Lava Academy by Lava Show

Can you turn molten lava into a vase—or even a hot dog holder? In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, hosts Iain MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir meet Lava Show’s own Max Greiner, a designer and Lava Melter exploring how Icelandic lava can become everyday objects.

From his family’s glassmaking heritage to experiments behind the scenes at Lava Show, Max shares the challenges of shaping and cooling molten rock, the lessons hidden in failed attempts, and his vision for a new Icelandic craft.

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Antarctica may appear frozen and still, but beneath its vast ice sheet lies one of Earth’s most remarkable volcanic regions.

In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, Iain MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir are joined by Ann-Sophie Bader, who divides her year between working at Lava Show in Vík and a remote tourism camp in Antarctica.

Ann-Sophie takes us beneath the ice to explore:

Ann-Sophie also shares what it is like to live and work at Union Glacier, surrounded by ice, mountains and one of the most remote environments on the planet.

From hidden volcanoes and gold-carrying gases to molten lava surviving in extreme cold, this episode reveals an Antarctic landscape far more dynamic than it first appears.

Science Educator Sævar Helgi Bragason talks about volcanoes in space

Hólmfríður Sigurðardóttir, and Birgir Vilhelm Óskarsson discuss the unique volcanic island of Surtsey

Discover more volcano stories through Lava Academy at https://www.lavashow.com/blog/lava-academy

In November 1963, a volcanic eruption broke through the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland and created Surtsey—one of the world’s youngest islands and an extraordinary natural laboratory.

Host Iain MacKinnon is joined by Birgir Vilhelm Óskarsson, researcher at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland and board member of the Surtsey Research Society, and Hólmfríður Sigurðardóttir, Chairperson the Surtsey Research Society.

Together, they explore how Surtsey rose from the sea, how plants and animals colonised its barren landscape, the mystery of human footprints preserved in volcanic rock, and why the Atlantic Ocean is slowly reclaiming the island.

Discover what Surtsey continues to teach scientists about volcanoes, erosion and the remarkable resilience of life.

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In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, Ian McKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir are joined by volcanologist and petrology PhD candidate Helga Torfadóttir to explore one of Iceland’s most powerful and overlooked volcanoes: Öræfajökull.

Hidden beneath glacier ice in southeast Iceland, Öræfajökull is Iceland’s highest peak — and the site of one of the most catastrophic eruptions in the country’s history. Helga takes us back to the devastating 1362 eruption, when a peaceful farming region was transformed into a ruined wasteland, reshaping both the landscape and Icelandic memory.

Together, we discuss explosive eruptions, ash clouds, tephra, glacial outburst floods, pyroclastic density currents, lost historical records, and why this “silent and sneaky” volcano is so challenging to monitor today.

We also dive into Helga’s fascinating research, including how she recreates possible eruption conditions in tiny gold capsules to better understand what may be happening deep beneath Öræfajökull.

A gripping mix of science, history, hazards, and Icelandic nature — this episode is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by volcanoes.

What happens when one of the biggest eruptions in Iceland’s history meets modern-day science?

In the latest episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, host Iain MacKinnon sits down with geologist Glen L’Estrange to explore the incredible story of the Eldgjá eruption—a volcanic event so powerful it reshaped landscapes, displaced early settlers, and left behind clues that scientists are still uncovering today.

This episode takes you far beyond the surface of Iceland’s volcanic landscapes.

You’ll discover:

It’s a fascinating blend of science, storytelling, and real-world relevance—perfect for anyone curious about volcanoes, Iceland, or the forces shaping our planet.

Glen is a volcanology master’s student and research assistant at the University of Iceland, currently studying some of the country’s largest historical eruptions. He also works at Lava Show as a Lava Master.

In this episode, he shares insights from his fieldwork—digging through layers of volcanic ash (tephra), camping in remote highlands, and piecing together the story of an eruption that happened over a thousand years ago.

The Eldgjá eruption occurred around 937–940 AD and stretched across a fissure system roughly 75 kilometres long—over ten times larger than recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula. But what makes this episode truly compelling isn’t just the scale—it’s how scientists like Glen are able to reconstruct these events using volcanic “fingerprints” preserved in Iceland’s soil. From ash layers that act like a geological barcode to fieldwork stories involving river crossings and Icelandic weather at its worst, this episode brings both the science and the human side of volcanology to life.

This isn’t just a story about the past.

Understanding eruptions like Eldgjá helps scientists prepare for the future—especially in a country like Iceland, where volcanic activity is part of everyday life.

As Glen explains, modern monitoring systems give us a huge advantage—but large-scale eruptions still pose questions we don’t fully have answers to yet.

Whether you’re a volcano enthusiast, planning a trip to Iceland, or just love a great science story, this episode is not to be missed.

