In this festive and fascinating episode, Adrian Mackinder will unravel 12 pre-Christian traditions and Norse influences that shaped our understanding of Christmas today. From the wild celebrations of Yule to the symbolism of evergreen trees and the mythological roots of Santa’s sleigh, Adrian explains how ancient festivals and Norse mythology found their way into modern holiday customs. Along with Jefferson Bond and Derek Hartman, the episode blends humor, history, and the holiday spirit in one ...
Dec 10, 2024•30 min
In this episode we're catching you up on the news around Denmark. Conrad Molden explains why members of Danish Parliament are wearing headsets and takes us into Christiansborg Slot. Ye, he visited Danish Parliament this week at the invitation of a member of Folketinget. Comedian, Anders Morgenstierne, joins the discussion with stories of his time reporting from Christianborg while working for Go' Aften Danmark. Derek Hartman explains the workers' rights debates being stirred up after internation...
Dec 03, 2024•28 min
Denmark struggles to retain internationals, with 64% leaving within five years and only 28% of international graduates staying post-graduation. In this episode, Brooke Black, Conrad Molden, and Derek Hartman dive into why so many expats leave Denmark, the cultural and systemic barriers they face, and what it means for Denmark’s aging population and economy. This episode explores how the €7 billion Fehmarn Belt Tunnel project is attracting internationals to Lolland and the municipality’s innovati...
Nov 26, 2024•28 min
This week you're getting the news in Denmark for week 47 with a full house and Steven Feraru at the table. We get to know Steven with a hilarious story of a doctor's visit gone wrong, Derek fills us in on the King of the Netherlands work visit to Denmark, Conrad explains the new skat previews. Brooke explains the new painting at Christianborg that's a dose of female empowerment and it's inspired Annie to start a new import export business. Oh, and Steven opened a can of worms by bringing up the ...
Nov 19, 2024•33 min
In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark , Derek Hartman sits down with Kriti Prajapati, a comedian from India who’s making waves in the Danish comedy scene. Since moving to Denmark in 2017, Kriti has co-produced Almost Danes , a hit comedy show that humorously tackles the quirks of Danish culture through the eyes of an international. Kriti shares her journey from engineering to comedy, shedding light on the challenges and joys of building a life in Denmark. Through her stand-up and publ...
Nov 12, 2024•31 min
We are breaking down all the weeks news and not mentioning the US Election at all! Conrad has a technology report about a Danish super computer that nobody really understands and Brooke has updates that influencers and marketing teams in Denmark need to be aware of, all from a little issue with Lily in Copenhagen. Derek has some important information for people are are biking or using the toilets in Denmark, and both could involve police - so make sure you listen and get up-to-date with the late...
Nov 05, 2024•32 min
Derek is joined by comedian and actor, Jeff Bond to talk about the history of Halloween and how it's taken shape in Denmark and around the world. Throughout the discussion, Jeff decides what Halloween creature he would hire as an assistant and he assigns Derek a gangster name. You'll learn about the origins of the spooky holiday and what the future of Halloween means for Fastelavn. Derek weighs-in on whether Danes should be threatened by the emergence of a competing holiday or embrace it and Jef...
Oct 31, 2024•35 min
In this episode, Conrad explains the story of a 1960s cult-classic, creature feature, Danish-American Godzilla knock off film that will blow you mind. He recently reviewed the film with Derek on YouTube and shares all the history and details with Annie and Kriti. You'll learn all about the epic cinematic masterpiece of the movie that is so so bad it's good. Conrad explains why the movie was shot twice and why many scenes are unnecessarily dubbed in English. Annie and Kriti develop a deep sympath...
Oct 29, 2024•27 min
This week Derek is brining you the news in Denmark with comedian, actor, and friend of the show - Jeff Bond! You'll learn about the species of bird that Denmark is calling a conservation success story and the region of Europe that gave Danish pigeons their sexy looks. Jeff will offer incredible marriage advice directly from Folketinget - spoiler, the Swedes do it much worse, and Derek shares information on the EU law that could have a major impact on your food-delivery app employees. Along the w...
Oct 22, 2024•32 min
This week we jump right into spooky season with the tales of four different ghosts haunting a castle in Denmark. Paranormal skeptic and OG host of the podcast, Mike Walsh, is back in the co-host seat to share his thoughts and reactions to Derek's Danish ghost stories. Whether or not you're familiar with the tales from Denmark's castle, Dragsholm Slot, you're in for a scary retelling of the haunted history of this Danish dwelling. It's a modern day hotel and restaurant with a dark and chilling pa...
