The tea has been spiltz… and in this case, it’s hot. Like sauna hot.
This week I’m sitting down with my friend Chris—one of my favorite humans from Archimedes Banya—and we get into how a shy college kid going to nude beaches in Humboldt somehow turned into a 40+ year love affair with naturism, sauna culture, and one very specific kind of community you don’t really find anywhere else.
We start with nudity (obviously), but this isn’t really about being naked. It’s about being comfortable. It’s about walking into a room—whether it’s a sauna, a steam room, or just life—and not feeling like you have to perform.
Chris tells the story of meeting Misha Brodsky before the banya even existed—like, just some guy in a sauna saying “yeah I’m gonna build one in San Francisco.” And then… he actually did. Which is wild. And now here we are, with Archimedes Banya being one of the most unique wellness spaces in the U.S., built around Russian banya culture, heat, cold plunge, and community.
We also get into European sauna culture—because the U.S. is still a little weird about all of this. Think full-on textile-free saunas in Germany, massive spa complexes, quiet bathhouses in Barcelona… and yeah, you’re naked. Everyone’s naked. And somehow it’s the least interesting part of the experience.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, we talk about why the banya actually matters. For me, it’s where I go when my body is wrecked, when my brain won’t shut up, when I need to reset. Sauna, cold plunge, repeat. It’s simple, it’s grounding, and it works.
And then, because we can’t help ourselves, we start dreaming—about expanding sauna culture, building retreat spaces, bringing this kind of connection and healing to more people.
It’s real, it’s a little unhinged in the best way, and it’s one of those conversations that reminds you how good it feels to just… be a human.
Come hang out in The Pond 🐥
