Sweden in Focus

In this week's episode you can listen to a conversation our Nordic editor Richard Orange had recently with the high-profile food historian Richard Tellström about the history of Sweden’s alcohol retail monopoly.Why did Sweden start rationing how much alcohol that could be bought as far back as the 1850s? How influential was the fledgling temperance movement? And was Sweden’s alcohol problem really as bad as they claimed?What role does Systembolaget play in Swedish society today, and why is even the recent mild liberalisation that allows alcohol producers to sell small quantities on their own premises so fraught with controversy?READ ALSO:What Sweden's new alcohol law means for buyers and producersThe ten weirdest taboos you must never break in SwedenWhich companies do Swedes trust the most?

In this week's episode we once again bring you a Swedish language quiz as The Local's journalists answer multiple choice questions from the vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam.Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the quiz by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.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 

This week’s episode consists of a fascinating interview with Filip Örnerkrans, a Swedish gun maker and hunting expert.He spoke recently with The Local’s Becky Waterton about the historical and cultural details that help explain why hunting is so popular in Sweden, how gun ownership is regulated in a country that’s home to almost 2 million firearms and how the hunting community has reacted to the government’s decision to ban AR-15 semi-automatic rifles for hunting.READ ALSO: Swedish word of the day: tiger 

In this week’s episode we bring you a language quiz in which we put The Local’s journalists through their paces with questions from the vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam.Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the quiz by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.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

It’s time again to learn some Swedish as our panelists try their hand at the tricky vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam. Host Paul O’Mahony in Stockholm is joined this week from Malmö by The Local’s Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.

In this special episode from the Almedalen political week on Gotland, James Savage talks to former US Ambassador Erik Ramanathan about how much the Trump presidency is really changing the relationship between Sweden and the US. He also has an interview with campaigner Khrystyna Hevchuk about the challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in Sweden. And Helena Renström from Skellefteå municipality talks about what Northvolt's bankruptcy means for work permit holders there.

It’s time again to learn some Swedish as our panelists try their hand at the tricky vocabulary section of högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam. Host Paul O’Mahony in Stockholm is joined this week by The Local's James Savage and Emma Löfgren.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 

In this week's episode we talk about the bridge between Denmark and Sweden and how it means a lot more to one of our panelists than the sore feet she got after running across it. We also discuss what foreigners do to fit in in Sweden and why some people push back against assimilation.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Sweden and DenmarkWhy the Bridge Run between Sweden and Denmark meant so much to meReader insights'Sometimes I explode inside': How foreigners in Sweden become more Swedish to fit inTen signs you're becoming more Swedish than the SwedesGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign 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. 

In this week's episode we talk about the bridge between Denmark and Sweden and how it means a lot more to one of our panelists than the sore feet she got after running across it. We also discuss what foreigners do to fit in in Sweden and why some people push back against assimilation.For Membership+ subscribers we examine how Sweden appears to have accidentally proposed blocking Swiss people from permanent residency.Last, but certainly not least, we dig into an eye-opening report breaking down immigrants’ contribution to Swedish society by nationality.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Sweden and DenmarkWhy the Bridge Run between Sweden and Denmark meant so much to meReader insights'Sometimes I explode inside': How foreigners in Sweden become more Swedish to fit inTen signs you're becoming more Swedish than the SwedesImmigrationHas Sweden accidentally proposed abolishing permanent residency for Swiss citizens?Immigrants contribute more to the Swedish economy than people born in SwedenWhich immigrants contribute most to the Swedish economy – and why?