The Social Balcony

The Social Balcony
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Demystifying the Nordic Utopia – Why is this necessary? We are four students who met each other during our Bachelor's program at Malmö University in Sweden. Three of us came from outside of the Nordic Countries and we quickly had to realize that the romantic picture of Sweden which we grew up with was not necessarily reality. Together with our fourth friend from Finland, we want to talk about our impressions and combine them with current research. On this podcast, we discuss various topics that will shed a light on whether or not Nordic Countries are really as sustainable as everyone thinks.

Episodes

  1. 07/06/2022

    Who Gives A Dam?!

    In this slightly more chaotic episode, we speak about the impacts of dams on the environment, their importance and the growing movement of dam removal for river restoration. Come listen to us struggle to pronounce words as we try to explain the benefits of dam removal on rivers.

  2. 05/25/2022

    The Pullervo Fanclub

    In this episode we are talking about the animal dearest to us: The Saimaa ringed seal. It is a highly endangered species which is at home in Finland. Each year the WWF puts up a livestream and over 1.2 million Finns watch how the seal changes its fur. We discuss how the seal population has increased over the last years and how it has become one of the most beloved animals in Finland. You can find the livestream here and enjoy the calming scenery: https://wwf.fi/luontolive/norppalive/

  3. 05/04/2022

    Our 12 points go to..

    In this episode we talk about the biggest music event in the world: Eurovision. Eurovision provides the biggest stage with 180 million viewers each year, and it has become a place where issues of geopolitics and human rights simuntaneously clash while music unites participating countries. We dive into the history of the Eurovision Song contest and why it is so popular especially in the Nordic countries.

  4. 03/30/2022

    Let's keep the positive energy flowing

    This month we are looking at three examples of positive transformation towards more sustainable communities. We picked three places that took matters into their own hands and decided to become greener and more sustainable, mostly within the area of energy production. Each of our examples is a rather individual case with special conditions that made a transition towards a more sustainable way of living easier, still some aspects can be adopted everywhere. Follow us to Iceland, Bornholm and Lahti and find out what we can learn from them!

  5. 02/23/2022

    Who let the pigs out in Denmark?

    Who, who, who, who let the pigs out in Denmark? In this month's episode we talk about organic food production in Denmark. The country has the highest market share of organic food and an ambitious national organic food strategy to go along with it. At the same time, Denmark is also one of the biggest pork exporters worldwide and the companies in the business show no intention of scaling back anytime soon. In this episode, we explore how organic Denmark really is and dive into the topic of plant-based food.

  6. 01/26/2022

    Healthcare in Kry-sis?

    We cannot talk about the Nordic Welfare state without talking about its healthcare system. It is known worldwide for its universal care based on equity, public funding and innovative practices. So in this episode, we give a short introduction into its principles but also look more in depth into current challenges in Sweden and Finland. We talk about inequalities due to private insurance and ask if private digital care-providers are actually a good alternative to cut health care expenses. Find our shownotes here: https://thesocialbalcony.com/2022/01/26/episode-5-healthcare-in-kry-sis/

  7. 12/29/2021

    Last Night in Malmö

    In this episode, we discuss the history of Malmö, its connection to Denmark and its transformation into an innovative and sustainable city. We also talk about our perceptions of the city and our experiences from our time there, including the ‘controversy’ surrounding Malmo-born Zlatan Ibrahimović and our love for falafel.

  8. 11/24/2021

    Tell me your neighbourhood and I’ll tell you who you are.

    The Nordic Countries are known for high living costs, especially when it comes to housing. But what are the impacts of high rents and a shortage of housing in the big cities of the North? In this episode, we have a closer look at social exclusion due to housing in Denmark and Sweden. But what does social exclusion mean and how is it connected to the neighbourhood you are living in? Join us in our new episode where we tackle these and many more questions surrounding housing segregation in the Nordic Countries.

  9. 10/27/2021

    Finnish‌ ‌Pacifists‌ ‌Under House‌ Arrest

    In this episode, we will take a look at the military system in the Nordic Countries. Did you know that in all Nordic Countries (except Island) conscription is still mandatory? But while most of them are only taking people who are actually willing, Finland is making all men take part in a mandatory military service once they turn 18. But what happens to people who are refusing to go due to their beliefs? This and many more questions will be answered in today’s episode!

  10. 09/22/2021

    Overshooting Our Shot

    The Nordic Countries are often portrayed as global icons in their approach to environmental and sustainability issues. This episode takes a closer look into the rankings of these countries in the UN Sustainable Development Report, and compares them to their overshoot dates. How is it that the Nordic countries rank so highly in SDG reports yet have some of the earliest overshoot dates in the world?

  11. 09/21/2021

    Episode 0 - What to Expect

    In this episode we are introducing ourselves and the podcast. We are talking about how we met, who we are and why we are so interested in the Nordic Countries. We will be setting the tone for our first season of our Podcast "The Social Balcony" and what you can expect from us. Enjoy listening!

  • 11 Episodes

About

Demystifying the Nordic Utopia – Why is this necessary? We are four students who met each other during our Bachelor's program at Malmö University in Sweden. Three of us came from outside of the Nordic Countries and we quickly had to realize that the romantic picture of Sweden which we grew up with was not necessarily reality. Together with our fourth friend from Finland, we want to talk about our impressions and combine them with current research. On this podcast, we discuss various topics that will shed a light on whether or not Nordic Countries are really as sustainable as everyone thinks.

Information

  • Creator
    The Social Balcony
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2022
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Social Balcony
  • Show Website
    The Social Balcony