Real Vikings

About Real Vikings

The Vikings terrified the medieval world. Yet they beguile us today. Who were they really? Welcome to Real Vikings - the new show from the award-winning Noiser Podcast Network, hosted by Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Resident Evil, Downton Abbey). Each week we’ll take a deep dive into the Viking age… boarding longboats bound for new lands, from Greenland to North Africa, Constantinople to Canada… following mighty warlords like Eric Bloodaxe and Olga of Kyiv… meeting master navigators like Leif Erikson… and uncovering the real figures behind the legends of the sagas. With contributions from leading historians, original music and immersive sound design. Real Vikings is available for free wherever you get your podcasts or at noiser.com (http://noiser.com/) Noiser+ subscribers get early access to new episodes and ad-free listening. Click the Noiser+ banner at the top of the feed or head to noiser.com/subscriptions (http://noiser.com/subscriptions) to get started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

NOISER

Category

history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Feb 2026

Latest episode

11 May 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 May 2026

   10. 1066 and the Last Vikings

   Host Iain Glen interviews historians Eleanor Barraclough and Stefan Brink about Harald Hardrada's claim to England and the dramatic events of 1066, marking the end of the Viking Age.

2. 

   4 May 2026

   9. King Canute’s North Sea Empire

   Historian Eleanor Barraclough and scholars Stefan Brink, Lars Brownworth, Levi Roach, Pragya Vohra, and Davide Zori discuss King Canute's rise and the formation of his North Sea Empire in this interview.

3. 

   27 Apr 2026

   8. Promised Lands: Greenland and Vinland

   Historian Eleanor Barraclough and archaeologists William Fitzhugh and Davide Zori discuss Erik the Red's discovery of Greenland and Leif Erikson's journey to North America in this interview.

4. 

   20 Apr 2026

   7. Rise of the Sea King

   Host Iain Glen interviews Lars Brownworth, Ben Raffield, Levi Roach, Elizabeth Rowe, and Davide Zori about the birth of Dublin and the Viking expansion into Ireland and Normandy.

5. 

   13 Apr 2026

   6. Greek Fire: Across the Mediterranean

   Iain Glen narrates as Eleanor Barraclough, Stefan Brink, Lars Brownworth, and Elizabeth Rowe explore Viking naval tactics and their expansion into the Mediterranean.

6. 

   6 Apr 2026

   5. Land of Fire and Ice

   Host Iain Glen interviews Eleanor Barraclough and other experts about Norse settlement in Iceland, exploring the creation of a Viking utopia.

7. 

   30 Mar 2026

   4. The Wild East: Rise of the Rus

   Iain Glen narrates as Eleanor Barraclough and Stefan Brink explore how Swedish Vikings establish the Rus state in the East, featuring Olga of Kyiv.

8. 

   24 Mar 2026

   3. Blood Eagles: The Great Heathen Army

   Host Iain Glen explores the Great Heathen Army's invasion of England and King Alfred's resistance in this interview with historians Lars Brownworth, Ben Raffield, Elizabeth Rowe, Pragya Vohra, and Davide Zori.

9. 

   17 Mar 2026

   2. Ragnar Lothbrok and the Siege of Paris

   Historian Eleanor Barraclough and other experts discuss Ragnar Lothbrok's legendary siege of Paris, exploring Viking motivations and Frankish responses.

10. 

    10 Mar 2026

    1. Murder on Chesil Beach

    Historian Eleanor Barraclough and other experts discuss the brutal murder on Chesil Beach that ignited the Viking Age in Britain.

11. 

    10 Feb 2026

    Real Vikings - Trailer

    The new show from the award winning Noiser Podcast Network. Hosted by Iain Glen. Launching March 10th 2025. New episodes each Tuesday. Join Noiser+ for early access to new episodes and ad-free listening. Click the Noiser+ banner or go to noiser.com/subscriptions (http://noiser.com/subscriptions) to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on Real Vikings

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Eleanor Barraclough
• Stefan Brink
• Lars Brownworth
• William Fitzhugh
• Levi Roach

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

209 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

355 ratings

Contact Real Vikings

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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