Wow. Thank you!

Several thousand readers received the survey, and nearly 300 of you responded. I would have been thrilled with 30 responses, so this was beyond my expectations.

The results are clear:

You want more BUILD.

You want more HEAT.

By a wide margin, those two topics rose to the top.

The survey results confirm what I’ve sensed for a long time: you want to build better saunas. Better layouts. Better materials. Better ventilation. Better heaters. Better craftsmanship. And you want to better understand heat itself—and the elements that create truly great löyly.

People, Places, and Products will always be part of SaunaTimes, but Build and Heat are where I’ll continue to lean in over the months and years ahead.

I’ll share more about the survey next month, including the winners of the Sauna Life book giveaway, along with a major announcement for expanded Sauna Talk action.

I’ve been riding these positive sauna vibrations since 2008, and I’m excited to revisit and expand many favorite topics: from The Holy Trinity of Good Sauna to the Jazz Trio of Heat Transfer, and to both support and challenge conventional thinking along the way.

Thank you for helping shape the future of SaunaTimes.

Sauna Talk

Three new episodes this month:

Sauna Days 2026
Producer Mossy Ben turns the microphone around and interviews me about Sauna Days 2026, where nearly 300 sauna enthusiasts gathered at Larsmont Cottages in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Check out the podcast episode here.

Sauna & Mental Health
Psychotherapist Sierra Blake joins Sauna Talk to discuss trauma, addiction recovery, and the growing understanding of sauna and cold immersion as tools for mental well-being. Check out the podcast episode here.

Sauna in America
Recorded from island cabin country in northern Minnesota, this July 4th episode reflects on America’s sauna heritage and features favorite moments from past conversations with influential American sauna voices. Check it out here.

Preparing for Temperature Extremes

Every employer plans for predictable workplace hazards.

So why wait until the first heat wave or cold snap to prepare workers for environmental stress?

A growing body of research suggests that gradual heat and cold adaptation may become another valuable tool for improving worker safety and resilience. Link is here.

Sauna Circuits

Robert Hammond, President of Therme US and founder of Culture Bathing, guides us through his favorite Sauna Circuit in Manhattan.

One of my favorite parts of every Sauna Circuit are “adjacencies” where each scout helps us discover the neighborhoods: the cafés, bookstores, parks, and local gems that make each route unique.

Check out the Manhattan Sauna Circuit here!

Why Mass Matters

We’re interested in heat, right? Well, A sauna heater doesn’t simply heat air.

It creates an entire thermal system where fire, steel, stones, room surfaces, ventilation, and bathers all interact.

While sitting on the bench, understanding that system (and not just what it says on the thermometer) is the key to understanding exceptional löyly. More is here!

Thanks again for following along, and forward this email along to someone you may know who is thermally aligned in our similar spirit… Talk with you again soon!

SaunaTimes Summer Survey

I’m thinking about where SaunaTimes goes next: where you’d like us to lean more into.

To sort that out, I looked across the last 100 posts from the past 1,000 and grouped them into five categories. Now I’d like your help deciding which categories deserve more steam.

It’s a quick one-minute survey. You’ll rank the five categories (not just pick a favorite). The results will directly shape what shows up next in the writing, the podcast, and future features.

👉 Take the four question survey click here:

There’s also a small thank-you: three advance proof copies of the upcoming coffee table book Sauna Life: Heat Up to Cool Down will be given away to participants. Completing the simple survey… and you’re qualified!

Sauna Talk

Here’s a secret: authors make great guests for the Sauna Talk podcast. And here’s a triple play of breath, cold, and meaning as we head back up to Sauna Days, where I host a special live authors panel featuring Garrett Conover, Jesse Coomer, Harvey Martin. Check it here.

Heat Immersion: why good heat is more than hot air

Good sauna heat is an environment. Step into most any sauna and, sure, you’ll likely notice the thermometer on the wall. But in a good sauna, what we notice is the feeling of being surrounded. And in a good way, more is here.

Riverwalk Saunas: A Nordic escape beneath the skyscrapers

The wind whipping off the Chicago River usually signals a time to retreat indoors, but at the foot of the Magnificent Mile, a new kind of warmth is rising. Kev brings us right into front and center at Riverwalk Saunas. More is here.

The Dodson Dive

A couple years ago, I wrote about something that seemed almost too simple to matter: entering the lake butt-first instead of diving headfirst. I have some interesting rationale, evidence, naming rights, and a cool story behind (cough) this graceful entry point. Check it out here.

The Sweat-Soaked Heat Academy: How Six Mindsets Create the Magic of Sauna Days

After Dan Woods reviewed February’s Culture-of-Bathing Sauna Festival in Brooklyn, I asked him to cover Sauna Days held North of Duluth, Minnesota in early May. He is a heck of a writer and we’ll be seeing his articles in international newspapers soon. For now, we have him on our team. Anyone interested in attending a sauna festival will resonate with Dan here.

Portland Sauna Circuit

Have you ever seen Portlandia? Well, Sauna Circuit Scout “Thermal Terry” joins us from the land of PDX. Portland’s sauna scene has exploded in the past few years from the high-rise and high-end Ritz Carlton Spa and super-luxe Cascada Thermal Springs & Hotel to rootsy vibe sauna action. Check it out here.

Happy 4th to all you fellow sauna freaks in the U.S., and World Cup greetings to everyone else joining in from around the globe. (I am rooting for Norway, and yet one of the survey questions isn’t “do you like Erling Haaland’s haircut?)

Survey is here.

Good heat knows no borders.

See you next month!

And every month, I have the same reaction: WTF?!

In my mind, I’m thinking maybe we published just a couple of things: a Sauna Talk episode, a guest post or two, one of my right-brained philosophical rants, maybe a Sauna Circuit for travel envy or inspiration.

Then I look at the list.

WTF. There’s a lot here!

What I offer you this and every month is your sauna smorgasbord. A dabbling for you to sample. For this May, below are eight fresh articles for you to settle into between rounds, or while your sauna stove climbs up to serving temperature:

The psychology of sauna

Stephen A. Colmant, Ph.D., MA, Prescribing Psychologist, Las Cruces, NM, longtime SaunaTimes contributor, and my roommate at the 2014 Perfect Sweat Summit in San Francisco, shares “We hear about the physiological benefits of sauna almost daily and still very little attention is given to its psychological effects... these features of the sauna experience remain under-appreciated and underutilized.” More from Dr. Colmant is here.

