What Are You Doing in Denmark?

In this special Q&A episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark?, Derek and Conrad answer your listener questions covering everything from dark winters and Danish workplace culture to raising multilingual kids and navigating cultural quirks.They share how they met (after a two-year missed message), what it’s really like getting through February in Denmark, and why “false spring” is both hopeful and cruel. The conversation dives into expat life challenges, including feeling isolated, adapting to flat hierarchies at work, and figuring out when to speak up or just take initiative.You’ll also hear honest advice on raising children across multiple languages and cultures, blending holiday traditions (yes, including a very surprising version of baby Jesus), and what internationals should actually expect before moving to Denmark.Whether you’re already living in Denmark or just curious about expat life, this episode is full of relatable stories, cultural insights, and plenty of laughs.➡️ A big thank you to our sponsor, Cool Accounts APS, for supporting this episode and helping make the show possible. If you’re navigating Danish taxes as an expat, be sure to check them out: https://bit.ly/4doqdVcThe YouTube video from the first time Derek and Conrad met: https://youtu.be/eZndUpBkoLs?si=r6V3nnX_LFSDWUWTDerek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingConrad Molden:https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedyhttps://youtube.com/c/conradmoldenhttps://tiktok.com/@conradmolden https://facebook.com/conradmoldenhttps://www.conradmolden.dk 🎟️ Come see the show in person!See our LIVE SHOW at Copenhagen's Comedy Zoo on 9 March at 19:00Tickets are available HERE ➡️ https://www.comedyzoo.dk/event/1762906📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F📢 Send your questions and/or comments.voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydidemail: [email protected]👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.👀 More living in Denmark tips:https://instagram.com/waydidpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denmark is heading to the polls, but if you’re an international living here, there’s a good chance you won’t have a vote.In this episode, Derek Hartman breaks down the upcoming Danish national election and what it means for the hundreds of thousands of residents who live, work, and pay taxes in Denmark but cannot participate in the country’s parliamentary vote.Joining the conversation is Torben Alexander Klinger, founder of Project Vote Talk and a candidate for Venstre, who helps unpack how Danish elections work and why this snap election was called. They also discuss the growing debate around citizenship, the freezing of citizenship applications during the election period, and what that means for internationals waiting years to become eligible voters.The conversation explores a bigger question about democracy in Denmark: what does it mean to belong to a society if you can’t participate fully in its political system? With internationals making up nearly 17% of the population, the discussion highlights the tension between Denmark’s strict citizenship rules and its reliance on international workers.Even if you can’t vote in this election, understanding how the system works and the debates shaping it might help Denmark make a little more sense.Thank you to today's sponsor ➡️ Cool Accounts - your go-to service for expat taxes in DenmarkThorbern Klingert (guest):Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taklingert/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taklingert/Candidate Website: https://www.venstre.dk/personer/thorbern-alexander-klingertDerek Hartman: Instagram: https://instagram.com/derekhartmandkYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrottingTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting 🎟️ Come see the show in person!See our LIVE SHOW at Copenhagen's Comedy Zoo on 9 March at 19:00Tickets are available HERE ➡️ https://www.comedyzoo.dk/event/1762906📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F📢 Send your questions and/or comments.voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydidemail: [email protected]👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.👀 More living in Denmark tips:https://instagram.com/waydidpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moving abroad can be exciting, but it can also be lonely.In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek speaks with therapist, coach, and author Lucy Vittrup Christensen about loneliness, why it affects so many internationals in Denmark, and what people can do to build real connection in a new culture.They explore the difference between being alone and being lonely, why cultural differences in Denmark can make friendships harder to build, and how feelings of isolation can sometimes lead people to withdraw even further.Lucy also shares practical strategies for reconnecting, from contributing to communities to embracing vulnerability and finding connection through shared activities and nature.If you’ve ever felt disconnected while living abroad, this conversation offers insight, reassurance, and practical ways to rebuild connection.Topics include:Why loneliness affects so many internationals in DenmarkThe difference between being alone and feeling lonelyCultural differences in social connection and friendshipWhy people sometimes withdraw when they feel isolatedHow vulnerability helps build stronger relationshipsPractical ways to find community in Denmark⚠️ This episode discusses loneliness and mental health. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, consider seeking professional help. Crisis resources are listed below.Key Mental Health Crisis Resources in Denmark:Livslinien (Lifeline): Phone 70 201 201 (open 11:00 AM – 5:00 AM daily) for suicide prevention and counseling.Psykiatrifonden (Mental Health Helpline): Phone 39 25 25 25 (Mon-Thu 10:00-22:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00).BørneTelefonen: 11 61 11 (24/7 helpline for children and youth).Startlinjen: 35 36 26 00 (support for, life crises, 16:00-23:00).Regional Psychiatric Hotline: +45 78 47 04 70 (Central Denmark Region, 24/7)Lucy Vittrup Christensen (Guest)https://www.instagram.com/lucy_vittruphttps://www.facebook.com/lucy.vittrup.christensen/Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingBrooke Black:https://instagram.com/brookeblackjusthttps://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust 🎟️ Come see the show in person!See our LIVE SHOW at Copenhagen's Comedy Zoo on 9 March at 19:00Tickets are available HERE ➡️ https://www.comedyzoo.dk/event/1762906📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F📢 Send your questions and/or comments.voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydidemail: [email protected]👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.👀 More living in Denmark tips:https://instagram.com/waydidpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When distance doesn’t weaken family bonds. Living abroad doesn’t automatically pull families apart. This episode flips the usual story about adult children moving overseas. Instead of loss or rupture, Conrad and his mom Jane talk about what happens when living abroad becomes normal for a family. Their relationship was already shaped by travel, mobility, and independence long before Denmark entered the picture. Over time, they’ve adapted through frequent visits, immersive time together, everyday technology, and a shared openness to seeing life from different places. The conversation explores how closeness can be redesigned rather than lost, and how family life can stretch across countries without becoming fragile or distant. For listeners living abroad long term, or thinking about it, this episode offers reassurance without pretending distance is effortless.Derek Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingConrad Molden:https://instagram.com/conradmoldencomedyhttps://youtube.com/c/conradmoldenhttps://tiktok.com/@conradmolden https://facebook.com/conradmoldenhttps://www.conradmolden.dk 🎟️ Come see the show in person!See our LIVE SHOW at Copenhagen's Comedy Zoo on 9 March at 19:00Tickets are available HERE ➡️ https://www.comedyzoo.dk/event/1762906📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F📢 Send your questions and/or comments.voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydidemail: [email protected]👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.👀 More living in Denmark tips:https://instagram.com/waydidpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does the Danish healthcare system really work? When should you call 1813? Can you get a second opinion? And what happens if you show up at the ER?In this episode of What Are You Doing in Denmark, Derek and Brooke welcome back Emma Grint, Dr. Mum-for-Kids, to answer your listener questions about healthcare in Denmark.We cover:Visitors’ access to healthcare in DenmarkEmergency vs. non-emergency care (112 vs. 1813)How to get a second opinionChanging your GP (family doctor)Wait times and specialist referralsWhat’s covered under universal healthcare in DenmarkMental health and psychiatry waitlistsPregnancy and birth in Denmark (midwife-led care, epidurals, C-sections)Patient advocacy in the Danish systemIf you’re an expat or international living in Denmark, this episode will help you understand your rights, your options, and how to navigate the system with confidence.💬 Have more questions? Leave us a voice message via SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydidEmma:https://www.doctormumforkids.com/instagram.com/doctormumforkidsemail: [email protected] Hartman: https://www.instagram.com/derekhartmandk https://youtube.com/c/robetrottinghttps://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandkwww.facebook.com/robetrottingBrooke Black:https://instagram.com/brookeblackjusthttps://www.tiktok.com/@brookeblackjust 🎟️ Come see the show in person!See our LIVE SHOW at Copenhagen's Comedy Zoo on 9 March at 19:00Tickets are available HERE ➡️ https://www.comedyzoo.dk/event/1762906📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCSH6KqKooZmSx1GJu9CWZYjX8esjl2F📢 Send your questions and/or comments.voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/waydidemail: [email protected]👉 Remember to tell your friends about the podcast.👀 More living in Denmark tips:https://instagram.com/waydidpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.