1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Are you looking for brand new episodes of a short 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: How Stuff Works podcast that explains the everyday world around us, 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: then check out brain Stuff with me Christian Sager. New 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: episodes hit every Monday and Wednesday on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Welcome to stuff 6 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Mob never told you from how Stuff Works dot Com. Hello, 7 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: and welcome to the podcast. I'm Kristen and I'm Caroline. 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: And Caroline, let's just start this episode on a really 9 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: personal note. Okay, let's talk about getting tested for STDs. Yeah. Absolutely, 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: Do you remember the first time you were tested? And 11 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: I realized this is so unfair because I'm asking you 12 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 1: the question first. No, I don't remember the first time 13 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: I got tested, but I do get tested every year 14 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: at my kind of collegist appointment. Um, the don't remember 15 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: either the very first time that I was tested. It 16 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: was probably at my gynecologist annual way back in the day. 17 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: But I do clearly remember when I moved to Atlanta 18 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 1: and I started seeing this fabulous O B g U 19 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: I N who I still see, and um I was 20 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: single ready to mingle and we were talking about all 21 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: that stuff and it was time for me to check 22 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: the boxes of what, um, what testing I wanted to do, 23 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: and she said, in the most non judgmental, unslept shamy 24 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: kind of way, Kristen, just take the whole panel. And 25 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: I was like, okay, you know, Doc, I know you're 26 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: not judging me, you were just looking out for my 27 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: well being. I will take the whole panel. And it 28 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: is a tiny ventnor racking when you take the whole panel, 29 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: because you're like like waiting for that phone call, you know. Um. 30 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: But then I all, so remember flash forward to when 31 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: I ended up in my current monogamous relationship, and we've 32 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: been together for a while and I had been through 33 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,839 Speaker 1: you know, I've been of course tested again, and um. 34 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: One of the last times I went in, I was like, 35 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: so what, you know, what all? What all should I 36 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: get checked out? And she was like, I don't think 37 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: you need the full panel. And I was like, oh 38 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: my gosh, wow, I guess things have really gotten serious 39 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: wonderful between me and my gynecologist that it is not 40 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: me and my now fiance. But I mean, how would 41 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: how would she know just based on the fact that 42 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: you've been in a long term monogamous relationship. Yeah, I 43 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: mean I'd had the same sexual partner for a long 44 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: time now. Of course, that did not take into account 45 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: whether he possibly was fooling around behind my back, which 46 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: is actually a really common way that women contract STDs UM. 47 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: But thankfully he he wasn't. Yeah, good considering you just yeah, 48 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:08,959 Speaker 1: you went in for your hairstyling appointment today for your wedding. Yeah, listeners, 49 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: imagine me in a lot of regal braids, yeah, which 50 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: probabalys sounds. It sounds like I've got like a little 51 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: house in the prairie look going on right now. Yeah, 52 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: and a crown it's real weird. Yeah, yeah, and the 53 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: prairie dresses also throwing now. Yeah, it's kind of like, 54 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: um glamorous Laura angles Wilder. Well, so people are like, 55 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: I'm not sure based on what they've said what they're 56 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: talking about today. We are talking about as TD testing, 57 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: that's right, And that's because we met these two incredible women, 58 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: these two business owners Laura Ivanova and Ursula Hessan Flow 59 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: when we were out at south By Southwest, and these 60 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: women have co founded the company my lab Box to 61 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: make STD testing easier. You can do it in the 62 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: privacy of your own home. I mean everybody's ordering their 63 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: groceries and their books online. Why can't you order your 64 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: STD tests online? Yet? Even your tampons can come to 65 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: your door. Of Sminty sponsor Lola um And in our 66 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: previous episode on women in HIV, we talked a lot 67 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: about how STDs and HIV are still very much things 68 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: that exists, Like, there's no reason for us to stop 69 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: having safe sex, even though we are having unprotected sex 70 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: way more often than we used to. And as a 71 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: result of that, rates of STDs like clamidia have risen. Yeah, 72 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: that's right. So let's give you a little bit of 73 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 1: a stat rundown because it wouldn't be a Sminty episode 74 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: without some statistics, c d statistics. That's right, Okay, So 75 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: this information is coming from the CDC. It's data the 76 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: most recent available, and when you look at clamidia, we 77 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: see an increase of two point eight percent between two 78 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen and fourteen. I feel like at Ganaha that 79 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: rate went up five point one percent between ten and 80 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: it's sort of a crazy jump for syphilis, which has 81 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: jumped fifteen point one percent since. Man, you never want 82 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: syphilis jumping around. No, you don't want to be in 83 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 1: a bouncy castle with syphilis um and if we look 84 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: though at gneria and clamidia, this is primarily affecting younger people, 85 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: the kids these days as they call them, UM and 86 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: surveillance data from the CDC shows both the numbers and 87 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: rates of reported cases of clamidia and ganoia continues to 88 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: be the highest among folks fifteen to twenty four years old, 89 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: and both young men and young women are heavily affected 90 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,679 Speaker 1: by these STDs, but women face the most serious long 91 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: term health concert a quences, and it's estimated that undiagnosed 92 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: STDs cause more than twenty tho women to become infertile 93 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: each year. Because let's remember, what is it. Up to 94 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: eighty percent of STDs can be asymptomatic. That's right. So 95 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: even if you don't feel like you're at risk, if 96 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: you feel like you've been safe, if you feel like 97 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: your partners have been safe, that doesn't really mean that 98 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: you shouldn't be tested. Saying we're never safe, We're never safe. 99 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,119 Speaker 1: Clamytia is lurking around the corner in a trench coat. 100 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: She's always eavesdropping, Oh clammy, And going back to syphilis, 101 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 1: the CDC also highlights gay and bisexual men as being 102 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 1: the most affected. Um, it's increasing at the greatest rate 103 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: among those groups, so fifteen point one percent inten And 104 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: while rates have increased among men and women of all stripes, guys, 105 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: you account for more than all primary and secondary syphilis cases. Yeah, 106 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: And I mean syphilis has some pretty gnarly side effects 107 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: if you don't treat it, things like visual impairment and stroke, 108 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: it puts you at a higher risk for acquiring HIV. 109 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: I mean, the stuff is serious. And the CDC pointed 110 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: out some of the things that affect these rising STD rates. 