Rock, Paper, Swords! Podcast By Matthew Harffy & Steven A. McKay cover art

Rock, Paper, Swords!

Rock, Paper, Swords!

By: Matthew Harffy & Steven A. McKay
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 The Historical Action and Adventure Podcast - making history come alive! Bestselling authors Matthew Harffy and Steven A. McKay chat about writing action and adventure stories, diving into some of the more quirky and unusual aspects of history, with a detour through music and its role in their process. Each episode covers different exciting themes, often with brilliant guests who help shed light on what Matthew and Steven have decided to talk about that week.Matthew Harffy & Steven A. McKay Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Ale/beer consumption throughout history! Pete Brown tells us some drinking stories!

    Ale/beer consumption throughout history! Pete Brown tells us some drinking stories!
    Jun 6 2025

    Pete Brown's website: https://www.petebrown.net/

    Link Tree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords⁠

    Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠

    Buy us a beer and get a shoutout by heading to ⁠buymeacoffee.com/rockpaperswords

    Pete Brown is a British author, journalist, broadcaster and consultant specialising in food and drink, especially the fun parts like beer and cider. He writes for newspapers and magazines around the world and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme. He was named British Beer Writer of the Year in 2009, 2012, 2016 and 2021, and Fortnum and Mason Online Drinks Writer of the Year in 2015. In 2020 he was named an “Industry Legend” at the Imbibe Hospitality Awards.

    We chatted with him about alcohol brewing and drinking by the Babylonians, Romans, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, medieval folk, and more. It's a fascinating interview, don't miss it!

    Welcome to RPS, Pete Brown!
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    49 mins
  • MJ Porter - Vikings, Saxons, swearing in historical fiction and much more!

    MJ Porter - Vikings, Saxons, swearing in historical fiction and much more!
    May 23 2025

    M.J. Porter is an author of historical fiction and nonfiction. She has written about Anglo-Saxons and Vikings as well as three twentieth-century mysteries and Viking age/dragon themed fantasy.

    She is a prolific hybrid author, with independently published and traditionally published books.

    We met up with MJ at the HNS Conference last year for a quick chat, which you can listen to in a previous episode, but we knew we had to get her back on for a full episode. So welcome back to RPS, M.J. Porter.

    https://www.mjporterauthor.com/

    Link Tree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords⁠

    Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠

    Buy us a beer and get a shoutout by heading to ⁠buymeacoffee.com/rockpaperswords
    Show more Show less
    52 mins
  • RPS NEWS! Plus Dire wolves? We chat about bringing things back from earlier periods in history. What would YOU bring back?

    RPS NEWS! Plus Dire wolves? We chat about bringing things back from earlier periods in history. What would YOU bring back?
    Apr 25 2025

    Link Tree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords⁠

    Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠

    Buy us a beer and get a shoutout by heading to ⁠buymeacoffee.com/rockpaperswords

    Buy BLOOD FEUD, this week's sponsor from Paul Bernardi! Buy link for Paul Bernardi's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F38L728Z
    We don’t have a guest today, instead Steven and I are going to talk about something that has been in the news this week and its impact on history and how we perceive the finality of historical events. But before that we’re going to give you some updates on what we’ve been up to and some changes to our Patreon.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g9ejy3gdvo

    https://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/

    https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/407781/these-fluffy-white-wolves-explain-everything-wrong-with-bringing-back-extinct-animals
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    45 mins
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Imagine walking into a pub, waving to your two friends you were to met up with. Now these friends aren’t just ordinary people, nope Steven and Matthew are fantastic minds as well as best sellers of historical fiction. So sitting and chatting it up with them you not only get educated but feel awe inspired in their presence. Well I’d probably be nervous which in turn makes me overly chatty, to the extent one of the guys would be saying can I talk now please. I’m a big fan of them both and a horrible geek of history in general. So this podcast is on my follow list. Cheers to you both on your podcast long may it reign!

It’s like hanging out with two great authors.

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This was a really great podcast. Matthew and Steven asked great questions and received great answers from Jason Kingsley. All three have extensive backgrounds in Medieval History. As well as 2000 AD, British Comics and games. Will need to listen again to be sure I heard it all. Will also enjoy it a second time.

Really interesting interview!

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