October 13, 2021 • 47 mins
On Episode 5 of ‘We’re Not Blowing Hot Air,’ we get real with Founder and President of Oxygen Plus, Christine Warren – and we even break out the bubbly to celebrate Oxygen Plus’s 18th Birthday! Take a trip way back to 2003 – when a room full of geniuses gathered together to start dreaming about an oxygen company who would pioneer a wellness category they themselves dubbed, “recreational oxygen!” Learn what this female entrepreneur did to survive and thrive two decades, hear never before told stories about Oxygen Plus, and discover more reasons Oxygen Plus is the best canned oxygen in the atmosphere. Plus, find out what the “plus” in “Oxygen Plus” really means, what Christine envisions next for Oxygen Plus and the recreational oxygen industry, and hear me attempt to sing Christine an original Birthday song – all on this episode of ‘We’re Not Blowing Hot Air.’
Subscribe to 'We're Not Blowing Hot Air' wherever you podcast, to elevate your IQ with wellness and business stuff we explore in every episode.
About Christine Warren:
Christine Warren is a Business Owner, Business Consultant, Entrepreneur and Leading Psychotherapist
Proudly born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Christine Warren launched her career as a licensed martial and family therapist (LMFT) and licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) when she established a private psychotherapy practice in Edina, Minnesota in 1980. Working with individuals, families, and schools, she specialized in leading incest survivor groups, men’s groups, and women’s groups, offering clinical presentations as an expert on these topics.
With experience in both intrapersonal work and businesses, Christine launched a business consultation practice, Organizational Design Strategies, which specializes in trans-generational leadership for a wide range of industries for family businesses, leadership teams, executive coaching and empowerment in the workplace. Christine has served organizations and top-level executives from Cargill, Dayton’s, Yocum Oil Co., Quirks Marketing, Rasmussen Business College, Aakers College, Vision World, Midwest of Cannon Falls, Minnesota Department of Education, and other notable and manufacturing businesses and service firms. A believer in the power of education, she taught family and marital therapy at the graduate level, and served as a consultant to the Minnesota State Commissioner of Education and her cabinet, superintendents and principals throughout the United States.
As an alumnus of the University of Minnesota Graduate School, Christine Warren has served as an inspirational board member on the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Dean's Advisory Board at the University of Minnesota since 2010. Inspired by the need to develop a new wellness product category, in 2003 Christine founded, and currently serves as President of the leading recreational oxygen company, Oxygen Plus (oxygenplus.com).
Catch Oxygen Plus at @oxygenplus on TikTok and Instagram
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to we're not blowing hot air
powered by oxygen plus I'm Scottand I'm Lauren.
And we're here to help elevateyour IQ on wellness and business
stuff that sometimesmisunderstood
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Like recreational oxygen.
Yes.
Let's get smarter with thisweek's guest of we're not
blowing hot air.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
[inaudible]
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Scott.
I'm really excited about today'sguest
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Me
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Too.
I'm a little afraid
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Though.
Why are you afraid?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Because she's our boss.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
There is that, what if
Speaker 2 (00:39):
We ask a question that makes her angry or sad?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Well, luckily for you, you're in Florida right
now.
I'm sitting next to her.
So, you know, if she swings,it's going to be,
Speaker 2 (00:54):
That's why, that's why I came out here.
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't do it face to face.
I mean, she has a force.
She's a force of nature, apositive one.
Um, but I, I know I'm very happythat she said finally she
accepted our offer.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I know, I know the hardest guest that it's been to
get for us so far.
Surprisingly, the founder of ourcompany, we had the hardest time
getting on the podcast,
Speaker 2 (01:25):
But there's good reason.
And there's something tocelebrate.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yes.
So do we want to mention it nowor we're going to wait?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Well, it might be in the title of the podcast, but
oh, we should probably wait.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
We should
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Wait and let the transition phase into the part
where I talk.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Right.
Should we make that happen,right?
Yeah,
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Let's do it.
All right.
I'll see you.
Later On episode five of we'renot blowing hot air.
We get real with founder andpresident of oxygen.
Plus Christine Warren, and weeven break out the bubbly to
celebrate oxygen pluses 18thbirthday, take a trip way back
to 2003.
(02:09):
When a room full of geniusesgathered together to start
dreaming about an oxygencompany, would pioneer a
wellness category.
They themselves dubbedrecreational oxygen.
Learn what this femaleentrepreneur did to survive and
thrive.
Two decades here, never beforetold stories about oxygen plus
and discover more reasons.
(02:30):
Oxygen plus is the best cannedoxygen in the atmosphere.
Plus find out what the plus andoxygen plus really means what
Christine envisions next foroxygen plus and the recreational
oxygen industry.
And hear me attempt to singChristine and original birthday
song all on this episode ofwe're not blowing hot air.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
This is special.
This is a special episode.
So I'm here in studio withfounder of oxygen.
Plus Christine Warren and Laurenis joining us remotely.
She's working, uh, in Floridaright now.
There she is.
Um, yeah.
So a special episode today, weget to talk with Christine
(03:18):
Warren and we have kind of aspecial announcement to make
oxygen.
Plus is turning.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
We're going to do it at the same time over and say,
this oxygen is
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Hurting 18 years old.
How about that?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Congratulations, Christine.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Now we've survived and thrived in those 18
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Years.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I think the first question is, is how does it feel
for oxygen plus to be turning 18years old?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
It really does seem like yesterday.
So the years have passedquickly.
Uh, and I think it's a tribute.
I was in my early fifties.
Then when this all started withjust an idea and we can, each of
(04:20):
us can really re-engineer ourlife and contribute to the world
in a lot of different ways as wereach our later life stages.
So that's something that'spretty exciting for our
listeners, I think to thinkabout.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And what I, what I know about your re-engineering
is you were a marriage andfamily therapist, you were
working with clients and helpingthem thrive in their own
personal lives, professionallives.
And then you suddenly got intocreating this new product
category called recreationaloxygen.
How did that happen?
(04:59):
We know this story, but you tellit best.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Well, it is a great story.
It's looking at what's in frontof you and then doing something
about it.
So here I am in my clinicaloffice and I had three clients
that had lung issues,compromised lung concerns, and
(05:26):
one of them was overweight andcoming in with a Walker and her
husband was overweight and adeer.
And they were both really shortand darling, uh, but they could
barely move and they werewaiting for their oxygen levels
to go lower because your levelshad to be, I'm not sure exactly
(05:50):
what it was back then.
Cause it changes with thefederal government, if they were
84 or lower, I think then youwere able to receive oxygen.
Uh, and, and they were therefinally, however, it took about
three or four months for theoxygen to be delivered.
(06:11):
And I just thought there has tobe a better way.
This is not humane.
So how can we, how can Ifacilitate making oxygen more
available in a portable way?
Not only I was thinkinginitially for those who are less
able, but I've switched and thatswitch has to do with it being
(06:35):
recreational oxygen.
And I can share more of that ifyou'd like about that process.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That'd be great.
Okay.
Um, so here's, here's my idea.
Okay.
So how are we going to makeoxygen more available?
How can we help people breathemore easily?
(06:58):
So my sister and I put togethera book of ideas, drawings, and
it's about this thick.
And then I said to myself, how,how can this move?
(07:19):
So I called bill Miller, who hadwon over 20 Cleo awards through
Fallon advertising.
And I said, and he was living inColorado Springs.
He had been a member of my lifeguide group, a men's life guide
group that I led with anotherfemale therapist.
(07:40):
And I said, what do you thinkabout making oxygen more
available to people and in thisworld?
And he listened to me for awhile.
I was, I was talking about itand he said, Christine, here's
what I'm going to do.
We are going to pull a room fullof geniuses together.
I will fly into town in twoweeks.
(08:00):
I will bring those peopletogether and I go, okay.
And then we'll brainstorm how tomove forward.
So the fellow that hosted thatmeeting was Fred Steadman.
He was a NASA engineer who had,was one of the main engineers on
Apollo.
(08:21):
Of course, Apollo wasn'tsuccessful, but he was a very
successful engineer and awesomeman, just awesome.
He and his wife hosted thegathering and there were people
from all walks of life.
There were bankers or creativeor marketing.
There was, um, designers there,there were financial people.
(08:44):
I mean, and so my sister and Ipresented some of these ideas
and all these very seasoned intheir career individuals gave
feedback in that next week.
