From Soviet Scientist to Banya Builder: Inside Misha’s Steamy Life

This one goes everywhere, in the best way.

Siobhan sits down with Dr. Misha Brodsky: Soviet-born mathematician, UC Berkeley researcher, university administrator… and the man behind one of the most iconic banyas in the U.S.

From growing up in the Soviet Union—where travel was restricted and careers were essentially pre-determined—to being told “you can go, but you go forever,” Misha shares what it actually means to leave your country, lose your identity, and rebuild a life from scratch.

But this isn’t just a story about survival—it’s about what comes after.

We get into the American education system (and why it might be breaking), the science behind heat and cold exposure, and how something as simple as sitting in a hot room with strangers can completely shift your mental state.

Misha breaks down what makes a real Russian banya (hint: most saunas are doing it wrong), why ventilation matters more than temperature, and how he’s spent decades building a space centered around something we’re all craving right now: real human connection.

It’s part political history, part science lesson, and part love letter to steam, cold plunges, and the kind of community that makes you feel like yourself again.

Come hang out in The Pond 🦆