111 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: And I mean, as our guests will point out when 112 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: we talk to them, you can potentially have sex just 113 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: one time and get an STD that one time you 114 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: have sex. But uh, individual risk behaviors like higher numbers 115 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: of partners over a lifetime contribute to that higher STD rate. Uh, 116 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: in addition to environmental, social and cultural factors like higher 117 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: prevalence of STDs in your community and or friend group, 118 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: or difficulty accessing healthcare. I mean, socio economic factors are 119 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: huge when it comes to health in general, but also 120 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: getting tested for your sexual health. And we've talked about 121 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: these statistics of the STDs that we know about, there's 122 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: also this issue of undiagnosed STDs and this info was 123 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: cited over web MD from report. So as for chlamydia, 124 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: this new government report estimates set around four hundred thousand 125 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: Americans probably have it but don't know it. And again, 126 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: women tend to be at a higher risk of harboring 127 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: these asymptomatic infections according to the U S National Center 128 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: for HIV and AIDS um and when it comes to 129 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: girls and boys, the chlamydia infection rate is highest among 130 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: sexually active girls between fourteen and nineteen years old at 131 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: six point four percent, and the rate among sexually active 132 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: boys between fourteen and nineteen is two point four percent. 133 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 1: And the researchers also took race into account. The rate 134 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: of chlamydia among sexually active black team girls is eighteen 135 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: points six percent compared with three point two percent among 136 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: sexually active white teen girls. So there are so many 137 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: layers and plus when it comes to getting diagnosed or 138 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: you know, getting tested, or being afraid to being afraid 139 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: to even broach the subject with your doctors, you also 140 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: have to take into account those added layers of homophobia 141 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: and transphobia that people in the LGBT community can face 142 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: when they try to go seek health care. You've also got, unfortunately, 143 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: unlike the experiences that Kristen and I have each had 144 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: with our gynecologists, you also have issues of slut shaming 145 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: doctors who are basically tisk tisking their patients rather than 146 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: just you know, I don't know, doing their job and 147 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: giving the person the full panel if they request it. 148 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: And then of course, and we'll talk a lot about 149 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: this today with Ursula and Laura, but you've got the 150 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: issue of stigma, the huge issue of stigma, whether it's 151 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: based in religious practice, a sense of morality, ideas about 152 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: you know, misguided ideas about things being dirty, people being dirty. 153 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: If you have an STD, the stigma around getting tested 154 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 1: and talking about sexual health and sexual testing is huge. 155 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: And even just broaching those conversations, whether it's in a 156 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: long term relationship or for say, a one night stand, 157 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 1: can be understandably challenging because it's like, you don't you 158 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: don't want to ruin the mood, but you also I 159 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: want to be safe, yeah, And I think that the 160 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: way that you can do both is whipping out your 161 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: my lab box, testing kids, yeah, or just first playing 162 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: this episode of stuff Mom never told you. As you 163 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: sit silently in a room next to each other, not touching, touching, 164 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,079 Speaker 1: don't touch you, don't look at each other. Just listen, um, 165 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: but real quickly, Caroline, you mentioned slut shaming happening at 166 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: the doctor's office. We've also heard from so many stuff 167 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: I've Never told you listeners about proved shaming as well, 168 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: going in and saying, hey, doc, test me, and a 169 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: doctor being like you, you know, Linda, there's a possible 170 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: way anyone's touched you and and that's that is not 171 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: okay or yeah, or the flip side of a doctor 172 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: offering to test someone and the person saying well, I've 173 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: literally never had any type of sexual contact or contact 174 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: and the doctor not believing them. So, yeah, layers, lots 175 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: of layers. So let's talk about what this my lab 176 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: box thing is because it's to me, it's pretty cool 177 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: because essentially what it's doing or attempting is disrupting the 178 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: sexual health stigma. Yeah, exactly. I mean, it's it's a 179 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 1: great way to test for HIV, gonorrhea, clamidia, and trick omaniasis. 180 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: You can do it, like we said, in your own 181 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: house or with your partner. And what's great about it, 182 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,959 Speaker 1: and we'll talk about this too with our guests, is 183 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: the fact that it's not just um s. T I 184 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: s are tds that are based in and around your 185 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: genital area. It's also they also offer extra genital testing, 186 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: which means oral and anal because these infections don't discriminate. 