All Things Iceland

Aldís Amah Hamilton, who is half African American and half Icelandic, shares what it is like living in Iceland as a person of color. Aldís and her friend were the first people of color in the country to be admitted to and graduate from the country’s National Academy of Theater. She is a working actor and flight attendant in Iceland.  It was fascinating to chat with her about her experience growing up with physical features that are different than what you typically associate with being Icelandic.

Aldís was so pleasant to chat with. Even though this was my first time meeting her, the conversation flowed like two friends just chatting about life. At the end, she shares a few funny Icelandic idioms, so stay tuned to hear them.

Here is the winter episode that I mentioned in the introduction of the podcast.

The Questions I Asked Aldís

* You are half African American and half Icelandic, what has it been like growing up as a person of mixed race in Iceland?

* Have you ever encountered racism in Iceland or someone treating you differently because of your skin color?

* As a flight attendant for an Icelandic airline, you encounter a lot of people. Are people surprised to hear that you are Icelandic?

* Do you feel like Icelandic society accepts people of mixed race who have grown up in the country as Icelanders or are they still considered as “other”?

* What do you feel is the biggest challenge for a mixed race child growing up in Iceland?

* What has your experience been like as an actor in Iceland?

* What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms:

* Facebook

* Instagram

* Twitter

I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already.

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

Iceland is home to 130 volcanoes and as of today, 30 of them are active.  While the country has experienced 13 eruptions since it was settled in AD 874, none has been as devastating as the Laki eruption that started in 1783 and lasted for 8 months! During this episode of the All Things Iceland podcast, you will learn about the effects this massive eruption had on Iceland and other parts of the world.

Where the Laki Volcano is Located

If we are being technical, the mountain Laki did not erupt. Instead, fissures opened up on each side of it after groundwater interacted with rising basalt magma. The fissure is called Lakagígar, part of the volcanic system that centers on Grímsvötn volcano. For the sake of simplicity, I will say Laki instead of Lakagígar and eruption when referring to the fissure releasing gas and lava.

For starters, I think it would be helpful to give you an idea of where the eruption took place. This volcanic fissure lies along the south of Iceland near to the magnificent Eldgjá. This word directly translates to the Canyon of Fire. Kirkjubæjarklaustur,  a small village that most people have probably fumbled over trying to pronounce, is very close to Eldgjá.

Laki's Devastating Effect on Iceland

From June 8th, 1783 until February 7th, 1784, the Laki fissure and Grímsvötn volcano poured out toxins. An estimated 42 billion tons of basalt lava, as well as poisonous hydrofluoric acid and sulfur dioxide were released into the soil and air. The lava flow destroyed 20 villages.  The soil contamination led to the death of over 80% of sheep, 50% of cattle and 50% of horses in Iceland. The 8 million tons of hydrogen fluoride that was released caused dental and skeletal fluorosis in the animals. Most of the crops were wiped out as well. The loss of crops and livestock resulted in a famine that killed about 25% of the Icelandic population.

The quote below is an excerpt from the book, Fires of the Earth: the Laki eruption, 1783–1784.  It gives a very vivid depiction of what happened to the livestock and villages during this eruption.

“This past week, and the two prior to it, more poison fell from the sky than words can describe: ash, volcanic hairs, rain full of sulfur and saltpeter, all of it mixed with sand. The snouts, nostrils, and feet of livestock grazing or walking on the grass turned bright yellow and raw. All water went tepid and light blue in color and gravel slides turned gray. All the earth's plants burned, withered and turned gray, one after another, as the fire increased and neared the settlements.[13]”

Surprising Effects in Asia & Africa

The effects in Iceland were no doubt devastating, but it was not the only place the suffered.

This is the third and final part of my interview with Iceland's youngest President of City Council, Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir. If you haven’t listened to part 1 and part 2 yet, I highly recommend that you do. Dóra shines a spotlight on the political scandals, deep seated beliefs and opportunities for positive change in Iceland during those parts.

