James Phelps joins us to get super geeky about sauna construction.We dive deep into sauna ventilation, CO₂ testing, and stove design. James shares insights from his hands-on experiments and discusses what he learned writing his book Fire & Ice. Along the way, we cover practical tips for building a better sauna, managing humidity, and creating a truly breathable space.

JAMES' BOOK

https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Ice-tradition-technology-balanced/dp/B0D2RPWZS2/

UPPER BENCH LINKS

https://www.theupperbench.com

https://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/theupperbench

Theme Music: Conga Se Menne "Guess Who's Coming to Sauna"CONTENTS00:00 Introduction and meeting our guest James Phelps06:11 How he decided to build a sauna08:07 Exploring different sauna construction possibilities09:30 Getting ventilation right; comparing different strategies13:01 Prevailing winds and ventilation as seen with sweat lodge ventilation14:51 Cold plunge and winter experience16:47 Different stoves options and interior vs exterior feed20:00 Preheating the sauna: “Close your eyes and you can't tell where the stove is”22:20 High rock mass vs low rock mass32:37 Sharing his findings and writing a book36:00 CO₂ testing and results37:34 Will galvanized fasteners rust in a sauna?39:24 How should a sauna smell? Using essential oil and other scents48:04 Listener question about vent placement in garage sauna50:17 James’ cold plunge routine and preferred sauna temp52:41 Using sauna for recovery post-surgery54:34 Closing comments

On this episode of The Upper Bench, Sam and Risto welcome Finnish American sauna entrepreneur Dan Raisanen whose family sauna history is rooted in Cokato, Minnesota and is now running his own sauna company in Michigan.Sauna Bath Companyhttps://www.saunabath.coLINKShttps://www.theupperbench.comhttps://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/https://www.facebook.com/theupperbenchTheme Music: Conga Se Menne "Guess Who's Coming to Sauna"

Wade Litt - Sauna in Ohio and Other Adventures - 055On this episode of The Upper Bench, Eero and Risto welcome sauna entrepreneur Wade Litt to explore the sauna scene in Ohio and hear about his sauna adventures.LÖ-LU Saunahttps://lo-lu.comLINKShttps://www.theupperbench.comhttps://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/https://www.facebook.com/theupperbenchPhilly Steam with Bryonhttps://www.facebook.com/events/691959186507593Theme Music: Conga Se Menne "Guess Who's Coming to Sauna"CONTENT00:00 Introduction & Philly Steam-Up02:49 Wade Litt - first sauna experiences and parent's build10:23 Building his mobile sauna14:45 Mobile sauna use and location; running a business15:45 Sauna adventures and exploration21:41 Wade's favorite public saunas23:51 Banyas vs public "saunas"30:07 Saunas Wade would like to visit31:20 Future business plans34:25 Viewer Questions: Vegas sauna; safe for a single woman to visit Helsinki; Eero's savusauna38:37 Advice for starting a sauna business start-ups

On this episode of The Upper Bench, Eero and Risto welcome Finnish American sauna entrepreneur Larry Anderson to explore the deep-rooted sauna traditions of Michigan’s Copper Country. They discuss how homemade wood‑burning stoves packed with heavy rocks create a uniquely soft, steam‑driven heat and trace the evolution from childhood basement saunas to modern barrel and mobile builds. We also preview the upcoming Memorial Day sweat in Philadelphia with Bryon MacWilliams!

Copper Country Saunahttps://coppercountrysauna.com

LINKShttps://www.theupperbench.com

https://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/theupperbench

Philly Steam with Bryon

https://www.facebook.com/events/691959186507593

Theme Music: Conga Se Menne "Guess Who's Coming to Sauna"

CONTENT

00:00 Welcome and intro Larry

03:16 What is copper country sauna?

05:52 Larry's history with sauna

10:04 Historic public and converted SAVUsaunas

27:00 Old-school vs modern sauna practice

31:02 Larry's SIX !! saunas

36:15 Most interesting saunas Larry has been in

40:23 Experience is the best teacher for students of traditional sauna

41:51 favorite temperature in the sauna

45:00 Risto's sales pitch for checking out the U.P. sauna scene

46:46 Tips for building a sauna on a budget (don't rush and spread it out over a couple years)

49:07 Digging to find the good saunas in North America (they are out there!)

Sam, Eero, and Risto discuss different types of online negativity in the sauna world. Risto rants a fair bit as he makes the case for why culture is always somewhat negative (and should be). They also field questions from the audience about wood-burning vs electric and UL restrictions in North America.

Stay tuned for an East Coast meet-up in May!

LINKS

https://www.theupperbench.com

https://www.facebook.com/theupperbench

https://www.instagram.com/upper.bench.podcast/

Eero chats with Mikkel Aaland for Finlandia Foundation's National Sauna Week.

https://www.nationalsaunaweek.com

http://www.mikkelaaland.com

February 23 Livestream Replay

Modern Sauna vs Ancient, Always Ready Heaters

CONTENT0:00 Intro & Welcome 1:09 Eero’s Sauna Travels & National Sauna Week 4:49 Weekend Sauna Recap & Heater Struggles 7:47 Sauna Heating: Time, Public Sauna & Regulations 17:07 Sauna Heater Standards: U.S. vs. Canada 22:49 Traditional vs. Modern Sauna Heating & Smoke Saunas 29:42 “Always Ready” Sauna Heaters & Ritual Importance 37:05 Why Steam (Löyly) is Essential 42:06 Sauna Build: Windows & Heating Safety 46:43 Infrared 'Saunas' vs. Traditional Sauna 52:00 Sauna as a Social & Community Tradition 54:23 Enhancing the Sauna Experience: Scents & Rituals 1:02:45 Final Thoughts & Sauna Tips

Episode 50 - Eero says "hi" from Finland. Sam and Risto host the weekly livestream and field questions from the chat.

TOPICS

00:00 Introduction & Host Updates

09:39 Sauna Ventilation & Heat Distribution

14:16 Managing Wood Stoves & Chimney Setup

19:07 Sauna Construction, Mobility & Costs

25:35 DIY Sauna Controllers & Automation

29:11 Shipping Container Sauna Builds and Other Temporary Options

46:28 Choosing & Testing Sauna Stones

53:59 Sauna Rock Explosions – Myth or Reality?

57:05 Sauna as a Space for Healing & Reflection