Rephonic
Artwork for The Upper Bench
Sauna
Finnish Sauna
Finland
Finnish Sauna Culture
Finnish-American Culture
Schvitz
Sauna Construction
Sauna Culture
Michigan
Infrared Sauna
South Thomaston
Yooper Saunas
North American Sauna Society
Wausau, Wisconsin
Brooklyn, New York
Wood-Burning Sauna
Toronto
Finnish Culture
Two Harbors, United States
Hancock, United States

Experience The Upper Bench for unique sauna expeditions. Immerse in Finnish sauna traditions, embrace the allure of hot-cold bathing, and relish wood-burning sauna tales. Ignite your passion for sauna culture as we cover topics like sauna tech, wellness, and others. Join Eero, Risto, and Sam on a global quest for the authentic warmth of saunas. Unleash the sauna adventurer within - subscribe now! ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes78Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for The Upper Bench

Latest Episodes

The Radiant Debate

Episode 78 - Sam, Risto, and Eero tackle the radiant question. Is radiant heat bad in the sauna?LINKShttps://www.theupperbench.comhttps://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/www.facebook.com/theupperbench

CONTENT

00:00... more

Episode 77 - Dan Sarya of Michigan Sauna joins the Upper Bench crew. Dan's passion is to share the "smile" of his Finnish cultural heritage with the rest of North America. We hear how he started his mobile sauna business in Traverse City, Michigan an... more

YouTube

Bill Gifford, author of Hotwired, and sauna fanatic joins us to discuss the science of sauna and how a trip to Finland totally transformed his perspective on health.

LINKS

www.instagram.com/billgifford/

lnk.to/Hotwired

www... more

Risto revisits his presentation from the Upper Peninsula History Conference in Marquette, Michigan: “Adventures in Researching the History of Finnish Sauna in North America.”From rare books and university archives to remote smoke saunas and unusual o... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Dan Sarya
Founder of Michigan Sauna Mobile / Savu Sauna, Finnish-American entrepreneur
Michigan Sauna Mobile / MI Sauna
Episode: Dan Sarya of Michigan Sauna
Bill Gifford
Author of Hotwired, co-author of Outlive
Author
Episode: A trip to Finland transformed Bill's perspective on sauna and health
Aaron Vainikka
Finnish American sauna entrepreneur and founder of Finnbilt
Finnbilt
Episode: Use what you have - Aaron Vainikka from Finnbilt
Ruut Temeo
Performer of the year, Finnish singer
Special guest on closing notes for the episode
Episode: We've Got Charts and Graphs!
Todd Shearer
Guest; lives in Anchorage, Alaska; DIY sauna builder
Alaska sauna project
Episode: Todd builds an epic sauna in Alaska
Josh Womack
Author of Sweaty Stories from the Cleveland Schvitz
Episode: To Schvitz
Nathan Longhorn
Fairly long-time sauna buddy and guest
Episode: Nathan's Journey from Infrared to Real Sauna.
Heki Lundta
Episode: Private vs Public sauna practice and Sam's Big News
Michael Nordskog
Author and sauna enthusiast
Author of The Opposite of Cold
Episode: Is there an authentic sauna culture in North America? with Michael Nordskog

Hosts

Eero
Host with deep involvement in sauna culture and North American/Finnish cross-cultural discussions
Risto
Co-host with expertise across sauna history, culture, and practical builds
Sam
Co-host known for practical build discussions and community storytelling around DIY saunas

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Excellent

    Love the shows on sauna building and sauna customs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BirdBladder
    Canada9 months ago
  • Great sauna discussions!

    I really appreciate the detailed discussions and the occasional guest. I have learned a few interesting things, like pouring the water in one spot on the rocks, versus spreading over all the rocks. It makes a difference. Keep the Canadian content coming!

    Sound quality is good.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    YukonCanada
    Canada3 years ago
  • The best of the best

    I can’t imagine a better set of experts to help me take me through the world of sauna.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nyctxguy
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Sound quality and clear, well-structured discussions are consistently highlighted by listeners.
Guest diversity and strong expert insights are a win for engagement.
Listeners appreciate the deep, practical sauna build knowledge and real-world tips.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#241
Austria/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A trip to Finland transformed Bill's perspective on sauna and health
Q: What has sauna done for you personally in terms of health and wellbeing?
Bill emphasizes that the mental and mind-body benefits are central, with physical benefits being important but often secondary to the mood, stress reduction, and sense of centering that sauna provides.
Use what you have - Aaron Vainikka from Finnbilt
Q: Where are you today and what brought you to this sauna event?
Aaron explains he's at a public sauna event in Two Harbors, Minnesota, attending sessions and evaluating new prototypes while connecting with the sauna community.
Pit sauna, two-story saunas, savusaunas in NY, and Southampton Spa review
Q: Eero, what did you think about that whole steam process at Southampton Spa?
He enjoyed the experience, noting the plentiful essential oils and the unique, curated steam setup, while acknowledging that his own style is more self-driven and traditional, yet he found the mixture of culture and ritual engaging.
Eero's Sauna Message to North America
Q: Have you found connections between these cultures as to why sauna has popped up where it has and not elsewhere?
There are broad patterns suggesting nomadic and ancient heat-bathing traditions share a core need for cleansing, social gathering, and adaptation to climate, with local heating methods shaping the current forms across different regions.
Is there an authentic sauna culture in North America? with Michael Nordskog
Q: So Michael, give me a rundown. What is a normal sauna session for you?
A typical session for me involves multiple rounds (about five), with a balance between hot rooms and cold plunges, often using creek or rainwater, and it's common to do a weekly ritual at my off-grid farm sauna, with around 90 minutes of heat and several dips.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Upper Bench

What is The Upper Bench about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on Finnish sauna culture, home and public sauna builds, and the evolving role of heat, ritual, and community in North American and Nordic contexts. Episodes frequently explore DIY construction, ventilation, heating methods, and the social dynamics of saunas—from private home setups to public spaces and community events. Notable strengths include hands-on, practical build advice, deep dives into sauna history, and a consistent focus on preserving authentic cultural practices while adapting to modern constraints. The format often blends interviews with builders and enthusiasts, thoughtful cultural context, and memorable personal stories, making it appealing to hobbyists, DIY builders, and wellness-curious listeners who value... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Upper Bench?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Upper Bench:

1. Sauna Talk
2. The Joe Rogan Experience
3. The Tucker Carlson Show
4. The Glenn Beck Program
5. All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

How many episodes of The Upper Bench are there?

The Upper Bench launched 4 years ago and published 78 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Upper Bench?

Recent guests on The Upper Bench include:

1. Dan Sarya
2. Bill Gifford
3. Aaron Vainikka
4. Ruut Temeo
5. Todd Shearer
6. Josh Womack
7. Nathan Longhorn
8. Heki Lundta

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