Episode 1 of the 2013 series on the Old Norse Legendary Sagas. Story overview of Völsunga Saga chapters 1-6, and feature presentation on the Sigurð Stones of Sweden and the Sigurð Portal of the Hylestad Stave Church of Norway. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldasaga.com.

Episode 17 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the story of The Hobbit as a path to the Norse Sagas by which it is influenced, as well as an interview with featured guest Tom Shippey discussing comparative philology as a shaping force in Tolkien's work. Please find more about this podcast at www…

Episode 16 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing video games and film as media for telling stories, and Lord of the Rings Online in particular in an interview with featured guest Alberos Irelander of the LotroCast podcast. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldasaga.comPlease find more abo…

Episode 15 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the weapons of Tolkien and the Norse sagas, and the ancient craft of swordcrafting with graphic artist and swordsmith David DelaGardelle of Cedarlore Forge. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldasaga.com…

Episode 14 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the Huldufólk as described in Old Norse texts as compared with the Hobbits in Tolkien's legendarium, plus wights, orcs, goblins, wargs, and much more with returning guest and Tolkien expert Prof. Ármann Jakobsson from the University of Iceland. Plea…

Episode 13 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the Æsir and Vanir as described in Old Norse texts as compared with the Valar and Maiar in Tolkien's legendarium. Special guest interview with Trish Lambert, co-host of the Riddles in the Dark podcast, then returning guest and Tolkien expert Prof. Á…

Episode 12 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the legendary men as described in Old Norse texts as compared with the race of men in Tolkien's legendarium. Special guest interview with Trish Lambert, co-host of the Riddles in the Dark podcast, then returning guest and Tolkien expert Prof. Ármann…

Episode 11 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the origins of drekar and ormar as described in Old Norse texts as compared with the dragons of Tolkien's legendarium. Special guest interview with Marcel Aubron-Bülles, founder of the German Tolkien Society, then returning guest and Tolkien expert …

Episode 10 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the origins of tröll and jötnar as described in Old Norse texts as compared with the trolls, ents, and giants of Tolkien's legendarium. Special guest interview with Tolkien Britta, freelance writer and Tolkien media reporter, then returning guest an…

Episode 9 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the origins of dwarves as described in Old Norse texts as compared with the dwarves of Tolkien's legendarium. Special guest interview with Emil Johansson, creator of the online Lord of the Rings Project, then returning guest and Tolkien expert Prof. …

Episode 8 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the origins of elves as described in Old Norse texts as compared with the elves of Tolkien's legendarium. Special guest interview with Shaun Gunner, Trustee of the Tolkien Estate, then guest and Tolkien expert Prof. Ármann Jakobsson from the Universi…

Episode 7 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the cosmology of Norse myth in the Yggdrasil, and of Tolkien's world of Arda. Special guest interview with Old Norse literature and Tolkien expert Prof. Ármann Jakobsson from the University of Iceland. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldas…

Episode 6 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the influence of Óðinn as described in the Norse myth texts on Tolkien's Gandalf character. Returning guest Jackson Crawford, Old Norse lecturer from UCLA joins in the discussion of Óðinn. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldasaga.com…

Episode 5 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the direct influence of the Old Norse eddaic literature on Tolkien's character names in The Hobbit and later works. Guest Jackson Crawford, Old Norse lecturer from UCLA joins in the discussion of the Dvergatal and demonstrates the original sound of s…

Episode 4 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the important 19th century translations of the Old Icelandic sagas into English, and the birth of the fantasy fiction genre resulting in part from these Norse literary influences. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldasaga.com…

Episode 3 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing the early Germanic texts that influenced Tolkien. Special guest interview with Finnish language and Kalevala interpreter, Mirja Tellervo Nelson. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldasaga.com

Episode 2 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing Tolkien's poem "Mythopoeia." Special guest William Brondt Kamffer, Gods and Men podcaster and fantasy author of the Ossian Chronicles joins this episode. Please find more about this podcast at www.aldasaga.com…

Episode 1 of the 2012 series on J.R.R. Tolkien and the Old Norse influences on his work, discussing some of the influences early in his life. Also a general introduction to the Aldasaga project and this podcast series. Please visit this podcast at www.aldasaga.com