Rephonic
Artwork for Sweden in Focus

Sweden in Focus

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

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 weeklyEpisodes293Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sweden in Focus

Latest Episodes

This week: Sweden in shock after school sword attack, Sweden Democrats say no to tactical voting, Migration Agency weighs in on Brexit deportations, and what do foreign parents find strange about Swedish schools?

Host James Savage is joined this wee... more

For a recent article on the real-life effects of Sweden's immigration laws on families in Sweden, The Local's Mandy Pipher spoke with a Swedish-American couple who are both biological scientists and living in Uppsala.

The pair met a decade ago when ... more

In this week's episode: Sweden Democrats campaign hard, Brexit deportations, citizenship tests and the "caterpillar from hell". 

With just over three weeks to go until Sweden’s election, the campaign is intensifying. But reaching voters is trickier ... more

YouTube

Gustav Magnuson and Luisa Fernandez met in Costa Rica in 2018 when Gustav was there on a cycling trip of Central and South America. The two felt such a strong and immediate connection that Gustav never made it farther south on his cycling tour. Inste... more

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

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?
Gustav Magnuson
Swedish national, husband of Luisa, resident in Sweden
Episode: 'I'll do everything I can to stay in Sweden because this is our home'
Luisa Fernandez
Swedish-Costa Rican resident of Stockholm
Episode: 'I'll do everything I can to stay in Sweden because this is our home'
John Klopson
Chef at Sundsgården, Helsingborg; LostChefInSweden on Instagram and TikTok
Sundsgården, Helsingborg; LostChefInSweden
Episode: What this US chef loves about Swedish food
Scott Reisfield
Greta Garbo's great nephew, author of Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman
Author, Garbo studies
Episode: What was Greta Garbo really like?
Johan Falk
Leading AI and society analyst, former Skolverket executive
Independent analyst and author
Episode: Is Sweden flunking at AI?
Henrik Torehammar
Political commentator for Svenska Dagbladet and Politikand team member
Svenska Dagbladet
Episode: Almedalen special: Is Sweden's government toast?
Patrick Gallen
Spokesperson for Fair Transition
Fair Transition
Episode: Legal fight begins on Swedish citizenship rejections
Paola Claudio
19-year-old student who came to Sweden at 15
Independent student in Sweden
Episode: Sweden's teen deportations – 'I was terrified I wouldn't get a visa'

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 412 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 States3 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
    Sweden5 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 States5 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.

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.
'A mistake to commit to a government with Sweden Democrats'
Q: What makes the pairing system so important for parliamentary votes?
The guest explains that the pairing system is designed to ensure vote outcomes reflect what would happen if all members were present, maintaining fairness in situations with absences.
Week of chaos in Swedish politics after citizenship vote scandal
Q: How likely is it that the government can secure a new vote or revocation under the current committee dynamics?
The host and analysts suggest that while the government wants a resolution, the Sweden Democrats appear firm in their stance, and without a broader quittening agreement or changes that preserve the government's majority, a new vote is unlikely in the near term.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sweden in Focus?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sweden in Focus. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sweden in Focus and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sweden in Focus get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Sweden in Focus, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Sweden in Focus?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sweden in Focus, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Sweden in Focus have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sweden in Focus has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sweden in Focus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sweden in Focus:

1. Simple Swedish Podcast
2. Learn Swedish with Katrin
3. Swedish podcast for beginners (Lätt svenska med Oskar)
4. Inside Europe
5. Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

How many episodes of Sweden in Focus are there?

Sweden in Focus launched 5 years ago and published 293 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sweden in Focus?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sweden in Focus from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Sweden in Focus?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sweden in Focus. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Sweden in Focus?

Recent guests on Sweden in Focus include:

1. Nicola Stanlik
2. Gustav Magnuson
3. Luisa Fernandez
4. John Klopson
5. Scott Reisfield
6. Johan Falk
7. Henrik Torehammar
8. Patrick Gallen

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days