Polly Rodriguez - Breaking Taboos: Empowering Women in the Sexual Wellness Industry

About the Guest(s):

Polly Rodriguez is the co-founder and CEO of Unbound, a groundbreaking sexual wellness company that focuses on the design and manufacturing of vibrators, lubricants, and accessories. An advocate for women’s health and empowerment, Rodriguez’s entry into the sexual wellness industry was fueled by her personal experience of being diagnosed with cancer in college and facing early menopause. Following stints in governmental policy work with Senator Claire McCaskill and consulting at Deloitte, her journey led her to the startup realm with Grouper before spearheading her own venture. Under her direction, Unbound has committed to removing stigma and delivering quality products while championing female sexual health and education.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of Story in a Bottle, host Dan Maccarone sits down with a driving force in the tech, media, and entertainment industry—Polly Rodriguez, the co-founder of Unbound. Over an old fashioned, Polly shares her journey from a cancer diagnosis to the realization of sexual health needs and the inception of her own company. The conversation dives into the nuances of healthcare policy, Polly’s role in shaping a dating startup, and how her experiences led her to focus on transforming the sex toy industry.

Polly discusses the challenges and triumphs of leading a sexual wellness company. She brings to light the stark disparities between the offerings of the sex toy industry and the actual needs of women. The episode not only explores Polly’s professional endeavors but also brings forth her personal challenges, her battles with cancer, and her introspections into the ever-evolving landscape of sexual identity and health.

Key Takeaways:

•      Polly Rodriguez’s journey from battling cancer at 21 to founding Unbound is a testament to her resilience and commitment to women’s sexual health.

•      Despite the challenges and stigma, Unbound has made significant strides in mainstreaming sexual wellness.

•      The episode highlights the complexity of advertising sexual wellness products and the role technology plays in sexual education.

•      There’s an emphasis on the impact of societal discomfort with sex, sex education, and how businesses navigate these limitations.

•      Polly’s experience with Grouper, her insights into the dating industry’s algorithms, and her passion for customer experience stand out significantly.

Notable Quotes:

•      “Unbound is a sexual wellness company. We design and manufacture over 30 vibrators, lubricants and accessories.” - Polly Rodriguez

•      “It’s been kind of difficult to navigate to figure out that customer is a lot more price sensitive and generally, I think, less brand motivated.” - Polly Rodriguez

•      “Every time I fall in love, anecdotally, it’s like when I’m not really looking for it. I’m really happy as a person, and I think that was our philosophy, and that’s why I loved so much of what Grouper was.” - Polly Rodriguez

•      “less than 2% return rate. And if you’re not happy with your product, if it breaks, if you don’t like it, if anything happens, email us, no questions asked returns, we will refund you your money.” - Polly Rodriguez

Resources:

Tune in to the full episode for a deeper dive into Polly Rodriguez’s inspiring story. Discover more about how personal challenges can pave the way for innovative solutions in unexpected industries, and don’t miss out on other enlightening content from the series.