Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Sweden in Focus
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What we know about Sweden's worst ever mass shooting | 06 Feb 2025 | 00:25:08 | |
We're releasing the podcast earlier than usual this week to bring you up to date information on this week's horrific shooting in Örebro that left eleven people dead. We also look at why Sweden’s government wants to make the new citizenship rules retroactive and how applicants are reacting. In the longer version for Membership+ subscribers we give you the lowdown on sportlov, the annual Swedish school break that sees families leave the cities en masse for the northern slopes and, finally, we dig into why the government is planning to give foreign experts bigger tax cuts. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Crime
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| How to speak Scanian like a southern Swede | 01 Feb 2025 | 00:21:30 | |
We start this week with news that broke just before we started recording the episode. The victims of two separate murders in the greater Stockholm region on Wednesday were revealed to be, in the first killing in Husby, an uncle of organised crime chief Rawa Majid and, in Södertälje, Salwan Momika, who was behind a quran-burning spree in 2023. Coming at the end of a record month for explosive attacks, how serious is the current crime wave and what's being done to stop it? We also look at why Sweden’s national security adviser finally resigned and what it means for the government, why a Swedish police tactical unit boarded a ship in the Baltic. And, taking a breaking from the news, we learn how to speak Swedish like a Scanian. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:
Politics Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What we know so far about Sweden’s plan for fewer new citizens | 07 Dec 2024 | 00:23:30 | |
In this week's episode: Sweden’s Lucia tradition, who was Princess Birgitta, what we know about the government’s plan to stall citizenship grants. Special offer for members__ Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: LuciaRoyalSwedish citizenship
Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+
Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Easter traditions, threats to democracy, and Swedish attitudes to drugs explained | 08 Apr 2023 | 00:30:50 | |
__ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren. This week we take a closer look at what makes a Swedish Easter.
We discuss a new court ruling allowing demonstrators to burn the Quran, as well as terrorism arrests connected to the right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan’s Quran-burning demo outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
We examine a new survey that shows a majority of Swedes prioritize security over democracy. Finally, and with the help of journalist and author Johan Wicklén, we delve into Swedish attitudes to drugs and how likely the country is to liberalize its policies.
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| Price wars, nudity, and why has Sweden gone cold on climate change? | 01 Apr 2023 | 00:40:13 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. This week we kick off with a few current talking points in Sweden: the weather's still bitterly cold but at least the Easter break is coming up; why a post-match football interview sparked a racism row; and should Sweden follow Denmark's lead on Brexit Brits? As food prices hit record highs we look at why a price war has finally broken out in Sweden's supermarkets. We discuss why Hungary is still keeping Sweden waiting on Nato as Finland forges ahead. We talk about how comfortable Sweden is with nudity and whether attitudes have changed over time. And finally we dig into a report this week from Sweden's climate watchdog predicting that government policies will cause emissions to increase for the first time in two decades. __ SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Swedish gangster rap, property market turbulence, and who’s Chris O’Neill? | 25 Mar 2023 | 00:35:22 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. This week we’re talking about why the Swedish state may soon find itself in court over its alleged climate inaction. After our chat with crime reporter Diamant Salihu a few weeks ago we go deeper on Swedish gangster rap and look at how close some of its most successful practitioners are to the gang violence they depict.
We’ll give you some background on Chris O’Neill, the British-American husband of Princess Madeleine as the couple prepare to move back to Sweden.
We have an interview with the United States’ ambassador to Sweden, Erik Ramanathan, about his impressions of Sweden and the strength of the countries’ bilateral relationship. And, finally, we’ll see what the forecast is like for the Swedish property market, and why foreigners are busy snapping up summer homes.
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| Swedish language reform controversy, and who are all the Skarsgårds? | 18 Mar 2023 | 00:38:38 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. In this week’s episode we discuss how the fallout from the recent banking sector turmoil might affect savers in Sweden. What’s going on with Nato? Are Hungary and Turkey are going to let Finland and Sweden in? Is it time to dispense with ‘de’ and ‘dem’ in written Swedish and instead embrace ‘dom’? In a week when the Christian Democrats’ party secretary was fired after another senior figure in the party filed a police report against him, we look at how the scandal has played out so far and how the party has handled it.
