It’s Estonian. It’s cheeky. It’s like eavesdropping on two friends who say all the things you secretly think (you, not me).
Two Estonian women — armed with microphones, sarcasm, and enough dried fish to last a winter — have unleashed Võõrkehad (Foreign Bodies), a podcast about being Estonian abroad, coming home, and feeling like aliens in their own backyard.
Olga Loitsenko (from Rakvere) and Sandra Tiitson (from Saaremaa) are philologists, comedians, and professional outsiders. One lived in Australia, the other in the Netherlands. They came back to Estonia and realised they didn’t quite fit in anymore. Did they cry about it? No — they started a podcast so the rest of us can laugh about it too.
What’s the latest episode about?
We’re on Episode 4, titled “What Does a Breaking Heart Sound Like?” No, it’s not a love-song entry for Eurovision (though Eurovision does make an appearance). The girls talk about Aili, a Canadian Estonian now living in Estonia, and cover everything from:
- History lessons gone wild: Estonians learn the Crusades and WWII backwards and forwards. Meanwhile, in the West, folks often think Estonia is a brand of mineral water (that they’ve never heard of).
- The Australian Estonian scene: Olga spills on her four years in Australia — hanging out at the Melbourne Estonian House, joking about Latvians, and performing stand-up at Eesti Päevad where the jokes flew and concerts burst into spontaneous sing-alongs.
- Languages and love: Why Estonians choke on “I love you,” while foreigners sprinkle it like parsley.
- Eurovision obsessions: Spoiler — Australian Estonians are apparently more Eurovision-obsessed than (Canadian) Estonians.
- AI curiosity: A live hunt for the founder of ChatGPT (turns out, not Polish… or is he? Homework for you).
All of it wrapped in their signature blend of self-mockery and world commentary.
Why did they start this podcast?
Because, as Olga puts it: “We came back from abroad so changed that we don’t quite fit in anymore. We feel like foreign bodies in our own country.” Instead of sulking, they grabbed microphones. Now they’re exploring identity, language, belonging (or not belonging), and having a laugh along the way.
Who’s in the hot seat next?
They’ve already interviewed Aili (Canada → Haapsalu). Next up is Aubrey, who moved to Estonia, taught at a Ukrainian school, and ended up speaking Estonian himself. Guests are picked from their circles or recommended, so if you know someone with a juicy “outsider–insider” Estonian story, don’t hold back.
Why should Aussie Estonians tune in?
Well, isn’t it obvious? It’s educational and fun, with a side of cool guest appearances. But also:
- Because Olga knows the Melbourne Estonian House inside out (she even had keys to the place – and once did a solo comedy show there).
- Because you’ll hear stories about Australian Estonians that make you grin in recognition.
- Because if you’ve ever felt like you don’t fully belong here or there — you’ll get it.
- And because, let’s face it: two Estonian women bantering about Eurovision, breaking hearts, teaching history, reminiscing about their wild uni days, and giving you live AI lessons… need we go on? It’s irresistible.
One small catch
It’s in Estonian. No English subtitles, no excuses. But if you can handle Eurovision gossip, linguistic banter and dried-fish jokes, your reward is belly laughs and cultural therapy for free. Enjoy!
🎧 Listen here: Võõrkehad on Spotify
