Danish Originals spotlights Danes who have made a significant impact in the US in the areas of creativity, originality, and innovation.
You can always find all the episodes here on www.DanishOriginals.com, and also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
Danish Originals is a fiscally sponsored project of Nordic Concepts Institute. We seek tax-deductible donations to ensure its ongoing development. If you are interested in supporting this series, please kindly get in touch with us here.
We are grateful to Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) for featuring select episodes in their inflight programming on long-haul flights.
We would like to thank our supporters for the first 100 episodes (Seasons 1–10). They include founding sponsor American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst, inaugural sponsor Studio Haslund, and sponsor Scan Design Foundation.
Director and Executive Producer
CHRISTIAN D. BRUUN
Christian D. Bruun is an award-winning Danish-born producer, director, and creative entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. Spanning documentaries, films, television, and podcasts, his work has been recognized at the Sundance, Tribeca, Berlin, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals and the Robert and Bodil Awards. He served as the curator of the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, and is a board member of the American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst and Honorary Consul for Denmark in Los Angeles.
Photographer: Davy Denke
Host and Executive Producer
TINA JØHNK CHRISTENSEN
Tina Jøhnk Christensen is a Danish-born, Los Angeles-based award-winning journalist, and author and podcast host specializing in film and entertainment. Since 2013, she has been a voting member of the Golden Globes, in addition to providing insightful coverage and interviews for Scandinavian media that connect Hollywood stories with Danish audiences. Her work is celebrated for its depth and unique perspective on the creative journeys of industry figures.
Photographer: Davy Denke
Guest Host
GREGERS HEERING
Gregers Heering is a Danish-born multi-disciplinary creative based in Los Angeles, and whose focus for the last 15 years is long-term photographic projects. His photography has been widely exhibited both in the US and in Denmark, and his 2015 publication Majestic Mærsk: 32 Days Aboard the Biggest Ship in the World received international recognition. While deeply rooted in the tradition of photography and working almost exclusively with film, as a filmmaker by education, Gregers has also written, produced, and directed various narrative content.
Photographer: Anders Elmshøj
Guest Host
ASGER HUSSAIN
Asger Hussain is a Danish-born, Los Angeles-based film and television executive and producer working with leading creators and studios including A24, Appian Way, Hulu, 20th Television and The Walt Disney Company. His credits include ABC’s Peabody Award-winning The Wonder Years, Academy Award-winning Precious, Golden Globe-nominated The Paperboy, and Five Fingers for Marseilles, cited by Beyoncé as inspiration for her Grammy Award-winning album Cowboy Carter. He co-founded Northern Lights Studios, dedicated to elevating Nordic storytelling for a global audience.
Private photograph
Producer
TERESA LAI
Teresa Lai is an Los Angeles-based, award-winning producer and creative director with three decades of years of experience in the creative industries. Known for her editorial approach and expertise in building strategic partnerships and producing large-scale programs, she has developed engaging content that connects audiences from niche to global with art and culture through podcasts and pioneering digital museum platforms. In addition, Teresa is a developing producer for documentaries and feature films.
Photographer: Davy Denke
Strategic Advisor & Guest Host
NICOLAI ROTTBØLL
Nicolai Rottbøll is a Danish-born Boston-based entrepreneur and sustainability strategist who bridges culture, business, and community. With Quercus Group and Our World 2050, he works with governments, organizations, universities, companies, and youth worldwide to advance sustainability and future-oriented solutions. With a strong background in the green transition and the creative industries, Nicolai builds partnerships and initiatives that connect people and ideas. He serves on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark’s External Expert Panel.
Photographer: Aurora De Luca
Consulting Producer
HANNE STØVRING
Hanne Støvring is the Danish-born, Copenhagen-based veteran in international arts philanthropy. She spearheads a global fundraising strategy that supports Copenhagen’s National Gallery of Denmark, to foster cultural exchange and promote the museum’s long-term growth, securing vital support for its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs. With the American Friends of SMK (AFSMK), Hanne strengthens the connection between the American public and SMK and cultivates strategic partnerships with patrons, foundations, institutions, and corporate sponsors.
Photographer: Davy Denke
Composer
Joachim Svare
Graphic Designer
Jan-Christian Bruun
Sound Mixers
Shaun Hettinger
Greg Williams
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Consulting Advisors
Berit Basse, Anne Frederiksen, Sandra Septimius
American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst
Lena Beck Rørvig
Statens Museum for Kunst
Marie-Louise Dunker-Nielsen, Astrid la Cour, Jonas Heide Smith
And also to
Rikke Christensen, Anders Dahl, Davy Denke, Emily Grand, Thomas Haas, Gregers Heering, Rebecca Krogmann, Emma Mortensen, Frederikke Møller Kristiansen, Louise Rytter, Erika Yocom, David Wolf