

Survive the Jive Podcast
Survive the Jive
Survive the Jive podcast is about history and ancient religions and folklore. Hosted by historian Thomas Rowsell who is also a documentary film maker, this podcast focuses mainly on Indo-European cultures and most specifically on Germanic/Norse paganism. The podcast takes a holistic approach to programming that informs, educates and improves us. It sometimes covers scientific topics but is mainly concerned with pre-Christian religions of Europe. Sometimes the podcasts are based on videos from the YouTube channel, other times they are exclusive. Guests can include historians, scientists, musicians and religious leaders.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 20, 2026 • 1h 20min
Europe's Last Pagans
Professor Francis Young, historian of Baltic paganism with a Cambridge PhD, explores late medieval and early modern sources on Lithuanian and Latvian rites. He discusses Perkunas and Žemyna, sacred trees, snakes and household spirits. Conversations cover archaeology, seasonal festivals, animal offerings and modern Romuva revival. Familiar myths and landscape rituals are brought vividly to life.

Mar 16, 2026 • 1h 9min
What was Viking Hair Really Like?
What did Viking hairstyles really look like? Did all Vikings have beards? Was long hair a mark of aristocracy among the Germanic tribes? In this stream I will talk about some of these misconceptions.Watch the live stream with the images I am describing on JIVE TALK YouTube channel. This podcast depends on your support: https://www.patreon.com/c/survivethejive

Mar 9, 2026 • 43min
The Shared Roots of Britain and Germany
Anglo-German relations were good in the 19th century up until the Boer war, and have been tense ever since. In this talk, historian, Tom Rowsell , explains the deep roots the two nations share in common; the Anglo-Saxons, the Celts, the Bell Beaker folk, The Single Grave Culture and the network of Bronze Age cultures in Northern Europe who traded with each other and shared mutual descent from the Corded Ware culture. The talk was delivered to students in Hamburg in February 2026.This podcast depends on your support:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/survivethejiveStarting Heathenry: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com/

Mar 2, 2026 • 33min
A Mythology for Australians
This talk explores the enduring power of shared historical identity in sustaining cultural ecosystems, from the mythic narratives of Hengest and Horsa in Anglo-Saxon England to the contested memory of Captain Cook in Britain and Australia. By tracing how ancient settlers wove history into sacred myth, and how explorers became immortalised as heroes or villains, we see the necessity of positive myth in binding communities together. Today, in the digital age, new technologies—from social media networks to global video platforms—serve as the bards and Muses of our time, enabling diasporic peoples across the Anglosphere to renew their connections and reimagine their founding stories. The talk argues that the future of cultural resilience lies in embracing these tools to create and share narratives that dignify our origins, reconcile divided traditions, and ensure that figures like Captain Cook and Hengest, and Horsa remain living symbols of identity for generations to come.This talk was delivered in twice in Australia in October 2025. This recording was from an event held by The Scyldings. Starting Heathenry: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com

Sep 29, 2025 • 58min
Ask Me Anything - Paganism, History and Genetics
It is time for the annual Jive Talk AMA session in which fans can ask me any question they like. Please support Survive the Jive: https://linktr.ee/SurvivetheJiveStarting Heathenry: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com/

Aug 15, 2025 • 1h 9min
DEBUNKING: Anglo-Saxon diversity: Updown Girl
Anglo-Saxon England was racially diverse according to a new genetics paper 'West African ancestry in seventh-century England: two individuals from Kent and Dorset published in Antiquity journal. But is Duncan Sayer misrepresenting the evidence? How significant are two skeletons with 1/4 black ancestry and have they failed to notice middle eastern ancestry in Updown Girl?

Jul 10, 2025 • 1h 42min
The Future of History with Bronze Age Pervert
Bronze Age Pervert (BAP) joins Tom Rowsell to discuss ancient history and how the heroic ideals of the past can shape our future. This is your chance to hear BAP’s unfiltered thoughts on the classical antiquity that inspires his philosophy, from the vitality of the Bronze Age to the inspiration of the Renaissance. We also talk about Plato and religion and in the second half we also discuss the misinterpretation in population geneticists of ancient cultures and elite dominance models of cultural replacement. BAP's podcast: https://bronzeagepervert.gumroad.com/l/BronzeAgePervert Starting Heathenry course: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com/ STJ links: https://linktr.ee/SurvivetheJive

Jun 16, 2025 • 40min
How Were The First Metal Weapons Made?
Neil Burridge, a master swordsmith renowned for his historical replica bronze weapons, shares captivating insights from his workshop. He discusses the evolution of weaponry from daggers to swords and the technical shifts in sword design. Neil elaborates on the trade routes influencing British metalwork, the chemistry of bronze alloys, and the balance between functional and ceremonial uses of blades. He also reveals the intricate details of the Huntshaw dagger replica and reflects on the spiritual meanings tied to metal objects in ancient cultures.

Jun 6, 2025 • 1h 37min
Is Loyalty to Blood Idolatrous?
Eric Orwoll aka Aarvoll is an American Christian Platonist known for his YouTube channel. Eric's beliefs are more compatible with those of pagans than those of typical Christians are. I asked him about how a Platonic view of the One and objective good is compatible with a scientific view of evolution or a pagan view of tribal loyalty. We also discussed transhumanism and the anti-Platonist philosophies of Karl Popper and Friedrich Nietzsche.Eric's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ericorwollStarting Heathenry course: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com/STJ links: https://linktr.ee/SurvivetheJive

May 26, 2025 • 1h 39min
The Culture of the Teutons
A review of Vilhelm Grønbech's seminal work on the religion and culture of ancient Germanic peoples. Grønbech was a professor of the history of religion at the University of Copenhagen in the early twentieth century. Grønbech looks at Norse, Lombardic, Anglo-Saxon, Gothic and Roman sources to identify a common Teutonic culture focused on luck, honour, shame, kinship, and a unique perspective on the afterlife and the soul. My review includes favourite quotes from volume 1 of the two part book republished by Antelope Hill. Buy it here: https://amzn.to/4jqf0TzLearn how to be a Heathen with my online course: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com/


