Suomi–Finland Podcast

Tom of Finland (born Touko Laaksonen, May 8th 1920 – November 7th 1991) has long been recognized as one of the 20th century’s great visual innovators. His erotic art assumes a key role in the art historical discourse, as well as occupying a place in every corner of the popular imagination.

This episode celebrates the 100th anniversary since Tom’s birth and reflects on his immeasurable legacy spanning art, society and popular culture. This time, you will hear from Finland at the West Coast as Trade Commissioner Trainee Matti Myllyaho at the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles visited the TOM House in LA’s Echo Park for a chat with Durk Dehner and S.R. Sharp from the Tom of Finland Foundation.

About the Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF):

ToFF, founded by Tom and Durk Dehner in 1984, is dedicated to preserving Tom’s legacy and supporting erotic art since 1984. The artist’s former shared residence is now a Historic-Cultural Monument in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Read more about the #TOMs100 Centennial activities: https://www.tomoffinland.org/tom-of-finland-centennial-1920-2020/

ToFF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomoffinlandfoundation/

ToFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToFFHouse

Host: Matti Myllyaho, Trade Commissioner Trainee at the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles

Interviewees: Durk Dehner, President and Co-Founder of Tom of Finland Foundation and S.R. Sharp, Vice President of Tom of Finland Foundation

Recorded on February 13th 2020 in Echo Park, Los Angeles.

On March 13th, 2020, Finland commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Winter War. Why is the legacy of the Winter War so important to modern-day Finland? What were at the time Americans' perspectives on the War between Finland and the Soviet Union? Listen to learn more, and remember to check out further reading materials linked below.

In late 2019, the Embassy of Finland hosted a seminar and panel discussion on the Winter War, where we were able to talk to both Finnish and American experts on the topic. The first part of this episode focuses on Finnish perspectives on the war, and the second part explores American points of view on the Winter War.

Interviewees:

Professor Kimmo Rentola, University of Helsinki

Colonel Petteri Seppälä, Defense, Military, Naval and Air Attaché of Finland for the United States and Canada

Professor Stephen Kotkin, Princeton University

David W. Hogan Jr, Director of Histories, U.S. Army Center of Military History

Host:

Satu Järveläinen, Communications Coordinator at the Embassy of Finland in Washington DC

Sources and further reading:

- Centennial Story of Finland Part 4: Finland Fights Bravely for Her Independence:

https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/current-affairs/-/asset_publisher/h5w4iTUJhNne/content/centennial-story-of-finland-part-4-finland-fights-bravely-for-her-independence-1937-1947/384951

- Ministry of Defence on Winter War: https://www.defmin.fi/winterwar/

- Women's Lotta Svärd Organization: https://www.lottasaatio.fi/eng/foundation/

- World's most famous sniper? Mr. Simo Häyhä: https://www.historyextra.com/period/second-world-war/worlds-deadliest-sniper-simo-hayha-finnish-white-death-winter-war/

- Yle News on Finland's Civil War in 1918: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/civil_war_still_divides_finland_after_100_years_poll_suggests/10025538

- Eljas Erkko's full speech in English and transcribed in Finnish: https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2010/10/06/ulkoministerin-talvisotapuhe

FinnFest USA is an annual festival full of great food, folk dances, seminars and culture, all celebrating the Finnish American diaspora. On this first episode of the 2020, Suomi-Finland Podcast gives you small samples of the festival atmosphere from Detroit. You'll also learn more about a Finnish American musician called Steve Solkela, who shares his thoughts on his heritage.

FinnFest USA website: https://finnfest.us/

Steve Solkela's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LLXUUoywviSaM6S3svm6g/videos

Steve Solkela's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SteveSolkela/

Iron Ore video: https://www.facebook.com/steven.solkela/videos/2078784908799558/

How to be professionally funny in another language? How does it feel to start building your career from scratch in the US, when you’ve already made it in your own country in Europe? Ismo Leikola, a Finnish stand-up comedian is doing it all, building a successful career in comedy in the US. Ismo and Embassy of Finland’s Communications Coordinator, avid comedy fan Satu Järveläinen, sat down to discuss all the tricks of the trade behind making people laugh across cultures. Listen to find out also what joke simply doesn’t translate well enough for the American audiences.

And yes indeed, this episode was recorded at the Embassy's linen closet next to our official diplomatic sauna since that is the quietest place in our busy workplace. Ismo got to enjoy a Finnish sauna after our recording session and before his gig. #FINUS100

Ismo's website for gig information: http://ismo.fun/tour/

Jukka Kotti, a Texan Finn, is an avid advocate for an indoor team sport called floorball. He describes the game as “gentleman hockey, without the violence” and speaks to people about it everywhere in North Texas – even in the cashier’s line of a grocery store. Listen to the podcast to find out how hundreds of thousands of kids have gotten a taste of the game with the help of Dallas Stars.

