July 22, 2025 • 39 mins
Breast pain is one of the most common—and most ignored—issues women face from puberty through post-menopause. In this episode of Asking for a Friend, I sit down with Debbie and Troy Sutton, the inspiring mother-son duo behind The Healing Bra—a revolutionary product offering real relief for breast discomfort through every stage of life.
From painful mammograms and postpartum nursing to menopause and breast cancer recovery, The Healing Bra’s temperature therapy pads are changing the way women manage their comfort. What started as a simple question—"Why isn't there anything for this?"—sparked an invention that’s now easing pain and empowering women everywhere.
Whether you're a nursing mom, an athlete, in cancer treatment, or dealing with hormone shifts, you’ll want to hear how this simple, genius idea is redefining breast wellness and self-care.
You can find The Healing Bras and Healing Pads https://thehealingbras.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thehealingbras/
In this episode, we cover:
- [01:50] The painful mammogram that sparked the idea
- [04:10] Why nothing existed for breast pain—and the market gap they uncovered
- [06:40] How The Healing Bra works (and how it doesn’t replace your bra)
- [09:25] Hot therapy vs cold therapy: use cases from nursing to menopause
- [12:15] Surprising benefits for athletes and post-surgical recovery
- [15:45] Partnering with cancer orgs, OB/GYNs, and wellness professionals
- [18:20] How this journey turned into a mission to serve millions of women
- [22:00] The future of The Healing Bra and upcoming product expansions
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Sign up for Michele's weekly newsletter for more health and fitness tips and insights. https://michelefolanfasterway.myflodesk.com/i6i44jw4fq
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*Transcripts are done with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.
**This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Michele Folan (00:00):
Let's be real for a second.
If you're over 50 and stilltrying to eat less and move more
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(00:20):
The program that actuallyworks with your midlife
metabolism, not against it.
We're talking strategicworkouts, real food, and no, you
don't have to give up your wineor your social life.
This is not a quick fix, though.
It's a grown woman reset.
So if you're tired of startingover every Monday, do something
different.
Check the show notes for thelink or reach out with your
(00:43):
questions.
I'm here to help you make thisyour last start over.
Health, wellness, fitness andeverything in between.
We're removing the taboo fromwhat really matters in midlife.
I'm your host, Michele Folan,and this is Asking for a Friend.
(01:08):
Today's conversation is onethat's close to the heart,
literally and emotionally.
We're diving into the topicthat rarely gets the attention
it deserves breast pain.
Whether it's from hormonalshifts, post-surgical recovery,
injury or chronic inflammation.
(01:28):
So many women suffer in silence, often with no real solutions.
Joining me are Debbie and TroySutton, the inspiring mother and
son team behind the Healing Bra.
What started as a personalmission has turned into a
purpose-driven business, helpingwomen reclaim comfort and
confidence through an innovativetherapeutic bra designed to
support healing.
We'll talk about how theybrought this idea to life, what
(01:50):
makes the healing bra differentand how their work is making a
real impact in women's lives.
We'll also explore theself-care rituals that keep them
grounded as busy companyfounders.
This is more than just aproduct.
It's a movement rooted incompassion, relief and real
support.
Debbie and Troy Sutton, welcometo Asking for a Friend.
(02:10):
Hi, thank you for having us.
Yeah, it's nice to see you twoagain.
We met through another podcastand during that conversation my
wheels were kind of turning.
I'm thinking this is not atopic I have covered on the
podcast number one and numbertwo.
The breadth of people that thisactually involves is really
(02:36):
huge.
So we're talking from you know,girls that are very young,
period, breast pain all the waythrough, women who have hormonal
shifts, and then we had thein-between of the women having
babies and all of that.
So, first of all, welcome tothe show and I want to start
(02:58):
with you two, where you're fromand then how you got started
with the idea behind the HealingBra.
Debbie Sutton (03:07):
Oh sure.
Well, thank you again forhaving us.
We're excited to be here.
Well, we are born and bred inNew Jersey.
And the aha moment I don't knowif you want to tell it, troy or
me, but I had a mammogram a fewyears ago.
That was uncomfortable, to saythe least.
It was, you know, not that anyof them are pleasant, but this
(03:28):
particular one made me a littlebit bruised on my ribs.
And when I went home to myfamily of guys watching a
football game, I walked in andTroy was kind enough, as always,
to ask how it went.
You know how to go, how was it?
And I said it blankety, blanked.
And he said he got nervous,thinking it was something wrong,
(03:49):
and I said no, no, thank no,everything's fine, thank God,
everything's fine.
I said.
But if you guys, if all of you,ever had to put it on the table
and get it squished and pulledand this and that, and five or
six times, I said you wouldn'tdo it, you would never go back
and something better would havebeen designed.
There's no doubt every womanseems to agree with me on that.
(04:15):
Anyway, Troy, having anengineering background which he
may tell you about, had an ahamoment.
He said don't they give youanything?
Isn't there anything they cangive you?
I said no, no, they don't.
They used to give a rose.
They don't do that anymore.
But anyway, I said it's what wedo as women.
We, you know, we just do these,these, you know protocols and
(04:36):
things that we need to do tostay and remain healthy.
They're not always easy.
So he had the aha moment andbegan and developed and invented
and patented these healing padsand the healing bra.
Troy.
Troy Sutton (04:51):
Absolutely.
Yeah, well, so when growing upin a family of doctors, but I
was like the black sheepengineer, so I always wanted to
pursue biomedical engineeringbecause I wanted to design
prosthetics for war veterans toplay sports.
So that was my career path andmy thought process.
And then, when I looked uponline for those blue gel ice
(05:14):
packs that we all have for ourelbows, our knees, our back, I
assumed it existed for breasts.
Why wouldn't it?
It exists for every other bodypart.
So when we looked online, theonly thing that we could find
were big shoulder pad, clunky,awkward shaped pads, and then
only the plastic gel ice packthat would go directly on your
(05:35):
breast, which was uncomfortable.
The plastic was a littlescratchy and sharp on the edges.
You can get freezer burn or iceburn.
I just knew that there was anoption and an opportunity to
make a much better product, andso that's why we started
developing the Healing Bra andthe Healing Pads.
It is the only product like iton the market, which is why we
were easily and early able tohave our patent approved, which
(05:59):
was very exciting.
And we've officially launchedin February, and so everything
is exciting and moving forward.
And we've officially launchedin February, and so everything
is exciting and moving forwardand we're very optimistic about
all.
The future has to hold for this.
Michele Folan (06:11):
So I'm kind of curious.
When you launched into this,though, did you know that there
was a broader market beyond justwomen saying, you know, post
mammogram or that kind ofcategory?
Troy Sutton (06:26):
So yes and no.
I would say that when we werefirst developing this, we spent
about a year and a halfconducting market research and
prototype development to see ifthere was actually a need for
this, and through our hundreds,if not thousands, of
conversations with differentwomen through different
organizations, we were able tocontinuously learn that there
(06:48):
were so many more customersegments and women of all
different ages and backgrounds,going through different journeys
, that could really benefit froma healing pad like this.
So I will say that you know wehad a pretty good idea that you
know, every woman of any agecould benefit from this.
But definitely through thoseconversations we learned that
there were even moreopportunities, and I'll just
(07:09):
give you a very brief example.
So, for example, the breastcancer industry absolutely loves
this pads.
We partnered with severaldifferent nonprofit breast
cancer organizations and womenare using the pads on their
breast cancer journey, and wealways knew that that would be a
key market.
But we also received feedbackasking if women could replace
(07:34):
their prosthetic with one of ourhealing pads, not only so they
could benefit from the heatingor the cooling therapy, but it
was also.
Our pad is much lighter, muchmore comfortable and it's much
less expensive than amulti-hundred dollar prosthesis.
So that was a new opportunitythat we learned about.
Was women actually wanting touse our healing pads as a breast
(07:58):
prosthesis as well?
So that's just been part of thebusiness journey, right
Learning.
You know what are the targetmarkets, who could really
benefit from this, and so on.
Michele Folan (08:08):
You know.
I have to say, though, as amother and son duo, your
partnership is very unique inthis space.
