July 30, 2025 • 67 mins
Welcome to Hot Topics! In this episode, host Gabrielle Crichlow speaks with menstrual health advocate Betina Hunt about the often-overlooked aspects of menstrual health. They discuss how diet, hygiene practices, and harmful chemicals in feminine products can impact women's health, including menstrual irregularities, adenomyosis, yeast infections, fibroids, and endometriosis.
Betina emphasizes the importance of hydration, balanced nutrition, and exercise in maintaining both mental and menstrual health. Staying hydrated and consuming a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables are essential for overall well-being, while regular physical activity can help reduce menstrual cramps and fatigue.
Betina and Gabrielle also address the harmful chemicals found in many feminine products and the risks associated with tampons, including toxic shock syndrome. Betina advocates for 100% cotton, chemical-free, and fragrance-free sanitary products, including her brand, "Reign."
Education on menstrual health is crucial for empowering young women and combating stigma. Open discussions about menstruation can help normalize the topic and reduce fear and anxiety. Betina stresses the importance of sharing knowledge within communities to address health disparities, especially among Black and Brown women. Join us for this enlightening episode that aims to inform and empower!
You can find Betina (updated 5/31/2025):
On the web: https://youfirstcf.org/
On Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/betinamhunt
On Facebook (business): https://www.facebook.com/youfirstcf
On Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/betinahunt/
On Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/youfirstcf/
On Threads: https://www.threads.com/@betinahunt
On LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/betinahunt/
On LinkedIn (business): https://www.linkedin.com/company/youfirstcf/
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mstennesseeca
Betina has a feminine product company called "Reign," where she's selling 100% cotton, chemical-free, and fragrance-free pads and panty liners. Purchase them here: https://youfirstcf.org/shop
Betina also has a book called "Period Power." Purchase it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0K6WF3x
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/-8HzfSJpn98
Rate this episode on IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt37961960/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
********************************************
Follow Gabrielle Crichlow:
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.crichlow
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle.crichlow
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-crichlow-92587a360
Follow A Step Ahead Tutoring Services:
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astepaheadtutoringservices
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astepaheadtutoringservices
On X: https://www.twitter.com/ASATS2013
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/com
Betina emphasizes the importance of hydration, balanced nutrition, and exercise in maintaining both mental and menstrual health. Staying hydrated and consuming a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables are essential for overall well-being, while regular physical activity can help reduce menstrual cramps and fatigue.
Betina and Gabrielle also address the harmful chemicals found in many feminine products and the risks associated with tampons, including toxic shock syndrome. Betina advocates for 100% cotton, chemical-free, and fragrance-free sanitary products, including her brand, "Reign."
Education on menstrual health is crucial for empowering young women and combating stigma. Open discussions about menstruation can help normalize the topic and reduce fear and anxiety. Betina stresses the importance of sharing knowledge within communities to address health disparities, especially among Black and Brown women. Join us for this enlightening episode that aims to inform and empower!
You can find Betina (updated 5/31/2025):
On the web: https://youfirstcf.org/
On Facebook (personal): https://www.facebook.com/betinamhunt
On Facebook (business): https://www.facebook.com/youfirstcf
On Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/betinahunt/
On Instagram (business): https://www.instagram.com/youfirstcf/
On Threads: https://www.threads.com/@betinahunt
On LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/betinahunt/
On LinkedIn (business): https://www.linkedin.com/company/youfirstcf/
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mstennesseeca
Betina has a feminine product company called "Reign," where she's selling 100% cotton, chemical-free, and fragrance-free pads and panty liners. Purchase them here: https://youfirstcf.org/shop
Betina also has a book called "Period Power." Purchase it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0K6WF3x
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/-8HzfSJpn98
Rate this episode on IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt37961960/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
********************************************
Follow Gabrielle Crichlow:
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.crichlow
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle.crichlow
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-crichlow-92587a360
Follow A Step Ahead Tutoring Services:
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astepaheadtutoringservices
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astepaheadtutoringservices
On X: https://www.twitter.com/ASATS2013
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Well, hello, hello everyone. Okay, it's your girl, Gabrielle. Welcome
to a brand new episode of Hot Topics. So let
me tell you what this show is about. So, this
(00:45):
is a show where we like to have real talk
about real things you guys. However, we like to stay
within a particular scope as we are a part part
of a step ahead tutoring services, so we like to
stay with it an educational landscape, so to speak. So
(01:09):
we like to educate, we want well, we want to
educate you, but we want you to be more informed.
We want you to get more knowledge, we want you
to leave better than how you were yesterday. So that's
how we like to do things on Hot Topics. So
let me tell you how we're going to do that today.
So today we're gonna start off with a topic as
(01:30):
I always do. I love my topics and I have
my guests, So let me tell you what the topic
is for today. So today's topic is breaking the silence
understanding mental health. So this is not the first time
that I've discussed menstal health women's health issues, so make
(01:53):
sure you guys check out all the other episodes where
we've where we've talked about women's health. But today is
no different. So the title again breaking the silence understanding
mental health. And I have a guest with me. This
is her first time on the hot seat. She's gonna
(02:15):
help me with this discussion. So let me tell you
who she is. So first off, her name is Bettina Hunt,
and let me tell you about her. So who is
Betina Hunt? So let me tell you so. Betina Hunt
is a nationally recognized mental equity advocate, nonprofit leader, and
(02:36):
financial expert based in Memphis, Tennessee. As a founder. As
a founder and president of You First Community Foundation, she
leads groundbreaking initiatives to end period poverty and empowered justice
impacted women and youth. Under her leadership, the organization launched
(02:56):
Period Advocacy Day on the Hill, help support key legislation
expanding access to menstal products in Tennessee, and establish community
based mental healths to ensure dignity and access for all.
Crowned Miss Tennessee Corporate America, Betina uses her platform to
amplify policy reform, public education, and grassroots mobilization around menstrual health.
(03:21):
With nearly thirty years in finance and a heart for service,
she blends advocacy and strategy to create lasting systemic change. Beautiful.
All right, without further ado, I'm gonna go ahead and
bring Betina to the stage. Hello, Betina, how are you
doing today?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Hey, I'm doing great. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Thank you for coming on hot topic. So this is
your first time on the Hot Seats, so let's let's
get right into it. So I brought you on to
talk about menstrual health. It's one of the things that
I was looking for guests to speak on, and you
have an interesting take. And even when I was reading
(04:08):
your bio, you were talking about period poverty. So the
few things that I wanted to bring up, but you have.
You have an interesting take on mental health. So I'm
going to pass the baton over to you and please
tell us your take on that.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Yes, so thank you again for having me. My take
on menstr health. When we think about menstr health when
not just talking about what happens during our cycles, but
we also have to understand that part of the health
is what we do or what we put in our bodies.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
So a lot of my conversation and.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Discussions is pre menstrual cycle, what are we're doing, what
are we consult zooming? Are we exercising, and those health
factors that will entail whether we have a healthy or
unhealthy cycle.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Okay, so let's get into those. Tell us about those factors.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So three things that I like to talk about. One,
making sure we're drinking our water right. Our body is
made up predominantly of water, So we have to make
sure that we're hydrated.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Right. If we're not hydrated, how are we feeling.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
We're feeling fatigued, We're feeling tired, We're feeling drained. Our
skin and our hair dries out because we're not hydrated.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Water it energizes.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It's a natural form of energizer for our bodies. Just
like plants need water in sunlight, we need water in
our bodies. The second thing is when we get and
talk about our foods.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
What food are we eating? Are we healthy eating?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Do we have a healthy lifestyle when it comes to
our nutrition, making sure that we're eating our fruits and vegetables.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I know, especially many of the.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Young people, they do not want to eat their green
vegetables or vegetables period fruits. We have to make sure
that we're eating our fruits. There are natural mineral and
vitamins that comes from our fruits and vegetables that help
aid in how our bodies form and fight off sicknesses
(06:23):
and diseases in our bodies.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And then the third thing is exercise. Many people do
not want to exercise or different it's various forms of exercises.
So one, we must understand that our body is made
of around our bones of muscle, right, and so when
we exercising, we have to make sure that we're stretching.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
That we have that we're moving.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
You know, our blood is pumping good in our hearts,
you know, getting our heart rate up a little bit,
our breathing right, that helps with our lungs being able
to consume air. Right, if we have respiratory issues. Exercises
help build that muscle so that you can.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Have a healthier life, right, have a healthier lifestyle.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Then by the time it's time for our minstral cycles,
we've already have a lifestyle or a healthy lifestyle, drinking
water in our fruits and vegetables in.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Addition to exercising.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So now when it comes times for our minstral cycles,
our bodies are already conditioned.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Right for.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Just say you have an unhealthy cycle, right, you may
have extreme menstral cramps. Right, you may have headaches, the
extreme fatigue, all those different things can be decreased, if
not eliminated, if you take care of those pre There's
(08:00):
three things that I name exercise and drinking your water
and making sure that you have a balanced diet that
will help your body right be able to combat against
what happens during our minstral cycles.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
So what so what kind of things happen when we
don't take care of our bodies? So tell us what
happens when we don't drinking off of water, don't have
a balanced diet, we don't exercise. What happens? How does
that manifest in the menstrual cycle?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Well, let me say this, so we know from not
having a healthy diet what happens. We open ourselves up
for different diseases, aches, and pains to attack our bodies.
When women or girls have our minstral cycles, our bodies
is going through a form of cleansing.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
That that's really what our minstral cycle is, as our
bodies going through a cleansing when we.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Have not.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Our eggs have not been fertilized, right, and so our
body goes through its on cleansing system. To be able
to shed wastes out of our bodies. I'm trying to
keep it cleaning.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Hot topic.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
So yeah, and so when you're not exercising, eating, you
subject yourself to having major headaches, right, you have the
fatigue where you're always tired. You have to remember that
during that time of the month that we're shedding blood, right,
(09:46):
which is iron. And so if you're not putting those nutritions,
minerals and vitals vitamins back in your body, then you're
subject to become anemic, right. And so a lot of
women suffer first from anemia, which in turns have some
of the same effects of extremely tired. Right, they don't
(10:08):
have the energy, right, and so in that in the
with losing the blood where your energy is right, your oxygen,
then that kind of decreases your effectiveness throughout the day
in your uh, in your body, right, not.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Only that you open yourself up for.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Extreme cramps right where your your muscles and so what
it is, it's a muscle here, and if you're not
exercising or stretching that muscle, then you're putting yourself You
know that that muscle is not stretched, right, So you
know if you start exercising, it's gonna be sore in
the beginning. And so now once you exercise over and
(10:54):
over again, what happens That muscle is loose, right, You're not.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
As tense when it happens.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
And so that's kind of how our cramps are, is
that when it's time for those cramps or that time
of the month, then it kind of decreases that pressure
and that tension that either in the front or in
the back. Why because our body is already adapted to
whatever is going.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
To happen in our bodies, right, and same with our eating.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
You know, another thing that I fail to mention is
even the products that we use, you know, understanding what
products that we use and how it affects our bodies.