187 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: And you can also go on the website select and 188 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: order the type of test you want. So if you're like, 189 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: you know what, I really just want to find out 190 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: about gnarrha, you can do that, or you can get 191 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 1: what they call the Uber All Around Package, which includes 192 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: the full panel of tests that they provide, including testing mouth, anus, 193 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: and genital areas. And then it's delivered to your office 194 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: like one of those seeing telegrams and they're like, oh 195 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: d test, and then they throw penis confetti in the air. 196 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: It's and then basically they just take you on a 197 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: bridesmaid's or a bachelorette party and then your whist away 198 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: to Bourbon Street and New Orleans. It's kind of an 199 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: expensive service. Yeah, it's really weird. Actually none of none 200 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: of that is true. It's super discreet. But we will 201 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: let Laura and Ursula talk more about that. And speaking 202 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 1: of which, let's meet these geniuses who have created this 203 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: intersectionally minded startup to disrupt sexual health in a good way. Yeah, 204 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: so let's hear Laura and Ursula introduce themselves, not only 205 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 1: so you can hear what they do, but also so 206 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: you know how to differentiate their voices. Let it roll. Hi, 207 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 1: my name is Laura Vanova. I am a co founder 208 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: and chief marketing officer of My lab Box. My lab 209 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: Box is the first and onness service that allows you 210 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: to test for STDs at home, and we are available nationwide. 211 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: Ah So, my name is Ursula hass and Flow. I'm 212 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: the co founder and CEO of my lab Box. And 213 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: then we wanted to know what inspired my lab Box means. 214 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: It is one of those things where you're just like 215 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: sitting around having brunch, you have a few mimosas, start 216 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: talking about STD testing, and then have a brilliant idea. 217 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 1: Well sort of kind of but not necessarily with the 218 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: brunch part. My lab Box was inspired by our own 219 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: lives and the lives of our friends. UM. As adults 220 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: living in the US, UM, we were encountered multiple times 221 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: by having difficult conversations with partners and the reason why 222 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: those conversations were so difficult, we found is really because 223 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: not so much people didn't know that STDs existed, or 224 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: they didn't know they should have those conversations. They just 225 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: weren't testing often enough UM. And there's many reasons why 226 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: that's happening. There's fear of doctor and sphere of needlesphere 227 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: of clinics, UM. There's discomfort to associate with that, it's 228 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: time consuming, it's expensive, you have to take time away 229 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: from work, UM, and oftentimes you don't even know if 230 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: insurance is going to cover it, how much it's gonna cover, 231 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: what kind of test. There's a lot of lack of transparency. 232 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: Many times, UM you do not get tested for a 233 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,359 Speaker 1: full panel unless you're specifically requested or unless you're symptomatic, 234 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: and as many of percent of infections can be asymptomatic. 235 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 1: So in that kind of confusing landscape where nothing is 236 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: standardized and nothing is clear in and sparent, people oftentimes 237 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: just kept the exam all together and then continue living 238 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: by exposing themselves to their partners at risk. So we 239 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: felt this is not something that's acceptable, especially in a 240 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: modern day lifestyle and which online dating has become so 241 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: easily accessible and so common and popular, and we are 242 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: finding better and more efficient ways to connect with people 243 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: and engage and have hookups or anything else. But it 244 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: seems like when it comes to our sexual health, things 245 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: have been really lagging for many years now. So we 246 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: started first by looking around to see we thought, maybe 247 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: there's something out there that already does that. We're shocked 248 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: to find out there's really no or little to none 249 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: and innovation, and when it comes to actual city testing 250 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: in the US UM so, little by little we looking 251 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: at the problem and trying to figure out really what 252 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: the barriers were for users and what made it so challenging. 253 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: We came up with a solution that we really feel 254 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: is the ultimate and the perfect service for anybody that 255 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: is sexually acted. You can test from home, you can 256 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: of the test in under five minutes, and you get 257 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: complimentary position consultations should you ever get some positive UM 258 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: test results from our service. And something we don't really 259 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: think about or talk about quite as much is the 260 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: fact that while technology, all of our dating apps and 261 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: things like that, well, it's allowed us to have more 262 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: sex with potentially more people, technology hasn't really kept up 263 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: with all of our sexual health and so as sexually 264 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: liberated as our culture has supposedly become, we just hate 265 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: talking about STDs. And it's so surprising. I mean, considering 266 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: the point where our dating culture and our quote unquote 267 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: culture is at, there's still so much fear and anxiety 268 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: around having these STD conversations. So we asked Laura why 269 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: she thinks that this is still an issue. You know, 270 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: I think even with the dating culture. Um, the reason 271 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: why I feel online dating and app dating has become 272 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: so prevalent is because it's much harder to walk up 273 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: to somebody in a bar or in the street and 274 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: strike a conversation. In general, I think as a culture, 275 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: there's a shyness that we experience around person to person 276 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: interactions and communication. And I think just the same way 277 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: as it is hard to approach a cute guy or 278 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: a cute girl in the street, it's also hard to 279 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 1: kind of envision yourself having a conversation about your private 280 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: life with a physician who is a stranger and who 281 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: uh may judge you or may you know, ask you 282 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: questions that are uncomfortable. So, um, I think in this case, 283 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: technology has shown us that in those tricky interactions, it 284 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: helps to have kind of a veil of separation or 285 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: or or to some label anonymity in that first uh 286 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: few exchanges. And just as well as dating has been 287 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 1: transformed by that layer of technology, we feel that that 288 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: same layer of technology cannot also offer us a solution 289 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: in terms of our sexual health and the STB testing 290 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: in general. And I mean, wouldn't wouldn't you think that 291 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: someone would have realized all of this, the there was 292 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: this opportunity to help people and provide more information about 293 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: sexual health. And honestly, it was astounding to Beth Laura 294 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: an Ursula that the answer was no. I think, I mean, 295 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,360 Speaker 1: obviously it surprised us that once we started to look 296 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: at the solution that there really wasn't anything like this 297 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: out there, um. And there was nothing nationwide. Um. So 298 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: you know, that was a huge surprise. I think what's surprised. 