What Are You Doing in Denmark?

Why are Danes so obsessed with summer festivals?

In this episode, Derek and Brooke dive into Denmark’s legendary festival culture with Heartland Festival founder Ulrik Ørum-Petersen. From Roskilde Festival and Smukfest to Heartland Festival, Distortion, and Copenhagen Jazz Festival, they unpack what each festival says about Danish culture, and the people who go to them.

This episode explores how festivals can actually help internationals better understand Denmark, and maybe even integrate into Danish society. If you’re new to Denmark, curious about Danish culture, or planning your first Danish summer festival, this episode is your guide to navigating festival season like a local.

Topics explored:

• Why Denmark has so many festivals
• Roskilde as a “rite of passage”
• Why Danish summers feel so intense
• Festival camping vs glamping
• Danish music trends and local-language artists
• How festivals became part of Danish identity
• Tips for internationals attending their first Danish festival

Ulrik (guest)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ulrikorum/

Heartland Website: https://heartlandfestival.dk/

Heartland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartlandfestivaldk/

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

Denmark's had a rough Eurovision track record in recent years, but is looking to continue a bounce back that began last year. How did the country that has struggled to qualify for the Eurovision final, suddenly become one of the favorites to win Eurovision 2026? It's thanks to one song: “Før vi går hjem.”

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek Hartman and Brooke Black sit down with Danish musician, producer, and songwriter Clara Sofie Fabricius, one of the co-writers behind Denmark’s Eurovision entry “Før vi går hjem,” performed by Søren Torpegaard Lund.

Clara Sofie shares the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the song came together during a songwriting camp that included an untimely injury, wine hangover, general exhaustion, and somehow resulted in Denmark’s biggest Eurovision hype in years. Oh and the heavy lifting of the song came to be in less than an hour. You have to hear this story to believe it.

They also discuss:

• Why Denmark struggled at Eurovision after 2013
• How Dansk Melodi Grand Prix works
• The process of writing a Eurovision song
• Why “Før vi går hjem” connected with fans across Europe
• The meaning behind the lyrics and staging
• Whether Eurovision is finally becoming “cool” again
• Why Eurovision matters so much in Denmark

Whether you’re a longtime Eurovision fan or completely new to the contest, this episode explains why Eurovision is such a huge cultural event in Denmark — and why this year felt different.

Listen to “Før vi går hjem”: https://youtu.be/dz6P3YTNG0M?si=Pgb8nhw2Bqj_3gy9

Clara Sofie (guest):

Spotify profile: LINK

Songs I wrote: LINK

Songs I wrote and produced: LINK

Instagram: LINK

Facebook: LINK

LinkedIn: LINK

Derek Hartman:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

Topics: Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Eurovision, Denmark in Eurovision, Danish Musicians

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

Randers has one of the strongest and strangest reputations in Denmark. But where does it actually come from?

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek, Brooke, and Conrad unpack the myths, stereotypes, and history behind Denmark’s sixth-largest city. From “Randers Champagne” to royal-approved gloves, we explore how a place can be both mocked and have a lot to be admired at the same time.

Along the way, we share our own experiences, surprising facts, and the cultural reasons Danes love to joke about Randers.

Is it fair… or just a really persistent meme?

Referenced Episodes:

Graceland Randers aka Memphis Mansion (Danish Copyright Fights)

Himmelbjerget and Denmark's Highest Peaks

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

Conrad Molden:

https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedy

https://youtube.com/c/conradmolden

https://tiktok.com/@conradmolden 

https://facebook.com/conradmolden

https://www.conradmolden.dk

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

A conversation about identity, moving abroad, and why belonging in Denmark isn’t always as simple as it seems.

What does it really mean to belong, especially in a place like Denmark?

In this episode, Derek sits down with French author and artist Aurélia Durand to talk about identity, moving abroad, and the often complicated reality of building a life in Denmark.

Drawing from her memoir Belonging, Aurélia shares her journey growing up between Paris and La Réunion, and how living in Denmark forced her to confront deeper questions about who she is and where she fits.

