The Faroe Islands Podcast

On this episode, we launch our 16th season of the podcast by tying up some loose ends from our last show, then we head to a church and struggle to describe some absolutely gorgeous music. If you want to see the highlights of the football (soccer, for all you Americans out there) match, you can watch them here.

On this podcast, we talk about history being made, both big and small. We start with a bried update on the remarkable rise of KI Klaksvik in the Champion's League qualifying rounds. They've already dispatched teams from Hungary and Sweden, and now stand poised to knock out a team from Norway. They've already become the first Faroese football team to qualify for the group stages of a European tournament. History, indeed. Then we talk to the CEO of Atlantic Airways about the historic opening of air service between the Faroe Islands and New York. And finally, we'll visit a long vanished river that has been brought back to life... in the form of a fountain. Also, we're still in fundraising mode and could definitely use your help to nudge us over the finish line. If you're able, please visit our gofundme page and show us a little love. 

On this podcast, we talk about the 20th edition of the G! Festival. We'll hear some of the artists who will perform in Gota next week, and hear about the amenities and atmosphere you can expect at the three-day celebration of music. After that, we'll hang out in a hotel lobby like we're Duke Fame (that's a deep cut). We're also still in fundraising mode. You can help us pay for another season of podcasts by heading over to our Gofundme page and showing us a little love.

On this episode, we visit an old salt silo on Suduroy that has been converted to a performing arts center. We'll hear our impressions of the place back in 2010, when it was abandoned and in pretty rough shape. Then we'll see how it's been transformed into what it is today. There will be music. There will be food. There will be a bit of vertigo as we ascend a small spiral staircase. What more could you want? Also, we're still in fundraising mode. If you can help us head back to the Faroes to record more episodes of this show, head on over to our gofundme page and show us some love.

On this episode, we talk to Glenn Larson who heads up Faroe Music Export (FMX). We talk about the music scene in the Faroe Islands, the challenges of promoting music from a remote country, and how this Norwegian ended up living in the Faroe Islands. Also, we stand in a big parking lot where we can see both the future and the past of the Faroe Islands at the same time. At the top of the show, we announce our fundraising campaign for the year. We're heading back to the Faroes to record more episodes of the podcast, and we could use a little help. If you can help, here's the link to our gofundme page.

On this episode of Home and Away, Stella talks to Iuliia from Russia. She's a professional volleyball player, an coach, and a... lawyer? That's right, she can spike whatever you set, then help you sue the other team because they were cheating. (Not absolutely sure that's the type of law she practices, but we can dream.) We'll talk sport, law, and what it takes to learn a language while also trying to play a team sport.

On this episode, we finish up our conversation with Gudmund Helmsdal. He's the Faroese filmmaker whose short film "Brother Troll" has racked up awards at festivals around the world. He's also worked on "Peter Pan and Wendy" and the last James Bond film, both of which were partially shot in the Faroe Islands. We'll talk abotu the future of filmmaking in the Faroe Islands, and about plans for his first feature film. Then we go to a church and listen to music from our good friend Stanley Samuelsen,

On this episode, we talk to filmmaker Gudmund Helmsdal about his short film, Brother Troll, which has been hoovering up awards at film festivals around the world for more than a year. We'll talk about his journey to becoming a filmmaker, which started in the Faroe Islands and took him to Denmark and Austrailia before returning him to his home. Then we'll sit on a bench in Torshavn and think about change.

On this special episode of Home and Away, Stella talks to an Icelandic and a Faroese comedian about an upcoming (now in the past) comedy show in Torshavn, and the gowth of comedy in both the Faroe Islands and Iceland. As always, if you'd like to hear the full episode with including the musical breaks, you can stream it from the FM1 website.

