Explore every episode of the podcast Iceland Weekly News Roundup
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icelandic Language Day, Organized Crime, Pets, Mosquitos & more. | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:49:34 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Icelandic Language Day Took place on November 16th. The celebrations sometimes felt a bit like a premature wake. Former PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir said in an interview - in English - with The Guardian, “Having this language that is spoken by so very few, I feel that we carry a huge responsibility to actually preserve that. I do not personally think we are doing enough to do that,” her co-author Ragnar Jónasson, in the same interview said “We are just a generation away from losing this language because all of these huge changes”. Organized Crime Doubles In A Decade A new report released Friday on organized crime in Iceland. So Groups that engage in organized crime are now twice as many as they were ten years ago. These groups often have international connections, they pray on immigrants, refugees and young people and engage in prostitution, human trafficking, theft, money laundering and drug trafficking. Pets Now Legal In Apartment Buildings Before, if you wanted to keep a pet in an apartment building, you had to ask permission from other residents. This is no longer the case after a new law was passed, leaving many an allergic person, scratching more than their respective heads. Mosquito takeover continues Last week it was reported that more mosquitoes had now been found in Iceland. This time in South Iceland, in a horse stables, and off a different type than those found earlier this fall in Hvalfjörður. Centre Party embraces “Great Replacement Theory” Snorri Másson of The Centrist Party wrote an Op-Ed for Viðskiptablaðið stating that Icelanders were facing an imminent threat of being replaced by immigration. An article on Visir.is with a picture of Snorri holding one of his kids by at the podium of a Center Party event, then caused a stir. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Airwaves, Time, Racism, Lava Bailouts, Mexican Standoff & Listener's Questions | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:51:36 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Woke flags, woke towers, stupid crime, Tesla cat, AMOC collapse | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:48:13 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨Independence Party members in Reykjavík city council suggested that Reykjavík should design it’s own “Peace Flag” and use that instead of flags such as the Ukrainian flag or the Palestinian flag when condemning war and showing support. Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir, the chairman of Efling, the largest union in Iceland called the suggestion “woke” and useless, and went on to talk about Yoko Ono’s artwork in Viðey Island, the Peace Tower, as also woke and useless. ✨The ATM heist in Mosfellsbær has been solved. The perpetrator — a man in his forties — has confessed to stealing the ATM, which was found late last week near where it was stolen, in Hólmsheiði. The 22 million ISK in cash in the ATM were still there. The man in question also confessed to stealing bags of cash in Kópavogur last year, and is furthermore a witness in the so called Þorlákshöfn case. ✨The Independence Party has put forth a new chairman of their parliamentary party. The new chairman is Ólafur Adolfsson, a new MP. He’ll be replacing Hildur Sverrisdóttir, who oversaw this springs historical filibuster. This change has been publicly celebrated by members of the ruling coalition. The new chairman has said that the public is “tired of filibustering”. ✨A cat was rescued from a Tesla in Seltjarnarnes this weekend. The owner of the car had apparently locked himself out of the car, and the cat in the car, and was — when the police arrived on the scene — trying to open up the Tesla using different methods. The police helped the owner to open up the back of the car and getting to the cat by removing parts of the front of the car to get to the luggage storage, gave the cat some dried fish to calm it down, and finally rescued it. ✨The coast guard’s helicopter picked up a woman with a broken bone, by Glymur waterfall in Hvalfjöður, west Iceland, on Saturday. Furthermore, on Saturday, the SARS conducted an extensive search in Grímsnes looking for a 12 year old boy, who was visiting Iceland with his family. The boy was found. ✨ The potential collapse of the Atlantic AMOC system was back in the news last week. The AMOC is an abbreviation of the phrase “Atlantic meridional overturning circulation”, which refers otherwise to the ocean current system of the Atlantic Ocean. For Iceland specifically, the AMOC brings a warm flow of water from the south Atlantic, making life in Iceland potentially impossible. A collapse would cool Iceland down significantly, yet at the same time contribute to the warming up of the planet. A new study has shown that it is more likely than previously thought that this collapse may take place, although this is not predicted to happen this century. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Bed rats, ATM heist, Culture Night, marathon, rally accident, international students & more | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:55:31 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨Two young women, who were working at the Icelandic championships in Rallycross on Krýsuvík road on Saturday, were injured when one of the participating cars flipped over, upp a small hill, and ran them over. Their injuries were not reported as critical. ✨An ATM was stolen in the Reykjavik suburb of Mosfellsbær on Tuesday. Two are in custody, a woman in her thirties and a man in his forties. Around 20 million ISK were in the ATM. The ATM was stolen with the help of an excavator, but the ATM itself is yet to be located, along with the cash. ✨Last weekend saw both Culture Night happening in Reykjavík, and the annual Reykjavík Marathon with a record of over 16.000 participants. ✨A couple, living in Laugardalur, Reykjavík, woke up with a rat in their bed on Tuesday morning. The woman who lives whose apartment the rat raided, said that her partner had woken her up told her there was a rat in the house, asked her to take their kids outside, and then finished off the rat with a cutting board. An exterminator interviewed in relations to the story said it was very uncommon for rats do crawl into people beds, and said he’d only heard of two such cases in Iceland in the past 13 years. ✨The Reykjavík Grapevine reported on trouble that international students were having with having their resident permits cleared with the Directorate of Immigration in Iceland. The explanation for this seems to be first, that there is a 40% increase in foreign students who’ve been admitted for University studies in Iceland, who need a resident permit to begin the studies. A third of the applications were submitted after a 1. June deadline, and the explanation for that is, that many students were only admitted by universities in late May, giving them a limited timeframe to get their residents permit applications in order. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Spotify, blown trailers, heat record, falling boulders & thunder | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:51:51 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨Three caravans/trailers were blown up by strong winds on Holtavörðuheiði, a mountain road between the north and west of Iceland. Nobody was hurt, but SARS also had to help a group of motorcyclists off the mountain road, due to heavy winds. The weather on Friday also brought a thunderstorm to the west of Iceland. A rarity. ✨Egilsstaðir, a town in east Iceland saw the the thermostat reach 29,8 celsius on Saturday. That is the highest temperature recorded in Iceland this century, though it still does not pass the all time record of just over 30 degrees, recorded - also in the east - in 1939. ✨A boulder fell on the the ring road road south of Eyjafjallajökull, in south of Iceland on Sunday. This spring, in the same area, a boulder hit a car, killing a woman who was visiting Iceland. The locals have for long complained about the safety of that stretch of road, but so far nothing has been done to amend it. ✨Third of Icelanders pay for Spotify and the platform is almost responsible for 100% of streaming in Iceland. The Chairman of STEF (Composers’ Rights Society of Iceland), Páll Ragnar Pálsson says STEF is not planning on withdrawing the the catalog of Icelandic music from the service, and points out individual artists can do that. He says that STEF is working with other composers’ rights societies abroad in order to try to put some pressure on Spotify. But because of what? There are three reasons, first, the extremely low revenues that artists get for streaming. Second, the numerous fake artists that also skim money from streaming on Spotify, and which in some cases seems to have happened with Spotify’s consent, and third, the recent move of Spotify’s CEO into weapons development and manufacturing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Death at Reynisfjara, new US ambassador to Iceland, Bank robbery, Football hooligans and more | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:54:32 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨Special forces deployed after football fans clash ✨Iceland’s first bank robbery solved ✨Trump appoints a new ambassador to Iceland ✨Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza condemned ✨Death at Reynisfjara beach ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Filibuster ends, heat record, hotel shooting, war on a plant, listener's questions | 14 Jul 2025 | 00:55:36 | |
