In the face of a debilitating autoimmune disease, sisters Lauretta and Sharon Gavin embarked on a transformative journey that led them to create The Detox Barn and Funki Coffee. What began as a personal quest for healing evolved into a thriving wellness retreat and a ground-breaking coffee brand. Their story is one of resilience, innovation, and a commitment to helping others achieve better health.

In this interview, Lauretta shares how their experiences, from overcoming health challenges to embracing a plant-based lifestyle, have shaped their businesses and inspired a holistic approach to wellness.

Nicolle: What inspired you to start The Detox Barn and Funki Coffee, and how did Sharon's experience with a rare autoimmune disease influence your business journey?

Lauretta: Sharon had a debilitating autoimmune disease, and as two single mums living together, we spent years researching how to get better. We used lifestyle medicine and read everything we could in the health and wellness field and now she is off all drugs and back running.  Whenever our friends hung out with us, our inspiration would rub off on them. They often told us we should help others with their health and share how to make these changes. So, we started The Detox Barn.

We wanted to create a retreat that was down-to-earth and relatable, full of delicious food that people enjoyed, focusing on nourishment rather than deprivation. Our background is in comedy, and we felt that having a more relaxed and approachable retreat, without being intimidating or overly serious, would be beneficial.

Nicole: How did transitioning to a plant-based diet and an alcohol-free lifestyle impact your health, and what role did these changes play in the creation of your wellness retreat?

Lauretta: We did everything in stages. I think if you try to do too much at once, it can be completely overwhelming. We started with alcohol, which I believe is the biggest factor in improving your health. If you can give up alcohol, we truly believe you can achieve most things. Next, we went plant-based. Lauretta did a deep dive into making nutritious, healthy food and retrained as a natural vegan chef. We found that the more we did, the more energy we had, our focus improved, and we felt happier.

It gave us the energy we needed to face life's challenges. At The Detox Barn, we like to show guests that plant-based cooking is delicious, that you won’t feel hungry, and that you can laugh heartily without booze. We offer workshops on habits and plant-based snacking, as well as making juices and smoothies.

Nicolle: What challenges did you face when overhauling your lifestyle, and how did these experiences shape the services and products you offer at The Detox Barn and Funki Coffee?

Lauretta: One of the biggest challenges was when Sharon felt like things weren’t working, and sticking with the process despite the results. There were highs and lows—sometimes we made progress, and sometimes it felt like we were going backwards. But we kept going despite the outcome, and eventually, Sharon healed. This is something we emphasize at The Detox Barn: consistency is key.

The one thing Sharon really didn’t want to give up was her beloved coffee. So, we went on a mission to find the healthiest coffee we could and created Funki Coffee, a triple-certified organic coffee infused with a powerful seven-mushroom blend that boosts immunity and focus, with no crash!

Nicolle: Can you tell us more about the concept behind Funki Coffee and how it serves as a health-conscious alternative to traditional caffeine products?

Lauretta: Our mission was to find the healthiest coffee on the planet, and we finally did it with our mushroom coffee—Funki Coffee. When I first got sick, I was told to give up coffee as part of cleaning up my diet to ensure I was only putting goodness into my body. That was a long time ago, and since then, the science has changed. We now know that good organic Arabica ground coffee is beneficial for you, full of polyphenols that ward off ailments such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and even some types of cancer. With this in mind, I decided to return to coffee, the one thing I missed, and to my amazement, I discovered mushroom coffee and I just knew that this would be our first product to launch. Lauretta and I spent a year tasting delicious Arabica coffees because we are complete coffee snobs.

We wanted to ensure we found the best-tasting coffee on the planet. Only then did we find our amazing mushroom supplier, who developed a unique seven-mushroom blend. This blend gives your coffee a massive health boost, supporting immunity, reducing inflammation, providing all-day focus without brain fog, reducing stress, and improving sleep quality. The mushrooms themselves have an adaptogenic effect on the coffee, providing you with sustained, clean energy without the afternoon crash and no jitters!

It's like having a supplement in your daily cup of coffee!

Nicolle: How do you balance running a wellness retreat and a mushroom coffee business while also maintaining a healthy and calm lifestyle?

Lauretta: It can be challenging, and sometimes we have to practice what we preach. Luckily, the businesses work hand in hand. We serve our coffee both at the retreat and online. We prioritize sleep and exercise, and no matter what’s happening with the business, we make time for these. Eating healthy food also helps with focus and energy. We always make sure to go on holiday, fully switch off, spend time with our children, and focus on what is truly important.

Nicolle: Living and working together as sisters, how do you manage to maintain a strong personal and professional relationship, especially after going through significant life changes like divorce?

Lauretta: We are very lucky that we actually like each other, make each other laugh, and can be totally honest without taking offense. When things are really tough, we are truly there for each other. I know it sounds like a clichéd Disney movie, but we genuinely get along. Do we argue? Hell yes, but we make up as if nothing has happened.

Nicolle:  What can guests expect when they attend your comedy/wellness nights, and how did you come up with the idea to combine laughter with wellness?

Lauretta: Our background is in comedy, and we were a comedy double act before we got into wellness, so we decided to combine both. We intertwine our story with sketches. It’s like a TED Talk meets a sketch show. We play Instagram influencers, do sober dating sketches, and explore trying not to drink in a large Irish family!

Nicolle: In what ways has your wellness journey changed your approach to parenting, especially given that you both live and work together with your children?

Lauretta: It has inspired us to improve our parenting. Being a parent is a really tough job, and creating the right energy helps you manage stress. There are so many amazing aspects to being a parent, but it also tests you. We try to help each other out. Sharon has an ADHD son, so as a family, we have had to learn, grow, and understand. But we prioritize laughter—whatever happens, we have the ability to laugh afterwards.

Nicolle: How do yoga, Pilates, and meditation integrate into the daily routines at The Detox Barn, and how have these practices contributed to your overall well-being?

Lauretta: We have yoga every day at the barn. It's something Sharon and I got into a bit later, and we really wish we had started sooner. I think it really helps with agility, flexibility, and calming the mind. We both don’t meditate as much as we should!

Nicolle: Looking forward, what are your goals for the future of The Detox Barn and Funki Coffee, both in terms of expanding your businesses and continuing your personal wellness journeys?

Lauretta: We would love to really push Funki Coffee so that many more people can enjoy it. We have expanded the retreats to the Algarve, and the podcast is really growing. So onwards and upwards!

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Nicolle Knapova is a 30-year-old young adult writer and freelance blogger from the Czech Republic. She has a master’s degree in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University. She loves to write about music, books and TV shows. If she’s not writing her fan fiction, she’s writing her poetry and sharing it on her Instagram @elisecaverly.