S1E8: The Red Light That Changed Everything: Colette Courtion on Menopause, Innovation & Being Seen

In this bold and refreshingly honest episode, Brenda sits down with Colette Courtion, founder and CEO of JoyLux, to explore what it takes to disrupt taboos, challenge investor discomfort, and redefine the boundaries of women’s health.What began as a personal struggle with childbirth recovery and perimenopause turned into a lightbulb moment...literally. Colette shares the story behind inventing a first-of-its-kind red light therapy device for vaginal health, and the uphill battle to bring it into the world. Together, they unpack the cultural silence around pelvic health, the emotional toll of pushing through investor bias, and what it meant to hear Halle Berry and Oprah speak her name.This episode is a rallying cry for anyone building in taboo territory and a love letter to the women who’ve quietly endured, innovated, and changed everything.We dive into: ✔️ The moment red light therapy met vaginal health and why it was long overdue ✔️ What it’s like to say “vagina” in a pitch room and watch investors turn crimson ✔️ How celebrity validation can feel like collective healing ✔️ Why handwritten letters from customers matter more than VC applause ✔️ The unshakable mission behind JoyLux and the team that’s stayed since day one ✔️ A powerful reframing: menopause isn’t niche. It’s half the population.Timeline:00:00 Breaking Taboos in Women's Health04:13 The Aha Moment: Innovating for Women's Wellness06:55 The Underfunding of Women's Health Research09:14 The Rise of FemTech and Women Entrepreneurs11:54 Challenges in Fundraising for Women's Health16:35 Shifts in Investment Perspectives on Menopause21:39 The Impact of Celebrity Advocacy on Women's Health27:40 Reflections on Success and Future Aspirations28:38 The Journey of JoyLux: From Vision to Reality35:52 Navigating Challenges: The Reality of Small Business44:13 Building a Community: The Importance of Consumer Feedback53:52 Future Aspirations: Aiming for a Happy Ending55:04 Shifting the Narrative: Women's Health is Not a Niche56:56 Empowering Women's Health Innovations57:26 Building a Supportive Community for Change57:37 SPONSORED BYConnect with our guestsWebsite: https://joylux.com LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colettecourtion/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/joyluxinc/posts/?feedView=all Insta: https://www.instagram.com/joyluxinc/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/joyluxTIK-TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@joyluxincYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7xKBTqTE95Cbpx33ZJ2y_wPINTEREST: https://za.pinterest.com/joyluxofficial/ X: https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fjoyluxinc RedefineHER Podcast CreditsHost: Brenda Armstrong - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaarmstrong1/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Producer: Tarryn Long - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarrynlong/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsor: ITEOM Talent Partners search and placement experts | connecting purpose -driven organizations with top-tier talent to create thriving, impactful & diverse teams.More Details on RedefinHER Podcast:www.redefineherpodcast.comThanks for following and see you on our next episode!