Sauna Talk

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

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 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 [https://www.saunatimes.com/sauna-talk-podcast/sauna-talk-emma-okelly/] (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 [https://www.saunatimes.com/diy-sauna-building-book/]). 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.

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

In 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.

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

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 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.

New York City's First Sauna Village | Culture of Bathing Gathering | Sauna Talk #124

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 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. [https://cultureofbathe-ing.com/]

Mikkel Aaland: Sauna Aid, Sustainability & The Future of Bathing | Sauna Talk #123

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 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 [https://www.saunatimes.com/sauna-talk-podcast/sauna-talk-mikkel-aaland-author-of-sweat-and-the-perfect-sweat-documentary-offers-us-six-decades-of-global-insight/]. And my 2016 interview here [https://www.saunatimes.com/sauna-talk-podcast/sauna-talk-mikkel-aaland-author-of-the-iconic-book-sweat-and-the-mascot-for-sauna-enthusiasts-everywhere/].