Sauna Days 2026

Sauna Days 2026 brought nearly 300 of us together: a big evolution from the first gathering in 2019, when about 30 of us converged. And like all Sauna Days, we celebrate an environment where everybody is cool and calm. Were you there? You know what I mean. Want to come? Sauna Days 2027 is April 30th weekend. It will sell out, and we’d love to see you there. Please put it on your calendar. More is here.

Sauna Talk: Josh Leddy & Leif Kjorness

Both of these thermal enthusiasts were with us at Sauna Days. And we record this episode during a few cold weather steamy sauna rounds and lake ice hole plunges into Lake Ann in Minnesota. We capture a healthy slice of what sauna culture is about: generosity, vulnerability, camaraderie, and the profound experience of being fully present, as that’s all you can muster as you duck your head under a hole in the ice. More is here.

Using AI to help with your sauna design

Let’s talk about it. That two-letter word that is both very exciting and also induces a gag-reflex: AI. We welcome Tim, a high level AI Technologist, who takes us through Circuitry Versus Steam here.

Sauna Building: stress loads for sauna benches

We all know that sauna is a great way to get rid of stress. Yet, when it comes to stress loads for sauna bench construction, we get the definitive word from Jack DeGonda, a Gustavus Adolphus College and University of Minnesota Structural Engineering graduate. Jack built is own sauna with the assistance of my book, and who better to nerd out about stress loads of the SaunaTimes bench design that Jack? more is here.

Sauna spa and wellness hospitality

I recently connected with Ingrid G. Motrøen, Chief Marketing Officer at The Well, the largest sauna and wellness destination in the Nordic region, just outside Oslo, Norway. We talk about how The Well evolved into a world-class sauna-centric experience blending Nordic bathing culture, wellness, hospitality, and ritual at an enormous scale.

And this September, you can experience it for yourself when Oslo hosts the International Sauna Congress: the once-every-four-years global gathering of sauna people from around the world. More is here.

Smoke Sauna sister and brotherhood

Do you know what a savusauna (smoke sauna) is? Well, there’s some “pedantic chatter” misunderstandings of the heat behind and within this centuries old traditional sauna. In this article, we clear the air as to why smoke sauna heat feels softer, deeper, and more enveloping. More is here.

More Sauna Talk

Sauna diplomacy comes to us from across the big pond, where UK sauna meets USA sauna. Jake Newport, co-founder of Finnmark, prognosticates on what will be the next sauna revolution from Sauna Days, Two Harbors, Minnesota. More is here.

Next month, we’ll share two new Sauna Circuits, bring you on-the-ground reporting from the British Sauna Summit and the World Sauna Forum, and feature a leading journalist’s perspective on the recent 2026 Sauna Days gathering in Minnesota.

Talk with you again next month!

Sauna Days 2019, we sold 25 tickets. Sauna Days 2026 there will be hundreds in attendance. 12-15 saunas, 16 speakers and presenters, many joining us from hundreds, thousands of miles away. The schedule is posted here. I plan to capture several of these presentations for Sauna Talk.

10 reasons for Sauna Days

Dr. Miah Eisenschenk has been coming to Sauna Days for several years and he lays out what keeps pulling him back. His 10 Reasons why he is looking forward to Sauna Days 2026 is here.

Sauna Talk

Bill Gifford is coming to Sauna Days, and I sit down with him to discuss 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. Episode is here.

Mobile sauna for sale

What a great time to mobilize your very own mobile sauna. And this one is here for you. We built it in collaboration for Sauna Days 2025. It has spent the year in the parking lot of Lamppa Manufacturing (testing their soon to be officially launched electric sauna heater). More is here.

Sauna internships

SaunaTimes is looking for two summer interns to help me navigate through the trees in the forest.

Architecture student. To help with a few projects. Working directly with me. Building experience preferred. A great resume builder and you will be fully credited, supported.

Web designer. To help with some improvements to SaunaTimes.com and Saunastudies.com. Wordpress experience preferred. Great learning platform and you will be fully credited, supported.

Please reply to this email, and change subject heading to “Sauna internships.”

Sauna Brothel

I can’t think of a more anti sex microclimate than a 180° f. hot room, but In Minneapolis, the City Council is actively considering whether to reverse a nearly 40-year ban and re-legalize adult bathhouses. This would license and regulate venues where sexual activity between consenting adults is allowed. (Yuck!). Article is here.

Sauna Circuits

We have a few awesomely creatively curated Sauna Circuits in cue (Scotland, Portland, Bergen Norway). And one is likely coming to your area sometime in the next year. More on Sauna Circuits here.

Sauna for Seniors

Let’s welcome back Ethan, founder of Sauna for Seniors where he presents his paper on the cost benefits of sauna, with a focus on 65+ populations. A great cornerstone for the future of sauna for seniors! Article is here.

The Hybrid Paradox

Alan Jalasjaa helps us understand how the hybrid sauna/infrared cabin is currently the hottest paradox in the wellness industry. On paper, it is the ultimate no-compromises solution: the radiant, deep-tissue penetration of infrared (IR) for recovery, paired with the high-heat, high-humidity ritual of a traditional Finnish stove. Article is here.

When “community” becomes a caption

By Becky Pelkonen, co-founder of Kamu Sauna “This article grew out of a conversation with Glenn and a few longtime sauna folks who had a sense that something felt a little off in the language showing up around sauna marketing lately. Not wrong, exactly. Just… perhaps a little ahead of itself.” Article is here.

Sauna without the script

by Jessie Brunotte, Bliss Mobile Wellness. “I didn’t grow up around sauna. I grew up in a very structured environment where there was a right way to do things, and it was clearly defined.” Article is here.

Hope you’re enjoying some good spring sauna!

One month from today, Sauna Days returns to Two Harbors for its 7th annual gathering—a full takeover of Larsmont Cottages along Lake Superior. With a dozen-plus mobile saunas, speakers from far and wide, and a thriving sauna village atmosphere fostering an inspiration for sauna villages popping up all over. I have a limited number of weekend passes secured—use code SaunaTimes. And you can get your tickets here.

Sauna Bathe-ing

Writer Dan Woods explores the Sauna Days inspired “Culture of Bathe-ing” festival at Domino Park in New York City—Therme Group’s 15-sauna village that turns skepticism into a surprisingly authentic urban sweat experience here.

