Mattias Klum appears as a guest in the podcast Samtal pågår, produced by the Church of Sweden in Botkyrka Parish. In the conversation, Klum reflects on presence, respect and the courage to slow down — qualities that have shaped both his creative work and his encounters with the natural world.

He shares a vivid memory from the rainforest: lying face down on the forest floor, slowly approaching one of South America’s most feared venomous snakes. Moving carefully, backing away when the snake showed signs of stress, waiting and breathing, he eventually found himself only inches away. After capturing the image, something unexpected happened — the snake calmly glided across his arm, almost like a silent gesture of acknowledgement.

The conversation also touches on Klum’s decision to write Stigminnen, the Archbishop of Sweden’s Lenten book, and on childhood experiences in nature that helped shape his perspective. Throughout the discussion, he reflects on how the same principles apply when meeting both animals and people: build trust, stay present and approach every encounter with honesty.

Samtal pågår explores themes of faith, existence, hope and responsibility in everyday life.