You know, a lot of the world have allergies, right,
allergic and so you have to realize that not only
what you put in your body, you know, like different foods,
(11:48):
is what you put on your body. You know, some
people allergs to certain lotions, certain fragrance chemicals and things,
and so we have to be mindful of the products
that we use. In addition to that, uh, that affects
our bodies as well.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
You mean, like the chemicals and like the lotions and
oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
So one thing that a lot of people don't know
is a lot of the products that we buy in
stores have chemicals in it that stays in our bodies
for seven to eleven years, right, And those chemicals in
those products cause yeast infections, cause bad older fibroads, endometriosis,
and even in some women's it causes cervical cancers.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
And that's and that's one of the things that you
brought up to me is well, particularly in the case
of in the case of pads, right, So in terms
of the certain feminine products as chemicals and those products.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Tell us more about tell us more about tell us
more about the chemical and chemicals in general, rite how
it affects emential cycle, but particularly in other types of
pods or pods, tampons and type of feminine products that
we yet.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
So at first I would say in regards I don't
advocate for tampons, but when it comes to looking at
our sanitary napkins, right that we wear, again, you have
to think about that is our most sensitive area in
our body, right, that that is for a woman, that
(13:32):
is our most sensitive area. Why because it's the opening, right,
so you know there's a flow that happens.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
And with that, if you're using.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Products or a sanitary napkins that have chemicals in it,
and it's research you can google, you know, chemicals in
sanitary nap because there's all types of studies out there
on which products have what type of chemicals in But
with that, those chemicals in those sanitary napkins, and you
(14:07):
have to think about you have a sanitary napkin with
these chemicals in it, and when we wear it, it's
in a you know, a dark moise place, right, and
so what happens when you put something in a dark place,
moist place, right, and then not even knowing that some
(14:30):
of the products are made of plastic and recyclable trash.
If you don't know this, then you're constantly using these
products and you're constantly having these issues of an unhealthy.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Cycle without knowing why.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
And so that's why I advocate for really for a
rain premium sanitary nappers, and they have pantyliners that are
chemical free, toxin free, and fragrance free. But we have
to under stand that the education piece is understanding what
works for your body.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
If you're wearing a product that you're itching.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
You know, you're constantly squirming and you see, you know,
because you're uncomfortable, it's something wrong with the product.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
But we've been programmed to think that it's something wrong
with us or that's just normal. Right. No, if you're
always uncomfortable, that is not normal.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
You're not supposed to be comfortable feeling itchy all the time,
scratchy all the time, right, And so some of the
products that a lot of women and girls wear they're
allergic to that cause the discomfort. And again going back
to when they have these chemicals in it and you're
wearing it over and over and over again, those chemicals
(15:48):
get in your body, they get in your bloodstream and
you find where you're having yeast infections, Like I can't
get rid of this yeast infection.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I can't get rid of this itch.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You know what is happening, right, I'm bleeding heavy, you know,
And because maminem bled heavy, because mammonem had hard or
always had hard crimps and cycles and yeast infections. Oh,
they're just normally use this product, right, which is another chemical.
(16:24):
And now you've gotten through your five to seven days
of your cycle.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Now you have your next few days where you're like, well, okay,
I'm good and it starts over again. That is not healthy.
That is not healthy.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
So you have to look at the products that you're
using and the symptoms of what is causing your bodies, right, fibroids, endometriosis,
That is not healthy. It's a study out there that
shows that there are over six hundred thousand, maybe more
now hysterectomies a year, and about seventy four percent are
(17:00):
black and brown women.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Why is that? Why is that? Why? Why why are.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Hysterectomys so high and advocated in the black and brown community.
And so we have to have these conversations to continue
to educate so that we know and we can make
informed decisions when we're going out into stores and in
the community and when our daughters and granddaughters and nieces
(17:30):
and our friends start having kids.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
We have that information to share.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
But because cycle periods or minstrel cycles is such a taboo, it's.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Like we don't talk about that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
We're not gonna say anything about that. Oh, Jona, It's like, okay,
go ahead.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
No, it's time to be loud about it.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
So all right, So what can we so in and
in regards to sanitary napkins. Uh, you know the way
that they're making their products you were you know, with
the chemicals, and it's it's affecting our mental cycles. It's
causing all of these diseases that you were talking about
(18:13):
with well, it's leading up to those diseases like fibroids
and endometrios, endometriosis, and you know we're not aware of it,
right because all these chemicals are coming from from that.
So okay, what what what to? What can we look
for in our mental products? So should we be reading
(18:35):
labels like you know, because I'm just like, is there
such things paths without chemicals? I guess what, what's something
that we should be looking for?
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So there aren't. So so here here's an example. I
have rain Premium sanitary and napkins here. This is brand
and it is chemical pre, toxin pre and fragrance scree.
You most definitely want to make sure that you read
and look at the labels on what's in your product.
(19:08):
Sometimes you will find that some sanitary napkins will not
even have it labeled on there, right, So that's a
red flag. Why is the information of what's in my
sanitary napkin not labeled right, one case in point where
(19:28):
there is a plastic layer. Right, So I'm gonna show
you rain. Right, this is a moderate I don't know
if you can see it real good. So this this
is rain. When you're looking at your products, right, you
see there is no opening, right, there's no opening when
you open it. There is no opening here. You can't
(19:49):
even see the sanitary napkin. Well, there are some brands
that even before you open it and you look at
the flap, you see the sanitary napkin, right, Why is that.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
There?
Speaker 3 (20:02):
There's some say that they probably have chemicals in it.
Why because when you have chemicals, you have to have
a ventilation. You have to have a space and a
place where air can flow back and floor. Because what
happens with chemicals, it'll it'll knock you out, it'll combust
when you have like a can of spring with it's always.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Being a well ventilated area.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
So that's a red flag. When you open up your
sanitary napkin and you see the pad right next, even
with this rain pad, I open it up and you
can look at it like this, this this is a
rain pad. You take the plastic off, make the sound right.
(20:45):
So you see here this is a rain moderate with wings.
Here is all cotton, right, it's eight layers of protection.
But once you start breaking down your sanitary napkin, and
I know people say, I don't want to get my
pad and start tearing it apart, But if you want
to know what you're using and it's not labeled, sometimes
that is required, right, Uh, if you want to be healthy,
(21:07):
if you're having issues. So like with this here the
top layer, it is cotton, wherein other sanitary napkins's plastic.
And we all know what happens when you put plastic
in a dark, moist area, whatever's there, it's gonna produce bacteria.
It's gonna produce That's where all the issues come from.
(21:29):
That's where the odor comes from. Uh, there's no real
uh breatheability that happens. And so when we look at
like this top layer, you can see how it's tearing
that it's cotton, right, you see can't you see the
ridges on it that it's cotten.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
So that's cotton.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
This is the very top layer when you open it.
And like I said, this is a graphene material because
rain is also an antibacteria.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
And so with this strip here, let me see it
real good. It helps reduce some of the issues that
we have in our bodies. But here you.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
See, as you break it down, all of that is cotton, right,
And so when you look at your sanitary napkin, you can.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Tell if it's cotton or if it's plastic. Right.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
And we all know what a garbage bag sounds like
and look like.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
But as you see here, all of this is cotton, right.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Not only that rain is ten times more absorbed than
most other sanitary napkins, and so it can.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Hold more fluids and more liquids.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
But I want to show you something real quick when
we look at talking about this graphine strip right.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
That again, our gives off energy.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
It helps may help reduce a lot of the cramping
that you may have or eliminate it.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
What I'm gonna show you right now.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Is you know, with the toxins in our bodies, right,
our body naturally has its own toxins.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And so what I have here is a cup of water.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I'm gonna put a few drops of idying in it,
which represents toxin.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Right. Can you see that? Uh?
Speaker 3 (23:19):
It represents It represents the toxins that we have in
our bodies. And so a lot of the toxins we
put toxin on top of toxin when we're not eating
health and when we're not drinking our water, even if
our urine is looking like this, right, that we're not
really taking care of our bodies, our carrying case like
(23:40):
we should.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
And so with the rain sanitary napkin and.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
The graphene strip that's in it, it helps pull ninety
nine point nine percent of those toxins out our bodies.
And so I put it in here, and I'm just
gonna put it and stir it and you see what happens.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Oh wow, Okay.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
So it helped clears the toxins out of your bodies,
which will in case. And and everybody body is different, right,
It's not one hundred percent for everybody. Everybody body is different.
Everybody form, makeup, chemical pH balance is different. However it helps, Right,
(24:25):
Would you rather wear a product that's full of chemicals
in it that will, over a period of time right,
cause you a lot of discomfort and pain and medical issues,
or a product that keeps you comfortable and dry as
well as it helps pull toxins out of your bodies.
(24:48):
So we have to be very mindful of not only
exercising what we're eating and putting in our bodies, drinking
our water, our nutrition, but also what we're putting on
our bodies. And so that is why I advocate for rain.
That is why I introduce rain to wny many women
(25:12):
and girls and men. Why why men? Because they have daughters,
they have wives, They love and care for their family
members too. And so when you go out looking for
your products or looking at what product to use or
what path to use, you want to make sure that
you're finding ones that that are natural. Right, they have
(25:36):
natural cotton that doesn't have a lot of the other chemicals.
I don't know why it's on the tip of my tongue,
but it just escaped my brain right now. But but
you want to make sure that you really gauge your
products that fits your body, your comfort level and doesn't
cause you a lot of discomfort and pain.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
And even with that, and I don't want to say
that even with having the fibroads or endometriosis, with having
heavy cramps, headaches and pains, it is solely because of
the product that you use. But be mindful that the
product that you use could be a contributing factor in
(26:21):
the longevity of what's happening with your body doing your
minstral cycle.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Thank you for that, and thank you for the demonstration. Yeah,
it's it's something that we don't really well, one, we
don't really think about, but also I don't think we're
really aware, like as you you know, as you were
telling me about it in the in our preliminary interview.
(26:48):
It was a shock to me. And not oh like
the pods that because I'm loyal to one particular brand, right,
but just the pads that I wear. You know, there's
the chemicals are going in into the body, right, and
(27:09):
even thinking about the dark, moist place, right and especially
me like I I like I I well not my
flow has been pretty light, but it's with the sweat
and the and the moisture and you know, all that
can cause bacteria and especially people I mean may not
(27:34):
be changing their pads as frequently as they're supposed to,
right I you know, I mean my recommendation would be
like every two to three hours, but you know, they
may be leaving it on for long periods of time
and and also the type of pad, there's a lot
but all that can get into your system and all
(27:55):
that can affect your psycho but also and like you said,
in an over long period of time, can lead to
all of these uterine uh, you know, uterine diseases. So
it's just another thing like all of these chemicals that
we don't really know are getting into the are getting
(28:17):
into our bodies and actually changing our bodies. And that's
one of those things that we don't really know, yes,
and we're not really aware of.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
And again it's because historically there has only been the
brands that we've had and the brands that we've used.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
That we've become loyal to them.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
I remember growing up wearing a particular brand, and it
was the brand that my mom introduced me to. Is
the brand that she purchased for me, uh and it
is the brand that I used after I was married,
even to the point when I had my own daughter.
