Podcasts to Help You Understand Norway

Want to know what real life in Norwegian cities looks and feels like? Then this podcast is for you. David Nikel, who also created the Life in Norway online magazine, interviews foreigners who live and work in Norway, from food bloggers to photographers and entrepreneurs, and from Oslo and Trondheim (where David is based) to Lofoten and Tromsø. Tune in every two weeks for a deep dive into Norwegian society, culture, and lifestyle through the eyes of fellow expats.

Blank Space, a gallery and educational art center whose motto is “art for all,” is behind Oslo’s first creative podcast. Blank Space: Blah Blah is a monthly instalment that discusses design and art issues, both local and international, and showcases the viewpoint of working professionals in today’s visual art-scape. Alternatively, as its host will tell you, “It’s about drinking beer with cool people.”

Svalbard is a magical place, full of polar bears, icebergs, and seed and data vaults that stand between humanity and Armageddon – of course it would make the perfect setting for a horror story! The White Vault is an audio drama podcast that follows “the collected records of a repair team sent to Outpost Fristed in the vast white wastes of Svalbard to unravel what lies waiting in the ice below.” There are 10 very atmospheric instalments that comprise the first season of the drama, with a new season starting in October.

Are you a football fan? Steve Wyss and Jonathan Fadugba certainly are, and they’re also football analysts with a passion for Nordic football. If you want to stay abreast of the sports developments in Sweden and Norway, tune in to Nordic Football Podcast for the latest Eliteserien & Allsvenskan news, player analysis, and reviews.

What does it feel like to be an American living in Oslo? Nick Kamran was a former US Naval Officer working for a major Wall Street firm, until he decided to turn his life around and start over in Oslo at age 42. Letters from Norway is available on iTunes and features news and politics commentary, juxtaposing issues that are relevant both sides of the ocean.

Justin and Josefina were two lost souls who found each other in the northernmost city on the planet… Sounds like the beginning of a Hollywood rom-com? Well, it’s actually how the Taken North podcast came to be. The two hosts live in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and through their podcast they share the stories of the people living at the edge of the world, from adventurers and scientists to everyday folks.