Danish culture can be pretty confusing, especially if you are not from Denmark.
This podcast is on a mission to resolve cultural confusion in the country, and help anyone understand how people in this unique country think and behave.
Co-hosts Sam Floy (British podcaster, "The Outsider") and Josefine Volqvartz (Danish TV journalist, "The Insider") speak to experts and members of the public to understand and explain why something so normal in Danish culture is confusing to outsiders.
Rather than simply point fun, or say something like "Danes have an ironic sense of humour" we go deep, by speaking to experts to explain why.
Importantly, this show is as much for Danes as it is non-Danes.
What The Denmark is an educational, entertaining and inclusive show where we take a curious look at things that seem normal in Denmark, and get to the bottom of why.
The show is aimed at everyone with a connection to Denmark, and people around the world looking to learn more about the happiest country in the world.
If you've ever felt that you want to understand more about Denmark and Danish culture, then this is the podcast for you!
Learn more at https://www.whatthedenmark.com/
If you’ve listened to our episode on Dating Danes and have been really applying yourself, you might be starting to think about Danish weddings…
Both Sam and Josefine have (separately!) had Danish weddings that are a little bit different to how other countries do it. But what are some of the things to expect when going to a Danish wedding?
In this bonus episode of What the Denmark we’re speaking to social historian Caroline Nyvang and Anna Askov, editor of Gift ved første blik or “Married at First Sight” about Danish wedding traditions.
Some of things this episode covers:
- Danish marriage traditions from the 1800s-1900s
- Why do people get married - or not - in Denmark today?
- How ‘Married at First Sight’ has become such a popular Danish export
- What does a traditional wedding day look like in Denmark? And where did these traditions come from?
- How easy is it to get married in Denmark? - Ærø “Europe’s Las Vegas”
- Why are Danish divorce rates so high?
If you have any thoughts on this episode please do comment on our Instagram - we’d love to hear what you think!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by the Talent to a Green Denmark project who administers the A State of Denmark brand.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram
In this last episode of the current season we give you everything you need to know ahead of coming to Denmark for the first time.
Sam and Josefine are joined in the studio with two excellent guests sharing their insights and tips on how to orient your first days and weeks in the land of Denmark..!
Kay Xander Mellish the author of the new book "How to Work in Denmark: Tips for finding a job, succeeding at work, and understanding your Danish boss". She is the voice behind the long-running "How to Live in Denmark" podcast and blog.
Joseph Yamoah is a project consultant at Maersk (a Danish multinational) and moved to Denmark full-time from Ghana after studying at the University of Copenhagen.
The four discuss all sorts of interesting things to help you on the practical elements of being in Denmark: navigate from the airport, avoid getting run over by a bike and even building friendships with local Danes.
In the episode we discussed various apps/ services that are useful to know about
- Elderlearn (learn Danish speaking to elderly Danish people)
- Tivoli (amusement park in the centre of Copenhagen)
- DOT app (public transport tickets)
- DSB app (for train times/ tickets)
- Citymapper (for real-time travel info)
- Donkey Republic and Lime (for bike rentals)
We also featured a question from Derek who runs the Robe Trotting Youtube channel (all about things that are confusing about Denmark) and spoke about Joseph’s Copenhagen University article: https://studies.ku.dk/masters/global-development/interviews/joseph-yamoah/
If you enjoyed this episode/ season, please do consider giving us a rating/ review on your podcast app, it really helps in having new people discover the show + you can let us know if there are any topics you’d like us to do in the future!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram
For a culture that is normally so practical and matter-of-fact (see Separate Duvets), Danes seem to find it surprisingly difficult to talk about relationships.
Compared with other cultures, it’s rare in Denmark to ask someone out on a date in person (unless drunk) and there’s often missing vocabulary around defining what relationships are (there’s no direct translation for “dating”).
All this means that non-Danes (and to some extent, Danes) can really struggle with navigating the world of relationships in Denmark.
In this episode we seek to explore why, and offer advice on what to do!
Sam and Josefine are joined in the studio by Line Kirsten Nikolajsen, a radio presenter at DR (the Danish national broadcaster) who used to present Giftekniv, a show all about helping young people in the world of dating.
