Podcast 269: Music and Conversation with Jogvan

Photo Credit: Studio Bloch

This week, a special episode of the podcast. We've got a studio session and conversation with Jogvan. He's a Faroese singer who made it to the finals of Denmark's X-Factor in 2015. But Jogvan is a far cry from the type of pop singer you'd usually see on a televised singing competition. In fact, he's really not a pop singer at all. Instead, Jogvan is doing something more simple, more honest, and far more difficult.

On the show, he'll play two songs he's recording from his upcoming album, and talk about what drives him to create music. This is one of our very best shows. Enjoy.

(Bonus: If you listen carefully during the interview portion of the podcast, you can hear the new album from the doom metal band Hamferð being mixed.)

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on the media player at the top of the page, or on Stitcher Smart Radio. Or you can download the show directly here.

Podcast 267: The Curious Case of Ove Logmansbo.

This week, we learn about Ove Logmansbo, he's an author who has set a Polish-language crime novel in his native Faroe Islands. But the real mystery may be the author himself.

While Ove claims to be half-Polish and half-Faroese and to have spent much time in the Faroe Islands, details contained in the novel suggest these claims might not be true. We'll talk to Kinga Eysturland, who is from Poland, but also reads Faroese and speaks flawless English. She'll explain what details in Logmansbo's book raised red flags for her, and her unsuccessful attempts to contact the author.

Then we'll travel to Gota and visit a very nice soccer pitch.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on the media player at the top of this page, or on Stitcher Smart Radio. Or you can download the show directly here. 

Podcast 266: Metal, Whaling, and Phone Booths

This week, we talk to Tyr frontman Heri Joensen about his upcoming tour of Europe. The tour became a target for activists after Joensen posted a photo of him cutting meat off a slaughtered whale. Some called for boycotts and others called in anonymous death threats to venues where Tyr was scheduled to play. We talk to Joensen about the controversy and how he chose to react to it.

Then we'll take shelter at a bus stop that has a film noir quality to it.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on Stitcher Smart Radio, or on our media player at the top of the page. You can also download the show directly here..

Also, below is the video Heri made explaining Faroese whaling, the photo he posted, and the boycott against his band.

Podcast 265: Wind and Migration.

This week, we listen to the winds howling in the Faroe Islands, then we pay a brief visit to International Day in Klaksvik. We talk to a woman from Ukraine who has lived in the Faroes for 15 years. She'll share some of her experience and give advice for newcomers to the islands.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on Stitcher Smart radio, or you can download the show directly here.

On this week's show, we reference a video time lapse of a drive from the airport to Klaksvik. You can watch it here. Also there's a video from the inside of the plane as it landed.

Podcast 264: Mike Day and Heri Simonsen

This week, our good friend Heri Simonsen talks to Scottish filmmaker Mike Day about his new film, "The Islands and the Whales." The film had it's Faroe Islands premiere this week, and Heri caught up with Mike in advance of the first screening. They'll talk about the difficulties in making a documentary like this, and how Day hopes the film is received in the Faroes.

Then we'll hang out in a post office.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on Stitcher Smart Radio, or you can download the show directly here.

Also, we're headed back to the Faroes to record more episodes of the podcast. Please head on over to Go Fund Me and throw a couple of dollars into the tip jar. A little help from you can make it possible to make an entire year's worth of shows.

Podcast 263: Stora Dimun, Part 2

This week, part two of our journey to Stora Dimun. We'll tour a slaughterhouse, then hike to the top of a mountain. Finally, we'll talk to the woman who runs the show on this small island. Is she the queen of Stora Dimun? No. But she's not far from being that.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on Stitcher smart radio, or you can download the show directly here. 

Episode 262: Love Wins

Eiler Fagraklett Outside the Law Thing, April 29, 2016

On April 29th, the Faroese parliament legalized same sex unions, making the Faroe Islands the final Nordic country to do so.

On this week's podcast, we talk to Eiler Fagraklett, the leader of LGBT Foroyar and one of the people who helped push for this change to Faroese law. We'll talk about the recent history of gay rights in the Faroes, the celebrations that took place in Torshavn after the law passed, and what's next for Eiler an the organization he heads.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on the media player at the top of the page, or on Stitcher Smart Radio, You an also download the show directly here. 

Faroe Pride: History Made.

On Friday morning, the Law Thing voted to legalize same-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands. This historic vote was a long time coming, and in honor of that we're reposting one of our favorite episodes of the podcast.