Sauna Authors

In this special Sauna Talk episode, I sit with authors Yuval Zohar, Emma O’Kelly, and Bill Gifford on a sauna bench at the 2026 Culture of Bathe-ing Festival in NYC. They discuss global sauna traditions, the “sauna high,” and the rise of community bathing. Visit us here.

Sauna Life

For the past three years, I’ve worked with my thermal soul brother Tom to create a coffee table photo book celebrating Sauna Life, from the lens of hundreds of fellow enthusiasts. Early viewers call it a “stunning visual collection.” Tom and I will be presenting and sharing proof copies of the book at Sauna Days next month. More here.

Sauna Talk

Adam Bamba Tanaka of Therme Group US interviews me, Glenn from SaunaTimes, live from the New York City sauna village. We explore mobile saunas, sauna building, public saunas, floating saunas, and rising sauna tides—straight from the bench here.

Sauna Rules

Ever slogged through sauna social media mud? Markus Raty’s guest post takes on sauna dogma and online referees. From Finnish smoke saunas to backyard builds, he reminds us that good löyly, clean air, and real experience matter more than bench heights or airflow diagrams. One of my most resonant guest posts since SaunaTimes began in 2008, Markus helps reclaim sauna’s open, welcoming spirit. Read it here.

Sauna..”Why not?”

I recently bolted a Homecraft 6 kW Slim electric heater onto my backyard wood-fired sauna, unlocking even more possibilities. With their new road tested non margin stacked $525 WiFi controller, I’m hitting “on” at all hours, enjoying spontaneous “why not” saunas. Is dual fuel right for you? I can help you. More on my journey is here.

Sauna Circuits

Finally, let’s head over to Vancouver where Valterri, a Finn living in British Columbia and co-founder of the West Coast Sauna Summit, takes us through his adopted city for this Sauna Circuit. More is here.

Val will be there with us at Sauna Days, and I hope to catch up with you there too. Either way, I’ll see you back here next month for more heat, steam, and some added hot air ventilation.

Three’s the charm for Sauna Talk with the Godfather of Sweat (Mikkel Aaland) who joins us from the West Coast Sauna Summit here.

Then, same month, we cross North America to sit on the bench at the Culture of Bathing Sauna Village where I interview Thermé’s Cosmin-Nicolae Cîrîc: chief experience operator, Robert Hammond: President and Chief Strategy Officer, and Adam Bamba Tanaka: Chief Operating Officer. That’s a lot of chiefs, and this episode circles a lot of wagons here.

Sauna Circuits

Let’s welcome Alan Jalasjaa for this Toronto Sauna Circuit. “Toronto is a very diverse city where you can look beyond the standard hotel spa and find the city’s unique social and scenic wellness scenes.” Check out the circuit here.

Sauna Villages

A sauna village is essentially a cluster or community of saunas (often in a natural or retreat-like setting). They are popping up all over, findable on the SaunaTimes map, and I’ve written about most of them on SaunaTimes.com.

We are one, yet we celebrate our diverse characters in a sauna village full of spontaneous, safe discovery. Read more about the allure of sauna villages here.

Sauna Days 2026

Over the years, we’ve cultivated what has become a popular “sauna village” atmosphere, and Sauna Days continues to grow and evolve from our first gathering in 2019. This year marks our 7th annual event - a Larsmont Cottages take over - along the shores of Lake Superior, May 1-3. Tickets are on sale now and the event sells out. We have a limited number of passes with Promo Code: SaunaTimes. And you can get your tickets here.

Doctors who Sauna

Does your doctor sauna? Are you a doctor who saunas? Do you know a doctor who saunas? Several are coming to Sauna Days, and we welcome others to join the crew. Please have them respond to this newsletter. Fascinating insights from the medical team are here.

Sauna Advice

The best cookbooks come from chefs, from people who have spent years honing their craft in the kitchen, experimenting, exploring, borrowing recipes from other countries, respecting tradition, and yet remaining open-minded enough to bring something new to the table. And the analogy to sauna advice is here.

Sauna Congress

The worlds largest sauna village happens every four years. The global sauna community comes together for the International Sauna Congress. In 2026, Norway hosts the gathering, with events in Oslo from September 24–26. ISC26 is warmly hosted by the Norwegian Sauna Association (Norges Badstulaug). See you there, and more is here!

Sauna Circuits

This is the spirit, and how exciting to launch the first Sauna Circuit, Chicago. Soon come: Vancouver, Alan in Toronto, then, just wait until we visit the Scottish Shoreline with Emma O’Kelly! Good heat knows no borders.

Stove Giveaway

We welcomed you and well over 1,000 entrants, and we hope to do more of these. Not for likes and shares, but to give back to the awesome thermal ecosystem. We had three hugely appreciative winners of three hugely awesome stoves, and that’s what gift giving is all about Charlie Brown!

Sauna Talk

Over 120 episodes and I don’t dare pick a top 10, but for those of us wanting a deeper understanding of deep heat, and the holy trinity of good sauna (heat, steam, ventilation), well, this episode is right up there. Welcome Keegan to Sauna Talk here.

Synesthesia through sound and sauna

In a good sauna, heat and steam create something close to synesthesia: the neurological phenomenon where one sense triggers another. You don’t just feel heat; you absorb it like music. Good heat is a wall of heat,¹ a nod to Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound: dense, bombastic, immersive. Steam off the rocks can land differently depending on where you hit it, different places on the steel drum² delivering different notes. More songs about buildings and sound here.

Your home sauna is the kitchen; the public sauna is the restaurant

Guest post by Becky Pelkonen

Not long ago, after one of our community sessions, someone came up to me with that “I hope you won’t be mad” tone and said, almost apologetically:

“I probably won’t be coming anymore. My brother-in-law is building us a backyard sauna.”

Didn’t happen and Becky tells us what happened and why here.

Beyond heat: rethinking the scope of sauna research

Stephen A. Colmant, PhD, longtime friend, independent researcher, prescribing psychologist, and Sauna Days 2026 speaker poses:

“The case for sauna as an evidence-based integrative practice builds upon an important insight: sauna is not a single-component intervention but an experiential tapestry woven from multiple, well-researched therapeutic factors.”

More from Stephen here.

Beyond the research lab, Shirt sweat-itis is what happens when we get dressed too fast after a good sauna session, and we start sweating with our clothes on. A suggestion for bathhouse owners and four ways to avoid the forehead arm pit activation is detailed here.

Speaking of floating saunas..

