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Saga Thing

Saga Thing

Discover what Vikings did when they were at home in this fun medieval history and literature podcast about the Icelandic sagas. Hosted by two medieval literature professors with beards.

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 26 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #171
    May 27, 2025 · 49 min

    Saga Brief 27b - Icelandic Impressions of the Sagas (Interview with Sigrún Guttormsdóttir Þormar at Snorrastofa)

    In this special Saga Brief, we visit historic Reykholt, once home to Snorri Sturluson, for a fascinating conversation with Sigrún Guttormsdóttir Þormar, department manager at Snorrastofa. This interview is the second installment in our four-part series recorded on-site during our recent trip to Iceland. Sigrún generously met with us on a Saturday to talk about Snorri’s life, legacy, and the important work being done at Snorrastofa to continue the long tradition of learning at Reykholt on the site. Along the way, she shared insights into Snorri's role as a chieftain, writer, and political figure in 13th-century Iceland, offering a more nuanced portrait of the man we often call “infamous.” If you're planning a trip to Iceland, we can’t recommend a stop in Reykholt highly enough. In addition to its rich history, the Snorrastofa cultural and medieval studies center offers an engaging exhibition on Snorri’s life, an inviting research library, and an exceptional gift shop. For more about Snorrastofa, including visitor info, exhibitions, and ongoing research, visit: https://snorrastofa.is Enjoy the episode and let us know what you think about Snorri’s legacy after hearing from someone who engages with it every day. Music Credits: Opening song – “Rúnatal” by An Danzza Introduction – from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur Outro – Ólafur Liljurós

  • #170
    May 16, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min

    Episode 40e - Ljósvetninga Saga (chapters 18-21)

    With Þórir Helgason freshly outlawed, Guðmund inn ríki (the Powerful) turns his attention to Þorkell hák (Bully) to sate his thirst for revenge. Speaking of thirst, Þorkell lands one of the sickest burns we've heard in a long while at Guðmund´s expense. After butting heads since the first chapters of the saga, these two finally come to blows in a thrilling and hilarious climax. Who comes out on top? You'll just have to listen to find out. Along the way, you'll meet some interesting characters, like Þorbjörn rindill (Wren?), a no-account assassin from the Eastfjords, and Drauma-Finni (Dream-Finni), who excels at John's favorite profession: dream interpretation. We also close the book on the first half of the saga, and on Guðmund inn ríki as well. How will Guðmund's life come to a close? Will he go out in a blaze of glory? Or will he pass peacefully with a hot cup of milk in hand? Listen and share your thoughts on our social media: Sagathingpodcast on Facebook Sagathingpodcast on Instagram Sagathingpodcast on Bluesky Saga Thing’s unofficial official Discord Music Credits Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Outro Music - "Stormfront" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Showing 21–22 of 22 episodes