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 Grapevine's staff journalist Jóhannes Bjarki Bjarkason, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨End of longest Filibuster ever at Althingi ✨Will the Icelandic heat record of 30,5 fall today? ✨Hotel shooting. 5 arrested, then released. ✨City of Reykjavík’s war on a plant: The giant hogweed ✨We answer select listener’s questions on museums, saints and why Iceland is a better place to live in than the other Nordics ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Filibuster, EuroCup, bomb, bald eagle, hospital report & listener's questions answered | 07 Jul 2025 | 01:20:19 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨Filibuster continues at Alþingi. ✨Iceland team out in Euro Cup ✨A bomb was disabled at Keflavik Airport on Saturday. ✨Registration fee to the University of Iceland to be raised from 75.000ISK to 180.000ISK ✨Kerecis saves the live of a bald eagle, just in time for July 4th ✨National Audit Office Report on Iceland’s main hospital released early last week. Main findings; not great. ✨We asked listeners for questions. This time we answer them. The subjects ranged from potential crimes to eclipses to uncomfortable public interactions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Silicon, meth, self-defeating socialists, MRI scanner, Moomins and heart shaped traffic lights | 30 Jun 2025 | 00:53:41 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ A Silicon Factory near Húsavík, North-East Iceland, PCC are laying off 30 people and at least temporarily closing down production. We talk about how this is not the first such factory in Iceland to go belly up. ✨ Socialist Party infighting continues. We half-heartedly explore the Icelandic Socialist Party’s journey towards self-destruction. ✨Moomins in Akureyri. A new set-to-be-open soon Moomin themed outdoor area near Akureyri runs into copyright issues. ✨MRI scanner problems in Landspítali Hospital. One of the few MRI machines in Iceland went offline as a floor cleaning machine got stuck on its exterior a couple of weeks ago. The floor cleaning machine has now been (finally) separated from the MRI machine, but the MRI machine is still broken. ✨Heart shaped traffic lights in Akureyri are to be removed. Now the President of Iceland has intervened on the behalf of the traffic lights. ✨We discuss a 2023 door bell prank with consequences. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Pilot whales, chess, cats, drugs in Raufarhöfn, Iran, filibuster & Iran/Israel | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:58:31 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ Last Saturday 40 pilot whales swam ashore in North Iceland by the town of Ólafsfjörður. They were all successfully pushed back out to sea. ✨ A third of Icelanders have an account on chess.com - Icelanders are also the most active users on there, and the in fourth place when it comes to total points. ✨ Last Saturday it was reported that the Kattholt cat shelter was full. So if you need a kitten…. ✨ We discuss the ongoing filibuster on the new fisheries resource rent bill ✨ The Police’s special forces broke their way into a house in Raufarhöfn, a remote town of 180 people in North-East Iceland. A man living in the house is thought to be linked with organised crime and the manufacturing illegal substances. ✨ Seven Icelanders were trying to leave Israel last week, and had contacted the ministry of foreign affairs for that purpose. Nine Icelanders had requested similar aid to leave Iran. ✨ The woman suspected of a double homicide of her husband and daughter at the Reykjavík Edition hotel will be detained for at least another two weeks, it was reported on Friday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Double homicide in Reykjavík, Airline news, stranded orca, DC-3, a front wheel hits downtown Reykjavík & more | 16 Jun 2025 | 01:01:00 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ Two French tourists were found dead at a hotel in Reykjavík last Saturday. A third person, a woman, has been detained. Police suspect a double homicide. The woman detained, along with the two victims are reported to have had stab wounds. Investigation is ongoin. ✨Icelandic low fair airline Play Air, may soon move its operations abroad following a takeover bid by some of the current management of the company. ✨A man who had been missing on Esja on last Monday and Tuesday was found dead on the slopes of Kistufell, a part of Mt. Esja. He was discovered around 16:00 on Tuesday. ✨The orca that stranded earlier this week in Grafarvogur, Reykjavík, was euthanised. After swimming back out to sea on Wednesday, it stranded again on Friday at Kjalarnes. According to MAST’s Chief Veterinary Officer, the decision was made with animal welfare as the guiding principle. ✨An old Douglas Dakota aircraft, purchased this March by the landowners of Sólheimasandur from the Icelandic DC-3 Friends Association, has been transported from Keflavík Airport to rural South Iceland. The plan is to place the fuselage near the famous US Navy plane wreck, which has become one of the South Coast’s most visited tourist attractions. ✨ A potential disaster was narrowly avoided when a training aircraft lost its nose wheel over Austurvöllur while approaching Reykjavík Airport. The wheel landed in front of the Alþingi building. No one was injured, and the plane touched down safely at Reykjavík Airport. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Lost person on Mt. Esja, death at Brúará, return of the ferris wheel, border security + don't drink the Blue Lagoon | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:47:00 | |
