Podcasts about Iceland

In our first podcast of 2026 we are joined all the way from Southern Maryland, USA by the very aptly named Levi Strong. Levi is a 6ft 8, 375lb giant of a man who recently WON the Magnus Classic out in Iceland in November beating a world class line-up. We discuss Levi's hard working blue collar background, working in ice storms & extreme conditions, his experience in Iceland, his training & aspirations for the future. This is a relaxed & informative conversation with an intelligent, humble & polite athlete who hopefully we will all be seeing much more of over the coming months & years.

Today, we take a throwback to Glacial Resonance by Nefúr, which transported the audience through immersive soundscapes inspired by the Arctic's beauty and fragility.This performance was recorded live at the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 16th to 18th.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

Episode 747: Neal and Toby revisit some of their favorite numbers throughout the year, including the death of partying, Americans are very rich but also miserable, ChatGPT changing the way we speak, and people hating cars that have too much tech. Then, the selection of the next pope caused a resurgence in pope content. Don't forget, Wyoming only has 2 escalators and mosquitoes show up in Iceland for the first time ever. Finally, why Din Tai Fung is absolutely crushing in.  Check out https://www.public.com/morningbrew for more. Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Paid endorsement. Brokerage services provided by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. Investing involves risk. Not investment advice. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool by Public Advisors. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. See disclosures at public.com/disclosures/ga. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and investment values may rise or fall. See terms of match program at https://public.com/disclosures/matchprogram. Matched funds must remain in your account for at least 5 years. Match rate and other terms are subject to change at any time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

""Life Is" by Jessica Pratt from Here is the Pitch; "Iceland" by Dreamend from May You Die Well; "Sometimes" by Spellling from Portrait of My Heart; "First Wisteria (Bottle Magic Mix)" by Certain Slant of Light from It Isn't But It Is; "Garmonbozia (Instrumental) by Flying Lotus from Spirit Box; "Qw4nt0hmw3b" by Discovery Zone from Quantum Web EXP; "7-21-17_substitute_hifi_v3" by Toro y Moi from Soul Trash; "Flyboat" by Frunk29 from The Fifth Season. Courtesy of Not Not Fun; "Milestones" by GIFT from Illuminator. Courtesy of Captured Tracks; "Silver Bells" by Grails from Miracle Music; "Escape Lounge" by heith from Escape Lounge; "Blackoak" by Maribou State from Hallucinating Love; "Cotes de Cachalot a la Psilocybine" by Heldon from It's Always Rock 'n' Roll (Heldon III); "Skylarking" by Bitchin Bajas from Inland Sea; "The Opinion of the Lamb, Pt. 1" by Smote from A Grand Stream

As we hurtle through the festive season it's getting cold, but here at This Paranormal Life instead of conserving our energy and our heat, Kit and Rory are heading north into the icy fjords and lakes of Iceland to hunt down a terrifying ancient paranormal creature known as the Lagarfljót Worm. At first the stories may sound like yet another slice of Iceland's rich tradition of folklore and myth but then why do we have video evidence of the beast's existence? Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Secret Society Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThisParanormalLife⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get access to weekly bonus episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Official TPL Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thisparanormallife.com/store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.purple-planet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Edited by Philip Shacklady Research by Ewen Friers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#iceland #horror #folklore Support The Most Haunted City On Earth and get zero ads, a welcoming community, exclusive content, and special episodes like The Fix. Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/hauntedcitypodcastIn this wildly festive, completely unhinged episode, we dive deep into the dark Icelandic folklore of Grýla, the mountain-dwelling Christmas ogress who eats naughty children, commands the Yule Lads, and owns the terrifying Yule Cat. Along the way, things spiral exactly as you would expect.ANNOUNCEMENTSJanuary 11: The Other Side Show goes LIVE exclusively on PatreonJanuary 13: Season 8 Episode 1 dropsJanuary 23: The Other Side Show pilot releases publicly

Roxi Power talks with co-editor Dion O'Reilly about poems in the second volume of En•Trance, an online journal about altered states, in particular, those that arise from entering “the lyric moment” in surreal and visionary poetry.  As always, we laugh, accepting “there is always more dark” as we enter the shadow in strangely humorous poems. In Liz Cambra's “Survey,” she asks librarians, marmosets, anglerfish, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning whether they welcome “the return of the dark” when “volcanos shut off” in Iceland. Kim Adonnizio takes us on a journey into the chimeric dream images of childhood where “a man might be half-scorpion, a woman half fish” in “Kansas, 4:00am.”  We travel through the ears of a dreamer “like looking down a well-lit hallway into another room” in Sally Ashton's “Form is the opposite of dream.”  And then we travel even further into earthly and unearthly realms, through the mythical soundscapes of Marc Vincenz's “The First Gods,” seeing “omens/in the curdled milk/of the fat-tailed sheep.” Join us on our entrancing journey into the strange music ofpoetry where  “There is another world, and it's this one.”  –Paul Éluard.  Entrancejournal.net

This week we're bringing you an ITEM RENEWAL from our archives. In this episode of Rhody Radio first released on December 19, 2023, Liz Gotauco AKA Cosbrarian dispenses with the merry and instead wishes you a Very Scary Christmas, sharing some macabre yuletide folk tales to accompany a dark winter night. If you love this episode and haven't yet, be sure to read Liz's book and listen to our episode with her and her sister Jade Gotauco all about folktales, illustrating the book, and their respective efforts to shine a light on neglected stories: F*cked Up Fairy Tales by Liz Gotauco, illustrated by Jade Gotauco Overdueing It Episode 35 - F*cked Up Fairy Tales the Book! With Liz and Jade Gotauco Overdueing It is a project funded by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services and is produced by library staff around the Ocean State. We are proud to be a resident partner of the Rhode Island Center for the Book. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers' own and do not represent those of the Overdueing It podcast, its sponsor organizations, or any participants' place of employment. The content of Overdueing It episodes are the property of the individual creators, with permission for Overdueing It to share the content on their podcast feed in perpetuity. Any of the content from the Overdueing It podcast can not be reproduced without express written permission. Our logo was designed by Sarah Bouvier and our theme music is by Neura-Flow. Story sources and further reading "Frau Perchta, the Belly-Slitter" by Bone and Sickle "Meet the Thirteen Yule Lads, Iceland's Own Mischievous Santa Clauses" by Smithsonian Mag "Why Iceland's Christmas Witch Is Much Cooler (and Scarier) Than Krampus" via Smithsonian Mag "Hans Von Trotha" via Wikipedia "The Evil Butcher" via the St. Nicholas Center Ginevra, or, The old oak chest, a Christmas story by Susan Wallace (1894) "The Legend of the Mistletoe Bough" via Wikipedia "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes" by Henry James (1868) "Secrets of the Old Oak Trunk" is an original short story by Liz Gotauco, November 2023 Music "The Demons Dance on Christmas Eve" by melodyayresgriffiths, via Pixabay "Coventry Carol" by Chillmore from Pixabay "A Christmas Tale" by lena_orsa via FreeSound.org "Our Love is Here to Stay" performed by Gracenotes in 2011, featuring Charles Wizon on violin, Lou Messana on guitar and Al Cardillo on bass "Grey Cuckoo Christmas Background Music" by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Julius H. from Pixabay

