Stavanger: The Adventure Begins | In Search of the Vikings

We arrived in Stavanger on Friday, June 19th to start filming In Search of the Vikings. Upon realizing that all of our gear, cameras, and luggage weren’t going to fit into the mighty G-Wagon, we had to shift the plan and play Jenga with a now-two-car operation. I suppose we could say this set a tone for our trip — expect the unexpected!

Our first morning kicked off with the beginning of filming and much-needed coffee. Then we met our wonderful guide, Jamie, whose passion for Stavanger and Viking history brought the landscape around us to life.

One of the things I’m already discovering is how much deeper the Viking story goes than I ever realized. Even here, in Norway, in the very place where this history lives, people don’t entirely agree on what it means. The identity itself is layered, debated, and far more complex than any single story can hold.

And I have to say — peeling back those layers might be one of my favorite parts of this journey so far.

These thoughts are shaping the very themes I want to tackle:

The first is that this journey is not about an endpoint. It’s about the experience itself. The conversations, discoveries, surprises — these shape the meaning of the journey.

The second is the idea of wholeness. Just as I’m learning to see the Vikings in their full complexity, I’m reminded of the importance of embracing all parts of myself. The light and the shadow.

And finally, there’s the practice of listening.

Listening to intuition. Listening to silence. Listening for whatever insights can only emerge when the noise fades away.

So as this journey continues, I’m carrying a few simple intentions:

• Spend as little time as possible on my phone and computer.

• Stay present.

• Remain curious.

• Trust my instincts.

• Make space for stillness.

And let go of the noise long enough to hear what this journey is trying to teach me — especially grateful to be discovering all of it alongside my sister, Stephanie. We’ve never taken a trip quite like this, and I don’t take a moment of it for granted.