Blank. And we're back 330 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: with Rachel Blank. I know that you said that Alara 331 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: Health is almost like an homage to your dad. 332 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, tell me more about that. 333 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think the thing that was most disappointing to 334 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 2: me growing up and learning more about how women experience 335 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 2: the health system is I actually had this very like 336 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 2: magical view of it when I was a kid. So 337 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 2: my dad does know what jin and growing up and 338 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 2: to this day, anytime we go to a restaurant, people 339 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 2: will be like, oh my god, doctor Blank, here's Johnny 340 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 2: who you delivered. Oh my gosh, you like helped me 341 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: so much with this And again to this day, he'll 342 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 2: stay up until you know, nine today night calling his patients. 343 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 2: He calls his patients on the weekend. He's so available 344 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 2: and attentive to them. And I think it's a very 345 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 2: old school style of medicine that isn't again isn't necessarily 346 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 2: able to be practiced anymore in the current setting. And 347 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: so it's that level of you have somebody in your corner, 348 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 2: you have somebody who cares about you. You have somebody 349 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 2: who will talk to you kind of all hours of 350 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,120 Speaker 2: the night when you need it. It's that level of 351 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 2: care and devotion to patients that I'm actually really trying 352 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 2: to bring to more women because I didn't realize how 353 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: rare that was. 354 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: Actually, do you feel like growing up in a home 355 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: with a father who is an obguin really positioned you 356 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: to build this company and ask the right question? 357 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:57,479 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, I mean we have a joke that like, 358 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,719 Speaker 2: vagina's a normal world word at the dinner table in 359 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 2: my household, Like there really was nothing taboo or off 360 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 2: limits growing up. 361 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 3: And I think it really helped me in two ways. 362 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 2: I think one again, being able to tackle some of 363 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 2: these things without the kind of squeamishness let's say, right, 364 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 2: I mean I had to have a lot of conversations 365 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 2: with investors, by the way fundraising, about my irregular periods. 366 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 3: That was not the most comfortable thing to do. 367 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. But you had to talk about this 368 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 1: in pitch meetings. 369 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, because I would say, like, Hi'm Rachel, I 370 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 2: was Diagni's PCOS. Like, here's my story at irregular periods 371 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 2: growing up. I mean, there are symptoms of PCs. So 372 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 2: I was talking to mail investors to this day, I 373 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 2: talked to mail investors about periods, and so I think 374 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 2: number one that helped get me comfortable with that, and 375 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 2: number two, like I said, I really was able to see, Okay, 376 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 2: where is the traditional health system failing women, and where 377 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 2: is it feeling doctors? And what are the changes that 378 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 2: I could make in a new vision and a new 379 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 2: care model that could help address some of. 380 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 3: Those failures and do things differently. 381 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: I want to talk about how you built this company 382 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: and your conversations with investors. Yeah, because you raised forty 383 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: six million dollars in venture capital funding. What kind of 384 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: reactions did you get from investors when you were initially 385 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 1: pitching a. 386 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 2: Lara for as well, just set some context for listeners. 387 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 2: Most venture capital investors are men, especially the decision makers. 388 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 2: Only about two percent of venture funding goes to women 389 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 2: in general, not like women's health, but like women female 390 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 2: founders period. And so already it's an uphill battle to 391 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 2: fundraise as a female founder and CEO, and then layer 392 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 2: on top of it women's health, and you have quite 393 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 2: a mountain to climb. So I'd say, actually, what's been 394 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 2: really interesting has been seeing the evolution in the technology 395 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 2: and VC world around women's health. When I first started 396 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 2: the business and I was first fundraising, literally I was told, 397 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 2: probably nine times out of ten, isn't this niche? Isn't 398 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: this a niche market? I'm like, oh, women's health is niche? 399 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 2: Women like half the world, yeah, half the world, like 400 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 2: chronic conditions affecting one in three women. Pretty much every 401 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 2: woman you talk to has some sort of a story 402 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 2: of this is my medical issue, this is what I 403 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 2: didn't get care for, and so I really had to 404 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 2: do a lot of educating in the beginning around why 405 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 2: this was in need and why this was a problem. 406 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 2: It's actually the reason I started the business direct consumer 407 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 2: actually because I knew I was going to have to 408 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 2: have data points, both numerical data points around things like 409 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 2: acquisition costs and landing page views and things I could 410 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 2: point to, but also real human stories that I could 411 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 2: share with investors, because I just knew that if I 412 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 2: went to you know, these meal decision makers, whether they're 413 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 2: out a VC or they're at an insurance payer, and 414 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 2: I didn't have data with me, and I didn't have 415 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 2: real stories, that it was never going to work. So 416 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 2: I think that was actually one of the keys, was 417 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 2: going direct consumer and really going straight to the women 418 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:40,919 Speaker 2: who needed the care and the problem. 