Woo!! This was so fun! Thanks for having me! :D

Shoe horns have a more important function: they prolong the life of your shoes by protecting the heel cap from being deformed when you put your feet in them. Especially sneakers.

it's the opposite, the softer the bread, the bigger the need for real smörkniv.

The butter doesn’t stay on a regular metal knife but it does on a butter knife on wood or something. So it makes it much easier to put the butter on the bread :) 🇸🇪

one amazing thing about sweden (anywhere in sweden) is that where ever you are, you are always close to a pizzeria.

A regular knife is back-heavy and easily falls off the box and down on the floor. A butter knife is light and doesn't have its own will.

About Sweden's covid strategy, I am in a high-risk group, and was able to stay at home to avoid a higher risk getting it at work. I was paid a livable pay, for that. That amount was alot less than my work pay, but I'm alive. It was worth it. I was at home for 10 months. Thank you, Sweden! ❤️🇸🇪❤️ P.S. - LONG SHOE HORNS MADE OF METAL ARE THE BEST!!

Lagom is also a lifestyle. Not everyone can be number one, so it is ok to be number 25..... and be contented with your life and not so stressed out.

The shoe horn discussion was hilarious. I wasn’t even aware that shoe horn was a unique European thing.

If we line up ALL our cars in my town, we still can’t create a traffic jam 🤣🤣🤣

Fun fact about a shoehorn. I'm a Swede and one of my old shoehorn was made from wood. It is a long version and has an inscription (painted text) "Skona din sko och spara din rygg". That translates to: preserve your shoe and save your back. The obvious no 1 reason for shoehorn is to make your shoe last longer, no 2 get the shoe easier and faster on to your foot, no 3 the length able people who otherwise are not able to put their shoes on without help. Other things I appreciate as a Swede that I suspect is not common in other countries. Allemansrätten. Areas with stillness. Clean air / water. Archipelago of east coast. Sail from Norrköping to Västervik is great. Anchor and set up a grill, share a meal at an unhabituated island is the best thing I ever experienced.

Hallo from Norway, söta bror! This was a fun video to watch! The scandinavians def. has a lot in common, but still some differences! =) I eat knekkebrød every day, so I'm very thankful to the swedes! Although we don't have the same relationship to the butter knife i don't think.. I usually see them in big gatherings, but never just at someones home. The shoe horns are for old ppl in my opinion;) I like the friendly banter between Norway and Sweden, kinda like siblings. We have the jokes about swedes being dumb( and they have the exact same jokes about us). When I was attending an international school in Mozambique, there were people from all over the world. I made a swedish friend. We would make fun of each other, but if any one else tried to have a go at us, we would defend each other.

My family didn't have a shoehorn for a long time, and when we finally got one it was a revelation. Shoehorns are great :)

Life without knäckebröd is no life at all.

I'm Norwegian living in Stockholm Sweden, and I absolutely love American people. I would definitely encourage more Americans to come and live in Europe. You guys are awesome. ❤️❤️

The guy from Norrland, is exactly like me! Having grown up in Dalarna and living on Gotland, I freak out every time I get near Stockholm.

I thought the discussion about how the safety system in Sweden actually creates freedom (since I feel like many discussions about high taxes only takes away freedom) was really spot on 👏🏻

Short shoehorn is mostly If you need to have it with you some where. Like my twins, when they go to soccer practice! A large horn wouldn't fit in thier backpacks...

Oh gowd… knäckebröd is so nice! 🤤🤤 There are like a million versions. You need to make a video trying out different ones 😁

My pet peeve about Sweden is its proximity to Denmark. Jokes aside though, my real pet peeve about Sweden is not knowing if it is winter, spring or summer during April-May and September-October. The weather just can't make up it's darn mind, it seems. Also: you're dunking on both smörknivar AND knäckebröd? I'm in a rioting mood, man (i.e I will not do anything, because I am a Swede and thus I am averse to conflict).

the butter knife covers a larger part of the bread at once so its faster to use one and u dont destroy the bread while trying to apply it. they are not used mainly for knäckebröd at all. and shoe horns are usually used to make ur shoes last longer instead of u like streching the thing and bending it back and forward trying to get it on u just simply untie ur shoe and put the shoe horn down by the back wall of the shoe and press down w ur foot that way u dont crees them

The discussion about city sizes was really interesting... I'm from a very small town in sweden and have a max of 10 minute walk to anywhere I want, and hearing that it can take hours in bigger citys sounds so strange to me

You use a shoehorn WHEN you need one. Not always, not never. And yes, a long shoehorn is a must.

