Nordic Horizons

About Nordic Horizons

How do the Nordic nations consistently top international league tables? Between Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland they are the world's best democracy, the best place to be a woman, the best educated people and the happiest. They regularly top UNICEF's child wellbeing index, lead on the Green Transition and have an enduring emphasis on equality that's the envy of the world. Nordic Horizons is a Scottish-based group that's been interested in learning more from our nearest European neighbours since devolved government resumed 20+ years ago. We've invited experts over to speak in the Scottish Parliament on Norwegian outdoor kindergarten, Finnish prison reform, Swedish electoral systems, Iceland's crowd-sourced constitution and Copenhagen's claim to be the world's first eco metropolis. Since the pandemic, our events have gone online - but all were recorded and will now be available - updated and edited - via this podcast on a monthly basis.

Publisher

Nordic Horizons

Category

government · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 May 2022

Latest episode

13 Dec 2024

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Dec 2024

   Iceland - fire island

   Laufey Sif Lárusdóttir, Páll Zóphóníasson, Jóhanna Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir, Ròsa Sveinsdòttir, and Kári Valgeirsson discuss Iceland's volcanic landscape, recent eruptions, and the surprising reasons many Icelanders embrace living in such a dynamic environment in this interview episode.

2. 

   17 May 2023

   Gothenburg - has this former shipyard city become Sweden's green capital?

   Lesley Riddoch explores Gothenburg's transformation from a shipbuilding hub to Sweden's R&D capital through strategic investments in technology and sustainable initiatives, showcasing urban revitalization.

3. 

   13 Dec 2022

   Bot-savvy Finns

   Finland's success in combating fake news and cyberattacks is examined, revealing strategies for building resilience against disinformation and protecting democratic values.

4. 

   30 Oct 2022

   The future (in Finland) will be cooperative

   Lesley Riddoch explores Finland's cooperative system, which provides essential services and economic stability, offering insights into alternative economic models in this episode.

5. 

   1 Oct 2022

   Nordic Horizons - the explainer podcast

   The podcast Nordic Horizons explains its twelve-year mission of helping citizens and policymakers learn from Scotland's Nordic neighbors.

6. 

   6 Sept 2022

   Jean Sibelius - a living legacy

   Lesley Riddoch interviews members of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and explores Jean Sibelius's early life, his influence on Finland's independence, and his connection to nature at Ainola.

7. 

   28 Aug 2022

   Get the bairns oot playing - school can wait

   This episode explores the benefits of outdoor kindergartens in Tromsø, Norway, where children learn through play in nature, highlighting a different approach to early childhood education.

8. 

   21 Jul 2022

   Heating homes without gas - the Nordic way

   Nordic Horizons speakers explore how Nordic nations transitioned away from gas for home heating, offering insights for Scotland's energy crisis and potential green heating solutions.

9. 

   14 Jun 2022

   Pint-sized Nordic democracy

   Lesley Riddoch interviews Ole Gustav Narud and Dennis Holm about the impact of smaller, more numerous local councils in Nordic countries on democracy and dynamism.

10. 

    19 May 2022

    NATO, Nordics and Russian Aggression

    Industry experts examine Russian aggression's impact on Nordic neutrality, exploring potential NATO membership and questioning long-term American commitment to European defense in this episode.

Who has been a guest on Nordic Horizons

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Laufey Sif Lárusdóttir
• Páll Zóphóníasson
• Jóhanna Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir
• Ròsa Sveinsdòttir
• Kári Valgeirsson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact Nordic Horizons

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.