What Are You Doing in Denmark?

Beer, bonds, and belonging in Denmark. In Denmark, alcohol isn’t just a drink—it’s a social shortcut. From Friday bars to school parties, booze is woven into daily life in ways that can shock newcomers. For internationals, it can feel like you have to drink just to make friends, join in at work, or even learn the language. But is that really true? And how do you handle it if you’d rather not? &nbs...

Respect. Trust. Laws. Myths. Police. Denmark. Policing in Denmark isn’t what you might expect. In this episode, Allan Hansen, Deputy Chief Superintendent of Copenhagen Police, joins Derek, Mike, and Brooke to demystify how policing really works here. From the difference between 112 and 114, to what’s legal (and what’s not) when it comes to biking, drinking, or swimming in the harbor, the team cuts...

In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark , Derek, Mike, and Brooke dive into the adaptation stage of culture shock. It's that turning point when life in Denmark starts to click. Listeners share their own stories and voice notes about the moments they realized they were doing more than just getting by. They share what made them realize they were navigating daily routines without second-gues...

Reverse culture shock hits home hard. Coming home isn’t always easy. After thirteen years in London, Danish comedian Sofie Hagen returns to Denmark and finds that re-entry can be just as surprising as moving abroad. From missing rye bread and blunt small talk to discovering how “first of all” sounds like starting a fight in British emails, Sofie shares the joys and shocks of repatriation with humo...

Once you’ve been in Denmark a while, the questions get more nuanced. From the mystery of dating to whether hygge blocks new friendships, internationals notice the cultural puzzles beneath everyday life. In this listener Q&A, Derek Hartman answers the second-layer questions of international life in Denmark with humor, honesty, and a few surprises. Episode with Narcis (question 9): https://www.p...

Denmark Says: You Own Your Face. Denmark just handed its citizens a legal copyright on themselves — your face, voice, and body are officially yours. Instead of clamping down on deepfake tech like a digital killjoy, the law flips the script and makes it an ownership game: if someone makes a fake of you, you can force them to take it down. Derek and Mike explore how this clever move stacks up agains...

What makes a Danish school... Danish? This week, return guest Ilana Bull—an international school teacher and parent—joins Derek and Brooke to explore how school systems in Denmark reflect much more than just academics. From class structure to communication styles, from birthday customs to the role of play, this episode dives into the everyday cultural signals baked into the Danish approach to educ...

Out of place, even back home. Sofie Hagen left Denmark to pursue comedy in London—and came back a different person. This conversation with Derek, Conrad, and Brooke explores the mix of pride, pressure, and self-doubt that can come with returning to your home country after years abroad. But because the topic is comedy—across Denmark, the UK, and back again—it’s anything but heavy. There's also a de...

Narcis didn’t just move to Denmark—he moved the needle. What began as a frustrating student experience turned into a powerful journey of activism, visibility, and political impact. From challenging exclusion in student councils to launching Last Week in Denmark , a very popular newsletter now published in nine languages, he’s running for city council and calling for a complete reframe of how inter...

Who really benefits from Denmark’s visa changes? Denmark just rewrote its work permit rules so Derek and Mike are here to break them for you. At first glance, it looks like Denmark is opening the door to more internationals. But in reality, the move may not bring many new people in. Instead, it’s likely to benefit those already living in Denmark—especially families trying to build more security. T...

Learning Danish? Stop waiting to feel ready. Brooke Fossey joins Derek and Mike to share why mindset matters more than mastery, and how choosing joy over perfection can transform your language journey. From awkward public mistakes to unhelpful corrections, Brooke’s approach blends consistency, curiosity, and a refusal to give up—even when Danes switch to English. If you've ever felt frustrated, em...

Laughter, lies, language, and cultural clashes. Some jokes don’t survive the border. Abby Wambaugh and Dharkshika Christopher join cohosts Derek and Conrad to talk about the challenges—and joys—of performing stand-up across languages and cultures. With sets in Danish, Norwegian, English, French, and Swedish, they’ve experienced what works, what doesn’t, and how humor shifts with the audience. From...

