Richmond’s Wellness Movement, Rest Culture & Community Spaces: Inside RVA's Rest Fest #43

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.