Listen to our most recent episode:

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Podcast 158: Christmas 2012



This week, we talk to Hjalti Bogason and Bogi Godtfred. Bogi has translated ten Christmas songs in Faroese, and Hjalti sang them. The result of this father/son collaboration can be heard on a lush new album that was recently released in the Faroe Islands.

We'll talk to Hjalti and Bogi about the process of putting the album together, and about Christmastime in the Faroes. Then we'll hear a little music.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player at the top of this page, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_158.mp3

Also, if you're planning on attending New Media Expo in Las Vegas next month, you can still get a 20% discount on registration by going to the NMX website and using the discount code "workman20" at checkout. We'll be there. Hopefully we'll see some of you there, too.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Podcast 157: G! Festival, SAKARIS, Fraendur, and Teitur

Photo Credit: Astrid Mohr/G! Festival

This week, a collection of sounds from this year's G! Festival. We'll head to the beach for some salmon, get compliments, then hear music from SAKARIS, Fraendur, and even a little bit from Teitur. Also, SAKARIS sits down for an interview after the festival winds down.

If you want to pretend you attended this year's festival, or if you just want to relive some of the highlights, this show is for you.

As always, you can listen on our media player, on iTunes, or you can download the show directly here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_157.mp3

Also, if you're planning on attending New Media Expo in Las Vegas this January and want to save some money on your registration, you've still got time. Just go to the NMX website and use the promo code "workman20" at checkout to receive 20% off.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Podcast 156: Knut and the G! Festival

This week, we've got music and conversation with Knut. He's a musician, DJ, and basically really cool. We'll hear some live music from his set at the G! Festival this summer, then sit down and talk about the origins of the Faroese music explosion in the 1990s. And we'll end by hearing Knut's new single "The Road."

Also, some audio we recorded at this summer's G! Festival.

As always, you can listen on our media player above, on iTunes, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_156.mp3

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Podcast 155: Groundhopping, German Style

This week, our good friend Heri Simonsen talks to a German man who's on a quest to see matches at as many Faroese football (soccer) grounds as possible.

Then we head off to the home field of EB/Streymur (not pictured above).

As always, you can listen on iTunes or download us directly here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_155.mp3

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Podcast 154: Sandoy, Part 2, or "Who Built That Giant, Fake Mailbox?"

On this week's show, we finish up out trip to Sandoy, a beautiful island just slightly off the beaten path for most visitors to the Faroe Islands. We'll visit a few more beautiful villages, miss a ferry, then contemplate the mystery of the giant mailbox (pictured above) that isn't really a mailbox.

As always, you can listen on the media player above, grab the show on iTunes, or download the show directly here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_154.mp3

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Podcast 70 Revisited: Halloween Horrors!

Halloween is upon us, so we thought we'd take another listen to our of our most popular shows. This episode (first released in 2010) features some spooky recordings made in the tunnels north of Klaksvik. It is said these tunnels are haunted. Are they really? Listen to the show and make up your own mind.

As always you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_70a.mp3


And if you want to listen to the unedited audio we recorded in the tunnel, you can find it here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Tunnel_spooky.WAV

Boo.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Podcast 153: From Uruguay to the Faroes

This week, we talk to a young man who traveled from South America to see the Faroese National Football (Soccer) Team play. He's only a teenager, but he's already found time to develop an obsession with the Faroes and travel there. Not bad.

Then we travel to Norðagøta  and contemplate history.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_153.mp3

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Podcast 152: Sandoy, Part 1


This week, we head off to the island of Sandoy. Because it's separated from the "mainland" by a 30 minute ferry ride, it's an island often neglected by tourists, but not short of things to do.

In the first part of our journey, we ride a ferry, talk to the tourism director, talk to an elderly couple whose driveway was blocked by our car, and contemplate the painting below...

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_152.mp3

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Podcast 151: What Is Natural?

This week, another story we recorded during this summer's Faroe Pride event. We talk to Mariah Schug, who put together an art exhibit about sexual diversity in the animal kingdom. It was a collaboration between scientists and artists in several Nordic countries. We'll talk to Schug about this project, and other research she's doing in the Faroe Islands.

Then we'll stand in the wind and look at some ducks.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, or download the show directly here:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_151.mp3

If you want to see some images from the exhibit, you can find them right here.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Northern Lights

We've got a new episode of the podcast coming out soon, but in the meantime, check out this beautiful photo of the great light show the Faroe Islands got last night. Thanks to Ditte Mathilda Joensen for sharing this with us.

Photo by Ditte Mathilda Joensen, All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Podcast 150: The Under House

This week we stumble upon the Under House, it's located in the basement of one of the buildings pictured on the right of this photo. The Under House is a place where Torshavn's old-timers gather to play cards, drink coffee, and swap stories. We spend some time in the basement and learn why they sell bait to passing fishermen.