In the latest instalment of our ambassador series, we have an interview with Canada’s ambassador to Sweden, Jason LaTorre. We also look at who’s who in the the Skarsgård acting dynasty before rounding off with tips for some of our own favourite Swedish films. __ SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Part 2: How the Sweden Democrats are flirting with the extreme right | 14 Mar 2023 | 00:28:40 | |
In this special bonus episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast, we hear more from our guest Jonathan Leman, a researcher with the Expo Foundation, which monitors and exposes far-right extremism in Sweden. Host Paul O’Mahony is also joined by panelists James Savage, Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren. In this episode we continue our chat about the far-right Sweden Democrats' interactions with the more extreme fringe of the nationalist movement. We discuss the Sweden Democrats' increasing climate scepticism and their intervention to block LGBTQ cultural events. We also talk about the party's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and whether their renewed ties to the far-right alternative media ecosystem represents a security threat.
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| How the Sweden Democrats are flirting with the extreme right | 11 Mar 2023 | 00:39:35 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by guest Jonathan Leman from the Expo Foundation, as well as panelists Becky Waterton, Emma Löfgren and James Savage. In this week’s episode we discuss why two lay judges (nämndemän) resigned after a highly controversial court ruling that hinged on an interpretation of the word snippa. With tax declaration season soon upon us we’ll provide some handy tips to get you through it.
We’ll also talk about how food prices in Sweden just keep on rising to new record levels and how you can save money.
In the latest instalment of our ambassador series, we have an interview with Taiwan’s representative to Sweden, Klement Gu. Finally, for our main topic today we chat to Jonathan Leman about how and why the far-right Sweden Democrats have become more radical since being welcomed in from the cold by the parties now in government.
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| How important is it to learn Swedish? | 04 Mar 2023 | 00:41:48 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Richard Orange, Emma Löfgren and James Savage. This week we have a brief chat about the Northern Lights, which were visible all over Sweden last weekend. We then talk about Turkey resuming Nato talks with Sweden and whether Hungary might put a spanner in the works.
We discuss the fallout from the tragic story of the Stockholm chief of police, who was found dead in his home last week. We look into why Sweden is still importing gas from Russia more than a year after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the latest of our series of interviews with ambassadors, we get the lowdown on Australian-Swedish relations from Australia’s Ambassador Bernard Philip. Etiquette expert Sofia Larsson explains how she answers readers who complain that there’s too much English spoken in Sweden, and our panelists discuss how important they think it is to learn Swedish. __ SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Interview with Ukraine's ambassador to Sweden, Part 2 | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:13:06 | |
In the second part of the interview, host Paul O’Mahony asks Ukraine's ambassador to Sweden, Andrii Plakhotniuk, about how the war has changed the focus of his job as ambassador, what Sweden is doing to facilitate Ukraine’s EU accession talks, how the invasion has affected Ukraine’s Swedish-speaking village Gammalsvenskby, and how Swedish humanitarian aid can help rebuild Ukraine. DON'T MISS:
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| Work permits, defence volunteers, and what is Sweden doing to aid Ukraine? | 25 Feb 2023 | 00:41:52 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Becky Waterton and Loukas Christodoulou. This week we talk about why children get a week off school at this time of the year. We look at why Turkey has softened its stance on Sweden’s Nato application. After a government press conference last week, we examine what progress Sweden is making on work permit reform.
With defence high on the national agenda we’ll ask Loukas to tell us about the volunteers who bolster Sweden’s armed forces. Finally, to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have an interview with the Ukrainian ambassador about how the past twelve months have reshaped Swedish-Ukrainian relations.
