Summary
Audrey and Jeremy Roloff welcome Brian Richards, founder and CEO of SaunaSpace, to discuss the science behind red light therapy and infrared saunas. Brian shares his personal health journey with adrenal fatigue and toxicity that led him to discover near-infrared sauna therapy through his mother, a natural medicine physician. His experience was so transformative that he left a career in engineering to start SaunaSpace. The conversation covers how infrared light from the sun's natural spectrum penetrates deep into tissues to support detoxification, mitochondrial function, and cellular repair. Brian explains the differences between near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared wavelengths, and why he advocates for incandescent heat lamp technology that combines red light with near-infrared for maximum benefit. He also discusses EMF concerns with many sauna products and how SaunaSpace addresses those with shielding and grounding mats. Brian emphasizes the importance of light hygiene alongside sauna use, including reducing blue light exposure and getting natural sunlight. The hosts share their personal experience using SaunaSpace products for both sauna sessions and red light therapy in their home routine.
Key Points
- Near-infrared light penetrates deeper into tissue than far-infrared, providing more therapeutic benefit per session
- Brian Richards' health transformation from adrenal fatigue and acne drove him to found SaunaSpace
- Incandescent heat lamps emit both red light and near-infrared simultaneously, combining two therapies in one
- EMF exposure is a major concern with many infrared saunas; look for shielding and low-EMF designs
- SaunaSpace tent saunas can deliver benefits in 12-minute sessions compared to 60 minutes in traditional saunas
- Red and near-infrared light support mitochondrial function by stimulating cytochrome c oxidase
- Light hygiene matters: reducing blue light at night and getting morning sunlight complement sauna use
- The full spectrum of infrared (near, mid, far) each have different tissue penetration depths and benefits
Key Moments
Brian Richards' health transformation through near-infrared sauna
Brian Richards shares how his mother, a natural medicine physician, recommended a sauna detox for his adrenal fatigue symptoms including insomnia, low energy, and acne. After building his own near-infrared sauna and using it for six months, all his health problems resolved.
"So I realized now I saw both of them growing up and in the allopathic side, more of the radiology side, my father's side, I saw more of a revolving door, people getting diagnosed and then treated with not nearly the success and I would say the benefit value, the value standpoint of the natural approach. So long story short, my mom said, you know what, Brian, you're probably just toxic. You probably just need a detox and you should get a sauna."
Heat shock proteins and daily detoxification through sauna
Brian explains how heat shock proteins are activated during sauna use, working in every cell of the body to correct and maintain cellular function. He argues that with the increasing amount of petrochemicals and plastics in the modern environment, sauna and detoxification is no longer a luxury but an essential daily wellness practice.
"sauna and detoxification is not really a luxury. It's really a necessity, an essential, almost daily wellness practice."
Mitochondria as light receptors and near-infrared therapy
Brian explains that mitochondria in every cell contain red light and near-infrared light receptors, and these wavelengths are converted into electrons for healing and energy production. He connects this to why sunlight-rich ancestral lifestyles supported better health outcomes.
"we have these red light and near infrared light receptors in every cell of the body. They're called mitochondria. They're the powerhouse of the cell. And they absorb this light and they convert that light energy into electricity, into electrons in the body. And we use it for healing and for energy production, all these things."
SaunaSpace EMF-shielded sauna design
Brian describes the SaunaSpace portable sauna design featuring incandescent heat lamp bulbs inside a handmade organic cotton and bamboo enclosure with a hidden silver layer that blocks external EMF from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cell phones. Sessions take only 15 minutes with seven bulbs or 30 minutes with four bulbs.
"It was a hidden layer made of silver and cotton, and that blocks out the external EMF. So like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cell phone, things like that. So when you go inside, close that curtain, you're really in a pre-technology space, which is maximally..."
Hormetic stress and sauna frequency protocol
Brian discusses his personal sauna protocol of four to five days per week, emphasizing hormetic stress principles. He advises paying attention to when your body starts cooling down after sweating as the signal to exit, and recommends varying session length and intensity rather than doing the same routine every time.
"you're trying to do hormetic stress. I'll pay attention to that. What's that feel like afterwards? You don't want to always just do the same thing all the time. So I usually do it four to five days a week, but sometimes I'll do like a three day or a two day."
