Living a Nordic Life with Fiona McKinna

Keeping chickens can be many people's idea of living a sustainable life with abundant eggs and a fun and entertaining animal in your life.  As much as chickens are wonderful to have around (in my opinion!), there are a plenty of reasons to think carefully about whether you are ready for them.  In this episode I share some amusing and not so savoury reasons why you might NOT want to keep hens.

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
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Summer hygge is the softer side of Nordic living, where long light-filled days replace the need for cosiness by firelight. It is found in slow evenings outside, meals eaten without hurry, and the quiet permission to do less when the world feels full of light. This is a season of barefoot moments, open windows, and gentle rituals that ask nothing more than your presence. A reminder that warmth is not only winter’s gift, but something the sun can give too.

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Simple living isn't about having less and paring your life down to the bare minimum.  It's about wanting less and feeling that gentle shift that is so liberating as we let go of the need to constantly strive for more.

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Spring in Norway doesn’t arrive loudly—it gathers, gently, in signs you could almost miss if you weren’t looking. The first flowers pushing through still-cold soil, bright and determined. Small flashes of colour after months of white and grey. It feels like a quiet promise that everything is starting again.

In this episode of Living a Nordic Life, we’re stepping into those early spring rhythms—the ones that centre around home and preparation. Gardens slowly coming back to life, people out tidying, sweeping, clearing away the last traces of winter. There’s a shared sense of getting ready, of making things feel fresh again, especially with 17th May on the horizon.

You notice it in the shops too. The shift is subtle but unmistakable—shelves filling with fresh fruit, lighter foods, the colours changing almost overnight. It’s as if daily life itself is waking up.

This time of year isn’t about perfection. It’s about small resets. Opening the door, clearing a space, noticing what’s growing. And in those simple, everyday acts, there’s a quiet kind of joy that feels deeply rooted in the Nordic way of living.

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

From the outside, Nordic life can look simple—quiet homes, slow routines, and the ideas of hygge and lagom. But beneath that simplicity is something deeper.

In this episode, we explore how Nordic living creates space for presence, meaning, and emotional depth. From nature and seasonal rhythms to silence and slower days, discover why a simpler life can feel richer—and how to bring that mindset into your own life.

A gentle shift in perspective: what if a good life isn’t a louder one, but a deeper one?

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Hi I'm Fiona, the voice behind the Living a Nordic Life podcast and I'll like to introduce myself and welcome you to the podcast.  My journey to living a Nordic life began a long way from where I am in southern Norway and a life that was very different.  Join me in this episode for a glimpse into my life in Norway and what brought me here to the gentle, intentional Nordic life I live today

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Picture this: you’re sipping coffee in a sleek Copenhagen café, laptop open, surrounded not by students but by nomads juggling clients across time zones. Scandinavia has quietly cracked the code—blazing internet, eco-friendly cities, and a culture that says yes to balance. Whether it’s kayaking after work in Sweden or networking in Oslo’s co-working hubs, the Nordics make remote work feel less like a grind and more like a lifestyle upgrade.

Being a digital nomad in the Nordics is something special and different.  And increasingly easier to aspire to.

It also helps to have a safe and reliable internet connection like this one from VeePN - https://veepn.com/vpn-apps/download-vpn-for-pc/

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Boost your wellbeing this winter with Nordic outdoor habits. From friluftsliv and forest walks to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sauna rituals, discover how Nordic practices help reduce stress, improve mood, and strengthen the body. Embrace winter like the Nordics and transform the cold months into a season of vitality, calm, and connection with nature.  Join me, Fiona, for some gentle encouragement to hep you embrace winter like you're Nordic.

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Every year on 6 February, the Sámi people, the Indigenous inhabitants of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, celebrate Sámi National Day. It’s a powerful day of culture, identity, and resilience—honouring one of Europe’s oldest Indigenous communities.

The date marks the first Sámi congress in 1917, when Sámi leaders came together to fight for land rights, language preservation, and cultural recognition. Today, the celebration includes flag-raising, traditional joik music, gákti clothing, parades, and Sámi food, from hearty reindeer stew to smoked meats and berries.

In this episode, we explore the history of Sámi National Day, what the symbols really mean, and how to celebrate respectfully—whether you’re in the Nordics or learning from afar. If you’re curious about Indigenous cultures, Nordic history, or Sámi traditions, this is a story worth hearing.

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Start the new year with Nordic-style sustainability by embracing minimalism, mindful consumption, and slow living. Discover practical tips for eco-friendly home practices, seasonal routines, sustainable travel, and intentional goal-setting. Learn how simple, thoughtful habits inspired by Scandinavian culture can reduce waste, support the environment, and bring balance and purpose to your daily life.

For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com
or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife