Take Your Shoes Off is a podcast exploring the experiences of expats living and thriving - or at the very least getting by - in Sweden. Americans Bob and Kelly and Swedish Micke engage in meaningless banter while discussing the challenges and joys of starting anew in Sweden. Each week, they invite guests to share their unique stories, navigating cultural differences, personal growth, and the question of whether they’ll stay in their new home. Tune in for insightful conversations, laughter, and the more than occasional reminder to leave your shoes at the door!
Take a look inside the studio and follow along on Instagram.
Subscribe, rate and review our podcast on Spotify or Apple podcasts.
Theme music provided by Fredrik Rabe.
Take your shoes off is created and hosted by friends Bob Becker, Mikael Byhlin and Kelly Swaine.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Take Your Shoes Off is a podcast exploring the experiences of expats living and thriving - or at the very least getting by - in Sweden. Americans Bob and Kelly and Swedish Micke engage in meaningless banter while discussing the challenges and joys of starting anew in Sweden. Each week, they invite guests to share their unique stories, navigating cultural differences, personal growth, and the question of whether they’ll stay in their new home. Tune in for insightful conversations, laughter, and the more than occasional reminder to leave your shoes at the door!
Take a look inside the studio and follow along on Instagram.
Subscribe, rate and review our podcast on Spotify or Apple podcasts.
Theme music provided by Fredrik Rabe.
Take your shoes off is created and hosted by friends Bob Becker, Mikael Byhlin and Kelly Swaine.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to another episode of Take Your Shoes Off - the podcast that's usually released on Thursdays, but this week we're running on American time, which means....it's ready when it's ready, tack så mycket!
Today we're talking to someone who has one foot in Sweden and the other in a San Francisco hospital. Our guest, Courtney El Refai, has only been in Sweden for six months, which means her takes are fresh, her enthusiasm is intact, and Swedish quirks are still charming. She lives here while working as a neonatal nurse...in California. She literally saves babies by day and eats knäckebröd by night.
Enjoy!
Check her out:
On Instagram and YouTube: @courtneyelrefai
Founder of @stockholmgirlies (Instagram)
linktr.ee/courtneyelrefai
Expressen article: https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/sverige/courtney-pendlar-860-mil-till-jobbet/
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Today's episode is about the Long Way Home. About what it means to find a new life in a new place, sometimes even a new name. Most importantly, you will hear about how we cannot get through this life alone.
Hazem came to Sweden the hard way, after fleeing war in Syria. He shares his story with us, his journey to Sweden but also how he has built a life here.
Take your shoes off and join us.
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This week we sit down wit Martin Arvebro - video wizard, long-time vlogger, and certified rock enthusiast (the headbanging kind, not the geological kind....although who knows, really?). Martin creates videos for politicians by day and makes fun of language and cultural quirks by night - or is it the other way around?
We dive into his love of storytelling, the joys of being silly on purpose and how poking fun at societal norms can actually be a form of public service. Finally, you'll realize your best bet to learn Swedish is to spend more time in Malmö. Enjoy!
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This week, we’re joined by Jonathan Rollins: U.S. Air Force vet, Founder of The Laugh House - at least the longest running consistent English-language comedy club in Stockholm, and the kind of guy who believes Swedish comedians are top-tier… and Swedish comedy is bottom-shelf. He’s got opinions—about fruit, laughter, and the strange truths of life in Sweden.
Let’s just say… some people relocate when they laugh. And after this episode, you might too.
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Kim Kraft is a professional educator with over fifteen years of experience. She is member of the faculty at University of Washington and she joined us to talk all things Swedish and to also teach Mikael I thing or two about Swedish culture.
She will be a visiting researcher at Lund University and American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellow for the 2025-2026 academic year. She is planning a research project called: Learning Swedish Beyond the Classroom. If you are an adult English speaker, who is attempting to learn Swedish while living in Sweden, she would love to hear about your experiences. If you have any questions, please contact her at svenskaseattle@gmail.com or go to this link: https://colls133.my.canva.site/project-o.
You can find out more about Kim at kraftjones.com
Thank you for listening and enjoy the show! Like, Follow and Share!
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This week's guest is Stephen Lessard, known online as @stephen_in_sweden. He left behind Fenway franks and Dunkin' coffee for a land of licorice, quiet buses, and pastries that sound like cartoon characters. He's American by birth, Swede by awkward social adaptation, and has some strong opinions about the Semla.
