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Artwork for Sweden in Focus

Sweden in Focus

The Local
Sweden
Sweden Democrats
Immigration
Work Permits
Swedish Language
Immigration Policy
Migration Agency
Northvolt
Social Democrats
Teen Deportations
Immigration Laws
NATO
Swedish Vocabulary
Centre Party
Swedish Migration Agency
Ukraine
Stockholm
Högskola Provet
Christian Democrats
Economy

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 James Savage chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local Sweden’s Emma Löfgren, Richa... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes306Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Sweden in Focus

Latest Episodes

This week: Tortuous efforts to form a government, plans to stop teen deportations, how new rules on family reunification could make life harder for university researchers, and what do The Local’s readers miss most when living in Sweden?

The four par... more

Not yet a member of The Local? Join now with this special offer for podcast listeners.

Gift Blessing is only 24 years old, but has already achieved an enormous amount. He is a rapper, an author, a newspaper columnist, and a poet.

He came to Sweden... more

YouTube

Magdalena Andersson was acclaimed as the winner of Sweden’s election. Four parties – adding up to a majority – said they wanted her to be prime minister, and she was charged by the speaker with forming a government. Yet on Monday she threw in the tow... more

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Not yet a member of The Local? Join now with this special offer for podcast listeners.

Sweden's government tightened rules for citizenship earlier this year without transitional rules for people who had already applied. The new rules require eight ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Fredrik Löndahl
Chief Judge, Migration Court in Malmö
Migration Court in Malmö
Episode: ‘Disturbing’ waiting times irrelevant in key Swedish citizenship ruling
Nicholas Aylott
Associate Political Professor at Södertörn University
Södertörn University
Episode: 'Sweden's Centre Party is actually in a very weak bargaining position'
Ludvig Aspling
Immigration spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats
Sweden Democrats
Episode: LISTEN: What are the Sweden Democrats' plans for immigrants in Sweden?
Ida Karkiainen
Immigration Spokesperson for the Social Democrats
Social Democrats
Episode: LISTEN: What are the Social Democrats' plans for immigrants in Sweden?
Pedro Veliza
Originally from Portugal; first-time voter in general election in Sweden
Episode: Sweden's election is turning into a nail-biter
Becky Waterton
Malmö-based editor of The Local Denmark, guest on this episode
The Local Denmark
Episode: Why the Sweden Democrats refuse to rescue their Liberal allies
Anna-Karin Palm
Biologist and wife of Chris Stamper, discussed as the subject of the visa case
(mentioned as partner to Chris Stamper)
Episode: 'Want scientists to stay in Sweden? Don't kick them out in the first place'
Chris Stamper
Biologist, researcher at Karolinska Institutet, discussed as the visa case subject
Karolinska Institutet
Episode: 'Want scientists to stay in Sweden? Don't kick them out in the first place'
Nicola Stanlik
British-born resident in Sweden affected by post-Brexit residency rules
Episode: How hard is it to find a job in Sweden with a foreign name?

Hosts

James Savage
Host and steering voice, provides structure and introduces topics.
Richard Orange
Co-host, contributes political and policy analysis, often from a regional perspective.
Mandy Pipher
Co-host, adds cultural and policy commentary with a focus on migration and societal issues.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 414 ratings
  • Used to love it

    The new Umeå addition has the most irritating habit of laughing/half chuckling all the time. Huh huh huh of course huh huh. Why?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    JengaFromTheRock
    United States4 months ago
  • Superb… but

    Content is great and provides really good updates on the current situation in Sweden BUT why oh why do we get tiny 2 pr 3 minute trailers and have to suffer all the attendant adverts and constant pleas to join the plus service?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Marks in the Sand
    Sweden6 months ago
  • On point and so informative

    Absolutely wolf this pod cast down the nanosecond they get released. Great chemistry between hosts that makes my horrible commute bearable. I’m not a Swede or live in Sweden but I love to learn about the culture of places I visit and I visited Sweden a bunch of times. Cheers and thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LTFAD
    United States7 months ago
  • Disappointing

