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PODCAST

Lava Academy by Lava Show

Welcome to Lava Academy, the official podcast from the team behind Lava Show in Iceland — the world’s only live Lava Show! Hosted by Iain MacKinnon and Jon Heidar Ragnheidarson. Each monthly episode dives into the explosive world of volcanoes. From Iceland’s fiery fissures to famous eruptions around the globe, we explore how volcanoes form, why they erupt, and what they mean for the people who live near them. With expert guests like geologists and volcanologists, Lava Academy blends science,

education earth sciences

All Episodes

65:10

Turning Lava into Design with Max Greiner

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/10/08

Can you turn molten lava into a vase—or even a hot dog holder? In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, hosts Iain MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir meet Lava Show’s own Max Greiner, a designer and Lava Melter exploring how Icelandic lava can become everyday objects.From his family’s glassmaking heritage to experiments behind the scenes at Lava Show, Max shares the challenges of shaping and cooling molten rock, the lessons hidden in failed attempts, and his vision for a new Icelandic

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50:38

The Volcanoes of Antarctica

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/08/28

Antarctica may appear frozen and still, but beneath its vast ice sheet lies one of Earth’s most remarkable volcanic regions.In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, Iain MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir are joined by Ann-Sophie Bader, who divides her year between working at Lava Show in Vík and a remote tourism camp in Antarctica. Ann-Sophie takes us beneath the ice to explore: The volcanic landscape hidden beneath West Antarctica How scientists find volcanoes buried under kilometres of

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71:06

The extraordinary story of the volcanic island Surtsey

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/07/20

In November 1963, a volcanic eruption broke through the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland and created Surtsey—one of the world’s youngest islands and an extraordinary natural laboratory.Host Iain MacKinnon is joined by Birgir Vilhelm Óskarsson, researcher at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland and board member of the Surtsey Research Society, and Hólmfríður Sigurðardóttir, Chairperson the Surtsey Research Society. Together, they explore how Surtsey rose from the sea, how plants and animals

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66:07

From Shire to Wasteland: The Catastrophic Story of...

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/06/29

In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, Ian McKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir are joined by volcanologist and petrology PhD candidate Helga Torfadóttir to explore one of Iceland’s most powerful and overlooked volcanoes: Öræfajökull. Hidden beneath glacier ice in southeast Iceland, Öræfajökull is Iceland’s highest peak — and the site of one of the most catastrophic eruptions in the country’s history. Helga takes us back to the devastating 1362 eruption, when a peaceful farming region was

en

50:51

Iceland’s Largest Eruption

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/05/11

What happens when one of the biggest eruptions in Iceland’s history meets modern-day science?In the latest episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, host Iain MacKinnon sits down with geologist Glen L’Estrange to explore the incredible story of the Eldgjá eruption—a volcanic event so powerful it reshaped landscapes, displaced early settlers, and left behind clues that scientists are still uncovering today. Why You Should Listen This episode takes you far beyond the surface of Iceland’s volcanic

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71:32

Inside Iceland’s Volcano Nerve Center

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/04/16

What does it take to monitor a country sitting on top of an active volcanic system?In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, hosts Ragnhildur “Lady Lava” Ágústsdóttir and Iain MacKinnon sit down with Kristín Jónsdóttir, Head of the Department of Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Deformation Measurements at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. From earthquake swarms and magma movement beneath the surface to real-time monitoring and early warning systems, Kristín takes us inside the science and

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55:00

From Katla to Lava Show: The Story Behind World's...

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/03/09

In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, host Iain MacKinnon sits down with Júlíus Ingi Jónsson, Mr. Lava Lava, the founder of Lava Show.Júlíus shares the incredible story behind the creation of the world’s only live lava show, where real molten lava is superheated and poured safely in front of a live audience. From childhood summers on a farm near Vík and family stories about the 1918 Katla eruption, to witnessing spectacular eruptions first hand and turning a wild idea into a global

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58:13

Volcanoes in Space? A Cosmic Conversation with Sævar...