Stephen shares his experiences adpating Swedish culture through engagin and often comedic videos. His content covers topics like cultural differences, Swedish traditions, and everyday life in Sweden. You can find his content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where he continues to share anecdotes about his life in Sweden - and his love of Frölunda Hockey!
Join us for this fun and engaging conversation where we also dive into Mikael's former life as a Reality TV Star!
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This week, we’re joined by a guest with a truly international resume: a Hungarian-Romanian who has lived in Malta, loves Sweden, and sings in a queer choir. her name is Andrea and we cover all the important topics—like whether CSN loans are a scam, why semla is basically an edible conspiracy, and if Systembolaget is secretly the most Swedish thing ever.
Oh, and there’s Dracula. And garlic. And somehow, despite our best efforts, Mikael actually manages to tie it all together.
Strap in, take your shoes off, and let’s get into it!
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In this episode, we sit down with Emily Fowler from Chef Mama in Malmö, the fearless baker on a mission to bring bagels to Sweden—one chewy, golden ring at a time. But she doesn’t stop there. From snickerdoodles that could make your grandma jealous to Thin Mints that might just start a black market among expats, Chef Mama’s got it all.
We talk about the magic of a perfect bagel, why Sweden needs more choices, and whether Mikael can be converted from his lagom ways to fully embracing American-style bagel indulgence. Grab a snack (preferably a bagel) and join us for a deliciously fun conversation!
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From the glitter of Studio 54 to the midnight sun of Sweden, Ken Neptune has seen it all. Spinning records, writing for Billboard, and hanging out with some of the biggest movers and shakers in the land of meatballs and melancholy. Tune in as we dive into his wild journey and find out why Sweden became the ultimate remix of his life.
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Welcome back to Take Your Shoes Off, the podcast where we kick back, relax, and occasionally wonder why we ever left the warmth of home. Today, we’re diving into sportlov—Sweden’s beloved ski holiday—and who better to join us than an Irishman who talks faster than a downhill slalom?
Our guest is Phil O'Connor a sports reporter, author, podcaster and someone who could probably narrate an entire Olympic ski race before the first turn. We’ll be chatting about winter sports, ski vacations, and whether the Irish approach après-ski with the same enthusiasm as a pub crawl back home.
So grab a warm drink, buckle up—because this conversation moves at high speed—and let’s hit the slopes!
Check out Phil's podcasts here: http://ourmaninstockholm.com/podcasts/
"När allt står på spel" and "Utan offer, ingen seger" are two books written by Philip O'Conner and Haidar Hajdari. They can be found anywhere you buy or borrow books in Sweden!
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What do basketball, Swedish dolphins, and the perfect balance of lagom have in common? Honestly, we're still figuring it out. This week, we sit down with professional basketball player Marcus Tyus and his wife, Maggie, to talk hoops, family life, and why Sweden may or may not have the best basketball development program. Plus, a little Magic Johnson, a dash of life advice, and the eternal struggle of finding 'just the right amount' of everything. Tune in for the fun, stay for the surprises - and check out our guests on Instagram @tyus.together
https://www.instagram.com/tyus.together?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
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After a short holiday break, we are ringing in the New Year with our good friend, David Vine!
He comes to us from just outside London, now making Sweden his home. His wife is English, but Welsh. His daughter is English, but Welsh. His son is English, but Swedish. Meet David, the last Englishman.
Come on in, but please - take your shoes off!
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, B Keesson shares her journey of moving, adapting, and finally finding a place to call home. As an expat who's experienced the highs and lows of relocation, B reflects on the life choices that led her to settle in the forests of Sweden.
From having a baby to discovering a culture that truly aligns with her values, B walks us through the unexpected twists - like choosing a Swedish multinational over an NGO career, falling in love with a Swedish-American (or is it American-Swedish?) partner, and even developing a surprising affinity for local delicacies. If you're an expat navigating your own journey, this episode is full of insights and relatable moments about the challenge of finding belonging in a new country.
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So how did two Americans and a Swede end up with a podcast? Sweden attracts so many people from around the world with unique backgrounds, ambitions, and values.
In this first episode, Bob, Micke, and Kelly dive into the wild world of podcasting, share a bit about their own backgrounds, and have some laughs about quirky cultural differences. In a time when things can feel uncertain, we’re here to bring a fresh, curious mindset to exploring different cultures, lifestyles, and points of view.
We’re just warming up, so take your shoes off, grab a fika and settle in to hear stories about real people making the most out of life abroad.
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Launch trailer for "Take Your Shoes Off, the Podcast" on life abroad in Sweden.
Launches November 21. Subscribe here.
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