The Northern Voices  - Nordic/Baltic Talks

Estonia's journey to reclaim independence in 1991 is widely celebrated for its "Singing Revolution," a powerful display of unity and peaceful defiance against Soviet rule through mass song demonstrations and human chains. Less known, however, is the covert yet crucial support provided by neighboring Finland. Despite publicly adhering to a policy of strict neutrality, often termed "Finlandization," Finnish Pr...

Join us as we explore how the ancient Nordic sauna ritual, deeply rooted in the traditions of Finno-Ugric peoples in Finland and Estonia, has rapidly become 2025's hottest global wellness trend. This episode uncovers the journey of the "searing-heat-then-ice-plunge" cycle, known as contrast therapy, from traditional wood-fired steam huts to high-tech, glass-walled pop-ups embraced by bio-hackers and Silicon Valley fou...

Dive into a century-long tapestry of queer history, exploring journeys of exile, love, and liberation from the Nordics and Baltics to New York. This podcast traces these migrations—through war, the AIDS crisis, and today’s Pride diplomacy—to reveal how figures like Viking sailors, Baltic refugees, lesbian caregivers, and trans trailblazers reshaped both America’s queer capital and the homelands they left behind. It's an epic st...

This episode explores the work of Iceland-native artist Thelma Sigurhansdóttir, also known as Thelma Gella, and her debut solo exhibition, Habitat, currently on display at the Art Lab Gallery in Staten Island. Having completed her BA in Studio art at CUNY in New York City and with international exhibition experience, Thelma's art delves into the tensions between our tangible world and an ineffable, imagined realm. Drawing inspi...

This episode explores the remarkable evolution of Nordic and Baltic media in New York, a journey spanning over 150 years. Beginning with 19th-century immigrant newspapers published in native languages, which served as vital lifelines connecting communities to their homelands, we examine how these publications navigated challenges like assimilation and generational language gaps. The discussion highlights their crucial role during W...

Join us as we explore a real-world experiment: living for a month largely without American tech giants, relying instead on European and open-source digital alternatives. We used a German Tuxedo laptop running Tuxedo OS (a German Linux distribution optimized for the hardware) and a Dutch Fairphone 5 with mostly French /e/OS (a de-Googled, privacy-focused Android fork). Discover how essential services like cloud storage (Nextcloud), ...

Explore the journey of Ida Metsberg, a Finnish singer-songwriter making her mark in New York City. With a background in musical theater, she turned to composition and lyrics, developing a distinctive style of intimate and honest storytelling. Ida accompanies herself on guitar and piano, and her music, which blends contemporary pop and folk, features eloquent lyrics that resonate even as a non-native English speaker. Her songs often...

Join Elke-Liisa Lõhmus, the cultural architect and driving force building bridges between cultures and empowering artists. This podcast explores the vibrant world of Nordic and Baltic art and culture in New York City through Elke-Liisa's vision. Hear from Elke-Liisa and key collaborators as she curates conversations on uniting, elevating, and inspiring this dynamic creative community in NYC. Discover initiatives like the immers...

Explore the compelling rise of Lithuanian actor Arnas Fedaravicius, whose career path has taken him from Vilnius and odd jobs to international acclaim. Learn about his background, including his training at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and his real-life experience as a boxer. Discover his breakthrough role as the loyal warrior Sihtric in The Last Kingdom, a part he played for multiple seasons. Then, dive into his &quo...

In this episode of "Nordic/Baltic Talks," we feature Ashutosh Synghal, VP Engineering at Midcentury Labs, who is challenging the reliance of AI on centralized data that compromises user privacy. Synghal is pioneering blockchain-powered, privacy-preserving AI solutions by leading the development of a decentralized AI data marketplace. Using advanced cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs (zkTLS) and trusted ex...

Buckle up for an architectural layover at JFK. In this episode of Nordic & Baltic Talk we explore how Finnish‑American visionary Eero Saarinen’s 1962 TWA Flight Center—once the epitome of Jet‑Age optimism—was rescued from disuse and transformed into today’s retro‑chic TWA Hotel. We trace the building’s sculptural curves, the Finnish design principles beneath them, and the herculean adaptive‑reuse effort that let a landmark spre...

Talent alone won’t land you press—or paying fans. In this episode of Nordic & Baltic Talk we unpack the key takeaways from our feature “Unignorable: How Artists Can Build a Brand That Gets Noticed.” From sharpening your origin story and visual identity to leveraging AI tools, digital PR, and platform‑smart content, we translate each tactic into practical action steps you can start today. Whether you paint murals, compose scores...

Now that Estonian Cultural Days 2025 has wrapped, we rewind a century to trace how a handful of Baltic newcomers built one of New York’s most enduring diaspora hubs—and how that history echoed through this year’s festival. From the first Estonian‑language newspaper in 1897 to the purchase of the landmark Estonian House in 1946, we unpack the milestones that turned “Little Estonia” into a cultural powerhouse. Hear festival reflectio...

This debut music episode of Nordic & Baltic Talk traces the arc of Valev Laube’s long‑awaited album “Liminal” and its shimmering new companion single “Halo in Freefall.” We unpack the 15‑year journey behind the 18‑track folk‑ambient opus released on New Year’s Day, then fast‑forward to the piano‑driven preview that drifts between myth and modernity. Hear how Nordic heritage, city‑night sound design, and themes of transition wea...

Today on Nordic & Baltic Talk we rewind to a cramped kitchen table where two creatives mapped a dream that would become an acclaimed marketing agency. We chart Blake Renda and Julie Koester’s leap from side‑gig freelancers to industry standouts, uncovering the savvy client‑first mindset, gutsy cold‑pitching, and values‑driven culture that fueled their rise. Along the way we pull out transferable playbooks—scaling without losing...

From windswept Baltic islands to the bright lights of New York, this episode traces the remarkable journey behind the clean‑beauty brand Viking Beauty Secrets. We explore how centuries‑old Estonian skincare wisdom met runway life, film‑set fatigue, and modern organic science—ultimately sparking a mission to bottle nature’s resilience. You’ll hear the back‑story of relentless reinvention (model, musician, founder), the Nordic botani...

In this episode of Nordic & Baltic Talk we step inside True North 2025, the one‑night showcase that transformed Manhattan’s Estonian House into a multisensory forest of art, music, dance, and film. More than forty creators from eight Nordic‑Baltic nations rewired the venue into an immersive journey—birch trunks, projected auroras, live folk‑jazz, even sauna rituals—culminating in a roof‑raising concert finale. We unpack how the...

Is your brand silently leaking trust—and sales—every single day? In this episode of Nordic & Baltic Talk we break down the key takeaways from our feature “13 Branding Slip‑Ups That Cost You Customers Every Day.” We unpack how trend‑chasing visual tweaks, muddled messaging, and neglecting the customer experience can erode loyalty faster than you think. Expect a rapid‑fire rundown of each pitfall, quick self‑diagnostics, and acti...

How do independent creatives cut through crowded inboxes and shrinking newsrooms? This week on Nordic & Baltic Talk we unpack the ten most actionable publicity tactics from our feature “Indie Artists Get Media Love with 10 Expert Tips You Can Use Today.” From crafting a story editors can’t resist to nurturing genuine relationships long before the pitch, we translate each expert insight into quick, real‑world steps you can use r...