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May 20, 2021 · 24m · how-i-built-this

Meet The HIBT Fellows: Kaitlin McGreyes & Nicole Argüelles

Kaitlin McGreyes · 9m spoken Nicole Argüelles · 6m spoken Guy Raz · 6m spoken Y-Vonne Hutchinson · 52s spoken Sadie Lincoln · 15s spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

In this special Fellows edition of How I Built This, Guy Raz interviews entrepreneurs Kaitlin McGreyes of Be Her Village and Nicole Argüelles of ALI about their mission-driven startups reforming postpartum maternal care and public menstrual product accessibility.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Guy holds 27.9% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Guy as informed peer 2.6 Guest teaching 2.0 Guest disagreement 0.3 Guy pushing back 0.7
05100:0010:0020:002:57–5:47 · Guy as informed peer 2/10 Personal Postpartum Struggles and Maternal Care Inequity Guy relates to the early parenting experience through his own family background and prompts Kaitlin to share the origin of Be Her Village. Kaitlin details the acute postpartum care gap in the US compared to countries with lower maternal mortality rates.5:48–8:40 · Guy as informed peer 4/10 Business Model and Building the Birth Worker Network Guy presses on monetization, comparing the concept to a TaskRabbit directory for birth workers. Kaitlin clarifies their freemium approach and highlights a community-first pivot inspired by the fellowship.8:41–10:44 · Guy as informed peer 4/10 Team Assembly and Coexistence with Traditional Registries Guy references major registry platforms like Zola and The Knot to question whether parents still inevitably need physical items alongside support services. Kaitlin acknowledges room for traditional gear registries while defending the distinct space for Be Her Village.10:45–14:08 · Guy as informed peer 2/10 Fellowship Insights on Culture, Leadership, and Diversity Guy asks about fellowship workshops, introducing excerpts from Sadie Lincoln and Y-Vonne Hutchinson. Kaitlin reflects honestly on overcoming personal pattern matching to diversify her leadership team.14:09–18:17 · Guy as informed peer 2/10 Grant Utilization Strategy and Mid-Episode Break Guy transitions between segments by inquiring how Kaitlin would deploy the prize grant before introducing Nicole Argüelles and ALI. Nicole breaks down the prevalence of period poverty and the lack of innovation in public restroom dispensers.18:18–21:25 · Guy as informed peer 2/10 Designing and Manufacturing the Smart ALI Dispenser Guy probes how two non-engineers managed to design and manufacture functional hardware dispensers. Nicole explains market research, consumer trials, and supplier partner selection.21:25–22:58 · Guy as informed peer 2/10 Nationwide Expansion and Normalizing Restroom Placement Guy queries venue placement and whether machines will stay strictly inside restrooms. Nicole explains the strategic choice to keep them inside restrooms to eliminate stigma and barriers to access.2:57–5:47 · Guest teaching 3/10 Personal Postpartum Struggles and Maternal Care Inequity Guy relates to the early parenting experience through his own family background and prompts Kaitlin to share the origin of Be Her Village. Kaitlin details the acute postpartum care gap in the US compared to countries with lower maternal mortality rates.5:48–8:40 · Guest teaching 2/10 Business Model and Building the Birth Worker Network Guy presses on monetization, comparing the concept to a TaskRabbit directory for birth workers. Kaitlin clarifies their freemium approach and highlights a community-first pivot inspired by the fellowship.8:41–10:44 · Guest teaching 1/10 Team Assembly and Coexistence with Traditional Registries Guy references major registry platforms like Zola and The Knot to question whether parents still inevitably need physical items alongside support services. Kaitlin acknowledges room for traditional gear registries while defending the distinct space for Be Her Village.10:45–14:08 · Guest teaching 2/10 Fellowship Insights on Culture, Leadership, and Diversity Guy asks about fellowship workshops, introducing excerpts from Sadie Lincoln and Y-Vonne Hutchinson. Kaitlin reflects honestly on overcoming personal pattern matching to diversify her leadership team.14:09–18:17 · Guest teaching 2/10 Grant Utilization Strategy and Mid-Episode Break Guy transitions between segments by inquiring how Kaitlin would deploy the prize grant before introducing Nicole Argüelles and ALI. Nicole breaks down the prevalence of period poverty and the lack of innovation in public restroom dispensers.18:18–21:25 · Guest teaching 2/10 Designing and Manufacturing the Smart ALI Dispenser Guy probes how two non-engineers managed to design and manufacture functional hardware dispensers. Nicole explains market research, consumer trials, and supplier partner selection.21:25–22:58 · Guest teaching 2/10 Nationwide Expansion and Normalizing Restroom Placement Guy queries venue placement and whether machines will stay strictly inside restrooms. Nicole explains the strategic choice to keep them inside restrooms to eliminate stigma and barriers to access.2:57–5:47 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Personal Postpartum Struggles and Maternal Care Inequity Guy relates to the early parenting experience through his own family background and prompts Kaitlin to share the origin of Be Her Village. Kaitlin details the acute postpartum care gap in the US compared to countries with lower maternal mortality rates.5:48–8:40 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Business Model and Building the Birth Worker Network Guy presses on monetization, comparing the concept to a TaskRabbit directory for birth workers. Kaitlin clarifies their freemium approach and highlights a community-first pivot inspired by the fellowship.8:41–10:44 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Team Assembly and Coexistence with Traditional Registries Guy references major registry platforms like Zola and The Knot to question whether parents still inevitably need physical items alongside support services. Kaitlin acknowledges room for traditional gear registries while defending the distinct space for Be Her Village.10:45–14:08 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Fellowship Insights on Culture, Leadership, and Diversity Guy asks about fellowship workshops, introducing excerpts from Sadie Lincoln and Y-Vonne Hutchinson. Kaitlin reflects honestly on overcoming personal pattern matching to diversify her leadership team.14:09–18:17 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Grant Utilization Strategy and Mid-Episode Break Guy transitions between segments by inquiring how Kaitlin would deploy the prize grant before introducing Nicole Argüelles and ALI. Nicole breaks down the prevalence of period poverty and the lack of innovation in public restroom dispensers.18:18–21:25 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Designing and Manufacturing the Smart ALI Dispenser Guy probes how two non-engineers managed to design and manufacture functional hardware dispensers. Nicole explains market research, consumer trials, and supplier partner selection.21:25–22:58 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Nationwide Expansion and Normalizing Restroom Placement Guy queries venue placement and whether machines will stay strictly inside restrooms. Nicole explains the strategic choice to keep them inside restrooms to eliminate stigma and barriers to access.2:57–5:47 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Personal Postpartum Struggles and Maternal Care Inequity Guy relates to the early parenting experience through his own family background and prompts Kaitlin to share the origin of Be Her Village. Kaitlin details the acute postpartum care gap in the US compared to countries with lower maternal mortality rates.5:48–8:40 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Business Model and Building the Birth Worker Network Guy presses on monetization, comparing the concept to a TaskRabbit directory for birth workers. Kaitlin clarifies their freemium approach and highlights a community-first pivot inspired by the fellowship.8:41–10:44 · Guy pushing back 2/10 Team Assembly and Coexistence with Traditional Registries Guy references major registry platforms like Zola and The Knot to question whether parents still inevitably need physical items alongside support services. Kaitlin acknowledges room for traditional gear registries while defending the distinct space for Be Her Village.10:45–14:08 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Fellowship Insights on Culture, Leadership, and Diversity Guy asks about fellowship workshops, introducing excerpts from Sadie Lincoln and Y-Vonne Hutchinson. Kaitlin reflects honestly on overcoming personal pattern matching to diversify her leadership team.14:09–18:17 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Grant Utilization Strategy and Mid-Episode Break Guy transitions between segments by inquiring how Kaitlin would deploy the prize grant before introducing Nicole Argüelles and ALI. Nicole breaks down the prevalence of period poverty and the lack of innovation in public restroom dispensers.18:18–21:25 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Designing and Manufacturing the Smart ALI Dispenser Guy probes how two non-engineers managed to design and manufacture functional hardware dispensers. Nicole explains market research, consumer trials, and supplier partner selection.21:25–22:58 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Nationwide Expansion and Normalizing Restroom Placement Guy queries venue placement and whether machines will stay strictly inside restrooms. Nicole explains the strategic choice to keep them inside restrooms to eliminate stigma and barriers to access.

