We Love Science

Ep 82: DNA is Love - The Work

• Shekerah Primus & Fatu Badiane • Season 5 • Episode 3

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We are so excited to have two special guests on our episode today–Dave Latorra and Stephanie Ford, who blend science, entrepreneurship, and keepsakes with their company, DNA is Love. Dave and Stephanie approach DNA is Love from each of their areas of expertise in  biology and hospice care, respectively. DNA is Love has discovered a unique way to hold on to the memories of the people and pets in our lives through jewelry, picture frames, and other special items. And, what makes these items so priceless and personal is they contain actual DNA from the people and pets being commemorated–literally their essence. While Dave always had the general idea of somehow preserving DNA as part of family heirlooms, the concept didn’t come to fruition until he met Stephanie; she was able to bring the heart to the idea and give it life. Dave and Stephanie agree one of the most rewarding parts of the work is hearing from happy customers who share the joy, peace of mind, and gratitude they feel after receiving these special items. One of the biggest challenges they face, however, is in the marketing of this futuristic product and getting new customers to understand exactly what services are offered. For anyone who is interested in pursuing their own great idea to start a unique science-based company, Dave recommends doing your homework first and Stephanie emphasizes to just go for it!

Check out the latest episode on the website: https://welovesciencepodcast.com 


Tune into this episode to hear Dave and Stephanie discuss:

  • How they brought science together with creating lifelong, family memories
  • What process is used to purify and verify the DNA in every sample collected 
  • What each of them brings to co-founding and running DNA is Love
  • Why the reputation of DNA is Love is key to the ethos of the company 


Reach out to Dave and Stephanie and learn more about DNA is Love on their website: https://dnaislove.com  


If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:

Ep 60: The Love Language of Organic Chemistry - The Work

Ep 35: How CRISPR Gene Therapy is Bringing Hope to the World


Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com
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Reach out to Fatu:
www.linkedin.com/in/fatubm
Instagram: @thee_fatu_b
and LoveSciencePodcast@gmail.com

Reach out to Shekerah:
www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus
and LoveSciencePodcast@gmail.com


Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoor
Music from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

What can you do with your love of science? We'll tell you. Hi everyone. Welcome back to another episode of your favorite podcast. We love science. We are your hosts. I am Shekerah

and I am Fatu. And today we've got another We love science first. Two guests in a single show. Yes. Very exciting. Two special guests. Our special guests today are Dave Latorra and Stephanie Ford, co-founders of DNA is Love, a company that takes a unique approach to remind us of the interconnectedness of living things. Interconnectedness of all of us really. So Dave and Stephanie, we're so happy. you could join us today. Welcome. Welcome.

Oh, thank you for having us.

Yeah, thank you so much.

Great. So, we cannot wait to hear all about your amazing work your company does. But first of all, let's warm up with some food. Sound good?

Sounds great.

Awesome.

Yes, let's do it. So, today is another another WLS first because we always talk about food, right, Fatu? But we don't usually give drinks that much attention. Although we did talk about drinks a little bit last episode. We talked about

what was it? Root beer float

and like the pop rock soda. Was it that what you had?

The pop rock cola. Something like that.

But today is all about drinks. So we're going to give drinks all the attention.

Super.

All right. So Fatu, why don't you get us started and tell us what is one of your favorite drinks?

Oh, I feel like this is such a good question. Um I I feel like I'm always up for a really good smoothie cuz a smoothie just hits the spot. You know, it can be like a quick meal on the go. And I feel like you can't make one wrong, you know? It's like just make sure to get your proportion of like fruits and if you like veggies in there, like maybe a little bit of yogurt if that's your thing. Um I always like to do a little bit of peanut butter um in my smoothies because that's always fantastic. Um but I think apart from smoothies, one juice that I have fallen fell in love with um over the past year or so, which is new to me, is watermelon juice. And it's so easy cuz it's literally just watermelon and you throw it in a blender, but it's so refreshing, especially when it's hot out. Oh my gosh, it's like the best thing ever. And you put a little like sprig of mint at the top. It just makes your day. It's like so perfect.

Fancy with it. Fancy.

Yeah. Listen, and Stephanie.

