What should we know about Greenland?

By Evan Dawson,

Published February 3, 2026 at 4:36 PM EST

Three people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a woman at left has short brown hair and is wearing a black turtleneck; a man at center has long brown hair, a brown mustache and is wearing a brown button-down shirt; a man at right has short dark hair and is wearing a navy sweater with a grey stripe across the chest and sleeves.

1 of 9 — Lauren Petracca and Denis Defibaugh with host Evan Dawson on "Connections"

Lauren Petracca and Denis Defibaugh with host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Tuesday, February 3, 2026

David Griffin / WXXI News

Two smiling people stand outside by the ocean: a woman at left wears netting over her head and face; a man at right wears sunglasses, a knit cap and a blue parka.

2 of 9 — Two smiling people stand outside near the ocean

Two smiling people stand outside near the ocean in Greenland

Lauren Petracca / Provided

3 of 9 — Lauren Glacier.JPG

Lauren Petracca is pictured near the Russel Glacier in Kangerlussuaq on Sunday, August 15, 2021

By Tony Bartelme tbartelme@postandcourier.com / The Post and Courier

A woman wearing warm winter clothes hikes over ice using ski poles.

4 of 9 — Lauren Petracca hikes over ice in Greenland

Lauren Petracca hikes over ice in Greenland

Tony Bartelme / Provided

5 of 9 — Petracca_Headshot.JPG

Lauren Petracca in Greenland

Lauren Petracca / Provided

A man wearing a heavy winter coat, knit cap and gloves stands outside in the snow.

6 of 9 — Denis Defibaugh in Greenland

Denis Defibaugh in Greenland

Denis Defibaugh / Provided

Many glaciers are seen against a blue sky with clouds.

7 of 9 — Glaciers in Greenland

Glaciers in Greenland

Denis Defibaugh / Provided

Two men wearing winter clothes are being pulled by nine dogs.

8 of 9 — A dogsled in Greenland

Two men on a dogsled in Greenland

Denis Defibaugh / Provided

Two people push a baby carriage across a large snowy area.

9 of 9 — Two people push a baby carriage in Greenland

Two people push a baby carriage across a vast expanse of snow near several glaciers in Greenland

Denis Defibaugh / Provided

Greenland has been in the news often in recent months, and perhaps you've thought about it now more than you ever have. Most Americans have never been to Greenland.

This hour, we sit down with Rochesterians who made the trip. They discuss the time they spent there, the people they met, the culture they observed, and the stereotypes that they think need to be blown up.

Our guests:

Denis Defibaugh, Guggenheim Fellow and professor emeritus in RIT's School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
Lauren Petracca, freelance photojournalist