speaking balance: gold is Guy, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Guy 49.5% · guest 50.5%0:00 · Guy 49.5% · guest 50.5%3:00 · Guy 25.3% · guest 74.7%3:00 · Guy 25.3% · guest 74.7%6:00 · Guy 16.5% · guest 83.5%6:00 · Guy 16.5% · guest 83.5%9:00 · Guy 29% · guest 71%9:00 · Guy 29% · guest 71%12:00 · Guy 11.5% · guest 88.5%12:00 · Guy 11.5% · guest 88.5%15:00 · Guy 40% · guest 60%15:00 · Guy 40% · guest 60%18:00 · Guy 18.5% · guest 81.5%18:00 · Guy 18.5% · guest 81.5%21:00 · Guy 17% · guest 83%21:00 · Guy 17% · guest 83%24:00 · Guy 100% · guest 0%24:00 · Guy 100% · guest 0%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 7:20 Reframing directory model to community-first

Kaitlin politely pushes back on Guy's transactional TaskRabbit comparison, explaining that their strategy focuses on community building and freemium tools for heart-led birth workers.

 Hardest push from Guy ▶ 9:55 Pressing on physical baby registry needs

Guy challenges the pure service model by citing industry leaders like Zola and The Knot, pointing out that parents inevitably need tangible gear like strollers and cribs.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 5:04 Contrasting global postpartum support with US gaps

Kaitlin educates the audience and host on maternal health outcomes, contrasting nations with institutionalized postpartum care against the US two-tiered system.

