Take Your Shoes Off, the Podcast Podcast By Bob Becker Mikael Byhlin Kelly Swaine cover art

Take Your Shoes Off, the Podcast

Take Your Shoes Off, the Podcast

By: Bob Becker Mikael Byhlin Kelly Swaine
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About this listen

Take Your Shoes Off is a podcast exploring the experiences of expats living and thriving - or at the very least getting by - in Sweden. Americans Bob and Kelly and Swedish Micke engage in meaningless banter while discussing the challenges and joys of starting anew in Sweden. Each week, they invite guests to share their unique stories, navigating cultural differences, personal growth, and the question of whether they’ll stay in their new home. Tune in for insightful conversations, laughter, and the more than occasional reminder to leave your shoes at the door!


Take a look inside the studio and follow along on Instagram.


Subscribe, rate and review our podcast on Spotify or Apple podcasts.


Theme music provided by Fredrik Rabe.


Take your shoes off is created and hosted by friends Bob Becker, Mikael Byhlin and Kelly Swaine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mikael Byhlin, Robert Becker, Kelly Swaine Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Courtney El Refai

    Courtney El Refai
    Jul 4 2025

    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 are fresh, her enthusiasm is intact, and Swedish quirks are still charming. She lives here while working as a neonatal nurse...in California. She literally saves babies by day and eats knäckebröd by night.


    Enjoy!

    Check her out:

    On Instagram and YouTube: @courtneyelrefai

    Founder of @stockholmgirlies (Instagram)

    linktr.ee/courtneyelrefai


    Expressen article: https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/sverige/courtney-pendlar-860-mil-till-jobbet/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    52 mins
  • Hazem

    Hazem
    Jun 22 2025

    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 on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Martin Arvebro

    Martin Arvebro
    Jun 5 2025

    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 poking fun at societal norms can actually be a form of public service. Finally, you'll realize your best bet to learn Swedish is to spend more time in Malmö. Enjoy!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
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