In the episode we cover:
- Advice on how to approach a Danish person you think looks hot
- How to do a first date in Denmark
- A warning on saying “I love you” to a Dane
- Differences between heterosexual and homosexual relationships
- The gender (in)equality in Danish relationships
- Danes (perhaps) being more comfortable dating friends than strangers
- Experiences dating in Denmark vs abroad
And several times investigating the sense that Danes (as a general rule) struggle to talk about romantic feelings, and how that is reflected in the Danish language.
We had some additional help on this episode from student journalist Frida Rottländer who joined us in the studio, and Sue-Angel Nyleti who conducted additional research.
A few things that we spoke about include
- Dating advice from Maroua Sajeb
- Dating Without Borders video “What not to do on a date in Denmark”
If you have any thoughts on this episode please do comment on our Instagram - we’d love to hear what you think!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram
In the 1970s, Denmark was like most other Western countries when it came to generating energy: the majority came from high-polluting, non-renewable resources.
When oil crises hit after OPEC switched off oil supply, Denmark, and indeed much of the world, was hit with huge economic and social pain.
Once the flow oil came back, many countries began to return to their economies running on fossil fuels and, to some extent, it was business as usual.
But not in Denmark…
In this episode, we take a look at Denmark’s “Green Transition” - how (and why) the country took the hard path towards creating a low-carbon, resource-efficient society.
Sam speaks with Finn Mortensen the Executive Director of State of Green, a Danish public-private partnership that exists to support and explain Denmark’s transition “from black to green”.
The two talk about:
- Why Denmark (unlike other countries) acted on transitioning away from “black” energy in the aftermath of the 1970s oil crisis
- How Denmark’s public and private sectors collaborated to ensure a just transition in former oil cities
- The Danish psyche of resource preservation demonstrated by toddlers turning off the taps
- An alternative history of Denmark discovering the oil deposits of Norway
- The mistakes Denmark made, and what they have learned from them
If you’re looking at the current energy crisis and seeking inspiration for how countries can move from being reliant on fossil fuels (controlled by unpredictable governments) then give this episode a listen!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark
It seems that one of the defining characteristics of being Danish is to feel you are a member of a small nation.
During the Viking and Middle Age periods, Denmark was a relative superpower, with territory spanning modern day Norway, south Sweden and northern Germany.
A series of failed military campaigns during the 1800s however meant that much of this land was lost, and my the 1860s, only a fraction was left.
Faced with a crisis, the remaining Danish population had to define what it now meant to be Danish.
They could no longer rely on the narrative that Danes were great warriors (after such humiliating losses on the battlefield) and so instead had to define what it meant to be Danish.
The result? A constitution and general psyche premised on tolerance, equality and co-operation.
To explore this story, and what this means for modern day Denmark, we speak with critical historian Asser Amdisen (who was behind this viral video of explaining the whole of Danish History in (almost) 1 minute).
He also brings in a critical view of Danish society today: saying how Danes think they are better than the stories they tell themselves.
Sam and Josefine discuss these points, and also bring in anecdotes of their own, such as the story of the Danish Protest Pig (pictured) that acted as a symbol of Danish resistance for the population when living under Prussian rule.
If you're interested in learning about Denmark's past, and how this influences the present day, then we hope this episode helps!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark
In the 1950s, a Danish woman, Ella Flatau, began taking her kids on walks in the forest to teach them about the world.
Soon, other parents asked if their kids could join, and before long, they formalised the arrangement, creating the first "forest kindergarten" in the country, and possibly the world.
Fast forward to today, and most of us have a sense that it's good for young children (and ourselves!) to spend time in nature, but that it can be hard to do.
In Denmark, and increasingly around the world, there is a growing interest in the physical and mental benefits of children being in nature - whether that be learning to balance by climbing trees, or experiencing the mental calmness of wide, open, green spaces.
In this episode Sam goes to visit Rikke Rosengren, the founder of the Bonsai Institute skovbørnehave (forest kindergarden).
Rikke is the author of the book Child of Nature and trains teachers around the world how to incorporate more nature into their learning institutions.
Rikke shows Sam around the school and answers his (long list of) questions. As a new parent himself, understanding how they work is no longer an abstract concept, but something he is considering for his own daughter…
We also get a UK perspective, speaking with Tim Evans, who’s been a forest school leader at Alton Park primary school, about how even small amounts of nature based learning can do wonders for children and adults.