How did that dynamic influencehelp with the development of the
product and your company'sdirection?
Because you know, troy, you'vegot the engineering background.
(08:30):
Debbie, what is your background?
How did you play into this?
Debbie Sutton (08:33):
Well, I'll just take a step back.
I think, as a male and a female, I think we can cover a lot
more than if it was, you know,just one or the other.
And I'm so very proud of Troybecause he really is bridging
the gap between men and women.
Men need to know about whatwomen go through and he is.
He's out, you know, out infront and he's talking to guys
(08:57):
and he's talking to women withtheir guys telling guys on.
You know all of our socialmedia, you media get involved.
It's not something that's tabooor women's breasts have been
stigmatized since the beginningof time and there's a lot more
that's actually going on inthere and that women cope with
and manage and just handle intheir day-to-day lives.
(09:20):
So I think my background I'mformer many, many careers, but I
was in sales.
I did have a family importingand exporting warehousing
business for commodities and Iwas the only woman in that
market at the time.
So I really know what.
You know when there arechallenges to be faced and how
(09:41):
to deal with them and how topivot.
I think Troy enjoys my inputand also you know different
thinking, maybe different pointsof view that I might have, that
he wouldn't have.
So anyway, yeah, I mean, I'mthrilled and honored to be
working with him.
Michele Folan (09:57):
So you know the mission's deeply rooted in
helping women who suffer fromacute and chronic breast pain,
because there's both right.
There's women who have chronicbreast pain all the time, and
then we have the more acute typeof situation.
So give us a sense of the typesof conditions where you all
(10:20):
would love to have the healingbra placed.
Debbie Sutton (10:23):
Well, I'll just talk, just talk briefly, and
then you can add, troy, um.
Going back to what you weresaying before, uh, this, this
product, and the pads especially, would be beneficial to all
women, all ages, like you saidbefore, the youngest gals who
are having monthly pain, and youknow um, to women who are
pregnant and their breasts arechanging and then breastfeeding,
(10:44):
which can be difficult, it'snot always, you know, a walk in
the park and we don't want womento stop because it's painful or
they have mastitis or theycan't, they don't feel they can,
you know, continue the process.
We want them to continue, as youknow, as best they can.
And then to all of thesurgeries breast surgeries,
whether it's cosmetic or orbreast cancer related, whether
(11:06):
it's small, like biopsies, or,you know, lumpectomies not that
that's small, but you know, justall the way to mastectomies and
beyond.
And then, of course, it's themenopausal women where I fit in
and I use these pads.
With this heat especially thatwe are experiencing, I have such
relief and you can see some ofmy posts on social media where I
(11:28):
actually just come inside, goto the freezer, get the pads and
insert them and I have my ahmoment, oh, and I love that.
Michele Folan (11:38):
You know you're outside, you're taking your two
mile walk and it's 92 degreesout.
What a great way to cool offquickly.
And yeah, yeah, yeah, I lovethat.
Yes, it's true.
Troy Sutton (11:52):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
One of our ambassadors isfour-time Olympian, Joetta Clark
from North New Jersey, and whenshe jogs and you say two-mile
walk, she'll do like a 12-milejog, because that's just.
She's an absolutely incrediblewoman.
She just set the new NorthAmerican indoor track record for
the 200 meter for her age group, so extremely inspiring.
(12:15):
So she'll go for a jog and wearher favorite sports bra and
then as soon as she comes backshe does the exact same thing,
where she already has two of thehealing pads in the freezer and
so then she'll just easily beable to insert them while she's
already wearing her sports bra.
And then while she's coolingdown, recovering, having her
little protein shake, orsometimes she goes right to her
(12:38):
computer and send some emails,because she gets some thoughts
come to her when she's jogging,so she's able to use the cool to
help recover, help cool down,make herself a little bit more
comfortable with that immediaterelief, like you said.
Michele Folan (12:48):
I love this.
I think what you all started Idon't think you had a clue.
Honestly, you know all thedifferent areas where this could
be of great impact in women'slives.
I want to take a quick breakand when we get back I want to
see if you could share with us acouple of stories or
(13:10):
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All right, we are back.
I love the testimonial withyour Olympic athlete.
Are there any other stories ortestimonials that you can share
(14:17):
with us?
Troy Sutton (14:18):
Absolutely so.
I will start with one of ourvery first testimonials from
Anna Crow, who is the founder ofSharing and Caring, which is
one of New York's largest breastcancer communities.
She is a two-time breast cancersurvivor and a certified breast
prosthetic fitter.
So I actually met her veryearly on when we just started
(14:39):
this company, during the ideastage, and we were very lucky to
have Anna Crail advise us ondifferent aspects such as the
market and the product andrearranging different aspects,
like where would the shoulderclasps be and different physical
feedback like that.
But once we were able toimprove the prototype and the
(14:59):
product and let her try it, sheloved it so much that she was
the very first breast cancerorganization to endorse us and
since then we partnered withthem, volunteering at different
events and donating bras andreally building out our
community with theirs, so thatway we could get even more
feedback and help give the brato even more women.
(15:20):
So Anna Crowe absolutely lovesthe bra and fully recommends it.
I also would say it's a littlebit biased, but my sister-in-law
she is a family member but sheis also a doctor and she
recently gave birth to our firstgirl of the family.
My niece is almost seven monthsold.
Thank you, we're delighted.
(15:40):
So she has a two and a halfmonth old boy and a seven a two
and a half year old boy and aseven month old girl.
And so during both pregnanciesand while she was breastfeeding
both children, she would use thepads.
And so first, since the pads canbe heated or cooled, she would
(16:00):
warm the pads.
She has two pairs, so she wouldwarm the pads before she needed
to nurse or pump to helpincrease milk production,
increase flow, make it a littlebit more comfortable and easier
for her.
And then afterwards, when shewas done, she would then insert
(16:20):
the cool pads to help with anyinflammation, her pain, and then
, from a medical perspective,she and other women would use
this for engorgement if ductsare clogged or mastitis or
biting it.
With the latching aspect I meansomething that I've learned
right, that my mom has talkedabout with other women in this
on similar journeys, is you knowwhat a beautiful concept
breastfeeding is and that it'ssomething that really builds the
(16:42):
bond between the mother and thechild.
But it can be quiteuncomfortable and very painful,
and if that we don't want painto prevent women from having
such a beautiful and emotionalbonding moment with their child
and nutritional as well, andnutritional right, and so that's
why we so.
my sister-in-law's feedback isthat these pads really allowed,
(17:05):
it gave her that additional,significant, extra boost and
comfortability to continue.
Michele Folan (17:13):
I'm cracking up.
You two are like an old marriedcouple because you're finishing
each other's sentences.
Troy Sutton (17:19):
She wants to talk to me.
I know she wants to answer myquestions and I'm answering hers
.
Michele Folan (17:23):
Typically, yeah, no, I think it's kind of
refreshing.
Actually, I don't do a lot ofinterviews with two people and
I've done them when they've bothbeen remote, but having you two
together here, it's really.
It's kind of cute how you guysbounce off each other.
It's really kind of fun.
And you've done this before.
You've done interviews beforeTroy.
(17:45):
Something else that just alittle takeaway here is how
comfortable you are in havingthis conversation.
I think you said somethingearlier about making men more
aware of all the aspects ofbreast pain and, like we said,
it can be something that canstart very, very young and it
(18:08):
goes all the way through ourlater adulthood, and that's more
of a comment than a question.
But do you find that you knowyou're taking something that's I
don't want to say so much taboobut that can be uncomfortable
for men to talk about and kindof making it just normal?
Has that been kind of fun?
Troy Sutton (18:30):
Uh, yes, yeah, yeah .
And the short answer is yes.
And the reason that I'msmirking is because, like, yes,
this, you know, breasts are,have been stigmatized and
sexualized right and for for youknow, from men's perspectives.
And so you ask, like, how hasit been for me?
Well, I'm talking about it withmy mom, so add that additional
layer right Of sensitivity and,just again, like from a business
(18:51):
perspective, I knew very likein the first week that we
launched, that I would need toget over that stigma, right, and
especially talking about braswith my mom every single day.
I knew that, you know, I had tomature right past that
conversation and realize thatthis was something that every
woman deals with, right.
Once you realize that breastsare significantly more important
(19:14):
than just you know for what mensee them as, that's when you
realize that you know women haveto deal with so much more than
we realize.
And women have always been thecaretakers right of the family.
They're always so used tosoldiering on through pain in
order to continue providing andhelping family.
(19:37):
And through this journey I havelearned just how prevalent
breast health is, whether it'sthrough nursing and pregnant
women or through breast cancer.
I mean, every week, my mom and Iare meeting women, younger and
younger, who are diagnosed withbreast cancer and the craziest
part is that they don't have theBRCA gene or they don't have
family history and they do livea healthy, active lifestyle.
So what really is it?
(19:57):
The air, the water?
There are no answers, and it'sgreat that the science is
getting better, the technologyis getting significantly better
to diagnose and screen for thisearly, but it seems that breast
cancer or different breastissues is just so much more
prevalent, and so we're reallytrying to embody that in our
(20:19):
messaging throughout ourcommunity that men need to ask
are you okay, what's wrong?
If I never asked my mom why shewas in breast pain, we would
not be here, we wouldn't havethis product.
So I think it's just reallyimportant, right for men to be
able to ask the uncomfortablequestions or ask the questions
that they don't know right, andjust be open to learning and
(20:43):
being a sponge right ofinformation, because we've been
doing this for a few years nowand I just I learn something new
every week about the industry.
That's really helpful andbeneficial for us.
Michele Folan (20:55):
I want to talk a little bit about the actual pads
, because you've put someelements and materials into your
design that make them reallyvery effective.
Can you talk a little bit aboutthat process and what you were
able to land on in terms ofsomething that can be heated and
(21:16):
cooled?
Troy Sutton (21:17):
Absolutely, so I can talk about it while my mom
shows it real quick.
And so these are the healingpads.
They are the nude beige incolor.
And so a couple of years ago Imentioned Anna Krill from the
breast cancer organizationearlier.
So we were working with her andshe is a certified breast
prosthetic fitter, so she wouldactually create molds for her
(21:38):
clients who needed a single ordouble prosthesis, and so Anna
actually was able to graciouslyallowed us to use her mold to
design the pad.
And so, again, like I mentionedearlier, we all have those blue
gel ice packs at home, so wewere able to use that blue gel
pack.
We actually made the gelmaterial a little bit better on
(22:01):
the inside and then we were ableto insert that into this pad.
So it's shaped based on acertified breast prosthetic
fitter and it's very comfortablematerial.
And because the gel pack is onthe bottom, on the top and then
one in the middle, but it's verycomfortable material, and
because the gel pack is on thebottom, on the top and then one
in the middle, but it's coveredby this very soft cotton blend
material, so this can safely beworn directly on the skin with
(22:23):
any bra, so the healing brabecomes any bra with these pads.
Michele Folan (22:27):
Got it All right, and then is there sizing
involved with this.
Troy Sutton (22:32):
So, as of right now , this is the only size that we
have for this pad.
So I will say that our bra andpad manufacturer is based in
Linden, new Jersey.
They are an FDA regulatedfacility Not that this product
needs FDA approval, but it goesthrough all the same quality
assurance and checks during themanufacturing process, which is
(22:52):
wonderful.
And so, through that FDAprocess, these pads, the gel
packs, can be safely warmed inthe microwave or they could be
cooled in the refrigerator orfreezer and then reused multiple
times, many, many times.
Michele Folan (23:09):
Okay, so how long can you safely put them in the
microwave?
Because I know I've got an eyepack or like a eye mask and I
know if I put that in themicrowave for more than 10
seconds it's bloody hot.
So how long can you heat those?
Debbie Sutton (23:24):
Yes, yes, Well, this is the same idea basically
putting it in, but I wouldrecommend putting it in for 10
seconds to start and thenfeeling it on your wrist and
then putting it in.
But you, I would recommendputting it in for 10 seconds to
start and then feeling it onyour wrist and then putting it
back in, because all microwavesare different with the wattage.
Some are really super, superstrong, some are rather weak.
So you really have to playaround and you may travel with
(23:46):
these and say you know you usethem at home, but then you may
take them in the little pouchthat it comes in and take them
to work.
So you're, or you know someoneelse's home or wherever you're
going, and that microwave mightbe different, a different
strength.
So you would just, you know,play with it a little bit just
to get the right temperature.
I would not recommend puttingthem in for two minutes.
That's all clearly defined inthe instructions.
(24:09):
And they are hand washable,just to let you know about that
too.
They can just be washed, youknow, right, with your hand,
soap in your sink, just pat dryand just let them air dry.
Michele Folan (24:24):
So that was going to be one of my next questions.
And then, how long do they staycool?
So, say you, you put them inthe freezer for you know a
couple hours.
How long do they typically staycool?
Debbie Sutton (24:30):
Well, just the other day I had another aha
moment.
I thought I put them in.
I came in from being outsidewhen it was very warm, came in,
put them inside and I said, okay, I'll be back to check in 30
minutes.
Of course I got distracted andI didn't come back for 30
minutes and then, when I didcome back, I said, oh my gosh,
it's an hour and I didn't feelcold or chilled, which is really
(24:52):
the wonderful surprise aboutthese pads.
But I put my hand in and Icould still feel that the tissue
was cool.
So it's a very slow absorptionof the cool or warm, not like a
heating pad or like an ice pack,which would be like abrupt.
This is like a slow absorptionand then it just lasts.
(25:13):
So I would not say that itwould normally last an hour, but
at least a half an hour wouldbe.
You know where I would safelysay it would last, but who knows
?
I mean that that was really anice surprise for me.
Michele Folan (25:27):
Well, that's typically what they say.
You know, 20, 30 minutes isusually the sweet spot for
getting the most out of likecold packs and that sort of
thing, so that kind of makessense.
You mentioned to me that you'vekind of had a little bit of an
aha with how you're selling yourproduct.
(25:49):
Can you talk about that alittle bit?
Troy Sutton (25:51):
Absolutely so.
One of the key aspects of thehealing bra with the healing pad
is that the healing bra wasdesigned around the healing pad,
so the pocket, the location ofthe pocket, the shape of the
pocket inside of the healing brawas specifically for the
healing pad.
So we thought that we needed tosell the pads with the bras.
(26:12):
Now, through our conversationswith women and through our
partnerships with thesedifferent organizations, we have
come to realize that womentypically already have a
favorite bra, and that could bewomen of all different ages, of
all different stages of life.
So it could be a training brato a sports bra, to a nursing
bra, to a surgical mastectomybra.
And also the hospitals and thedoctors that we're working with
(26:36):
typically already recommend abra.
So instead of us trying to sella bra that may or may not be
wonderful for the woman, we arenow selling the pads by
themselves, because women canuse these pads with any bra to
make their existing bra thehealing bra.
And so that's why we're reallyfocusing on these pads right now
(26:57):
, because they are able to betaken to work or taken out and
about.
Our mission statement, I willsay, is empowering women with
comfort and confidence.
So really, the goal of thesepads is to relieve breast pain
and discomfort and thereforeempower the woman to go about
her daily routine, whetherthat's going to work, running
(27:20):
errands, doing chores.
You can wear these padsdiscreetly in your existing bra
and get that cool or warmingtherapy on the go and out and
about.
Michele Folan (27:30):
Okay, and I love this because I don't know if,
back in February, when youlaunched that, you were even
thinking this, but your abilityto pivot and to flex quickly, I
think, is a should be a keyattribute of every entrepreneur,
just because there's alwaysthings that you're going to be
(28:00):
learning and there are alwaysgoing to be curveballs that are
thrown your way when you'releast expecting it.
Troy Sutton (28:07):
So I will say that's one of the great aspects
of working with my mom is thatshe and I will be cooking dinner
, like last night, and while I'mchopping, I'm like wait, I have
a question about this.
Can you give me some thoughtson this pad or this bra, so
we're able to talk and I'm ableto get that real-time feedback
on the spot, which is one of thebenefits of working with my mom
.
But back to being resilient asan entrepreneur.
(28:28):
It's not just physical, withchanging the business model or
changing the pad or thestructure of that, but also
mentally.