Read an article on Eldgjá by geologist Jessica Poteet.

What does it take to monitor a country sitting on top of an active volcanic system?

In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, hosts Ragnhildur “Lady Lava” Ágústsdóttir and Iain MacKinnon sit down with Kristín Jónsdóttir, Head of the Department of Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Deformation Measurements at the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

From earthquake swarms and magma movement beneath the surface to real-time monitoring and early warning systems, Kristín takes us inside the science and decision-making behind Iceland’s volcanic activity—especially on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

We explore how eruptions are tracked, why predicting them is so complex, and how new technologies like fibre optic sensing are changing the future of volcano monitoring.

If you’re fascinated by volcanoes, natural hazards, or the forces shaping our planet, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Tune in and discover what’s really happening beneath Iceland.

In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, host Iain MacKinnon sits down with Júlíus Ingi Jónsson, Mr. Lava Lava, the founder of Lava Show.

Júlíus shares the incredible story behind the creation of the world’s only live lava show, where real molten lava is superheated and poured safely in front of a live audience.

From childhood summers on a farm near Vík and family stories about the 1918 Katla eruption, to witnessing spectacular eruptions first hand and turning a wild idea into a global attraction, this episode explores the inspiration, risks, and determination behind Lava Show. 

You’ll hear how a moment standing in front of cascading lava during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption sparked an idea that would eventually grow into an award-winning Icelandic experience visited by hundreds of thousands of people.

Júlíus also talks about entrepreneurship, Iceland’s deep connection to volcanoes, and why storytelling is such an important part of sharing geology with the world.

Whether you’re fascinated by volcanoes, curious about Iceland’s volcanic landscape, or interested in the story behind Lava Show, this episode offers a fascinating look at the passion and perseverance behind one of Iceland’s most unique experiences.

In This Episode

• The childhood story that sparked Júlíus’ fascination with volcanoes

If you enjoy the Lava Academy Podcast, be sure to follow, rate, and share the show with fellow volcano enthusiasts.

Are volcanoes unique to Earth—or are they erupting across the solar system?

In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, hosts Iain MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir (AKA Lady Lava) sit down with Iceland’s beloved science communicator, and author Sævar Helgi Bragason for a mind-expanding journey beyond our planet.

Together, they explore volcanic activity on Mars, Venus, and Jupiter’s moon Io, icy cryovolcanoes on distant moons, and even evidence of eruptions on Pluto. Sævar explains how gravity, internal heat, and planetary forces create volcanoes in places far beyond Earth—and what studying them teaches us about our own planet’s past and future.

The conversation also touches on Iceland’s iconic volcanoes, why eruptions inspire awe rather than fear, and how volcanoes are essential to the story of life on Earth. To top it off, Sævar shares his passion for astronomy and gives an exciting preview of the total solar eclipse visible from Iceland in August 2026—an event he describes as one of nature’s most powerful experiences.

If you love volcanoes, space, science, or simply great storytelling, this episode is for you.

Listen now and explore volcanoes on Earth—and beyond.

In this fascinating episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, we dive into the fiery intersection of volcanoes, carbon science, and the future of our planet. Hosts Iain MacKinnon, Lava Master at Lava Show, and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir, Founder of Lava Show (aka Lady Lava), welcome two remarkable guests:

Together, they explore some of the biggest questions in earth science today:

This episode blends engaging storytelling with accessible science, making complex topics feel down-to-earth (and occasionally molten-hot). Whether you’re a volcano enthusiast, a climate science follower, or simply curious about how the planet works, this conversation offers surprising insights and plenty of “I never knew that!” moments.

Listen now and discover how Iceland’s  geology may help shape a cooler, more sustainable future.

What keeps Reykjavík warm, powers homes, and even heats the sidewalks in the middle of winter? In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, we uncover Iceland’s biggest energy secret: geothermal power.

Our guest, Kári Valgeirsson, geologist and science communicator at the

The Geothermal Exhibition at Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant joins hosts Ian MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir to explain how Iceland harnesses volcanic heat deep below the surface. From drilling into geothermal reservoirs (think sponge, not lake!) to the role of volcanic systems and basalt bedrock, Kári breaks down the science in a way everyone can understand.

We explore:

How geothermal energy is formed and why Iceland is uniquely suited for it.

The history of Iceland’s transition from oil to renewables.

Everyday impacts—from heating homes and pools to powering cities.

The exciting future of super-critical geothermal projects like the Krafla Magma Testbed.

Whether you’re fascinated by volcanoes, curious about clean energy, or planning a trip to Iceland, this episode offers insights you won’t want to miss.

👉 Listen now and discover how Iceland turns lava and heat into one of the cleanest energy systems in the world.

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