Take Your Shoes Off, the Podcast

It's Midsummer Eve in Sweden, and host Robert Becker sits down with a very special guest: 9-year-old August Rabe from Texas. August has a Swedish father and American mother, and he's spending part of his summer visiting family in Sweden. Together they talk about Swedish Midsummer traditions, growing up with two cultures, life in Texas, what Americans think about Sweden, and what surprises a young...

Today on Take Your Shoes Off, we’re hanging out with a guy whose voice has probably sold you a car, narrated your favorite documentary, or convinced you to trust a brand you’d never heard of. He’s a voiceover artist, a master communicator, and a storyteller who knows how to make words work. From Hollywood trailers to Scandinavian commercials, he’s been behind the mic for over 9,000 projects—and co...

Welcome to another episode of Take Your Shoes Off - the podcast that's usually released on Thursdays, but this week we're running on American time, which means....it's ready when it's ready, tack så mycket! Today we're talking to someone who has one foot in Sweden and the other in a San Francisco hospital. Our guest, Courtney El Refai, has only been in Sweden for six months, which means her takes...

Today's episode is about the Long Way Home. About what it means to find a new life in a new place, sometimes even a new name. Most importantly, you will hear about how we cannot get through this life alone. Hazem came to Sweden the hard way, after fleeing war in Syria. He shares his story with us, his journey to Sweden but also how he has built a life here. Take your shoes off and join us. Hosted...

This week we sit down wit Martin Arvebro - video wizard, long-time vlogger, and certified rock enthusiast (the headbanging kind, not the geological kind....although who knows, really?). Martin creates videos for politicians by day and makes fun of language and cultural quirks by night - or is it the other way around? We dive into his love of storytelling, the joys of being silly on purpose and how...

This week, we’re joined by Jonathan Rollins: U.S. Air Force vet, Founder of The Laugh House - at least the longest running consistent English-language comedy club in Stockholm, and the kind of guy who believes Swedish comedians are top-tier… and Swedish comedy is bottom-shelf. He’s got opinions—about fruit, laughter, and the strange truths of life in Sweden. Let’s just say… some people relocate wh...

Kim Kraft is a professional educator with over fifteen years of experience. She is member of the faculty at University of Washington and she joined us to talk all things Swedish and to also teach Mikael I thing or two about Swedish culture. She will be a visiting researcher at Lund University and American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellow for the 2025-2026 academic year. She is planning a research pr...

This week's guest is Stephen Lessard, known online as @stephen_in_sweden. He left behind Fenway franks and Dunkin' coffee for a land of licorice, quiet buses, and pastries that sound like cartoon characters. He's American by birth, Swede by awkward social adaptation, and has some strong opinions about the Semla. Stephen shares his experiences adpating Swedish culture through engagin and often come...

In today's episode, we subject Mikael to a full-on American snack attack - think Ho-Hos, Twinkies and enough sugar to give a hummingbird heart palpitations. Watch in real time (well, listen) as his Swedish sensibilities and blood sugar levels spiral out of control. It's processed, it's powdered, it's patriotic - and it's absolutely horrifying to Mikael. Let the snackocalypse begin. Hosted on Acast...

This week, we’re joined by a guest with a truly international resume: a Hungarian-Romanian who has lived in Malta, loves Sweden, and sings in a queer choir. her name is Andrea and we cover all the important topics—like whether CSN loans are a scam, why semla is basically an edible conspiracy, and if Systembolaget is secretly the most Swedish thing ever. Oh, and there’s Dracula. And garlic. And som...

In this episode, we sit down with Emily Fowler from Chef Mama in Malmö, the fearless baker on a mission to bring bagels to Sweden—one chewy, golden ring at a time. But she doesn’t stop there. From snickerdoodles that could make your grandma jealous to Thin Mints that might just start a black market among expats, Chef Mama’s got it all. We talk about the magic of a perfect bagel, why Sweden needs m...

From the glitter of Studio 54 to the midnight sun of Sweden, Ken Neptune has seen it all. Spinning records, writing for Billboard, and hanging out with some of the biggest movers and shakers in the land of meatballs and melancholy. Tune in as we dive into his wild journey and find out why Sweden became the ultimate remix of his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Take Your Shoes Off , the podcast where we kick back, relax, and occasionally wonder why we ever left the warmth of home. Today, we’re diving into sportlov —Sweden’s beloved ski holiday—and who better to join us than an Irishman who talks faster than a downhill slalom? Our guest is Phil O'Connor a sports reporter, author, podcaster and someone who could probably narrate an entire O...

What do basketball, Swedish dolphins, and the perfect balance of lagom have in common? Honestly, we're still figuring it out. This week, we sit down with professional basketball player Marcus Tyus and his wife, Maggie, to talk hoops, family life, and why Sweden may or may not have the best basketball development program. Plus, a little Magic Johnson, a dash of life advice, and the eternal struggle...

After a short holiday break, we are ringing in the New Year with our good friend, David Vine! He comes to us from just outside London, now making Sweden his home. His wife is English, but Welsh. His daughter is English, but Welsh. His son is English, but Swedish. Meet David, the last Englishman. Come on in, but please - take your shoes off! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

On this episode we decided to kick back, ditch our guests (just this once), and unwrap life's quirks - from our Christmas table favorites to the curious case of Swedish 'Happy Continuations.' Cozy, candid, and always a little unexpected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holiday Happenings, Swedish food revolution, and more….varsågod and join us for our latest episode with Colm, the true Irishman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BananaGate, politics, superficial niceties and avoiding eye contact with strangers…this and more in the latest episode. Links in our profile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1994, Dodi showed up in Linköping as a college student eager to learn the language and absorb the culture. Thirty years later, she's teaching a few podcasters about the history of Swedish dans band and sharing bold views on the ritual of fika in the workplace. Listen in to hear Dodi's reflections about life as an expat both back then and now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

In this episode, B Keesson shares her journey of moving, adapting, and finally finding a place to call home. As an expat who's experienced the highs and lows of relocation, B reflects on the life choices that led her to settle in the forests of Sweden. From having a baby to discovering a culture that truly aligns with her values, B walks us through the unexpected twists - like choosing a Swedish m...

So how did two Americans and a Swede end up with a podcast? Sweden attracts so many people from around the world with unique backgrounds, ambitions, and values. In this first episode, Bob, Micke, and Kelly dive into the wild world of podcasting, share a bit about their own backgrounds, and have some laughs about quirky cultural differences. In a time when things can feel uncertain, we’re here to b...

Launch trailer for "Take Your Shoes Off, the Podcast" on life abroad in Sweden. Launches November 21. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.