 Guy holds their own ▶ 9:55 Comparing registry business models

Guy draws upon his background interviewing founders of The Knot and Zola to analyze consumer registry behavior and product-service bundling.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicGuy as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementGuy pushing backWhy
Personal Postpartum Struggles and Maternal Care Inequity 2300 Guy relates to the early parenting experience through his own family background and prompts Kaitlin to share the origin of Be Her Village. Kaitlin details the acute postpartum care gap in the US compared to countries with lower maternal mortality rates.
Business Model and Building the Birth Worker Network 4211 Guy presses on monetization, comparing the concept to a TaskRabbit directory for birth workers. Kaitlin clarifies their freemium approach and highlights a community-first pivot inspired by the fellowship.
Team Assembly and Coexistence with Traditional Registries 4112 Guy references major registry platforms like Zola and The Knot to question whether parents still inevitably need physical items alongside support services. Kaitlin acknowledges room for traditional gear registries while defending the distinct space for Be Her Village.
Fellowship Insights on Culture, Leadership, and Diversity 2200 Guy asks about fellowship workshops, introducing excerpts from Sadie Lincoln and Y-Vonne Hutchinson. Kaitlin reflects honestly on overcoming personal pattern matching to diversify her leadership team.
Grant Utilization Strategy and Mid-Episode Break 2200 Guy transitions between segments by inquiring how Kaitlin would deploy the prize grant before introducing Nicole Argüelles and ALI. Nicole breaks down the prevalence of period poverty and the lack of innovation in public restroom dispensers.
Designing and Manufacturing the Smart ALI Dispenser 2201 Guy probes how two non-engineers managed to design and manufacture functional hardware dispensers. Nicole explains market research, consumer trials, and supplier partner selection.
Nationwide Expansion and Normalizing Restroom Placement 2201 Guy queries venue placement and whether machines will stay strictly inside restrooms. Nicole explains the strategic choice to keep them inside restrooms to eliminate stigma and barriers to access.

Statements from this episode (10)

Opinion
New US parents prefer support services over physical baby gear
“Parents in the United States and this next generation of parents are waking up to the fact that their needs are different from their parents. They don't have or want big houses filled with stuff. They don't want thousands of dollars of baby gear. They want imp…”
Kaitlin McGreyes May 20, 2021 ▶ 1:12
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Comprehensive US postpartum care is only accessible to the wealthy
“In our country, only people with resources get that. Only people that have thousands of dollars to spend are able to access that sort of care. And so we have this two-tiered system that's unfair, and women in our country are suffering because of it.”
Kaitlin McGreyes May 20, 2021 ▶ 5:32
Disclosure
Be Her Village will permanently remain completely free for parents
“So the new parents, every step of their interactions with our communities, with our registry, and with raising funds for these services is absolutely free for them, and it always will be. That will never change.”
Kaitlin McGreyes May 20, 2021 ▶ 6:20
Disclosure
Be Her Village uses a freemium model for maternal care businesses
“Right now, businesses can sign on for free, and there will be upgrades, and it's, you know, it's a freemium model, but it will be accessible for them as well”
Kaitlin McGreyes May 20, 2021 ▶ 8:05
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Team members quit full-time jobs to work for Be Her Village unpaid
“I have people on my team that have quit their full-time jobs to come work for me for free because they believe in this and what we're building.”
Kaitlin McGreyes May 20, 2021 ▶ 9:16
Insight
Hiring an agitator who challenges leadership can add huge team value
“I also, and this is just something that I really like to do every now and then I'll hire an agitator on purpose. So like somebody whose orientation is a little bit like shake stuff up, not for the purposes of destabilizing, but somebody who I know is just like…”
Y-Vonne Hutchinson May 20, 2021 ▶ 12:44
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Survey of 1,000 women showed overwhelming demand for upgraded restroom dispensers
“One of the first steps we took was we actually surveyed over a thousand women in our community and across the United States, asking them some of those key points to see if there was a solution that tackled all of those. Would they be more interested and more i…”
Nicole Argüelles May 20, 2021 ▶ 18:04
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
ALI has deployed three menstrual product dispensers in Florida shopping malls
“Currently, we have three fully functional dispensers out in shopping malls in the South Florida area”
Nicole Argüelles May 20, 2021 ▶ 18:38
Assertion Not checkable as stated
ALI manufactured an initial production run of just four dispenser units
“We didn't need a huge order quantity, like a lot of times you do with manufacturing, we were able to start with just four.”
Nicole Argüelles May 20, 2021 ▶ 21:09
Disclosure
ALI plans to expand to 16 live dispensers by June 2021
“We do have those three machines live currently, and we'll be expanding to a total of 16 machines by the end of next month, by end of June, 20, 21.”
Nicole Argüelles May 20, 2021 ▶ 21:32
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