Maddy Savage

🎬 NEW REEL! What makes a great event moderator — and why do I love this part of my job? I made a short video to answer those questions and share my recent work. I’m excited for 2026, with some great bookings already in the diary and space for a couple of new clients. 🎤 Alongside live events, I’ll also be continuing the other strands of my portfolio career, with some interesting BBC audio and podcasting projects coming up. If you’re planning an event and would like to chat, I’d love to hear from you. #eventmoderator #eventhost #liveevents #experiencedesign #stockholm #moderator #presenter #speaker

Happy New Year! (No, really!) For someone who works in communications, I’ve done a poor job of updating Instagram in 2026. So, here come the good – and the challenging – reasons I haven’t had much headspace to post. I’ve been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work on journalism projects that aren’t out in the world just yet. These include three episodes of Witness History for the BBC World Service and my first documentary scheduled for BBC Radio 4. It is a @podlit_presenterar collaboration that we are excited to share soon! In February, I got to interview Fabian Hedin, co-founder of @lovable.dev (Sweden’s much-hyped AI unicorn), alongside one of Finland’s top AI experts, Peter Sarlin. This was my debut on the big Arena stage at @techarenan in Stockholm, and the kick-off panel for a two-day event welcoming 12,000 guests! Stay tuned for more moderating gigs booked for the coming months! For me, this Instagram diary is also about sharing the less glossy realities of freelance life. The first quarter of the year was mentally tough due to delayed timelines, payments, and contracts from multiple clients. To top it off, I took a hard fall on an icy path and couldn’t run for a month, losing my usual stress relief right when I needed it most. I’m proud to have built a resilient and liquid (albeit one-person) business that can weather these periods, but these experiences always make me reflect on the ongoing diversity challenges in the media. Many talented creatives simply can’t afford to stay in the game without a safety net (of parents or a partner) to catch them during the lean months. I think it’s important to be transparent about the friction behind-the-scenes that can shape who gets to stay in the room. 📸 1. Recording for BBC documentary 2. Makeshift studio 🦸‍♀️ 3. Tech Arena panelists Fabian Hedin and Peter Sarlin 4. British comfort food 5. Sweden’s first reality TV star @themartinmelin — more on our project soon! 6. The sun came back as I was able to take long walks again! ☀️ (Segeltorp) 7. One of several lovely lunch catchups with @thelocalsweden alumni!

December 2025: Christmas, obviously 🎄 Happy New Year! December wrapped with a few long-in-the-making projects finally out in the world. Making Friends in Sweden, for the BBC’s People Fixing the World podcast, is all about creative ways to tackle loneliness. I travel less for work these days, but reporting from Småland and Skåne (and meeting brilliant people there) reminded me why these sorts of trips are always so memorable and rewarding. Sunglasses Made for Icons is the story of Swedish entrepreneur Anna-Karin Karlsson, a designer who rarely gives media interviews. It was produced and presented by talented Swedish journalist Anna Åkerlund (with @podlit_presenterar ), and is my first executive producer credit for the BBC’s The Documentary slot. I also did some podcast coaching for a new client, and worked on my showreel with fantastic shoot-editor and fellow Brit in Stockholm, Paul Rhys. Outside of work, I spent many hours in furniture stores and scouring second-hand platforms for stuff for my new apartment — but bought almost nothing! I also loved celebrating a friend’s milestone birthday with a disco theme, and pacing a group in the Nobel Lights Run (an annual run through light installations during Nobel Prizes week). I feel very lucky to have enjoyed time off with family and old friends over Christmas too. 2025 wasn’t the smoothest year, actually, but it was packed with character-building experiences! Hope you enjoyed my monthly diary entries. I’m not sure yet if they’ll continue, or if I’ll try something different on social media for 2026! Either way, I wish you a healthy start to the year and a successful 12 months — however you define that! 📸 1. People Fixing the World programme cover 2. Showreel shoot 3. Post showreel shoot 4. The Documentary programme cover 5. Nobel Lights run 6. Christmas decorations in Stockholm 7. A rare appearance from the ☀️ in a record-dark December 8. Some culture at music venue Fasching 9. UK train travel and Christmas snack 9. Brighton, UK

