Under The Skin of Sweden

Episode 1: “Swedish Education – Hell or Heaven?”

Under The Skin of Sweden is a new podcast for anyone who wants to understand Sweden beyond stereotypes, small talk, and the idea of “lagom.” The podcast was founded by Yvonne “Svea” Gossner from Learn Swedish Culture, and it’s hosted by Samir Diaz. Together, they explore Swedish culture with warmth, humor, and honest perspectives—both from the inside and through international eyes.


In Episode 1, “Swedish Education – Hell or Heaven?”, Svea and Samir dive into one of the most debated parts of Swedish culture: the school system. Svea shares how she became a Swedish culture expert and why she created this podcast—so people who can’t come to Sweden can still understand what makes the country so unique (and sometimes a little wild). Samir shares his own background—adopted from Colombia and raised in Sweden—and brings curiosity and real questions to the conversation.

They talk about:

  • what it really means that Swedish education is free
  • school lunches, milk as a cultural phenomenon, and why it matters
  • the Swedish school mindset: inclusion, creativity, and “bringing everyone on board”
  • differences compared to international schools in discipline, respect, and student influence
  • practical subjects like home economics, woodwork, and textiles—and how they build independence
  • why swimming skills are so essential in Sweden they can impact your PE grade
  • how newcomers can prepare for potential school culture shocks


The podcast is recorded at Filmbruket, and the music is created by Filmbruket, giving the show a polished, cinematic feel from the very beginning.

Curious why Swedish education can feel like both heaven and hell—depending on who you ask? This episode is the perfect place to start.


Email for questions: contact@learnswedishculture.com

Webpage: www.learnswedishculture.com

Instagram: @learnswedishculture

Studios homepage: www.filmbruket.se

Host Instagram:@samirdiaz_12

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör Learn Swedish Culture, Svea Gossner. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Learn Swedish Culture, Svea Gossner och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.