PODCASTS
Medieval Icelandic Sagas Podcast
*More Podcasts Coming Soon!
The Medieval Icelandic Sagas podcasts were done in tandem with the Medieval Icelandic Sagas edX course. Co-hosted by me and my fellow instructor, Hjalti Snær Ægisson, these seven episodes provided extra information on the themes of the course and also explored special topics suggested by our students.
The first podcast of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas course hosted by edX and UIcelandX at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Hosted by Beth Rogers & Hjalti Snær Ægisson.
1:05 - Hjalti's Introduction & Research Interests
4:26 - Beth's Introduction & Research Interests
7:26 - Beth & Hjalti talk about the Eucharist (Church history AND food history!)
10:16 - Week 1 of Our Course
12:40 - Thank you to edX and University of Iceland
14:55 - Beth's favorite thing about teaching Medieval Icelandic Sagas
16:26 - Misconceptions about Nordic Culture (Vikings and Pop Culture!)
21:42 - What the word "Viking" actually means
25:45 - A note from Hjalti about grading
27:05 - What's coming up in Week 2
29:24 - Next week's guest
29:50 - Beth and Hjalti discuss advice for anyone wishing to study medieval or Norse studies
The second podcast of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas course hosted by edX and UIcelandX at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Hosted by Beth Rogers & Hjalti Snær Ægisson.
0:00 - Welcome & On This Episode
0:57 - Our Guest, Roberto Pagani
1:10 - Thoughts from Hjalti on Week 2
5:54 - What Brought Rob to Iceland?
10:18 - Rob's Advice for Learning Icelandic (Or not) :)
12:34 - Rob and Beth Talk About Moving to Iceland as Foreigners
17:58 - We Become Archaeologists of the Manuscript
23:10 - How Vellum is Made
34:37 - Is Rob surrounded by manuscripts every day?
36:28 - Hjalti's Thoughts about the Icelandic Manuscript Return (1977-1997)
40:20 - Manuscript Summer Course at the University of Iceland
44:30 - Some Class Matters & Student Questions
47:30 - Special Thanks
48:10 - Rob Loves Being Discussion Moderator
52:28 - Next Week's Course Theme (Landscape & Architecture)
54:41- Next Week's Podcast Guests
The third podcast of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas course hosted by edX and UIcelandX at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Hosted by Beth Rogers & Hjalti Snær Ægisson. This podcast focuses on a special topic requested by our students: Historical Reconstruction and Reenactment.
PART I: THEODÓR HANSSON
0:00 - Welcome & On this Episode
0:48 - Our Hometowns (Landscape & Archaeology)
3:34 - The South Coast of Iceland and Theo's Work as a Game of Thrones Tour Guide
5:10 - Theo's Research Interests
7:10 - Reconstructing Viking Age Fighting Styles & Combat
13:36 - The Remmugýygur Reenactment Group
16:40 - Adaptations for Modern Day "Historical Accuracy" (How do you make it work?)
20:27 - Becoming a Full Member of Remmugýygur, or "Earning Your Axe"
23:25 - Going a-Viking All Summer (Viking Markets Abroad)
24:45 - The Iceland Viking Festival
28:20 - Theo's Advice for Someone Who Wants to Take Part in Reenactment
31:32 - 34:47- Intermission
PART II: CHELSEA GRACE
34:50 - Welcome to Chelsea & Her Hometown
35:50 - Chelsea's Studies
36:05 - Chelsea's Experiences in Remmugýygur
37:40 - How to Get Started as a Viking Fighter
38:45 - Making Decisions about Clothing and Historical Accuracy
42:30 - Fighting Practice and the Sporting Aspect of Reenactment
44:45 - What Being a Part of Remmugýygur Means to Chelsea
49:23 - Food History Moment!
54:00 - Chelsea's Advice for Someone Who Wants to Take Part in Reenactment
54:45 - Course Matters
57:55 - Next Week's Guests
1:00:00 - Special Announcement
MIS Podcast Episode 4: Women in the Sagas
The fourth podcast of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas course hosted by edX and UIcelandX at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Hosted by Beth Rogers & Hjalti Snær Ægisson. This podcast focuses on reconstruction of textiles and handicrafts like spinning and knitting, along with reception theory and ideas of what "Viking" means in 19th century America and beyond. It's all to celebrate Week 4 of our course: Women in the Sagas!
0:00 - 1:10 - Welcome and Introducing Our Guests
1:10 - 12:37 - Our Favorite Saga Characters
12:37 - 14:30 - Why are Icelanders so Sexy?
14:30 - 17:30- Anita's work with Textiles and Archaeology
17:45 - 20:15 - The Lady in Blue Archaeological Find
20:15 - 26:45 - Anita's Research on Clothing in the Sagas
26:45 - 28:53 - A Viking's Favorite Color
28:53 - 31:00 - Totally Meaningless Details in the Sagas and our Totally Meaningless Research
31:00 - 36:45 - Teaching Handicrafts
36:45 - 39:50 - Watching the World's Worst Movie Trailer
30:50 - 44:50 - Zack and the Sea Serpent (or, his research)
44:50 - 57:00 - Vikings and the American Sufferage Movement?
