We were on Gone Medieval!

Taking the 'Big Question' of the Viking Age to HistoryHit’s Gone Medieval Podcast.

Three years ago, when Terri Barnes and I first launched the Vikingology Podcast, we jumped straight into the deep end with a deceptively simple question: What caused the Viking Age? It is the foundational mystery of our field, and as many of you know, it’s a topic we’ve returned to time and again as our own understanding has evolved.

Recently, we had the honor of taking this conversation to one of our favorite stages. We joined Dr. Eleanor Janega on the Gone Medieval podcast by HistoryHit to review everything we’ve learned since our journey began.

If you follow the medieval history world, you know that Gone Medieval (by HistoryHit) is the gold standard. It’s a show I’ve listened to for years, reaching millions of people worldwide every year. To go from a dedicated listener to a featured guest was a major "pinch-me" moment.

In the episode, titled “What Caused the Viking Age?”, Terri and I reflect on the trajectory of our show and how our perspective has shifted after three years of interviewing the world’s leading archaeologists and historians. We discuss some of the specific conversations in Vikingology that served as “lightbulb moments” for us, shifting our focus and, for me, challenging a few biases and assumptions.

It was a look back at history as much as at our own growth as podcasters and researchers. We’ve moved past the easy answers and into the “gray areas” that make this era so fascinating. Whether you’ve been with me since the beginning or you’re new here, I hope this crossover episode offers a fresh look at why the Viking Age began and why it continues to capture our collective imagination.

Listen to the episode here: