We need to talk about periods more. That’s the message from Isobel Marshall, Co-Founder of social enterprise Taboo, which she started when she was in high school with her best friend Eloise Hall. Taboo creates organic cotton pads and tampons with 100 per cent of net profits going towards fighting period poverty – an issue that affects menstruators worldwide.

You might not think it, but period poverty is also an issue that hits close to home. A recent South Australian report revealed that one in four young people struggle to get period products. Reasons include the cost, feeling shame and a lack of knowledge about what they need. 

In this episode, Isobel, who was named 2021’s Young Australian of the Year and is also a medical student, chats to Women's Health Managing Editor Alex Davies from her apartment’s balcony in Adelaide – sorry about the birds you can hear in the background – about the wide-ranging impact of period poverty and why it’s important we shatter period stigma. And if you’re curious about how she started a social enterprise so young, she also goes into that story too.

SHOW NOTES:

Find Isobel on Instagram @izzygmarshall and check out Taboo online and via Instagram @tabooperiodproducts 

Read Isobel's article on Women's Health: ‘Young Australian of The Year, Isobel Marshall, Wants To Talks About Periods’ – Women’s Health Australia 

Here's the recent South Australian report: ‘Menstruation Matters — The impact of menstruation on wellbeing, participation and school attendance’ – Connolly, H. Commissioner for Children and Young People, South Australia (2020) 

Find out more about Endometriosis on Jean Hailes 

Listen to our chat with TV star and author Erin Barnett on living with endometriosis 

CREDITS: 

This podcast was hosted by WH managing editor Alex Davies and produced by WH editor-in-chief Lizza Gebilagin

For more from Women’s Health Australia, find us on Instagram, visit our website or find the print and digital editions of the magazine.

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