This week we're bringing you an ITEM RENEWAL from our archives. In this episode of Rhody Radio first released on December 19, 2023, Liz Gotauco AKA Cosbrarian dispenses with the merry and instead wishes you a Very Scary Christmas, sharing some macabre yuletide folk tales to accompany a dark winter night. If you love this episode and haven't yet, be sure to read Liz's book and listen to our episode with her and her sister Jade Gotauco all about folktales, illustrating the book, and their respective efforts to shine a light on neglected stories: F*cked Up Fairy Tales by Liz Gotauco, illustrated by Jade Gotauco Overdueing It Episode 35 - F*cked Up Fairy Tales the Book! With Liz and Jade Gotauco Overdueing It is a project funded by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services and is produced by library staff around the Ocean State. We are proud to be a resident partner of the Rhode Island Center for the Book. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers' own and do not represent those of the Overdueing It podcast, its sponsor organizations, or any participants' place of employment. The content of Overdueing It episodes are the property of the individual creators, with permission for Overdueing It to share the content on their podcast feed in perpetuity. Any of the content from the Overdueing It podcast can not be reproduced without express written permission. Our logo was designed by Sarah Bouvier and our theme music is by Neura-Flow. Story sources and further reading "Frau Perchta, the Belly-Slitter" by Bone and Sickle "Meet the Thirteen Yule Lads, Iceland's Own Mischievous Santa Clauses" by Smithsonian Mag "Why Iceland's Christmas Witch Is Much Cooler (and Scarier) Than Krampus" via Smithsonian Mag "Hans Von Trotha" via Wikipedia "The Evil Butcher" via the St. Nicholas Center Ginevra, or, The old oak chest, a Christmas story by Susan Wallace (1894) "The Legend of the Mistletoe Bough" via Wikipedia "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes" by Henry James (1868) "Secrets of the Old Oak Trunk" is an original short story by Liz Gotauco, November 2023 Music "The Demons Dance on Christmas Eve" by melodyayresgriffiths, via Pixabay "Coventry Carol" by Chillmore from Pixabay "A Christmas Tale" by lena_orsa via FreeSound.org "Our Love is Here to Stay" performed by Gracenotes in 2011, featuring Charles Wizon on violin, Lou Messana on guitar and Al Cardillo on bass "Grey Cuckoo Christmas Background Music" by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Julius H. from Pixabay