299 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: What has surprised us the most throughout this process has 300 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: just been a that in this day and age, with 301 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: you know, all the sex education that's supposed that we 302 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: all got that this is still a big problem and 303 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: a bigger problem now. So it's surprised. It surprised us 304 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 1: how many people are just not testing and what's actually 305 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 1: surprised me is the the higher rate of unprotected sels. UM. 306 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 1: People report a lot more partners now there's you know, 307 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: online dating applications. It's just statisticly, you're going to have 308 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: more partners, You're gonna have more sexual partners, and people 309 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: are having a lot more unprotective sex. I think that 310 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: was a huge eye opener for me. And there's a 311 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: lot of reasons that people say that that for that 312 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 1: UM there's UM one likely causes that people have, you know, 313 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 1: less concern about HIV and AIDS being something that's going 314 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: to that's life threatening. That's some that now it's treatable, 315 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: so which has opened up the floodgates to more common affections, 316 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 1: and that's why we're seeing such a crazy increase in 317 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: common affections like flamydia and gnorea. And going back to 318 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 1: those statistics we talked about at the top of the podcast, 319 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: Caroline and all of those undiagnosed std s, I mean, 320 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 1: it seems like there might be some kind of internalized 321 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 1: assumptions people have that there's no way that they are 322 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 1: quote unquote high risk for contracting in std because of 323 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: maybe the number of sexual partners, the type of sex 324 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: they're having or so actual contact they're having and who 325 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: they're having it with, and Ursla points out that those 326 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 1: are kind of some myths that we're carrying around. Well, 327 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: that's I mean, these are really really common misconceptions. Is 328 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: that you know that oh it's I can't be infected 329 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: through oral sex or you know, any other type of 330 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: sexual activity that you may be involved in UM, which 331 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: you know you can. You can get oral and rectal chlamydia, UM, 332 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: gonna rhea UM, so you absolutely can get infections in 333 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: in in other areas, right Exactly, STDs and s t 334 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: I s don't only affect the genitals, like we said earlier, 335 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: so we wanted Laura to tell us about the importance 336 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,479 Speaker 1: of that extra genital testing that they just started offering. 337 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: One thing that we added to my LAMB box in 338 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: this past week, so we're very excited about, is the 339 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: ability to test for extragenital infections, which means oral and 340 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: rectal in infections. The reason why this is significant is 341 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 1: that UM infectuals in your body, the STI infections can 342 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: be localized, so ultimately you can test negative using conventional 343 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: methods UM that which usually require genital testing. However, you 344 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: may still be infected if you have engaged, for example, 345 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: in oral sex or anything else. Um. So this leaves 346 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: a vast majority of kind of extra general effections undetected. Um. 347 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: And it's really important because everybody, um, not everybody, but 348 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: many people you know, do not limit themselves to only 349 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: vanilla flavor of sex, right. I mean, people sometimes have 350 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: different engagements and and different practices, and if you were 351 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: trying to offer a solution that's really susceptible to different 352 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,199 Speaker 1: lifestyles and norms. This really is something that's important to 353 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: have as an available option, and being able to do 354 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: it from home is even better. And what would be 355 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: even better than that is getting to a point culturally 356 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: where this kind of testing and conversations about STDs and 357 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 1: save sex are destigmatized or at least just easier to 358 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: have a casual conversation about. And that's actually something that 359 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: my lab box wants to do. That is part of 360 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 1: their reason for being, That is part of our our 361 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: our mission and purpose is to at least make something, 362 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: make this something that you talk about. Now. You don't 363 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: have to go and get tested in a facility and 364 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: have that interaction with a doctor, but to make it 365 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: something that you talk about regularly, and it's just like 366 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: Laura coined, rushing your teeth, and so part of fulfilling 367 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: that mission to make STDs and sexual health easier to 368 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: talk about means debunking the whole high risk rhetoric that 369 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: you hear in doctor's offices. And so we wanted to 370 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: talk to Laura and Ursula Moore about whether they had 371 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:57,360 Speaker 1: a particular group or demographic you know, age, race, whatever 372 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: in mind because of secular risks or barriers to care. 373 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 1: You know. It's it's funny because I feel many nonprofits 374 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: and organizations in this area really kind of always look at, well, 375 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: what is the high risk demographic? Right so, and they 376 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: define that in different ways, you know, depending on kind 377 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: of their individual profiles. The truth of the matter is 378 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: that anybody, any adult or a young person that are 379 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: engaging in sexual activity that doesn't have to be intercourse. 