November 2025: Friendship! This November I had a lovely, positive assignment working on a BBC programme about how to make friends as an adult. It’s due out next month, but check out my latest pics for a sneak peek of some of the people I’ve met and the places I’ve been. Outside of work, my own friends have been just as important. I recently moved into a new apartment in Stockholm with help from a few of them, and others have since come over to help me settle in. Other work has included adding the finishing touches to a BBC business/culture programme coming out next month, as well as navigating a complex pitching process for a potential new client — fingers crossed it pays off! I also volunteered @stockholmfilmfestival , enjoyed a visit from family, listened to lots of music, and was given an unusual semla–saffron bun to taste test (a mash-up of two traditional Swedish pastries. Verdict: 6/10!). 📸 1. On assignment in Malmö 2. An interview I did last month which I’ve been busy editing - two friends in Gothenburg 3. On assignment in Kalmar 4. Volunteering @stockholmfilmfestival 5. Watching The Blaze in Stockholm 6. Editing, editing, editing. Filthy computer screen. 7. A sunny November day off @millesgarden 8. A grey November day off - first snow of the season! ❄️ 9. A semla-saffron bun

October 2025: Tony’s Chocolonely 🍫 A slightly late October recap — I’ve been busy moving into a new apartment this week! My top work highlight in October was interviewing the founder of the social-impact chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely at @techarenan ’s Tech Arena Zero event. Teun van de Keuken is actually a consumer journalist who started the brand after uncovering the persistence of forced labour in the chocolate industry — a fascinating story to hear in person. I haven’t shared much of my journalism lately because most of it has been behind the scenes. I’m currently the executive producer on a BBC documentary about a Swedish fashion entrepreneur — a @podlit_presenterar production that the presenter is putting the finishing touches to as I type. We’ve also had several confirmed and provisional commissions for more BBC programmes next year, which is exciting! Outside of work, highlights included watching a friend play ice hockey (my first game ever despite 11 years of living in Sweden!), celebrating a friend’s big birthday in a countryside cabin, and doing a bit of trail running and hiking in Croatia. There’s been a lot of talk lately about how many of us are posting less on social media — and mostly just scrolling — so I hope you enjoy this little photo dump from the past month! 📸 1. With Tony’s founder Teun van de Keuken 2. Autumn in Midsommarkransen, Stockholm 3. Cycling outfit for less sunny days! 4. Last balcony breakfast of the year (9th October) 5. Hiking in Croatia 6. Solna Ice hockey arena (*other chocolate bars are available)

September 2025: Simon Sinek There were 7,500 people inside Nordic Business Forum’s massive arena, to watch me interview one of the world’s bestselling business authors — and I was petrified I was about to lose my voice. My biggest highlight (and challenge) this month was a rather husky conversation with @simonsinek , the man behind the Start With Why concept, which helps people and businesses connect with their purpose. The day before, I’d come down with a sore throat — now I had to keep the conversation going for 70 (!) minutes, having already completed several hours of broadcasting on @nbforumhq ’s live stream channel. Thanks to Simon’s world-class speaking skills, a tonne of prep (so I could focus on listening, not my notes), and a US-imported teabag he donated called Throat Coat (!), we made it through. My voice held, my nerves survived, and the audience got the energy and insights they came for. I’m proud of my resilience. My favourite part? Hearing about Simon’s new research on the importance of friendship — a topic close to my heart, and coincidentally the subject of a programme I am producing for the BBC later this autumn. I also hosted three more events, including Engineering Day in Stockholm, where I got to meet the brilliant winners of Sweden’s Grand Prize for Engineering, and speak with a warm, curious audience. Outside of work, I loved seeing British drum and bass legends @subfocus on tour, hiking on Runmarö island in the Stockholm archipelago, and starting a couple of days with early morning sauna-and-dip sessions in my neighbourhood. I often work from home or my local coffee shop midweek — and I’m hoping to make time to start more Wednesdays this way (and hopefully support my immune system in the process!). PS: Podcast tip of the month — Simon Sinek’s conversation with Esther Perel on his A Bit of Optimism podcast ✨ 📸 1. In conversation with Simon Sinek 2. A sunny autumn day in Stockholm 3. Event at stunning @grandhotelstockholm 4. Engineering Day @norrskenfoundation 5. A Sunday hike on Runmarö island 6. @subfocus in Stockholm 7. Makeup at NBF 8. Moderator crew at NBF 9. Sore throat medicine at NBF 10. Simon Sinek again 11. Sauna 💚