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| Bonus episode: How can Sweden do more to help struggling households? | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:30:23 | |
In this special bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, we hear more from our guest Peter Gerlach, an economist with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, LO. Host Paul O’Mahony is also joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren. In this episode we continue our chat about the state of Sweden's economy after an EU Commission reporter put the country at the bottom of the class. We discuss Sweden's upcoming round of wage negotiations, predictions that Sweden is facing a mild recession and what that will entail, how to tackle high energy prices and rising interest rates, Sweden’s low taxes on capital, whether the government should pause the mortgage payment requirement, what the government can do to stimulate the economy, and how international workers fit into the Swedish model. DON'T MISS:
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| All you need to know about Sweden's planned new 'snitch law' | 30 Nov 2024 | 00:23:15 | |
In this week's episode: Swedish Advent traditions, ‘snitch law’ exemptions and a tricky Swedish language quiz. Special offer for members__ Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: PoliticsAdventMigrationLanguageGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+
Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why is Sweden the worst-performing economy in the EU? | 18 Feb 2023 | 00:40:06 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren. Our guest this week is Peter Gerlach, an economist with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO). We kick off with a chat about the Migration Agency and why the government has decided it wants to replace Mikael Ribbenvik, who has headed the agency for the last seven years. Then we delve into a story that has had observers scratching their heads for the past couple of weeks. What exactly is going on in Botkyrka? Emma wrote a bit about it in her latest Politics in Sweden column. We also look closer at a couple of stories that seem frivolous at first glance but in fact deal with serious societal problems.
In the latest in our series of interviews with ambassadors, we chat to Germany's Joachim Bertele about the deep historical ties that underpin Sweden's strong relationship with the largest economy in Europe. Finally we get analysis from Peter Gerlach on the state of the Swedish economy following an EU forecast that puts Sweden at the bottom of the class.
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| Welcome to Sweden? Interview with migration minister Maria Malmer Stenergard | 11 Feb 2023 | 00:41:32 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren. The episode also features interviews with Britain's ambassador to Sweden Judith Gough and Becky Waterton meets Sweden's migration minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. First, we talk about why Sweden is warning of an increased terror threat. Then we look at a great Swedish word that describes life in Sweden at this time of the year. We chat with the UK's ambassador to Sweden, Judith Gough, about the countries' strong ties as well as discussing statistics showing how Sweden has ordered many British people to leave Sweden post-Brexit. Make sure to check the site in the coming days for a longer writeup. Finally we'll listen to Becky's interview with the migration minster, Maria Malmer Stenergard, before turning to our panelists for analysis.
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| Bonus episode: How can Sweden put a stop to fatal gang shootings? Part 2 | 07 Feb 2023 | 00:33:10 | |
In this special bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, we hear more from special guest Diamant Salihu, a crime reporter for public broadcaster SVT and the author of the award-winning book Tills Alla Dör, or Until Everyone's Dead. Host Paul O’Mahony is also joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. In this episode we continue our chat about Sweden's gang crime problem. We discuss the central role of social media and gangster rap, how gangs are recruiting young children, why a younger generation suddenly finds itself in charge, why there are so many drugs and guns in circulation, and if there's anything Sweden can do to get the situation under control?
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| How can Sweden put a stop to fatal gang shootings? Part 1 | 04 Feb 2023 | 00:33:36 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Diamant Salihu, a crime reporter for public broadcaster SVT and the author of the award winning Tills Alla Dör, or Until Everyone's Dead. But first we look at what's coming up in February. Visit the link below to get all the key info you need on: accessing Sweden's new energy subsidy, registering a pre-paid SIM card, the likelihood of new interest rate hikes, and dates for sportlov - the mid-term school holiday. Next, we chat to Eurovision expert Ben Robertson about what makes Melodifestivalen so compelling and who's likely to win this year's national song contest. This week Annie Lööf formally handed over the reins of the Centre Party to Muharrem Demirok. What does he need to do to attract voters to the only centre-right party that refused to collaborate with the far-right Sweden Democrats? We also chat about why the prime minster's closest aide resigned over an eel-fishing scandal. In the latest of our interviews with ambassadors, we catch up with Mehdi Hasan, Bangladesh's ambassador to Sweden, to find out about relations between the countries, how many Bangladeshis there are in Sweden, and his personal reflections on his time in Sweden. We'll have an article featuring more from the interview in the coming days. Finally, we ask Diamant Salihu to explain the roots of Sweden's deadly gang conflicts and why they have spread around the country. We had a really good chat with Diamant and will release a bonus episode during the week featuring more of his insights. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bonus episode: How Sweden became a paradise for billionaires, Part 2 | 31 Jan 2023 | 00:17:25 | |
In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Andreas Cervenka, author of the award winning Girig-Sverige, or Greedy Sweden. We discuss how rising interest rates are putting pressure on homeowners, how billionaires are profiting from Sweden’s most disadvantaged areas, how an ex-politician became a billionaire from buying up local council properties, why Andreas believes the Swedish central bank’s monetary policy has been one of the main drivers of inequality, and we ask just how prepared Sweden is for the prospect of a major financial crisis. And if you'd like to read more you can check out these articles.