Oct 15, 2024•20 min
This week, Brooke shares a disturbing story of how the use of Fabreeze air-freshener sparked conflict with her Danish husband. Like any couple would want, we brought their issues to this podcast for public debate and ridicule. At the core of the issue is whether scented products are appropriate or should be avoided at all costs. We have noticed, with no scientific evidence, that Danes seem to be more sensitive to smells and scented products than people in our homelands. Is there data to back thi...
Oct 08, 2024•30 min
It's week 40 and your esteemed WAYDID Roundtable of News is full of laughs and information you probably could miss but won't want to. Conrad Molden discusses which new country has been brought into Denmark's MobilePay system and Kriti Prajipati shares the new way in which your children may be disciplined in Danish schools. Annie Samples will explain which celebrity couple is being criticized for letting their children run around Denmark without supervision, and Derek Hartman explains which North...
Oct 01, 2024•37 min
Why don't Danes like you? We'll try to help you figure that out as we finish discussing the topic with comedian Ira Sylvester. In this conversation we'll examine how language, humor, and cultural differences play a role in how Danes feel about you. This episode may not win you the admiration of every Danish person in Denmark, but it will at least make you laugh and feel like you're not alone in the area of driving Danes crazy. Make sure to follow the podcast and help us grow the show by sharing ...
Sep 26, 2024•22 min
In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark , Derek and Brooke dig into a labor showdown you’ve probably never heard of: McDonald's versus Danish unions in the 1980s. What happens when a fast-food giant tries to bypass some of the best worker protections in the world? Let’s just say Denmark had a few surprises up its sleeve and McDonald's wasn't lovin' it. Come for the 80's nostalgia and stay for the rarely shared story of this David vs. Goliath battle that reshaped McDonald's in Denmark—an...
Sep 24, 2024•22 min
Comedian Ira Sylvester returns to WAYDID for a hilarious conversation about how to drive a Dane crazy. Derek and Ira break down some unwritten rules of social etiquette in Denmark that are often violated by unaware foreigners. Derek explains how his personal preferences have flipped while living in Denmark and that many of the rules he used to break are now dreadfully important to maintain. Ira gets deep and personal about the many facades that we put forth in life, including how the way we act ...
Sep 19, 2024•26 min
This episode continues the conversation with Lita and Helen, authors of Danish Humor: Sink or Swim. In the discussion, Derek learns more about the positive sides of Danish humor as Lita and Helen explain the ways in which humor can help us find camaraderie. No mater our culture, we all laugh and benefit from humor. The challenge for internationals living in Denmark is finding out how to interpret the humor they are surrounded by. Since Danes have the benefit of growing up with this humor, there ...
Sep 17, 2024•24 min
Grab a cup of coffee and join Brooke, Conrad, and Derek for a discussion of the latest news stories out of Denmark. Brooke explains how AI was used in a recent study of Danish pigs to determine their mental health status. The results are fascinating and may surprise you! Derek explains the details of Copenhagen's potential bid for the 2036 Olympic Games including where the archery events would be held and whether or not the removable stadium would be made of LEGO. Conrad fills us all in on why D...
Sep 12, 2024•25 min
This week, Derek sits down with authors Lita Lundquist and Helen Dyrbye who literally wrote the book on Danish humor, one of the hardest things for foreigners in Denmark to learn. Derek gets feedback on how he handled an interaction with Danish colleagues early in his time living in Denmark. Lita and Helen share valuable insights into Danish culture when it comes to humor and how to navigate the direct nature of Danes. You'll learn what to avoid and how to handle Danish humor in your professiona...
Sep 10, 2024•26 min
In part 2 of Derek's interview with Claus Christensen, from the new DRTV series, Demenskoret, you will learn about the health benefits of singing and how studies are being done to measure the impact of singing and song on patients with dementia. Claus discusses the way that singing fosters community in Danish culture and how trust is a byproduct. You'll learn how the dementia choir selected songs and ways in which the arrangement and style of the each song brought out different emotions for the ...
Sep 05, 2024•27 min
This week Derek sits down with star of the new DR show, Demenskoret , Claus Christensen. With a long resume as a singer, songwriter, and choir director, Claus has taken on his most rewarding endeavour yet - leading a choir of patients living with dementia. You'll learn singing and song are such a big part of culture in Denmark. Claus also shares how they're important in human biology human biology and the science that inspired the dementia choir concept. Claus shares how singing helped him overc...
