Very Finnish Problems

Very Finnish Problems

By Ink Tank MediaComedy
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Very Finnish Problems episodes

  • Episode 14: When your main exports are spooky hippos and metal music
    Creator of Very Finnish Problems Joel Willans returns with a conversation on how and why Finland is big in Japan with project manager, exports specialist Sami Häikiö. We learn about the strides being made to bring Moomin to the world and the peculiarities of booking metal gigs in Tokyo. Co-host Thomas Nybergh deals with troublesome Nipponese electronics and contributes the bleakest recommendation segment yet.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel’s new book: More Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Are Finland and Japan obsessed with each other?: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/are-finland-and-japan-obsessed-with-each-other/
    On Japan’s love of fax machines (New York Times, 2013): https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/world/asia/in-japan-the-fax-machine-is-anything-but-a-relic.html
    It’s 2016 And I’m Buying A New Japanese Fax Machine: https://kotaku.com/its-2016-and-im-buying-a-new-japanese-fax-machine-1785288793
    An overview of new Finnish rock and metal: https://musicfinland.com/playlists/new-rock-and-metal-from-finland
    What you should know about the Japanese music market (2015): https://mxd.dk/arkiv/what-you-should-know-about-the-japanese-music-market-in-depth/
    The Guardian reviews ‘Who Will Comfort Toffle?’, a delightful moomin picture book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/nov/01/featuresreviews.guardianreview30
    Kirkus review of Moominpappa at Sea, the most grown-up novel in the Moomin canon: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tove-jansson-2/moominpappa-at-sea/
    About the Fermi Paradox, the possibility that the universe is surprisingly devoid of (intelligent) life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhhvQGsMEc
    Thomas’ podcast recommendation, The End of the World With Josh Clark: https://www.theendwithjosh.com/
    Thomas’ 2nd recommendation: Kidding, superbly written dark comedy drama series starring Jim Carrey, Catherine Keener and many others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS6Gt76e_NA
    Joel’s recommendation, Kitchen Nightmares: https://www.youtube.com/user/KitchenNightmares
    Sami’s recommendation, Sons of Anarchy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Anarchy
    Sami's second recommendation, Japan Times, excellent news reporting in English: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/
    Sami’s old band, Karkkiautomaatti on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HbjhoqYElSXZsak99LAkR
    Sami's old band, Karkkiautomaaatti on Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/fi/artist/karkkiautomaatti/265592886
    59 min
  • Episode 14: When your main exports are spooky hippos and metal music
    Creator of Very Finnish Problems Joel Willans returns with a conversation on how and why Finland is big in Japan with project manager, exports specialist Sami Häikiö. We learn about the strides being made to bring Moomin to the world and the peculiarities of booking metal gigs in Tokyo. Co-host Thomas Nybergh deals with troublesome Nipponese electronics and contributes the bleakest recommendation segment yet.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel’s new book: More Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Are Finland and Japan obsessed with each other?: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/are-finland-and-japan-obsessed-with-each-other/
    On Japan’s love of fax machines (New York Times, 2013): https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/world/asia/in-japan-the-fax-machine-is-anything-but-a-relic.html
    It’s 2016 And I’m Buying A New Japanese Fax Machine: https://kotaku.com/its-2016-and-im-buying-a-new-japanese-fax-machine-1785288793
    An overview of new Finnish rock and metal: https://musicfinland.com/playlists/new-rock-and-metal-from-finland
    What you should know about the Japanese music market (2015): https://mxd.dk/arkiv/what-you-should-know-about-the-japanese-music-market-in-depth/
    The Guardian reviews ‘Who Will Comfort Toffle?’, a delightful moomin picture book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/nov/01/featuresreviews.guardianreview30
    Kirkus review of Moominpappa at Sea, the most grown-up novel in the Moomin canon: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tove-jansson-2/moominpappa-at-sea/
    About the Fermi Paradox, the possibility that the universe is surprisingly devoid of (intelligent) life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhhvQGsMEc
    Thomas’ podcast recommendation, The End of the World With Josh Clark: https://www.theendwithjosh.com/
    Thomas’ 2nd recommendation: Kidding, superbly written dark comedy drama series starring Jim Carrey, Catherine Keener and many others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS6Gt76e_NA
    Joel’s recommendation, Kitchen Nightmares: https://www.youtube.com/user/KitchenNightmares
    Sami’s recommendation, Sons of Anarchy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Anarchy
    Sami's second recommendation, Japan Times, excellent news reporting in English: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/
    Sami’s old band, Karkkiautomaatti on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HbjhoqYElSXZsak99LAkR
    Sami's old band, Karkkiautomaaatti on Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/fi/artist/karkkiautomaatti/265592886
    59 min
  • Episode 13: When you don’t get sisu
