What Are You Doing in Denmark?

In this second half of our conversation with comedian Mikkel Klint-Thorius, we dive even deeper into Danish humor, cultural taboos, political satire, and how comedy evolves with the times. From reflections on “casual racism” in old material to Denmark’s unique relationship with free speech, intent, and edge-pushing jokes, Mikkel gives a refreshingly honest look at what it means to perform comedy in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.We also explore how internationals can navigate Danish humor, why Danes love when the joke is about them, and the social dynamics that shape what’s acceptable and what crosses the line. And yes, there’s talk of politics, cancel-culture waves, generational trauma, the US comedy civil war, and why Norwegians find Danes a bit… intense.It’s an insightful, funny, and very open conversation about identity, comedy, culture, and everything in between.If you haven’t heard Part 1, go check that out first: https://pod.link/1704607322/episode/NjkyZTExOWJmY2QzM2ViYmFiN2YwNjUwMikkel Klint Thorius (guest)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klintthorius/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikkelKlintThorius/Ticket & tour-site for his show Nok Om Mig: https://mikkelklintthorius.dk/Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingConrad Molden:https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedyhttps://youtube.com/c/conradmoldenhttps://tiktok.com/@conradmolden https://facebook.com/conradmoldenhttps://www.conradmolden.dk

In this episode, Derek and Conrad sit down with Danish stand-up comedian Mikkel Klint Thorius, one of the sharpest, most fearless voices in Danish comedy, to talk about the jokes behind the jokes, the culture that shapes them, and why Denmark works precisely because Danes refuse to think it does.Mikkel shares how he first stepped on stage at age 10, thanks to an unusually supportive teacher. Since then, his path from suburban kid to national headliner has been fueled by curiosity, self-deprecation, and a sharp instinct for cutting through Danish hypocrisy.You'll hear Mikkel's take on:Why Danes complain their way into a better societyHow Danish comedians “tear their own people a new one” - lovinglyHis new show, Nok om mig (Enough About Me)Balancing comedy with new fatherhood and personal boundariesThe art of pushing audiences to the edge and pulling them backIt’s a conversation about comedy, culture, criticism, and the strange Danish superpower of never being satisfied, delivered with the honesty and humor that make Mikkel one of the most compelling Danish comedians working today.➡️ This is part one of our conversation. Make sure you're following the show and catch part two.Mikkel Klint Thorius (guest)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klintthorius/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikkelKlintThorius/Ticket & tour-site for his show Nok Om Mig: https://mikkelklintthorius.dk/Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingConrad Molden:https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedyhttps://youtube.com/c/conradmoldenhttps://tiktok.com/@conradmolden https://facebook.com/conradmoldenhttps://www.conradmolden.dk

Denmark’s 2025 local and regional elections delivered anything but the usual political calm. Historic strongholds flipped, long-dominant parties stumbled, and unexpected winners surged—reshaping the political map just months before a likely national election.In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek Hartman and Mike Walsh break down the biggest surprises from election night with the help of a special guest: Bernardo Basilici Menini, editor-in-chief of The Copenhagen Post. Bernardo has been following the campaigns, the numbers, and the fallout and he joins us to explain what the results really mean.Don’t forget to share this podcast with any friends who have made the move to Denmark.For more clips and tips on living in Denmark and follow us on social media:Bernardo Basilici Menini (guest):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardo-basilici-meniniCopenhagen Post: https://cphpost.dk/author/bernardo/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernie.basilicimenDerek Hartman:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandkYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrottingTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrottingMike Walsh:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillymike999

Every December in Denmark, a very specific kind of chaos takes over and it all traces back to one quirky Christmas show. It’s time to explore The Julekalender, the 1991 Danish Christmas classic that internationals always look up when they’re trying to make sense of December in Denmark. Derek and Conrad are joined by an actual Dane, Henrik, who grew up with the show and helps break down the Danglish, the cultural jokes, and the nostalgia that make this version so iconic. Together, they dig into why Nisse speak the way they do, how the trio behind the series created its offbeat world, and what still holds up (and what… definitely doesn’t).Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingConrad Molden:https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedyhttps://youtube.com/c/conradmoldenhttps://tiktok.com/@conradmolden https://facebook.com/conradmoldenhttps://www.conradmolden.dkHenrik Danielsen: https://www.instagram.com/henrikcomedyhttps://www.facebook.com/HenrikComedy/https://www.youtube.com/@HenrikComedy