Sep 03, 2024•26 min
We welcome back Mike Walsh to explain the fascinating story of Denmark's newest land border with an unexpected neighbor – Canada! Mike takes us through the discovery and exploration of the remote Hans Island, a series of back-and-forth disputes between the two nations, and how a light-hearted "whiskey war" eventually resulted in the world's third-shortest land border. It's a wild story of history that is quintessentially Danish (and Canadian) passive-aggressive diplomacy. Mike and Derek cover th...
Aug 27, 2024•22 min
This week, Annie and Derek are joined by Brooke Black, an American mom who flew from Los Angeles to rural Denmark during the pandemic and never left. Brooke is married to a Dane and has spent years living as a cross-cultural family in the States, Jutland, and Copenhagen. Recently, she discussed the culture shocks around summer in Denmark with readers of Business Insider, and in this episode she expands on her article. Brooke explains how she still struggles with fully unplugging from work during...
Aug 20, 2024•42 min
Conrad Molden joins Annie and Derek to taste-test some the recently-banned Buldak ramen noodles. The trio discuss "Noodle Gate" - Denmark's decision to restrict the sale of several Buldak noodle varieties in the Danish market while allowing15-year-old meat to hit the shelves of Danish grocery stores and permit unfettered indoor-smoking at many bars. What was the reason behind the noodle ban, and its quick reversal? Don’t forget to share this podcast with any friends who have made the move to Den...
Aug 13, 2024•22 min
This week we Annie and Derek are joined by Anna Gyetvai, a Hungarian-born, Denmark-based makeup artist and former fashion designer who's worked with top fashion brands and is gearing up for Copenhagen Fashion Week. She shares behind the scenes stories of working in the industry and the fashion show she worked that made her take two years off of Fashion Week. In this episode, we’ll uncover: Behind the Scenes at Copenhagen Fashion Week : with insider details on what it’s like to be a makeup artist...
Aug 06, 2024•39 min
Get ready for the cross-over episode you never realized you were missing! Annie and Derek are joined by Abby, Marius, and Owen, the hilarious hosts of the Coping in Copenhagen podcast. We linked up for a laugh-filled, super group style, episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark. In this episode, Derek hosts an incredible game show based on the $100,000 Pyramid with a Danish twist and a lot of creative clues and ridiculous guesses. Along the way, Derek presents a deep discussion on H.C. Andersen's...
Jul 30, 2024•32 min
This week Mike and Derek discuss the growing trend of hostility against tourists and the factors behind over-tourism. This includes a new program Copenhagen is testing to incentivize sustainable tourism and good behavior from visitors to the city. But is this initiative as altruistic as it seems, or a McKinsey consultant's wet dream and a solution in search of a problem. Plus, what are anti-tourism "activists" with water guns really upset about? Don’t forget to share this podcast with any friend...
Jul 23, 2024•26 min
This week, Annie and Derek debate an annual issue - does summer in Denmark suck? Which Danish summer do you think of; trash-filled tents blowing in the wind around Roskilde Festival, or drinking wine with friends in a lush park under the late night sun? Are your friends even still in town or have they disappeared on holiday? This episode will give you an honest perspective on what to make of summers in Denmark. There are countless pros and cons, and they all come up on this episode. Annie recaps...
Jul 16, 2024•32 min
This week Mike is back in the hosting chair to interview Annie and Derek about their experiences as content creators in Denmark. You'll learn so much more about your weekly hosts and how Annie and Derek got into the influencer game and took their talents to What Are You Doing in Denmark. The discussion goes through the highs and lows of sharing your life online as a foreigner living in Denmark. Annie and Derek explain their career paths, life experiences, and the zigs and zags that took them to ...
Jul 09, 2024•34 min
This week, comedian Conrad Molden is back at the table with Derek to shed some light on the high key rivalry between Jutland and Copenhagen. Having lived in Jutland or Jylland for over a decade, Conrad now calls Copenhagen home. As you can imagine, he is the perfect guest to share some cultural insights and culture clashes that he's felt living in these two regions of Denmark. To understand more of the background, Derek and Conrad dive deep into the history of the Storebælt, which finally connec...
Jul 02, 2024•26 min
Mike Walsh is back this week to tell us a story about the time when Denmark won the European Football Championship. The story harkens back to the summer of 1992, when a non-qualifying Danish national football team was activated to play in the Euros and scraped their way to the championship. Mike retells the story in all of its glory, with interesting historical context, and correct the record on aspect that the movie version of this tale exaggerates. Don’t forget to share this podcast with any f...
Jun 25, 2024•19 min
