From Loss to Wellness: Katelyn Burke on Honoring Her Mother’s Legacy Through Community and Infrared Therapy

In this emotional and inspiring episode of the SEAM Podcast, host Amy Cohen Epstein sits down with Katelyn Burke, owner of Perspire Sauna Studio in Brentwood, to discuss how the loss of her mother to cervical cancer reshaped her life and fueled her commitment to wellness. Katelyn shares how her personal experience with grief and caregiving led her to explore preventive health, clean living, and holistic recovery—values she now brings to her community through the healing power of infrared sauna therapy. While the Lynne Cohen Foundation advocates for preventive care in partnership with trusted medical providers, this conversation offers a window into how lifestyle-based wellness practices—when used responsibly and alongside medical advice—can play a powerful role in self-care, emotional healing, and physical recovery.

Amy Cohen Epstein:
Hi, Katelyn Burke. I'm so excited to have you. You're the owner of one of the Perspire Sauna Studios, right?

Katelyn Burke:
Yeah, I’m a franchise owner. I own and operate a location in the South Bay—South Torrance, Redondo area. And I have our Brentwood location under construction right now.

Amy:
Okay, so two locations. I only knew about Brentwood, which is in West LA—that’s awesome. I love talking about all things sweaty and getting heated from the inside out. It feels really good, and there are so many health benefits we’ll get into.

Another reason you're here is because, like too many women I’ve talked to on this podcast, you lost your mom to cancer—cervical cancer, right?

Katelyn:
Yes.

Amy:
Can we talk about that a little bit? And how that experience inspired this wellness journey?

Katelyn:
Yeah, of course. You nailed it—that is the inspiration. My mom passed away about nine years ago. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer around age 57—pretty young.

Amy:
How did they find it? Was it during a regular gynecology visit?

Katelyn:
No. She had a lump. I remember her showing it to me right before Thanksgiving. I was 28 at the time. I told her, “You need to get imaging done immediately.” She went the next week, saw her primary care doctor, and was referred out. But it took a while to determine what kind of cancer it was.

Amy:
Do you know why?

Katelyn:
It was in her uterine lining, and it had also spread to her lymphatic system. The doctors couldn’t quite figure it out at first. It took about two months to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. Unfortunately, by that time, surgery wasn’t an option. She had to go through advanced chemo and radiation. It all moved quickly—11 months.

Amy:
That’s horrible. I’m really sorry.

Katelyn:
Thank you. It’s upsetting because cervical cancer is often very treatable when caught early. But like many women, she ignored some of the signs. And the healthcare system didn’t help either. At the time, regular pap smears weren’t being recommended if previous ones had been normal.

Amy:
That happened to me recently! I moved and saw a new gynecologist who came highly recommended. I have increased risk for ovarian cancer, so I’m very particular. The appointment went great, but at the end, when I was ready for a pap smear, she said, “Well, when was your last one?” I said, “A year ago.” She asked if it was normal, and I said yes. She told me we could wait three years. I said, “Yeah, no. We’re doing it now.”

Katelyn:
It’s outrageous. You really have to fight just to get annual exams. Sometimes you end up saying something like, “My partner hasn’t been faithful,” just to get the test—whether it’s true or not.

Amy:
Right? And even with your history and being on a fertility journey, they still hesitated?

Katelyn:
Yes. My gynecologist said, “We don’t have to do a full pap smear.” I said, “That’s not what I asked for.” I’m not asking for an MRI—I just want the standard care that should be routine.

Amy:
There’s such a lack of awareness. And even more frustrating is that doctors aren’t always educated on these issues. We’re lucky to live in LA with access to great care, but in other parts of the country, people don’t have that.

Katelyn:
Exactly. People in rural areas are driving hours to see a doctor. And even then, their provider may be using outdated protocols.

Amy:
And many women don’t even see a gynecologist until they’re trying to conceive—or not again after menopause.

Katelyn:
Yes. And my mom had a history of abnormal cells in her twenties. It came back, but she didn’t push for more care. If you’ve ever had abnormal results, you should advocate for an annual exam.

Amy:
Totally. And speaking of advocacy—let’s talk about Perspire. What made you want to bring this kind of wellness space to your community?

Katelyn:
In my early twenties, I had tons of stress that showed up physically. I had to change my diet, start exercising, and find ways to feel good again. I was introduced to Perspire back when they only had one location. I loved it. People left feeling better than when they came in.

Amy:
So how does it work?

Katelyn:
We offer 40-minute private infrared sauna sessions in your own suite. You can customize everything—from the red light therapy to what you watch or listen to. Our saunas are equipped with medical-grade red light, so you’re getting two therapies in one session.

Amy:
And you just launched a new contrast therapy, right?

Katelyn:
Yes, a cold “snow” shower—45 degrees for 45 seconds—after your sauna. It activates cold shock proteins to reduce inflammation and boost cell recovery. It’s optional, of course.

Amy:
What do people say when they leave?

Katelyn:
They feel amazing. One woman came in barely able to walk due to a gas leak poisoning. After regular sessions, she healed and could come on her own. She felt renewed.

Amy:
That’s powerful. And the science behind infrared is that it raises your core temperature, right?

Katelyn:
Yes. It penetrates about 1.5 inches into your skin, mimicking a fever and pushing out toxins. Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air, this heats you from the inside out.

Amy:
How does it make you feel?

Katelyn:
In the morning, it energizes me. At night, it helps me sleep. It’s a clean sweat—very detoxifying.

Amy:
I’ve heard that from women post-treatment. They say it helps their body feel “clean” again, like they’re flushing out what they’ve been through.

Katelyn:
Yes. Eventually, I’d love to work with medical professionals to incorporate infrared therapy as a recovery tool—post-chemo, after surgery, for autoimmune conditions…

Amy:
The source of so much illness is inflammation. And anything that helps bring that down in a safe way—alongside medical guidance—has real value.

Katelyn:
I used to have terrible acid reflux, almost to the point of ulcers. I healed it through diet, hydration, and lifestyle changes.

Amy:
Hydration is huge. That comes up again and again in our conversations—especially from holistic practitioners who still support medical treatment but advocate for foundational care like water, food, sleep.

Katelyn:
Exactly. And we’re seeing more people, especially post-COVID, prioritize self-care. Perspire stayed open during the pandemic, and it gave people a safe outlet to focus on wellness.

Amy:
That’s important. Purpose is part of health too—feeling like you’re doing something that matters.

Katelyn:
Absolutely. I donate sessions all the time—to schools, fundraisers, you name it. I want people to experience what we do. I recently had a client who stopped coming for a while. She came back and told me, “I really felt it when I stopped. I needed to return.”

Amy:
It’s lifestyle. Like brushing your teeth—it’s something you keep doing to stay well.

Katelyn:
Yes, and if it becomes part of your routine—even once a week—it can make a big difference. We also accept HSA/FSA and are on ClassPass. It’s accessible.

Amy:
That’s amazing. And I think what you’re doing—honoring your mom’s legacy by helping others—is so meaningful. Not everyone chooses to walk that path.

Katelyn:
Thank you. Everyone handles grief differently. For me, it helps to focus on purpose and make a positive impact.

Amy:
I often say grief is like a rock in your pocket. It’s always there, but honoring the memory of the person you lost helps lighten the weight.

Katelyn:
That’s a beautiful way of putting it. Some days it’s heavy, some days it’s not. But I try to stay grounded in why I started this journey.

Amy:
Well, thank you, Katelyn. I’m really grateful for this conversation and for everything you’re doing.

Katelyn:
Thank you for having me.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.