In this special episode, we are excited to share our first trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We’ll talk about discovering pasties, swimming in Lake Michigan, and checking out a savusauna. Tune in next week to catch part two of our adventures in the Upper Peninsula. 

Music

Dirge of the Night by Tied With Twine

Website

https://www.thesaunatrail.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaunatrail

Locals

https://thesaunatrail.locals.com

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction 

(03:37) The Upper Peninsula of Michigan  

(05:11) Learning about the U.P.

(10:18) Trying pasties

(11:53) The first sauna and Lake Michigan 

(20:07) Jon Saari’s savusauna 

(25:47) Trenary Toast 

(27:04) Trip photos 

(32:10) 360 degree sauna photos 

(38:52) Outro 

We’re excited to share our trip to a wood-burning log sauna in Isabella, MN, where we introduced Julie’s mom, Yuwatey, and sister-in-law, Clarissa, to sauna. Join us in this episode as we explore the social side of sauna and discover a whole new aspect of sauna we weren’t expecting to find. 

Music

Dirge of the Night by Tied With Twine

Website

https://www.thesaunatrail.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaunatrail

Locals

https://thesaunatrail.locals.com

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:47) Inviting family to try sauna 

(03:10) Previous experiences with sauna

(06:23) Concerns with sauna

(07:58) The hunt for a vacation rental 

(10:10) Heating a log sauna

(11:01) Sauna sessions 

(17:55) Community and sauna 

(20:55) Learning to appreciate the cold

(23:50) Favorite aspects of sauna

(30:10) Generations

(31:51) Pictures from the trip 

(35:51) 360 degree sauna photos

(41:59) Outro 

What Happened?! The History of Sauna in North America - 005

In this week's episode, Risto presents an overview of Finnish sauna in North America and how it has devolved over time. He will also introduce you to the Cecil Ellis sauna company.

Special thanks to the work of Matti Kaups, Frank Eld, and Cecil Ellis.

Timestamps 

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:43) Sauna is an ancient practice

(00:11:33) How did sauna get to North America

(00:15:10) Immigrant communities and the American melting pot

(00:21:34) The use of the word “sauna” over time

(00:23:45) Sauna and the Olympics

(00:24:11) The Cecil Ellis sauna company

(00:30:35) Rapid devolution of sauna

(00:39:23) The future of sauna in North America is promising

(00:43:40) Recommendations for sauna business owners

(00:47:26) Sauna is more than just warm air

(00:49:12) Outro 

The next stop on our trail is Viroqua, Wisconsin, in the Driftless area. Risto shares about his experience introducing his brother and dad to sauna, contrasting heat with cold for the first time, and discovers the sauna spins. 

Music

Dirge of the Night by Tied With Twine

Locals

https://www.locals.com/thesaunatrail

Website

https://www.thesaunatrail.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaunatrail

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:54) Pressuring dad and brother to try ‘sow-na’

(03:07) Finding a rental

(04:43) Checking out the rental

(06:39) Trying the sauna

(09:28) The sauna spins

(11:29) 360 degree sauna photos

(14:40) Overall impressions

(15:32) Outro

In this episode we tell the story of using our first wood-burning sauna. Christopher and Julie discuss their trip to Herbster, Wisconsin, getting a sauna fire started, and how sauna helped them out of a difficult time in their marriage.

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

Music
Dirge of the Night by Tied With Twine

Website
https://www.thesaunatrail.com

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaunatrail

Locals
https://www.locals.com/thesaunatrail

This episode marks the beginning of our sauna trail. Join us as we introduce  ourselves, share our trip to Madison, Wisconsin, and stumble upon Finnish sauna for the first time. 

Music

Dirge of the Night by Tied With Twine

Website

https://www.thesaunatrail.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaunatrail

Locals

https://www.locals.com/thesaunatrail

After visiting over 100 unique saunas the past several years, we’re excited to share this journey with you through The Sauna Trail podcast.

Sauna has created so many wonderful memories for our family of so many places with so many lovely people. We hope each episode will warm your heart, make you laugh or maybe cry. But most of all, our goal is that The Sauna Trail will encourage you to seek your own Finnish sauna experience and perhaps even build one to create sweet memories for you and yours.

Website

https://www.thesaunatrail.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaunatrail