Between Two Ravens: A Norse Mythology Podcast

This week is part 1 of our episode on the Poetic Edda poem, Grímnismál . We discuss the prologue, featuring two princes, Agnar and Geirroth. Agnar gains the favor of the goddess Frigg and Geirroth is favored by Frigg's husband Odin. Odin is up to his usual shenanigans and this time it catches up to him. We discuss the similarities with other world mythologies and Shawn brings in some history about...

In Episode 16 we discuss Thor's journey to Geirrod's Court. Thor once again bailing Loki out of situations where Loki's mouth starts something he can't finish. Shawn and David explore the symbols present in the myth and introduce Thor's half-brother Vidar. We compare Snori Sturluson's Prose Edda version of the myth to the Skaldic Poem Thorsdrapa by Eilífr Gudrúnarson, which is known for it's "crea...

In this episode, we discuss the poem, Alvíssmál, which is a story of how an ugly dwarf named Alviss enters Thor's hall to make the claim that Thor's daughter had agreed to marry him. Thor thinks the dwarf is ugly and not worthy of the match to a goddess. Needless to say the whole ordeal did not go well for Alviss. Shawn and David also completely forget to discuss how the poem obviously influenced...

In this episode, we discuss the story of how Thor gets his hammer stolen and how the Aesir's plan to retrieve it results in Thor marrying the giant, Thrym. As told in the Poetic Edda poem, Thrymskviða. A poem which reads like a comedy and features many of the Aesir, primarily Thor, Loki, Freya, Heimdall, with Odin weirdly being absent. Shawn and David discuss the similarities of Thor sacrificing w...

In Season 1 Episode 13, we present the story of Thor the Fisherman. It is one of the few myths well represented in both Prose Edda (Gylfaginning chapter 48) and in the Poetic Edda - Hymiskviða. There is a lot of interesting nuance to the differences between these versions and the poem is packed with kennings.  We discuss our personal theories on the mythology and psychology of this story, and gain...

In Season 1 Episode 12, we finish presenting the story of Thor’s Adventure with Utgarda-Loki. We analyze what the story means about Thor and talk more about the archetype of the trickster god. David explains Freudian defense mechanisms and how once you understand them, you see them everywhere. Bonus: Shawn and David do voice acting and we discuss the Rooster’s of the Apocalypse. Fact Checking: As...

In Season 1 Episode 11, Shawn and David continue with the Adventures of Thor. Shawn explains what shows are hot on Netflix; David explains Dank Memes.  We introduce Loki, the trickster god, and follow Thor on his mission to smash all the giants. David talks about the idea of being possessed by an archetype and what is the “Hero Archetype”? Water Jar Boy makes a return.  Podcast Website: https://tw...

In Season 1 Episode 10, Shawn and David discuss the myth of Thor's battle with the strongest of all giants, Hrungnir. Is it all a secret plot by Odin to teach his son Thor a lesson? David discusses potential meanings of Hrungnir's 3 pointed heart and talks more about Archetypes and the hero's journey. Bonus myth at the end of the episode! Podcast Website: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/  Fo...

In Season 1 Episode 9 Shawn and David take a deeper dive into the runes.  How would a person go about learning the runes? What it means to say runes have "power"? Runes Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ZnolNzsHpG29e1m6iJQLI?si=nyyoaP0JRxW62xTWz4mPCQ Podcast Website: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Between Two Rave...

In Season 1 Episode 8 Shawn and David perform a rendition of Hárbarðsljóð, The Lay of Harbard, Thor and the Ferryman. Shawn explains what a flyting is, David makes connections to rap battles, Monty Python, and schoolyard disses. Is Harbard Odin? Is Odin a bully? Does Thor need to work on his Game? Podcast Website: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagra...

In Season 1 Episode 7 Shawn and David geek out about runes, what they mean, whether magic exists, and how the myths and sagas provide information about what runes might be used for. W e plan to follow up with Runes Part 2 in a couple weeks. Podcast Website: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Between Two Ravens is a podcast ab...

