Cultural Hel

This bonus episode focuses on the dangers around the city which we may sometimes forget living in such a comfortable and relatively safe city.

The weather has finally picked up a little, so Dan and Heather are out and about in Helsinki again! Starting with a discussion about Kylie Minogue's visit to the Espoo Arena, the hosts navigate another lunch restaurant, Swedish language and finally make the Helsinki Biennaali with visits to HAM and Amos Rex. Check out our socials via your favourite social media .

In this weeks' mini-episode, Dan & Heather recall some comical midsummer experiences from way back when they were both new to Finland.

With the rain falling outside on Helsinki Day (the day this was recorded), Dan and Heather abandoned plans to venture out in the city and instead had an indoor picnic and discussed Dan's trip to Oddfest, the upcoming festival season and much more besides... Follow us on socials

Heather and Dan continue their chat from episode 10 about things to do during the summer in Helsinki. From outdoor swimming pools to trips outside the city, the list is endless if you want to stick around and enjoy the Finnish summer this year. Have a listen for some inspiration! Follow on our socials for more information and pictures...

With the good weather holding up, Heather and Dan went out in Helsinki again, recording this episode in Kaisaniemi (excuse the sound in places, it was a bit windy!). With summer coming, the pair decided to think about what there is to do in Helsinki during the summer to enjoy the brief but beautiful season and maximise enjoyment for the whole family.

For this quick questions we asked Yuko from Hachi (which we visited during episode 9, about all things Helsinki and got some great answers about her experiences of the city.

Dan and Heather, fully refreshed from a short break are back and on the new release day of Wednesday! In this episode Helsinki is further explored. On the agenda was the market square, Uspenski Cathedral and Helsinki City Museum before lunch in Helsinki newest bar/restaurant Tap & Table. Finishing the trip with a visit to Hachi , a wonderful Japanese shop in the heart of the city and speaking...

Another quick questions this week, and this one really is the quickest of quick! Heather asked Juho Rautio, owner of Yoo-Hoo! Tours, about his Helsinki experiences with our standard questions...

As Heather is away on holiday we decided this week we should do a brief special where we finally quiz each other about Helsinki with the quick questions. Find out our like and dislikes and our own challenges with the miracles of the Finnish language during our time living in the city!

Kaarlo "Kalle" Kankkunen the Chariman of the Veikkausliiga (Finland's top football tier) and when Dan interviewed a few weeks' back for a special episode (well worth a listen), he also asked our regular quick questions.

Dan's been to Tallinn Music Week 2025 and Heather visited the multi-museum hub of Kaapelitehdas recently so visits are discussed. With Easter this weekend, Heather took Dan down the Mämmi rabbit-hole, tasting and discussing which is the best on offer. Also some discussions were alittle random, AI gets a bit of a hard -time from Dan, Heather delves a little deeper into sustainability and voting in...

Elizabeth Peterson was born the US, but has lived and studied language and its use here in Helsinki for more than 2 decades. We asked her the usual quick questions, but this week we have a clear winner for best language story so far!!

Episode 7 includes an interview with electric TukTuk tour guide Juho Rautio. He chats with Heather about sustainability and how much easier it is to see the sights this way. Heather and Dan take a look at the Satokausi-kalentari, a tool for cheaper, more seasonable shopping tips. And Dan has been to football once again, this time the Finnish League Cup Final disappointment for HJK.

With the 2025 Finnish Veikkausliiga season starting next weekend, Dan went into interview mode for a special episode. Kaarlo Kankkunen, the Veikkausliiga Chairman gave up some of his precious time to chat about the league rebranding, bringing new fans to the game, stand-out players for the upcoming season and much more...

Episode 6 features an interview with Jyväskylä language Professor, Elizabeth Peterson. We talked with her about language use in the capital, especially English and the steady integration of English use into Finnish culture. Dan finally made it to one of Heather's Helsinki food tours and evaluates the experience. We take on Easter in the tasting section of the show, evaluating Finnish and impor...

Tomi Andersson is a Helsinki native Swedish-Finn. Dan has known and worked with him in the Helsinki music scene for over a decade so when chatting with him for another project regarding his opera singing and fronting Saatanan Marionetit (his metal band) the chance was taken to ask some of his opinions on the local area, foods and language experiences.

Episode 5 includes a delve into the history of Minna Canth day and tasting some Mignon eggs in preparation for easter. Dan visited BK Bodega, DJing there and having a chat with Danny, one of the owners about how the place is taking shape since opening last September. Dan also went along to the Helsinki Open tennis tournament to watch a game.

Danny Carneiro is a Peruvian native who moved to Finland via the US. Forming lifelong friendships and via musical project he had gathered a group (including his wife) who decided to move to Helsinki and setup a Latin American gastro pub. More information on that in the next full-length episode, but for now, here's Danny's quick questions responses.

Episode 4 is a voyage of discovery, quite literally in some ways! Dan was away for much of the fortnight, but had time while at Helsinki-Vantaa to grab some food items to taste test with Heather. Also the hosts compared notes on gift ideas while passing through the airport, both good and rubbish! Jason DeBose, American born, Helsinki based comedian swung by for an interview to tell us about a new...

Jason DeBose is an American living in Helsinki and is known for his stand-up comedy and street photography. Preceeding an interview with Jason which will feature on our next episode, Dan asked him our quick questions on Helsinki and culinary likes and dislikes and more...

Strap in, episode 3 is packed with great stuff! An interview with the frontman from soon to visit Helsinki, Elvana. A band where Elvis fronts a Nirvana covers band! Dan delves into the DocPoint Film Festival 2025, working there and also having a chat with debut director Najiba Noori. Heather introduces Dan to some of the newest food on the Finnish shelves. A few treats from the show Suomalainen me...

The second "Quick Questions" bring us Ville, singer of The Fërtility Cült and Tampere native who we asked for some opinions before the band played in Helsinki a couple of weeks ago.

In episode two we speak with Ville Kaila about his band The Fërtility Cült who played in Helsinki last weekend. Heather and Dan visit the Vanhakauppahalli to try some of their delicacies. Dan explores the world of sword fighting at the Helsinki Longsword Open. And we discuss Swearing in the Nordics, an online event we attended hosted by some of the Nordics finest linguistic minds.

In this first "Quick Questions" episode we ask Carmen Pekkarinen, Finnish ice hockey aficionado (whom we interviewed in our last full podcast) about her favourite and least favourite things related to Helsinki and living in Finland.