Sweden in Focus

By The LocalSociety & Culture News News Commentary

Sweden in Focus episodes

June 03, 2023What you need to know about Sweden’s planned permanent residency tests
In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, James Savage, and Becky Waterton.
This week we discuss:
Sweden’s stalled Nato application
Russian ‘spy whale’ turns up in Swedish waters
US urges Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden’s Nato membership
Nato chief ‘confident’ Sweden will become full member of military alliance
National Day
The lowdown on Sweden’s National Day
LISTEN: Last year’s National Day/school graduation podcast
School graduation
Why are Swedish teens in white hats singing and drinking on trucks?
Swedish word of the day: utspring
Midwife shortage
What’s the state of Sweden’s maternity wards this summer?
Permanent residency tests
What do we know about Sweden’s planned tests for permanent residency?
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35 min
May 30, 2023How the Swedish health system works (and doesn't work)
In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange, and Becky Waterton for the second part of our interview with Anna Gustafsson, healthcare reporter for the Dagens Nyheter newspaper.
Here are a few articles linked to the topics we discuss:
How the Swedish healthcare system works
EXPLAINED: What to do if you face a long wait for healthcare in Sweden
Situation in Sweden's hospitals 'terrible and completely unacceptable': watchdog
How much will I have to pay to go to the dentist in Sweden?
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23 min
May 27, 2023Lifestyle trends, Swexit talk, and how good is Swedish healthcare?
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, and we also welcome a guest, Anna Gustafsson, a journalist covering healthcare for the Dagens Nyheter newspaper.
In this week's episode we discuss:
Swedish lifestyle trends
Five suggestions for the next hyped Swedish lifestyle trend
Swedish word of the day: gökotta
Swexit talk
INTERVIEW: How best to respond to the Sweden Democrats' Swexit gambit
Healthcare
How the Swedish healthcare system works
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37 min
May 23, 2023How can Sweden make its schools less segregated?
In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange, and Becky Waterton for the second part of our interview with Emma Leijnse, schools reporter for the Sydsvenkan newspaper and the author of several books on the Swedish school system.
After last week’s episode, Richard had some thoughts about what international studies say about schools:
OPINION: Why I hope the stats are right about Swedish children’s reading and maths
Other topics we discuss in this episode include:
School segregation
What’s behind the rising inequality in Sweden’s schools, and can it be fixed?
PIRLS study
Swedish reading skills fell in 2021 despite decision to keep schools open
PISA study
What do the Pisa rankings really tell us about Swedish schools?
Boys & girls
Opinion: Why Sweden should care about boys falling behind in school
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41 min
May 20, 2023Summer getaways, lower food prices, and Swedish schools explained
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, and we also welcome a guest to the Malmö studio: Emma Leijnse is a journalist covering schools and education for the Sydsvenskan newspaper and is also the author of three books on the Swedish school system.
In this week’s episode we discuss:
Weekend getaway tips
Readers reveal: Top tips for things to do in Sweden this summer
Six great spots in Sweden for a springtime getaway
New work permit units
EXPLAINED: Sweden’s plans for a new work permit system for high-skilled labour
Inflation, interest rates and food prices
Swedish food prices drop as inflation beats expectations
EXPLAINED: How could Sweden’s latest inflation news affect your finances?
Sweden's school system
Swedish reading skills fell in 2021 despite decision to keep schools open
Schooling: What you need to know when moving to Sweden with children
What schools do foreigners in Sweden send their children to and are they happy?
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34 min
May 12, 2023Is democracy really under threat in Sweden?
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.
In this week’s episode we discuss:
Eurovision fever
‘Almost goddess status’: Sweden’s Loreen tipped to win Eurovision
Rail strike
Swedish rail strike postponed but Stockholm trains still affected
Jimmie Åkesson
Sweden’s government has its ‘here’s Jimmie!’ moment
Sweden Democrats leader says ‘fundamentalist Muslims’ cannot be Swedes
Scandinavian languages
Why don’t Scandinavians try harder to understand each other?
How to turn the one Scandinavian language you are learning into three
Democracy
Is this government really a threat to democracy?
