Lana (00:01):
Wait a minute. Your parents are there now too?
Dez Melenka (00:04):
Oh Yes. Everybody’s here. Cousins are next. Wait for it. <laugh>.
Lana (00:17):
Welcome to Woman Up. Today we are going to be chatting with another sister duo and they are pretty
damn rad.
Laura (00:25):
That’s Right. We’re sitting down with Dez and Lindsay Melenka and Dez is a former CTV news anchor
and she’s now in business with her really rad sister. And they are, they’re killing it.
Lana (00:37):
They are killing it. And they’re just so full of hope and inspiration. The fact that they see each other
every day and are still like they still like each other. Oh, do we like each other? Oh, they’re like each
other. Okay. We do. So sit back, listen to their inspiring story of really going all in on themselves but also
having an amazing impact in our community.
Laura (00:57):
Let’s sit down and Woman up with Dez and Lindsay.
Lana (01:03):
Hello Dez and Lindsay Melenka. Hi guys!
Lana (01:09):
We got our other sister duo in the house. It’s the True Sister brand podcast today. It is. It’s going to be
Sister Talk today.
Dez Melenka (01:17):
I can’t wait. This is Aww. Aww. Aren’t we lucky though?
Lana (01:21):
We are really lucky. I wish people could see you at home right now because you basically have your
foreheads together I to do this podcast. It’s amazing. I love it. So we have Dez and Lindsay Melenka .
They are co-owners of where the Wear the Care and also the Creative Hive in Edmonton. And if you
don’t know what the Creative Hive is, it was like one really one of the OG networking WeWork spaces
before that was even a thing, which I think is so rad.
Dez Melenka (01:52):
Yeah, it was definitely before that was a thing and we’re only missing the non sister part of our duo is
actually a trio cause it includes a Mike Tie who was the guy that was standing in the warehouse.

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Lana (02:02):
We love Mike…
Dez Melenka (02:03):
Who was standing in the warehouse and decided that we could do this crazy thing and it’s because of his
belief in all of those things that where the care is even possible because as you ladies know, starting
clothing things, it doesn’t just happen on a thin air. It takes a lot of investment in time. Yeah. But it’s
okay.
Lana (02:18):
Okay, well let’s talk about wear the care first because wear the care is really close to your heart too
because really you’ve set off on this mission of community and impact, which I think is Laura and I really,
really admire. So is where the care and what big things are you doing right now?
Lindsay Melenka (02:35):
For us, honestly, where the care never started out to be its own entity, that was never the intention of
it…
Lana (02:41):
How did it start?
Lindsay Melenka (02:41):
It was just a fun give back that we were doing to the Hive. So Dez and Mike really had created such an
amazing little community here and we wanted to give back to that community. So we started the I am
Enough and then we did a portion of all sales, went to the Nina Haggerty Center for the Arts and we just
thought it would be fun little givebacks we would do every six months or so and just give back to the
community and it just kind of flew. People loved them, they loved the shirts and the quality and the
sayings and so it kind of snowballed unintentionally.
Dez Melenka (03:12):
That’s where the best things come from. The unintentional idea of it and also wear the care, that’s how
it started. But it was, we have this beautiful space and we love to share it with people and we have an
across the board nonprofit rate, but it isn’t renting a community hall. So it’s not $300 for a night. It just
isn’t, that it’s worth and to keep it open is much more than that. So we couldn’t give it to everybody that
wanted to use it. So our way to help was to give them some dollars and if they chose to use it at the Hive
or anywhere else, it gave them that ability to do that.
Lana (03:40):
Oh, that’s amazing. Was it difficult to come up with a business plan or a practice that made sense? How
much trial and error went into that?
Dez Melenka (03:51):
I’ll let you know when we’re done. <laugh>,

