Sauna Talk

Why Heat Makes You Stronger (Backed by Science) | A Conversation with Bill Gifford, author of "Hotwired: How the Hidden Power of Heat Makes Us Stronger" | Sauna Talk Episode 129

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Sauna Talk, Glenn sits down with Bill Gifford, author of Hotwired: How the Hidden Power of Heat Makes Us Stronger, for a wide-rangi...

Doctors Who Sauna: What the Science Says About Heat, Health, Sleep, Stress & Sauna Culture | Sauna Talk Episode 128

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Recorded live at Sauna Days 2025, this episode of Sauna Talk brings together a thoughtful panel of doctors who sauna for a grounded conversation on he...

Four Sauna Authors Talk Heat, Community, and the Global Sauna Revival | Recorded at the 2026 Culture of Bathing Sauna Village in New York City | Sauna Talk Episode 127

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode of Sauna Talk, I'm joined inside one of the Culture of Bathing Sauna Village saunas in New York City by three fellow authors w...

The Rise of Public Sauna in America | Finnish Sauna, DIY Building & Sauna Culture Revival | Recorded at the 2026 Culture of Bathing Sauna Village in New York City

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Vancouver Sauna Circuit + West Coast Sauna Summit | Valtteri Rantala | Sauna Talk #125

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we sit withValtteri Rantala, A Finn living in Vancouver BC since 2016. Val started a Sauna company in Vancouver in 2019. And in ...

Sauna Talk #124: Culture of Bathing Sauna Village, New York City

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this episode of Sauna Talk recorded on multiple sauna benches at the Culture of Bathing Sauna Village in New York City. I'll keep this intr...

Sauna Talk: #123 Mikkel Aaland 3.0

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode comes to you from the recent West Coast Sauna Summit, outside Vancouver BC Canada, where I had the honour of interviewing Mikkel Aalan...

Sauna Talk #122: Keegan Kittock, Deep Wave Sauna

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we sit together with Keegan Kittock, co-founder of Deep Wave Sauna. With the rising tide of sauna also comes marketing talk, ped...

Sauna Talk: Chicago Sauna Circuit

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the virtual bench we visit with longtime thermal enthusiast, friend, and SaunaTimes contributor Kev who takes us through the public bathhouse...

Sauna Talk #120: American Sauna Stove Makers

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, on Sauna Talk, and almost on the sauna bench, I'm pleased to bring you the folks behind the three major American sauna stove makers. American m...

Sauna Talk #119: Four Sauna Builders

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we bring you to Larsmont Cottages, Two Harbors. Minnesota for a special roundtable discussion with four sauna builders from four d...

Sauna Talk #118: Deanna Kaplan & Roman Palitsky

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we are joined by the dynamic duo of researcher from Emery University, Deanna Kaplan and Roman Palitsky. Deanna Kaplan Deanna Kapl...

Sauna Talk #117: Chris Heck

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I've had the pleasure of sitting on the sauna bench with well over a hundred guests for Sauna Talk. Whether you're listening in your car, out for a w...

Sauna Talk #116: Jerome, European Aufguss Professional

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this episode of Sauna Talk, where we head back to Farris Bad, resort spa and wellness retreat South of Oslo, Norway. We get to sit with Je...

Sauna Talk #115: Dr. Hans Hägglund

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome a very special guest. Dr. Hans Hägglund. Who is Dr. Hans Hägglund? Hans Hägglund MD, PhD, is a medical doctor and p...

Sauna Talk #114: Oslo Sauna Association

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the sauna bench, we head to Oslo, Norway, and visit with the folks at Oslo Badstuforening, (Oslo Sauna Association). This is my second trip ...

Sauna Talk #113: Sipoonjoki Heritage Sauna

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is a joint Sauna Talk podcast with Linda and Otto who also run the Sprit of Sauna podcast from Finland as well as Sipoonjoki Heritage Sauna, ...

