Why is Seattle the best place to learn Scandinavian folk dance outside of Scandinavia? And what's it all about, anyway? UW undergraduate students Blue Palmer, Bill Cheung-Daihe, and Fanny Mestä-Tokila discuss how a dance course with the Skandia Folkdance Society gave them a new way to connect with their studies, make new friends, and have good fun. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-16-transcript *** Learn more about the Skandia Folkdance Society of Seattle: https://skandia-folkdance.org/ *** At 29:32, Bill refers to a spelmanslag, Swedish for a "folk musician's team." There are two spelmanslag in Seattle: The Skandia Spelmanslag (for adults) http://skandia-folkdance.org/spelmanslag/ and The Lilla Spelmanslag (for children) https://www.seattlelillalag.org/ *** At 34:20, Fanny refers to "Lucia," the Santa Lucia Day performance put on by UW students every December at the Swedish Club. Everyone is welcome to participate. Check out: UW Scandinavian Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/266243020439023/ or contact Amanda Doxtater or Kim Kraft for more information: https://scandinavian.washington.edu/people/faculty *** "30:e november" used with permission by Pasi Pasanen & Per-Thomas Eriksson. *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

The coronavirus pandemic has many people worried about the future. Many people are eager for things to return to normal, but others are just as eager to take this crisis as an opportunity to reimagine and reshape what our idea of “normal” means. If you could rebuild your world right now, what kind of world would you build? Postdoctoral research fellow Toni Lahtinen discusses recent trends in Finnish eco-dystopian literature, and the role literature plays in exploring our anxieties about the future as well as our guilt about the past and present. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-15-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

When author Nora Ikstena published her novel Soviet Milk in 2015, it became so popular that libraries had to create a special 24-hour loan policy for the book. Why was this novel about life in Soviet-occupied Latvia so popular? I discuss the novel with author Nora Ikstena and assistant professor Liina-Ly Roos. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at https://scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-14-transcript *** Learn more about Nora Ikstena: http://latvianliterature.lv/en/writers/14 *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

How is global warming affecting Greenlanders and what responsibilities do climate-scientists have to the peoples of the Arctic? UW seniors Lela Cooper and Katie Hearther discuss how a course in Greenland about climate change inspired them to study new languages and integrate the humanities into the sciences they love. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Email Dr. Koutnik: [email protected] Read student blog posts from Dr. Koutnik's August-September 2018 course: http://www.michelle-koutnik.com/ *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

Why did so many African-Americans go to Denmark in the 20th century and what were their experiences while there? Professor Ethelene Whitmire answers these questions while discussing her upcoming book, Searching for Utopia. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Study with Dr. Whitmire: https://afroamericanstudies.wisc.edu/staff/ethelene-whitmire/ Read Dr. Whitmire's article, "Traveling While Black Across the Atlantic Ocean." https://longreads.com/2019/01/22/traveling-while-black-across-the-atlantic-ocean/ Read Dr. Whitmire's article, "The Gay Black Man Who Stared Down the Nazis in the Name of Love" https://narratively.com/the-gay-black-american-who-stared-down-nazis-in-the-name-of-love/ Order Dr. Whitmire's first book, "Regina Anderson Andrews: Harlem Renaissance Librarian." https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/35qfd6cg9780252038501.html *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

What happens when sustaining a Nordic way of life disrupts sustaining a Sámi way of life? Assistant Professor Tim Frandy discusses the history and future of Sámi fishing rights on the Deatnu River, as well as a few hard truths about the ethnocentrism of Western environmental management practices. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-11-transcript *** Order Dr. Frandy's book, Inari Sámi Folklore: Stories from Aanaar: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5591.htm Read Dr. Frandy's publicly available research: https://wku.academia.edu/TimFrandy Learn more about Dr. Frandy: https://www.wku.edu/fsa/staff/tim_frandy *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

Director of Story Marc E. Smith discusses what it is like to work for Walt Disney Animation Studios and how a research trip to the Nordic countries inspired new artistic and thematic directions for the characters of Anna and Elsa in Frozen 2. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at https://scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-10-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

Sámi music legend Mari Boine discusses the origins of her musical career as an Indigenous woman in Norway. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby and John Prusynski. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-9-transcript *** Learn more about Mari Boine and her music at: www.mariboine.no Watch these performances on Youtube: "Goaskinviellja" at the Oslo Opera House (2009) https://youtu.be/kprl0CECykA "Elle" on NRK (2011) https://youtu.be/GXA2fiUM1_E "Jearrat biekkas" on NRK (2013) https://youtu.be/tfemcc4TK8s "Fillii fillii" on NRK (2015) https://youtu.be/bovAKyX1bVI "Mitt hjerte alltid vanker" at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit (2001) https://youtu.be/dgSad-3qUNs *** 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

Continuing our interview in Episode 7 about The Lord of the Rings with linguist Dr. Matt Boutilier, we consider more broadly how we imagine the past in medieval fantasy, and how those perceptions translate into racial typecasting in film. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-8-transcript *** Listen to more of Dr. Matt Boutilier on The Tolkien Heads podcast. https://thetolkienheads.com/ Colin is a guest on Episode 62, "The Ride of the Rohirrim." https://thetolkienheads.com/2019/02/27/62-the-ride-of-the-rohirrim/ *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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

Linguist and co-host of The Tolkien Heads podcast Dr. Matt Boutilier discusses the Nordic languages of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, and the kinds of linguistic stereotypes that manifest in The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s other writings. *** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. Special thanks to Kristian Næsby. *** Transcript available at https://scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-7-transcript *** Listen to more of Dr. Matt Boutilier on The Tolkien Heads podcast. https://thetolkienheads.com/ Colin is a guest on Episode 62, "The Ride of the Rohirrim." https://thetolkienheads.com/2019/02/27/62-the-ride-of-the-rohirrim/ *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** 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