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Lindsay Melenka (03:55):
The data’s always evolving.
Dez Melenka (03:58):
So much trial and error because at first it was finding the right product and we couldn’t find what we
wanted. So Lindsay actually created a blending together, some different fabric choices like the I am
Enough and the love shirts. It’s not just an off the rack shirt. The sleeve lengths were designed, the cut of
the sleeve, the cuffs were designed. All of those things I can tell you about because she’s told me and I
do all the talking, but I didn’t actually <laugh> any of, but it was more than that.
Lana (04:21):
The perfect sister.
Dez Melenka (04:23):
It was finding what worked and then I didn’t know if anybody would like it. Did you know? I mean it was
meant to just be fun.
Lindsay Melenka (04:29):
It really was. Yeah. We were both kind of shocked. We were doing, we’re like, we’ll do one order, we’ll
see what happens and then we’ll move on to the next one. But they sold so fast that we were calling our
manufacturer, how quickly can we get more shirts in? We’re like, they’re flying off the shelves. So it,
yeah, it shocked us.
Dez Melenka (04:45):
That’s the dream. However, that has not always been the case with everything and as you learn and
grow, you hit those bumps and speed bumps along the way. But the core value of it to give back and to
do something good with it, don’t get me wrong, it’s a for-profit company. Things aren’t operating
completely out of the goodness of our hearts. It’s a for-profit company, but the intention is to give back
to community while creating jobs for other people.
Lana (05:07):
I love that you just called that out. Yeah. I think that is so important because you’re still women in
business, you’re still looking to fulfill checkbox, if you will, in your career path and that not that doesn’t
come for free and kudos to those that can do it for free. But we all have to eat.
Lindsay Melenka (05:26):
Yeah.
Lana (05:27):
At what point did you say Wear the care is more than we thought. At what point did you hit that
marker?
Dez Melenka (05:35):

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I think last year was your big dive in. So it was a year ago. Cause Lindsay left you, I’m going to set you up.
Yeah, you left full-time job. We left a full-time job as we all have at some point, but hers was last year
and that was the tipping point I think.
Lana (05:48):
What were you doing Lindsay?
Lindsay Melenka (05:50):
I was working for PCL Construction. I actually worked there for 10 years doing graphic design, working
with their communications team, very stable income. You know what you’re getting every month. And
so it was terrifying to me. And she’s like, you can totally do it. And I was just like we talked about it for a
year and I was like, I don’t know, it’s such a huge job and there’s so many what ifs. And finally I was just
like, you know what? It’s kind of now or never. And we really needed that to go all in time to invest it
into the company or we’d never know if it could fly. So…
Lana (06:21):
Yeah, remember that nine to five job you once had, Lindsay?
Lindsay Melenka (06:25):
Was, what’s that again? Yeah, it terrifying me.
Laura (06:28):
It’s still a nine to five. She’s just enjoying it now.
Lindsay Melenka (06:30):
And that’s just it. It’s funny, every day I wake up, I’m excited to come to the Hive. Can’t wait. I get to see
Dez every day. And really it’s a whole family affair now. My mom and dad are both here as well, so I can
see my entire family every day. It’s a win. I love it.
Lana (06:44):
Wait a minute, your parents are there now too?
Dez Melenka (06:47):
Yes. Everybody’s here. Cousins are next. Wait for it.
Lana (06:50):
Well how do I get adopted here? This is amazing.
Laura (06:53):
<laugh>. Some families don’t want to see each other at all and you guys are like…
Dez Melenka (06:58):
My parents live with us too.

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Laura (07:02):
My gosh. Amazing.
It’s a heart attack for many people.
Laura (07:05):
Yeah.
Lana (07:06):
Has it tested your relationship with your sisters or as the dynamic of the family?
Laura (07:12):
They just haven’t been doing it long enough. That’s all. <laugh> kidding.
Dez Melenka (07:16):
No, because my parents have run businesses their whole lives off and on and so they know what they’re
doing. They let us do what we need to do actually. They just, they’re here to support in any way. And
between the two of us, we are very well aware of what each of us can and can’t do. Yeah, we’re very
well aware…
Laura (07:35):
I think that’s such a valid point too. And we get asked all the time by people who are even going into
business with partnerships, let alone siblings, how do I make this work? How do I do this without
sacrificing the relationship…
Laura (07:48):
And that’s one big thing that we say too.
Lindsay Melenka (07:51):
And it’s funny, the different roles that we’ve kind of had in each other’s business side of things where
she’s the one who’s always like, you got this, you can do this cause I don’t do well with the public
speaking and that is not my jam. And Dez can go on tangents, they’re going to do this and this and I
gotta reign her in some days and be like… okay.
Dez Melenka (08:10):
Yes. Love it. Let’s baby steps here. <laugh>,
Lana (08:14):
Let’s dive into that a little bit because if you don’t know Dez Melenka’s name as you had a very long
broadcasting career here in Edmonton, people did know you on the streets. This was a passion of yours,
you were really in the community. Why did you give that up?
Dez Melenka (08:32):

