Between Two Ravens: A Norse Mythology Podcast

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss the aftermath of Sigurd's death, and the life of Gudrun as a recent widow. Though she has a goodbye moment with the corpse of her husband, she then travels the world to start fresh and finds herself at a kingdom in Denmark where she befriends a Princess Thora there. After 3.5 years, she slowly regains some happiness and everything is turning up for Gudrun....

David and Shawn discuss chapters 30 and 31 of the Saga, which features in back to back chapters the deaths of 2 major characters, in this case Sigurd the Dragon Slayer of the House of Volsung, and Brynhild the Valkyrie. Brynhild at this point is still depressed over her inability to affect her fate in life, specifically with her inability to be with Sigurd. As she has found out that Sigurd himself...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss Chapters 28 & 29 of the Saga of the Volsungs. Gudrun taunts Brynhild on having won the better man (Sigurd) while also trying to convince Brynhild that her true love, Sigurd, isn't that great and Brynhild's husband, Gudrun's brother, is actually quite a catch. Brynhild's anger and resentment grow until she becomes defeated and depressed. When her husband...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss Chapters 25-27 of the Saga, which sees a budding friendship between Sigurd and the sons of King Gjuki, Gunnar and Hogni. Those brothers also have a sister, Princess Gudrun. The very woman Brynhild told Sigurd he would be fated to marry as oppose to her. King Gjuki also has a wife who happens to be a witch, Queen Grimhild. The Queen sees that Sigurd has a fo...

David presents part 4 of 4 short episodes on the Ring of Power. A Jungian interpretation of Wagner's 4 part Opera inspired by the high German version of Saga of the Volsungs (Nibelungenlied - Song of the Nibelung).This episode has been a long one in the making and it is a long short. It begins with a summary of the final portion of Siegfried's journey, which parallel's Sigurd's journey at the end...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss Chapters 20-24 of the Volsung Saga, where Sigurd has 2 completely different meetings with the Valkyrie, Brynhild. There is also a chapter dedicated solely to how beautiful Sigurd himself is. Shawn says the word, "inconsistency" 40,384 times. Also, the pair discuss Brynhild's words to Sigurd and how she may actually be warning him of his lust for her as oppo...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss Chapter 19 of the Saga of the Volsungs, with additional content from the poem, Fáfnismál. Sigurd, fresh off of killing the feared dragon Fafnir, receives some interesting information from new friends of the avian variety. What Sigurd does with this information and his future in general, is up to fate. Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show,...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss the rise of Sigurd of the House of Volsung in chapter 17 and 18 of the saga. Firstly, with him raising an army to battle the rival family of the Volsungs (the sons of Hunding) and his father's killer, King Lyngvy. We then discuss the very anti-climatic "fight" between Sigurd and Fafnir, along with the much cooler conversation between the two after Sigurd mo...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss the son of Sigmund and Hjordis, Sigurd (The main character of the entire saga). Though Sigmund died before his son was born, Sigurd was raised with many father figures, The Kings Alf and Hjordis, our friend (and Sigurd's great-great-great grandfather) Odin, and his foster-father, a figure named Regin. Regin sees the potential of Sigurd, and sees the potenti...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss chapters 11 and 12 of "The Saga of the Volsungs", where Sigmund (who recently banished his first wife Borghild for killing his first son, Sinfjotli) desires to remarry. He eventually marries a Princess Hjordis, who was the daughter of a King Eylimi. However, Hjordis had other potental suitors as well, one being a King Lyngvi, who waged war on Sigmund as a r...

In this episode, Shawn discusses Bifrost (The Rainbow Bridge) as told in the sources. Primarily found in various chapters of Gylfaginning from Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, the bridge plays a pivitol role in the protection of Asgard,,, well until it doesnt. Shawn also briefly discusses Heimdal's role outside of causing controversy about him being the next James Bond, while also discussing Bifrost...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss another son of Sigmund of the House Volsung, Helgi Hundingsbane. As Helgi only features in 1 chapter of "The Saga of the Volsungs" (chapter 9), he isn't considered a major character. However, in the Poetic Edda, two poems feature different versions of his life and provide more context on his life. In reviewing chapter 9 of the sage and the poems "Helgakvith...

In this episode, Shawn and David are back after a bit of a hiatus due to busy real world demands. Shawn gives updates on his life and recent adventures. Shawn outlines Chapters 7, 8, and 10 of Volsung Saga, connecting the story of Sigmund and his son Sinfjotli. Chapter 9 on Sigmund’s son Helgi and the associated Eddic Poems will feature in the next episode Volsung IV. David and Shawn make connecti...