Sauna Talk #112: Norway's Badstuprat from London

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was the morning after the recent British Sauna Summit in London. Stig Arild Pettersen Secretary General of the Norwegian Sauna Association and I m...

Sauna Talk #111: British Sauna Summit 2025

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Sauna Talk from the British Sauna Summit, Tuesday, 20 May 2025 Hilton London Canary Wharf. Last year, Sauna Summit 2024 and 1.0, about 120 of us ga...

Sauna Talk #110: Culture of Bathing Panel

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this special episode of Sauna Talk. We welcome Adam from Thermé USA, who led the panel discussion with three public sauna operators from N...

Sauna Talk #109: Mika and Wendy 2.0

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome Mika Meskanen and Wendy Liu. Mika is Finnish, and partner Wendy is Chinese. They live in London, and we met for this S...

Sauna Talk #107: Jon Sabes 2.0

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk we re-welcome Jon Sabes. Jon is a returning Sauna Talk guest, first being episode #061, and we rejoin together again, on the same...

Sauna Talk #106: Building Saunas at the West Coast Sauna Summit

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Greetings! We recorded this episode as part of the sauna building seminar at the West Coast Sauna Summit, January, 2025, Loon Lake Resort outside Van...

Sauna Talk #105: West Coast Sauna Summit Fireside Chat

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was impromptu, and it was fun. It was completely unrehearsed, and it rambled in places (when I was unable to hold the microphone). This episode hol...

Sauna Talk #104: Culture of Bathing Gathering

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This Sauna Talk episode was recorded in New York City at the Recent Culture of Bathing Gathering, mid January 2025. Shelby, Artist, Painter, Thermé...

Sauna Talk #103: Parade Of Saunas

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"What a great event" proclaimed Gayle Myers who, with her partner Gary, partook in the recent backyard sauna tour through 10 saunas built by homeowner...

Sauna Talk #102: Ashley Mason

12 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Sauna Talk podcast we welcome Ashley Mason. Ashley Mason, earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona. She is an...

Sauna Talk #101: Earric Lee

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Sauna Talk podcast, i'm pleased to present Earric Lee, who is a leading researcher surrounding the health benefits of sauna. As you list...

Sauna Talk: 100 Episodes!

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is episode #100 of Sauna Talk. Do you want to know the Sauna Talk origin story? Well, when I started this podcast in 2016, 8 years ago, the idea ...

Sauna Talk #099: Ragna Marie Fjeld

27 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome Ragna Marie Fjeld, General Secretary, Oslo Badstuforening. What does Badstuforening translate to in English? Sauna Ass...

Sauna Talk #098: Alan Jalasjaa

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome Alan Jalasjja who shares with us "The Spirit of Sauna." Alan is an evangelist who is with us to help promote the exper...

Sauna Talk #097: Lasse Eriksen 2.0

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A lot has happened with Lasse Eriksen, 2.0, from our first Sauna Talk just a little over two years ago. This meeting took place on the beach in fron...

Sauna Talk #096: Homecraft Family

18 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the sauna talk bench we are joined by Stew and his sons David and Kyle Wilson, from the Homecraft sauna heater family. Who is Homecraft? Hom...

Sauna Talk #095: Sauna Days 2024

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we look back upon Sauna Days 2024, walking from one sauna to the next, pretty much all of us were comfortably numb. About 200 guest converged for t...

Sauna Talk #094: Jake Newport

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the actual sauna bench, we are joined and talk with Jake Newport from Finnmark. Jake makes the journey from Northern England to join me on t...

Sauna Talk #093: Community Sauna Baths with Charlie

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk we welcome Charlie from Community Sauna Baths in England. Who is Community Sauna Baths? Well, they are Community Interest Compan...

Sauna Talk #092: Tom Carlson

30 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome Tom Carlson, a sauna enthusiast and a SaunaTimes public sauna map supporter. Tom caught the sauna bug in Germany, and ...

Sauna Talk #091: Healing Heroes

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Sauna Talk bench, we welcome three guests who are aligned to helping veterans through sauna as a means of healing our heroes. Their stori...

