The SDCN Podcast:
Stockholm is a State of Minds

In this episode we embark on a cultural journey to explore the rich and enchanting traditions of Sweden. We’ll delve into the customs that shape Swedish life and bring communities together.

Our special guest, Jonas Engman, an ethnologist from the cultural-historical museum Nordiska Museet, shares his deep knowledge of Swedish traditions, offering insights into their historical roots and contemporary significance. We’ll uncover the stories behind iconic Swedish festivities like Lucia Day, Walpurgis Night, and the way Swedes celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Join us as we discuss the importance of these traditions in Swedish society. Tune in for an enlightening conversation about Swedish traditions and discover how these time-honored practices continue to thrive in modern Sweden.

Visit the exhibition ‘Traditions‘ at Nordiska Museet and learn more!

In this episode, we explore the LGBTQI community in Sweden, looking into the history, challenges, and progress of the LGBTQI rights movement in the country. We take a closer look at how Sweden has embraced diversity, inclusion and the ongoing journey toward equality for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Whether you are a member of the LGBTQI community, an ally, or simply interested in learning more about LGBTQI issues in Sweden, this episode offers some great insights that are both valuable and engaging.

Our guest is Tawar Dabaghi, Secretary General of RFSL – The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights. RFSL strives to create an equal world where all LGBTQI people’s human rights are respected and no one is left behind.

RFSL – The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights

How many different parts of Sweden have you visited? In this episode you will learn more about Sweden as a tourist destination – how to get around and where to go. With four different seasons, there are plenty of things to do all year round. City life, outdoor activities, cultural heritage and gastronomy.

In this episode, Maria and Philip have invited Susanne Andersson, CEO of the official national marketing company Visit Sweden. On their website VisitSweden.com you can learn more about Sweden as a top destination for “coolcation”, get all the tips you need for family fun and how to find all the hidden gems all over Sweden.

Sweden’s official website for tourism and travel information: Visit Sweden

This week, we’re diving into all things related to a move to Sweden. By listening to this episode, you’ll get amazing tips on how to tackle both practical challenges and find the right mindset for a smooth and successful settling-in process in Sweden. Moving TO, instead of moving FROM, is one key to success. Another key is to have a long-term perspective from the beginning, even if your plan is to stay for a shorter period of time.

We’re thrilled to have Lena Rekdal, the founder of Nimmersion, a relocation company, as our guest on the podcast. With almost 30 years of experience, Lena is a true expert in relocation issues, immigration regulations, finding a home and a school, and landing successfully in Sweden.

Learn more about Nimmersion

By following Nimmersion on LinkedIn you will get a lot of practical information, updates and tips: Nimmersion @ LinkedIn

Stockholm is a city with active people with a lot of running, cycling and going to the gym. In this episode, Maria and Philip invite the Professor of Sports Science, Elin Ekblom Bak, to talk about different aspects of physical activity, public health and the importance of exercise. They also talk about how the sports movement plays an important role in Swedish society and affects public health not only physically, but also how it has an important social function in keeping society together.

Elin Ekblom Bak is a professor at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences. In fact, she was appointed professor on the same day as the recording! Besides being a professor she is very active herself, she has been a professional football player and is now a football coach in the local club on a voluntary basis. She has also been a football commentator in TV.

Money, debt, household finances, pensions, public finances – this episode explores a wide range of economic topics. What characterizes the Swedish economy? Join us as we learn about how Swedish public finances have evolved over time, “from top notch to the middle of the pack”. And how do Swedes relate to money?

Our guest and our guide is Klas Eklund, a well-known Swedish economist who has worked in both the public and private sectors. He has an impressive background, having served as chief economist at one of Sweden’s largest banks and as an expert for the Swedish government, among other roles.

Klas Eklund, Vår ekonomi: En introduktion till världsekonomin, (15th edition, 2020).

Do you feel like you are not fitting in? In this episode our guest Lola Akinmade Åkerström talks about finding your voice and finding your place in a new culture. Lola has created her own super culture by combining the best parts of Nigerian, American and Swedish culture. Her message is that you are more than enough!

Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Nigerian-American-Swedish storyteller. She’s an international bestselling author with two novels, an award-winning travel book, and a book about the Swedish word ‘lagom’. As a photographer her work has appeared in such prestigious publications as National Geographic and has been named a Hasselblad Heroine 2022.

More about Lola Akinmade Åkerström

The photo project ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ at Instagram @theafroswede

Books by Lola Akinmade Åkerström:
In Every Mirror She’s Black
Everything is Not Enough
Lagom: The Swedish Secret of Living Well
Due North

For the past two years, Sweden’s application for NATO membership has been high on the political agenda. In this episode you will get the context for this historical change – Sweden going from being a neutral, non-aligned country to applying for NATO membership.

To explain this complex twist, we have invited Robert Egnell, who is Vice-Chancellor of Swedish Defence University. He is a professor of leadership and command and control. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. Our guest will also talk about the current security situation in Sweden and in the world.

In this episode you will get to know the essentials about the Swedish job market, how to get a foot in the door and what benefits you get access to as an employee in Sweden. She also talks about the impact of unions and what the Swedish Model means for the entire Swedish economy. Networking is key to getting a job in Sweden and in this episode you will get some great tips on how to network like a pro in Sweden.

The guest of this episode is Lee Wermelin, former chairman of one of Sweden’s largest labour unions. With years of experience in sales and leadership, she has a great overview of the job market, but also invaluable insights into how to get in.