Today, iDJa takes over the Arctic Circle Podcast to present Gaskačázis (“Middle of the Sky”), a fusion of traditional Sámi music and contemporary electronic sounds.This performance was recorded live at the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 16th to 18th.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/MASTYORASTY and get on your way to being your best self.-------------------------------------------In this episode Raam talks to Jason about direct democracy and an analysis on the Iceland direct democracy experiment. You can follow up what we were talking about based on this deepseek research:https://chat.deepseek.com/share/3m5ek25rrcy12g5sqwcontact Raam at https://t.me/queenraaminfo@kingraam.comTo learn more about psychedelic therapy go to my brother Mehran's page at: https://www.mindbodyintegration.ca/ or to https://www.somaretreats.org for his next retreat.***Masty o Rasty is not responsible for, or condone, the views and opinions expressed by our guests ******مستی و راستی هیچگونه مسولیتی در برابر نظرها و عقاید مهمان‌های برنامه ندارد.***--------Support the showhttps://paypal.me/raamemamiVenmo + Revolut: @KingRaamContact me at:info@kingraam.comt.me/queenraam Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another year ends, and once more, it's time to reflect on our creative goals. I hope you can take the time to review your goals and you're welcome to leave a comment below about how the year went. Did you achieve everything you wanted to? Let me know in the comments. It's always interesting looking back at my goals from a year ago, because I don't even look at them in the months between, so sometimes it's a real surprise how much they've changed! You can read my 2025 goals here and I go through how things went below. In the intro, Written Word Media 2025 Indie Author Survey Results, TikTok deal goes through [BBC]; 2025 review [Wish I'd Known Then; Two Authors], Kickstarter year in review; Plus, Anthropic settlement, the continued rise of AI-narrated audiobooks, and thinking/reasoning models (plus my 2019 AI disruption episode). My Bones of the Deep thriller, pics here, and Business for Authors webinars, coming soon. If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) a month. Join us at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. J.F. Penn books — Death Valley, The Buried and the Drowned, Blood Vintage Joanna Penn books — Successful Self-Publishing, 4th Edition The Creative Penn Podcast and my community on Patreon/thecreativepenn Unexpected addition: Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester Book marketing. Not quite a fail but definitely lacklustre. Reflections on my 50th year Double down on being human. Travel and health. You can find all my books as J.F. Penn and Joanna Penn on your favourite online store in all the usual formats, or order from your local library or bookstore. You can also buy direct from me at CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com. I'm not really active on social media, but you can always see my photos at Instagram @jfpennauthor. J.F. Penn — Death Valley. A Thriller. This was my ‘desert' book, partially inspired by visiting Death Valley, California in 2024. It's a stand-alone, high stakes survival thriller, with no supernatural elements, although there are ancient bones and a hidden crypt, as it wouldn't be me otherwise! The Kickstarter campaign in April had 231 Backers pledging £10,794 (~US$14,400) and the hardback is a gorgeous foiled edition with custom end papers and research photos as well as a ribbon. As an AI-Assisted Artisan Author, I used AI tools to help with the creative and business processes, including the background image of the cover design, the custom end papers, and the Death Valley book trailer, which I made with Midjourney and Runway ML. The audiobook is also narrated by my J.F. Penn voice clone, which took a while to get used to, but now I love it! You can listen to a sample here. I published Death Valley wide a few months later over the summer, so it is now out on all platforms. J.F. Penn — Blood Vintage. A Folk Horror Novel, and Catacomb audiobook I did a Kickstarter for the hardback edition of Blood Vintage in late 2024, and then in 2025, worked with a US agent to see if we could get a deal for it. That didn't happen, and although there were some nice rejections, mostly it was silence, and the waiting around really was a pain in the proverbial. So, after a year on submission, I published Blood Vintage wide, so it's available everywhere now. My voice clone narrated the audiobook, listen to a sample here. I also finally produced the audiobook for Catacomb, which is a stand-alone thriller inspired by the movie Taken and the legend of Beowulf set in the catacombs under Edinburgh. I used a male voice from ElevenLabs, and you can listen to a sample here. The book is also available everywhere in all formats. J.F. Penn — The Buried and the Drowned Short Story Collection One of my goals for 2025 was to get my existing short stories into print, mainly because they exist only as digital ebook and audiobook files, which in a way, feels like they almost don't exist! Plus, I wanted to write an extra two exclusive stories and launch the special edition collection on Kickstarter Collection and then publish wide. I wrote the two stories, The Black Church, inspired by my Iceland trip in March, and also Between Two Breaths, inspired by an experience scuba diving at the Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand almost two decades ago. There are personal author's notes accompanying every story, so it's part-short story fiction, part-memoir, and I human-narrated the audiobook. I achieved this goal with a Kickstarter in September, 2025, with 206 Backers pledging almost £8000 (~US$10,600) for the various editions. I also did my first patterned sprayed edges and I love the hardback. It has head and tail bands which make the hardback really strong, gorgeous paper, foiling, a ribbon, colour photos, and custom end papers. The Buried and the Drowned is now out everywhere in all editions. As ever, if you enjoy the stories, a review would be much appreciated! Joanna Penn Books for Authors Early in the year, How to Write Non-Fiction Second Edition launched wide as I only sold it through my store in 2024, so it's available everywhere in all formats including a special hardback and workbook at CreativePennBooks.com. While I didn't write it in 2025, I made the money on it this year, which is important! I also unexpectedly wrote the Fourth Edition of Successful Self-Publishing, mainly because I saw so much misinformation and hype around selling direct, and I also wanted to write about how many options there are for indie authors now. The ebook and audiobook (narrated by human me) are free on my store, CreativePennBooks.com and also available in print, in all the usual places. If you haven't revisited options for indie authors for a while, please have a read/listen, as the industry moves fast! All my fiction and non-fiction audiobooks are now on YouTube After an inspiring episode with Derek Slaton, I put all my audiobooks and short stories on YouTube. Firstly, my non-fiction channel is monetised so I get some income from that. It's not much, but it's something. More importantly, it's marketing for my books, and many audiobook listeners go on to buy other editions especially non-fiction listeners who will often buy print as well. I'm one of those listeners! It's also doubling down on being human, since I human narrate most of my audiobooks, including almost all of my non-fiction, as well as the memoir, and short stories. This helps bring people into my ecosystem and they may listen to the podcast as well and end up buying other books or joining the Patreon. Finally, in an age of generative AI assisted search recommendations, I want my books and content inside Gemini, which is Google's AI. I want my books surfaced in recommendations and YouTube is owned by Google, and their AI overviews often point to videos. Only you can decide what you want to do with your audiobooks, but if you want to listen to mine, they are on YouTube @thecreativepenn for non-fiction or YouTube @jfpennauthor for fiction and memoir. The Creative Penn Podcast and my Patreon Community It's been another full year of The Creative Penn Podcast and this is episode 842, which is kind of crazy. If you don't know the back story, I started podcasting in March 2009 on a sporadic schedule and then went to weekly about a decade ago in 2015 when I committed to making it a core part of my author business. Thanks to our wonderful corporate sponsors for the year, all services I personally use and recommend — ProWritingAid, Draft2Digital, Kobo Writing Life, Bookfunnel, Written Word Media, Publisher Rocket and Atticus. It's also been a fantastic year inside my Patreon Community at patreon.com/thecreativepenn so thanks to all Patrons! I love the community we have as I am able to share my unfiltered thoughts in a way that I have stopped doing in the wider community. Even a tiny paywall makes a big difference in keeping out the haters. I've done monthly audio Q&As which are extra solo shows answering patron questions. I've also done several live office hours on video, and shared content every week on AI tools, writing and author business tips. Patrons also get discounts on my webinars. I did two webinars on The AI-Assisted Artisan Author, which I am planning to run again sometime in 2026 as they were a lot of fun and so much continues to change. If you get value from the show and you want more, come on over and join us at patreon.com/thecreativepenn We have almost 1400 paying members now which is wonderful. Thanks for being part of the Community! Unexpected goal of the year: Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester During the summer as I did my gothic research, I realised that I was feeling quite jaded about the publishing world and sick of the drama in the author community over AI. My top 5 Clifton Strengths are Learner, Intellection, Strategic, Input, and Futuristic — and I needed more Input and Learning. I usually get that from travel and book research, but I wasn't getting enough of that since Jonathan is busy finishing his MBA. So I decided to lean into the learning and asked ChatGPT to research some courses I could do that would suit me. It found the Masters in Death, Religion and Culture at the University of Winchester, which I could do full-time and online. It would be a year of reading quite different things, writing academic essays which is something I haven't done for decades, and hanging out with a new group of people who were just as fascinated with macabre topics as I am. I started in September and have now finished the first term, tackling topics around thanatology and death studies, hell and the afterlife in the Christian tradition, and the ethics of using human remains to inspire fiction, amongst other interesting things. It was a challenge to get back into the style of academic essay writing, but I'm enjoying the rigour of the research and the citations, which is something that the indie author community needs more of, a topic I will revisit in 2026. I have found the topics fascinating, and the degree is a great way to expand my mind in a new direction, and distract me from the dramas of the author community. I'll be back into it in mid-January and will finish in September 2026. Book marketing. Not quite a fail but definitely lacklustre. I said I would “Do a monthly book marketing plan and organise paid ad campaigns per month for revolving first books in series and my main earners.” I didn't do this! I also said I would organise my Shopify stores, CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com into more collections to make it easier for readers to find things they might want to buy. While I did change the theme of CreativePennBooks.com over to Impulse to make it easier to find collections, I haven't done much to reorganise or add new pathways through the books. I'm rolling this part of the goal into 2026. I said I would reinvigorate my content marketing for JFPenn, and make more of BooksAndTravel.page with links back to my stores, and do fiction specific content marketing with the aim of surfacing more in the LLMs as generative search expands. I did a number of episodes on Books and Travel in 2025, but once I started the Masters, I had to leave that aside, and although I have started some extra content on JFPennBooks.com, I am not overly enthusiastic about it! I also said I would “Leverage AI tools to achieve more as a one-person business.” I use AI tools (mainly ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini) every day for different things but as ever, I am pretty scatter gun about what I do. I lean into intuition and I love research so I am more likely to ask the AI tools to do a deep research report on south Pacific merfolk mythology, or how gothic architecture impacted sacred music, or geology and deep time, rather than asking for marketing hooks. I intended to use more AI for book marketing, but as ever, I was too optimistic about the timeline of what might be possible. There's lots you can do with prompting, finessing things and then posting on various platforms, but I'm not interested in spending time doing that. My gold standard for an AI assistant is to feed it the finished book and then say, “Here's a budget. Go market this,” and not have to connect lots of things together into some Frankenstein-workflow. That's not available yet. Maybe in 2026 … Of course, I still do book marketing. I have to in order to sell any books and make money from book sales. We all have to do some kind of book marketing! I have my Kickstarter launches which I put effort into, as well as consistent backlist sales fed by the podcast, and my email newsletter (my combined list is around 60K). I have auto