In this week's episode: Stockholm governor fired over recruitment nepotism, how cinnamon became Swedes' spice of choice, and why a begging ban feels like a throwback.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. The episode also features an interview with food historian Daniel Serra.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• How a Swedish nepotism scandal highlights poor recruitment practices

• When did Swedes get so crazy about cinnamon?
• What does the Swedish food agency think we should be eating more or less of?

• Sweden's government enters trickier territory with begging ban

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In this week's episode: how Northvolt's crisis is hitting foreign workers and how recruiters can get better at gauging Swedish language skills.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Löfgren and James Savage. The episode also features interviews with Helene Robson from Engineers of Sweden and Pernilla Johansson from the Language Council of Sweden.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Northvolt to slash almost a quarter of its workforce
• OPINION: Sweden needs to reconsider 'three-month deadline' for laid-off non-EU workers
• Five things you need to do right away if you're getting laid off in Sweden

• Is it ok to speak English? How to shine at your Swedish job interview

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In this week's episode: how the new budget affects foreigners, favourite Swedish expressions, and a Social Democrat lottery scandal.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• How will Sweden's new budget affect foreign residents?

• Seven Swedish expressions which will make you sound like a local
• Swedish word of the day: tjafs

• Why a lottery scandal could change the funding balance in Swedish politics

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In this week's episode: Nordic cross-border lingo, who's who in Sweden's cabinet reshuffle, drone alerts at Arlanda Airport, what next for Northvolt after cuts?

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• OPINION: Swedes, it's time to embrace language barriers, not avoid them

• Swedish PM announces new foreign, migration and EU ministers in reshuffle
• Who is Johan Forssell, Sweden's new migration minister?

• What do we know about the suspected drone sightings at Sweden's Arlanda Airport?

• Northvolt warns of layoffs in bid to cut costs

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In this week's episode: foreign minister steps down, new screen use recommendations, why the government is scrapping flight tax, and Sweden's biggest ever toxic waste scandal.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billström to step down and leave politics
• Swedish government to scrap flight tax from next summer

• 'The situation is dramatic': Sweden issues new advice on screen time for youngsters

• 11 people on trial in Sweden's biggest toxic waste scandal

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

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In this week's episode: Government backtracks on biofuels. How happy is the right-wing coalition at the half-way point of its tenure? Church politicians push to ban practice of fathers 'giving away the bride'.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Löfgren and James Savage.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Will a U-turn on biofuels win the government back green voters?

• Seven totally Swedish wedding traditions
• ARCHIVE: What are Sweden's church elections and how do they work?

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

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Interest rate cuts, why the government is pleased with its 'paradigm shift' on immigration, why gangs in Denmark are recruiting young Swedes for violent attacks.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Sweden's mortgage war heats up as banks race to cut rates
• Sweden's Riksbank slashes interest rate, predicts further cuts this year

• Politics in Sweden: Despite a bump, Sweden's shift on immigration is going smoothly
• For the first time, more Indians are leaving Sweden than arriving

• Sweden and Denmark announce joint response to gang crime escalation

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

• For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+
• For new members: Get Membership+

Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

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Sweden’s population is shrinking as emigration exceeds immigration for the first time in over 50s. Is this true and if so, should it be cause for celebration? Will higher inflation numbers affect next week's interest rate cut? Why a proposal to pay refugees to return has been summarily rejected by the government’s own inquiry. Finally, we attempt to replicate some of the strange noises Swedes use to express themselves.

James Savage stands in as host this week, and is joined by The Local's Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Shrinking population

For the first time in 50 years, more people are leaving Sweden than moving in

Inside Sweden: Is it really a cause for celebration that immigration is shrinking?

Inflation

Sweden's inflation rises faster than expected

Emigration grants

Risky and best avoided’: Swedish inquiry rejects idea of paying migrants to return

Strange noises Swedes make

Twelve strange noises you can make in Swedish to sound like a local

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

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