The shoehorn conversation was a hoot. I loved the section where you brought up the government trusting people to do the right thing and the people trusting the government to do the same.

Your guest apparently hasn’t been to/lived in Chicago. As someone born/raised there, Chicago has excellent public transport running 24/7/365. Suburbs are easily driven to (except during morning/evening rush hours) and those who live in the burbs and work in Chicago commute via suburban trains. Just wanted to clear that up. 🤨

Hahaha jag älskar er diskussion om skorhorn😂❤️

A big city to me is a city with 10k+ people, my hometown has around 100

Thank you both for another great video! I find the discussion of differences between the US and Sweden regarding work-life balance and the sense of being taken care of really interesting. There is a saying that originates from the Social Democracy and arbetarrörelsen (swedish labour movement) that I think captures this from the Swedish perspective and it goes: "Gör din plikt, kräv din rätt" which translates to "Do your duty, demand your rights". The meaning is that when you are able to: work hard, and pay your (albeit high) taxes. And when you need it: demand the support from the government that you are entitled to. This is the foundation of what is refered to as "Samhällskontraktet", the unspoken "deal" between the citizen and the government that ensures tax income for the government and a well functioning health care system, school, police etc. for the people. For me personally (I know this is somewhat political) this gives me that sense of "peace" or "freedom" that you talk about as a factor to the nordic countries being the happiest on the world.

Love it! Impression: You are two intelligent, nice looking, observative funny people! Great charisma with a lot of charm together. I kept a silly smile on my face from start to end.//sincerely your Swedish friend

Thank you for a really collaborative - and fun show.. My Five-cents for the "Butter-Knife" is that it is shared (not like your own knife which you use like in other countries). And since the knife is shared you want the guests to be able to differ this shared knife from your own... And the reasoning behind this is that you dip this knife in a shared butter storage and don't want the residues from the other guys ordinary knifes in the buttercup...

This was really good. So relaxed and entertaining. You have to make more videos together. Happy to be a subscriber to you both for a long time now. ❤️🇸🇪🇺🇸❤️

Hey! I just discovered her channel and subscribed last week! Glad to see the team up!

This video slid under my radar until now, what a fun video! As a Swede living an hour outside of Minneapolis it was great hearing her perspectives :) Yours too of course :) I felt like the adaption between Sweden and Minnesota was so easy because it is close enough to eachother to easily feel like home. The biggest "like home" moment for me was when we were hauling lumber and some fell off in the middle of a road intersection and 3-4 cars stopped and randomly helped us both stopping traffic safely and get the lumber back onto the truck. Nobody angry honked or anything; people just helped out and it's what norrland would've done too. I also feel like the "leave celebrities alone" phenomenon was true for Prince too from the stories I've heard of him riding his bike around. As for smörkniv I never got into depending on them. I like the wooden ones because its cozy and they aren't as bottom heavy either like regular knives tend to be but I've always just used regular knives for my spread. I think IKEA sells them though so I'm sure they could find them there no matter where in the world they are. :)

this is awesome, great discussion~!

Love the chemistry between you guys. Really fun to watch.

Hi Stefan! I've been following you for years and have always liked what you showed but this was one of your best videos! Thumbs up!

Tack för eran goda energi!! Den behövs nu ❣

Two of my favourite youtubers in the same video - great! Really interesting conversation :) love the both of you! Great video :)

Love your banter. Karlstad here.

Omg... I actually live about 30min from Örebro.. and when she said that shoes from Minneapolis.. my girlfriend lives a couple of hours from Minneapolis. Such a coincidence. Love it

Excellent video!

Soo interesting! Thank you for making this video! I'm American living in Germany and I gotta say I wish Germany handled the pandemic better without being forcing people. This is why Sweden is soo awesome! Stefan can you make a video about the healthcare there? I'm really curious how it operates compared to other European countries. :-)

Great talk! Please stay and keep on making Sweden a better place!

