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The Local

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 Löfgren, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. They are frequently joined by other expert commentators.
 

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sweden in Focus

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 to leave the country.

For Membership+ subscribers we look at the economic forecast for Sweden in 2026, which will also be a useful barometer to gauge the government’s chances of securing reelection. 

Finally we explain why a court has called off this year’s controversial wolf hunt and why a prominent commentator is linking anti-wolf sentiment to right-wing extremism. 

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. The episode also features an excerpt from an interview with Moderate Party youth leader Douglas Thor. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:
ChristmasHow to decorate your Christmas tree like a SwedeSkål! A guide to glögg, Sweden's favourite Christmas drinkWhen do you start saying Merry Christmas in Sweden?PoliticsLeader of Swedish Moderate youth wing criticises work permit reformsWhat will happen in Swedish politics during election year 2026?EconomyHow Sweden’s 2026 budget could affect your financesHow strong will the Swedish krona be in 2026?What a strong Swedish krona means for foreigners in SwedenWolvesPlanned wolf cull blocked by Swedish courtGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: • 
Get Membership+ 
 
 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Sweden's Moderates are sending mixed messages on work permit immigration

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 Hinnfors, a political science professor at Lund University, to get his predictions for the year ahead. 

Can the right-wing parties claw back the percentage points they need to surpass a potential Social Democrat-led coalition in the polls? 

What are the topics likely to dominate the debate in 2026? Will immigration take centre stage again? 

Which leaders risk getting the boot, and will all current parties meet the four-percent parliamentary threshold?

Tune in to this week's episode for the full interview.

READ ALSO:

GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Sweden's political partiesSwedish pro-government parties 'agreed on a plan' for second term in powerGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.

Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: • 
Get Membership+ 

 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sweden in 2026: Will immigration be a big election issue?

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 the United States released a national security strategy that sent shockwaves through Europe, we examine what commentators are saying about the potential ramifications here in Sweden.

For Membership+ subscribers we discuss what it takes to get a gymnasium, or upper secondary level, qualification in Swedish.

And with Princess Sofia in the news over meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, we talk through her rise to prominence from Paradise Hotel contest to Duchess of Värmland.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. The episode also features an interview with our contributor Faisal Khan. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:
ImmigrationLONG READ: In Sweden, there are only good, bad, ugly and evil immigrantsUN slams Sweden's 'discriminatory' push to tighten citizenship rules'The cold changes people's brains': Do Indians in Sweden prefer life back home?LanguageHow to decide which Swedish language certificate is best for youRoyalsARCHIVE: How a reality TV star got a Swedish fairytale Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: • 
Get Membership+ 
Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 
 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can Sweden get better at integrating immigrants?

In this week’s episode of Sweden in Focus Extra, we hear from the Umeå-based Canadian writer. Mandy Pipher about what it's been like moving to Umeå in northern Sweden. 

Mandy wrote recently in an article for The Local about the ignorance and prejudices people from Norrland often face about a region that makes up more than half of Sweden’s surface area. 

We wanted to catch up with her to find out more about why she moved to Umeå and what kind of reactions she has had when telling people about her move to northern Sweden. 

She also talks about the complicated history underpinning many southerners' preconceived notions about a part of the country she describes as 'magical' in many respects. 

Tune in to this week's episode for the full interview with Mandy Pipher. 

READ ALSO:

Why northern Swedes feel ignored and underappreciatedFive reasons why Sweden is not the Canada of EuropeGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.

Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: • 
Get Membership+ 
 
 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'I hate to be stereotypical but the light in northern Sweden is amazing'

In this week's episode we talk about why northern Sweden doesn’t get the recognition it deserves from southerners, and we prepare for the annual Lucia festivities by getting to know some of the most common songs that are sung to mark the day.

For membership+ subscribers we find out why Swedish publishers have reported Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to the police.

Finally we examine how new Swedish migration rules could affect foreign residents in 2026.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:
Northern SwedenWhy northern Swedes feel ignored and underappreciatedLuciaThings you should NEVER say to a Swede on Lucia dayThe historical dark side of Sweden's Lucia traditionCrimeSwedish media body reports Mark Zuckerberg to police over scam ads
The link we mention for reporting scam ads isn't live yet. We'll add it here once it's up. 
Immigration How new Swedish migration rules could affect foreign residents in 2026Politics in SwedenWhy does the Swedish right love to bash SVT?Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: • 
Get Membership+ 

 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Popular Lucia songs, and why does northern Sweden face so much prejudice?

Can our panelists pass the vocabulary section of högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam?

