Podcast
Danish Originals
Hosted by Various · ENGLISH
Danish Originals spotlights Danes who have made a significant impact in the US in the areas of creativity, originality, and innovation. The series is directed by Christian D. Bruun and hosted by Tina Jøhnk Christensen along with Gregers Heering, Asger Hussain, Finn-Olaf Jones, Nicolai Rottbøll, Carsten "Soulshock" Schack. It is produced by Teresa Lai, mastered by Shaun Hettinger and Greg Williams, with original music by Joachim Svare, and executive produced by Christian D. Bruun and Tina Jøhnk Christensen.
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Danish Originals is a fiscally sponsored project of Nordic Concepts Institute. We thank our supporters for the first 100 episodes (Seasons 1–10), who include founding sponsor American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst, inaugural sponsor Studio Haslund, and sponsor Scan Design Foundation. We are additionally grateful to Scandinavian Airlines for featuring select episodes on their inflight programming on long-haul flights.
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109episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S11E8. Jens Honoré
1w ago00:48:24Tap to summarizeFrom his home office in Gentofte, Sønderborg-born and Copenhagen- and New York-based Danish photographer JENS HONORÉ talks about his work with the Roger Federer Foundation and his books A Place to Dream (2018) with SOS Children's Village and The Right to Food (2021) with the nonprofit initiative JUNKFOOD. He discusses the importance of connecting to people, using his photography for social good, and his present focus on craftsmanship in his film The Crosses and his upcoming book. ----------For today's episode, Jens Honoré chose Jesper Rasmussen's Dumbo Brooklyn New York from 2005 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KKS2005-15 ----------Photographer: Klaus Clemmens----------This conversation with Gregers Heering occurred on March 30, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S11E7. Ilya Katsnelson
2w ago00:57:45Tap to summarizeFrom his home in Israels Plads, Soviet Union-born, Copenhagen-based Danish American businessman and startup investor ILYA KATSNELSON recalls arriving in the US as a refugee at the age of ten, his formative years in Wisconsin, and moving to Denmark, later surviving a German maximum security jail when the Russian state issued a retaliatory Interpol red notice against him. Equally, he talks about his commitment to bringing the US and Denmark closer together through education, art, and culture.----------For today's episode, Ilya Katsnelson chose Carl Bloch's Fra et romersk osteria, or In a Roman Osteria, from 1866 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS4087 ----------Photographer: Davy Denke----------This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on April 6, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S11E6. Maiken Baird
3w ago00:44:29Tap to summarizeFrom her home in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, Copenhagen-born, New York-based Danish-Scottish documentary film producer and director MAIKEN BAIRD talks about her latest film on Palestinian American scholar Edward Said that is entirely archive-based. She revisits her iconic works, such as Client 9 (2010), Venus and Serena (2012), Oscar winner Icarus (2017), and Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich (2022), and describes the challenges in telling real stories that help us understand our world. ----------For today's episode, Maiken Baird chose Lauritz Hartz's Landskab med bakker, or Rolling Landscape, from 1927 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS7062----------Photographer: Terry Gruber----------This conversation with Asger Hussain occurred on March 26, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S11E5. Frederikke Møller
4w ago00:37:07Tap to summarizeFrom her home in Copenhagen, Fuglebjerg-born Danish arts and culture advisor FREDERIKKE MØLLER talks about her recent position with the Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C. facilitating Danish arts programming and dialogue in the US. Frederikke shares her thoughts on the changing US cultural scene under the Trump administration, and describes her current initiatives with Seattle's National Nordic Museum and her dream to work on collaborations among Nordic cultures.----------For today's episode, Frederikke Møller chose Jakob Kudsk Steensen's Primal Tourism from 2016 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS8931----------Photographer: Per Sommer----------This conversation with Gregers Heering occurred on March 11, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S11E4. Rufus Gifford
