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What Are You Doing in Denmark?

Diane in Denmark - part 1

This week Derek is joined one on one with Diane in Denmark, the incredible life coach from Scotland who now calls Denmark home. Diane explains the habit of winterbathing to a hypothetical American listener and then explains her hot and cold thoughts on various seasonal activities and trends associated with Christmas and New Years from ugly sweaters to dry January. You’ll hear Diane’s story of moving to Denmark for love over 20 years ago and raising a family in a new country and culture.


We focus on Diane’s lessons from life coaching and how the country of Denmark and Danish culture has influenced her practice. From minimalism to self-care, Danish culture is infused in the work that Diane does as a life coach. We look at the importance of routines, especially for those in their early days of moving to a new country, especially those taking up a new life in Denmark. Diane even gives Derek (and Mike) some sound advice on how to build routines, set up time management methods, and declutter in 2024.


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  • The MANY things we wish we knew before moving to Denmark

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  • Denmark in Eurovision, the encore

    21:51
    We’re back with part two of our conversation with Andres Artiles Jerrik, who has been working closely with Danish musical acts like Reiley, Aura Dione, and SABA on their Eurovision visuals and music. We discuss what makes a good Eurovision song - broad popularity or staying true to the local culture of the nation it represents and what the Danish audience can expect from their representation in Malmö. Andres is spilling even more tea and sharing all of his opinions on this year’s show. You’re about to hear our top picks, Eurovision predictions, and our all-time favorite Eurovision Song Contest acts of all time - including the one that was part of Derek’s wedding day.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:What Are You Doing in Denmark podcast: Instagram: https://instagram.com/waydidpodWatch these episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2FDerek Hartman: Instagram: https://instagram.com/robetrottingYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrottingTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@robetrottingFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrottingAnnie Samples:Instagram: https://instagram.com/annieineventyrland TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@annieineventyrlandAndres Artiles Jerrik: Instagram: https://instagram.com/copenhagenkidTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@copenhagenkidSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2PQJceWT9saDOYZG98uCuU
  • What Denmark gets right and wrong about the Eurovision Song Contest

    31:08
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  • How do you integrate in Denmark AND maintain your own cultural identity?

    31:23
    Derek and Annie are back with Nanna Hauch, a licensed family and couples therapist who specializes in helping the international community in Denmark. Annie receives advice on how families can stay connected to their own culture while integrating into Danish society. Nanna shares some of the challenges that her family faced while living abroad and when repatriating and moving back to Denmark. Derek gets advice on how Danish work culture can become an adjustment and mental health factor for internationals working in Denmark. Once again, Nanna provides valuable insights into the unique mental health challenges faced by Denmark’s international community. Nanna offers a bit of podcast therapy to the What Are You Doing in Denmark community. She even invites you to join her free webinar on reverse culture shock when moving back to your country and culture of origin. Details below: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:What Are You Doing in Denmark podcast: Instagram: https://instagram.com/waydidpodWatch these episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2FDerek Hartman: Instagram: https://instagram.com/robetrottingYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrottingTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@robetrottingFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrottingAnnie Samples:Instagram: https://instagram.com/annieineventyrland TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@annieineventyrlandNanna Hauch: Instagram: https://instagram.com/expathero_dkLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nannahauchfromexpathero/Website: https://www.expathero.dkFree WebinarRegister for Nanna’s upcoming, free webinar with Danes Worldwide:https://www.danes.dk/en/events/repatriation-how-to-ride-the-waves-of-reverse-culture-shock/
  • Mental health struggles for foreigners in Denmark

    38:53
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  • Moving to Denmark versus moving to Finland (with Chico Muya)

    37:13
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  • Moving to Denmark as a child and the political challenges for foreigners in Denmark

    24:28
    Lyndsay Jensen, the founder and editor of The International, is back in the studio with Annie and Derek to talk about the political changes in how foreigners in Denmark are treated and perceived. She recently spoke at Folkemødet on the needs of internationals living in Denmark and their important place in the Danish economy and society at large.In the discussion, Lyndsay references her eldest son, Connor, who moved to Denmark as a child and has been shaped by multiple cultures throughout his life. It seemed only right to have Connor join the conversation and share his experiences with teenage drinking, learning Danish and transitioning into the education system, and the cultural differences he experienced when inviting friends to his home as a kid.The conversation was eye-opening to Annie who moved her oldest sons to Denmark and is going through many of these changes in real time. 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:What Are You Doing in Denmark podcast: Instagram: https://instagram.com/waydidpodWatch these episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2FDerek Hartman: Instagram: https://instagram.com/robetrottingYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrottingTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@robetrottingFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrottingAnnie Samples:Instagram: https://instagram.com/annieineventyrland TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@annieineventyrlandLyndsay Jensen - The International:Read The International: https://www.the-intl.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinternationaldenmark/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-international-denmark/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinternationaldenmark/
  • How do foreigners moving to Denmark find a soft landing?

    30:24
    Annie and Derek are joined this week by Lyndsay Jensen, the founder and editor of The International, an online magazine dedicated to helping foreigners living in Denmark find their way. Lyndsay shares her story of moving to Denmark after growing up as a Brit living in South Africa. You could say she’s been an expat her whole life. After a decade of life in South Africa with her Danish husband, she expected a soft landing in Denmark. Instead she found herself in a sink or swim existence.After facing the challenges of adjusting and settling into Denmark, she realized she was missing some vital resources to help her transition. That's when she decided to become the resource she was looking for and launched The International.Laugh along as Lyndsay, Annie, and Derek revisit the familiar challenges and mistakes for foreigners moving to Denmark. Learn where you can get help for your own journey through Danish culture and life in Denmark.And 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:What Are You Doing in Denmark podcast: Instagram: https://instagram.com/waydidpodWatch these episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2FDerek Hartman: Instagram: https://instagram.com/robetrottingYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrottingTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@robetrottingFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrottingAnnie Samples:Instagram: https://instagram.com/annieineventyrland TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@annieineventyrlandLyndsay Jensen - The International:Read The International: https://www.the-intl.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinternationaldenmark/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-international-denmark/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinternationaldenmark/
  • They asked you WHAT?! Job interviews in Denmark, Danish work culture myths, and much more.

    25:08
    Can potential employers ask you if you plan to have kids? Why do job interviews feel so informal in Denmark? Is there bias or racism in the hiring process? Leslea Petersen, the Founder and CEO of English Job Denmark is back at the table with Derek and Annie to answer all of your questions on finding a job and working in Denmark. She offers advice on adapting your CV and preparing for a job interview in Denmark. This episode is for anyone struggling to find a job in Denmark with questions remaining after Leslea’s initial episode.From questions about diversity and inclusion to the reality of work life balance - Leslea smashes through all of our listener questions with helpful tips and advice for jobseekers. Whether you’re considering a move to Denmark or have relocated and need help securing employment, you can’t miss this episode.And don’t forget to share this with any friends in need of job seeking advice in Denmark.For more clips and tips on living in Denmark and follow us on social media:What Are You Doing in Denmark podcast: Instagram: https://instagram.com/waydidpodWatch these episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2FDerek Hartman: Instagram: https://instagram.com/robetrottingYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrottingTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@robetrottingFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrottingAnnie Samples:Instagram: https://instagram.com/annieineventyrland TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@annieineventyrlandLeslea Petersen:Link to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslea-petersen/Website:https://www.englishjobdenmark.dkA Brit married to a Viking who landed on Danish shores 16 years ago, Leslea is the CEO of English Job Denmark. With over 20 years’ communications experience in both the business & not-for-profit sectors, Leslea is passionate about coaching professionals & businesses in retaining international talent.