Talent Talks
Talent Talks
Talent Talks is a new radio show aiming to break down language barriers. Join us to hear inspiring stories and current topics from North Savo!
On Savon Aallot, inspiring stories and current topics from regional professionals are shared on the first Wednesday of each month. The themes are always connected in some way to internationalism, and the interviewees range from students to professionals, both Finnish and those with international backgrounds. The interviewers are Anssi Saarelainen and Joonas Puomio from Savon Aallot.
The show aims to raise awareness about international talent and lower the barriers to using English. Each episode lasts about 15 minutes, and the series will run from September 4, 2024, to August 5, 2025.
Episodes are broadcast on the first Wednesday of each month at 12:30 PM. Podcast recordings are released after the broadcast on this page and are also available on Savon Aallot’s website. Below is a link to the podcasts (from newest to oldest), along with more details about the interviews.
Listen to the Podcasts
Andreas Küblbeck
Listen to Andreas’ interview (on Savon Aallot on January 8, 2025)
In the first interview of 2025, Medikro’s project manager Andreas Küblbeck shares how he ended up in Finland and Kuopio, and later joined Medikro through his studies. He also discusses the differences between Finnish and German work cultures and how his international background has helped him in his current role.
Andreas fell in love with Finnish nature at first sight. He encourages international talents to embrace the local culture and customs, whether their new home is in Finland or elsewhere.
Interviewer and photo by Anssi Saarelainen.
Clinton Antwi
Listen to Clinton’s interview (on Savon Aallot, December 4, 2024)
The KuPS player, Ghanaian Clinton Antwi, has been an essential part of the KuPS team for several years, and the club has exercised its option to extend Antwi’s contract through the 2025 season.
In this episode, Clinton Antwi talks not only about his football career but also about his interest in recycling, as the podcast delves into professional development beyond his playing career.
Clinton Antwi shares his passion for recycling and Finnish and European waste management. After his playing career, he aims to contribute to developing these areas in his home country of Ghana. He has already begun initiatives in recycling with a few local companies. Clinton discusses where his passion originated and his collaboration with organizations like Jätekukko in Kuopio.
Clinton is interviewed by Joonas Puomio. (Photo: Savon Aallot, Joonas Puomio)
Cynthia Monkap
Listen to Cynthia’s interview (November 6, 2024)
Cynthia Monkap is an international student in her fourth year of studies who has excelled in her IoT studies. She is already working as a coder for an industrial company where she was employed during the thesis phase of his studies. Cynthia shares her experiences and encourage other international students – what is it like to work and study in Kuopio (Savonia UAS) as an international talent. (Photo: Savon Aallot, Anssi Saarelainen)
Laura Nykänen
Listen to Laura’s interview (October 2, 2024)
In the October episode, Laura Nykänen, Head of the School and CEO of Koodikoulu Sisu, talks about the international community that has formed at the school and how coding is taught and learned there. Laura also explains how the English-language coding school in Kuopio differs from similar schools in Finland and Europe. She encourages speaking in English and even offers a few tips for doing so. (Photo: Koodikoulu Sisu)
Patrick Halford
Listen to Patrick’s interview (September 4, 2024)
In the first episode, entrepreneur, author, and speaker Patrick Halford shares his story. Halford talks about his experiences living in Finland and North Savo as an international professional, reflecting on topics such as cultural differences and what life is like here. (Photo: Minna Hendolin)
Talent Talks is produced in collaboration with Savon Aallot and the Talent First project. The project is co-funded by the European Union.
The Talent Talks radio series is produced by Talent First (North Savo Talent Attraction Model – Impact through Collaboration project). The main goal of the project is to attract new talent to the region, enhance regional appeal, and build close cooperation between local actors.