On this episode, we talk with the head of Visit Faroe Islands about the tourism industry in the Faroe Islands and how its holding up during the weird few years we've all lived through. We also talk about fun things to do when you're visiting in the winter. We also talk about the (almost) announcement of a new Atlantic Airways flight to New York, and we (almost) stand in the snow in one of the most touristed spots in the Faroes.  Note: The story about the Atlantic Airways story could change at any moment. If there are updates, we will post them in the show notes here, and we'll also do a special podcast when the official announcement comes out.

This week, Stella starts a new series of episodes where the talks to mixed couples about how they met, why they married, and why they chose to make their lives in the Faroe Islands.  The first couple is Nelia and Jan Erik Niclasen. Jan Erik is from the Faroe Islands and Nelia is from the island of Saint Vincent in the Caribbean. They talk to Stella about how they met, why they decided to live in the Faroes, their time living in Denmark, and why they came back. If you'd like to hear the full, unedited version of this show, and hear more from the Home and Away archives, you can visit the FM1 website.

On this episode, we talk to Sveinur Trondurson about the results of the recent Faroese election. We'll get super-nerdy on the new coalition, the challlenges ahead for the new government, and we pour one out for Self Rule Party, which was one of the original political parties in the Faroe Islands, but was shut out in this most recent election. Then we'll visit a candidate forum at a university and think about small-scale politics.

On this episode, we cover the national election for the Faroese Law Thing. 160-ish candidates are running for 33-ish seats in the parliament. (There are 33 seats in the Law Thing, but ministerial jobs can push that number up a bit.) We'll visit a polling place, talk to a journalist and a candidate, then head over to the Nordic House and wait for the results to come in. It's a unique opportunity to view the Faroese electoral process as it happens. But this is a long episode so... pack a lunch.

This week, Stella talks to Rosappin Croos from Sri Lanka. Rosappin (who would likely be called Sister Rosappin in Sri Lanka) joined a convent in her home country years ago and was sent to the Faroe Islands last summer. She talks about her time growing up in Sri Lanka, getting used to the cold of the Faroes, and even speaks a little bit of Tamil with Stella.

On our special Christmas episode of the podcast, we capture some of the sounds of the Faroe Islands during Christmastime. We'll visit a museum in Surudoy, and we'll listen to lots and lots of music. This episode features a lot of music from a concert in Runavik that was being taped for KVF. You can watch the first half of this concert here. Watch the second half here. Merry Christmas to all of you.

On this episode, Stella talks to Christian Imhoff about coaching volleyball in the Faroe Islands, growing up in Argentina, and the usefullness of Vitamin D.

Faroese voters head to the polls this week to chose who will represent them in the Law Thing. On this episode, we'll get an overview of the upcoming election with Sveinur Trondarson, he's the editor of Faroese newspaper Dimmalaetting. We'll also visit a candidate forum in Torshavn and trail our own Heri Simonsen as he casts an early vote at city hall. The Election is on Thursday, December 8th. No matter where you are in the world, you can watch live coverage of election returns on the KVF website.

This week, Stella talks to Melanie Mellemgaard who was born in South Africa to a South African mom of Indian descent and a Faroese dad. Her family moved to the faroe Islands when she was in school. Stella talks to Melanie about the differences between the two countries and why cooking with butter just isn't the same as with ghee. Note: When this program aired on FM1, it had songs that we had to remove due to copyright restrictions. If you want to hear the episode with the music, you can listen to the original version streamed from the FM1 website right here. Also, we're close to reaching our fundraising goal for this year's reporting trip to the Faroe Islands. If you can nudge us over the finish line, visit our gofundme page and toss a few dollars in the tip jar. Thank you.

On this edition of Home and Away, Stella talks to Michael Feldballe about growing up in Denmark, his life in the Faroe Islands, and the benefits of archery. For copyright reasons, we have to remove the music that plays during the breaks, which is a shame because it's quite good. But if you want to listen to a version of this show with the songs included, you can listen to it on the FM1 website. Also, the Faroe Islands Podcast is returning to the Faroe Islands in about two weeks. This trip is rescheduled from it's original July dates. When we paused the original trip, we also paused out fundraising campaign. Now that it's back on, we're restarting that campaign. If you can help us out, please head over to our gofundme page and toss a few dollars into the tip jar. Thank you.

