How to Reach Valhalla

How to Reach Valhalla

Author: History Hit October 14, 2025 Duration: 1:05:48

Gone Medieval is embarking on an epic journey through Norse Mythology; from the first creation myth to Ragnarok, Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega are joined by our Viking king for immersive storytelling, cinematic sound design, expert interviews, and thrilling discoveries about Odin and his magical offspring, Asgard, Valhalla, and more. So if you think you can outdrink Thor and outwit Loki join us!


Today, we ask; where do Vikings go when they die? Eleanor is joined by Carolyne Larrington to explore the role of Valkyries, the armed women who descended from the clouds, the realms of Thor and Freja and medieval stone carvings depicting divine beings and trolls, weaving together historical realities with tales of cosmic creation and epic battles.


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Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega, King Gilfi is played by Eric Nolan. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


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Step beyond the simple dates and dusty timelines to find the vibrant, complex world of the medieval era. Each episode of Gone Medieval pulls you into a different corner of that sprawling age, whether it's tracing the journey of a Norse longship or piecing together the political intrigue that toppled a throne. This isn't just about kings and castles; it's equally concerned with the everyday experiences of ordinary people, their beliefs, their struggles, and the myths that shaped their world. You'll hear stories of startling discoveries, from misplaced royal remains to hidden histories that challenge our modern assumptions. Produced by History Hit, this podcast benefits from deep historical research and engaging storytelling, released every Tuesday and Friday. It’s a thorough exploration that makes a distant period feel immediate and surprisingly relevant, covering events across Europe and far beyond its borders. Tune in to find the human stories woven into the grand tapestry of a thousand years of history, where power, faith, and daily life collided in fascinating ways.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Gone Medieval
Podcast Episodes
A Complete History of Medieval Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:26
What happens when a kidnapped teenager returns to the land of his captors to change it forever? Dr Eleanor Janega and James Hawes romp through medieval Ireland, as St Patrick’s mission unfolds against an Ireland of raidi…
1066 New Discovery: The Myth of Harold's March [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:33
What if one of the most famous stories in English history never happened? What if King Harold did not march his exhausted troops 200 miles before the Battle of Hastings?Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Tom Licence whose…
Viking Scotland: The Siege of Dumbarton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:18
What happens when Vikings stop raiding and start laying siege to a mighty rock fortress on the Clyde?Matt Lewis is joined by Todd Ferguson to uncover the four-month Viking siege of Dumbarton in 870, exploring why this Br…
Early Medieval Croatia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:22
What if everything you think you know about medieval Croatia is wrong?Dr Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Florin Curta to uncover how Dalmatia’s coastal cities defied “Dark Age” collapse, why Slavic identity may hav…
The Mongols and the Fall of the Crusaders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:19
In the mid‑13th century, the Mongols seemed unstoppable until a former slave‑soldier stood in their way. Mamluk Sultan Qutuz of Egypt defied an empire that had crushed Baghdad and Syria, and began the beginning of the en…
Crusaders in Crisis: The Rebel Emperor & the Siege of Constantinople [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:11
Crusading in the 13th century was brutal, chaotic and transformative. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by historian Dr. Tom Smith to uncover failed campaigns, papal ambition, the sack of Constantinople, and Frederick II’s ex…
How Islam came to Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:27
How did Islam first take root on Iranian soil? What did medieval Iran - or Persia - look like before and afterwards? How do those early encounters still echo through Iranian society today? The roots of the present-day te…
The Crusades: Battle for the Holy Land [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:25
Today we dive into the Second and Third Crusades with major players Eleanor of Aquitaine, Saladin and the bold entrance of Richard the Lionheart. Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Natasha Hodgson to trace the twelfth century st…
The First Crusade: The Road to Jerusalem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:38
In 1095, Pope Urban II’s fiery sermon lit the fuse for a so‑called holy war in the Holy Land. In the first episode of a new series, Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis unpack the First Crusades, when this Christian armies…
Scotland's Medieval Queens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:09
Scotland’s history is filled with war, betrayal, political intrigue. At the heart of it were powerful Queens; from saintly rulers to strategic alliances, the women behind the throne were anything but passive.Matt Lewis i…