March 18, 2023

BONUS EPISODE: The Cod Wars

Joe, Tom, and Nate talk about the time Iceland and the UK kind of went to war over fish. Iceland doesn't even have a military.


Iceland wins. 


Sources: 

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/themes/cod-wars.htm

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2023/february/cod-wars-and-lessons-maritime-counterinsurgency

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-were-cod-wars

Kurlansky, Mark. Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World.

Comments (28)

M
Miguel Torres-Yunda · August 10, 2026

Using grandmas ‘95 Camry to deliver crap weed to the kids of DoD contractors in a DC suburb in 2012 🙂‍↕️

M
Maxwell Smith · August 4, 2025

id be angry too these English fishers sound like assholes

N
Noblese Oblahaj · December 28, 2023

April - 1975 NATO is now master of Europe. Only Iceland stands before them. The oceans are now battlefields

N
Noblese Oblahaj · December 28, 2023

If you make a pitcher of cold brew with rip-its you'll see the glorious face of a loving God

V
Val Vailand · November 16, 2023

I agree with Joe on the cod. All the cod I've had that wasn't fried was very bland. I blame that on the preparation though and am willing to try it other ways.

C
Cosm Sauce · November 4, 2023

Love this episode! I really want a This is the Icelandic coast guard! We clown in this motherfucker! meme but alas

J
Jeffrey Epstein's Assassin · November 1, 2023

The friends with benefits joke hit too close to home

M
Matt · September 9, 2023

Figures that the one time NATO intervenes to stop one of its members from doing imperialist shit it’s the British stealing fish from a country without a military.

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William Nephew · April 13, 2023

I'm an American that's been living in Sweden since 2016, so maybe I can add some useless irrelevant information. Surströmming is Swedish, not Norwegian. Norwegians have lutefisk, which uses lye. I've never met anyone here that has actually eaten surströmming though. I can't help but suspect that it's something Swedes troll the rest of the world into thinking they eat often. In reality, it's pickled herring that is popular, especially at holidays.

P
Pete · March 25, 2023

Solid bonus episode. Love history like this

P
Pete · March 25, 2023

Solid bonus episode

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Whisky_Delta · March 24, 2023

THANK you! It makes NO sense that a country that drives on the right and used KM/H can direct transfer their drivers and motorcycle licenses but the country that drives on the right and uses MPH can't! I've had to spend months and hundreds of GBPs getting my UK license and it's bullshit can Canucks don't have to.

D
Derek Nelson · March 20, 2023

I cant help but feel a little bit of impending dred. I really enjoyed this episode it was funny and light, but I feel like that means Joe is about to make us all very sad.

S
Space Crusader · March 20, 2023

Metallica actually requested that the military stop using their songs in Guantanamo. That whole thing about Lars supporting torture is complete bullshit.

C
Cadnee Mountai · March 20, 2023

The Je Me Soviens that come to Florida can't drive for shit

A
AC · March 20, 2023

Fun vibes on these. The digressions are appreciated. Nate and Tom have been good fits.

O
Olafo Waffle · March 19, 2023

What would the Cod Wars theme sound like? I'm thinking gargling sounds but I'm open to suggestions

C
Cat Meier · March 19, 2023

I was highly entertained by all the drivers license discussion, because I originally got my licence in the US and then moved to Canada. And I did NOT have to retest up here. Which means the secret to trading your US licence in for any other license is apparently just to move to Canada first.

H
Hammerthrust Von Sexron · March 20, 2023

My brother in law had an Israeli license that was only good for farm use/tractor. Didn’t stop Florida from giving him a license without testing. Probably should have.

T
The Surly Seagull · March 19, 2023

Solidarity with Shocks, from me, on the microwaving cold brew. I even use Dunkin’ cold brew packs to make it.

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Noblese Oblahaj · March 19, 2023

Did Liam hear it was a fish episode and refuse to return

O
Olafo Waffle · March 19, 2023

So long and I no thanks for all the fish

A
ASL · March 18, 2023

Can't wait till the combat veterans of the Emu Wars and the Cod Wars team up to take revenge on their human oppressors. Maybe the Bison left in Yellowstone can rise up too.

r
ruin · March 18, 2023

This thing is basically an Icelandic Saga. In the viking age it was axe fights over where sheep graze, now it's cod, all we need is a hundred pages of Thorleif was the son of Thorgeir and we're there.

w
wokkawokkawokka · March 18, 2023

We eat bacalao a la vizcaína for Christmas here in Mexico but i don't think I'll be trying that icelandic Hot Carl

M
Manchineel · March 18, 2023

The Reykjavík maritime museum has some excellent exhibits on the Cod Wars, great museum in general

P
Page Chase · March 18, 2023

I'm just sad that Shocks wasn't on this episode, but goddamn this was some of the funniest shit.

M
Max · March 19, 2023

I was going to say, this feels like it should have Shocks on it. Love Nate and Tom, but it’s a Coast Guard episode!