Who has not dreamed of having a floating sauna on a crystal-clear lake overlooking the greatest skyline in the world? This dream is now a reality in Chicago, IL, thanks to Kiln Floating Sauna. Correspondent Kev shares part of this Chicago Sauna Circuit here.

Next month:

On the heals of the West Coast Sauna Summit and off to New York for Culture of Bathing, i’ll be on the bench with some wonderful contributors to this wonderful thing we do and place we go, including uncovering the hidden power of heat with Bill Gifford.

We’ve endured some fractured ICE this month here in Minneapolis. Our city has been in the spotlight all over the world. Many of you have contacted me, and I appreciate your thoughtful, warm words. Let’s make some löyly, close our eyes, and resonate with how much stronger unity and love is than its opposites.

On the heels of our most recent Sauna Talk Podcast episode—where we interviewed the three major U.S. sauna stove makers—we’re thrilled to announce something special. Each of the manufacturers generously offered to give away one of their stoves for the holidays, and we’re excited to facilitate this one-time giveaway for the warming and growing sauna community. Click here to enter!

Winners will be selected on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and will receive a printable gift card—this is a wow gift, the kind that gets remembered for generations, just like the stove itself.

SaunaTimes help wanted

SaunaTimes is looking for a college student (or recent grad) who’s curious, organized, and interested in how content actually gets made and published in the real world. Must dig sauna. Very part time, and with some side cash earning potential. For more information please click here.

Here’s a quote from Cody, our eldest son’s fraternity brother who started helping me out 10 years ago:

“This is a great role for a high performer with the ability to teach themselves. There is no hand-holding in this role. If you’re not somebody with an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to “figure it out,” this role is not for you. But, if you’re a self-starter and can manage your own work, this opportunity can go a long way to help build your career as it has mine.

SaunaTimes map

Have you seen it? Sauna travel, and we are coming to your town with Sauna Circuits! Chicago is first, and here’s what it looks like on the map:

Good luck on winning a sauna stove, and we’ll see you along the sauna travel circuit soon! Sauna on!

-Glenn.

Sauna Talk

Ever had a chance to sit with four sauna builders from four different countries? Well, these four span over 10,000 miles from their home and native lands to come to Sauna Days 2025, where we sat down for this roundtable discussion. And now you can join us from the comfort of your home, car, or sauna bench for this Sauna Talk podcast episode.

Collectively, back of the envelope, these four sauna builders have had their hands in well over 7,000 sauna projects. And if you ever had a question about what sauna building may mean for you, check out this wide ranging, fun, engaging episode here.

Analog living

We’re seeing a real swing back to analog living. Our lives have gotten cluttered. With stuff, yes, but also with noise. Phones, apps, notifications, data, metrics… all of it claiming to make life simpler while somehow making it more complicated, and yes, certainly more anxiety depression inducing.

But we don’t sign up for that s***. Our sanctity is on the bench, and cooling down in the garden, all misty wet with rain. Right? More here.

Sauna psychedelics

Alcohol, cannabis, and other psychedelics are a big part of gathering spaces like clubs and concerts, yet what about when it comes to social bathing? Some interesting observations along the edges are here.

Sauna ch-ch-ch changes

With sauna, we love tradition. The smell of cedar. The crackle of wood. The splash of water on hot rocks. We talk about authenticity a lot—and that’s a good thing. It’s part of what keeps sauna real. But every so often, it’s worth stepping back and remembering something simple:

“The thing we are trying to protect from change was itself a product of change not that long ago.”

-Ryan Holiday, 2025

The business of sauna, through its products, keeps shifting, quietly, steadily, in ways we eventually accept as normal. For example, We’ve been ripped off by wifi controllers long enough now. The import Baltic pocket lining party may soon be over. Wifi is now built in and free when you purchase an appliance like a refrigerator, oven, or an air conditioner. More to come on this rampage, and for now, more is here.

Sauna Travel

Back to more positive vibrations, we are excited to share the new SaunaTimes map is now live! A huge thank you to Stig and the Norwegian Sauna Association for recognizing that our map sucked and their map kicks ass. Reason #7 why I dig the Norwegians, and now you can click through to discover 360 saunas and building here. And follow along with our new project, Sauna Circuits… coming to your city soon!

Wishing you snow angels between rounds and some sanctity on your own bench. Talk again soon!

-Glenn.

How much time in the cold plunge? How many rounds? What’s your heart rate? Guest post series continues, please welcome Mark from New England, USA.

Mark has traveled the globe extensively, has no social media accounts, and has studied and practiced several centuries old Eastern meditative philosophies. Further, Mark has enjoyed sauna most of his life, and shares his thoughts on the The Hyper Quantification of sauna we live today. Let’s check in with Mark here.

Sauna Talk: Chris Heck

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 walk, or sweating it out on your own bench, my goal as host is to help keep the conversation flowing. Like good löyly, Sauna Talk rises, rolls, and wraps around us—natural, unforced, and alive.

And I had great time recording this interview! Chris grew up in Northern Minnesota, made his way into engineering school, and deep into his electrical engineering career. He spent a couple years living in Finland—where sauna isn’t a luxury, it’s an everyday way of life. He has sat on the bench in hundreds of different saunas in Finland. He travels to Finland regularly working for Wärtsilä a global company with over 10,000 employees, and recently completed his own DIY backyard sauna build. more is here.

The Jazz Trio of heat transfer revisited

If you ever find yourself being drawn into a nerdy conversation about thermal performance and heat dynamics, the jazz trio of heat transfer is one way to help explain what we all feel and love with good heat. Radiant, Convective, and Conductive all working together at a jazz club, and löyly, the steam, riding on top. Some like more drum, some like more bass, some like more piano. And any one without the other is just a duo.

And another common metaphor is to discuss and describe heat on the bench relative to heat to cook our food. Some (few?) chefs prefer an air fryer yet pro chefs resonate more deeply with their use of cast iron frying pans and heavy mass grills, like the Green Egg, which is revered by a passionate community of purists. Let’s develop an analogous way to help you explain “good heat” to others here.

Sauna Travel

Fellow thermal enthusiasts all know, deep in our bones, that good heat knows no borders. When we travel, there’s nothing better than settling onto a sauna bench, making some löyly, and realizing that as sauna becomes more popular, sauna travel will become its own great thing.

We started the SaunaTimes map about 4-5 years ago with 4-5 locations. Today, we feature over 350 public thermal bathing facilities and counting. What’s even more exciting is that we are expanding the map and interface (Thanks Stig and Levi!) to soon bring Sauna Circuits to your city or town. (Think wine tours but with a towel wrapped around your shoulders). All free, and ready for you to click around.

