Crossing North

Lithuanian actresses Marija Žemaitytė and Rugilė Latvėnaitė share songs from their performance “Graži ir ta galinga” (The Pretty and the Powerful One), and together with Professor Emeritus Violeta Kelertas, they discuss the legacy of Žemaitė, Lithuania's most famous female literary figure. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Guntis Šmidchens and Violeta Kelertas for helping to translate the lyrics of "Žemaitė” from “Graži ir ta galinga.” *** Transcript available at https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-27-she-pretty-she-powerful *** At 22:27, Violeta misspeaks. The First Lithuanian Women’s Congress was held in 1907, not 1909. *** At 34:34, Colin misspeaks. Žemaitė raised an equivalent amount of money to 30,000 USD in 2020. *** Music from “Graži ir ta galinga” used with permission by Marija Žemaitytė and Rugilė Latvėnaitė. *** Violeta Kelertas and Maryte Racys's translated anthology of Žemaitė’s works is titled "Marriage for Love: A 19th Ce

What are the dangers of radicalization? Bjørn Westlie is a Norwegian historian and journalist best known for his reporting on Norway’s history of antisemitism, and he has been a driving force for elevating Norway’s Jewish history. Bjørn visited the UW to discuss his 2008 book, Fars krig [My Father’s War], recently translated into English. Bjørn’s book deals with his father’s past as a member of the Norwegian Nazi party and a volunteer soldier in the Waffen-SS during World War II. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-26-my-fathers-war *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast *** Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends of Scandi

How to do you write a good story? Award-winning Swedish novelist & playwright Jonas Hassen Khemiri discusses his craft and his latest novel, The Family Clause. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Karin Filipsson. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-25-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends of Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund" scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

In 2018, a radar image of a buried Viking ship in Norway went viral online. Dr. Joakim Karlsen put together a team of archaeologists and 3D modelers to create a digital exhibit and to share the discovery with the world at gjellestadstory.no *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-24-transcript *** Learn more about the Gjellestad Viking ship at gjellestadstory.no *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends of Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund" scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

Anthropologist Margaret Willson discusses the dramatic life of Icelandic Sea Captain Þuríður Einarsdóttir, who saved lives, solved crimes, and was largely overlooked by 20th century historians. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Thea Lund for reading the excerpt from Woman, Captain, Rebel in the opening. Sound design by Colin Gioia Connors. Sound effects from ZapSplat.com *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-23-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends of Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund" scandinavian.was

On August 23, 2019, over 210,000 Hongkongers joined hands in a 60 kilometer human chain to protest police violence and to demand democratic reforms. This human chain, called the Hong Kong Way, took place on the 30th anniversary of another human chain protest—the Baltic Way of 1989—in which approximately two million Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians formed a 690 kilometer human chain across the three countries to protest the Soviet occupation. Iverson Ng, an Estonian-based Hongkonger, tells the story. ** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-22-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian

Are Swedes humans? What is the Swedish theory of love? Historians Henrik Berggren and Lars Trägårdh are perhaps best known as the co-authors of the 2006 Swedish bestseller Är svensken människa?, which describes the Swedish model of statist individualism wherein the state supports individual autonomy. The book has been widely read, discussed, and debated, and it continues to enliven debates today. Now, thanks to the University of Washington Press, their book appears for the first time in English translation as The Swedish Theory of Love. Henrik and Lars’ book offers much to American audiences interested in understanding the philosophy behind the Swedish welfare model, as well as those interested in imagining alternative political futures here or abroad. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-21-transcript *** The Swedish Theory of Love is available through the University of Washington Press. https://uwapress.uw

While Robert Eggers’ 2022 film, The Northman, was still in theaters, Lauren Poyer, Assistant Teaching Professor in Scandinavian Studies here at the University of Washington, was a guest on the podcast American Prestige to talk about the film’s interest in portraying a “historically accurate” Viking Age, as well as its medieval inspirations, and the popularity of Vikings in the United States. With the permission of the hosts Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison, we bring you that interview. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-20-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends of Sc

In this 2018 interview, former visiting lecturer of Danish Kristian Næsby speaks with affiliate instructor and retired U.S. diplomat Jay Bruns about his experience in Norway during and after the 9/11 attacks. Jay argues that effective diplomacy is built on deep cultural knowledge, clear communication, and empathy. Responses to terrorist attacks in the U.S. and in Norway reveal that the paths to security are many, and Jay advocates for one that stresses international partnership and cooperation. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-15-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washingto

Accordionist Pasi Pasanen and fiddler Per-Thomas Eriksson discuss the joys of playing folk music from their home region of Värmland in Sweden and explain how traditional music circulates and evolves, how music helps us to overcome some of our worst inhibitions, and how music education helps children grow up to become healthy and happy adults. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-18-transcript *** "Farsarven från Rösbäckstäppan" used with permission by Pasi Pasanen and Per-Thomas Eriksson. *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: D

How will we be remembered when we’re gone? Swedish cultural attaché and former curator Helene Larsson Pousette discusses the importance of archiving our lives as a way to take control of what stories are told about us in the future. Whether you preserve your memories in an official archive or keep them in a box in the attic, Helene argues that archiving yourself is a form of activism that has the power not only to change how we see the past, but also how we see one another. Together with assistant professor Amanda Doxtater, we discuss how to think like an archivist. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-17-transcript *** At 01:05, Helene mentions her new book, “Arkivism: En Handbok” (in Swedish), which she co-edited with Lina Thomsgård, and which was initiated by Stockholm Museum of Women’s History and published in 2021 in collaboration with the independent publishing firm Volante. Find it at: https://volantes