Not realize in that at the age of twenty three,
(29:03):
I had to have a hysterectomy because of fibroa to endometriosis,
you know, and thank god I had you know, I
was married and had my kids then, but had I
not you know, there are a lot of young ladies
who are young, who are experiencing these hardships in their bodies.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
And the alternative again is you have many.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Medical professionals that advocate first hysterectomy, you know, because.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
That was my case.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
It was I was anemic severely, and then the alternative
was a hysterectomy because I had heavy blood cycles, I
had blood clots, I had extreme cramps to I you know,
at times couldn't work, but I had to push through.
And that is what happened with a lot of us women.
(29:58):
You know, we still suffer in silence through our work day,
through our professional careers, life, work, school, being mothers, you know,
just whatever day to day, and we are suffering in
silence because we are not having these conversations. We're not
talking about what are better alternatives. Then get our bodies
(30:20):
cut on and things cut out right, and so yeah,
we we. And so now, like I said, with the rain,
we have five six variations, right, we have for the
heavy flowers. I'm so excited about these new packs. We
rebranded new packs. We have the heavy flow, we have
(30:43):
the overnight superflow for the overnight moderate that I showed earlier,
that was the path I demonstrated with and then not
only that, so I get a lot of women they said, well, hey,
I don't have cycles. You know, that's I'm past that time.
I don't do that that anymore. Well, because I had
to have a hysteric at the age of twenty three.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I don't have cycles anymore either.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
However I do where the panty liners, right, and so
we have the ultrre thing in we have the very
light with wings, which is have some absorbency, which is
like the pads, except it's for everyday use.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I love it, especially if you're traveling. And like you
talked about.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Is that you know when you change, right, And so
a lot of young girls they ask how often.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Do we change?
Speaker 3 (31:37):
You know, generally it's you know, you may say, well,
every time you go to the restroom, you know you
may need to change. But what about women who have
to sit in board meetings, office meetings, of stuck on calls.
You're traveling for many miles, many hours and you really
can't stop. Well, that's why I love rain because it
(31:59):
is super absorbent.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Right.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
And then a lot of the products, and here's an insider,
you say these hot topics.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Let me give you this hot topics.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
The products, the packages that we buy in the store
of sanitary napkins that have twenty and thirty packs in it,
that is programming us that we need to wear more
and have more because why, because of the chemicals, we
bleed more.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
It is causing us to bleed more.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
So many women have testified that you wearing rain, that
they went from seven to ten days being on their
cycles to three to five, five to seven, that it decreased.
Why because it doesn't have those chemicals in it that
really pushes our bodies to produce more blood. And then
(32:52):
one of our newer products for our ladies who love
to wear their throngs right but still want to be
comfort want to be dry, want to feel fresh, we
have the little long throng pantyliner. And so we're we're
just working to uh be me and my business partners
(33:13):
and the CEO of the company is really to educate
the women and girls about being healthy first and foremost,
but also providing a solution, right because rain is a
solution to the issues that we've had for generations, right,
(33:35):
and so we don't have to worry about being the
woman with the issue of blood.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Mm hmmm, right right, So just sorry, just to be clear,
Rain is is your it's your product.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Yes, I am, I am a business partner with rain product.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Yes, okay, all right, just for transparency, just want to
put that all right, yeah, yeah, So I guess let's okay,
so let's get into that. So then so you so
let's let's just reiterate. What does your products offer that
(34:16):
the typical product does not?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
What does it offer that other typical products. Well, it's
it's it's a healthier alternative.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Well healthier house.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
It's health being that there are no chemicals, no toxins,
no fragrance.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Uh. It is made of cotton.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
It is biodegradable on which you will not find a
lot of products out there of the sorts, you know,
because you have to think about years ago, many many
years ago. Grandmoma now great great grandmoma. No, they didn't
have the issues that we have today. Why because when
they had their cycles, what did they use?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Cotton material?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
And so rain is made out of cotton material with
eight levels of protection.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
So you focused more on the cotton cause cotton is
is more absorb more absorbent. There are there are products
that are on the shelves that are one hundred percent cotton, right,
Well they say that one hundred percent cotton. So yeah,
why why should people turn to you even though there
(35:32):
are products on the shelves right now in in in
stores like CVS and and Riteed and Walgreens that have
one hundred percent cotton.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Well, not only that, as as I showed and demonstrated
a few minutes ago with the graphine material, no other
product has the graphing material that helps pull that's antibacteria,
that helps pull toxins out of your bodies, that may
calls older to decrease or eliminate, that may help with
(36:05):
other health benefits such as reducing or eliminating cramps. Altogether,
I haven't found another product out there such other than rain.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Okay, okay, and then so and you have, and it's
clearly marked on your packages Cotton chemical free, fragrance free.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
It is you see now I have give my glasses
out because I am going to read. So it is
says for all day conference, non toxic work, wider coverage,
it keeps you dry. And this is the ultra thing.
(36:50):
And you see it has the diamond on each pack.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
No you you you specifically mentioned that that you're fragrance free.
Tell us about the importance importance of that, because I
love my pads with the scents, with the fragrance, but
you particularly advocate no fragrance. Yes, tell us about that fragrance.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
How is fragrance created with chemicals?
Speaker 3 (37:23):
You have to mix chemicals to get that sweet aroma
swell smell that we love so much.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Right, it's a chemical.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
And so again you have to think about that is
our most sensitive area of our bodies. And no matter
how good a fragrance smell to us or own us,
when you don't want to put it in your feminine
area because now you're subjecting yourself to your body reacting
(37:57):
to the chemicals that you're introducing to your.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
So you have to Yeah, so we have to be.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Mindful of There's nothing wrong, Like if I want to
put lotion fragrance on my body, my skin, I'm fine
with that. However, when it comes to my most sensitive area,
I don't want any chemicals down there. Especially again, I've
experienced the worst of the worst in menstrual psychles, right
(38:27):
to the point it led me to having to have
a hysterectomy.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
And so if there's anything that.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
Will potentially cause me any discomfort, especially.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
In that area.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
I've asked, you know, I would say no to that,
right because again, it may not have an effect right
then and there at that moment, at that point in time,
all you know is I'm feeling good and I'm smelling fresh.
But you don't understand that behind all of that feeling
(39:01):
good and smelling fresh, what is doing to your body?
And because there's an opening there, it's getting in your body,
in your system, right, and that is where the catastrophe
happens or begin to happen. Why, Because now, if there's
some something going on with your body that's lying dormant,
(39:26):
and that chemical in that product wakes it up, you
will probably not contribute it to your sanitary napkin or
your cleansers. With the fragrance in it that has awakened
something to happen in your body, right, and so we
want to.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Be mindful and careful of the fragrance.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Right right. And it's I guess and hearing you talk,
I'm like, because I have fibroids, So it's I'm kind
of like, have I been doing it to myself all
this time? You know? So it's it's like, oh, Wow, Okay,
it's just it's a sobering, you know, reality to be like, oh,
(40:17):
you know I have that? You know, have I been
doing it to myself? Have I been? It's all those chemicals.
Have I been you know kind of I don't want
to say soiling myself, but have you know? Have I
been doing this to myself?
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Right?
Speaker 1 (40:34):
All these years? And it's like where we have to.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
Think about, even with not having fibroids. Are we drinking
our water right? Are we eating our fruits and vegetables right?
Are we exercising? We know these things help you know
our day to day functions and for the longevity of
our bodies. I am no medical profer, so I can't
(41:02):
say that this is the sole reason why a woman
have fibroids or endometriosis. However, I share the information and
want to educate at potential or possibilities, opportunities.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
That are harmfer to our bodies.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
And when we have these things going on in our bodies,
we have to pay attention to what it is that
we're doing, what we're consuming, because that's what happened. When
we go to the doctor, they ask us, you know, okay,
what have you been eating?
Speaker 2 (41:34):
What have you been drinking? Why?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Because they're trying to narrow down the root cause of
whatever happens in our body.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
What is your family history? Right?
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Does fibroids or endometriosis? Is it generational?
Speaker 2 (41:49):
Right?
Speaker 3 (41:49):
Is it something on the DNA stream that is passing
down or trickling through the body. So a lot of
those things could be contributing factors as well.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
However, we want.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
To make sure that we educate on the things that
we can do to kind of, if not eliminated, most
definitely decrease it as maximum possible as we can.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Now, you.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
Said something very poignant that you don't advocate for tampons.
Can you elaborate on that?
Speaker 2 (42:33):
I can.
Speaker 3 (42:34):
When we think about tampons, and we've been talking about
the chemicalization of products that we use, we have to
think of what are tampons made out of? First, let
me back up. Our flow is meant to flow out, right.
It is not meant to.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Be corked up, stopped up right. Excuse me. It is
not meant for that. It is meant to flow out.
Speaker 3 (43:03):
And so when we use tampons, we are corking our
self up. The second thing is what tampons are made
out of. When we look at a tampon, when we
open a package and look at a tampon, the very
first thing or the.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Outer is what plastic? What is plastic made out of? Chemicals? Right?
So first we're plugging ourselves over with chemicals. And then when.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
We look at the inner part of a tampon, it
looks like cotton. Right, Our very first appearance is, oh,
that's cotton. It's gonna absorb the blood that we flow. Well,
in some research, it's synthetic material.
Speaker 2 (43:49):
It's not even real cotton.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Just like in some of the store about sanitary now
because it's recycled trash that has been bleached. And so
when we and then also I know people or may
not have heard of the toxic shock syndrome, right, And
so you put yourself in a position for a toxic
(44:14):
shock syndrome, and a lot were like, oh, well I
may not get it.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
I may, but you may. You may not.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
And there have been women who have lost their lives
because of the.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Toxic shock syndrome.
Speaker 3 (44:28):
You put yourself at fifty to fifty risks because you
don't know how it's gonna affect you, you know, and
some people say, well, how do you get toxic shock?
It varies, right, it varies based on women. They have
it in too long. And again instead of it flowing right,
we have to go back to when we have our cycles.
(44:50):
It's cleansing our bodies, right, And so when you're not
allowing it to flow out, you're keeping the bacteria and
the top in your body sitting until.