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 editor Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ We also discuss last weeks fatality at Brúará, a river mid way between the town of Laugarvatn and Geysir hot springs on the Gold Circle. ✨The city of Reykjavík has announced the return of the ferris wheel that sat on the city's harbour last summer to mixed reviews. We discuss those mixed reviews and debate the location of the wheel. . ✨ A law was passed last week forcing airlines flying to Iceland to hand their passenger lists over to the Icelandic authorities. Apparently this had an immediate effect as members of the well known crime syndicate (or biker gang) Banditos were turned away in Keflavík Airport over the weekend. ✨The Grindavík SARS Þorbjörn announced they would be selling red caps with saying "Make Grindavík Great Again", then quickly thought better of it. We discuss the fact that at least Grindavík has built a wall, of sorts. ✨Also, don't drink the water in the Blue Lagoon And finally, here is a list to The Reykjavík Grapevine's summer playlist, as promised: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Z0aHSg3SmBYpNuCMCacdy?si=e198fc8ba73c427a ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Snowpocalypse, housing Policy, humans outnumber sheep in Iceland and more | 03 Nov 2025 | 00:53:29 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Snowpocalypse, Iceland Version Tuesday saw a record snowfall in Reykjavík, for October that is, breaking a record from 1921, with 27 centimeters of snow in one day. The snowfall resulted in massive traffic disruptions in Reykjavík, both because of the copious amounts of snow, and because not all drivers had managed to change to winter tires. We used to think Icelanders could drive in snow. That myth has now been shattered. National Police Commissioner Spends 160 Million ISK On “Advice” From A Single Person The National Police Commissioner, Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, has found herself in potentially job ending circumstances, after RÚV revelled she had been buying the services from a single company over the past 5 years, for 160 million ISK, which is roughly 2.7 million ISK a month. The company in question, Intra, is a single person operation whose only employee is a Þórunn Óðinsdóttir. The tasks she did ranged from buying office furniture to introducing “lean management” to the police offices, to helping move the office of the Police Commissioner between locations. Government Announces Housing Policy Plans As often discussed on this podcast, the Icelandic housing market is fucked. Last week the government announced their ideas to “fix” the market. These include; Building 4000 apartments in a new suburb in Reykjavík, deregulating building regulations, giving funding to non-profit, housing companies. The government also plans to tax empty building plots, decrease AirBnB availability, increased taxes on rent and sell of copious amount of state owned real estate. Fewer Sheep Than Humans In Iceland, For First Time Ever The Icelandic sheep population has dropped by a 100.000 in the past 10 years, meaning that there are now “only” 350.000 sheep in Iceland. This also means that there are fewer sheep than people in Iceland, which has never ever happened before in the history of Iceland. Former Prince Andrew And Naming Royals In Icelandic Iceland has the somewhat idiosyncratic policy of giving foreign royals Icelandic names. This means that King Charles III is Karl III in Icelandic and former king of Spain, Juan Carlos, is Jóhann Karl, etc. Same goes for popes, whose names are always “Icelandisized”. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Parking fees at tourist locations, pools, immigration, racism, stadium failure, sourdough drunk | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:56:04 | |
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 editor Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨We discuss an upcoming storm warning for the whole island. Iceland is expecting strong winds with near freezing temperatures and snow expected in the north and east of the island. ✨ We discuss the parking fees in and around popular tourist locations in Iceland, also known as the habit of charging people for nothing. ✨ From June 1, 2025 swimming pools in Reykjavík will be open until 22:00 in the evenings until August 31, adding a welcome hour to the hot tub soaking of the many pool fans of Reykjavík. The pools had historically been open until 22:00, but those hours were cut by the city in April 2024 in order to save money. Since it is estimated that the extra hour will cost the city just 7 million ISK, keeping the pools open for the extra hour for a whole year would cost 28 million ISK. A puny amount of money in a city of almost 150.000 inhabitants. ✨ On the last day of May a concert was held at Laugardalshöll stadium to commemorate a 14 year anniversary of a popular radio show called FM95BLÖ. The show, which featured numerous popular pop artists including Jóhanna Guðrún of Eurovision fame, Prettyboytjokkó, Birnir and Herra Hnetusmjör, to name a few. Around 10.000 people showed up, and due to a mixture of overcrowding and organisational failures, numerous people had to seek medical help, though nobody is reported to have been badly injured. ✨A protest took place in Austurvöllur in front of Iceland's parliament this Saturday. “We are not racists” said the organizer of the protest, Sigfús Aðalsteinsson. We