Sauna – Explore Finland Radio Show

Swim With The Swans at Löyly Sauna, Helsinki

21/10/2019 Mark Wiltshear

Löyly Helsinki is a public sauna and restaurant, located on the edge of the sea in the Munkkisaari area, a part of Helsinki that is

Exploring Finland: Putting The Podcast Into Practice

02/08/2016 Mark Wiltshear

During summer 2016, I had the opportunity to visit the wilds of Eastern Finland, near to the town of Kitee. I was invited to join Satu at her Grandparents’ old home, right on Finland’s border with Russia. During this trip, I found myself saying ‘yeah, I know about this, I covered it in the podcast’, for example; sauna with vihta, foraging in the woods, the evacuation of Karelia and Finnish ice cream.

I thought I’d share with you some pictures of these activities, and the podcast episodes they came from.

Ice-hole Swimming & Sauna: A Natural High!

20/02/2016 Mark Wiltshear

I learn why swimming in ice-cold water after taking a sauna is better than sex or morphine! Journalist Jussi Mustikkamaa explains ALL the benefits of Avantouinti, before taking me swimming in the hole in the ice on a frozen pond. Yep, that’s right…

Distilling Moonshine, Finland’s Prohibition Era and Koskenkorva Vodka

14/02/2015 Mark Wiltshear

Join me as I visit the Koskenkorva Museo and learn about the history of distilling in Koskenkorva, as well as the distinctive local clocks, Könnikello, and we take another, brief tour around the saunas at Koskenkorva Trahteeri, until we end up at the ‘vodka tap’! Intrigued?

Just Why Is The Sauna So Important To Finns?

24/01/2015 Mark Wiltshear

I speak to Jaakko and Martti Koskenkorva about the most recognisable Finnish word in the world, Sauna. I visited them at Koskenkorva Trahteeri to talk about the history, the traditions and why the sauna is so important to the Finns.