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 https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-19-those-days-are-long-gone
***
Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson.
Spotify:
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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN19 Those Days Are Long Gone

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 https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-20-northpeople
***
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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN20 The Northpeople

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 https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-21-swedish-theory-love
***
The Swedish Theory of Love  is available through the University of Washington Press. https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295750552/the-swedish-theory-of-love/
***
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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN21 The Swedish Theory of Love

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 https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-22-baltic-hong-kong-way
***
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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN22 The Baltic Hong Kong Way

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 https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-23-woman-captain-rebel
***
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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN23 Woman, Captain, Rebel.

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 https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-24-gjellestad-viking-ship
***
Learn more about the Gjellestad Viking ship at gjellestadstory.no
***
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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN24 The Gjellestad Viking Ship

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 https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-25-family-clause
***
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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN25 The Family Clause

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 Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund"
scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

CN26 My Father's War

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 Century Lithuanian Woman’s Fight for Justice" and published by Birchwood Press. 
***
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

CN27 She is Pretty She is Powerful

Crossing North is a podcast about Nordic and Baltic society and culture, published by the Dept. of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle.

CN27 She is Pretty She is Powerful

Crossing North

Related tracks