Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing and Sauna Culture

Are you ready to go behind the scenes of the biggest Aufguss event in American history? In this special episode we cover…  What is Aufguss? I’ll walk you through the traditional ritual What is an Aufguss Competition? Yes, we’re judged on a lot more than towel-waving. Behind-the-scenes from a competitor POV—from application to the post-performance daze Hear from competitors, staff, and sponsors Hig...

Ireland's sauna scene is quickly growing and it's rooted in something ancient. Over 200 independent saunas have opened across Ireland, most since 2020. Many of these spaces are deeply connected to the landscape and sea. For sauna in Ireland, this isn't a wellness trend. It's a return to the teach allais — Ireland's centuries-old stone sweat house.. In this episode of our Celtic...

In this first episode of a two-part Celtic Magic series, sauna ritual practitioner and host Sarah Spoto is joined by Scottish author Lyndsey Croal to explore the folklore, mythology, and nature rituals of Scotland — and how they might inspire your own bathing practice. Lyndsey is a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awardee, Shirley Jackson Award and British Fantasy Award finalist, and author of work...

We’re taking a quick break from our Celtic bathing series to head back to New York City for a conversation about the future of American sauna culture. This episode features Travis Talmadge, co-founder of BATHHOUSE and a decorated Aufguss master. We talk about building a category-defining wellness brand, the rise of communal bathing in the US, and how Aufguss is shaping modern sauna culture. We als...

Hoi zäme and welcome to Badii Talk podcast. Born from a love of Swiss bathing culture, our name (B-A-D-I-I), is inspired by the Swiss German word for pools and public baths.  Have you ever found yourself…  Sweating like crazy on the top bench of an Aufguss ritual Letting out a squeal as you jump into a cold sea Smelling the warmth of the oak leaves in a banya Taking in the mountain view from a min...

We’re taking a journey across the ocean to Scotland and Ireland. Our Celtic bathing series will take us far north to Orkney over to Edinburgh’s sea side and across the Irish sea to Dublin City and beyond. I think you will be delighted to hear about the magic, the whimsy, the romance, and everything that makes this part of the world so special. Now let’s escape to the islands of Orkney, Scotland… I...

I went into this episode on infrared saunas with an open mind despite my bias toward traditional sauna and its deep cultural roots. Infrared may lack that culture (and the heat), but for many in the US and UK, it’s an accessible entry point into sauna. What I found surprised me: a dark past tied to pseudoscience, eugenics, and questionable marketing. Infrared saunas themselves aren’t inherently ba...

We’re back in the States for the second episode in our USA series. Today’s episode features Ryan Linner, founder of Hideout, Connecticut’s first sauna village, providing outdoor contrast therapy in a laid-back, fun, and social environment. All to the rhythm of good music, good people, and a good vibe. We sit down with Ryan to explore his journey from marketing and tech to building a social wellnes...

I hope you’ve enjoyed the first few episodes of Badii Talk season two. We’ve taken you on a cultural sauna tour of Finland with guests like Finnish moon follower Meri Mort and Finnish-American sauna entrepreneur Justin Juntenen. We’ve explored the public saunas of Helsinki and even created our own sauna spell together.  So where are we off to next? We’re making a stopover back home and exploring t...

Celebrate the Spring (Vernal) Equinox with a simple sauna ritual inspired by Nordic sauna traditions. In this episode, I share a sauna spell ritual inspired by my conversation with Finnish moon follower Meri Mort. In Finland, sauna rituals use natural elements like herbs, branches, fruit, and water to bring intention and presence to a sauna practice. You’ll learn how to make a Spring Equinox sauna...

Over a three-day trip to Helsinki, Finland, I experienced floating urban saunas, sea-fed cold plunges in the Baltic Sea, architectural temples to sauna culture, spiritual moments of löyly, and lots and lots of cardamom buns. This episode is both a travel guide with practical tips on where to go and what to know before you book as well as a culture reflection. In this podcast episode, we share: Pub...

At Badii Talk, we often talk about bathing not just as a wellness practice, but as a cultural practice—one that reflects a culture and a place’s history and values.  As sauna culture rapidly expands in the US and UK, a big question that we keep asking is: how do we grow without losing the heart and soul of the practice? Today, I’m joined by someone who has thought deeply about this — not only phil...