We the business model, orchanging the pad or the
structure of that, but alsomentally.
We're going up against some verylarge companies that have
similar products but definitelyare not as good, based on
feedback from their customersand ours.
And so just knowing that thereis a light at the end of the
(28:49):
tunnel, and whenever we're downin the dumps, we'll read through
some of the reviews and thefeedback from different women
about how they're using this braand it's helping them in their
daily life, and that's reallywhat's inspiring.
So I think what I'm getting atis you have to be positive
through the entire process, eventhough there are definitely
(29:10):
some valleys that we dip into,but always looking at the bright
side and then also celebratingyour wins.
My mom and I, we're a startupand we're on the uphill battle
of building a business which isexciting but uphill battle, and
so we are constantly.
Every week, something greatcomes our way, whether it's a
(29:32):
new partnership or a new reviewor testimonial from a woman who
loves it.
So really like celebrating ourwins and patting ourselves on
the back when we have earned.
It is key and that really addsto like the resiliency of who we
are and who this business is.
Michele Folan (29:47):
Well, and you're building community too.
There is a community to bebuilt around breast pain and
different conditions that womenhave when it comes to breast
health, and then you have a blog, and all of that, too, on your
website.
Troy Sutton (30:05):
And I will say that , if I can just jump in about
the community, I mean that'sreally one of the key aspects of
what we're trying to do.
So since February, we'vepartnered with five breast
cancer organizations, multiplebaby and new mother
organizations, hospitals,private practices and my mom and
I we're from a family ofdoctors, but we'll be the first
to say that we are not doctors.
(30:25):
So if a woman asks us formedical advice or feedback,
through our partnerships we'reable to bridge the gap and
connect them with doctors whocan specifically answer those
questions.
So that's really like a keypart of the community that we're
trying to build, which has beenabsolutely wonderful experience
.
Debbie Sutton (30:45):
Yeah, really, really, and humbling too.
We were just at McGee Women'sHospital up in Pittsburgh
hospital up in Pittsburgh and wedid two events and one of them
was a pop-up in their big, youknow, in their lobby and it was
just.
It was really like eye-opening,humbling, happy, sad, all of
(31:13):
those, because all of the womencoming in for whatever problem
they had.
And we had Nick you to ourright, you know, with those
mothers going in and out tobreastfeed or just see the baby
and just like right, it was justsuch a wide range of patients
and patient supporters walkingpast our table and the interest
was so great and it was men alsowith their partner and we were
(31:34):
teaching them and we had othermen that came up on their own.
It was really, really inspiringand it's just we're here to
help in any little way that wecan I'd love to know what's next
for you both?
Michele Folan (31:46):
What are plans to expand the product line or
develop complementary wellnessproducts?
Troy Sutton (31:52):
Absolutely Well.
First and foremost, we want tooffer more types of pads, so
that would include larger padsas well as flatter pads that
don't have as much of a curve.
So that's really like from theproduct perspective.
That's the direction that we'relooking to go, as from like the
community perspective, we wouldlove to talk with every
(32:14):
hospital, every breast cancerorganization, every nursing
mother organization.
We table at different babyfairs where we're able to talk
to pregnant and breastfeedingwomen, which is always
incredible.
So my mom and I love doing thein-person community branding.
So we're absolutely looking toattend more events and
participate as well.
Looking to attend more eventsand participate as well, and
(32:39):
then also just looking to scaleour online presence.
Like I mentioned earlier, weonly launched in February, so we
are still relatively new.
So we're building our socialmedia platform, but we would
love to help scale that as well,so that way, we can partner
with more organizations andreach more women as well.
Michele Folan (32:54):
You know, I just thought of something.
So we get invited to these babyshowers and you, if you know
that the expecting mother isgoing to be nursing, why not
give them a set of healing padsas a shower gift?
Debbie Sutton (33:10):
It's a great question, and we wish that every
woman or man going to a babyshower or knowing someone who's
pregnant would do just that.
Yeah.
Troy Sutton (33:20):
A few of my friends .
You know girlfriends fromcollege who are now having
babies and they are purchasingthe pads amongst the group for
themselves.
And you know, when I firstmentioned this product to them
and talked about it a few yearsago, everybody had their doubts
and they weren't sure is thislegit?
Or, you know, is Troy actuallygoing to make this, you know, a
success?
(33:41):
And you know, here we are.
They're texting me like holymoly, we didn't know they're
working like.
We didn't know that we actuallyneeded this.
And that also was a veryeye-opening lesson for us,
because we just assume thatwomen know that they should use
warm or cool therapy, but ifthey're not taught about it or
(34:04):
if they don't have an experiencewith that, then they don't know
the benefits of warm therapywhen they are nursing.
So, absolutely, it can make awonderful gift and it's also a
very unique gift, right, whichare great and we all need in our
house, but it's something thatthe woman can actually use daily
to help not only her health butalso the baby's health,
(34:24):
potentially right and the youknow the emotional aspect like
that.
So it does make a wonderfulgift.
We the pads are available onour website, which is just
thehealingbrascom, and so we arealso running discounts and
weekly promotions, so we wouldlove to make that a reality.
(34:48):
There are baby fairs that areusing our pads as part of their
care packages, so it's beingadopted in different aspects,
like that.
Debbie Sutton (34:57):
Yes, you'll be at one this weekend coming up.
Troy Sutton (34:59):
This upcoming weekend.
Debbie Sutton (35:01):
In what the can you say?
Troy Sutton (35:03):
Yeah, yeah, we can absolutely say it's the Baby
Fair event at the King ofPrussia Mall in Philadelphia
this Sunday and it's going to bea great event.
There should be hundreds ofvendors and thousands of young
families there, so we're veryexcited.
Michele Folan (35:18):
Yeah, that's great that you're actually
getting out in the community topromote the product.
I think that's really where youneed to be.
And then, just on a personalnote, so besides spending your
weekends at baby fairs, I wouldlove to ask you what keeps you
(35:38):
grounded?
What are each of your personalself-care non-negotiables Me?
Debbie Sutton (35:43):
first.
Well, I thought I was retiredso well that didn't last too
long.
So I had to do a little bit ofa pivot in my activities and
daily planning, but I'm thrilledto be doing that.
But I do try to take care ofmyself as best I can every day,
(36:05):
with eating well and going nowback to the gym, and so I'm
feeling fit with that.
I have a bicycle that I'vestarted riding.
I have my pads that I can usewhen I come back inside if I'm
so I'm feeling fit with that.
I have a bicycle that I'vestarted riding.
I have my pads that I can usewhen I come back inside.
I just, I take all mysupplements and I'm just.
I'm doing everything I can tostay healthy and focused and
(36:28):
grounded and peaceful.
Troy Sutton (36:31):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
I think like in this day andage, there's such a almost
overwhelming amount ofinformation about what you
should do and what we recommendfor your health and wellness
where it can almost you getparalysis by analysis and like
you just overthink it, that youend up not doing anything anyway
, and I think that we just can'tforget about the basics, right,
(36:52):
like going for a walk, tryingto get some sunlight, breathing
in that fresh air, right, thatreally, just you know, helps
your body.
There are legitimate physicaland psychological benefits that
have been proven right For goingfor walks and sunlight and
things like that.
I think getting a good littlesweat, whether it's going for a
walk right Outside in this heator, you know, a workout at the
(37:14):
gym, is great for your body andthat's also great to reset your
mentality.
There's a very real phenomenonof eye strain when you're just
staring at your computer andthat leads to headaches, which
leads to less productivity.
And this was all from myprevious background, but it's
really important that peopletake the time to invest in
themselves.
Obviously, everybody'sdifferent.
(37:35):
Every body is different, so youreally need to listen to your
body and understand what itneeds, whether it's more water,
more sleep, more exercise, morefood in certain situations.
So I think it's just reallyimportant that everybody takes
the time to invest in themselvesand their health.
Michele Folan (37:52):
That's so well said and I will echo that with
just saying listening, knowlistening to your body, listen
to what it needs and take thebreaks during the day.
You know you talk about beingin front of your computer and I
tell my clients all the timetake exercise snacks, as I call
them, where you know you're infront of your laptop or whatever
(38:15):
you're doing.
