Ragman’s Harbour

In this episode, your hosts and guest Ray, discuss what happens when different cultures meet, in ASOIAF and irl.

We discuss migration, culture clashes, prejudice, racism, colonialism, and more! Along the way we conclude that both Viserys Targaryen and Jorah Mormont are the worst (albeit in different ways), and that the Free Folk makes a good parallel to climate refugees. 

We also chat with our guest about his journey through both t...

In this third episode of our series looking at the books, actually, we look at a neat trick GRRM uses for subtle storytelling: the blasons/sigils of the main Houses of the North, through the prism of semiotics -and specifically, the tools developed by the researcher, Greimas.

You don't know what semiotics are? Fair enough! Let us explain that it's the study of signs and symbols, and how they are used to create meaning, tell stories...

All men - and people in general - must die, but what happens afterwards? In this episode we discuss understandings of death, burial rituals, and the afterlife in ASOIAF and real life! Join us to learn about how the pop culture understanding of "Viking funerals" is somewhat inaccurate, but also how funeral processions for kings and nobles in ASOIAF are far less extra than they were in real-life France. 

Tell your friends and even ...

In this second episode of our series looking at the books, in an extremely shocking twist of event (not), we are analysing Brienne!

We're talking gender, the patriarchy, transphobia, toxic gender norms, heresy and Podrick Payne, Hyle Hunt and Jaime Lannister get a mention. So do Cercei and Catelyn, for different reasons.

We hope you like this episode as much as we enjoyed making it!

Tell your friends and even your barista about it,...

Your hosts and guest Abi ( @szegfu.bsky.social ) take you on a trip around the world and across time to learn more about George's favourite topic, probably: food!

We discuss having to adapt to a new food culture in real life, like Catelyn and Tyrion as well as Areo Hotah and Ser Arys do in the books, what people eat in the North(s), what spices were found in medieval European kitchens, how to preserve food when you don't have a fri...

Who wants to play? Swedish games the Ironborn would not shy from or French games Tyrion approves?

Tell your friends and even your enemies about this episode, and if you liked what you hear, leave us a firework of stars and rave about us in a review on your podcast app of choice.

Also, check out our Patreon where we publish exclusive bonus episodes for our beloved patrons: Virginie reads LOTR for the first time, you do not* want to ...

We debute a new episode series, all about, who could have predicted: ASOIAF. Like, actually, the books/ shows and not historical parallels.

In this first episode, we talk about the greatest leader possibly ever, and certainly, a speaker for GRRM's pet project (to finish off the work JRR Tolkien left pending, something something genocide of baby orcs and tax policy): Tormund. If you've only watched the show and are confused about th...

We take you on a trip to discover how fascists in our world and Westeros use what they like in the Middle Ages, pick and choose and lump it all together and bam! have lovely (or not) symbols to show and things to say to justify their hatred and actions. We mostly only look at our world, and how Vikings and the Crusades are used, and look at what GRRM uses and doesn't use.

Tell your friends and even your enemies about this episode, ...

In this episode, your hosts take you on a trip all the way to the Early Middle Ages and back, to discuss queens of France and Sweden -a couple each, no one is jealous! And also Cercei, a lot. Somehow. And ask the real question: is Catelyn the most medieval character of ASOIAF?

Tell your friends and even your enemies about this episode, and if you liked what you hear, leave us a firework of stars and rave about us in a review on you...

This is but a taste of what is to come on our Patreon!

In this bonus episode, one of your hosts discovers the prologue of the Fellowship of the Ring as she ventures into reading the Lord of the Rings for the first time. Sometimes, your other host represses a remark so there is suspense: what went wrong? Please don't spoil her: Your newbie host is curious and thrilled!

She looks not only at the meta analysis and the story told, but ...

In this episode, your hosts tell you stories you best not try at home: political assassinations, successful and failed, in Sweden and France.

From the Middle Ages to the 2OthC, discover stories bigger than fiction which sadly don't include dragons :((

Also, we have a Very Exciting Announcement: we're starting a Patreon! Find out more at the end of the episode and directly at the mouth of the river of time: Ragman's Patreon

Tell you...

In this episode, your hosts take you on a journey to medieval and not so medieval Europe to explore the rich world of heraldry to compare it to its Westeros counterpart: sigils. 

Who gets to have a coat of arms? How to pick your doodle? What are the rules? Are imaginary coat of arms a new thing?

We discovered so much we didn't know about, it was an actual delight to learn so much -and hopefully you enjoy learning with us. It's not ...

In this episode we discuss season 2 of House of the Dragon with a special guest, Bidonica! Together we talk about art in ASOIAF/HotD compared to the history of art in our world, (trans)gender politics in HotD and our world, language and power, class politics, and more! 

And also why Italian fan artists draw Sansa with dark hair... 

You can contact us at:

ragmanspod@gmail.com

Twitter/X

BlueSky

Where to find Bidonica:

https://x.c...

Are you feeling bereft after season 2 of HotD? Not sure what to do with your free time? We are here for you! In this mini-episode, we provide tv show recommendations to fill the void that HotD might have left in your life.

Lo's recommendations:

SKAM

Young Royals

Ragnarok 

Virginie's recommendations: 

Polar Park

Icon of French Cinema

Peepoodo and the Super Fuck Friends

Unplanned bonus chat about:

Jordskott

Maria Wern

Nói albin...

During this HotD season, we thought both our dear listeners and ourselves could use a break from just talking about the dragon show. So here is the second of three mini-episode where we recommend stuff to you all! In this episode we talk books!

Lo’s books & authors:

• Stöld (Stolen) - Ann-Helén Laestadius (Sápmi/Sweden)
• Kallocain - Karin Boye (Sweden)
• Read more