In 2012, LGBT Foroyar organized a Pride march that seemed quite ambitious at the time. They wanted to get 1,000 people to march for gay rights in a country that only has a total population of around 49,000.

Previous marches were much smaller affairs. One person described them as, "A few dozen people shuffling down the sidewalk staring at their shoes." With that in mind, 1,000 people seemed like a lot to ask for, and if you talked to organizers off mic, they'd say that they'd be pleased if 500 people marched.

On the day of the march, 5,000 people showed up. There was a feeling that history was being made.

As luck would have it, we got an excellent recording of what happened at the march and the surprise of participants and journalists alike at the large turnout.

Take a listen and relive that moment Turns out, it's even more fun to listen to when you know how the story ends.

Podcast 261:Stora Dimun, Part 1

Photo credit: Johannes Johannesen

On this week's show, we visit Stora Dimun. This small island is home to just two families and most Faroese people have never been here.

We'll ride a helicopter across some spectacular scenery before taking a hike down to the shore and putting away some waffles and bacon.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on Stitcher Smart Radio, or you can download our show directly here.

Podcast 260: The Immigrant Experience, Kinga

This week, we talk to Kinga Eysturland. She's from Poland, speaks perfect American English and is married to a Russian man obsessed with Uruguay who is a Faroese citizen. While Kinga certainly is a citizen of the world, we asked her what it's like to be a foreigner in a small, close-knit society.

Then we visit a living room in Gota to hear Eivor (pictured above) perform.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on the media player at the top of the page, or on Stitcher Smart Radio. You can also download the show directly here.

Kinga Eysturland runs a guesthouse in Klaksvik, and it's a great location to stay. You can learn more at the guesthouse website.

Also, time is running out to sign up for this summer's Nordic Obsession Tour to the Faroe Islands. The final deadline is Monday, April 4th. Learn more and reserve your spot at the Nordic Obsession website.

Podcast 259: G! Festival 2015, Saturday, Campground Invasion

This week, we wrap up our coverage of the 2015 G! Festival. On the last day of the fest, we finally take our first timid steps onto the campground. Will our intrepid survive the squalor around him? (Hint: yes.)

Then we'll hear a little music from Teitur and Eivor before going on an early morning ramble about the future of the festival.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, the media player at the top of this blog, or you can download the show directly here.

The G! Festival has already started announcing acts for the 2016 festival, and it's already shaping up to be a great time. Check out the lineup here.

Also, time is running out to sign up for our Nordic Obsession Tour to the Faroe Islands. We'll be touring the Faroes from July 5th to the 13th in what promises to be the trip of a lifetime. Learn more and reserve your spot at the Nordic Obsession website.

Podcast 258: Chris Ould and The Blood Strand

Photo by: Selfie

This week, we talk to Chris Ould. He's the author of The Blood Strand, a crime novel set in the Faroe Islands. We'll talk about why this Englishman set his story in the Faroes, and what it was like to imagine a crime in a place with almost no crime.

Then we'll walk to a corner of the Faroes that is... in the opinion of this program... the most beautiful place on the planet.

As always, you can listen on our media player at the top of the page, on iTunes, or on Stitcher Smart Radio. Or you can download the show directly here.

Also, time is running out to sign up for the 2016 Nordic Obsession Tour. We'll be touring the Faroes From July 5th until the 13th. To learn more, head on over to the Nordic Obsession website.

Podcast 257: G! Festival 2015, Day 2

Friday Beach Flooding in Gota

This week, we brave the elements on day 2 of the 2015 G! Festival. We'll hear music from Marius, Monkey Rat and the Hackney Colliery Band. We'll also have a conversation with Faroese bluesman Uni Debess.

And we'll dodge the floodwaters as they threaten the Playground Stage.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player at the top of the page, or on Stitcher Smart Radio.

You can also download the show directly here.

Also, there's limited registration for this summer's Nordic Obsession tour. Sign up before the end of March to join us on the ultimate tour of the Faroe Islands. More details can be found on the Nordic Obsession website.

Podcast 256: G! Festival, 2015, Day 1

Gota residents turn out in force to support local favorite Elinborg Pálsdóttir

This week, we open our coverage of the 2015 G! Festival. This week we'll hear music from Hogni, Sakaris, and Elinborg Pálsdóttir. We'll also have an interview with Helena Heinesen Rebensdorff, the woman behind Frankah.

As always, you can listen on the media player at the top of the page, on iTunes, or you can download the show directly here.

Also, you can learn more about this year's Nordic Obsession tour and sign up to travel with us on July 5th by going to the Nordic Obsession website.