Most internationals who make it past the first few years in Denmark stay for one of two reasons and they’re not what you think. That’s what Derek found out when he chatted with Dan Rosenberg from Copenhagen Capacity about their latest expat survey. While Denmark attracts record numbers of global talent, keeping them is getting harder. Dan breaks down the data behind why some internationals settle in for the long haul and why others quietly plan their exit.Copenhagen Capacity: https://www.copcap.com/IDCN: https://idcn.info/our-locations/copenhagen-denmark/Digital Hub Denmark: https://www.digitalhubdenmark.dk/Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrotting

This is our final episode talking to candidates for the 2025 local and regional council elections. This week, Derek sits down with Asbjørn Reissman from Social Democrats, Heidi Wang from Venstre, and Joanne Bywater from Liberal Alliance to discuss the biggest issues in Copenhagen's local elections.From schooling to housing prices, the candidates share their opinions and debate the issues, finding some common ground solutions in the process. You'll hear what's most important to the candidates, their parties, and why you should take an interest in this important election.60% of government decisions are decided at the local level in Denmark and you probably have the right to vote on who makes them. You can vote in the municipal and regional elections if you are a Danish citizen, a citizen of an EU country, a UK or Nordic citizen OR if you are from elsewhere but have lived in Denmark for 4+ years.Don't miss your chance to participate in democracy and vote in these Danish elections.Asbjørn Reissman:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsbjornReissmann/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asbjornreissmannCandidate Site: https://areissmann.dk/Heidi Wang: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidiwangdk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidiwangdk/Candidate Site: https://heidiwang.dk/english-1.htmlJoanne Bywater:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Joanne-Bywater-Liberal-Alliance-100076228472231/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannebywater_la/Candidae Site: https://la-kbh.dk/person/johanne-bywater/

Belonging, loneliness, and coping in Denmark. The line between belonging and losing yourself can be thin sometimes. That’s what Derek, Brooke and therapist and author guest Lucy Vittrup Christensen explore in this episode. Together they explore how the pressure to fit in, the loneliness of expat life, and Denmark’s open drinking and drug culture can blur the line between social habits and addiction. Lucy explains how addiction often grows from the same place as loneliness. a longing for connection, and why internationals may be more vulnerable when routines, roles, and identities shift abroad. If you’ve ever felt you were coping instead of connecting, this conversation offers perspective, honesty, and practical steps toward support.Lucy Vittrup Christensen (Guest)https://www.instagram.com/lucy_vittruphttps://www.facebook.com/lucy.vittrup.christensen/Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingBrooke Black:https://instagram.com/brookeblackjusthttps://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjustEpisode 116 | Denmark’s Drinking Culture: Shortcut or Stumbling Block?https://pod.link/1704607322/episode/NjhjZDE1NTcxNDZjZmQxYTY1ZjVmZGY1

In this episode, Derek sits down with Anders Storgaard from The Conservatives and member of the Frederiksberg Municipal Council, and Mads Hvid from The Socialist People’s Party (SF), who’s running for the Copenhagen Municipal Council. Together, they explore why internationals in Denmark should make their voices heard at the ballot box and how to decide where to put that vote.The conversation touches on the real political influence internationals already have in Denmark’s local politics, the issues that matter most in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, and how getting involved locally can shape the communities we all share.Make your voice heard on 18 November across Denmark!➡️ Free Election Information via CPH Post: https://cphpost.dk/tag/election-2025/Mads HvidInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.hvid/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mhvid/Candidate Site: https://sf.dk/politiker/mads-hvid/Anders StorgaardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_storgaard1/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndersEStorgaard/Candidate Site: https://frederiksberg.konservative.dk/kommunalvalgskandidater1/anders-storgaard

Behind the zoo cages lies something deeper. Denmark’s comfort with nature, death, and education sets it apart from much of the world and nowhere is that clearer than in its zoos. While other countries hide the realities of life and death, Denmark puts them on display, even for children. What shocks outsiders often feels completely normal to Danes, who see honesty and curiosity as essential to learning how the world works. In this episode, Derek, Brooke, and Conrad recap Denmark’s wildest zoo scandals and the culture that keeps them from being scandals at all.Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingBrooke Black:https://instagram.com/brookeblackjusthttps://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjustConrad Molden:https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedyhttps://youtube.com/c/conradmoldenhttps://tiktok.com/@conradmolden https://facebook.com/conradmoldenhttps://www.conradmolden.dk