discuss. ✨An Icelander in his early 40s was stopped by the police in the last week of May while driving in Akureyri. A breathalyser test indicated that the man was under the influence of alcohol, yet the man claimed to have never drunk alcohol in his life. After an argument with the police officer who conducted the breathalyser test, the man was allowed to rinse his mouth of the sourdough sandwich he had been consuming. The subsequent test showed that he had not been drinking and according to the driver this annoyed the police officer somewhat. This is news to most - if not all - lovers of a good sourdough sandwich, who have until now remained unaware that their consumption puts them at odds with breathalysers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Valur Grettisson drops by, Iceland's oldest horse, socialists, Tesla in the highlands, tanks, pick-pockets, police chiefs | 26 May 2025 | 01:06:52 | |
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 and Grapevine’s former Editor-in-Chief Valur Grettisson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨We start by catching up with Valur Grettisson to find out what he has been doing during the past 3 days, which turns into a discussion on the state of Icelandic journalism in general. ✨ We discuss Iceland’s oldest horse, a 36 winter old horse named “Sómi”, who is now retired and resides near by Skógar waterfall in south Iceland. Sómi still has great teeth and hoofs, according to his owners. We also find out that our current Prime Minister is just a year older than the horse in question. ✨ We discuss the Icelandic Socialist Party, whose leadership changed over the weekend, where the party’s founder and former media mogul Gunnar Smári Egilsson, was ousted at a politburo meeting. ✨We discuss the questionable ascetics of new video surveillance “towers” that have been erected by Iceland’s most famous church, Hallgrímskirkja, in order to counter pick-pocketing. ✨ The police chief in the Reykjanes peninsula, Úlfar Lúðvíksson quit last week. He did not leave quietly, and in with very colourful language took jabs at the Icelandic chief of police, the minister of justice and more. ✨ Somebody took a Tesla taxi into the Icelandic highlands. This surprised most people who thought they knew anything about electric vehicles and their ability to cross rivers without breaking down. ✨ We talk about an Icelandic farmer who bought a tank in the early 2000’s and how there used to be more variety in car design in the last century, and how modern cars look like the cars in the 1995 film Demolition Man. ✨ We talk about Climeworks, a story that Valur Grettisson has been covering for Heimildin (The Source). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Good weather, beer, 10% of Icelanders buy a bank, Eurovision and CO2 (Climeworks) | 19 May 2025 | 00:56:56 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ We talk about the record breaking excellent weather Iceland has been enjoying during the last few days, and why Icelanders tend to assume that something this good (the weather), will always result in something bad. And how at least one of the hosts had a “Swedish” summer experience over the weekend (hotdogs in a thermos), while another host enjoyed lambing season. ✨ We talk about last week’s debate about serving alcohol at sporting events in Iceland and ponder if Icelandic swimming pools will eventually serve beer. ✨ We discuss the Icelandic government’s sale of a 45% share in Icelandic bank Íslandsbanki, which was bought last week by the general public. We also contrast this to the sale of the other 50% of the bank which took place some years previously. ✨ Eurovision happened last weekend. We talk about that, the debate within Iceland (and elsewhere) on the competition, the songs (are they songs?) and the Eurovision parties some of the hosts “enjoyed”. ✨ Lastly, we discuss at length Heimildin’s story from a couple of weeks ago about the carbon capture company Climeworks, a Swiss founded company that operates out of Iceland. We discuss the problems with projects such as theirs, and wether or not Heimildin was being too harsh or critical in their article, written by Grapevine’s former Editor-in-Chief, Valur Grettisson. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Eurovision, snakes, spying story continues, filibuster record in Althingi & more | 12 May 2025 | 00:49:55 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ On Wednesday RÚV continued its report regarding covert surveillance by former police officers for Iceland’s richest man, Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson. The same two police officers also stole surveillance data from the Special Prosecutors office in 2012. We discuss that. ✨ The police found two snakes in someone's home. The snakes were disposed of. ✨ We discuss The Reykjavík Grapevine's recent feature on Eurovision and the debate surrounding Iceland's participation in it this year and last. ✨ A new filibuster record was set in the halls of Iceland's parliament, Althingi, last Friday when the opposition opposed a new proposed law that would increase the revenue the Icelandic state receives from its fisheries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Iceland’s