Sweden in Focus

Why do many foreigners find dating in Sweden so tough, and what's the approach to take? Hear matchmaker Lemarc Thomas give his views on how to crack the Swedish dating scene. 

In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is briefly joined by panelists James Savage and Becky Waterton, before we listen to an interview with professional matchmaker Lemarc Thomas.  

The Stockholm-based connector tells us what makes dating in Sweden so different from anything he's experienced before. He also answers questions from readers of The Local on how to proceed in a landscape where many of the usual rules no longer apply.  

If you'd like to read more about dating in Sweden, make sure to check out these articles:

• Dating in Sweden: sex, booze and mobile phones
• Dating in Sweden: Is it really as tough as they say?
• Dating in Sweden: When is a fika a fika… and when is it a date?

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In this week's episode: semla season, better conditions for Ukrainian refugees, why Sweden is closing its NordStream blast probe, freezer malfunction spoils decades of samples at a Swedish university, an alleged Iranian plot to kill Jews in Sweden, anti-Semitism in Sweden, and new details on stop-and-search zones. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and James Savage. We also have interview with Aron Verständig, chair of the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, and ethnologist Jonas Engman, curator at the Nordic Museum. 

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• Six sticky facts about Sweden's Fat Tuesday
• Why I still don't understand the hype about Sweden's semlor

• Sweden to change law so Ukrainians can get personal numbers

• Swedish prosecutor shuts down Nord Stream investigation

• Decades of samples destroyed in Swedish uni freezer failure

• Iranian intelligence suspected of plot to kill Swedish Jews

• Sweden's government to bring in stop-and-search zones in March

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In this week's episode: tougher rules for Sweden citizenship, French President Emanuel Macron's state visit to Sweden, new work permit system takes effect, and why Sweden needs to do more to promote understanding of indigenous Sami.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local’s Emma Löfgren and Becky Waterton, and we also have an interview with Charlotta Svonni, who conducts research on indigenous education at Umeå University.

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• EXPLAINED: How to get Swedish citizenship via notification
• Sweden moves to tighten up requirements for citizenship via notification
• Can I apply for Swedish citizenship through ancestry?

• Sweden and France to sign nuclear and defence deals during Macron visit
• ‘Vive les clichés!’: Swedish PM mocked for Macron welcome
• IN PICS: French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Sweden
• What is ‘pyttipanna’ and why is Sweden serving it up to the French president?

• Swedish Migration Agency launches new system for handling work permits

• Sweden’s ‘Truth Commission’ delves into painful Sami past
• ‘Irreversible risks’: UN-appointed experts urge Sweden to block mine in Sami land
• Why is reindeer herding so important in Sweden?
• Swedish museum to return Sami remains to village

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In this week's episode: Ice bathing, Turkey's parliament votes on Sweden's Nato bid, top Sweden Democrat calls for ban on Islamic symbols, Sweden's complicated relationship with wolves, and how a cyber attack hit Swedish authorities and retailers.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local’s Emma Löfgren and James Savage, and we also have an interview with Shahid Raza, who is Director of RISE Cybersecurity Unit, Research Director at Cybercampus Sweden and Professor of Cybersecurity at Mälardalen University.

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• Ice-swimming in Sweden: Is this the world’s most extreme competition?

Turkey’s president signed off on the ratification of Sweden’s Nato application a few hours after we recorded the episode, nullifying some speculation that we opted to leave out. 

• Turkey approves Sweden’s Nato application as Erdogan signs ratification
• Swedish Prime Minister ‘won’t negotiate’ with Hungary on Nato bid
• EXPLAINED: What happens next for Sweden’s Nato application?

• Top Sweden Democrat: No paradigm shift yet in Swedish migration
• Opposition calls for Sweden Democrat to resign over Mohammed tweet

• Wolf caught on camera in Stockholm
• Wild boar thrive while Sweden targets ‘mythical’ wolf

• Some Swedish shops start to reopen after hacker attack
• Russian group behind hacker attack on Swedish authorities and retailers

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In this week's episode: why the centre-right has hit a new low in polls, cocaine at the Riskdag, the effects of growing unemployment and falling inflation, why opposition parties failed to depose Sweden's environment minister in a confidence vote, and why public sector workers are fuming over workplace coffee cuts. 

