Stockholm is a State of Minds

Do you feel like you are not fitting in? In this episode our guest Lola Akinmade Åkerström talks about finding your voice and finding your place in a new culture. Lola has created her own super culture by combining the best parts of Nigerian, American and Swedish culture. Her message is that you are more than enough!Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Nigerian-American-Swedish storyteller. She's an international bestselling author with two novels, an award-winning travel book, and a book about the Swedish word ‘lagom’. As a photographer her work has appeared in such prestigious publications as National Geographic and has been named a Hasselblad Heroine 2022. More about Lola Akinmade Åkerström https://akinmade.com/ The photo project ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩ at Instagram @theafroswede Books by Lola Akinmade Åkerström: In Every Mirror She’s Black Everything is Not EnoughLagom: The Swedish Secret of Living WellDue North Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past two years, Sweden's application for NATO membership has been high on the political agenda. In this episode you will get the context for this historical change - Sweden going from being a neutral, non-aligned country to applying for NATO membership.To explain this complex twist, we have invited Robert Egnell, who is Vice-Chancellor of Swedish Defence University. He is a professor of leadership and command and control. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. Our guest will also talk about the current security situation in Sweden and in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode you will get to know the essentials about the Swedish job market, how to get a foot in the door and what benefits you get access to as an employee in Sweden. She also talks about the impact of unions and what the Swedish Model means for the entire Swedish economy. Networking is key to getting a job in Sweden and in this episode you will get some great tips on how to network like a pro in Sweden.The guest of this episode is Lee Wermelin, former chairman of one of Sweden's largest labour unions. With years of experience in sales and leadership, she has a great overview of the job market, but also invaluable insights into how to get in. Initiatives to speed-up the entrance to the Swedish job market for foreign-born academics:Jobbsprånget https://jobbspranget.se/Korta vägen https://academicum.se/korta-vagen/Swedish language training for academics:SIFA https://sifa.stockholm/ Networking initiatives for new people in Sweden:Yrkesdörren https://www.yrkesdorren.se/en/Kompis Sverige https://kompissverige.se/en/Svenska med baby https://svenskamedbaby.se/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ametist Azordegan is a Swedish hip hop expert and social entrepreneur. Listening to this episode will introduce you to a side of Swedish culture that may not be the first you encounter. Ametist's hip hop skills include recognising different hip hop sounds from different parts of Sweden. Ametist talks to Maria and Philip about the potential for academic research to study hip hop culture to understand what is going on in society, but also how hip hop in Sweden has changed over time. Juice Studio Foundation https://www.juicestudios.se/Ametist Azordegan is the founder and chairperson of the non-profit Juice Studio Foundation. Juice Studio Foundation creates life chances for young people in socially disadvantaged areas, using hip hop culture as the basis for all projects.A drop of midnight / En droppe midnatt a novel by Jason DiakitéThe hip hop artist Jason “Timbuktu” Diakité’s vivid and intimate journey through his own and his family’s history — from South Carolina slavery to twenty-first-century Sweden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Ulf Lindgren, who is a priest in the Church of Sweden, visits the podcast. Listen to when he tells about the history of Swedish Christianity and what role the Swedish church plays today in Swedish society. Together with Maria and Philip he reflects on the question if Swedes are the most secular people in the world? The three are also talking about how to find your faith community in Stockholm. In the episode you can also get several tips on where to find a faith community for your own values and believes. In the show notes below you can find names and addresses to the places mentioned in the episode, plus some not mentioned.Basic info: Faith Communities in Swedenhttps://www.myndighetensst.se/engelska/myndigheten-for-stod-till-trossamfund/research/religion-in-sweden/basic-info-faith-communities-in-sweden.htmlContact details to Faith Communities in Sweden (with government funding):https://www.myndighetensst.se/om-oss/kontakt/trossamfund-bidragsberattigade.htmlSome faith communities in Stockholm (mentioned in the episode):Church of England:The Church of St Peter and St Sigfrid, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 14.Catholic Church in Stockholm:Catholic Cathedral in Stockholm, Folkkungagatan 46 B, masses in Swedish, Latin, English, Italian, Spanish and Croatian.Sankta Eugenia, Kungsträdgårdsgatan 12 and some other spots. Masses in Swedish, Gheez, Polish, Arabic, and Phillipine.The Swedish Church in other languages:The German Church, Die Deutsche St. Gertruds Gemeinde in Stockholm, Svartmangatan 16 AThe Finnish Church, Tukholman suomalainen seurakunta, Slottsbacken 2B-CThe Orthodox Church in Stockholm:Greek Orthodox Church, Sankt Georgios Church, Birger Jarlsgatan 92.Serbian Orthodox Church, Sankt Sava, Bägerstavägen 68Jewish communities in Stockholm:The Great Synagogue of Stockholm (Masorti/Conservative), Wahrendorffgatan 3 BAdat Jeschurun (Orthodox), Bajit, Nybrogatan 19AAdat Jisrael – Stockholm’s Orthodox Synagogue at Södermalm (Orthodox)Muslim Communities in Stockholm:The Stockholm Central Mosque, Kapellgränd 10 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this intro episode to season II we meet our hosts Maria and Philip. Maria, who is Swedish by birth, but left a part of her heart abroad during her 15 years as an expat. And Philip, an American who found his place called home in Stockholm three years ago. They also explain the name of the podcast: Stockholm is a State of Minds. Let’s go! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Maria Fogelström Kylberg, CEO of Stockholms Akademiska Forum and the chief architect of Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN), joins the podcast. She tells the story behind and explains how SDCN supports and facilitates career development for partners and spouses of international employees in Stockholm. She also talks about the importance of friendships and a welcoming attitude. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the screen writer and novelist Hans Rosenfeldt when he visits the podcast and talks about Swedish TV. Hans has impressive experience as a screen writer for TV, and made an international breakthrough when he created the Scandinavian series The Bridge. He talks about TV-shows, describes why Swedish children's shows are so good, what it was like to participate in Masked Singer and why Swedes are watching Donald Duck at Christmas Eve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to James Savage, the CEO and publisher of The Local. He talks to Elisabeth and Julia about his daily job as a news provider to an international audience in Sweden. They talk about the importance of context to really understand what's going on in a new country, and how some parts of Swedishness take years to unpack. James also talks about how Stockholm has become more cosmopolitan since he moved here 20 years ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Petra Markgren Wangler, music journalist, documentary film director and TV producer, visits Elisabeth and Julia. Her introduction to Swedish pop music ranges from Swedish nature, melancholy, folk music and jazz to hit factories and Swedish tech companies. This helps to understand the unique sound that has made so many Swedish music artists and producers world famous. The conversation also touches on Petra's early years as a drummer in the optional and accessible Swedish music school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.