EPISODE · Oct 19, 2025 · 1H 23M
Between Worlds: The Sauna Spirits of Finnish Folklore with Folklorist Dr. Victoria Stewart
from Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing and Sauna Culture · host Sarah Spoto
Today’s episode is dedicated to Finnish folklore and the spirits of the sauna. I can think of no one better to have this conversation with than Dr. Victoria Stewart, Assistant Director of the Humanities Center at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. I learned so much talking to her and it’s really given me a renewed sense of respect and passion for both Finnish culture and sauna culture. If you’re listening to Badii Talk, I know you’ve gotta be a sauna nerd too, so I think you’re going to really enjoy this one! And if you’re a sauna enthusiast, folklore lover, or curious about the deeper cultural roots of wellness traditions, I hope this episode will spark your imagination and deepen your appreciation for sauna culture.Dr. Stewart manages the day-to-day operations of the center's Detroit Humanities Hub, a public humanities initiative that connects the interests and talents of Wayne State's humanists with those of the people of Detroit. She holds a PhD in Folklore and Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin, which led to a 10-year career as a professor of Finnish and Nordic Studies at a small, private university founded by Finnish immigrants before her move to Detroit and public work. Stewart shares her knowledge of folklore and cultural traditions in a variety of ways, including public lectures and talks, exhibitions, documentary films, and more. Learn more about Dr. Stewart’s work at her website. What you’ll hear in the episodeWhat folklore is and why it matters. And what it reveals about culture, community, and our shared humanity.How the Finnish sauna became a sacred, spiritual space for birth, healing, and even death.The sauna spirits said to inhabit the heat and steam and the stories that honor them.Ancient rituals, offerings, and taboos for showing respect (and avoiding angering) the sauna spirits. How modern Finns and those with Finnish heritage continue to view these traditions today.Whether sauna spirits still travel with global sauna culture or remain rooted in Finnish soil. How Dr. Stewart’s work in public folklore and the humanities brings these stories to life in Detroit and beyond.Experience the work of Dr. Stewart and the Detroit Humanities Hub:Big Epic ReadEdmund Fitzgerald 50th Anniversary Commemoration (Nov 7 - 10)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.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
What this episode covers
Today’s episode is dedicated to Finnish folklore and the spirits of the sauna. I can think of no one better to have this conversation with than Dr. Victoria Stewart, Assistant Director of the Humanities Center at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. I learned so much talking to her and it’s really given me a renewed sense of respect and passion for both Finnish culture and sauna culture. If you’re listening to Badii Talk, I know you’ve gotta be a sauna nerd too, so I think you’re going to really enjoy this one! And if you’re a sauna enthusiast, folklore lover, or curious about the deeper cultural roots of wellness traditions, I hope this episode will spark your imagination and deepen your appreciation for sauna culture.Dr. Stewart manages the day-to-day operations of the center's Detroit Humanities Hub, a public humanities initiative that connects the interests and talents of Wayne State's humanists with those of the people of Detroit. She holds a PhD in Folklore and Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin, which led to a 10-year career as a professor of Finnish and Nordic Studies at a small, private university founded by Finnish immigrants before her move to Detroit and public work. Stewart shares her knowledge of folklore and cultural traditions in a variety of ways, including public lectures and talks, exhibitions, documentary films, and more. Learn more about Dr. Stewart’s work at her website. What you’ll hear in the episodeWhat folklore is and why it matters. And what it reveals about culture, community, and our shared humanity.How the Finnish sauna became a sacred, spiritual space for birth, healing, and even death.The sauna spirits said to inhabit the heat and steam and the stories that honor them.Ancient rituals, offerings, and taboos for showing respect (and avoiding angering) the sauna spirits. How modern Finns and those with Finnish heritage continue to view these traditions today.Whether sauna spirits still travel with global sauna culture or remain rooted in Finnish soil. How Dr. Stewart’s work in public folklore and the humanities brings these stories to life in Detroit and beyond.Experience the work of Dr. Stewart and the Detroit Humanities Hub:Big Epic ReadEdmund Fitzgerald 50th Anniversary Commemoration (Nov 7 - 10)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.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
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Between Worlds: The Sauna Spirits of Finnish Folklore with Folklorist Dr. Victoria Stewart
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