Podcast
Sauna Talk
Hosted by SaunaTimes · EN
Sauna Talk is a show about the authentic sauna experience. Recorded (often) on the sauna bench, we talk with interesting guests about sauna including such aspects as building sauna, enjoying sauna, and health and wellness benefits to sauna. The rising sauna tide is lifting many boats and we look forward to some left turns that we hope to keep listeners on and off the more enjoyable and less trampled authentic sauna trail.
11episodes
Episodes
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The New Party Sauna: Community, Cold Plunges & Sauna Days | Josh Leddy & Leif Kjorness | Sauna Talk 131
2w ago00:56:12Tap to summarizeIn this of Sauna Talk, Glenn Auerbach is joined bench-side by Josh Leddy of Get Sweaty with Leddy and sauna builder Leif Kjorness of Excelsior Saunas for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation recorded after multiple sauna and cold plunge rounds on Lake Ann in Minnesota. What unfolds is more than a discussion about sauna. It's a conversation about craftsmanship, friendship, healing, community, and the ways sauna culture continues to evolve while still holding onto its roots. Josh shares how his lifelong connection to sauna eventually inspired him to launch Get Sweaty with Leddy, a YouTube channel and podcast focused on natural healing, pain management, and meaningful conversations that happen best on the sauna bench. He talks about his upcoming mobile sauna project, his vision for creating immersive wellness gatherings through movement and music, and why sauna creates a unique environment where people can truly connect without barriers. Leif reflects on his journey from custom home building into the sauna world, and how building saunas became more than construction work — it became a calling. He discusses craftsmanship, quality building principles, the importance of slowing life down, and the fulfillment that comes from creating spaces where people gather, reflect, and reconnect with themselves and each other. The conversation also dives into the details behind the "party sauna" concept, including large panoramic windows, skylights, thoughtful ventilation, and building mobile saunas designed to foster memorable shared experiences. Throughout the episode, Glenn shares stories from the early days of SaunaTimes, the origins of Sauna Days on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and his own formative sauna experiences hitchhiking through Finland and Sweden as a young traveler. Together, the three discuss the rise of mobile sauna culture in Minnesota, the power of hot-cold contrast therapy, the difference between manufactured cold plunges and natural bodies of water, and the emotional reset that happens when people gather around heat, steam, cold water, and conversation. There are moments of humor, reflection, and philosophy woven throughout — from stories about cutting fresh ice holes by hand to discussions about social media fatigue, authentic community building, and the importance of finding your own operating system for life. Glenn closes by sharing the personal framework that grounds him today: Freedom, Enoughness, Nature, and Simplicity. This episode captures what sauna culture is really about at its best: generosity, vulnerability, camaraderie, and the simple but profound experience of being fully present together. Topics discussed include: Mobile sauna culture Sauna building and craftsmanship Sauna Days and grassroots sauna community Cold plunging and winter swimming Natural healing and pain management Lake Superior sauna culture Music, movement, and sauna gatherings The mental and physical benefits of contrast therapy Friendship, reflection, and slowing down The future of sauna culture in America Guests: Josh Leddy — Get Sweaty with Leddy Leaf Kjorness — Excelsior Saunas
Transcribe →Sauna, Science, and Integrity: A Deeper Look at Heat & Health with Dr. Ashley Mason and Earric Lee | Sauna Talk 130
4w ago01:00:51Tap to summarizen this live panel from Sauna Days 2025, Glenn welcomes two of the most thoughtful voices in sauna research, Dr. Ashley Mason of UCSF and Earric Lee of the Montreal Heart Institute, for a candid conversation about the current state of sauna science, where the evidence is strong, where it is still emerging, and why integrity matters when talking about health benefits in the sauna world. This episode goes far beyond the usual wellness headlines. Ashley and Earric dig into the real responsibility that comes with promoting sauna for health, especially in a moment when many businesses lean on scientific claims to sell sauna experiences, home builds, and products. Rather than oversimplifying the message, this discussion brings nuance, humility, and rigor to the bench. Earric shares insights from two major projects: a cardiac rehabilitation study exploring whether regular sauna bathing can improve outcomes for patients with coronary artery disease, and a sweeping review of roughly 80 years of heat-therapy research, covering everything from traditional sauna and infrared sauna to hot water immersion and foot baths. One of the big takeaways: despite all the enthusiasm around sauna today, the actual number of long-term published studies is still surprisingly limited, and the field has a lot of room to grow. Ashley brings the mental health lens, drawing from her work on depression, insomnia, and body-based therapies that do not rely on drugs. She explains how heat exposure may relate to thermoregulation, serotonin pathways, and mood improvement, and describes the striking relationship between body temperature and depression. In her research, some people with depression appear to run "hot," not because of fever, but because their bodies do not cool as effectively. That opens a fascinating question: can changing body temperature help change mental state? Together, Glenn, Ashley, and Earric explore the difference between