Comparing Sauna Conversations, Culture

Noone said a word. It sucked. As someone who loves silence, I can tell you it didn’t suck because of the silence. It sucked because some of the best conversations and human moments in my adult life have some sitting in the sauna. During the moment in question, I was visiting one of these fancy, exclusive membership establishments.

The amenities were peak, but the culture was weak. 

Group dynamics are tricky. After all, the four other people in the sauna with me were likely remarkable people with their own unique story and perspective, but the fancy place we happen to be enjoying at the same time hasn’t created a culture where breaking the silence was possible. 

Some of the cultural elements of DEUCE are made explicit with propaganda, on-boarding, and stated social norms and feedback loops. But, plenty of what makes the sauna experience at DEUCE a very different experience are implicit cultural elements. 

Think about what happens at DEUCE. There’s a vulnerability that is forced on everyone there. The nature of training is that it’s only training if you are experiencing the edges of your vulnerability. That’s specifically true whether you’re a CEO, celebrity, homeless, or a wide-eyed college student. 

Our community is full of a diverse group that is brought together, not by social economics, clout, or personal interest, but instead by vulnerability. 

And, boy, does it make for better sauna conversations.