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• Cocaine found in toilets of four Swedish parties' parliamentary offices
• How did Sweden end up with its zero-tolerance attitude to drugs?

• Swedish finance minister warns more people will lose their jobs
• New figures bring Swedish inflation close to two-percent target

• Sweden records coldest temperature of the century

• How to be Swedish – in ten easy steps
• Why coffee was banned in Sweden five times
• Swedish word of the day: påtår

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This week we discuss: the official end of Christmas, snow-fueled chaos on the E22 motorway, royal abdication speculation, and why politicians and military leaders are warning of the prospect of war in Sweden. 

Richard Orange stands in as host this week and is joined by regular panelists: Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren.  

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• When does Christmas end in Sweden?
• Swedish word of the day: julgransplundring

• Up to 1,000 cars left stranded for hours in southern Sweden snow chaos
• INTERVIEW: Truck driver freed from Sweden's snow gridlock after 20 hours

• Will the King of Sweden be the next Nordic royal to abdicate?

• Total Defence: What's your role defending Sweden in the event of a military attack?
• What should foreigners in Sweden think about when preparing for a war or crisis?
• Swedish defence analyst: 'We should be worried about war in Sweden'
• 'There could be war in Sweden': Civil Defence Minister urges Swedes to act
• PM Ulf Kristersson: 'If you don't want to defend Sweden – don't be a Swedish citizen'
• Sweden's opposition leader slams prime minister over 'uniquely divisive' comments

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This week we take a look at the stories likely to shape Sweden in 2024, from politics and Nato to minority rights, Eurovision, and the economy. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the preview of 2024 by all our regular panelists: James Savage, Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren.  

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• What will happen in Swedish politics in 2024?

• Turkey links Nato ratification of Sweden to F-16 fighter jet sale

• 'We're losing the life we built in Sweden': Work permit holders dread uncertain future

• Hotels, tickets and scams: What to know about visiting Malmö for Eurovision 2024

• Foreigners in Sweden: How the migration paradigm shift affects our lives

• What's going to happen to the Swedish economy in 2024?

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This week we look back at the biggest news stories in Sweden in 2023, from quran burnings and a heightened terror threat to Nato wrangling, the King's jubilee, and new income requirements for work permit holders.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the review of the year by all our regular panelists: James Savage, Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren.  

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• The 20 events that formed Sweden's political landscape in 2023

• Turkey links Nato ratification of Sweden to F-16 fighter jet sale

• What you need to know about Sweden's terror threat

• 'Our kids don't even live long enough to become adults'

• 'We're losing the life we built in Sweden': Work permit holders dread uncertain future

• IN PICTURES: Swedes throng capital for royal jubilee
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In this week's episode: Christmas travel, birds attack giant straw goat, White Christmas dreams, rumours of a new political party, and what can immigrants do to increase their prospects of landing a job in Sweden? 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's James Savage and Becky Waterton, and we also have an interview with Amanda Herzog, an American marketing expert who runs a company offering courses to international job seekers.

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• What to be aware of when travelling in Sweden this Christmas

• Sweden's Gävle goat is Christmas dinner for peckish birds
• GOATWATCH: Here's how you can livestream Sweden's Christmas goat

• Is Sweden heading for a white Christmas?

• What will happen in Swedish politics in 2024?

• If skilled foreigners can't find work, does Sweden have a talent shortage?

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This week: banks cut rates, the state of Sweden’s democracy, new Pisa rankings, how child refugees have integrated, the ex-Syrian banker behind a successful hummus restaurant, government counts cost of migration, compulsory courses for newcomers, Lucia, Nobel banquet.

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

Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:

• Which Swedish banks now offer the cheapest mortgage rates?

• Is Sweden sliding towards autocracy one year on from the election?
• LISTEN: Does Sweden's new coalition deal threaten basic rights?

• Swedish students' maths and reading scores plunge in Pisa world rankings

• IN DATA: Why have so many of Sweden's Afghan child refugees got jobs?
• Syrian banker applied for 'over 2,000' jobs in Sweden before creating his own
• Sweden's government calls for investigation into cost of immigration
• What do we know about plans to make a compulsory 'Sweden course' for immigrants?

• What you need to know about celebrating Lucia in Sweden

• The dinner that proves Sweden is anything but lagom

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