And all of them did.
And the feedback they gave wasdon't go medical, go
(09:08):
recreational.
If you go medical, you're goingto hit, have more barriers.
So that was kind of a surpriseto me.
Um, most of them also were, um,athletes, you know, as a hobby,
but they were pretty sincere.
So that probably was part oftheir thinking because they knew
the athlete could definitelybenefit from oxygen for a number
(09:32):
of reasons.
So that's how it all started.
We had that room full ofgeniuses and I decided to go,
okay, let's, let's move withthis recreational concept.
And then I go, alright, I havehelped a numb.
I had done in my practice, anumber of family business
(09:52):
consulting with, and worked witha number of businesses who were
had family businesses.
And so I knew how to help themcreate, have an idea and make it
happen, be successful in their,in their businesses.
So I thought, well, what do youneed to do first?
(10:12):
You need to get an attorney.
I, you know, my God and soright.
And, um, and I, I knew in someways my arms needed to be around
it and I really thought I'd bein it.
I'd get these great peoplebecause I know how to build
team.
(10:34):
And, and then I'd move on intoyours and think it would be
rocking.
Right.
Well, that didn't happen.
I mean, I got the great peoplethat I did, but what I began
began to understand when youhave a new product category,
which we have created and it'saccepted by the trade
(10:55):
association, which is absolutelyincredible.
Um, it takes longer.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Well, Christine, I think what I'm curious about
hearing that story is how manyof the original team members
that you curated and pulledtogether are around today?
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Well, I think
Speaker 2 (11:22):
In add oxygen, plus
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Let me share how, what happened after the room
full of geniuses that one night
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It was one night.
I thought it was many nights,
Speaker 4 (11:36):
One night and people who've made their career work
for them and their families gavetheir feedback.
So I go, I am going to take thisa little more seriously.
This is fun.
It's interesting to me.
And so whole new area.
(11:58):
I mean, it's not psychotherapy,it's not about depression,
schizophrenia.
I focus in my work on adultincest, adult women who had been
incested as children.
And I would work with theintergenerational families to
help the healing.
So this was very different.
(12:19):
So someone said to me, youshould go talk to so-and-so,
he's a designer.
I go, what's that?
Well, somebody who might designa product, I go, okay.
So I had lunch with him and hewas one of the most renowned,
renowned people here in thecities.
And he was really open andreally creative.
(12:40):
And I hung around his place ofwork and it was all open.
I started to get the concept ofhow this comes together.
So I thought, okay, I'm going tocall a group of people together
for two days every month.
(13:03):
And I did that and my friendbill Miller would come into
town.
He figured out the place, andsometimes it would be like this
huge mansions in downtownMinneapolis.
Uh, when one time our attorneygot us a place at the country
club.
So we, we had two days where wehad a place to come together.
(13:24):
And so we have designers, we hadpeople who were salespeople.
I mean just the kind of peoplethat it takes to make a
business.
And while we were doing this,I'm thinking, well, if I were to
form a business and push thisoxygen, who would I want?
No, you know, so I wasevaluating that and these
(13:47):
meetings were so excitingbecause there were some of the
most creative people, um, youknow, like who've done rolling
stone magazine, I'm going well,what's rulers rolling stone.
I didn't even know what it was.
You know, that I didn't reallyeven know what a brand was.
The only brand I knew was thatlittle alligator brand, but that
little one cast.
(14:08):
Okay.
So, um, it's been a hugelearning curve is my point.
You know, I, I can readspreadsheets, I know legal, and
I definitely appreciate thecreative, the marketing and the
sales.
Um, and you know, it's alwaystempting to get into it.
Don't get into it, let the, letthe ones that know it, do it.
So, um, anyway, so we, we, wedid this for a month and it, the
(14:35):
sizzle of portable oxygen justkept going.
So there's that energy.
That means something you got totrust that.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
And that was back in 2003.
Yeah.
2004, 2005 was the first timeone of your products hit the
market.
Can you share about what thatproduct was?
Uh, what that felt like, how youbrought it to market?
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Okay.
So after a year of meeting fortwo days a month, I said, okay,
I'm going for it.
So I had an investment gatheringat my house and that first
meeting 750,000 came into thebusiness.
So that was another point whereI had to take notice and see,
(15:33):
yes, this is something that'sviable.
Right?
So pull the team together.
Uh, we had free rent with one ofthe investors.
And, um, we met with red groupwho, who helped us design
(15:54):
efforts, product, which iscalled the elevate pack.
And that's where you have acylinder and you put a cartridge
of oxygen in twist the bottom,pull down on the lever.
And I love this product becauseit's, it's customer friendly for
all ages.
It's the, it's a white, sleekcanister.
(16:14):
We launched in the spa, um,category w we went to a big
convention in Vegas, big spotconvention,
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Right?
It's a very exclusive, veryexclusive spa industry trade
show in Vegas.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
And we won an award for being one of the more
innovative products at theshell.
And I, I remember the firstperson that I sold a product to,
and she worked and in a dip, um,she was a medical doctor and she
worked with addictions,particularly smoking cessation.
(16:51):
And I said to myself, well, ofcourse this would work.
Cause you know, you pick up yourcigarette, man.
I don't smoke.
So I'm not going to do this verywell, but you pick up your
cigarette and go something likethis.
Right.
And you know, then you put itand then you go, like you do all
these things with it, you know,with it what's that
Speaker 1 (17:10):
There's like a manual fixation about it, but it's hard
to get over.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
So you take, you know, the elevate pack and you
have your own habit, but it's ahealthy one.
Take a couple hits, put it down.
You were more relaxed.
Your brain is more clear.
And, and that's what she wasgoing to use it for.
I never did follow up with her.
I wish I had now,
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Uh, wish we could track her down, have her on the
podcast one day.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah.
I get her story.
The first person that you spoke,
Speaker 4 (17:44):
That'd be cool.
And I was really akin to thatbecause even though we were
going recreational, the one Isold with somebody, medical net
had been my arena that I, I knewbetter, but now I know the
recreational business quitewell,
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I would say so.
I mean, you not only createdthis new product category, you
also help define a lot of theterminology.
That is a part of this.
I am wondering though, um,there's a lot of, if you're, if
you Google search this product,you might make try like a lot of
variations of what our productis, but really the, the term
(18:22):
that has stuck with us isrecreational oxygen.
Can you talk about how that cameto be?
Who came up with the termrecreational oxygen?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
I think that room full of geniuses, somewhere in
there that came up and we justwent with it.
I mean, that's a, it's a goodquestion.
And I never really thought aboutit.
So someone said it, the wholeteam said yes, and we moved with
it.
And um, so this is early on.
(18:51):
And before we even designed aproduct that we decided to take
to market, we had a four daymeeting in Texas to come up with
a name antigen plus.
And that was a whole other funprocess, very different than
going to, um, consultations thathave to do with manic depressive
disorders.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
I'm not laughing.
I'm not laughing at manicdepressive disorders
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Laughing half the time.
That's fun.
Right?
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Well, I mean, I loved my work as a clinician.
Loved it, but I mean, I was justnoticing like, so you go to a
spot convention, you get freerobes at the end of the
convention.
People you walk around and theygive you free robes.
I mean, it's like this, this isa different kind of world, you
know?
Um, but I mean, I'm having funwith it right now, a bit
(19:42):
seriously, this, this challengeof bringing recreational action
in the market was huge and isstill huge.
However, we've accomplished alot of steps that we needed to
take.
So
Speaker 1 (19:59):
That's, that's such a cool story.
I mean, recreation, recreationaloxygen, the term like sticks
from kind of day one and justthe perseverance to make it an
actual thing and where it istoday.
Incredible, incredible.
Where w I mean, what, what droveit was, it, was it just simply,
(20:21):
was it that energy of the ideaand, and, you know, the room
full of geniuses that kind ofdrove you toward it?
Or what was, I mean, it's sodifferent from what you were
doing as a therapist.
Like what, what flipped thatswitch?
What really drove you towardthat?
Was it entrepreneurism or was itjust, was it helping people in
(20:42):
general product that, you know,could really make a difference?
What was
Speaker 4 (20:47):
It probably both to be entrepreneurial and be able
to help people what's betterthan that.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
And, and the, the challenge of figuring it out,
it's like a huge puzzle.
Like, what do you need to do?
How you put, how do you put itall together?