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Well, and I listened to your first podcast and I was a fan of yours before I even fully started doing this
too. When watching you do what you do best, thank you. It does. And at the heart of all of it, and even
in your story, it was the story of people. And I loved it. I was obsessive. I could care less about the being
on TV part. That was always, you had to do that part to do the stories and it’s 1% of what you do. 99% is
everything else. So I loved being in it. I love the people in the communities, but it got to a point for me
where I didn’t want to just talk about the people doing things. I needed to do them. I didn’t want to just
feature all the incredible people doing amazing things. I wanted to stand next to them and cheer for
them out loud. I wanted to be a part of it. And I needed to know if it was all just in my head or if I could
do the crazy things alongside them.
Lana (09:21):
Do you feel like there’s something innate? So I really see myself reflected in you Dez because I feel like
personality wise… the four of us sitting here. I definitely resonate with what you’re saying. And of course
I do have a background in television as well. But there’s something about, I don’t know, putting yourself
out there and seeing if you can fly and is that inherent with the business that we came from or why do
you think that’s ingrained in our souls?
Dez Melenka (09:49):
I think because we both maybe had the entrepreneurship gene too, because I do believe it’s that
because it takes a whole bunch more work. I don’t necessarily know what’s coming on the 15th and the
31st of the month as far as the paycheck. I think there’s definitely no benefit plans at all. So you take
that out of it, you have to have that little bit of cray cray in you to do this. And so you take that with the
ability on the journalism side. And what I always loved about it is that it took down barriers. I could
knock on a door and ask a question, I could, you put me in a networking thing and given me a list of
people I need to talk to with what I need to get out of them. I’m golden. Golden. But you put me in a
room and just say, go visit…
Lana (10:28):
<laugh>. Not a chance. Do you have social anxiety?
Dez Melenka (10:32):
I have it without a plan.
Lana (10:34):
Me too. Me too. Ask Laura. I cannot, I can, they always laugh at me because I sit in the front seat of the
taxi.
Laura (10:40):
She’s like, ask Laura. And I’m like, what? Really?
Lana (10:42):
<laugh>. Well, I sit in the front seat of the taxi and I talk to the driver about his life and why he’s here
and I like, they’re like, oh my God, you’re interviewing the taxi driver.

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Laura (10:52):
It’s hilarious you guys. By the time she gets out of that cab, she knows whoever their name, their
spouse, their children, where they’re going to school in the fall. She knows it all.
Lana (10:58):
But I love that because it was like storytelling. But if you put me in a room without a plan or a mission, if
you will, I feel like I’m going to self implode.
Dez Melenka (11:09):
Yes. And I don’t wanna be there. I don’t see the point of it. Yeah. It’s not doing anything for me. I would
much rather be in my sweatpants watching whatever.
Lana (11:16):
Well it’s also the season of life where we’re like, yeah, fuck it all we’re going to.
Dez Melenka (11:21):
Lindsay is the exact opposite. Even with a mission plan and stuff, getting her into any rooms just once
she’s in there and she goes, she can talk to people. But getting her there is hard.
Lindsay Melenka (11:31):
It’s not easy.
Lana (11:33):
She, I would say it’s the same for Laura. Yeah,
Laura (11:36):
I’m closer to Lindsay for sure.
Lindsay Melenka (11:38):
But yeah, the pep talk is required and yeah, it’s not my jam. It’s not something I easily do. I, it’s a
struggle.
Laura (11:44):
But I love that you’re putting yourself out there and you’re trying this, even though you can clearly say,
this is not my jam, this is not my comfort zone. It’s really difficult for me. And yet you use your support,
which is Dez. And she gets you there and you’re breaking down those barriers because of it.
Lindsay Melenka (12:00):
And also, I don’t think I could do that without doing this with you. I really don’t. She knows that we’ve
had this conversation many times. I don’t think I would physically be able to do it. And so it really, it’s
pushed me a lot and I think I’ve come a long way with it.