Love, visas, identity, motherhood, burnout, Denmark. Ilana Buhl didn’t just move for love—she rebuilt her life from scratch. In this candid conversation with cohosts Derek and Brooke, Ilana shares how a three-day trip turned into a lifetime abroad. From navigating Denmark’s tough family reunification process to finding her footing as a teacher, parent, and online creator. Along the way, they unpac...

Bonfires, jesters, glass kings, pirate royals. Danish history is weirder than you think. Released for Sankt Hans —Denmark’s midsummer celebration of fire and folklore—this episode brings the heat with tales that blur the line between fact and legend. Comedian Adrian Mackinder joins Derek, Brooke, and Conrad to explore everything from a court jester fired by a funnier king, to Hans Christian Anders...

Denmark consistently tops the world’s livability rankings—but what do those lists really tell you about life here? In this episode, Derek, Brooke, and Mike take a closer look at the glossy reports versus the everyday realities of living in Denmark. From healthcare hurdles to hidden costs and navigating local systems without a corporate package, they unpack what these rankings often miss. Along the...

🎧 Bikes. Buns. No Danish friends? Challenge accepted. Brooke Fossey, The Nearly Danish Dame , moved to Denmark for a one-month vacation—and never went back. What followed was a full-blown reinvention: from running a bagel business out of a bike in Boston to becoming a cheerleader for awkward, honest language learning on Instagram. In our conversation, Brooke shares what it really takes to build a...

What happens when visitors overstay their welcome or were never really welcome to begin with? In this episode, we’re diving into the messy, funny, and sometimes awkward world of hosting guests , especially when you live abroad. Whether it’s friends booking a “free hotel” or well-meaning others who blur the line between visiting and moving in, expats and locals alike will relate to this episode. Oh...

Kateryna fled Ukraine when the war began, but that was only the beginning of her journey. Now living in Denmark, she’s rebuilding her life one punchline at a time. In this episode, she tells Derek, Conrad, and Brooke how comedy helped her cope with trauma, how it feels to perform stand-up in a new country, and what it means to create joy when the world feels broken. If you’ve ever taken your safet...

You’ve seen the Instagram photos and passed the crowds in Copenhagen, but how much do you really know about the Little Mermaid statue? In this episode, Derek, Mike, and Conrad have a laugh-filled discussion about the strange history of Denmark’s most iconic statue. From her origins in a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale to being commissioned by a Danish beer magnate, to her many beheadings and ev...

When you live abroad, visiting your home country can be a whirlwind—especially when you only have a few days. In this episode, we answer a real listener dilemma: Danielle, who lives in Odense, went back to Toronto for a short trip and chose to spend all her time with family. She didn’t tell her friends she was in town, and now… they’re upset. Derek and Conrad offer advice along with guests Dharshi...

Moving to a new country is more than learning the language and eating new food—it’s a full-body, emotional rollercoaster. In this episode, your hosts Derek, Brooke, and Mike break down the 4 stages of culture shock and share personal stories from their lives in Denmark —the excitement, the frustration, the weird in-between moments, and finally… that moment when it all starts to click. Whether you’...

In this episode you'll get to know the brilliant Danish comedian Cecilie Bau, who also happens to be our special guest for our upcoming live show! She sits down with Brooke, Conrad, and Derek to talk about dating in Denmark, coming out, and how it's all just comedic inspiration. We also dive into her work as a mental health advocate and how the stigma and treatment of mental health has evolved in...

Ever wonder why there are so many common names in Denmark? In this episode, Derek, Brooke, and Conrad dive into Denmark’s strict baby naming laws - with plenty of laughs along the way from our friend Mathias Bach. From government-approved name lists to the historical reasons behind them, we break down what you can (and can’t) name your kid if you're raising them in Denmark. Plus, a few awkward per...

In this episode, you'll learn all about the complicated world of learning Danish as a foreigner in Denmark with an update from Conrad, who’s currently prepping for the PD3 exam, and Mike, who recently passed PD2. Derek explains what the difference is between the two tests (and why it matters), which one you need for permanent residency or citizenship, and whether those government-sponsored languag...

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning Danish creator Mathias Bach—TikToker of the Year, mastermind behind some of Denmark’s most viral videos, and former child YouTuber who once tried to shorten school days for everyone. Brooke, Conrad, and Derek get Mathias's view on growing up in Denmark, what most foreigners really don’t understand about Danish culture, and how he balances humor with...