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Artwork for Sweden in Focus

Sweden in Focus

The Local
Sweden
NATO
Sweden Democrats
GANG VIOLENCE
Jimmie Åkesson
Inflation
Economy
Coffee Culture
Centre-Right Political Parties
European Union Elections
Sweden's Green Party
Tesla Strike
Advent Celebrations
Drug Policy Reform
Russia
Civil Rights Defenders
Immigrant Job Market In Sweden
Cost Of Living
Immigration
Crime

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 Savage, Emma... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes232Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentarySociety & CultureNews

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Artwork for Sweden in Focus

Latest Episodes

Join us for an end-of-year quiz as we look back at the stories that shaped Sweden in 2025. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. 

The year kicked off with revelations that Sweden's n... more

In this week's episode we talk about Christmas and how to celebrate like a Swede.

We also discuss why prominent Moderate Party politicians are arguing amongst themselves about the merits of government policies that are forcing immigrants with jobs t... more

Voters in Sweden will decide next year whether to keep the current coalition government bolstered by the far-right Sweden Democrats or switch to a more left-leaning alternative.

The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange caught up recently with Jonas ... more

In this week's episode we talk about why immigrants in Sweden are often lumped into categories and what needs to be done to forge real connections, and we look at what Indian readers are telling us about their relationship with Sweden.

Also, after t... more

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Recent Guests

Faisal Khan
Journalist and engineer from Afghanistan
Episode: How can Sweden get better at integrating immigrants?
Mandy Pipher
A Canadian writer based in Umeå, exploring the lifestyle in Northern Sweden.
The Local
Episode: 'I hate to be stereotypical but the light in northern Sweden is amazing'
Mandy Pfeiffer
Canadian writer based in Umeå, highlighting northern Sweden's cultural aspects
Episode: Popular Lucia songs, and why does northern Sweden face so much prejudice?
Richard Orange
Commentator and journalist
The Local
Episode: Why The Local is investigating Sweden's immigrant detention centres
Maria Vestelin
Author of the audit report from the Swedish National Audit Office
Episode: Why The Local is investigating Sweden's immigrant detention centres
Denise Vesterberg
Head of the Sweden Democrats Youth Wing, Ung Svenskarna
Sweden Democrats
Episode: Why The Local is investigating Sweden's immigrant detention centres
Sasan Kazemian
An Iranian doctor who quit his job in Sweden due to frustrations over the work permit extension process.
Episode: Talent deportation: 'It's a lose-lose game for Sweden and Swedish taxpayers'
Ibra Idrees
Restaurant owner in Malmö who shared his struggles with the migration agency
Humuson
Episode: What's too expensive in Sweden (and what do you miss when you're not here)?
Tomas Fridh
migration lawyer with over 20 years of experience working with asylum cases.
Fridh Advokatbyrå, Gothenburg
Episode: Sweden’s teen deportation problem ‘extremely easy’ to fix

Host

Paul O'Mahony
Host discussing Swedish current events and societal topics, providing engaging commentary and facilitating discussions with various guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 402 ratings
  • 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
    Sweden4 months 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
    India8 months ago
  • Causal racist and western superiorilism

    Really disappointed that people call non-western people uncivilized in this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Directusy
    Swedena year ago
  • Great podcast

    Informative and well presented. Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    evaaos
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Great weekly podcast about news in Sweden

    I’ve been listening to this since the first episode and I absolutely recommend it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Karthik-m
    India2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the informative nature and engaging presentation of the content.
Feedback often highlights the podcast's educational value for both expats and those interested in Swedish culture.
Many enjoy the casual tone and personal stories shared by the hosts, which make complex issues more relatable.
There are criticisms regarding perceived biases in political discussions, particularly related to immigration.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Popular Lucia songs, and why does northern Sweden face so much prejudice?
Q: What kind of prejudices do Swedes in the rest of the country tend to have about Norland?
James shares that there are prejudices regarding the perception of Northern Sweden as empty, with not much happening other than mining and reindeers.
Popular Lucia songs, and why does northern Sweden face so much prejudice?
Q: What do you think of when you think of Norland?
Becky mentions reindeer, snow, and hydroelectric power, and describes Northern Sweden as calm and vast.
'I hate to be stereotypical but the light in northern Sweden is amazing'
Q: How did you end up in Umeå?
Mandy Pipher moved to Umeå because her husband is from there and they sought a better quality of life after living in Toronto, especially for raising their child.
What's too expensive in Sweden (and what do you miss when you're not here)?
Q: How have business groups responded to the proposal to raise the limit to 90 rather than 100 percent of the median salary?
Business groups are somewhat relieved that the threshold is not set at 100%, but still view the increase to 90% as worse than the previous system.
Cricket in Sweden: how can an immigrant-powered sport attract new players?
Q: Why is it interesting for you as politicians to get people interested in cricket?
Mattias Karlsson noted the importance of understanding sports that are growing fast in Sweden, particularly among the Indian and Pakistani diasporas.

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?

This podcast focuses on current events and cultural insights within Sweden, addressing significant news stories and issues impacting the daily lives of its residents. The discussions are driven by a rotating cast of knowledgeable hosts, with a blend of professional journalists and local experts providing varied perspectives. Episodes encompass topics ranging from immigration and cultural integration to political dynamics and economic trends, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of what shapes Swedish society today. The conversational style often allows for humor and personal anecdotes, enhancing the listening experience and making complex subjects more accessible to its audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sweden in Focus?

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How many listeners does Sweden in Focus get?

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What are the audience demographics for Sweden in Focus?

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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. Swedish podcast for beginners (Lätt svenska med Oskar)
3. The Audio Long Read
4. The Europeans | European news, politics and culture
5. The Documentary Podcast

How many episodes of Sweden in Focus are there?

Sweden in Focus launched 5 years ago and published 232 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?

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What guests have appeared on Sweden in Focus?

Recent guests on Sweden in Focus include:

1. Faisal Khan
2. Mandy Pipher
3. Mandy Pfeiffer
4. Richard Orange
5. Maria Vestelin
6. Denise Vesterberg
7. Sasan Kazemian
8. Ibra Idrees

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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