Today on the Invest In Her podcast, host Catherine Gray talks with Justine Reiss, a speaker, storyteller, humanitarian, professional voiceover artist, breast cancer survivor, and recipient of the Heart of Humanity Award. Justine is dedicated to helping women reclaim their voices, stories, and futures. Her humanitarian work includes partnerships with the Nguzo Women & Youth Foundation in Tanzania, the Pink Lady Foundation, CouldYou? Cup, and local organizations in Kenya to advance reproductive health education, menstrual equity, and access to essential resources for women and girls. Through writing, filmmaking, public speaking, and documentary development, she also amplifies the experiences of women whose stories often go unheard.
In this episode, Justine explains how period poverty can force girls to miss or leave school, enter early marriages, and face exploitation simply because they lack access to menstrual products. She and Catherine discuss the transformative potential of reusable menstrual cups, which can last seven to ten years, as well as the importance of community education and training to reduce shame and create lasting change. Justine also shares stories from her humanitarian work in Kenya and Tanzania, her commitment to ethical filmmaking, and an upcoming documentary project centered on women rebuilding their lives after leaving a high-control religious community. Their conversation highlights how courage, collaboration, and storytelling can help women overcome fear, reclaim their voices, and become the authors of their own lives.