It has been a year of ups and downs for everyone here at Podcast HQ. So many swings that we had to suspend production of the podcast for a large portion of this year. On this short podcast, we answer the question many of you have been asking, "Are you okay?" We'll also answer questions like, "when are you going to put out podcasts on a more regular basis," "are you ever going back to the Faroes," and, "seriously, are you okay?" Not to give anything away, but the answers are all good. Want to make things more good? Come on down to our gofundme page and kick in a few bucks and help us make our next reporting trip to the Faroes a success. (Okay, that was also kind of a spoiler.)

This week we talk to Heri Simonsen about the Faroe Islands Men's National Team's stunning 2-1 victory over Turkey in the Nations League and ask a previously unthinkable question: is the National Team actually good?

Eivor spent part of July and August on her first headlining tour of North America. On this episode, we hop in Eivor's tour van and travel from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, British Columbia. On the way, we'll stop in Seattle, spend WAY too much time at the Canadian border, and finally make it to the venue with not a moment to spare. It's a rare glimpse into the everyday life of a working band. Eivor will be touring Europe in September and October. You can see the tour dates here.  Note: At the end of this episode, we day that this is episode 538. (Apparently we're subconsciously big fans of Nate Silver.) It's actually episode 358. These things happen.

We're taking a brief hiatus from our hiatus to bring you this Olavsoka-themed episode. This time out, our good friend Andrias Høgenni takes us to the Torshavn Cathedral to show us a special altarpiece made just for Olavsoka. We'll hear a little music from the historic 2012 Pride rally (which takes place one day before Olavsoka) and feel all warm and fuzzy about the national holiday.

This episode is short, but after you listen, you may consider that a blessing. On this show, we make a bunch of unhappy announcements about this year's reporting trip, and the near-term future of the podcast.

On this episode, take a tour of the World War Two museum with Dánjal Poulsen. We'll learn about the history of the war that many outsiders may not have even realized touched the Faroe Islands. Heri Simonsen is also on hand to take us to the village that once housed the British officer's quarters.

This week, we check out the new feature on Microsoft Translator that now features Faroese. The results are... sort of funny, really. But despite some giggling, the inclusion of Faroese on a major translation app is a big deal. You can try out the app here. Then we check out the new-ish stadium where EB/Streymur play. We're still raising funds to help support our next reporting trip to the Faroes. We're getting close to our goal. If you can help push us closer to the finish line, please visit our gofundme page and show us some love.

On this episode, we take a look at FOUR new traffic lights in Torshavn. That's right, in the course of a year the number of traffic lights in the capitol has DOUBLED. That seems like a big deal, which may explain why we've used ALL CAPS in THREE DIFFERENT SENTENCES. Also, at the top of the show, we'll get an update on our annual fundraiser. If you'd like to donate, you can visit our gofundme page and toss a little somehting into the collection plate.

On this episode of Home and Away, Stella talks to Savior Mifsud about his life in the Faroe Islands, what he misses about Malta, and the perils of photography in windy places. Also, we're raising money to fund a new season of podcasts If you can help out, please follow this link and toss a few bucks into the tip jar. Note: This is the last episode of Home and Away that will appear in the Faroe Islands Podcast feed. If you want to listen to the archives or hear new episodes, you can listen on the FM1 website.

On this episode, we talk to the director and sound designer of a play that adapts a book written by Carl Johan Jensen. We'll hear about the sounds on stage, and why the director calls the adaptation a "massacre." Also, we're headed back to the Faroes to record more epsiodes of the podcast. If you can help us fund this new season, please go to our gofundme page and toss a few kroners our way.

On this episode, Stella talks to Lucas Frayssinet about moving to the Faroes, his documentary project and... dried fish. Really!

