Valhalla Conversations

In my 2nd bonus episode, in my Mini Series, Legends of Jorvik, I am pleased to welcome Simon Kirk and Kathy Hipperson, from Time Will Tell Theatre, to share with us the secrets, tricks and tales that were behind their Finale show, "Tyrfing: The Cursed Sword" at this year's ‪@JORVIK-Viking-Centre‬ Viking Festival.

The show was written by Simon Kirk http://time-will-tell.co.uk

The music and soundscape by Jonny Dyer http://swan-dyer.co.uk

The narrators were Kathy Hipperson and Simon Kirk

The play was performed by Time Will Tell Theatre http://time-will-tell.co.uk

You can watch the show in full video and audio via this link: • Tyrfing: The Cursed Sword performed a...

You can also listen to the audio only for their 2024 Finale show: The Realms of Yggdrasil via this link: • The Realms of Yggdrasill - Jorvik Vik...

Joining me for this months episode is artist, @SamFlegalart , who set up his artist brand, Fateful Signs, whom has creatively interpreted the Havamal (Sayings of the High One), the Voluspa (Prophecy of the Seeress) and is currently working on the Lokesenna. His artworks is in both painting and ink and sketches and fine line art. He has painted various members of the pantheon from Odin, Freya, Loki and others. Learn how he first connected with Norse Mythology, what inspired Fateful Signs and his process of interpreting Norse mythical sources into art.

Fateful Signs website https://www.fatefulsigns.com/

Vikings & Valkyries actual play table top role play game podcast with ⁨@ianstuartsharpe⁩ - listen on YouTube or via other podcast platforms here https://rss.com/podcasts/vikingsandvalkyries/

Joining me in Valhalla this month is a fast friend of mine, Ian Stuart Sharpe, whom I affectionately call Mr Vikingverse for he has quite a vast and established collection of creative works with strong Norse historical and mythological influences.

2 sci fi/fantasy novels: All-Father Paradox and Loki's Wager

The Jotunn War comics collection.

Old Norse for Modern Times phrase book.

When the Wolf Comes table top role play campaign source book.

And is also running an actual play podcast of the former, Vikings and Valkyries!

We discuss his works, why the question "What if?" began it all, the closeness between Old Norse and Angl0-Saxon/Modern English, the tricks involved in running a role play game where the characters as the oddest bunch of heroes and where a character dies in nearly every episode. We also share an enlightening discussion about the gaps in the mythology and how us as creatives adapt and try to fill in the gaps, the bane and boons of interpretation.

Please visit his website to find links to all his publications, freebies and more! https://vikingverse.com/

Please be bold and follow along with his actual play podcast, Vikings and Valkyries, it's a wild unforgettable ride! https://rss.com/podcasts/vikingsandvalkyries/

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In Episode 14, due out in April, we will be welcoming artist Sam Flegal, who was also a guest on Ian's Vikings and Valkyries podcast, but we will be diving more into his deep connection to Norse Mythology and interpretating Old Norse poetry stanza by stanza through ink art.

This episode will also be available to watch on my YouTube podcast if you wish to see the covers of each of his published books and work-in-progress.

Join me in meeting some of the talented and creative people who have featured in Jorvik Viking Festival 2025. In this debut Bonus Episode, we meet Charlie Blanshard and Oliver Strong, two thirds of the a new theatre company in the North, 'Old York Theatre'. I talk to them about their equally new play, 'Jorvik' which has no stage, no fourth wall and audience engagement is encouraged!

"At it's heart, Jorvik is a play about what Legacy really means to the individual. It's about loss, faith, glory, family, love and having a great time while we are still around to enjoy it. Jorvik is an exploration of this idea, a celebration of life, of family and the love we leave behind. Expect big characters, song, fights and plenty of table banging. This is a play that leans heavily into the myth, it rejoices in the fantastical and is delivered in the spirit of larger than life storytelling! Join us on this adventure and help us find Valhalla!"

We discuss their own connections and interest in York, Viking history and mythology, and of course learn if they have actually been to the Jorvik Viking Centre and/or Jorvik Viking Festival before or not. You can learn more about their incredible play via their Crowdfunder page where they still welcome donations to continue promoting and performing Jorvik.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-jorvik-play#start

You can follow Old York Theatre on Instagram @OldYorkTheatre.

You can learn more about the cast and the play from this article at Charles Hutch Press website: https://charleshutchpress.co.uk/new-company-old-york-theatre-to-stage-charlie-blanshards-debut-play-at-jorvik-viking-festival-and-on-northern-mini-tour/

#JorvikVikingFestival #OldYorkTheatre #Jorvik #Play #Theatre #ImmersiveTheatre #NorthernTheatre #Vikings #York #History #NorseMythology #Odin #Ubba #RagnarLothbrok #Podcast

Episode 12 February 2025: Spoiler Warning

Joining me to discuss and review the Netflix animated TV series, Twilight of the Gods is:

Retired Professor Carolyne Larrington - she is the author of The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes, and The Norse Myths That Shape The Way We Think.

Sacha, from Slightly Reckless Games, who are launching their norse inspired table top role play game, Beserkr. https://www.slightlyrecklessgames.com/

Kim Barton, a historical and fantasy author who publishes fiction under the name K.S. Barton, author of the Norse Family trilogy, and recently has a short story in an anthology titled "Odin: Old & New Tales", she is also the co-host of Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse world with Johanna Wittenburg. https://ksbarton.com/

Here is a link to IMDB's page on the animated series we are discussing: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10625492/

Coming up in Episode 13, is Ian Stuart Sharpe, aka Mr Viking Verse - keep an eye out for his episode dropping in March.

Please follow and like the podcast page on Facebook or follow me on Instagram & BlueSky @soulchaserbecky

Joining me in my humble hall of all things norse is canadian author and games designer Joshua Gillingham. We discuss his fantasy series Torin Ten-Trees, how he developed the strategy card game Althingi based on the Icelandic legal and cultural practices during the Viking Age, his scandinavian heritage and how he became interested in viking culture and history.

Guest profile: https://www.joshuagillingham.ca/

Joshua Gillingham is an author, game designer, and editor from Vancouver Island, Canada. His fantasy trilogy The Saga of Torin Ten-Trees (Crowsnest Books) is a rollicking, riddling, troll-hunting adventure inspired by the Norse myths and the Icelandic Sagas; it now available in paperback, ebook, and as an audiobook narrated by Alex C. Stewart. Joshua is also the co-author of Old Norse for Modern Times alongside Ian Stuart Sharpe (Vikingverse Books & Comics) and Dr. Arngrimur Vidalin (University of Iceland). In partnership with Outland Entertainment, Joshua is the founding Worldsmith of the trans-media Outland 'Althingi' World set in Viking Age Iceland, featuring his original card game Althingi: One Will Rise and the groundbreaking anthology Althingi: The Crescent & the Northern Star, co-edited with Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad (A Mosque Among the Stars) which explores the under-examined historical connections between Vikings and Muslims.

Join me, as we take a look back through Memory at the origin story of my podcasting journey with Valhalla Conversations and all the guests we've welcomed into the great mead hall, and then look forward by sharing my Thoughts and plans for future episodes in 2025, including exciting expansion plans!

1. Valhalla Conversations is now available on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ll6E3w... Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fda...

2. Valhalla Conversations Facebook Page is now OPEN / 1er67cnbbt

3. Please do also follow me on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky @soulchaserbecky

4. New Book focused reviews content coming soon.

5. Plan to release 12 episodes in 2025.

6. At least 2 New Guests for January and February episodes, with others to be confirmed.

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube early December 2024.

Join me for our first double digit episode of Valhalla Conversations as I talk with the newest author to join my Favourites shelf, Thilde Kold Holdt. We discuss her Norse Fantasy series beginning with Northern Wrath, learn about what fascinated her about Norse Mythology and the era of viking history featuring Harald Bluetooth, and about her experiences rowing and sailing a Viking Warship, The Sea Stallion.

Website: https://www.thildekoldholdt.com/

Insta: @KoldHoldt or / koldholdt

Twitter: @KoldHoldt or https://x.com/KoldHoldt

Thanks to James RPG Art for the Viking Hall virtual background. Find and Support his digital artwork on Patreon.

Thanks to Podcast Theme Music, 'In the Warmth of the Fire' created by Will Savino from Shattered Storm DnD music bundle.

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube in November 2024.

Join me for Episode 9 of Valhalla Conversations, which is a special collaborative podcast episode as I am joined by the two hosts of ‘Shield Maiden: ‪@WomenoftheNorseWorldPodcast‬ Kim Barton and Johanna Wittenberg.

In this episode we each share our particular favourite female figure from Norse sagas and history, and equally Norse legends and mythology.

I chose Audr/Unnr the Deep Minded, a woman who single handidly led her family from danger to peaceful settlement in Iceland. Followed up by Freya, Goddess of War, Love and Seidr Magic.

Kim chose Lagertha, and we learn more about what the sagas say, not the Netflix drama. Followed up with Skarthi, the Jotun/Giant, who demanded a husband in recompense for the Gods killing her father.

Johanna chose Queen Asa of an ununified Norway, who features as her female protagonist in her now 6 going on 7 book series, followed up with the half-corpse goddess, Hel, who ruled Helheim.

Kim and Johanna are both authors of historical fiction (and some fantasy) set in the Viking Age, and each has a strong female protagonist to explore and navigate the culture and society of the time. Kim and Johanna, combined forces over their shared fascination and interest women’s lives, experiences, challenges and successes and roles during the Viking Age and so began their own podcast. To date they have recorded 24 episodes covering an amazing range and depth of women in Viking history and mythology. From goddesses to spirits to legends and sagas, historical artefacts, archaeology, religious roles, domestic roles, Queens to Abbesses, Warriors to Valkyries. These two have covered a LOT and I have always learned something from every single episode I’ve listened to so far.

Johanna Wittenberg’s website - https://johannawittenberg.com/

K.S.Barton’s website - https://www.ksbarton.com/

*First recorded and premiered on YouTube in November 2024.

I reunite with returning guest panelists, ‪@JustinHilltheAuthor‬, Patricia Bracewell and Sharon Bennett Connolly, to discuss and explore and in many ways untangle a interpretation of history and comparing it to genuine events, of ‪@Netflix‬ Vikings: Valhalla, Season 3, what turned out to be the FINAL season.

There are SPOILERS from the start - you have been warned!

Patricia Bracewell - historical fiction author of a trilogy about Emma of Normandy and her years married to Aethelread the Unready whilst Swein Forkbeard and Canute invaded England. Her trilogy begins with "Shadow on the Crown". - http://www.patriciabracewell.com/

Justin Hill - historical novelist having written Sunday Times Bestseller "Viking Fire" novel about Harald Hardrada's lifelong adventures. As well as "Shieldwall" a historical novel following Godwin's life as he survived the political and military turmoil of England during the invasion of Swein Forkbeard and Canute's eventual rise to claim the Throne. - https://www.justinhillauthor.com/

Sharon Bennett Connolly - popular historian who has spent years researching and writing books about many forgotten women of history including Queen Emma among others. Her book "The Silk and the Sword - Forgotten Women of 1066" is a recommended read. - https://historytheinterestingbits.com.