Saunas, communal wellness at the core

Jeff Sherman likes to say that in greater Milwaukee, “seven degrees of separation” feels more like 1.5 — and this episode proves it. Jeff brings together James Shiparski of Hot Spell Sauna and Moshe Katz of Yellow Wood and Atid Properties for a conversation about health, wellness, retail, real estate, and community — only to discover the two guests already knew each other from regular sauna sessions. What follows is a story of serendipity, small-business resilience, and the powerful intersections between commerce and connection in Milwaukee. Moshe reflects on 11 years of building Yellow Wood into more than just an outdoor gear shop, while James shares how Hot Spell is growing a modern sauna and cold plunge movement along the lakefront. The episode closes with a note on Winter Break at Havenswoods State Forest. The Upswing is brought to you by Horicon Bank.