    I’ve listened to this podcast for a while now. Sometimes it’s really helpful and informative but mostly it’s just some British people - often men - opining. Take the most recent episode about the cultural canon. No interviews. No critical insights from anyone who isn’t from England - Paul, thank you for the questions but get stuck in. No one who interrogates the idea that creating an exclusive canon (the creator of which has owned his politics on this very show) might exclude the migrant experie... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JoelHorwood
    Swedena year ago
  • Moved away from Balanced Discussion

    I have been a listener and a reader of The Local for 6 years and I am disheartened to see how much the publication has moved away from a balanced discussion to extreme left

    I am an immigrant myself but I find the discussions here so biased. Podcast never acknowledges crimes being committed, problems that illegal Immigration has caused in Sweden. It’s always blindly defending Sweden’s failed migration policy.

    That is why it fails to present a true reflection of how Swedish society feels. I fac... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Randomvk34
    Indiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Balanced and informative—great for expats and locals alike.
Some listeners perceive a bias in framing and seek more diverse guest perspectives.
High-quality, thoughtful discussion with engaging hosts and guests.
Ads and trailers can be frequent; some listeners find them disruptive.
Consistently informative and accessible to non-Swedish speakers.”

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'Sweden's Centre Party is actually in a very weak bargaining position'
Q: Why did the government parties perform better than expected and what went wrong for the two biggest parties on the right and left?
The panel suggests vote-churning and strategic voting helped the government parties, while attention shifted from core issues to other topics; the Sweden Democrats faced a weaker campaign and the Social Democrats ran a defensive campaign, affecting their gains.
LISTEN: What are the Sweden Democrats' plans for immigrants in Sweden?
Q: What were Ludvig Aspling's reflections on the last four years under the Tidö agreement?
He says the alliance achieved about 80% of its aims, especially in tightening asylum and work-migration rules, while acknowledging some reforms were not fully detailed but arguing the broad direction was correct and necessary for the country.
What this US chef loves about Swedish food
Q: Is there a single Swedish dish or ingredient that surprised you the most since moving here?
Eggarkakar stood out as a remarkable find—its preparation in historic cast-iron pans, the sweety-buttery topping, and its place in Swedish breakfast culture made it feel both ancient and fresh, a dish I instantly fell in love with and now associate closely with my experience in Sweden.
What this US chef loves about Swedish food
Q: What is it that you're seeing there that might be down to the Swedish influence that might not be quite obvious for people?
There are clear throughlines from immigrant kitchens in Sweden, like meat dishes and pastries, where traditional Swedish techniques and local ingredients blend with foreign influences to create recognizable comfort foods that still feel distinctly Swedish, such as certain pork cuts and regional breads that carry a heritage from nearby culinary cultures.
'Sweden's next migration minister will have a big cleaning job to do'
Q: When did you decide to pursue a new vote on the rules?
We initially tried utskottinitiativ, but it was voted down, so we chose the emergency motion to force a fresh vote given the urgency and the need to protect the integrity of the voting process.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Location
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sweden in Focus

What is Sweden in Focus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly, English-language deep dive into Sweden's current affairs, with a focus on immigration policy, politics, economy, and culture. Conversations blend policy analysis, on-the-ground experiences, and expert commentary, often featuring guests who provide lived or professional perspectives on migration, citizenship, and social issues. The show is known for clear takeaways, timely discussion around elections and policy changes, and a balanced panel dynamic, though occasional critiques note a bias in framing. Listeners likely include expatriates, policymakers, and professionals who want practical context for Swedish developments and how they might affect work, residency, and everyday life in Sweden.

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How many subscribers and views does Sweden in Focus have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Sweden in Focus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sweden in Focus:

1. Simple Swedish Podcast
2. Swedish podcast for beginners (Lätt svenska med Oskar)
3. Learn Swedish with Katrin
4. 99% Invisible
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of Sweden in Focus are there?

Sweden in Focus launched 5 years ago and published 306 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sweden in Focus?

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What guests have appeared on Sweden in Focus?

Recent guests on Sweden in Focus include:

1. Fredrik Löndahl
2. Nicholas Aylott
3. Ludvig Aspling
4. Ida Karkiainen
5. Pedro Veliza
6. Becky Waterton
7. Anna-Karin Palm
8. Chris Stamper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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