All right, I will go next. Thank you. I'm like wanting to go make that right now. Um, okay. If I have to go back in time, I live we live in Oregon and you know there is a beautiful place up at Mount Hood, which is the big mountain in Portland. Um, and so there's a beautiful restaurant that overlooks the whole valley, but they serve these fresh huckleberry lemonades.

Oh my lavender.

And I have never had anything so good in my life. And so it really everything is so fresh and crisp. And then you've got this beautiful view of the mountain right out the window. And I just so it takes me back in time, which is why I loved your question because I just thought, "Oh my gosh, I hadn't thought about that in a while, but that sticks in my memory as an amazing dream."

Oh my gosh, you just gave us such a visual right now. Right. And I want to try that. Huckleberry and lavender.

Yes.

Amazing.

Wow. Yeah. No, that was an experience. That wasn't just a drink. That was like,

you know, it was it was an experience.

I love it.

Dave, how about you next? What you got for us?

Yeah. Right. Okay. Well, if I gonna second the motion on the smoothies. Um, I'm world-renowned for my frozen fruit smoothies. Like It's a daily occurrence, honestly. So, it's a little, you know, it's a mixture. We've got a formula down, right? Because we're scientists here, right?

So, we start with a little Gatorade, little Gatorade base, and then frozen bananas, and some kind of

some kind of melon like cantaloupe or honeydew melon,

cherries,

um, strawberries, a little thing of yogurt, and then some fruit that's not frozen toward the top, and then a little smidge of ice cream, vanilla ice cream in there.

We blend that up and it's it's like a frozen mixture. It's bliss. Honestly, you have to try it.

I like that.

We need to do drinks more often because OMG,

we do,

right?

If I got to do a second one, it's probably coffee and chocolate milk. Like, that's my combo. And probably 50/50. And it has to be the right temperature. So, I'm also known for getting up and microwaving that like five times.

Those are my drinks.

I love that. One hot, one cold. I love that.

I know. I know. Well, I got my coffee with me.

Excellent. Thank you. Thank you all. Oh my gosh. I love this food talk. I We need to do drink talk way more often, Fatu, because we've been missing out.

We do. We do.

I'm going to add it to our notes. Yep.

Yes. Yes. Yes. All right, everyone. So, our guests today are Stephanie Ford and Dave Lura, the owners and co-founders of DNA is love. Through this company, they create customized DNAfilled jewelry and other products for their clients. And Dave and Stephanie complement each other very, very well as co-owners since Dave has a background in science with a PhD in biology. And Stephanie has a background in hospice care. So really, it's like Dave, you're the brain, and Stephanie is the heart and soul of the company.

That's a good way to it. Yes.

Well put. Well said.

So Steph, let's start with you. As the heart and soul of the company, can you please share what is the mission and vision of DNA is love?

Oh, I love this question. It can go any which way, but I think when Dave and I originally started this business or talked about this possible idea,

you know, it came at a point that where we were both looking at trying to build something creat creative and something new. Um, I was working in a hospice job that was really meaningful at the time we started talking about this and I just have seen over my experience in this care that you know there have to be different ways we can remember people. Yeah.

Or hold on to their memory.

So I think it was hitting me really hard during this time of watching a dear friend

um go through this and and so when Dave brought up this idea which was so neat and he's had this vision and dream for many many years.

Oh,

that's a fun story. And so bringing it together, I think we just started talking and I thought, you know, could we bring the science? Could we bring the heart? Like the hard science, which I love, but then the heart of holding on to those we love, whether they're passing or whether they're here with us now. It's kind of a living reminder of both people and pets in our liv Oh, I love that. That is such a powerful mission stuff and just timeless, I think, too, right? Just to hold on to the people we love and remember them no matter what phase of life

you're in. Absolutely.

So, it's just I think it's so important to cherish the people in our lives as well as our pets, right? Because we we built strong bonds with our pets. So, definitely timeless and so powerful. So, can you talk a bit about

how you uh go about accomplishing that mission.

If you can tell us more about the different products and services you provide. I know that jewelry is one of the products. I'm thinking necklaces and pendants. Is that about right?

Ah, you're wearing one. Oh my god, that's beautiful.