    This time, Very Finnish Problems creator Joel Willans is joined by Joanna Nylund, author of Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage, to discuss, as the book title suggests, Finnish resilience. Is sisu somehow a Finnish cultural trait or do Finns mostly benefit from briefly defining a necessary universal way to stay sane while facing hardship? Co-host Thomas Nybergh returns to blame Joel for British imperialism and remains skeptical about how close to nature Finns really are.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel’s new book - More Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Sisu explained: https://finland.fi/arts-culture/sisu-within-finnish-key-life-love-success/
    Get Joanna’s book Sisu in Finnish: https://www.readme.fi/kirja/sisu/
    Get Joanna’s book Sisu in English: https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781856753807
    The Finnish Famine 1866-68: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_famine_of_1866–68
    National romanticism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_nationalism
    How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influence_People
    American center-right politician Barack Obama touring the Nordics yanksplaining social democracy to business leaders: https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliversmith/2018/10/01/european-business-leaders-spent-500000-on-photos-with-obama/#7324362d6235
    The End of History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_history
    Joel's appearance on Finnish Public Broadcaster Yle’s podcast All Points North: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/all_points_north_podcast_7_breaking_down_brexit_with_susanna_turunen_and_joel_willans/10129196
    Joanna’s book recommendation - Factfulness by Hans Rosling, on how the world has gotten better without the West noticing: https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2018/apr/11/good-news-at-last-the-world-isnt-as-horrific-as-you-think
    Bill Gates on Hans Rosling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uooRe07mYM
    Hans Rosling interviewed on British TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vr6Q77lUHE
    Thomas’ podcast recommendation - Behind the Bastards, an informative, funny weekly rant on some of the worst people in history: https://www.behindthebastards.com/
    Joel’s recommendation: Classical Trancelations, unforgettable electronic music reinterpreted by classical orchestra at Helsinki Arena (streamable worldwide): https://areena.yle.fi/1-50007533?seek=6671
    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 13: When you don’t get sisu
    This time, Very Finnish Problems creator Joel Willans is joined by Joanna Nylund, author of Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage, to discuss, as the book title suggests, Finnish resilience. Is sisu somehow a Finnish cultural trait or do Finns mostly benefit from briefly defining a necessary universal way to stay sane while facing hardship? Co-host Thomas Nybergh returns to blame Joel for British imperialism and remains skeptical about how close to nature Finns really are.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel’s new book - More Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Sisu explained: https://finland.fi/arts-culture/sisu-within-finnish-key-life-love-success/
    Get Joanna’s book Sisu in Finnish: https://www.readme.fi/kirja/sisu/
    Get Joanna’s book Sisu in English: https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781856753807
    The Finnish Famine 1866-68: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_famine_of_1866–68
    National romanticism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_nationalism
    How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influence_People
    American center-right politician Barack Obama touring the Nordics yanksplaining social democracy to business leaders: https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliversmith/2018/10/01/european-business-leaders-spent-500000-on-photos-with-obama/#7324362d6235
    The End of History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_history
    Joel's appearance on Finnish Public Broadcaster Yle’s podcast All Points North: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/all_points_north_podcast_7_breaking_down_brexit_with_susanna_turunen_and_joel_willans/10129196
    Joanna’s book recommendation - Factfulness by Hans Rosling, on how the world has gotten better without the West noticing: https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2018/apr/11/good-news-at-last-the-world-isnt-as-horrific-as-you-think
    Bill Gates on Hans Rosling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uooRe07mYM
    Hans Rosling interviewed on British TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vr6Q77lUHE
    Thomas’ podcast recommendation - Behind the Bastards, an informative, funny weekly rant on some of the worst people in history: https://www.behindthebastards.com/
    Joel’s recommendation: Classical Trancelations, unforgettable electronic music reinterpreted by classical orchestra at Helsinki Arena (streamable worldwide): https://areena.yle.fi/1-50007533?seek=6671
    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 13: When you don’t get sisu
    This time, Very Finnish Problems creator Joel Willans is joined by Joanna Nylund, author of Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage, to discuss, as the book title suggests, Finnish resilience. Is sisu somehow a Finnish cultural trait or do Finns mostly benefit from briefly defining a necessary universal way to stay sane while facing hardship? Co-host Thomas Nybergh returns to blame Joel for British imperialism and remains skeptical about how close to nature Finns really are.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel’s new book - More Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Sisu explained: https://finland.fi/arts-culture/sisu-within-finnish-key-life-love-success/