During this episode, Dóra shares why she became a member of the pirate party, her views on information freedom, the responsibility of politicians to make positive change, the personal political initiatives that she would like to see implemented in Iceland and her favorite Icelandic phrase.

Before the interview starts, I have to include a disclaimer. At the very end of this episode, Dóra uses curse words for her favorite Icelandic phrase. Cursing is not a normal part of this podcast but her phrase ties in perfectly with the reaction to the financial meltdown in Iceland, so it I feel it is appropriate to include it.

The Questions I Asked Reykjavík’s Youngest President of City Council

* What attracted you to the pirate party in Iceland?

* Do you have any political initiatives or policies that you would personally like to see implemented in Iceland?

* How do you keep up with fighting for all of the issues you keep close to your heart when it seems to always be an uphill battle?

* What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase (It can be related to politics but it doesn’t have to be)?

Connect with Dóra

* Facebook

* Instagram

* Twitter

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms:

* Facebook

* Instagram

* Twitter

I hope you enjoyed listening to part 3 of this interview. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already.

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

During part 2 of the interview that I did with Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir, Iceland’s youngest President of the Reykjavík City Council, she reveals even more details about Icelandic society that are unknown to the outside world. If you haven’t listened to part 1 yet, I highly recommend that you do because Dóra shares some insightful information about Icelandic politics and society.

In this episode, Dóra talks more about Iceland’s aggressive discussion culture and ways she is working to combat it in order to foster a more democratic society. She also hits on the shift toward freedom of the press, independent media, transparency and the growing feeling in Icelandic people that it is their responsibility to care about what is happening in politics in their country. However, there is a long way to go and this interview opened my eyes to some deep seated beliefs in Iceland.

The Questions I Asked Dóra During the Interview

* Have other women assimilated to using masculine and aggressive ways of expressing themselves in the City Council?

* Are men aware of the aggressive discussion culture and their role?

* From a foreigner or outsider’s view, it seems as though the 2008 financial crash in Iceland sparked a change in the government because the people demanded it. How different is the political landscape now as opposed to before the crash?

* What do you feel are some important topics being discussed in Iceland that people who live outside of the country or those that do not understand the language would not be aware of?

* The financial crisis in 2008 and some scandals since then have weakened some people’s confidence in politicians in Iceland. What do you feel politicians and the government as a whole needs to do to gain back the confidence of Icelandic people?

I hope you enjoyed listening to part 2 of this interview. The third and final part  will be released next week, so make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss it. If you are able to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms:

* Facebook

* Instagram

* Twitter

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir is amazing not only because of her passion to create positive change in Iceland, but also because she is the youngest person in Iceland’s history to be elected as the President of the City Council. Dóra’s passion and values, which are aligned with the Pirate Party in Iceland, shine through strongly in this interview.

We ended up chatting for an hour and twenty minutes in Reykjavík City Hall. In order to keep these episodes relatively short, I have broken this interview up into three parts. During this episode, which is part one, you will hear about what sparked Dóra’s interest in politics, how studying and living abroad helped her form ideas about how Iceland can change for the better, what it is like to be the youngest President of City Council and what is the toughest part of her job.

The Questions I Asked Reykjavík's Youngest President of City Council

* When did you become interested in governmental affairs? Why did you decide to get involved in politics in Iceland?

* You are the youngest person in the history of the country to be elected as the President of the City Counsel. What does your job entail?

* What do you feel is the toughest part about being involved in politics in Iceland?

I hope you enjoyed listening to part 1 of this interview. Part 2 will be released next week, so make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss it. If you are able to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already.

Let's be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms:

* Facebook

* Instagram

* Twitter

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

During part 2 of my interview with Alda Sigmundsdóttir, an Icelandic author and journalist that has her thumb on the pulse of Icelandic society, Alda shares some eye opening information. Alda talks extensively about Iceland’s economic meltdown, scandals that people outside of the country might not be aware of, a place in Iceland that is close to her heart and her favorite Icelandic word or phrase. While the two parts of this interview can stand alone as individual episodes, I very much recommend listening to both parts.