If you've ever wondered about the practicalities of letting children roam free in nature (with adult supervision), or need a little nudge towards spending more time in green spaces, then this is for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark
In this episode Sam is speaking to Anne Jamison and John Bennett, a couple from the USA who moved to Denmark from Dubai last year.
Anne and John share their thoughts on:
- Work/life balance in Denmark and how this differs from US culture
- Denmark being a “low anxiety” place to work
- The tribulations in getting things delivered to Denmark over the summer
And many more fun, interesting things that come from moving to a new country.
If you're interested to be featured on What The Denmark then be in touch via here: https://whatthedenmark.com/contact
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark
Around the world house prices are rising far higher than incomes meaning "ordinary people" are unable to afford to own a place to live.
In Denmark, andelsboliger ("co-operative housing") offers a solution.
With roots in the 1800s, it is an approach whereby people come together to collectively own a common asset (in this case a property, such as an apartment block) and then collectively reap the benefits.
In the episode, Sam and Josefine speak with Stefanie Høy Brink, curator and ethnographer at Copenhagen City Museum and Mikkel Høegh, housing economist at the danish bank, Jyske Bank.
The four discuss:
- The historical precedent of the cooperative movement, and how it was applied to housing
- How cooperative housing offers the ability to share resources with neighbours
- The technicalities of how the system works, and why prices can remain low
And ultimately how sustainable the system is, with its tension between self-interest for the owners of andelsboliger and the desire to maintain a system that is fair for future generations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark
We're back with Season 3!
In this episode we tackle Janteloven or "The Law of Jante".
In 1933, a Danish-Norwegian author called Axel Sandemose wrote a book describing a fictional town in rural Denmark.
The people of the town were very set in their ways, and didn't like it when individuals tried to break from the norms, or think that they were in any way special.
This fictional (satirical) piece of work has come to define how many in Scandinavia see their lives today: people are sceptical of individual success, and prefer to "be average" rather than aspire to stand out from the crowd.
Of course, it's not that simple, but knowing about this undercurrent of conformity can help explain why people in Denmark are seemingly content (or frustrated by!) following the crowd.
We are joined by writer Michael Booth (author of The Almost Nearly Perfect People) and also speak with Søren Ledet, co-founder of Geranium, a Danish restaurant that has been voted as the best restaurant in the world.
Michael shares his experiences of getting to grips with Janteloven and even learning to love it (on occasion). In the episode we reference this article he wrote for The Guardian that caused a bit of a storm.
Søren discusses how breaking free from Janteloven has allowed Geranium to achieve the next level of culinary greatness, but still without fully discarding the central law of Jante - "You are not better than anyone else".
There's much that's discussed on the pros and cons of social conformity, as well as many anecdotes from life in Denmark.
We hope you enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.
Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark
When temperatures drop, the last thing on most people's minds is to go outside, strip off and take a plunge into near freezing water.
That is, however, what a large percentage of the Danish population do each winter.
Why on earth would someone choose to do this?
Well, it turns out that the benefits to doing so are pretty convincing, and not just for the physical aspects of helping you burn more calories.
Sam and Josefine are joined this week in the studio by journalist Saskia Weneit.
Saskia spoke to many experts and enthusiasts in researching this topic, including:
- Jørgen Hedevang: Chairman of the Danish Winter Bathing Association
- Mette Thomsen: Danish ice-swimming champion
- Helle Gollers: a winter bathing "addict"
During the episode we cover all sorts of interesting aspects of winter bathing:
- What it actually is
- The physical health benefits of winter bathing
- The mental health benefits of winter bathing
- The history of winter bathing in Denmark
- How it has entered local politics
- How you can get started
- How to winter bathe safely
as well as Sam and Saskia's experiences winter bathing as they try (unsuccessfully) to convince Josefine to try it out...
Thanks to ECO Hotels for hosting us at Guldsmeden Hotel in Copenhagen.
Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram
Note that this is the last episode of Season Two of What The Denmark - we hope you've enjoyed it!
If you've enjoyed the show, please do leave a rating/ review - it's a great way to support what we are doing, especially as we speak to potential sponsors for the show.
We hope to have more episodes for you soon!
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, citizens' trust in their governments has declined all across Europe, and around the world.
