Ancient legends and stories told of the Long Night have a lot in common with the Norse conception of Ragnarok, which begins with ice and ends in fire. Modern archaeology and volcanology have in turn added a tangible element to these tales, helping us understand how they came to exist in the first place. Join us for a deep dive into prophecy and cataclysm using both science and mythology, all wrapped in an ASOIAF package. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/h...
Aug 11, 2025•2 hr 26 min
House Umber produces unusually large humans, so large that there might be some giant’s blood in their distant ancestry. The Greatjon was King Robb Stark’s most loyal Lord… and his Kingmaker. If he lives up to the Umber sigil - a giant breaking its chains - watch out Lannisters and Freys. But House Umber also has a dark side, both in their political dealings and their connection to the Old Gods. Join us for a deep dive into the history and future of the house that lies farther north than any othe...
Jul 28, 2025•2 hr 26 min
A deep dive into the death and/or disappearance of First Ranger Benjen Stark. The mystery surrounding his last ranging, the undead members of his party who returned, and his life before joining the Night’s Watch. Will he return? What has he learned of the Others? What does he know of the secrets of his siblings Eddard and Lyanna? Join us as we take on questions related to his fate as well as his past. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros...
Jul 21, 2025•2 hr 18 min
Boltons, Freys, Manderlys and more all packed into a snowbound Winterfell is a recipe for more than cannibal pies. It seems half the inhabitants of the castle hate each other, while the other half are probably just better at hiding it. Either way, there have been several murders. The collective rage and paranoia of the inhabitants increases with each successive death, increasing the odds of another killing. We’ll look into each murder to find the culprits and their motives. Is someone trying to ...
Jul 14, 2025•2 hr 13 min
A follow up to our "The Tragedy of Summerhall" episode. This one delves deep into Aerys, Rhaegar and other characters who were impacted by Summerhall. There's talk of how the Mad King could wreak havoc on the Seven Kingdoms even now... Originally Published August 26, 2015, remastered July 2025. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 20 min
An episode dedicated to the backstory and ambition of who Prince Doran Martell refers to as “the most dangerous man in Dorne”, Gerold “Darkstar” Dayne, the Knight of High Hermitage. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com www.historyofwesteros.com Intro/Maps - ...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 53 min
Ashaya and Aziz delve deep into the mysteries of Summerhall. Egg, Dunk, Aerys, Rhaella...wildfire. What went wrong, who caused it, prophecies, dragon eggs, death and destruction... this episode has it all. Published July 30, 2015. Remastered 2025! Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com www.history...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 34 min
Over time there have been those who claimed to be royalty but were absolutely, positively not. These deceptions come in many forms, and we have many entertaining examples… all failures of course. Because if someone succeeded, how would we know? Featuring examples from the post-Wars of the Roses era as well as ASOIAF! Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.thre...
Jun 16, 2025•2 hr 1 min
Of all the dreamers in Targaryen history, it’s difficult to argue Daenys wasn’t the most crucial. It was her vision of the Doom that brought their House to safety on Dragonstone ahead of the extinction that took all of Valyria and every other dragonlord family. This episode is devoted to what we know of her life, the era in which she lived, and of course - her prophecies. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts &...
Jun 02, 2025•2 hr 8 min
The full story of the biggest dragon of all time, from a hatchling in Valyria to a skull in the basement. Video available in the Spotify app. (scripted) Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com Nina: goodqueenaly.tumblr.com www.historyofwesteros.com
May 29, 2025•43 min
Lying far to the south of Westeros and Essos are the Summer Isles, representing the most southwesterly peoples of the known world. Famed for their shipbuilding and navigation skills, the Summer Islanders are also a unique culture in part due to their relative isolation and favorable geography. Despite this, they have a history with Valyria, Sothoryos and places unknown to Westeros. They might be the only culture we know of without memory or evidence of the Long Night, and they’ve come up at key ...
May 26, 2025•3 hr 3 min
Though not an ancient House, the Freys are powerful and prominent in plotlines of all kinds, usually for all the red reasons. Wrong reasons, rather. But not only are they a big part of ASOIAF, they appear in some surprising places over the last few centuries as well. We examine their rapid rise from bridge builders on the Green Fork to players of the Game of Thrones. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Sticker...