You know, what type of peoplehave to be there when you asked
me the question, how many areleft over?
You know, um, many of theinitial supporters, board
(21:24):
members are still engaged andsupportive.
Um, I only have one board memberthat's been here since the
beginning, besides myself.
And a number of the people whoinitially have worked in oxygen
(21:45):
plus are still supporters ofoxygen plus, but they've moved
on for a number of differentreasons.
You know, some people have moved, um, different jobs get
married, all that real lifestuff.
And the how this organism ofoxygen plus has grown and become
(22:12):
is, is really based on howoxygen plus has grown and
become.
So there's different needs foroxygen now, for who works with
oxygen.
Plus then there was earlier onwhen you're just a business
thinking, well, this is kind ofinteresting.
Let's try it.
And, and it works kind of, andyou're a niche markets, and then
(22:41):
you have a competitor thatfigures out how to, um, get you
out of where you're alreadyplaced by just saying whatever,
whatever there, whatever theprice is, I'll go lower.
And I go really do people dothat?
You know, that, you know, thatwasn't in my therapy world.
And so I go, okay,
Speaker 2 (23:02):
You were never, you were never outbid by another
therapist.
No, no, no.
Christine, I think I'm notalone.
When I say that you're aperseverance over 18 years, seen
a new team come through.
Really like everyone isdifferent since when you
started, except for you andmaybe some board members and
other people who are stillconnected to the company, but
(23:23):
aren't actually activelyinvolved in the day-to-day.
I mean, you've seen your companychange.
You've, it's still does the samemission of making oxygen
available and, um, and portablefor people.
But what, I guess my, myquestion is how have you changed
(23:44):
in 18 year lifespan of oxygen?
Plus
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Maybe I haven't changed, but I've gotten to know
more of myself.
And then around 2013, it was2013.
Um, my husband passed and I'mnoticing we're of, we had built
up the business and it was goingflat and I really had to make a
decision.
(24:08):
Am I going to grow it, push itahead or not?
Because it was at that point.
And I said, we're going to gofor it.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
What was that?
What was that impetus?
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Um, I was tired of it.
Plat towing.
I wanted more, I believed thisproduct had a lot to offer.
If I know it's quality andpeople deserve to breathe, it
works.
That's what pushed me ahead.
And I just,
Speaker 2 (24:43):
So the same, the same initial reason, the
entrepreneur-ism and the justwanting to take this awesome
product to market.
So everybody could have it ifthey wanted it.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
Yes, exactly.
I want, I see it as a lifestyleproduct.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Yeah.
So what happened after that?
So you decide, all right, I'mgetting after this thing again.
How did,
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Um, I called in some bigger people, I mean, that had
a lot of experience and changedthe board a little bit.
And, um, some of that reallywork
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Christine.
One of the things I've reallyrespect about you is a lot of
entrepreneurs or businessowners.
They have a hard time lettinggo, but it's also what so many
other business ownersnotoriously don't do.
Well, they hold onto theircompany and that sometimes can
be its own downfall, its owndemise.
(25:42):
Right.
Um, did you know that when youwere, or did you learn that when
you were leaning into oxygenplus and, and creating it from
the beginning, or was thissomething, how did that, how did
that evolve for you?
And I see it, if it did go theopposite way, I mean, are you
better at it now?
Do you still have checks inplace for that?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I think my ego is not in it.
I think what's in it is again,that puzzle.
How do you solve that puzzle?
You know, even in our company,there are subsystems.
If each sub system is healthyand working, the whole system
(26:27):
will work.
If one is hurting, then we haveto help that one that's hurting
for whatever the reason itcould, you know, it could be
their incompetent, it could betheir family issues, or it could
be, it could be illness.
So that's what drives me.
But I totally agree with youthough.
(26:47):
You know, it's a double-edgedsword.
The one that let's go can let goa little bit too much, even
though in my past I've seenthis, isn't really what I want.
This is pretty frustrating.
I can't
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Believe it.
And then talk to myself andmaybe a colleague and then
sorted out and then move on it.
But I'm, I'm slow because I wantto believe in the person and,
um, and help them find ways tomake it work, make their, you
know, work world work.
(27:27):
It sounds like you approachyour, your company or leading
it.
And, um, and how you workthrough processes and systems.
You talked about theorganizational structure a lot,
like therapy is that
Speaker 4 (27:43):
I could sit in a restaurant and look at the
restaurant and see who, whichfamilies are sitting next to
each other and how what'sfunctional and what isn't.
I mean, that's just how I think.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Do you think, do you think oxygen plus is in a
healthy place right now and whatyou do?
I was asking what areas can itbe stronger and healthier, I
guess is maybe a good word too.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I like what I see right now, you know?
Um, I like the comradery.
I like, um, the competence, Ilike that.
No, one's afraid of having ahigher that smarter than they
are this.
I don't see that.
(28:34):
I mean, it's kind of scary, butthat's, we're hiring people that
are competent than all of us, sothat's okay because they're
joiners and want to collaborate.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
I agree.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
That's an amazing approach.
I mean, it started right fromthe beginning, a room full of
geniuses.
Let's get the geniuses togetheror the smart people.
Right.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Whereas we still want them.
We're always, we're hiring,we're hiring geniuses all the
time.
It is a difficult productcategory.
It isn't just add water andstir.
Why, why do you think a lot ofcompanies have come and gone?
Or can you share some storiesabout competitors that either
(29:25):
made you better or maybe madeyou worse?
Speaker 4 (29:33):
Well, that's an interesting question.
I don't know if competitors canmake you worse.
They might make a strongerstruggle, be larger.
All I, I welcome all competitivecompetitors, you know, I believe
in co-op petition.
That's, that's good for theworld.
(29:54):
It's good for our economy andit's good for oxygen plus, um, I
like straightforward, honestpeople to work with.
And so sometimes, um, in theselast 18 years, I've come up to
things that were like totally,you know, off color or, and, or
(30:20):
straight dishonest.
So that, that really gets megoing, if you want to strike me
getting persistent, that's itlike, don't mess with me like
that, you know, is one companysaid that we were out of
business and told us supplierthat, and we had just ordered
(30:43):
200,000 items apart.
And she said, well, I was toldyou went out of business.
I said, no, we were moving.
And well, that company took yourmold and changed it.
I go really well.
She became a friend because sheunderstood, this was not an
(31:04):
honest way of doing business.
And she'd got our product to us.
I mean, she turned it around.
I can't believe how quickly.
I mean, it's just amazing.
So, so that made my relationshipwith vendor, that vendor better.
Um, and business people usuallyjust want to work with Anna's
people, you know, I mean, we'reall human.
(31:27):
We all have our foibles, youknow, and in this, in this
category, you're paving a newway.
And the manufacturing offers alot of challenges because you're
putting oxygen in a pressuredcan, and it will and needs to be
safe and it needs to be clean.
(31:48):
And no one's ever done thatbefore.
And so to find a manufacturerthat's willing to work with you,
it was awesome.
That whole process.
What do you like
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Most about your competitors?
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Well, th th that they believe that astrogen can be a
category that really hitseveryone.
That really is good foreveryone.
Now.
I can't, I don't know all mycompetitors.
I know most of them, but I don'tknow why they'd be in the
business if they didn't believethat.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
So it just helps to drive the category.
It helps to drive the productand the, and the awareness and
the knowledge of how it can helpeverybody.
Why wouldn't you ever considerdoing something like maybe going
on shark tank or something andtaking the, taking the brand to
a shark and having them takecontrol and do their thing?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Well, I would have considered it.
I mean, I considered it and myteam really did not think that
was a good idea.
I was going to say, when Ilooked at a competitor that went
on, I would hate to be in theirposition.
That's not something I'd want,you know, I'd want, you know, I
wouldn't want alone.
(33:12):
And I would want somebody toreally understand this, the
possibilities, the opportunitythat this has to offer, um, and
work with this company.
And I just didn't feel that andthat when a competitor went and
(33:32):
shark tank.
So, so for that, when I sawthat, I go, maybe that's why my
team said we shouldn't do it.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
We get asked this quite a bit.
Or at least I do.
When we're talking to peoplethat are interested in the
product they ask, what's theplus in oxygen plus.
So what is it?
Can you tell us no,
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I remember what you told me once Christine,
Speaker 4 (33:54):
But I mean, I marijuana and you had marijuana
or whiskey with whiskey.
