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 about this interview process. I simply approached a few Finns on the street today, in Helsinki. I didn't stick my microphone in people's faces, but tried to be respectful in approaching a few people who didn't seem to be hurried, or appeared to have an idle minute or two in their day. I'm happy to say that every guest I approached was kind and respectf...
Nov 19, 2021•21 min
Today on the bench we welcome Jon Sabes to Sauna Talk. Jon is a successful entrepreneur, founding multiple companies in the health and insurance industries. Jon is a high performing athlete, completing several marathons and triathlons, events that just thinking about their rigor makes me want to hit the "no thanks" button and take the short tour to the sauna bench and cold plunge, and hear about the pain later. Foxo Technologies During our chat, we learn more about his current company, Foxo Tech...
Nov 04, 2021•48 min
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 of my life I've had a terrible relationship to the cold. I hated cold water and if it dropped below 60F I would bundle up like I was preparing for an Arctic adventure. In 2013, when a friend let me know about a Wim Hof workshop that was being held in Austin, all I saw was a picture of Wim sitting in a barrel of ice and though "No way!! Why would I ...
Oct 09, 2021•1 hr 7 min
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 bread in Tower, Minnesota. 100% Finn, and married to a Finn, Cheryl. After marriage, as a young man, Daryl and his father in law built their newlywed house, and milled lumber for the build from Norway pines on their property. Daryl and Cheryl have lived in this house their entire lives. She a former schoolteacher in town, and he a welder of the Va...
Aug 22, 2021•1 hr 10 min
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, end of April 2021. We start our conversation in a good place, with Lassi's early beginnings of sauna (before he could walk). And we transition into the definition of sauna, which for listeners new to sauna, is a great place for understanding. We layout what is a sauna from a design perspective. For example, the sauna heater is usually visible, an...
May 01, 2021•1 hr 30 min
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 becoming interested in and aware of the authentic sauna practice. In this episode, we get an understanding from Eero about his upbringing with sauna. And this experience is most likely not much different from most all Finns. A country of "more saunas than cars" and a country where many start taking saunas before they are old enough to start walking. ...
Apr 03, 2021•1 hr 23 min
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 saunas in Finland as Sauna Sherpa. He is a Sauna Sherpa guide to Finnish sauna. Like many Finns, (all Finns?) Kimmo grew up with sauna. Like many Finns (all Finns?) Kimmo takes good heat seriously, and welcomes those interested in learning more about sauna with a clear and open mind and discussion. And this is what you will hear in this episode. M...
Feb 27, 2021•28 min
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 Sauna Research Institute. This is a survey based study analyzing the mental health benefits to sauna. The link to the sauna mental health studies work is here. It's particularly interesting to learn how Colin has a keen experience and understanding of what we know of as "good sauna." The real sauna with good heat and proper cool downs which can inclu...
Feb 13, 2021•49 min
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 publishing this episode on Sauna Talk as well as on their new podcast. Mika and Wendy are fresh on the beginnings of their enterprise entitled: Saunawave where they look to be "hosting meetings with remarkable heat seekers and embark on secret journeys to explore the new wave of global sauna culture". As a designer and an architect they are also k...
Jan 16, 2021•1 hr 46 min
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. This sauna build project is a creative nod to the Fibonacci Sequence, one of the most famous formulas in mathematics. In this episode you'll hear from Travis about the origins of this sauna, using a yurt frame as a foundation for building this sauna. And let's not forget the Steam Roller sauna. Here is a link that describes and illustrates the Steam R...
Dec 23, 2020•1 hr 11 min
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 mold, where two people are gathered, once again, on the sauna bench to, er… sauna talk. Both Max and Glenn have been under pretty strict distancing: Glenn returning from 5 months on his island in Northeast Minnesota and Max running a tight ship, with his wife due in December with their third child. (eg. no messing around). So, this episode is a retur...
Nov 18, 2020•41 min
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 between sauna rounds at his home in Southwest Wisconsin. Glenn was Zoomed up from his island lake cabin in Northeast Minnesota.The sauna building journey vs. destination The iterative process of sauna building allows us to create a sauna that works for us, individually. The story behind "the Opposite of Cold" A resurgence and interest in authentic sau...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 28 min
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. Whichever the point of introduction, Jesse and I agree that with cold plunge and sauna, 1+1=3. You'll hear from Jesse why this is. We will hear about his personal journey towards the powerful goodness of breath work and cold exposure. For most all Finns and sauna owners in Nordic regions of Europe and similar climates in North America, we refer to a fe...
Oct 10, 2020•1 hr 18 min
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 traditions from all over the World. Throughout his book, we enter with Mikkel into a Mayan Temescal, a Russian Banya, a Japanese Mushu-buru, a Native American Sweatlodge, and of course a Finnish sauna, amongst other cultural sweat tradition practices. Throughout his global journey, Mikkel gained an understanding of the common human experience. The c...
Sep 04, 2020•1 hr 8 min
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, though this episode has been in the works for month, it was put together within minutes. I sent Jake an email, heard back right away, and we jumped on a Zoom call. We got right into the chatter, as mutual lovers of good sauna tend to do, and so it was easy to hit record and just make it happen. Doers vs. dreamers We hear the origins of Finnmark Saun...
Jul 17, 2020•1 hr 50 min
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 write an article debunking the cold water deep breathing "iceman" Wim Hof. Scott went to Wim's training center in Poland. His intention was to get into the depths of Wim's cold water immersion therapy and deep breathing methods, to reveal the cracks and fallacies of the practice. And this was Scott's specialty. He was on the heels of his 2015 book Th...