August 2025: Pitching and events season After a tricky summer in my personal life, I was excited to get back into my work routines—and August turned out to be really rewarding. For the first time in a while, I found myself freelancing without a retainer client. But I embraced working on a variety of projects and the freedom to fully shape my own schedule (like taking a sunny weekday afternoon off with one of my goddaughters, and working a grey Sunday instead). Work highlights included prepping to moderate four events in September (more on that later) and podcast consulting for @ltubusiness (a non-profit university innovation spin-off in northern Sweden). I also collaborated with some of my favourite production companies, developing over a dozen ideas for the BBC’s annual documentary pitching round. My first piece for @guardian was published at the start of the month. I didn’t share it at the time, as I was gutted that the trip mentioned in the final paragraph didn’t happen 💔. But I owe it to my younger self – I dreamed for years of getting a byline in that paper! So I’ve included a photo of the physical newspaper in this month’s slideshow. It was taken by my Dad, on the carpet of my childhood home (so British! 😅). I also rallied myself to attend a networking event for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK @sccuk , at the British Ambassador’s Residence, and had some great coffees and calls with potential future clients. Outside of work, I celebrated another year on earth by joining an outdoor activity association (I’m such a geriatric millennial 👵🏼!), enjoyed Stockholm’s free yearly culture festival, and quietly marked 11 years of living in Sweden. The beach photo is from one of my favourite days of the summer, during a mini-break in Montpellier. 📸 1. On my way to @sccuk event 2. Article for The Guardian 3. Lunch break ice cream, Södermalm, Stockholm 4. Stockholm culture festival 5. Weekend hike on Utö island 6. Event prepping in fancy Karlaplan district 7. Fancy toilets at client @podlit_presenterar office 8. Celebrating a new decade 9. I grew my fave flowers! 10. Last weekend of my holiday, Montpelier, France

July 2025: Getting my ducks in a row My most exciting project of the month was a voluntary one — listening to 15 pieces of audio for @guldorat , Sweden’s radio/podcast Oscars. I’m a judge on one of the nominating juries, so I started a lot of mornings sitting at a local coffee shop with a cappuccino, making notes. The competition is tough!🔥 ☀️ Like many people in Sweden, I took time off to make the most of our short summer. But before that, I filed a couple of planned pieces for @impactloop.se (my last before the end of my contract). The @guardian also approached me to write a travel piece — and while that’s not my usual beat, it was hard to resist a day trip to a Swedish beauty spot (article out soon!). I’m also really proud of myself for setting aside time to get my work ducks in a row 🐥 (a very British phrase!). I often describe myself as a freelancer, but I’m technically CEO of a limited company (called an AB in Sweden). This month, I updated company policies and did some important accounting, archiving and planning. I also worked on some fresh BBC documentary pitches, and did some early preparation for autumn events I’m moderating. To mash up some other British phrases, lemons arrived like buses in my personal life. But I’m grateful for time with family and friends, some gorgeous sunny swims, and a fun camping and hiking weekend on Utö island, south of Stockholm. I’ve started a small personal Instagram to make it easier to engage with friends, brands, and interests. Send me your favourite feel-good accounts to follow! I’ll still be posting here on my work account, but—especially in turbulent global times—it’s more important than ever that I maintain impartiality, since my freelance work often involves public service media. 1. 🎧 What I’ve had on my head all month 💕 (photo taken in May @benoitderrier ) 2. Lunch break walk, 1 July 3. On assignment for @guardian 4. Beach curls — before my vacation! 5. Lunch break ice cream, 10 July 6. Weekend off camping on Üto 7. Utö part 2 8. Staycation / ‘hemester’ time 9. Solo cheer-myself-up lunch, 25 July 10. Back in the UK! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️ 11. Evening stroll past my first London workplace @bbcradio1 💛

June 2025: The Öresund Bridge 🇩🇰🇸🇪 Like many people, I was a bit obsessed with the Nordic Noir series The Bridge back in the 2010s — it probably even influenced my move to Sweden. 🎤 So, June’s highlight was definitely making a BBC podcast about the real-life impact of the Öresund Bridge on business, trade, and tourism in the region. 🏃🏼‍♀️I also managed to squeeze in a bit of running — and learned that cross-border collaboration doesn’t always go to plan — when I took part in The Bridge Run (@brolobet_broloppet_2025 ), a half marathon celebrating the bridge’s anniversary. For @impactloop.se , I explored the systemic change movement — a niche but growing group of investors and founders who argue that too many “sustainable” companies are just tweaking business models instead of driving real transformation. I also judged a @mariazeroone startup pitch competition in Helsinki (remotely) focused on sustainability, and moved into a new coworking space in Stockholm that’s done wonders for my mood ✨. Outside of work, I hiked part of the Sörmlandsleden trail for midsummer, caught my first Allsvenskan football match, and enjoyed some sunshine (and a lot of wind!) cycling around Stockholm 🚲☀️. 📸 1. During Broloppet 2. After Broloppet 3. Transport after Broloppet! 4. BBC podcast cover 5. Breakfast at my new office 6. Channelling my inner ‘dragon’ as a startup judge 7. Hiking the Sörmlandsleden 8. Impact Loop analysis 9. Summer football at Stawberry Arena, Stockholm