I know. I'm wearing one. It's gorgeous.

Yes. And and so yeah, so it's it's pretty neat. All of our jewelry, you know, is we can open it and we fill it with the purify. Yeah. Dave has that process down. to a science.

Um, and so we have jewelry, we have picture frames for people who don't necessarily wear jewelry,

which is a really neat option. It's got a little vial that kind of a magnet into the frame

with the DNA. And uh, so we have that and just so many ways you can see on our website of different reminders of people and pets. And so it's fun. And then we engrave each of our pieces. So you have of that personalized product of someone you love. So yeah, it's been a really neat experience as you kind of look around at what people seem to gravitate to and what inspires them and and so that's been really really fun

as we get orders come in and just seeing oh this is really every order is so personal

to us true and you get pictures of whether it's kids or whether it's a dog or cat. Um we've done horses.

Yeah.

Uh and so so just to hear the story behind, you know, the product they select and and so that's really cool and and so yeah. So we have a whole lot of offerings of different things and um and looking to grow and and just see what people want and see what people like. So yeah.

Yeah. Gosh, that is so special, right? It's not just any piece of jewelry. It's like something that's like tied to your heart and like so many experiences. has years and years of experiences behind it. That's incredible.

And that's the cool thing. Like, you know, even if I'm out and about, I'll just touch it and it will just, you know, living reminder truly of, oh, you're with me. You're with me. And so, that's what I love about it. And

yeah, and we have little vials, you know, where we can dry down the DNA and um and then that's just stable. Yeah.

I I have learned so much about DNA, how stable it is. So, it really will last. Yeah. For generates. And what a neat thing to keep in your family. Yeah.

You know, I've just This will last for ever, you know, if you can rehydrate it and rest. So, very cool.

Yeah. No, I really really enjoyed um hearing more about uh what it is that you do at DNA is Love. Um Stephanie, like it honestly has me all in my feelings because I just like it's so I just love how you describe it as something so personal. I almost feel like um and maybe Dave like you you also see this too as scientists. It's like yes, we know what DNA is, you know, and we've heard about it and worked with it forever, but you are right in that it literally is like the essence of a person, right? And I don't even think we think about it in that way and like everyone's DNA is unique. So, it really is what makes you you. And so, yeah, I really really think it's fantastic that you were able to literally bring together the science with, you know, like the love and the care and the intention and make something so beautiful.

Beautiful.

Yes. So Dave, let's hear from you now. So you are the science guy, right?

Yeah, that's right.

So we know that you co-ounded the company with Stephanie and we look forward to hearing the whole sort of Danny is love story and the journey segment of our conversation, but for now, can you talk a bit about your role? at the company and then tell us more about sort of the science that's involved in this work.

Yeah, definitely. Um, well, I mean, this is an as Stephanie mentioned a little bit, this is an idea that's been in my brain for a long long time. Um, you know, I've been working in the DNA field for couple decades, right? And I um, we'll get to that later in the journey part probably, right? For sure. But um,

this is an idea I've had since I had small kids, you know, and now They're adults and uh after college and on out on their own in the world, so they're doing great. And um but I've had this idea of you know what can we do with this DNA and like you said but like having it just the personal when you have your own DNA, your family's DNA at hand, it really feels a little different. It feels kind of special and um I have the DNA from my mom and dad and they've passed on. So you know that's something I hold on to and cherish, you know, to this day. And even now one thing we can do with uh the DNA is love is we can put uh the DNA in different combinations together. So it can be different people mixed together actually have come up with some three generational pieces where I have some of my parents' DNA, mine and then my kids in the same

picture frame. So that's amazing.

That's something really cool we can do. So there's lots of possibility. You can almost be creative with it at the same time but yet it's totally science based. Yeah.

Yeah. So, as a scientist, I'm thinking is it DNA extraction and then is it sort of in liquid form or is it Let's talk about a little bit about the science behind it.