    Get Joanna’s book Sisu in Finnish: https://www.readme.fi/kirja/sisu/
    Get Joanna’s book Sisu in English: https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781856753807
    The Finnish Famine 1866-68: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_famine_of_1866–68
    National romanticism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_nationalism
    How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influence_People
    American center-right politician Barack Obama touring the Nordics yanksplaining social democracy to business leaders: https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliversmith/2018/10/01/european-business-leaders-spent-500000-on-photos-with-obama/#7324362d6235
    The End of History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_history
    Joel's appearance on Finnish Public Broadcaster Yle’s podcast All Points North: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/all_points_north_podcast_7_breaking_down_brexit_with_susanna_turunen_and_joel_willans/10129196
    Joanna’s book recommendation - Factfulness by Hans Rosling, on how the world has gotten better without the West noticing: https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2018/apr/11/good-news-at-last-the-world-isnt-as-horrific-as-you-think
    Bill Gates on Hans Rosling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uooRe07mYM
    Hans Rosling interviewed on British TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vr6Q77lUHE
    Thomas’ podcast recommendation - Behind the Bastards, an informative, funny weekly rant on some of the worst people in history: https://www.behindthebastards.com/
    Joel’s recommendation: Classical Trancelations, unforgettable electronic music reinterpreted by classical orchestra at Helsinki Arena (streamable worldwide): https://areena.yle.fi/1-50007533?seek=6671
    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 12: When Northern Lights have been seen by everyone except you
    What’s it like to spend most of your time living in the Finnish wilderness? Joel Willans, author and creator of Very Finnish Problems discusses the beauty of Northern nature with explorer and Instagram personality Joonas Linkola. What about extreme heat versus the absurd cold? Co-host Thomas Nybergh wants cell reception in the wilderness and ensures the show ends with reading and listening recommendations.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel's book, 101 Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Joonas Linkola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joonaslinkola/
    This is what a no-deal Brexit looks like: http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2018/07/27/this-is-what-no-deal-brexit-actually-looks-like
    The Iraqi (not Irianian!) who saved Norway from Oil: https://www.ft.com/content/99680a04-92a0-11de-b63b-00144feabdc0
    Search for the above oil article and click on article via Google to skip paywall: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aft.com+The+Iraqi+who+saved+Norway+from+oil+Farouk+al-Kasim
    Joonas' book recommendation, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck" by Mark Manson: https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/review-the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-fck,10679
    Joel's book recommendation, "The Men Who Stare at Goats" by Jon Ronson: https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/nov/21/politics
    Thomas' podcast recommendation, My Indian Life, young Indian adults in the 21st century explored by Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06dwm6y
    59 min
  • Episode 12: When Northern Lights have been seen by everyone except you
    What’s it like to spend most of your time living in the Finnish wilderness? Joel Willans, author and creator of Very Finnish Problems discusses the beauty of Northern nature with explorer and Instagram personality Joonas Linkola. What about extreme heat versus the absurd cold? Co-host Thomas Nybergh wants cell reception in the wilderness and ensures the show ends with reading and listening recommendations.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel's book, 101 Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Joonas Linkola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joonaslinkola/
    This is what a no-deal Brexit looks like: http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2018/07/27/this-is-what-no-deal-brexit-actually-looks-like
    The Iraqi (not Irianian!) who saved Norway from Oil: https://www.ft.com/content/99680a04-92a0-11de-b63b-00144feabdc0
    Search for the above oil article and click on article via Google to skip paywall: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aft.com+The+Iraqi+who+saved+Norway+from+oil+Farouk+al-Kasim
    Joonas' book recommendation, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck" by Mark Manson: https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/review-the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-fck,10679
    Joel's book recommendation, "The Men Who Stare at Goats" by Jon Ronson: https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/nov/21/politics
    Thomas' podcast recommendation, My Indian Life, young Indian adults in the 21st century explored by Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06dwm6y
    59 min
  • Episode 12: When Northern Lights have been seen by everyone except you