Speaker 2 (45:03):
You pull a tampon out right, And so we have
to be very mindful.
Speaker 3 (45:10):
And for those reasons, I do not advocate for tampons.
Speaker 1 (45:16):
Hm hmm, interesting, very controversial, Yeah, I I I can
understand that the you know, the you know with with pads,
you know, it's it's it's out. I mean, it's still
in the wet moist area, so it's still you still
(45:37):
have to be mindful of that, but it's at least
the blood is coming out of you and it's easy
to you know, dispose of it quickly, right, as opposed
to something being inside inside the vagina and people forget.
And I feel like with the tampons, you're more likely
(45:59):
to forget that it's in there. And especially what if
you have those you're stuck on a call, what if
you have those board meetings you know and absolutely you forget.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
Absolutely Tiffany Hat she talks about her experience with toxic
shock syndrome.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
So it is a real thing.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
And again there are women who have lost their lives
assuming that, oh, it won't.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
Be me m hm of course, yes, absolutely absolutely so
now what and it kind of kind of blends into
the words the wisdom part of the show. But I guess,
what is it that you want women to know or
(46:50):
what is it that you're trying to what are you
trying to accomplish?
Speaker 2 (46:56):
What am I trying one decrease?
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Uh, this level of hysterectomies that happens in our black
and brown community.
Speaker 2 (47:07):
Really to educate.
Speaker 3 (47:09):
The Bible tells us that people perish for the lack
of knowledge, and this is all to give knowledge, give educate, education,
to inform our people.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
And that's a lot of I hear a lot of
I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know, I
didn't know.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
And so with this here, the platform is MSS Tennessee
and through my organization, we provide information, education and access,
you know, being able to provide the information so that
you can make an informed decision.
Speaker 2 (47:46):
For you parents, guardians, you.
Speaker 3 (47:50):
Can make an informed decision for your daughters, for your nieces.
A lot of young girls start their cycles when they're
in school. I know I did. I was in school
when I started Minds. A lot of my peers started
in school. And if they don't have that person at
(48:13):
home to be able to share the information, they won't know,
which is one reason why I wrote this book as
pure power, as a guide to start the conversation, to
give some information, some quick tips to be able to
understand when I get ready to come on my cycle,
(48:33):
here are some things that I can do and be
aware of to be informed parents and teachers, educators. If
you don't know how to start that conversation, that is
what this book is.
Speaker 2 (48:49):
Period power is to be able to.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Start those conversations in a comfortable manner in format, so
our young ladies won't be so terrible to come on.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
Their minstrl cycles. There are a lot of young ladies out.
Speaker 3 (49:03):
There who are afraid, who are terrified to start their cycles,
and this is a way to be able to come
and share information, have a discussion, have conversations. That's what
we have to have more conversations around our periods. Period
is not a bad word. You know they have that period. No,
(49:25):
but we have minstral cycles that comes regularly. It doesn't
take vacation, it doesn't have sick days, it doesn't have holidays.
It comes every month like clockwork, especially if you have
a healthy cycle. And so we have to have these conversations.
We have to have these discussions, and that is what
(49:46):
I aim to do, is to continue to share the knowledge.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
Absolutely absolutely. So why that's why are girls afraid of
their menstrual cycle?
Speaker 3 (50:02):
Well, I would say just from group sessions that I've
had and the conversations that they've heard, because they haven't
talked to the young girls. The young girls are hearing
their mothers and their older sisters and other women talk
about how bad their periods are and all the issues
(50:27):
that they have with their They're not hearing anything amazing
about having a period. You know why we have periods?
What is the purpose of us having our periods? They
only hear they're only hearing the doom and gloom. Those
are the only conversations that are being had around.
Speaker 2 (50:48):
Periods.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
Well, what's amazing about being on your period?
Speaker 2 (50:55):
Periods?
Speaker 3 (50:56):
Periods is a point of puberty for young girls, just
like boys go through puberty. You know, your body is changing,
you're growing, you're forming almost as if you're coming into
your womanhood to be able to produce, right. And so
that's where all the education comes in, with sharing the
(51:19):
education and information. And so when these young girls go out,
they're not prematurely having sex, right because now because we've
had these conversations, now you know that you put yourself
in a position to become a young mom or teen mom, right.
And so now we can really combat.
Speaker 2 (51:42):
Against a lot of the statistics.
Speaker 3 (51:45):
In our community if only we share information and educate
our young girls, our young boys about what's happening with
their bodies.
Speaker 1 (51:57):
So it's not looking at it as you know, it's
the end of the world. It's awful, right, But it's
looking at it as you're coming into your womanhood. You're
entering another stage of your life. You're this is something
that a lot of women go through, and you know
(52:18):
you're part of the sisterhood now like a like a
right of looking looking at it.
Speaker 3 (52:23):
Yes, yes, absolutely absolutely, you're you're you're out of the
baby stage, right, You're you're you're you've come past the
big girl, right, So now you're going into young womanhood.
Speaker 2 (52:39):
What does that mean, what does that look like?
Speaker 3 (52:43):
That is building and growing the next generation with information
and education, That is transferring knowledge.
Speaker 1 (52:54):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (52:56):
Now as they go out now they can make better
informed decisions because they have the information and there's no
such thing as I don't know.
Speaker 2 (53:07):
You do know.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
Now you can make the best decision for you and
your future. So now that opens up a whole different
communication and relationship in how our young girls grow.
Speaker 1 (53:24):
Absolutely absolutely well. But Tina, this has been a fabulous conversation,
but I'm gonna start to wind things down. So we
already kind of went into it. But us normally on
hot topics, I like to ask my guests to give
words of wisdom. I believe you already gave your words
of wisdom, but is there any other words of wisdom
(53:47):
that you like to share with our audience.
Speaker 2 (53:51):
You know, one thing, I'll say, you only have one body.
Speaker 3 (53:55):
We're only giving one body, and it's up to us
what we do with our bodies, whether we take care
of it to build it up, or we just go
day to day and let it do what it do. Right,
And so today I want you to be mindful of
how you're taking care of you your mental health, your
(54:17):
physical health, your emotional health, your financial health.
Speaker 2 (54:22):
Right, make sure take take a look in the mirror.
Speaker 3 (54:26):
And make a decision that if you had not been
taken care of you, make a decision today that you say,
you know what, I'm going to start taking care of
me because it's no one else responsibility but yours.
Speaker 2 (54:41):
So have a great day.
Speaker 1 (54:42):
And thank you, beautiful, beautiful, thank you so much for that, Patina,
thank you for coming on Hot Topics. All right, so
let's do your promotion, all right, you guys, So Betina,
you can learn all of about her you can and
about her feminine products, it's on her website, and learn
(55:06):
about her cause as well. You go to her website.
It is you First CF dot org. So make sure
you check out her website and learn all about her,
the products, her mission, all that she's trying to accomplish. Right.
You could also follow her on Facebook and Instagram. She
has two accounts, so one is Bettina Hunt and the
(55:28):
other is you First CF. So the information is on
the screen right now, make sure you follow, make sure
you like right and and and tell your friends, tell
your friends about about her and and what you learn
today and what you heard today, and and of course
(55:49):
she was. One of her products is the Rain sanitary napkins,
So tell us tell us more about what else your
what else you're selling, Beatina.
Speaker 3 (56:03):
So you can go out on Amazon and you can
get the Period Power Informational Guide for women and girls
or use it as a teaching tool. So that is
on Amazon. The month of May is Minister Health Month.
Next week we have Period Party Awareness Week where we
(56:24):
will be talking about uh the effects causes of period
poverty and doing a donation drive for women and girls
who can't afford set sanitary napkins due to economic hardships. Again,
you can go to my website at you First cf
dot org and the information will be there to support,
(56:46):
to donate, or to just leave a kind word of encouragement.
Speaker 1 (56:51):
All right, awesome, awesome, Okay, So she also has a book,
so yeah, there's the book right there, Period Power. So
you can get it on Amazon right now, So make
sure you purchase that book. I'll also put the link
to that book in the description, so make sure you
(57:13):
guys check it out. Make it easy for you guys
to purchase the book. But make sure you guys get
that book and you know, and it's interesting you know
because I I didn't really have that conversation about periods.
It was just more like you have it, so there
(57:35):
you go figure it out. But I think now the
more conversations we have about it, and like you were saying,
telling girls that, and especially because girls are getting it
younger and younger, which could also be an affect the
chemicals that you know, it's it's a ride of passage,
(57:58):
it's you. It's a part part of a woman's life, right,
and you're entering into that stage now. So having those
conversations about it and explaining it like as as an
as an act of nature right in a woman's body.
So encouraging more conversations about periods and not demonized demonizing it,
(58:23):
which is a work of progress, work in progress for me.
And not not demonizing it but actually glorifying it in
a way and actually talking about, you know, what makes
a period right and breaking down there are unhealthy periods,
you know, irregular cycles, all these different things, and putting
(58:46):
it out there that there's all these issues in women's
health and and you know, taking care of yourself can
reduce a lot of those symptoms. So having more of
those conversations in general, but particularly with young girls. I
think it's very helpful, absolutely right, and you provide the
tools to do that. So kudos to you. So I appreciate.
(59:11):
I appreciate what you're doing for us, for US women,
especially US women of color. So thank you, thank you
for your service.
Speaker 2 (59:21):
And no, I thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (59:24):
Yeah, thank you for coming on the show. All right,
So just I'm just gonna reiterate one more time. Go
to her website. You first cf dot org the web
addresses on your screen, but it's also in the description.
And follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Just Facebook and Instagram,
you guys. It's the same account name twice, but it's
(59:46):
two separate accounts. So one is Patina Hunts that sounds
like her personal account, and you first CEF which is
her professional accounts. And make sure you follow both accounts
on both platforms. All right, So that is it, be Tina,
thank you once again for coming on Hot Topics.
Speaker 2 (01:00:06):
Thank you again. I appreciate it. I've enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (01:00:10):
All right. I will let you go now, Okay, all right,
you guys, So that is it. We have reached the
conclusion of yet another episode of Hot Topics. This is
definitely well informed. Again, this is what we like to
(01:00:30):
do here on Hot Topics. So we want you to
be better than how you were yesterday. We want you
to leave empowered, We want you to leave more informed,
more able to make decisions about your life as well
as the life of your loved ones. So this is
what we like to do here, right, and today was
(01:00:52):
one of those times. So thank you for joining me
on this episode. All right, So, of course, let me
take this moment to remind you of where Hot Topics
comes from. So Hot Topics is a production of my
own tutoring company, A step ahead tutoring services. So if
(01:01:16):
you are looking for any type of one on one
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or Nassau County Long Island area, we provide in home
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(01:01:36):
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So if you're looking for any type of tutoring services,
(01:01:57):
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(01:02:19):
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(01:02:42):
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(01:03:04):
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(01:03:53):
So make sure you pay attention to those differences. But
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let me just take this moment to remind you to
leave a comment in the comment section or in the
(01:04:13):
common thread. I want to know your feedback. What did
you think of today's episode? Did you like it, did
you love it? Do you have any questions? Maybe there's
something that we miss today. Maybe you want to share
your own period story or you know, fibrid story or
mental cycle story or whatever it is. I encourage you
(01:04:34):
just take five minutes every time, drop a comment in
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(01:04:54):
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(01:05:16):
want to say three words, three to five words minimum.
