Show notes
Hospital gowns strip your dignity. That's what Dr. Cindy Trice learned firsthand during treatment for advanced cervical cancer. When a friend brought her a pair of pajamas, it changed everything: she felt like a person again, not just a patient. That moment became the origin story for Kickit Recovery Wear, a company designing stylish, functional post-surgery clothing and chemo-friendly apparel for women at every stage of recovery. In this episode, Cindy shares the 16-year journey from idea to launch — including a paralyzing car accident at 18, a career as a veterinarian, a sold software company, and the fourth-grade friend who helped her finally bring it all to life.During chemo, a friend brought her a pair of cute pajamas. She put them on and everything changed. She walked laps around the nurses' station. She let visitors in. But the nurses could not work around them, and she realized the hospital gown exists for a reason. The question was: why has nobody made something that works for patients and medical staff?That idea sat for sixteen years. In the meantime, Cindy became a veterinarian, built and sold a software company called Relief Rover, and eventually launched KickIt with three co-founders, including her best friend since the fourth grade. They split ownership equally and built the whole thing together.She is also a patient advocate for Cervivor and wants you to know: cervical cancer is preventable. Get screened.If you are building something from a problem you lived through, this conversation will feel familiar.Chapters:🎙️ 01:04 Rate, review, and share the show 🐾 03:11 Meet Dr. Cindy Trice: veterinarian, cancer survivor, and lover of long and low dogs 🏥 05:17 Breaking her back at 18 and learning what dignity in healthcare really means 🐋 12:47 Volunteering at the Marine Mammal Center and lying her way into a pet clinic job 🩺 21:13 Advanced cervical cancer diagnosis right out of vet school 👗 24:41 The hospital gown that stripped her identity and the pajamas that gave it back 🔧 27:30 Why hospital gowns are designed for function and why nobody fixed them 🚀 30:29 Sixteen years from idea to launch: some ideas need to bake 🤝 33:05 A fourth-grade best friend, two garment makers, and a company built by four women 🔄 36:49 Relief Rover, simultaneous entrepreneurship, and selling the first company 🌱 42:51 The roller coaster is real: confidence, hustle, and building your network 🎁 46:20 KickIt slipper socks giveaway: tag @sheleadsmedia and @kickitrecoverywear Links:Website: kickitrecoverywear.com Instagram: @kickitrecoverywear Email: [email protected] If this conversation made you think differently about what recovery can look and feel like, follow KickIt and see what they are building. GIVEAWAY 🎁 Slipper Socks Giveaway! At our most recent Pitch The Media event in NYC, KickIt donated the most beautiful, luxurious Slipper Socks. I have a few pairs left and I would love to give them away to 3 lucky listeners. Here is how to enter: give the show a 5-star rating and review, tag both @sheleadsmedia and @kickitrecoverywear on Instagram. I will choose 3 women to receive a pair of these incredibly cozy slipper socks. Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Book Directly with Kent: http://talktokent.com Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at [email protected].⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: [email protected] Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking.As a gesture of support for this podcast and sharing women's voices everywhere - I would greatly appreciate if you would take a moment and give our podcast a 5 Star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. By you taking this simple action, you are making a difference in sharing women's voices, thoughts and opinions. One last thing - if you haven’t done so already, please hit the plus sign + to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!XOAdrienne
(01:04) - 🎙️ Rate, review, and share the show
(03:11) - 🐾 Meet Dr. Cindy Trice: veterinarian, cancer survivor, and lover of long and low dogs
(05:17) - 🏥 Breaking her back at 18 and learning what dignity in healthcare really means
(12:47) - 🐋 Volunteering at the Marine Mammal Center and lying her way into a pet clinic job
(21:13) - 🩺 Advanced cervical cancer diagnosis right out of vet school
(24:41) - 👗 The hospital gown that stripped her identity and the pajamas that gave it back
(27:30) - 🔧 Why hospital gowns are designed for function and why nobody fixed them
(30:29) - 🚀 Sixteen years from idea to launch: some ideas need to bake
(33:05) - 🤝 A fourth-grade best friend, two garment makers, and a company built by four women
(36:49) - 🔄 Relief Rover, simultaneous entrepreneurship, and selling the first company
(42:51) - 🌱 The roller coaster is real: confidence, hustle, and building your network
(46:20) - 🎁 KickIt slipper socks giveaway: tag @sheleadsmedia and @kickitrecoverywear