Two cousins, Finnish and American, talk about finding they're related

Jere lives near the city of Kurikka, Finland, and is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He is also my “cousin,” whose great grandmother was the cousin my of great grandmother. We recently connected in person for the first time in February 2024 at a family gathering that brought together relatives from across Finland and, in my case, from the United States. In our interview for the inaugural episode of the “Finding Finland” podcast, with host Rudy Owens, we talk about Jere's impressions learning about an American relative who reconnected with his family in September 2023, the meaning of the Finnish trait called “sisu” and its meaning amid overhyped social media marketing, the wonderful world of saunas, and even tent saunas used for outdoor adventures in Finland. We also discuss his views if a “Finnish-American” relative is truly “Finnish,” stories about our Finnish relatives who lived in Michigan, and how to enjoy a trip to Lapland without being tormented by mosquitos.