Sweden in Focus

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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 Paul O’Mahony chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local Sweden’s James SavageEmma LöfgrenRichard Orange and Becky Waterton. They are frequently joined by other expert commentators.

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.


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Recent Episodes
  • All you need to know about Swedish sauna culture
    May 14, 2025 – 29:51
  • Why Johan Forssell wants to change Sweden's 'weird' immigration system
    May 10, 2025 – 27:29
  • Why Johan Forssell wants to change Sweden's 'weird' immigration system
    May 9, 2025 – 41:31
  • 'Sweden was like a paradise at first – but then reality hits'
    May 7, 2025 – 32:08
  • How Sweden tightened immigration after the 2015 refugee crisis
    May 3, 2025 – 24:53
  • How Sweden tightened immigration after the 2015 refugee crisis
    May 2, 2025 – 34:27
  • How immigration is fuelling the growth of the Catholic Church in Sweden
    Apr 30, 2025 – 20:12
  • Why Sweden celebrates spring with bonfires and songs
    Apr 26, 2025 – 17:37
  • Why Sweden celebrates spring with bonfires and songs
    Apr 25, 2025 – 30:25
  • How Sweden can woo American scientists
    Apr 23, 2025 – 27:10
  • All about Eves: Why Sweden celebrates holidays a day early
    Apr 18, 2025 – 15:31
  • All about Eves: Why Sweden celebrates holidays a day early
    Apr 18, 2025 – 29:32
  • Ask the expert: What makes Sweden such a coffee culture?
    Apr 16, 2025 – 25:00
  • What the fika! How Swedes are reacting to sky-high coffee prices
    Apr 12, 2025 – 18:31
  • What the fika! How Swedes are reacting to sky-high coffee prices
    Apr 11, 2025 – 36:46
  • What can foreigners in Sweden expect from the economy in 2025?
    Apr 9, 2025 – 13:35
  • Will Sweden's 'poor conduct' law muzzle immigrants?
    Apr 5, 2025 – 30:53
  • Will Sweden's 'poor conduct' law muzzle immigrants?
    Apr 4, 2025 – 46:30
  • Is your Swedish good enough for university? - Quiz 6
    Apr 2, 2025 – 17:36
  • Why immigrant tech workers are challenging Sweden on citizenship
    Mar 29, 2025 – 30:02
  • Why immigrant tech workers are challenging Sweden on citizenship
    Mar 28, 2025 – 35:31
  • 'Sweden has had a horrible time integrating newcomers'
    Mar 26, 2025 – 42:29
  • Why thousands of foreign workers risk expulsion from Sweden
    Mar 22, 2025 – 29:48
  • Why thousands of foreign workers risk expulsion from Sweden
    Mar 21, 2025 – 39:55
  • 'My background can sometimes give me an advantage over Swedish colleagues'
    Mar 19, 2025 – 22:47
  • Classified documents scandal gives Sweden's prime minister a huge headache
    Mar 15, 2025 – 30:27
  • Classified documents scandal gives Sweden's prime minister a huge headache
    Mar 14, 2025 – 40:35
  • 'I would love to see Sweden set age regulations on smartphones'
    Mar 12, 2025 – 26:38
  • Why are politicians fighting over Sweden's multiculturalism?
    Mar 8, 2025 – 20:20
  • Why are politicians fighting over Sweden's multiculturalism?
    Mar 7, 2025 – 30:56
  • Trust still high in Sweden but low score for migration agency shows 'it's not all sunshine'
    Mar 5, 2025 – 25:57
  • Why is Sweden such a trusting society?
    Mar 1, 2025 – 29:57
  • Why is Sweden such a trusting society?
    Feb 28, 2025 – 43:51
  • Is your Swedish good enough for university? - Quiz 5
    Feb 26, 2025 – 18:02
  • How is Sweden reacting to Trump's seismic shift on European security?
    Feb 22, 2025 – 24:06
  • How is Sweden reacting to Trump's seismic shift on European security?
    Feb 21, 2025 – 38:50
  • Is Sweden the 'crappy sequel' to Danish immigration horror movie?
    Feb 18, 2025 – 13:25
  • Why post-Örebro gun control split the Sweden Democrats
    Feb 15, 2025 – 28:20
  • Why post-Örebro gun control split the Sweden Democrats
    Feb 14, 2025 – 41:17
  • 'My goal is to stay in Sweden but the job market is dire'
    Feb 11, 2025 – 16:54
  • What we know about Sweden's worst ever mass shooting 
    Feb 6, 2025 – 25:08
  • What we know about Sweden's worst ever mass shooting