Get up, stand next to your deskand do 10 squats, right?
So it's just doing the littlethings throughout the day that
kind of keep you energized.
Debbie Sutton (38:25):
So thanks for sharing that.
Michele Folan (38:27):
Troy and Debbie Sutton.
This was a very funconversation, but one that I
know we needed to have to bringa new topic forward and
appreciate you being here today.
Thank you so much.
Troy Sutton (38:40):
Thank you so much for having us.
It's really a pleasure.
Debbie Sutton (38:42):
Wonderful platform for us to spread our
news and our product and ourhopes and our mission.
Michele Folan (38:49):
Hey, thanks for tuning in.
Please rate and review the showwhere you listen to the podcast
.
And did you know that Askingfor a Friend is available now to
listen on YouTube?
You can subscribe to thepodcast there as well.
Your support is appreciated andit helps others find the show.
Thank you.
Let's be real for a second.
If you're over 50 and stilltrying to eat less and move more
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side-eye at your annual checkupyeah, that's not going away on
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(00:20):
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(00:43):
questions.
I'm here to help you make thisyour last start over.
Health, wellness, fitness andeverything in between.
We're removing the taboo fromwhat really matters in midlife.
I'm your host, Michele Folan,and this is Asking for a Friend.
(01:08):
Today's conversation is onethat's close to the heart,
literally and emotionally.
We're diving into the topicthat rarely gets the attention
it deserves breast pain.
Whether it's from hormonalshifts, post-surgical recovery,
injury or chronic inflammation.
(01:28):
So many women suffer in silence, often with no real solutions.
Joining me are Debbie and TroySutton, the inspiring mother and
son team behind the Healing Bra.
What started as a personalmission has turned into a
purpose-driven business, helpingwomen reclaim comfort and
confidence through an innovativetherapeutic bra designed to
support healing.
We'll talk about how theybrought this idea to life, what
(01:50):
makes the healing bra differentand how their work is making a
real impact in women's lives.
We'll also explore theself-care rituals that keep them
grounded as busy companyfounders.
This is more than just aproduct.
It's a movement rooted incompassion, relief and real
support.
Debbie and Troy Sutton, welcometo Asking for a Friend.
(02:10):
Hi, thank you for having us.
Yeah, it's nice to see you twoagain.
We met through another podcastand during that conversation my
wheels were kind of turning.
I'm thinking this is not atopic I have covered on the
podcast number one and numbertwo.
The breadth of people that thisactually involves is really
(02:36):
huge.
So we're talking from you know,girls that are very young,
period, breast pain all the waythrough, women who have hormonal
shifts, and then we had thein-between of the women having
babies and all of that.
So, first of all, welcome tothe show and I want to start
(02:58):
with you two, where you're fromand then how you got started
with the idea behind the HealingBra.
Debbie Sutton (03:07):
Oh sure.
Well, thank you again forhaving us.
We're excited to be here.
Well, we are born and bred inNew Jersey.
And the aha moment I don't knowif you want to tell it, troy or
me, but I had a mammogram a fewyears ago.
That was uncomfortable, to saythe least.
It was, you know, not that anyof them are pleasant, but this
(03:28):
particular one made me a littlebit bruised on my ribs.
And when I went home to myfamily of guys watching a
football game, I walked in andTroy was kind enough, as always,
to ask how it went.
You know how to go, how was it?
And I said it blankety, blanked.
And he said he got nervous,thinking it was something wrong,
(03:49):
and I said no, no, thank no,everything's fine, thank God,
everything's fine.
I said.
But if you guys, if all of you,ever had to put it on the table
and get it squished and pulledand this and that, and five or
six times, I said you wouldn'tdo it, you would never go back
and something better would havebeen designed.
There's no doubt every womanseems to agree with me on that.
(04:15):
Anyway, Troy, having anengineering background which he
may tell you about, had an ahamoment.
He said don't they give youanything?
Isn't there anything they cangive you?
I said no, no, they don't.
They used to give a rose.
They don't do that anymore.
But anyway, I said it's what wedo as women.
We, you know, we just do these,these, you know protocols and
(04:36):
things that we need to do tostay and remain healthy.
They're not always easy.
So he had the aha moment andbegan and developed and invented
and patented these healing padsand the healing bra.
Troy.
Troy Sutton (04:51):
Absolutely.
Yeah, well, so when growing upin a family of doctors, but I
was like the black sheepengineer, so I always wanted to
pursue biomedical engineeringbecause I wanted to design
prosthetics for war veterans toplay sports.
So that was my career path andmy thought process.
And then, when I looked uponline for those blue gel ice
(05:14):
packs that we all have for ourelbows, our knees, our back, I
assumed it existed for breasts.
Why wouldn't it?
It exists for every other bodypart.
So when we looked online, theonly thing that we could find
were big shoulder pad, clunky,awkward shaped pads, and then
only the plastic gel ice packthat would go directly on your
(05:35):
breast, which was uncomfortable.
The plastic was a littlescratchy and sharp on the edges.
You can get freezer burn or iceburn.
I just knew that there was anoption and an opportunity to
make a much better product, andso that's why we started
developing the Healing Bra andthe Healing Pads.
It is the only product like iton the market, which is why we
were easily and early able tohave our patent approved, which
(05:59):
was very exciting.
And we've officially launchedin February, and so everything
is exciting and moving forward.
And we've officially launchedin February, and so everything
is exciting and moving forwardand we're very optimistic about
all.
The future has to hold for this.
Michele Folan (06:11):
So I'm kind of curious.
When you launched into this,though, did you know that there
was a broader market beyond justwomen saying, you know, post
mammogram or that kind ofcategory?
Troy Sutton (06:26):
So yes and no.
I would say that when we werefirst developing this, we spent
about a year and a halfconducting market research and
prototype development to see ifthere was actually a need for
this, and through our hundreds,if not thousands, of
conversations with differentwomen through different
organizations, we were able tocontinuously learn that there
(06:48):
were so many more customersegments and women of all
different ages and backgrounds,going through different journeys
, that could really benefit froma healing pad like this.
So I will say that you know wehad a pretty good idea that you
know, every woman of any agecould benefit from this.
But definitely through thoseconversations we learned that
there were even moreopportunities, and I'll just
(07:09):
give you a very brief example.
So, for example, the breastcancer industry absolutely loves
this pads.
We partnered with severaldifferent nonprofit breast
cancer organizations and womenare using the pads on their
breast cancer journey, and wealways knew that that would be a
key market.
But we also received feedbackasking if women could replace
(07:34):
their prosthetic with one of ourhealing pads, not only so they
could benefit from the heatingor the cooling therapy, but it
was also.
Our pad is much lighter, muchmore comfortable and it's much
less expensive than amulti-hundred dollar prosthesis.
So that was a new opportunitythat we learned about.
Was women actually wanting touse our healing pads as a breast
(07:58):
prosthesis as well?
So that's just been part of thebusiness journey, right
Learning.
You know what are the targetmarkets, who could really
benefit from this, and so on.
Michele Folan (08:08):
You know.
I have to say, though, as amother and son duo, your
partnership is very unique inthis space.
How did that dynamic influencehelp with the development of the
product and your company'sdirection?
Because you know, troy, you'vegot the engineering background.
(08:30):
Debbie, what is your background?
How did you play into this?
Debbie Sutton (08:33):
Well, I'll just take a step back.
I think, as a male and a female, I think we can cover a lot
more than if it was, you know,just one or the other.
And I'm so very proud of Troybecause he really is bridging
the gap between men and women.
Men need to know about whatwomen go through and he is.
He's out, you know, out infront and he's talking to guys
(08:57):
and he's talking to women withtheir guys telling guys on.
You know all of our socialmedia, you media get involved.
It's not something that's tabooor women's breasts have been
stigmatized since the beginningof time and there's a lot more
that's actually going on inthere and that women cope with
and manage and just handle intheir day-to-day lives.
(09:20):
So I think my background I'mformer many, many careers, but I
was in sales.
I did have a family importingand exporting warehousing
business for commodities and Iwas the only woman in that
market at the time.