richest man spied on Icelandic citizens in 2012 + tourist held hostage & more. | 05 May 2025 | 01:02:55 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ On Wednesday RÚV reported that Iceland’s richest man, Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson, had hired police officers to carry out covert surveillance on a group of citizens who had filed a lawsuit against him. The operation reportedly cost tens of millions of krónur and involved three officers — two retired, one still on active duty at the time. We discuss this story and the fact that one of the former police officers, Jón Óttar Ólafsson, had also been subsequently been paid by rich Icelanders for various other tasks, including surveillance of journalists. ✨ We discuss a story about a tourist that was held hostage in Reykjavík on May Day. ✨ A Starbucks is set to be opened in Reykjavík later this summer. ✨ & a tourist was sexually harassed at the Blue Lagoon on Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Shorts, Naval exercise, fewer birds, lobbying mistakes, marriage in Iceland | 28 Apr 2025 | 00:53:32 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Easter egg idioms, Pope Francis, dinosaurs, summer weather, windmills | 23 Apr 2025 | 01:02:03 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Whaling cancelled, ATM blown up, lost car, EU defence talks | 14 Apr 2025 | 00:58:40 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are:
✨ Iceland’s (more or less) only whaling company Hvalur hf. (Whale ltd.) will not be doing any whaling this year, even though they were recently issued permits to do so. According to the companies CEO, Kristján Loftsson, the “price development of our products in our main market, Japan, has been unfavourable lately and is getting worse, which makes the price of our products so low that it is not justifiable to continue fishing,” Mr. Loftsson also pointed to the market uncertainty brought about by the USA’s tariffs. We discuss. ✨ Last Friday, Iceland formally opened discussions with the EU on defence and security cooperation when Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, met with the EU’s Andrius Kubilisu and Kaja Kallas. We discuss that, and questions about whether the USA might simply “veto” such cooperation. ✨ A car owner in Kópavogur reported his car stolen on Thursday night. The car had not been stolen, the owner had simply forgotten where it was parked. ✨ On Tuesday, an unidentified male tried to blow up an ATM in Hafnarfjörður. This failed. In December a couple of masked perpetrators on a stolen car tried to steal that same ATM by attaching it to the car and pulling it out of the building. That also failed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Orcas, penguins, rockfall fatality, nude tourists, asylum & travel warnings, tariffs, drunk driving | 08 Apr 2025 | 00:51:30 | |
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 perspective. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to discuss the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week: ✨ A recent program by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service sheds light on the capture and export of orcas in the 1970s and 1980s. The profits from this trade helped finance the only aquarium ever operated in Iceland—and yes, this is how Keiko (of Free Willy fame) was captured. ✨ Icelanders often pronounce “V” and “W” the same way. ✨ A tragic rockfall accident occurred last week in south Iceland, near Eyjafjallajökull. ✨ We talk about the former Minister of Infrastructure’s fingers—for no particular reason. ✨ A man was arrested in the small town of Raufarhöfn for stealing a car and driving it while drunk and high. We also discuss a custom 1970s Cadillac that can be found in the same town. ✨ Nude tourists in Icelandic hot springs. Occasionally a thing. ✨ An American transgender woman was denied asylum in Iceland this week. We explore the hypocrisy of the decision, especially given that Iceland has issued travel warnings for transgender individuals traveling to the U.S. ✨ In that context, we discuss how, under the Patriot Act, it has been legal since 2014 for U.S. authorities to detain American citizens on American soil—without due process—if suspected of aiding “the enemy” in the war on terror. We cover recent detentions of foreign travelers and Green Card holders. ✨ And finally, Iceland faces the same U.S. tariff rates as... penguins. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:10 - Eruption, liquorice, Grindavík, Esja, life expectancy, Eyjafjallajökull & more | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:51:21 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Listener questions, winter arrives, fining the bankers & police raids | 27 Oct 2025 | 01:11:59 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Snow And Ice Expected All Over Iceland ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:9 Lost tourist update, Minister resigns over scandal, Carbfix, organised crime, Douglas Dakota DC3 and more | 25 Mar 2025 | 01:09:59 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨The minister of Education & Children, Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir resigned Thursday after a story broke about her having had a