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Dez Melenka (12:13):
So fucked. We were two minutes before I walked outta the room and she was like, I don’t really need to
do this. I don’t need to be in the, what am I going to say? I’m like, you’ll be fine. Just sit,
Lana (12:20):
Just sit you’ll be fine. What are they asking? Just sit. I’ll be I’ll hold your hand. We’ve got you <laugh>
Laura (12:28):
Woman up. It’s more than a podcast or a play on words for the woman who’s killing it, who’s showing up
as her confident badass self.
Lana (12:36):
And it’s also for the woman going through a hard time, a divorce, grief, transformation. However you
define or identify with women, you’re welcome in the sisterhood.
Laura (12:46):
It’s an opportunity to change the narrative. The Sister Brand’s trademark Woman Up Apparel is the OG
official merch check back often with new styles being released all the time.
Lana (12:56):
So go ahead and grab your trademarked inclusive sized Woman Up merch only at thesisterbrand.com.
Gift yourself, gift your friends.
Laura (13:04):
That’s the sister brand.com.
Lana (13:08):
Let’s talk about the creative hive and running such an amazing facility that, I don’t know, I think it’s just a
neat concept to have all of these different businesses under one roof. But then also you have Wear the
Care and you have this event space that you host amazing weddings. And tell us about running that kind
of caliber of space.
Dez Melenka (13:31):
Well, it’s an ever-evolving thing because the Creative Hive was actually designed. So Mike, Ty and I
obviously coming from the media background, we wanted to do our own stories and share stories. But
as with anything, you kind of have to prove who you are outside of where you kind of came from. So
video production was a harder start for us because it’s cost dollars to create a good video. And so in the
meantime people fell in love with kind of the space we created and we took a space that where they
were redoing front end loaders. It smelled bad, it looked bad <laugh>, like the smell, I can still smell it if I
think about it. It was so bad. My gosh in here, my gosh. But it kind of became a happenstance event,
workshop, that kind of space. And when we started the business, we went through and got our permits
and zoning and all of those things.
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Did the little checklist of things. But I wanna caution all business when you do this, really look into it
because there is a huge difference between zoning and building permits. They might go hand in hand,
but you can’t do one without the other. And if one signs off without doing inspections, it can bring up a
lot of issues. And that is what we’ve run into some city issues in regards to that. And so we’re working
through those. And that’s a beautiful thing is you can work through them and it’s going to create some
incredible changes here at The Hive. And I cannot wait to share them with so many people.
Laura (14:39):
Changes are coming.
Dez Melenka (14:41):
Changes are always coming. And that’s where I was leading with this, right, is to be open to that change.
Because we started this to do video production, but off the top, that wasn’t happening easily or quickly.
So when people wanted to use it at events, we learned how to do that and we shifted our focus to do
that. When that kind of got itself going, covid hit, we couldn’t have events at all. Everything closed
down. And so we leaned more on the video side. Now that Covid has… we’re living with Covid. I can’t say
that it’s over, but we’re living with that idea is that now we’re keeping our focus on the video and we
have the right people in place to do the events because our passion is personal. Passion is seeing people
come together and building that community. Running the events is not something you want me doing.
Lindsay Melenka (15:22):
I love you.
Lana (15:24):
<laugh>. Fair. Fair enough. Is it, what’s the most rewarding part about your job?
Dez Melenka (15:32):
That it’s here. I walk in some days and sometimes I will come to the hive just because I need to be here.
There’s something about the space and the place and the feeling when you walk in the front door is
going to be okay.
Laura (15:45):
I can attest to that because just even walking into the hive myself, I don’t want to leave. I’m like, this
place is magical. There’s something about it. I think everyone there is there because they want to be
there and they are driven and they are trying to succeed and they are giving it their all. And they are
connecting with everyone there. And they’re really creating a community. And you walk in and everyone
is with greeting you with a smile and a hello and it’s a really cool environment and you’re welcome for
the free commercial.
Lindsay Melenka (16:15):
So many amazing businesses here that are renting offices. And it’s really neat to see them all come
together as well. And now they all work together on side projects and it really is this little hub of
amazing creative people that are thriving together.
Dez Melenka (16:26):