But giving you a social media secret there. But yeah,
so let us know your feedback about today's episode. Take
five minutes, you guys, and drop a comments, drop a
note if you're listening out a podcast, drop a rating,
but definitely give us your feedback about today's episode. I
(01:05:42):
will appreciate it. So thank you guys. All right, well
that is it's we have reached the ending of yet
another episode. Thank you again for joining me on Hot Topics.
I look forward to you joining me on the next episode.
Thank you guys, and now I am signing off. Bye.
Well, hello, hello everyone. Okay, it's your girl, Gabrielle. Welcome
to a brand new episode of Hot Topics. So let
me tell you what this show is about. So, this
(00:45):
is a show where we like to have real talk
about real things you guys. However, we like to stay
within a particular scope as we are a part part
of a step ahead tutoring services, so we like to
stay with it an educational landscape, so to speak. So
(01:09):
we like to educate, we want well, we want to
educate you, but we want you to be more informed.
We want you to get more knowledge, we want you
to leave better than how you were yesterday. So that's
how we like to do things on Hot Topics. So
let me tell you how we're going to do that today.
So today we're gonna start off with a topic as
(01:30):
I always do. I love my topics and I have
my guests, So let me tell you what the topic
is for today. So today's topic is breaking the silence
understanding mental health. So this is not the first time
that I've discussed menstal health women's health issues, so make
(01:53):
sure you guys check out all the other episodes where
we've where we've talked about women's health. But today is
no different. So the title again breaking the silence understanding
mental health. And I have a guest with me. This
is her first time on the hot seat. She's gonna
(02:15):
help me with this discussion. So let me tell you
who she is. So first off, her name is Bettina Hunt,
and let me tell you about her. So who is
Betina Hunt? So let me tell you so. Betina Hunt
is a nationally recognized mental equity advocate, nonprofit leader, and
(02:36):
financial expert based in Memphis, Tennessee. As a founder. As
a founder and president of You First Community Foundation, she
leads groundbreaking initiatives to end period poverty and empowered justice
impacted women and youth. Under her leadership, the organization launched
(02:56):
Period Advocacy Day on the Hill, help support key legislation
expanding access to menstal products in Tennessee, and establish community
based mental healths to ensure dignity and access for all.
Crowned Miss Tennessee Corporate America, Betina uses her platform to
amplify policy reform, public education, and grassroots mobilization around menstrual health.
(03:21):
With nearly thirty years in finance and a heart for service,
she blends advocacy and strategy to create lasting systemic change. Beautiful.
All right, without further ado, I'm gonna go ahead and
bring Betina to the stage. Hello, Betina, how are you
doing today?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Hey, I'm doing great. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Thank you for coming on hot topic. So this is
your first time on the Hot Seats, so let's let's
get right into it. So I brought you on to
talk about menstrual health. It's one of the things that
I was looking for guests to speak on, and you
have an interesting take. And even when I was reading
(04:08):
your bio, you were talking about period poverty. So the
few things that I wanted to bring up, but you have.
You have an interesting take on mental health. So I'm
going to pass the baton over to you and please
tell us your take on that.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Yes, so thank you again for having me. My take
on menstr health. When we think about menstr health when
not just talking about what happens during our cycles, but
we also have to understand that part of the health
is what we do or what we put in our bodies.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
So a lot of my conversation and.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Discussions is pre menstrual cycle, what are we're doing, what
are we consult zooming? Are we exercising, and those health
factors that will entail whether we have a healthy or
unhealthy cycle.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Okay, so let's get into those. Tell us about those factors.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So three things that I like to talk about. One,
making sure we're drinking our water right. Our body is
made up predominantly of water, So we have to make
sure that we're hydrated.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Right. If we're not hydrated, how are we feeling.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
We're feeling fatigued, We're feeling tired, We're feeling drained. Our
skin and our hair dries out because we're not hydrated.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Water it energizes.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It's a natural form of energizer for our bodies. Just
like plants need water in sunlight, we need water in
our bodies. The second thing is when we get and
talk about our foods.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
What food are we eating? Are we healthy eating?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Do we have a healthy lifestyle when it comes to
our nutrition, making sure that we're eating our fruits and vegetables.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I know, especially many of the.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Young people, they do not want to eat their green
vegetables or vegetables period fruits. We have to make sure
that we're eating our fruits. There are natural mineral and
vitamins that comes from our fruits and vegetables that help
aid in how our bodies form and fight off sicknesses
(06:23):
and diseases in our bodies.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And then the third thing is exercise. Many people do
not want to exercise or different it's various forms of exercises.
So one, we must understand that our body is made
of around our bones of muscle, right, and so when
we exercising, we have to make sure that we're stretching.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
That we have that we're moving.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
You know, our blood is pumping good in our hearts,
you know, getting our heart rate up a little bit,
our breathing right, that helps with our lungs being able
to consume air. Right, if we have respiratory issues. Exercises
help build that muscle so that you can.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Have a healthier life, right, have a healthier lifestyle.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Then by the time it's time for our minstral cycles,
we've already have a lifestyle or a healthy lifestyle, drinking
water in our fruits and vegetables in.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Addition to exercising.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So now when it comes times for our minstral cycles,
our bodies are already conditioned.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Right for.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Just say you have an unhealthy cycle, right, you may
have extreme menstral cramps. Right, you may have headaches, the
extreme fatigue, all those different things can be decreased, if
not eliminated, if you take care of those pre There's
(08:00):
three things that I name exercise and drinking your water
and making sure that you have a balanced diet that
will help your body right be able to combat against
what happens during our minstral cycles.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
So what so what kind of things happen when we
don't take care of our bodies? So tell us what
happens when we don't drinking off of water, don't have
a balanced diet, we don't exercise. What happens? How does
that manifest in the menstrual cycle?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Well, let me say this, so we know from not
having a healthy diet what happens. We open ourselves up
for different diseases, aches, and pains to attack our bodies.
When women or girls have our minstral cycles, our bodies
is going through a form of cleansing.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
That that's really what our minstral cycle is, as our
bodies going through a cleansing when we.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Have not.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Our eggs have not been fertilized, right, and so our
body goes through its on cleansing system. To be able
to shed wastes out of our bodies. I'm trying to
keep it cleaning.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Hot topic.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
So yeah, and so when you're not exercising, eating, you
subject yourself to having major headaches, right, you have the
fatigue where you're always tired. You have to remember that
during that time of the month that we're shedding blood, right,
(09:46):
which is iron. And so if you're not putting those nutritions,
minerals and vitals vitamins back in your body, then you're
subject to become anemic, right. And so a lot of
women suffer first from anemia, which in turns have some
of the same effects of extremely tired. Right, they don't
(10:08):
have the energy, right, and so in that in the
with losing the blood where your energy is right, your oxygen,
then that kind of decreases your effectiveness throughout the day
in your uh, in your body, right, not.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Only that you open yourself up for.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Extreme cramps right where your your muscles and so what
it is, it's a muscle here, and if you're not
exercising or stretching that muscle, then you're putting yourself You
know that that muscle is not stretched, right, So you
know if you start exercising, it's gonna be sore in
the beginning. And so now once you exercise over and
(10:54):
over again, what happens That muscle is loose, right, You're not.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
As tense when it happens.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
And so that's kind of how our cramps are, is
that when it's time for those cramps or that time
of the month, then it kind of decreases that pressure
and that tension that either in the front or in
the back. Why because our body is already adapted to
whatever is going.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
To happen in our bodies, right, and same with our eating.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
You know, another thing that I fail to mention is
even the products that we use, you know, understanding what
products that we use and how it affects our bodies.
You know, a lot of the world have allergies, right,
allergic and so you have to realize that not only
what you put in your body, you know, like different foods,
(11:48):
is what you put on your body. You know, some
people allergs to certain lotions, certain fragrance chemicals and things,
and so we have to be mindful of the products
that we use. In addition to that, uh, that affects
our bodies as well.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
You mean, like the chemicals and like the lotions and
oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
So one thing that a lot of people don't know
is a lot of the products that we buy in
stores have chemicals in it that stays in our bodies
for seven to eleven years, right, And those chemicals in
those products cause yeast infections, cause bad older fibroads, endometriosis,
and even in some women's it causes cervical cancers.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
And that's and that's one of the things that you
brought up to me is well, particularly in the case
of in the case of pads, right, So in terms
of the certain feminine products as chemicals and those products.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Tell us more about tell us more about tell us
more about the chemical and chemicals in general, rite how
it affects emential cycle, but particularly in other types of
pods or pods, tampons and type of feminine products that
we yet.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
So at first I would say in regards I don't
advocate for tampons, but when it comes to looking at
our sanitary napkins, right that we wear, again, you have
to think about that is our most sensitive area in
our body, right, that that is for a woman, that
(13:32):
is our most sensitive area. Why because it's the opening, right,
so you know there's a flow that happens.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
And with that, if you're using.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Products or a sanitary napkins that have chemicals in it,
and it's research you can google, you know, chemicals in
sanitary nap because there's all types of studies out there
on which products have what type of chemicals in But
with that, those chemicals in those sanitary napkins, and you
(14:07):
have to think about you have a sanitary napkin with
these chemicals in it, and when we wear it, it's
in a you know, a dark moise place, right, and
so what happens when you put something in a dark place,
moist place, right, and then not even knowing that some
(14:30):
of the products are made of plastic and recyclable trash.
If you don't know this, then you're constantly using these
products and you're constantly having these issues of an unhealthy.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Cycle without knowing why.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
And so that's why I advocate for really for a
rain premium sanitary nappers, and they have pantyliners that are
chemical free, toxin free, and fragrance free. But we have
to under stand that the education piece is understanding what
works for your body.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
If you're wearing a product that you're itching.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
You know, you're constantly squirming and you see, you know,
because you're uncomfortable, it's something wrong with the product.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
But we've been programmed to think that it's something wrong
with us or that's just normal. Right. No, if you're
always uncomfortable, that is not normal.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
You're not supposed to be comfortable feeling itchy all the time,
scratchy all the time, right, And so some of the
products that a lot of women and girls wear they're
allergic to that cause the discomfort. And again going back
to when they have these chemicals in it and you're
wearing it over and over and over again, those chemicals
(15:48):
get in your body, they get in your bloodstream and
you find where you're having yeast infections, Like I can't
get rid of this yeast infection.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I can't get rid of this itch.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You know what is happening, right, I'm bleeding heavy, you know,
And because maminem bled heavy, because mammonem had hard or
always had hard crimps and cycles and yeast infections. Oh,
they're just normally use this product, right, which is another chemical.
