KIVIA:
THE SPIRIT OF SAUNA
PODCAST SERIES
Do you know that Finland’s sauna culture has been officially added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity? Have you heard that people cook sausages in the sauna, or plunge themselves into freezing cold water during their sauna sessions?
We invite you to listen to our podcast series, Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna with hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell. Learn about how fellow sauna enthusiasts are expanding the idea of sauna, adding new twists on Finnish traditions, and more! Share a laugh, learn something new, and be part of this growing community.
Listen here, or download Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna wherever you get your podcasts.
You could say that Alan’s first love was sauna. Following Finnish tradition, he was introduced to sauna at a very young age. He liked it so much, it earned him the nickname saunapoika, or in English, sauna-boy.
Born to a Canadian mother, and Finnish father, Alan grew up in Southern Ontario. Sharing his Finnish culture with his Canadian friends was always a point of pride. After introducing his friends to the family cottage sauna, it became the place to hang out.
Over the years, he’s learned that there is no right or wrong way to enjoy a sauna. For some, it is a place of solitude, for others, a place to gather and socialize. Whether alone, or with a group, it is where the worries of the day evaporate.
Alan would like nothing more than to share his passion for sauna with you through this website, Kivia.ca, and his podcast, Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna.
Alan Jalasjaa
Sauna Expert & Kivia Co-Host
While relatively new to sauna, Elissa Lansdell is used to the heated pace of showbiz. As a former broadcaster, Elissa has worked for Chum Ottawa, Country Music Television, E! Network, City TV, and more. As an Entertainment reporter, she is no stranger to the red carpet, and has interviewed everyone from Hollywood’s A-listers, to pop stars and even politicians! On camera, she held scene-stealing roles in hit shows including La Femme Nikita, Flashpoint, and The Border.
Now, Elissa splits her time entertaining various passions. As the founder of Rockstar Communications, she has helped her clients find and unleash their inner ‘rock stars’ for more than a decade, as a Corporate Communications Consultant and Coach. Elissa's unique experience and expertise have helped countless executives, leaders and CEOs command their audience, whether they are speaking in the boardroom, a guest on a podcast, speaking to the media, or hosting a town hall.
Elissa can also be heard as a co-host on Feel Free Podcast, aimed at providing a safe space to heal and share for those going through divorce.