campaigns running on Amazon Ads, and I have used Written Word Media campaigns as well as BookBub throughout the year. This is basically the minimum, so as usual, must do better! I'm pretty sure I'm not the only author saying this! However, my business has multiple streams of income, and I have the podcast sponsorship revenue as well as the Patreon, plus sporadic webinars, which add to my bottom line and don't require paid advertising at all. Reflections on my 50th year I woke up on my 50th birthday in March in Iceland, by the Black Church of Budir out on the Skaefellsnes peninsula. As seals played in the sea and we walked in the snow over the ancient lava field under the gaze of the volcano that inspired Jules Verne Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and my short story, The Black Church, which you can find in my collection, The Buried and the Drowned. On that trip, we also saw the northern lights and had a memorable trip that marked a real shift for me. I've been told by lots of people that 50 is a ‘proper' birthday, as in one of those that makes you stop and reconsider things, and it has indeed been that, although I have also found the last few years of perimenopause to be a large part of the change as well. A big shift is around priorities and not caring so much what other people think, which is a relief in many ways. Also, I don't have the patience to do things that I don't think are worth doing for the longer term, and I am appreciating a quieter life. I'd rather lie in a sunbeam and read with Cashew and Noisette next to me then create marketing assets or spend time on social media. I'd rather go for a walk with Jonathan than go to a conference or networking event. In my Pilgrimage memoir, I quote an anonymous source, “Pilgrim, pass by that which you do not love.” It's a powerful message, and I take it to mean, stop listening to people who tell you what is important. Listen to yourself more and only pay attention to that which you feel drawn to explore. On pilgrimage, it might be turning away from the supposedly important shrine of a saint to go and sit in nature and feel closer to God that way. In our author lives, it might be turning away from the things that just feel wrong for us, and leaning into what is enjoyable, that which feels worthwhile, that which we want to keep doing for the long term. Let's face it, as always, that is the writing, the thinking, the imagination. As ever, I have this mantra on my wall: “Measure your life by what you create.” It's the creation side of things that we love and that's what we need to remember when everything else gets a little much. Many authors left social media in 2025, and while I haven't left it altogether, I don't use it much. I post pictures proving I am human on Instagram @jfpennauthor which automatically post to Facebook. I barely check my pages on Facebook though. I'm also still on X with a carefully curated feed that I mainly use to learn new cool AI things which I share with my Patreon Community. Double down on being human. Travel and health. Yes, I am a human author, and yes, I continue to age! When you've been publishing a while, you need to update your author photos periodically and I finally had a photoshoot I loved with Betty Bhandari Photography, which means I can add the new pics to my websites and the back of my books. Are you up to date with your author photos? (or at least within a decade of the last photoshoot?!) Here are a few of the pictures on Instagram @jfpennauthor. Healthwise, I gave up calisthenics as it was too much on top of the powerlifting and the amount of walking I do. I did another British Powerlifting competition in September in the M2 category (based on age) and 63kgs category (based on weight). Deadlift: 95kgs. Squat: 60kgs. BenchPress: 37.5kgs. While this is less overall than last year, I also weigh less, so I'm actually stronger based on lift to body weight percentage. I have also done a few pull-ups in the last week with no band, which I am thrilled with! On the travel side, Iceland was the big trip, and I also had a weekend in Berlin for the film festival, where I met up with a producer and a director around an adaptation of my Day of the Vikings thriller. That didn't pan out, as most of these things don't, but I certainly learned a lot about the industry — and why it doesn't suit me! Once again, I dipped my toe into screenwriting and then ran away, as has happened multiple times over the years. When will I learn? … Over the summer of 2025, I visited lots of gothic cathedrals including Lichfield, Rochester, Durham, York, and revisiting Canterbury, as part of my book research for the Gothic Cathedral book. I have tens of thousands of words on this project, but it isn't ready yet, so this is carried over into 2026 as it might happen then, depending on the Masters. I spoke at Author Nation in Las Vegas in November 2025, and before it started, I visited (Lower) Antelope Canyon, one of the places on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. What a special place and no doubt it will appear in a story at some point! How did your 2025 go? I hope your 2025 had some wonderful times as well as no doubt some challenges — and that you have time for reflection as the year turns once more. Let me know in the comments whether you achieved your creative goals and any other reflections you'd like to share.The post Review Of My 2025 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Thanks to Holly for suggesting this week’s topic! Further reading: Mermaids: Myth, Kith and Kin [this article is not for children] Feejee Mermaid A manatee: A female grey seal, looking winsome: A drawing of the “original” Fiji (or Feejee) mermaid: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. Let's close out the year 2025 with a mystery episode! Holly suggested we talk about mermaids! Mermaids are creatures of folklore who are supposed to look like humans, but instead of legs they have fish tails. These days mermaids are usually depicted with a single tail, but it was common in older artwork for a mermaid to be shown with two tails, which replaced both legs. Not all mermaids were girls, either. Mermen were just as common. Cultures from around the world have stories about mermaid-like individuals. Sometimes they're gods or goddesses, like the Syrian story of a goddess so beautiful that when she transformed into a fish, only her legs changed, because her upper half was too beautiful to alter, or the Greek god Triton, who is usually depicted as a man with two fish tails for legs. Sometimes they're monsters who cause storms, curse ships, or lure sailors to their doom. Sometimes they can transform into humans, like the story from Madagascar about a fisherman who catches a mermaid in his net. She transforms into a human woman and they get married, but when he breaks a promise to her, she turns back into a mermaid and swims away. In 2012, a TV special aired on Animal Planet that claimed that mermaids were real, and a lot of people believed it. It imitated the kind of real documentaries that Animal Planet often ran, and the only disclaimer was in the credits. I remember how upset a lot of people were about it, especially teachers and scientists. So just to be clear, mermaids aren't real. Many researchers think at least some mermaid stories might be based on real animals. The explorer Christopher Columbus reported seeing three mermaids in 1493, but said they weren't as beautiful as he'd heard. Most researchers think he actually saw manatees. A few centuries later, a mermaid was captured and killed off the coast of Brazil by European scientists, and the careful drawings we still have of the mermaid's hand bones correspond exactly to the bones of a manatee's flipper. Female manatees are larger than males on average, and a really big female can grow over 15 feet long, or 4.6 meters. Most manatees are between 9 and 10 feet long, or a little less than 3 meters. Its body is elongated like a whale's, but unlike a whale it's slow, usually only swimming about as fast as a human can swim. Its skin is gray or brown although often it has algae growing on it that helps camouflage it. The end of the manatee's tail looks like a rounded paddle, and it has front flippers but no rear limbs. Its face is rounded with a prehensile upper lip covered with bristly whiskers, which it uses to find and gather water plants. The manatee doesn't look a lot like a person, but it looks more like a person than most water animals. It has a neck and can turn its head like a person, its flippers are fairly long and resemble arms, and females have a pair of teats that are near their armpits, if a manatee had armpits, which it does not. But that's close enough for Christopher Columbus to decide he was seeing a mermaid. Seals may have also contributed to mermaid stories. In Scottish folklore, the selkie is a seal that can transform into human shape, usually by taking off its skin. There are lots of stories of people who steal the selkie's skin and hide it so that the selkie will marry the person—because selkies are beautiful in their human form. Eventually the selkie finds the hidden skin and returns to the sea. Similar seal-folk legends are found in other parts of northern Europe, including Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Ireland. Many of the stories overlap with mermaid stories. Seals do have appealing human-like faces, have clawed front flippers that sort of resemble arms, and have rear flippers that are fused to act like a tail, even if it doesn't look much like a fish tail. The grey seal is a common animal off the coast of northern Europe, and a big male can grow almost 11 feet long, or 3.3 meters, although 9 feet is more common, or 2.7 meters. It has a large snout and no external ear flaps. Males are dark grey or brown, females are more silvery in color. It mainly eats fish, but will also eat other animals, including crustaceans, octopuses, other seals, and even porpoises. While I don't think it has anything to do with the mermaid or selkie legends, it is interesting to note that seals are good at imitating human voices. We learned about this in episode 225, about talking mammals. For instance, Hoover the talking seal, a harbor seal from Maine who was raised by a human after his mother died. Imagine if you were walking along the shore and a seal said this to you: [Hoover the talking seal saying “Hey get over here!”] Let's finish with the Japanese legend of the ningyo and a weird taxidermy creature called the Feejee mermaid. The ningyo is a being of folklore that dates back to at least the 7th century. It was a fish with a head like a person, usually found in the ocean but sometimes in freshwater. If someone found a ningyo washed up on shore, it was supposed to be a bad omen, foretelling war and other disasters. If you remember the big fish episode a few weeks ago, if an oarfish is found near the surface of the ocean around Japan, it's supposed to foretell an earthquake. The oarfish has a red fin that runs from its head down its spine, like a mane or a comb, and the ningyo was also supposed to have a red comb on its head, like a rooster's comb, or sometimes red hair. Some people think the ningyo is based on the oarfish. The oarfish is a deep-sea fish so it's rare, usually only seen near the surface when it's dying, and it has a flat face that looks more like a human face than most fish, if you squint and really want to believe you're seeing a mythical creature. These days, artwork of the ningyo usually looks a lot more like mermaids of European legend, but the earliest paintings don't usually have arms, just a human head on a fish body. But by the late 18th century, a weird type of artwork had become popular among Japanese fishermen, a type of crude but inventive taxidermy that created what looked like small, creepy mermaids. They looked like dried-out monkeys from the waist up, with a dried-out fish tail instead of legs. That's because that's exactly what they were. Japanese fishermen made these mermaids along with lots of other monsters, and sold them to travelers for high prices. The fishermen told tall tales about how they'd found the monster, killed it, and preserved it, and pretended to be reluctant to sell it, and of course that meant the traveler would offer even more money for it. The most famous of these fake monsters was called the Fiji Mermaid, and it got famous because P.T. Barnum displayed it in his museum in 1842 and said it had been caught near the Fiji Islands, in the South Pacific. It was about three feet along, or 91 cm, and was probably made from a young monkey and a salmon. The original Fiji mermaid was probably destroyed in a fire at some point, but it was such a popular exhibit that other wannabe showmen either bought or made replicas, some of which are still around today. People still sometimes make similar monsters, but they use craft materials instead of dead animals. They're still creepy-looking, though, which is part of the fun. You can find Strange Animals Podcast at strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net. That's blueberry without any E's. If you have questions, comments, corrections, or suggestions, email us at strangeanimalspodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Missed the live broadcast? Catch up now with Ciaran Urry-Tuttiett for a packed edition of the Eurovision Showcase on Forest FM. We are officially looking ahead as the first two entries for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna make their debut! On this week's show: The Class of 2026: We play the first confirmed entries! Hear Alis (Albania) with “Nân / Under” and Tamara Živković (Montenegro) with “Nova zora / New dawn”. New Music: A powerful festive blend of rock and pop from 2004 winner Ruslana with her new single “Hey, Malanka”. Rob's Random Request: Warning: High levels of cheese ahead!