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| How Sweden became a paradise for billionaires | 28 Jan 2023 | 00:39:21 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Andreas Cervenka, author of the award winning Girig-Sverige, or Greedy Sweden. On this week's episode we dissect Sweden's stalled Nato application and who's behind the Koran-burning stunt that prompted Turkey to postpone the ratification process indefinitely.
We discuss the Swedish housing market in a Scandinavian perspective and how it has led to the emergence of a property-related A Team and B Team in Sweden. We talk about this week's layoffs at Spotify and what you can do if you lose your job in Sweden.
In the latest of our interviews with ambassadors, we get insights from New Zealand's Andrew Jenks on everything from the internationalization of Sweden to its position as a 'moral superpower'. Finally we enlist the help of our guest Andreas Cervenka to find out how Sweden became a billionaires' paradise over the course of just a couple of decades. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Dual citizens' loyalties, new sleeper train, and a green game changer in Kiruna | 21 Jan 2023 | 00:35:05 | |
In the latest episode, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and James Savage. On this week's episode we explore a game-changing rare earth metal find in northern Sweden. We discuss Sweden's priorities for the EU presidency with Louise Bengtsson, senior researcher at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies. As rail operator SJ prepares to launch a sleeper train from Stockholm to Berlin, we talk about the costs and benefits.
In the latest in our series of interviews with ambassadors, we interview Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib, who leaves Sweden this week after serving for four years as Malaysia's top diplomat in Stockholm. We also discuss how an activist group's hanging of an effigy of Turkey’s President Erdogan has further complicated Turkish-Swedish relations. Also:
And we chat about a prime ministerial aide who has received a heft fine for illegally fishing endangered eels. Also, we briefly discuss two stories that broke right as we were recording:
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| Money-saving tips, migration law updates, and why is the King so annoyed? | 14 Jan 2023 | 00:37:02 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Becky Waterton, Emma Löfgren and James Savage. On this week's episode we examine the King’s 43-year grudge against a law change on the line of succession. We discuss why this is a good year for public holidays in Sweden. With a report suggesting the Swedish economy is facing its biggest shock since the 1990s, we’ll give you some tips for how to save money. We’ll listen to an interview with Tanmaya Lal, the Indian ambassador to Sweden. We have a roundup of what migration law changes are in the offing. We chat about why Sweden is responsible for half of all the expulsion orders served to UK citizens in the EU post-Brexit. And we round things off with a short quiz about Gothenburg. __ SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer
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| What's coming up in Sweden in 2023? | 31 Dec 2022 | 00:17:35 | |
In the final episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast for 2022, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. What does 2023 hold in store for Sweden? We chat about some of the stories expected to dominate the news agenda next year. Check out our preview article to find out more: A special thank you to The Local's members! Your support is what makes the podcast possible. Happy New Year to all our listeners! Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Swedish news quiz 2022 - How well do you remember the year? | 23 Dec 2022 | 00:32:00 | |
Here are some of the stories we discuss in this week's episode:
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| Curb your immigration: Swedish politicians ramp up the rhetoric | 23 Nov 2024 | 00:20:30 | |
Special offer for members of The Local __ In this week's episode: why Sweden's deputy PM wants to restrict immigrants’ voting rights, how to get your body and mind ready for the winter, why a Swedish ad featuring the English c-word went viral last week. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Immigration
__ Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+
Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Migration agency delays, far-right meddling, and Sweden's Christmas traditions explained | 17 Dec 2022 | 00:42:20 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage, as well as guest Jonas Engman, ethnologist and curator at Nordiska Museet and an expert on Swedish traditions. This week our columnist David Crouch wrote an excellent article about Sweden's property market slump. We discuss how property woes and rising prices are presenting problems for Sweden's inhabitants this winter.
We also talk about a new report from Sweden's parliamentary ombudsman criticising long waiting times at the migration agency. But will it make any difference?