57:20 - 59:48 - Course Matters for Week 4
59:48 - 1:03:00 - Week 5 of Our Course & Next Week's Podcast Guests
The fifth podcast of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas course hosted by edX and UIcelandX at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Hosted by Beth Rogers & Hjalti Snær Ægisson. This podcast focuses on the music scene in Reykjavik as we chat with Sigurboði Grétarsson, a well-known folk musician in the Remmugýgur reenactment group and Snæbjörn Ragnarsson, bassist for the popular metal band, Skálmöld. We'll discuss their thoughts about Icelandic culture, music and history in this episode to celebrate Music in Iceland: Past and Present!
0:00 - Introduction and What's on This Episode
1:37 - Our Guests, Sigurboði Grétarsson & Snæbjörn Ragnarsson (a.k.a. Bibbi)
5:00 - Life in a Small Town (I Know You, But I Never Met You)
6:40 - How Many Instruments Do You Play?
10:58 - Skálmöld: A Name, A Band, and a Concept
15:30 - Gladiator Rock and Roman Metal (Why is this not a thing?)
17:45 - Sigurboði is Chill (Music Genres and Categorization)
20:10 - Music Festivals and the Metal Scene in Iceland
25:25 - The Question of Accuracy
30:30 - Getting Down to One Version (Christianity)
34:40 - The Ásatrú of Iceland
38:00 - Ásaboo and the (Not Really) Viking Hordes
40:10 - The (Real) Vikings Go East
41:10 - Bibbi is a Terrible Poet and He Knows It
45:47 - Sigurboði Performs "Norskt runaljóð"
52:00 - What Do You Want Your Listeners to Experience?
54:18 - Week 6 and Upcoming Podcast Guests
The sixth podcast of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas course hosted by edX and UIcelandX at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Hosted by Beth Rogers & Hjalti Snær Ægisson. This podcast focuses on Paganism and the Supernatural, combining the themes of Week 5 and 6 of our edX course. Joining us are Teresa Dröfn Njarðvík, PhD candidate at the University of Iceland and published author of books on runes, and our first returning guest, Sigurboði Grétarsson, who shares some of his personal spiritual journey with the audience. Learn more about runes, elves, and pagan tradition on this episode!
0:00 – Hello & welcome
0:25 – What‘s on this episode
1:16 – Life in a Northern Town
8:16 – Teresa‘s Research at the Árni Magnússon Institute
13:30 – Sigurboði‘s Experience with Spiritual Leaders
20:15 – More on Teresa‘s Book, Runes: The Icelandic Book of Futhark
23:00 – The Supernatural Power of the Runes (Magical Thinking)
30:12 – When Runes Go Wrong (Egils saga)
32:47 – Runes and Christianity (“Haraldr made this stone”)
37:20 – Wait, there are more runic alphabets than the younger and elder futhark?
38:20 - Runeology is a neglected field (Come to Iceland, scholars!)
38:50 – Do 50% of Icelanders believe in elves? (Everyone rolls their eyes)
42:50 – Damn house elves stole my keys!
44:15 – Supernatural creatures and their strange evolution in pop culture
45:17 – Have Teresa and Sigurboði seen an elf? (Hjalti has a story!)
49:25 – The Icelandic Association of Heathenism (Ásatrúfélagið)
52:00 – Who is allowed to be a pagan? (Hint: Everyone)
54:40 – Living in a Box
57:00 – Advice for Those who Want to Learn More (Vítoð ér enn eða hvat?)
59:40 – One More Podcast
The seventh podcast of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas course hosted by edX and UIcelandX at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Hosted by Beth Rogers & Hjalti Snær Ægisson. This podcast focuses on two programs at the University of Iceland which center on Norse heritage, literature and culture, the Viking and Medieval Norse Studies (VMN) program and its companion, Medieval Icelandic Studies (MIS). We sit down with Haraldur Bernharðsson, head of those two programs and Associate Professor of Medieval Studies. Listen to our final podcast for edX as we celebrate an end to a very successful online learning experience!
Thank you to all the staff and faculty at the university who helped us make the course an exciting journey and to all our students who took the trip with us!
0:00 – What‘s on this episode
1:00 – Haraldur‘s background and research interests
7:30 – Haraldur‘s advice for learning Old Norse or modern Icelandic
9:30 – Reconstructed versus non-reconstructed (modern Icelandic) pronunciation
10:35 – Beth is waaaay too into the sagas
12:45 – Thoughts about our edX course and its success
14:55 – Programs at the University of Iceland (VMN and MIS)
18:35 – Haraldur‘s thoughts on why Norse culture is so interesting across the world
20:35 – Research projects and comparing cultures
22:10 – More about the structure of VMN and MIS
26:40 – Haraldur and the rock stars of the Árni Magnússon Institute
27:45 – A little encouragement
29:15 – How to be a good scholar
30:00 – Hjalti‘s advice
33:50 – Keep learning, everyone! (Beth‘s advice)
36:40 – Our goodbyes (and Beth‘s Icelandic gets her again!)