So I really know what.
You know when there arechallenges to be faced and how
(09:41):
to deal with them and how topivot.
I think Troy enjoys my inputand also you know different
thinking, maybe different pointsof view that I might have, that
he wouldn't have.
So anyway, yeah, I mean, I'mthrilled and honored to be
working with him.
Michele Folan (09:57):
So you know the mission's deeply rooted in
helping women who suffer fromacute and chronic breast pain,
because there's both right.
There's women who have chronicbreast pain all the time, and
then we have the more acute typeof situation.
So give us a sense of the typesof conditions where you all
(10:20):
would love to have the healingbra placed.
Debbie Sutton (10:23):
Well, I'll just talk, just talk briefly, and
then you can add, troy, um.
Going back to what you weresaying before, uh, this, this
product, and the pads especially, would be beneficial to all
women, all ages, like you saidbefore, the youngest gals who
are having monthly pain, and youknow um, to women who are
pregnant and their breasts arechanging and then breastfeeding,
(10:44):
which can be difficult, it'snot always, you know, a walk in
the park and we don't want womento stop because it's painful or
they have mastitis or theycan't, they don't feel they can,
you know, continue the process.
We want them to continue, as youknow, as best they can.
And then to all of thesurgeries breast surgeries,
whether it's cosmetic or orbreast cancer related, whether
(11:06):
it's small, like biopsies, or,you know, lumpectomies not that
that's small, but you know, justall the way to mastectomies and
beyond.
And then, of course, it's themenopausal women where I fit in
and I use these pads.
With this heat especially thatwe are experiencing, I have such
relief and you can see some ofmy posts on social media where I
(11:28):
actually just come inside, goto the freezer, get the pads and
insert them and I have my ahmoment, oh, and I love that.
Michele Folan (11:38):
You know you're outside, you're taking your two
mile walk and it's 92 degreesout.
What a great way to cool offquickly.
And yeah, yeah, yeah, I lovethat.
Yes, it's true.
Troy Sutton (11:52):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
One of our ambassadors isfour-time Olympian, Joetta Clark
from North New Jersey, and whenshe jogs and you say two-mile
walk, she'll do like a 12-milejog, because that's just.
She's an absolutely incrediblewoman.
She just set the new NorthAmerican indoor track record for
the 200 meter for her age group, so extremely inspiring.
(12:15):
So she'll go for a jog and wearher favorite sports bra and
then as soon as she comes backshe does the exact same thing,
where she already has two of thehealing pads in the freezer and
so then she'll just easily beable to insert them while she's
already wearing her sports bra.
And then while she's coolingdown, recovering, having her
little protein shake, orsometimes she goes right to her
(12:38):
computer and send some emails,because she gets some thoughts
come to her when she's jogging,so she's able to use the cool to
help recover, help cool down,make herself a little bit more
comfortable with that immediaterelief, like you said.
Michele Folan (12:48):
I love this.
I think what you all started Idon't think you had a clue.
Honestly, you know all thedifferent areas where this could
be of great impact in women'slives.
I want to take a quick breakand when we get back I want to
see if you could share with us acouple of stories or
(13:10):
testimonials.
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All right, we are back.
I love the testimonial withyour Olympic athlete.
Are there any other stories ortestimonials that you can share
(14:17):
with us?
Troy Sutton (14:18):
Absolutely so.
I will start with one of ourvery first testimonials from
Anna Crow, who is the founder ofSharing and Caring, which is
one of New York's largest breastcancer communities.
She is a two-time breast cancersurvivor and a certified breast
prosthetic fitter.
So I actually met her veryearly on when we just started
(14:39):
this company, during the ideastage, and we were very lucky to
have Anna Crail advise us ondifferent aspects such as the
market and the product andrearranging different aspects,
like where would the shoulderclasps be and different physical
feedback like that.
But once we were able toimprove the prototype and the
(14:59):
product and let her try it, sheloved it so much that she was
the very first breast cancerorganization to endorse us and
since then we partnered withthem, volunteering at different
events and donating bras andreally building out our
community with theirs, so thatway we could get even more
feedback and help give the brato even more women.
(15:20):
So Anna Crowe absolutely lovesthe bra and fully recommends it.
I also would say it's a littlebit biased, but my sister-in-law
she is a family member but sheis also a doctor and she
recently gave birth to our firstgirl of the family.
My niece is almost seven monthsold.
Thank you, we're delighted.
(15:40):
So she has a two and a halfmonth old boy and a seven a two
and a half year old boy and aseven month old girl.
And so during both pregnanciesand while she was breastfeeding
both children, she would use thepads.
And so first, since the pads canbe heated or cooled, she would
(16:00):
warm the pads.
She has two pairs, so she wouldwarm the pads before she needed
to nurse or pump to helpincrease milk production,
increase flow, make it a littlebit more comfortable and easier
for her.
And then afterwards, when shewas done, she would then insert
(16:20):
the cool pads to help with anyinflammation, her pain, and then
, from a medical perspective,she and other women would use
this for engorgement if ductsare clogged or mastitis or
biting it.
With the latching aspect I meansomething that I've learned
right, that my mom has talkedabout with other women in this
on similar journeys, is you knowwhat a beautiful concept
breastfeeding is and that it'ssomething that really builds the
(16:42):
bond between the mother and thechild.
But it can be quiteuncomfortable and very painful,
and if that we don't want painto prevent women from having
such a beautiful and emotionalbonding moment with their child
and nutritional as well, andnutritional right, and so that's
why we so.
my sister-in-law's feedback isthat these pads really allowed,
(17:05):
it gave her that additional,significant, extra boost and
comfortability to continue.
Michele Folan (17:13):
I'm cracking up.
You two are like an old marriedcouple because you're finishing
each other's sentences.
Troy Sutton (17:19):
She wants to talk to me.
I know she wants to answer myquestions and I'm answering hers
.
Michele Folan (17:23):
Typically, yeah, no, I think it's kind of
refreshing.
Actually, I don't do a lot ofinterviews with two people and
I've done them when they've bothbeen remote, but having you two
together here, it's really.
It's kind of cute how you guysbounce off each other.
It's really kind of fun.
And you've done this before.
You've done interviews beforeTroy.
(17:45):
Something else that just alittle takeaway here is how
comfortable you are in havingthis conversation.
I think you said somethingearlier about making men more
aware of all the aspects ofbreast pain and, like we said,
it can be something that canstart very, very young and it
(18:08):
goes all the way through ourlater adulthood, and that's more
of a comment than a question.
But do you find that you knowyou're taking something that's I
don't want to say so much taboobut that can be uncomfortable
for men to talk about and kindof making it just normal?
Has that been kind of fun?
Troy Sutton (18:30):
Uh, yes, yeah, yeah .
And the short answer is yes.
And the reason that I'msmirking is because, like, yes,
this, you know, breasts are,have been stigmatized and
sexualized right and for for youknow, from men's perspectives.
And so you ask, like, how hasit been for me?
Well, I'm talking about it withmy mom, so add that additional
layer right Of sensitivity and,just again, like from a business
(18:51):
perspective, I knew very likein the first week that we
launched, that I would need toget over that stigma, right, and
especially talking about braswith my mom every single day.
I knew that, you know, I had tomature right past that
conversation and realize thatthis was something that every
woman deals with, right.
Once you realize that breastsare significantly more important
(19:14):
than just you know for what mensee them as, that's when you
realize that you know women haveto deal with so much more than
we realize.
And women have always been thecaretakers right of the family.
They're always so used tosoldiering on through pain in
order to continue providing andhelping family.
(19:37):
And through this journey I havelearned just how prevalent
breast health is, whether it'sthrough nursing and pregnant
women or through breast cancer.
I mean, every week, my mom and Iare meeting women, younger and
younger, who are diagnosed withbreast cancer and the craziest
part is that they don't have theBRCA gene or they don't have
family history and they do livea healthy, active lifestyle.
So what really is it?
(19:57):
The air, the water?
There are no answers, and it'sgreat that the science is
getting better, the technologyis getting significantly better
to diagnose and screen for thisearly, but it seems that breast
cancer or different breastissues is just so much more
prevalent, and so we're reallytrying to embody that in our
(20:19):
messaging throughout ourcommunity that men need to ask
are you okay, what's wrong?
