This week's show is a fun one, as author and viking historian Rowdy Geirsson joins AP for a discussion about his humorous work in writing about Scandinavian history and Norse Mythology. His recent book, The Impudent Edda, is a unique version of familiar Norse tales translated by Rowdy "from the original Bostonian"- showcasing gods like Odin, Loki, and Freya within the distinctly modern realm of New England. Such writings (in the original Bostonian) have been featured as a regular column on McSweeney's Internet Tendency and elsewhere, and despite their obvious playfulness and humor offer insights into the cosmology of Yggdrasil and the social dynamics of otherworldly beings. In conversation, he and AP have a wicked fun time discussing these as told by the mysterious, and likely drunk, South Boston poet who brought them to light.

Rowdy also discusses his history with the subject of vikings and Norse mythology, his fascination with 19th century claims about Leif Ericksson, and some of the New England locales from Boston to Maine which inspired his writings. This leads to further chat about the ways myths endure and can be adopted through works of fiction, but also as emblems for often problematic ideological groups. They also discuss the long-running social media collaboration that is Wyrd Wednesday, a weekly online event in which anyone can share folkloric tidbits on the theme presented by Rowdy and his co-organizers. All of that plus the origin of the Chahlie Cahd, Wattersonian physics, and more are included in this interview.

Check out Rowdy's work at https://scandinavianaggression.com/