May 19, 2025•2 hr 31 min
They began as King’s men on a mission - what seemed a clear cut case of heroes vs. villains. Even after the death of King Robert, the Brotherhood Without Banners remained a model of honor and duty, serving the common folk instead. But time and deprivation wore on them, and they slowly lost their sense of purpose, justice… and their humanity. Quite literally in 2 cases. This is their tragic, surprisingly supernatural story from Beric to Stoneheart, with theories on what’s to come for this outlaw ...
May 12, 2025•2 hr 8 min
There are caches of wildfire hidden in the city of King’s Landing just waiting to go off. The inevitable violence between the factions still vying for the Iron Throne could ignite them and cause untold damage, perhaps destroying the entire city. Will the Mad King get his revenge after all? If so, who will set them off, and why? Rize: https://rize.io/?via=WESTEROS & code WESTEROS3 - 25% off on all payments within first 3 months! Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 58 min
(fully scripted) Barristan's finest hour, or was it? He's not sure saving Aerys was a good thing, but it sure was amazing. In many ways this story is more about Aerys and Tywin than the great white knight. This is the event that pushed Aerys into true madness, and led to the hiring of Varys. An episode that might cause you to re-think a few things about Robert's Rebellion at the very least. (originally published October 10, 2020, remastered in April 2025). Bonus Eps & More - ...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 22 min
Bring out your dead! Though the term isn’t used often, necromancy as a concept has a major place in ASOIAF. It’s a deep topic: from wights beyond the Wall in the middle of nowhere to Ser Robert Strong at the Red Keep itself… From Beric Dondarrion and Lady Stoneheart to ancient tales as far east as Asshai and as far west as the Iron Isles, not to mention real world influences both historical and fictional. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros...
Apr 21, 2025•2 hr 25 min
The Ghost of High Heart is a pale woman no more than 3 feet tall with red eyes and white hair so long it almost touches the ground. She lives in a grove of dead weirwoods, and her prophecies always come true. We delve into her identity, why she can see the future, and her connections to Jenny of Oldstones, Prince Rhaegar, the tragedy of Summerhall and the Brotherhood without Banners. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & ...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 55 min
The years following the death of the Old Man of the North were marked by instability at Winterfell as several of Cregan Stark’s sons ruled in short succession. One of those sons was Lord Barthogan, who came to be known as Barth Blacksword. His stint as ruler of Winterfell was a turning point in that era, and he faced a rebellion from Skagos. Was he called Blacksword because he wielded Ice in battle? Did he face unicorn riding cannibal warriors? A northern deep-dive! HitPointsNotRequired - www.tw...
Apr 07, 2025•2 hr 24 min
Baelor ruled as king for a decade from the assassination of his brother Daeron to his own sudden death. Was he murdered? If so, why and by whom? Even after death his impact on the Seven Kingdoms remains enormous. This is part 3 of 3 (though it works as a standalone) and again features Nina Krusling! Descript: https://get.descript.com/howdescript Nina: https://goodqueenaly.tumblr.com/ Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stic...
Mar 24, 2025•2 hr 37 min
The final event of ADWD was the assassination of Kevan Lannister by Varys. The Spider, in typical fashion, had the gall to apologize for the fatal crossbow bolt… and told him it wasn’t personal, it was political. Little comfort to a dying man, but hugely interesting to us readers! What does he expect to happen? We examine the various motives behind the killing of Kevan. Magic Mind - https://magicmind.com/HOWGM or code HOW25. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwe...
Mar 17, 2025•2 hr 3 min
(remastered audio!) We are joined by Chloe of Girls Gone Canon & Drunk ASOIAF History to discuss a recurring theme of deception. Sansa, Young Griff, Cersei, Wyman Manderly, Varys and plenty more. Originally published July 30, 2020. Girls Gone Canon: https://girlsgonecanon.podbean.com/ Drunk ASOIAF History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr3MDu4CPVPFDa5DvvwFufQ Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com www.historyofwest...
