Episode 1: Vågespel

Welcome to the launch of Vågespel, a podcast that highlights the history of Norwegian women who emigrated from Norway to America between 1825 and 1925.

How much do you know about the women who embarked on this journey? How did they experience the voyage, what drove them, and what challenges did they face in their new country? We begin our journey back in time with historical sources and contemporary perspectives to shed new light on emigration and the human stories behind it.

Before we dive into the personal letters and diaries, we must understand the historical background: What fueled emigration, and what kind of world did those who left Norway encounter?

This episode provides you with the background knowledge you need so that you can better understand and place the personal stories in a broader context when we soon hear the powerful narratives from the women themselves. Starting with the next episode, which will be released on Sunday, March 23, you will hear the emigrant women directly through excerpts from their letters and diaries. We hope you will join us on this journey!

Listen to the episode here:

Script: Inger-Kristine Riber and Reidun Horvei
Co-editor: Katherine J. Hanson
Narrator: Reidun Horvei
Sound design: Inger-Kristine Riber
Supported by: Fritt Ord

Sources:
Semmingsen, I. (1941). Veien mot vest. [1]: Utvandringen fra Norge til Amerika 1825-1865 (2nd ed.). Oslo.
Semmingsen, I. (1950). Veien mot vest. [2]: Utvandringen fra Norge 1865-1915. Oslo: Aschehoug.
Blom, I. (1992). Cappelens kvinnehistorie. 2: Renessanse, reformasjon, revolusjon: Fra ca. 1500 til i dag. Oslo: Cappelen.
Bergland, B. A., & Lahlum, L. A. (Eds.). (2011). Norwegian American Women: Migration, Communities, and Identities(Illustrated ed.). Paperback.
Polgreen, L. (2025, January 31). Something extraordinary is happening all over the world. The New York Times.