Saga Thing Podcast

Snæfellsjökull looms large over the landscape that inspired Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss, the tale of a half-troll who settled the region.

Walk the sites of Barð's saga with John and Andy next April.

sagathingtours.com

#sagathing #Iceland #snæfellsnes #medieval #tourism #Icelandtrip #history #Vikings

Hwæt a Movie – Episode 6 – Beowulf (2007) Hwæt a Movie is back! This time we dive deep into the uncanny valley epic Beowulf from 2007. Released at the height of Robert Zemeckis's motion-capture mania, this version of our favorite Old English classic promised to bring the poem to life like never before. It was slated to be an event like no other, at least for John and Andy.

Hwæt a Movie is back! This time we dive deep into the uncanny valley epic Beowulf from 2007. How do John and Andy like this adaptation? If you've listened to Hwæt a Movie before, you can probably guess. But maybe things will be different this time.
#beowulf #medieval #literature #movies #badmovies

Saga Thing Tour update!

Our tour of saga landscapes in Snæfellsnes will end with a feast at the legendary Ingólfsskáli Viking Restaraunt.

Tour spots are limited Sagathingtours.com
Learn more about our feast venue ingolfsskali.is

#sagathingtours #vikings #sagathing #ingolfsskali #Iceland

Saga Brief 28 – Ljósvetninga Saga Interview with Dr. Yoav Tirosh In this episode, we finally sit down with Dr. Yoav Tirosh, one of the leading voices in Old Norse–Icelandic studies and an all-around fascinating person to talk to. Yoav has written extensively on topics ranging from Ljósvetninga Saga and saga authorship to storytelling, cultural memory, and disability studies. He’s also the creative force behind the webcomic Viking Comics, a seasoned Icelandic tour guide, and a delightful companion for wandering around Kraków.

Saga Brief 28 – Ljósvetninga Saga Interview with Dr. Yoav Tirosh

In this episode, we finally sit down with Dr. Yoav Tirosh, one of the leading voices in Old Norse–Icelandic studies and an all-around fascinating person to talk to. Yoav has written extensively on topics ranging from Ljósvetninga…

One of my favorite spots at Þingvellir!

Just finished interviewing the great Yoav Tirosh @realmundiriki about Ljósvetninga saga. While I liked the part where he called me brilliant, the roasting he gave John and me was most enjoyable!

This was a great interview. I look forward to editing (so much cursing!) and sharing with you all soon.

Sagas of Snaefellsnes Peninsula Tour Details Tour dates: April 20-24, 2026. Book your tour, then customize your accommodation and excursion package. Limited spots available. What could be better than listening to Saga Thing while you tour Icelan...

Hi, everyone! Got a quick update to the Saga Thing Tours site to flesh out the itinerary a bit. Check it out here: sagathingtours.com/pages/sagas-...

Thanks to everyone who already signed up. Can’t wait to share this adventure!

#Iceland #sagathingtours #snæfellsnes #history #historytravels

Saga Thing Tours Tour the Iceland with saga scholars and podcasters John and Andy.

Walk in the footsteps of your favorite saga figures in April 2026!
Join John, Andy, and our partner Björn Grímsson for a Saga Thing tour of Snæfellsnes.
The tour website is live. Join us to stand where history and story meet!
www.sagathingtours.com
#sagathing #Iceland #icelandtravels #historytravel

We're excited to announce that Saga Thing Tours will begin next April. Be one of the few to travel around Snæfellsnes exploring saga sites, taking in the scenery, and sharing laughs with John & Andy.

More info soon (including an actual tour website)!
#sagathing #sagathingtours #iceland #icelandtrip

Can't get enough Manuscript Studies 🌩 from Saga Thing alone?

There's a place for you at the Árnastofnun Summer School in Manuscript Studies 🌩! Apply by January for next summer's program.

Check it out here: arnastofnun.is/en/summer-sc...

#medieval #Iceland #medievalstudies #manuscriptstudies

We wrapped up Ljósvetnina Saga in 8 episodes (that's 11h25m50s of saga talk!) Now it's time for Judgments with Best Bloodshed, Witticisms, Nicknames, Outlawry, and Thingmen! Listen on your favorite podcast app or at sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com. #medieval #sagas #iceland #oldnorse #podcast

Episode 40i – Ljósvetninga Saga (Judgments) After nearly a year of working our way through Ljósvetninga Saga, it is finally time to bring it to the Saga Thing and pass judgments. As always, we'll pass out awards for Best Bloodshed, Nicknames, and Notable Witticisms. We'll send one (or more?) scoundrel in Outlawry. And we'll also discuss the Body Count, pick Thingmen, and offer our Final Ratings.

