Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 13 hours ago
We met Dr. Ashley Mason from the University of California San Francisco — her psychology research on hot rooms left the audience stunned. The findings suggest a simple environmental change could boost happiness and have real mental health implications.
DONATE to Ashley's research: https://giving.ucsf.edu/fund/ashley-mason-thermal-therapy-science
Ashley Mason Lab website: https://sealab.ucsf.edu
PAPERS
Elevated body temperature is associated with depressive symptoms: results from the TemPredict Study
nature.com/articles/s41598-024-51567-w
Feasibility and acceptability of an integrated mind-body intervention for depression: whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38743265
Feasibility and acceptability of a Whole-Body hyperthermia (WBH) protocol
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34674592
Full list of papers here: docs.google.com/document/d/1Julz6Nr8zxFqvkRT8lx8dPUXfcnRCDk69LRj9cXg5zM/edit
00:00 Ashley Mason’s surprising findings
1:32 Link between core body temperature & mental health
6:52 Whole body hyperthermia (WBH) definition
9:58 Ashley’s studies - WBH to treat depression
12:25 How does WBH’s effects compare to antidepressants?
16:43 Sauna vs. exercise
17:24 Traditional vs. infrared (IR) sauna
20:13 Sauna vs. cold plunge to treat depression
22:39 Does sweating help us detox chemicals?
26:52 How often should we use the sauna?
31:01 How can heat & IR therapy treat insomnia?
34:24 How to stop waking up in the middle of night
37:32 Should we sauna close to bedtime?
38:10 Can hot yoga also improve mood?
39:07 What do look for in home saunas
41:01 Ashley’s upcoming studies: Gen Z loneliness & firefighters
44:33 How the body adapts to heat training
46:34 Does sauna increase health span?
47:26 There is no 1 protocol for everyone
48:06 We’re editing meaningful thermal stress out of our lives
We met Dr. Ashley Mason from the University of California San Francisco — her psychology research on hot rooms left the audience stunned. The findings suggest a simple environmental change could boost happiness and have real mental health implications.
DONATE to Ashley's research: https://giving.ucsf.edu/fund/ashley-mason-thermal-therapy-science
Ashley Mason Lab website: https://sealab.ucsf.edu
PAPERS
Elevated body temperature is associated with depressive symptoms: results from the TemPredict Study
nature.com/articles/s41598-024-51567-w
Feasibility and acceptability of an integrated mind-body intervention for depression: whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38743265
Feasibility and acceptability of a Whole-Body hyperthermia (WBH) protocol
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34674592
Full list of papers here: docs.google.com/document/d/1Julz6Nr8zxFqvkRT8lx8dPUXfcnRCDk69LRj9cXg5zM/edit
00:00 Ashley Mason’s surprising findings
1:32 Link between core body temperature & mental health
6:52 Whole body hyperthermia (WBH) definition
9:58 Ashley’s studies - WBH to treat depression
12:25 How does WBH’s effects compare to antidepressants?
16:43 Sauna vs. exercise
17:24 Traditional vs. infrared (IR) sauna
20:13 Sauna vs. cold plunge to treat depression
22:39 Does sweating help us detox chemicals?
26:52 How often should we use the sauna?
31:01 How can heat & IR therapy treat insomnia?
34:24 How to stop waking up in the middle of night
37:32 Should we sauna close to bedtime?
38:10 Can hot yoga also improve mood?
39:07 What do look for in home saunas
41:01 Ashley’s upcoming studies: Gen Z loneliness & firefighters
44:33 How the body adapts to heat training
46:34 Does sauna increase health span?
47:26 There is no 1 protocol for everyone
48:06 We’re editing meaningful thermal stress out of our lives
