Exploring the Viking Age

#26: Heavy Metal and Vikings with JB Christoffersson

In this episode, we sit down with the powerful voice behind the heavy metal band Grand Magus to talk about heavy metal, mythology, and what actually makes music powerful. We dive into vocal techniques and how to maintain your voice over decades of touring, why Norse mythology continues to inspire metal bands around the world, and the creative process behind writing riffs, lyrics, and songs that feel real. We also get into what many modern bands misunderstand about “heaviness”, why authenticity matters more than trends, and how metal at its core is about emotion, imagination, and even joy.From Odin and ancient sagas to live shows and songwriting, this is a conversation about why these stories still resonate today. Subscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost

#25: Einar Selvik is back

In this episode, Einar Selvik (Wardruna) breaks down the ideas behind their latest album “Birna” — and why modern life is fundamentally out of sync with the natural world.We talk about:* Why humans have lost their connection to nature* The deeper meaning behind the bear in mythology and music* How emotion, not logic, shapes our experience of life* Touring, creativity, and the need for stillness* The balance between artistic expression and personal lifeEinar also shares insights into his creative process, performing in places like Pompeii, and how music can reconnect us to something deeper.This is a conversation about nature, creativity, and what it means to be human today.🎧 Listen to Wardruna📺 Watch the documentary “Tracking Birna” on YouTube📸 Follow for more conversations like this

#24: Sailing and Maintaining Viking Longships

What does it actually take to sail and maintain a Viking longship?In this episode of Exploring the Viking Age with Grimfrost, we sit down in the longhouse with our own shipwright and captain, Erik “Tullock.” A trained traditional boat builder who grew up in the harbor, he shares how he went from medieval markets to commanding 17-meter Viking ships.We dive into:• How Scandinavian boatbuilding traditions still mirror Viking Age methods• Why flexibility matters more than brute strength in a wooden hull• Oak vs pine, copper rivets, and selecting timber straight from the forest• The reality of sailing a square sail versus modern rigs• Minimum crew requirements for rowing and sailing• Captain responsibilities, crew coordination, and real risks at sea• Winter maintenance, tar, linseed oil, and preparing ships for launchSubscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost

#23: Cecilia Ljung - How Scandinavia Became Christian

In this episode, we sit down with archaeologist Cecilia Ljung from Uppsala University to explore one of the biggest transformations of the Viking Age: the shift from Norse pagan traditions to Christianity. Through graves, runestones, and early towns, we follow the physical evidence of how belief, ritual, and daily life changed across Scandinavia. Subscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3FiM2IwbUoyMnRzeUVpMlctRWp0OThMa2hYUXxBQ3Jtc0trbWNXVTVEbFM5ZHIzVDBxLVphaXlESkc5b1J5dDJRamVtc1R2d3NFOWF6S2R2bThESTZUTUlkV1dIb29FUXptYldyOEdoYWxqbE0xUHpfVnQ3RmJRc2lyNFVxM0xVWm16YzJIUENhT3lfUGhJMlJpVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fgrimfrost&v=VOBFeY3qm8g]

#22: Tonicha Upham - The Story behind the 13th Warrior

In this episode, we explore one of the most extraordinary eyewitness accounts of the Viking Age, written by the 10th-century Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan. Best known today through the movie "The 13th Warrior", Ibn Fadlan was a real historical figure who encountered Viking merchants along the Volga River in 922 AD.Together with our guest, we break down what Ibn Fadlan actually saw, what he was told, and where later interpretations may have gone too far. We examine the infamous ship cremation funeral, the role of the so-called “Angel of Death,” the question of human sacrifice, and how much of this account reflects Viking-Age Scandinavia versus the culture shaped by trade, migration, and local traditions among the Rus and other Scandinavians encountered in the east.We also discuss how Arabic and Persian sources differ from European ones, why these texts have been underused in Viking studies, and what they reveal about violence, belief, and identity in the Viking world, without romanticizing or sanitizing the past.Subscribe to stay updated! Also available on all platforms where podcasts are found, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more. Find all the links in our linktree: https://linktr.ee/grimfrost