1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Hi, guys, it's Amy j. This week's guest is a 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: friend of mine who is truly amazing. Nadia Okamoto is 3 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: an entrepreneur, an activist, published author, and a student at Harvard. 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: She's also been named to Forbes thirty and her thirty Lists. 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: Oh and did I mention she's only twenty two years old. 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: At sixteen, she founded period dot org, which is now 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: the largest youth run women's health and g O. Activism 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: is in her soul, and that's where we began our conversation. 9 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: So I want to start with activism because that's where 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: this all started. How did you create and what was 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: the inspiration behind period dot org? Yeah, so I'm Nadia. 12 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: I am currently a junior at Harvard and the founder 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: of an organization called Period of the Menstrum Movement. And 14 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: you know, I never grew up dreaming about being a 15 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: period warrior, right, it was not even something that even 16 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: crossed my mind. Um, But I stumbled upon it accident 17 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: when I was sixteen years old. So, in the spring 18 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: of my freshman year of high school, my mom ended 19 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: up losing her job and we entered what I call 20 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: our time of transition, which was essentially several months of 21 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: living without a home of our own, and during that time, 22 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: I commute to school turned from about twelve minutes to 23 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: over two hours long on public transportation, and where I 24 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: would change buses was in an area of Portland, Oregon 25 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 1: called Old Town where they were like ten homeless shelters 26 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: in a two block radius. So I mean long story short, 27 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: I essentially was running into the same homeless woman over 28 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: and over again and getting into conversations with them about 29 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: their living situation, asking them questions about what they found challenging, 30 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: and it honestly just came up in conversation like these 31 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,559 Speaker 1: stories of using literal trash to take care of their periods, right, 32 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: and slowly just started hearing more stories of they're using 33 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: toilet paper and socks and brown paper, grocery bags and 34 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: cardboard to take care of their periods. And it was 35 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: like a privileged check for me. Right, So I'm sixteen, 36 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: I am confused about my family's living situation. Like it 37 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: was a time when like I had to mark no 38 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: permanent address on school forms. But I was also the 39 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: scholarship kid at a really expensive private school where like 40 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: my face was like low key on the front of 41 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: the financial aid packet like that kind of vibe. So 42 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: it's like really confusing. And so I was became obsessed 43 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: with this idea of period poverty because it was something 44 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: I had never thought about before, right, So it was 45 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: this privileged check of Oh, even in this time when 46 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: my family is going through this hard thing, I've never 47 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: had to worry about where I get my period products 48 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: and put things in perspective, I'm yes, absolutely, And so 49 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: after I just got obsessed with it, googled things about 50 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: period poverty, learned about you know, what it meant on 51 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: a global scale, about being like one of the leading 52 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: causes of absentees and for girls in school, and then 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: learned that forty states in the U s had a 54 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: sales tax on period products, considering them luxury items. Okay, 55 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: so for those who don't know, because we have guys 56 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: and girls listening, what is period poverty? So period poverty 57 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: is not being able to afford access to menstrual hygiene 58 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: products so like tampons, adds menstrual cups, due to a 59 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 1: lack of income. So why do you think there's such 60 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: a stigma around all of this? I mean, I think 61 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: that throughout history, periods have been thought of as something 62 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 1: that is shameful that should be hidden, right. I think. 63 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: I think there's like the obvious theories behind how periods 64 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: are inherently tied to sex, because it's like when your 65 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: body can become pregnant, right, um. But also I think 66 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: like you can trace it back all the way I 67 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: mean one to the Bible, right, Like in the Bible, 68 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: periods are are framed in Genesis as when um as 69 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: a punishment for the ultimate stind of like Eve eating 70 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: the apple, right um. At the same time, yeah, at 71 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: the same time, the word taboo, which means like untouched, 72 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: like you do not touch the subject, comes from the 73 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: root word Polynesian root tapua, which literally means menstruation stop. So, like, 74 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: throughout history and through the etymology of the language that 75 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: we use, this is thought of as something that is stigmatized, 76 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: connected to stigmatized topics like sex and pregnancy and all 77 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: of that and pure it so I thought of as 78 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: something that like makes that less attractive. Right And at 79 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: the same time, um, I mean throughout history it's been 80 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: sort of as seen as the thing that puts women 81 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: in their place, and so we don't talk about it today, 82 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: like so much of our work is simply trying to 83 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: get people comfortable saying the word period, right. And I 84 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: noticed that when I started talking to these homeless women, 85 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: is we would start talking about periods and they would 86 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: whisper it like it's a bad word, like oh, I'm 87 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: on my period, right, or you think about asking your 88 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: friend for tampa and going to school. It's a very 89 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: secretive thing, exactly, And I think it's even it's rarely 90 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: talked about in school today, but when it is, it's 91 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: in like boys in one classroom and girls in the other. 