380 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 1: It can be oral sex, it could be anything else. Um. 381 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: Everybody should be getting tested. So when we think of 382 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 1: a high risk individual in my lab box terms, it 383 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: really is anybody that is engaging in sexual activity. Um. 384 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: And until we all understand and realize that that is 385 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: the case, I think we will always think that STDs 386 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: are somebody else's problem. Fact is, one third of Americans 387 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,239 Speaker 1: today are living with the sexually transmitted infection. These are 388 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: not high risk individuals. These are teenagers, These are grandmothers, 389 00:23:55,800 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: These are in some cases married couples. UM. None of 390 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: them thought, oh, this is something that could happen to me. 391 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: They all thought I wasn't high risk, or they all 392 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: thought it's you know, oh it's just once you know, 393 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: how how much risk could there be? And and the 394 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: fact of the matter is half of adults will also 395 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 1: contract an st in their lifetimes. Again, we can't say, oh, 396 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 1: half of Americans are just at risk individuals that are 397 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: just reckless and or slutty or anything else. No, again, 398 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: these are everyday people that UM just encounter this one 399 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: way or another, and it only takes once. So it's 400 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 1: it's in a in a fact, UM, one of my 401 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 1: friends who UM literally was her first boyfriend. They were 402 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 1: in a relationship for three years, UM, and she contracted 403 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: infection from this individual. Somebody who you know in this 404 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: relationship wasn't faithful. You have no control over anybody else's actions. 405 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: So even if you're being careful, even if you are 406 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: on your terms, Um, somebody that's being proactive and healthy 407 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: and careful, your partner may not be. So that is 408 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: really something important for people to understand and really kind 409 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 1: of I think the first step of this paradigm shift 410 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: of who should be tested for schools and fully grasping 411 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: the need for that paradigm shift is something that these 412 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: women learned firsthand through field research and we did. Um. 413 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: It's funny because we actually, as part of developing this, 414 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: we went to a lot of exams. I mean, we 415 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: we went to clinics, we went to doctor's offices, We 416 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: got tested for everything that we could multiple times because 417 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: we really wanted to see what the experience was, you know, um, 418 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 1: other than what it has been through our past past lives. 419 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: And it's were It's amazing. We had physicians telling us, well, 420 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: you don't look high risk. You know how is the 421 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,640 Speaker 1: physician just looking at you, sitting across the table from 422 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: decide that you're not high risk just by a conversation 423 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: or by the way we've done our hair, um, and um, 424 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 1: It's just not something that's possible. So but it is 425 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: a practice that is happening out there, and unfortunately something 426 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: that I'm sure if we dealt with that many other 427 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: people are dealing. Well, this is part of really what 428 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 1: I think inspired us to to launch this is it's 429 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: just so all over the board. I mean, I'm the 430 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,360 Speaker 1: person that's gone to see a gynecologist every single year 431 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: since I don't remember when, you know, since I was 432 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: a teenager, and it's been so varied, and I think 433 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: that I found that so many, so many doctors don't 434 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 1: actually know how to talk about this. They don't get 435 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: a lot of training. Um. So I actually had had 436 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: a gynecologist that I went into and I asked to 437 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: be tested for everything and no idea of of my history, 438 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 1: um nothing, and basically just said, well, you don't look 439 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: like you're at risk. And and this was not the 440 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: first experience like this, and so it really made me 441 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:05,680 Speaker 1: kind of infuriated that a gynecologist would have this sort 442 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: of like risk assessment. Well, so we wanted to know 443 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: from Ursula what she thought the doctors meant by quote 444 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: look like you're at risk. What were they basing their 445 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: assessment on. I mean, I don't, I don't know, um, 446 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: but I I would hypothesize that it's just, you know, 447 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 1: they have a certain there's a certain demographic that is 448 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 1: is higher risk, and you know that's you know, that's 449 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: what they're relating to. So, you know, being a white 450 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:42,679 Speaker 1: woman late thirties not as high risk. Caroline. Going to 451 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: the post office is so old school, as the kids say, 452 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: it's such a hassle making those trips there. And that's 453 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: why over six hundred thousand news school small businesses are 454 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,879 Speaker 1: already using stamps dot com because with stamps dot com, 455 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: your computer and printer is turned in to a virtual 456 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: post office. You can buy in print official US postage 457 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 1: for any letter or package. So easy to use and 458 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: super convenient. So right now sign up for stamps dot 459 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 1: com and use our prema code stuff to get a 460 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: special offer. It's a four week trial plus a one 461 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 1: dollar bonus software that includes postage and a digital scale. 462 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,439 Speaker 1: So don't wait. Go to stamps dot com before you 463 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: do anything else. Click on the microphone at the top 464 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: of the homepage and type in stuff that's stamps dot 465 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: com enter stuff. So shifting the conversation away from STDs, 466 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 1: but still talking high risk, we wanted to talk to 467 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: them about business and financing because my lab box is 468 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: a startup and it's a startup that addresses taboo topics 469 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: of sex, STDs and s t I S. And also 470 00:28:55,720 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 1: it's something started by two women who venture capital, and 471 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: that really sounds like a triple Jeopardy challenge waiting to happen, 472 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: because I mean obviously the whole taboo factor, but also 473 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: only seven percent of partners at top on venture firms 474 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: are women and sixteen percent of newly launched venture firms 475 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: are co founded by women, So that to say, there 476 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: aren't a ton of women involved in dispensing that kind 477 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: of capital. Um and between two thousand ten female founded 478 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: startups and that just includes at least one female founder 479 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: received just ten of venture capital globally, So I mean 480 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:47,520 Speaker 1: it's often an uphill battle. As we talked about with 481 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 1: Julie Siegel who found a Dear Kates, it's often an 482 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: uphill battle for