Episode 40i – Ljósvetninga Saga (Judgments)

After nearly a year of working our way through Ljósvetninga Saga, it is finally time to bring it to the Saga Thing and pass judgments. As always, we'll pass out awards for Best Bloodshed, Nicknames, and Notable Witticisms. We'll send one (or more?)…

Cool Podcast Dr. John Sexton had his students in mind when he recorded his first podcast episode about Icelandic sagas. A dozen years and more than 3 million downloads later, it’s safe to say the “Saga Thing” show...

John's work on Saga Thing was recently featured in an article by his university. It's nice to see him recognized for the efforts he makes to promote the rich culture of medieval Iceland and to normalize public-facing scholarship in our field. Go John!

www.bridgew.edu/stories/2025...

Children of Tax and Tea just achieved ”project we love” status today, so here’s Blot Sven doing a grim, little pagan victory dance.

Still a ways to go before the project’s fate goes to Valhalla instead of Helheim. Check it out here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/row...

Children of Tax and Tea is a humorous book for fans of all things viking-related. It is a 300+ page hardback that covers the history of the Viking Age and is full-color throughout with illustrations by @barbarianlord.bsky.social.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/row...

The book features expanded and previously unpublished text and art spread across numerous enlightening chapters with titles like ”False Advertising in the Era of Viking Age Exploration,” ”Shit Talk at the Law Rock,” and ”How to Get Paid to Stop Attacking Paris.”

John and I have signed on to write the introduction to Rowdy Geirsson's latest project Children of Tax and Tea! It's a humorous history book about Vikings written in the charmingly profane voice of a rugged Bostonian. All illustrations are by Matt Smith.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/row...

John was very happy to participate in this discussion! Where else could he go off on all he knows about Benedict IX?

We are back!! We proudly present our final episode on Benedict IX, featuring John from Saga Thing! @sagathingpodcast.bsky.social

pontifacts.podbean.com/e/crossover-...

Dziękuję, Poland. Until next time!

Definitely make use of sagamap.hi.is if you want to get a sense of where things were. Lots of Barðar saga Snæfellsáss stuff around Arnarstapi.

Ended the day having beers at a metal bar with a fun crew talking about many things, including intersections betweens the sagas and The Room. Also made some plans for our redo of Eyrbyggja Saga and a new Saga Brief.

Really happy to have spent the conference excursion day with these fine people.

Some highlights from a beautiful day in Kraków. We started with a great morning keynote by the incredible Ármann Jakobsson.

I joined up with Pierre-Brice, Frog, and Yoav for a lot of walking and visits to the Museum of Kraków, the Castle, and the famous dragon's den.

A few pictures from my morning walk here in Katowice on the way to day 2 of the saga conference. The Silesian Insurgents monument was particularly striking, with each of three wings representing a separate insurgency.

Having never been to the Westfjords (yet), I'm afraid I'm not a good source. Sorry. I've been all over the country but not there. It's high on the list for a return trip.

I don't see any option for more or less digital ass on the game box. Will have to find out when I play.

Look what I just picked up. I trust it's as good as the movie.

Episode 40g – Ljósvetninga Saga (chapters 25-27)

In this episode, the Ljósvetnings and Möðruvellings maneuver to position themselves to maximize potential outcomes in the aftermath of the battle of Battle Hill. While Þorvarður Höskuldsson does his best to calm tensions and shield his allies,…

Saga Brief 27d – Icelandic Impressions of the Sagas (Interview with Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir) In this special Saga Brief, we wrap up our four-part series from Iceland with an interview recorded in the shadow of Snæfellsjökull, one of the most iconic landscapes in the country. This time, we are joined by Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir, park manager of Snæfellsjökull National Park, for a wide-ranging conversation about the sagas, Icelandic heritage, and the powerful connection between people and place.

Saga Brief 27d – Icelandic Impressions of the Sagas (Interview with Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir)

In this special Saga Brief, we wrap up our four-part series from Iceland with an interview recorded in the shadow of Snæfellsjökull, one of the most iconic landscapes in the country. This time, we are…

Our latest episode dives deep into the next generation of the evolving feud between the Möðruvellings and the Ljósvetnings. There are a lot of names to keep track of in this one.

To help you out, here’s a handy cast list for both sides of the conflict.

You’re going to need it!