The Danish Connection

The Danish Connection
  • 5.0 (3)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

How do you access news in Denmark if you don’t speak Danish? There are 652,495 foreign citizens living in Denmark. For non-Danes, accessing news in English is….complicated. Most news outlets are paywalled and google translate does a pretty terrible job of translating Danish to English. In collaboration with Union and The CPH Post, we bring you The Danish Connection - a new podcast breaking down Danish news in English! This is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark. Hosted by María Eva, Rachel and Melissa, new episodes every second Sunday.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Lego joins World Cup in U.S as major sponsor, migrants at departure centres may be forced to wear GPS bracelets, angry veterans and a major cocaine seizure linked to Denmark

    This week on The Danish Connection: We discuss the government’s new deportation reform plan, including plans to use GPS ankle bracelets on foreign nationals with criminal records in departure centres. We also hear from documentary filmmaker and producer Mathilde Kirstein who made a film about one of the most infamous centres, Kærshovedgård. Stay tuned for details about an upcoming screening of her film ‘The Painters Room’. Danish toy giant Lego will be one of the main sponsors of the World Cup 2026, which will take place in the United States. At a time when football, politics and migration policy are deeply entangled, can global brands stay neutral in the current geopolitical climate? We look into why the U.S embassy in Copenhagen removed flags symbolising Danish soldiers killed in U.S wars, and the show of solidarity that followed. We also unpack one of the largest cocaine seizures linked to Denmark to date, after 1.3 tonnes of the substance were intercepted in Portugal through coordinated police work involving Danish, Portuguese and Spanish authorities. As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio. Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute. If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

    42 min

  2. 1 FEB

    Unemployment reaches 3%, government issues food checks and a bleak future for Danish drinking water

    This week on The Danish Connection: We discuss the government’s new tax-free food check plan worth 4.5 billion kroner, aimed at helping families, students, pensioners and unemployed people cope with rising prices. We also discuss the uncertainty around whether internationals will be included. We look into why 27 years of efforts to protect Denmark’s drinking water have failed, agricultural lobbying and what the future might look like for Denmark’s water. Plus, we unpack the latest unemployment figures, which have risen to 3% for the first time in years. As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio. Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute. If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

    35 min

  3. 25 JAN

    The full Greenland update (featuring Najannguaq Hegelund and Jonas Friis De Sanctis)

    This week on The Danish Connection, we bring you the full Greenland update. Melissa and Rachel discuss Greenland’s colonial past and its path toward self-rule, why Donald Trump has become obsessed with acquiring the world’s largest island, the affect the crisis has had on Denmark’s relationship with the United States, how EU leaders and Nato members have responded and some of the key points from Davos. They are joined by Najannguaq Hegelund, a Greenlandic activist working on Indigenous rights and child welfare who shares her perspective on the crisis, and Danish naval officer Jonas Friis De Sanctis, who breaks down the military developments in the Arctic and what the future of security in the region might look like. As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio. Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute. If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

    47 min
  4. The Situation Room with Jonas Friis: UN military observer Esben Thorseth on the challenges of modern peacekeeping operations

    4 JAN · BONUS

    The Situation Room with Jonas Friis: UN military observer Esben Thorseth on the challenges of modern peacekeeping operations

    Welcome back to The Situation Room – a special bonus series from The Danish Connection presented by Jonas Friis. Jonas is a Danish naval officer with thirteen years of military experience. Aside from that, he is interested in investigating, understanding and speaking about the Danish military and its place in the global defence context. This week, Jonas sits down with Esben Thorseth - a Danish naval officer with experience both in active service and as a UN military observer with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). They discuss Esben’s time as a UN observer in the Middle East (Israel and Syria), his reflections on UN missions abroad and how multinational peace operations actually work, and some of the structural challenges that affect recruitment and retention of young officers - especially as they begin to build families. More from Esben Thorseth: Debate/Opinion in Politiken: https://politiken.dk/debat/debatindlaeg/art10671835/Far-Hvorfor-skal-mine-b%C3%B8rn-betale-for-Caroline-Storr-Kroghs-frihed Jyllands Posten article on reflections after service in Israel/Syria and fatherhood: https://jyllands-posten.dk/debat/breve/ECE18307488/jeg-har-fulgt-mine-venner-blive-foraeldre-og-det-skraemmer-mig-ikke-som-kommende-far-men/ Berlingske column/report about his UN mission https://qoshe.com/berlingske/esben-thorseth/esben-thorseth-var-udsendt-i-israel-og-syrien-nu-vender-han-hjem-med-en-sandhed-der-er-sv-r-at-/187081358 QOSHE Frontlinjen Podcast discussing defence personnel issues
 https://podcasts.apple.com/mx/podcast/forsvaret-er-ikke-indrettet-til-unge-officerer/id1527238679?i=1000736253472 In collaboration with The Copenhagen Post