Sure, a hike in nature, a swim, or even a nap in the Airbnb can help us reset. But for many of us, there’s no better way to get to know a town and reset, restore, and recover from the disorientation of travel than a kick-ass sauna session in a new place and time. Get ready to come join us.. on the map and on the bench! More here.

Leaves are falling bonus round:

This sauna has a spiritual patina that has been earned over time, like the perfect fit of a well worn ballplayer’s glove. Each season adds another layer of memory, another reason I’ll never let it go.

Kos Sauna

I’d like to introduce you to Kate, founder of Kos Sauna who is ready to welcome aboard guests to her new floating sauna on the northwest shore of Saratoga Lake in Saratoga Springs, New York. Check out her Norwegian collaborated strikingly harmonious floating sauna here.

Sauna Plans

From pencil sketch to CAD, there are a few ways to get your sauna design down on paper (literal or digital). For that let’s review the well used options for sauna blueprints and beyond here.

Michigan Sauna

Our in-the-field sauna troubadour, Kev, is back with his Michigan sauna review. Kev carries his good nature and sauna glow wherever he goes. And you can follow along with his journey here.

Sauna Insurance

We welcome Hannah from TCA Insurance, who shares her journey into protecting and insuring mobile sauna businesses across North America. Alongside her story, four mobile sauna owners reveal their own roads to finding coverage. Check in here.

Sauna Talk

From Narvik, Norway, we journey to Farris Bad, where I had the chance to step behind the scenes with Jerome, a long-standing steam master at the renowned wellness resort. Farris Bad has quickly grown into a mecca for steam masters worldwide, and my conversation with Jerome revealed why. His approach to Aufguss—blending natural herbs, essences, and carefully honed techniques—shows how this practice transcends routine and enters the realm of art. I was enthralled by our interview, and anyone curious about the craft of Aufguss will likely find this podcast episode illuminating. Check it here.

Sauna Book

The print edition of my book, Sauna Build from start to finish, has helped thousands navigate their own sauna journey. If you or someone you know is looking to scratch their own sauna itch, well, please pass this along. The sauna journey moves along with a mouse click either on Amazon or here!

Next month

Sauna Circuit comes to life! The SaunaTimes map is current, yet the layout is 4-5 years old, and it gets a refresh and it’s going to help encourage you to grab your Troxers and water bottle, and hit the road to check out some saunas in the public domain. Excited for this. And other things too! Hope you are enjoying some cooler air and water, and with that some sauna action wherever you may be (on the map!).

Read more

But I shipped! Check out my own guest post where you can see the sauna I built and had delivered this summer. More here.

Sauna Circuit

The SaunaTimes Public Sauna Map has been growing strong for over four years, with more than 350 public sweat bathing facilities pinned — and counting.

So, what’s next? Sauna Circuit.

For the past year or so, we’ve been working behind the scenes on a curated travel guide that links clusters of public saunas into tour-worthy routes (think brewery tours, but with steam instead of oatmeal stout). Sauna Circuit is designed to make sauna travel easier, more fun, and more social — whether you’re going mobile across North America or exploring abroad. Check out the project here. And please take a moment to vote on your first Sauna Circuit location.

Sauna apparel

Dori from Saunamekko, maker of eco-friendly sauna wear, shares the ultimate guide to sauna apparel. For those that don’t nude up, the reported best fabric might surprise you here.

Sauna Talk

Have you heard of Dr. Hans Hägglund? Well, you soon will hear more, and for starters, you can check out our Sauna Talk podcast episode here.

Sauna heaters

To the casual bather, there’s little difference between a heater with exposed elements and one with protected elements—the rocks look the same. But under the hood, there’s some “aaaaah” innovation happening that is delighting more and more electric sauna heater users, including those that depend on reliable equipment and löyly that delights and delivers. Check out more here.

Sauna visit

Let’s check in with David Dumas who lives in Quebec province, Canada, just 1 hour south east from Montreal in a city called Granby. “I needed a place where I can relax inside (even in winter) in a room next to the sauna and also outside without forcing to cope with bad weather. And I wanted a structure that will be good for a lifetime!” Check out his sauna here.

Sauna in nature

“More than anything, we need to ground ourselves in nature.

All of the research. All of the data. All of the protocols. While academically important, they ultimately can become distracting noise.” - Grant Whittle. More grounding wisdom here.

Rick Rubin

“Explore the altered states brought on by extreme contrasts like sauna and ice baths.” Like many of us, he’s been at it since before Instagram. And as media-zers show us the obvious, we can instead “seek out and attune yourself to moments that pull you beyond the ordinary. These moments can come from nature, music, art, or small details in everyday life.”

Leaves, Lores and Löyly

And finally, let’s head back to Sipoonjoki Heritage Sauna, outside Helsinki, Finland where Laura walks us through the deep essence of sauna through three elements: leaves, lores and löyly. Welcome Laura here!

Talk with you again next month!

PS.. Thanks again for voting on the location for our Sauna Circuit pilot here.

My thirty years as a corporate foot soldier has left some indelible marks. Corporate travel, where the early morning seemed to be always announced by a loud door slam echoing down the hallway — the shower curtain salesman, up and out at 4:30 a.m. to catch his next flight from O’Hare.

Next time you’re holed up in one of these hotels, imagine this: a couple remote parking spots out back — redeployed with a kick-ass mobile sauna. A chill-out zone with cedar bench seating, maybe a trellis fence and a string of festive lights, and simple outdoor shower to get rid of airplane juice. Let’s check out the vision here.

Sauna Talk: from the bench at Oslo Sauna Association

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 to Norway in as many years. They say that you never step into the same river twice, and I’ll contend that we never sit on the same sauna bench twice. Let’s have a visit with the head staff, and learn more about the “badstu boom” happening in Norway click here.

Down under: with Sustainable Saunas in New Zealand

SaunaTimes returned from Europe and went on a virtual trip down to New Zealand where we had the pleasure to connect with Sam, founder and lead tool driver for Sustainable Saunas. We became fast kindred spirits, and let’s learn more about Sam and his sauna business here.

New Standard: for electric sauna heaters

Underwriter Laboratories recently published a new electric sauna heater standard. The North American sauna industry has long been handcuffed by the restrictions dictated by the current UL 875 standard.