    What’s it like to spend most of your time living in the Finnish wilderness? Joel Willans, author and creator of Very Finnish Problems discusses the beauty of Northern nature with explorer and Instagram personality Joonas Linkola. What about extreme heat versus the absurd cold? Co-host Thomas Nybergh wants cell reception in the wilderness and ensures the show ends with reading and listening recommendations.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Joel's book, 101 Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Joonas Linkola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joonaslinkola/
    This is what a no-deal Brexit looks like: http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2018/07/27/this-is-what-no-deal-brexit-actually-looks-like
    The Iraqi (not Irianian!) who saved Norway from Oil: https://www.ft.com/content/99680a04-92a0-11de-b63b-00144feabdc0
    Search for the above oil article and click on article via Google to skip paywall: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aft.com+The+Iraqi+who+saved+Norway+from+oil+Farouk+al-Kasim
    Joonas' book recommendation, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck" by Mark Manson: https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/review-the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-fck,10679
    Joel's book recommendation, "The Men Who Stare at Goats" by Jon Ronson: https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/nov/21/politics
    Thomas' podcast recommendation, My Indian Life, young Indian adults in the 21st century explored by Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06dwm6y
    59 min
  • Episode 11: When you don’t like strong women
    What’s different about femininity in Finland? Joel Willans, author and creator of Very Finnish Problems consults lifestyle and travel blogger Varpu Pöyry, of Her Finland. We learn about the perils of gender stereotypes and Varpu’s engineering approach to improving her memory. Co-host Thomas Nybergh is mostly concerned about the social lives of Finnish men.
    A special guest, Yle News journalist Ronan Browne, also appears briefly while shooting a story about Very Finnish Problems.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Yle News’ story on Very Finnish Problems: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/self-deprecating_finnish_memes_a_big_online_hit/10120020
    The circumstances surrounding Finland's first female prime minister's resignation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_leak
    Joel’s book - 101 Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Yle News - Finland ranks sixth in English skills, early instruction crucial: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_ranks_sixth_in_english_skills_early_instruction_crucial/10071036
    Varpus’ book recommendation - “How to Learn Almost Anything in 48 Hours: Shortcuts and brain hacks for learning new skills fast” by Tansel Ali: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26242226-how-to-learn-almost-anything-in-48-hours
    Joel’s book recommendation - “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22822858-a-little-life
    Thomas’ podcast recommendation - The Assasination, an investigation into the death of Pakistan’s first female prime minister, Benazir Bhutto: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05r6cgx/episodes/downloads
    Check out Varpu’s Finnish words and memory tricks on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BekdQqHnuUZ/
    52 min
  • Episode 11: When you don’t like strong women
    What’s different about femininity in Finland? Joel Willans, author and creator of Very Finnish Problems consults lifestyle and travel blogger Varpu Pöyry, of Her Finland. We learn about the perils of gender stereotypes and Varpu’s engineering approach to improving her memory. Co-host Thomas Nybergh is mostly concerned about the social lives of Finnish men.
    A special guest, Yle News journalist Ronan Browne, also appears briefly while shooting a story about Very Finnish Problems.
    Produced by Thomas Nybergh / Ink Tank Media
    Shownotes:
    Yle News’ story on Very Finnish Problems: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/self-deprecating_finnish_memes_a_big_online_hit/10120020
    The circumstances surrounding Finland's first female prime minister's resignation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_leak
    Joel’s book - 101 Very Finnish Problems: https://www.gummerus.fi/fi/kirja/9789512407507/101-very-finnish-problems/
    Yle News - Finland ranks sixth in English skills, early instruction crucial: https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_ranks_sixth_in_english_skills_early_instruction_crucial/10071036
    Varpus’ book recommendation - “How to Learn Almost Anything in 48 Hours: Shortcuts and brain hacks for learning new skills fast” by Tansel Ali: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26242226-how-to-learn-almost-anything-in-48-hours
    Joel’s book recommendation - “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22822858-a-little-life
    Thomas’ podcast recommendation - The Assasination, an investigation into the death of Pakistan’s first female prime minister, Benazir Bhutto: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05r6cgx/episodes/downloads
    Check out Varpu’s Finnish words and memory tricks on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BekdQqHnuUZ/
    52 min

About Very Finnish Problems

From the publisher's feed

What‘s so weird and wonderful about Finland? British writer and Helsinki resident Joel Willans, the creator of Very Finnish Problems, and best-selling author of 101 Very Finnish Problems: The Foreigner’s Guide to Surviving in Finland and More Very Finnish Problems: The even more essential guide, discusses, with a variety of fascinating guests, life in his much-loved, adopted country.