Join Mark (@explorefinland), Rich (@escapetosuomi) and Mark (@FCSuomi) for the first episode of the Finnish Football Show series, where 3 old blokes sit and talk about football in Finland. In English.
How Much Does Finland Love Ice Cream?
Päivi explains how ice cream is made at Wirtalan Jäätelö and gives a surprising answer to the question ‘What is South Ostrobothnia’s favourite flavour?’ You’ll never guess.
SJK Seinäjoki – 2015 Season Review. Veikkausliiga Champions | Suomen Mestari
Lari returns to the pod to reveal his highlights from following SJK Seinäjoki in 2015. Spoiler alert, it has a very happy ending!
‘Jokkis’ Finnish Folk Racing – Motor Sport for ‘Everyman’
Emilia explains the basics of Jokamiehenluoka/Jokkis/Finnish Folk Racing, before getting behind the wheel on race day.
In Competition on the Frisbee Golf Course
Pekka explains the rules, techniques and tactics of Frisbee Golf, before I join him on the course in the CityFrisbee Golf competition in Seinäjoki.
Finnish Music Traditions: From Folk to Rap!
A short introduction to traditional Finnish music from Piia & Mika, including Iskelmä, Choral, Rautalanka, Folk… and Rap.
The History of Emigration from Finland
Tella tells about Finland’s historical emigration, where people came from, where they eventually settled and some that made their fortune and came back again.
Explore Finland’s 1st ‘scope: A Walk in the Finnish Woods
Explore Finland’s ‘scopes are first broadcast via a live stream on the Periscope app, search for ExploreFinland in the app. Follow @explorefinland on Twitter for
What on Earth is Mölkky? And how exactly do you say it?
Summer 2015 barely deserves that name, but as August starts and the school holidays draw to a close, of course, the weather takes a turn for the
SJK into Europe 2015-16: Episode #2
The draw for the latest Europa League competition was made on Monday 22nd June, and Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho were drawn against Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar of Iceland. In
SJK into Europe 2015-16: Episode #1
The draw for the latest Europa League competition was made on Monday 22nd June, and Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho were drawn against Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar of Iceland. In
SJK Update: May 2015
You can find all previous articles about Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (Seinäjoki FC, SJK) here The season gets underway The league season is now near the 33% stage,
End of Season 1 Credits
I’ve reached a convenient point to pause and take a look back at ‘season one’ of the Explore Finland Radio Show. I will return in
Apollo FC: The Pink Dogs’ Noble Goals
There is something in the air in South Ostrobothnia. In this episode, I speak to two members of a new football club in Seinäjoki, which has the noble aim of raising money for charity, while also providing a destination for retired footballers.
Apollo FC and Finland’s ‘Pink Revolution’
Season 1 Episode 16 Mikael & Jarl Matti proclaim Finland’s ‘Pink Revolution’ Listen to this podcast episode here Guests: Mikael Muurimäki and Jarl Matti Antilla, Apollo
International Business Degree Students at SeAMK, Finland [part 2]
This episode is a continuation of the conversation from episode 13. I talk with Junyi (Winnie) Ding & Betti Csiba about their experiences of moving to Finland, business culture in South Ostrobothnia, what Betti and Winnie do in their free-time and, of course, the weather.
SJK Update: April 2015
Article number two in the series of articles about Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (Seinäjoki FC, SJK). You can find all the articles in this series here Cup campaigns Several eyewitness
The Finnish Political System & Voting in the General Election
I speak to Henna Rantasaari, Green Party Candidate ahead of the 2015 General Elections here in Finland. In her 2nd appearance on Explore Finland, Henna explains how the political system works, how the Parliamentary seats are allocated and how the Government is formed.
Easter in Finland: The Season of the (white) Witch
Easter traditions in Finland Easter in Finalnd involves as much chocolate as my Easters growing up in the UK, but here they work a lot
International Business Degree Students at SeAMK, Finland [part 1]
I meet Junyi Ding & Betti Csiba, who tell me about life as an international student at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK). Many thanks to Miia Koski from SeAMK for arranging (and participating in) the recording.
SJK Update: March 2015
This is the first in what I hope will be an ongoing series of articles on happenings at Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (Seinäjoki FC, or SJK to
High-speed Motor Racing On Ice at Botniaring
I speak to race organiser Kristiina ahead of the VillaAPR Icerace at the Botniaring race track in Jurva, Etelä-Pohjanmaa. Listen as she tells me about the meeting, the track and the facilities, before I visit the APR Icerace in February 2015.
