Fortune's Wheel: A Podcast History of Our Medieval Story

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse Standalone: Duke William Establishes Himself EPISODE 45: The Bastard vs. the Hammer In this episode, young Duke William of Normandy—the boy they called  the Bastard —faces off against his seasoned rival, Geoffrey Martel, the Count of Anjou, known as  the Hammer.  It’s a clash of ambition, strategy, and raw force as Normandy’s rising star tries to carve out his place in...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse Standalone: Christianity Splits! EPISODE 44: Great Schism of 1054 In 1054, the Christian world split down the middle. In today’s episode, we explore the Great Schism—the deepening rift between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. From theology to politics, ritual to culture, we break down the beliefs and tensions that led to one of the most defining moment...

A quick heads-up: the audio quality on this episode isn’t where I want it to be. I tried a new setup in GarageBand, and unfortunately, it didn’t turn out the way I expected. It’s frustrating because I’m really proud of the content in this one. Thanks so much for your patience and support while I sort it out—I’m already working on a fix! ********  SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 43: Godwine, P...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 42: An Unstoppable Force Exiled but not broken, Earl Godwine returns to England with a fleet and a score to settle. In today’s episode, we witness the dramatic standoff between a newly assertive King Edward and the most powerful earl in the land—one who refuses to stay in exile quietly. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing o...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 41: An Immovable Object King Edward the Confessor has had it. No longer content to be a puppet, he finally pushes back against the power of Earl Godwine. Today’s episode explores Edward’s transformation from passive monarch to purposeful ruler—and the shockwaves it sends through the English court. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here –...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 40: A King Finds His Legs A fool makes his move, a Norwegian hottie steals the spotlight, and one very tired king decides he’s done being pushed around. Court politics just got spicy in 11th-century England. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 39: "First" Norman Conquest of England? Harthacnut is dead, Edward the Confessor takes the throne… and Norway’s Magnus Olavsson wants his piece of the pie. Today, we unravel the mess left in Harthacnut’s wake and watch as Edward’s reign begins under the shadow of a foreign claim. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringin...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 38: The Reluctant King From Bavaria to Scotland to England, Europe in the 11th century is in constant motion. In this episode, we follow the winding road of royal ambition, where Harthacnut’s questionable decisions catch up with him—and shift the future of the English crown. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared hi...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 37: Pivot! Godwine wasn’t just powerful—he was adaptable. Today, we follow his political high-wire act as he serves two very different English kings, keeping himself at the center of power in a kingdom that’s anything but stable. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the publ...

SEASON 3: North Sea Collapse EPISODE 36: Godwine, Pt. 1 A new season begins—this time in England. Before Edward the Confessor takes the throne, before Hastings, before Normandy casts its shadow, there was Godwine. From humble beginnings, he would rise to become the most powerful man in England—kingmaker, power broker, and father to a legacy that would shake the realm. No More Paywalls! How? If you...

Today, we step back and answer a few questions: Where in the world has Jonathon been? What have we learned so far on the podcast? Where are we going next (and beyond)?! Please keep sharing the podcast with those you know and on your social media accounts. Don’t forget to tag us, too, if you share us on Twitter ( @WheelPodcast ) , or drop a quick line about the latest episode on Facebook (Search: W...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 34: Pope P.O.W. the First Today, the two most powerful forces in 11th-century Italy face off: the papacy and the Normans. At the Battle of Civitate (1053), Pope Leo IX meets the Hauteville brothers—Humphrey and a rising Robert Guiscard—on the field. It’s not just a clash of armies; it’s a turning point in the struggle for the soul of the Italian peninsula....

