About Me

I’m Eric Stavney, and thanks for visiting my website at Nordic on Tap. Here’s a little bit about me and where I’ve come from. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. I majored in science and Norwegian language in college, and was drawn to education and the performing arts; basically wherever stories about people are told and the ways things work are explained. I apparently inherited the teaching gene from my Norwegian grandmother, and it comes out in many things that I do.

Growing up I came to value my Nordic heritage and those folks around the world with similar cultures and values. In 2017 I was invited to cohost on a music radio show, Seattle’s “Scandinavian Hour” on KKNW for a couple years. Since that radio show’s format is all music, and I liked to tell stories, I started podcasting so listeners like you could enjoy them anywhere in the world, any time, as many times as you like, and not being tied to a radio broadcast time.

I enjoy telling those classic folktales I read to my own children and have sought out guests to tell stories about their passion, art, music, language, culinary skills, and culture.

I also enjoy sharing my favorite composers with you, from Grieg to Sebelius by listening to them and telling you the history behind their work. I’ve discovered local musicians willing to explain and play unusual Nordic folk instruments like the Hardanger fiddle, willow flute, or lur. And I’ve used my science training to better understand who Thor Heyerdahl was (and wasn’t), and what it takes to teach people about the oceans and living sustainably (a modern theme in Scandinavia).

I find these stories inspirational and I hope you do also. That you’ll be so engaged, captivated, amazed, laughing out loud, moved to tears, thoughtful, joyful, and motivated to jump up and “do what needs to be done”, as Garrison Keillor used to say.

So I hope you’ll join me for enlightening episodes, usually less than 45 minutes, where you’ll be entertained but also will be reminded of things you’ve always known, somehow, and learn new things to apply to your life right now.

But I’d also like to find the stories you’d like to hear too, and welcome your feedback, ideas, suggestions, and things you’ve found fascinating at nordicontap@gmail.com. Maybe we can even connect by phone (what is that old technology?), and someday meet. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Med vennlig hilsen,

Eric