From her home in Copenhagen, Rødovre-born, Danish singer-songwriter KIRA SKOV talks about her deeply personal new memoir Liv forladt about music, life as a musician in 1990s Los Angeles and London, and the silver lining in loss and grief. Kira talks about musicians who have inspired her, her spirit animal that accompanies her in her writing, the detrimental 2017 sudden death of her husband and collaborator Nicolai Munch-Hansen, and putting behind her relationship with people with addiction. 

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For today's episode, Kira Skov chose Emil Westman Hertz's Nine of Wands, from 2016, from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen.

https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS8828 

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Photographer: Rita Blue

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This conversation with Gregers Heering occurred on September 2, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From his home studio, Hørsholm-born, Burbank, Los Angeles-based BAFTA-winning Danish composer and sound designer JESPER KYD recalls his part in the European demoscene in the '80s and '90s that took him to Boston, New York, and eventually Los Angeles. Jesper revisits his hit franchises Hitman, Assassin's Creed, and Borderlands, and shares thoughts about his more current ventures in film, animation, and live concerts. He also explains how being a composer is being a problem solver.

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For today's episode, Jesper Kyd chose François Schuiten's "The Theory of the Grain of Sand" from the series Cities of the Fantastic, from 1992–2009, from the collection of the King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels.

https://www.heritage-kbf.be/collection/cities-fantastic

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Photographer: Ben Bentley

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This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on July 31, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From her home in Indianapolis, Glostrup-born, Herlev-raised Danish-American singer songwriter ANITA LERCHE describes her roles as acclaimed performer of Punjabi music, global ambassador of Punjabi culture, Grammy voting member and Recording Academy's Chicago Chapter Board governor. Alongside her contributions to world, new age, classical, pop, and jazz music, Anita talks about her mark on traditional Danish music and her mission as the Honorary Consul for Denmark in Indiana. 

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For today's episode, Anita Lerche chose Robert Indiana's LOVE, from 1970, from the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana.

https://collections.discovernewfields.org/art/artwork/28170 

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Photographer: Dan Møller

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From his office in Holmen, Århus-born, Gilleleje-raised, Copenhagen-based Danish director of the National Film School of Denmark KRISTOFFER HEGNSVAD shares his thoughts on the school's role in training students from its nine departments to achieve their artistic best and to work collaboratively. He revisits his work as a filmmaker, film critic, and author, his three iconic documentaries, and discusses the potential of mainstream American films to be catalysts for public cultural conversations. 

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For today's episode, Kristoffer Hegnsvad chose Francisco Goya's The Drowning Dog, from 1820–1823, from the collection of the Prado Museum in Madrid.

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-drowning-dog/4ea6a3d1-00ee-49ee-b423-ab1c6969bca6 

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Photographer: Ken Hermann

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This conversation with Tina Jøhnk Christensen occurred on August 20, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From his home, Copenhagen-born and -based Danish vintage clothing store owner and PhD fellow JESPER RICHARDY talks about the life cycle of textiles. He shares his thoughts on quality, and on the systemic changes needed in the fashion industry as it concerns sustainability, circularity, waste, capitalism, and consumerism. Jesper talks about the evolution of his three different ventures, in Copenhagen and New York respectively, and how in 2017 Lady Gaga changed his trajectory. 

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For today's episode, Jesper Richardy chose School of Goya's Portrait of Luis María de Cistué y Martínez (1788-1842), from 1791, from the collection of the Louvre Museum in Paris.

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010067553

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Photographer: Nana Reimers

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This conversation with Frederikke Møller occurred on August 17, 2026.

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From her San Francisco office, American journalist and author JEANNE CARSTENSEN discusses her new non-fiction book A Greek Tragedy: One Day, A Deadly Shipwreck, and the Human Cost of the Refugee Crisis, that portrays, through firsthand accounts, the largest single-day loss of life during the modern European refugee crisis on October 28, 2015. Jeanne shares thoughts on the timelessness of this very human story, and comments on historical patterns of migration as a global survivor's game.

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For today's episode, Jeanne Carstensen chose Ruth Asawa's installation of 15 Untitled, from 1955–1969, from the collection of Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

https://www.famsf.org/learn-engage/read-watch-listen/sharing-ruth-asawa-art 

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Photographer: Marissa Leshnov

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This conversation with Finn-Olaf Jones occurred on August 10, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From his home in Østerbro, Copenhagen-born French-Vietnamese-Danish jazz bassist, composer, and band leader CHRIS MINH DOKY shares his journey that included a multicultural musical upbringing, becoming the house bass player at Copenhagen's La Fontaine at 17, and moving to New York at 18 to be closer to the music he loved, which resulted in a 30-year stay. Chris talks about discovering Miles Davis and the improvisational language of jazz that lends itself to superimposing on other genres. 

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For today's episode, Chris Minh Doky chose Antonio Corradini's Femme voilée (la Foi?), or Veiled Woman (Faith?), from 1800, from the collection of the Louvre Museum in Paris.

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010094893  

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Photographer: Camilla Winther

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This conversation with Finn-Olaf Jones occurred on July 15, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

website: https://danishoriginals.com/                                

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From his home in Hornbæk, northern Copenhagen-born, retired Danish pilot, airline captain, and businessman PERCY BECK RØRVIG recalls living in Manhattan at an early age, joining the Danish Air Force at 18, starting a 30-year long career at Scandinavian Airlines at 24, and piloting the CPH-JFK route for years. Percy calls New York his second home, having lived there for several periods. And he talks about the businesses he took up along the way, borrowing from lessons he learned as a pilot.