Questions I asked Alda during this interview about Icelandic Society:

* In your book “Living Inside the Meltdown”, you interviewed Icelandic people about the economic crash in Iceland in 2008. How did you go about choosing who you wanted to interview? Was it difficult to get  people to cooperate?

* What do you feel are some important topics being discussed in Iceland that people who live outside of the country or those that do not understand the language would not be aware of?

* Have you ever received a funny or strange reaction to any of your books?

* Do you have a favorite area or place in Iceland that you enjoy visiting?

* What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

* You are quite active on social media and you have done many speaking engagements. Where can people interact or get in touch with you?

Alda’s Books Mentioned in the Interview:

Living Inside the Meltdown

The Little Book of the Icelanders: 50 Miniature Essays on the Quirks and Foibles of the Icelandic People

The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days

Connect with Alda Sigmundsdóttir:

Alda’s website

Instagram

Facebook

I hope you enjoyed listening to part 2 of this interview. Make sure to check out Part 1, if you have not already. I publish a new episode of the  All Things Iceland podcast every week.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to chat with Alda Sigmundsdóttir, an Icelandic author and journalist that has her thumb on the pulse of Icelandic society. Even though Alda was born in Iceland, she grew up in Canada and lived in a few different countries. The insight that she shared with me about Iceland and its people was enlightening and sometimes surprising. We had such a great time chatting, that we ended up talking for an hour. In order to keep these episodes relatively short, I have broken this interview up into two parts. During this episode, which is part 1, you will hear about the challenges Alda faced when she moved back to Iceland, how insular Icelandic society is, how she decides what to write about, what the most important thing tourists should keep in mind when they visit Iceland and what Icelandic people really think of visitors to their country.

Questions I asked Alda during this interview:

* Even though you were born in Iceland, you lived in Canada and some other countries for many years. What was it like moving back to Iceland?

* The topics of your books include giving advice to visitors of Iceland, gripping fiction, mythology, culture and issues in Icelandic society. With so many changes happening in Iceland, how do you decide what to write about?

* It has been a little over a year since you published  “The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland: Tips, tricks and what Icelanders really think of you.” What do you think are still the most important things tourists should keep in mind when they visit Iceland? Have Icelandic people’s views about tourists changed since writing that book?

Alda's Books Mentioned in the Interview:

The Little Book of the Icelanders: 50 Miniature Essays on the Quirks and Foibles of the Icelandic People

The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland: Tips, tricks, and What the Icelanders Really Think of You

Living Inside the Meltdown: Ten People Share Their Experience of the Icelandic Economic Collapse

Connect with Alda Sigmundsdóttir:

Alda's website

Instagram

Facebook

I hope you enjoyed listening to part 1 of this interview.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Bjarney "Baddý" Hinriksdóttir, a yoga instructor and yoga studio owner in downtown Reykjavík about yoga in Iceland. Like many Western countries, Iceland has seen a significant rise in the number of people practicing yoga. With just a quick Google search you can easily find 4 or 5 studios in the Reykjavík area.  What makes Baddý’s studio unique is that her classes are only taught in English and it is smack dab in the middle of the downtown area.

When I first moved to Iceland, I immediately gravitated toward Baddý’s studio. It was awesome that I could get some yoga classes in English but also because you can tell that Baddý is passionate about what she does. During this interview we talk about how obscure yoga was considered not too long ago in Iceland, Baddýs thoughts on why yoga has become so popular here and if yoga will stand the test of time as an activity in this country.

Questions I Asked Baddý During the Interview About Yoga in Iceland


* What sparked your interest in yoga and when did you started practicing?

* When did you start to notice that yoga in Iceland was becoming a popular activity?

* Why do you think yoga appeals to Icelandic people?

* Are there certain styles of yoga that are more popular than others in Iceland? Do you practice and teach a  certain style?

* Why was it important for you to open a yoga studio in Iceland with only English speaking classes?

* Even though your yoga classes are conducted in English, do Icelandic people come to practice with you?

* Do you think the popularity of yoga is a trend in Iceland or is it here to stay?

