The Upper Bench

Sam, Eero, and Risto review the Upper Bench 2024 Meet-up in Toronto. They are joined by Markus, Todd, and Ryan to talk about upside-down sauna design, hidden strip mall saunas, and Markus' cottage sauna.

Anne-Mari Paster, Elizabeth “Helvi” Brauer, and Julie Rice join The Upper Bench to discuss the cultural nuances of sauna and nudity. They share personal stories from Finland and the United States, touching on the importance of comfort, consent, and respect in sauna settings. The conversation explores how different backgrounds shape views on nudity, from traditions in Nordic countries to more reserved perspectives in America and beyond. Throughout, they emphasize creating a welcoming, judgment-free space that values dialogue and mutual understanding in both private and public sauna experiences.

https://www.theupperbench.com

https://finlandiafoundation.org

Elizabeth "Helvi" Brauer is the founder of Luumu - Finnish Living and a founding-member of the 612 Sauna Cooperative in Minneapolis, MN.

https://www.luumuabc.com

CONTENT

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:30 Cultural Perspectives on Sauna Nudity

10:45 Comfort and Consent in Sauna

20:15 Personal Experiences and Stories

35:00 Additional Thoughts and Takeaways

The Upper Bench 042

In this episode, Sam, Risto, and Eero chat about their recent sauna adventures, including Eero's return from Finland and meeting the a hilarious Finnish comedian. The conversation dives deep into the joys of wood-burning saunas, the art of making steam (and how it’s addictive), and even survival tips when your sauna doubles as a cooking stove during a power outage. We touch on some serious topics too, like the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the importance of staying prepared in emergencies. Plus, get excited as we look ahead to our upcoming Toronto trip, where we'll meet listeners and sauna professionals alike! Join us as we geek out over sauna culture and share a few laughs along the way.

CONTENTS

00:00 Catching up & Eero's Finnish Gala

02:35 Sam's experience with the Hurricane and sauna as the ultimate survival tool

08:50 The glories of wood-burning saunas & our Toronto meet-up

13:49 Are we too negative???

15:30 Our thoughts on Aufguss & active vs passive sauna

20:40 Eric's sauna build progress

23:54 Wood-types for paneling & wood care

30:11 Ultra basic sauna benches

33:27 "Dry boxes" vs sauna

40:35 Making steam and rock tower heaters

In this episode of "The Upper Bench," we dive into the experience of sauna bathing, washing in the sauna, and how these traditions are still very much alive in Finland. Join us as we discuss the differences between wood-burning and electric saunas, the best way to keep clean in the sauna, and unique setups in Finnish apartments. Whether you’re throwing water onto the rocks or stepping into the rain post-sauna, we cover the full spectrum of authentic sauna life.

CHAPTERS

02:19 The tradition of washing in the sauna

10:25 HOW to bathe in your sauna

12:39 Eero's conditioner tip

13:27 Kreamy Pine Tar Soap Sponsor

17:30 The evolution of sauna bathing in Finland

18:42 Tour of Eero's apartment sauna in Helsinki

21:43 Sauna with your neighbors

25:06 Door gaps and ventilation

33:52 Unique LED light at Eero's sauna

Global Sauna Culture: Insights and Innovations with Nikita Miltiadou from Australia

PublicSaunaCo

Julie and "Risto" Rice are grilled by Sam and Eero.

Haley and Cody Goodreau, from Logbook Stories, join us to talk about unique saunas in the U.P., their sauna build, and Haley's sauna book.

Join us in this enlightening episode as hosts Sam, Eero, and Risto sit down with Scott, the newly appointed President of the North American Sauna Society. Dive deep into the rich traditions of sauna bathing, its cultural significance, and the future of Scott's plans for NASS.

The Upper Bench - Episode 36

Sam, Risto, and Eero respond to Matt Justice's video.

CONTENT

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:38 Matt Justice's video

00:16:15 Different motives to sauna

00:17:52 Modern shortcuts vs old-school sauna

00:24:05 Our experiences using infrared

Risto shows Sam and Eero more Yooper saunas.

(03:52) Sauna 1

(08:50) Sauna 2

(11:55) Sauna 3

(14:45) Sauna 4

(17:21) Sauna 5

(19:29) Sauna 6

(21:34) Sauna 7

(23:10) Sauna 8

(25:46)  Sauna 9

(29:17) Sauna 10

(34:24) Sauna 11

(35:43) Outro