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/

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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.

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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!

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This week, we’re joined by Jonathan Rollins: U.S. Air Force vet, Founder of The Laugh House - at least the longest running consistent English-language comedy club in Stockholm, and the kind of guy who believes Swedish comedians are top-tier… and Swedish comedy is bottom-shelf. He’s got opinions—about fruit, laughter, and the strange truths of life in Sweden.

Let’s just say… some people relocate when they laugh. And after this episode, you might too.

Check out Jonathan Rollins’ own podcast “Så vad händer?” here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xhdetUEUnAPwpRqo0es6d?si=ufDSQvr2QZWcmLPWjwajOw

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Kim Kraft is a professional educator with over fifteen years of experience. She is member of the faculty at University of Washington and she joined us to talk all things Swedish and to also teach Mikael I thing or two about Swedish culture.

She will be a visiting researcher at Lund University and American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellow for the 2025-2026 academic year. She is planning a research project called: Learning Swedish Beyond the Classroom. If you are an adult English speaker, who is attempting to learn Swedish while living in Sweden, she would love to hear about your experiences. If you have any questions, please contact her at svenskaseattle@gmail.com or go to this link: https://shorturl.at/UtWnE

You can find out more about Kim at kraftjones.com

Thank you for listening and enjoy the show! Like, Follow and Share!

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This week's guest is Stephen Lessard, known online as @stephen_in_sweden. He left behind Fenway franks and Dunkin' coffee for a land of licorice, quiet buses, and pastries that sound like cartoon characters. He's American by birth, Swede by awkward social adaptation, and has some strong opinions about the Semla.

Stephen shares his experiences adpating Swedish culture through engagin and often comedic videos. His content covers topics like cultural differences, Swedish traditions, and everyday life in Sweden. You can find his content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where he continues to share anecdotes about his life in Sweden - and his love of Frölunda Hockey!

Join us for this fun and engaging conversation where we also dive into Mikael's former life as a Reality TV Star!

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This week, we’re joined by a guest with a truly international resume: a Hungarian-Romanian who has lived in Malta, loves Sweden, and sings in a queer choir. her name is Andrea and we cover all the important topics—like whether CSN loans are a scam, why semla is basically an edible conspiracy, and if Systembolaget is secretly the most Swedish thing ever.

Oh, and there’s Dracula. And garlic. And somehow, despite our best efforts, Mikael actually manages to tie it all together.

Strap in, take your shoes off, and let’s get into it!

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