That's how I was thinking when Ifirst did the plus.
And what, what else did I say?
Speaker 2 (34:08):
I just remember you saying very endearingly is, you
said it's for everything else wedo, or it's everything else
we're going to do.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Right.
Without I was thinking all that,you know?
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Yeah.
You create a company and a brandthat has no
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Limits.
Right.
And, and I would love to go withsomething else.
However, I really know you needto launch, and that needs to be
solidified before you startsomething else.
And that's been a little hardfor me cause I like to go to the
next thing, but I know that'snot what this company deserves.
(34:46):
Right?
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Christine, what's your greatest fear.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I don't, you know, I, you know, th I mean the greatest
fear is the whole world crumbleseconomically, because I'm really
concerned about what's happeningin a world right now.
Um, and then that will affectour company.
Uh, at the same time I couldleave this company today and
feel good.
(35:14):
Cause I see how far we'vegotten, how many lives we've
touched and how many people I'veworked with that, uh, have
grown.
And I've grown with them.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
We got a surprise.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
I liked
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Since, since it's oxygen plus his 18th birthday,
we thought we'd celebrate,
Speaker 4 (35:34):
Oh, I like celebrations.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
We got some champagne [inaudible]
Speaker 4 (35:42):
Glass.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
See if I can get this thing off without putting
somebody as I out.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
I like it.
When it goes,
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Christine, it's an honor working with you.
It's an honor learning from you.
I hope that our listeners haveenjoyed the pearls of wisdom
that you've brought us today.
I want to ask if you would justshare what has been the most
meaningful part of creatingoxygen plus, and if you could
(36:26):
even give a few personal storiesabout people that you've helped
change and grow.
I think that that would beawesome, but chairs,
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Happy birthday oxygen plus chairs.
Lauren.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
Hey, you guys are the cans to be out
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Well, that's good.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
Well, I think, um, I have really liked watching Scott
girl.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Let's talk more about that.
Yeah.
How has Scott grown?
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Well, not taller.
No, no.
We already tell no.
You've grown to know the companyand join us.
And, um, it's great.
And you do the podcast withLauren.
And what about Friday funnies?
I mean, that's introducing alightness in our workplace, a
(37:28):
bonding.
I mean, who could be that lucky?
Speaker 1 (37:34):
I know it's been a lot of fun.
Yeah.
It's been a lot of fun and it'scool.
I think, you know, like I knewabout your guys' product before
I worked with the company, um,just through some other people
that we had, some mutual peoplethat we worked with and, and,
um, I was always kind of curiousabout it cause it was related to
things that I did before and tobe able to kind of come on board
(37:56):
and work with you guys and learnmore about it and learn actually
like, you know, the learn thebenefits of it and, and
understand the, the real likedrive behind it is like truly
trying to help people in a waythat they couldn't find help
before.
I mean, you had people thattheir oxygen levels weren't low
(38:17):
enough.
They couldn't get oxygen, butthey weren't optimal levels.
They weren't healthy, you know?
So how can we help?
So, uh, really cool to just kindof be immersed in, in, in that
and be able to grow along withit.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Uh, I I'll second that Scott and I think, you
know, while oxygen plus is notto your yep.
Cheers is not a medical product.
It has been very impactful to meto see our product be a source
of health and even like mentalrelief, having it in your hand
(38:51):
or in your house during thistime of COVID, that's really
taken our literal breaths away.
Um, Christine, how has that beenfor you?
I mean, cause you started outthis company thinking, not going
medical and here it is, we'venever marketed and never will
our product for a medicalpurpose, but you see a crossover
happening because people, again,can't get oxygen.
(39:14):
When,
Speaker 4 (39:14):
So who makes that line, that crossover between
health and lack of health,you're
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Going to say the government
Speaker 4 (39:25):
With somebody else, you know, does it because
they're there.
Like when I would sit with myclients, I wouldn't say they're
a hundred percent not healthy.
They're 10 or 10% healthy and90% net.
I, you know, some people couldhave major issues and heal
(39:47):
quickly.
Actually people who have morethan one issue do heal better
than people with one ingrainedissue.
Anyway.
So when I look at who wants andneeds antigen, where I have a
friend who's had a procedure andshe has compromised lines and
(40:10):
just last week she came up to mylake place and she's an actual
engine during the day.
Sometimes when she moves a lot,but not at night, but she said,
give me your action.
And she found that she didn'thave to take it with her in her
walking because she felt assuredyou know, that I'm not saying
it's medical, but it helps youbreathe.
(40:32):
And it gives you some relief.
It's not medical, but thatcrossover, yeah, somebody else
is, is doing that.
I mean, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
I'm
Speaker 4 (40:43):
Like, you're not living.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
You're not, not, I'm
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Not going to no, I'm not.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yeah.
We didn't limit people becausethey have a medical condition to
think about their lives as beingstigmatized as medical or sick.
Right.
Speaker 4 (40:57):
Well, and you know, some of the designs that my
sister and I had come up withwas how to camouflage, um, the,
the actuator or how did, wherethe activation is and your
clothing and because it was sucha stigma.
And I I'm hoping that that haslifted some because healthy
(41:22):
people or people who are havinga hard workout or maybe a hard
day and feeling really down,they also use oxygen.
So I think it's important not tolabel, but to measure.
And you know, the deliverysystem of medical oxygen is
different than recreation,recreational.
That's what, what in the, in themarket, that's how it's looked
(41:47):
at.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
How do you feel when, uh, people kind of make joking
comments about the product?
Like, oh, it's, it's just airdon't we breathe
Speaker 4 (41:56):
Air or, well, I don't think they're informed.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
That's all.
And that's okay then, um, ifthey're open to wanting to know,
great.
I think the interest is widely,um, changed with COVID because
all of us could possibly havetrouble breathing.
(42:22):
Right.
You know, sooner than,
Speaker 2 (42:23):
Than maybe we thought or whatever.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Yeah.
Well, I think there's, I thinkthere's a, uh, there's kind of a
, a little bit of amisconception, I think in some
ways, when you, if you see, ifyou see somebody that's like
breathing medical oxygen, theyhave a cylinder and a cannular
and all that stuff.
I think a lot of people look atthat person and go, oh, that
person's really sick.
They need oxygen.
(42:45):
They're really sick.
But you know, like you said,everybody can benefit from
oxygen in different ways.
Again, whether it's a medicalpurpose with medical oxygen, or
if it's something other thanthat, that we're recreational
oxygen comes in and it canprovide relief or it can help.
Right.
Yeah.
I mean, I think that,
Speaker 4 (43:07):
I mean the athletes, I mean, look at the football,
you know, um, they can recoverfaster.
Right.
So I think we're still learning.
I mean, when you think about thebrain, I mean, that's just a
whole new landscape in ourworld.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Right.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
So people are still learning about oxygen to
Speaker 1 (43:26):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's fascinating.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Christine, I have a personal question for you and
you can move on and decline itif you like.
But, but I mean, do you everfeel in 18 years that you've,
that you should be further alongthan you are?
Speaker 4 (43:45):
Well, I look at bottled water, um, and everybody
knew water.
You know, everyone drank water,nobody sucked antigen.
That learning curve is a littlebit more I'd say.
Um, I mean, it would be great.
I see it coming, but I, when Isee how our company has grown in
(44:09):
some other oxygen companies havegrown, uh, there's tons of
success.
So it's, it's happening.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
That's happening right now.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
Um, so your phone being mission is Scott.
And I know it well is to make asignificant contribution to the
well-being of humankind inpractical terms.
How do you envision O plusgrowing in this capacity, in the
next three to five years?
Speaker 4 (44:41):
Well, if you were to take pollution on its own, um,
getting accigent to countrieslike India would be a way to
touch people and help them bemore helpful.
Yeah.
(45:01):
That would be one way that justpopped in my mind.
So I think that, you know, it's,it's a personal portable prod
product and people will begin tosee how they can use it and when
they can use it and if they wantto, but it'll be an option for
them.
And they'll they'll know what itis.
(45:21):
So the education will, it willbe farther along
Speaker 1 (45:26):
And before that the option really wasn't there.
No,
Speaker 4 (45:30):
There really wasn't there only if you're really sick
and someone told you, you couldhave it.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
Ladies and gentlemen, listeners, thank you so much for
tuning in today.
You can follow Christine Warrenon Twitter at Chrissy Warren.
You can also find her onLinkedIn.
Like everybody else is prettymuch there.
If you have a job and Scott,what else do we have to say to
wrap this puppy up?
Speaker 1 (45:55):
I think, uh, my glass is a little low, so I'm going to
do this and we're going tocheers again.
This
Speaker 5 (46:02):
Is the episode that never, it
Speaker 1 (46:05):
Never ends.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
I thought we could sing the birthday song that
Christine and I created.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
Are you down for that?
I can't wait to listen to this.
I can never
Speaker 4 (46:16):
Remember it.
Speaker 5 (46:19):
Okay.
If I
Speaker 2 (46:19):
Could just get you in the background and go like this,
We got a tune up.
Speaker 5 (46:25):
Keep it happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
I hope you have a very happybirthday.
It's the whole year and Celenathere.
It's a happy, happy, happy,happy birthday
Speaker 2 (46:41):
Go rate and review.
We're not blowing hot air.
So more people are aware ofwellness and business stuff that
deserves more oxygen andsubscribe to our podcast.
So you never miss an excitingepisode.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Thanks for listening.
We hope you enjoyed ourinterview with oxygen plus
founder, Christine Warren, andbe sure to subscribe to we're
not blowing hot air, so younever miss an episode.
See you next time.
Hello and welcome to we're not blowing hot air
powered by oxygen plus I'm Scottand I'm Lauren.
And we're here to help elevateyour IQ on wellness and business
stuff that sometimesmisunderstood
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Like recreational oxygen.
Yes.
Let's get smarter with thisweek's guest of we're not
blowing hot air.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
[inaudible]
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Scott.
I'm really excited about today'sguest
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Me
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Too.
I'm a little afraid
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Though.
Why are you afraid?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Because she's our boss.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
There is that, what if
Speaker 2 (00:39):
We ask a question that makes her angry or sad?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Well, luckily for you, you're in Florida right
now.
I'm sitting next to her.
So, you know, if she swings,it's going to be,
Speaker 2 (00:54):
That's why, that's why I came out here.
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't do it face to face.
I mean, she has a force.
She's a force of nature, apositive one.
Um, but I, I know I'm very happythat she said finally she
accepted our offer.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I know, I know the hardest guest that it's been to
get for us so far.
Surprisingly, the founder of ourcompany, we had the hardest time
getting on the podcast,
Speaker 2 (01:25):
But there's good reason.
And there's something tocelebrate.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yes.
So do we want to mention it nowor we're going to wait?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Well, it might be in the title of the podcast, but
oh, we should probably wait.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
We should
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Wait and let the transition phase into the part
where I talk.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Right.
Should we make that happen,right?
Yeah,
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Let's do it.
All right.
I'll see you.
Later On episode five of we'renot blowing hot air.
We get real with founder andpresident of oxygen.
Plus Christine Warren, and weeven break out the bubbly to
celebrate oxygen pluses 18thbirthday, take a trip way back
to 2003.
(02:09):
When a room full of geniusesgathered together to start
dreaming about an oxygencompany, would pioneer a
wellness category.
They themselves dubbedrecreational oxygen.
Learn what this femaleentrepreneur did to survive and
thrive.
Two decades here, never beforetold stories about oxygen plus
and discover more reasons.
(02:30):
Oxygen plus is the best cannedoxygen in the atmosphere.
Plus find out what the plus andoxygen plus really means what
Christine envisions next foroxygen plus and the recreational
oxygen industry.
And hear me attempt to singChristine and original birthday
song all on this episode ofwe're not blowing hot air.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
This is special.
This is a special episode.
So I'm here in studio withfounder of oxygen.
Plus Christine Warren and Laurenis joining us remotely.
She's working, uh, in Floridaright now.
There she is.
Um, yeah.
So a special episode today, weget to talk with Christine
(03:18):
Warren and we have kind of aspecial announcement to make
oxygen.
Plus is turning.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
We're going to do it at the same time over and say,
this oxygen is
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Hurting 18 years old.
How about that?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Congratulations, Christine.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Now we've survived and thrived in those 18
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Years.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I think the first question is, is how does it feel
for oxygen plus to be turning 18years old?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
It really does seem like yesterday.
So the years have passedquickly.
Uh, and I think it's a tribute.
I was in my early fifties.
Then when this all started withjust an idea and we can, each of
(04:20):
us can really re-engineer ourlife and contribute to the world
in a lot of different ways as wereach our later life stages.
So that's something that'spretty exciting for our
listeners, I think to thinkabout.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And what I, what I know about your re-engineering
is you were a marriage andfamily therapist, you were
working with clients and helpingthem thrive in their own
personal lives, professionallives.
And then you suddenly got intocreating this new product
category called recreationaloxygen.
How did that happen?
(04:59):
We know this story, but you tellit best.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Well, it is a great story.
It's looking at what's in frontof you and then doing something
about it.
So here I am in my clinicaloffice and I had three clients
that had lung issues,compromised lung concerns, and
(05:26):
one of them was overweight andcoming in with a Walker and her
husband was overweight and adeer.
And they were both really shortand darling, uh, but they could
barely move and they werewaiting for their oxygen levels
to go lower because your levelshad to be, I'm not sure exactly
(05:50):
what it was back then.
Cause it changes with thefederal government, if they were
84 or lower, I think then youwere able to receive oxygen.
Uh, and, and they were therefinally, however, it took about
three or four months for theoxygen to be delivered.
(06:11):
And I just thought there has tobe a better way.
This is not humane.
So how can we, how can Ifacilitate making oxygen more
available in a portable way?
Not only I was thinkinginitially for those who are less
able, but I've switched and thatswitch has to do with it being
(06:35):
recreational oxygen.
And I can share more of that ifyou'd like about that process.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That'd be great.
Okay.
Um, so here's, here's my idea.
Okay.
So how are we going to makeoxygen more available?
How can we help people breathemore easily?
(06:58):
So my sister and I put togethera book of ideas, drawings, and
it's about this thick.
And then I said to myself, how,how can this move?
(07:19):
So I called bill Miller, who hadwon over 20 Cleo awards through
Fallon advertising.
And I said, and he was living inColorado Springs.
He had been a member of my lifeguide group, a men's life guide
group that I led with anotherfemale therapist.
(07:40):
And I said, what do you thinkabout making oxygen more
available to people and in thisworld?
And he listened to me for awhile.
I was, I was talking about itand he said, Christine, here's
what I'm going to do.
We are going to pull a room fullof geniuses together.
I will fly into town in twoweeks.
(08:00):
I will bring those peopletogether and I go, okay.
And then we'll brainstorm how tomove forward.
So the fellow that hosted thatmeeting was Fred Steadman.
He was a NASA engineer who had,was one of the main engineers on
Apollo.
(08:21):
Of course, Apollo wasn'tsuccessful, but he was a very
successful engineer and awesomeman, just awesome.
He and his wife hosted thegathering and there were people
from all walks of life.
There were bankers or creativeor marketing.
There was, um, designers there,there were financial people.
(08:44):
I mean, and so my sister and Ipresented some of these ideas
and all these very seasoned intheir career individuals gave
feedback in that next week.
And all of them did.
And the feedback they gave wasdon't go medical, go
(09:08):
recreational.
If you go medical, you're goingto hit, have more barriers.
So that was kind of a surpriseto me.
Um, most of them also were, um,athletes, you know, as a hobby,
but they were pretty sincere.
So that probably was part oftheir thinking because they knew
the athlete could definitelybenefit from oxygen for a number
(09:32):
of reasons.
So that's how it all started.
We had that room full ofgeniuses and I decided to go,
okay, let's, let's move withthis recreational concept.
And then I go, alright, I havehelped a numb.
I had done in my practice, anumber of family business
(09:52):
consulting with, and worked witha number of businesses who were
had family businesses.
And so I knew how to help themcreate, have an idea and make it
happen, be successful in their,in their businesses.
So I thought, well, what do youneed to do first?
(10:12):
You need to get an attorney.
I, you know, my God and soright.
And, um, and I, I knew in someways my arms needed to be around
it and I really thought I'd bein it.
I'd get these great peoplebecause I know how to build
team.
(10:34):
And, and then I'd move on intoyours and think it would be
rocking.
Right.
Well, that didn't happen.
I mean, I got the great peoplethat I did, but what I began
began to understand when youhave a new product category,
which we have created and it'saccepted by the trade
(10:55):
association, which is absolutelyincredible.
