Summary: I first broadcast this podcast with Madeleine Shaw of Lunapads about a year ago. I love Madeleine, and I love what she’s doing, so while I’m off enjoying some sunshine, I’m sharing this with you again. Enjoy! In 2010, Strocel.com was selected as one of Vancouver Mom’s 30 Ultimate Vancouver Mom Blogs, which was immensely flattering. Vancouver Mom threw a party to celebrate, but I wasn’t able to make it because Jacob was still at the stage where he refused to fall asleep without me. But once you’re named you’re invited to the party every year, so in 2011 the invitation came into my inbox again. And when I saw that the amazing Madeleine Shaw would be attending, I knew I had to go, if only to meet her. Madeleine is one of the mamas behind Lunapads, a Vancouver-based company that manufactures and sells reusable cloth menstrual pads. Together with her business partner, Suzanne Siemens, she’s helped to spread the message about eco-positive periods for over 10 years. I myself have used Lunapads since 2006, when I bought my first few pads from Suzanne at a local craft fair. But I’d never met Madeleine, and I just had this sense that she would be great to talk to, so I accosted her at the Vancouver Mom event and took her card. Madeleine and I talked about how she got her start as an entrepreneur, and how Lunapads has grown and evolved. We talked about the hows and whys of reusable cloth menstrual pads, and how she got started using them herself. We discussed the Pads4Girls initiative, and chatted about what it’s like to attend a traditional business event and explain to a guy in a suit that you make cloth pads for a living. It was a really fabulous conversation, and I think I could have talked to Madeleine for hours. I hope you’ll take the time to listen to it yourself here: After our chat Madeleine sent me a pair of Lunapanties to try out. I got the hipster style, and I had a chance to use them during my last period (because, yes, I menstruate). I really love them, I must say, and I’m sort of sad that I have only one pair. They really are super comfortable, which I particularly appreciate when I’m having my period. Sometimes we just all need a little TLC, you know? Speaking of TLC, for next week I’m planning to spice things up by sharing an interview with Shanna Katz. We’ll be talking about feminism, sexuality, body positivity and more. Subscribe to my podcast in iTunes, and you’ll be sure not to miss a thing!
