FTTLG: Denise Wall mulls being visible yet invisible in Finland

As a transplant from a very gregarious Caribbean society, FTTLG host Denise Wall says she was taken aback by socially distant Finland, where she appeared to have faded into invisibility, despite being a member of a very visible minority. It was a contradiction that Wall says initially caused some discomfort.

"I remember going to swimming halls. And you know you have to get naked to shower and people would stare at you. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. The same people who would not look at you in the street, by the way," Wall chuckles.

The former journalist took the guest’s seat in an extended conversation with audio producer Travis Glossop about her motivation for launching the podcast, and her desire to provide a platform for immigrant-background people in Finland to show up as authentic human beings.

"There's been a lot of talk over the years about the need for foreign labor in Finland. And we're talking about real people, real lives, whole human beings like if we're a commodity," Wall says. "And so that was the genesis for wanting to highlight that this is a community of real people just like anyone else. We have ideas, we have fears, we have dreams, we have hopes, we have expectations. We are not just units of production," she declares.

The storyteller notes that although she conceived the concept for the podcast before racist rhetoric soured the aftermath of the 2023 general election, the racism that has long seethed beneath the surface in Finland was also important for framing the series.

Racist rhetoric the backdrop to the podcast

"If we talk about … the far-right party in government, the Finns Party, their rhetoric has not changed over the years. What is alarming is that you have something like one in five people who think that's okay because they vote for the Finns party. And that proportion remains more or less constant," Wall points out.

"And that says something about Finnish society, that they think those views which are very racist -- that's fine with them. And I don't care whether you think they have good economic policies. That is a racist party," she declares.

The podcast host shared her experiences forming connections with Finns in the workplace. And she says it highlights the importance of integration by way of employment, as it creates opportunities for new residents in Finland to find community in their new home.

Listen to the full episode and follow and subscribe to Finland: Through the looking glass on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor.fm). Remember to like, share and rate the show and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.