How Holistic Healing, Social Connection, and Purpose Shape Our Health: A Conversation with Nurse and Wellness Advisor Jules Timms Robertson

In this SEAM Podcast episode, host Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with Jules Timms Robertson, RN, the Wellness Advisor at Saltgrass Spa in Savannah, Georgia, about how intentional wellness practices can complement traditional medical care and preventive health. Drawing from her diverse background as both a clinical nurse and creative force in luxury hospitality, Jules shares how her work integrates science-backed modalities like IV therapy and therapeutic touch with the healing power of joy, sensory awareness, and human connection. Together, Amy and Jules explore the importance of expert guidance in wellness spaces, the role of community in supporting women’s health, and how carving out time for restoration, especially when combined with traditional medical care, is a vital piece of the preventive care puzzle.

Amy Cohen Epstein:
All right, let’s do this. I know—I’m sorry for the change in times...

Jules Timms Robertson:
No problem.

Amy:
I’m excited to be here today with you, Julia Timms Robertson—but sometimes you go by Jules? I feel like I want to call you Jules.

Jules:
Yes! Jules is actually the name of the OB who delivered me. I’ve always loved it.

Amy:
That’s amazing. Jules was my maternal grandfather’s name, and also my youngest son’s middle name. I love it—it’s regal and sparkly, but also grounded. You’re officially Jules to me.

Jules:
Let’s go for it. I love it.

Amy:
So welcome. You’re a nurse and the head of the wellness spa at Saltgrass in Savannah, Georgia, at Hotel Bardo. I've never been to Savannah, but it’s high on my list—and now I have a perfect excuse. So, let’s start at the beginning. How did this become the way you chose to use your nursing degree?

Jules:
So funny you say that. I get that all the time! I’ve lived in Denver and Austin, and people always assume I’m not from the South, but I’m actually born and raised in Savannah. I found my way back here after a winding, beautiful path. My background is equal parts creative and clinical—I’m a holistic nurse, wellness advisor, and also an artist. I work with Left Lane Hospitality as their wellness advisor, helping to develop, operate, and nurture all of their spa and wellness programming, starting with Hotel Bardo as the flagship property.

Before nursing, I worked in production and event design, traveling all over—from Paris Fashion Week to hospitality collaborations in Tokyo. But I got totally burned out. That’s when I decided it was time to start my own healing journey.

Amy:
And you ended up in LA for that, right?

Jules:
Yes—I trained as a labor and birth doula with Ana Paula Markel at BINI Birth, and met some incredible healers who shaped how I view the world. That led to an even deeper interest in women’s health—and my own physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Eventually, I reached a point where I felt limited in my scope of practice and wanted to better support my clients. So, I did exactly what my parents always wanted me to do: I went to nursing school.

Amy:
How old were you?

Jules:
I was 28 or 29. I’m almost 35 now.

Amy:
And you ended up in women’s health?

Jules:
Yes. I worked in the perioperative setting—pre-op, intra-op, and recovery—mostly in gynecologic oncology, which really connected me to the kind of work you’re doing at LCF. My mom is a women's health nurse practitioner in gynecologic oncology, and I’ve always been drawn to that space.

I loved the holistic aspects of nursing—therapeutic touch, aromatherapy, visualization, positive affirmations. Those aren’t typically hospital protocol, but they make a big difference in how people feel.

Amy:
And where were you at that time?

Jules:
Back in Savannah. It’s a traditional southern town in many ways, but it’s becoming more progressive. Before working with Left Lane, I co-founded The Corner Suite, a medical wellness boutique here in Savannah.

Amy:
Tell me more about that—that seems like an important milestone.

Jules:
It really was. My business partner is like a sister to me. She founded The Corner Suite in 2016, and I joined to help build the experience. My background as both a clinician and creative was exactly what she needed. We offer IV therapy, vitamin injections, infrared sauna, bespoke facials, and partner with Biologique Recherche.

It’s not just a treatment space—it’s a training ground. We get to explore how lighting, scent, sound, and environment influence healing. It’s been a place where we experiment and refine the experiences we now bring into larger hospitality projects like Hotel Bardo.

Amy:
I’ve seen other wellness spaces that feel like they’re missing something—and I think it’s what you bring. That medical background changes everything.

Jules:
Thank you. We say “experience is the medicine.” We’re creating spaces that support real healing, grounded in science but infused with sensory richness.

Amy:
There’s nothing more important than nursing care. A world-renowned surgeon can only do so much if the nursing care isn’t strong—and if it lacks that holistic approach.

Jules:
Exactly. Unfortunately, nurses often don’t have the resources to provide that in a hospital setting. The patient load is high, the goals are task-based. I wanted to create a different kind of space—one focused on prevention, healing, and human connection.

Amy:
So Left Lane found you through The Corner Suite?

Jules:
Yes. Left Lane is a vertically integrated real estate firm focused on creating cultural hubs. They knew they wanted wellness to be a pillar but didn’t have the clinical framework. Our values aligned—creating experiences that are clinically safe, sensory-driven, and grounded in human connection.

Amy:
You’re pushing the envelope, but responsibly. That’s rare.

Jules:
Yes. We’re fully clinically guided. We have a medical director, and every service is reviewed and assessed. We believe in delivering these experiences—vitamin injections, IVs, infrared—with intention and integrity.

Amy:
It’s like genetic testing. You should never do it without a genetic counselor.

Jules:
Exactly. Everyone needs a guide. I joke that I’m a doula in many areas of life now.

Amy:
Yes! It’s dangerous to walk into wellness spaces without support.

Jules:
And we’re living in an overstimulated world. People are flooded with information, much of it unvetted. Our role is to be trusted guides—to create spaces that are both luxurious and grounded.

Amy:
And joy matters too! You mentioned the patron saint of hangovers earlier…

Jules:
Yes—St. Bibiana. That’s the name of our restaurant at Hotel Bardo. We believe joy, pleasure, and celebration are just as important as nutrition, sleep, or meditation.

Amy:
Agreed. Preventive care is about knowing your body and making space for self-knowledge.

Jules:
Yes—and having the time, space, and guidance to tune in.

Amy:
And stress! That’s the other piece.

Jules:
Absolutely. Genetics + stress = health outcomes. And stress is everywhere—in what we eat, the air we breathe, the thoughts we carry.

Amy:
Creating spaces to decompress is essential.

Jules:
It’s not always about adding things in. Sometimes it’s about removing distractions—quieting the noise so healing can happen.

Amy:
And social wellness is a huge part of that. Especially for women.

Jules:
Yes. Women come in with their moms, daughters, best friends. They connect in community—and that’s healing.

Amy:
You’ve really honed in on something so needed.

Jules:
Thank you. I feel incredibly lucky to combine clinical expertise with creative vision. People want meaningful experiences. And they need safe spaces to find themselves again.

Amy:
You’re doing something really special, Jules. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Jules:
Thank you for having me. I hope to welcome you to Savannah soon.

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