The story behind the How to Live in Denmark Podcast: Fifth anniversary episode

The story behind the How to Live in Denmark Podcast: Fifth anniversary episode

Author: Kay Xander Mellish August 31, 2018 Duration: 7:25

This is a special episode, because this is the fifth anniversary of the How to Live in Denmark podcast.The podcast began in the summer of 2013; at the time I'm recording this, it is near the end of Summer 2018. We've had more than 80 episodes and around a million streams and downloads. Most importantly, I've received a lot of messages from people like you saying that the podcast and the books that have come out of the podcast have been really helpful for you in adjusting to Denmark. I'm so happy to hear that.

I originally came to Denmark on vacation. I was living in Manhattan in the time, right downtown in Greenwich Village, but I'd been living there for about 10 years and was really ready to try something new. I visited all the hip cities in the US – Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Chicago, Austin Texas, but I just didn't find a place where I really felt I fit in.

At the same time, I had a friend living in Paris. We'd meet up and check out different parts of Europe, and one September we thought, OK, why not Copenhagen. It was a beautiful September, warm and sunny, and I thought, well, here's a country with good weather.


For anyone curious about or currently navigating Danish life from the outside, How to Live in Denmark serves as an essential, on-the-ground guide. Hosted by Kay Xander Mellish, an American writer who has made Denmark her home for over ten years, this conversation cuts straight to the heart of the everyday realities in one of the world's most homogenous-and often puzzling-societies. Rather than lengthy lectures, you'll find concise, ten-minute episodes packed with practical advice and cultural translation. This isn't just about travel tips; it's a deep dive into the unspoken rules of Danish social etiquette, the nuances of the local workplace, and the sometimes surprising path to feeling at home in a country frequently labeled the world's happiest. Mellish draws from her own long-term experience to explain everything from navigating the infamous Jantelov to understanding the Danish approach to business meetings and casual Friday night hygge. As Denmark's longest-running English-language podcast, it has become a trusted resource for internationals, whether they are planning a move, newly arrived, or have been settled for years but still occasionally find themselves wondering, "Why do Danes do it that way?" Each episode feels like a chat with a well-informed friend who helps decode the complexities of a fascinating culture, making your time there richer and a lot less confusing.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

How to Live in Denmark
Podcast Episodes
Nudity in Denmark: The naked truth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:29
The relaxed approach to nudity in Denmark can be a surprise for many newcomers. It's something they're often confronted with at the local swimming hall, where a very large and strong attendant insists that they take off…
Politeness in Denmark: Some thoughts on Danish etiquette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:31
"Is there politeness in Denmark?" That was the question I was recently invited on a national TV show to discuss. The implication was that I was supposed to say that Danes were not at all polite, because effusive praise a…
What I say when I'm welcoming newcomers to Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:58
One of my favorite types of speaking engagement is introducing Denmark to some of the smart, motivated young people arriving from around the world to study at Danish universities. Since the publication of my first book,…
Summer Vacation in Denmark: The Agony and the Ecstasy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:39
Planning your summer vacation in Denmark is like playing the lottery. You could hit it lucky, with golden days and long, warm evenings, when you can sit with friends in the soft light and drink hyldeblomst cocktails. Or…
April Fool's in Denmark, and the rough game of Danish humor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:08
April 1st is April Fool's Day – Aprilsnar in Danish – and each Danish newspaper will feature a clever but false story for the unwary to be fooled by. To some extent every day is April Fool's Day in Denmark, because Danis…
Motivating Danish employees: Tips for Foreign Managers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:27
Motivating Danish employees is very different than motivating other groups of people because there are two big factors missing – hierarchy and fear. We don't like to talk about the fear part in our various countries of o…
The sound of Denmark? Quiet. Very quiet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:57
Denmark is a quiet country, even within the cities. Especially this time of year, February, when it's too cold to do anything but scurry from place to place, when the street cafés are closed and no one wants to eat their…
Tips for Living with a Danish Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:56
As the new academic semester starts up, some of you may be planning to live in a Danish home. It could be you'll rent a room in a household, maybe you'll be part of a Danish host family, or maybe you'll just be staying w…