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And the whole concept behind the creative hive and everybody here is that we wanna change the
definition of creative. Meaning that, you know, think of creative, you think of an artist or a painter or a
photographer, but we have an architect who’s creative in what he does. There are real estate agents
here are so creative in how they approach what they do. This idea that there is creativity in everything.
And if you look for the creative, you can find things and that’s where the care came about. And listening
to your podcast and what you guys do, that creativity flows in everything that you’re doing.
Lana (16:55):
It is everything <affirmative>
Lana (16:57):
And even, you know, talk a little bit about evolving and changing and being open to opportunity. I mean,
we couldn’t agree with you more. You have, if you’re not changing, you’re staying still, like you’re
stagnant. In our opinion, that is the biggest key that we’ve taken from the last three years in business is
that we are constantly changing and evolving. What would you tell the entrepreneur out there listening
right now who is just like, damn, I’m stuck.
Dez Melenka (17:27):
I’d say lean into the people you look at as your competitors because they’re not, I have this and maybe
it’s completely ass backwards, but I have this fucking idea that if we lifted everybody up to this level,
then we’d all be here to help each other. If we lifted everyone up high, then everyone’s high enough to
help each other. But if we start knocking everybody down, then there’s no point. There’s no one left
around to help you. So lean in. I mean there are some other incredibly amazing companies in the city
that do video production. I have called them to ask for help or I have said, you should use this person.
That’s not our specialty, that’s their specialty. And it goes back and forth. It’s like the women against
women. I don’t believe that. I don’t even subscribe to that. No, if you’re mean and you’re not going to be
nice and you’re going to be a jerk, then I’m don’t want to work with you.
Lana (18:08):
You’re out, you’re done. For sure. And I think when you’re operating at that level, it change. It is the
game changer I think. Mm-hmm. You, I mean everybody’s like, it’s so cliche, it’s community over
competition. I’m like, no, it’s damn true. Because when you’re ready to support and uplift those other
women in business, people in business, everything changes. It’s just like a switch.
Laura (18:29):
And I think that’s true. Confidence is when you can stand next to anybody, no matter who they are and
not feel like there’s a competition that you can support them. Because I think that when the whole idea
of knocking someone down, it’s just because of lack of confidence in yourself.
Lana (18:44):
No. You’re looking to build yourself up.
Dez Melenka (18:46):
Even if you have two people that paint with the same color, they’re going to paint it differently. And I
mean there’s a lot of people doing clothing. There’s two sitting right here, woman up and it doesn’t