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37 min
May 09, 2023Interview with Swedish Migration Agency boss, Part 2
In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange, and Becky Waterton for Part 2 of our interview with Mikael Ribbenvik, the director general of the Swedish Migration Agency.
Topics covered include:
Fast-track phase-out
Swedish Migration Agency to propose new system for skilled migrants
Study or work?
Swedish government orders crackdown on work and residence permit abuses
Permanent residency?
Boss of Sweden’s Migration Agency: ‘I’d be worried if I had permanent residency’
‘Work permit holders will not lose permanent residency’: Swedish Migration Minister
2015 crisis
How Sweden handled the refugee crisis: report
Refugees from Ukraine
EXPLAINED: What problems are Ukrainian refugees facing in Sweden?
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30 min
May 06, 2023Interview with Swedish Migration Agency boss, Part 1
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 our guest this week, Mikael Ribbenvik, the director general of the Swedish Migration Agency.
This is part one of a two-part interview. Some of the topics we cover include:
What’s the current status of Sweden’s planned migration laws?
Salary threshold latest
EXPLAINED: Sweden’s plans to double the salary threshold for work permits
Moving migration reception centres outside the EU
Swedish PM Kristersson positive on Danish offshore asylum plan
Waiting times
Swedish Migration Agency rebuked for ‘unacceptable’ processing times
Eight ways Sweden’s Migration Agency could cut the wait for work permits
Brexit
IN FIGURES: How many Brits in Sweden have had their post-Brexit residence status rejected?
Exit visas for applicants awaiting extensions
Sweden ‘will consider’ travel visas for work permit holders: migration minister interview
‘Sweden is like a big prison’: The tech workers trapped by work permit delays
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40 min
May 02, 2023INTERVIEW: Why is Sweden scared to talk about racism? Part 2
Tune in for the second part of our interview with Lola Akinmade Åkerström where she talks more about how Sweden can get better at dealing with racism, how frequently she’s confronted with micro-aggressions, the ideas of integration versus assimilation, a tendency in Europe to fetishize and limit black women, what happens when the Swedish concept of lagom is applied collectively, the prospect of her novel In Every Mirror She’s Black making it to the screen, and what’s next for her characters in the upcoming sequel.
Don't miss:
SURVEY: 'Sweden is decades behind on racism and diversity'
'Stop! This is what lagom truly means'
Analysis - ‘No such thing as race’: why Sweden’s colour-blind approach is failing
CNN - Opinion: Why is Sweden afraid of publishing this book on race?
New York Times - A Social Media Takedown Is a Blessing in Disguise for Sweden
Previous episodes:
LISTEN: Racism in Sweden, and how welcome do foreigners feel after the election?
LISTEN: Why doesn't Sweden gather data on race and ethnicity – and should it?
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34 min
April 29, 2023Why is Sweden scared to talk about racism?
Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange, and Becky Waterton as well as our guest this week, author and photographer Lola Akinmade Åkerström.
This week's topics:
Culture shock
These are the worst culture shocks for foreigners coming to Sweden
Valborg & May 1st
What exactly is Valborg, and where are the best places to celebrate it?
Why is May 1st a public holiday in Sweden?
Sweden Democrats and the EU migration pact
Sweden Democrats threaten to topple government
Asylum seeker child raises millions for charity
'Like winning the lottery'
Racism in Sweden
Finally, Lola Akinmade Åkerström tells us about In Every Mirror She's Black, her novel that tackles racism in Sweden and which Swedish publishers have rejected despite its success overseas.
SURVEY: 'Sweden is decades behind on racism and diversity'
'Stop! This is what lagom truly means'
Analysis - ‘No such thing as race’: why Sweden’s colour-blind approach is failing
CNN - Opinion: Why is Sweden afraid of publishing this book on race?
New York Times - A Social Media Takedown Is a Blessing in Disguise for Sweden

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39 min

About Sweden in Focus

From the publisher's feed

Sweden in Focus is The Local’s weekly podcast where we discuss the big news and talking points in Sweden as well as explore and explain the issues that impact life in the country. We also answer your essential questions and look ahead at what’s coming up.

In each episode presenter James Savage chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local Sweden’s Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and Mandy Pipher. They are frequently joined by other expert commentators.