92 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: So the boys never learned about it, and the girls 93 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: learned that. It's like only talked about behind closed doors, 94 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: and you it's never taught in a space where you 95 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: can ask questions, right. So I mean the example I 96 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: like to use of realizing the stigma around you is 97 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: like when I give speeches, I ask people to raise 98 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: their hand if you've ever stuck a tampa of your sleeve, right, 99 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,799 Speaker 1: And most of the time the majority of the hands 100 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: go up. And it's crazy to think, like, you go 101 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 1: to the bathroom and we're conditioned to know that you 102 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: hide your period product, but no one tells you that 103 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: when you need to change your period product. At all 104 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: costs height it. Yeah, you're like conditioned by society that 105 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: this literal like piece of cotton is a shame an 106 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: object of shame, right, and that you will be laughed 107 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: at and giggled at. And so society conditions us to 108 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: understand that there's this shame around periods. And I think 109 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: that's what we're trying to change. I mean, just talking 110 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: about it, it's like it automatically makes my my heart 111 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: be like, oh my god, like what are people? Can 112 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: I think about it? Which it shouldn't be because it 113 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: literally happens to have the population exactly. And I think 114 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: I think even further, it's understanding that like this, these 115 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: small elements of stigma have real systemic effects. Right, So 116 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: we think of it as, oh, it's just like it's 117 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: just our own nervousness, right, But because of that stigma, 118 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: we have the majority of US states that consider these 119 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: periodpodics luxury items, not essential goods. But rogaine, viagra, penal pumps, 120 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: chopstick is considered essential goods. Really, So it's like all 121 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: of these things where it's like the stigmas pervasive and 122 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,679 Speaker 1: has real effects all the way to we're still fighting 123 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: for period products to be freely accessible in school shelters, 124 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: in prisons, and like last year, legislation was turned down 125 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: in Maine and a GOP representative stood up and said 126 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: period products should not be free in prisons because they're 127 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 1: not meant to be country clubs. Right, So there's this 128 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: to so this is like in a state house in 129 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: Maine state House, right, And so it's we there are 130 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: real effects of you know, we joke around about periods 131 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: and we joke about, you know, what the effects of 132 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: this are, but like, yeah, there's laws and that exists 133 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: around this that are really angering and we you know, 134 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: my organization did a national study last year. We found 135 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: that of teens in America have either misclass or know 136 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: someone who has misclass due to lack of access to 137 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: period products. So you started this nonprofit when you were sixteen, 138 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: But when did you think this could grow and become 139 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: such a huge movement. I don't think I ever really 140 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: realized it was a movement. Even like today, I still 141 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,239 Speaker 1: wake up and I'm like shocked by how many people 142 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: are interested and they call it to move and now 143 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: they had a carried movement that you started. Yes, yes, 144 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: and it's it's super exciting to me. But I mean, 145 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: when I started this organization, I did not think it 146 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: was going to be national. I did not think it 147 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: was going to go beyond Portland. I was truly doing 148 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: it because I was like, I know these homeless women, 149 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: and I genuinely care about them, and and I wanted 150 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: to reconcile this privilege that I was realizing I had 151 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: right and and I had no idea what I was doing. 152 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: I was googling what is a nonprofit? And what is 153 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: the I R S? And what is a form nine nine? 154 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: I was googling everything, yes, and on my I started 155 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: with a goal of getting period products to twenty homeless 156 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: wman a week because I personally knew twenty homeless woman. 157 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: And it was simply through organizing and posting on social media. 158 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: And then, I mean I was a true workaholic at 159 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: the age of like sixteen. I was like staying up 160 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: late finishing my homework, doing sixteen clubs, and then using 161 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: all the time I could to work on this. And 162 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: so within a few months we were starting to register 163 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: chapters around the country. And fast forward to now, um, 164 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: we're now the largest youth and engine Woman's Health in 165 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: the world. We've addressed about almost a million period. It's 166 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: for product distributions, million units of product, and we've registered 167 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,239 Speaker 1: about six hundred campus chapters in all fifty states. WHOA, Okay, 168 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: so how crazy is not just to say that in 169 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: a sentence that you've accomplished all that munch in you. Yes, 170 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: it's interesting because I'm not very good at like celebrating 171 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: how much we've done because I think that as an 172 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: activist at heart, like, yes, it's important to take moments 173 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: to celebrate those moments, but I think I'm so always 174 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: focused on, like how much more we have to do? 175 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: Right um, And I'm really proud of our team, like 176 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: we in the last few months, we've taken down the 177 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: Tampa tax in Ohio, Utah, and Virginia and just the 178 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: Senate just passed the bill two days ago in Virginia. Congratulation. 179 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: But I think, like in my mind, I'm like, Okay, 180 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: there's still thirty states and we're coming upon which is 181 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: like one of the most pivotal years in terms of 182 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: reproductive rights right now, and we're still fighting to protect 183 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: the same legislation we've been fighting for for the last 184 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: like six decades. And like I'm with a few presidential 185 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: campaigns today, and like I was talking to them and 186 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: they had no idea that the Tampa tax existed. I 187 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: met with Bluebrigs team today, but like it's I didn't see. 188 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: That's what's crazy to me that they don't understand how 189 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: relevant this is. Well, even more so, it's like I 190 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: regularly meet with governors or legislators who don't even know 191 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: that their own tax state has this tax right because 192 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: it's an archaic law that has never been questioned. So 193 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: you're the one that started questioning this. We're trying to 194 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: us that all of our chapters. Yeah, so how many 195 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 1: states have you made it? So there's no tampata. So 196 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: it's not just it's so many different activists. It truly 197 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: is this movement of so many different organizations now. But 198 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: I mean when I started in when I was sixteen, 199 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: it was forty states, and now we're a thirty man. Okay, 200 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: So once you get down to thirty and there's none, 201 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: how are you going to celebrate? Yeah? I guess I should. Sorry, Yeah, 202 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: I mean I think that Okay. Honestly, Like the first 203 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: thing that came to mind was like, oh, once we 204 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: get it all past, that's when we can really get 205 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: period products all the schools, right, So it's always I know, 206 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:04,959 Speaker 1: and I really this is my goal for twenties. I 207 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 1: need to learn how to like take a step back 208 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: and like but like I mean, I sort of see 209 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: the Tampa tax and fighting it as a trojan horse 210 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: to fighting for the other things, right, because the Tampa 211 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: tax is not affecting homeless and low income women, because 212 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 1: it's affecting people who are already buying the product. But yes, 213 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: but it's exactly, it's a catalyst because we have to 214 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: fight this stigma that menstrual hygiene is a luxury, so 215 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: that we can fight for period products to be free 216 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: in school shelters, in prisons. Like I actively think that 217 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: period products should be freely accessible in every restroom because 218 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: if you walked into a bathroom there was no toilet paper, 219 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: you'd be kind of mad, right, or you'd be really 220 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: mad and frustrated. It's this, It's just as natural, it 221 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: can come just as unexpectedly. And actually our chapters have 222 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: been amazing. We've passed UM or introduced about twelve pieces 223 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: of legislation in the last few months. UM Missouri yesterday, 224 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: California last last week. UM around period products to be 225 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: free in schools, right, um, because like we it's crazy 226 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: even thinking about not just the statistics of missing class 227 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: and missing school, but like if you have to go 228 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 1: get a period product in the middle of a class 229 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: and you have to go find it, and oftentimes it's like, 230 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: first of all, sometimes it's in the bathroom and you 231 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: need a quarter who carries a quarter anymore? And at 232 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 1: the same time, or it's in the principal's office and 233 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: you have to like go to your principal, who's honestly 234 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,199 Speaker 1: most likely a man, and you have to say, Hi, 235 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: I'm menstruating. I'm thirteen, and I'm going to tell my 236 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: principle I'm menstruating and I need a period product. Yeah, okay, 237 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 1: So when you created period dot org, I just find 238 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: it so fascinating. How did you collect product in the 239 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: first place? So I really mean it when I say 240 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: we started and had no strategy, Like it was truly 241 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: passion and like not going to stop working. So it 242 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: was like, Okay, this is my thought process. We need 243 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: a period product, so I need to go buy the 244 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: period products. I didn't even know the concept of like 245 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: corporate social giving could give us products like we're going 246 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: to go raise money to buy this product. I did 247 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: not come from money, So I tried singing on my 248 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: guitar on the side of the street corner for five hours, 249 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: raised