From Side Hustle to Hot Business: Jackie Stratton, Cedar Grove Sauna

Guides Gone Wild

The last few weeks I’ve enjoyed checking in with some of my guests from WAY BACK - like, 2020-2021 - to find out what they’re up to now, and I've been reveling in all the growth and expansion (and sometimes pivoting!) that’s occurred since our initial conversations.
Today is no exception - I’m checking back in with Jackie Stratton, a registered Maine guide who featured prominently in the early days of the podcast. Jackie first shared her guiding origin story in January 2021, and she was one of the awesome panelists for our "Maine Guide Q&A" in May of 2021.
But fast forward 2+ years. While Jackie's interest in the outdoors hasn’t waned, her business interests have completely refocused as a result of the overwhelming success of what started out as a side hustle, to keep some cash coming in during the off season.
Cedar Grove Sauna is now actually THREE saunas: two anchored in beautiful spots on Jackie and her partner Nate’s sprawling homestead property in Montville, Maine; and a third that’s a modified horse trailer, that Jackie tows around mid-coast Maine and plants for days at a time in spectacular waterfront spots.
Jackie and I talk about the explosion of her sauna business, how it’s impacted her guiding, and why she spent six weeks in Europe this summer in various states of undress. How’s that for a teaser?!? Listen in for all the steamy stuff!
You're going to want to take advantage of one of Cedar Grove Sauna’s Summer Tuesdays, or be among the first to know about the where/when of Jackie’s mobile sauna season coming up, so you absolutely MUST sign up for the Cedar Grove Sauna email list over at CedarGroveSauna.com.
And of course, a few more hot links from our convo:

• Trish, Paula & Jen at Cedar Grove Sauna - listen in!
• Jackie’s Chicken Barn on Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/43701826
• International Bath Academy (Lithuania): https://bath.academy/en
• Spinney’s: https://www.spinneysmaine.com/ (Phippsburg, ME)
• Glidden Point Oyster Farms: https://www.gliddenpoint.com/ (Edgecomb, ME)
• Craignair Inn: https://craignair.com/ (Spruce Head, ME)
• Steelhouse: https://www.rocklandsteelhouse.com/ (Rockland, ME)
• One source for Lithuanian linen bath towels - no dyeing required!

Cedar Grove Sauna - Instagram @cedagrovesauna - sign up for the email list!

Chapter

1. The Evolution of Cedar Grove Sauna (00:00:00)

2. Sauna Business Expansion and European Adventures (00:04:55)

3. Summer Closing, Community Impact, Nudity, Saunas (00:19:15)

4. Finding Sauna Locations in Maine (00:27:12)

5. Mobile Saunas in Maine Winters (00:32:58)

6. Find Joy, Reduce Stress (00:38:54)

7. Sauna Gear and Towels (00:42:25)