This video is spot on. Love your channels. :)

Don't trash our shoehorns! They are the best when you have tight shoes. 😁😁

Love both you guys. Båda är bra

Haha, ni två är helt underbara 😂 Jag tyckte verkligen om diskussionen om skohornets vara eller icke vara 😉😄

I've watched your own videos on and off and there has been some very entertaining content, but I must say, you together are really great! This was really captivating and fun to watch. Also, I get a little tear in the corner of my eye when you say so many nice things about my home country and it's people. I was born in Stockholm, and this city, as you say, really is the lagom size. By the way, I see a great opportunity here. Sweden should market a combined shoe horn/butter knife, maybe with a little "Dalahäst" painted on it. ;D

I used to live in Los Angeles and it impossible to do anything. It would take so long to get anywhere, reservations at restaurants were impossible, parking was super difficult or as expensive as the dinner/show you were even going to. I love that here in Stockholm you can get places and actually do the things that are here.

Hahah, älskar eran diskussion ang skohorn 😂😂😂 i övrigt så bra video!✌😄

I've never used a shoehorn until I bought my latest shoes. They are well fitting and sits really tight to help my feet which I've had some trouble with. And now I have to use a shoehorn everytime I take them one, otherwise I'll hurt my fingers trying to press into the shoe with my thumb at the back D:

Awesome video!!!

I Should get a long shoe horn. It’s good to have at home. Thanks guys. I do love and appriciate the different topics that are discussed in different youtube clip. Thanks and keep up the good work. Ps. Love the cultural shock pod cast as well👏❤️

Interesting conversation. I was born in Borås and lived in Örebro at age 9. Then we left for the USA. where I have lived ever since.

This is so interesting for a swede to watch. and it makes me dare to love my country!

Long shoehorns are absolutely necessary for anyone who have back/spine issues. And you don’t need to be old to have that

I can NOT live without my shoe horn 😂 It’s like 70cm long and in some hard metal.

"Shoehorns" - Hahaha! Klassiker för oss som också följer Meagan.

The shoehorns are also for not destroying the heel of the shoe. If you use a shoehorn the shoes lasts longer. Especially if you are lazy and don’t untie the shoe every time.

I like your channel. I just recently subscribed but have been a viewer for a couple of years. I had a girlfriend in southwestern Sweden (Landskrona) a while ago and fell in love w/ Sweden and its people/culture/perspectives. I enjoy your insight as an expat and fellow countryman - I'm currently living in Atlanta but from the NE US. I'm fascinated by SWE. I particularly enjoyed your segments regarding Svenska, pronunciations and idioms. Perhaps this may not appeal to your larger audience but I'd like to see more of this. Anyway, good work and Best Regards, Frank

- taking note that ALWAYS bring shoehorn when travel outside of Sweden or Scandinavia - My fingers will thank me forever Ordinary knife work, sure it does, but it's alot easier with a butterknife XD

In my little town Avesta, Dalarna we don’t even have traffic lights haha

Congrets for hitting 100K followers!

My daughter's English teacher is named Nyrone. Rhymes with Thyron.

The metal knives conducts heat from your hand to the rest of the knife and the butter in contact with the knife melts and the whole lump of butter falls of the knife, that is why we use wooden butter knives.

More of this duo

I don't understand this, people say we Swedes are reserved and afraid of conflicts but most non-Swedes i have met is just the same as us. I also know many Swedes that are very social and those that do speak their mind even if it means conflict. Maybe Americans are more ''extreme'' in all ways so you notice the difference more than Europeans.

Yes, the fear of conflict is kinda give and take. You hear ABOUT people but not FROM people.

The short shoe horns are portable and they also help protect your shoes.

oh my god; you both are so adorable. I think you deserve to be in Sweden. you're showing the beautiful side of Sweden, but you both forget that you Americans are so nice and friendly. I hope that one day I will be able to live there in Sweden. actually, I'm a Moroccan teacher of English I Morocco; but my dream is to work and live there in Sweden.