On this episode, we talk to Hogni Lisberg. He has been a prominent musician in the Faroe Islands for more than 20 years, having performed with the groundbreaking Clickhaze, performing with Eivor, and having a successful solo career of his own. Now he's launched a music publishing company to help get Faroese songs into TV shows, movies, and advertisements all over the world. Here's the link to his company's Instagram page. During the interview, we talk about the band Clickhaze. There is very little of their output that can be found on the internet, but here's a performance they did in 2001.

On this episode of Home and Away, Stella talks to Cory Wiggins about growing up in Barbados, his new life in the Faroe Islands, and maybe, just maybe, getting some people to play cricket.

On this episode, we talk about how the war in Ukraine is affecting the Faroese economy and people. We'll also get what may be our final COVID update, talk about Faroese bootlegging, and congratulate a bunch of people who won a bunch of prizes. You can find the Danish website with the COVID entry requirements here.  Wanna see the artist's rendering of the new apartment block in Runavik? Of course you do. Here they are.

On this episode, we talk to Jens L Thomsen about a sound art installation he created for the new subsea tunnel connecting Streymoy and Eysturoy. Then we drive down into the tunnel to have a listen. If you find yourself in the Faroes and want to listen to this piece, tune your radio to 97.0. (There are no signs near the tunnel that tell you how to tune it.

On this episode, we pay a visit to... well... kind of the G! Festival, but not really. The 2021 festival was cancelled one week before the music was to start, but on what what would have been the third night of the festival, some music happened on the field that would have held the festival, and that was enough reason for us to show up. We'll hear a little music, talk to some old friends and some new ones, and hope for a better year to come. UPDATE: Moments after we recorded this show, the festival announced their first acts for the 2022 event. You can see who they are here.

On this edition of Home and Away, Stella talks to Matildu Sivertsen about her time living in Norway and Dubai. Also... why so many cats?

On this episode, it's part two of our conversation with Teitur. We talk about the changes in the Faroe Islands over the past decade both in how it's perceived by foreigners and the Faroese themselves. Then we step outside and contemplate the year to come.

This week, we talk to Teitur about getting knighted, the nature of fame in a country where fame doesn't matter, and why he considers his entire career "career suicide." Then we listen to a little bit of a stunning song from Elin Brimheim Heinesen, and get a little misty about Christmas. To hear the whole song from Elin, follow this link. UPDATE: On this podcast, we talk about the LGBTQ rights bill that passed the Faroe Islands Law Thing. A LOT has happened since we recorded the narration track. This article will help get you up to speed.

This week, Stella talks to Juliana Arias Agudelo, who grew up in Colombia, but is now in the Faroes. She'll talk about having children in the Faroes, and why this Christmas will be extra-special for her.

On this podcast we have an uncomfortable conversation about the events on September 12. On that day, more than 1,400 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were killed on a beach in Eysturoy. We'll gather facts to help you understand exactly what happened, and then talk to our friend Runi Nielsen about what it all means, and what changes might be in store in the future. Then we end with a special message for a specific set of our first-time listeners. In the podcast, we promise links to a lot of older podcasts. So... here you go. This is our conversation with Runi Nielsen in 2014 about his anti-whaling activism. And here's part 2 of that conversation. In 2009, we did our first episode on Faroese whaling. We spoke to a researcher who studies whaling in small countries, and a Faroese public health doctor who advised certain people not to eat whale meat. You can find it here.  In 2015, we documented a hunt as it happened. We also spoke to Pete Bethune about why he changed his strategy to end Faroese whaling. And here's part 2 of that conversation.

This week, Stella talks to Manjiao Li Ryggstein who grew up in rural China before meeting and marrying a Faroese man. It's a fun story. Also we'll get a COVID update and hear some audio from the Faroe Islands-Denmark match. UPDATE: When we posted this podcast, the Faroe Islands was the only team to score on Denmark during this round of World Cup qualifying. About 5 minutes after we posted it, Scotland beat Denmark 2-0. So now it would be more accurate to say the Faroe Islands was the FIRST team to score against Denmark in this round of World Cup qualifying. 