Um, it takes longer.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Well, Christine, I think what I'm curious about
hearing that story is how manyof the original team members
that you curated and pulledtogether are around today?
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Well, I think
Speaker 2 (11:22):
In add oxygen, plus
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Let me share how, what happened after the room
full of geniuses that one night
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It was one night.
I thought it was many nights,
Speaker 4 (11:36):
One night and people who've made their career work
for them and their families gavetheir feedback.
So I go, I am going to take thisa little more seriously.
This is fun.
It's interesting to me.
And so whole new area.
(11:58):
I mean, it's not psychotherapy,it's not about depression,
schizophrenia.
I focus in my work on adultincest, adult women who had been
incested as children.
And I would work with theintergenerational families to
help the healing.
So this was very different.
(12:19):
So someone said to me, youshould go talk to so-and-so,
he's a designer.
I go, what's that?
Well, somebody who might designa product, I go, okay.
So I had lunch with him and hewas one of the most renowned,
renowned people here in thecities.
And he was really open andreally creative.
(12:40):
And I hung around his place ofwork and it was all open.
I started to get the concept ofhow this comes together.
So I thought, okay, I'm going tocall a group of people together
for two days every month.
(13:03):
And I did that and my friendbill Miller would come into
town.
He figured out the place, andsometimes it would be like this
huge mansions in downtownMinneapolis.
Uh, when one time our attorneygot us a place at the country
club.
So we, we had two days where wehad a place to come together.
(13:24):
And so we have designers, we hadpeople who were salespeople.
I mean just the kind of peoplethat it takes to make a
business.
And while we were doing this,I'm thinking, well, if I were to
form a business and push thisoxygen, who would I want?
No, you know, so I wasevaluating that and these
(13:47):
meetings were so excitingbecause there were some of the
most creative people, um, youknow, like who've done rolling
stone magazine, I'm going well,what's rulers rolling stone.
I didn't even know what it was.
You know, that I didn't reallyeven know what a brand was.
The only brand I knew was thatlittle alligator brand, but that
little one cast.
(14:08):
Okay.
So, um, it's been a hugelearning curve is my point.
You know, I, I can readspreadsheets, I know legal, and
I definitely appreciate thecreative, the marketing and the
sales.
Um, and you know, it's alwaystempting to get into it.
Don't get into it, let the, letthe ones that know it, do it.
So, um, anyway, so we, we, wedid this for a month and it, the
(14:35):
sizzle of portable oxygen justkept going.
So there's that energy.
That means something you got totrust that.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
And that was back in 2003.
Yeah.
2004, 2005 was the first timeone of your products hit the
market.
Can you share about what thatproduct was?
Uh, what that felt like, how youbrought it to market?
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Okay.
So after a year of meeting fortwo days a month, I said, okay,
I'm going for it.
So I had an investment gatheringat my house and that first
meeting 750,000 came into thebusiness.
So that was another point whereI had to take notice and see,
(15:33):
yes, this is something that'sviable.
Right?
So pull the team together.
Uh, we had free rent with one ofthe investors.
And, um, we met with red groupwho, who helped us design
(15:54):
efforts, product, which iscalled the elevate pack.
And that's where you have acylinder and you put a cartridge
of oxygen in twist the bottom,pull down on the lever.
And I love this product becauseit's, it's customer friendly for
all ages.
It's the, it's a white, sleekcanister.
(16:14):
We launched in the spa, um,category w we went to a big
convention in Vegas, big spotconvention,
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Right?
It's a very exclusive, veryexclusive spa industry trade
show in Vegas.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
And we won an award for being one of the more
innovative products at theshell.
And I, I remember the firstperson that I sold a product to,
and she worked and in a dip, um,she was a medical doctor and she
worked with addictions,particularly smoking cessation.
(16:51):
And I said to myself, well, ofcourse this would work.
Cause you know, you pick up yourcigarette, man.
I don't smoke.
So I'm not going to do this verywell, but you pick up your
cigarette and go something likethis.
Right.
And you know, then you put itand then you go, like you do all
these things with it, you know,with it what's that
Speaker 1 (17:10):
There's like a manual fixation about it, but it's hard
to get over.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
So you take, you know, the elevate pack and you
have your own habit, but it's ahealthy one.
Take a couple hits, put it down.
You were more relaxed.
Your brain is more clear.
And, and that's what she wasgoing to use it for.
I never did follow up with her.
I wish I had now,
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Uh, wish we could track her down, have her on the
podcast one day.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah.
I get her story.
The first person that you spoke,
Speaker 4 (17:44):
That'd be cool.
And I was really akin to thatbecause even though we were
going recreational, the one Isold with somebody, medical net
had been my arena that I, I knewbetter, but now I know the
recreational business quitewell,
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I would say so.
I mean, you not only createdthis new product category, you
also help define a lot of theterminology.
That is a part of this.
I am wondering though, um,there's a lot of, if you're, if
you Google search this product,you might make try like a lot of
variations of what our productis, but really the, the term
(18:22):
that has stuck with us isrecreational oxygen.
Can you talk about how that cameto be?
Who came up with the termrecreational oxygen?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
I think that room full of geniuses, somewhere in
there that came up and we justwent with it.
I mean, that's a, it's a goodquestion.
And I never really thought aboutit.
So someone said it, the wholeteam said yes, and we moved with
it.
And um, so this is early on.
(18:51):
And before we even designed aproduct that we decided to take
to market, we had a four daymeeting in Texas to come up with
a name antigen plus.
And that was a whole other funprocess, very different than
going to, um, consultations thathave to do with manic depressive
disorders.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
I'm not laughing.
I'm not laughing at manicdepressive disorders
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Laughing half the time.
That's fun.
Right?
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Well, I mean, I loved my work as a clinician.
Loved it, but I mean, I was justnoticing like, so you go to a
spot convention, you get freerobes at the end of the
convention.
People you walk around and theygive you free robes.
I mean, it's like this, this isa different kind of world, you
know?
Um, but I mean, I'm having funwith it right now, a bit
(19:42):
seriously, this, this challengeof bringing recreational action
in the market was huge and isstill huge.
However, we've accomplished alot of steps that we needed to
take.
So
Speaker 1 (19:59):
That's, that's such a cool story.
I mean, recreation, recreationaloxygen, the term like sticks
from kind of day one and justthe perseverance to make it an
actual thing and where it istoday.
Incredible, incredible.
Where w I mean, what, what droveit was, it, was it just simply,
(20:21):
was it that energy of the ideaand, and, you know, the room
full of geniuses that kind ofdrove you toward it?
Or what was, I mean, it's sodifferent from what you were
doing as a therapist.
Like what, what flipped thatswitch?
What really drove you towardthat?
Was it entrepreneurism or was itjust, was it helping people in
(20:42):
general product that, you know,could really make a difference?
What was
Speaker 4 (20:47):
It probably both to be entrepreneurial and be able
to help people what's betterthan that.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
And, and the, the challenge of figuring it out,
it's like a huge puzzle.
Like, what do you need to do?
How you put, how do you put itall together?
You know, what type of peoplehave to be there when you asked
me the question, how many areleft over?
You know, um, many of theinitial supporters, board
(21:24):
members are still engaged andsupportive.
Um, I only have one board memberthat's been here since the
beginning, besides myself.
And a number of the people whoinitially have worked in oxygen
(21:45):
plus are still supporters ofoxygen plus, but they've moved
on for a number of differentreasons.
You know, some people have moved, um, different jobs get
married, all that real lifestuff.
And the how this organism ofoxygen plus has grown and become
(22:12):
is, is really based on howoxygen plus has grown and
become.
So there's different needs foroxygen now, for who works with
oxygen.
Plus then there was earlier onwhen you're just a business
thinking, well, this is kind ofinteresting.
Let's try it.
And, and it works kind of, andyou're a niche markets, and then
(22:41):
you have a competitor thatfigures out how to, um, get you
out of where you're alreadyplaced by just saying whatever,
whatever there, whatever theprice is, I'll go lower.
And I go really do people dothat?
You know, that, you know, thatwasn't in my therapy world.
And so I go, okay,
Speaker 2 (23:02):
You were never, you were never outbid by another
therapist.
No, no, no.
Christine, I think I'm notalone.
When I say that you're aperseverance over 18 years, seen
a new team come through.