419 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: First, I would love to hear more about that. What 420 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: was the turning point for you? Because you were getting 421 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: these initial reactions from investors who weren't quite sure of 422 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: this idea or whether it was going to work, and 423 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,199 Speaker 1: then eventually you raise forty six million dollars. So what 424 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: was the turning point? What was the breakthrough? 425 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, so I didn't raise all of it once. 426 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 2: I started out raising very small amounts, and I think 427 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 2: that was the key, right, I would raise a little 428 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 2: bit and then I would go into the market and 429 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 2: I just I knew that women needed and wanted this, 430 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 2: Like that was something I always knew and was confident in, 431 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 2: and I just kept going back to investors and saying, well, 432 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 2: look at my data, look at how many women signed 433 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 2: up for this, Look at how many women are on 434 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 2: my waiting list, look at how many women are paying 435 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 2: this much money for this, and really being able to 436 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 2: show like, here is attraction I'm getting in market, and 437 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 2: just it's almost like you're unlocking steps right, Like you 438 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 2: raise a little bit of money, you go, show some traction, 439 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 2: then you go back, you raise more money, you show 440 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 2: more traction, raise more money, show more traction. I've been 441 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 2: very lucky for my last two fundraises that number one, 442 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,479 Speaker 2: we were able to show enough traction that things kind 443 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 2: of flipped and then numbers really spoke for themselves. And two, 444 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 2: I think actually the really the world at large and 445 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 2: also the venture community has finally started to see that 446 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,919 Speaker 2: women's health is real, that women's health is a real market, 447 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 2: that it's a big market, and that it needs more innovation. 448 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: I think you're a part of that legacy. I think 449 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: it's fair to say. 450 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 3: They're not trying. 451 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, are you? Do you look back at what you've created, 452 00:21:59,000 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: and do you feel a sense of. 453 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say I feel huge juster pride and 454 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 2: also a huge sense of like, I honestly like if 455 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 2: I had known at the beginning what it was going 456 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 2: to take. 457 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 3: And what the journey was going to be, I'm not 458 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 3: sure I would have done it. 459 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 2: It really was a lot of like one foot in 460 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 2: front of the other and just again just having truly 461 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 2: this feeling that I knew that women needed and wanted this, 462 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 2: and I knew that actually this needed to be in 463 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,719 Speaker 2: the market. And I think that was actually what what 464 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 2: drove me. It wasn't like I'm starrying this thing because 465 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 2: I want to tell my friends I raised a bunch 466 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 2: of money, or I want to make a bunch of money. 467 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 2: It was I know that women need this and this 468 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,360 Speaker 2: has to exist, and I think being fueled by that 469 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: actually allowed me to push through a lot of things. 470 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: Talk to me about some of the moments that you 471 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: had to push through. I'm sure there were moments where 472 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: you're on your bathroom floor or wondering, oh my gosh, 473 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: what have I done. Can you give me an example 474 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:51,479 Speaker 1: of one of those moments for you? 475 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 2: I mean, there were so many of these like startup 476 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 2: journey is riddled with crying moments, but a really tough 477 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 2: period was actually in twenty twenty two. The funding market 478 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 2: had like completely shifted. So in like twenty twenty twenty 479 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 2: twenty one, digital health was getting funded like crazy, like 480 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 2: you could raise crazy rounds, and then people realized that 481 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 2: maybe that was irresponsible use of capital, and so all 482 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 2: of the money dried up. And so I was sitting 483 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 2: there with a team of six patients who needed me 484 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 2: and relied on me, and a million dollars left in 485 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 2: the bank, which sounds like a lot, but when you 486 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 2: run a healthcare business where you're paying doctors and you 487 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 2: have legal fees and you're spending on Facebook ads like, 488 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 2: it is a little terrifying to have that little money left. 489 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 2: And I just remember thinking, like, are we going to 490 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 2: run out of money? How do I get my hands 491 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 2: on another like one hundred thousand, five hundred thousand. I 492 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 2: ended up cobbling together some angel investments from people that 493 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 2: I knew, and so we got another million in the bank, 494 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:45,880 Speaker 2: and through that we just got really scrappy. We did 495 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 2: things really organic on social we did a lot with 496 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 2: a few people, and then thankfully because we showed how 497 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 2: much we could do with so little money. 