Jun 16, 2020•1 hr 16 min
Today on the bench, we are pleased to welcome Jessica Kelso, founder, owner, and proprietor of Löyly in Portland Oregon, which today comprises two public sauna facilities. Growing up in Oregon, Jess first encountered sauna as part of "a bit of the hippy culture of the area" but she, like many sauna enthusiasts, became hooked on sauna from her time spent experiencing the public sauna scene in Europe. We get to hear from her voice, the pivotal moment when she committed herself to opening a public ...
May 30, 2020•43 min
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 concept. Athletes sustain performance via an aggregation of marginal gains. From 1-10, how developed is sauna therapy with pro athletes? Harvey rates it a 5, and Brian rates it a 3 or 4. It is slowly creeping its way into professional sports. It is knocking on the door. Saunas in NFL locker rooms are large, like 10'x10′. Harrison Smith would hit t...
Apr 03, 2020•1 hr 15 min
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 aneurysm, and he really leaned into assisting with this family emergency. Stokeyard Outfitters Activating two sauna locations: Hewing Hotel and The Village, 4700 Nicollet Ave. S. "Mobile is kind of our thing." The use of mobile assets (mobile sauna) has allowed Stokeyard Outfitters to activate in Minneapolis. The Village is only 5 blocks from Rod'...
Mar 20, 2020•1 hr 24 min
Welcome to a dream come true: a new community sauna for Duluth, Minnesota. Setting up for Winter/Spring residency, right next to Lake Superior, partnering with The Inn on Lake Superior, Canal Park, Duluth, MN. Justin Juntunen's history of sauna Meet My friend Justin. He grew up with sauna, just a toddler on the floor in a bucket like father and grandfather before him. Sauna has been an integral part to his family culture. Growing up in Esko, Minnesota, a small Finnish community twenty minutes so...
Feb 22, 2020•1 hr 9 min
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 Dietetics and Nutrition Science major. Masters in Holistic Nutrition. Aligned with beliefs. Practicing as a nutritionists. Became ill with chronic problems. Lupis. Antibodies over 481. Hashimoto: an autoimmune disease where the body is attacking its own tissue. 6 years ago. Could not move from laying down to sitting up. Chronic pain. Everything wa...
Feb 07, 2020•1 hr 18 min
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 a bad guy. Acting is being little kids again. Every Finnish family has pretty much similar experience growing up with sauna. Creates a certain bond. Naked removes the taboos. Strips away all the things that are so uncomfortable with nudity. In reality, nudity is our natural state of being. When you are stripped away from your clothes, you are stripped ...
Dec 16, 2019•1 hr 4 min
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, Uusi Sauna, a stylish contemporary public sauna in the "new downtown" area of Helsinki. Uusi offers 3 saunas and a bar and a kitchen. One sauna for men, one sauna for women, and one private sauna, electric for private functions. the birth of Uusi Sauna In 2010, there was an International competition to help define what city planner would win the co...
Dec 13, 2019•1 hr 7 min
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 popular than here in USA. It was the 2010 Sauna World Championships. The two finalists had worked their way through 130 other contestants, two days of grueling single elimination "who can outlast the other on the sauna bench" brackets. And only two men were left standing: Russia's Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy and Finland's Timo Kaukonen, soon to be known every...
Nov 17, 2019•37 min
Today on Sauna Talk, we are warmed to welcome Saara Lehtonen, founder and lead proprietor of Kaurilan Sauna in Helsinki, Finland. In Finland, those well familiar to sauna, which includes just about everyone, will tell you that "every sauna has its own soul." And for those not convinced, or those who may be at all suspect to this fact, I encourage you to get to Helsinki and pay a visit to Kaurilan Sauna. Before we get started, I'd like to extend a big thank you to Samuli, owner of Iki Stoves, who...
Nov 12, 2019•1 hr 1 min
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 Catering, as well as Saunat , a sauna rental and hosting business, where she manages 12 different sauna properties. If all this isn't enough, Tea has two small children who stay with her as she manages phone reservations and catering inquires, while putting together an awesome wholesome lunch for me and Samuli, from Iki sauna stoves. We take a tou...
Oct 03, 2019•35 min
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 our products in Finland. With about 70 employees, Narvi grows by sticking to their plan. Narvi is very proud of their enameled heaters that are extremely durable and easy to take care of. And Narvi is an innovator. For example the smoke channels of the Narvi NC make the heater the most eco-friendly in the world. VTT tests the heaters in Finland, and N...
Sep 17, 2019•1 hr 33 min
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, Marketing Director from Harvia. Wood species for saunas Red Cedar is something that can be found only in North America, not Europe. It equals to Elder in terms of structure, is the closest wood species. "oh, it smells like a pencil!" The color appears much like Elder. Spruce: Easy to get, easy to work with. Light enough to work with. Aspen: Also very...
Sep 10, 2019•19 min
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 Carita Harju, Founder and Executive Director, of Sauna from Finland. We have gathered for Sauna from Finland's 10 year anniversary. And what better spot than Savutuvanapaya, a lakeside resort featuring multiple saunas by the shoreline, in the heart of Finland's Lake Country, central Finland. What is Sauna From Finland? Well, in my words, Sauna from ...
Jul 27, 2019•39 min
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 visiting a place with 7 saunas? Welcome to Varjola Resort! Day 4 of Finland trip. After a busy travel day 3 and interview with Dr. Jari Laukkanen, world leader in sauna research, Glenn checks in to the Varjola resort, with all eyes on one of the smoke saunas along the shoreline, heated and ready for action. He is entertained by 5th generation owner Mar...
Jul 05, 2019•1 hr 7 min