clinical research and practical sauna use. They talk about why researchers sometimes use intense protocols that are not meant to be copied at home, how long heat exposure may matter more than many people realize, and why dosage, frequency, and total heat load are still not well defined. The conversation also touches on the challenge of translating laboratory findings into real-world sauna practice, especially for people seeking guidance they can actually use. A major thread throughout the panel is the distinction between traditional sauna and infrared sauna. Earric shares data from the literature showing a fairly even split in long-term published work between the two, while also noting that many infrared studies come from the same Japanese "Waon therapy" tradition. Ashley explains why her own clinical work uses controlled infrared whole-body heating: not because it is culturally superior, but because it allows researchers to isolate heat as a variable and reliably elevate core temperature over time. The panel also gets refreshingly honest about what remains uncertain. Can a traditional sauna session raise core temperature to the same levels used in clinical depression studies? Maybe, but probably not easily. Is cold plunging necessary? Not necessarily. Does contrast therapy add something meaningful beyond helping people stay in the heat longer? The science is still catching up. Are there clear protocols for children, older adults, athletes, or people with type 1 diabetes? Not yet, at least not with the level of certainty most people would hope for. There is also a strong practical thread in this episode. Earric encourages sauna bathers to keep a sauna log, much like an exercise log, tracking time, temperature, frequency, and personal response. The idea is simple but powerful: if sauna is a stressor that leads to adaptation, then paying attention to your individual dose matters. Ashley adds an important layer to that idea by reminding listeners that human beings are not static. Age, fitness, depression, stress, sleep, and general health all influence how the body handles heat. Audience questions help widen the discussion even further. The panel touches on core temperature versus skin temperature, wearable technology, the limits of common thermometers, the role of sweating and blood redistribution, how cold exposure may or may not complement sauna, the possibility that some sauna benefits come not just from heat but from social connection, rest, hydration, and ritual, and why future research needs better control groups to separate these effects. What emerges is a thoughtful, grounded, and deeply useful conversation: sauna science without the chest-thumping, without the overclaiming, and without losing the wonder. This episode is for sauna builders, bathers, researchers, health professionals, and anyone who wants a clearer picture of what heat can do for the human body and mind, and what questions still deserve honest study. In this episode: Dr. Ashley Mason and Earric Lee discuss the current state of sauna research, long-term heat therapy studies, traditional sauna versus infrared sauna, depression and thermoregulation, cardiac rehab, body temperature tracking, dosage and duration, cold exposure, aging, children and heat, diabetes considerations, and why the future of sauna science depends on asking better questions with more rigor.
Transcribe →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
Apr 1600:41:56Tap to summarizeIn 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-ranging conversation on sauna, heat adaptation, and the connection between physical challenge and mental well-being. Bill shares how his journey into heat began through personal stress, scientific curiosity, and his reporting on the powerful effects of sauna and thermal exposure. Together, Glenn and Bill explore the famous Finnish sauna research of Dr. Jari Laukkanen, the role of heat in cardiovascular and mental health, and the way sauna can act as both a physiological reset and a social connector. They also dive into Bill's experience training for the brutal Hotter Than Hell 100, what heat adaptation teaches us about resilience, and why sauna offers something much bigger than simple recovery. From neurotransmitters and stress relief to friendship, veterans' healing, and the culture of bathing, this episode shows how heat can make us stronger in body, mind, and spirit. Click here to purchase Bill's new book.
Transcribe →Doctors Who Sauna: What the Science Says About Heat, Health, Sleep, Stress & Sauna Culture | Sauna Talk Episode 128
Apr 201:00:03Tap to summarizeRecorded live at Sauna Days 2025, this episode of Sauna Talk brings together a thoughtful panel of doctors who sauna for a grounded conversation on heat, health, and the real role of sauna in modern life. Glenn is joined by Dr. Jeremiah Eisenchenk, Dr. Brandon Dotson, Dr. Brittany Kimball, and Dr. Ashley Mason for a lively discussion on what we know, what we don't know, and why sauna continues to matter for both personal well-being and community connection. This conversation explores: cardiovascular health and the most-cited sauna studies sleep, mood, depression, stress reduction, and mental health sauna and respiratory health recovery, inflammation, and everyday wellness detox claims, hydration, and where the evidence stands the difference between lived sauna experience and overhyped wellness marketing why more rigorous sauna research is still needed What makes this episode special is the balance: medical perspective, personal experience, Finnish-American sauna tradition, and a shared respect for sauna as both practice and place. Recorded lakeside with the Sauna Days crowd in the room, this is a conversation about more than research. It's about why people keep returning to sauna—for clarity, healing, friendship, and that feeling that some things still can't be improved by screens or speed.