Then we'll crawl into a nondescript concrete structure and listen to the silence.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, or download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_150.mp3

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Podcast 149: Happy 1,000th Birthday

This week, we talk to Arne Olson. He and his 11 siblings just turned a combined 1,000 years old this summer. We catch up with the 70-something "baby" of the clan and learn the remarkable story of how the family stayed together despite enormous challenges.

Then we head out to Rituvik (pictured above) to visit the village where the 1,000 year birthday celebration took place, and take in the melancholy scene of a monument to sailors lost at sea.

As always, you can listen on iTunes or download the show directly here:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_149.mp3


Monday, September 3, 2012

Podcast 148: Faroe Pride

On this week's podcast, a special report recorded live during July's Faroe Pride rally. Listen to a little bit of history as it happens as 5,000 Faroese people descend on Torshavn to show support for the country's LGBT community.

We'll join the march as it winds its way towards the center of town, listen to some music, and talk to the organizers of this unprecedented event. If you couldn't make it to the march and rally, slip on some headphones and you'll feel like you were there.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, or download the show directly right here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_148.mp3

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Podcast 147: The Klaksvik Church

On this week's show, we collapse a journey across three countries and five airports into a few seconds, then seek shelter from the storm inside the church in Klaksvik. (Pictured above, and below)

And we also hear what it sounds like when a Faroese footballer scores a goal on his former colonial masters (hint: it gets very loud).

As always, you can listen on iTunes, or download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_147.mp3

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Podcast 146: The Hidden Pitch

We're back from summer break, and on this week's show, we head out to a football pitch considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

As the photo above would suggest, it has a spectacular location, but it can be difficult to determine just how to get there. After failing to find a road that leads to the field (yes, a road does exist), our intrepid host abandons his horrible rental car and decides to reach the "stadium" on foot. The results of that hike can be heard on iTunes, or by downloading the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_146.mp3

The internet is lousy with photos of this pitch, and full of inaccuracies as well. Contrary to what a major news outlet has reported, this is not, nor has it ever been, the pitch where the Faroese National Team plays. The field has artificial turf, and as such is unsuitable for international play.

And as a little bonus, we've got a short video of our visit to the field...

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Podcast 145: G! Festival 2012, Preview

It's July, and that can only mean one thing: the G! Festival is just around the corner. So, in what's becoming a tradition around here, we talk to Festival organizer Jon Tyril about this year's festival. We'll hear some music from artists on this year's bill, and we'll talk a little about the Faroese music scene.

As always, you can listen online, on our media player at the top of the page, or you can download the show directly here:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_145.mp3

And check our our Facebook and Twitter pages for live updates from the festival, and we'll have complete coverage of the show on the podcast later this summer.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Podcast 144: Marius in America

One of our favorite Faroese artists is touring the West Coast of the USA right now. It's Marius, and we caught up with him during his performance in Portland, Oregon.

We'll hear some music and talk about touring, and even Faroese language.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on the media player above, or you can download the show directly here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_144.mp3

Marius has several more tour dates left. To see if he's playing in your town, check out his tour schedule here.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Podcast 143: Small Village, Short Podcast

This week, we take a drive out to an isolated village at the end of a long road. This is Selatrað. It was once a vital transportation link between Streymoy and Eysturoy. Now it's a beautiful village tucked away from the rest of the islands. On this show, we enjoy the view and imagine what the village was like during its busier days.


As always you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_143.mp3

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Podcast 142: Viking Shores, Revisited


Vesturkirkjan-The West Church in Faroe Islands

Now that Whale Wars: Viking Shores has ended its run in the US and is on the air in the UK and Ireland, we check in once more with critic Andy Dehnart. We talk about the show as a piece of entertainment, and discuss how the Faroese people were portrayed in the show. And we ask the nagging question: did anyone win?

Then we stand outside the West Church in Torshavn (pictured above) and mope.

As always, you can listen on our media player above, on iTunes, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_142.mp3

You can find Andy Dehnart's excellent blog on reality television here:
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/

Note: While we're discussing Whale Wars on this program, it's not really about whaling. Instead, this podcast is about the media and how the Faroese people were portrayed in the media. If you want to listen to a show about Faroese whaling, you can download our 2009 program on the subject:
 http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_28.mp3

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Podcast 141: All About Stamps

On this week's show, we talk about Faroese stamps and even offer a listener a way to win some of these prized collectibles.

