Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse World
Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse World is a monthly podcast that takes a deep dive into the lives of women in the Viking Age, exploring their roles, experiences, and contributions to Norse society. Hosted by fiction authors Johanna Wittenberg and K.S. Barton, each episode explores the fascinating stories of Norse women from historical accounts, sagas, and archaeology. From shieldmaidens and queens to farmers and priestesses, we'll uncover the varied and complex roles that women played in Norse culture. Join us as we explore the rich and often overlooked history of Viking women.
Episodes
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss Viking women who traveled to distant lands, like modern-day Istanbul, and even to North America!
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg: Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age K.S. Barton: K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss women's work, of which there was plenty! Brewing beer, spinning wool and flax, weaving, sewing, and any textile work, was the domain of women. Even the sails for the famous Viking longships were made by women, and it could take years to weave just one sail. Join us to learn more!
Johanna Wittenberg: johannawittenberg.com
K.S. Barton: ksbarton.com
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. continue their discussion of goddesses in the Norse world.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg: Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age K.S. Barton: K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discusses goddesses in the Norse world. In part one, they talk about some of the more famous goddesses, like Freya and Frigg, while also discussing some lesser known ones. Did you know Loki had a wife? You'll learn about her in this episode!
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - johannawittenberg.com K.S. Barton - ksbarton.com
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss the four aspects or parts of the Viking's soul: the hamr, hugr, hamingja, and the fylgja. In this belief system, certain people could shape shift into animals and do astral projections; Viking "luck" was something that had agency; and Vikings were all born with a guardian animal. All this and more!
Johanna Wittenberg: johannawittenberg.com
K.S. Barton: ksbarton.com
It's our one year anniversary! To celebrate the occasion, Johanna and K.S. have a chat about their writing lives - how they came to writing, why they write about Vikings, their research, and much more! Join them for a little peek into how and why they do what they do.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - johannawittenberg.com
K.S. Barton - ksbarton.com
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. continue their discussion of women in Anglo-Saxon England, this time going into more detail about particular women of importance, like Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians and Queen Cynethryth.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - johannawittenberg.com
K.S. Barton - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss women living in Anglo-Saxon England and the rights and power they possessed. Plus, they'll talk about the similarities (and one big difference) between Anglo-Saxon women and Norse women.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg: Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age
K.S. Barton: Home - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. have a special treat! An interview with Patricia Bracewell, author of the Emma of Normandy novels. Both Johanna and K.S. have tremendous respect for Patricia's writing and for her meticulous research into the turbulent world of the early 11th century. Join us as we have a wonderful chat with Patricia.
Links:
Patricia Bracewell: Patricia Bracewell | Author of Shadow on the Crown Johanna W...
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss the winter celebration of Jol/Yul in Viking age.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age K.S. Barton - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss the Norse women who were healers and midwives. As you'll discover, these women were clever, strong, and brave.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg: Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age K.S. Barton: Home - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss the Norse beliefs in the undead. We talk about the draugr, barrow-dwellers, and a woman who wouldn't stay put after she was dead.
Links:
Johanna - Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age K.S. - Home - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss the human sorceresses discovered in archaeology. In episode five, we discussed magical women in the written sources, and when we combine the stories and the archaeology, we get a rich picture of these remarkable women.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg: https://johannawittenberg.com/
K.S. Barton: https://ksbarton.com/
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss the Volur and other human Norse women who performed magic.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age
K.S. Barton - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss supernatural women like the Nornir and the Disir.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age
K.S. Barton - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss shieldmaidens in Norse mythology, like the Valkyries!
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age
K.S. Barton - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Viking fiction authors Johanna Wittenberg and K.S. Barton discuss the archaeological discoveries of some very important Norse women!
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age
Home - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, Johanna and K.S. discuss the references to shield maidens in the written sources - women like Hervor, Lagertha, and Brynhildr.
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age
K.S. Barton - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
In this episode, authors Johanna Wittenberg and K.S. Barton discuss the new podcast!
Links:
Johanna Wittenberg - Johanna Wittenberg – Powerful women of the Viking Age
K.S. Barton - Home - K.S. Barton Author - Viking stories of love and adventure
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