Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing and Sauna Culture cover art

Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing and Sauna Culture

Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing and Sauna Culture

By: Sarah Spoto
Listen for free

About this listen

 At Badii Talk, we bring you spa and sauna recommendations, so you can plan your next bathing adventure or get inspired to give sauna or thermal bathing a try. We also feature interviews with experts and professionals in the bathing world and dive deep into your questions about bathing rituals and cultural experiences. Like: What makes a sauna a Finnish sauna? What’s with all the towel waving in an Aufguss? And how cold does a cold plunge really need to be? Our name, Badii, is inspired by the Swiss German word for pools and bathing. Website: ⁠www.badii.life⁠ Instagram ⁠@badii.lifeSarah Spoto Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Season 1 Finale: Reflection, Ritual & Bathing Culture Around the World

    Season 1 Finale: Reflection, Ritual & Bathing Culture Around the World
    Dec 7 2025
    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 another bathing renaissance, we explore how to keep the soul and heart of bathing alive through a respect for its cultural origins. Join us as we reflect on Season One… and tease what’s coming next in Season Two!What you’ll hear in the episode:-How the journey began in Switzerland: discovering Aufguss and community thermal bathing in nature.-A tour through the bathing traditions we explored across the world: Switzerland, Finland, Scotland, the United States, and beyond. -Some philosophical musing on why honoring cultural roots matters as sauna and thermal bathing enter a new renaissance in the US and UK.-A sneak peek of what’s next for Season Two: new cultural stories, travel recommendations, “sauna essentials” education, magic, women’s voices, and more.Featured Season 1 episodes include:-Naked Bathing: Reflections and Cultural Observations-Between Worlds: The Sauna Spirits of Finnish Folklore with Folklorist Dr. Victoria Stewart-Scottish Wild Saunas: Adventures from the Isles and Beyond-Aufguss Comes to America: Inside the First-Ever U.S. National Championship at Bathhhouse Williamsburg-Somatic Aufguss with Denver’s First Sauna MasterThis episode was edited by Lila Woodbridge.What to shape our episodes for Season Two? Take our listener survey for a chance to win Badii merch. Support Badii this holiday season! Merch is now available in our new online sauna shop.💧🎁 Give the gift of a Badii Talk Substack subscription. Join us where wellness meets travel. We explore global bathing traditions, sauna rituals, and spa culture through the lens of place and community.Today’s episode was sponsored by Saint Lucie Sauna Serum. Shop the serum on Badii’s online sauna shop. Connect with us to learn more about our ad and media packages via our website. Badii offers passionate and curious bathers and spa-goers access to news, education, and recommendations about global bathing culture. Explore more bathing culture:Website:⁠ www.badii.life⁠Blog: ⁠Badii Talk on Substack⁠Instagram:⁠ @badii.life
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • From Burnout to What Sustains Us: A "Truth Is" Podcast Feature

    From Burnout to What Sustains Us: A "Truth Is" Podcast Feature
    Nov 23 2025

    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 mindful storytelling, Kathryn’s podcast is full of insightful episodes and relatable guests who explore change, connection, and living more authentically.


    Listen to more of the Truth Is.


    What you’ll hear in the episode

    - The origins of “Badii” and the the Swiss thermal bathing culture that inspired Sarah, our founder, to bring it to America

    - How to embrace anger and channel it for change

    - How Sarah made the pivot from corporate to entrepreneurship and the resources she put in place to feel ready for the big transition


    The intro and outro of this episode was edited by Lila Woodbridge.


    Support Badii this holiday season! Merch is now available in our new online sauna shop.💧


    🎁Give the gift of a Badii Talk Substack subscription. Join us where wellness meets travel. We explore global bathing traditions, sauna rituals, and spa culture through the lens of place and community.


    Badii offers passionate and curious bathers and spa-goers access to news, education, and recommendations about global bathing culture.


    Explore more bathing culture:

    Website:⁠ www.badii.life⁠

    Blog: ⁠Badii Talk on Substack⁠

    Instagram:⁠ @badii.life
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Scottish Wild Saunas: Adventures from the Isles and Beyond

    Scottish Wild Saunas: Adventures from the Isles and Beyond
    Nov 9 2025

    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 Charlotte’s “mini adventures” into wild swimming and wild sauna on Instagram @chartlottescotland.


    What you’ll hear in the episode

    • Defining “wild sauna” and “wild swimming” and what makes it a unique wellness experience

    • Some special Scottish wild sauna locales

    • Scotland’s growing wild sauna culture and scene

    • How sauna rituals fit into a holistic wellbeing routine —one that cultivates novelty, presence, and community


    This episode was edited by Lila Woodbridge.


    💧Badii Talk now has a Substack! Join us where wellness meets travel. We explore global bathing traditions, sauna rituals, and spa culture through the lens of place and community.


    📍⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠ today for access to our wellness travel guides, packed with wellness destination recommendations, restaurants, hotels, and routes.


    Today’s episode was sponsored by Saint Lucie Sauna Serum. Shop the serum on Badii’s online sauna shop.


    Connect with us to learn more about our ad and media packages via our website.


    Badii offers passionate and curious bathers and spa-goers access to news, education, and recommendations about global bathing culture.


    Explore more bathing culture:

    Website:⁠ www.badii.life⁠

    Blog: ⁠Badii Talk on Substack⁠

    Instagram:⁠ @badii.life
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.