ALLSMITH EP. 112 - Pete Nelson II | Is the Sauna the Secret to Living Longer?
This conversation is an immersion into heat, cold, faith, family, and the steady pursuit of resilience. Pete Nelson II is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and 33 time ultramarathoner who founded SISU Sauna to bring ancestral wellness back into the modern world.
We explore the science and spirit of sauna culture, the nervous system reset that happens in cold water, the role of faith in leadership, how endurance shapes character, and what it means to build a business with integrity and patience.
This episode is for anyone who wants to live longer, but more importantly, live better. It is for the people who are ready to step into the heat, breathe, feel, release, and return to life renewed.
Timestamps and Episode Flow
0:00 Welcome and presence. The meaning of SISU.
4:12 Pete’s upbringing and the roots of faith and discipline.
9:45 From endurance athlete to sauna founder. The calling emerges.
14:30 Why sauna is more than heat. Adaptation, circulation, and longevity.
19:22 Cold immersion and the nervous system reset.
25:40 Biohacking is ancient. We are returning, not inventing.
31:10 The power of community in recovery rituals.
36:48 Building SISU Sauna from the ground up and staying aligned with values.
45:00 Parenting through example instead of instruction.
52:18 The endurance mindset and business. Slow is smooth. Smooth is strong.
1:00:02 Final reflections on living with gratitude and purpose.
Key Quotes from Pete
• “Heat brings things to the surface. The fire does not lie.”
• “Cold teaches presence. You cannot hide from yourself when the water hits.”
• “We are not inventing wellness. We are remembering it.”
• “Faith and family are not things I balance. They are the foundation I build everything on.”
• “Longevity is not about living forever. It is about living more fully in the time we have.”
• “Endurance taught me that the only way is through.”
• “Sauna is where I let go. Cold is where I return.”
• “Leadership is not pressure. It is service.”
Major Takeaways
• Sauna triggers heat shock proteins that reduce inflammation and increase cellular repair.
• Cold therapy trains the nervous system to stay calm under stress.
• Modern wellness is a return to ancestral rhythms: sunlight, movement, breath, presence, community.
• Longevity begins with recovery, not just training and output.
• Building a business that lasts requires patience, humility, and alignment with core values.
• Fatherhood and leadership are most powerful when demonstrated, not spoken.
• The most meaningful progress is consistency over intensity.
If this episode moved you, support the message.
Share the episode with one friend who is ready to step into the fire and rediscover their strength.
Connect with Pete and SISU Sauna:
Instagram: @peternelsonii
SISU Sauna: @sisu_sauna
Hogsback: @hellonhogsback
Connect with ALLSMITH:
Instagram: @therealbrycesmith
Instagram: @allsmithco
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