Mar 10, 2025•2 hr 5 min
King Aerys II had Brandon Stark seized and imprisoned on charges of treason, but Lord Rickard declared he would stand for his son in a trial by combat. Yet instead of an honorable duel, the Mad King declared that House Targaryen’s champion… would be fire. We take on the full, horrifying story. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com www.historyofwes...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 46 min
This is part 3 of 3 of the Nymeria series, but this episode works as a stand-alone! We cover the unification and Conquest of Dorne by Nymeria and Mors Martell and her reign afterwards as the first Princess of Dorne. A scripted episode with lots of maps and art, and (correct) captions/subtitles! Scroll down for timestamps. Descript: https://get.descript.com/howdescript Quotes: https://www.instagram.com/inkasrain/ Art Credits: Daniel Alekow, Falk Boje, Hylora, Kristin Johnson, NaomiMakesArt, ProKr...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 44 min
A project with this exact name "Ten Thousand Ships" is in development at HBO as of 2021. GRRM's version of the Odyssey is here! We've got Brindled Men, wyverns, killer diseases, ancient cities, corsairs, dark gods... Plus characters like Daenerys, Missandei and her brothers, Victarion, Barristan Selmy, and his new knights. Originally published Nov 24th 2018. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com Nina: goodqueenaly.tumblr...
Feb 23, 2025•2 hr 2 min
Recently named as an "in development" project for HBO! Foreshadowing for ASOIAF via the Rise & Fall of the Rhoynar! Includes: Greyscale, Darkstar, Water Wizards, the Water Gardens of Dorne, Volantis, dragons and much more. Special thanks to Michal Schick of Vassals of Kingsgrave podcast for the voices. Video available on Spotify. Originally published Sept 29th, 2018. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com Nina: goodqu...
Feb 22, 2025•2 hr 13 min
Dunsen, Raff the Sweetling, Queen Cersei, Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn… Valar Morghulis. A look at Arya’s kill list that she calls a prayer. The origin of the list, those she’s killed, those killed by someone else, theories on who might be added… and of course those still alive. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com www.historyofwesteros.com Intro/Map...
Feb 17, 2025•2 hr 20 min
Each of the younger Starks received a direwolf, and each of them have skinchanger talent… But talent is not skill. We look at each Stark’s experience with skinchanging thus far while theorizing about their future. What happens when the Starks are reunited and begin to discuss their abilities? Included are wolf dreams, the connection the Starks feel to one another and who is the most powerful. We’ll also delve into the ancient past to look at the possible origins of skinchanging for House Stark. ...
Feb 10, 2025•2 hr 28 min
A production of the "Mercy" chapter by GRRM from The Winds of Winter (published on his website and read at conventions). Voice acting, sound effects, music... enjoy! Narrator: Lady Gwyn – Radio Westeros Arya/Mercy: girlnettles Waterman: Daniele Bolelli – History on Fire podcast Daena: Loren Scipioni Izembaro: Matteo Barbagallo Brusco: Ken Krouner Marro/The Stranger: Costantino Pompa The Snapper: Val – Because Geek Bobono: Michael Klarfeld Raff the Sweetling: Joggi – Through the Moon Door Old Gua...
Jan 31, 2025•39 min
The very night Daenerys Targaryen was born one of the worst storms in living memory struck. This earned her the nickname Stormborn, a moniker that has spread far and wide alongside news of her deeds, one she has carried before her like a standard. We delve into the story behind the legend, and the details just before her birth - her mother Queen Rhaella’s escape to Dragonstone before the Sack of King’s Landing and her own escape alongside her brother just ahead of Stannis Baratheon. Get 45% off ...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 51 min
House Lothston ruled Harrenhal during what is arguably the darkest portion of its 300 year history… Given what Arya and others experienced there, that’s really saying something, and when Brienne carries a Lothston shield, she is repeatedly greeted with grim reactions. Join us for a look at a House accused of blood magic, child abduction, treason, cannibalism, madness, and scandalous relations with none other than House Targaryen. Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle: https://magicmind.com/VIPHOWJAN...
Jan 13, 2025•2 hr 19 min
