Sauna Talk #111: British Sauna Summit 2025

The British Sauna Summit 2.0, held in London, explores the burgeoning sauna culture in the UK. The summit highlights a shift from niche to mainstream, emphasizing community support and collaboration over competition. Interviews with figures like Rob De Bank, a festival promoter and wellness enthusiast, draw parallels between the growth of sauna culture and the early days of music festivals, noting a potential "gold rush" phase. Lassi Liikkanen discusses the importance of balancing traditional Finnish sauna principles with the evolving, global interpretations, cautioning against "Instagram saunas" that prioritize aesthetics over functionality. Emma O'Kelly, author of "Wild Sauna," shares insights on the UK's sauna scene, noting its origins in serving cold water swimmers and its potential to become a mainstream lifestyle choice.

Outlines

Part 1: British Sauna Culture, Community

Part 2: History, Philosophy, Global Connections

Part 3: Festivals, Wellness, Evolution

Part 4: Industry Support, Sponsorship

Part 5: Design, Tradition, Technicalities

Part 6: Entrepreneurial Journeys, Success Stories

Part 7: Wild Sauna, Tourism, Research

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Sauna Talk

Part 1: British Sauna Culture, Community

British Sauna Society's Growth and Collaboration in the UK Sauna Scene

Community Support Ethos in British Sauna Culture vs. American Capitalism

Introduction to Guests and Homecraft Electric Sauna Heaters

Part 2: History, Philosophy, Global Connections

Albany Sauna's Plant Intelligence Project and the Human Condition

Albany Sauna's History and the Unique Fun Vibe of UK Saunas

Mainstream Sauna Culture in the UK and Harveya's Presence

Part 3: Festivals, Wellness, Evolution

Rob De Bank's Transition from BBC Radio 1 to Sauna Culture

Parallels Between Festival Ecosystem and Sauna's Growth in Britain

Gold Rush Concerns and Rob De Bank's Personal Sauna Routine

Children's Perspective on Sauna and Embracing Family Sauna Culture

SloMo's Holistic Approach to Wellness and Next Generation Well-being

Part 4: Industry Support, Sponsorship

Sauna Times Public Sauna Map and Finnmark's Sponsorship of the Summit

Finnmark's Commitment and Financial Support for the UK Sauna Summit

Finnmark's Philosophy of Giving Back and Supporting the Sauna Community

Volunteers' Contributions and the Speaker's Emotional Return to London

Part 5: Design, Tradition, Technicalities

Schmeissing Tradition and the Diversity of Sauna Experiences

Instagram Saunas and Their Design Flaws

Glass Windows and Electric Heater Limitations in Sauna Design

Lulu Quality and Finnish Openness to New Sauna Interpretations

Balancing Finnish Sauna Principles with Cultural Adaptation

Lassi Liikkanen's Book and Previous Sauna Talk Appearance

Part 6: Entrepreneurial Journeys, Success Stories

Hikitalo Sauna's Journey from Germany to South Wales

Hikitalo Sauna's Expansion and the Speaker's Encouragement

Community Support and Emma O'Kelly's Role in the Sauna Summit

Part 7: Wild Sauna, Tourism, Research

Emma O'Kelly's Second Book: Wild Sauna and the UK Sauna Phenomenon

Wild Sauna as a Resource for Sauna Tourism and the Wild Swimming Connection

Common Journey of Shoreline Saunas and Emma's Personal Connection

Sauna Escapes and the Timing of the Book's Publication

Emma O'Kelly's Instagram-Based Research and Collaboration

Sauna Talk #111: British Sauna Summit 2025

Sauna Talk

Part 1: British Sauna Culture, Community

00:00British Sauna Society's Growth and Collaboration in the UK Sauna Scene

British Sauna Society's Growth and Collaboration in the UK Sauna Scene

01:35Community Support Ethos in British Sauna Culture vs. American Capitalism

Community Support Ethos in British Sauna Culture vs. American Capitalism

