The Bodacious Optimist

Claire Coder is the founder and CEO of Aunt Flow. Founded in 2016 when Claire was just 18, Aunt Flow supplies free-vend dispensers and 100% organic cotton menstrual products to businesses and schools to ensure that everyone has access to healthy, sustainable menstrual products wherever they are. Aunt Flow has implemented free period products in thousands of bathrooms and donated millions of tampons and pads. In this interview, Claire and Sascha talk about creating new business categories, “Flow Bros” and “Fairy Pod Fathers,” and what it feels like to be the Betty Crocker of menstruation.

Mentioned:
Stadiums that stock Aunt Flow
Menstrual Equity Legislation

content warning: swearing, 31:20-32:20

Raena Boston is the leader of the Working Momtras online community and a cofounder of the national nonprofit organization Chamber of Mothers. With a monthly reach of over 4 million, Chamber of Mothers champions the work of existing advocacy groups; educates mothers about the personal impact of politics; and encourages women to use their voices, dollars, and power to hold lawmakers accountable for the nexus of failed or nonexistent support systems for mothers. In this episode Raena talks to Sascha about the intersection of advocacy and parenthood, the need for care infrastructure in America, the power of storytelling, and what she is bodaciously optimistic about as a mother of three young children.

Raena Boston is a mother of three, seasoned HR professional, and a writer. She is also the co-founder of the national nonprofit organization, the Chamber of Mothers.

In 2020, Raena established The Working Momtras, an online community aimed at empowering mothers to break free from the pressures of motherhood and let go of the expectation to do it all. Within this community, she leads discussions on vital topics such as parental leave, childcare, and the challenges of working parenthood.
Raena is a prominent thought leader in the realm of working motherhood, paid leave, and childcare. Her insights have been featured on platforms such as Good Morning America, PBS Newshour, and Yahoo Life.

Mentioned:
The Chamber of Mothers

The Working Momtras

The Mamattorney, Daphney Delvaux

For The Bodacious Optimist’s inaugural podcast, coproducer Nicci Micco talks with the show’s host and Mamava cofounder Sascha Mayer about her path to making pods (both this show, and the lactation pods she invented). The episode focuses on how Sascha and cofounder Christine Dodson incubated the concept of freestanding lactation pods (the birth of Mamava) at the design studio where they worked, the power of design and brand to influence culture, and the challenges of creating an entirely new category and business from the ground up.

Sascha is a recognized expert on lactation space design, family-friendly workplace policies, and social entrepreneurial leadership.  Her career in design started at JDK (now Solidarity of Unbridled Labour) where as Strategy Director, Sascha designed and facilitated multidisciplinary creative collaborative sessions with brands including HP, Levi’s, Lululemon, Nike Women, and Seventh Generation. Prior to joining Solidarity, Sascha served as assistant press secretary for former Congressman (now Senator) Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Nicci Micco, Mamava’s Chief Marketing Officer, began her career as a magazine journalist and content creator, producing multi-platform health and lifestyle content for brands including EatingWell, SELF, Cooking Light, Men’s Health, and Glamour—and later working with health and wellness experts to architect lifestyle programs that help people live healthier, happier lives. Nicci is also a mom of two sporty teenagers and a yoga teacher.

Mentioned:
Michael Jager creative director of Solidarity of Unbridled Labour

Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution  by Cat Bohannon

Mamava presents The Bodacious Optimist, hosted by Sascha Mayer. 

Episode 1 launches April 17, 2024.