The new standard, UL 60335‑2‑53, allows for installing the thermostat sensor over the seating area. But there’s a lot more to it. And it all depends on what the sticker says on your heater. Click here for more.

Product review: the Kuuma Low Profile

Do you realize how fortunate we are here in North America? We have a small number of “craft brewer” sauna stove manufacturers. Multigenerational, high quality, tariff free producers who will make your stove steps away from where the friendly staff will answer your phone call (usually on the second ring).

Kuuma is antithesis of cost engineering and margin stacking (the practice of layering multiple markups on a product as it moves through the supply chain). I gave their new Low Profile stove some serious road testing. You can check it out here.

Sauna Talk: from Sipoonjoki Heritage Sauna

I am back to Finland and on the smoke sauna bench for this joint Sauna Talk podcast with Linda and Otto who run the Sprit of Sauna podcast as well as Sipoonjoki Heritage Sauna, just outside Helsinki, Finland. Join us here.

What else am I up to?

I’m heading off the island today—assuming the car starts. I’m Duluth-bound to sit on a sauna builder panel at FinnFest with kindred spirits: Lassi from Finland (via Zoom) and Shane from Thunder Bay (in the flesh).

Frankly, I’m amazed I got so much done this month, seeing as I spent half of it looking for the tape measure I was holding. I’ve been elbow-deep building sauna #13 at my new mainland workshop. It’s been rewarding—hands-on work, good tunes, and the satisfaction of knowing someone’s soon getting their own slice of thermal goodness. (watch a short video of the build here).

More builds are ahead. And I’m going to celebrate and feature more sauna builder friends and kindred spirits. Creating with intention and sharing good heat is a big reason I turned my ebook into print: Sauna Build, Start to Finish. Like a candle that lights another candle, you can grab a copy or gift one here.

That’s right. With all the attention towards “building community,” right in our own backyard or cabin we can find the new luxury. Solitude.

“In a world where even stillness is ticketed, and hidden places become hashtags, the backyard sauna stands apart. No reservations, no lines, no signage. Just wood, heat, and time. It’s not designed to be discovered by the masses—it’s meant to be returned to, quietly, again and again.” More here.

Sauna Talk Britain

Returning to our cabin sauna, between sessions, I was able to publish two new Sauna Talk episodes from my recent trip to Europe. First, let’s check in at the British Sauna Summit, where about 350 people gathered last month in London. To help give you a flavor of where sauna is steaming ahead in Great Britain, I was able to visit with a few of the participants. Check it out here.

Sauna Talk Norway

The morning after the recent British Sauna Summit in London, Stig Arild Pettersen, Secretary General of the Norwegian Sauna Association, and I meet up at London’s Hackney Baths, which is a perfect backdrop for us to discuss the “Badstu Boom” taking place in Norway and the US. Check it out our jointly published podcast, recorded on the sauna bench, and available for you in Norwegian here, and in English here.

Sauna travel tips

All this sauna travel this past month (40 saunas in 12 days) got me reflecting on my top 5 travel tips to help others along their sauna travel journey. For example:

“Bring 1/4 the amount of clothes you think you’ll need on your trip. Why? well, as we know, we are never as clean as after we sauna. So, sauna travel means few dirty clothes. No matter if you’re going for a couple days or a couple weeks, it is perfectly reasonable to do a power wash of socks and other items in the sink during your voyage. Use a dab of shampoo provided”

More travel tips here.

Sauna Build book.. #1 on Amazon!!

I just got word that my book Sauna Build: Start to Finish has reached #1 on Amazon.
Among books written by a male, who is over 60.
Who’s built more saunas than the average bear.
And who once delivered a sauna stove in the trunk of a Buick.

So yes, it’s a narrow category. But I’m dominating it.…. and you can enjoy your copy too by clicking Amazon link here or SaunaTimes link here.

Sauna for Seniors

Let’s visit with Ethan who is mobilizing Sauna for Seniors in his hometown of Philadelphia.

“I am hosting free educational presentations about the benefits of sauna at 55+ communities and senior centers in the Philadelphia area where I live. I also recently expanded our mission to increasing access to sauna for senior citizens and supporting research on the health and wellness benefits of sauna.”

His aim is true, and we can help him along in his journey to help others. More here.

So, there we have it. Sauna for Seniors, Sauna Build, Sauna Travel, Sauna Talk, and Sauna Solitude! This month’s newsletter is brought to you by SaunaTimes with contributions from fellow like minded thermal enthusiasts.

Cheers to you, and I hope you’re enjoying nice long days with extended cool downs.. ideally in nature. I look forward to visiting with you next month! Sauna on!

-Glenn.

Over the years, many of you have relied on my e-book, Sauna Build: Start to Finish, to guide your build. Now, I’m excited to announce something new:

📘 The 4th Edition is Here – In Print

This expanded version goes beyond the digital editions, featuring:

• Enhanced instructions for clarity and confidence

• Detailed drawings and updated schematics

• “Empathy photos” that meet you right where you’re building

Whether you're just getting started or planning a second build, this print edition is the most complete version yet.

🔥 On the Road: Sauna Connections

Like a candle lighting another candle, I’ve been traveling to meet with trusted sauna friends and creators. From Sauna Days to the UK to Norway and beyond, I’ve had the privilege of learning, laughing, and sweating with:

• Garrett Conover, Jesse Coomer, & Harvey Martin at Sauna Days, Two Harbors, MN

• NHL players Frédérick Gaudreau & Zach Bogosian, Edina, MN.

• Mikkel Aaland & Jake Newport (Finnmark UK), London, UK

• Julia Island Retreat, Northern Minnesota

• Aslak from Oslo Sauna Association, Norway

• Risto Elomma, President of the International Sauna Association, Helsinki, Finland.

These connections and many dozens others have helped shape and refine the content in this latest edition.

🙏 A 2-Minute Favor

If my work has helped you on your sauna journey, I’d love your help in return. Please consider leaving a review of my new book.

• Review it on my website here.

• Review it on Amazon here.
  (Even if you didn’t buy on Amazon, you can still leave a review—if you’ve spent at least $50 there in the past year.)

Your reviews help others find the book and start their own build with confidence.

🔜 Next Month: Sauna Goodness Incoming

As summer stretches out and our cool-downs grow longer, I’m preparing more to share for you:

• Sauna Thinking: Why isolation is the new luxury

• Sauna Travel: Notes from the British Sauna Summit, plus Norway & Finland

• Sauna Talk: Interviews and takeaways from Sauna Days and beyond

Until then—stay warm, stay cool, and enjoy the löyly.

