Exploring the Viking Age

Exploring the Viking Age by Grimfrost is taking a short break while Johan is on tour with Amon Amarth during October and November.

The podcast returns on December 1 with a brand-new episode. Until then, take care—and perhaps catch Johan on the road!

What motivated people to leave their homes and risk their lives on Viking raids?In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age, we welcome historian and Viking Age specialist Terri Barnes to discuss the people, motivations and social structures behind the Viking expansion. Using Walter White from Breaking Bad as an unexpected comparison, Terri explores what happens when people discover that they are good at something—and that it pays.We talk about:• What Breaking Bad can teach us about the Vikings• Wealth, reputation and status as motivations for raiding• Viking groups as criminal networks, cartels and businesses• Slavery and its role in the Viking economy• How Viking raids were organized and supported• Adaptability as a defining feature of Scandinavian society• Common misconceptions and the romanticization of the Vikings• Terri’s research, teaching and Vikingology podcastWhether you’re interested in Viking history, archaeology, Norse culture or the psychology behind the Viking expansion, this episode offers a thought-provoking perspective on what may have driven the people of the Viking Age.

We are taking a short break for the summer. We're releasing a special summer edition episode on August 1, and we'll be back in full force with our regular episodes on September 1.

Have a great summer!

What is it like to finally visit the land of the Vikings after years of historical reenactment?

In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age, we welcome two Viking reenactors from Canada who share their first impressions of Sweden after visiting places like Birka, Old Uppsala and the Historical Museum archives.

We talk about:

• Historical accuracy in Viking reenactment• Building authentic Viking clothing and equipment• Blacksmithing and experimental archaeology• The Viking reenactment community in Canada• Visiting Sweden's most iconic Viking sites• Why Viking reenactment is about much more than combat• Living history, craftsmanship and preserving the past

Whether you're interested in Viking history, archaeology, reenactment or Norse culture, this episode offers a fascinating perspective from enthusiasts who have dedicated years to recreating the Viking Age as accurately as possible.

Did Beowulf really live on Gotland?

In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age, we sit down with Hans Wanneby and Rikard Evertsson to explore one of the most fascinating theories surrounding the Beowulf poem.

Together, we dive into:

• The theory that Beowulf originated on Gotland
• Ancient place names connected to the saga
• Archaeological finds and reconstructed migration period environments
• Picture stones, dragons, and celestial events
• The catastrophe of 536 and its possible connection to the poem
• Tolkien’s fascination with Beowulf
• The search for what may be Beowulf’s final resting place

We also explore how myth, oral tradition, archaeology, and landscape may preserve fragments of a story that has survived for over 1500 years.

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In this episode, we sit down with the powerful voice behind the heavy metal band Grand Magus to talk about heavy metal, mythology, and what actually makes music powerful.

We dive into vocal techniques and how to maintain your voice over decades of touring, why Norse mythology continues to inspire metal bands around the world, and the creative process behind writing riffs, lyrics, and songs that feel real.

We also get into what many modern bands misunderstand about “heaviness”, why authenticity matters more than trends, and how metal at its core is about emotion, imagination, and even joy.From Odin and ancient sagas to live shows and songwriting, this is a conversation about why these stories still resonate today.

Subscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost

In this episode, Einar Selvik (Wardruna) breaks down the ideas behind their latest album “Birna” — and why modern life is fundamentally out of sync with the natural world.We talk about:* Why humans have lost their connection to nature* The deeper meaning behind the bear in mythology and music* How emotion, not logic, shapes our experience of life* Touring, creativity, and the need for stillness* The balance between artistic expression and personal lifeEinar also shares insights into his creative process, performing in places like Pompeii, and how music can reconnect us to something deeper.This is a conversation about nature, creativity, and what it means to be human today.🎧 Listen to Wardruna📺 Watch the documentary “Tracking Birna” on YouTube📸 Follow for more conversations like this

What does it actually take to sail and maintain a Viking longship?In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age with Grimfrost, we sit down in the longhouse with our own shipwright and captain, Erik “Tullock.” A trained traditional boat builder who grew up in the harbor, he shares how he went from medieval markets to commanding 17-meter Viking ships.We dive into:• How Scandinavian boatbuilding traditions still mirror Viking Age methods• Why flexibility matters more than brute strength in a wooden hull• Oak vs pine, copper rivets, and selecting timber straight from the forest• The reality of sailing a square sail versus modern rigs• Minimum crew requirements for rowing and sailing• Captain responsibilities, crew coordination, and real risks at sea• Winter maintenance, tar, linseed oil, and preparing ships for launchSubscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost

In this episode, we sit down with archaeologist Cecilia Ljung from Uppsala University to explore one of the biggest transformations of the Viking Age: the shift from Norse pagan traditions to Christianity.

Through graves, runestones, and early towns, we follow the physical evidence of how belief, ritual, and daily life changed across Scandinavia.

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In this episode, we explore one of the most extraordinary eyewitness accounts of the Viking Age, written by the 10th-century Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan. Best known today through the movie "The 13th Warrior", Ibn Fadlan was a real historical figure who encountered Viking merchants along the Volga River in 922 AD.Together with our guest, we break down what Ibn Fadlan actually saw, what he was told, and where later interpretations may have gone too far. We examine the infamous ship cremation funeral, the role of the so-called “Angel of Death,” the question of human sacrifice, and how much of this account reflects Viking-Age Scandinavia versus the culture shaped by trade, migration, and local traditions among the Rus and other Scandinavians encountered in the east.We also discuss how Arabic and Persian sources differ from European ones, why these texts have been underused in Viking studies, and what they reveal about violence, belief, and identity in the Viking world, without romanticizing or sanitizing the past.Subscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost