The Hike Like A Woman Podcast
Hi, I'm Rebecca 👋 I'm a guide, ski instructor, Army Veteran, cancer survivor, and a big fan of adventure travel. I started HLAW in 2014 because I wanted to smash barriers to entry into the outdoors and help women explore. I'd love to have you join me on an adventure. Please reach out if you have any questions 📧 rebecca@hikelikeawoman.com
The Hike Like A Woman Podcast
A Mother-Daughter Duo Breaking Period Taboos
Join Becca and Dani on their inspiring journey of starting a small business together, showcasing the beautiful bond between a mother and daughter. Learn how they founded "Your Yuckies" and their mission to empower humans who menstruate.
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I have a question for you Would you be able to start a small business with your mom? I don't know if I could, and I love my mom. Mom, if you're out there, I love you. Well, Becca and Danny did, and you're gonna love their story today. It's the story of their small business, your Yuckies. It's the story of their partnership as business partners and as mother and daughter. So I hope you enjoy my conversation with Becca and Danny. I love my mom, but I don't know if I would be able to start a business with her.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, I never thought I would either, but here we are, here we are.
Speaker 1:We're still talking yes. And then, becca, you're in grad school right now.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm just almost finishing in a couple months, but I'll be back home for the summer, so I'm super excited. What's your area of expertise? Graphic design. So I'm doing like all the design portion. For your reccees. My mom does more of like the nitty gritty, not so fun work. I just push it to her, but we work well together.
Speaker 1:We will talk about that. You're a mother-daughter duo who started a small business called your Yuckies. I have to know how the business got started. Whose idea was it? Who do you put the blame on?
Speaker 2:it's always gonna be like um, I think I have to blame myself. Um. So I know, like a year and a half ago, my mom and. I. We were hiking, doing a section hike on the AT? Um and I had to do a bio break and of course it was a super rainy um summer day in Vermont and I could not find my tampon in my pack and I kept looking and looking and looking. It was pouring rain and I had to end up like unpacking my entire bag.
Speaker 2:Oh, then, everything was getting wet and I was just getting super frustrated.
Speaker 2:I was like you know what it is. So then I did my bio break and then we started hiking again and I was talking to my mom and I was like that was ridiculous, like how is there not an easier way for this? And then so the rest of the trip, we just started like talking about this idea, but then when we got home, we're like, oh no, surely there's something out on the market like it's 2023, like of course there's a product for everything. It seems like yeah, yeah. And so we started researching and we couldn't find anything.
Speaker 2:Um, and we came across like articles about people, you know, recommending you to like duct tape, a plastic bag, or cover in a plastic bag with a sharpie, yeah. And so we're like, oh, you know what, let's just create it ourselves and instead of like having a plastic bag, which I usually was using before, let's, you know, make it sustainable and make it plant-based. So, yeah, that's kind of how the idea was born. I guess it was out of a need, a selfish need for myself. And then we're like, oh, let's make this a business.
Speaker 1:But don't you feel like that's how the best businesses start, because they're trying to solve a problem and usually you're the one with that problem. So I think you're on to something here. Um, danny, what has like getting this started with your daughter shown you about her?
Speaker 3:something about Becca. You have to know this kid. Growing up she has been an entrepreneur. She always had some kind of scheme going.
Speaker 3:The first time she is the queen of hustles. She used to be on a Vermont summer swim team when she was seven or eight. She decided she was going to make towel pants Pants out of towels that you could put over your bathing suit. She got the sewing machine out. She taught herself how to cut towel pants like pants out of towels that you could put over your bathing suit. Genius she got the sewing machine out and she taught herself how to like cut in the I don't know. And then it was like swim meet. She like walked around with this bag full of these towel pants and throwing them.
Speaker 2:Hey, hey and goggle towel bags, oh yeah, towel, bags and goggles.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's so I do you still make them, cause I need a pair because I'm always going from the pool with my kids or from the lake with, like trying not to ruin my car seats.
Speaker 2:Exactly, yeah, so so you've done this before so you've done this before and I wouldn't say to like this extent, yeah, I guess. In a way I mean, we're we've just entered like year one and it's definitely like a learn as you go process.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, but we're figuring it out so what have you learned about your mom, becca, through all of this?
Speaker 2:Oh boy Um you know, I I think, well, we we've been on like a lot of overnight hikes together and we never have like any issues, um. But I think we work really well together because we kind of, in a way, balance each other out. Like if someone has like a super crazy like idea too soon for now, then like the other voice will be like wait, okay, let's, let's do like a slower step before you like try to go for a bigger step. Um, so yeah, I don't know. And we also kind of build off each other's ideas and feed into our creativity really well together.
Speaker 1:Danny, have you started small businesses before? Is this genetic or is this just Becca?
Speaker 3:Yeah, well, no, I think I've had a couple. I took a break from like the corporate world while the kids were younger to stay home with them and I had like started a ceramic business Like I love pottery, so I would do it like when they all went to bed, like I'd start. I had like started a ceramic business Like I love pottery, so I would do it like when they all went to bed at like I'd start at eight o'clock at night. You know one of them and then you know go to craft fairs and sell it.
Speaker 3:So I think they kind of grew up seeing me. You know thing. Yeah, it was fun and that it wasn't so scary, I think you know. Oh, if mom can do it from eight till midnight on the kitchen table, you know anyone can start a business, so yeah yeah, you set the example for Becca to follow.
Speaker 1:what are your like? What are your goals with your yuckies like, what's your what's? Where are you going to be in five years If you could see the future? Yeah.
Speaker 3:Well, I think we have to take a step back. So can we talk about our mission first? Yeah, let's do it. Yeah, so, like our mission, like Becca said in the very beginning, like the first year when we started, which was during COVID, was when the thought really you know, incubated. Year when we started, which was during COVID, was when the thought really, you know, incubated. But our mission in the very beginning was definitely sustainability leave no trace. So many people were getting into hiking and using the outdoors as an escape and it was wonderful. But there was also a ton of trash on the trails and I think we all witnessed that. So that was the good and the bad of, you know, this whole influx of people coming to the outdoors. But overall I think it was an awesome thing. So that was really our main goal.
Speaker 3:But then, as we got our product out and we started talking to more and more women, we really saw that sometimes having your period, especially for people that menstruate, it, can be a barrier to enjoying the outdoors. So because there's not a lot of education around it, people are uncomfortable talking about it. So we really kind of wanted to also make us a second part of our mission to kind of open up the conversation, normalizing it, talking about it, providing the education so people feel comfortable, and kind of eliminating that barrier that might be preventing people from using the out, enjoying the outdoors. Yeah, so that's really our mission. So, you know, in five years we really hope to make an impact.
Speaker 3:You know, one, that the trails are clean. And two, that you know people are feeling more comfortable. You know enjoying the trails are clean. And two, that you know people are feeling more comfortable. You know, enjoying the outdoors they feel like, oh, I know how to do that. I don't have to sit home if I'm menstruating, um, or just because I feel uncomfortable, I don't know how to, you know, pee or poop in the woods, that kind of thing yeah, I've.
Speaker 1:I've experienced this too when I have we guide trips all over the world and I have women that plan trips around their periods and and it doesn't always, doesn't always work and some, and that that makes me sad, that something so normal I guess I don't know if that's the right word but it shouldn't, it shouldn't stop us, but it does and that's's I don't know why. Why do you think it stops us? It doesn't, I think, obviously, but I think it does stop a lot of women or people who have their periods go ahead, becca, see what you're younger.
Speaker 3:What do you think um?
Speaker 2:I think for me is it. Can you guys hear me? Okay, there's my wi-fi a little. Okay, you can? Okay, perfect.
Speaker 2:Um, I think for me, like the biggest thing was growing up backpacking. I would backpack with a lot of guys, um, and I, even though we're like the bestest of friends, I always felt uncomfortable if I had to hike with them with my period and like I was always worried they were gonna like see a tampon or just some kind of thing, because they just don't understand how to like, what to say, how to react to someone menstruating. Um, but I definitely think the time is now. I don't know if you've noticed, like even on, like social media, there's more talk. I think it was like this whole thing, the menstrual cup kind of started opening up the conversation. So I'm like now's the time, now we can address this barrier that people may or may not feel. Is the time now we can address this barrier that people may or may not feel and you know, appreciate it, because it is like it's amazing natural cycle. It should be celebrated and not like negatively stigmatized.
Speaker 1:I agree, I agree completely. I I had cancer. I went through cancer treatment and after my second dose of chemotherapy I lost my period and I'm 44. But I already, like went through chemically induced menopause because of cancer treatment and it was so strange for me to go from having my period and a cycle and like being able to understand my body based off where I was in my cycle, to no longer having a cycle, and part of me feels like I've got robbed of that experience to go through menopause naturally and I think that being on the other end where that part of me was taken away without my permission.
Speaker 1:Now I just want to say to to people who do have their periods, like celebrate it, it's, it's beautiful, it's an amazing thing, like our, our bodies are amazing and you can learn so much about your body through your cycle, and so I I appreciate what you're doing because it's it's reducing the negativity, the stigma, and it's encouraging people to have the conversation and hopefully, as the mom of boys, when my, when my boys get older, this won't be a weird thing. This will be just yeah, this is this, is this is it, you know.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I, I love that perspective. That's, that's really special. Thanks for sharing that. That's a that's a different perspective I never really thought about, although, you know, even though I am on the other end of menopause, but it is, it's like it's natural. So I, I feel like Becca, it really I think the time is now even like, even like, uh, in legislation, um, you know, there's, I think, maybe up to 26 states that now um are requiring schools and public places to have free um period care products. Wow, restrooms.
Speaker 1:Uh huh.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and then there's also laws. It's interesting, I guess the FDA considers period products to be a medical device, if you can believe this, and because of that you do not have to label the ingredients on tampons and sanitary napkins, which is really interesting. I mean, there's a huge growth of the organic yeah, organic toxin, no plastic free. And if you see that and they're labeled because you know, it's usually because they're trying to advertise that they are. But not everyone is required to label products. But there is legislation, you know.
Speaker 3:I think that's sitting in some Senate committee that maybe we need to take a look at this and the thing should be labeled Something that you're putting so close into. I was going to say that goes inside your mind. I want to know anything that is oh that makes me feel completely like I've been misinformed or uninformed my whole life Right right, but I mean, the good news is that people are starting to talk about this, so I think Becca's right on. This is the time you know talking about this topic.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and one thing that I appreciated as I was looking at your website is this commitment to sustainability, because your products are made out of what? Are they made out of corn or something? Yeah, okay, tell me about the research and development that went into creating this, this product, and also tie it up with why it's important for you to have such a sustainable product um, yeah.
Speaker 3:So when we were looking at all the different options that were out there and the lack of options, you know we really were hoping to do something that was more sustainable. So we researched and found a firm, that biotech firm that makes plant-based products yeah, and so they are compostable with a municipal composting facility. The technology isn't there yet for home composting, but hopefully soon and hopefully we'll also have more city composting facilities available in our country. You know the regular garbage and it will biodegrade over time, and you're also not left with the plastics and the microplastics in the landfills. So that was really you know, that's really. We felt like this was the best that's available right now. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than the plastic solution, especially a plastic bag that's been duct taped, because I think that thing will biodegrade maybe in a million years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and that's what I've been telling people on our guided trips to do all the time Like, just cover it up so nobody sees the tampon in there. But really, who cares? Like, but we care, like we care Cause we don't want people to see that, um, interesting, what's? What, would you say has been your biggest challenge since you started your yuckies? Um, hmm well, there's been a lot of up and downs, but yeah, yeah, tell me, tell me, tell me about them, because I like little wins.