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matter. There’s a beautiful thing in each one. And they have a different message and involved and
there’s different things behind them so that you can support them and you can lift them up along the
way. And that’s what Lindsay has always bought into. She does that even more so than I do. She has got
that kind meter that just kind of goes, and the patience level. So you need those things, but you also
have to be realistic. No one over here is rolling in it. So we are learning and we are still carving out every
part of our business to make sure that it stays a business that is profitable and sustainable and has
scalability. Because at the end of the day, loving it and working seven days a week will only take you so
far.
Lana (19:31):
Well yeah because then we, we’ve even struggled with that over the few years is you have these ebbs
and flows of cash flow and is it just a glorified hobby and you start questioning yourself. But I think that’s
also betting on yourself and saying, no, I know what we have here is valuable and I’m going to fight to
the death for it.
Dez Melenka (19:51):
But ask and take a chance. Yeah. When Covid first hit, I will tell you Mike and Chad and I were sitting in a
room and we’re like, we fucked. What are we going to do? We’ve created half a chance of that space
and we can’t have anybody here. And so what are you going to do? And then Jody Carrington calls and
has this idea for a little broadcast and I’m like, absolutely, I understand what you want to do. We have
never done that. Not a clue, but I’m pretty sure we can learn and we happen to have a large amount of
time in our hands. And so we did. And that gave other people confidence in us. And so it just trickles
down to give those people a chance if you see something in them to do it. And I hope that we can do
that for more people too.
Lana (20:34):
That’s beautiful actually. And Jody’s like the biggest cheerleader ever out there. <affirmative> What do
you think was your woman up moment for each of you?
Dez Melenka (20:46):
Walking outta ctv <laugh>. Not badly. I loved them. I loved, loved all the people there.
Dez Melenka (20:53):
I still love all the people there. I still talk to them regularly. But it was just the, that’s it. I’m saying it. I’m
not just saying it. I’m womaning up and I’m doing it.
Lana (21:03):
. And did you have the space yet for the creative Hive, was that already rolling?
Dez Melenka (21:10):
It was. I was never really good at doing one thing. And gotta, I sense that you’re the same, my entire
line. I don’t think I did one thing. So I have my interior design certificates and stuff too because I got
bored when I was in Yorkdin doing CTV just there cause it, you know, still didn’t have as much
responsibility. So I just did that on the side. And then we had other few little companies here and there

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that we buy do different things. So I never really could just do one thing. It wasn’t really in me totally.
But I never would commit enough to fully go in.
Laura (21:36):
Just Dabbled.
Dez Melenka (21:37):
Yeah, dabbled. Mike and I had stored some video stuff here. Cause we were doing a few videos on the
side and then the space opened up and we were in full renovation before I ever…
Lindsay Melenka (21:47):
I’ll never forget that day when you brought me here. She brings me here to where the little tiny offices.
So we’re me and Dez, our office is in the back there. That was all they had originally. And so we come in
and there’s people working on vehicles in the main bay where the event space is now and there’s like oil
and smells smell it. I’m like, what? She’s like, this is my vision. I was like, you’re off your fucking lap. She’s
like, can’t you see it?
Lindsay Melenka (22:09):
No, no <laugh>. And lo and behold
Dez Melenka (22:13):
I was like, it’s fine, I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry, we can do this. She’s like, do you have any money?
It’s like Lindsay, no.
Lana (22:19):
<laugh> money. <laugh> is though. <laugh>. Isn’t it interesting how though, you know, say you dabbled,
you’re the same as me, worn a million hats, but now the creative hive is a reflection of that.
Dez Melenka (22:32):
Isn’t that crazy?
Lana (22:33):
It really is.
Dez Melenka (22:35):
I love it. I love walking down here. I actually work from home one day a week minimum just so I can get
work done because there’s so many people here that I always end up visiting the whole day away. And
then I have, a mountain of work.
Lindsay Melenka (22:45):
It’s a revolving door. Our office, it never fails.
Lana (22:49):
It’s the best way to have it though. Lindsay, what was your woman up moment?

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Lindsay Melenka (22:54):
Honestly, mine very similar. Leaving a stable job. I love the people, all of that. But I think it went from
then being what you said before, kind of your hobby to something that we’re actually, so that was my
big woman up moment. We’re doing this, we’re jumping in and see what happens.
Dez Melenka (23:11):
And at the end of the day, used to work at Tim Hortons… Starbucks? I even could write my name
properly.
Lana (23:20):
What would be your Starbucks name?
Dez Melenka (23:23):
Oh…
Lana (23:25):
If you go in and my kid asks me this all the time. She’s like, why do you give people your real name?
Laura (23:30):
That’s what you’re you’re supposed to do. You should live out your alter ego…
Dez Melenka (23:36):
Mackenzie Star
Dez Melenka (23:40):
Think I’m joking? When I was 10 years old, I got a license plate made that said Mackenzie Star for when I
was famous on broadawy.
Laura (23:45):
Okay, so now it’s your job to go to Starbucks and say that’s your name.
Lana (23:49):
Yeah, post it. Hashtag woman up. I can’t wait. Done.
Laura (23:54):
What Would yours be, Lindsay?
Lindsay Melenka (23:55):
Oh my, what would mine be?
Laura (23:57):
My God. Des is going to have to name you.