women founded startups to get that cash. 483 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: So we were really curious to find out more about 484 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: the biz this side of starting my lab box. UM. Actually, 485 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: so I can tell you a lot more on the 486 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 1: funding side, but we've definitely had some very interesting investor conversations, 487 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:13,520 Speaker 1: some of them board the line inappropriate. UM, We've been asked, 488 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: especially as women in this space, you know, uh strange 489 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 1: questions like you know, what is our sex lifelike and 490 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: what is our dating lifelike? And what STD do we 491 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: have that created you know, prompt to this to create 492 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: this service. UM. So there's definitely been some interesting interactions 493 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 1: during our fundraising trail. UM. However, we are also very 494 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: excited to have recently closed around over half a million 495 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: dollars and seed funding for this venture, and we collected 496 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: an assembled a group of investors that are extremely diverse 497 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 1: and and very UM forward thinking in the way that 498 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 1: they're approaching not only their investing practices, but also what 499 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: a solution like my lab box can bring to the world. 500 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: So I think at the end of this journey, no 501 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: matter what business you fundraise for, you're going to get 502 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 1: a lot of nose and and the reasons why you 503 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 1: get those nose almost don't matter. UM that what matters 504 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 1: is that you get the right PSS, and you get 505 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 1: those ss from people who believe in your product, are 506 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: willing to invest and willing to support you. UM. We 507 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 1: have a very high number of female investors on board, 508 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 1: which is not also very typical for most startups. So 509 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 1: it's I think from a diversity perspective. We've We're feel 510 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: very good about where we're at right now with the 511 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: team that's behind this company and U S S call founders. 512 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:38,239 Speaker 1: You know, I would say that, um, we've had some 513 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: interesting experiences. I say, for the most part, actually it's 514 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 1: been very positive, UM and interesting enough in in a 515 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: lot of our funding has come from Houston, which is 516 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 1: a huge medical market. So we've got some initial funding 517 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 1: UM from a fund called Use and Health Ventures there 518 00:31:57,160 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: and a lot of interest. I think that they were 519 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 1: get the privacy and I think that's what S took up. 520 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: What stood out for for these funders is like they 521 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: could relate whether they were married for thirty years or not, 522 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: or they were men. They really got privacy. So that 523 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: resonated with a lot of investors. But we did and 524 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: we've had investors that UM were just making outright comments 525 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 1: like about us being women and um, you know that 526 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 1: we we need to kind of sell this with our 527 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: femininity and our sexuality and I mean just things things 528 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 1: like this that UM, but that I would say it 529 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 1: was rare, good exc but but that was a very 530 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: interesting one. We're like, okay, well that was interesting. So 531 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: now that my lab box recently closed around of more 532 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: than half a million dollars in seed funding for this 533 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: venture and is growing. Let's get down to the nuts 534 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,560 Speaker 1: and bolts of how it works. So it was very 535 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: easy that you would go on our website, for example, 536 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 1: and you would select the kit that is best fitted 537 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 1: for your lifestyle. In about a couple of days, you 538 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 1: would receive the kid at home and in a very 539 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 1: standard package. Nobody will know, not your neighbors, or your 540 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 1: family or your roommates. UM. You will be able to 541 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: do the test in under five minutes, so you basically 542 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: collect a small sample UM that is pain free, and 543 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 1: you mailed a sample back to our lab affiliate for testing. 544 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: In another day or two, you will receive your results 545 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 1: online in your secure account, so you'll be able to 546 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 1: just log in and view when your results are ready, 547 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 1: and you can share those results either with a partner 548 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 1: or with your doctor. You can print a PDF or 549 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: just share them through the interface on the website. The 550 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 1: these are really tests done in as little as three steps, 551 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: you know, order collect sample, check results UM. The other 552 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,000 Speaker 1: thing that we're really excited about we just launched about 553 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: a couple a few weeks back, is the ability to 554 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 1: have free and complementary consultations. If you test positive for 555 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: our service, well that means is that we actually have 556 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:03,280 Speaker 1: positions that and talk to you via telemedicine consultation and 557 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 1: prescribe you a treatment plan, and is what it was 558 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 1: one day from getting your results, so you can be 559 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 1: on your ways from testing to treatment in just a 560 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:13,040 Speaker 1: matter of hours. But of course we wanted to know 561 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: too what do doctors think, because I could imagine some 562 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:22,359 Speaker 1: docs being like, oh you and your technology, male lord 563 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:32,360 Speaker 1: of nonsense, pa, twist there, pencilfin mistachs these monocled doctors. UM. 564 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: And it turns out, though that the response has been 565 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:43,279 Speaker 1: overall positive. It's been very interesting. I mean, we we've 566 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:45,319 Speaker 1: approached a few of them because we were really kind 567 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,279 Speaker 1: of trying to think about how this integrates it to 568 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 1: somebody's global health UM, and many of them have been 569 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:53,680 Speaker 1: very positive about the prospects of this being something that 570 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: patients just do and they can kind of recommend a 571 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: frequency for them to do that, and they can just 572 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 1: bring their results maybe once a year and UM. In general. UM. However, 573 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 1: we also see a lot of physicians thinking it's you know, 574 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 1: unless it's unless people are at risk or unless they're 575 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 1: engaging in X, Y and Z, they don't need to test, 576 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 1: So there's still a bit of a barrier there in 577 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,319 Speaker 1: that regard, but we're seeing a positive shift UM as 578 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: this being something that could be complementary and and physicians 579 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: recognizing that it's just something that's ultimately uh supporting their practice, 580 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 1: UM without requiring them to become experts in this or 581 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 1: this field. And so if they're getting a good response 582 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:35,959 Speaker 1: from a lot of physicians, we wondered whether they thought 583 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:40,160 Speaker 1: about partnering with sex educators, whether in schools or kind 584 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 1: of in the community in general. UM. Yes, So we've 585 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 1: actually got quite a lot of interest from sex educators. UM. 586 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 1: We've been talking to to too many that just you know, 587 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: they want they want to advocate for this. UM. They 588 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: they'll become an affiliate, and I mean we we want 589 00:35:56,200 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 1: people to share in this, so UM they they sometimes 590 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:04,400 Speaker 1: they will just advocate and you know, they'll do a 591 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:07,919 Speaker 1: blog post. They there's a lot of spokespeople that will 592 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,440 Speaker 1: just be out there using this as something that they 593 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 1: advocate as as part of as an easy testing solution. UM. 594 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: And in some cases they will just because they will 595 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:21,000 Speaker 1: also become affiliates through our affiliate network. So now that 596 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: the startup exists and it's potential seems massive, we wanted 597 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:32,960 Speaker 1: to know what direction they're thinking in terms of the future. 598 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:36,879 Speaker 1: You know, now that they've made it, what next. So 599 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:39,360 Speaker 1: I mean, we really see this and it's we really 600 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 1: see this as something that is it's a global concern. 601 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:43,839 Speaker 1: I mean S T I S are you know, the 602 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:47,759 Speaker 1: fifth most common area that people are seeking treatment for globally, 603 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 1: So this is not just a problem in the U S. 604 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:54,760 Speaker 1: It's a global problem. So we really see expanding even 605 00:36:54,760 --> 00:37:00,520 Speaker 1: beyond the us UM into other countries where the discreet 606 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:04,000 Speaker 1: nature of this is even even more paramount. So we've 607 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 1: actually already gotten a lot of interest in Asia, for example. 608 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:09,640 Speaker 1: The big dream, I mean, we really want to be 609 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 1: the at home testing solution for people living in America. 610 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:16,560 Speaker 1: And this is something that allows you to take health 611 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:19,520 Speaker 1: in your control and completely own it UM. And we're 612 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:21,919 Speaker 1: really big believers that really the best way to take 613 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 1: care of your health is to take care of your 614 00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:27,840 Speaker 1: health alone, to be informed, to be proactive, and ultimately 615 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 1: to get tested. So this is our big vision. We 616 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: see ourselves expanding across different categories. We see ourselves adding 617 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 1: additional infectious and obviously being able to offer a full 618 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,440 Speaker 1: and comprehensive panel. What we currently test for right now 619 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:45,880 Speaker 1: is the most prominent infections, so these are between the 620 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:50,280 Speaker 1: most common new infections that you would encounter in uh 621 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: your daily life. And so we really started there. We 622 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:56,319 Speaker 1: wanted to make sure we catch the biggest risks and 623 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,040 Speaker 1: then from there on we really want this to be 624 00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:01,560 Speaker 1: a comprehensive sexual health platform and then growing from there 625 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: into the future. So we're very excited. So now, of course, 626 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:11,200 Speaker 1: where can our listeners learn more about Laura, Ursula and 627 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 1: my lab Box. To learn more about my lab Box, 628 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,400 Speaker 1: order our service and try us out and go to 629 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 1: my lab box dot com. So thanks again to Laura 630 00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:30,319 Speaker 1: Ivanova and Ursula Hessan Flow, co founders of my lab Box, 631 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 1: for taking the time to talk to us on a 632 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:38,040 Speaker 1: very busy south By Southwest showroom floor. They were so 633 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:41,400 Speaker 1: kind and so patient. We even had some technical difficulties 634 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 1: and they just you know, they went with it. Let's 635 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,400 Speaker 1: be honest, we're being honest about STDs. Be honest, Caroline. 636 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: It was more like Caroline difficulties in that I didn't 637 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 1: press the record button, but Laura was so Laura was 638 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:59,560 Speaker 1: so kind. You know, she was like, Okay, I'll just 639 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,280 Speaker 1: say ill of that stuff again, because you know, technical 640 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:09,360 Speaker 1: difficulties happen, just like STD. Yes brought it full circle. Um, 641 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:12,120 Speaker 1: and now listeners were curious to hear from you. Have 642 00:39:12,239 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 1: you had any particularly interesting, positive or negative interesting STD 643 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:22,840 Speaker 1: testing experiences? Do you have any tips on having the 644 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:27,680 Speaker 1: STD conversation with sexual partners? Let us know mom Stuff 645 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:29,440 Speaker 1: at how stuff works dot com is where you can 646 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:31,960 Speaker 1: send your emails. You can also tweet us at mom 647 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 1: Stuff podcast or messages on Facebook, and we've got a 648 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:37,239 Speaker 1: couple of messages to share with you when we come 649 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:41,920 Speaker 1: right back from a quick break. Caroline, it's no news 650 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:45,360 Speaker 1: to our stuff. Mom never told you audience that moms 651 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: are so unique. There's no one quite like my mom, Nancy, 652 00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: and no one quite like your mom, Sally. And because 653 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,000 Speaker 1: these women are so unique, we should get them a 654 00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:00,400 Speaker 1: Mother's Day present that is just as unique because they 655 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:02,919 Speaker 1: are right, Because I mean, listen, we could get them, 656 00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:06,960 Speaker 1: say a picture frame or some flowers. That's nice, but 657 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:10,719 Speaker 1: how about something that's nice and delicious and something that 658 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:15,400 Speaker 1: she can't make herself. Go to Sherries Berries, y'all and 659 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 1: get some freshly dipped strawberries for moms starting at plus shipping, 660 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:24,319 Speaker 1: or you can double your berries for just ten dollars more. 661 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:27,200 Speaker 1: This is an exclusive offer for stuff Mo'm never told 662 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:29,400 Speaker 1: you listeners, and all you have to do is go 663 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:32,160 Speaker 1: to berries dot com, click on the microphone in the 664 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:36,200 Speaker 1: top right corner and type in our code how stuff works. 