In this episode, host Jacqueline Buckingham sits down with Val Emanuel, the visionary founder and CEO of Rif Care. Rif Care—which stands for Regenerative International Female—brings you hemp-based menstrual care products that are healthy, sustainable, and responsible. Together, Jacqueline and Val explore the health and environmental benefits of making the switch to hemp, share hilarious and empowering period stories, and strip away the period shame that so many women face. From the shocking synthetic chemicals hidden in typical high school period products to the fact that menstrual products were never historically tested with real blood, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the corporate history of period products and highlights how Riff Care is truly making the planet better. IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER: ➡️ What RIF Stands For: The powerful meaning behind the name—Regenerative International Female—and how the brand embraces physical, planetary, and emotional regeneration. ➡️ The Mission to Regenerate the Planet: How growing hemp actively replenishes the soil with nutrients and diversity, ensuring that creating the product actually leaves the earth better off rather than just sustainable. ➡️ Riff Care's Explosive Trajectory: Launching exclusively with Erewhon in June 2022 to test the consumer appetite, expanding across West Coast retailers like Gelson's, New Seasons, Market of Choice, and Lazy Acres, and securing a spot on Target.com. ➡️ Val's Personal Health Journey: The perfect storm of relationship stress, physical displacement from the Malibu fire, a miscarriage, and severe hormonal imbalances that prompted Val to rid her life of synthetic, chemical-sprayed products and create the solution she needed. ➡️ The Problem with Synthetic Menstrual Products: A breakdown of how typical oil-based polyester and polyurethane components in mainstream brands are essentially cottonized plastic byproducts of gasoline production that trap heat and bacteria. ➡️ Demystifying Tampon Design and Shedding: How Rif Care's organic cotton tampons utilize unique ridges to trap blood more effectively and feature a protective, non-woven outer layer to prevent fiber shedding, which can minimize risks of BV, UTIs, or yeast infections. ➡️ A "Free to Bleed" Period Underwear Experience: Val explains the breathable, leak-proof design of Rif Care's period underwear—crafted with hemp, organic cotton, eucalyptus fiber, and a recycled polyester barrier—that completely removes the stress of stains and daytime sheet washing. ➡️ The Shocking History of Menstrual Product Testing: The deeply unsettling reality that until recently, tampons and pads were historically tested using only salt water rather than real human blood. RESOURCES: rifcare.com https://valemanuel.com/ ABOUT MENO MENO is the definitive platform for menopause and perimenopause care — connecting women to trusted experts, solutions, and support. https://joinmeno.com/ https://www.instagram.com/join.meno https://www.tiktok.com/@join.meno Follow our Founder/CEO on Instagram @jacquelinebuckingham Disclaimer: MENO is for general information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine in any way. MENO does not constitute professional health care services or medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed as a result of this podcast. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of MENO is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard getting medical advice for any such medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any conditions.