Really like everyone isdifferent since when you
started, except for you andmaybe some board members and
other people who are stillconnected to the company, but
(23:23):
aren't actually activelyinvolved in the day-to-day.
I mean, you've seen your companychange.
You've, it's still does the samemission of making oxygen
available and, um, and portablefor people.
But what, I guess my, myquestion is how have you changed
(23:44):
in 18 year lifespan of oxygen?
Plus
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Maybe I haven't changed, but I've gotten to know
more of myself.
And then around 2013, it was2013.
Um, my husband passed and I'mnoticing we're of, we had built
up the business and it was goingflat and I really had to make a
decision.
(24:08):
Am I going to grow it, push itahead or not?
Because it was at that point.
And I said, we're going to gofor it.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
What was that?
What was that impetus?
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Um, I was tired of it.
Plat towing.
I wanted more, I believed thisproduct had a lot to offer.
If I know it's quality andpeople deserve to breathe, it
works.
That's what pushed me ahead.
And I just,
Speaker 2 (24:43):
So the same, the same initial reason, the
entrepreneur-ism and the justwanting to take this awesome
product to market.
So everybody could have it ifthey wanted it.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
Yes, exactly.
I want, I see it as a lifestyleproduct.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Yeah.
So what happened after that?
So you decide, all right, I'mgetting after this thing again.
How did,
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Um, I called in some bigger people, I mean, that had
a lot of experience and changedthe board a little bit.
And, um, some of that reallywork
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Christine.
One of the things I've reallyrespect about you is a lot of
entrepreneurs or businessowners.
They have a hard time lettinggo, but it's also what so many
other business ownersnotoriously don't do.
Well, they hold onto theircompany and that sometimes can
be its own downfall, its owndemise.
(25:42):
Right.
Um, did you know that when youwere, or did you learn that when
you were leaning into oxygenplus and, and creating it from
the beginning, or was thissomething, how did that, how did
that evolve for you?
And I see it, if it did go theopposite way, I mean, are you
better at it now?
Do you still have checks inplace for that?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I think my ego is not in it.
I think what's in it is again,that puzzle.
How do you solve that puzzle?
You know, even in our company,there are subsystems.
If each sub system is healthyand working, the whole system
(26:27):
will work.
If one is hurting, then we haveto help that one that's hurting
for whatever the reason itcould, you know, it could be
their incompetent, it could betheir family issues, or it could
be, it could be illness.
So that's what drives me.
But I totally agree with youthough.
(26:47):
You know, it's a double-edgedsword.
The one that let's go can let goa little bit too much, even
though in my past I've seenthis, isn't really what I want.
This is pretty frustrating.
I can't
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Believe it.
And then talk to myself andmaybe a colleague and then
sorted out and then move on it.
But I'm, I'm slow because I wantto believe in the person and,
um, and help them find ways tomake it work, make their, you
know, work world work.
(27:27):
It sounds like you approachyour, your company or leading
it.
And, um, and how you workthrough processes and systems.
You talked about theorganizational structure a lot,
like therapy is that
Speaker 4 (27:43):
I could sit in a restaurant and look at the
restaurant and see who, whichfamilies are sitting next to
each other and how what'sfunctional and what isn't.
I mean, that's just how I think.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Do you think, do you think oxygen plus is in a
healthy place right now and whatyou do?
I was asking what areas can itbe stronger and healthier, I
guess is maybe a good word too.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I like what I see right now, you know?
Um, I like the comradery.
I like, um, the competence, Ilike that.
No, one's afraid of having ahigher that smarter than they
are this.
I don't see that.
(28:34):
I mean, it's kind of scary, butthat's, we're hiring people that
are competent than all of us, sothat's okay because they're
joiners and want to collaborate.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
I agree.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
That's an amazing approach.
I mean, it started right fromthe beginning, a room full of
geniuses.
Let's get the geniuses togetheror the smart people.
Right.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Whereas we still want them.
We're always, we're hiring,we're hiring geniuses all the
time.
It is a difficult productcategory.
It isn't just add water andstir.
Why, why do you think a lot ofcompanies have come and gone?
Or can you share some storiesabout competitors that either
(29:25):
made you better or maybe madeyou worse?
Speaker 4 (29:33):
Well, that's an interesting question.
I don't know if competitors canmake you worse.
They might make a strongerstruggle, be larger.
All I, I welcome all competitivecompetitors, you know, I believe
in co-op petition.
That's, that's good for theworld.
(29:54):
It's good for our economy andit's good for oxygen plus, um, I
like straightforward, honestpeople to work with.
And so sometimes, um, in theselast 18 years, I've come up to
things that were like totally,you know, off color or, and, or
(30:20):
straight dishonest.
So that, that really gets megoing, if you want to strike me
getting persistent, that's itlike, don't mess with me like
that, you know, is one companysaid that we were out of
business and told us supplierthat, and we had just ordered
(30:43):
200,000 items apart.
And she said, well, I was toldyou went out of business.
I said, no, we were moving.
And well, that company took yourmold and changed it.
I go really well.
She became a friend because sheunderstood, this was not an
(31:04):
honest way of doing business.
And she'd got our product to us.
I mean, she turned it around.
I can't believe how quickly.
I mean, it's just amazing.
So, so that made my relationshipwith vendor, that vendor better.
Um, and business people usuallyjust want to work with Anna's
people, you know, I mean, we'reall human.
(31:27):
We all have our foibles, youknow, and in this, in this
category, you're paving a newway.
And the manufacturing offers alot of challenges because you're
putting oxygen in a pressuredcan, and it will and needs to be
safe and it needs to be clean.
(31:48):
And no one's ever done thatbefore.
And so to find a manufacturerthat's willing to work with you,
it was awesome.
That whole process.
What do you like
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Most about your competitors?
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Well, th th that they believe that astrogen can be a
category that really hitseveryone.
That really is good foreveryone.
Now.
I can't, I don't know all mycompetitors.
I know most of them, but I don'tknow why they'd be in the
business if they didn't believethat.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
So it just helps to drive the category.
It helps to drive the productand the, and the awareness and
the knowledge of how it can helpeverybody.
Why wouldn't you ever considerdoing something like maybe going
on shark tank or something andtaking the, taking the brand to
a shark and having them takecontrol and do their thing?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Well, I would have considered it.
I mean, I considered it and myteam really did not think that
was a good idea.
I was going to say, when Ilooked at a competitor that went
on, I would hate to be in theirposition.
That's not something I'd want,you know, I'd want, you know, I
wouldn't want alone.
(33:12):
And I would want somebody toreally understand this, the
possibilities, the opportunitythat this has to offer, um, and
work with this company.
And I just didn't feel that andthat when a competitor went and
(33:32):
shark tank.
So, so for that, when I sawthat, I go, maybe that's why my
team said we shouldn't do it.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
We get asked this quite a bit.
Or at least I do.
When we're talking to peoplethat are interested in the
product they ask, what's theplus in oxygen plus.
So what is it?
Can you tell us no,
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I remember what you told me once Christine,
Speaker 4 (33:54):
But I mean, I marijuana and you had marijuana
or whiskey with whiskey.
That's how I was thinking when Ifirst did the plus.
And what, what else did I say?
Speaker 2 (34:08):
I just remember you saying very endearingly is, you
said it's for everything else wedo, or it's everything else
we're going to do.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Right.
Without I was thinking all that,you know?
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Yeah.
You create a company and a brandthat has no
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Limits.
Right.
And, and I would love to go withsomething else.
However, I really know you needto launch, and that needs to be
solidified before you startsomething else.
And that's been a little hardfor me cause I like to go to the
next thing, but I know that'snot what this company deserves.
(34:46):
Right?
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Christine, what's your greatest fear.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I don't, you know, I, you know, th I mean the greatest
fear is the whole world crumbleseconomically, because I'm really
concerned about what's happeningin a world right now.
Um, and then that will affectour company.
Uh, at the same time I couldleave this company today and
feel good.
(35:14):
Cause I see how far we'vegotten, how many lives we've
touched and how many people I'veworked with that, uh, have
grown.
And I've grown with them.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
We got a surprise.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
I liked
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Since, since it's oxygen plus his 18th birthday,
we thought we'd celebrate,
Speaker 4 (35:34):
Oh, I like celebrations.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
We got some champagne [inaudible]
Speaker 4 (35:42):
Glass.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
See if I can get this thing off without putting
somebody as I out.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
I like it.
