Fortune's Wheel: A Podcast History of Our Medieval Story

Today, we step back and answer a few questions:

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

EPISODE 34: Pope P.O.W. the First

Today, the two most powerful forces in 11th-century Italy face off: the papacy and the Normans. At the Battle of Civitate (1053), Pope Leo IX meets the Hauteville brothers—Humphrey and a rising Robert Guiscard—on the field. It’s not just a clash of armies; it’s a turning point in the struggle for the soul of the Italian peninsula.

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

EPISODE 33: The Rise of Guiscard

In the 1040s and 1050s, the Holy Roman Empire played constant catch-up—from rebellions in the north to Norman ambition in the south. This episode follows the empire’s pendulum swing across the Adriatic and introduces a rising force that will soon shake the Mediterranean to its core: a cunning upstart named Robert Guiscard.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

Miniseries: A Legend in the Making

EPISODE 32: In Which Harald Serves A Foreign Emperor, Pt. 2

Harald’s southern adventure is coming to an end. In this episode, we watch him close the book on his time in Constantinople and prepare for the long road home—older, richer, and far more dangerous than when he left.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

Miniseries: A Legend in the Making

EPISODE 31: In Which Harald Serves A Foreign Emperor, Pt. 1

It’s 1035, and Harald Sigurdsson is everywhere. From Varangian strongholds to imperial courts, we explore his rise in Constantinople, the warrior code that drives him, and the empire that’s starting to take notice. Harald isn't just surviving—he’s thriving.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

Miniseries: A Legend in the Making

EPISODE 30: In Which Harald Enters Miklegard

Today, we follow Harald down the legendary riverine trade routes from Kievan Rus to Constantinople—through the Black Sea, the Bosporus, and into the heart of Miklagard itself. This episode captures the awe, color, and complexity of the medieval world before Harald takes his next bold step.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

Miniseries: A Legend in the Making

EPISODE 29: In Which Harald Learns

Teenage exile. Aspiring warrior. Trusted commander. In this episode, we follow young Harald Sigurdsson as he begins his rise from political outcast to battlefield hero—driven by tales of distant lands and aided by a powerful friend with plans of his own. Adventure, ambition, and a taste of empire await.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

Miniseries: A Legend in the Making

EPISODE 28: In Which Harald Flees

Before he was Hardrada, he was Harald Sigurdsson—a teenager with royal blood and a sword in his hand. In this episode, we begin the saga of one of the Viking Age’s most legendary figures, tracing his roots through the chaos of the Battle of Stiklestad and the ashes of Norway’s old order.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

EPISODE 27: The Kievan Rus

Today, we head east to explore the rise of the Kievan Rus—a powerful yet often overlooked force in medieval Europe. From Viking roots to princely courts, we set the stage for a region that will play a major role in the centuries to come.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

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SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans!

EPISODE 26: William the Duke

Out of fear, fire. In this episode, we explore how William of Normandy turned childhood trauma into unshakable resolve—building both his legitimacy and his legend. The boy no one expected to survive is fast becoming the man no one dares to cross.

No More Paywalls! How?

If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!

NOTE: DISREGARD ANY MENTION OF PATREON. That account has been closed in the process of tearing down of any paywalls! 

Social Media:

YouTube: Fortune’s Wheel Podcast

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3 

X: https://twitter.com/WheelPodcast

Buy Me A Coffee!