twenty dollars. Realized that was not a good use 250 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: of my time. I started trying to pitch to anyone 251 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: who would listen on the street. Realized I was just 252 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: a creepy young person like training some people. So my 253 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: natural thought was, Okay, I'm just gonna go pitch to 254 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 1: people who were They're forced to be there. So it's 255 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: like staff meetings. So I would go to like Fidelity Insurance, 256 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: Chase Bank, Jiffy Loup auto mechanic store, and be like, 257 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: can I pitch at your staff meetings? And I would 258 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: get up in front of the audience and or not 259 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: audience is a strong word, the staff, which was sometimes 260 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: like a few men, and I would just pitch them. 261 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 1: And I would just try to pitch in different ways. 262 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: And I remember like when someone would give me literally 263 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 1: two dollars or five dollars and it was like the 264 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,719 Speaker 1: most incredible as a sixth year old who like was 265 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: not us some money and being like, oh my gosh, 266 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: they believe in what I'm doing. Right. That's why it's 267 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: crazy to me to realize how much we've grown when 268 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: we when I looked back at our first year where 269 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: we raised a million, I was like, like a million dollars. 270 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: It was a crazy realization of how far we'd come 271 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: because when I started, I was truly just like searching 272 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: for anyone to listen to me in the first place, 273 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: and to to you know, to to give any amount, right, 274 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: and I would just practice my pitch in that sense. 275 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: Then I got frustrated, so I went online found every 276 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: pitch competition in the area. When all of them started 277 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: with a few yeah, I mean I was just googling, 278 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,839 Speaker 1: like I just how I can raise money as a 279 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 1: young you start up our entrepreneur. There's so many funding opportunities, 280 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: like so many funding opportunities, like adults really want to 281 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: give to young activists right now. That's why I always 282 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: told young people like now is the best time to start, 283 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: because everyone is calling for this next generation to take action, 284 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: and they have money and they have resources, and they 285 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: just need to find people to invest in. But so 286 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,439 Speaker 1: I yeah, I mean, we started with a few thousand 287 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: dollars and I got a group of like guy friends 288 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: together and we would go buy out the grocery stores, 289 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: get friends together, put them into little packages, and then 290 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: distribute them to people directly on the street. And then 291 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: realized that was not maximizing our impact, so we went 292 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: and distributed directly to shelters, and we just started doing 293 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: that until we had a few hundred shelters. Then we 294 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: realized we could raise money online. It was like there 295 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: was no there was no business plant Like now, of 296 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: course we have a strategic plan, but I didn't even 297 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: know what that was when we started. When I started, 298 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: it was like, I have no idea what a nonprofit is. 299 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: I just know that I'm really passionate about this and 300 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: I don't know what I'm doing, but we're going to 301 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: do it anyways, and so it's I mean, that's honestly 302 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: the mentality I've had in everything I've done. From that too. 303 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: I ran for office when I was nineteen, had no 304 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: idea what that meant, but googled everything and just kept 305 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: knocking on doors. When I wanted to write a book, 306 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: I googled how to write a book and cold emailed 307 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: literary agents and then signed with my dream publisher and 308 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: wrote it in Google Docs because I didn't know, it 309 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: was just like the simple. It was the easy thing 310 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: to do. And I think that's the thing that holds 311 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: young people back is like, what is my first step 312 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: in starting? And it's like there's no right first step, 313 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: you just have to do it. So how long did 314 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: it take you to write your book? Um? They gave 315 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: me two months? And how many pages? Has it? Like? 316 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: Toft words? And I was so I had so much 317 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: imposter syndrome about my book and I still do, Like 318 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: it was this whole like why do I deserve to 319 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: write a book? Who's going to read the book? So 320 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: I procrastinated and wrote it in like the last three weeks. Yeah, 321 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: oh my goodness. And keep in mind everyone that she's 322 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: at Harvard. Yes, you took a gap here. Yes when 323 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: my book came out. Wow, you are the busiest person 324 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: like you No, well, like you're so inspiring, just like, so, 325 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: what's your goal for a period? Data org? In general? 