498 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 3: We ended up raising a Series A the next year. 499 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 2: But I just I remember there was a point where 500 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 2: I was like, oh my god, this whole thing might 501 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 2: shut down, and I pations who count on me, like 502 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 2: how can I just abandon all of them? 503 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: So I know that the venture capital world is predominantly male, 504 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: but talk to me about some of the women who 505 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,360 Speaker 1: came alongside you on this journey and helped you bring 506 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: this vision to life. 507 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, I actually, you know, it's funny. My caftable is 508 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 2: predominantly men. My first couple investors were men. I do 509 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 2: have the when I said things really change around the 510 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 2: Series I. That was an incredible female investor at Google 511 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: Ventures who fought for the steal to happen, Like she 512 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 2: fought tooth and nail to make this steal happen, and 513 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,479 Speaker 2: I owe so much to her. But the vast majority 514 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 2: of my investors have been men, which I actually think 515 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 2: sometimes there is this thought that I think, in a 516 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 2: lot of ways is false that if you're a female founder, 517 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 2: it's for women's health you need female funders. But I 518 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 2: actually think that ends up doing a lot of disservice 519 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 2: to a lot of women, because if you think about 520 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,640 Speaker 2: the top tier funds, the decision makers, the managing partners, 521 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 2: those are men. And if you don't have men unfortunately 522 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 2: who are willing to back you and champion you, especially 523 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: at the beginning, I think it can be really hard 524 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,440 Speaker 2: to be successful. And something else I noticed was that 525 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 2: a lot of the women at the VC funds I 526 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 2: was talking to would be more junior and so you 527 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 2: really have to be willing to go to bat for 528 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,719 Speaker 2: a company that's a women's health company that's female founded 529 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 2: and they didn't always have the leverage at their firm, 530 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:16,440 Speaker 2: or even like the confidence of I want to put 531 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 2: my neck on the line for this company, or I 532 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 2: want to really go to bat for this company in 533 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 2: a way that a managing partner at the firm just 534 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 2: doesn't have to do that. They don't have to stick 535 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 2: their neck out because they have what we call check 536 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 2: writing ability. I think we need not just more women investing, 537 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 2: but we need more women in senior positions of power 538 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 2: at funds because again, when if you think about only 539 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 2: two percent of capital goes to women, get to do 540 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 2: a lot of advocating to get that capital into the 541 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 2: hands of women and structurally, sometimes it can be hard 542 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 2: for women at these funds to do that. 543 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: More from a Lura founder, Rachel Blank after this shortbreak 544 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: and we're back with Rachel Blank. Is the experience of 545 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: being a female founder in a largely unexplored space, or 546 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: let's say, like a relatively new landscape is that isolating 547 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 1: at all? 548 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 3: Yeah? 549 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 2: I would say it's incredibly isolating. I mean, it's not 550 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 2: uncommon for me to go to an event, to dinner 551 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,719 Speaker 2: or treat and feel very much like, oh, I'm one 552 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 2: of the only people who looks like me, and yeah, 553 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 2: it's very I think it can be very isolating when 554 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 2: you feel like there are not a lot of people 555 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 2: who look like you at the table, and I think, 556 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 2: you know, I also just want to call out my privilege. 557 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 2: I'm a white woman, right, Imagine somebody who's a woman 558 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 2: of color there are even fewer people who look like 559 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 2: them at these tables. And I think that actually is 560 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,479 Speaker 2: another reason for me to do it though, right, I 561 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:39,919 Speaker 2: need more women out there. For more women to be 562 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 2: out there, they need to see more examples of women 563 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 2: who've tried it and who've made it, And so I 564 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 2: think that's another motivating factor for me. 565 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: It's clear that you are so motivated by the real 566 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 1: stories of women that you are helping as you're building 567 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 1: this business, and that you continue to help today. And 568 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 1: you mentioned that you would share these stories of real 569 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: patience with investors. Would you share one of those stories 570 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 1: with us of someone who is impacted by your work? Yeah? 571 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 3: I have two that are coming to mind. One I 572 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 3: took a lot. 573 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 2: She had been trying to get pregnant for a year, 574 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 2: she had multiple miscarriages. We worked with her for over 575 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 2: six months on helping her regulate her period. We worked 576 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 2: both from a medical perspective, but also really importantly worked 577 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 2: with her on nutrition modification. So she met with her dietitian, 578 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 2: she did a lot of supplements, she did diet modification, 579 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 2: and I remember she emailed us that she had booked 580 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 2: a visit with her fertility doctor to start IVF and 581 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 2: when she sewed up to the visit, she was six 582 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 2: weeks pregnant. 583 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: Well she didn't need it. Yeah, Oh my gosh, talk 584 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:42,520 Speaker 1: about success. 585 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 3: Yeah exactly. Yeah, it's incredible. 