Iceland's West Fjords with Renaissance man Rúnar Karlsson

04/15/25 • 56 min

Rúnar Karlsson chats with host Tim Sweeney from Ísafjörður, Iceland, where he runs Borea Adventures with his partner, Nanný Arna Guðmundsdóttir. Rúnar, Nanny and their team take worldwide visitors on wildlife photography trips, ski touring adventures, whale watching cruises, and hiking and kayaking trips in the remote West Fjords of Iceland.
A true local expert who grew up in the area, Rúnar explains how to approach your own Iceland adventure and tells us why the famed arctic fox loves to pose for photos with the guests he draws from around the world. An outdoor lover, he also discusses how a digital detox in nature can reinvigorate a guest. Finally, Runar explains how a “career” in Iceland can be a winding, varied path and why skills and experience are never a bad thing as you plot your own journey.
SHOW NOTES:
02:25 - Exploring Iceland's Tourism Boom

05:05 - Life in the Westfjords

10:37 - The Remote House and Its History

16:08 - Wildlife Photography and Nature Exploration

18:55 - Skiing Adventures in Iceland

21:32 - The Unique Experience of Remote Living

33:17 - Digital Detox in Nature

44:05 - Travel Tips for Iceland

49:59 - Career Paths and Life Lessons

55:29 - Exploring Iceland: A Unique Perspective

55:39 - Career Insights and Alternative Paths

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Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media
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05:05 - Life in the Westfjords

10:37 - The Remote House and Its History

16:08 - Wildlife Photography and Nature Exploration

18:55 - Skiing Adventures in Iceland

21:32 - The Unique Experience of Remote Living

33:17 - Digital Detox in Nature

44:05 - Travel Tips for Iceland

49:59 - Career Paths and Life Lessons

55:29 - Exploring Iceland: A Unique Perspective

55:39 - Career Insights and Alternative Paths

Logo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Previous Episode

Introductory Episode: Long Distance Lounge podcast

Travel author and global adventurer Tim Sweeney goes on virtual visits to far-flung places by interviewing guests who live and work in locations that have a spot on every traveler’s bucket list. As the title suggests, the podcast harkens back to the days when people might strike up a conversation with a passing stranger at an airport bar during a layover (as opposed to looking down at their cell phone the entire time).
Among the guests: a SCUBA guide on the Great Barrier Reef, a Tour de France journalist, a snake-loving guide in the Aussie outback, an expert on the Normandy D-Day invasions. These individuals share their stories and offer advice on how to plan a visit to their neck of the woods. But it's not JUST travel. They also explain the career track they took to find their way to their current roles or a crossroads moment that urged them to chase their passion for their profession. If you’re considering a trip, looking for inspiration for one, or just curious how people end up in the interesting jobs they do, download and subscribe to the Long Distance Lounge.
Host Tim Sweeney—the author of a “hilarious,” 5-star rated travel memoir that documents his three years living and traveling through Australia—has lived and worked on three continents, including in the French Alps. His book (Yank Down Under: A Drink and A Look Around Australia) was hailed as "info-tainment" that is “medicine for the soul.” The Long Distance Lounge podcast fits the same bill. That is: interesting tales from worldly people with fun stories to share.

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Next Episode

Great Barrier Reef Scuba Dive Guide Michelle Barry

Michelle Barry, a scuba diving instructor based in Cairns, Australia joins host Tim Sweeney to discuss the beauty and diversity you can experience on a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, the immersive sensory experience of diving, and the importance of reef conservation. Hear what it's like to have a massive bull shark swim meters beneath you from a woman who has spent a great deal of her life underwater. A Master Reef Guide with Pure Snorkeling, Michelle also shares her journey from growing up in New Hampshire in the US to learning to dive in San Diego to moving to Queensland, Australia to do what she loves in one of the most premier places on earth to do it. The conversation also touches on the health of the reef, the impact of climate change, and the role of tourism in conservation efforts.

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01:10
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef

02:26
Meet Michelle Barry: Scuba Diving Expert

03:33
Journey to Becoming a Dive Instructor

06:13
Life Underwater: Diving Experience

08:57
Cairns: The Gateway to Adventure

09:42
The Job of a Dive Instructor

12:34
Understanding the Great Barrier Reef

18:10
The Immersive Experience of Diving

21:15
Health of the Great Barrier Reef

24:32
Personal Connection to the Reef

27:51
The Dynamics of Reef Predators

43:05
Shark Species of the Great Barrier Reef

50:10
Conservation Efforts and Eco-Tourism

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Long Distance Lounge - Iceland's West Fjords with Renaissance man Rúnar Karlsson

Transcript

Hi folks. I'm Tim Sweeney. Welcome in to the long distance lounge. This is, I'd say a podcast that is pretty loosely based around travel where I get to chat with people from
far flung places around the globe. And sometimes those are people I've met along the way on my own travels. And that is the case this week because we are going to Iceland. That's a place that I've been to on two occasions. Once was just a quick stop in Reykjavik, a 24 or 48 hour layover on my way from Europe back to the