Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL)

Finland through Different Lenses (FTDL)

How do three different people with different experiences and backgrounds experience Finland as a country to live in? Listen to our discussions and gain new information about Finland as well as other cultures and experiences. Our speakers: Martha Belay Workenh: Ethiopian Sport Journalist and sports photographer known for her platform, Ethio-Kickoff Sofia Kivinen: Native Finn from eastern Finland based in Turku, she had lived in Sweden and East Asia Nadira Kusaeni: Social Scientist in Sociology and International Relations from Finland and Türkiye, Indonesian born global citizen and polyglot

  1. Apr 13

    Immigrants in the Finnish labor market – past, present, and future with Dr. Mojibur Doftori

    Season 3, Episode 5: Immigrants in the Finnish labor market – past, present, and future with Dr. Mojibur Doftori We invited International House Lahti advisor, Dr. Mojibur Doftori, who is originally from Bangladesh and moved to Finland in 1996. He has had a long career in academia and politics in Finland and now shares his observations on the past, present, and future of immigrants in the Finnish labor market. Some of the questions we explored include: What are the reasons highly educated professionals in Finland struggle to find jobs? Dr. Doftori explains that strict and inflexible language requirements imposed by Finnish employers often exclude highly qualified professionals from the job market. He calls on Finnish companies to change this mindset, embrace diversity in their workforce, and recognize that integration is a two-way process. Moreover, certain deeply ingrained cultural aspects among some Asian and African immigrant communities may also present challenges. In this episode, you will hear Dr. Mojibur Doftori’s perspective on the challenges foreign professionals face in Finnish working life, along with practical tips and insights into the efforts made by cities in Finland to attract and welcome international talent. Listen to the full episode to learn more about the Finnish job market! 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Sofia Kivinen, Nadira Kusaeni, Martha Workenh

    35 min

  2. 11/23/2025

    Traditional Clothing, Surviving the Autumn Blues, and Finding Community in Finland

    Season 3, Episode 4: Traditional Clothing, Surviving the Autumn Blues, and Finding Community in Finland Martha has just returned from Ethiopia and shares her experience attending a major religious celebration. Nadira also tells us about the unique traditional clothing of Indonesia. Did Martha’s sunny holiday leave her refreshed enough to face the Finnish autumn? And can bright lamps really help us cope with autumn blues? Social connections matter, especially during difficult times. But how do you find your own community in Finland? Tune in to hear our stories and reflections in this episode! 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Sofia Kivinen, Martha Workenh, Nadira Kusaeni

    26 min

  3. 10/06/2025

    Opening a Business and Content Creation in Finland, with Kabira Chopra Khanna

    Season 3, Episode 3: Opening a Business and Content Creation in Finland, with Kabira Chopra Khanna In this episode, our guest Kabira Chopra Khanna from India, a business owner and content creator with over 52,000 followers on Instagram, answers all the questions you might have if you're thinking about starting a business in Finland. Kabira shares her experiences on how starting a business in Finland compares to doing so in her home country, and how her Indian background has supported her entrepreneurial journey. She also talks about how she grew her social media presence and turned it into a source of income. You'll also learn about the support available for entrepreneurs in Finland, tips for overcoming challenges, and what daily life looks like for a business owner. 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Sofia Kivinen, Martha Workenh, Nadira Kusaeni

    28 min

  4. 09/01/2025

    Pursuing Doctoral Studies (PhD) in Finland: application tips, salary, graduation

    Season 3, Episode 2: Pursuing Doctoral Studies (PhD) in Finland: application tips, salary, graduation Our guest, Evgeniia Ponomareva from Russia, a Doctoral Candidate at Aalto University's Department of Applied Physics answers all the questions you might have if you are planning to pursue a PhD in Finland. How to apply for research funding? What is required to complete a PhD program? Evgeniia shares real practical tips that give you an idea of life before, during, and after completing PhD studies in Finland. Although she is happy working as a PhD researcher in Finland, our guest addresses loneliness and shares her suggestions for improving social life of PhD researchers. 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Sofia Kivinen, Martha Workenh, Nadira Kusaeni

    35 min

  5. 08/08/2025

    Travel and Tourism in Finland

    Season 3, Episode 1: Travel and Tourism in Finland What can you do in Finland as a tourist? Now it’s summertime here, and we share our activity recommendations for travelers. Finland’s unique location in the Northern Hemisphere brings long days and warmth for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities. We recommend berry picking, road-tripping up north, or even watching the wife-carrying championship. For city and indoor enthusiasts, Finland offers plenty of museums showcasing local and international culture. Do you agree? 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Sofia Kivinen, Martha Workenh, Nadira Kusaeni

    27 min

  6. 06/01/2025

    Finnish Pop Culture, Yay or Nay?

    Season 2, Episode 5: Finnish Pop Culture, Yay or Nay? We discussed this year's Eurovision and UMK. What do we think about Finland's representative this year? Did Nadira support KAJ or Erika? In addition, we talked more about Finnish music, TV shows, and summer festivals. Sofia shared her experiences learning Korean through music and reflected on the increasing festival prices since she was a teenager. Are you attending any gigs this summer? 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Sofia Kivinen, Martha Workenh, Nadira Kusaeni

    30 min

  7. 05/11/2025

    Can Finland Support a Healthy Lifestyle?

    Season 2, Episode 4: Can Finland Support a Healthy Lifestyle? We discuss data and experiences about what contributes to healthy lifestyles across cultures. How is the sauna culture in South Korea? Why do Indonesians seldom walk? How does the heat affect Ethiopians’ lifestyle? Tune in and discover surprising ways different cultures stay healthy. You might even pick up a tip or two for yourself! 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Sofia Kivinen, Martha Workenh, Nadira Kusaeni

    33 min

  8. 05/04/2025

    Opitaan suomen kieltä! Learning Finnish

    Season 2, Episode 3: Opitaan suomen kieltä! Learning Finnish In this episode, Nadira and Martha share tips for learning Finnish. Nadira uses a Polish website, Glosbe.com, to check word conjugations, while Martha says practicing with the same-level speakers helps her a lot when learning the language. We also discuss whether someone can survive in Finland just by speaking English. Learn something new and enjoy this episode! 💬 Join the discussion in the comments! We would love to hear your story! 📌 Follow our channel to get updates on when new episodes come out. Best wishes, Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL) Speakers: Nadira Kusaeni, Martha Workenh Sound Editor: Sofia Kivinen

    33 min
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About

How do three different people with different experiences and backgrounds experience Finland as a country to live in? Listen to our discussions and gain new information about Finland as well as other cultures and experiences. Our speakers: Martha Belay Workenh: Ethiopian Sport Journalist and sports photographer known for her platform, Ethio-Kickoff Sofia Kivinen: Native Finn from eastern Finland based in Turku, she had lived in Sweden and East Asia Nadira Kusaeni: Social Scientist in Sociology and International Relations from Finland and Türkiye, Indonesian born global citizen and polyglot

Information

  • Creator
    Finland through Different Lenses (FTDL)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Finland through Different Lenses (FTDL)
  • Show Website
    Finland Through Different Lenses (FTDL)