🤗 love these

Thank you both. This was hilarious to watch. Närke is the center of the universe btw 😅

I think the short shoehorn is useful sometimes 🙂 Great to see you. / Micke Åkersberga

I adjust the tongue of the shoe with the shoehorn, or with my foot. No need to bend down. I have a bad back, so I really love shoehorns!

On the contrary, if you have a narrow knife to spread butter on a soft bread, you mash your bread while a crispbread can handle a small narrow knife.

Vore intressant att höra om Portlands historia.

We want more videos!, 2 of my favourite Swedish americans.

Half of gamla stan is a tourist trap :) Most of drottninggatan is a tourist trap it just when you get to the end with Rolf's kök etc that the restaurants are good :)

Fun video. I’ve never used a shoehorn in my life!!! I’m 47… my husband doesn’t use one either 🤔.

2 of my favourite Vloggers in the same video. Wow!!!

i really agree with verything u guys said in the video

Can you talk about and explain the health Care system and maternity/paternity leave in the us? Thank you for a great video!

Hmm.. comparing Minneapolis maybe the twice the size of Stockholm is really strange. We can handle some traffic, no problem!

You are right in all you say Tyron!

In Portland there is loads of unnecessary stuff to walk through where you go. I am sure it is hard for you to visit Portland

Hey Stefan! Your channel is fantastic and has moved Sweeden up on my list to visit, which I'm planning to do this summer. As I was looking at apartment rentals and packages, I wondered if you are involved with affiliates or resources in that space or consult? Of course, I want to make the best of my 3-month visit and am just guessing on what spot is best to live. Advice is most welcome when you have a chance. Thank you! (I'm guessing Swedish people don't use !'s in texts as we do in the stats. lol)

Travel time is not only dependant on the size of the city ofc, it's also about infrastructure. I used to live in Beijing together with another 25 milion people and it never ever took me 2.5 hours to get anywhere, because they have functioning public transport (I lived in the south-east part and my place of work was in the north-west part). Most of the time I got where I was going within an hour. By geographical size Beijing is about the same size as the complete region of Skåne. Metro circle lines ftw! Also, Stefan Lövén didn't get kicked out. He choose to quit because he couldn't be bothered sitting in a minority governmental position negotiating another budget he didn't actually support. PS. Big congrats on the 100k subs! Next video= playbutton unpacking video? DS.

I´m from a small city in Sweden that is called Boxholm and i went to LInköking and that is big for me

'Smökniva' -> 's(ch)mear knife' in English. Every New Yorker would immediately know what that looks like and what it's for. A bagel 'with a smear' means a bagel with cream cheese spread on it. There's a wide-bladed knife that's used to spread the cream cheese :-)

I'm Swedish but live in downtown Chicago, the thing though is that besides a few small areas it doesn't feel bigger than Stockholm for example. Density plays a huge role in the perceived size of a city. I don't think Portland is necessarily better or bigger than Norrkoping for example.

Härligt att du nämnde Borlänge 😀 my city

Hi, there I saw Meagan on tv When She were taking part in Bachelor, Sweden. I’ve been following You for some time now, Stefan, and You always make interesting videos. It’s interesting subjects You talk about, describe or showing us. Keep up the good work. The reason why we use smörkniv is that if everyone use their own knife in the butter there might be more bacterias in their, even if Your not put the knife in Your mouth. You have the fork in Your mouth and perhaps with food from Your plate on the knife and then in the butter…not that fresh.

5:05 Skådespelaren för Leif i Leif och Billy!

its not a problem to put butter on knäckebröd, you just have to be a litte more careful

I'm from NYC...so anytime I'm in Stockholm I keep referring to it as such a nice town. I love it...even though people get annoyed when I say that. lol

Chicago literally has one of the most accessible and expansive public transportation systems in the US.

Lol, Why do you have my school emblem on your shirt? HAHA

Great vid, interesting to get your view on things, easy to get "hemmablind". Please make a video on the subject freedom. Americans mention freedom in all kinds of contexts, but I get a feeling the American concept of freedom differs from the Swedish. Would love to hear your thoughts on that. 💚

Especially when you are a little older or/and have a hard time for any reason bending over to tie your shoes, shoe horns are fantastic!!!!!

Grattis till dina 100.000 följare.❤😄