Sauna Talk #090: Sauna Village

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today from any one of 22 saunas, we Sauna Talk from the Great Northern Sauna Village, Malcolm Yards, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. "The Great Northern...

Sauna Talk #089: Daniel Wilson

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sauna Talk #088: Dr. Charles Raison - Part 2

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we welcome back Dr. Charles Raison to this Sauna Talk podcast part 2. I encourage you to check in with Part one, where Chuck and i work from the...

Sauna Talk #087: Jarmo Hiltunen

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the virtual smoke sauna bench, please welcome my friend Jarmo Hiltunen. Author of the brand new book: Building a Traditional Finnish Smoke S...

Sauna Talk #086: Nick Fox

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this Sauna Talk podcast episode with Nick Fox: Minnesota's first Wim Hof certified instructor and baker of amazing homemade bread. We commu...

Sauna Talk #085: Charles Raison

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we welcome a very special guest to Sauna Talk: Dr. Charles Raison. His biography is as follows: Dr. Raison is a the Mary Sue and Mike Shannon C...

Sauna Talk #084: From the World's Largest Sauna

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this mini Sauna Talk episode from inside and around the World's Largest Sauna. The sauna was constructed as part of the RunningMan festival...

Sauna Talk #083: Todd Furneaux

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we welcome Todd Furneaux who is spearheading the building of the World's Largest Sauna. The sauna is being constructed as part of ...

Sauna Talk #082: Emma O'Kelly

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the virtual sauna bench, i'm pleased to bring you Sauna Talk: Emma O'Kelly, author of the new book Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat. We join Em...

Sauna Talk #081: Mikkel Aaland

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the global sauna bench, we Sauna Talk with Mikkel Aaland from inside and just back from war torn Ukraine. Introduction from Minnesota Before ...

Sauna Talk #080: Jackie from Cedar Grove Saunas

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the virtual sauna bench, we Sauna Talk with Jackie from Cedar Grove Saunas in Northern Maine. Jackie is just back from her sif week sauna p...

Sauna Talk #079: Marishi Mochida

17 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the virtual Sauna Talk bench, we join Marishi Morchida 持田 摩利支, from the Japan Sauna Institute 日本サウナ総研. Marishi joins ...

Sauna Talk #078: Sauna Days 2023

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today from many of the 12 or so sauna benches, we hear from guests attending Sauna Days 2023 at Larsmont Cottages, Two Harbors, Minnesota. The stori...

Sauna Talk #077: David Dragseth

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we are joined with David Dragseth, Lutheran paster and CEO of Superior Saunas. Let's consider for a moment, the Venn Diagram over...

Sauna Talk #076: Anya and Dan

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Sauna Talk bench, we visit with Anya and Dan Bondarenko from the Banya House. Dan is Latvian, with Ukrainian family heritage. Anya is 100...

Sauna Talk #075: Brian from Austin, TX

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the sauna bench we sit with Brian who is perhaps the most researched yet least experienced sauna aficionado in the world. Connecting through ...

Sauna Talk #074: Kirk Jensen

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sauna Talk: Kirk Jensen is a host of a thousand saunas (and more). Kirk is one of the lead hosts at the 612 Sauna Society sauna, Minneapolis Minneso...

Sauna Talk #073: Shaelyn, Justus, and David

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was recorded in January 2023 from the Sauna Village, Malcolm Yards, Minneapolis Minnesota, as part of the Great Northern Festival. It wa...

Sauna Talk #072: Bruce Oreck

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we are pleased to welcome Bruce Oreck, who joins us from his off grid home in Baja Mexico. During this episode, we talk about sau...

Sauna Talk #071: Summer Sauna

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we are joined by several different summer guests to my island cabin sauna in Northern Minnesota. This episode features guests fro...

Sauna Talk #070: Lewis Jenkinson

18 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's Sauna Talk podcast episode is with Lewis Jenkinson, who shares with us his heart and soul of good sauna. Today on the bench we welcome Lewis J...

