Madeleine Shaw (she/her) is a feminist entrepreneur and writer based on unceded Coast Salish territory (Vancouver, BC). She is best known as the co-founder of Aisle (formerly Lunapads), one of the first groundbreaking ventures in the world to commercialize reusable menstrual products. In her first book, The Greater Good: Social Entrepreneurship for Everyday People Who Want to Change the World, she offers encouraging tips and reflections for aspiring impact-based entrepreneurs. She is passionate about creatively deploying the tools of business in service of social change, drawing inspiration from natural growth patterns as ways to build regenerative organizations, and neo-sobriety culture and discourse.
Madeleine is incredibly creative, compassionate, and curious. She truly embodies what it means to be a lifelong learner. You will be inspired by Madeleine and her commitment to social entrepreneurship and her initiatives to support everyday people who want to change the world. 
 
Listen in as we talk about:

What is sustainable menstrual equity? Madeleine breaks down what this is exactly, and why it’s so important when it comes to social change.
Why does this conversation matter right now? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need menstrual products and don’t have access to them? Madeleine shares how triggering this can be and why we need to address it.
Why Madeleine wrote her book. We get a behind-the-scenes look at why Madeleine wrote her book, and the impact it’s making globally. 

 
Connect with Madeleine:

Websites:https://periodaisle.cahttps://madeleineshaw.ca/
LinkedIn: Madeleine Shaw 
Instagram:

@greatergoodbook 
@periodaisle


Medium: https://medium.com/@madeleineshawgreatergood

 
Shared by Madeleine:

Satya Organic: https://satya.ca
Book: Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown 

 
Connect with Tiana:

Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech 
Facebook: @tianafech 
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course 

 
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE MENSTRUAL EQUITY
Menstrual equity is a concept coined by Jennifer Weiss-Wolf in 2015 that advocates for the fair and equitable distribution of menstrual products, education, and information to those who need them. As we know, the menstrual cycle is a fundamental part of human reproduction, yet it is often stigmatized and shamed within our society. As Madeleine explains, menstrual equity aims to provide support and dignity for those who experience periods and require products, privacy, medication, education, and information. 
It encompasses both material and mindset changes. Materially, it looks like free provision of menstrual products in public bathrooms. Mentally, it involves de-stigmatization and education. Sustainable menstrual equity considers the environment and long-term viability, aiming for a permanent, universal solution that is not disposable and doesn't contribute to landfill waste. Madeleine also shares that disposables like pads and tampons take up to 500 years to biodegrade and are made of up to 90% plastic – an unbelievable statistic. 
Menstrual equity is a crucial concept that values and supports a core feature of human biology. By providing fair and equitable access to menstrual products, education, and information to all parties involved, we can help to destigmatize periods, support those who need it, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS RIGHT NOW
To date, menstruation has yet to be normalized, despite efforts to improve the stigma. As Madeleine explains, legislation, such as that of the BC government, and countries like Scotland are beginning to declare menstrual products as necessary and should be made available for free to all citizens. 
Also, universities in Canada have started providing reusable menstrual products for free to their students. As we discuss,

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