Swedes on the Loose

n this heartfelt and hilariously unpredictable episode of Swedes on the Loose , Christina and Sandra finally return after an unexpected podcast hiatus, including a mysteriously lost horse episode featuring Sandra’s sister. Christina joins from Sweden, where she’s been helping her father navigate serious health challenges and experiencing the realities of the Swedish healthcare system firsthand aft...

Sandra and Christina welcome Sofia - Sandra's sister - for a lively conversation about life in the saddle across countries. From Sweden’s structured riding culture to Belgium’s competitive circuits and Arizona’s cowboy spirit, the trio shares stories of horse ownership, training styles, and the surprising cultural differences in how people care for and ride horses. It’s an honest, funny, and insig...

Family updates, Swedish-style Easter, and a little real talk. Christina’s heading to Sweden, Sandra’s celebrating Easter traditions, and somewhere in between they’re dreaming up a horseback podcast tour. Life, laughter, and big ideas… just another week on Swedes on the Loose .

Pack your bags, because this episode is one big American road trip, Swedish style. We sit down with Martin, the host of Letters from America , who traded everyday life in Sweden for a 12-month adventure across the U.S., traveling in an Airstream and documenting the stories of people with Swedish connections all over the country. Along the way, he’s discovered everything from Swedish-founded towns...

What does it really take to pack up your life and move to Paris? In this episode of Swedes on the Loose, Christina and Sandra chat with Gabrielle (also known as Belle), founder of Move Me to Paris, about turning a relocation nightmare into a thriving business. From navigating French bureaucracy and visas to raising kids in the famously tough French school system, Gabrielle shares what life in Pari...

In this inspiring episode of Swedes on the Loose , Hulda Guðmundsdóttir shares her journey from Iceland to Sweden, the United States, and back again. A registered nurse and breast cancer survivor, Hulda opens up about navigating different healthcare systems, facing life-changing challenges, and choosing to live one day at a time. Now pursuing advanced training as a nurse anesthetist in Sweden, she...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Christina and Sandra sit down with Lisa Lannon — former Las Vegas police officer turned co-founder of Warriors Heart, one of the nation’s leading treatment centers for veterans and first responders. Lisa shares the raw story behind her husband Josh’s battle with alcoholism and how that journey led them to open their first rehab facility in 2003. What beg...

In this episode of Swedes on the Loose , Christina and Sandra get candid about the reality of building a podcast from scratch. They talk openly about a rocky start, stalled momentum, and what it really takes to grow traction without losing authenticity. From brainstorming collaborations and guest ideas to leaning on their community for feedback and support, this conversation blends strategy with r...

In this upbeat episode Sandra and Christina check in, reflect on 2025, and walk through Mel Robbins’ “Make This Your Best Year” questions. They share honest high and low points (losses, health goals, career wins), lessons learned about resilience and self-worth, and practical intentions for 2026—more outdoor movement, decluttering, and stronger boundaries.

Why do so many organizing systems fall apart, even after buying the bins, labels, and shelves? Professional organizer Jessa Scott from Professional Organizing Plus joins Christina and Sandra to reveal the step most people skip: decluttering first. Jessa breaks down her proven 5-step reset method, shares practical tips for tackling garages, closets, and pantries, and explains how to get the whole f...

From the environmental cost of AI and unexpectedly warm winters to Swiss fondue traditions and New Year reflections, we ease into a wide-ranging conversation about family rhythms, health goals, retirement dreams, and what it means to build a life with intention. The episode culminates in a powerful vision for a farm community supporting young adults with special needs.

In this cozy, end-of-year catch-up, we trade stories from the holiday hustle, from tech hiccups and Christmas decorating to pets taking over the house and kitchens filled with gingerbread, bread baking experiments, and Swedish holiday traditions. Along the way, we swap gift ideas, share family updates, and explore how AI tools are quietly reshaping everyday work and education. Equal parts festive,...