Speaker 2:I like one of our biggest wins was last summer. We were working with a girl summer camp in the Adirondacks and the feedback we got from the coordinator was, once they handed the bags out to the girls, they started cheering. The coordinator was once they handed the bags out to the girls, they started cheering. And once we heard that, we felt so good and we're like okay, we're onto something. Let's like try to make this as big as we can get. It's like do it for the girls, you know, and so that is kind of motivating us to get our product out there, which is probably like the hardest thing that we're facing right now, just because there's the world of social media and how do you gain traction and get word out about your product? You want to help all the girls menstruating who are backpacking this summer, but how do we do that? Like how do they, you know? Yeah, so I don't know if you want to add anything, mom.
Speaker 3:No, I mean, there's so much competing for everyone's attention. You know, these days, product-wise and everywhere you turn, you know you're just so just getting your message out there, I think, is the biggest challenge. I will say, though, one thing that's really surprising like maybe not shouldn't be as surprising as it was is that the women founded business community and the outdoor community is so strong, so tight, so collaborative. I think I mean, maybe women are just really good collaborators by nature, but everyone's been so helpful and welcoming and it is just a really great community. And if you have a bad day and you go into, like one of the you know chats or one of the you know the different communities sometimes we have virtual or live meetings with different entrepreneurs you leave feeling lifted up and you're like, okay, this was just one bad day, or, oh, they had great ideas.
Speaker 1:that you know, if you come with a problem, it's that has been wonderful Women in the outdoor industry are kind of kicking ass right now, I think. I agree. I think everyone who I've reached out to has been so supportive of anything that I've done in the outdoors, be it hike like a woman or my ski shops or whatever. And you're absolutely right about that, and it's so needed because we need to lift each other up, we need to amplify each other's voices, we need to support each other. It we need to amplify each other's voices, we need to support each other. It's beautiful to see that kind of collaboration. This has been quite the project for you both. How, how do you like? What does your life look like? How do you? How do you, how do you like Becca? You're in grad school right now. How do you have time to run a startup? How do you have time to to reach?
Speaker 1:out and do all of the things that you're doing um, I don't know.
Speaker 2:I guess danny and I we kind of just figure like we talk every day and we always have like at least a 30 minute zoom just to touch base and what's the app we use, the organization app, I don't know. There's this awesome app where you can like do your tasks and we can follow each other's tasks. So we usually like do a whole task thing for the week just to like check it off to make sure we kind of stay aligned and on schedule. But it also, like personally, doesn't seem like work. Like I love, I love it. So I would rather like work on this than watch TV.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I don't know, I know it sounds kind of cheesy, but there's nothing good on TV these days anyway, but it's because you're passionate about it and you're seeing a difference and you want to see your product in the hands of people who could use it. Yes, exactly that says a lot about you, becca, and it says a lot about you. No, for real, like that. That's, that's inspiring, that is so cool. But I also want to acknowledge that, like, the first step of starting a business is the hardest step, and you and your mom did it.
Speaker 1:So what advice would you give to someone who may be like you, who may have been out on a hiking trip and may have thought, oh my gosh, there's a better way to do this, or? Or I wish that this product exists to help me and to help others, but and they might have a really great idea but they might just be thinking I'm not smart enough, I don't have the funding to get it going, I don't have any connections, I've never run a business before, I don't know what I'm doing, I can't build a website, I don't know how to do social media, and they're thinking I can't do this because they're putting all of these excuses on the board. What would you say to someone who has that brilliant idea but is like can't do it?
Speaker 3:You can add Becca, but the first thing that I would say is that there are so many free resources out there that just want to. They want to help entrepreneurs, especially female entrepreneurs. I know we joined the Center for Women and Enterprise in Vermont and I think the first year we took every course they had. We were like here we are again.
Speaker 1:The star students.
Speaker 3:They're like oh, I'm back, I'm here again. But I mean they had everything from bookkeeping, any kind of legal things that you needed to start your business. How to start an LLC. Should you be an LLC? Should you be a sole entrepreneurship enterprise? I mean, they had so many good things. How to start an LLC. Should you be an LLC? Should you be a sole entrepreneurship enterprise? I mean, they had so many good things. How to do a marketing plan. You know how to do social media. I think I did a lot of social media classes because Becca knows I'm really bad on social media.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. Between a story and a reel, Mom we've been over this so many times.
