The Upper Bench

The Upper Bench Sauna Podcast
  • 4.4 (7)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Experience The Upper Bench for unique sauna expeditions. Immerse in Finnish sauna traditions, embrace the allure of hot-cold bathing, and relish wood-burning sauna tales. Ignite your passion for sauna culture as we cover topics like sauna tech, wellness, and others. Join Eero, Risto, and Sam on a global quest for the authentic warmth of saunas. Unleash the sauna adventurer within - subscribe now! 🧖🏻‍♂️ #heat #steam #coldplunge #thermal #sweatbathing #finnishculture #health

  1. Yooper Saunas Part 3

    JAN 20

    Yooper Saunas Part 3

    Risto shows Sam and Eero even more Yooper saunas! National Sauna Week Schedule https://www.nationalsaunaweek.com/sessions-and-registration CHAPTERS 00:00 Our news 07:54 Sauna 1 17:17 Sauna 2 22:56 Sauna 3 26:52 Sauna 4 30:55 Sauna 5 34:46 Sauna 6 41:41 Sauna 7 46:00 Sauna 8

    57 min
  2. Todd builds an epic sauna in Alaska

    12/25/2025

    Todd builds an epic sauna in Alaska

    We first met Todd Shearer at our 2024 Toronto meet-up. His enthusiasm for sauna was apparent from the start. We had a great time exploring the Canadian banya scene with him. But that isn't the end of his story. He went home to Alaska and built an epic sauna. He is also part of a growing sauna community that is rooted in culture. CONTENT 00:00 Intro and catching up 03:01 Sam's Dallas banya review 12:10 Reviewing Chipotle's sauna marketing 15:13 Todd's background with sauna 19:10 Toronto 2024 21:04 Todd's sauna build 1:20:06 Sauna practice with friends and family

    1h 33m
  3. To Schvitz

    12/03/2025

    To Schvitz

    Episode 64 - David Kosins and Joshua Womack join the Upper Bench to talk schvitzing in general and the Cleveland Schvitz in specific. We learn how they discovered sauna and what their current practices are like today. And we also compare the Schvitz to Banya and Sauna. PODCAST LINKS https://www.theupperbench.com https://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/ GUEST LINKS https://joshuawomack.com CONTENTS 00:00 Intro and catching up 04:23 David's sauna story (Detroit schvitzs, LA schvitz, trip to Finland, Banya5 in Seattle, etc.) 22:01 Josh sauna story and book (Cleveland Schvitz and Soul Space) 29:09 Eero: NYC bathhouse, growing up with public sauna 30:48 David's sauna build 38:04 Josh's regular sauna location (Soul Space) 42:39 Schvitz vs Sauna vs Banya: Differences and Similarities

    59 min
  4. A brief history of sauna marketing in North America

    11/06/2025

    A brief history of sauna marketing in North America

    Have we oversimplified sauna? A brief history of sauna marketing in North America. Episode debuted at the Seattle Sauna Festival 2025

    35 min
  5. Nathan's Journey from Infrared to Real Sauna.

    09/23/2025

    Nathan's Journey from Infrared to Real Sauna.

    Nathan's Journey from Infrared to Real Sauna. A candid journey from infrared hype to authentic Finnish sauna, highlighting why real heat, löyly, and hot–cold contrast are so compelling. We discuss practice over marketing—ventilation, simple rituals, and family-friendly routines that deliver presence and stress relief. And we learn about Nathan's eye toward a future wood-fired sauna. PODCAST LINKS https://www.theupperbench.com https://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/theupperbench CONTENTS 00:00 Introduction and how Risto and Nathan became friends 03:56 Nathan's first hot cold experiences 05:24 Selecting and buying and infrared "sauna" 07:45 Scientology and niacin 14:03 Experience with his IR 16:03 Getting a real sauna 17:59 Stress relief and mental health benefits 20:23 Saunaing with a young child 25:24 Nathan's sauna practice 37:58 Why IR doesn't cut it 39:00 The aim of sauna: sweat or something more? 42:35 Another lackluster IR experience 46:38 How financial motivations skew sauna opinions 50:36 Any plans for a wood-burning sauna?

    56 min
  6. Private vs Public sauna practice and Sam's Big News

    08/20/2025

    Private vs Public sauna practice and Sam's Big News

    Episode 61 - Risto, Eero, and Sam return to the Upper Bench to dig into public vs. private sauna, heater tech (smoke, wood, flip-lid electric), masonry vs. metal, a simple rating framework for public saunas—and Sam’s upcoming move to Texas. PODCAST LINKS https://www.theupperbench.com https://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/theupperbench CONTENTS 00:00 Introduction 06:59 Updates + Risto's lofted build 08:18 Flip-lid heater & heat prefs 12:47 Eero's Finland heater rebuild & boiling water tanks 19:18 Stoves, rocks, masonry 27:20 Public vs. private, ratings, utility vs. social, travel + Sam moves to TX

    52 min
  7. Ambassador Program brainstorming session

    07/30/2025

    Ambassador Program brainstorming session

    Episode 060 - Eero and Risto brainstorm about the NASS ambassador program and how to categorize different saunas in North America.If you have ideas, please leave them in the comments!

    1h 2m
  8. Is there an authentic sauna culture in North America? with Michael Nordskog

    07/16/2025

    Is there an authentic sauna culture in North America? with Michael Nordskog

    Episode 59 - Michael Nordskog, author of The Opposite of Cold, joins the Upper Bench podcast to discuss his book and details about his two wonderful saunas.GUEST LINKShttps://www.facebook.com/TheOppositeofColdhttps://www.upress.umn.edu/9780816656820/the-opposite-of-cold/UPPER BENCH LINKShttps://www.theupperbench.comhttps://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/https://www.facebook.com/theupperbenchCONTENTS00:00 Introduction02:19 Writing the Opposite of Cold07:11 Michael's cedar log sauna16:01 How many savusaunas are there in North America27:07 Matti Kaups archive29:43 Michael's sauna practice34:22 His sauna build42:52 Sauna dogma and guidelines44:20 Oslo sauna visit with Mikkel Aaland50:38 Did Norwegian immigrants bring badstue (sauna) with them?52:51 Predictions for the future of sauna

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Experience The Upper Bench for unique sauna expeditions. Immerse in Finnish sauna traditions, embrace the allure of hot-cold bathing, and relish wood-burning sauna tales. Ignite your passion for sauna culture as we cover topics like sauna tech, wellness, and others. Join Eero, Risto, and Sam on a global quest for the authentic warmth of saunas. Unleash the sauna adventurer within - subscribe now! 🧖🏻‍♂️ #heat #steam #coldplunge #thermal #sweatbathing #finnishculture #health

Information

  • Creator
    The Upper Bench Sauna Podcast
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Upper Bench Sauna Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Upper Bench

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