    Feb 6, 2025 – 37:34
  • How to speak even more Scanian like a southern Swede
    Feb 5, 2025 – 16:15
  • How to speak Scanian like a southern Swede
    Feb 1, 2025 – 21:30
  • How to speak Scanian like a southern Swede
    Jan 31, 2025 – 32:49
  • Sweden ‘sending a message’ to Russia with seizure of ship
    Jan 29, 2025 – 19:34
  • Is your Swedish good enough for university? – Quiz 1
    Jan 28, 2025 – 18:18
  • What makes Sweden one of the world's most innovative countries?
    Jan 25, 2025 – 30:05
  • What makes Sweden one of the world's most innovative countries?
    Jan 24, 2025 – 39:14
  • How can Sweden prevent Baltic Sea sabotage?
    Jan 22, 2025 – 18:10
Recent Reviews
  • Lyagard101
    Thank you for making this podcast!!
    I look forward to listening to this every week. Learn so much about Sweden I would have never figured out. I love the nitty gritty on the new immigration rules. I love learning cultural history. My Swedish partner also learns new things about Sweden! One thing I would like to see more of is how to get more involved in life in Sweden. For example how to join a climate group, how to join a political party, it feels difficult to know how to get involved sometimes. Thanks!
  • void_circuit
    Great, educational podcast.
    American living in Sweden - this podcast is a godsend for keeping up with the day to day events and getting a feel for the cultural ebbs and flows. The economic and immigration coverage is great - don’t take the foot off the gas! :-)
  • vango91
    So informative for non-Swedes!
    My daughter moved to Sweden from the US for work so I love listening to this podcast to stay up-to-date on news and to learn more about Swedish culture. Thanks for providing this podcast!
  • 11olive
    Excellent show!
    Excellent podcast! As a Swede living abroad it’s great staying informed on the issues back home! Also, my American husband is able to learn a lot about Sweden, which is great for when we go back home and visit :) Thank you for the great coverage!
  • eman123869
    Great pod
    Good subjects, super stoked for the economic coverage.
  • hearthesound!
    Great if you are British
    Three British people talk about Swedish news. Very British centric even though the vast majority of foreigners living in Sweden are not. Finally after brexit they are realizing there are a lot of struggles for the rest of us. Can you imagine having trouble getting a visa or a mortgage? Would be nice for an actually differing perspective.
  • dmb koala
    Good commentary on current events
    The local staff provide good insights into what’s going on in Sweden, especially for those of us who aren’t yet fluent in Swedish
  • Cali-Koa
    Nice while it lasted- Oh! It is back.
    Update: One star and Five stars. I’m trying to be as inconsistent as this show’s output. When they put out an episode it is even-handed, informative, and generally wonderful. However, don’t get too excited about the next episode, you may be waiting for a week or 10 months. Who can say?
  • sharicohenlind
    Finally!
    Glad you came back to producing a new episode!
  • joshjbrock
    Informative
    Great podcast- hope it returns!
  • wompedy
    Informative, concise, smart, and all round great podcast
    As a non-Swedish-speaking American in Sweden, it can be hard to stay up-to-date with local goings on. The Local is a great resource, of course, as is Swedish Radio’s English daily news podcast, but it’s just a few minutes of headlines. I like how Sweden in Focus looks at current events and life in Sweden from a different vantage point, with multiple voices discussing things from both a journalistic and human perspective. The episodes aren’t too long so it’s easy to keep up, but they’re long enough to provide ample value. The production value is high, and the ad reads aren’t too frequent or annoying. All round it’s a fantastic podcast, and I hope it continues!
  • Derlemke
    Weekly show! High Quality and Awesome
    It's great to have a weekly show focused on Sweden. Hope to hear about hockey! Cheers from North Carolina. Mark
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