Science, Skepticism, and the Future of Supplements with Katerina Schneider, Ritual

#30. When Katerina Schneider became pregnant with her first daughter, she began questioning something millions of people take for granted: How do we know what is actually inside the supplements we take every day—and whether they are safe and effective?This week, Kate sits down with Katerina, founder and CEO of Ritual, the science-backed wellness brand known for its traceable ingredients, clinical research, and commitment to transparency. She shares how she built Ritual despite investors dismissing women’s health as niche.In this conversation, Katerina discusses building Ritual for the “healthy skeptic,” expanding from direct-to-consumer into retail, investing in women-centered clinical research, and advocating for stronger supplement regulations. She also reflects on leading the company through different stages of growth, learning to make herself irrelevant as a CEO, and what is next for Ritual and the future of women’s health. In this episode, we discuss:How Katerina’s first pregnancy inspired RitualBuilding Ritual despite women’s health being dismissed as “niche”Creating a supplement brand for the “healthy skeptic”Expanding Ritual from direct-to-consumer into major retailersWhy Ritual’s first hire was a scientistThe lack of women-centered clinical researchAdvocating for greater transparency and supplement regulationLeading Ritual through growth, profitability, and scaleWhy changing your routines can change your resultsKaterina’s advice to “make yourself irrelevant”