* What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? (I ask this in every interview. It can be related to yoga but it doesn’t have to be)

How to Connect with Baddý

* Reykjavík Yoga website

* Facebook

* Instagram

I hope you enjoy listening to this interview on the All Things Iceland podcast. After the interview, please remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the episodes I publish every week. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already.

Góða skemmtun og sjáumst fljótlega (Enjoy and see you soon)!

For episode 10 of the All Things Iceland podcast,  I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Gunnar Örn Ingólfsson, a practicing psychologist in Iceland. We spoke about the state of mental health care in the country. Even though Iceland has consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, according to The World Happiness Report, the country ranks as the fourth most depressed nation in Europe. I find that quite shocking and I wanted to get better insight into why there is such a high rate of depression in Iceland and what steps the country can take to improve the situation.

Gunnar has a PhD in Counseling Psychology and  he has worked extensively with adult clients in the US and Iceland that suffer from depression, anxiety, drug problems, as well as computer and internet addiction. He also works with those that find it difficult to adapt to the variability of life. His work with clients centers around Solution Focused Therapy.

I enjoyed this interview not only because it helped me to better understand mental health care in Iceland , but also because Gunnar is my husband. It was interesting to hear his perspective on a topic that I know is very close to his heart. I have added the contact details for his private practice below for anyone that is interested in reaching out to him.

Questions I asked Gunnar about mental health care in Iceland during the interview:

* What sparked your interest in psychology and providing counseling to people?

* Why is it important for you to provide counseling in Iceland?

* Is it a part of Icelandic culture to openly share how you are feeling?

* How are people with mental illness treated in Iceland by other members of society and medical doctors?

* The seasons can be quite drastic here, with long, dark nights in the winter and long, bright days in the summer. Do you notice more people seeking therapy during winter as opposed to summer?

* I read that Iceland’s mental health care system is not adequately meeting the needs of the people here and that a large % of residents are on antidepressants. Can you share your thoughts on that?

* What do you think is the biggest obstacle in the way of improving mental health treatment in Iceland and what steps do you think can be taken to help improve this situation?

* What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? (I like to end off the show with this question. It can be mental health related but it doesn’t have to be)  His answer was: "Það tekur fólk alla ævina að læra að lifa." Check out the show to find out what that phrase means in English.

Dr. Gunnar's Private Practice Contact Information

Sálfræðistofa Reykjavíkur Facebook page

I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it. Please remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the new episodes that I upload every week. If you are listening to this podcast on a platform that allows a reviews, please leave a review.

Goða skemmtun og sjáumst fljótlega (Enjoy and see you soon)!

I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Guðmundur A. Guðmundsson, who has a MSc and PhD degree in Ecology, and is a researcher at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. During the interview you will hear me say Mummi when I speak to Dr. Guðmundsson. It is a nickname commonly used in Iceland for men with the name Guðmundur.

Some of the topics I discussed with Mummi during our interview for the All Things Iceland podcast include the fascinating birds that can be found in Iceland, the connection between birds and Icelandic culture, and the best time to see birds migrating to the country. It was an enlightening conversation and I hope you enjoy listening to it.

Questions I asked Mummi:

* What sparked your interest in studying birds?

* What is your role at the Institute of Icelandic Natural History?

* I read that about 350 species of birds have been recorded in Iceland. Why is it that so many birds are finding their way to this island? How many of them are nesting here?

* Are their birds that are most commonly found in Iceland?

* Is there a connection between birds and Icelandic culture?

* Is there a best season or specific months to go bird watching in Iceland?

* Do you recommend any areas in Iceland for people to watch birds?

* Have you seen any effect on bird migration and nesting due to climate change?

* Are there any birds that you have observed in Iceland that have strange or fascinating habits?

* Do you have a favorite bird that you like to watch or study?

* What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase (I like to ask this during all of my interviews. It can be related to birds but it doesn’t have to be)?

Please remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the new episodes that I upload every week. If you are listening to this podcast on a platform that allows a reviews, please leave a review.

Goða skemmtun og sjáumst fljótlega (Enjoy and see you soon)!