Sweden in Focus

In this week's episode: Halloween preparations, why Sweden is seeing fewer work permit applications, how a new fiscal policy framework has divided Sweden's left-wing parties.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Halloween vs All Saints Day: How to celebrate in Sweden
• The best places to celebrate Halloween in Sweden this year

• Swedish Migration Agency: We underestimated effect of work permit salary threshold 

• EXPLAINED: How significant is it that Sweden is changing its fiscal target? 
• Politics in Sweden: Have the Social Democrats just lost themselves the next election? 

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In this week's episode: Signs you live in Sweden, Rasmus Paludan on trial over anti-Muslim slurs, how celebrating your home culture can connect you to Sweden.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and James Savage, and we also hear from India Unlimited founder Sanjoo Malhotra about expressions of Indian culture in Sweden. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Tell us you live in Sweden without telling us you live in Sweden

• Danish-Swedish extremist Rasmus Paludan charged with hate crimes 

• How celebrating your home culture can make you feel more connected to Sweden 

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In this week's episode: Rising anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, journalists slammed for prostitution tips, and how damaging are the Sweden Democrats' biker gang links?

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Löfgren and James Savage, as well as guest Jonathan Leman from anti-racism foundation Expo. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• New report reveals sharp rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes in Sweden

• Why was there a gang leader at Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson's wedding? 

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In this week's episode: Stockholm governor fired over recruitment nepotism, how cinnamon became Swedes' spice of choice, and why a begging ban feels like a throwback. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. The episode also features an interview with food historian Daniel Serra.  

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• How a Swedish nepotism scandal highlights poor recruitment practices

• When did Swedes get so crazy about cinnamon? 
• What does the Swedish food agency think we should be eating more or less of? 

• Sweden's government enters trickier territory with begging ban 

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.

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In this week's episode: how Northvolt's crisis is hitting foreign workers and how recruiters can get better at gauging Swedish language skills. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Löfgren and James Savage. The episode also features interviews with Helene Robson from Engineers of Sweden and Pernilla Johansson from the Language Council of Sweden. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Northvolt to slash almost a quarter of its workforce
• OPINION: Sweden needs to reconsider 'three-month deadline' for laid-off non-EU workers
• Five things you need to do right away if you're getting laid off in Sweden

• Is it ok to speak English? How to shine at your Swedish job interview

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.

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In this week's episode: how the new budget affects foreigners, favourite Swedish expressions, and a Social Democrat lottery scandal. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• How will Sweden's new budget affect foreign residents?

• Seven Swedish expressions which will make you sound like a local
• Swedish word of the day: tjafs

• Why a lottery scandal could change the funding balance in Swedish politics 

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.

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In this week's episode: Nordic cross-border lingo, who's who in Sweden's cabinet reshuffle, drone alerts at Arlanda Airport, what next for Northvolt after cuts? 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• OPINION: Swedes, it's time to embrace language barriers, not avoid them 

• Swedish PM announces new foreign, migration and EU ministers in reshuffle
• Who is Johan Forssell, Sweden's new migration minister? 

• What do we know about the suspected drone sightings at Sweden's Arlanda Airport? 

• Northvolt warns of layoffs in bid to cut costs 

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.

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In this week's episode: foreign minister steps down, new screen use recommendations, why the government is scrapping flight tax, and Sweden's biggest ever toxic waste scandal. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billström to step down and leave politics
• Swedish government to scrap flight tax from next summer 

• 'The situation is dramatic': Sweden issues new advice on screen time for youngsters 

• 11 people on trial in Sweden's biggest toxic waste scandal 

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+

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In this week's episode: Government backtracks on biofuels. How happy is the right-wing coalition at the half-way point of its tenure? Church politicians push to ban practice of fathers 'giving away the bride'.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Löfgren and James Savage. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Will a U-turn on biofuels win the government back green voters?

• Seven totally Swedish wedding traditions 
• ARCHIVE: What are Sweden's church elections and how do they work? 

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+

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Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

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Interest rate cuts, why the government is pleased with its 'paradigm shift' on immigration, why gangs in Denmark are recruiting young Swedes for violent attacks. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Sweden's mortgage war heats up as banks race to cut rates
• Sweden's Riksbank slashes interest rate, predicts further cuts this year

• Politics in Sweden: Despite a bump, Sweden's shift on immigration is going smoothly 
• For the first time, more Indians are leaving Sweden than arriving 

• Sweden and Denmark announce joint response to gang crime escalation 

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+

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.