Yeah. You want to talk about the process a little bit? Yeah, let's do it for sure. One thing is we've we're capitalizing on what's known and what's done in the field. So, DNA extraction. Yes. And these days it's

gotten a lot easier than it was back when I started, you know, doing it and it was kind of labor. ious and tedious a little bit. Now it's a little bit kit based and um we're making it very simple for people. We start with just a cheek swab. So um

and we have we have it all packaged up. So we have a mailer. It's kind of a three-way shipping, right? So we would send you order online. We would ship you a collection kit that has a tube with a solution in it, a swab, which you would swab the inside of a cheek for about 30 seconds from a person or a pet, whoever samples coming from. You break off a swab, seal it in the tube, put in the mailer, it comes back to us at the lab.

At that point, um, we're doing a DNA extraction on it. And, um, we use a magnetic particle separation technology. So, we first break open the cells, slice the cells open, and then we basically there's chemically treated magnetic particles that'll bind to the DNA. Um, with the magnetic rack, we can then hold that up against the side of the tube on that stage and then we can do some washing steps to remove everything else

that we don't want in the process you know the cell membrane the proteins the lipids all that stuff wash it away so we end up and then at the last stage we have an illusion solution that lets the DNA off the magnets

and what what's left is some really really purified highly purified DNA at the end of the process so

then we do a little more we take it a step further no one's even really thought about this. So, it's a great process, right? It works all the time.

Yeah.

Basically, right? But we do an additional step in that we confirm that there is DNA in every sample

and that's by uh real-time PCR. And in that we're just doing a very generic test to make sure there's um mamalian DNA in each sample just to make sure the collection went well

and everybody's sample worked. So, we want to confirm that and we actually get an amount like we And so I have a quantitation

as part of that. So we can tell you when we're done with the process that you got 500 nanogs of DNA from your sample.

That's amazing.

And we'll fill that up and then we will package that up, put that back and send that along with the certificate that has a photo and has the amount. It has, you know, DNA in there and the product. So it's

that's amazing.

We have the process nailed down really really.

Right. So but it's not DNA. in solution right it's like desiccated

um it is yeah it actually is it's liquid DNA at the end so there's two things we can do one generally we will I will fill it in um in a liquid form

ah

in the in the jewelry itself or a glass vial and so it comes back in liquid you know if it dries down over time over years five 10 years

the DNA is still going to be there it's just going to adhere to the side of the material

right

um As Steph was saying, for a long-term storage, if somebody really wants something that we know is going to last, we could also dry it down into a vial.

Yeah.

And then it could be rehydrated somewhere down the road. So,

Wow. It's amazing.

And it's it's, you know, it's just pure liquid. You can't say anything. You know that, right? So,

yeah. Right. Right. I just think it's such a unique way to think to use DNA. Like, I mean, I've used those kids, right? We have to both of us, right, for research, but the I think to take that DNA and then make it into something so special as jewelry. Like I don't think I ever would have thought anything like that in a million years. So that's that's phenomenal.

Well, thank you. I really appreciate that. Yeah. I don't know. Um you know, when I started the whole way way I started with family DNA was I was doing graduate research in a lab in Denver and um I was looking at DNA markers for identification like human identification. Okay. And um I needed to check these markers and see if they really were inherited and could really tell people apart, tell family members, you know, were apart. So over a holiday, I went to the east coast where my family is and got DNA samples from everybody. Um

and so I was kind of, you know, it's that research project where how do you get the samples to start with? So

you get your own family samples, right? Because they're available. go from there. And then I thought, what do I do with these DNA samples? And for the longest time I thought of putting him into something, you know, and I even thought about jewelry, but it wasn't really till I met Stephanie and she kind of brought the heart to this really and just the meaning behind it. So, she gave me the, you know, she gave us the inspiration, the meaning to to combine these things together and turn it into what it is today.

I really love that. I feel like um I feel like Dave and Stephanie, like you're idea is like just like light years ahead, you know? Like honestly, I feel like you guys are living in like 2050 or something and we're we're still here in like 2025.

That's great. Yeah, it feels like that sometimes, right? But uh

yeah.

Oh my god.