If I never asked my mom why shewas in breast pain, we would
not be here, we wouldn't havethis product.
So I think it's just reallyimportant, right for men to be
able to ask the uncomfortablequestions or ask the questions
that they don't know right, andjust be open to learning and
(20:43):
being a sponge right ofinformation, because we've been
doing this for a few years nowand I just I learn something new
every week about the industry.
That's really helpful andbeneficial for us.
Michele Folan (20:55):
I want to talk a little bit about the actual pads
, because you've put someelements and materials into your
design that make them reallyvery effective.
Can you talk a little bit aboutthat process and what you were
able to land on in terms ofsomething that can be heated and
(21:16):
cooled?
Troy Sutton (21:17):
Absolutely, so I can talk about it while my mom
shows it real quick.
And so these are the healingpads.
They are the nude beige incolor.
And so a couple of years ago Imentioned Anna Krill from the
breast cancer organizationearlier.
So we were working with her andshe is a certified breast
prosthetic fitter, so she wouldactually create molds for her
(21:38):
clients who needed a single ordouble prosthesis, and so Anna
actually was able to graciouslyallowed us to use her mold to
design the pad.
And so, again, like I mentionedearlier, we all have those blue
gel ice packs at home, so wewere able to use that blue gel
pack.
We actually made the gelmaterial a little bit better on
(22:01):
the inside and then we were ableto insert that into this pad.
So it's shaped based on acertified breast prosthetic
fitter and it's very comfortablematerial.
And because the gel pack is onthe bottom, on the top and then
one in the middle, but it's verycomfortable material, and
because the gel pack is on thebottom, on the top and then one
in the middle, but it's coveredby this very soft cotton blend
material, so this can safely beworn directly on the skin with
(22:23):
any bra, so the healing brabecomes any bra with these pads.
Michele Folan (22:27):
Got it All right, and then is there sizing
involved with this.
Troy Sutton (22:32):
So, as of right now , this is the only size that we
have for this pad.
So I will say that our bra andpad manufacturer is based in
Linden, new Jersey.
They are an FDA regulatedfacility Not that this product
needs FDA approval, but it goesthrough all the same quality
assurance and checks during themanufacturing process, which is
(22:52):
wonderful.
And so, through that FDAprocess, these pads, the gel
packs, can be safely warmed inthe microwave or they could be
cooled in the refrigerator orfreezer and then reused multiple
times, many, many times.
Michele Folan (23:09):
Okay, so how long can you safely put them in the
microwave?
Because I know I've got an eyepack or like a eye mask and I
know if I put that in themicrowave for more than 10
seconds it's bloody hot.
So how long can you heat those?
Debbie Sutton (23:24):
Yes, yes, Well, this is the same idea basically
putting it in, but I wouldrecommend putting it in for 10
seconds to start and thenfeeling it on your wrist and
then putting it in.
But you, I would recommendputting it in for 10 seconds to
start and then feeling it onyour wrist and then putting it
back in, because all microwavesare different with the wattage.
Some are really super, superstrong, some are rather weak.
So you really have to playaround and you may travel with
(23:46):
these and say you know you usethem at home, but then you may
take them in the little pouchthat it comes in and take them
to work.
So you're, or you know someoneelse's home or wherever you're
going, and that microwave mightbe different, a different
strength.
So you would just, you know,play with it a little bit just
to get the right temperature.
I would not recommend puttingthem in for two minutes.
That's all clearly defined inthe instructions.
(24:09):
And they are hand washable,just to let you know about that
too.
They can just be washed, youknow, right, with your hand,
soap in your sink, just pat dryand just let them air dry.
Michele Folan (24:24):
So that was going to be one of my next questions.
And then, how long do they staycool?
So, say you, you put them inthe freezer for you know a
couple hours.
How long do they typically staycool?
Debbie Sutton (24:30):
Well, just the other day I had another aha
moment.
I thought I put them in.
I came in from being outsidewhen it was very warm, came in,
put them inside and I said, okay, I'll be back to check in 30
minutes.
Of course I got distracted andI didn't come back for 30
minutes and then, when I didcome back, I said, oh my gosh,
it's an hour and I didn't feelcold or chilled, which is really
(24:52):
the wonderful surprise aboutthese pads.
But I put my hand in and Icould still feel that the tissue
was cool.
So it's a very slow absorptionof the cool or warm, not like a
heating pad or like an ice pack,which would be like abrupt.
This is like a slow absorptionand then it just lasts.
(25:13):
So I would not say that itwould normally last an hour, but
at least a half an hour wouldbe.
You know where I would safelysay it would last, but who knows
?
I mean that that was really anice surprise for me.
Michele Folan (25:27):
Well, that's typically what they say.
You know, 20, 30 minutes isusually the sweet spot for
getting the most out of likecold packs and that sort of
thing, so that kind of makessense.
You mentioned to me that you'vekind of had a little bit of an
aha with how you're selling yourproduct.
(25:49):
Can you talk about that alittle bit?
Troy Sutton (25:51):
Absolutely so.
One of the key aspects of thehealing bra with the healing pad
is that the healing bra wasdesigned around the healing pad,
so the pocket, the location ofthe pocket, the shape of the
pocket inside of the healing brawas specifically for the
healing pad.
So we thought that we needed tosell the pads with the bras.
(26:12):
Now, through our conversationswith women and through our
partnerships with thesedifferent organizations, we have
come to realize that womentypically already have a
favorite bra, and that could bewomen of all different ages, of
all different stages of life.
So it could be a training brato a sports bra, to a nursing
bra, to a surgical mastectomybra.
And also the hospitals and thedoctors that we're working with
(26:36):
typically already recommend abra.
So instead of us trying to sella bra that may or may not be
wonderful for the woman, we arenow selling the pads by
themselves, because women canuse these pads with any bra to
make their existing bra thehealing bra.
And so that's why we're reallyfocusing on these pads right now
(26:57):
, because they are able to betaken to work or taken out and
about.
Our mission statement, I willsay, is empowering women with
comfort and confidence.
So really, the goal of thesepads is to relieve breast pain
and discomfort and thereforeempower the woman to go about
her daily routine, whetherthat's going to work, running
(27:20):
errands, doing chores.
You can wear these padsdiscreetly in your existing bra
and get that cool or warmingtherapy on the go and out and
about.
Michele Folan (27:30):
Okay, and I love this because I don't know if,
back in February, when youlaunched that, you were even
thinking this, but your abilityto pivot and to flex quickly, I
think, is a should be a keyattribute of every entrepreneur,
just because there's alwaysthings that you're going to be
(28:00):
learning and there are alwaysgoing to be curveballs that are
thrown your way when you'releast expecting it.
Troy Sutton (28:07):
So I will say that's one of the great aspects
of working with my mom is thatshe and I will be cooking dinner
, like last night, and while I'mchopping, I'm like wait, I have
a question about this.
Can you give me some thoughtson this pad or this bra, so
we're able to talk and I'm ableto get that real-time feedback
on the spot, which is one of thebenefits of working with my mom
.
But back to being resilient asan entrepreneur.
(28:28):
It's not just physical, withchanging the business model or
changing the pad or thestructure of that, but also
mentally.
We the business model, orchanging the pad or the
structure of that, but alsomentally.
We're going up against some verylarge companies that have
similar products but definitelyare not as good, based on
feedback from their customersand ours.
And so just knowing that thereis a light at the end of the
(28:49):
tunnel, and whenever we're downin the dumps, we'll read through
some of the reviews and thefeedback from different women
about how they're using this braand it's helping them in their
daily life, and that's reallywhat's inspiring.
So I think what I'm getting atis you have to be positive
through the entire process, eventhough there are definitely
(29:10):
some valleys that we dip into,but always looking at the bright
side and then also celebratingyour wins.
My mom and I, we're a startupand we're on the uphill battle
of building a business which isexciting but uphill battle, and
so we are constantly.
Every week, something greatcomes our way, whether it's a
(29:32):
new partnership or a new reviewor testimonial from a woman who
loves it.
So really like celebrating ourwins and patting ourselves on
the back when we have earned.