This week, we travel to the village of Sund to visit a small farm surrounded by factories and other industrial development. We'll ask why the farm is still there, and what it was like before the development came.

On this episode of Home and Away, Stella talks to Theresa from Germany. Theresa saw a quirky ad for a Faroese bus service and that led her on a journey from her native Germany to the Faroe Islands. We'll here how she's adjusting to life in the Faroes, whether you can be an artist and also "normal," and how sobriety affects Theresa's art.

On this show, we document our return to the Faroe Islands after being away for two years. There's a little anxiety, a little frustration, an little impatience, and even a couple of tears And, of course, there's cotton swabs at the back of the throat, triggering a gag reflex.

This week's Home and Away is a tribute to Eyðfinn Drewsen, who died last week at the age of 52. He was a DJ, producer, sound tech, voice over guy, and basically a person who could do everything at a radio station.  He was literally the voice of FM1 and Ras 2 before that. On this special episode, Stella talks about her memories of Eyðfinn and the things that made him special. Our deepest condolences go out to Eyðfinn's family, friends, and those who loved him

On this episode, Stella talks to Heri Simonsen about his life in the Faroes, growing up in Greenland, and the shocking truth about his place of birth. Also, we pay brief tribute to a legend of radio in the Faroe Islands.

This week, we check in with Jon Hestoy, he's one of the people with the unenviable job of trying to convince the International Olympic Committee to recognize the Faroe Islands. We'll talk about the history of the campaign for Faroese recognition, that the IOC has to say about the matter, and get an update on how Faroese athletes did at this year's Olympics... competing for Denmark. We spoke to Jon back in 2016 and went more in depth on certain of these topics. If you'd like to hear that conversation, you can listen to it here. Also, we get an update on COVID-19 in the Faroe Islands, and spend a hot afternoon by the water.

On this edition of Home and Away, Stella interviews the host of a podcast about the Faroe Islands. Can you imagine that, a whole podcast about the Faroe Islands! Well, it's true. Stella talks to (checks notes) Matthew Workman about how he started his podcast, what it was like to visit the Faroes for the first time, and what podcast he's least proud of. As always, we had to cut out all the music bits, but if you want to listen to the songs we had to cut, you can find a Spotify playlist here. 

This week, we react to the news of the cancellation of the G! Festival and map out plans for the podcast now that we won't be able to cover the festival.  We'll also get an update on the COVID situation in the Faroes (spoiler alert: it's not good) and listen to some audio from the G! Festival 8 years ago (spoiler alert: it's really good). I'll also beg for money. If you want to donate to our gofundme campaign, you can find the link here.

On this episode of Home and Away, Stella talks to Gunn Hernes. Gunn is the head of the Nordic House in Torshavn. We'll talk about Gunn's childhood in Norway, her journeys to Sweden, Iceland, and Denmark, and what led her to live in the Faroe Islands. Before that, we have a short update on the COVID situation in the Faroe Islands and beg for money. If you can contribute to this year's fundraising campaign, please follow this link to our gofundme page and toss a few dollars, or kroner or Euros in our direction. Thanks to everyone who already has. 

On this episode of Home & Away, Stella catches up with Cinthia Gonzalez Parada. Cinthia was a guest on Home & Away a few years ago, and Stella asks her how the last years have gone, and about her music. And we'll even get to hear some of that music! Also, we have an update on the COVID situation in the Faroe Islands. As a reminder, we're traveling to the Faroes to record more episodes of the podcast, and we need some help from you to keep the show revenue-neutral. If you have the ability, please visit our gofundme page and toss a little something into the tip jar. Even a little is a big help to us. And thanks to those have donated already.