*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/