The radio series The Forum from the BBC discussed the The Kalevala in a 2021 episode (it's free to download). Three experts discuss The Kalevala with a stimulating discussion.
The Kalevala: the Finnish epic that inspired a nation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cszjws
Description:
"When the Kalevala was published in 1835, Finland had a distinct cultural and linguistic identity but it had always been part of either the Swedish or the Russian empire. Neither did Finland have much of a literary tradition, but as the 19th-century progressed the Kalevala took on a symbolic role as the representation of a Finnish identity that fed into the movement for Finnish independence. Rooted in the folk culture of the Karelia region, a travelling doctor shaped the song texts into a story in a way which is still being debated today."