665 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:39,640 Speaker 1: And when you use our code, you can get some 666 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:43,520 Speaker 1: delicious chocolate covered strawberries dipped in milk, white and dark 667 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:47,240 Speaker 1: chocolate goodness, and they're gonna be topped with chocolate chips, 668 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:51,920 Speaker 1: chopped nuts or signature swizzles. And you get these huge, fresh, 669 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:55,880 Speaker 1: delicious juicy berries. And I can tell you after shoving 670 00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:58,200 Speaker 1: a bunch of them in my face yesterday, they really 671 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:02,080 Speaker 1: are so good. And so there's only one way to 672 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 1: get that amazing deal, those freshly depth strawberries starting at 673 00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:09,239 Speaker 1: or double the berries for just ten dollars more. This 674 00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:12,120 Speaker 1: is an exclusive offer for our listeners only when you 675 00:41:12,239 --> 00:41:16,279 Speaker 1: use our code how stuff works all separate words. Visit 676 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:19,680 Speaker 1: berries dot com, B E R R I E S 677 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,920 Speaker 1: dot com, Click on the microphone in the top right 678 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,759 Speaker 1: corner and type in how stuff works. That's Berries dot com. 679 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:28,680 Speaker 1: Click on the microphone and enter how stuff works, and 680 00:41:28,719 --> 00:41:31,560 Speaker 1: don't forget this is a limited time offer and Mother's 681 00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:33,640 Speaker 1: Day is right around the corner, so make sure you 682 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:41,960 Speaker 1: order now. And now back to the show. I have 683 00:41:42,160 --> 00:41:45,719 Speaker 1: one here from Lana in response to our discussion with 684 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:49,359 Speaker 1: Ashley Doyle and Gina Hellfrik of recruit Her about salary negotiation, 685 00:41:50,320 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 1: she says, listening to you guys talk reminds me painfully 686 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:55,400 Speaker 1: of my first job out of college. I had interviewed 687 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,880 Speaker 1: in a few places, and one Fortune five hundred company 688 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:00,920 Speaker 1: mentioned that their offer was non negotiable. They offer it 689 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:02,960 Speaker 1: to all entry level engineers and you take it or 690 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:05,360 Speaker 1: leave it. I didn't wind up getting the job, but 691 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:07,600 Speaker 1: the idea that their offer was a fair number stuck 692 00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:09,840 Speaker 1: in my head. So when I got a similar offer 693 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:12,279 Speaker 1: from the job I ultimately took, I didn't negotiate. I 694 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:15,200 Speaker 1: just assumed it was a fair entry level offer. Well, 695 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:17,200 Speaker 1: one day I was talking to a mechanic on the 696 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:19,279 Speaker 1: shop floor and he made a snide comment about how 697 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:22,280 Speaker 1: much us dumb college kids make just for having a degree, 698 00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:25,400 Speaker 1: and he cited a very precise number that was fifteen 699 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:28,240 Speaker 1: thousand dollars a year higher than I was getting naturally, 700 00:42:28,239 --> 00:42:31,440 Speaker 1: I laughed. I don't get anything near that. You don't 701 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:34,200 Speaker 1: he said, because that's what Joe got. This is all 702 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:37,440 Speaker 1: past hints, because Joe name changed had recently been fired 703 00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:40,440 Speaker 1: for showing up to work drunk. Okay, uh is that 704 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:42,560 Speaker 1: what he told you? He must have been lying. I'm 705 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:46,000 Speaker 1: not surprised, well, he said. We all went out drinking 706 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:48,120 Speaker 1: after they handed out the bonuses, and Joe left his 707 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:50,320 Speaker 1: bonus a word paper in the backseat of my car. 708 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:53,280 Speaker 1: I still didn't believe it, but the mechanic actually produced 709 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:55,640 Speaker 1: the paper. This guy, Joe, who had started the exact 710 00:42:55,680 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 1: same rotational program at the same time as me, and 711 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:03,040 Speaker 1: who held an equivalent degree, was earning fifteen thousand dollars 712 00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:05,719 Speaker 1: more a year. I was stunned. I knew there were 713 00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:08,360 Speaker 1: compensation disparities out there in the world somewhere, but I 714 00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:10,960 Speaker 1: never thought anything this agreedious would happened to me. And 715 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:13,080 Speaker 1: if we started out with that size gap and our 716 00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:15,799 Speaker 1: races were all percentages after that, I would never catch 717 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:17,719 Speaker 1: up with a guy who was so irresponsible that he 718 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:20,719 Speaker 1: had shown up to work drunk. Very shortly after that, 719 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:23,240 Speaker 1: I was interviewing for a new job. Still I couldn't 720 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:26,920 Speaker 1: bring myself to negotiate on my own behalf. When my 721 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:29,480 Speaker 1: future boss asked me what I expected to receive, I 722 00:43:29,560 --> 00:43:32,680 Speaker 1: choked out people in my rotational program are receiving and 723 00:43:32,680 --> 00:43:35,040 Speaker 1: I gave him Joe's salary. My boss came back with 724 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:37,200 Speaker 1: an offer that was closer to Joe's salary than mine, 725 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,480 Speaker 1: and I accepted it. He was so surprised that I 726 00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:43,080 Speaker 1: still wonder if I should have continued negotiating. Negotiating his hard, 727 00:43:43,239 --> 00:43:45,560 Speaker 1: especially when you desperately want any job except the one 728 00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:48,479 Speaker 1: you're currently holding. I hope I do better next time. 729 00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:51,560 Speaker 1: And Lana, we hear you. It's hard, and we really 730 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,239 Speaker 1: wish you the best of luck. So I've got a 731 00:43:54,280 --> 00:43:58,480 Speaker 1: letter here from Alex about our Spilio Salary Secrets episode 732 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:01,000 Speaker 1: as well, and she writes, I just wanted to say 733 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:04,720 Speaker 1: thank you so much for your latest podcast on salary transparency. 734 00:44:05,120 --> 00:44:07,160 Speaker 1: I recently received a raise, but it was not the 735 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:09,560 Speaker 1: full amount I was expecting, and at the time I 736 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:12,319 Speaker 1: didn't think to negotiate or pushback, even though I knew 737 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:15,200 Speaker 1: I deserved the full raise. I was too busy being 738 00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:18,480 Speaker 1: the quote model worker and didn't want to cause any trouble. 739 00:44:18,760 --> 00:44:20,640 Speaker 1: I was so happy to hear you and your guests 740 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:23,440 Speaker 1: speak to the complex struggles women face when assuming the 741 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:27,200 Speaker 1: role of negotiator. After listening to your podcast, I feel 742 00:44:27,200 --> 00:44:29,279 Speaker 1: like I have the tools to present my case for 743 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:34,680 Speaker 1: higher pay without too much fear. Oh, Alex, I'm so 744 00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:37,680 Speaker 1: thrilled to hear that, and I hope that that conversation 745 00:44:37,719 --> 00:44:40,600 Speaker 1: goes well for you. And I got to say, um, 746 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:44,960 Speaker 1: it's not only uh delightful hearing from you all, it's 747 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:48,440 Speaker 1: also encouraging to us to you know, have our own 748 00:44:48,560 --> 00:44:52,759 Speaker 1: negotiation conversations in in a stronger kind of way. So 749 00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:55,880 Speaker 1: keep your letters coming, friends, mom. Stuff at how stuff 750 00:44:55,920 --> 00:44:58,319 Speaker 1: works dot com is our email address and for links 751 00:44:58,320 --> 00:45:00,120 Speaker 1: to all of our social media as well as all 752 00:45:00,120 --> 00:45:03,880 Speaker 1: of our blogs, videos, and podcasts with our sources. So 753 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:07,480 Speaker 1: you can learn more about STDs and startups. Head on 754 00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:14,040 Speaker 1: over to stuff Mom Never Told You dot com. We're 755 00:45:14,080 --> 00:45:16,400 Speaker 1: more on this and thousands of other topics. Is it 756 00:45:16,440 --> 00:45:25,320 Speaker 1: how stuff works dot com