Musician Markéta Irglová has had a busy 2025, releasing a new album and touring with Glen Hansard under the name The Swell Season, a joint project that had been dormant for some years. The Czech-Irish pairing famously won an Oscar in 2007 for their song Falling Slowly. First recorded in a studio near Prague, it reached international audiences in Once, as well as a successful musical based on the hit low-budget film. After a full-band tour with The Swell Season earlier in the year, Irglová and Hansard returned to Czechia for a short series of intimate shows in late November. And it was then that I caught up with the former, who lives in Iceland, for a wide-ranging interview.

Welcome to the thirty-ninth episode of the Zoology Ramblings Podcast! In this episode, Emma and Robi adopt a wintery, festive theme for this December episode. They start by looking back at their wildlife adventures from 2025. Robi also explores the question 'to Beave or Not To Beave?', when considering the role of beavers contributing to natural flood management. For his species of the week, Robi discusses the festive reindeer and Emma talks about the Arctic fox and her special connection to them in Iceland. For their local conservation stories, Robi spotlights some exciting new research showing how reintroducing wolves in Scotland could help regenerate forests and sequester carbon. Emma platforms the European Young Rewilders, with Emma and Robi keen to join the movement. Robi and Emma end with their global conservation news, with Robi delving deeper into polar bear hunting and management, breaking down WWF's stance on this topic. Emma ends by sharing some sad new for snowy owls in Sweden, but also some better news for the species in North America. We look forward to bringing you with us into 2026!Robi Watkinson is a Conservation Biologist and wildlife filmmaker specialising in the spatial and movement ecology of large carnivores, camera trapping survey methods, rewilding, metapopulation dynamics and conservation planning. He has an MSc in Conservation Biology from the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, and the Institute of Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town. He is based between Cape Town and London, and has strong interests in equitable and inclusive conservation, palaeontology and wildlife taxonomy and evolution!Emma Hodson is a Zoologist and wildlife content creator, currently working in the community and engagement team at Avon Wildlife Trust. Emma's role as a Wildlife Champions Project Officer involves supporting and upskilling people to take action for nature in their local communities. Emma has experience in remote wildlife fieldwork, and has been part of Arctic fox, macaw and cetacean research teams in Iceland, Peru and Wales respectively. She has also been involved in animal care and rehabilitation work in Costa Rica and South Africa. Emma is particularly passionate about the interface between community engagement and wildlife monitoring, and enjoys running workshops and giving talks on topics including camera trapping, beaver ecology and rewilding. You can watch "Rewilding A Nation" for free on WaterBear by following this link: https://www.waterbear.com/watch/rewilding-a-nation . You can follow more of our weird and wonderful wildlife adventures on instagram: @zoologyramblingspodcast & @robi_watkinson_wildlife & @emma_hodson_wildlife

The Yule Lads are back… and they're still up to no good. In this festive yet eerie episode, host Natty revisits Iceland's infamous Yule Lads, the terrifying Gryla, and the strange holiday folklore that turns Christmas creepy. Expect mischievous monsters, dark legends, and a dose of humor as ancient myths collide with modern holiday cheer. Perfect for fans of spooky folklore, paranormal podcasts, and twisted Christmas tales.

Today, Kali Armstrong & Friends offer a moving musical break in this podcast series. Flight of Fancy evokes the spirit of exploration and the human drive to reach beyond the known.This performance was recorded live at the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 16th to 18th.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

Holiday Oddities: Stolen Santa Bones, Pooping Logs, and the Strangest Christmas Traditions on Earth This holiday bonus episode of The Box of Oddities unwraps the weirdest, darkest, and most unexpectedly heartwarming Christmas stories from history. Kat and Jethro explore the true fate of Saint Nicholas's bones, including the medieval relic theft that scattered Santa's remains across Europe—and the unsettling legend of “Santa juice” still collected from his tomb. From there, the episode sleighs straight into bizarre holiday traditions from around the world: Catalonia's infamous pooping nativity figure, the gift-pooping Christmas log that children beat with sticks, Iceland's child-eating troll Grýla and her terrifying Yule Cat, and the unsettling folklore behind Santa once writing threatening letters to children instead of the other way around. Balancing the strange with the sincere, the episode also highlights true stories of compassion and humanity during wartime, including the Christmas Truce of 1914, enemies sheltering together on Christmas Eve during World War II, George Washington returning an enemy general's dog, and a Japanese pilot gifting his ancestral samurai sword to an American town decades after bombing it. It's a holiday episode filled with macabre history, unsettling folklore, absurd traditions, and genuine hope—a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, people can still surprise us. Listener discretion advised… and Merry Weird Christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luxury travel has changed. Discover the smart strategies 78% of luxury travelers are now using—from shoulder season timing to emerging "cool-cation" destinations like Iceland and Portugal. Learn why ultra-luxury all-inclusive experiences are surging, how to maximize your precious vacation days, and the insider secrets that turn good trips into unforgettable ones. For busy professionals who want effortless planning and maximum impact.Busy professionals, this one's your cheat code.

pWotD Episode 3157: The Odyssey (2026 film) Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 227,750 views on Tuesday, 23 December 2025 our article of the day is The Odyssey (2026 film).The Odyssey is an upcoming epic action fantasy film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. An adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, and chronicles his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway. The ensemble cast also features Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron, among others. Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas produce the film through their production company, Syncopy.Nolan began writing The Odyssey in March 2024, secured the project with Universal Pictures by October, and the film was announced in December. Casting occurred throughout late 2024, and Damon was confirmed for the lead role in February 2025. Principal photography took place from February to August 2025 across multiple international locations, including Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, and Western Sahara. With an estimated budget of $250 million, the film is the most expensive of Nolan's career and his first to be shot entirely on IMAX's 70 mm film cameras.The Odyssey is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States by Universal Pictures on July 17, 2026.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:32 UTC on Wednesday, 24 December 2025.For the full current version of the article, see The Odyssey (2026 film) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.

What were the highlights this year for award travel for the Points Talk Squad? In this episode, Alex, Pam, and Jess take you through their year of points and miles. The Squad walks through their card openings, closures, and the strategies they used to earn millions of points.   They also share how they used those points for family vacations, girls' trips, and more. From Bora Bora to Iceland to Japan, the Squad discusses the destinations they traveled to and how they turned their points into memorable experiences. Tune in hear who opened nine new credit cards, who earned almost 2 million points, and who took 17 trips this year.   You can find links to resources mentioned in this episode plus the transcript here: pointstalksquad.com/160   Ready to get started with NEARLY FREE travel? Click here for the exact offers we would sign up for this month: https://pointstalksquad.lpages.co/bestoffers/   Points Talk is also on YouTube! You can watch this episode here: youtube.com/@pointstalksquad   Let us know what you want to hear on the podcast by sending us a DM on Instagram: instagram.com/pointstalksquad

SPONSORS: 1) RIDGE: Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/JULIAN #Ridgepod (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Gus Gonzalez is a prominent scuba instructor and technical cave diver, widely known as the co-host and producer of the popular YouTube channel and podcast, "Dive Talk GUS's LINKS: - YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/ORCATORCHWorldwide - IG: https://www.instagram.com/OrcaTorch/# - X: https://x.com/orcatorch - WEBSITE: https://www.orcatorch.com/info/orcatorchambassador-10.html JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 – Intro 01:36 - Diving in 2018, cave diving, Iceland, Silfra, wetsuit vs drysuit, nitrogen narcosis 13:03 – Dry suit danger, off-gassing, decompression sickness, stigma, first dive, 250 dives 24:08 – 10k cave divers, gatekeeping, technical vs recreational, oxygen pressure 34:02 – Commercial diving, certifications, deepest dive 58:47 – Cavern to cave diver, guidelines, Gainesville, 4k ft lines 01:06:42 – Virgin caves, danger, Thai cave rescue, Rick Stanton 01:26:22 – Rick Stanton, Sheck Exley, narcosis, near death 01:35:13 – Mental training, problem solving, lifelong commitment 01:43:18 – Rogan cave story, lost line, backlash, ocean vs freshwater 01:55:36 – Artifacts, bones, Blue Hole Belize, bodies 02:04:09 – Blue Hole depth, rescues, Edd Sorensen, robots can't dive 02:19:51 – Orcas, sharks, expeditions, Titanic sub 02:31:38 – USA migration, Venezuela 02:40:30 – Bonne Terre Mine, DiveTalk, private caves 02:53:16 – DiveTalk mission CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 368 - Gus Gonzalez Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The StickyBeak we're unwrapping the weird, wild, and wonderful origins of the holidays. Ever wondered where Santa really came from — or what people in Iceland, Italy, and Venezuela get up to this time of year? Get ready for sleigh rides through history, myth, and a few festive surprises.

What are Norway's foreign and defense policy priorities in today's Arctic? And what role does Norway play in Arctic relations and governance?Joining the conversation are Maria Varteressian, then State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Andreas Flåm, State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. The open Q&A with the audience is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland.This Session was recorded live at the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 16th to 18th.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

Við hittumst kl. 11:00 á sunnudögum við Fagraþing 2a ... We meet at 11:00 on Sundays at Fagraþing 2a, about 7 miles (12 km) southeast of downtown Reykjavik. If you live in Iceland, or plan on visiting soon, make plans to worship with us in person!

Við hittumst kl. 11:00 á sunnudögum við Fagraþing 2a ... We meet at 11:00 on Sundays at Fagraþing 2a, about 7 miles (12 km) southeast of downtown Reykjavik. If you live in Iceland, or plan on visiting soon, make plans to worship with us in person!

