Ragman’s Harbour

We debute a new episode series, all about, who could have predicted: ASOIAF. Like, actually, the books/ shows and not historical parallels. In this first episode, we talk about the greatest leader possibly ever, and certainly, a speaker for GRRM's pet project (to finish off the work JRR Tolkien left pending, something something genocide of baby orcs and tax policy): Tormund. If you've only watched...

We take you on a trip to discover how fascists in our world and Westeros use what they like in the Middle Ages, pick and choose and lump it all together and bam! have lovely (or not) symbols to show and things to say to justify their hatred and actions. We mostly only look at our world, and how Vikings and the Crusades are used, and look at what GRRM uses and doesn't use. Tell your friends and eve...

In this episode, your hosts take you on a trip all the way to the Early Middle Ages and back, to discuss queens of France and Sweden -a couple each, no one is jealous! And also Cercei, a lot. Somehow. And ask the real question: is Catelyn the most medieval character of ASOIAF? Tell your friends and even your enemies about this episode, and if you liked what you hear, leave us a firework of stars a...

This is but a taste of what is to come on our Patreon ! In this bonus episode, one of your hosts discovers the prologue of the Fellowship of the Ring as she ventures into reading the Lord of the Rings for the first time. Sometimes, your other host represses a remark so there is suspense: what went wrong? Please don't spoil her: Your newbie host is curious and thrilled! She looks not only at the me...

In this episode, your hosts tell you stories you best not try at home: political assassinations, successful and failed, in Sweden and France. From the Middle Ages to the 2OthC, discover stories bigger than fiction which sadly don't include dragons :(( Also, we have a Very Exciting Announcement: we're starting a Patreon! Find out more at the end of the episode and directly at the mouth of the river...

In this episode, your hosts take you on a journey to medieval and not so medieval Europe to explore the rich world of heraldry to compare it to its Westeros counterpart: sigils.  Who gets to have a coat of arms? How to pick your doodle? What are the rules? Are imaginary coat of arms a new thing? We discovered so much we didn't know about, it was an actual delight to learn so much -and hopefully yo...

In this episode we discuss season 2 of House of the Dragon with a special guest, Bidonica! Together we talk about art in ASOIAF/HotD compared to the history of art in our world, (trans)gender politics in HotD and our world, language and power, class politics, and more!  And also why Italian fan artists draw Sansa with dark hair...    You can contact us at: ragmanspod@gmail.com Twitter/X BlueSky  ...

Are you feeling bereft after season 2 of HotD? Not sure what to do with your free time? We are here for you! In this mini-episode, we provide tv show recommendations to fill the void that HotD might have left in your life.   Lo's recommendations: SKAM Young Royals Ragnarok    Virginie's recommendations:  Polar Park Icon of French Cinema Peepoodo and the Super Fuck Friends   Unplanned bonus chat ab...

During this HotD season, we thought both our dear listeners and ourselves could use a break from just talking about the dragon show. So here is the second of three mini-episode where we recommend stuff to you all! In this episode we talk books!   Lo’s books & authors: Stöld (Stolen) - Ann-Helén Laestadius (Sápmi/Sweden) Kallocain - Karin Boye (Sweden) Muminböckerna (The Moomin Books) - Tove Ja...

The Ragman's Harbour visited The Silent Sisters to chat about House of the Dragon season 2 episode 3! We had so much to say that not everything could fit in the podcast episode, so here is an outtake just for our listeners. Join us as we discuss how the name Ulf comes from the Swedish/Norse world "ulv", meaning "wolf", the history of that word and other taboo words, and the history of languages in...

During this HOT HotD season, we thought both our dear listeners and ourselves could use a break from just talking about the dragon show. So here is the first of three mini-episode where we recommend stuff to you all! In this episode we talk movies!   Lo talked about, in chronological order: The Millenium movies, especially Män som hatar kvinnor/The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - by Niels Arden Ople...

In this episode we welcome our first guest, Obie, to discuss season 1 of House of the Dragon ahead of the season 2 premiere.  Together we recap season 1 and discuss how it works as an adaptation of Fire & Blood. We also discuss reproductive rights in Sweden, France, and Aruba, a queen who was a king, and the real life Aegon the Conqueror (but Frankish). Join us in the HotD hype!   You can cont...

In this episode, your hosts take you on a second cruise through folklore and chivalric romance to discover more real world people-like creatures and humanish people that are just as real as national borders that parallel characters (or not) from ASOIAF/ Game of Thrones. We still don't mention her because we're horrible people, but you know this episode is in honour of Old Nan, our queen of love an...

In this episode, your hosts take you on a cruise to discover real world people-like creatures and animalistic people that are definitely real (or were!) that parallel characters and, hmm, stories from ASOIAF/ Game of Thrones. We don't mention her because we're horrible people, but you know this episode is in honour of Old Nan <3 Tell your friends and even your enemies about this episode, and if...

In this episode, your hosts take you on a cruise to discover real world creatures that are extremely real, as our friends the Orcs of Winterfell reminded us, and as attested by medieval bestiaries. We also draw parallels with what creatures we see in the books A Song of Ice and Fire, A World of Ice and Fire as well as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon the TV shows: dragons, unicorns, wyverns...

In episode four of the podcast we talk all about the cats of ASOIAF and our world. What function has cats had in our world historically, and how does that parallel ASOIAF? Are there cats in mythology and religion (in ASOIAF and irl)? Is Ser Pounce the true hero of the story? Join us on a feline trip through ASOIAF and history!   Thank you LittleWolfBird for the sound engineering, and thank you to...

Today on the 26th of December, the Titan of Braavos brings you a gift: episode 3 of Ragman's Harbour! In our third episode, we discuss naming conventions in ASOIAF and our real world. How did last names come to be a thing in our world, and how does that parallel last names in ASOIAF? Why are there so many Aegons in ASOIAF history, as well as many Louis and Gustavs in French and Swedish history? (S...

In our second episode, we dive into a variety of sex scandals and issues of inheritance, from our own world and ASOIAF. As we go along, we discuss what happens when royals have sex out of wedlock, but also what rights bastards have in various historical and cultural contexts. And much more. We want to give a brief apology for the audio quality in this episode. We had some issues when recording, th...

In our first episode, we thought we'd introduce the podcast project then explore some "light and fun" real life parallels to one of ASOIAF's most well known events.  Sources and resources: From Lo:   https://www.so-rummet.se/artikelserier/sturarna-och-bakgrunden-till-stockholms-blodbad https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/kalmarunionens-upplosning-gustav-vasa-tar-makten-i-sverige# https://stock...