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For today's episode, Percy Beck Rørvig chose Alberto Giacometti's Three Men Walking II, from 1949 from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/489978 

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Private Photograph

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This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on June 28, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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In Los Angeles for Noma's 16-week Silver Lake pop-up residency, Seoul-born, Fjerritslev-raised Danish restaurant co-owner PETER KREINER revisits his path running the influential establishment ranked #1 in the world five times. Peter shares his insights, on leading Noma with its philosophy on culinary innovation through foraging and fermentation and its approach to creating unforgettable experiences, and on expanding the Noma portfolio. And he also discusses some ups and downs along the way.

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For today's episode, Peter Kreiner chose James Turrell's Aftershock from 2021 from the collection of Copenhagen Contemporary in Copenhagen.

https://copenhagencontemporary.org/en/james-turrell/ 

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Photographer: Klaus Rudbæk

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This conversation with Carsten "Soulshock" Schack occurred on June 17, 2026.

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From her home in Culver City, Næstved-born, Los Angeles-based Danish bakery owner and head baker KAREN HANSEN recalls her journey arriving in LA in 1977 as an au pair to her current venture with the beloved local favorite, Copenhagen Pastry. Karen talks about being a resourceful self-starter and checking in with her instincts. And she revisits her very different prior businesses, a residential home cleaning service and a marketing service for creatives, before arriving at traditional Danish pastries.

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For today's episode, Karen Hansen chose Harald Slott-Møller's Dansk landskab, or Danish Landscape, from 1891 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark. 

https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/DEP297

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Photographer: Sara Madsen

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This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on April 27, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From her studio in Copenhagen, Lyngby-born Danish composer and cellist JOSEFINE OPSAHL talks about her dual roles as a classical music composer and a cellist who performs with live electronics and sound design. She elaborates on performativity, the forces of life that are at stake in her music, and her breaking down genre boundaries and dissolving physical ones. And Josefine traces her creative journey through her albums Atrium, Cytropia, and her HANDS Concerto for Solo Cello and Orchestra.

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For today's episode, Josefine Opsahl chose Richard Serra's Equal from 2015 from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/193590 

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Photographer: Tomas Kaerup

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This conversation with Gregers Heering occurred on May 8, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

website: https://danishoriginals.com/                                

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From her home in Long Beach, Sønderborg outskirts-born Danish global life sciences and diagnostics legal executive VIBEKE HOLST-ANDERSEN talks about her 13-year tenure with the international Danaher Corporation, first in Denmark, then in the US. She revisits her considerations as a Danish legal expert working in the US, and her experience passing the California Bar Examination only as a challenge for herself. Vibeke also talks about balancing a demanding career and a tight-knit family. 

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For today's episode, Vibeke Holst-Andersen chose Goya's The Naked Maja from 1795–1800, and Saturn from 1820–1823, from the collection of the Prado Museum in Madrid.

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-naked-maja/65953b93-323e-48fe-98cb-9d4b15852b18

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/saturn/18110a75-b0e7-430c-bc73-2a4d55893bd6

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Photographer: Jens Honoré

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This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on April 21, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

website: https://danishoriginals.com/                                

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From his home in the Bay Area, Hellerup-born, two-time Grammy-winner Danish-American violinist and composer MADS TOLLING shares highlights of his career playing with bands and leading his own groups, the Mads Tolling Quartet, and Mads Tolling & The Mads Men. At his core a jazz violinist, Mads credits his training at Boston's Berklee College of Music, and talks about blurring musical boundaries, exploring different genres, and reaching new audiences, both as a musician and a composer. 

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For today's episode, Mads Tolling chose P.C. Skovgaard's Bøgeskov i maj. Motiv fra Iselingen, or A Beech Wood in May near Iselingen Manor, Zealand, from 1857 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.

https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS4580  

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Photographer: Karolina Zapolska

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This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on April 14, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From her home in the Santa Monica mountains, Aarhus-born, Los Angeles-based Danish-Swedish ceramicist, curator, and bookseller LENA TORSLOW HANSEN revisits her first passion with clay and her roles with some foundational exhibitions: "A Broad Spectrum" (1984), "Golden Age in Danish Painting" (1994) as well as the 28 for the cultural festival "Scandinavia Today" (1982–1983). Lena also recalls cross-country road trips running Nordic Art Books and the pre-Amazon art book landscape.

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For today's episode, Lena Torslow Hansen chose J.F. Willumsen's En bjergbestigerske, or A Mountain Climber, from 1912 from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark.

https://open.smk.dk/en/artwork/image/KMS3413 

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Photographer: Aya Muto

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This conversation with Finn-Olaf Jones occurred on May 8, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

website: https://danishoriginals.com/                                

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From 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. 

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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 

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Photographer: Klaus Clemmens

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This conversation with Gregers Heering occurred on March 30, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From 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.

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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  

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Photographer: Davy Denke

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This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on April 6, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From 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. 

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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

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Photographer: Terry Gruber

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This conversation with Asger Hussain occurred on March 26, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From 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.

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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

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Photographer: Per Sommer

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This conversation with Gregers Heering occurred on March 11, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From 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.

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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

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Photograph Source: Rufus Gifford

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This conversation with Nicolai Rottbøll occurred on March 18, 2026.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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From 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.

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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

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Photographer: Bobbie Harte

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This conversation with Christian D. Bruun occurred on December 2, 2025.

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We invite you to subscribe to Danish Originals for weekly episodes. You can also find us at:

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