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 33: The Rise of Guiscard In the 1040s and 1050s, the Holy Roman Empire played constant catch-up—from rebellions in the north to Norman ambition in the south. This episode follows the empire’s pendulum swing across the Adriatic and introduces a rising force that will soon shake the Mediterranean to its core: a cunning upstart named Robert Guiscard. No More P...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! Miniseries: A Legend in the Making EPISODE 32: In Which Harald Serves A Foreign Emperor, Pt. 2 Harald’s southern adventure is coming to an end. In this episode, we watch him close the book on his time in Constantinople and prepare for the long road home—older, richer, and far more dangerous than when he left. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happenin...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! Miniseries: A Legend in the Making EPISODE 31: In Which Harald Serves A Foreign Emperor, Pt. 1 It’s 1035, and Harald Sigurdsson is everywhere. From Varangian strongholds to imperial courts, we explore his rise in Constantinople, the warrior code that drives him, and the empire that’s starting to take notice. Harald isn't just surviving—he’s thriving. No More Pa...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! Miniseries: A Legend in the Making EPISODE 30: In Which Harald Enters Miklegard Today, we follow Harald down the legendary riverine trade routes from Kievan Rus to Constantinople—through the Black Sea, the Bosporus, and into the heart of Miklagard itself. This episode captures the awe, color, and complexity of the medieval world before Harald takes his next bold st...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! Miniseries: A Legend in the Making EPISODE 29: In Which Harald Learns Teenage exile. Aspiring warrior. Trusted commander. In this episode, we follow young Harald Sigurdsson as he begins his rise from political outcast to battlefield hero—driven by tales of distant lands and aided by a powerful friend with plans of his own. Adventure, ambition, and a taste of empire...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! Miniseries: A Legend in the Making EPISODE 28: In Which Harald Flees Before he was Hardrada, he was Harald Sigurdsson—a teenager with royal blood and a sword in his hand. In this episode, we begin the saga of one of the Viking Age’s most legendary figures, tracing his roots through the chaos of the Battle of Stiklestad and the ashes of Norway’s old order. No More P...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 27: The Kievan Rus Today, we head east to explore the rise of the Kievan Rus—a powerful yet often overlooked force in medieval Europe. From Viking roots to princely courts, we set the stage for a region that will play a major role in the centuries to come. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared history to life,...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 26: William the Duke Out of fear, fire. In this episode, we explore how William of Normandy turned childhood trauma into unshakable resolve—building both his legitimacy and his legend. The boy no one expected to survive is fast becoming the man no one dares to cross. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringing our shared histor...

SEASON 2: Here Comes the Normans! EPISODE 25: William the Bastard In the chaos of 11th-century Norman politics, a frightened boy becomes a fearless leader. In this episode, we follow young William of Normandy as he survives betrayal, assassination attempts, and civil war to begin forging his legacy. It all starts—with a leap. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here – bringin...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 24: William the Illegitimate Normandy’s got an inferiority complex—and a future conqueror in training. In this episode, we explore early feudalism, noble upbringing, and the first steps of young William the Illegitimate on his journey to power. Also: horses, last names, and a couple well-earned tangents. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happe...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 23: The "First" First Crusade? We take a sharp turn west—into al-Andalus. In this episode, we follow Roger of Tosny, a Norman knight who took his sword (and his ego) into Muslim Spain. It’s a bold, brutal, and unexpected chapter in the Norman story—and it’s one you don’t want to miss. No More Paywalls! How? If you believe in what’s happening here...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 22: Of Empires & Mercenaries, Pt. 2 Norman ambition meets Byzantine fire. In this episode, we follow William de Hauteville and the legendary general George Maniakes as they shape the fate of southern Italy. Alliances shift, swords clash, and the balance of power teeters—with plenty of political intrigue to keep things spicy. No More Paywalls! How? If yo...

SEASON 2: Here Come the Normans! EPISODE 21: Of Empires & Mercenaries, Pt.1 Before they carved out kingdoms, the Normans served—often for gold, always for glory. In this episode, we travel to medieval Sicily, where Norman adventurers fight as mercenaries for the Byzantines. Among them rises a bold new figure: William Iron Arm, the first of a southern Norman legend. No More Paywalls! How? If yo...