Valborg: The Fire That Renews Everything

Slavery in Sweden: the past nobody talks about

When we think of Sweden, we think of human rights, equality, and social progress. And that's real. But there's a chapter of Swedish history that very few people know about: for almost two hundred years, Sweden was a slave-trading nation that trafficked human beings, ran a Caribbean colony with its own slavery code, and compensated the slaveholders — not the slaves — when it finally abolished the institution. In this episode, I talk about that past. Without judging through the eyes of the present, but without looking the other way either. 📖 Free bilingual transcript (English/Swedish) available as EPUB — read along or use it to learn Swedish: https://ko-fi.com/s/2903c99da0 #Sweden #Slavery #History #SpanSwede #EnglishPodcast #SaintBarthélemy #Reflection #Colonialism This podcast shares personal reflections on life in Sweden, culture, philosophy, and much more. Also in Spanish: feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol [feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol] YouTube: youtube.com/@spanswede [youtube.com/@spanswede] Follow me: Instagram: @spanswede TikTok: @spanswede If this podcast adds something to your day, you can support it at ko-fi.com/juansweden [ko-fi.com/juansweden] — you'll also find the free bilingual transcripts for each episode there. If you enjoyed the episode, a rating goes a long way. Thanks for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

10 Things Sweden Changed in Me

When you've spent more than a decade living in a country that isn't yours, something curious happens: you start noticing changes in yourself that you never consciously chose. Habits you adopted without realising it. Words that only come to you in Swedish. A relationship with silence, with nature, and with the seasons that you simply didn't have before. In this episode I talk about how Sweden has changed me — for better and for worse — in ways I never expected. #Sweden #Immigration #Change #Habits #LifeInSweden #SpanSwede #Podcast #Reflection This podcast shares personal reflections on life in Sweden, culture, philosophy, and much more. Also in Spanish: feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol [feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol] YouTube: youtube.com/@spanswede [youtube.com/@spanswede] Follow me: Instagram: @spanswede TikTok: @spanswede If this podcast adds something to your day, you can support it at ko-fi.com/juansweden [ko-fi.com/juansweden] — you'll also find the free bilingual transcripts for each episode there. If you enjoyed the episode, a rating goes a long way. Thanks for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Valborg: The Fire That Renews Everything

Valborg in Sweden is more than a bonfire—it’s a ritual of renewal. In this episode, I explore its origins, meaning, and how fire marks the end of winter and the return of life. A reflection on culture, change, and human need for new beginnings. Follow the podcast on other platforms: YouTube: @spanswede Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanswede Podcast in Spanish: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/se/podcast/spanswede-en-espa%C3%B1ol/id1869977014 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vVzU7x9YNUspFcSTdt4SB Acast Podcast in Spanish: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol #Valborg #Sweden #Traditions #Spring #Culture #NordicLife #Reflection #Fire #SpanSwede #Podcast This podcast shares personal reflections on life in Sweden, culture, philosophy, and much more. Also in Spanish: feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol [feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol] YouTube: youtube.com/@spanswede [youtube.com/@spanswede] Follow me: Instagram: @spanswede TikTok: @spanswede If this podcast adds something to your day, you can support it at ko-fi.com/juansweden [ko-fi.com/juansweden] — you'll also find the free bilingual transcripts for each episode there. If you enjoyed the episode, a rating goes a long way. Thanks for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Modern Work: Between Detachment and Dehumanization

In this episode, I reflect on how people feel about their jobs today. I talk about something that is becoming increasingly visible: toxic work environments, companies that are more results-driven than ever, and employees who feel disconnected from their work. A growing sense of detachment that is hard to ignore. On one side, companies have evolved into more efficient systems—but also more impersonal ones, where people are treated as “assets.” On the other side, especially after the pandemic, many individuals have started questioning the meaning of work, the balance between life and career, and the stability they once took for granted. This episode explores that silent tension between companies and employees, the speed of change, and the difficulty of building a stable life in such an uncertain environment. It’s also a personal reflection on something deeper: how we often look for identity, purpose, and security in work—and why that can lead to frustration. Maybe the answer is not to change the system entirely, but to change how we position ourselves within it. Follow the podcast on other platforms: YouTube: @spanswede Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanswede Podcast in English: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/se/podcast/spanswede/id1740094241 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37CXiQV9JQ5Edq2nsXFrxw Acast Podcast: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede Podcast in Spanish: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/se/podcast/spanswede-en-espa%C3%B1ol/id1869977014 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vVzU7x9YNUspFcSTdt4SB Acast Podcast in Spanish: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol This podcast shares personal reflections on life in Sweden, culture, philosophy, and much more. Also in Spanish: feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol [feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol] YouTube: youtube.com/@spanswede [youtube.com/@spanswede] Follow me: Instagram: @spanswede TikTok: @spanswede If this podcast adds something to your day, you can support it at ko-fi.com/juansweden [ko-fi.com/juansweden] — you'll also find the free bilingual transcripts for each episode there. If you enjoyed the episode, a rating goes a long way. Thanks for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Who Speaks for Earth?

In this episode, I reflect on one of the most powerful chapters of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos: “Who Speaks for Earth?”. Written in the early 1980s during the Cold War, Sagan’s words feel just as relevant today. He describes the enormous destructive power humanity has developed through nuclear weapons, and the terrifying consequences of a global conflict. Beyond the numbers, this episode explores something deeper: our collective responsibility as a species, the dangers of unchecked power, and the absence of a true voice that represents humanity as a whole. Who makes decisions for the planet? Who speaks for all of us? This is not just a reflection on the past—it’s a question about our present, and our future. #CarlSagan #Cosmos #Reflection #ColdWar #NuclearWeapons #Humanity #Future #Awareness #SpanSwede #Podcast This podcast shares personal reflections on life in Sweden, culture, philosophy, and much more. Also in Spanish: feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol [feeds.acast.com/public/shows/spanswede-en-espaol] YouTube: youtube.com/@spanswede [youtube.com/@spanswede] Follow me: Instagram: @spanswede TikTok: @spanswede If this podcast adds something to your day, you can support it at ko-fi.com/juansweden [ko-fi.com/juansweden] — you'll also find the free bilingual transcripts for each episode there. If you enjoyed the episode, a rating goes a long way. Thanks for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.