I am Heathen (and so can You!!!)

E35: The AI Invented Rap Beef

What happens when AI-generated Viking rappers start accusing each other of plagiarism? In this episode of I Am Heathen and So Can You, Einar Blackthorn dives headfirst into one of the strangest corners of the internet: the rise of AI Viking rap, TikTok drama, and the hilariously absurd spectacle of creators arguing over originality in a genre largely powered by algorithms. But beneath the memes, diss tracks, and digital mead hall drama lies a fascinating piece of Norse history. Long before rap battles, roast battles, and social media callouts, the Norse practiced flyting: a form of ritualized verbal combat where poets, warriors, and rivals competed through wit, insults, and reputation-destroying bars. Was flyting the Viking Age version of battle rap? What role did honor, gossip, and public reputation play in Norse society? And what might Loki's legendary insults in Lokasenna teach us about modern internet feuds? Join Einar as he explores: ⚔️ The rise of AI Viking rap on TikTok ⚔️ Why accusations of plagiarism in AI music are so bizarre ⚔️ The history of flyting in Norse culture ⚔️ Loki's greatest verbal takedowns in Lokasenna ⚔️ Honor, reputation, and social combat in Viking Age Scandinavia ⚔️ How battle rap and flyting share surprisingly deep roots Whether you're a heathen, history enthusiast, Viking culture nerd, battle rap fan, or simply someone trying to make sense of the internet's latest descent into madness, this episode has something for you. Skål, and keep the fires burning, my friends.

E34: Stupid Sexy Protagonists

Why did so many gamers lose their minds over the reveal of Laufey in God of War? In this episode of I Am Heathen, Einar Blackthorn dives into the backlash surrounding God of War's portrayal of Laufey, the mother of Loki, and explores a bigger question: Why are we so obsessed with physical beauty in modern entertainment? From social media outrage and gaming discourse to the unrealistic expectations placed on female characters, we examine what happens when audiences judge a character's worth based solely on appearance. We also discuss Deborah Ann Woll's performance as Laufey, the mythology surrounding Loki's mother, and why historical Norse sources give us far less information about Laufey than many people assume. Along the way, we tackle reactions from major gaming commentators, including Asmongold, discuss the growing culture-war mentality surrounding video games, and ask whether we've become more interested in appearances than storytelling.

The Everyday Drengr E2: Raise Your People

A conversation with a stranger turned into a question I havent been able to stop thinking about: Who lifted you when you needed it?. This week on The Everyday Drengr, we talk about community, masculinity, friendship and the importance of showing up for people the way others have sown up for us

The Everyday Drengr E1: This is 37

Something shifted when I turned 37. Not overnight. Not dramatically. But enough to make me stop and ask a question I should’ve asked years ago: What if I stopped trying to become somebody else? This first episode of The Everyday Drengr is a raw conversation about identity, perfection culture, self-worth, and the strange pressure so many of us carry to constantly optimize ourselves into exhaustion. To become: more successful. more disciplined. more productive. more impressive. And what happens when even with a good support system… even with people reminding us we’re enough… that quiet voice still sits in the back of our minds telling us to become more. This episode isn’t about giving you a way out. I don’t have one. But I can sit with you for a while and remind you that you’re not walking through life alone. We talk about: ⚔️ perfection culture ☕ identity and self-acceptance 🌲 masculinity and vulnerability 🍲 intentional living 🏠 learning to revel in what you are If this conversation resonates with you: 🔥 Follow I Am Heathen… and So Can You for new episodes of The Everyday Drengr every Tuesday 🌲 Share this with somebody who’s been carrying too much lately ⚔️ Leave a rating and join the conversation Build well. Feed your people. Keep the fires burning, my friends.

Introducing: The Everyday Drengr | A New Series on Living Well 🌲☕

For a long time on I Am Heathen… and So Can You, we’ve talked about belief. Ritual. Community. Philosophy. The old wisdom. But lately I’ve found myself asking a different question: Not— “What do I believe?” But— “How do I live?” So I’m opening another door in the house. Introducing The Everyday Drengr — a new weekly series under I Am Heathen… and So Can You. Every Tuesday, we’ll explore: ⚔️ Strength without cruelty ☕ Ritual in ordinary life 🍲 Hospitality and feeding your people 🌲 Style without vanity 🚶 Mental health and reflection 🏠 Building a life worth coming home to This isn’t self-help. This isn’t hustle culture. This isn’t optimization disguised as wisdom. This is about living intentionally. Becoming more fully yourself. And learning to revel in what you are. Episode One arrives soon. Subscribe, follow, and share if you want to walk with us from philosophy into practice. Pull up a chair. Feed your people. Keep the fires burning, my friends.