326 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I think the goal of every nonprofit is 327 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: to put yourself out of business, like our goal like that, 328 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: it's truly what we're trying to do. We wake up 329 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: every day saying I wish we didn't have to exist, 330 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: Right if we achieve what we do in terms of 331 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: fighting period poverty. We can close our doors and say 332 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: we did our job right. I don't know if that's 333 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: ever going to be achieved in our lifetime, because periods 334 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: are still like the number one reason why girls my 335 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: school and developing countries. It's the single vent that leads 336 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: to girls dropping at a school, getting married early, undergoing 337 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: female gender mutilation, or social isolation. Like this issue is 338 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: so big, But I think that what I love about 339 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: this movement is that we have tangible ways of making 340 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: a difference. Like I can tell you exactly how many 341 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: states still have the tampon tacks, which states still don't 342 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: provide period products? Um, how many more? Like I can 343 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: find out, like how much more, how many more prisons 344 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: need to like freely freely provide these products. Like there's 345 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: tangible ways to make a difference. And I think that's 346 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: why I wanted to write my book too, was to say, like, 347 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: this is one of the few poverty related issues that 348 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: is solvable. You are a very clearly passionate person. Do 349 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: you ever get tired and want to give up? Because 350 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: you seem so motivated, Like just like a week in 351 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: your life when I see your Instagram stories. It gives 352 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: me anxiety, just like the amount that you do, the 353 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: amount of flights. How many flights would you say you 354 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: go on a week? I think it totally depends on 355 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: a week. Busy week, it's like a flight or two 356 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: a day. Yeah, chill week, it's like a couple of 357 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 1: trains a week. But it's part of my restlessness, right, Like, 358 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: that's that's the thing I always tell people. It's not 359 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: that I'm super busy. It's that I grew up in 360 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 1: very tumultuous like like my childhood was not peaceful, right. 361 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: I grew up downtown New York City posts on eleven 362 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: and then with a lot of domestic violence and abuse 363 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: in my own household. So I and then I grew 364 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 1: up moving around all the time. I think by the 365 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: time I sixteen, we'd moved like sixteen times or more. 366 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: We were bouncing around all the time. So my when 367 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: like what I am used to is is like instability. Honestly, 368 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: Like I think when I'm in one place for five days, 369 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: I get restless. So it's not that like I'm I 370 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 1: look super busy, but like I don't feel busy because 371 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: I think my life has always had a little bit 372 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: of that chaos. So like when I go to Portland. 373 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: If I'm Portland, Oregon, which is very chill compared to 374 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 1: New York, if I'm there for like four days, I 375 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: will actively get anxiety because I'm like everything is moving 376 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 1: in slow motion. So you thrive off of the go 377 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: go go totally. Yeah. And I like New York. Yes, 378 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: And I can sleep better on planes, like when I 379 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: feel like it's so odd, that's so interesting, But it's 380 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: because I grew up around like a lack of so 381 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: like when and I know that eventually in my life 382 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 1: I'm going to have to learn stability. But right now, 383 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:30,719 Speaker 1: and it's the same thing. I've never focused on just 384 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: one thing right And it's been frustrating for some of 385 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 1: my team members who are like, why don't you just 386 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: focus on period, And I'm like, yes, but sort of 387 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: like I'm so nerdy to use this comparison. But you know, 388 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: when you're like practicing for standardized testing, and the first 389 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: tip is if you get stuck on a problem, don't 390 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: spend time on it. Just move on right and you'll 391 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:48,959 Speaker 1: start You'll think about it in the back of your 392 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:50,679 Speaker 1: mind and you come back. That's how I think of 393 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: everything I do right to maximize efficiency and make sure 394 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: I'm getting like perhaps like the quote unquote right answers, 395 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: I focus on period and when I get to a 396 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: stopping point or like frustrated with that, I move on 397 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: to my company or I move on to running profice 398 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: and I know I will eventually come back and I'll 399 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 1: complete it all. And I used to have really struggles 400 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:10,880 Speaker 1: with anxiety, and then one of my friends told me 401 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: stress is just a waste of time, and time is 402 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:15,239 Speaker 1: going to keep going. And it's so true, right, like 403 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: if you panic and you just I used to panic 404 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: attacks every day and from like PTSD and stuff, and 405 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: I would sit there and panic and realize six hours 406 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: went by and I did nothing right. And I think 407 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,679 Speaker 1: I just had to internalize like time will keep going 408 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: whether you're with it or not. And I think time 409 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: is our most one of our most time and our 410 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: energies like our most precious resource, and we just have 411 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: to accept that and stay focused and breathe so you 412 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: can be more effective. You are so insightful. Oh my goodness, 413 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: it's one or the other. But like you could just 414 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: write a book on motivation, like in itself. Okay, I 415 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 1: want to talk about jew for how would you describe 416 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: you as a pitch jube to the people listening? How 417 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: would you describe it? I think it makes sense when 418 