Episodes

  • S5E12 Ragnar Lodbrok III: Aslaug's Ancestral Revelation and the "Betrayal" of King Eystein

    S5E12 Ragnar Lodbrok III: Aslaug's Ancestral Revelation and the "Betrayal" of King Eystein
    Nov 11 2024
    Shawn apologizes for his audio quality. He needed to switch to a headset last minute after already marking himself as using a speaker when he entered the recording room. He is an idiot. - Shawn

    In this episode, Shawn and David discuss chapters 9-11 of the "Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok". The duo discuss Ragnar playing politics with his vassals, specifically with a King Eystein, a man Ragnar gave much land in Sweden to run to thwart the aggression of his own sons. King Eystein's daughter, Inginbjorg, bats her eyelashes to Ragnar while he is drinking. The result is Ragnar's 4th engagement,,,, while he is already married to who he thinks is "Kraka", the farmers daughter and not "Aslaug" the daughter of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer and Brynhild the Valkyrie.

    Aslaug, with the genetics to understand the sound of birds (a trait she got from her father), was able to spy on her husband when he revealed his intention to marry another. This forces her to confront him and reveal her true identity. Where Ragnar then needs to decide whether or not to break off his new engagement.

    Oh, and there is another magical cow #freeathumla


    David is starting a new grove called "The Raven's Nest". He will have 3 meet-ups on the topic of Voulspa, the prophecy of the seeress. We will be analyzing stanzas from the poem and have time for listeners to discuss with us at the end:
    November 10th, 2024
    November 24th, 2024
    December 8th, 2024

    For more information and register for the event: https://thewalledgarden.com/the-ravens-nest/

    And follow us on instagram for updates: @TwoRavensPodcast https://www.instagram.com/tworavenspodcast/


    Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us for updates or send us a message on Instagram:
    Instagram: (@TwoRavensPodcast): https://www.instagram.com/tworavenspodcast/

    Check out David’s writing: Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • S5E11 Why Study Norse Mythology and Archetypes of the Unconscious?

    S5E11 Why Study Norse Mythology and Archetypes of the Unconscious?
    Nov 3 2024
    This is a short episode where David talks about why a person might want to study Norse Mythology, Poetry, and Archetypes. My hope is that this episode would be a good introduction for anyone who is not already following Shawn and I on our 2 year journey of exploring the myths of the Norse Gods and the hero Sagas of the Volsung family and Ragnar Lothbrook.

    My takeaway is that archetypes help us find meaning in life. Accept fate and things in life that are difficult to accept. These are things which go beyond my work as a psychotherapist and expand into the Jungian psychology ideas of spiritual healing and soul work.

    If you are interested in understanding the study of Archetypes, soul work, poetry, and philosophy, we have discussions like these at The Walled Garden.

    I am starting a new grove called "The Raven's Nest", where I will have 3 meet-ups on the topic of Voulspa, the prophecy of the seeress. We will be analyzing stanzas from the poem and have time for listeners to discuss with us at the end:
    November 10th, 2024
    November 24th, 2024
    December 8th, 2024

    For more information and register for the event: https://thewalledgarden.com/the-ravens-nest/

    And follow us on instagram for updates: @TwoRavensPodcast https://www.instagram.com/tworavenspodcast/





    Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us for updates or send us a message on Instagram:
    Instagram: (@TwoRavensPodcast): https://www.instagram.com/tworavenspodcast/

    Check out David’s writing: Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    12 mins
  • S5E10 Ragnar Lodbrok II: The Farmer's Daughter and the Birth of Ivar the Boneless

    S5E10 Ragnar Lodbrok II: The Farmer's Daughter and the Birth of Ivar the Boneless
    Oct 15 2024
    In this episode, Shawn and David discuss chapters 5-8 of "The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok", which details a now adult Aslaug (still disguised as "Kraka", the daughter of a farmer) distracting the eyes of the men of Ragnar, then Ragnar himself.

    They further go into their marriage and the birth of a few of their sons, including Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn, Hvitserk, and Rognvald.

    The sons, ever aspiring to live up to their father's name, decide to go on a daring military campaign to generate weath and fame. Unfortunately for them, they need to go against 2 cows whose moos have the ability to generate mass fear agains their enemies. Can the brothers, led by Ivar, succeed?

    Shawn also introduces a new source called "The Tale of Ragnar's Sons", which can be found free online below (its a short read so If you have a few minutes I would fo sho take a glance.

    "The Tale of Ragnar's Sons"

    Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/

    Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • S5E9 Tristan and Iseult: The Myth of Romantic Love (Solo Episode)

    S5E9 Tristan and Iseult: The Myth of Romantic Love (Solo Episode)
    Oct 1 2024
    S5E9 - Tristant and Iseult: The Myth of Romantic Love.

    David presents a story that is a long time in the works. It is the story of Tristan and Iseult. The first European Romance story. It is a story I needed to explain to connect the Saga of Sigurd and the Dragon, with the love triangle drama of Sigurd, Brunhilde, and Gudrun.

    This episode combines interpretations from Jungian authors Robert Johnson, Robert Moore, Jean Shinoda Bolen, and my original thoughts on what we can learn from the meeting of the hero with the feminine. It helps explain where the hero as the Lover archetype goes wrong, why he cannot become a complete Warrior or King, and how dark agreements and resentment destroy love and our selves.

    I particularly want to give credit to Robert Johnson's book "We: The Psychology of Romantic Love" for his theory on the difference between "In Love" as a projection and "Love", the force which invigorates the universe. He used the Myth of Tristan and Iseult as a way to see the harm caused by these unhealthy projections. I believe it is my original idea to see the connection between Iseult the Fair and Gudrun, as a possible theory for how the meeting of the hero with the feminine goes wrong and what would be needed for a healthy union.