May 700:57:18Tap to summarizeFrom his home in Concord, Massachusetts, New England-born former US Ambassador to Denmark RUFUS GIFFORD recalls his start in politics, his ongoing connection to Denmark, and his work under Barack Obama and Joe Biden. He describes the current problematic chapter in transatlantic relationships, exemplified by the tensions with Denmark and Greenland, the MAGA movement in the US, and his passion to help elect a transformational US leader in 2028 in the post-Trump world order.----------For today's episode, Rufus Gifford chose C.W. Eckersberg's En sejlads til Charlottenlund, or Sailing from Copenhagen to Charlottenlund, from 1824 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS8684----------Photograph Source: Rufus Gifford----------This conversation with Nicolai Rottbøll occurred on March 18, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S11E3. Pernille Ipsen
Apr 3000:58:14Tap to summarizeFrom her home in Østerbro, Copenhagen- and Madison, Wisconsin-based Danish author PERNILLE IPSEN talks about her book and collective memoir My Seven Mothers: Making a Family in the Danish Women's Movement which is an English translation and adaptation of the 2020 Montana Prize Danish original. She describes her mothers' roles in the 1970s Red Stockings and Lesbian Movements, and traces the differences between writing in English as a historian and in Danish as a nonfiction author.----------For today's episode, Pernille Ipsen chose Dea Trier Mørch's Fødsel, or Birth, from 1978 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KKS2009-19----------Photographer: Bobbie Harte----------This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on December 2, 2025.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S11E2. Mette Lampcov
Apr 2300:51:36Tap to summarizeFrom her home in Mar Vista, Los Angeles, Ølstykke-born, Málaga, Spain-raised Danish photojournalist METTE LAMPCOV discusses her work in California documenting climate change and the work of undocumented agricultural workers. With expertise in water, forest, and fire ecology, she revisits her work on the Salton Sea and the Sequoia National Forest. Throughout, Mette shares her thoughts on the state of journalism and photojournalism, AI, and the effects of current US politics on her work.----------For today's episode, Mette Lampcov chose Anna Bjerger's Square from 2019 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS8948 ----------Photographer: Bruce Lampcov----------This conversation with Gregers Heering occurred on January 7, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S11E1. Samuel Rachlin
Apr 1500:58:09Tap to summarizeFrom a recording studio in downtown Copenhagen, Siberian-born Danish journalist and author of I, Putin, SAMUEL RACHLIN recalls his parents' journey back to Denmark from exile, when he was ten. He talks about his natural urge to understand Russia, discovering the US in 1976, and his roles as the first news anchor for TV2 in 1988 and the first Washington Correspondent for TV2 in 1990. Returning from the US after 35 years, Samuel offers insights on the current absence of a rule-based world order.----------For today's episode, Samuel Rachlin chose Gerhard Henning's Stående nøgen pige, or Standing Nude Girl, from 1928–1929 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS5856 ----------Photographer: Balazs Veress----------This conversation with Asger Hussain occurred on January 27, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S10E10. Lars Mikkelsen
Apr 900:45:11Tap to summarizeFrom his home in Copenhagen, Gladsaxe-born Danish actor LARS MIKKELSEN talks about his role as Captain Anderson on Frankenstein (2025). He recalls his start as a street performer before Shakespeare sent him on his path to acting. Of his long career, Lars reflects on the TV series Sherlock, The Killing, and Borgen that brought him attention abroad and that led to the American series House of Cards. He talks about faith, Jante Law, his love for language, and seeking significance in his work.----------For today's episode, Lars Mikkelsen chose L.A. Ring's Når toget ventes. Jernbaneoverkørsel ved Roskilde Landevej, or Waiting for the Train. Level Crossing by Roskilde Highway, from 1914 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/DEP535 ----------Photographer: Robin Skjoldborg----------This conversation with Tina Jøhnk Christensen occurred on January 13, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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S10E9. Natasha Fisker
Apr 200:26:49Tap to summarizeIn her West Hollywood family home, Germany-born, Southern California, Newport-Beach-based Danish-Brazilian entrepreneur NATASHA FISKER talks about her newest business venture, the science-backed skincare brand Checked Out that promises health and wellness that works overnight. Natasha further shares her thoughts on multiculturalism, her background in fashion technology, and the evolving trends of social media for marketing, from brand partnerships to influencer culture.----------For today's episode, Natasha Fisker chose Perseus og Andromeda, or Perseus and Andromeda, by an unknown artist from 1601–1652 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KKSgb1399 ----------Photographer: Leta Taylor----------This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on February 1, 2026.----------We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:website: https://danishoriginals.com/ email: info@danishoriginals.com
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