Denmark, however, stands out as a country where trust levels have increased.
But why?
This is the topic of this week's episode + an exploration into the country's remarkable high levels of trust between people.
We discuss:
- The game theory of strangers trusting other people
- The historical roots of Denmark's strong independent institutions
- What "default trust" feels like to outsiders
- How other countries can encourage trust amongst citizens
- The upsides of trust: efficiency, oxytocin
- The downsides of trust:; how to combat it
and more broadly an exploration of "the trust dividend" that is felt from a society where the default setting is to trust one another.
In this episode we spoke with three excellent guests
- Peter Mühlmann, CEO of Trustpilot
- Gert Tinggaard Svendsen, Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University
- Kathy Borys Siddiqui, a Polish/ American expat in Denmark for the past 13 years and founder of Active Action
Note that the image is of a roadside stand on the Danish island of Bornholm where members of the public are trusted to pay for the items available. (Sam took the pic whilst on holiday there last year)
Thanks to ECO Hotels for hosting us at Guldsmeden Hotel in Copenhagen.
Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram
Danish food culture has an outsized impact on the world stage.
For a country with less than 0.1% of the world's population, Denmark boasts the two best restaurants in the world and has a culinary movement that is the envy of chefs and kitchens around the world.
But it wasn't always that way...
In fact, there was a very distinct turning point when Danish (and more broadly Nordic) food became "New".
In 2004 a group of restauranteurs and food experts gathered in Copenhagen to write an outline of how they were going to revolutionise the region's food industry, much in the way the film and TV industry had done.
The result was The Manifesto for the New Nordic Kitchen.
Two of the chefs present were René Redzepi (Head Chef of Noma, now the #1 restaurant in the world) and Claus Meyer (food entrepreneur).
In this episode Sam speaks with Jonas Astrup, head of product innovation at Meyers Madhus ("Meyers Food House" - the company Claus founded) to encourage more people to get interested in cooking and food.
Sam and Jonas talk about:
- The history of the New Nordic Cuisine movement
- What "old" Danish food practices valued
- What it looks like in practice
- How the founding principles are becoming increasingly relevant to the sustainability agenda
- How anyone can use
- Jonas' inspiration for working in food
- Challenges to overcome in tackling e.g. food waste
and how methods such as fermentation are becoming increasingly more popular as a way to create the umami flavour from plants.
You can learn more about Jonas and Meyers Madhus at: https://meyers.dk/
Thanks to Hotel Mayfair in Central Copenhagen for hosting us for the recording. You can get 25% off your stay by using the code WTD at checkout
Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram
Guki is originally from Georgia (the country, not the US state), and moved to Denmark for studies after growing up fascinated by Scandinavia.
This is a different type of episode to our usual ones, where we speak with people are learning about Danish culture after moving to Denmark.
These interviews, we feel, are a great way to learn practical advice from others adapting to Denmark, but also to get fresh perspectives on things that seem peculiar to outsiders.
Guki and Sam talk about a variety of different topics, including:
- Guki's experience growing up during conflicts in Georgia
- Similarities between Georgia and Denmark (rice pudding)
- Differences (approach to drinking; people volunteering in Denmark; how Danes queue)
- Advice for people new to Denmark
as well as how Guki's parents are still worried about her cycling.
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/
Do you have some interesting advice to share?
Be in touch via the contact form on the website + subscribe to the What The Denmark newsletter (via the website) where you'll receive details of how to be interviewed on the show.
We'd also love to hear what you think of these types of episode. Should we do more? Let us know!
As winter approaches, you might spot an unusual sight on the streets of Denmark: fashionable people (mostly women) wearing an all-in-one ski suit worn predominantly by toddlers.
These ski suits (or rather "flight suits") have become a fashion trend in Denmark in recent years, and they show no signs of stopping.
Sam and Josefine discuss the past, present and future of this trend with lifestyle expert Julia Lahme, and what it says about Danish culture as a whole.
We discuss:
- How flyverdragter are linked to the importance placed by Danes on fresh air
- The history of flyverdragter - from shipyard apparel to fashion item
- Why it is deemed a human right (kind of) for small children to have flyverdragter in Denmark
- Flyverdragter in other countries, and how it is a growing export market
- General fashion trends, especially as the Covid pandemic finishes
Find out more from Julia via: https://julialahme.dk/
Thanks to The Dalset for sharing flyverdragter we referenced in this episode, head to https://thedalset.com/ to see more of their flightsuits and how you can get one too.