Twice the Sweden Democrats were in the news this week over moves to block cultural events: a reading event for children hosted by two drag queens, and a traditional Lucia procession fronted by a person who identifies as non-binary. Why are the Sweden Democrats preoccupied with issues surrounding gender identity, and should we be worried when they intervene like this? We have an interview with Étienne de Gonneville, France's ambassador to Sweden, about the makeup of the French community in Sweden, how a bilateral agreement is strengthening ties between the two countries, and his own reflections on life in Sweden. For our main topic this week we enlist the help of Jonas Engman to answer questions on everything from why Swedes watch Donald Duck every Christmas to the story behind the ubiquitous straw goats. Don't miss it: his answers are truly fascinating. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Sweden's cultural canon plan and what it means for foreigners | 10 Dec 2022 | 00:41:32 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage, as well as guest Anna Troberg, chairman of the DIK union for culture sector workers and an opponent of the government's plans for a cultural canon. We also have an interview with Pakistan's ambassador to Sweden, Zahoor Ahmed, to find out about the Pakistani community in Sweden and some cultural differences between the countries. For our main topic this week we look at Sweden's plans to introduce a state-mandated cultural canon and what it will mean for foreigners. Here are a couple of recent articles on the canon plan if you'd like to learn more.
We also chat about the Nobel banquet and the upcoming St. Lucia celebrations.
And we round up some of the week's main news stories:
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| Why Swedes and foreigners clash in love (and how to make it work) | 03 Dec 2022 | 00:41:38 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. We also have interviews with the Irish Ambassador to Sweden, Austin Gormley, and psychologist Mona Lindqvist from the Stockholm region's Transcultural Center. For our main topic this week we look at how Swedes and foreigners can overcome their cultural differences to make relationships work. We received some fascinating responses when we asked about this in a survey: Other stories we talk about:
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| Why does Sweden want to revoke permanent residency? | 26 Nov 2022 | 00:34:32 | |
JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of Sweden in Focus we chat about the heavy snow that has fallen this week and how Sweden has coped.
We look at how Advent is celebrated in Sweden. We discuss the second spectacular spy story in the space of two weeks. We talk about the resurgence of tensions between the Sweden Democrats and the Liberals. We examine what we know about Sweden’s plans to get rid of permanent residency permits, and we hear from Ann-Cathrine Jungar, assistant professor at Södertörn University and an expert on radical right parties in the Nordics, on why the government wants to abolish them. And finally we’ll end with a short quiz to gauge our panelists’ Swedishness this week. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why doesn't Sweden gather data on race and ethnicity – and should it? | 19 Nov 2022 | 00:41:59 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage, as well as guest Sayaka Osanami Törngren, Associate Professor in International Migration and Ethnic Relations at Malmö University. This week we start with a chat about the World Cup in Qatar which kicks off this weekend. We discuss a major spy scandal involving two brothers. We look at an incredibly detailed newspaper article in Svenska Dagbladet that shines a light on what was happening behind the scenes when Ulf Kristersson was trying to put together his government. We examine why Sweden doesn’t gather data on race and ethnicity like many other countries and discuss whether it should change its approach. This is the article by David Crouch that we mention: Finally, was last week’s quiz success a flash in the pan? We put our panelists through their paces again with three more questions about Swedish culture and society. __ JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Budget anger, Turkey deadlock, and can you pass The Local's Swedish citizenship test? | 12 Nov 2022 | 00:40:02 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. The episode also features an interview with Paul Levin, Director of Stockholm University’s Institute for Turkish Studies. Sweden's speech culture. The new government’s first budget and how people in Sweden have reacted to it.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s trip to Turkey.
Gotland terror trial.
We end with a quiz to find out if our panelists have what it takes to pass a mock citizenship test. Here's a similar test we ran on the site recently. __ JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Climate criticism, struggling Ukrainians, and work permit limits under fire | 05 Nov 2022 | 00:31:55 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. The episode also features interviews with Jörgen Hedman, an author and researcher who has written extensively about the history of a Swedish village in Ukraine, and Kimberly Nicholas, a climate scientist at Lund University. This week's topics: Work permits Energy & Climate
Ukraine
Update: All Saints Day __ SURVEY: Share your feedback JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Racism in Sweden, and how welcome do foreigners feel after the election? | 29 Oct 2022 | 00:43:35 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage, as well as US tech worker Kat Zhou, who found herself in the eye of a storm after posting about her experiences of racism in Sweden on Twitter. We also hear from Kash Haresamudram, a doctoral researcher in Lund who was one of more than 500 respondents to our survey on xenophobia in Sweden. You can read more about these stories on the links below.