Sauna Talk #069: George Cory

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we meet with photographer George Cory, who is documenting the British sauna movement. George Cory is reporting in from Folkestone...

Sauna Talk #068: Yana Kaiser

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Greetings from Sompasauna in Helsinki. Today we visit with Yana who takes us through her deep connection to sauna, from Aufguss at the large public ...

Sauna Talk #067: Sauna Days 2022

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench we hear from several guests attending Sauna Days 2022 at Larsmont Cottages. What a great time we had, sharing our collective and in...

Sauna Talk #066: Dr. Jonathan Bricker

03 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Jonathan Bricker is a Professor of Public Health Science at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and University of Washington in Seattle. A recipient...

Sauna Talk #065: Lasse Erikson

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why are there no saunas in elderly homes?" "I work with infrared, but it is more of a treatment… Infrared is not connected to the Norwegian culture ...

Sauna Talk #064: Mindstrong Harvey

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"The feeling I get with wood fired (sauna) is so much deeper than any kind of heat I've every experienced. I feel human when I get out of a wood fired...

Sauna Talk #063: Alex Blyashuk

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Please welcome Alex Blyashuk to the Sauna Talk podcast. Though sauna in Belarus is quite popular, Alex, a native of Belarus, didn't grow up with sauna...

Sauna Talk #062: Finns On The Street

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome a random, spontaneous, non rehearsed or edited collection of Finns, talking about sauna. I didn't make a big deal abou...

Sauna Talk #061: Jon Sabes

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench we welcome Jon Sabes to Sauna Talk. Jon is a successful entrepreneur, founding multiple companies in the health and insurance indus...

Sauna Talk #060: John Richter

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hi John, welcome to saunatimes. I thought I'd start by having you share how and when you first got started with the WHM and cold water exposure. Most ...

Sauna Talk #059: Daryl Lamppa

22 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I'm pleased to present my second Sauna Talk podcast interview with Daryl Lamppa. Who is Daryl Lamppa? A third generation sauna stove builder, born and...

Sauna Talk #058: Lassi A. Liikkanen

01 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we're pleased to welcome Lassi A. Liikkanen, author of "The Secrets of Finnish Sauna Design". The book is just now being released...

Sauna Talk #057: Eero Kipi

03 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Let's welcome Eero Kipi to Sauna Talk! President of North American Sauna Society. The time we are living is very exciting. More and more people are b...

Sauna Talk #056: Sauna Sherpa

27 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sauna Talk global series continues. Today we welcome Sauna Sherpa to Sauna Talk. His real name is Kimmo Raitio, but he's known around many of the many...

Sauna Talk #055: Dr. Colin Zestcott

13 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Sauna Talk, we are able to visit with Dr. Zestcott about a current study under way regarding sauna mental health studies for the S...

Sauna Talk #054: Mika and Wendy

16 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Sauna Talk global cross continent series continues We are pleased to welcome Mika Meskanen and his partner Wendy Liu to this joint podcast. We are...

Sauna Talk #053: Travis Skinner

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We are pleased to welcome Travis Skinner to Sauna Talk! We've been following Travis' work since 2017, starting with his Snail Shell sauna project. Thi...

Sauna Talk #052: Max Valadzko

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Season 4 of Sauna Talk in the time of corona has been produced, like most all podcasts, via Zoom and teleconferencing. Yet this episode breaks that mo...

Sauna Talk #051: Mike Nordskog

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of sauna book "The Opposite of Cold", we are pleased to visit with author Mike Nordskog, Mike was close to bet...

Sauna Talk #050: Jesse Coomer

10 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cold & Heat It's interesting how many come to appreciate sauna from the cold, and conversely how many come to appreciate the cold from sauna. Whicheve...

Sauna Talk #049: Mikkel Aaland

04 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone lucky enough to have a hard copy of Mikkel Aaland's 1978 book Sweat can page through his journey into the various sweat bathing practices and...