50 years ago, Iceland's women went on strike. It's not the most gender-equal country on earth. A new documentary, "The Day Iceland Stood Still," tells that historic society. Christiane speaks to their president and the film's director.  Also on today's show: Former CNN Cairo bureau chief Gayle Young; tech activist Cory Doctorow  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guest: Dr. William W. Li, NYT-Bestselling Author of Eat to Beat DiseaseOriginally Recorded: May 2022 on Nutrition Without CompromiseSponsor of Original Episode: ÖRLÖ Nutrition Co-Hosts: Corinna Bellizzi & Tia Walden This episode is shared with permission from Nutrition Without Compromise and ORLO Nutrition.  Episode Summary Today's bonus episode comes from the archives of a show I once hosted—Nutrition Without Compromise—a series created to explore nourishment that never sacrifices human health, planetary health, or ethical integrity. While Dr. Li has joined us on Care More Be Better a few times, this conversation has never before aired here, and it remains one of my favorites. Dr. William Li, internationally renowned physician, scientist, and author of the bestseller Eat to Beat Disease, breaks down the body's five health defense systems, the science of using food as medicine, and how we can personalize nutrition to strengthen immunity, support longevity, and reduce disease risk. We talk about dietary diversity, the joy of eating, the role of omega-3s, the pitfalls of low-quality supplements, and how modern research is reframing what it means to live vibrantly at every age. This episode originally aired under the sponsorship of ÖRLÖ Nutrition, makers of carbon-negative, algae-based omega-3s grown in Iceland using clean geothermal energy. Their commitment to regenerative nutrition aligned beautifully with the ethos of that show—and with the work we continue here. Topics We Cover Dr. Li's journey from medical researcher to food-as-medicine pioneer The Five Health Defense Systems: angiogenesis, stem cells, microbiome, DNA protection, and immunity Why dietary diversity—not restriction—is the foundation of vibrant health How food can enhance medical treatments, not just prevent disease The rise of planetary-aware eating and the importance of responsible sourcing Omega-3s: fish vs. algae, and why quality matters The 5x5x5 framework for daily eating without rigidity How lifestyle, joy, and cultural food traditions shape well-being Dr. Li's free masterclasses and practical tips for getting started Referenced In This Episode Eat to Beat Disease by Dr. William W. Li https://amzn.to/3YEosdU Dr. Li's TED Talk: Can We Eat to Starve Cancer? https://www.ted.com/talks/william_li_can_we_eat_to_starve_cancer The Angiogenesis Foundation: https://angio.org/ The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas https://amzn.to/3KKEb8h Dr. Li's Masterclasses & Newsletter: https://drwilliamli.com Dr. Li's Instagram: https://instagram.com/drwilliamli ORLO Nutrition: https://orlonutrition.com Connect with Me Website: https://caremorebebetter.comFollow on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @CareMoreBeBetterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbellizzi/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/caremorebebetterYouTube: https://youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter Cause Partnership Each month, Care More Be Better supports Prescott College and their leadership in sustainability education. Learn more or join this effort: https://caremorebebetter.com/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today in 1882, a big moment in holiday decorations: thanks to inventor Edward H. Johnson, for the first time, a Christmas tree festooned with colorful electric lights. Plus: Iceland has a fascinating Christmas tradition: the Yule Cat. Who invented electric Christmas lights? (Library of Congress)A festive feline: Iceland's terrifying Christmas Yule Cat (History.co.uk)Light up our podcast as a backer on Patreon

[27/6/17 re-uploaded] We read out all your European stories and chat to John Byrne, Aaron Bolger and Brynjar Gunnarsson ahead of Iceland. There's also an interview with Nolan Devlin.

Happy Holidays, Void! Well, this episode writes itself to be honest. It's James Bond in North Korea with hovercrafts, Face-Off technology, and the obligatory stealth vehicle. This time, it's an invisible Aston Martin in the snow! Really, we can count the good things on one hand, but where's the fun in that? Listen to us lament Rick Yune (hot Korean-American actor) being made not-hot, Halley Berry working as an agent of the NSA, and lasers. Seriously, did any of these people SEE AUSTIN POWERS?!?!?!?! TWO OF THOSE FILMS CAME OUT BEFORE THIS ONE!!! But let's be honest, we lose our minds over diamonds in Iceland, raw-dogging ice hotels, and MADONNA. 

What is a call? How does a person know if God is calling them to mission service? Join in a discussion as these and other questions are addressed.

In this week's episode, we'll be talking about another Christmas lore from Iceland.  Grýla, the ogre, and her no good family.  She has a particular taste for the flesh of children that have misbehaved or did not complete their chores.  Her boys, the Yule Lads, wreak havoc on the community, while her cat, Jôlakötturinn, awaits his next kiddie meal!  A true Christmas horror story.If you have any comments, questions or stories you would like to share, or if you'd like to be on the show, email us at cryptidfanatic@gmail.com.Send us a textSupport the show

Send us a textIn this reflective and honest episode of The Sober Butterfly Podcast, host Nadine Mulvina—sober since July 5th, 2021—shares her 2025 Sober Wrapped, inspired by Spotify Wrapped but rooted in real life.Rather than focusing on perfection or aesthetics, Nadine breaks down her year quarter by quarter, rating and reviewing her experiences across travel, dating, goals, and mental health. This episode is a candid look at how sobriety can hold you through both expansion and emotional contraction.Nadine reflects on pivotal moments throughout the year, including speaking at Podfest in Orlando, performing her first stand-up set sober, taking a solo healing trip to Barbados, and experiencing her favorite trip of the year in Iceland during the summer solstice with her mom. She also shares the behind-the-scenes reality of burnout, overworking, and navigating major life transitions.On the dating front, Nadine opens up about long-distance heartbreak, emotional lows, minimal dating, and the clarity that came from stepping back and practicing discernment. She explains why there wasn't enough dating content for a full Sober Dating Wrapped episode—and what she learned instead about intuition, peace, and self-trust.The episode also highlights career milestones and redirections, including Pilates teacher training, unexpected endings that became blessings, and lessons around time, boundaries, and alignment. Ultimately, Nadine reminds listeners that growth isn't always glamorous—and that a “good year” doesn't always feel good while you're living it.This episode is for anyone navigating sobriety, transitions, heartbreak, burnout, or a season of becoming—and learning to trust themselves through it all.✨ In This Episode, You'll Hear:Nadine's 2025 Sober Wrapped breakdown by quarterHow travel became a stabilizing force during emotional lowsLessons from solo travel, including Barbados and El SalvadorWhy this year didn't warrant a full Sober Dating Wrapped episodeThe emotional impact of detachment and discernment in datingCareer wins, burnout warning signs, and redirectionsWhy mental health and alignment matter more than momentumHow sobriety supports growth even when life feels messy

We're pushing out until we return for the holiday break on January 19, with FIVE EXTRA EPISODES. Our initial episode count of 8, increased to 12, and now we know we have more than enough content to put out 17 very strong episodes this season (which means 7 more episodes).Upcoming travel:On January 8th, I'll be in LA with Tooker and Charlie (Crimelines) for a happy hour and meet-up at the Bigfoot Lodge on Los Feliz Blvd from 6-8pm. Stop by and join us for drinks and conversation.Additionally, the trip to Iceland has sold out. But we're working on a second 2026 Trova Trip for those of you wanting something warm, tropical, and closer to home. That announcement will be coming soon.Thanks for your patience, support, and understanding. Have a wonderful holiday season.

