Dr. Ashley Mason on Sauna, Sleep, and Whole Body Hyperthermia | Sauna Talk Episode 102

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome Dr. Ashley Mason. Dr. Mason is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF, where she works within the Osher Center for Integrative Health. Her research focuses on sleep, mental health, and behavioral treatments for insomnia, and she directs the UCSF Sleep, Affect, and Eating (SEA) Lab. In this conversation, we explore her work on whole body hyperthermia—and what it may tell us about the relationship between heat, mood, and overall well-being. We talk about: How body temperature regulation is connected to depression The potential antidepressant effects of heat exposure What happens when we remove thermal stress from our daily lives How modern, climate-controlled living may keep us in a "narrow band" Why reintroducing heat—and even cold—could play a role in better health Dr. Mason shares insights from her research, including work presented at the BrainMind Summit, where she explores how sauna and other forms of heat exposure may help regulate core body temperature and improve mood in some individuals. This is a thoughtful, science-based conversation that connects modern research with something many of us already experience on the sauna bench. From the intersection of sauna and science, please welcome Dr. Ashley Mason to Sauna Talk.