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2026/01/07

Are volcanoes unique to Earth—or are they erupting across the solar system?In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, hosts Iain MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir (AKA Lady Lava) sit down with Iceland’s beloved science communicator, and author Sævar Helgi Bragason for a mind-expanding journey beyond our planet. Together, they explore volcanic activity on Mars, Venus, and Jupiter’s moon Io, icy cryovolcanoes on distant moons, and even evidence of eruptions on Pluto. Sævar explains how gravity,

en

51:39

Exploring Volcanoes, CO₂ & the Future of Our Planet

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2025/12/04

In this fascinating episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, we dive into the fiery intersection of volcanoes, carbon science, and the future of our planet. Hosts Iain MacKinnon, Lava Master at Lava Show, and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir, Founder of Lava Show (aka Lady Lava), welcome two remarkable guests:Professor Philip Ringrose — Energy Transition Geoscientist at NTNU in Trondheim, specializing in underground CO₂ storage and the role of geology in solving the climate crisis. Chloé Delbé — PhD researcher

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52:16

Geothermal 101: Unlocking Iceland’s Energy with Kári...

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2025/10/29

What keeps Reykjavík warm, powers homes, and even heats the sidewalks in the middle of winter? In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, we uncover Iceland’s biggest energy secret: geothermal power.Our guest, Kári Valgeirsson, geologist and science communicator at the The Geothermal Exhibition at Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant joins hosts Ian MacKinnon and Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir to explain how Iceland harnesses volcanic heat deep below the surface. From drilling into geothermal reservoirs

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39:45

From Volcanic Inspiration to Lava Show: A...

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2025/09/24

In this episode of the Lava Academy Podcast by Lava Show, hosts Iain MacKinnon (Lava Master) and Jón Heiðar Ragnheiðarson (Sales & Marketing Manager) welcome co-founder Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir, also known as Lady Lava.Ragnhildur shares how growing up in Iceland’s volcanic landscapes shaped her outlook, and how the 2010 eruption at Fimmvörðuháls sparked the bold idea to create Lava Show—the world’s only live molten lava experience. She opens up about the challenges of building the show from

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51:58

Geologist Jessica Poteet on Iceland’s Volcanic Wonders

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2025/08/28

In our latest episode of the Lava Academy Podcast, we welcome the multi-talented geoscientist and marketing strategist Jessica Poteet for a fascinating conversation about Iceland’s fiery landscape, her personal journey, and the unique challenges of living on one of the world’s most volcanically active islands.Jessica, originally from the United States, first came to Iceland on a hiking trip—and was so captivated by the raw beauty of the land that she quit her job in Silicon Valley and bought a

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48:08

Geologist Shawn Willsey breaks down Iceland’s eruptions

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2025/07/29

Geologist Sean Willsey discusses Icelandic volcanic wondersIn this second episode of The Lava Academy by Lava Show, we sit down with Sean Willsey, a geology professor at the College of Southern Idaho and creator of the popular YouTube channel Geology Explained. Sean shares his deep connection to Iceland, what keeps pulling him back year after year, and how the recent eruption cycles on the Reykjanes Peninsula have rewritten our understanding of Icelandic geology. Listeners will gain insight into

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33:17

Why Iceland Is a Volcanic Hotspot: Geology 101 with...

Lava Academy by Lava Show ·

2025/05/28

In the debut episode of Lava Academy by Lava Show, geologist Madison MacKenzie shares her personal journey from growing up near volcanoes in the U.S. and Japan to studying and working in Iceland’s fiery landscape. She walks listeners through volcanic fundamentals — what volcanoes are, how they form and erupt, and what makes Iceland one of the world’s most geologically active regions. Madison explains how different types of lava and eruption styles shape volcanoes, and why Iceland's location on a

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