NPR health reporter Will Stone has offered readers a rare look at the methods behind his reporting on wellness trends, publishing a reporter's notebook on October 3, 2026, that traces how he distinguishes credible science from marketing hype.
The piece grew out of an assignment that took Stone to a sauna conference in Oslo. According to NPR, the trip placed him inside a sauna while still wearing his clothes and carrying his recording equipment — an unusual scene that illustrates the lengths required to report on wellness culture firsthand.
Stone's notebook addresses a broad spectrum of wellness topics, from saunas to psychedelics, and explains the framework he uses to investigate the science behind claims that often arrive with more enthusiasm than evidence. The October 3, 2026, piece was published at 5:57 PM ET.
NPR also included a standard disclosure alongside the story, stating that the network neither provides nor accepts payment in exchange for coverage or interviews. The network noted that any individual making such an offer or request is neither employed by NPR nor authorized to speak on its behalf.
For local readers navigating a steady stream of wellness claims, Stone's approach offers a practical model: examine the evidence, question the hype, and follow the science wherever it leads — even if that means reporting from inside a sauna.
