Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing and Sauna Culture

Curious about Sojo Spa Club in Edgewater, NJ? In this episode, we give our listeners an honest review of one of the most popular day spas in the NYC area—known for its Korean-inspired bathing rituals, stunning skyline views, and unique treatments like the *scorching* hot Volcanic Sand Bath. Joining me are my sisters Angie and Michelle, who share their honest reactions to everything from the cedar...

In this special episode, the mic is turned around as our host and founder, Sarah Spoto, sits down to share the story behind Badii — a Swiss-inspired wellness brand on a mission to grow American thermal bathing culture. Sarah is interviewed by Kathryn Flaschner, the host of The Truth Is podcast. Join us as we dive into where the idea for Badii came from, how the healing waters of Switzerland shaped...

Alisa Cardenas, founder of Howl at the Moon Sauna Co. and Good Heat Retreats , joins us to talk all things sauna, community, and ritual. From mobile sauna sessions in the Michigan woods to a new retreat series launching in NYC, we explore how thermal bathing can transform travel as a way to deeply understand places, deepen connection, and inspire reflection. Alisa also shares her journey as a “sau...

In this episode, we’re joined by Samer Ghadry, a Brooklyn-based musician and sound meditation facilitator. We explore the practice of sound healing and sound bathing—what it entails and how you can use sound to invite stillness, calm, and clarity into your everyday life. Whether you're new to sound meditation (we were!) or curious about deepening your wellness rituals with sound, our conversat...

We explore the intersection of spa culture, social media, and spa etiquette. Our guest, Olivier della Valle, Social Media Manager for Cadillac Europe and founder of the social media agency The Plot, joins us to unpack how phones and digital habits are reshaping the spa experience. We dive into questions like: -Should phones be allowed in wellness spaces? -How can we stay present in a hyper-connect...

In this special bonus episode, experience a guided meditation designed for the sauna or your daily relaxation practice . Let the soothing sounds of the River Limmat in Baden, Switzerland wash over you as you unwind, de-stress, and reconnect with calm. Whether you’re sitting in the sauna, at home, or on the go, this peaceful river meditation will help you slow down and reset. We’d love to hear your...

We’re joined by JerDrema Flynt, M.Ed, MBA. Dreme is an educator and the founder and CEO of THE CHAIR. THE CHAIR is a Black and Brown centered tech platform dedicated to supporting people on their hair journey by providing the opportunity to design hairboards, connect to hairstylists, and share hair care tips for a more joyful and efficient process and experience. We talk about Dreme’s experiences...

No doubt you’ve seen more and more mobile saunas popping these days. Today we meet one of the entrepreneurs behind one of the hottest (pun in intended) bathing businesses. Katie Moore is the founder of Sisu Mobile Sauna in Livonia, MI. The idea for Sisu came to Katie in 2023 when she realized she craved community and wanted to find a way to intentionally create something bigger than herself.  Kati...

We’re joined by Sierra Blake, the founder and CEO of Saint Lucie sauna serum. Despite the benefits of sauna, Sierra noticed the practice taking a toll on something unexpected — her hair. After trying many different oils and conditioners (and always forgetting that dang hat), she started figuring out what didn’t work and what did. And thus, sauna serum was born! Sierra is also pursuing her master’s...

We welcome back Alonzo Solórzano, Head Aufgussmaster at Bathhouse for Part 2 of our conversation on the European sauna ceremony, Aufguss. Alonzo dives deep into the categories Aufguss (theater, Aufguss, anyone?) and discusses why he considers the practice a ceremony versus ritual. He describes how he designs his Aufguss ceremonies, shares his tips for first time sauna and Aufguss-goers, and discus...

Welcome to Badii Talk Shorts! Short, bite-sized episodes focused on bathing culture education. Today we’re talking Finnish saunas. What exactly makes a sauna a Finnish sauna? Materials and Sources Listed in this episode, include: -unesco.org - https://finlandnaturally.com/about-us/ -Nordic Magic by Meri Mort  -The Book of Nordic Self Care by Elisabeth Carlsson -Sauna by from Cozy Publishing  Music...

We’re joined by Head Aufgussmaster at Bathhouse, Alonzo Solórzano, who delves deep into Aufguss--that wacky European towel waving sauna ceremony we love so much. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Alonzo demystifies Aufguss, goes deep on the craft of towel waving, shares the cultural and historical origins of Aufguss, and tells us how he first got into the Aufguss practice.  We discuss such topics...

To be or not to be naked? With guest and Badii Community member, Alexandra Smedley, we discuss the pros and cons of bathing nude, whether that’s in a sauna or a thermal bath. We discuss such topics as: Cultural differences guiding naked bathing practices Swiss and European bathing culture Tips for your first naked sauna experience, especially for women Science behind having a naked bathing experie...

We’re reviewing a wild sauna on Portobello Beach. Edinburgh, Scotland’s seaside. We’re joined by resident of Portobello, Edinburgh, Angie Spoto. Angie is an esteemed author who writes gothic fantasy deeply inspired by the Scottish coastline. Most recently, she’s published The Bone Diver, a novel inspired by the selkies of Scottish folklore. You’re not just going to hear a review of our sauna exper...

We’re sharing our recommended top three best thermal spas in Switzerland. At Badii, we use a set of criteria--our Badii Bathing Framework-- to evaluate our spa experiences. You can be sure that every spa we recommend in today’s episode passes our evaluation with flying colors. Badii offers passionate and curious bathers and spa-goers access to news, education, and recommendations about global bath...

Today we’re introducing you to Badii. What exactly is Badii and Badii Talk? Who’s behind it? We'll give you a quick intro to the Swiss bathing culture that inspired it and share what you can look forward to as Badii grows. Badii offers passionate and curious bathers and spa-goers access to news, education, and recommendations about global bathing culture. We share all this across many platforms, i...