Why is Seattle the best place to learn Scandinavian folk dance outside of Scandinavia? And what's it all about, anyway? UW undergraduate students Blue Palmer, Bill Cheung-Daihe, and Fanny Mestä-Tokila discuss how a dance course with the Skandia Folkdance Society gave them a new way to connect with their studies, make new friends, and have good fun. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-16-transcript *** Learn more about the Skandia Folkdance Society of Seattle: https://skandia-folkdance.org/ *** At 29:32, Bill refers to a spelmanslag, Swedish for a "folk musician's team." There are two spelmanslag in Seattle: The Skandia Spelmanslag (for adults) http://skandia-folkdance.org/spelmanslag/ and The Lilla Spelmanslag (for children) https://www.seattlelillalag.org/ *** At 34:20, Fanny refers to "Lucia," the Santa Lucia Day performance put on by UW students every December at the Sw

The coronavirus pandemic has many people worried about the future. Many people are eager for things to return to normal, but others are just as eager to take this crisis as an opportunity to reimagine and reshape what our idea of “normal” means. If you could rebuild your world right now, what kind of world would you build? Postdoctoral research fellow Toni Lahtinen discusses recent trends in Finnish eco-dystopian literature, and the role literature plays in exploring our anxieties about the future as well as our guilt about the past and present. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-15-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the B

When author Nora Ikstena published her novel Soviet Milk in 2015, it became so popular that libraries had to create a special 24-hour loan policy for the book. Why was this novel about life in Soviet-occupied Latvia so popular? I discuss the novel with author Nora Ikstena and assistant professor Liina-Ly Roos. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at https://scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-14-transcript *** Learn more about Nora Ikstena: http://latvianliterature.lv/en/writers/14 *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the

How is global warming affecting Greenlanders and what responsibilities do climate-scientists have to the peoples of the Arctic? UW seniors Lela Cooper and Katie Hearther discuss how a course in Greenland about climate change inspired them to study new languages and integrate the humanities into the sciences they love. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Email Dr. Koutnik: mkoutnik@uw.edu Read student blog posts from Dr. Koutnik's August-September 2018 course: http://www.michelle-koutnik.com/ *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends

Why did so many African-Americans go to Denmark in the 20th century and what were their experiences while there? Professor Ethelene Whitmire answers these questions while discussing her upcoming book, Searching for Utopia. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Study with Dr. Whitmire: https://afroamericanstudies.wisc.edu/staff/ethelene-whitmire/ Read Dr. Whitmire's article, "Traveling While Black Across the Atlantic Ocean." https://longreads.com/2019/01/22/traveling-while-black-across-the-atlantic-ocean/ Read Dr. Whitmire's article, "The Gay Black Man Who Stared Down the Nazis in the Name of Love" https://narratively.com/the-gay-black-american-who-stared-down-nazis-in-the-name-of-love/ Order Dr. Whitmire's first book, "Regina Anderson Andrews: Harlem Renaissance Librarian." https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/35qfd6cg9780252038501.html *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4

What happens when sustaining a Nordic way of life disrupts sustaining a Sámi way of life? Assistant Professor Tim Frandy discusses the history and future of Sámi fishing rights on the Deatnu River, as well as a few hard truths about the ethnocentrism of Western environmental management practices. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-11-transcript *** Order Dr. Frandy's book, Inari Sámi Folklore: Stories from Aanaar: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5591.htm Read Dr. Frandy's publicly available research: https://wku.academia.edu/TimFrandy Learn more about Dr. Frandy: https://www.wku.edu/fsa/staff/tim_frandy *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies

Director of Story Marc E. Smith discusses what it is like to work for Walt Disney Animation Studios and how a research trip to the Nordic countries inspired new artistic and thematic directions for the characters of Anna and Elsa in Frozen 2. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at https://scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-10-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends of Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund" scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

Sámi music legend Mari Boine discusses the origins of her musical career as an Indigenous woman in Norway. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby and John Prusynski. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-9-transcript *** Learn more about Mari Boine and her music at: www.mariboine.no Watch these performances on Youtube: "Goaskinviellja" at the Oslo Opera House (2009) https://youtu.be/kprl0CECykA "Elle" on NRK (2011) https://youtu.be/GXA2fiUM1_E "Jearrat biekkas" on NRK (2013) https://youtu.be/tfemcc4TK8s "Fillii fillii" on NRK (2015) https://youtu.be/bovAKyX1bVI "Mitt hjerte alltid vanker" at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit (2001) https://youtu.be/dgSad-3qUNs *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: D

Continuing our interview in Episode 7 about The Lord of the Rings with linguist Dr. Matt Boutilier, we consider more broadly how we imagine the past in medieval fantasy, and how those perceptions translate into racial typecasting in film. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-8-transcript *** Listen to more of Dr. Matt Boutilier on The Tolkien Heads podcast. https://thetolkienheads.com/ Colin is a guest on Episode 62, "The Ride of the Rohirrim." https://thetolkienheads.com/2019/02/27/62-the-ride-of-the-rohirrim/ *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washin