child with a 16 year old boy in 1990. ✨Carbfix, an Icelandic company founded in 2007 that has developed an approach to permanently store CO2 by dissolving it in water and injecting it into basalt rocks pulls out of its plan to set up operations in the town of Hafnarfjöður due to protest by the locals. ✨ The landowners at Sólheimasandur in South Iceland have recently bough and old Douglas Dakota DC-3 WW2 era airplane. Why? Because an old wreck of such a plane in the area has in recent years become a tourist attraction, but due to wear and tear needs, in the opinion of the landowners, to be replaced. ✨ We also talk about a tiny protest outside Iceland's only Tesla dealership over the weekend and arrests made due to violent crime in downtown Reykjavík, which seems to be related to organised crime. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:8 Lost Tourist, CIA Conspiracy, Reykjanes Ridge, Whaling, Murder, Eruption | 18 Mar 2025 | 00:59:11 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:7 - Tourist rescued from the highlands, The Icelandic version of DOGE & more. | 10 Mar 2025 | 00:58:11 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:6 - Storm, party elections, Samovar on auction, Trump & Zelenskyy, Teacher's strike | 03 Mar 2025 | 00:54:17 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:05 - Teacher''s strike, football bus, PM in Kyiv, broke airlines & melting glaciers | 25 Feb 2025 | 00:57:42 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:04 - Melting roads, Reykjavík Sex Club, NATO, J.D. Vance & The World of Yesterday | 20 Feb 2025 | 00:52:13 | |
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:03 - Trouble in Reykjavík, Teacher's strike, The problem with pension funds and sour ram testicles | 13 Feb 2025 | 00:54:28 | |
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:02 - Avalanches, Defending Elon Musk, Sniffer Dogs, Dead Minks and more. | 23 Jan 2025 | 00:41:40 | |
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| 2025:01 - Valkyries, Volcanoes, Lost ballots, Greenland and more | 16 Jan 2025 | 00:51:36 | |
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Tasers, Electricity Prices, Women in Power | 20 Dec 2024 | 00:48:13 | |
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Coast Guard Drunk, Drugs On Boats, State & Church, Defense and Julian Assange | 20 Oct 2025 | 00:47:17 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Blue Lagoon Madness, Whales Unlimited, Mining Þorlákshöfn & Diegó The Cat | 12 Dec 2024 | 00:35:57 | |
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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Asylum Seekers, Politics And Iceland Airwaves | 08 Nov 2022 | 00:23:14 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. In this edition of the Icelandic Roundup, editor-in-chief Valur Grettison and news editor Andie Sophia Fontaine talk about the controversy surrounding the deportation of over a dozen people seeking international protection in Iceland, including a family with small children and a man who uses a wheelchair. shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Iceland - Surprisingly Corrupt? | 01 Nov 2022 | 00:39:01 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. This week on the podcast, Valur and Josie Anne are joined by Atli Þór Fanndal from Transparency International Iceland to discuss corruption in Iceland. Looking for more news? Check out our website for the latest coverage: grapevine.is shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Iceland Airwaves Festival! | 24 Oct 2022 | 00:31:00 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. This week on the podcast, Josie Anne is joined by two of the organisers of Iceland Airwaves Festival, Sindri Astmarsson and Anna Ásthildur Thorsteinsson. The trio discuss Iceland Airwaves' welcome return after a two year Covid hiatus, and what makes the Icelandic music scene so special for visitors and residents alike. Join the Reykjavík Grapevine at Iceland Airwaves! Find more information, the full lineup and tickets online: icelandairwaves.is Coming to the festival? Pick up a Grapevine Airwaves Goodie Pack from our store! We'll deliver it straight to your hotel so you can get straight to exploring great music, fuelled by the best snacks Iceland can offer! shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Justice Minister Accused Of Fearmongering | 18 Oct 2022 | 00:35:04 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. It's a bumper news week on The Icelandic Roundup: Jón Gunnarsson, the Minister of Justice, has been criticised for spreading misinformation, No Borders activists have encouraged artists to boycott Iceland Airwaves festival, violent crime committed by children is on the increase, and two Icelanders have been rescued after spending three nights in their jeep after they were caught in a storm. shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Extreme Politics And Conspiracy Theories with Dr. Eiríkur Bergman | 10 Oct 2022 | 00:41:45 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. In today’s show Josie Anne and Valur are joined by Dr. Eiríkur Bergman, professor of political science at Bifröst University who has also written several books about extreme politics in the western world.
shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Father Of Chief Of Police Connected to Terrorist Plot Investigation | 03 Oct 2022 | 00:35:00 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. In this episode, Valur and Andie Sophia talk about a murder in the north of Iceland--the third this year--not boding well for the rest of 2022. shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Terrorist Plot And Monstrous Weather | 26 Sep 2022 | 00:33:35 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. Police in Iceland revealed that they had thwarted a massive terrorist plot last week, but as the days go by, their evidence—or lack of it—has started to be questioned. Reykjavík Grapevine journalists Valur Grettisson and Josie Anne Gaitens go over the case, as well as the recent storm that struck East Iceland. Looking for more news? Check out our website for the latest coverage: grapevine.is shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Homemade Bombs In Selfoss And Knife Violence | 20 Sep 2022 | 00:26:48 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. In this week's Podcast, we cover multilingual children in kindergarten, unusually frequent knife violence in Iceland, homemade bombs scaring the people at Selfoss and a highly controversial homepage that wants to get an Icelandic domain. Valur Grettisson and Andie Sophia Fontaine go over the news in this week's Icelandic Roundup. shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Drugs, Fish, And Unions | 13 Sep 2022 | 00:34:25 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. It’s a blockbuster news week on The Icelandic Roundup, as journalists Josie Anne Gaitens and Valur Grettisson tackle the latest headlines regarding union leaders, fish farms and magic mushrooms. Looking for more news? Check out our website for the latest coverage: grapevine.is shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Drinking, Laxness, New Icelandic Names, Eurovision, Israel & 1970s Murder Case | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:49:32 | |
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 recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Ep. 23: Home-Grown Icelandic Nepotism | 06 Sep 2022 | 00:31:16 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. What's as Icelandic as volcanoes, hot springs and liquorice? Nepotism! Reykjavík Grapevine journalists Josie Anne and Valur discuss how Icelandic society views nepotism, in light of criticism aimed at Minister for Culture and Education, Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, for appointing a new Director of the National Museum of Iceland—without an official hiring process. Looking for more news? Check out our website for the latest coverage: grapevine.is shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Ep. 22: Björk Vs The Prime Minister | 30 Aug 2022 | 00:32:57 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. World-famous singer and artist, Björk Guðmundsdóttir, heavily criticised the Icelandic prime minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, in a recent interview with The Guardian, where she said the prime minister betrayed a promise to declare a state of emergency in Iceland regarding global warming. Valur Gretisson, editor in chief at Reyjavík Grapevine, is joined by investigative reporter from Stundin magazine, Bjartmar Oddur Þeyr Alexandersson, to discuss the singers accusations and whether or not her criticisms were valid. Looking for more news? Check out our website for the latest coverage: grapevine.is shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Ep. 21: The Volcano Is Dead! | 23 Aug 2022 | 00:27:45 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. She dead! On this week’s episode, culture editor Josie Anne and writer Emma Ledbetter discuss the sad demise of the short-lived Meradalir volcano, as well as Culture Night and how to drive in Iceland! shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||
| Ep. 20: Laufey | 16 Aug 2022 | 00:26:23 | |
Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. Josie Anne and Valur are joined on this episode by up-and-coming musician Laufey, who is set to release her debut album later this month. shop | facebook | twitter | instagram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. 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. | |||