Initiatives to speed-up the entrance to the Swedish job market for foreign-born academics: Jobbsprånget,Korta vägen

Swedish language training for academics:
SIFA

Networking initiatives for new people in Sweden:
Yrkesdörren, Kompis Sverige, Svenska med baby

Ametist Azordegan is a Swedish hip hop expert and social entrepreneur. Listening to this episode will introduce you to a side of Swedish culture that may not be the first you encounter. Ametist’s hip hop skills include recognising different hip hop sounds from different parts of Sweden. Ametist talks to Maria and Philip about the potential for academic research to study hip hop culture to understand what is going on in society, but also how hip hop in Sweden has changed over time.

Ametist Azordegan is the founder and chairperson of the non-profit Juice Studio Foundation. Juice Studio Foundation creates life chances for young people in socially disadvantaged areas, using hip hop culture as the basis for all projects.

Novel mentioned in the episode: A drop of midnight / En droppe midnatt a novel by Jason Diakité

The hip hop artist Jason “Timbuktu” Diakité’s vivid and intimate journey through his own and his family’s history — from South Carolina slavery to twenty-first-century Sweden.

In this episode Ulf Lindgren, who is a priest in the Church of Sweden, visits the podcast. Listen as he talks about the history of Swedish Christianity and the role the Church plays in Swedish society today. Together with Maria and Philip, he reflects on whether Swedes are the most secular people in the world? The three also talks about how to find your faith community in Stockholm.

In the episode you can get some tips on where to find a faith community for your own values and beliefs. See the show notes below for the names and addresses of the places mentioned in the episode, as well as some not mentioned.

In this intro episode we meet our hosts Maria and Philip. Maria, who is Swedish by birth, but left a part of her heart abroad during her 15 years as an expat. And Philip, an American who found his place called home in Stockholm three years ago. They also explain the name of the podcast: Stockholm is a State of Minds. Let’s go!

In this episode Maria Fogelström Kylberg, CEO of Stockholms Akademiska Forum and the chief architect of Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN), joins the podcast. She tells the story behind and explains how SDCN supports and facilitates career development for partners and spouses of international employees in Stockholm. She also talks about the importance of friendships and a welcoming attitude.

Meet the screen writer and novelist Hans Rosenfeldt when he visits the podcast and talks about Swedish TV. Hans has impressive experience as a screen writer for TV, and made an international breakthrough when he created the Scandinavian series The Bridge. He talks about TV-shows, describes why Swedish children’s shows are so good, what it was like to participate in Masked Singer and why Swedes are watching Donald Duck at Christmas Eve.

Listen to James Savage, the CEO and publisher of The Local. He talks to Elisabeth and Julia about his daily job as a news provider to an international audience in Sweden. They talk about the importance of context to really understand what’s going on in a new country, and how some parts of Swedishness take years to unpack. James also talks about how Stockholm has become more cosmopolitan since he moved here 20 years ago.

In this episode Petra Markgren Wangler, music journalist, documentary film director and TV producer, visits Elisabeth and Julia. Her introduction to Swedish pop music ranges from Swedish nature, melancholy, folk music and jazz to hit factories and Swedish tech companies. This helps to understand the unique sound that has made so many Swedish music artists and producers world famous. The conversation also touches on Petra’s early years as a drummer in the optional and accessible Swedish music school.

Meet Karsten Thurfjell, a cultural journalist well-known from Swedish Radio, as he visits the podcast and talks to Elisabeth and Julia about Swedish food. As the Secretary of the Swedish Academy of Gastronomy, he knows all about Swedish food production, Swedish tastes and traditional Swedish food. Listen to this conversation about everything from mushrooms and tacos to salted liquorice and wine.

In this episode, Elisabeth and Julia invite Anders Houltz, Research Director at the Centre for Business History, to tell them about Swedish innovations and business history. He describes how creativity, combined with international contacts and politics, make up key parts of the formula which has made Sweden known as an innovative country. Julia gets especially inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of “Let’s invent it!”

Listen to Sara Cousins, professor of physical geography at Stockholm University, as she visits Julia and Elisabeth and explains everything you need to know about Swedish nature. She talks about ‘allemansrätten’ and how Swedes are rather close to their agricultural heritage. She also surprises Julia by describing how the ice age still affects Sweden through landmasses appearing. And they talk about potatoes, potatoes and potatoes.

In this episode Lars Strannegård, President of the Stockholm School of Economics visits the podcast. He describes how he likes to marinate his students in culture and expose them to itching powder. He also shares how to best prepare for the future by being free and alive in relation to the unknown. And he talks with Elisabeth and Julia about the filmmaker Ruben Östlund, former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and Djurgården in Stockholm.

In this episode Karina Ericsson Wärn, CEO and Vice-Chancellor at Beckmans College of Design visits Elisabeth and Julia. She explains how basic and practical clothing became the Nordic fashion DNA. She also shares how pinned up fashion images from magazines on her childhood bedroom’s walls led her to where she is today. And she makes the case for the right to dress and express yourself just the way you want!

In this episode Elisabeth and Julia meet Christoffer Carlsson, a criminologist at Stockholm University and Nordic noir novelist. He tells the story about what happened in Stockholm on August 1973 – the bank robbery and hostage situation we now know as the “Stockholm Syndrome”. He also reveals his love of the smell of gasoline, the need for closure, and what it was like to grow up in a small village on the west coast of Sweden.

In this intro episode we get to know Elisabeth and Julia, “The guru and the opera singer”. They talk about salted black licorice and super powers. They also dive into what this podcast is all about: career, community and culture in Stockholm, Sweden. And how they will help pop the bubbles surrounding the mysteries of life in Stockholm, one by one. Let’s go!