Sauna Talk #048: The Sauna Twins

17 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we hear from kindred spirits from across the big pond: Jake and Max Newport. As testament to our mutual love of authentic sauna, t...

Sauna Talk #047: Scott Carney

16 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I first learned of Scott Carney as he was writing his 2016 book, What Doesn't Kill Us, the story of Scott being commissioned by Playboy Magazine to w...

Sauna Talk #046: Jess from Löyly Portland

30 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we are pleased to welcome Jessica Kelso, founder, owner, and proprietor of Löyly in Portland Oregon, which today comprises two pu...

Sauna Talk #045: Mindstrong Project

03 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench, we are seated between pro football player Brian Peters and Mindstrong project founder Harvey Martin. "Chasing the edge" is an easy...

Sauna Talk #044: Rod Buhrsmith

20 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the bench was the day the coronavirus became front and center in the United States. We visit with Rod Buhrsmith His Father in Law had a brain...

Sauna Talk #043: Cedar And Stone Nordic Sauna

22 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to a dream come true: a new community sauna for Duluth, Minnesota. Setting up for Winter/Spring residency, right next to Lake Superior, partne...

Sauna Talk #042: Carrie from Wise Wellness

07 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let's welcome Carrie Drinkwine to Sauna Talk. We start our sauna rounds with wet hair. The oils of your own hair are healthy. Carrie's medical history...

Sauna Talk #041: Jasper Pääkkönen

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

He may be most recognized as "The bad guy" in Spike Lee's American Clansman movie, but those that know Jasper Pääkkönen, know him as anything but...

Sauna Talk #040: Kimmo Helistö

13 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today on sauna talk, i'm pleased to bring you Kimmo Helistö, leading operator and pioneer in urban public sauna. We are seated at his latest project,...

Sauna Talk #039: Sauna Timo

17 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The story is known by just about everyone in Finland, and for that matter, also well known in Russia and all other countries where sauna is more popul...

Sauna Talk #038: Founder of Kaurilan Sauna

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Sauna Talk, we are warmed to welcome Saara Lehtonen, founder and lead proprietor of Kaurilan Sauna in Helsinki, Finland. In Finland, those we...

Sauna Talk #037: Tea Lindberg and Annie

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever met somebody and wonder how they can accomplish so many ambitious projects? Well this is Tea Lindberg, founder and owner of Time for Tea...

Sauna Talk #036: Export Manager of Narvi Sauna Stoves

17 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Factory tour Lets talk a little bit about Narvi. Of the bigger sauna heater manufacturers, we are the only one designing and manufacturing all ou...

Sauna Talk #035: Harvia World Headquarters

10 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We didn't Sauna Talk together while taking a sauna, but we did Sauna Talk on the sauna bench with Kimmo Riuttanen Product Manager & Sami Linna, Market...

Sauna Talk #034: Sauna from Finland

27 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It is day 4 into Glenn's 50 saunas in 12 days in Finland journey. This evening we are visiting with Satu Freyberg, Head of International Marking and ...

Sauna Talk #033: Varjola

05 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When traveling around North America, have you ever stayed at a place and thought: "wow, this would be a great place for a sauna." Well, how about visi...

Sauna Talk #032: Dr. Jari Laukkanen

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What a pleasure to sit down with Dr. Jari Laukkanen on this early June 2019 afternoon in Jyväskylä , a city and municipality in Finland in the wes...

Sauna Talk #031: Risto Elomaa

08 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today we learn about the International Sauna Association. Risto has been taking sauna since one month old. He has always been interested in taking goo...

Sauna Talk #030: Jarmo Lehtona

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I first had the pleasure meeting Jarmo Lehtona, then President of Finnish Sauna Society, about four years ago at Mikkel Aaland's Sweat Summit in San ...

Sauna Talk #029: Daniel interviews Glenn

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel has a great media mind. He's a great interviewer and a curious person, who helped unpack Glenn's sauna marathon in Finland. The trip was a bala...