It is key and that really addsto like the resiliency of who we
are and who this business is.
Michele Folan (29:47):
Well, and you're building community too.
There is a community to bebuilt around breast pain and
different conditions that womenhave when it comes to breast
health, and then you have a blog, and all of that, too, on your
website.
Troy Sutton (30:05):
And I will say that , if I can just jump in about
the community, I mean that'sreally one of the key aspects of
what we're trying to do.
So since February, we'vepartnered with five breast
cancer organizations, multiplebaby and new mother
organizations, hospitals,private practices and my mom and
I we're from a family ofdoctors, but we'll be the first
to say that we are not doctors.
(30:25):
So if a woman asks us formedical advice or feedback,
through our partnerships we'reable to bridge the gap and
connect them with doctors whocan specifically answer those
questions.
So that's really like a keypart of the community that we're
trying to build, which has beenabsolutely wonderful experience
.
Debbie Sutton (30:45):
Yeah, really, really, and humbling too.
We were just at McGee Women'sHospital up in Pittsburgh
hospital up in Pittsburgh and wedid two events and one of them
was a pop-up in their big, youknow, in their lobby and it was
just.
It was really like eye-opening,humbling, happy, sad, all of
(31:13):
those, because all of the womencoming in for whatever problem
they had.
And we had Nick you to ourright, you know, with those
mothers going in and out tobreastfeed or just see the baby
and just like right, it was justsuch a wide range of patients
and patient supporters walkingpast our table and the interest
was so great and it was men alsowith their partner and we were
(31:34):
teaching them and we had othermen that came up on their own.
It was really, really inspiringand it's just we're here to
help in any little way that wecan I'd love to know what's next
for you both?
Michele Folan (31:46):
What are plans to expand the product line or
develop complementary wellnessproducts?
Troy Sutton (31:52):
Absolutely Well.
First and foremost, we want tooffer more types of pads, so
that would include larger padsas well as flatter pads that
don't have as much of a curve.
So that's really like from theproduct perspective.
That's the direction that we'relooking to go, as from like the
community perspective, we wouldlove to talk with every
(32:14):
hospital, every breast cancerorganization, every nursing
mother organization.
We table at different babyfairs where we're able to talk
to pregnant and breastfeedingwomen, which is always
incredible.
So my mom and I love doing thein-person community branding.
So we're absolutely looking toattend more events and
participate as well.
Looking to attend more eventsand participate as well, and
(32:39):
then also just looking to scaleour online presence.
Like I mentioned earlier, weonly launched in February, so we
are still relatively new.
So we're building our socialmedia platform, but we would
love to help scale that as well,so that way, we can partner
with more organizations andreach more women as well.
Michele Folan (32:54):
You know, I just thought of something.
So we get invited to these babyshowers and you, if you know
that the expecting mother isgoing to be nursing, why not
give them a set of healing padsas a shower gift?
Debbie Sutton (33:10):
It's a great question, and we wish that every
woman or man going to a babyshower or knowing someone who's
pregnant would do just that.
Yeah.
Troy Sutton (33:20):
A few of my friends .
You know girlfriends fromcollege who are now having
babies and they are purchasingthe pads amongst the group for
themselves.
And you know, when I firstmentioned this product to them
and talked about it a few yearsago, everybody had their doubts
and they weren't sure is thislegit?
Or, you know, is Troy actuallygoing to make this, you know, a
success?
(33:41):
And you know, here we are.
They're texting me like holymoly, we didn't know they're
working like.
We didn't know that we actuallyneeded this.
And that also was a veryeye-opening lesson for us,
because we just assume thatwomen know that they should use
warm or cool therapy, but ifthey're not taught about it or
(34:04):
if they don't have an experiencewith that, then they don't know
the benefits of warm therapywhen they are nursing.
So, absolutely, it can make awonderful gift and it's also a
very unique gift, right, whichare great and we all need in our
house, but it's something thatthe woman can actually use daily
to help not only her health butalso the baby's health,
(34:24):
potentially right and the youknow the emotional aspect like
that.
So it does make a wonderfulgift.
We the pads are available onour website, which is just
thehealingbrascom, and so we arealso running discounts and
weekly promotions, so we wouldlove to make that a reality.
(34:48):
There are baby fairs that areusing our pads as part of their
care packages, so it's beingadopted in different aspects,
like that.
Debbie Sutton (34:57):
Yes, you'll be at one this weekend coming up.
Troy Sutton (34:59):
This upcoming weekend.
Debbie Sutton (35:01):
In what the can you say?
Troy Sutton (35:03):
Yeah, yeah, we can absolutely say it's the Baby
Fair event at the King ofPrussia Mall in Philadelphia
this Sunday and it's going to bea great event.
There should be hundreds ofvendors and thousands of young
families there, so we're veryexcited.
Michele Folan (35:18):
Yeah, that's great that you're actually
getting out in the community topromote the product.
I think that's really where youneed to be.
And then, just on a personalnote, so besides spending your
weekends at baby fairs, I wouldlove to ask you what keeps you
(35:38):
grounded?
What are each of your personalself-care non-negotiables Me?
Debbie Sutton (35:43):
first.
Well, I thought I was retiredso well that didn't last too
long.
So I had to do a little bit ofa pivot in my activities and
daily planning, but I'm thrilledto be doing that.
But I do try to take care ofmyself as best I can every day,
(36:05):
with eating well and going nowback to the gym, and so I'm
feeling fit with that.
I have a bicycle that I'vestarted riding.
I have my pads that I can usewhen I come back inside if I'm
so I'm feeling fit with that.
I have a bicycle that I'vestarted riding.
I have my pads that I can usewhen I come back inside.
I just, I take all mysupplements and I'm just.
I'm doing everything I can tostay healthy and focused and
(36:28):
grounded and peaceful.
Troy Sutton (36:31):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
I think like in this day andage, there's such a almost
overwhelming amount ofinformation about what you
should do and what we recommendfor your health and wellness
where it can almost you getparalysis by analysis and like
you just overthink it, that youend up not doing anything anyway
, and I think that we just can'tforget about the basics, right,
(36:52):
like going for a walk, tryingto get some sunlight, breathing
in that fresh air, right, thatreally, just you know, helps
your body.
There are legitimate physicaland psychological benefits that
have been proven right For goingfor walks and sunlight and
things like that.
I think getting a good littlesweat, whether it's going for a
walk right Outside in this heator, you know, a workout at the
(37:14):
gym, is great for your body andthat's also great to reset your
mentality.
There's a very real phenomenonof eye strain when you're just
staring at your computer andthat leads to headaches, which
leads to less productivity.
And this was all from myprevious background, but it's
really important that peopletake the time to invest in
themselves.
Obviously, everybody'sdifferent.
(37:35):
Every body is different, so youreally need to listen to your
body and understand what itneeds, whether it's more water,
more sleep, more exercise, morefood in certain situations.
So I think it's just reallyimportant that everybody takes
the time to invest in themselvesand their health.
Michele Folan (37:52):
That's so well said and I will echo that with
just saying listening, knowlistening to your body, listen
to what it needs and take thebreaks during the day.
You know you talk about beingin front of your computer and I
tell my clients all the timetake exercise snacks, as I call
them, where you know you're infront of your laptop or whatever
(38:15):
you're doing.
Get up, stand next to your deskand do 10 squats, right?
So it's just doing the littlethings throughout the day that
kind of keep you energized.
Debbie Sutton (38:25):
So thanks for sharing that.
Michele Folan (38:27):
Troy and Debbie Sutton.
This was a very funconversation, but one that I
know we needed to have to bringa new topic forward and
appreciate you being here today.
Thank you so much.
Troy Sutton (38:40):
Thank you so much for having us.
It's really a pleasure.
Debbie Sutton (38:42):
Wonderful platform for us to spread our
news and our product and ourhopes and our mission.
Michele Folan (38:49):
Hey, thanks for tuning in.
Please rate and review the showwhere you listen to the podcast
.
And did you know that Askingfor a Friend is available now to
listen on YouTube?
You can subscribe to thepodcast there as well.
Your support is appreciated andit helps others find the show.
Thank you.
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