Sauna Talk #052: Max Valadzko

Season 4 of Sauna Talk in the time of corona has been produced, like most all podcasts, via Zoom and teleconferencing. Yet this episode breaks that mold, where two people are gathered, once again, on the sauna bench to, er… sauna talk. Both Max and Glenn have been under pretty strict distancing: Glenn returning from 5 months on his island in Northeast Minnesota and Max running a tight ship, with his wife due in December with their third child. (eg. no messing around). So, this episode is a return to Sauna Talk on the bench Max comes to sauna, banya as its called back in his native land of Belarus, through a life long tradition and experience. "When I say 95 out of 100 of Belarusians go to sauna – I mean 95% of my friends and family that I know in Belarus go to sauna regularly." This is the culture of sweat bathing in Belarus. Баня (Banya) is the Russian word for sauna; Лазьня (Laznya) is the Belarusian word for sauna, but most of the people who live in Belarus use word banya since they speak Russian as their first language.  Banya in Belarus is a way to get clean. Belarus is a country where the government shuts off hot water from time to time. Belarus is a country with not as developed plumbing infrastructure. Belarus is a country that is fucked up right now. Bad politics. Belarus is a country where people are beaten for protesting the system. People lose their jobs for speaking out. People disappear, and are never heard from again. Belarus is a country of great people, with a fucked up Government Max is committed to help support people in his homeland. Max is committed to build a mobile banya to help get people together. Mainly people from his country who have emigrated to Minnesota. Max and a lot of his friends who live in the US buy groceries for people in Belarus who lost their jobs due to their pro-democratic political beliefs and raise money to help people in Belarus in need.  Saunatimes is helping Max. This podcast introduces you to the wonderfulness of banya as something positive and galvanizing. In the wake of a lot of bullshit at home, Max stays positive and hopeful, thanks to his positive outlook and supported by the endorphin rushing through the authentic sauna/banya experience.