And it is it's a new concept. It's a new idea and I think people are warming up to it, you know, and and there are feelings around DNA and all the things, you know, but I think we really come from a place of hold on to your loved ones and and just keep that memory alive and and there really is something to the blueprint of some it's so unique literally I say we it's one of a kind gift literally

because we are all so unique and and so that's what I find so beautiful about it is just

yeah I have one in my father whom I was so lucky to get because he was in the hospital you know and I just thought Oh, I need to get this done, you know, because you think you have all the time in the world and then you realize, oh, maybe. And so to be able to have a piece of him, you know, with me at all times is so meaningful and and so yeah, so I am grateful to Dave and to his daughters years ago. This is kind of a fun story, but they drew out uh DNA jewelry way back when they were little with markers and and they had little you know, they had a little necklace and they had a little ring and they had a picture frame and they had little crocs, you know, like things you could put DNA into, which is when I saw that, I thought, do it, do it. And so that's how it started of just taking that little drawing that they did years and years and years ago

and then just make that a reality. So,

love it.

Yeah. Yeah, I know. I think we even have a picture of that on our website.

We do. We do. Yes.

So, that was where the vision, you know, how like a vision starts but it sometimes takes

you know years or decades to really come to fruition and that's kind of exactly what happened in this case.

Yeah. Yeah. We had someone our last guest actually was the exact same thing.

Okay. So for the this next question we'd love to hear from both of you. What do you love most about what you do and what was one of your favorite projects that you've worked on so far? Great question.

Steph, do you want to get us started?

Yes. I mean, I will go ahead and go. What I love about this, for me especially, I love the stories behind it. And so that's been such a neat part of this journey for me of meeting the most incredible people and then being having the honor. Like that's what it feels like of such an honor to be able to do this to preserve

their most sacred thing really of um you know just their pet or their children or you know I I there's so many good ones we've

um tear if I talk about it. Uh but I one that stands out my my girlfriend of 45 years we went to preschool together.

Oh my gosh.

Um she decided to preserve her children and herself and her husband

and and it was really

really neat to watch the process. of you know Dave doing all that he does and and what I appreciate about Dave is he's very thorough and very precise and a scientist through and through um which which I'm so grateful for because it really is such a clean process and and so to watch her my friend that I've known for 45 years and then to see the how this came to be and I'm like this is for her this is you know just who she is and so so that was really neat We we did a horse um for someone a young woman who loves her horse is her life, you know, truly and her best friend

and and that was that was a really neat project. I you know, we got the sample back and it was so dirty because, you know, you're swatching it inside of a horse,

you know, I'm like, "Oh." But, you know, Dave did it and cleaned it and and it worked and and it was really really cool at the end. to be a and I think she wrote a little story about it. Um, but just to be able to give that to her, you know, and and to have that essence. Her horse's name was Luna

and so to have the essence of Luna with her at all times, you know, and so so that was neat to, you know, hear her feedback about that and and so those are the tender moments that I just think, oh, I love what we do. I love what we do. And if we can bring that kind of connection to people.

Yeah.

Then just worth it. It's worth all of all of the hardships of starting up a business. Yeah.

You know, it's it's worth it.

Yeah. All right. Beautiful. Stephanie.

Oh, I know. Can you tell I'm passionate about this?

Dave, your turn.

Definitely. I mean, for me, the most fun part has been seeing this all come together, you know, from that like photo and just from a vision in my head for so long that just kind of sat dormant. It was one of those things that um you know, you just put aside because real jobs come through, right? And you're supporting your family and just time goes by. And so really just to bring it to life, you know, um Stephanie and I combining this and then, you know, like she said, it's kind of the stories behind it that are so important to people, you know. In fact, there's kind of like a sister business in this. Stephanie has even spun off a little bit where she calls it Life Stories with Steph. and she actually will do a a video storytelling too. So, she's kind of a master storyteller. So, just to see all all the pieces come into place for me, all the things we ordered that we can fill and um we source some beautiful products. And then for me, you know, as a scientist also, you know, I love like dialing in the process, right? So, I feel like I have it nailed down. I could probably wake up from a dead sleep and just do this by memory. So, that's really fun. Just feel like I got it and then it's really successful. Just to see it, you know, you know it's going to work, but just to see it come through

is um is feels good. So

very fulfilling. So you've perfected the process.