S4E8 The Ring Cycle: Siegfried (3 of 4) - David presents part 3 of 4 short episodes on the Ring of Power. A Jungian interpretation of Wagner's 4 part Opera inspired by the high German version of Saga of the Volsungs (Nibelungenlied - Song of the Nibelung).Apologies for the delay. Shawn and I have a lot going on in our personal lives. But we hope to get back to recording regular episodes soon. Oper...

In this episode, Shawn continues his series on the "House of Yngling", which starts with Harald cutting his hair for the first time in 10 years, after successfully his life goal after becoming the King of Norway. We see that although Harald accomplished his dream, his overall ambition doesn't change, and he still seems to live his life in the same way as he eager to aggression, and still looking f...

In this episode, Shawn continues his series of solo episodes on the House of Ynging, this time focusing on the 3rd chapter of Snorri Sturluson's work, "Heimskringla", "The Saga of Harald Fairhair". Harald is widely considered to be the first king of a unified Norway. Taking over a petty-kingdom at the age of 10 upon the death of his father, Halvdan the Black, Harald commits to never combing or cut...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss Chapters 3-6 of the Volsung Saga, in which King Siggeir orchestrates his revenge against the House of Volsung due to the previously mentioned perceived slight by Sigmund. The result, a heroic death by the namesake of the House, and the horrigying deaths of most of Volsung's children. However, the daughter of Volsung, Signy, has not forgotten the actions of...

S4E4 The Ring Cycle: Die Walkure (2 of 4) David presents part 2 of 4 short episodes on the Ring of Power. A Jungian interpretation of Wagner's 4 part Opera inspired by the high German version of Saga of the Volsungs (Nibelungenlied - Song of the Nibelung). Opera 2, Die Walkure (The Valkyrie) presents the interplay of how the gods influence the lives of mortals. Odin wants to create a hero with fre...

In this episode, Shawn and David continue their series on "The Saga of the Volsungs", starting with the god, Odin. Odin's murderous son, Sigi, Sigi's son Rerir, then Rerir's son, Volsung. Volsung didn't have the easiest birth, as he grew for at least 6 years in his mother's womb. The pair further discuss the idea that Odin siring a human son and playing a part in weaving the fates of his family li...

David presents a short episode series reviewing the book "The Ring of Power". A Jungian feminist perspective on Wagner's 4 part Opera based on the High German version of Saga of the Volsungs (Nibelungenlied). David gives a brief synopsis of Opera 1, Das Rheingold, some of Jean Shinoda Bolen's interpretation on the significance of the story, and David's take on how the story fits into our larger ar...

Shawn and David publish their first episode discussing the "Saga of the Volsungs". However, as opposed to starting from the top with the origins of the family, the pair decided to discuss the origins of another important character in the story. Specifically, Fafnir the Dragon. The pair felt this was the right story to start this series as the its beginning details an adventure between our friends...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss the other layer of the character Loki, not the one where he is a playful prankster, but the one where he becomes a psychopath who brings on Ragnarök after what happens to his children. Shawn gets "deep" (or as deep as Shawn can go) when he discusses whether or not (again) that things need to die for society to grow, including ourselves. Did Loki's actions t...

In this episode, Shawn discusses the character of Halvdan the Black as described in Snorri Sturluson's work, Heimskringla. Halvdan was a great king in his own right; however, this portion of Heimskringla also serves to describe the marriage to a woman named Ragnhild, and the resulting greatness of their family line, starting with their son Harald Fairhair, the supposed first king of a unified Norw...

In this episode, Shawn discusses Gorm "The Old", who is considered the first historically recognized King of Denmark. A kingdom which still exists today with Queen Margrethe II as its Head of State. Though the main points of his life are still fuzzy at best, Gorm does appear in later writings; however, we are confident of his historical existence in part to the 2 Jelling Runestone's, one of which...

Shawn and David recap the stories of Loki. Starting with the more playful side of this Shadowy Trickster. Loki and Sif's hair. Loki and the birth of Slepnir. Loki and the apples of Idunn. Why is Loki obsessed with the goddesses? Maybe it is because you have to be tricked into approaching the feminine and accepting your fate. But by doing so you gain the greatest of gifts. The mighty hammer Mjolnir...