02:25Introduction to Guests and Homecraft Electric Sauna Heaters

Introduction to Guests and Homecraft Electric Sauna Heaters

Part 2: History, Philosophy, Global Connections

04:56Albany Sauna's Plant Intelligence Project and the Human Condition

Albany Sauna's Plant Intelligence Project and the Human Condition

06:24Albany Sauna's History and the Unique Fun Vibe of UK Saunas

Albany Sauna's History and the Unique Fun Vibe of UK Saunas

07:52Mainstream Sauna Culture in the UK and Harveya's Presence

Mainstream Sauna Culture in the UK and Harveya's Presence

Part 3: Festivals, Wellness, Evolution

09:09Rob De Bank's Transition from BBC Radio 1 to Sauna Culture

Rob De Bank's Transition from BBC Radio 1 to Sauna Culture

11:06Parallels Between Festival Ecosystem and Sauna's Growth in Britain

Parallels Between Festival Ecosystem and Sauna's Growth in Britain

12:58Gold Rush Concerns and Rob De Bank's Personal Sauna Routine

Gold Rush Concerns and Rob De Bank's Personal Sauna Routine

14:53Children's Perspective on Sauna and Embracing Family Sauna Culture

Children's Perspective on Sauna and Embracing Family Sauna Culture

16:31SloMo's Holistic Approach to Wellness and Next Generation Well-being

SloMo's Holistic Approach to Wellness and Next Generation Well-being

Part 4: Industry Support, Sponsorship

18:21Sauna Times Public Sauna Map and Finnmark's Sponsorship of the Summit

Sauna Times Public Sauna Map and Finnmark's Sponsorship of the Summit

19:17Finnmark's Commitment and Financial Support for the UK Sauna Summit

Finnmark's Commitment and Financial Support for the UK Sauna Summit

22:35Finnmark's Philosophy of Giving Back and Supporting the Sauna Community

Finnmark's Philosophy of Giving Back and Supporting the Sauna Community

24:49Volunteers' Contributions and the Speaker's Emotional Return to London

Volunteers' Contributions and the Speaker's Emotional Return to London

Part 5: Design, Tradition, Technicalities

27:33Schmeissing Tradition and the Diversity of Sauna Experiences

Schmeissing Tradition and the Diversity of Sauna Experiences

29:08Instagram Saunas and Their Design Flaws

Instagram Saunas and Their Design Flaws

31:16Glass Windows and Electric Heater Limitations in Sauna Design

Glass Windows and Electric Heater Limitations in Sauna Design

32:52Lulu Quality and Finnish Openness to New Sauna Interpretations

Lulu Quality and Finnish Openness to New Sauna Interpretations

34:47Balancing Finnish Sauna Principles with Cultural Adaptation

Balancing Finnish Sauna Principles with Cultural Adaptation

36:39Lassi Liikkanen's Book and Previous Sauna Talk Appearance

Lassi Liikkanen's Book and Previous Sauna Talk Appearance

Part 6: Entrepreneurial Journeys, Success Stories

37:10Hikitalo Sauna's Journey from Germany to South Wales

Hikitalo Sauna's Journey from Germany to South Wales

39:02Hikitalo Sauna's Expansion and the Speaker's Encouragement

Hikitalo Sauna's Expansion and the Speaker's Encouragement

40:28Community Support and Emma O'Kelly's Role in the Sauna Summit

Community Support and Emma O'Kelly's Role in the Sauna Summit

Part 7: Wild Sauna, Tourism, Research

41:34Emma O'Kelly's Second Book: Wild Sauna and the UK Sauna Phenomenon

Emma O'Kelly's Second Book: Wild Sauna and the UK Sauna Phenomenon

43:40Wild Sauna as a Resource for Sauna Tourism and the Wild Swimming Connection

Wild Sauna as a Resource for Sauna Tourism and the Wild Swimming Connection

45:21Common Journey of Shoreline Saunas and Emma's Personal Connection

Common Journey of Shoreline Saunas and Emma's Personal Connection

47:09Sauna Escapes and the Timing of the Book's Publication

Sauna Escapes and the Timing of the Book's Publication

49:35Emma O'Kelly's Instagram-Based Research and Collaboration

Emma O'Kelly's Instagram-Based Research and Collaboration