All Things Iceland Episodes

Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland – Response Episode 3

This is the third response episode for my new segment “Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland”. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and if you would like to submit a question, you can do it here. 1. Should I exchange a small amount of currency before I leave? I have heard that Iceland is…

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A Wicked Troll that Enchanted Icelandic Priests – Folklore Friday

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. A Troll Lurking in Iceland’s East Fjords Mjóifjörður (or narrow fjord) used to have up to 100 inhabitants centuries ago but it is now only about 14 people live there. During the winter…

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Laura Alice Watt: An American Relocates to Iceland’s Remote Westfjords

Interviews are one of my favorite things to do for the podcast, so I was delighted when Laura was available to come on and share about her experience moving from the San Francisco Bay area to one of the most remote parts of the Westfjords in Iceland. Background About Laura Alice Watt Laura Alice Watt…

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Skuggabaldur: Iceland’s Ferocious Shadow Cat – Folklore Friday

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. What is a Skuggabaldur? The Skuggabaldur is a fascinating animal in Icelandic folklore. Whether or not this type of animal really exists is hard to say but there are some interesting stories about…

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Icelandic Coffee Culture & Unique Cafés to Visit in Reykjavík

Iceland’s coffee culture is – deeply ingrained in the social fabric of Icelandic society. Along with being a drink that perks people up, grabbing a cup of coffee in Iceland is often a social interaction, where the drink is enjoyed in the company of others, many times in cozy settings. This communal aspect is so…

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The Devious Corpse of Finnur the Sorcerer

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. Why Finnur is a Feared Sorcerer A sorcerer named Finnur that lived a long time ago. So many people feared him and when he died no one wanted anything to do with the…

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December in Iceland – Weather, Fun Activities, Christmas & More

This is the last episode in my series about the months in Iceland and what to expect. Visiting Iceland in December is a magical experience, often described as stepping into a winter wonderland. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what you can expect, from weather conditions to the must-do activities, road conditions and more. Weather and…

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Katla The Witch & Her Magical Pants – Folklore Friday

This is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing an Icelandic Folklore story every Friday in 2024.  Katla The Witch The story today is about how Katla volcano got its name. I’ve seen the name for this folklore as “Katla the Hag”, but I’m not much a fan of that name. Basically,…

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Iceland’s Ox-Whale Terrified People For Centuries – Folklore Friday

This is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing an Icelandic Folklore story every Friday in 2024.  The upcoming story is based on a description of the Ox-Whale in the book “Meeting with Monsters – An Illustrated Guide to the Beasts of Iceland” by Jón Baldur Hlíðberg and Sigurður Ægisson. It is…

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Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland – Response Episode 2

This is the second response episode for my new segment “Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland”. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and if you would like to submit a question, you can do it here. 1. “What do Icelanders generally like and dislike about Americans?” – Garrett In general, I’d say that Icelanders…

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