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Lana (23:58):
It’d be Dez Melenka. <laugh>.
Laura (24:02):
It’s funny, the lady would be like, you’re not Melenka.
Dez Melenka (24:05):
No one actually knows who we are. You know that right?
Lindsay Melenka (24:10)
Oh stop. They do too. Do you know how many times when she was actually on TV people did know her.
Yeah. And we’d go grocery shopping together and the lady that checked out, they’d be looking at her
and you could tell that there was like, I know you, but I don’t know why I know you. And they’d finally be
like, OK, where are you from? Do you live around here? I’d be like, I know you. And she’d be like, yeah, I
don’t know. I get that a lot though.
Lana (24:33):
Oh, I love it.
Lindsay Melenka (24:34):
Right. Tell her <laugh>. And they’d even go as far as asking, you’re like the girl from ctv. And she’d be
like, no. But we do look a lot alike. Stop Talking to me now.
Lana (24:44):
I would only get recognized when I was walking through Walmart with a jumbo pack of tampons in my
sweats and it’s like, I don’t know, 2009 or 2005 and every time. It never failed. As soon as long as I
looked my worst and felt my worst, I would get recognized and people would be like, can I get a picture?
Can I? I’m like, no, no you cannot. And you don’t know how to react in them. But it was always when I
was carrying a massive box of tampons of pack.
Laura (25:13):
You should’ve taken the picture though, because when you’re walking away, they probably took it.
Lindsay Melenka (25:17):
Oh my gosh. You totally should have.
Laura (25:18):
Are you of those Walmart lists?
Lana (25:20):
Those ones that would make me so happy. Actually that exists out there. Please send it. I would wanna
hear it.

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Dez Melenka (25:25):
What do you guys think about asking people for help? I always found that was the biggest thing and
people say don’t ask them, but I found everybody I have asked for help if you were going to start out
well, I don’t wanna tell anybody my secrets. I don’t wanna ask for help. I have found everybody I have
ever asked is open to helping if you ask them.
Lana (25:40):
That’s an interesting question, Laura, and I think we’re big proponents of asking the questions and when
we were starting our business we were like, well, as researchers, my brain was just wired for that. But
yeah, I feel like ask the damn question.
Laura (25:56):
I feel like so many people see it as a sign of weakness that I don’t know the answer and I should know
the answer. And so then if I’m asking for help, then it’s a weakness in me as opposed to it being actually
a really good strength.
Lana (26:08):
My biggest thing even right now is to say, I’m sorry, I don’t know what that is. Can you tell me? Yeah.
And I’m not embarrassed to say that anymore. Whereas you know what? Honestly, a decade ago I
would’ve been embarrassed. And I think that’s just as…
Lindsay Melenka (26:20):
going to smile and nod and look at something on your phone. Totally. Totally. Yeah.
Laura (26:25):
Been there, done that.
Lana (26:27):
I still Google the shit out. I can’t watch a TV show without Googling everything. I see. So yeah, no, I hear
you there.
Dez Melenka (26:32):
We did a video with some really academic people and as she’s talking, I’m writing down words that I do
not know and I can get the gist of what’s happening through the whole conversation. And I googled it
after and was like, oh pretty close.
Lana (26:42):
<laugh>. Put that, put that in my repertoire. <laugh>. Two new words. I love it. Well, thank you for being
on Woman Up Ladies, you’re such an inspiration. We love getting to know you and working with you and
just being around you. So cheers. <laugh>. Thanks guys. Thank you to Des and Lindsay for being on
Woman Up Today. And thank you for listening. You know what? It makes a big difference to us. When
you rate, review or share our podcast, we can see that you’re doing it and we are thankful.

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