The process is perfected. Yeah. You know um with help. It's funny because you know science has evolved right over a couple decades and um you know it used to be um you know a little tricky to do extractions and now so it's more almost taking the knowledge that's out there and these kits that are available and you know the PCR primers that are out there and having the instruments and things the lab equipment to do it. Um but it's just kind of putting it all together and seeing it you know with your hands come through and also it's been really gratifying to see um people's reaction to it. So when we send things to people we've saw some people that have really been thankful and um you know friends, family members, but also people that have ordered um I've had some really good feedback for us. So that's really gratifying, I got to say. So

yeah. Well, why don't we jump into feedback right now since you've already started us off. Tell us about some of the feedback that the company has received.

Oh, wow. Yes. I that's the beautiful part, you know, because you really I think Dave and I that is so important to us to make sure every sample is cared for that because we understand the nature of this and so so so to do the whole process you feel like you get to know someone, you know, even if you've never spoken to them in your life, you just get this opportunity to do this beautiful thing and and so then to be able to package it up and then send it out and then to get the email back of just thank you so much. You have no idea, you know, and that Yeah, that's where I'm just like crying my eyes out and this truly and and just to hear the piece of mind it brings people I you know we've gotten feedback of every time I look at it I'm at peace knowing I have this part of someone I love truly you know if anything were to happen to them there's something about having this

yeah

who they are

their literal blueprint on this planet you know and to me that's so fascinating I don't have a huge science background but I just think that's fascinating that we are that unique and that different and so So to be able to hear about that piece it brings people the joy um you know the picture frame is popular and so I think when people just have that sitting out with the little vial you know with the engraved names of their family members and they you know we've done multiple mixtures of DNA in one vial you know and so to know they're all in there together there's just something to me about that and and so we do get a lot of feedback of just peace of mind

peace of mind always having them with you even if they park even if they move ahead on their journey of life you know it's just like okay thank you and and and it's just a thoughtful remembrance I think of having them close

beautiful

yeah

okay so let's move on to some of the challenges now and Dave I'm gonna pick on you with this one

what do you find most challenging about your work and running this kind of business.

Yeah, I I would definitely say um kind of what we talked about earlier. You know, Fatu mentioned I think just how unique this is. And you guys mentioned like we're a little maybe Jetson, right? Futuristic or whatever.

And that's a double-edged sword, right? That's good in that, you know, we're doing something novel and unique, but it's also a little hard to spread the word, right? So, that's been our biggest challenge is kind of marketing and getting the word out there and um to people so they understand what it is we're doing. Um you know, we're all also so I feel like we're just giving people an opportunity to do something they wouldn't necessarily be able to do for themselves, right?

Yeah.

Very few people are scientists would be able to get a sample, do a DNA extraction. So, we're kind of turning it around for people and doing it as a service. Um

we're also we're all about people's privacy and um you know, we we do know people trust us completely

with their samples. We're not doing any other kind of testing. We don't have people log in. We don't collect any data. You know, there's been controversy with DNA with all that kind of stuff. We're not we just are turning around samples,

putting everything into the products and then, you know, carefully biologically disposing of the rest of even the tubes and the tips and things like that that we use.

So, um

yeah, so that's been the biggest challenge is just and that's where We appreciate talking to you two. It's a huge help to help us spread the good word and get the word out to people. Um, but we're we're gaining on it. We're getting traction. It's, you know, it's slower than we would have loved to ramp it up, but we're we're gaining on it. So, that's that's for us that's for me that's been the biggest challenge.

Yeah. Slow and steady wins the race though, right? So,

yeah,

it's beautiful just to see that vision come true, I'm sure. Right. I think so. And yeah, to see it, you know, to see it growing is is satisfying. Yeah.

Yeah. So, just out of curiosity, since there's DNA involved, are there like regulations that you guys have to follow and all that, collecting DNA from people and what have you?

Uh, you know, just really no. Um, nothing legal ease. We do have a a pledge on our website. We do promise like our reputation is behind this. So, 100% We care and we treat everything with respect, uh, utmost privacy and but, you know, really, it's almost like we're a family member or friend. We're just turning this around for people and getting the DNA extracted, putting it in something that's going to last

and stand the test of time. So, we're doing that as carefully, you know, as honestly as we can. And we, everything in our whole company, our reputation is staked on that. We will always do that that's priority number one for us always. So

yeah. Okay. So for this last question, let's hear from both of you because I'm sure you each have a unique perspective. So what advice would you give to someone who feels like they have a great idea and they want to start a unique company like yours with sort of a strong science component? What would you say to that person?