We also take a closer look at some of the stories making the news in Sweden this week:
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| Does Sweden's new coalition deal threaten basic rights? | 22 Oct 2022 | 00:37:02 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. We also have expert commentary from labour policy expert Tove Hovemyr and human rights expert John Stauffer, legal director at Human Rights Watch. In this week's episode we dig into the makeup of the new government which was officially unveiled on Tuesday. We discuss who the new ministers are and the main talking points in the first week of Ulf Kristersson’s reign as prime minister. We also take a closer look at the government’s plans for work permits with the help of policy expert Tove Hovemyr.
And and we speak to human rights law expert John Stauffer to examine whether the new coalition’s contract constitutes a threat to fundamental rights. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How will the new government affect foreigners' lives in Sweden? | 15 Oct 2022 | 00:36:12 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. After weeks of deliberation the Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson told the parliamentary speaker on Friday he was finally ready to form a new government. Assuming he survives a vote in the Riksdag on Monday, Kristersson is expected to become prime minster next week and will start work assembling a government. We discuss what we know so far about the make-up of the next government and how it plans to govern Sweden. READ ALSO:
__ Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Tesla and striking Swedish unions are still deadlocked one year on | 16 Nov 2024 | 00:18:31 | |
Special offer for members __ In this week's episode: will immigrants become cultural canon fodder? How Swedish politicians have reacted to Donald Trump’s victory, what's happening with the Tesla strike? Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local Sweden editor Emma Löfren and Nordic editor Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Culture
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Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why foreigners are furious about 'humiliating' work permit delays | 08 Oct 2022 | 00:31:47 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage, as well as three people affected by the migration agency's work permit renewal delays. Tune in for to hear all about: how you can lose your driving licence in Sweden; a worthy Swedish Nobel prizewinner; the right-wing bloc's intention to ditch plans for a high-speed rail network; a round-up of a security situation described by the foreign minister as the worst since the 1980s; and, finally, for our main topic this week we discuss a petition signed by thousands of foreigner workers hit by major migration agency delays that effectively prevent them from leaving Sweden. __ Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Baltic gas blasts, key Swedish words, and how to keep living costs low | 01 Oct 2022 | 00:30:02 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by Handelsbanken chief economist Johan Löf, as well as The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. On our radar this week we have: Cinnamon Bun Day, a sweet staple of the Swedish dietary calendar; a roundup of the week's post-election wrangling; discussion of the Baltic Sea blasts that caused serious damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines running from Russia to Germany; major delays in the processing of Swedish work permits; and, finally, how to plan your finances when the krona is weak and what the cost of living crisis mean for foreigners living in Sweden. __ Don’t forget to follow the podcast to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why does Sweden allow profit-making schools? | 24 Sep 2022 | 00:44:08 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In this week's episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by Le Monde's Scandinavia correspondent Anne-Francoise Hivert, as well as The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. Tune in as we chat about what the rest of world makes of Sweden’s recent election result, and after weeks of non-stop election coverage we lighten the tone a bit to talk about mushroom picking. But the news never rests and we also discuss how the government talks are going (the right-wing bloc has reportedly already agreed on stricter migration policy), the impact of the Swedish central bank’s bombshell interest rate hike, and finally we’ll talk about a controversial feature of Sweden’s education system that allows schools to make a profit. __ Don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What are the Sweden Democrats' plans for immigrants? | 17 Sep 2022 | 00:43:11 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage to analyse the election result, discuss likely government constellations, and examine how the Sweden Democrats want to limit the rights of immigrants. With so much on the agenda it's hard to narrow down a recommended reading list but our 2022 Swedish Election section will give you what you need to know. And for our main topic, don't miss: Don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What next for Sweden as far right catches scent of real power? | 12 Sep 2022 | 00:31:09 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In this special election episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange, and James Savage, who puts in a post-meeting late appearance. On a day when it appears that the right bloc could be tasked with forming a government (although this is not yet certain), we look at how each of the parties has performed, how significant it is that the far-right Sweden Democrats have become bigger than the conservative Moderates, and how a Moderate-led government would rule Sweden. __ Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. And don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why is no one talking to immigrants in this election? | 10 Sep 2022 | 00:48:24 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's James Savage, Becky Waterton and Richard Orange, as well as Julia Agha, the CEO of the Arabic-language Swedish news service Alkompis. Don't miss Richard and Julia's joint article on why nobody is really to talking to immigrants in this election. __ Here are links to some of the other stories we discuss (and the previous episode mentioned in the podcast where we talk about how to make your home more energy efficient):