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

Do you know what a nässeldjur is? None of our panelists did. Tune in to see how you fare in our multiple-choice quiz. 

Already a Membership+ subscriber? Make sure to activate Sweden in Focus Extra via the podcast tab on your account page. 

READ ALSO:

SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden's version of the SAT? What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.

Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: • 
Get Membership+ 
 
 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How good is your Swedish vocabulary? - Quiz 15

In this week's episode we talk about Sweden’s immigrant deportation centres and why reports of miserable conditions there should concern everyone in Sweden.

We also discuss the two-decades old murder in a religious sect of a pastor’s wife in a case that gripped Sweden for months at the time. 

With 2026 nearly upon us, we hear some of The Local’s readers’ predictions for what next will bring.

Finally, a Sweden Democrat youth leader argued at the weekend that Islam has no place in Sweden. Is this kind of extreme comment a harbinger of what’s to come if the far-right party gets its first ever ministerial appointments after next year’s election?

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage.

____

Black Friday sale
Here's the Black Friday deal mentioned in the introduction. 

____

And here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Detained in SwedenSwedish migration detention centres slammed for causing 'unnecessary suffering'Why the state of Sweden's detention centres matters for all of us'Poor training at Swedish deportation centres risks improper treatment'Swedish migration detention centre 'a prison in every way'KnutbyARCHIVE: Why a Swedish town notorious for murder is back in the spotlight

Sweden in 2026TELL US: What are your predictions for life in Sweden in 2026?

Sweden Democrats Leader of Sweden Democrat youth group: 'Islam has no place in Sweden'Sweden Democrat youth wing leader calls for US-style 'ICE' police force

 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why The Local is investigating Sweden's immigrant detention centres

In this week’s episode we hear a conversation our Nordic editor Richard Orange had recently with Sasan Kazemian, an Iranian doctor who quit his job and left Sweden for Iran in September after he was refused a work permit extension.

We’ve spoken to him previously for the podcast and wanted to catch up again to find out about his application to return to Sweden on a Blue Card visa.

But any hopes he had of coming back to his girlfriend and apartment in Huddinge have been put on hold after the Migration Agency deemed him a “threat to public order”.

Having spent lots of time and money learning Swedish and getting his Swedish medical qualifications, Kazemian is determined to return. But how likely is it that he’ll win his appeal?

Tune in to this week's episode for the full story. 

READ ALSO:

'Threat to public order': Doctor's Swedish work permit application rejected again'It's a brain drain': Doctor ordered to leave Sweden over mix-up with Migration AgencyGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.

Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: • 
Get Membership+ 

 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talent deportation: 'It's a lose-lose game for Sweden and Swedish taxpayers'

In this week's episode we talk about strategies for coping with the long Swedish winter now that temperatures have taken a serious nosedive.

In politics, with several parties teetering on the brink of the parliamentary threshold, we examine what happens to their votes if they don’t quite make it.

For Membership+ subscribers, we discuss new figures from the Migration Agency confirming a major slowdown in citizenship and work permit approvals.

Finally, we look at what readers of The Local are telling us about items they miss from home and how they manage to get their hands on them in Sweden.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage.

____

Black Friday sale
Here's the Black Friday deal mentioned in the introduction. 

____

And here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Winter'My heart jumps with joy!' How foreigners feel about the Swedish winterWhat you need to know about winter tyres in SwedenPoliticsThe strange power of Sweden's four-percent minnows

 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liberals in crisis: Will Sweden soon have one less party in parliament?

In this week’s episode deputy editor Becky Waterton chats with Tom Simpson, a New Zealander who missed the kind of savoury pies that were commonplace in his homeland so much that he set up his own bakery and set to work creating NZ pies, which can now be found in supermarkets all over Sweden. 

So what's in his pies, and what advice he would give to anyone considering setting up their own business in Sweden?

 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the New Zealander who missed pies so much in Sweden he started selling his own

In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange, and Becky Waterton for the second part of our interview with Emma Leijnse, schools reporter for the Sydsvenkan newspaper and the author of several books on the Swedish school system. 

After last week’s episode, Richard had some thoughts about what international studies say about schools:

OPINION: Why I hope the stats are right about Swedish children’s reading and maths 
Other topics we discuss in this episode include: 

School segregation 

What’s behind the rising inequality in Sweden’s schools, and can it be fixed?
PIRLS study

Swedish reading skills fell in 2021 despite decision to keep schools open
PISA study

What do the Pisa rankings really tell us about Swedish schools?
Boys & girls

Opinion: Why Sweden should care about boys falling behind in school
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Become a member of The Local

 
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can Sweden make its schools less segregated?

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