Speaker 1:A story and a real mom. We've been over this so many times. It's really hard. My mom just got on instagram. She's 72. It's adorable, but we don't need to go there. So you're saying, yeah, take advantage of the free resources that exist so many yeah, how about you, becca?
Speaker 3:do you have anything to add?
Speaker 2:um, and then I think I would also like take every opportunity to talk to someone that you can, because you never know, like, what connection someone has. And this has happened to us a lot, like we just have a conversation with someone and they're like, oh, let me introduce you to so-and-so, and then that person introduces us to another, and it's just like a chain effect. So I would just say, take every opportunity to get, cause you never know who has a connection with who and you can always learn a lot from someone too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's. I think that I'm glad you said that, cause you reached out to me and I was like what is this? And then I'm doing all my research and I'm looking into it and I'm like this is amazing. And then I'm doing all my research and I'm looking into it and I'm like this is amazing. And now I'm trying to think who I could connect you with potentially that could help you get this into the universe. Where can we find your yuckies and where can we learn more about you both?
Speaker 3:and all the things you're doing. So our website is your yuckiescom and our Instagram is at your underscore yuckies, and there's information on both about us, and there's a video about our story on our website, and we also have a Facebook page. I believe that is also your underscore, your yuckies. Becca, tell me, is that wrong?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I have to know how you came up with the name.
Speaker 2:Uh, we had a hard time coming up with the name and we had a list of options and we decided to do your yuckies because, well, to clarify, your yuckies is not yucky, like it's a natural, beautiful process, yeah, but they're yucky when you leave them on the trail and so we're trying to like kind of do like a play on words.
Speaker 2:Yeah, alongside, like your yuckies, you know it's like a play on words. Yeah, alongside, like your yuckies, you know it's like a product about periods and pee and hygiene, like it should be like a lighter topic. Yeah, your yuckies is kind of cute, lighthearted, we can kind of joke about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I like it, I like it, I like it a lot. Are you, can we buy your product online on your website or are you in any stores?
Speaker 3:uh, yep, you can buy it on the website, and we're also in some stores in vermont, which is very exciting. They're all listed on our website, um, and it includes the REI up in Burlington, which is super exciting oh.
Speaker 1:REI yeah, and once you get into one REI like you're, you got a foot in the door to get into all the REIs, right?
Speaker 3:That would be amazing. That would be amazing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, REI, if you're listening. You need to carry this product in all your stores.
Speaker 3:Yeah and then yeah. And a shout out to our favorite local stores Base Camp in Killington They've been super supportive, and the Mountain Goat in Middlebury I mean in Manchester and the Mountaineer in Middlebury, vermont they've been really supportive of a new business. So shout out to all of them Ah, that's so incredible.
Speaker 2:That's so good To clarify for a lot of people, because we had a lot of questions about this. Bears it is not scientifically proven that bears are attracted to your menstrual flow, just Bigfoot wolves. Nope none of them.
Speaker 1:Mountain lions. Anything else that wants to eat your feet? No.
Speaker 2:No, not the blood.
Speaker 1:It's a huge misconception. I don't even know. Didn't it start like in the seventies or something? Some woman got attacked by a bear.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the two girls.
Speaker 1:I forget where they were exactly. And one was menstruating and they were like my gosh, it was the bear attracted to the blood whatever yes, we need to, we need to all fake news squash that squash, because that that keeps people off the trail when they're thinking yes, it does.
Speaker 1:So I have to manage my period on the trail and second, I'm gonna attract wild animals that want to eat me. No, yeah, no, yeah, yeah, no, I completely agree, awesome. Well, I'll look you up the next time I'm in vermont and, um, I hope our best cross in person someday. Thanks so much for listening. If you want to learn more about your yuckies, if you want to learn more about what we do here at hike like a woman, if you want to join us for a guided trip, please head to our website hike like a woman. If you want to learn more about what we do here at Hike Like a Woman, if you want to join us for a guided trip, please head to our website hikelikeawomancom. You can find all the information there. Thanks so much and I will see you next time.