(16:24):
And now you've gotten through your five to seven days
of your cycle.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Now you have your next few days where you're like, well, okay,
I'm good and it starts over again. That is not healthy.
That is not healthy.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
So you have to look at the products that you're
using and the symptoms of what is causing your bodies, right, fibroids, endometriosis,
That is not healthy. It's a study out there that
shows that there are over six hundred thousand, maybe more
now hysterectomies a year, and about seventy four percent are
(17:00):
black and brown women.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Why is that? Why is that? Why? Why why are.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Hysterectomys so high and advocated in the black and brown community.
And so we have to have these conversations to continue
to educate so that we know and we can make
informed decisions when we're going out into stores and in
the community and when our daughters and granddaughters and nieces
(17:30):
and our friends start having kids.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
We have that information to share.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
But because cycle periods or minstrel cycles is such a taboo, it's.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Like we don't talk about that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
We're not gonna say anything about that. Oh, Jona, It's like, okay,
go ahead.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
No, it's time to be loud about it.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
So all right, So what can we so in and
in regards to sanitary napkins. Uh, you know the way
that they're making their products you were you know, with
the chemicals, and it's it's affecting our mental cycles. It's
causing all of these diseases that you were talking about
(18:13):
with well, it's leading up to those diseases like fibroids
and endometrios, endometriosis, and you know we're not aware of it,
right because all these chemicals are coming from from that.
So okay, what what what to? What can we look
for in our mental products? So should we be reading
(18:35):
labels like you know, because I'm just like, is there
such things paths without chemicals? I guess what, what's something
that we should be looking for?
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So there aren't. So so here here's an example. I
have rain Premium sanitary and napkins here. This is brand
and it is chemical pre, toxin pre and fragrance scree.
You most definitely want to make sure that you read
and look at the labels on what's in your product.
(19:08):
Sometimes you will find that some sanitary napkins will not
even have it labeled on there, right, So that's a
red flag. Why is the information of what's in my
sanitary napkin not labeled right, one case in point where
(19:28):
there is a plastic layer. Right, So I'm gonna show
you rain. Right, this is a moderate I don't know
if you can see it real good. So this this
is rain. When you're looking at your products, right, you
see there is no opening, right, there's no opening when
you open it. There is no opening here. You can't
(19:49):
even see the sanitary napkin. Well, there are some brands
that even before you open it and you look at
the flap, you see the sanitary napkin, right, Why is that.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
There?
Speaker 3 (20:02):
There's some say that they probably have chemicals in it.
Why because when you have chemicals, you have to have
a ventilation. You have to have a space and a
place where air can flow back and floor. Because what
happens with chemicals, it'll it'll knock you out, it'll combust
when you have like a can of spring with it's always.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Being a well ventilated area.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
So that's a red flag. When you open up your
sanitary napkin and you see the pad right next, even
with this rain pad, I open it up and you
can look at it like this, this this is a
rain pad. You take the plastic off, make the sound right.
(20:45):
So you see here this is a rain moderate with wings.
Here is all cotton, right, it's eight layers of protection.
But once you start breaking down your sanitary napkin, and
I know people say, I don't want to get my
pad and start tearing it apart, But if you want
to know what you're using and it's not labeled, sometimes
that is required, right, Uh, if you want to be healthy,
(21:07):
if you're having issues. So like with this here the
top layer, it is cotton, wherein other sanitary napkins's plastic.
And we all know what happens when you put plastic
in a dark, moist area, whatever's there, it's gonna produce bacteria.
It's gonna produce That's where all the issues come from.
(21:29):
That's where the odor comes from. Uh, there's no real
uh breatheability that happens. And so when we look at
like this top layer, you can see how it's tearing
that it's cotton, right, you see can't you see the
ridges on it that it's cotten.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
So that's cotton.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
This is the very top layer when you open it.
And like I said, this is a graphene material because
rain is also an antibacteria.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
And so with this strip here, let me see it
real good. It helps reduce some of the issues that
we have in our bodies. But here you.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
See, as you break it down, all of that is cotton, right,
And so when you look at your sanitary napkin, you can.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Tell if it's cotton or if it's plastic. Right.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
And we all know what a garbage bag sounds like
and look like.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
But as you see here, all of this is cotton, right.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Not only that rain is ten times more absorbed than
most other sanitary napkins, and so it can.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Hold more fluids and more liquids.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
But I want to show you something real quick when
we look at talking about this graphine strip right.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
That again, our gives off energy.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
It helps may help reduce a lot of the cramping
that you may have or eliminate it.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
What I'm gonna show you right now.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Is you know, with the toxins in our bodies, right,
our body naturally has its own toxins.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And so what I have here is a cup of water.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I'm gonna put a few drops of idying in it,
which represents toxin.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Right. Can you see that? Uh?
Speaker 3 (23:19):
It represents It represents the toxins that we have in
our bodies. And so a lot of the toxins we
put toxin on top of toxin when we're not eating
health and when we're not drinking our water, even if
our urine is looking like this, right, that we're not
really taking care of our bodies, our carrying case like
(23:40):
we should.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
And so with the rain sanitary napkin and.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
The graphene strip that's in it, it helps pull ninety
nine point nine percent of those toxins out our bodies.
And so I put it in here, and I'm just
gonna put it and stir it and you see what happens.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Oh wow, Okay.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
So it helped clears the toxins out of your bodies,
which will in case. And and everybody body is different, right,
It's not one hundred percent for everybody. Everybody body is different.
Everybody form, makeup, chemical pH balance is different. However it helps, Right,
(24:25):
Would you rather wear a product that's full of chemicals
in it that will, over a period of time right,
cause you a lot of discomfort and pain and medical issues,
or a product that keeps you comfortable and dry as
well as it helps pull toxins out of your bodies.
(24:48):
So we have to be very mindful of not only
exercising what we're eating and putting in our bodies, drinking
our water, our nutrition, but also what we're putting on
our bodies. And so that is why I advocate for rain.
That is why I introduce rain to wny many women
(25:12):
and girls and men. Why why men? Because they have daughters,
they have wives, They love and care for their family
members too. And so when you go out looking for
your products or looking at what product to use or
what path to use, you want to make sure that
you're finding ones that that are natural. Right, they have
(25:36):
natural cotton that doesn't have a lot of the other chemicals.
I don't know why it's on the tip of my tongue,
but it just escaped my brain right now. But but
you want to make sure that you really gauge your
products that fits your body, your comfort level and doesn't
cause you a lot of discomfort and pain.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
And even with that, and I don't want to say
that even with having the fibroads or endometriosis, with having
heavy cramps, headaches and pains, it is solely because of
the product that you use. But be mindful that the
product that you use could be a contributing factor in
(26:21):
the longevity of what's happening with your body doing your
minstral cycle.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Thank you for that, and thank you for the demonstration. Yeah,
it's it's something that we don't really well, one, we
don't really think about, but also I don't think we're
really aware, like as you you know, as you were
telling me about it in the in our preliminary interview.
(26:48):
It was a shock to me. And not oh like
the pods that because I'm loyal to one particular brand, right,
but just the pads that I wear. You know, there's
the chemicals are going in into the body, right, and
(27:09):
even thinking about the dark, moist place, right and especially
me like I I like I I well not my
flow has been pretty light, but it's with the sweat
and the and the moisture and you know, all that
can cause bacteria and especially people I mean may not
(27:34):
be changing their pads as frequently as they're supposed to,
right I you know, I mean my recommendation would be
like every two to three hours, but you know, they
may be leaving it on for long periods of time
and and also the type of pad, there's a lot
but all that can get into your system and all
(27:55):
that can affect your psycho but also and like you said,
in an over long period of time, can lead to
all of these uterine uh, you know, uterine diseases. So
it's just another thing like all of these chemicals that
we don't really know are getting into the are getting
(28:17):
into our bodies and actually changing our bodies. And that's
one of those things that we don't really know, yes,
and we're not really aware of.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
And again it's because historically there has only been the
brands that we've had and the brands that we've used.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
That we've become loyal to them.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
I remember growing up wearing a particular brand, and it
was the brand that my mom introduced me to. Is
the brand that she purchased for me, uh and it
is the brand that I used after I was married,
even to the point when I had my own daughter.
Not realize in that at the age of twenty three,
(29:03):
I had to have a hysterectomy because of fibroa to endometriosis,
you know, and thank god I had you know, I
was married and had my kids then, but had I
not you know, there are a lot of young ladies
who are young, who are experiencing these hardships in their bodies.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
And the alternative again is you have many.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Medical professionals that advocate first hysterectomy, you know, because.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
That was my case.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
It was I was anemic severely, and then the alternative
was a hysterectomy because I had heavy blood cycles, I
had blood clots, I had extreme cramps to I you know,
at times couldn't work, but I had to push through.
And that is what happened with a lot of us women.
(29:58):
You know, we still suffer in silence through our work day,
through our professional careers, life, work, school, being mothers, you know,
just whatever day to day, and we are suffering in
silence because we are not having these conversations. We're not
talking about what are better alternatives. Then get our bodies
(30:20):
cut on and things cut out right, and so yeah,
we we. And so now, like I said, with the rain,
we have five six variations, right, we have for the
heavy flowers. I'm so excited about these new packs. We
rebranded new packs. We have the heavy flow, we have
(30:43):
the overnight superflow for the overnight moderate that I showed earlier,
that was the path I demonstrated with and then not
only that, so I get a lot of women they said, well, hey,
I don't have cycles. You know, that's I'm past that time.
I don't do that that anymore. Well, because I had
to have a hysteric at the age of twenty three.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
I don't have cycles anymore either.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
However I do where the panty liners, right, and so
we have the ultrre thing in we have the very
light with wings, which is have some absorbency, which is
like the pads, except it's for everyday use.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I love it, especially if you're traveling. And like you
talked about.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Is that you know when you change, right, And so
a lot of young girls they ask how often.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Do we change?
Speaker 3 (31:37):
You know, generally it's you know, you may say, well,
every time you go to the restroom, you know you
may need to change. But what about women who have
to sit in board meetings, office meetings, of stuck on calls.
You're traveling for many miles, many hours and you really
can't stop. Well, that's why I love rain because it
(31:59):
is super absorbent.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Right.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
And then a lot of the products, and here's an insider,
you say these hot topics.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Let me give you this hot topics.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
The products, the packages that we buy in the store
of sanitary napkins that have twenty and thirty packs in it,
that is programming us that we need to wear more
and have more because why, because of the chemicals, we
bleed more.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
It is causing us to bleed more.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
So many women have testified that you wearing rain, that
they went from seven to ten days being on their
cycles to three to five, five to seven, that it decreased.