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: I talk about the story behind it. Right, So I 419 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: grow period, we start mobilizing young people in like historic 420 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: waves ever seen before in the period space, and I 421 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: run for office. We didn't win, but we made history 422 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: of student turn out and I accidentally became the youngest 423 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: Asian American to run ever and accidentally so I did 424 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: not even know. But at a certain point I started 425 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: finding myselves, like honestly, not even thinking about it, but 426 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: finding myself is called into rooms of high up people 427 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: and companies or hi up people in campaigns who are saying, 428 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: who are using these a case study? Saying how have 429 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: you grown this? Now? Teach us how how do we 430 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 1: reach young people? What we forget as young people is 431 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: that we are really powerful together. We are the largest 432 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: segment of a population in the history of the world. 433 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: Were of the global population. Wait, yes, that is a 434 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 1: crazy statistic, but we're of the total media audience and 435 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: even more on social right, So when you think about 436 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: where these companies are investing in their marketing dollars or 437 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: who they need, who campaigns need to reach to vote 438 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,120 Speaker 1: UM And even in the month we spend, we control 439 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: a hundred and forty three billion dollars of spending power, 440 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: but we influenced six hundred billion dollars where parents money right, 441 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: So there's so we have so much influence in this space. 442 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: So I I it was truly an accident. Like I 443 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: started getting call into taking these meetings and realizing I 444 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: could like charge money for people who wanted to understand 445 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: young people. And what I realized as I would walk 446 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: into these rooms and it was often like people who 447 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: are decades older than me, and then there was like 448 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: someone in the corner who was like the youth expert, 449 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: like the youth expert, and I knew I was like 450 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: the first young person they've talked to in years, and 451 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: I would realize, like I'm not. I would sit there 452 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,479 Speaker 1: being they would be like, oh my god, you're so amazing. 453 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 1: We've never heard any young person speak like that. And 454 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: I'm like confused because I am, like, I don't feel 455 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: unique in this sense, like so many amazing there's so 456 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: many amazing young people. If you think I am like 457 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 1: a diamond in the rough and you're just not talking 458 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: to enough young people, right. So I started doing this 459 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: just as like on the side, as a side hustle 460 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: um to like support my fan, like support myself from 461 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: through school. And then I started meeting other young people 462 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: with like my co founders Yad Ahmed, who was like 463 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: another actors in the space who sort of started building 464 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 1: a business in that own since we joined together created 465 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,959 Speaker 1: this company. So now we work with small companies all 466 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: the way up to about thirty fort companies working on 467 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: marketing strategies, digital activations, experiential marketing. We basically go into 468 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: companies and we say, you're already trying to reach young people, 469 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:23,400 Speaker 1: You're spending a lot of money on it. You're trying 470 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: to research us, but all of the research you're doing 471 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: is not in the best way, right. It's either do 472 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,880 Speaker 1: done through research that takes six months to come out. 473 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: By the time it comes out, the trends are outdated, right. 474 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: Or you do focus groups, but you're they're just telling 475 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: you about the problem, not the solution, and you're not 476 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: getting at the heart of the problem right. For example, 477 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: I hear a lot from clients who do these focus 478 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: groups about social media and have never heard of a finsta, right, 479 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 1: because they've never asked about it. They don't know what 480 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: questions to ask, right, And so we just come in 481 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: and we're like, if you want to reach young people, 482 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: you should talk to us. And I sort of think 483 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: about our vision or our ethos not as just about 484 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 1: like young people, but it's the idea that if you're 485 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,040 Speaker 1: trying to affect any group of people, that group of 486 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: people needs to be represented at the table, right, otherwise 487 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: you're not doing it equitably. I completely agree, and I 488 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: think it's really smart that you did that, because is 489 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: there anything like that? No, I mean that was that's 490 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: why we've grown so fast, because we started this and 491 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: it's a huge need and there's no competition in this space, right, 492 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: Like we are like the only made and there are 493 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: other gen Z marketing places, but like, but it's the 494 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: run but you're one and run by people your age 495 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,479 Speaker 1: and yeah, and there's some that are popping up like it, 496 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: but we are the only one that have like infrastructure 497 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: and and and scalability. Right. So we I was the 498 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: oldest person at the company until we recently hired a 499 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: twenty three year old CFO last year. That's twenty four 500 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 1: year old chief of staff, and we have a hundred 501 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: consultants between the ages of fourteen and twenty two, and 502 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: then we deploy them out to work with high level executives. 