—
Glenn

I’d like to credit the source for: “sauna meets us wherever we are.”

Sauna build book

Well, I did it. The 4th edition of Sauna Build Start to Finish is being printed! I put careful attention towards all the nuances of building a kick ass sauna. And, as I think about it, one of the virtues of really good sauna is that it need not have to be complicated in order to be wonderful.

Sauna build workshop

I’ve got my tool belt back on and could not be happier! Where all my previous 12 or so saunas were built on sight, at a local garden center, or in my driveway, at 62, I finally have a proper workshop! Several have asked me to document this build, and I will do that. Likely on the SaunaTimes Facebook page and/or the SaunaTimes YouTube channel. It will be good to engage, share, and help others along their journey. And maybe you can relate to that building buzz, where we count wall studs at night (instead of sheep).

Sauna Talking

We welcome Adam from Thermé USA, who led this panel discussion with three public sauna operators from North America. Let’s step into the January Culture of Bathing gathering for this panel discussion which was recorded for this special episode of Sauna Talk. Link is here.

Saunapreneurship

From drop-off rentals to public hot rooms, marginal thinking to spiritual sweat equity, SaunaTimes welcomes back Wade Litt, Ph.D. with a view into considerations for running a sauna business. Read here.

Sauna stove makers

if you are like me, and believe that “every sauna has its own soul” and that the heart of a sauna is its heater/stove, well I think you will agree. It’s more than metal. The five pillars of choosing the right sauna stove add up to 66% the product and 34% the people behind it. And here’s why “the maker matters.”

Sauna equipment tariffs?

Imported Baltic sauna equipment was already pricey. Tariffs will likely make it worse. Let’s take a look at the price differences for the same equipment in Finland vs. the US (pre tariff) here.

Sauna Days

I’ll be meeting up with about a dozen mobile saunas and a couple hundred thermal enthusiasts at this year’s Sauna Days. I’m excited for the depth and breath of the speakers and presenters. I will be capturing a few for those not able to attend for Sauna Talk podcasts. Mostly, I will be the bench and in and out of the lake. I will be living that moment with whoever is there with me.

That, to me, is good sauna.

Freedom of flow, no rules, spontaneous combustion of good conversation and thermal goodness abound. That’s what Sauna Days is all about Charlie Brown!

Sauna travel

I’ll be stuffing my backpack with copies of my book, and heading off to the British Sauna Summit in a couple weeks. Then, off to Norway and Finland. Stay tuned for some check ins from across the big pond.

We don’t have to travel far to go on our own sauna journey. In some cases, it’s steps out our back door to embark on our own thermal retreat. And with this, I hope you are digging sauna wherever you are.

For good heat knows no borders.

Sauna Days

Is Sauna Days ripe for you? May 2-4 weekend, we bring over a dozen unique saunas into one bushel basket, take over a premier Northern Minnesota resort, and harvest the thermal goodness amongst 40 acres of private land stretching along 1,300 feet of Lake Superior’s shoreline. Like the bounty of a healthy fruit tree, imagine a couple hundred smiling faces meandering from sauna to lake plunge, back to sauna, spontaneously connecting in sauna haven.

Speakers joining us from across America and beyond.

Banya whisking, kinder spiriting, fireside chatting, Doctors who will be sauna’ing, off site hiking, biking, and water falling nearby. Join us for the bounty, the 7th annual Sauna Days. It’s one of my favorite gatherings of the year. A limited number of weekend passes are available here. (coupon code: SAUNATIMES20). I’ll see you there for some…

Sauna Talk

I have recorded several Sauna Talk podcast episodes from Sauna Days, and I have a couple planned for this year. Adding to the arsenal, this month we are on the bench with returning guests Mika & Wendy, Episode #109 where “The kiuas (stove) should always win.”

We sit on the bench with returning guest Jon Sabes. Episode #107. Join us in his Lake Minnetonka stately sauna. We settle in after a cross country ski session together, where we discuss his new book, “Healthy Wealthy Longevity“ unpacking some simple, practical strategies to help you live a fulfilling, happy life. I use his Prompt Journal everyday, which is like a beacon of sanity, in a world of turbulent waters.

Sauna Building book

Speaking of book authors, yours truly is sending to print the 4th edition of Sauna Build, Start to Finish, my how to guide on how to build your own sauna. I have been a DIY sauna building flag waver for 3 decades now. I have directly helped several thousand create their own health and wellness retreats. My comprehensive guide is heading off to the printer right now. In lieu of pre orders, if you or someone you know is interested in building a sauna, my ebook is available right now, and I’ll have my printed book ready for you, likely next month where we discuss…

The value of a pencil drawing

With pencil and paper, we are touching our thoughts and ideas. We can erase and revisit. By putting our thoughts directly on paper, with no computer or screens, we avoid the middleman: no login & password needed. The return of a pencil and paper can be freeing and exhilarating. Try it! More here.

Is stratification a good thing?

Read my article here for the answer. I’ll just say this: “every body is different.”

Stratification (different temperatures) in our saunas give us an opportunity to welcome both lǒyly extremes, and everything in between. Sharper up top. Softer down low. Could anything be more wonderful?

Sauna for sale

I have sat on the bench in this sauna. I can vouch for its excellent stratification; its fabulous heat, steam, and ventilation. This sauna was debuted at Banya Fest, and has since come back to Ben’s workshop for a complete overall. It is basically a brand new free standing backyard wood burning sauna. $18k FOB Central Wisconsin. This is a great sauna. More here. Interested? Reply to this email and change subject to “sauna for sale.”

Next month

I am going to provide a summary of all the book authors that I’ve had on the Sauna Talk podcast or have written about on SaunaTimes.com. I predict 15, but let’s see. And if anyone is interested in writing their own book, look up Hofstadter’s Law, which states:

"It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law."

This principle comes from Douglas Hofstadter’s book Gödel, Escher, Bach and describes how projects often take longer than planned, even when you try to account for delays.

So, staying on deadline, I’ll see you at Sauna Days… and I wish you good sauna!

Many fellow sauna enthusiasts find ourselves looking up at trees between sauna rounds. Why is that? Feel free to share your feelings in the comments section at the bottom of this post. Maybe we start an Instagram page and get a lotta likes.

Funding a sauna through an HSA

It is possible. And it happens. A roadmap is here.