They explore:

• Why finding work and community in Denmark can feel harder than expected
• The hidden role of networks, language, and cultural “sameness”
• What it’s like to be included — but still feel like an outsider
• The tension between assimilation and staying true to yourself
• And how living abroad can reshape your identity in ways you don’t expect

Aurélia also opens up about relationships across cultures, returning “home” and no longer fitting in, and how art became her way of processing it all.

If you’ve ever struggled to feel at home in Denmark, or anywhere, this conversation will resonate.

Aurélia Durand (guest):

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4ur3lia/

Order Belonging: https://atelieraureliadurand.com/pages/instagram

See All of Aurélia's Work: https://www.aurelia-studio.com/

Derek Hartman:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

Denmark still doesn’t have a new government weeks after the election... so what’s going on, and what does it mean for internationals living here?

In this episode Derek and Brooke break down the current political stalemate and why forming a government has been so difficult this time around. Featuring a short interview with Bernardo Basilici Menini, they explain where negotiations stand, who holds the power, and what could happen next.

This episode also dives into what different coalition outcomes could mean for internationals in Denmark including: changes to citizenship rules, work permits, international students, deportation policies, integration, housing, and the cost of living.

Whether you’re an expat, student, or planning to move to Denmark, this episode will help you understand how the election could impact your life here.

🎙️ Topics covered:

• Why Denmark hasn’t formed a government yet
• The role of Mette Frederiksen and Lars Løkke Rasmussen
• Citizenship and immigration policy changes
• Work permits and international hiring
• Student visas and staying after graduation
• Deportation and integration policies
• Housing and cost of living

Bernardo Basilici Menini (guest):

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardo-basilici-menini

Copenhagen Post: https://cphpost.dk/author/bernardo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernie.basilicimen

Derek Hartman:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

Subscribe to The Copenhagen Post: https://cphpost.dk/subscription/

Topics: Danish election, Denmark politics explained, expats in Denmark, coalition government, minority government, immigration policy Denmark, Nordic politics

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

Fail Publicly. Survive. Get Better. Repeat. Bombing on stage feels like dying, and that’s okay.

Hosts Derek Hartman and Conrad Molden sit down with Danish stand-up comedian Henrik Danielsen to talk about failing in public and why it’s sometimes necessary to improve. Before becoming one of Denmark’s sharpest observational comics, Henrik spent years bombing and returning to the stage anyway.

What begins as a comedy conversation turns into a mini therapy session on resilience, ego, and cultural expectations. They explore how failure shaped his craft, why Danish and international audiences react differently, and how self-deprecation works as both humor and social survival. This episode isn’t about overnight success. It’s about surviving awkwardness long enough to get better.

➡️ Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: COOL ACCOUNTS

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Conrad Molden:

https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedy

https://youtube.com/c/conradmolden

https://tiktok.com/@conradmolden 

https://facebook.com/conradmolden

https://www.conradmolden.dk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBfnKriSXJQ

https://www.instagram.com/henrikcomedy

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

Why is the F-word everywhere in Denmark - even around kids? Derek and Brooke unpack one of the biggest culture shocks for expats, from parenting dilemmas to why the word just doesn’t mean the same thing here.

From hearing it in schoolyards, on the radio, and even at kids’ events… to navigating it as a parent, this conversation explores what happens when language, culture, and values collide.

In this episode:

• Why the F-word doesn’t carry the same weight in Denmark
• The role of English as a second language
• Subtitles vs dubbing and how media shapes language
• Parenting in a culture where swearing is everywhere
• Danish vs American attitudes toward “appropriate” language
• A practical (and funny) guide to Danish swear words
• A special cameo from Conrad's Danglish 1 comedy special

If you’re raising kids in Denmark or just trying to understand Danish culture, this episode will definitely make you think twice about what words really mean.

➡️ Special thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Cool Accounts ApS: https://bit.ly/4doqdVc

Derek Hartman:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

📺 Watch Conrad's full Danglish Comedy Special (with the cursing joke): https://youtu.be/kgpp1a5Pn3o?si=4seE12n0Um8xrqi8

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

We’re live from Copenhagen’s Comedy Zoo 🎤

In this special live episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, we break down the unspoken rules of Danish apartment living... and all the ways internationals accidentally get them wrong.

