Per Lysne

In the tenth episode of 200 Norwegians, we follow Ole Edvart Rølvaag—from stormy Dønna to the American Midwest—where he carved the immigrant experience into the American psyche with a number of novels, including his masterpiece: Giants in the Earth. This wasn’t just a prairie saga; it was a deep dive into the immigrant soul. With his granddaughter and professor in Norwegian literature, Solveig Zempel, as our guide, we explore how a fisherman’s son became the unlikely voice of a generation torn between old worlds and new dreams.

6 Aug 46min

In the ninth episode of 200 Norwegians, you’ll discover the legacy of a Norwegian abolitionist, Hans Christian Heg. Heg was only eleven when he boarded the ship that carried his family across the Atlantic. The Heg family were Haugeans, part of a Norwegian lay movement that defied the religious monopoly of the state church. In Muskego, Wisconsin, they carved out a new life as farmers, publishers, and political pioneers. Heg didn’t live to grow old, but his contributions to Norwegian America—and the country at large—were many. In this episode, you’ll follow his journey from gold miner in California to groundbreaking prison reformer and committed abolitionist. You’ll hear why he became a leading figure among Norwegian Americans when the Civil War erupted, and why his sacrifice on the battlefield mattered. And we’ll talk about the irony that, in the summer of 2020, his statue was toppled by protesters who likely never knew what he stood for.

4 Juli 30min

Episode 8 of 200 Norwegians is a special live recording from Norway House in Minneapolis, featuring renowned Norwegian-American historian and Professor Emeritus at St. Olaf College, Odd Lovoll. Lovoll has authored numerous books on Norwegian-American history and is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in the field. In this conversation, we talk about his childhood in Norway during World War II, his immigration to the U.S. in the 1940s, the tragic loss of his older brother, and the journey that led him to become the foremost historian of the Norwegian-American experience.

20 Juni 1h

The seventh episode of 200 Norwegians tells the story of legendary football coach Knute Rockne. What made him so great? How did he achieve the highest winning percentage in college football history? What was the Rockne system? And why was he called the "Coach for a Nation"? We trace Rockne’s journey from the snow-covered village of Voss to the bustling streets of Chicago. Learn how the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair lured his inventor father—and eventually the entire Rockne family—across the Atlantic. Discover how Knute fell in love with football, excelled as an athlete, and later transformed the game itself. We explore how his creativity and forward-thinking helped turn football from a fringe blood sport into a national pastime. Featuring sports historian Jim Lefebvre, author of Coach for a Nation and executive director of Knute Rockne Memorial Society.

8 Juni 48min

In the sixth episode of 200 Norwegians, you’ll hear the story of Belle Gunness—the most dangerous Norwegian church lady in American history. Follow her journey from Selbu, Norway, to the outskirts of La Porte, Indiana, where she built a deadly empire of matrimonial ads, life insurance scams, and disappearing suitors. Discover how an immigrant woman became one of America’s most prolific serial killers—and how one suspicious brother helped bring her story to light. Was it greed that drove Belle to kill? Or something even darker? This episode follows the strange, violent arc of a woman who didn’t just change the lives of those around her—she may have changed how Americans saw Norwegian immigrants altogether.

26 Maj 33min

He never wanted his picture taken. He never accepted a higher salary than the average seaman. Andrew Furuseth was a humble, yet remarkably effective leader. That’s why he was—ironically—given the not-so-humble title: The Abraham Lincoln of the Sea. In this episode, we trace his roots—back to Norway’s golden age of sail. We’ll journey across the oceans, round the Cape, and land in the lawless boomtown of San Francisco.You’ll hear about the shanghaiers, the crimps, and the ruthless shipowners. And you’ll meet the relentless figure who stood up to them all— Andrew Furuseth. The man who famously said: "You can put me in jail. But you cannot give me narrower quarters than as a seaman I have always had. You cannot give me coarser food than I have always eaten. You cannot make me lonelier than I have always been."

10 Maj 53min

In the fourth episode of 200 Norwegians, we share the remarkable story of Margarethe Cammermeyer — the colonel who took on the U.S. military after being discharged for being a lesbian. Cammermeyer's life reads like a Forrest Gump-style journey through modern history. Born in Nazi-occupied Norway to parents active in the resistance, she went on to serve in the Vietnam War, became a top-ranking officer in the National Guard, and found herself at the center of a national controversy in the 1990s. Her legal battle led to a landmark court victory — and even inspired a made-for-TV movie starring Glenn Close. Along the way, she’s crossed paths with figures like Barbra Streisand and several U.S. presidents. In this episode, we dig into it all.

20 Apr 1h 15min

In the third and final chapter of the Cleng Peerson saga, you will hear what happened when the father of Norwegian emigration joined a cult and married a woman 26 years his junior. You will also learn about his final walk toward the Texas sun—and why Clifton, in Bosque County, is called the Norwegian Capital of Texas. This episode features Kirk Mies, Marty Ray, Thomas Mannes, and Chris Ardis.

5 Apr 58min