The Rise of Public Sauna in America | Finnish Sauna, DIY Building & Sauna Culture Revival | Recorded at the 2026 Culture of Bathing Sauna Village in New York City
About this episode
This episode features a conversation about the rise of public sauna culture in America, exploring various themes related to sauna and bathing culture.
In this special episode of Sauna Talk, the tables are turned as Adam Pambatanaka, COO of Therme Group U.S., steps into the interviewer's role and puts Glenn on the bench. Recorded live at Sauna Village in New York City in February 2026, this conversation dives into Glenn's own sauna origin story, from getting hooked in the Baltic archipelago to helping champion mobile saunas, sauna building, and public sauna culture across North America. Adam guides the discussion through the big themes that have shaped Glenn's work with SaunaTimes: the rise of sauna in the public domain, the DIY sauna movement, floating saunas, sauna villages, and the growing momentum behind authentic bathing culture in the U.S. Along the way, Glenn reflects on how far sauna has come, what still matters most, and why both home sauna and public sauna can thrive side by side. This episode also explores the spirit of sauna itself: fewer rules, more listening; less protocol, more presence. For newcomers, enthusiasts, builders, and operators alike, this is a wide-ranging conversation about heat, cold, freedom, and the human connections that happen on the bench. Stay tuned through the end for bonus coverage with Sami…
More episodes of Sauna Talk
- Sauna, Science, and Integrity: A Deeper Look at Heat & Health with Dr. Ashley Mason and Earric Lee | Sauna Talk 130
- Why Heat Makes You Stronger (Backed by Science) | A Conversation with Bill Gifford, author of "Hotwired: How the Hidden Power of Heat Makes Us Stronger" | Sauna Talk Episode 129
- Doctors Who Sauna: What the Science Says About Heat, Health, Sleep, Stress & Sauna Culture | Sauna Talk Episode 128
- Four Sauna Authors Talk Heat, Community, and the Global Sauna Revival | Recorded at the 2026 Culture of Bathing Sauna Village in New York City | Sauna Talk Episode 127
- Vancouver Sauna Circuit + West Coast Sauna Summit | Valtteri Rantala | Sauna Talk #125
- New York City's First Sauna Village | Culture of Bathing Gathering | Sauna Talk #124
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Sauna Talk podcast page.