397 | Norway, Sweden, and Finland Trivia – Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast

Grab your passports and some long underwear because we’re heading up North. WAY up North. This week, it’s Norway, Sweden, and Finland in the trivia spotlight.

Book of the Week

The Shortest History of Scandinavia

Scandinavia has long been lauded for its equality, universal welfare, peacefulness, and untouched nature–not to mention its interior design, crime literature, and love of all things hygge. But the Nordic nations have had their dark periods, too: pandemics, wars and occupations, and expansionism are all essential to understanding the Scandinavian story.

In The Shortest History of Scandinavia, historian Mart Kuldkepp sketches the outlines of the region’s rich history, tracing its political and social evolution from its first-known peoples, who followed the retreating ice sheet north during the last Ice Age, to the modern Scandinavians living in countries that are among the happiest in the world today.

Through Scandinavia’s many cultural touchstones–tales of Vikings, the Nobel Peace Prizes, and even ABBA–Kuldkepp illuminates the concept of “Nordicness,” a hard-to-define quality that has nonetheless steered the region to respond to major challenges, actively shaping its history and exerting a considerable influence on European and global history in the process. As the issues of climate change, democracy, and world peace continue to shift, The Shortest History of Scandinavia is a pertinent, brisk primer on one of the world’s most admired regions.

We Need Your Reviews & Support

Extra Credit Podcasts & Videos

Previous Episodes

Episode Transcript/Quiz

Episode Intro

Time to take a trip up north. This week, have trivia about three Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

This is episode 397 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia podcast. I’m your host and guy with the long underwear on, Brian Rollins. Let’s begin.

The Dorky Round

Norway

What is the capital of Norway?
a. Oslo
What seafaring Norse explorers dominated Scandinavian history from the 8th to the 11th centuries?
a. The Vikings
Norway’s coastline is dotted with what steep inlets that are formed by glacier cuts?
a. Fjords
Which Nobel Prize is awarded in Oslo?
a. The Nobel Peace Prize
What remote Arctic archipelago is home to more polar bears than people?
a. Svalbard. Svalbard is also home to the Global Seed Vault.
Who is traditionally considered the first king to unify Norway?
a. Harald Fairhair
In 1905, Norway peacefully dissolved its union with what neighboring country?
a. Sweden
What Norwegian band created the global hit “Take On Me”?
a. A-ha. No, I’m not going to try for that note.
Born in 1990 which Norwegian chess grandmaster became a grandmaster at age 14?
a. Magnus Carlsen
Which Norwegian painter created The Scream
a. Edvard Munch

The Geeky Round

Sweden

What is the capital of Sweden?
a. Stockholm
What Swedish pop group won Eurovision in 1974 with “Waterloo”?
a. Abba
Created by a pair of Swedes, what video game debuted in 2011?
a. Minecraft
What holiday features maypoles, flower crowns, and dancing?
a. Midsommer
What global furniture brand was founded in Sweden in 1943?
a. IKEA. No assembly required here.
Who wrote the Millennium trilogy featuring Lisbeth Salander?
a. Stieg Larsson
What Swedish climate activist founded the “Fridays for Future” movement?
a. Greta Thunberg
What two colors are on the Swedish flag?
a. Blue and yellow
In what year did Stockholm host the Summer Olympics? Hint: It was the fifth Olympiad.
a. It was in 1912. It was the only Olympics hosted that decade due to World War I.
What gulf sits off the eastern coast of Sweden?
a. The Gulf of Bothnia. It’s part of the Baltic Sea

The Nerdy Round

Finland

With how many countries does Finland share a land border?
a. Three. Norway, Sweden, and Russia.
What is the capital of Finland?
a. Helsinki
What Finnish video game company gave us the smash hit, Angry Birds?
a. Rovio
Finland formally declared their independence from what country in 1917?
a. The Soviet Union
What beloved troll‑like characters were created by author Tove Jansson?
a. Moomins
Who is the Finnish software engineer who created the Linux kernel?
a. Linus Torvalds
Finland joined what military alliance in 2023?
a. NATO. They were added to offset increased aggression from Russia against eastern Europe.
What spiced winter drink is Finland’s version of mulled wine?
a. Glögi
What Finnish company became a global leader in mobile phones in the 1990s and 2000s?
a. Nokia
The name of a 2022 action film, what Finnish cultural concept refers to grit, determination, and inner strength?
a. Sisu

Episode Conclusion

And we are done. How did you do? I’ve always wanted head up that far north to see the sights and take in the Northern Lights. And listeners from up there? Please reach out and let me know what you thought of the episode.

Before the Danes come and pillage my comments, Denmark will get their time in the spotlight in a later episode. I promise. Either as a mini or part of another European Country episode.

A little bit of business, if you haven’t seen it yet, I have another podcast. Tome Cast is a weekly classic audiobook podcast. The first book, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is up and I’m working my way through The Call of the Wild. I’ll have more books available with an episode a week. It’s a great way to get the classics. Listen alone or with your family.

Come take a listen at TomeCast.com or just search for it on your podcast app.

Next week, I’ve got Comic Book trivia. Here’s a hint:

What kid sidekicks are attached to Batman, Superman, and The Flash?

Ponder that and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday.

This was the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. If you’d like to help support the show and get extra stuff, consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/dorkygeekynerdy.

This podcast is written, produced, and hosted by Brian Rollins. If you love audiobooks or are looking to have a book turned into an audiobook, contact me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.

The theme music is Punchfunk by the band, Punchfunk. Listen to all their music on Spotify.

Thanks for listening.