How do you build a period care brand that’s unapologetically bold, digitally native, and actually different? On this week’s episode of Hot Takes, Big Stakes, Lana Elie sits down with Nadya Okamoto—activist, author, and co-founder of August—to unpack exactly how she turned a mission into a movement (and a movement into a business).

With over 6 million followers and major shelf space in Target and Whole Foods, Nadya’s story is anything but ordinary. From launching a nonprofit at 16 to raising a $2M pre-seed and turning period stigma into cultural currency, this is an inside look at what it really takes to build a brand that breaks taboos—and the internet.

Chapters:

00:00:05 Intro to Nadya Okamoto
00:06:05 How Being Bold Helped Grow Nadya and August’s Social
00:10:35 Balancing Being an Operating Founder and Creating Content
00:16:45 Getting Into Retail and Partnering with Big Names in Retail
00:19:45 The Difference In Shopping Experience Between Direct To Consumer and Retail
00:24:00 5 Years Into The Business and The Next Steps
00:27:55 Mental Health, Taking Care of Yourself, and The Value of Sleep
00:35:50 Hot Takes
00:44:20 Conclusion

Whether you’re building a brand, scaling a mission, or just learning to say “period” out loud, this one is unmissable.

More on Nadya Okamoto:
Instagram: @nadyaokamoto
August: itsaugust.co

More on Natalie Holloway:

• Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalieholloway/
• “Bala” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bala/
• “Balacize” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balacize/
• Substack, “Working Out in Heels”: natalieholloway.substack.com
• Book a 1-on-1 Call: https://intro.co/NatalieHolloway

More on Lana Elie-Meyers:

• Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanaelie/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lana-elie-875b383a/