6 Degrees of Cats

Did You Know the Vikings had Cats? Magic, Freya and Norse Folklore

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All aboard 6 Degrees of Cats, the world's #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast. In this episode, we'll be delving into the relationship between Vikings and cats, with insights from leading experts in archaeology, folklore, and historical research.

The team welcome archaeologist Brenda Prehal, Ph.D., who shares her knowledge of Viking settlements and the discovery of cat remains in their homes. Norse folklore leading expert Terry Gunnell, Ph.D., also provides insights into the role of cats in Viking mythology and culture. And historical research and writer Molly Dowdeswell sheds light on the everyday lives of Vikings and their furry companions.

Join us as we uncover the softer side of the Vikings and their love for cats, in this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats.

Special thanks to Laurie Friedriksen of Scandinavia House.

Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and more here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats.

About the experts:

  • Molly Dowdeswell, M.A., received her master's degree in early modern history from the University of Birmingham. Her research and writing has appeared in publications such as The Collector, Rural Historia and Ancient Origins.  
  • Terry Gunnell, Ph.D., is a professor of folkloristics at the University of Iceland. Gunnell is a leading published expert on Norse folklore and history and has served as a consultant for films such as The Northman.
  • Brenda Prehal, Ph.D., M.A., M.Phil, is the Head of Archaeology at Skagafjörður Heritage Museum in Iceland. She received her doctorate degree in anthropology and archaeology at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York, NY.

    • Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything*

    • Captain Kitty (Amanda B.)

    * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles

    Animal voices include:

    • Binky & Snuggles _^..^_

    Opening and closing credits:

    • Leathered: "Look Alive" (c) 2022
  • Samples licensed via Loopcloud
  • Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com

    • Logo design:

    • Edward Anthony © 2024 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii)

    Research used:

    • Dowdeswell, M. (2023, January 7). The story, symbols and powers of Freya, the Norse Goddess of Love. Ancient Origins Reconstructing the story of humanity's past. Retrieved from https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/freya-norse-goddess-0017280 
  • Edda to English: Translations of the prose edda. Mimisbrunnr.info: Developments in Ancient Germanic Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mimisbrunnr.info/edda-to-english 
  • Grundy, Stephan (1998). "Freyja and Frigg". In Billington, Sandra; Green, Miranda (eds.). The Concept of the Goddess. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-19789-9.
  • Hilson, M. (2019, February 25). The Nordic region. Aarhus University. Retrieved from https://nordics.info/show/artikel/the-nordic-region. 
  • Mark, J. J. (2023, April 23). Norse pets in the Viking Age. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1313/norse-pets-in-the-viking-age. 
  • Richards, James (1999). ASPCA Complete Guide to Cats: Everything You Need to Know About Choosing and Caring for Your Pet. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. pp. 128–129. ISBN 978-0-8118-1929-9.

  • Universal pictures. (2022). The Northman. Roma

  •  Wikimedia Foundation. (2023). Friday. Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday 
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