This week I’m revisiting a conversation with my former colleague Dr. Ben Waggoner, who joined me to explore his translation of the Hávamál. This Old Norse poem—preserved in medieval Iceland—offers a blend of practical wisdom, sharp observations about human nature, and guidance for living well. In our discussion, Ben walks us through the cultural background of the text, the challenges of translating Old Norse, and the surprising ways the Hávamál echoes themes familiar to students of Stoicism.

If you’d like to hear more from Ben, you can find his podcast Heathen History at: https://www.heathenhistory.com/

His translations of Old Norse and related works are available through The Troth:https://www.thetroth.org/shop/books-and-magazines.html