Please leave a rating or review. And don’t forget to subscribe if you haven't before. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Fighting crime, and how could the Sweden Democrats change Sweden? | 03 Sep 2022 | 00:40:57 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus JOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's James Savage, Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are some of the issues we discuss:
We discuss also different approaches to tackling crime with Justice Minister Morgan Johansson and the head of the Helamalmö social movement Nicolas Lunabba. Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. And don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to combat segregation, and is this Sweden's ugliest ever election? | 27 Aug 2022 | 00:39:00 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by Stockholm University sociologist Andrea Voyer, as well as regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. We also have a chat with Stockholm University journalism professor Christian Christensen about the toxic nature of this year's election campaign. Here are some of the issues we're discussing:
We also look at what's happening in the opinion polls as the election draws ever closer. For our main topic this week we talk to Christian Christensen and our studio panelists about whether there has ever been an uglier election campaign in Sweden. This is also a question we put to readers this week and you read can some of the responses here: Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast! Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Parties target immigrant kids, and what are the Sweden Democrats' election prospects? | 20 Aug 2022 | 00:44:42 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local’s James Savage, Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. We also have an interview with the Sweden Democrats' leader, Jimmie Åkesson. In this edition we discuss:
For our main topic this week we examine the Sweden Democrats' prospects in the upcoming election and hear what party leader Jimmie Åkesson has to say about work permits, ministerial posts, and how his party can exert the most influence. Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What are the Swedish election pledges that most affect foreigners? | 13 Aug 2022 | 00:37:47 | |
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local’s James Savage, Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. In this edition we discuss:
For our main topic this week we look at the election pledges that focus on foreigners, particularly in relation to work visas, residency permits and citizenship. You can listen to the episode HERE. Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. And don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What does a Trump victory mean for Americans in Sweden (and everyone else)? | 09 Nov 2024 | 00:22:56 | |
Special offer for members __ In this week's episode: We chat to Americans about the US election result and how it will affect Sweden, Riksbank slashes key interest rate, reactions to the guilty verdict delivered to the far-right leader Rasmus Paludan for hate speech. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local Sweden editor Emma Löfren and publisher James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: US Election
Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+
Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Sweden is following Denmark on language tests and integration | 06 Aug 2022 | 00:43:02 | |
In the first post-summer break episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local Sweden’s James Savage, Becky Waterton and Richard Orange, as well as the editor of The Local Denmark, Michael Barrett. In this week’s show we’ll take a quick look at the state of play in the opinion polls to see who is likely to form the next government with the election just over a month away. We also chat about the historical and cultural reasons for people taking so much time off work during the summer holidays. We talk about what we know about a contentious government proposal to introduce language tests for permanent residency. And finally we examine a government minster’s suggestion to place a limit on how many people of non-Nordic origin are allowed to live in vulnerable areas, in a move that would mirror a controversial Danish law. You can listen to the episode HERE. Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. And don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| PODCAST SUMMER SPECIAL: the pocket book election, and doesn't Sweden want foreign talent? | 08 Jul 2022 | 00:40:24 | |
In a special episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast from the Almedalen political week on Gotland, host James Savage is joined by The Local’s Richard Orange, Patrik Kronqvist from the Expressen newspaper and Lorentz Tovatt, climate and environment spokesperson for the Green Party. On this week's show we discuss:
You can listen to the episode HERE. Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. And don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| PODCAST: Swedish holiday traditions, and why has the Centre Party plummeted in the polls? | 25 Jun 2022 | 00:35:02 | |
SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus __ In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local’s James Savage, Becky Waterton and regular contributor David Crouch. On this week's show we discuss:
You can listen to the episode HERE. Please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to the podcast as it helps ensure that more people discover it. And don’t forget to hit the follow button (or + sign) on Apple or tap the notification bell on Spotify to ensure you get a reminder whenever we publish a new episode. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||