Why because it doesn't have those chemicals in it that
really pushes our bodies to produce more blood. And then
(32:52):
one of our newer products for our ladies who love
to wear their throngs right but still want to be
comfort want to be dry, want to feel fresh, we
have the little long throng pantyliner. And so we're we're
just working to uh be me and my business partners
(33:13):
and the CEO of the company is really to educate
the women and girls about being healthy first and foremost,
but also providing a solution, right because rain is a
solution to the issues that we've had for generations, right,
(33:35):
and so we don't have to worry about being the
woman with the issue of blood.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Mm hmmm, right right, So just sorry, just to be clear,
Rain is is your it's your product.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Yes, I am, I am a business partner with rain product.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Yes, okay, all right, just for transparency, just want to
put that all right, yeah, yeah, So I guess let's okay,
so let's get into that. So then so you so
let's let's just reiterate. What does your products offer that
(34:16):
the typical product does not?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
What does it offer that other typical products. Well, it's
it's it's a healthier alternative.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Well healthier house.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
It's health being that there are no chemicals, no toxins,
no fragrance.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Uh. It is made of cotton.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
It is biodegradable on which you will not find a
lot of products out there of the sorts, you know,
because you have to think about years ago, many many
years ago. Grandmoma now great great grandmoma. No, they didn't
have the issues that we have today. Why because when
they had their cycles, what did they use?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Cotton material?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
And so rain is made out of cotton material with
eight levels of protection.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
So you focused more on the cotton cause cotton is
is more absorb more absorbent. There are there are products
that are on the shelves that are one hundred percent cotton, right,
Well they say that one hundred percent cotton. So yeah,
why why should people turn to you even though there
(35:32):
are products on the shelves right now in in in
stores like CVS and and Riteed and Walgreens that have
one hundred percent cotton.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Well, not only that, as as I showed and demonstrated
a few minutes ago with the graphine material, no other
product has the graphing material that helps pull that's antibacteria,
that helps pull toxins out of your bodies, that may
calls older to decrease or eliminate, that may help with
(36:05):
other health benefits such as reducing or eliminating cramps. Altogether,
I haven't found another product out there such other than rain.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Okay, okay, and then so and you have, and it's
clearly marked on your packages Cotton chemical free, fragrance free.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
It is you see now I have give my glasses
out because I am going to read. So it is
says for all day conference, non toxic work, wider coverage,
it keeps you dry. And this is the ultra thing.
(36:50):
And you see it has the diamond on each pack.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
No you you you specifically mentioned that that you're fragrance free.
Tell us about the importance importance of that, because I
love my pads with the scents, with the fragrance, but
you particularly advocate no fragrance. Yes, tell us about that fragrance.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
How is fragrance created with chemicals?
Speaker 3 (37:23):
You have to mix chemicals to get that sweet aroma
swell smell that we love so much.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Right, it's a chemical.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
And so again you have to think about that is
our most sensitive area of our bodies. And no matter
how good a fragrance smell to us or own us,
when you don't want to put it in your feminine
area because now you're subjecting yourself to your body reacting
(37:57):
to the chemicals that you're introducing to your.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
So you have to Yeah, so we have to be.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Mindful of There's nothing wrong, Like if I want to
put lotion fragrance on my body, my skin, I'm fine
with that. However, when it comes to my most sensitive area,
I don't want any chemicals down there. Especially again, I've
experienced the worst of the worst in menstrual psychles, right
(38:27):
to the point it led me to having to have
a hysterectomy.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
And so if there's anything that.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
Will potentially cause me any discomfort, especially.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
In that area.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
I've asked, you know, I would say no to that,
right because again, it may not have an effect right
then and there at that moment, at that point in time,
all you know is I'm feeling good and I'm smelling fresh.
But you don't understand that behind all of that feeling
(39:01):
good and smelling fresh, what is doing to your body?
And because there's an opening there, it's getting in your body,
in your system, right, and that is where the catastrophe
happens or begin to happen. Why, Because now, if there's
some something going on with your body that's lying dormant,
(39:26):
and that chemical in that product wakes it up, you
will probably not contribute it to your sanitary napkin or
your cleansers. With the fragrance in it that has awakened
something to happen in your body, right, and so we
want to.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Be mindful and careful of the fragrance.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Right right. And it's I guess and hearing you talk,
I'm like, because I have fibroids, So it's I'm kind
of like, have I been doing it to myself all
this time? You know? So it's it's like, oh, Wow, Okay,
it's just it's a sobering, you know, reality to be like, oh,
(40:17):
you know I have that? You know, have I been
doing it to myself? Have I been? It's all those chemicals.
Have I been you know kind of I don't want
to say soiling myself, but have you know? Have I
been doing this to myself?
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Right?
Speaker 1 (40:34):
All these years? And it's like where we have to.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
Think about, even with not having fibroids. Are we drinking
our water right? Are we eating our fruits and vegetables right?
Are we exercising? We know these things help you know
our day to day functions and for the longevity of
our bodies. I am no medical profer, so I can't
(41:02):
say that this is the sole reason why a woman
have fibroids or endometriosis. However, I share the information and
want to educate at potential or possibilities, opportunities.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
That are harmfer to our bodies.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
And when we have these things going on in our bodies,
we have to pay attention to what it is that
we're doing, what we're consuming, because that's what happened. When
we go to the doctor, they ask us, you know, okay,
what have you been eating?
Speaker 2 (41:34):
What have you been drinking? Why?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Because they're trying to narrow down the root cause of
whatever happens in our body.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
What is your family history? Right?
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Does fibroids or endometriosis? Is it generational?
Speaker 2 (41:49):
Right?
Speaker 3 (41:49):
Is it something on the DNA stream that is passing
down or trickling through the body. So a lot of
those things could be contributing factors as well.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
However, we want.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
To make sure that we educate on the things that
we can do to kind of, if not eliminated, most
definitely decrease it as maximum possible as we can.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Now, you.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
Said something very poignant that you don't advocate for tampons.
Can you elaborate on that?
Speaker 2 (42:33):
I can.
Speaker 3 (42:34):
When we think about tampons, and we've been talking about
the chemicalization of products that we use, we have to
think of what are tampons made out of? First, let
me back up. Our flow is meant to flow out, right.
It is not meant to.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
Be corked up, stopped up right. Excuse me. It is
not meant for that. It is meant to flow out.
Speaker 3 (43:03):
And so when we use tampons, we are corking our
self up. The second thing is what tampons are made
out of. When we look at a tampon, when we
open a package and look at a tampon, the very
first thing or the.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Outer is what plastic? What is plastic made out of? Chemicals? Right?
So first we're plugging ourselves over with chemicals. And then when.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
We look at the inner part of a tampon, it
looks like cotton. Right, Our very first appearance is, oh,
that's cotton. It's gonna absorb the blood that we flow. Well,
in some research, it's synthetic material.
Speaker 2 (43:49):
It's not even real cotton.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Just like in some of the store about sanitary now
because it's recycled trash that has been bleached. And so
when we and then also I know people or may
not have heard of the toxic shock syndrome, right, And
so you put yourself in a position for a toxic
(44:14):
shock syndrome, and a lot were like, oh, well I
may not get it.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
I may, but you may. You may not.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
And there have been women who have lost their lives
because of the.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Toxic shock syndrome.
Speaker 3 (44:28):
You put yourself at fifty to fifty risks because you
don't know how it's gonna affect you, you know, and
some people say, well, how do you get toxic shock?
It varies, right, it varies based on women. They have
it in too long. And again instead of it flowing right,
we have to go back to when we have our cycles.
(44:50):
It's cleansing our bodies, right, And so when you're not
allowing it to flow out, you're keeping the bacteria and
the top in your body sitting until.
Speaker 2 (45:03):
You pull a tampon out right, And so we have
to be very mindful.
Speaker 3 (45:10):
And for those reasons, I do not advocate for tampons.
Speaker 1 (45:16):
Hm hmm, interesting, very controversial, Yeah, I I I can
understand that the you know, the you know with with pads,
you know, it's it's it's out. I mean, it's still
in the wet moist area, so it's still you still
(45:37):
have to be mindful of that, but it's at least
the blood is coming out of you and it's easy
to you know, dispose of it quickly, right, as opposed
to something being inside inside the vagina and people forget.
And I feel like with the tampons, you're more likely
(45:59):
to forget that it's in there. And especially what if
you have those you're stuck on a call, what if
you have those board meetings you know and absolutely you forget.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
Absolutely Tiffany Hat she talks about her experience with toxic
shock syndrome.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
So it is a real thing.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
And again there are women who have lost their lives
assuming that, oh, it won't.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
Be me m hm of course, yes, absolutely absolutely so
now what and it kind of kind of blends into
the words the wisdom part of the show. But I guess,
what is it that you want women to know or
(46:50):
what is it that you're trying to what are you
trying to accomplish?
Speaker 2 (46:56):
What am I trying one decrease?
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Uh, this level of hysterectomies that happens in our black
and brown community.
Speaker 2 (47:07):
Really to educate.
Speaker 3 (47:09):
The Bible tells us that people perish for the lack
of knowledge, and this is all to give knowledge, give educate, education,
to inform our people.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
And that's a lot of I hear a lot of
I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know, I
didn't know.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
And so with this here, the platform is MSS Tennessee
and through my organization, we provide information, education and access,
you know, being able to provide the information so that
you can make an informed decision.
Speaker 2 (47:46):
For you parents, guardians, you.
Speaker 3 (47:50):
Can make an informed decision for your daughters, for your nieces.
A lot of young girls start their cycles when they're
in school. I know I did. I was in school
when I started Minds. A lot of my peers started
in school. And if they don't have that person at
(48:13):
home to be able to share the information, they won't know,
which is one reason why I wrote this book as
pure power, as a guide to start the conversation, to
give some information, some quick tips to be able to
understand when I get ready to come on my cycle,
(48:33):
here are some things that I can do and be
aware of to be informed parents and teachers, educators. If
you don't know how to start that conversation, that is
what this book is.
Speaker 2 (48:49):
Period power is to be able to.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Start those conversations in a comfortable manner in format, so
our young ladies won't be so terrible to come on.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
Their minstrl cycles. There are a lot of young ladies out.
Speaker 3 (49:03):
There who are afraid, who are terrified to start their cycles,
and this is a way to be able to come
and share information, have a discussion, have conversations. That's what
we have to have more conversations around our periods. Period
is not a bad word. You know they have that period. No,
(49:25):
but we have minstral cycles that comes regularly. It doesn't
take vacation, it doesn't have sick days, it doesn't have holidays.
It comes every month like clockwork, especially if you have
a healthy cycle. And so we have to have these conversations.
