Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing and Sauna Culture

Sauna season and spooky season have arrived together, and there’s no better time to explore the magic woven into ritual, the elements, and the seasons. In Part 2 of our Celtic Magic series, we turn to witchcraft itself. What does it actually mean to practice and what can we learn as sauna goers about a witch’s relationship to rituals? In this episode, I sit down with a Wiccan priestess and scholar...

We have a special episode for you all today, made specifically for anyone who is curious about starting their own sauna venture, or who has already launched theirs and is looking for a little more advice and direction. When I bring sauna entrepreneurs and founders from the thermal bathing space onto the show, I always ask them to share advice for aspiring sauna-preneurs, and I've gotten quite...

Irish sauna culture is booming. But how did it evolve from its sea swimming origins to what it is today? On today’s episode we talk with one of the pioneers of Irish sauna culture to map sauna’s growth and how, as sauna business owners, we can work to make sauna accessible for those who need it most. In this episode, we hear from: Steve Crosbie : Steve founded Fad Saoil Saunas in 2019 on the argum...

In the wellness world you hear it everyday: community, third place, third space. But what do these terms really mean? Both in theory and most importantly in practice. Is a luxury bathhouse that costs $80 to enter really a third place? How do we push back against the misuse of these terms in marketing messaging and why is it so important that we know their true meaning? I’m so happy to have an expe...

Today’s episode is sponsored by Ritual Heat —the leading sauna master certification program in the US, and really, the first of its kind here. I’ve now been through two of their trainings myself, and so I can speak with confidence and experience that this is the training I would recommend to anyone serious about pursuing sauna ritual facilitation.  For us here in the States, communal sauna rituals...

We're joined by two guest experts who go inside the first published research study on collective sauna rituals. They break down the psychology behind why sauna is such a powerful tool for wellbeing. In this episode: Inside the first published research study on collective sauna rituals The psychology of collective ritual and why emotional synchrony matters The real science behind sauna's me...

Today’s episode was made for any bathhouse or sauna owner who currently offers or plans to offer sauna rituals and programming. As well as ritual practitioners--both experienced and aspiring. Sauna rituals are gaining popularity across the US and UK. Rituals like Aufguss, Pirtis, and Saunotus are more than just engaging programming for your guests. When done right, they're a safety practice, a...

If you’re a current or aspiring sauna-preneur, I think you’re really going to enjoy today’s episode. We’ve brought Meg and Mike Garrow on the show to talk about founding DRYYP sauna in New Haven, Connecticut. The founders were inspired by Irish sauna culture when they decided to bring DRYYP to life, so we also talk about the rise of modern sauna culture in Ireland in addition to their journey to s...

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...