Thanks also to Eco Hotels for hosting us in their Guldsmeden Hotel in Islands Brygge, Copenhagen. Learn more: https://guldsmedenhotels.com/
Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram
Danish culture is premised on various values such as trust, equality and respect for privacy.
Whilst this has many virtues, from an outsider perspective, this can also appear to play out in scenarios where Danes come across as... well, a bit rude.
For example, it's not natural for Danish people to hold the door open for each other, or to offer help for someone struggling to take a baby stroller off a train.
In this episode Sam and Josefine are joined by Danish anthropologist Dennis Nørmark.
We talk about a whole range of scenarios in Danish culture that can seem perplexing to outsiders, but begin to make sense when viewed through the Danish prism (for example, buying your own birthday cake on your birthday?!)
We discuss various other things such as:
- How whether cultures seem cold/ rude is linked to the sense of privacy
- How Denmark (and Scandinavian countries) are in fact living a sort of extreme individualism
- Why Danish people won't instinctively help people struggling in public
- How Danes view specific reciprocity vs generalised reciprocity in other cultures
- How the trust in Denmark means there's not the need to "get to know" people you do business with
- How the smiley face is the Danish word for please
- Giving and receiving gifts
- The fear (or not) of being laughed at
You can learn more about Dennis' work at: https://dennisnormark.dk/
Thanks to Hotel Mayfair in Central Copenhagen for hosting us for the recording. You can get 25% off your stay by using the code WTD at checkout
Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram
David Heinemeier Hansson is a tech entrepreneur and internationally successful racing driver. Anyone who has worked in computer programming will likely have come across Ruby on Rails. Well, David invented it.
David is the author of several business books with his American Basecamp business partner, Jason Fried including Rework, Remote and It Doesn’t Have To Be Crazy at Work. He writes frequently about the importance of simplicity and work life balance in the working (and especially tech) world.
In this conversation, Josefine and Sam speak with David about his experiences working/ living in the US and now back in Denmark (where he grew up).
We cover:
- How Denmark is a country made for kids compared the US
- The American "enthusiasm for newness"
- The Danish conservatism (both positives and negatives)
- The effects of the lack of societal hierarchy in Denmark
- How Basecamp's company philosophy is inherently shaped by David's Danish upbringing
- What Denmark can learn from the world
- What the world can learn from Denmark
Thank you to the wonderful Hotel d'Angleterre for hosting us for the recording. If you ever visit Copenhagen, try to go there.
Learn more about What The Denmark via:
www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram
The initial stumbling block for a lot of non-Danes speaking Danish is being able to say things in a (somewhat) comprehensible manner, and understanding what others are saying back to you.
Danes are notorious amongst their Scandinavian counterparts for mumbling, earning the not so flattering reputation of sounding like they speak with potatoes in their mouth...
In this episode we understand why this is!
We talk about what makes the Danish language special, including:
- Vowels, vowels, vowels: three extra letters (å/æ/ø); a vowel-heavy language; intonation; assimilation (a.k.a. sounding like you have potatoes in your mouth)
- How Danish differs from Swedish and Norwegian: and perhaps reflects the countries' personalities?
- Danish is effectively two languages: the one you speak and the one you read/ write
- Viking roots: how the longstanding (written) history of Danish differs from, say, languages written down more recently (such as, say, Swahili)
- The Danish word committee: how new words enter the lexicon compared to, say, Norway ("is it majonæse or mayonaise?")
- Danglish: the fun mix of Danish and English (it's hard to be a nissemand)
- Lene, Lena, Line, Lina: four distinct Danish names that are basically indistinguishable to non-Danes because of the additional vowel sounds that Danish possesses
- Monophthongs vs diphthongs: plus other linguistic differences between Danish and other languages
as well as a discussion about the theory of language acquisition.
We also spend a lot of time discussing practical tips for how to practice pronouncing Danish from three experience language teachers
- Signe Tofte Brantelid (Studieskolen)
- Naja Hou Alberdi (Copenhagen Language Center) and
- Anders Basby (UC Plus)
The book that Josefine brings in is the Danish children's classic Halfdans ABC.