503 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: And then we have a vine network of over three 504 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: thousand young people that we regularly fill out to surveys. Right, So, 505 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 1: like some of our favorite clients like this Go, we'll 506 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: do these surveys with um on like how gen Z 507 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,919 Speaker 1: thinks about creates itty or social media, and we're just 508 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: able to get like, you know, much deeper insights. And 509 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 1: it's been it's been incredible to watch because I think 510 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: I took everything I learned from period of like the 511 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: power of working with brands who have resources and platform 512 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: and network, and we take that into this space and 513 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 1: we consider ourselves like a company that's truly about empowering 514 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: young people and trying to honestly get these companies to 515 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,679 Speaker 1: take a stand on something like climate change or the 516 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: digital divide. My work teaches me to have little privilege checks, 517 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: every little every day, right, because it put things into 518 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 1: perspective or like I mean, even coming over here realizing 519 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 1: like I don't even think twice about subway fair anymore. Right, 520 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: but five years ago the Subway fair was really stressful 521 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: for me, right, or like I know, it's stressful for 522 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: a lot of people, and today I never think about it, right, 523 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,239 Speaker 1: And I think it's you remember, as you you know, 524 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: I'm not used to making money like that was not 525 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: something I really grew up with. And I think I 526 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: pushed myself to be so thankful for those little things 527 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 1: every day and to recognize how far we've come to 528 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: It's it's taken a lot of heal ing, and I 529 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: think it's part of being a sexual thought survivor you 530 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 1: like have like I have really struggled with like treating 531 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: myself or being like I deserve a home, or like 532 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: I deserve to be taken care of, or like I 533 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: deserve my own space, and so like I finally got 534 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: my own place, And how have you learned to actually 535 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: splurge for yourself and treat yourself? I mean, yeah, I'm 536 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: still learning, but I think I mean, I think honestly 537 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 1: it was it took a lot of pushing from my 538 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 1: family and the people close to me who knew about 539 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 1: all of this. But also I think what put it 540 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: into perspective is, like I care so deeply about all 541 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: the young activists that I work with, right, Like I think, 542 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: like I spent hours a day texting back and forth 543 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: with chapter members or young activists I've never met, but 544 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: like genuinely love, like would dive because I like support 545 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: them so much. Oh my god. So how do you 546 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: balance college and all of this? And Harvard is not 547 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: an easy school? Yeah, I mean it's really hard. It's um, 548 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: where do you majoring in sociology? Now? Yeah that's interesting. Yeah, 549 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: it's really fun. But I mean the thing is is, 550 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: like it's not like the comes with no sacrifices, right, 551 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: Like when you live this life, I don't go to 552 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: parties every weekend. You know, I was supposed to go 553 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:08,920 Speaker 1: to all these New York Fashion Week shows. I've ditched 554 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,919 Speaker 1: all of them to work by myself in my pajamas, right, 555 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: And I'm actually really happy doing that. I'm so not 556 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 1: extroverted as people think I am. But like there's sacrifices 557 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 1: that come with it. And so I mean when I'm 558 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 1: at school, I'm there for class, like, I'm there, I 559 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: see my friends, we work together, but like I'm there 560 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 1: Monday to like Monday night, and then like Wednesday to 561 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 1: Wednesday night. Like that's often how it is, and so 562 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 1: I like go to class and I live by to 563 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: do list to do list, and whenever I have time, 564 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 1: I block out, like six hours on Saturday, I just 565 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 1: get all my homework done. Smart When you have a 566 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: deadline or you're working for your nonprofit, are your professors accommodating? No, 567 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,880 Speaker 1: usually not not at all, because Harvard is the school 568 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,360 Speaker 1: of a lot of ego. Right For the most part, 569 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: it's the students who were the best in their class 570 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: and then they get to Harvard and they expect this 571 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 1: special treatment because I mean, for the most of us, 572 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: we were like our teachers, like we were the ones 573 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: who got away. But no, that's not the case at all. 574 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: Like everyone is doing their own thing. So of course 575 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,959 Speaker 1: you find some professors, like there are some professors I've 576 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 1: worked with who like, so support what I'm doing. Others 577 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: are like, yes, we support what you're doing. But like, 578 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: you are a student, just like anyone else. Would you 579 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: ever just take forty eight hours and just like go 580 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,360 Speaker 1: to a spot or something and not be on your 581 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 1: phone and not work or do you think your mind 582 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: just can't do that? No? I actually I've