Our Man In Stockholm

While the whole world was going nuts over "Get Back", I was giving it a major body swerve - do we really need another endless documentary about lads playing music? Turns out we do, and I got award-winning producer Pat O'Mahony to explain to me why it's a great documentary, and what goes into making one.

This week I spoke to Mark Ennis about mental health, depression and being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and there's some news about what's going to be happening in the coming weeks as I disappear behind China's Great Wall, but the podcasts keep on coming! Some useful links for mental health: www.attention.se www.expatfocus.com/sweden/health/what-mental-healthcare-options-are-available-in-sweden...

This week Sofie Murphy joins me to talk about the Swedish-Irish Society, probably the country's oldest organisation promoting Irish culture here, and I talk to Helen Kavanagh Berglund about her work running the show in Sigtuna. There's also some good news for Guinness Drinkers in "dry January" too...

A study by Denmark's sports federation published last week attempts to address the situation for trans, non-binary and intersex athletes in sport, and it surprised many - six of its seven recommendations had nothing to do with elite competitions like the Olympics, instead focusing on inclusion. I spoke to Rikke Rikke Rønholt Albertsen, a Danish academic and former elite track and field athlete, ab...

This week I visited the Karolinska Institute to talk to scientist Gerry McInerney about his work on COVID-19 antibodies together with an alpaca named Tyson, and I paid a visit to Martin Hession, owner of Wirströms Pub in Gamla Stan (Stockholm's Old Town) to find out how the pandemic affected his business - and if we're seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

In the first podcast of 2022, Christian Christensen joins me to talk about Sweden's upcoming election in September - will it be another weak centre-left coalition or can Magdalena Andersson sweep to power with a strong majority? Or will the conservatives be bolstered by the far-right Sweden Democrats being brought in from the cold at long last?

January brings a focus on sport and fitness, and there are plenty of opportunities in Sweden to get involved. I go through some of the current gym prices from around the country and I'm joined by Henrik Tejlfors of Korpen (www.korpen.se), who organise leagues and competitions in different sports all over Sweden for those who want to compete, but maybe not at the highest level! There's also a chat...

Something to listen to while you're out on a brisk, bracing walk on the days between Christmas and New Year! Emma Löfgren of The Local takes us through what's needed to get back into Sweden* once your time in Ireland is over, and Dave Rooney of the Black Donnellys band tells us about a brilliant Emmy award-winning documentary he made with my good friend Dave Browne. The two Daves toured Sweden and...

A trip through Stockholm to visit one of the few restaurants serving a turkey dinner (but only until the 23rd!), a chat with "Kitchen Hero" Donal Skehan, about trying to balance the Swedish and Irish traditions in the kitchen, and of course your greetings from all over Sweden and Ireland. God jul!

A review of the best season yet in Swedish Gaelic football, when Gävle and Luleå burst onto the scene to challenge Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, and a conversation with Belfast man Aaron Kennedy on what to keep in mind when trying to stay on the right side of the "ordningsvakter" - bouncers - at Swedish pub and nightclubs.

Ariel Helwani is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) of MMA journalism and a man at the very top of the game - but along the way, he too has suffered from anxiety and the idea that at some point the dream could be ripped from his grasp. Talking to a therapist and becoming independent in his work has not just led to even greater success, it has given him even greater peace of mind.

Jennifer O'Sullivan has taken the plunge and started a new business, and Zack Elbouzedi has been taking football's Allsvenskan by storm - in episode 2 we're out and about on the streets of Stockholm finding Irish stories to tell.

In the first episode of new podcast for Irish residents in Sweden, I talk to Ambassador Austin Gormley about his work, the embassy and what Irish citizens can expect. You can contact the podcast by emailing irishinsweden@gmail.com or on Instagram @irishinswedenpod - you can also become a supporter of the podcast at patreon.com/ourmaninstockholm.