In Season 1 Episode 6, we continue our series on the Havamal. The sayings of the high one. We finish the poem from line 138 onward. Shawn recaps the journey Odin has been on up to the point in his quest for Wisdom. David explains what a Shaman is, how Odin is an example we might be able to learn from, and how Shamanism relates to Carl Jung's theory of integrating the psyche. Outro: Lord of the Dan...

In Season 1 Episode 5, we continue our series on the Havamal. The sayings of Har. Life advice from Odin. Shawn gives an update on Dark Age history, and makes an argument for Viking Individualism. We discuss Odin's life advice from Stanzas 81 to 137. Who is Loddfafnir? Does Odin hate women? Is he a scorned lover? Does corn aid against witchcraft? Who could trust Odin anyways? Outro: The Havamal Bre...

In Season 1 Episode 4, we begin our 3 part series on the Havamal. The sayings of Har. Sayings of the High One. Life advice from Odin. David describes the Cardinal Virtues of classical philosophy and Stoicism, comparing and contrasting with the values identified in Havamal. Shawn talks about his adventures in beer brewing. We bring in life advice connected to the poems that strike us from stanzas 1...

In Season 1 Episode 3, the guys address the controversial myth of Heimdall and the social classes. Shawn discusses whether Rigsthula is cannon Poetic Edda or propaganda. David brings Plato into the conversation and the guys discuss what wisdom can be found within the story. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Between Two Ravens is a podcast about the psychological s...

In this episode, Shawn and David read the story of Mimir’s well and the price Odin had to pay to drink from it. Shawn brings in additional sources that detail Odin's sacrifice of his eye, and family tree background on Mimir.  We discuss the idea of sacrifice. David feels it necessary to explain why it's important to sacrifice your phallus (metaphorically speaking) and we unsuccessfully try to not...

In this episode, Shawn and David discuss a sequel story to the Aesir/Vanir War, "The Mead of Poetry". The story features the origin and journey of the character "Kvasir", two deplorable Dwarves, and a family of Giants who are trying to put their lives back together only to unfortunately get in the way of Odin and his quest for wisdom. Shawn discusses Kennings, the Zelda Timeline, and also worries...

In Season 0, Episode 3, David explains the psychological significance of the three levels of the world tree Yggdrasil. We read the myth of the Aesir/Vanir war from Snorri Sturlson's Ynglinga Saga and discuss mummified heads and why a man is only as good as his word.   Coursera course Shawn mentioned: https://www.coursera.org/learn/old-norse-mythology-sources Podcast Website: https://tworavenpodcas...

In Season 0, Episode 2, we discuss the "9 realms" of Norse Mythology, what are they, who lives there, what does it all mean? Between Two Ravens is a podcast about the psychological significance of Norse Mythology. Shawn is an amateur Norse Mythology expert. David is not a Jungian Analyst, but he reads a lot of books about Carl Jung's theories on the collective unconscious and individuation. Podcas...

In Season 0, Episode 2, we discuss the "9 realms" of Norse Mythology, what are they, who lives there, what does it all mean? Between Two Ravens is a podcast about the psychological significance of Norse Mythology. Shawn is an amateur Norse Mythology expert. David is not a Jungian Analyst, but he reads a lot of books about Carl Jung's theories on the collective unconscious and individuation. Podcas...

Season 0 Episode 1. Sources of Norse Mythology. Cosmology. Creation of the Universe. In Season 0, we are brainstorming what the podcast will be about and how we will structure episodes. See Season 1 for how we want our episodes to be structured, with telling a myth and then diving in to analysis. Note --> Edited and Re-Uploaded Episode on 2/20/2022 so you only heard Shawn say "Um" 25 times inst...

We are releasing this episode as a new introduction to the podcast. Initially recorded as Season 1, Episode 23. We have a little bit different type of episode today. Shawn and David talk about what it has been like recording the podcast over the past 6 months. We reflect on what we’ve taken away from Season 1, and what inspired us to create the podcast in the first place. This episode serves as a...