Interviewer: Satu Järveläinen, Communications Coordinator, Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C.

History of floorball: https://www.floorballplanet.com/category/FB_HISTORY.html

Two experienced diplomats, one from Finland and the other from the United States share their memories of important moments in the Finnish – U.S. diplomatic relations' history. These two diplomats have witnessed global events from up close, and shared their knowledge in countless occasions for the public.

Interviewees:

Mr. James Ford Cooper worked at the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki during the Cold War, first as Political Counselor from 1976-1979 and later as Deputy Chief of Mission from 1984-1986. He was subsequently director of the Office of Northern European Affairs in the U.S. State Department.

Ambassador Jukka Valtasaari served twice as the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland in the United States, first from 1988-1996 and then 2001-2005.

Watch Mr. Cooper's lecture at the Library of Congress here: https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-8733/

Watch Ambassador Valtasaari's talk at Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs in 1992 in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkk4vaNEdDA

Did you know that the first baby incubator, keskoskaappi, in Finland was made possible thanks to the funds raised by a Finnish American ladies association? On our 3rd episode of the Suomi–Finland Podcast, you’ll get an in-depth look into this now 70-year old Finnish American charity, called Finn Spark (Kipinä-Kerho). 

"The mission of Finn Spark, Inc. (Kipinä-Kerho) is to engage in charitable, educational, and cultural activities; to raise funds to benefit the elderly and children’s causes, and to give scholarships to educational and cultural institutions in Finland and in the United States."

Finn Spark's President Kaija Barlow Dallessandro and Anna Hjelmroos sat down with the Embassy of Finland's Communications Coordinator Satu Järveläinen to share their association's history.

Migration Institute of Finland's Senior Research Fellow Miika Tervonen gave his quick comments too, you'll hear more of him in our future episodes.

Read more about Finn Spark: https://finnspark.wildapricot.org/

Thank you to Finn Spark for granting us permission to use this archive clip of the Finnish Christmas Bazaar in the episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZY3a71_YUg&t=18s

The Library of Congress has a great collection of Finnish items, everything from antique maps to modern and historical books, songs, newspapers and beyond.

Reference Specialist Ms. Taru Spiegel helps all Finland enthusiasts to find what they need from the archives. In this episode of Suomi–Finland Podcast, we'll take a brief look at what stories some of these materials reveal to us about the past lives of the Finnish American community here in the US.

Additional information

Link to the Library of Congress article mentioned in the podcast:

The Finns in America

https://www.loc.gov/rr/european/FinnsAmer/finchro.html

"This presentation provides information about immigration from Finland to the United States, and about the activities of Finnish-American immigrants in the United States from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Information is contained in a chronology and selected bibliography."

Book:

Gawboy, C. (2002)In With the Finn Crowd

North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.

ISBN: 0-87839-190-8

Finland collection's archive clips:

Cowell, S. R. (1939) Lauvantai ilta = Saturday night. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701826/.

Kallio, K. & Lomax, A. (1938) Kuule sinä Hiltu kun laulelen = Hiltu When I am Singing. Newberry, MI. [Audio]

Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1939007_afs02335a/.

Cowell, S. R. (1939) Rekilaulu = Sleigh song. [Audio]

Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701828/.

Cowell, S. R. (1939) Vaka vanha Vainamoinen = Steady old Vainamoinen. [Audio]

Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701839/.

Cowell, S. R. (1939) Isontalon Antti = Andew Isontalon. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701829/.

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In May 2019, we're celebrating the centennial of Finland-U.S. diplomatic relations. In honor of this continued friendship, the Washington D.C. based Embassy of Finland's communication team's Satu Järveläinen highlights all things Finnish American in a new Suomi-Finland Podcast series.

How does a young Finnish American man, who grew up in California, end up as a conscript for the Finnish Defence Forces? In this episode, we meet Jonathan Lindborg, who signed up for the military in Finland.

General conscription guarantees Finland's military security. All Finnish men between the ages of 18 and 60 are liable for military service. Women can apply for voluntary military service. All men must either do military service or non-military service. Read more here: https://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/conscription

Brigadier General Pekka Toveri shares elements of the defense cooperation between the United States and Finland on a general level.

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In May 2019, we're celebrating the centennial of Finland-U.S. diplomatic relations. In honor of this continued friendship, the Washington D.C. based Embassy of Finland's communication team's Satu Järveläinen highlights all things Finnish American in a new Suomi-Finland Podcast series.

Host: Satu Järveläinen, Communications Coordinator, Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C.

Interviewees:

Jonathan Lindborg, Conscript at the Guard Jaeger Regiment, a Finnish Army unit located in Santahamina, Helsinki.

Pekka Toveri, Brigadier General, Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché, in Washington D.C.