Then we head out to a small village on the outskirts of Torshavn (pictured above) and bask in the (temporary) sunshine.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_141.mp3 


And as an added "bonus" here's a little video of us looking at some Faroese stamps. We warned, the focus didn't work quite as we'd hoped. (and now you know why we work in audio and not video)



Thursday, May 31, 2012

Podcast 140: More Faroe Smacks

Faroe smacks? A MMA maneuver? A Nordic themed breakfast cereal? (It's not so crazy, there already is a breakfast cereal called Puffins.) Nope! The Faroe smacks were a fleet of fishing boats from Shetland that played a major role in the development of the Faroes as a fishing ground in the 1800s.

This week, we continue our conversation with John Goodlad, who's writing a book about the Faroe smacks. We'll talk about the boats, but it's really all about the relationship between Shetland and the Faroes and what the two places have in common, and where they part ways.

Then we'll travel to a small village (pictured above) and listen to an odd verbal tic that's common in the Faroes.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_140.mp3

Friday, May 25, 2012

Podcast 139: Shetland and the Faroe Smacks

This week, we talk to John Goodlad. He's a Shetlander who's writing a book about the Faroe smacks. The smacks were a fleet of boats that plied the waters around the Faroe Islands in the late 1800s. These same boats made up the core of the early Faroese fishing fleet in the early 1900s. Goodland talks to us about the long and intricate relationship between the Faroes and Shetland.

Then, we head out to a small village and make friends with some of its four-legged residents (pictured above).

You can listen on iTunes, on the media player above, or you can download the show directly here;
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_139.mp3

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Podcast 138: Get On The Bus

You can ride this bus for free!
This week, we hop on one of Torshavn's red buses. You can ride them for free, and they've even got complementary WiFi. So after a few weeks of dealing with heavy topics, hop on the bus and relax for a few minutes.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_138.mp3

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Podcast 137: Sea Shepherd v. Faroe Islands Podcast

(Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd/Animal Planet)
On this week's show, we interview Fraiser Hall and Peter Hammarstedt. They're respectively the captain and first mate of the Sea Shepherd boat "Brigitte Bardot." We talk to them about "Whale Wars: Viking Shores" and  the extreme language and tactics they employ to achieve their goals. We ask if they really felt in danger while staying in one of the safest countries in the world, and if'it's ever useful to compare an entire country to the Nazis.

Then we'll play a few select moments from an interview with an actual "covert operative" for Sea Shepherd.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download our show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_137.mp3 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Podcast 136: Reality (TV) Comes to the Faroe Islands

This week we talk with Andy Dehnart. He's a journalist who covers reality television. He spent several days sailing with the crew of the Steve Irwin as they filmed the upcoming series "Whale Wars Viking Shores."

We'll learn what life is like aboard the ship, what to expect on this new series, and how much reality there is in reality TV.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player at the top of the page, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_136.mp3

Links for this week's show:

Andy Dehnart's website: http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/

Andy's article in Playboy (no nudity): http://www.playboy.com/playground/entertainment/tv/reality-on-the-high-seas-

And the show we did in 2009 on Faroese whaling: http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_28.mp3

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Podcast 135: Poetry in Translation

On this week's show we talk to Matthew Landrum. He's a poet and translator living in Michigan. He's spent the last several months translating the work of a Faroese poet into English. Also, we'll learn why he has been called a "belly-shaker of the arts" and we'll even say, "you've been here before, laser hair." You'll have to listen to find out what that last sentence is all about.

Then we'll travel to a cemetery with some cool headstones (pictured, above) and a stunning view (not pictured above).

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:


If you're interested in reading some of Agnar Artúvertin's poetry, we've got a link to it, right here:

And you can read some of Matthew Landrum's poetry translated into Faroese right here:

Friday, April 6, 2012

Podcast 134: The Nolsoy Show


This week, we visit the island of Nolsoy. It's a short boat ride away from Torshavn, but it feels like a world away. It's a unique place with unique people. We'll stroll through the streets, visit some landmarks, and stand on the edge of unfinished dreams. All this through the help of our lovely and talented tour guide Suni Joensen (pictured, below).

This show is dedicated to Allen Boggs. He's the first person to ever listen to our show back in 2009, and a proud son of Nolsoy.

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

Also, if you're interested in seeing more photos of Nolsoy, you can find them here.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Podcast 133: Total Eclipse (Not of the Heart)

A solar eclipse will be visible in the Faroe Islands in 2015, but tour operators are already preparing for the event. This week, our good friend Heri Simonsen talks to a pair of tour operators who plan on bringing 200 eclipse chasers to the islands.

Also, we get an update on the season finale of X Factor and watch boys battle to the (not really) death on the beaches of Bour.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

Thursday, March 15, 2012

European Podcast of the Year!

The Faroe Islands Podcast has been named "European Podcast of the Year" in the non-profit category by the European Podcast Awards. We were also named the best non-profit podcast in Denmark (for reasons of judging, that was considered our country of origin... long story).