May 2025: London and Luleå May was a busy month, with a focus on the audio side of my business. I attended @podcastshowldn , reconnecting with lovely UK friends and making new connections in podcasting and radio. It was both inspiring and overwhelming. But standing for my entire commute, queuing in the rain, and wiping layers of dirt off my face at the end of the day reminded me why I’m happy I no longer work in London! Two history programmes I worked on with @podlit_presenterar were released on @bbcworldservice : The Legacy of The Pirate Bay, where Peter Sunde, the co-founder of the controversial file-sharing site shared his story with me, and Sweden’s Shocking Sugar Experiment, which I exec-produced. I also visited Luleå for a podcast consulting project with @ltubusiness , and checked out Sweden’s most northerly startup incubator, for @impactloop.se . Outside of work, I spent time with family in the UK, helped organise a second-hand sale, and failed at a Gen Z-organised quiz! The weather was unusually cold for May, but I still managed a few evening drinks and picnics in the sunshine. 📸 1. New headshot by @benoit.derrier 2. BBC Witness episode I hosted and produced 3. Queuing to get into The Podcast Show, London 4. The Podcast Show, London 5. 🍸After The Podcast Show! 6. BBC Witness episode I exec’d 7. Luleå Science Park 8. Luleå’s harbour 9. Testing out a new coworking space 10. Working from home 11. Summer vibes 💛☀️

April 2025: Lots of tech, and some forest time 
One of April’s highlights was interviewing Ameca, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot. We chatted live on stage at NextM, the biggest tech and marketing event in the Nordics. NextM is a really special event for me because I’ve been asked to host it annually since 2019! This month the team also picked up a top industry award (Gyllene Hjulet) for last year’s conference. In journalism, I reported on Finland’s efforts to create Europe’s best ecosystem for startups for the BBC’s Business Daily podcast. I also finished making two Witness History podcasts, including my first as executive producer. One features the famous tech disrupter I mentioned last month – still can’t reveal who! I don’t do a lot of on-the-day breaking news reporting these days, as I’m usually fully booked and trying to stay within my tech and sustainability niche. But I travelled to Uppsala to report for the BBC on a triple shooting in a hair salon the day before Valborg, a major spring holiday here. I’ve previously reported on shootings in the city and the cultural significance of Valborg. Many locals were understandably shaken. Outside of work, some highlights were: a visit from UK family, the start of the trail running season, and bringing different friends together for a weekend group hike. 📸 1. Interviewing the world’s most humanoid robot NextM @juliaviklund 2. How I looked the day after Next M 😴 3. First evening trail run of the year, 8 April, Mälarhöjden 4. Weekend hike, Ösmo, Sörmlandsleden 5. BBC Business Daily podcast 6. Easter trail run, Hellasgården, Stockholm 7. Uppsala 8. Attempting to have green fingers 9. Someone made me a packed lunch ☺️

March 2025: 🎧A podcast and a return to Abisko ☺️❄️ March was a very “freelance” month for me, juggling multiple projects (stressful), but also enjoying the flexibility to do some really cool things in my spare time. I wrote and mixed my first BBC podcast of the year, which focused on Finland’s defence tech sector. The audio nerd in me loved getting back into multitrack editing! I also interviewed a major innovator who’s both admired and controversial in the tech world—more on that soon, on the BBC. Plus, I’ve been preparing to host a tech event in Stockholm next week! My part-time writing job with business news site Impact Loop wrapped up, but I’ll still be writing for them on a per-piece basis. As for the “free time” activities I at least thought were cool? A day of skiing a few hours north of Stockholm, a few days visiting friends and former colleagues in Abisko (a 17 hour train ride north of Stockholm!), a ‘90s night, and learning how to make dumplings. 📸 1. Stockholm’s golden hour, 20th March 2. Online business coaching session 3. Northern Lights in Abisko 4. Abisko by day 5. Lunch break in Liljeholmen, Stockholm, 7th March 6. Audio editing for the BBC - clinging on to my 2017 laptop 7. Some dumplings