Very Finnish Problems
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Episode 19: When Midsummer is Finland’s best and worst celebration
12 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Very Finnish Problems creator Joel Willans interviews the minds behind Midsummer Madness, a free Helsinki open-air Midsummer event for 2020. Jeroen Se...
Episode 18: When it's December 24th and it still hasn't snowed
10 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Joel Willans, author of the Very Finnish Problems books, discusses journalist Erika Benke’s amazing journey from communist Hungary ...
Episode 17: Wearing 15 layers of clothing to stay warm
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Willans, author of the Very Finnish Problems books, learns how the polluting textile industry is facing much-needed renewal thanks to Finnish inn...
Episode 16: When you think life is hard in Finland
15 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Very Finnish Problems creator Joel Willans chats with Joe Konderla, writer at the Finniot, a blog on adjusting to Finnish quirks. Topics include Briti...
Episode 15: When your world-leading coffee consumption is a sham
19 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Willans, captain of Very Finnish Problems, investigates the extraordinary hot beverage habits of his adopted country. Lari Salomaa, from Swedish ...
Episode 14: When your main exports are spooky hippos and metal music
27 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Creator of Very Finnish Problems Joel Willans returns with a conversation on how and why Finland is big in Japan with project manager, exports special...
Episode 13: When you don’t get sisu
30 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This time, Very Finnish Problems creator Joel Willans is joined by Joanna Nylund, author of Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage, to discuss, as the book ...
Episode 12: When Northern Lights have been seen by everyone except you
13 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What’s it like to spend most of your time living in the Finnish wilderness? Joel Willans, author and creator of Very Finnish Problems discusses the ...
Episode 11: When you don’t like strong women
16 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What’s different about femininity in Finland? Joel Willans, author and creator of Very Finnish Problems consults lifestyle and travel blogger Varpu ...
Episode 10: When you queue for free buckets and they run out
05 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why do Finns stand in line for free buckets? Joel Willans, creator of the Very Finnish Problems social media sensation, chats with Jyrki Kallinen, co-...
Episode 9: When you can’t figure out which dairy product is milk
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a chatty Brit prefer Finnish silence? In this special episode, renowned Finnish comedian André Wickström interviews Joel Willans, author ...
Episode 8: Driving for 14 hours and only seeing forest
21 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Are electric vehicles taking off in Finland? Joel Willans, author of the best-selling book 101 Very Finnish Problems, is joined by Antti Korpelainen o...
Episode 7: When the whole country is on ski break and you can’t ski
06 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s talk ski jumping toddlers. Joel Willans, author of the best-selling book 101 Very Finnish Problems, discusses winter sports and other outdoors...
Episode 6: When your children need to wee after getting dressed for winter
25 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Willans, creator of Very Finnish Problems and author of the best-selling book 101 Very Finnish Problems, chats with clothing industry activist an...
Episode 5: When somebody else is in the lift
28 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
How does elevator awkwardness in Britain differ from the same in Finland? Joel Willans, author of Very Finnish Problems, asks game studies Ph.D. Aki J...
Episode 4: When your winter stroll is ruined by an arriving icebreaker
29 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the weirdest place Finnish president Urho Kekkonen went fishing? Author Joel Willans is joined by maritime historian Aaro Sahari. The two dis...
Episode 3: When alcohol is an excuse to go insane
17 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Who can name the worst Finnish booze? Helsinki resident Joel Willans reads from his upcoming book "101 Very Finnish Problems", and spills the beans on...
Episode 2: When The Summer Cottage Is Like A Labor Camp
05 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Are Finnish summer cottages bourgeois forced labor camps? Very Finnish Problems creator and Helsinki resident Joel Willans talks summer annoyances wit...
Episode 1: How Finnish Winter Tries To Kill You
26 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Just how deadly is a typical winter in Finland? Very Finnish Problems creator and Helsinki resident Joel Willans discusses survival strategies with In...