Discovering Salibandy* in Seinäjoki (*Floorball, Unihockey…)
In this episode I get an introduction to the game of Salibandy (Floorball; Unihockey; Innebandy) from Tuukka Kiviranta, who plays for the high-flying SPV team from Seinäjoki. Tuukka explains the rules and tactics of the game, and tells me about the history, and recent success of SPV.
Finland’s Olympic Training Centre in Kuortane
It will take more than a 30 minute podcast to get me into peak fitness, but this week I get a guided tour of the Olympic Training Centre in Kuortane.
The Finnish Liigacup is Underway
Find my podcast on the history of SJK here The League Cup in Finland is a curious competition. Played as a competitive series of games, it
Distilling Moonshine, Finland’s Prohibition Era and Koskenkorva Vodka
Join me as I visit the Koskenkorva Museo and learn about the history of distilling in Koskenkorva, as well as the distinctive local clocks, Könnikello, and we take another, brief tour around the saunas at Koskenkorva Trahteeri, until we end up at the ‘vodka tap’! Intrigued?
A Tour of the Alvar Aalto Centre in Seinäjoki – part 2
Part 2 of 2 – I continue my guided tour of the Alvar Aalto centre in Seinäjoki, by visiting Aalto’s theatre (with it’s collection of glass and porcelain by Alvar & Aino Aalto) and the new Apila library next door to Aalto’s original.
A Tour of the Alvar Aalto Centre in Seinäjoki [part 1]
Part 1 of 2 – Marianne takes me on a guided tour of the Alvar Aalto centre, in Seinäjoki, a cluster of six, civic buildings that form its iconic centrepiece. Alvar and Aino Aalto are arguably Finland’s greatest designers and, in part 1, you can hear Marianne describe the Town Hall and Lakeuden Risti Church.
Just Why Is The Sauna So Important To Finns?
I speak to Jaakko and Martti Koskenkorva about the most recognisable Finnish word in the world, Sauna. I visited them at Koskenkorva Trahteeri to talk about the history, the traditions and why the sauna is so important to the Finns.
Buying and Selling at Finland’s Flea Markets
I speak to Henna about the significance of the Kirppis in Finland. We attend an event to sell some clothes and I then visit a few other types of Kirpputorit in Seinäjoki to compare & contrast.
Softengine, Luritus Choir & Alvar Aalto. In concert.
Many of you outside of Europe may not fully understand the Eurovision Song Contest, not everyone inside Europe takes it that seriously, and the recent balkanisation
The Veikkausliiga season gets started…
Well, in a manner of speaking. Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (SJK) have a had a busy week, that culminated with the (now traditional) match between the first
Evie Goes to Restaurant Day in Vaasa
Restaurant Day (Ravintolapäivä) originated in Helsinki, so I travel to nearby Vaasa, with my daughter Evie, to visit some of the pop-up restaurants and speak to some of the restaurant organisers about their experiences.
What I Learned at #slush14
Although I risk ‘crossing the streams’ with this post – brining my day job into the Explore Finland world – this article is about an event in Finland,
Brit starts his own radio show in Finland
The Explore Finland Radio Show received it’s first press this morning, with a supportive article in the local paper Seinäjoen Sanomat. You can read the
Seasons Greetings from the Explore Finland Radio Show
There isn’t a full show during the Festive period, but I will be back in the New Year with new episodes. In the meantime, if you’re interested
Christmas 2014, Finnish-style
I don’t know how Christmas is celebrated in your country, but in Finland it is a peaceful, reflective time. People send greetings like “Rentoa ja
Finnish Football Culture and the Rise of SJK Seinäjoki
Lari talks about the origins of football culture in Finland, and the history of Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (SJK Seinäjoki).
In the Woods with the Moose Hunting Team
Early one Sunday morning in October, Mikko Panula, Computer programmer and sharp-shooter, takes me out into the woods with his hunting team, as one young hunter has a VERY memorable day!
Foraging for Mushrooms in Finland’s Forests
Foraging for Mushrooms with Mari. An introduction to ‘Everyman’s Rights’ and the art of finding wild mushrooms.
Welcome to the Explore Finland Radio Show
Hi, I’m Mark Wiltshear. Welcome to the Explore Finland Radio Show, where I introduce myself and talk to you about why I decided to record this show and what you can expect to hear on future episodes.
Magic mushrooms
Well, maybe not ‘magic’ mushrooms, but the way these sprang up almost overnight was quite something to see. There’s a small trail through the woods
Welcome to Hell
Located just south of Etelä-Pohjanmaa, Helvetinjärvi couldn’t be named less appropriately. It’s name translates as Hell’s Lake and comes from an old story containing a
Picking Lingonberries
There’s an interesting law in Finland called Everyman’s Rights, which basically allows anyone to pick any flowers, berries, mushrooms etc. that are growing in the
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