If you’re a current or aspiring sauna-preneur, I think you’re really going to enjoy today’s episode. We’ve brought Meg and Mike Garrow on the show to talk about founding DRYYP sauna in New Haven, Connecticut. The founders were inspired by Irish sauna culture when they decided to bring DRYYP to life, so we also talk about the rise of modern sauna culture in Ireland in addition to their journey to sauna-entrepreneurship. Accessibility and community partnerships is a key part of our conversation too, so you don’t want to miss this interview.
DRYYP is a wood-fired sauna experience based at Wellness Park, a new community wellness venture in New Haven, Connecticut, created by Jess and Jamal Robinson.
Wellness culture here in America is very elevated and very Sojo Spa…It costs ten euro, twelve euro to go take a thirty, forty-five minute sauna in Ireland. And I think that’s a big part of what we want to get to is being able to create this as an accessible space for anyone.
- Mike Garrow, Co-founder of DRYYP
Inspired by the Irish sauna culture Mike and Meg experienced abroad, DRYYP is built around small-group sessions that bring people together through heat, rest, and social connection. For Mike, that inspiration started while living in Dublin and playing basketball for UCD Marian, where post-practice sauna became as much about community as it was about recovery.
After seeing Ireland’s mobile and coastal sauna scene continue to grow, Mike and Meg brought that feeling home to Connecticut. Through DRYYP’s home at Wellness Park, they are helping create a shared space for sauna, movement, recovery, and community in New Haven.
In this episode, we cover…
Irish sauna culture— its origins, why it’s exploding right now with mobile and coastal saunas, and what American sauna culture can learn from it
Meg & Mike’s journey to sauna entrepreneurship
Building an accessible sauna culture in Connecticut
How collaborations and community partnerships can foster growth for new sauna businesses
For any aspiring sauna-preneur, you’ll be inspired by Mike and Meg’s entrepreneurship journey. And you’ll learn some great advice on building a sauna model that works— one that is sustainable, accessible, and engages actively with the community and local partners.
This episode also features:
Rachael McGrath, Research Affiliate at The London Interdisciplinary School and a published author in Social Science & Medicine (Newson et al., 2026)
Ian Whelan, Chief Operating Officer at Fad Saoil Saunas
Book your sauna session at DRYYP here!
Follow along for the last events and programming at DRYYP and Wellness Park’s Instagram pages.
This episode was edited by Lila Woodbridge.
Badii offers passionate and curious bathers and spa-goers access to news, education, and recommendations about global bathing culture.
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Today’s member shout out goes to Ryan C from the US. Thank you for supporting Badii Talk, Ryan!
Tschüss,
Sarah
P.S. The Lab is back! Join Nell Waters and me for an 8-week virtual bathing culture lab—The Business of Sweat. Registration is now open for our fall cohort. Learn more. On July 21st, we’re hosting a free Q&A session so you can meet us and get your questions answered. Register here.