Transcribe →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
Mar 1900:35:23Tap to summarizeIn 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 whose work explores heat bathing culture from very different perspectives. This conversation was recorded on the sauna bench during the 2026 Culture of Bathing Festival in New York City. Recorded during Culture of Bathing 2.0 gathering on the East River, this conversation brings together authors Yuval Zohar (Towards a Nude Architecture), Emma O'Kelly (Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat and Wild Sauna), Bill Gifford (Hotwired: How Heat Makes Us Stronger), and yours truly Glenn Auerbach (Sauna Build: Start to Finish). On the bench, as conversation flows and steam rises, our discussion moves across continents and traditions—from Japanese sento bathhouses and onsen towns to the surprising explosion of wild sauna culture along the coasts of Great Britain. Along the way we explore: The global revival of sauna and bathhouse culture Why community bathing is making a comeback The science behind heat, mood, and the "sauna high" Japan's evolving bathing traditions The rapid growth of sauna culture in the UK The empowering idea that anyone can build their own sauna At its core, this conversation reflects a shared belief among all four authors: good heat knows no borders.
Transcribe →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
Mar 500:32:52Tap to summarizeIn this special episode of Sauna Talk, the tables are turned as Adam Pambatanaka, COO of Therme Group U.S., steps into the interviewer's role and puts Glenn on the bench. Recorded live at Sauna Village in New York City in February 2026, this conversation dives into Glenn's own sauna origin story, from getting hooked in the Baltic archipelago to helping champion mobile saunas, sauna building, and public sauna culture across North America. Adam guides the discussion through the big themes that have shaped Glenn's work with SaunaTimes: the rise of sauna in the public domain, the DIY sauna movement, floating saunas, sauna villages, and the growing momentum behind authentic bathing culture in the U.S. Along the way, Glenn reflects on how far sauna has come, what still matters most, and why both home sauna and public sauna can thrive side by side. This episode also explores the spirit of sauna itself: fewer rules, more listening; less protocol, more presence. For newcomers, enthusiasts, builders, and operators alike, this is a wide-ranging conversation about heat, cold, freedom, and the human connections that happen on the bench. Stay tuned through the end for bonus coverage with Sami Ranta, Finnish sauna designer and builder of the village's flagship performance sauna, who shares thoughtful perspective on sauna design, freedom in bathing culture, and why beautiful "mistakes" can lead to great sauna. In this episode: Glenn's sauna origin story From backyard sauna to public sauna movement The rise of mobile saunas and sauna villages Home sauna vs. public sauna SaunaTimes, sauna circuits, and DIY resources Guidance for first-time bathers Bonus conversation with Sami Ranta on sauna design and innovation A heartfelt, wide-open episode that offers listeners a rare chance to hear Glenn's own story, in his own words, from the other side of the microphone.
Transcribe →Vancouver Sauna Circuit + West Coast Sauna Summit | Valtteri Rantala | Sauna Talk #125
Feb 2700:43:13Tap to summarizeToday 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 the shadows of Western Red Cedars, we'll hear the origin stories of the budding West Coast Sauna Summit at Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat center, one of the pins on Val's Vancouver Sauna Circuit. We just returned from the second West Coast Sauna Summit here in 2026. And I was able to attend last year's inaugural Summit in 2025. The Vibes at the West Coast Sauna Summit are quite familiar to me, as founder and lead contributor for Sauna Days, Larsmont Cottages, Two Harbors Minnesota. The similar vibe is: a collection of mobile saunas, a kick ass facility, access to clean cold water, and mix in a hundreds or so like minded thermal enthusiasts and some Sauna Talk presentations, stir the soup, and what we are met with are wonderful, collaborative, spontaneous connections. Endorphins rushing between rounds, legal libations sprinkled in like fresh basil. Anyhow, back to the Vancouver Sauna Circuit. In addition to the Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat Center, Val dots the SaunaTimes sauna map with a few other bathhouses. And in this episode we get to hear a little bit more about these facilities. Let's keep in mind that as you click around the SaunaTimes map, and the Vancouver Circuit specifically, clicking the Vancouver Circuit button again will bring us out to all the bathhouses on the map. A circuit is not meant to be all inclusive. A circuit is a Scouts window into their city, collection, community. And let's not forget the adjacencies, where "people like us do things like this." and in Val's case are a couple hikes and restaurants within the Vancouver area.