    1h 13m

  5. 21/12/2025

    A Danish sperm scandal, EU leaders rethink convention on human rights and face coverings to be banned in universities

    This week on The Danish Connection: Rachel talks about the disturbing international fertility case linked to the European Sperm Bank in Denmark, where sperm from a single donor carrying a cancer-causing genetic mutation was used to conceive nearly 200 children across Europe. She looks into what this could mean for the future of cross-border fertility treatment and why Denmark plays such a central role in this industry. Melissa breaks down Denmark’s leading role, alongside Italy and 25 other countries, in pushing for a reinterpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to migration and deportation. She talks about the proposed changes, why other European leaders have been ‘inspired’ by Denmark’s hardline migration policies and what this could mean for migrants seeking refuge in Europe. Rachel looks into Denmark’s decision to compensate thousands of Greenlandic women and girls who were subjected to forced contraception for decades.  Melissa talks about the government’s proposal to extend Denmark’s face covering ban to schools and universities. As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio. Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute. If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

    41 min
  6. How do Danes deal with death?: Stories from the streets with Maria Pagola

    06/12/2025 · BONUS

    How do Danes deal with death?: Stories from the streets with Maria Pagola

    Death is a part of life - but how do Danes deal with it? Welcome back to another episode of Stories from the Streets with Maria Pagola - a special bonus series from The Danish Connection where we take to the streets of Copenhagen to find out what Danes and Internationals really think about some of life's biggest issues. This week, we're uncovering the cultural and practical aspects of death in Denmark, and asking the question: is it cheaper to rent or to die in Denmark?

    32 min

  7. 22/11/2025

    The election results (with special guests NicholasButInEnglish & Bernardo Basilici Menini)

    On Tuesday, a historic number of international citizens voted in the local and regional elections in Denmark. Now, the results are in, and we’re here (as always) to help you make sense of it all. Rachel sits down with: Bernardo Basilici Menini, Editor-in-Chief of the English language news outletThe Copenhagen Post which covered the elections extensively NicolasButInEnglish, a democratic activist who has inspired many internationals to vote through his social media videos, where he has provided essential information in English on parties, candidates and the intricacies of the Danish political system. Together, we break down the results, what they reveal about Denmark’s political future, and how they will affect international citizens living here. As always, you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or by simply clicking the link in our bio. Remember - this is your place to share questions, opinions, and stories about the immigrant experience in Denmark, and we want to hear from you. Do you have a story about your voting experience? We would love to hear about it! Send us a DM on Instagram or email us at thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com if you have a story you'd like to contribute. If you enjoyed this episode and think it could be useful for someone you know, please share it with them!

    53 min

  8. 09/11/2025

    Your practical election guide, residence permits halted for foreign nurses and a new national centre for research in women’s health

    This week on The Danish Connection: 💊 We discuss the Danish government’s plan to invest DKK 160 million in a new National Centre for Research in Women’s Health. 🛂 We talk about Mette Frederiksen’s latest Facebook post where she warned of further restrictions on immigration, saying newcomers must accept ‘core Danish values’ and that the flow of international students moving to Denmark and working in the service industry must be stopped. 🏥 We look into why Denmark has halted residence permits for foreign-trained nurses until 2027, citing no current shortage. While officials see it as practical, many internationals already in the country are left uncertain about their future and Denmark’s changing labour market. 🗳️ On November 18, 2025, Denmark holds local and regional elections and half a million internationals are eligible to vote. With key debates over housing, sustainability and healthcare, we give you some practical advice on how to place your vote and what events you can attend to get more informed. As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio. Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute. If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

How do you access news in Denmark if you don’t speak Danish? There are 652,495 foreign citizens living in Denmark. For non-Danes, accessing news in English is….complicated. Most news outlets are paywalled and google translate does a pretty terrible job of translating Danish to English. In collaboration with Union and The CPH Post, we bring you The Danish Connection - a new podcast breaking down Danish news in English! This is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark. Hosted by María Eva, Rachel and Melissa, new episodes every second Sunday.

Information

  • Creator
    The Danish Connection
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Danish Connection
  • Show Website
    The Danish Connection

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