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Learn more and book a session:
https://pyresauna.com
Use code VERAHOUSE for 15% off

Follow Pyre on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pyre_sauna

In this episode, we sit down with Julien Robert and Wes McLaughlin, founders of Pyre Sauna — a new social wellness concept in Richmond, Virginia built around wood-fired sauna, cold plunge, and intentional community.

Pyre is not a traditional gym or spa. It’s a tech-free space designed to help people slow down, disconnect, and reconnect — with themselves and with others.

We talk about the rapid growth of Richmond, how modern life has made people more disconnected than ever, and why spaces like Pyre are starting to emerge as a response.

Julien and Wes share the origin story behind Pyre, from a sauna experience in Charlottesville to traveling internationally and studying bathhouse culture across Europe. They explain how ancient sauna traditions are being adapted into a modern, community-driven experience here in Richmond.

We also get into the real benefits of sauna and cold plunge — not just physical recovery, but mental clarity, emotional regulation, and what they call “capacity building.”

This episode covers:

• Why Richmond is craving more intentional third spaces
• The difference between social connection and being around people
• How sauna and cold plunge impact dopamine, stress, and overall wellbeing
• Why productivity culture is working against us
• The role of breathwork and guided sessions
• The history of sauna and why this is not a trend
• How Pyre is building a social wellness club in Richmond

Pyre is officially open including sauna sessions, cold plunges, guided classes, and social events.

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

For Earth Day we want to share a reminder that a lot of what we own still has value — and small decisions like donating or shopping secondhand can have a real impact on our local Richmond community.

Learn more about Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia:
https://goodwillvirginia.org

Visit your local Goodwill location:
https://goodwillvirginia.org/location-finder/

We took on a challenge to reset our wardrobes using only Goodwill right here in Richmond — but what started as a simple experiment quickly turned into a deeper look at sustainability, secondhand fashion, and the real impact of donating and thrifting in our local community.

After clearing out our closets and donating everything we no longer wear, we visited one of Goodwill’s largest locations in Central Virginia to see what actually happens behind the scenes. From intake and sorting to how items make it back onto the floor, we got a full look at the lifecycle of donated goods.

We also sat down with Laura Faison, Chief Communications Officer for Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia, to talk about the bigger picture — including workforce development, job training programs, and how every donation and purchase directly supports individuals facing barriers to employment here in Richmond.

Then we put it to the test.

We went into the store with a plan to build complete outfits from scratch using only what we could find — challenging ourselves to be intentional, resourceful, and step outside of our usual habits.

This episode covers:

• Thrifting in Richmond and the reality of secondhand shopping
• The environmental impact of clothing waste and overconsumption
• How Goodwill supports workforce development in Central Virginia
• What actually happens after you donate your clothes
• Whether it’s possible to rebuild a wardrobe using only thrifted pieces

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri

Got thoughts? Throw them at us by sending a text here

RSVP for Richmond's Rest Fest:

https://www.rvarestfest.com

In today's episode we’re joined by Rick Plautz and Lindsay Hess, the team behind Rest Fest—a Richmond-based wellness festival bringing together yoga, breathwork, sound healing, and recovery-focused experiences into one open, community-driven environment.

We talk through what Rest Fest actually is, why it operates on a pay-what-you-can model, the intention behind creating a sober space, and why more people are starting to look for experiences that offer something deeper than the typical social scene.

This isn’t just about wellness.

It’s about where the culture is heading—and what Richmond might be starting to need more of.

In this episode:

• What Rest Fest is and how the event is structured
• The rise of wellness culture in Richmond
• Why the festival is fully sober
• Pay-what-you-can and making wellness more accessible
• The types of practitioners and experiences involved
• Why people struggle to slow down and rest
• Creating social spaces that aren’t centered around alcohol
• The role of community in building events like this
• What’s next for Rest Fest

Quick interjection to invite you to Vera House Studios. If you are a local Richmond business, entrepreneur, brand owner, or service provider—and you know you need to create better content to get your products and services in front of the right people—we can help.

Support the show

Get more info about our studio here.

This podcast is produced by Vera House — a creative club and premium media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion local brands, creative expression, rva culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern businesses.

Follow the movement:

instagram.com/verahouse.co

youtube.com/@verahousepod

verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

instagram.com/mykemetzger

instagram.com/planetperri