Episode 18 - Jukka Åkerman (in Finnish)

Jukka Åkerman

Jukka! This episode is in Finnish.

Jukka did sound design for our feature film Insanity (Vihanpidot), which I directed. I didn’t know him beforehand, but we have been staying in quite close contact lately during the post-production and release process of the film. The movie has just been released for streaming in Finland (on Elisa Viihde), Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Estonia. Next up we are preparing for North America and Great Britain releases.

We talk about the process of making the film, and Jukka’s life. Jukka also used to be a rock star, and he is working on some new music! A great talk!

Samples of Jukka’s work:
toast.fi/person/jukka-akerman/

Insanity / Vihanpidot film to rent or buy:
elisaviihde.fi/elokuvat/34901/Vihanpidot

Trailer to Insanity / Vihanpidot:
youtu.be/vZHj9XeSUAk

Episode 17 - Irina Tundra

Irina Tundra

Irina Tundra is a Finnish stripper. We have a very interesting talk about the realities of being in her profession, what got her started, and why she’s a stripper. She tells about how she first got interested in the profession, and also how she studied in an university before becoming a stripper. We also talk about what’s the difference of prostitution and stripping. We also hear Irina’s opinions about sex work and legal aspects of that.

This is an interesting and unique conversation with Irina, who is someone who works in an underground profession, but she approaches it in a business-minded and organized way. We also hear her stories about working outside Finland, and her dreams for the future.

A great talk about the realities of a very unique way of making a living!

Irina’s website:
www.irinatundra.net

Irina’s social media links:
facebook.com/tundrairina/
youtube.com/user/IrinaTundra
twitter.com/irinatundra
instagram.com/irina.tundra/

Episode 16 - Stephen Lee

Stephen Lee

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I met Stephen a couple of years ago when we were working on a trailer for an UFO film which eventually never happened. But we spend a couple of fun and intense nights in wintery Finnish forest. I didn’t know much about Stephen then, but during this discussion I’m finding quite a lot new things about him. In addition to him being a musician and a songwriter, he was a part of the Finnish tech craze in the early 2000s. He worked for one of the startup companies called Wapit. 

Stephen is originally from the US but he has lived in Finland for many years, and he gives me insight into the differences of Finland and the US. We also talk about the current events in the US and Black Lives Matter. This is a great talk about life, and the times we are living in.

Stephen’s podcast Get Known
by San Francisco Agency:
http://getknown.sanfrancisco.fi/

Short film Kill Will starring Stephen:
vimeo.com/420814782

Stephen’s song links:

Paska työ
soundcloud.com/teuvolee/paskatyo?in=teuvolee/sets/stevies-schizophrenic-styles

Take the Spoon in Your Beautiful Hand
youtu.be/aF7qc58zk54

Phunky Sound of the Giraffe
youtu.be/YB8kBGzN5S0

Episode 15 - Ulla Virtanen (in Finnish)

Ulla Virtanen

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Ulla! This episode is in Finnish.

Ulla and I have worked together since 2007, so it has been a while. We both are also members of Finnish improv group VSOP. This is a great talk with someone who I have known for long time, and now we had a wonderful chance to sit down and talk in peace.

Ulla has worked in quite a variety of roles in the entertainment industry, and currently she is a writer for Dancing with the Stars Finland. Since she’s so talented in so many things, I wanted to know what is her passion, and that is still acting. However she wouldn’t mind also participating in Dancing with the Stars next year!

Ulla has studied acting in America too, and she has always had a special relationship with the US. We talk about her training there and also about her current feelings about America.

A lovely talk about all and everything!

Ulla’s Instagram:
instagram.com/ullavirtanen/

Ulla’s webpage:
ullavirtanen.com

Episode 14 - Tea Khalifa (in Finnish)

Tea Khalifa

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Tea! This episode is in Finnish.

I got to know Tea for the first time two years ago. She has had a wonderful career in Finland, mainly hosting the biggest TV shows of the country. Two years ago she took a new step in her life moving to Los Angeles, and we talk about that. She tells how it has been starting everything all over again. She also talks about her tiredness to quarantine, and how she’s also looking forward visiting Finland soon.

A great talk, and I was very happy to get to know Tea better this way, doing the podcast!

Happy Midsummer to Finland!

Tea’s Instagram:
instagram.com/tealoveslife

Tea and Johanna’s podcast California Dreamin:
youtube.com/channel/UCrqA0xhXBfdDRFCfzqat2bw/

Episode 13 - Niina Lahtinen (in Finnish)

Niina Lahtinen

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Niina! This episode is in Finnish.

I have known Niina for a long time, and we both have performed with improv group VSOP for many years. We have also acted together in a couple of scenes on TV shows Siskonpeti and Downshiftaajat. However I really haven’t spoken with Niina with just two of us for this long before, apart from one improv rehearsal session few years ago.

We talk about Niina’s life, family, her reasons for doing art, and also a little bit about politics. Niina lives good family life in Riihimäki, but at the same time she’s directing one of the most popular comedy TV shows in Finland, Putous. We go into detail how it is doing that, and also what kind of actors are good for Putous.

We got to know each other a little bit more in this podcast. A great and warm talk!

Niina’s Instagram:
instagram.com/niinalahtinen/

Episode 12 - Johanna Tohni (in Finnish)

Johanna Tohni

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Johanna! This episode is in Finnish.

I’m very happy to have Johanna on the show. We met last time a year ago when Johanna was visiting LA, and she did stand-up on a show I hosted.

Johanna is a Finnish stand-up comedian, improv actor, and many other things in the field of entertainment. We share a bit of a similar background since we both have been doing improv for years, and we both love it. Johanna’s stand-up career has taken off, and she has performed all over Finland with her and her spouse’s stand-up show Mars vs. Venus? They have been doing the show since 2017, and it still sells well.

We have a great talk about how Johanna got started in show business, and how she feels about it now. She also talks how it is working on a two person show very closely with her spouse.

Johanna’s website:
johannatohni.fi

Johanna’s stand-up on YouTube (in Finnish):
youtu.be/ae3ij-yc4V0

Episode 11 - Henry Pöyhiä (in Finnish)

Henry Pöyhiä

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Henry! This episode is in Finnish.

Henry is one of the stars of Vihanpidot / Insanity, the film I directed. We spent an intense week and few more days together while we were filming the movie, but we didn’t really have that much time to get to know each other during the shoot. This podcast is actually the longest conversation we’ve ever had. We reflect a bit on the movie, but during this episode we get to really know who Henry is, and also how he ended up in Tampere, Finland. Henry is an active social media creator on Instagram, and we are exploring that side of him too.

This is a sweet and honest conversation, great talk!

Henry’s Instagram:
instagram.com/poyhiah

Henry’s website:
henrypoyhia.com

Trailer to Vihanpidot / Insanity, the film we did together (no English subtitles):
youtube.com/watch?v=vZHj9XeSUAk