For our Pandemic-era Books in Dark Times series, RTB spoke in 2020 with Carlo Rotella of Boston College. Rotella is the author of such gems as Good With Their Hands: Boxers, Bluesmen, and Other Characters from the Rust Belt and most recently has come out with What Can I Get out of This? along with some sparkling related pieces about AI in the classroom. Carlo is always worth listening to, in dark days... and darker ones, too. He starts by praising sagas, makes a case for stories of disagreeableness and plugs a remarkable book about preaching, deception, and the urge to belong. Tacitus, Germania Njal's Saga Egil's Saga Prose Edda Poetic Edda Haldor Laxness, Iceland's Bell Mitch Weiss, Broken Faith Lawrence Wright, Going Clear (2013) P. G. Wodehouse My Man Jeeves (indeed, 1919) The Wizard of Id Robert E. Howard, Conan (first appearance 1932) Read transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

It's Christmastime, so that means it's time for an episode better known as Hark, The Icelandic Angels Sing! Iceland's Christmas Covers of Pop Songs: Let Them Ring; The Bridge That Unites Italy and Iceland (Sweden Sometimes Too) Or, Laura Branigan Is The Grinch. We're joined by fellow MaxFun host Alex Schmidt of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating to investigate this certainly very curious phenomenon. Jeremy traces word origins, Dimitry cracks the whip at wind dance practice, Alex asks if a duo can be jazz, and Oscar defends an icon over accusations of theft.Listen to Jeremy & Dimitry on Secretly Incredibly Fascinating: https://maximumfun.org/episodes/secretly-incredibly-fascinating/secretly-incredibly-fascinating-euros/Listen to all of us on Arnie Niekamp's No Skip Christmas: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-no-skip-christmas-304938865/episode/eurovangelists-jeremy-bent-oscar-montoya-and-311688164/Watch the performances from this week's episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V-PeoYujmE&list=PLd2EbKTi9fyVhFOurbUpKsOTUl5XRvR-h&pp=gAQBThis week's companion playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/72QsDSkuYoZgBmE6N4boI6 The Eurovangelists are Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya and Dimitry Pompée.The theme was arranged and recorded by Cody McCorry and Faye Fadem, and the logo was designed by Tom Deja.Production support for this show was provided by the Maximum Fun network.The show is edited by Jeremy Bent with audio mixing help was courtesy of Shane O'Connell.Find Eurovangelists on social media as @eurovangelists on Instagram and @eurovangelists.com on Bluesky, or send us an email at eurovangelists@gmail.com. Head to https://maxfunstore.com/collections/eurovangelists for Eurovangelists merch. Also follow the Eurovangelists account on Spotify and check out our playlists of Eurovision hits, competitors in upcoming national finals, and companion playlists to every single episode, including this one!

INTRO (00:24): Kathleen opens the show drinking a Hazy Holiday IPA from Silver Bluff Brewing Company in Brunswick, GA. She reviews her weekend in Ponte Vedra and then LA and Vegas, discussing Fantasy Football at Good Morning Footballand seeing The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere in Vegas.   TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her “Day Drinking Tour.”   COURT NEWS (25:50): Kathleen shares news announcing thatChappell Roan becomes a global brand ambassador for MAC cosmetics, Cher is set to marry her 39-year-old boyfriend, and Taylor Swift gifted millions of dollars in bonuses to her ERAs Tour crew.     TASTING MENU (2:38): Kathleen samples a Madigan Family Midwest Cheeseball, Reese's Holiday Caramel Cups, and Hadley Orchards Gourmet Dill Cheese Puffs.   UPDATES (32:14): Kathleen shares updates on the search for MH370, Zuckerberg is moving on from the metaverse, Australian children just lost access to social media, the Louvre has even more security issues, Andrew and Fergie are finally being evicted, a Waymo encounters a standoff with police, and Faberge's Winter Egg fetches millions at auction.   FRONT PAGE PUB NEWS (1:04:36): Kathleen sharesarticles on Prada purchasing Versace, a cruise ship passenger dies after being served 33 drinks, the Super Bowl pregame performers are announced, air travelers without a REAL ID will pay a fee in 2026, iHeartRadio bans AI music and hosts,protesters vandalize the Crown Jewels, Norway has unveiled a Northern Lights train, and BINGO returns to Vegas.   HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT (1:02:26): Kathleen reads about a lost Renaissance painting found in a garage in the UK.   SAINT OF THE WEEK (1:30:40): Kathleen reads about St. Nicholas, patron saint of sailors, merchants, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, toymakers, unmarried people, and students.   WHAT ARE WE WATCHING (30:40): Kathleen recommends watching the Wizard of Oz on HBO Max.   FEEL GOOD STORY (1:23:56): Kathleen shares a story aboutIceland's Yule Cat, and Sweden rolls out edible road salt to save birds.  

From the monstrous Yule Cat of Iceland to the cannibal Wendigo of North America, in this episode I explore seven eerie winter legends from around the world. You'll meet Japan's ghostly Yuki-Onna, China's New Year beast Nian, Greece's chaotic Kallikantzaroi, the rhyming ghost-horse Mari Lwyd of Wales, and the shape-shifting Ijiraq of the Arctic. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We go to the Westman Islands off the southern coast of Iceland and meet the heroes who save young birds that have wandered from their nests every summer.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years may be celebrated around the world, but how they look and feel can be completely different. From snow and darkness to sunshine and summer evenings, culture and landscape shape the season in powerful ways. This year, I'm chatting about holiday traditions with our partners in Chile and Iceland, Mauricio Vergara and Erling Aspelund. Two countries often described as lands of fire and ice, in opposite hemispheres, celebrating the same holidays in very different ways. We talk about family traditions, food, lights, Santas, bonfires, and New Years rituals, plus what it's really like to experience Christmas and New Years as a traveler in each destination. So grab a festive drink, settle in, and enjoy this global holiday celebration on Luxury Travel Insider.   Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/   Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

Olafur Eliasson talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Eliasson was born in 1967 in Copenhagen and grew up between Denmark and Iceland, where his parents were from. His installations, sculptures, photographs and paintings, among other projects, reflect a profound concern with human presence in nature and how we perceive and interact with the world around us. His works can be deceptively simple or enormously complex, but often share a rigorous and reductive geometry, which may conversely produce expansive and multifarious perceptual, sensory and embodied effects. Eliasson has stated that “the spectator is the central issue”, a long-established aspect of conceptual and environmental practices, but for him it is important that the viewer not only completes the work, but is also transformed by it. This subjective and individual revelation is, he hopes, allied to a sense of collective experience, what he calls a “we-ness”, that often alerts his audience to wider cultural and social issues including the climate catastrophe. Indeed, environment, in multiple senses, is the fundamental element of his work.He discusses his deep concern about the climate catastrophe and the importance of action. He reflects on his concept of “seeing yourself sensing” and its shifting nature in relation to different works across his career, and how he often includes the word “your” in his titles as a gesture of trust towards his audience. He discusses the wealth of writers and thinkers that inform his work on a daily basis, from Donna Haraway to Alva Noë. He recalls the epiphany of experiencing a work by James Turrell and his fascination with early Renaissance conceptions of space. He reflects on his early fascination with breakdance and his current enjoyment of music by Hilda Gunnarsdóttir and Rosalía. Plus, he gives insight into life in his vast studio in Berlin, and answers our usual questions, including the ultimate: what is art for?Olafur Eliasson: Presence, Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia, until 12 July 2026; Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey, Museum MACAN, Jakarta, Indonesia, 12 April 2026, Your view matter by Olafur Eliasson, Padimai Art & Tech Studio, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore, 31 March 2026; and Olafur's first permanent public work in the UK, Your planetary assembly, 2025, is on view at Oxford North, Oxford, UK now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in Iceland. In this episode we ponder the main stories of the year so far, answer reader's questions and explain some of the Yule Lads.Top Stories Of 2025We discuss 2025 top political scandal, top political event, top ecological and geological events, top cultural event, we nominate the "Mess of the Year", the bankruptcy of the year, the rise of right wing politics in Iceland and our favorite tourism related stories of the year. Audience QuestionsWe answer questions from our audience on subjects such as Christmas gifts, the Icelandic language, traditional Christmas dinners, hikes and forestry.Yule Lads ExplainedWe try our best to explain how having 13 Yule lads works in practice, and how there are actually records of a total of 80 different yule lads and ladies from various parts of Iceland. Then we discuss our favorite Yule lad names.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/Or donate to the Grapevine here:https://support.grapevine.isYou can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store:https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

In 1984, a young fisherman named Gudlaugur Fridthorsson — better known as “Laugi”— headed out to sea off the coast of Iceland in a small fishing trawler. But the first night of the trip, their boat capsizes, leaving Laugi and his crewmates stranded in frigid waters miles from shore. Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nick welcomes writer Marnie Shure for a wide-ranging conversation that blends upcoming live storytelling, food obsession, and a touch of seasonal chaos. Marnie talks about the next Mortified show coming in February, then dives into holiday food talk with authority, covering the best cranberry sauces on the shelf, what actually makes a great grilled cheese, and a gift guide packed with standout Chicago food finds. She also delivers her monthly Horror Report, complete with stories from her recent visit to Halloween Horror Nights. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for a tour of truly bizarre Christmas traditions from around the world. Iceland's terrifying Yule Cat gets its due, Venezuelans roll to church on skates, and Krampus lurks right on schedule. Esma also shares a personal holiday revelation from her childhood, where Santa never showed up, but Jesus very much did. The mix of food, folklore, and personal stories keeps things funny, strange, and perfectly on brand for the season. [Ep 412]

Ryan Connolly, Head of Marketing at Hidden Iceland, shares how his company transformed from serving all market segments to focusing exclusively on premium and luxury private tours. The pivotal decision to cut small group tours (which represented 50% of departures but only 10% of revenue) allowed Hidden Iceland to grow by 5% while improving quality and profitability. Ryan discusses how relationship marketing drives 70% of their bookings directly (without OTAs), why they lead with education when working with travel advisors, and how PR outperforms paid advertising for luxury sales. He also reveals his background working in finance before a three year journey across 40 countries led him to become a glacier guide in Iceland, where he met his wife on a tour and co-founded the company with two partners.Top 10 Takeaways for Tour Operators1. Cut unprofitable segments ruthlesslySmall group tours accounted for 50% of Hidden Iceland's departures but only 10% of revenue. After eliminating that segment, they grew 5% by focusing resources on premium and luxury private tours where margins are higher.2. Partner with competitors instead of viewing them as threatsWhen customers can't afford Hidden Iceland's luxury pricing, Ryan personally introduces them to partner companies that serve the budget segment. This maintains relationships and positions them as helpful experts rather than pushy salespeople.3. PR drives better ROI than paid ads for high ticket salesOver 450 articles in publications like Condé Nast, Forbes, and CNN have driven 70% direct bookings. For luxury trips ($20,000+), earned media builds trust better than Facebook or Google ads.4. Lead with personal story in first customer contactRyan's initial email starts: "Hello, my name is Ryan. I'm originally Scottish. I've lived in Iceland since 2016. I originally trained as a glacier guide..." This builds immediate trust and differentiates from transactional competitors.5. Educate travel advisors. Don't just sell to themHidden Iceland runs webinars teaching agents about Iceland's seasons, distances, and what each time of year offers. Not sales pitches. The education first approach builds meaningful advisor relationships that generate 30% of bookings.6. Vet activity partners on safety and environmental standardsBefore partnering with snowmobile companies, helicopter tours, or other providers, Hidden Iceland shares their own safety and environmental policies first, then asks partners to reciprocate. This creates collaboration, not just transactions.7. Train guides to be themselves, not follow scriptsInstead of teaching guides what to say at each stop, Hidden Iceland tells them: "Be yourself in the most authentic way possible and create genuine connections." This leads to reviews that praise the guide more than the destination.8. Choose conferences strategically. Avoid the herdRyan skips luxury travel conferences if more than 2 or 3 other Iceland companies will attend. Less competition means easier differentiation and more meaningful conversations with travel advisors.9. Keep the sales process low tech and high touchDespite having a CRM (LEMACS), Hidden Iceland puts key itinerary details in the body of emails and offers phone calls early. For luxury clients, human connection trumps slick automation.10. Build the business with partners you trust implicitlyRyan emphasizes: "Don't set up a company with anyone you don't trust inherently and that you believe will communicate effectively during the hardest times." Through pandemics and volcanic eruptions, Hidden Iceland's three owners have never shouted at each other because they chose partnership carefully.

In this episode of the Photographic Collective Podcast, Miles Witt Boyer and Jared Mark Fincher sit down with legendary destination wedding and elopement photographer Gabe McClintock for a conversation that feels like a reset button for your creative brain.They unpack why so many high level artists feel like imposters, why Gabe thrives in friction and chaos, and how he earns the kind of trust that lets him meet couples on the day of and create images that feel calm inside the mayhem. From shooting wide open in massive environments to hiking into wild places like Iceland volcanoes, Gabe breaks down what actually matters: emotion over perfection, focus over trends, and art that comes from doing the hard thing on purpose.If you feel buried under trends, presets, posing prompts, or “how to be everything to everyone” pressure, this episode is your permission slip to simplify and get back to the work that feels like you.THEMES FROM THIS EPISODE• Why “imposter syndrome” shows up in almost every respected artist• Gabe's take on photography as a craft vs a “creative identity”• The technical choice that gives Gabe's work that ethereal, painterly feel (and why it matters)• Trust as the true currency of destination work• How sales skills translate into confident direction and client buy in• Why chaos and friction can create the most honest images• Iceland volcano story: what went right, what went terrifying, and why he'd still do it again• The trap of social media noise, presets, trend chasing, and copying• Gabe's simplest advice for photographers trying to find their voice: mute the noise and shoot what makes you feel something• A real conversation about staying focused in your lane for the long gameGabe McClintock is a Calgary, Canada based destination wedding and elopement photographer known for cinematic, emotional imagery that feels calm even in the most chaotic environments. With 15+ years of experience photographing couples around the world, Gabe has become one of the most influential voices in modern adventure wedding photography, recognized for his ability to create unforced, unscripted work rooted in trust, atmosphere, and honest connection. Gabe McClintock+1Website: https://www.gabemcclintock.com/About: https://www.gabemcclintock.com/about/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabemcclintock/PHOTOCO (The Photographic Collective)Join PhotoCo: https://www.mileswittboyer.com/photographic-collectivePhotoCo Overview: https://www.mileswittboyer.com/photoPodcast page: https://www.mileswittboyer.com/podcastMiles Witt BoyerWebsite: https://www.mileswittboyer.com/Jared Mark FincherWebsite: https://www.jaredmarkfincher.com/about

#HolidayHorrors | Hundreds of people have reported encounters with what looks exactly like Santa Claus — and they weren't children dreaming on Christmas Eve. If the real Santa doesn't exist, what are these witnesses actually seeing... and why does it want to be seen?IN THIS EPISODE: Many of us are familiar with the flip side of Father Christmas – the darker entity who visits and kidnaps bad children, Krampus. But when it comes to true fear, even Krampus would run in terror at the sight of Iceland's Gryla, the Christmas Witch! With roots dating back to the 13th century, Gryla is not to be messed with! (Iceland's Christmas Witch) *** It was Christmastime, 1938, and 19-year-old Margaret Martin had just graduated from Wilkes-Barre Business College with honors and was eager to secure a secretarial job. Her eagerness would lead to her disappearance. (The Murder of Margaret Martin) *** Ask anyone over the age of twelve what they think about the existence of Santa Claus and you'll most assuredly get the same answer. But that has not stopped people of all ages reporting sightings of the jolly old elf, and some of the stories are downright creepy. (People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus) *** Two murders committed in the same house during the holidays of 1928 appear to have resulted in the spirits of Christmas past haunting the place today. (The Hundley Murders)TIME STAMPS & CHAPTERS:00:00:00.000 = They Swear They Saw Santa00:01:22.035 = Show Open00:03:20.486 = The Hundley Murders00:18:08.033 = *** People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus00:38:56.938 = *** Iceland's Christmas Witch00:45:55.352 = The Murder of Margaret Martin00:49:25.321 = Show CloseSOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Strange World of True Kris Kringle Sightings” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8kfyka“Iceland's Christmas Witch” by Alex Palmer for Smithsonian Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57ntaeeu“The Murder of Margaret Martin” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/7e6xxvph“The Hundley Murders” by Troy Taylor for his book “Bloody Illinois”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3yb3fd2p(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46=WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: December 08, 2021#WeirdDarkness #SantaSightings #ParanormalChristmas #ChristmasMysteries #SupernaturalEncounters #TricksterSpirits #UnexplainedPhenomena #GhostStories #ChristmasParanormal #TrueParanormalStorieshttps://weirddarkness.com/RealKrisKringleSightings

In 1984, a young fisherman named Gudlaugur Fridthorsson — better known as “Laugi”— headed out to sea off the coast of Iceland in a small fishing trawler. But the first night of the trip, their boat capsizes, leaving Laugi and his crewmates stranded in frigid waters miles from shore. Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.