Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Jackie Harding, the brilliant entrepreneur behind Ovry—the Canadian company that's revolutionizing pregnancy testing one tiny strip at a time. From peeing on ketone strips to building a business that challenges Big Pregnancy Test's ridiculous markups, Jackie shares her journey of turning personal frustration into a sustainable, accessible solution that's changing how we think about reproductive health products.
Jackie opens up about her "strange, non-traditional" journey from business school to tree planting, construction, and mill work before finding her calling in reproductive health. Her diverse background in project management turned out to be the perfect training ground for launching a medical device company.
Living with factor five leiden meant Jackie couldn't take most hormonal birth control, leading to recurring pregnancy anxiety and those mortifying trips to buy overpriced tests while hoping not to run into her boyfriend's mom. Sound familiar? Jackie turned this universal experience into a business opportunity.
The brilliant "aha!" moment when Jackie realized pregnancy tests should work like ketone strips—small, simple, and accessible. She discovered that hospitals and doctors' offices were already using strip format tests, but nobody was marketing them directly to consumers who desperately needed better options.
Jackie exposes the exploitation happening in pharmacy aisles everywhere: Clear Blue and First Response charge $25 for a single test that costs them less than 50 cents to manufacture. They're counting on vulnerable women assuming expensive equals accurate—but that's not how Health Canada approval works.
Learn about Ovry's at-home male fertility test that detects the SP10 protein in sperm to identify potential concentration issues. Jackie explains why this preliminary screening tool is crucial for couples who want to identify potential barriers early, without the stigma and barriers of clinical testing.
The hilarious story of Jackie and her co-founder Christina both getting pregnant around the same time—including the moment Christina gave Jackie an Ovry pregnancy test to announce her pregnancy, not knowing Jackie was already secretly pregnant too. Plus, Jackie's honest take on how motherhood has made her "wildly more productive" in shorter time windows.
Jackie's long-term vision goes way beyond pregnancy tests. She's working toward transforming Ovry into a cooperative model where consumers become owners, ensuring basic reproductive health products are sold at transparent, fair prices rather than exploitative markups.
00:00-05:30: Introduction and Ovry's Mission – Canadian-made reproductive health products that don't exploit women
05:31-12:45: Jackie's Origin Story – From factor five leiden to frustrated pharmacy runs to business breakthrough
12:46-18:20: The Strip Test Revolution – Why smaller, simpler, and multiple-per-box changes everything
18:21-25:15: Exposing Big Pregnancy Test – The shocking truth about markups and marketing manipulation
25:16-32:40: Male Fertility Matters Too – Breaking down the science and stigma around at-home male fertility testing
32:41-38:55: Building Sustainable Business – Manufacturing in Canada, reducing waste, and giving back
38:56-44:20: Motherhood and Entrepreneurship – Navigating babies, business growth, and retail distribution
44:21-49:30: The Co-op Vision – Reimagining how we think about essential health products
49:31-52:15: Simple Songs and Gratitude – Jackie's theme song choice and what keeps her grounded
Website: myovry.ca
Instagram: @myovry
TikTok: @myovry
Email Jackie directly: jackie@myovry.com
Where to find Ovry products:
Special Programs:
Website: blueberrytherapy.ca
Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference - May 8th, 2026
"Simple Song" by The Shins – A song about gratitude, appreciating everyday things, and finding sanctuary in home and loved ones. Just like Ovry's mission to simplify the complex experience of having ovaries, Jackie's chosen song reflects her commitment to making reproductive health more accessible, less wasteful, and fundamentally simpler.
This episode will make you question every overpriced pregnancy test you've ever bought and inspire you to support businesses that actually give a damn about women's experiences. Plus, you'll never look at ketone strips the same way again.