When it goes,
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Christine, it's an honor working with you.
It's an honor learning from you.
I hope that our listeners haveenjoyed the pearls of wisdom
that you've brought us today.
I want to ask if you would justshare what has been the most
meaningful part of creatingoxygen plus, and if you could
(36:26):
even give a few personal storiesabout people that you've helped
change and grow.
I think that that would beawesome, but chairs,
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Happy birthday oxygen plus chairs.
Lauren.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
Hey, you guys are the cans to be out
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Well, that's good.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
Well, I think, um, I have really liked watching Scott
girl.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Let's talk more about that.
Yeah.
How has Scott grown?
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Well, not taller.
No, no.
We already tell no.
You've grown to know the companyand join us.
And, um, it's great.
And you do the podcast withLauren.
And what about Friday funnies?
I mean, that's introducing alightness in our workplace, a
(37:28):
bonding.
I mean, who could be that lucky?
Speaker 1 (37:34):
I know it's been a lot of fun.
Yeah.
It's been a lot of fun and it'scool.
I think, you know, like I knewabout your guys' product before
I worked with the company, um,just through some other people
that we had, some mutual peoplethat we worked with and, and,
um, I was always kind of curiousabout it cause it was related to
things that I did before and tobe able to kind of come on board
(37:56):
and work with you guys and learnmore about it and learn actually
like, you know, the learn thebenefits of it and, and
understand the, the real likedrive behind it is like truly
trying to help people in a waythat they couldn't find help
before.
I mean, you had people thattheir oxygen levels weren't low
(38:17):
enough.
They couldn't get oxygen, butthey weren't optimal levels.
They weren't healthy, you know?
So how can we help?
So, uh, really cool to just kindof be immersed in, in, in that
and be able to grow along withit.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Uh, I I'll second that Scott and I think, you
know, while oxygen plus is notto your yep.
Cheers is not a medical product.
It has been very impactful to meto see our product be a source
of health and even like mentalrelief, having it in your hand
(38:51):
or in your house during thistime of COVID, that's really
taken our literal breaths away.
Um, Christine, how has that beenfor you?
I mean, cause you started outthis company thinking, not going
medical and here it is, we'venever marketed and never will
our product for a medicalpurpose, but you see a crossover
happening because people, again,can't get oxygen.
(39:14):
When,
Speaker 4 (39:14):
So who makes that line, that crossover between
health and lack of health,you're
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Going to say the government
Speaker 4 (39:25):
With somebody else, you know, does it because
they're there.
Like when I would sit with myclients, I wouldn't say they're
a hundred percent not healthy.
They're 10 or 10% healthy and90% net.
I, you know, some people couldhave major issues and heal
(39:47):
quickly.
Actually people who have morethan one issue do heal better
than people with one ingrainedissue.
Anyway.
So when I look at who wants andneeds antigen, where I have a
friend who's had a procedure andshe has compromised lines and
(40:10):
just last week she came up to mylake place and she's an actual
engine during the day.
Sometimes when she moves a lot,but not at night, but she said,
give me your action.
And she found that she didn'thave to take it with her in her
walking because she felt assuredyou know, that I'm not saying
it's medical, but it helps youbreathe.
(40:32):
And it gives you some relief.
It's not medical, but thatcrossover, yeah, somebody else
is, is doing that.
I mean, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
I'm
Speaker 4 (40:43):
Like, you're not living.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
You're not, not, I'm
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Not going to no, I'm not.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yeah.
We didn't limit people becausethey have a medical condition to
think about their lives as beingstigmatized as medical or sick.
Right.
Speaker 4 (40:57):
Well, and you know, some of the designs that my
sister and I had come up withwas how to camouflage, um, the,
the actuator or how did, wherethe activation is and your
clothing and because it was sucha stigma.
And I I'm hoping that that haslifted some because healthy
(41:22):
people or people who are havinga hard workout or maybe a hard
day and feeling really down,they also use oxygen.
So I think it's important not tolabel, but to measure.
And you know, the deliverysystem of medical oxygen is
different than recreation,recreational.
That's what, what in the, in themarket, that's how it's looked
(41:47):
at.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
How do you feel when, uh, people kind of make joking
comments about the product?
Like, oh, it's, it's just airdon't we breathe
Speaker 4 (41:56):
Air or, well, I don't think they're informed.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
That's all.
And that's okay then, um, ifthey're open to wanting to know,
great.
I think the interest is widely,um, changed with COVID because
all of us could possibly havetrouble breathing.
(42:22):
Right.
You know, sooner than,
Speaker 2 (42:23):
Than maybe we thought or whatever.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Yeah.
Well, I think there's, I thinkthere's a, uh, there's kind of a
, a little bit of amisconception, I think in some
ways, when you, if you see, ifyou see somebody that's like
breathing medical oxygen, theyhave a cylinder and a cannular
and all that stuff.
I think a lot of people look atthat person and go, oh, that
person's really sick.
They need oxygen.
(42:45):
They're really sick.
But you know, like you said,everybody can benefit from
oxygen in different ways.
Again, whether it's a medicalpurpose with medical oxygen, or
if it's something other thanthat, that we're recreational
oxygen comes in and it canprovide relief or it can help.
Right.
Yeah.
I mean, I think that,
Speaker 4 (43:07):
I mean the athletes, I mean, look at the football,
you know, um, they can recoverfaster.
Right.
So I think we're still learning.
I mean, when you think about thebrain, I mean, that's just a
whole new landscape in ourworld.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Right.
Speaker 4 (43:23):
So people are still learning about oxygen to
Speaker 1 (43:26):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's fascinating.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Christine, I have a personal question for you and
you can move on and decline itif you like.
But, but I mean, do you everfeel in 18 years that you've,
that you should be further alongthan you are?
Speaker 4 (43:45):
Well, I look at bottled water, um, and everybody
knew water.
You know, everyone drank water,nobody sucked antigen.
That learning curve is a littlebit more I'd say.
Um, I mean, it would be great.
I see it coming, but I, when Isee how our company has grown in
(44:09):
some other oxygen companies havegrown, uh, there's tons of
success.
So it's, it's happening.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
That's happening right now.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
Um, so your phone being mission is Scott.
And I know it well is to make asignificant contribution to the
well-being of humankind inpractical terms.
How do you envision O plusgrowing in this capacity, in the
next three to five years?
Speaker 4 (44:41):
Well, if you were to take pollution on its own, um,
getting accigent to countrieslike India would be a way to
touch people and help them bemore helpful.
Yeah.
(45:01):
That would be one way that justpopped in my mind.
So I think that, you know, it's,it's a personal portable prod
product and people will begin tosee how they can use it and when
they can use it and if they wantto, but it'll be an option for
them.
And they'll they'll know what itis.
(45:21):
So the education will, it willbe farther along
Speaker 1 (45:26):
And before that the option really wasn't there.
No,
Speaker 4 (45:30):
There really wasn't there only if you're really sick
and someone told you, you couldhave it.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
Ladies and gentlemen, listeners, thank you so much for
tuning in today.
You can follow Christine Warrenon Twitter at Chrissy Warren.
You can also find her onLinkedIn.
Like everybody else is prettymuch there.
If you have a job and Scott,what else do we have to say to
wrap this puppy up?
Speaker 1 (45:55):
I think, uh, my glass is a little low, so I'm going to
do this and we're going tocheers again.
This
Speaker 5 (46:02):
Is the episode that never, it
Speaker 1 (46:05):
Never ends.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
I thought we could sing the birthday song that
Christine and I created.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
Are you down for that?
I can't wait to listen to this.
I can never
Speaker 4 (46:16):
Remember it.
Speaker 5 (46:19):
Okay.
If I
Speaker 2 (46:19):
Could just get you in the background and go like this,
We got a tune up.
Speaker 5 (46:25):
Keep it happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
I hope you have a very happybirthday.
It's the whole year and Celenathere.
It's a happy, happy, happy,happy birthday
Speaker 2 (46:41):
Go rate and review.
We're not blowing hot air.
So more people are aware ofwellness and business stuff that
deserves more oxygen andsubscribe to our podcast.
So you never miss an excitingepisode.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Thanks for listening.
We hope you enjoyed ourinterview with oxygen plus
founder, Christine Warren, andbe sure to subscribe to we're
not blowing hot air, so younever miss an episode.
See you next time.
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