Sandra and Christina swap Thanksgiving stories, from Beef Wellingtons to smoked turkey feasts. They gush over a new high-tech barn, and chat Christmas décor, glögg mishaps, kitten adoptions, and preparations for the Swedish-American Christmas Market. With Advent traditions, shopping plans, and upcoming visits, it’s a festive whirlwind of food, horses, and Swedish holiday spirit.

n this episode of Swedes on the Loose we and some of our Swedish friends compare Thanksgiving memories and traditions as Swedish expats—debating turkey vs. alternatives (prime rib, beef Wellington), favorite sides and desserts, and low-pressure Friendsgiving ideas. We chat with Lena, Suzanne and Anki, share family anecdotes, plan meetups, plus a fun horse-health tangent about “cresty” necks. Warm,...

We catch up on life — a whirlwind New Orleans trip, rescued kittens needing vet care, the ever-growing dog & cat crew (Charlie, Gunner, Tucker, Finnegan, Phoenix, Felix), and plans for visiting a new barn with lessons and a jumping arena. We discuss podcast tech/platform worries and Ricky helping with editing, Ability360 and Mia gaining independence via paratransit, and an incredible Northern...

Today we recorded a short podcast episode to inform our listeners about difficulties with our current podcast provider, Pod Populi, which has been unreliable and failed to release scheduled episodes. We are actively seeking a new provider to handle podcast hosting, editing, and distribution, and are asking our audience for recommendations of reliable companies. Sandra recorded from New Orleans, wh...

Christina is fostering some kittens, we do a “warm up” about what makes us Vikings. Our mentality and approach on life. Since we are planning to gave a cool cat on the show. Sandra shares her motto, and that she wants to be useful & helpful.  Modus Operandi  meaning. And why are we the way we are??

Pernille (former President of IKEA North America) shares her story on how and why she moved from Denmark to the U.S. We get the inside scoop on what makes a good effective leader. Pernille's story is fascinating and inspiring. She is the most humble, relatable woman and we enjoyed every minute discussing what work/life balance looks like and how to achieve it. Check out her "new" company a Good Li...

We share our thoughts on self-love and how the concept differs between Sweden and the U.S., we dive into cultural differences and generational perspectives. We cherish unexpected rain showers and hailstorms We reflect on email management, family life, and the importance of finding balance through small but meaningful self-care rituals. We invite our listeners to share their own definitions of self...

Christina & Sandra talks with Suzanne from Scottsdale, Arizona—a marathon runner, IKEA fan, and dedicated SWEA advocate. Suzanne shares her journey from Sweden to running marathons like Boston and New York while balancing family and staying connected to her Swedish roots through SWEA a global Swedish women’s organization. We discuss the importance of Swedish groups like SWEA and Swedes Abroad,...

Sandra MADE it to Christina in Wyoming! LOONG trip. BUT it was worth it, we did a lot of outdoor activities such as riding horses, exploring the Grand Tetons, and driving a UTV that could have ended at the end of a ravine!  We discuss the challenges of long road trips, managing work schedules with time zone differences, and the joy of spending time with family, including Sandra's daughter Viv...

Sandra admits to feeling like the world is spinning way too fast with way too much on her plate. Christina suggests the tried true tool of writing things down to get things out of her head. Recently, Dr. Cal Newport was recently on The Mel Robbins Show talking about his new book Slow Productivity and attention managment which Sandra found useful if anyone else is feeling like they are in overdrive...

Petter Svaetichin, an "old" friend of Sandra's from hotel school in Switzerland -HOSTA, joins us from Georgia! He takes us down a few rabbit holes from his life sharing some of his adventures working with the Swedish bllionaire businessman and explorer Frederik Paulsen developing Mammoth Vodka, restoring a Romanov castle in the wine country of Georgia: Chateau Mukhrani and developing a Padel Compa...

Christina is turning into Martha Stewart! She shares all many wonderful things about Bedford, Wyoming in the summer time. Sandra vents about the hell hole of AZ in the summer and gives an update on what her kids are up to. Christina gives us a run down on gas prices, electricity and water usage in Wyoming. We establish that Sandra met Christina's mom the very first time they met back in 2017 durin...

Debriefed Sandra's trip to Sweden and she shared that it felt pretty good coming back to AZ after all! Christina and Sandra invite you(yes, you!) to come sit with them for a cup of tea every week just to have a sounding board and someone to talk to. If you are in a transition phase right now, maybe just moved to a new city, starting a new job, maybe starting a new chapter of your life - it helps t...