The Power of Hot & Cold

A writer’s technique can be to “bury the lead.” And in this case, reading through The Power of Hot & Cold, we come upon a moment like in the Wizard of Oz, where the screen transforms from black and white to color:

“After a sauna, the world seems like a better, more manageable place.”

Check out my review of the recently published book, co-authored by Katja Pantzar and Carita Harju here.

Sauna Talk

I have four, yes, four podcast episodes recorded, and in queue. This is not how I normally role, or like to roll. If you want a list of my reasons/excuses, well, you won’t get one because we all seem to be living busy lives. Just like how good heat knows no borders, the human condition is similarly egalitarian. So, with a deep breath, fully in, and let yourself go with one of these:

Building Saunas

Thanks to the West Coast Sauna Summit, I have at least two, wait, no twenty two new friends in sauna. And in this episode, I sit with two of them. These are two Western Canadian sauna builders who left their finish nailers behind in order to come Sauna Talk with me about bench heights, wood burning, and de-off-gasification. Check out the episode here.

Fireside chat

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 holds some wonderful gems of free thinking. This is Sauna Talk, and this is what I love about Sauna Talk. Like good sauna, Sauna Talk has few rules. This was the spirit at this fireside chat at the West Coast Sauna Summit. We all had sauna glow. Check out the episode here. Bonus: You’ll hear 25 attendees answer to “what’s your ideal hot room temp?” in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Sauna Days

is coming up fast! May 2-5, Two Harbors, Minnesota. They say on-sight lodging is almost sold out. I’m looking forward to moderating a couple speaker panels. Fab. food and beverages, good heat sauna action with 12 plus saunas in a Superior setting along the world’s largest fresh water lake. Limited number of day passes available here and type SAUNATIMES20 to save $20 per ticket (limited quantities). Previous years’ reviews here. See you there!

Sauna University

Let’s welcome Asher Ben-Dashan who shares with us some Northeastern University sauna culture. “Our bodies actually produce beta-endorphins and a chemical called ACTH (a hormone that helps regulate the body’s response to stress). These chemicals are responsible for making you feel good…” more here.

Help Wanted

Seeking a creative and capable assistant, likely a lot younger than me, to help bring SaunaTimes shenanigans more to life on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. This is a very part-time role, focused not on chasing “likes” but on spreading the word about sauna things including the soon to be print edition of my book—aimed at helping others live happier, healthier lives through building a quality sauna, with a DIY spirit, and non bougie bouquet of practical tips and tricks. Interested candidates can reply to this newsletter, changing subject heading to something good, with a short bio and more thinking. There’s more than just social media’izing, but that alone would be a huge help. Thanks.

PS. For those interested in building their own saunas, the print edition of my book is on its way. It's been more work than I anticipated, but isn’t that true of anything worthwhile?

"The first 90% of the work takes 90% of the time. The last 10% takes the other 90%." – T. Cargill (Ninety-Ninety Rule)

“You can always use wider trim.” - S. Friedrichs (Sauna Talk episode #025)

• Culture of Bathing, New York City

• West Coast Sauna Summit, Vancouver BC

• Great Northern Sauna Village, Minneapolis

• Cabin sauna retreat, Northern Minnesota

Sauna Talk

Let’s visit with a few leaders in the space attending the recent Culture of Bathing gathering in New York City. I could have walked around all day with microphone, recording many of the casual conversations happening during breakout sessions. I found the Aufguss discussion mesmerizing, and was able to capture some gems of conversation for you here.

Sauna Travel

You don’t have to fly to Amsterdam to get a feel for what it’s like to hit the ground running with a legal libation and some thermal goodness as an instant antidote to international travel jet lag. Let’s check in with SaunaTimes correspondent Sauna Sam where “they have it all right. Every centimeter of this sauna is thought out.” Link here.

Sauna Map

Speaking of sauna travel, many are triangulating and dialing in their own sauna travel with help from the free SaunaTimes Public Sauna Map. Please click here and double check to ensure that your favorite sauna is on the map. If not? please let us know via the form on the map page. We have surpassed 300 pins, and more are being added thanks to Sauna Map volunteers Tom and Kevin… and your thermal enthusiasm.

Sauna and weight loss

I recently had a compelling conversation with Keith, a 75 year old lifelong sauna enthusiast. Keith has lost seventy pounds and counting over the past six months. Here’s an excerpt of our conversation, as he finds success getting off the scale and onto his sauna bench. BONUS: Dr. Jeremiah Eisenschenk, a Doctor Who Saunas and Medical Weight Management and Metabolic Health Clinic Director, Hospital Medicine Division Chair. Essentia Health, Brainerd, MN, offers his comments to Keith’s story here.

Sauna Building

Two short articles for you. Alan Jalasjaa and I break down the impassioned sauna bench height bantering with two simple principles here. And whether wood fired or electric, It is better to deal with pyrolysis than it is to have paralysis. See how to prevent your sauna from becoming part of a Talking Heads song “Burning Down the House” here.

SaunaTimes Guest post

Let’s check in with Riley & Kass, the duo behind Hot Island Sauna, a custom sauna build and rental company based on Madeline Island, WI. We get a tour of their recent horse trailer sauna build where “our creative solutions for things like wood storage and lighting turned out really cool-discrete and yet fully functional.” Check it out here.

Next Month

Join me for more Sauna Talk episodes recorded at the Culture of Bathing Gathering, the West Coast Sauna Summit, and also right from my own backyard sauna.

I'll also be reviewing the new Kuuma Low Profile wood-burning sauna stove and sharing an early look at the speaker lineup for Sauna Days 2025, which is almost sold out (a few SaunaTimes reader discounts are available here).

Tom and I are diving back into my next book, Sauna Life: From Heat Up to Cool Down—a project we started together a couple years ago. Tom, my first guest on Sauna Talk in 2016 is one of my thermal soul brothers. He and I have come out of witness relocation program and are on the road to bringing this book to life. Stay tuned!

Plus, I’ll share an exclusive preview of the 4th edition of my book, Sauna Build: Start to Finish, soon to be available in print!

Photo call out

Finally.. did you build your own sauna with help from my ebook? If yes, and you have a cool photo or two, please reply to this email and send me one or two. I have room for a few more photos as part of the print edition of my book. I want to help share the spirit of the DIY ethos through your eyes. Hammer in hand, brother in law by your side, a smile, a funky door, or candle window, whatever sauna spirit moves you from my book to help illustrate for others how to make it happen for themselves.

Wishing you good sauna, and talk with you again in February!