From passive-aggressive laundry room notes and party etiquette to recycling confusion and noisy neighbors, this episode is packed with real stories, cultural insights, and plenty of laughs. Featuring a live audience and a panel of comedians, we even put it to a vote: who would you actually want as your neighbor?

If you’ve ever lived in Denmark (or plan to), this episode might save you from your next awkward hallway encounter.

🎧 Recorded LIVE at Comedy Zoo, Copenhagen.

➡️ Thank you to our sponsor, Cool Accounts ApS: https://bit.ly/4doqdVc

Dharkshika Christopher (guest):

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dharshika.christopher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DharshikaChristopherComedy

Tickets: https://upfestival.dk/om/komikere/dharshika-christopher

Derek Hartman:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Conrad Molden:

https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedy

https://youtube.com/c/conradmolden

https://tiktok.com/@conradmolden 

https://facebook.com/conradmolden

https://www.conradmolden.dk

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

Mike Walsh:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/phillymike999

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

Denmark just held an election… but the real story is what happens next.

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark?, Derek and Brooke break down the results of the Danish election, and why forming a government might be more complicated than ever.

With no clear majority between the “red” and “blue” blocs, everything now comes down to coalition building, political trade-offs, and one key role: the Royal Investigator.

We’re joined by insights from Copenhagen Post editor-in-chief, Bernardo Basilici Menini, who explains:

• Why the math doesn’t work for an easy government
• What a “minority government” actually means (and why Denmark can have one)
• Which parties gained power and why
• How Danish politics may be shifting toward more personality-driven leadership
• And the tough reality of where internationals fit into the political conversation

If you’ve ever been confused by Danish politics or wondered how this election affects your life here, this episode will help make sense of it.

Because even if you can’t vote… it still matters.

Topics: Danish election, Denmark politics explained, expats in Denmark, coalition government, minority government, immigration policy Denmark, Nordic politics

Bernardo Basilici Menini (guest):

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardo-basilici-menini

Copenhagen Post: https://cphpost.dk/author/bernardo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernie.basilicimen

Derek Hartman:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Brooke Black:

https://instagram.com/brookeblackjust

https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust

Subscribe to The Copenhagen Post: https://cphpost.dk/subscription/

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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

In this special Q&A episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark?, Derek and Conrad answer your listener questions covering everything from dark winters and Danish workplace culture to raising multilingual kids and navigating cultural quirks.

They share how they met (after a two-year missed message), what it’s really like getting through February in Denmark, and why “false spring” is both hopeful and cruel. The conversation dives into expat life challenges, including feeling isolated, adapting to flat hierarchies at work, and figuring out when to speak up or just take initiative.

You’ll also hear honest advice on raising children across multiple languages and cultures, blending holiday traditions (yes, including a very surprising version of baby Jesus), and what internationals should actually expect before moving to Denmark.

Whether you’re already living in Denmark or just curious about expat life, this episode is full of relatable stories, cultural insights, and plenty of laughs.

➡️ A big thank you to our sponsor, Cool Accounts APS, for supporting this episode and helping make the show possible. If you’re navigating Danish taxes as an expat, be sure to check them out: https://bit.ly/4doqdVc

The YouTube video from the first time Derek and Conrad met: https://youtu.be/eZndUpBkoLs?si=r6V3nnX_LFSDWUWT

Derek Hartman: 

https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk 

https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

www.facebook.com/robetrotting

Conrad Molden:

https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedy

https://youtube.com/c/conradmolden

https://tiktok.com/@conradmolden 

https://facebook.com/conradmolden

https://www.conradmolden.dk

🎟️ Get tickets for Derek and Conrad's English Stand Up Comedy Show on 26th November ➡️ HERE

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F

📢 Send your questions and/or comments.

voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydid

email: [email protected]

👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.

👀 More living in Denmark tips:

https://instagram.com/waydidpod

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