Ladies Who Crunch host a dynamic panel with author of The Vagina Business Marina Gerner, health and fitness expert Nancy Best, and founder of the London Girls Book Club Caitlin Curry.
The Vagina Business
A relatively small proportion of all medical research and development is focused on women’s health issues. From periods and childbirth, to mental health and menopause, The Vagina Business explores the ways in which many parts of the world still normalise female pain – society shrugs and says, “welcome to being a woman” instead of funding better solutions. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Marina Gerner takes an eye-opening look at the innovators challenging the status quo to deliver the healthcare solutions women need. With interviews from 100 entrepreneurs across 15 countries, her expeditions into the world of FemTech spotlight important emerging products and industries including:
- A smart bra with EKG technology that can predict heart attacks early
- An in-home fertility gadget that uses saliva to track ovulation
- A vaginal and pelvic floor dilator that could drastically reduce the rate of vaginal tearing in birth
- Healthcare apps tailored to LGBTQIA+ people and their needs, without stigma
- Devices that prevent birth injuries and restore the pelvic floor and vagina during menopause
Gerner also takes the reader inside the boardroom, where only 2.1% of venture capital dollars goes toward companies founded by women, and issues a rallying cry: Women should not be denied solutions to health issues because of embarrassment and ignorance. Fascinating, infuriating and exciting, The Vagina Business introduces some extraordinary female revolutionaries and the fantastic promise of transformation – on both women’s lives and society – via inclusive feminist healthcare.
Some scenes will make you want to scream, such as the researchers who claimed they couldn’t use female mice in tests because their cages were harder to clean, alongside the multitude of stories demonstrating colossal unmet health needs, and the case studies of firms profiting from people’s shame. But others will have you jumping up and down in delight at the extent to which women are supporting others to innovate – as well as the vast scale of the sisterhood’s imagination.
Marina Gerner is an award-winning journalist whose work spans finance, tech, and culture. Featured in The Economist, Financial Times, Wired, The Times, and Wall Street Journal, she is known for her interdisciplinary perspective and accessible style, holding a PhD from the London School of Economics. When she’s not writing, she likes to teach: she is an expert on what it means to be a cosmopolitan and is a part-time lecturer (or Adjunct Professor) at the NYU London campus, where she supervises in Commerce & Culture.
Gerner’s ideas and research were awarded grants from the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and The Society of Authors. Born in Kyiv during the Soviet Union, Marina was a toddler when her brave single mother relocated the family as political refugees. She grew up in Frankfurt, has briefly lived in New York and has mainly made a home in London, where she can be found drinking cappuccinos with friends and taking her baby to bars.
The LWC and LBC
As featured in Stylist, Marie Claire, The Daily Telegraph, and Women’s Health, Ladies Who Crunch (LWC) are an online fitness membership platform. They offer a structured monthly training program with fresh content, a supportive female community, and access to their digital catalogue of over 450 unique on-demand workouts, cook-alongs, and wellbeing hacks. Founded by Nancy Best, a qualified personal trainer and women’s health expert, LWC’s offerings include strength training, barre, boxing, HIIT, yoga, and more. The group aims to inspire women to feel fitter and stronger as part of a powerful female network. Becoming a member of LWC also directly supports different female-focused charities and social enterprises.
The London Girls Book Club (LBC) is all about fostering friendships and connecting with like-minded women who share a love of literature. Their monthly discussions dive into a variety of topics in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere; Meet women who share your passion for stories, ideas, and the joy of reading while building connections beyond the books. With a 10,500 person-strong community that’s gone from strength to strength over the last 3 years, LBC continues to thrive as a hub for explorers of the mental realms. Founded by Caitlin Curry, it brings together women of all ages (but predominantly within the ranges of 26-40) to celebrate London life and curious communities. Exciting things are coming in 2025, making it the perfect time to join this vibrant group and be part of the journey!