been able 583 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: to do that, and I think it's been even So 584 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: the thing that I do no matter what is I 585 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: work out every day, right, Like, no matter what where 586 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: I am anything, if I'm at a hotel or whatever, 587 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: I will always go to the gym. And like my 588 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: sipulation with my team is like whatever hotel, I say, 589 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: and there needs to be a gym at twenty four 590 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 1: our gym, like and I need to work out every day. 591 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: And it's like the time when I put my work 592 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: away and I just listen to music or NPR and 593 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: like I just like clear my head. I mean yes, 594 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: my therapists argues that that's no longer just self care 595 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: because I started modeling, so it's like part of my 596 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: job now. It's like I signed with Adidas and so 597 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: like I have to be. But it's also at the 598 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: same time, I think like working out is like very 599 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: portant for me. I also started dating someone, and so 600 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: for me, like our sipulation is when it's long distance, 601 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:06,879 Speaker 1: but like when we are together, like I put everything 602 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: away and I'm like there and present have long distance. 603 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: I think it's like perfect for me because when I 604 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: wasn't long distance before, I was like, so like please 605 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,239 Speaker 1: go away, like go okay, I need my time to 606 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 1: do my best to both worlds. All of my romantic 607 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 1: relationships before this one have ended because they've asked me 608 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: to choose between period and them, like actively choose between 609 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: this and them. And I'm like, I'm always like sad 610 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: at first, and I'm like, okay, bye, Like like so 611 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: long distance I love actually because I'm like I get 612 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: my own time to like focus on my stuff and 613 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: to work, and I I'm obsessed with what he's doing. 614 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 1: He's like doing um, sustainable infrastructure like solar panel stuff, yes, 615 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,239 Speaker 1: in his own way. And then I'm like, you know, 616 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 1: he get me focus. And then when we're together, which 617 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 1: is like I don't know, like once a month or 618 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 1: something like, I'll be fully present. Yeah that's yeah, I 619 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: see what you're saying. Yeah. Actually, Also, I recently found 620 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: out that long distance is more common with Gen Z 621 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: than any other generation. It doesn't surprise me, yeah, because 622 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: we have the tools so like you can face time 623 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: and it doesn't think like can you imagine if you 624 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: were in a long dis persuation and all you have 625 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: to do could to write letters? Oh my god, It 626 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: is crazy to me, Like it would never work in 627 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 1: that sense. But yeah, as an activist in general, what 628 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: is your goal. I know it's you're doing period, you're 629 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: doing that, you have another business idea, What is your 630 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: generalized goal in this entire field? So I mean I 631 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: have overall goals of what we I think we should 632 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 1: do right, like and the Tampa tax, really accessible period 633 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: products and schools. At the same time, I actually don't 634 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: have goals for like what I want to like I'm 635 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: going to do everything to get there. But I sort 636 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: of think is my goal is just to like maximize 637 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: my impact, like maximize my being, like bringing I don't know, 638 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 1: like inspiration to like the people around me, or like 639 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: love to my family, or like impa to my team. 640 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 1: Because I used to hold myself to standards of like 641 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 1: my organization needs to make this impact. Otherwise I did 642 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 1: not accomplish the goal. But I realized that when you 643 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: work in policy and you work in social change, first 644 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: of all, it's really hard to measure but who you 645 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 1: are depending on like a slow, often broken system, Right, 646 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: So I realized, like I just try to push myself 647 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,200 Speaker 1: to like maximize what I can do, And I think 648 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: that's my goal is just to like at any stage 649 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: of what I'm doing, maximize what I'm doing. You are 650 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,479 Speaker 1: very busy. Thank you for taking the time. I mean, 651 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: I'm inspired by what you're doing. You're making history with podcasts, 652 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: and you're much younger than me, and you're killing it, 653 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: and we're all inspired by you. Do You've actively talks 654 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: about how inspired we are by you. Stop it seriously. 655 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: Oh my god, Oh my god. I will you too. 656 00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: You need to take a break from that. But I'm 657 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: telling you I'm taking breaks. It's just like I'm just 658 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: I like being busy. I can tell you thrive off it, Yes, exactly. 659 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 1: Thank you guys so much for listening. I hope you 660 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: guys enjoyed this episod open Naudia, make sure you follow 661 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: her on all of her socials It's Nadia Okamoto, and 662 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: follow me on my Instagram. It's at It's A M 663 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: E J. That's I T S S A M M 664 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: y J A y E. I also recommend you follow 665 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 1: our podcast account because we have some fun giveaways coming. 666 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: Thank you guys so much for listening, and I'll see 667 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: you guys. Say bye.