More than 2,000 podcasts were nominated, so we are very honored to have won this award. You can watch the announcement here:

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Podcast 131: Actual Faroese Comedy!

Two weeks ago, we talked about the comedy scene in the Faroe Islands. This week, an actual example of Faroese comedy. Heri Simonsen performed some stand up comedy last week, and he has one bit he does in English, and he's kind enough to let us share it with you.

We'll also update you on all the action on last week's X Factor, and travel to Hvannasund (pictured above) and dream of islands just out of our reach.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

Friday, March 2, 2012

Podcast 130: Høgni Hoydal and the Law Thing

This week, we talk to the head of the Republican Party (the liberal one on the Faroe Islands, not the conservative one in the US) about politics, independence, and the possible drafting of a constitution. We also get a tour of the Faroese parliament.

And, of course, we check in on last week's action in X Factor.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:


Also, if anyone has a good photo of the painting in the Faroese parliament building, let us know. Would love to post it here.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Podcast 129: Stand Up for the Faroe Islands

This week, we discuss the comedy scene on the Faroe Islands. For instance: is there a comedy scene on the Faroe Islands? We'll talk to one man who is trying to cultivate just such a scene.

Also, we'll get an update on the latest episode of X Factor and watch boulders sway in the water.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

If you want to learn more about the series of comedy shows being staged in the Faroes, go here. It's all in Faroese, but so is the comedy, so get used to it.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Podcast 128: News and Movies

On this week's show, we update listeners on some ongoing news stories, and stand outside a building that used to be a movie theater.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Podcast 127: Teitur in America

On this week's show, an exclusive interview with Teitur. He's touring North America for the first time in a couple of years, and we caught up with him during his stop in Portland, Oregon.

As always you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/faroepodcast/Podcast_127.mp3

Teitur is playing in 22 cities in the US and Canada over the next few weeks. Click on this link right here to see if he's playing near you.

(Photo credit: Arne List)

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Podcast 126: That Other Football



This week, we talk to fans of NFL football in the Faroe Islands. Believe it or not, there will actually be a large scale Super Bowl party in the Faroes this year. We'll talk to the founder of Facebook's "NFL Faroe Islands" page about the small but growing fan base for the "exotic" sport.

Then we'll head to the alcohol store (pictured above... ok, that's a picture of a liquor store in the Faroe Islands. The one we went to in Torshavn was larger and generally nicer.)

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly below:

Monday, January 30, 2012

Podcast 125: With Buddy Greene

This week, an interview with country musician Buddy Greene. He's probably best known in the Untied States for co-writing the Christmas song "Mary, Did You Know?" But he's also a harmonica virtuoso and he played a concert this month in the Faroe Islands. Our good friend Heri Simonsen interviewed Greene after the show, and also recorded Greene performing a traditional Faroese song with a choir. We've got the interview and the music on this week's show.

Also, we sample music from some of the acts announced for this year's G! Festival. And while we can only sample the tracks on the podcast, you can listen to them in their entirety below.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

And now, music. Here's John Grant singing "Sigorney Weaver"


And Hogni Reistrup singing "Reykjavik"


And the nutty lads from Retro Stefson with "Kimba"


Enjoy.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Podcast 124: The Island Games

This week, our good friend Heri Simonsen talks to the organizer of the Island Games about the history of the event and about the Faroe Islands' bid to host the games later this decade. Then we visit a very unlucky ship (pictured above).

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Podcast 123: Scenes From a Hike


This week, we take a hike up a feature commonly known as Slave's Peak.* It's a relatively easy hike, but the host and producer find a way to make it difficult. Along the way, they encounter stiff winds, angry birds (the birds, not the game), and piles of dung from various animals.

The hike takes between one and two hours, but this podcast is only 20 minutes long. So think of all the time you've saved.

As always, you can listen on iTunes, on the media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

And as an added bonus, here are some images we reference during the show:
This is the place where we see the "grave" sign. And below, a close up.
And what hike would be complete without some heroic images of Tollak atop a mountain?
(*It's called "Slave's Peak" after a local legend that claimed slaves would be pushed off this cliff after their service was complete. However, the historical accuracy of this legend has been called into question.)

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Podcast 122: The Lobster Show!

This week, we crack open some Faroese lobster with our good friend Heri Simonsen. Heri works in radio and at a newspaper, but he's also got family in the lobster business. So we traveled to Heri's home and ate what is without a doubt some of the most delicious lobster meat anyone has ever consumed. This one will make your mouth water.

As always, you can listen on iTunes or on our media player above, or you can download the show directly here:

Photo credit: © Hans Hillewaert / CC-BY-SA-3.0 (It's actually a Norwegian lobster, but we couldn't find any of the Faroese variety.)