We have to have these discussions, and that is what
(49:46):
I aim to do, is to continue to share the knowledge.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
Absolutely absolutely. So why that's why are girls afraid of
their menstrual cycle?
Speaker 3 (50:02):
Well, I would say just from group sessions that I've
had and the conversations that they've heard, because they haven't
talked to the young girls. The young girls are hearing
their mothers and their older sisters and other women talk
about how bad their periods are and all the issues
(50:27):
that they have with their They're not hearing anything amazing
about having a period. You know why we have periods?
What is the purpose of us having our periods? They
only hear they're only hearing the doom and gloom. Those
are the only conversations that are being had around.
Speaker 2 (50:48):
Periods.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
Well, what's amazing about being on your period?
Speaker 2 (50:55):
Periods?
Speaker 3 (50:56):
Periods is a point of puberty for young girls, just
like boys go through puberty. You know, your body is changing,
you're growing, you're forming almost as if you're coming into
your womanhood to be able to produce, right. And so
that's where all the education comes in, with sharing the
(51:19):
education and information. And so when these young girls go out,
they're not prematurely having sex, right because now because we've
had these conversations, now you know that you put yourself
in a position to become a young mom or teen mom, right.
And so now we can really combat.
Speaker 2 (51:42):
Against a lot of the statistics.
Speaker 3 (51:45):
In our community if only we share information and educate
our young girls, our young boys about what's happening with
their bodies.
Speaker 1 (51:57):
So it's not looking at it as you know, it's
the end of the world. It's awful, right, But it's
looking at it as you're coming into your womanhood. You're
entering another stage of your life. You're this is something
that a lot of women go through, and you know
(52:18):
you're part of the sisterhood now like a like a
right of looking looking at it.
Speaker 3 (52:23):
Yes, yes, absolutely absolutely, you're you're you're out of the
baby stage, right, You're you're you're you've come past the
big girl, right, So now you're going into young womanhood.
Speaker 2 (52:39):
What does that mean, what does that look like?
Speaker 3 (52:43):
That is building and growing the next generation with information
and education, That is transferring knowledge.
Speaker 1 (52:54):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (52:56):
Now as they go out now they can make better
informed decisions because they have the information and there's no
such thing as I don't know.
Speaker 2 (53:07):
You do know.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
Now you can make the best decision for you and
your future. So now that opens up a whole different
communication and relationship in how our young girls grow.
Speaker 1 (53:24):
Absolutely absolutely well. But Tina, this has been a fabulous conversation,
but I'm gonna start to wind things down. So we
already kind of went into it. But us normally on
hot topics, I like to ask my guests to give
words of wisdom. I believe you already gave your words
of wisdom, but is there any other words of wisdom
(53:47):
that you like to share with our audience.
Speaker 2 (53:51):
You know, one thing, I'll say, you only have one body.
Speaker 3 (53:55):
We're only giving one body, and it's up to us
what we do with our bodies, whether we take care
of it to build it up, or we just go
day to day and let it do what it do. Right,
And so today I want you to be mindful of
how you're taking care of you your mental health, your
(54:17):
physical health, your emotional health, your financial health.
Speaker 2 (54:22):
Right, make sure take take a look in the mirror.
Speaker 3 (54:26):
And make a decision that if you had not been
taken care of you, make a decision today that you say,
you know what, I'm going to start taking care of
me because it's no one else responsibility but yours.
Speaker 2 (54:41):
So have a great day.
Speaker 1 (54:42):
And thank you, beautiful, beautiful, thank you so much for that, Patina,
thank you for coming on Hot Topics. All right, so
let's do your promotion, all right, you guys, So Betina,
you can learn all of about her you can and
about her feminine products, it's on her website, and learn
(55:06):
about her cause as well. You go to her website.
It is you First CF dot org. So make sure
you check out her website and learn all about her,
the products, her mission, all that she's trying to accomplish. Right.
You could also follow her on Facebook and Instagram. She
has two accounts, so one is Bettina Hunt and the
(55:28):
other is you First CF. So the information is on
the screen right now, make sure you follow, make sure
you like right and and and tell your friends, tell
your friends about about her and and what you learn
today and what you heard today, and and of course
(55:49):
she was. One of her products is the Rain sanitary napkins,
So tell us tell us more about what else your
what else you're selling, Beatina.
Speaker 3 (56:03):
So you can go out on Amazon and you can
get the Period Power Informational Guide for women and girls
or use it as a teaching tool. So that is
on Amazon. The month of May is Minister Health Month.
Next week we have Period Party Awareness Week where we
(56:24):
will be talking about uh the effects causes of period
poverty and doing a donation drive for women and girls
who can't afford set sanitary napkins due to economic hardships. Again,
you can go to my website at you First cf
dot org and the information will be there to support,
(56:46):
to donate, or to just leave a kind word of encouragement.
Speaker 1 (56:51):
All right, awesome, awesome, Okay, So she also has a book,
so yeah, there's the book right there, Period Power. So
you can get it on Amazon right now, So make
sure you purchase that book. I'll also put the link
to that book in the description, so make sure you
(57:13):
guys check it out. Make it easy for you guys
to purchase the book. But make sure you guys get
that book and you know, and it's interesting you know
because I I didn't really have that conversation about periods.
It was just more like you have it, so there
(57:35):
you go figure it out. But I think now the
more conversations we have about it, and like you were saying,
telling girls that, and especially because girls are getting it
younger and younger, which could also be an affect the
chemicals that you know, it's it's a ride of passage,
(57:58):
it's you. It's a part part of a woman's life, right,
and you're entering into that stage now. So having those
conversations about it and explaining it like as as an
as an act of nature right in a woman's body.
So encouraging more conversations about periods and not demonized demonizing it,
(58:23):
which is a work of progress, work in progress for me.
And not not demonizing it but actually glorifying it in
a way and actually talking about, you know, what makes
a period right and breaking down there are unhealthy periods,
you know, irregular cycles, all these different things, and putting
(58:46):
it out there that there's all these issues in women's
health and and you know, taking care of yourself can
reduce a lot of those symptoms. So having more of
those conversations in general, but particularly with young girls. I
think it's very helpful, absolutely right, and you provide the
tools to do that. So kudos to you. So I appreciate.
(59:11):
I appreciate what you're doing for us, for US women,
especially US women of color. So thank you, thank you
for your service.
Speaker 2 (59:21):
And no, I thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (59:24):
Yeah, thank you for coming on the show. All right,
So just I'm just gonna reiterate one more time. Go
to her website. You first cf dot org the web
addresses on your screen, but it's also in the description.
And follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Just Facebook and Instagram,
you guys. It's the same account name twice, but it's
(59:46):
two separate accounts. So one is Patina Hunts that sounds
like her personal account, and you first CEF which is
her professional accounts. And make sure you follow both accounts
on both platforms. All right, So that is it, be Tina,
thank you once again for coming on Hot Topics.
Speaker 2 (01:00:06):
Thank you again. I appreciate it. I've enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (01:00:10):
All right. I will let you go now, Okay, all right,
you guys, So that is it. We have reached the
conclusion of yet another episode of Hot Topics. This is
definitely well informed. Again, this is what we like to
(01:00:30):
do here on Hot Topics. So we want you to
be better than how you were yesterday. We want you
to leave empowered, We want you to leave more informed,
more able to make decisions about your life as well
as the life of your loved ones. So this is
what we like to do here, right, and today was
(01:00:52):
one of those times. So thank you for joining me
on this episode. All right, So, of course, let me
take this moment to remind you of where Hot Topics
comes from. So Hot Topics is a production of my
own tutoring company, A step ahead tutoring services. So if
(01:01:16):
you are looking for any type of one on one
tutoring service, if you are in the New York City
or Nassau County Long Island area, we provide in home
tutoring services. If you are outside of those areas, we
(01:01:36):
do virtual services. So whether are or we do virtual
across the United States, really, but particularly New York City
and Nasau County. We do in person tutoring services, but
we do virtual services across the country, across the US.
So if you're looking for any type of tutoring services,
(01:01:57):
one on one help, homework assistance, maybe your child just
needs encouragement and getting things done. They're falling behind, you know,
whatever help of the project you want them to move
on to the next level, whatever that is. Let out
tutors help. You can learn about us on our website
(01:02:19):
www dot A Step Ahead Tutoring Services dot com. We
also do college counseling, We do test prep. We also
have a variety of virtual workshops that we offer annually.
All of that stuff you can learn more about on
our website once again, www dot A Step Ahead Tutoring
(01:02:42):
Services dot com. I also encourage you to follow us
on social media. We are in a lot of different places.
You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, x, TikTok,
event Bright. You can follow us on all of those things,
so make sure or you do that. The information is
(01:03:04):
below at the bottom of the screen, but it is
also in the description. So you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,
and YouTube all with the name Step Ahead Tutoring Services.
You can follow us on x and TikTok with the
name ASATs two zero one three, event Bright, and WhatsApp
(01:03:27):
is our name spelled out a Step Ahead Tutoring Services,
So make sure you follow us on all of those platforms.
I also encourage you, excuse me, I also encourage you
to follow me personally. Gabrielle Critchlow. You can follow me
on Facebook and Instagram. It is my name with the period,
so Gabrielle dot Critchlow, but LinkedIn is Gabrielle hyphen Critchlow.
(01:03:53):
So make sure you pay attention to those differences. But
follow me on those platforms as well, so you can
follow my company and you could follow me personally. I
encourage you to do that, all right, and before I run,
let me just take this moment to remind you to
leave a comment in the comment section or in the
(01:04:13):
common thread. I want to know your feedback. What did
you think of today's episode? Did you like it, did
you love it? Do you have any questions? Maybe there's
something that we miss today. Maybe you want to share
your own period story or you know, fibrid story or
mental cycle story or whatever it is. I encourage you
(01:04:34):
just take five minutes every time, drop a comment in
the comment section, in the common thread, take a moment
and leave a rating. So however, you are taking in
the sound of my voice, whether it's on a podcast
or whether it's on video. Take five minutes, you guys,
(01:04:54):
and leave a comment below. It helps the algorithm, so
it feeds the robots that are in social media. So
the more you comment, the more our episode circulates on
social media. So don't just, you know, drop an emoji,
but actually leave some words. I think a minimum. I
(01:05:16):
want to say three words, three to five words minimum.
But giving you a social media secret there. But yeah,
so let us know your feedback about today's episode. Take
five minutes, you guys, and drop a comments, drop a
note if you're listening out a podcast, drop a rating,
but definitely give us your feedback about today's episode. I
(01:05:42):
will appreciate it. So thank you guys. All right, well
that is it's we have reached the ending of yet
another episode. Thank you again for joining me on Hot Topics.
I look forward to you joining me on the next episode.
Thank you guys, and now I am signing off. Bye.
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