This year's "Summer" on P1 offers a surprise – one of the programme's biggest critics has been invited: author, director, and podcaster Sigge Eklund.
He has been critical of "Summer" in general and me in particular, says programme chief Bibi Rödöö.
For years, Sigge Eklund has criticised "Summer" in his podcast. Now, the film-actual author and director will talk about how "a book-filled room in the Old Town" has affected his life. When Bibbi Rödöö gets in touch, Eklund jokes about the criticism:
It's been like a serial – my bitterness about you not having called, he says.
The mottos "joie de vivre" and "popular education" have guided the selection for the 65-year-old programme. Bibi Rödöö emphasizes that the season begins with a bang, featuring Hampus Nessvold and Lasse Åberg. However, a series of burning issues will follow: among others, Nato negotiator Oscar Stenström will discuss the game behind the Nato entry, and human rights activist Omar Alshogre will talk about political prisoners.
We live in an increasingly polarized society, and the need to listen and learn from each other is great, perhaps greater than ever. There is a risk that we all take positions and have strong opinions but little knowledge about what we strongly believe in, says Bibi Rödöö.
"On Eggshells"
One of those who has got a "hot potato" to talk about is Middle East correspondent Cecilia Uddén. She knows how much hate and criticism one can get for expressing opinions about the conflict in Gaza – it's like trying to "walk on eggshells".
She does it by creating understanding for people on both sides.
Israel is still stuck in the 7 October trauma, the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, and has difficulty empathizing with the hell Gaza is going through, which the rest of the world sees daily.
As usual, there will also be several personal stories – influencer Kenza Zouiten Subosic will tell about growing up with an alcoholic father for the first time.
I'm really exposing myself, or my soul, and I've honestly not been sure if I should do it, but I've landed somewhere in that I need to tell to close the chapter for good and help others in a similar situation.
Pre-Tipped
One of the most pre-tipped summer speakers at the betting firms is author Andrev Walden.
It's a bit depressing, then there's no victory in getting to be a summer speaker, it means I can only lose and make a fool of myself, he says, emphasizing that speaking is not his "primary talent".
He's still giving it a try, with the theme "night". Among other things, listeners will learn what he does during his sleepless nights.
This year's edition of "Summer" will start, as tradition has it, on Midsummer Day, broadcast on P1. The classic broadcast time is 1 pm.
Listening has shifted to the podcast world in recent years. However, this year, it will only be possible to listen to "Summer" on Sveriges Radio Play, and not on podcast players like Apple's Podcasts and Spotify.
According to programme director Sofia Wadensjö Karén, the change is due to Sveriges Radio wanting to strengthen its relationship with its audience and not be dependent on external actors to reach its audience.
Programme chief Bibi Rödöö refers to Sveriges Radio's management on the question of why, but believes the decision will affect listeners: "I assume we'll get fewer listeners this year. But I hope 'Summer' is so important that people will seek it out on SR Play."
