UnFinnished Podcast

On this episode we stayed home to have a chat that free flowed from beer, to grocery stores, Finnish Alko and ended up in AI. TK (Zimbabwean), Nuno (Angolan-Portuguese) and Rene (Mexican) each bring their world views, life experiences and background to share how they experience their life in Finland, cultural differences as well as similarities, strugles and joys. Join us for one more episode of friendly talks and let us know your thoughts and topics you might be interested in discussing.

We recorded an episode on a traditional Finnish cabin where we talked about Finnish summer.

For this trip we brought our friend Anuj with us to hear more about his journey from India to Finland as a highly skilled worker.

Two engineers from Pakistan share their story and how they ended up opening a fried chicken restaurant in Finland. This place became a favorite for us since the first visit.

In this episode, we visit Obanh Vietnamese Kitchen in Tampere, Finland, to explore authentic Vietnamese cuisine and the story behind this family-run restaurant.

We talk with Tungi about his experience growing up in Finland with Vietnamese parents, balancing two cultures and languages, and how that journey has influenced both his identity and the restaurant. He shares insights into multicultural life in Finland and how their passion for Vietnamese food brings people together.

This episode is perfect for listeners interested in Vietnamese cuisine, cultural identity, and inspiring small business stories.

Obanh More info

Bistro DinDin More info

 A Mexican, a Vietnamese-American, a Zimbabwean and an Angolan-Portuguese walk into a bar… in Finland. What could go wrong?

In this episode, we dive into the reality behind Finland being named the happiest country in the world again. Is it really true? Or does it depend on who you ask?

We start by sharing recent travel experiences outside Finland, including René’s workation in Alicante and Tam’s trip back to Vietnam. Traveling after living in Finland hits differently, and we explore the small (and big) cultural shifts you start to notice once Finland becomes home.

From there, we ask ourselves why Finland keeps topping the list, what it gets right, and why some people might find the title a bit ironic. Expect honest takes, cultural comparisons, and a mix of humor and real talk about life in Finland.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like living in Finland as an outsider or why “happiness” here isn’t always what it seems this episode is for you.

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What does it really feel like to be far from home? In this episode, we open up about the emotional journey of living away from where you started — how time keeps moving even when you’re not there to witness it. We talk about missing the people and places that shaped you, the bittersweet feeling of returning to find everything has changed, and the strange realization that home doesn’t always feel like home anymore.

If you’ve ever moved away, lived abroad, or struggled with feeling caught between two places, this conversation is for you. Join us as we explore homesickness, personal growth, change, and the complicated emotions of being far from home.

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In this episode, we visited Café Pispala, the very place where Tam’s journey in Finland first began. Before hitting record, we enjoyed their legendary pancakes and crispy fried chicken—true staples that have helped make this cozy spot a local favorite in Tampere.

But this episode is about more than just amazing food.

We dive deep into Israel’s inspiring life story—from growing up in sunny Cancún to building a new life in the cold yet picturesque neighborhood of Pispala. What began as a bold move for adventure and opportunity turned into a mission to help transform Café Pispala into the hidden gem so many now cherish.

We talk openly about the realities of immigrating to Finland—the culture shock, the language barrier, the dark winters, and the unexpected challenges. But we also explore the beauty of starting over, the strength of community, and the small wins that make the journey worthwhile.

If you’re curious about:

Moving to Finland
Immigrant life in the Nordic
Entrepreneurship in a new country
Building community abroad
Or inspiring immigrant success stories

This conversation is for you.

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In this episode, we visited Sitko Pizza, one of the original pioneers of Tampere’s pizza scene. We sat down with owner Henri Salenius to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, what inspired him to open a pizza restaurant, and how Sitko Pizza has evolved since its early days.

Henri shares insights into building a successful restaurant brand in Tampere, the philosophy behind crafting high-quality pizza, and the importance of exceptional customer service in a competitive market. We explore how continuous development, innovation, and a commitment to excellence have helped Sitko Pizza remain relevant and respected in Finland’s growing food scene.

The conversation also touches on the rapidly changing landscape of food delivery services in Finland. Without planning it in advance, our discussion aligned perfectly with current industry trends. We examine how third-party delivery platforms impact restaurants, customer expectations, and overall dining experiences — and why the in-restaurant experience can differ significantly from ordering takeaway.

If you’re interested in pizza culture in Tampere, restaurant entrepreneurship, food delivery trends in Finland, or the evolution of modern pizza craftsmanship, this episode offers valuable insights from one of the city’s established pizza innovators.

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On this episode we visited Risky Business, the new bar in Tampere's Hämeenkatu (Main street). We talked about the bar, what it offers and why it has become are new favorite spot.

We continued talking about some cultural differences, habits we grew up with and are hard to shake and things that might make people stand out in Finland. Related to this we mentioned things that give away someone from our countries and how poeple differentiate between regions. 

Some things about our first winter here and how we have adapted through the years. 

We also talked about investment in integration, integration programs and things that might be causing problems with this from our perspective.

Shoutout to the guys at Megabite in Rongankatu and their fried chicken

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Originally from Sinaloa, Mexico Sol has found a home in Finland. She talked with us about her journey, her struggles and everything she has gone through while exploring her new home. We talked about "La Negrita" a project which has become her way of sharing her culture and her love for good food, showing Mexican food came to Finland to stay and become a favorite for those looking for bold flavors. 

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