Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse World

About Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse World

Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse World is a monthly podcast that takes a deep dive into the lives of women in the Viking Age, exploring their roles, experiences, and contributions to Norse society. Hosted by fiction authors Johanna Wittenberg and K.S. Barton, each episode explores the fascinating stories of Norse women from historical accounts, sagas, and archaeology. From shieldmaidens and queens to farmers and priestesses, we'll uncover the varied and complex roles that women played in Norse culture. Join us as we explore the rich and often overlooked history of Viking women.

Publisher

Shield Maiden

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Apr 2023

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

44 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Episode Forty-three: Juliette Friedlander

   In this episode, Johanna and K.S. once again welcome Juliette Friedlander to the podcast! This time we did a deep dive into the Saga of Hervor and Heidrik, talking about how the female Hervor changed her name, her clothes, and her pronouns. We also discussed how the saga may have changed due to the impact of Christianity. Links: Johanna Wittenberg - johannawittenberg.com (https://johannawittenberg.com/) K.S. Barton - ksbarton.com (https://ksbarton.com/)

2. 

   8 Sept 2026

   Episode Forty-two: answering questions part two

   In this episode, Johanna and K.S. answer more questions from K.S. book club! In part one, we talked about the historical aspects of our writing. In this part, we delve more into our writing process and indie publishing. Links: Johanna Wittenberg - johannawittenberg.com (https://johannawittenberg.com/) K.S. Barton - ksbarton.com (https://ksbarton.com/)

3. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Episode Forty-one: Rebecca Hill

   In this episode, Johanna and K.S. talk to YouTuber and podcaster Rebecca Hill of Valhalla Conversations! We discussed Rebecca's love of Norse mythology, and particularly Valkyries, her journey to become a podcaster and YouTuber, and her foray into the academic world. Links: Rebecca Hill - @soulchaserbecky (https://www.youtube.com/@soulchaserbecky) Johanna Wittenberg - johannawittenberg.com (https://johannawittenberg.com/) K.S. Barton - ksbarton.com (https://ksbarton.com/)

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

2,289

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

82

Contact Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse World

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

Questions about Shieldmaidens: Women of the Norse World