What can sauna, darkness, and the wild Nordic landscape teach us about embodiment, ritual, and presence? In this episode of Badii Talk, I’m joined by Meri Mort — moon follower, author of Nordic Magic , yoga teacher trainer, and ritual practitioner — for a beautiful conversation on Finnish culture, sauna traditions, witchcraft, and living in rhythm with the cycles of nature. Together, we explore wh...

In the Season One finale, we return to the heart of Badii Talk: global bathing culture. And why ritual, community, and cultural roots give sauna and bathing their soul. This special episode is a reflection on the traditions, stories, and global rituals we’ve explored this season. Thermal bathing is more than a wellness trend. It is an ancient practice shared across the globe, and as we enter anoth...

Today’s episode is a special one: I recently joined The Truth Is podcast with Kathryn Flaschner—an inspiring show all about honesty, clarity, and finding your way forward. Kathryn, who has also been a guest host on Badii Talk, creates a powerful space for deep conversation, self-awareness, and personal transformation. We’re sharing this episode here because we think you’ll love it. If you enjoy mi...

Our guest today is Glasgow-based, Charlotte Belle. A freelance content creator and adventurer, Charlotte has experienced wild saunas all across Scotland, from Edinburgh to Glasgow to the Isle of Aran. I’m so happy to have her join us today to talk about the Scottish wild sauna scene, what makes a sauna a “wild sauna,” and share her most memorable Scottish sauna experiences. Follow along with Charl...

Today I’m joined by Jessica Spoto, the founder of Frugal Portland Maine—an Instagram community whose mission is to provide low-cost and free resources for the residents of Portland, Maine and nearby towns. Jessica shares budget-friendly adventures, hidden gems and useful resources to make Portland more fun, affordable, and accessible for all. What you’ll hear in the episode -Affordable wellness ex...

Today’s episode is dedicated to Finnish folklore and the spirits of the sauna . I can think of no one better to have this conversation with than Dr. Victoria Stewart, Assistant Director of the Humanities Center at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. I learned so much talking to her and it’s really given me a renewed sense of respect and passion for both Finnish culture and sauna culture....

Today we have a spooky season bonus episode for you! We’re back with another wellness road trip. In the summer, my friend Jordan and I travelled across New England visiting some of the best spas, saunas, and bathhouses in the region. With only four days to our itinerary, we felt like we had so much more to see. Now, with the leaves changing, it’s sauna season… and spooky season. What better way to...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Nell Waters, an expert in water, heat, and people. We explore why analog spaces like saunas and bathhouses matter more than ever, how design and etiquette create belonging, and where technology fits—or doesn’t—in the culture of bathing. What y ou’ll hear in the episode: What exactly is “bathing culture” and what “water + heat + people” have to do with it Why ana...

It’s sauna season, and we’re back for Part 2 of our spa and sauna road trip across New England. My friend Jordan and I traveled nearly 1,000 miles, exploring some of the best spas, saunas, and bathhouses across the Northeast. Along the way, we share where to soak, where to sweat, and of course, what to eat. What y ou’ll hear in Part 2 of our New England Spa & Sauna Road Trip: Spas & Saunas...

In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Ashley Baldwin, co-owner of Waterstruck Wellness in Maine , to explore the world of Nordic spas . Ashley shares what defines a Nordic spa, how Waterstruck integrates nature and the four seasons into its design, and why creating inclusive community spaces for rest and wellness is at the heart of their mission. What you’ll learn in What is a Nordic Spa...

The temps are dropping in New England and the crisp fall air means one thing: sauna season. In this episode, my friend Jordan and I travel nearly 1,000 miles, exploring some of the best spas, saunas, and bathhouses across the Northeast. Along the way, we share where to soak, where to sweat, and of course, what to eat (including a lobster roll you don’t want to miss). What y ou’ll hear in Part 1 of...

In this episode, we dive into the first-ever U.S. National Aufguss Championship, hosted at Bathhouse Williamsburg in New York City. I was lucky enough to attend this history-making sauna event, and I’m joined by my brother-in-law AJ, who shares his impressions of the competition and what it was like to spend six hours immersed in the world of Aufguss. We’ll also hear from Aufgussmaster and 2025 U....

We’re joined by Alycia Wong—Denver’s first certified Sauna Master and a trained Somatic Aufguss practitioner. Alycia shares how she blends traditional Aufguss rituals with somatic breathwork to create deeply healing sauna experiences. Alycia left a 13-year corporate marketing career, moved to the mountains, and became Denver’s first Sauna Master. Alycia is a true pioneer in the somatic wellness sp...