A big thanks to our excellent researcher for this episode Eli Tornøe, and the rest of the What The Denmark team.
Learn more about What The Denmark via:
www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram
Sam, Josefine and Andreas (our "audio guy") have a conversation about the things we've learnt from the first season of What The Denmark.
We cover:
- Feedback from listeners
- Favourite things we've learned from the episodes so far
- New perspectives on the topics (e.g. does the Danish army have a "flat hierarchy"?)
- Behind the scenes and some of the statistics
- New episode ideas that will be coming up soon
It's a fun, free ranging conversation that covers all sorts of interesting things from What The Denmark so far.
We hope you enjoy!
Season Two
We'll begin work on future episodes of What The Denmark once we have secured sponsorship.
If you know of any organisations interested in teaching the world about Danish culture, or helping attract/ retain international talent in Denmark then be in touch via wtd@cofruition.com
What to do while you wait?
If you haven't already, do listen to the episodes that have been released so far to get an understanding of how Danish culture works, and tell friends who might be interested to hear.
In preparation for Season Two you can also
Until then, a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the show and been in touch!
We really appreciate all the messages and ideas and hope to be back soon making more episodes.
As always, you can read more about the show on https://www.whatthedenmark.com/
The sport of handball has a rich history in Denmark.
The country invented the modern form of the game (so the story goes) and the men's team are the two-time reigning world champions.
In this episode, Sam and Josefine speak with the head of the Danish Handball Federation, Morten Stig Christensen, about his view on the sport and what it means for the country.
Through the discussions, a number of questions are answered, such as:
- The history of the sport
- Which countries do and don't play (and why)
- What it takes to succeed in the sport
- How it factored in Cold War propaganda
- How to get involved in the sport
and the big question for people living in Denmark: why is handball so popular in Jutland (rural Denmark).
We provide answers to all these, as well as a discussion of how Danish foreninger (associations) represent a core component of Danish culture.
Read more at: http://www.whatthedenmark.com/blog-post/handball
Esther is originally from The Netherlands, and moved to Denmark in 2019.
This is the first of a new type of episode on What The Denmark where we speak with people are learning about Danish culture after moving to Denmark.
These interviews, we feel, are a great way to learn practical advice from others adapting to Denmark, but also to get fresh perspectives on things that seem peculiar to outsiders.
Esther and Sam talk about a variety of different topics, including:
- Similarities between The Netherlands and Denmark (size; old monarchy)
- Differences (approach to biking; the fact there is LESS rain in Denmark)
- Advice for people new to Denmark
as well as a chat about liquorice.
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/
Do you have some interesting advice to share?
Subscribe to the What The Denmark newsletter (via the website) where you'll receive details of how to be interviewed on the show.
Getting the dream job (or indeed any job) can be a daunting experience.
In this episode of What The Denmark we dive into the practical advice on how to get a job.
Whilst this is through the lens of getting a job in Denmark, as you'll hear the tips and advice that Sam and Josefine discuss (a lot coming from Karey-Anne from The Welcome Group in Copenhagen) are applicable to anyone seeking employment.
We get tactical, including:
- Planning which applications to make
- When to call the hiring manager and what to say
- How to follow up after an interview
We also talk about alternative forms of employment and how, for example, freelancing first becomes a much easier way to get a foot in the door before landing a dream job.
If you haven't already, you may enjoy listening to Getting a job (Part 1) for some of theory, and additional ideas around finding employment.
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/
The Danish job market is a competitive hunting ground.
Many applicants find themselves sending out hundreds of CVs without any joy.
In this episode we identify what makes the Danish job market different from other countries, and why it is so hard to get a foot in the door.
Sam and Josefine speak with Karey-Anne Duevang, CEO of The Welcome Group and English Job Denmark and Nikolaj Lubanski, Director of Talent Acquisition at Copenhagen Capacity to get their perspective on the Danish job market.
We talk about what it feels like for Danes and non-Danes alike through the job process, and also how Danish hiring managers might be missing out on some top talent due to cultural confusion.
Next week we will be talking about practical tips for how to get a job (in Denmark) and so be sure to subscribe to not miss out!
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/blog-post/getting-a-job-part-1
If you’ve ever spoken at length with a Danish person, chances are that their dry sense of humour has resulted in instances of confusion rather than fits of laughter.
While Danes seem to have a peculiar pride in their dry sense of humour, many non-Danes struggle with the irony and don’t get if their Danish counterpart is trying to be funny, or is just being a bit weird.
In this podcast episode, Sam and Josefine are joined by journalist Aske Hald Knudstrup to talk about their own experiences of Danish humour, including interviews with two humour experts who help pinpoint what is particular about the Danish way of being funny.
After listening you’ll get a better understanding of what Danes are doing when they’re being funny, and why Danish humour is deeply connected with Denmark’s history of social democratism.
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/blog-post/danish-humour
In the previous episode of What the Denmark, we covered the theory on making friends in Denmark and why it can be more challenging than elsewhere.
In this episode, we leave behind the theory and dig deeper into the practical advice.
Our guests include Ana Sofia, a student from Portugal, and Emilie Møllenbach and Camila Vicenci who are a successful Dane/non-Dane friendship.
The episode starts with hearing the struggles that Ana Sofia has with reaching out and connecting with Danes.
Sam and Josefine then take a look at "The Strength of Weak Ties" and how the public and private spheres are quite distinct in Denmark.
We then hear from the successful friendship of Emilie and Camila, and how they can inspire others to make friends in Denmark.
Sam and Josefine finish with practical tips from research and experience. Spoiler alert: if you want to make friends with Danes - invite them around for a wine tasting!
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/blog-post/making-friends-2
Danes are notoriously known for being hard to make friends with. In the 2019 report by InterNations, Denmark ranked at the absolute bottom of their ‘Ease of Settling in’ charts.
But why is it so hard to make friends and feel at home in Denmark?
In these two episodes of What Denmark, we explore this critical issue and give advice on making friends in Denmark.
Part 1 covers the theory of how different cultures interact with new people (using the metaphor of coconuts and peaches) as well as several unique aspects about Denmark and how Danes like to socialise.
Read more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/
Denmark and other Nordic countries are celebrated for their flat organisations and inclusive work practices, and for a good reason.
But what are the downsides of this approach? Why do some people coming in from a more hierarchical culture find it demotivating to work this way?
In this episode Sam and Josefine speak with management expert Chris Shern, international CEO Nico Blier-Silvestri and Danish architect Josefine Bols.
The episode covers various topics including:
- A Foundation of Trust
- Flat power distribution in practice
- Story time: dirty dishes
- Practical advice for managers and employees
Read more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/blog-post/flat-hierarchies
There's a good chance you've never thought much about the type of duvet you have.
But there's actually quite a lot of interesting history, science and culture bound up in the different approaches to co-sleeping, both in Denmark and around the world.
In this episode Sam and Josefine speak to people around the world about their experience of using duvets.
In Denmark it's common for couples sleeping on the same double bed to each have their own separate duvet(!)
In many parts of the world this is unheard of - and suggests that there is a lack of intimacy between the partners.
This first episode of What The Denmark we take a deep dive into something you may never have considered - whether you should try using a shared duvet or separate duvets when you go to bed.
Featuring interviews with historians, scientists and a variety of different Danes and Internationals, you'll no doubt think about your co-sleeping arrangements differently after listening!
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/blog-post/duvets
Hello!
Hope you've had a lovely summer.
The What The Denmark team have been busy getting ready for a new season of the podcast... and we'd love your input for a couple of episodes!
Dating Danes
One episode has the working title How to date a Dane.
Have you had experience dating Danish people? Is it different to dating people from different countries? Any funny/ amusing anecdotes?
(Sam will be sharing some from when he was dating his Danish wife...)
Newcomers Survival Guide
The other episode is about helpful advice to help people navigate their first days/ weeks in Denmark.
Have you had any "aha moments" whilst being in Denmark? Or things you wish you knew earlier? Maybe there are things you always end up telling friends/ family who visit that they need to remember to do?
If so, we'd love to hear what they are and then talk about them (with you?) on the show!
Please fill out the form on the WTD contact page: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/contact
The plan is to be recording episodes in the next couple of months and so the sooner the better 🙂
We look forward to sharing a new set of episodes with you soon! In the meantime you can follow us on Instagram at @whatthedenmark
How the discovery that Danish couples slept with separate duvets led to the start of the What The Denmark podcast.
Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/