586 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, wow, wow, I have the biggest smile on my 587 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 1: I have chills talking about it. Yeah. 588 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:52,479 Speaker 2: And we have a number of those like we celebrate 589 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 2: the Alara baby, So anytime we hear something like that 590 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 2: we put in the slack. 591 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 3: Everybody gets so excited. 592 00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 2: But there's so many other ones right, Like we have 593 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 2: patients who've lost fifty pounds working with us, patients who 594 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 2: went from pre diabetic to normal insulin level ranges. There's 595 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 2: so many wins that you can have when it comes 596 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 2: to managing your health. 597 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: Rachel, have you ever thought about the fact that your 598 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: father is known in his community as this man who 599 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: brought so many babies into the world, and you're now 600 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: bringing babies into the world in a different way. 601 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 3: I mean, honest, I never thought about it, but that 602 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 3: is very cool. I love that for myself. 603 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: You are continuing your father's legacy just in a different way. 604 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 2: That means a lot to me because I was way 605 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 2: too squeamish and bad a chemistry to be a doctor, 606 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:37,679 Speaker 2: and I think for a long time I felt like, well, 607 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 2: how can I give back to the world in the 608 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 2: way that he has And it's amazing to see and 609 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 2: I think this is a good for a lot of people, 610 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 2: Like there are different ways to make an impact on 611 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 2: what you care about, So for me, it was being 612 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 2: on the business side. For some people it's being on 613 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 2: the medical side. For other people, it's like you, it's 614 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: you sharing your story with people and making people feel. 615 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 3: More seen and heard. There are lots of ways that 616 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 3: you can contribute. 617 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of contribute, I mean you and Alura have 618 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: already contributed so much to the women's health space. But 619 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: looking ahead, what do you see as the future of Alara? 620 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 2: For me, the vision really is to be the trusted 621 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 2: platform in women's health where any woman feels that she 622 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 2: can come to for her health needs. I know we 623 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 2: talked a lot about hormones and hormone health, but the 624 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:25,480 Speaker 2: truth is women have so many unmet needs and it's 625 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: not just about hormones, right. You might have symptoms that 626 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 2: are unrelated to them, you might have a chronic condition, 627 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 2: you might just need help getting pregnant. 628 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 3: And so we really want to. 629 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 2: Be the place where if you feel like you have 630 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 2: a question or a need that's not being answered in 631 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:40,840 Speaker 2: the traditional health system, you can come to us and 632 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 2: know that you will get help and get a set 633 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 2: of answers and set of tools to help you feel better. 634 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: And finally, as a founder, a boss, a friend, a 635 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: new wife, a woman in the world, what are the 636 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: ways in which you're looking on the bright side in 637 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: your own life. 638 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 3: Oh, I just got married, so that was amazing. 639 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 2: And I will say, I know we talked about being 640 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 2: a founder being really isolating. 641 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 3: I give this advice. 642 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 2: I think the most important business decision is who you 643 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 2: marry or who your life partner is. That has been 644 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 2: unbelievably supportive. So that's when we're going on our honeymoon 645 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 2: in a couple months. So that's on the bright side. 646 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 2: And I think overalls, I think about what we're building 647 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 2: in the industry we're in. I am actually so excited 648 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 2: about what's happening in women's health. I feel like finally 649 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 2: people are talking about it, Investors are taking it seriously, 650 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 2: even like insurers and employers. Everybody is really I think 651 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 2: recognizing that women's health has been underfunded, it has had 652 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 2: under met needs, and finally, I think we're seeing a 653 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 2: lot more innovation and attention being paid to it. And 654 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 2: so I'm just really excited to see what happens everywhere 655 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 2: in women's health and how we get women better healthcare access. 656 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: The feature is looking bright. 657 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 3: Yes, Thanks Rachel, Thank you. 658 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: Rachel Blank is the founder and CEO of Alara, a 659 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: women's health company dedicated to making hormonal care more accessible, personalized, 660 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: and truly empowering. Check out Alara's website to find out 661 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:08,479 Speaker 1: how you can join the community of women who are 662 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: prioritizing their health. The Brightside is a production of Hello 663 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts and is executive produced by Reese 664 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: Witherspoon and me Simone Voice. Production is by ACAST Creative Studios. 665 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: Our producers are Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, and Darby Masters. 666 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: Our production assistant is Joya Putnoy. Acast executive producers are 667 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon 668 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 1: are the executive producers for Hello Sunshine. Ali Perry and 669 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: Christina Everett are the executive producers for iHeart Podcasts. Tim 670 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:46,200 Speaker 1: Palazzola is our showrunner. Our theme song is by Anna 671 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: Stump and Hamilton Lakehauser.