Transcribe →New York City's First Sauna Village | Culture of Bathing Gathering | Sauna Talk #124
Feb 2000:41:25Tap to summarizeWelcome 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 introduction brief as we turn the microphone over to four pillars behind the second annual Culture of Bathing gathering. This year, the gathering was layered adjacent to the opening of New York Cities first sauna village. A village of 15 architecturally-distinct saunas set along the Williamsburg waterfront. Featuring: Mikkel Aaland: The Godfather of Sweat Cosmin-Nicolae Cîrîc: King of the Sauna Experience Robert Hammond: President and Chief Strategy Officer, Therme Group US, United States Adam Bamba Tanaka: Chief Operating Officer, Therme Group US Event Info: Culture of Bathing Sauna Village, New York City NY 15-17 saunas, NEW YORK'S FIRST EVER SAUNA FESTIVAL DOMINO PARK, WILLIAMSBURG FEBRUARY 12 — MARCH 1, 2026 7AM TO 10PM DAILY. More information is here.
Transcribe →Mikkel Aaland: Sauna Aid, Sustainability & The Future of Bathing | Sauna Talk #123
Feb 300:37:13Tap to summarizeToday's episode comes to you from the recent West Coast Sauna Summit, outside Vancouver BC Canada, where I had the honour of interviewing Mikkel Aaland, the Godfather of Sweat, live in front of a packed room of thermal enthusiasts. It's no secret that Mikkel has been a mentor to me, in sweat, in sauna, and in life. What I've always admired is his refusal to stay inside the box. Instead, he works the edges of it, where things are more interesting, more impactful, and where real change actually happens. In this conversation, we dig into three ideas that are front and center for him right now: Sauna Aid, A different operating model for bathhouse owners and aspiring saunapreneurs, And sustainability through his three-pillar approach to the sweat bathing ecosystem —physical, social, and spiritual. Mikkel may be ten years my senior, but he can hang, and party, with people half his age. Timeless, ageless, and endlessly curious. I'm proud to present my conversation with Mikkel Aaland. For more with Mikkel Aaland, please check out my 2020 interview with Mikkel here. And my 2016 interview here.
Transcribe →Sauna Ventilation Explained: The Lazy River & Deep Wave Heat with Keegan Kittock of Deep Wave Sauna | Sauna Talk #122
Jan 2601:28:07Tap to summarizeToday 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, pedantic chatter, and graphs and charts about how air supposedly moves in the hot room. So it's extra special and refreshing to visit with someone like Keegan. In this episode, we start at the beginning—picturing Keegan after elementary school, dragging a magnet around a building site, earning bubble-gum money working for his father's contracting company. And like many of us, catching the sauna bug at a young, impressionable age up north at the family cabin: long rounds, long dock time, and plunging in the lake, splashing around with neighbors, friends, and family. Love of sauna and love of construction are two powerful forces pointing toward building saunas for others. Add to that Aaron—Keegan's lifelong friend, collaborator, and business partner—and you have Deep Wave Sauna. Ask them at Sauna Days or outside one of their builds how the company got its name and you'll get right to the heart of it. Deep Wave. A nod to the nerdiness without the pedantic edge. Keegan can talk in great technical detail about different wavelengths of heat and steam, but he's well past trying to impress. He's relatable and genuinely fun to Sauna Talk with. Deep heat. That wave that feels so good on the bench. That's enough. When we consider the holy trinity of good sauna (heat, steam, ventilation), the first two we can get our arms around, but ventilation is oblique—impossible to see, harder to feel, and easy to misunderstand. But Keegan has earned the title of "thermal whisperer" among fellow sauna aficionados. He's the one who taught me that air is a fluid and should be understood as such. So when we talk about good ventilation, we talk about the lazy river. Stay tuned for more in this episode—why this is what we aim for, and how many saunas can achieve it naturally and passively without the mechanical buzz-kill easy street. Keegan brings it down to earth. And I'm overjoyed to have made my way out to his prairie-style sauna on his property west of the Twin Cities. I love his sauna. Spiritual Patina rating: solid 9.0. Within this article on SaunaTimes are a few photos taken from Keegan's sauna. And you can check these out and it'll likely bring you right there with us, on the bench, where we recorded this episode for you.
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