    I also bring in some of my thoughts on what Stoicism can tell us about healthy love and what Stoicism can learn from mythology about the appropriate role of romance and love.

    Please follow us on Instagram (@BetweenTwoRavens) if you want to hear about current projects we are working on and I hope to have plans for an online meet-up with fans to discuss Old Norse Poems in the coming months.


    Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/

    Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    52 mins
  • S5E8 Ragnar Lodbrok I: King Ragnar and the Dragon

    S5E8 Ragnar Lodbrok I: King Ragnar and the Dragon
    Jul 16 2024
    Finally, Between Two Ravens starts their series on "The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok" after only saying they were going to start it 8,000 times.

    In this episode, Shawn and David discuss chapters 1-4 of the saga, which details the journey of Heimir and a 3 year old Aslaug, escaping the the chaos that resulted in the death of her parents (Sigurd the Dragon Slayer and Brynhild the Valkyrie) into a farm in Norway where they find a "lovely" and totally not ugly older couple.

    They also talk about Ragnar's first wife and his happy marriage with the noble Thora in southern Sweden, his showdown with a dragon and his time spent as both a viking and as a King after inheriting his father's (also named Sigurd) kingdom (which may have been a majority if not all of Denmark).


    Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/

    Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • S5E7 Volsung Poems: Sigurd the Dragon Slayer (Solo Short Part 3 of 5)

    S5E7 Volsung Poems: Sigurd the Dragon Slayer (Solo Short Part 3 of 5)
    Jun 4 2024
    S5E7 Volsung Poems: Sigurd the Dragon Slayer (Solo Short Part 3 of 5) David continues his series of shorts, deep diving into the Poems of the Poetic Edda which inspired the Saga of the Volsungs.

    Sigurd is the primary "hero's journey" story of Saga of the Volsungs. He is the dragon slayer, the man without fear, and he is destined to be the greatest of kings.

    But Sigurd's story is a tragedy, he never becomes the greatest of all kings. He becomes ensnared in a love triangle with witches curses and betrayal.

    This short explores the poems Lay of Regin, Lay of Fafnir, and Lay of Sigrdrifa.
    Lay of Regin and Lay of Fafnir are very similar to the story of Saga of the Volsungs, but Lay of Sigrdrifa presents Sigurd's meeting with the the Valkyrie, Sigrdrifa, rather than Brunhilde. I explore the commentaries of Carolyn Larrington's translation of Poetic Edda, which include theories on which of these sources are the oldest versions of the legend of Sigurd.

    I contrast with the Saga of the Volsungs and Wagner's Opera, as well as explore some ideas on similar heroes with romantic tragedies from other cultural traditions. An idea which I hope to return to.

    Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/

    Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    27 mins
  • S5E6 Volsung Poems: Sinfjotli and Helgi (Solo Short Part 2)

    S5E6 Volsung Poems: Sinfjotli and Helgi (Solo Short Part 2)
    Apr 15 2024
    S5E6 Volsung Poems: Sinfjotli and Helgi (Solo Short Part 2 of 4)David continues his series of shorts, deep diving into the Poems of the Poetic Edda which inspired the Saga of the Volsungs.

    Sinfjotli and Helgi were the older half brothers of Sigurd the dragon slayer. They were Sigmund's first sons and set the stage for the fate which led Sigurd to become a hero.

    Helgi has three poems, The first Poem of Helgi Hundingsbani, The Poem of Helgi Hiorvardsson, and A second Poem of Helgi Hundingsbani.The Helgi poems feature different takes on the same story. The hero Helgi meeting his valkyrie lover on the battlefield and going to war with her suitor to gain her hand in marriage.Helgi's poem also features a flyting dis-battle between Sinfiotli and the leader of the opposing army.The Death of Sinfjotli is the final poem and shows the pattern we see repeated in the life of Sigurd. Dark agreements and insecurities trying to poison the hero and turn father against son or the hero against himself.

    Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/

    Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    25 mins
  • S5E5: Kent, the First Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England

    S5E5: Kent, the First Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England
    Apr 8 2024
    In this episode, Shawn discusses the kingdom of Kent, the first of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England post-Roman Britain as told by Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English People" and the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle".

    Shawn delves into the legendary figures of Kent's inception, focusing on the brothers Hengest and Horsa, whose lineage traces back to the All-Father, Odin. He discusses King Aethelberht of Kent, the pioneering Anglo-Saxon monarch to embrace Christianity, setting a precedent for future rulers.

    The discussion extends to King Ecbert of Wessex, whose familial ties to Kent through his father, King Ealmund, raise intriguing questions about the kingdom's sovereignty. Despite their direct descent from Cerdic of Wessex, Ecbert's actions indicate a desire to assert Wessex's dominance over Kent, leading to its subjugation under Wessex's rule.

    Errors:
    • Shawn misstated the beginning of Ida of Northumbria's reign as 457 CE, intending to reference the year 547 CE.
    • Shawn's wording regarding Penda of Mercia's conversion implied he was the last to convert, whereas he remained a staunch pagan until his death. The correction clarifies that he was the last pagan Anglo-Saxon king, with Mercia converting after his reign.
    • In reference to the West-Saxon king, Shawn inadvertently used "Cadwalla" instead of "Ceadwal".
    • Shawn apologizes for any confusion arising from discussing two separate individuals named Ecbert without clearly distinguishing between them.



    Ways to support us:
    If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830

    Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast

    Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/

    Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander)

    Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more.

    This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement
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    29 mins