Why don't we start with you first, Dave?

Yeah, I would say, you know, do your homework first really thoroughly, right? So, that's researching things, you know, beyond just a Google search. Try to find

other companies like look for competitors out there potentially and see what they're doing, uh, good and bad, and then what can you improve on, you know, and, um, put your own vision into it. So, um,

I would say just do your homework thoroughly and also You know, I mean, we've learned, we're learning on the fly. We learn every single day from our experience and people, you know.

Yeah.

If id had to do it over again from scratch, I might not have stocked up with so much inventory on things and ordered a little more as we go,

you know, but those are the logistical things that you learn, right? Um I mean, these global companies, they didn't start and have it all nailed down on day one. Like you, it's a growing thing. It's a learning experience. So, we're learning. and we're adapting and we're,

you know, we're doing so we're doing great and, you know, I couldn't ask for a better business partner than Stephanie on all this. She's really,

she also does so much of the behind thescenes stuff, the graphic design and the website and the packaging and

she brings a love to it all. So, um, we are a really good combination of the science and the it's really we are kind of the name DNA is love and we kind of combine all that. So, we're we're proud of that every day.

Yeah.

Steph,

no. And thank you, Dave. And I I echo that. You know, we we truly came together with a vision of how can we bring connection to this world. I think that was our bottom line. You know, good just goodness and connection. And I think DNA is the perfect thing for that. Um

but yeah, my advice would be if you've got an idea, go for it. Go for it. You know, and even if sit back and think, oh well this or that or that. And I think we talk ourselves out of these things that we know deep down are, oh, this could change the world. This could do something. And um and so that would be my thought, you know, of go for it. And it's hard. It's hard daily. You're just kind of, okay, how do we keep going? How do we get the word out there? And and some days it can be very overwhelming of just, oh, this feels like a lot. Yeah.

And discouraging, you know, and then you get the of a beautiful email or something that comes through and you think, "Yay, okay, let's keep going." But I think bottom line, if you've got that idea, run with it. And if it's in your heart,

believe in yourself and just go.

Yeah.

And you know, who knows where it will lead. So even if it's not this one thing, it could stop into something else. And and then you end up meeting the coolest people ever, like you. truly is just meeting really beautiful people all throughout the world and just saying, "Wow, worth it for that." So, so yeah, that would be my advice.

Yeah, beautiful. I love how the two of you your advice are so different but so representative of who you are. Like Stephanie really are the heart and then Dave is like the hard client. He's like, "Do your research. Go past the Google search."

Yeah. Yeah, right.

That isn't everything we do. It's Dave is very This is how it's done. And I'm like, why? Like it.

I love it.

But I'm grateful. I am so grateful.

Yeah. I feel like the dynamic that we're seeing between you um Stephanie and Dave is definitely something that we've seen in some of our other um um stories that we had from entrepreneurs who are working with like co-founders, you know, like you have to have that balance and I think that is also key, right, in making this a successful endeavor. So, that's really neat to see.

Oh, thank you. Absolutely.

So, Dave, Stephanie, thanks again so much for chatting with us today. We loved having you.

Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. It's been such a joy.

Yes. Thanks. It's been a pleasure to talk with you today.

Excellent. So, before Before we jump into the journey segment of our conversation, can you please share how people can reach you and reach your company DNA is love if they would like to order a product to preserve their loved ones?

Yes. Um dnaislove.com is our web address and that's where you can find everything about us. Basically, uh info on the process, uh info on the products that we have available and um more info we and how to contact us. So that's the good place to go to find us.

Excellent. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay. So, we will be sure to include that link in the show notes so listeners can find it. Thanks everyone. Okay. So, we'd like to say thank you to our listeners for supporting the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, and share. To learn more about our guest journey, be sure to listen to the next Journey episode. And you can reach out to us by email at lovesciencepodcast@gmail.com. Please send any questions, comments about the show, or suggestions for guests that you'd like to hear on the show. We'd love to hear from you. Until next time...