Sampo Kaulanen and Michele “Minttu” Murphy Kaulanen, the Lapland entrepreneur couple known from TV, have been together for almost 15 years. Arguments, arguments, and adversities have not brought down the union. Now they tell you why.
When an entrepreneur Sampo Kaulanen46, sold Jouni’s shop in Äkäslompolo a couple of years ago, it was as if the shackles had been broken. Michele “Minttu” Murphy-Kaulanen45, noticed a big change in her husband. Responsibilities fell off his shoulders.
Thanks to the million-dollar deals, the family started a new chapter in their lives.
– Now I’ve been smoking those cigars for almost a couple of years and built this, Sampo looks around.
A holiday center worth more than 10 million euros has been built in the family’s stronghold in the Konijänkä fens.
Sampo Kaulanen and his wife Michele “Minttu” Murphy-Kaulanen rely on each other’s support. Elle Laitila
Originally, Sampo was supposed to become a free lord. He bought a tractor and a truck trailer full of trees for the yard. In 52 hours, he already burned his nerves and proposed to his wife to build Jänkä Resort.
Quite a few wives could have said to shut up, but Minttu said yes.
– Many people have asked me how I managed to live next to it. It’s a stupid question, because you always support your spouse. I’ve always seen that good Sampo. He is a visionary. That’s the guy I fell in love with, says Minttu.
The couple, who met on the set of the Diili program in 2010, will soon be together for 15 years. During those years, the huge pressures and debts of the merchant have been overcome, the business has been brought to fruition, a new family has been raised while living in the public eye – and now the latest built holiday resort. The collars have not avoided commotion or stuck their heads in the bush in moments when Sampo has opened the cap and the going has been wild.
– It’s not my job to say don’t do this or that. The fact is that we grow together or we grow apart. I want Sampo to be happy, notes Minttu’s wife.
– I’m not Sampo’s mother and educator, laughs Minttu. Elle Laitila
Fifth year sober
Sampo just started his fifth year with a bang. In his candid style, he credits ayuasca retreats for his sobriety and the impetus for a comprehensive life change. Minttu’s wife says that she encouraged her husband to go to the retreat to seek help.
– I learned to drink liquor when I was 12 years old and continued to do so for 27 years straight. The biggest change came from those ayuasca ceremonies. During such a night, I went through things and the root causes of drinking. I don’t feel like it anymore. Olo has been reborn, Sampo assures.
Sampo also says that he has been cured of years of insomnia, which is a direct miracle for him. The entrepreneur, who was diagnosed with ADHD, says that he approaches stress in different ways these days.
– Here at Jänkä Resort, one of the cabins caught fire and water came through the roof in the other. There have been situations where a horse or reindeer is suddenly injured and has to go to the clinic in Oulu, 800 kilometers away. They raise the heart rate and it starts to piss you off, but you don’t have to get caught up in that feeling.
Already in 2021, they made the decision to focus their lives in the North and sold their house in Tampere.
– Our life is completely here, says Sampo.
– We could have lived the rest of our lives very comfortably with Sampo. We would have spent days lying on the couch, making coffee and traveling. However, that kind of thing starts to feel numb if you want to do something with your life, notes Minttu.
– We could have lived the rest of our lives comfortably, says Minttu’s wife. Elle Laitila
After the death of his little brother, Minttu sought strength from horses in the midst of grief, and says that he can easily spend his whole day with animals. Now he is responsible for the Resort’s animal welfare services.
– Because of such things, life is worth living, and not someone where you lie on the couch and shop at Hermès. Neither of us even likes shopping, Minttu gasps.
During the past year, Sampo and Mintu’s life has seemed fast based on social media, and travel destinations have changed from Singapore to the Bahamas to Japan to luxury accommodations. The business couple says they traveled because of things related to the resort. It has been wonderful and exhausting at the same time. Issue Jasmin Isomäki, Jade Isomäki, Jenriina Areva and Rianna Kaulanen are all involved in the action with their hearts.
Sampo emphasizes that happiness does not come from mammon or scrap, and shows off his jeans, which are falling apart.
– I still only own two pairs of jeans.
Favorite routines
Common morning routines include drinking morning coffee together. The couple eats lunch together, work separately, and in the evenings they sauna together.
– Sampo is more into saunas than I am, but usually we are both in bed from time to time and watch TV shows together or cuddle before going to bed, Minttu says.
– Those common routines are important to us, because in that, we miss each other if we don’t have time to see each other.
In his opinion, they have a lot of time together in everyday life.
– We talk a lot, and we pay attention to each other in everyday life, so that if we make coffee, we also make tea for the other person. So Sampo drinks tea, and I drink coffee, Minttu explains.
The Kaulas also invest in couple trips, where they can be alone. They also regularly go on dates in Ylläki’s home corners.
– We go to some new restaurant or to the movies, so we date here in the North too, says Minttu.
– We don’t have a terribly wide circle of friends, because we mostly spend our time together. We have fun together and that has been the driving force of our relationship. We are best friends.
Sampo Kaulanen says that he got rid of alcohol and insomnia with the help of retreats. Elle Laitila
Direct words
Sampo and Minttu now talk more about work at home in Äkäslompolo than ever before, because both are fully involved in the Resort. They say that the wild construction project has not been a test for the relationship.
– Of course there will be moments when we disagree and it’s annoying. Minttu keeps a mute school for a day or two, and that’s completely normal. Along the way, this has happened, like with that gate, Sampo laughs and points to the entrance gate of Jänkä Resort, which is an impressive metal structure.
– Minttu barked it up when it was unfinished and a couple of sheets were stuck upright.
Sampo says with a twinkle in his eye that he has to sell his idea to Minttu’s wife.
– It requires manipulation skills.
Sampo and Minttu say that there is an appropriate amount of friction in the relationship, and it has been this way from the beginning. Elle Laitila
Mint makes me laugh. He says that they do have arguments and clashes, but despite this, the relationship is fine.
– One thing I was wrong about was the reindeer in Jouni’s shop, which is still the most photographed thing in the shop today. We had a zero budget and not a single penny, but Sampo wanted a 30,000 euro reindeer for the yard.
The wife says that if Sampo’s wild visions don’t seem understandable, it’s usually because of communication.
– So Sampo justified it as “mother said it’s ok”. And that for this reason the reindeer should have been paid.
Sampo starts from the side.
– I don’t use any roundabout expressions!
Soon the two are already laughing at the whole memory.
– There have been ups and downs, but I have never restricted Sampo. I am not his mother and educator, but an equal partner. That’s the best, Minttu smiles.