
Survive the Jive Podcast
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.
Latest episodes

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/

May 11, 2025 • 1h 36min
Pagan Pilgrimage in Holy Europe with Aki Cederberg
Jive Book Review: I am joined by the Finnish author Aki Cederberg as we discuss his latest book Holy Europe, published in English in 2024 by Arcana Europa. The book is a travelogue in which Aki invites the reader to join him on a spiritual exploration of the continent, looking at ancient pagan holy sites, as well as places relevant to artists and esotericists who have sought the holy within Europe in various ways. He addresses the spiritual crisis of Western man by showing how the sacred is still accessible in Europe today.

Feb 12, 2025 • 1h 20min
The Middle Aged Werewolf: Paul Waggener
Fitness guru, life reform advocate and Heathen community leader Paul Waggener of the Wolves of Vinland joins me on JIVE TALK to discuss how to handle burnout, enduring hardship over time and staying true to your principles as you face the challenges of different stages of life. Paul's stuff is at OperationWerewolf.com Take the Starting Heathenry course to learn about Heathen rituals: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com/ Please support Survive the Jive: https://linktr.ee/SurvivetheJive

Oct 29, 2024 • 1h 11min
Halloween special: Horror in History with Dave Martel
Halloween is a time for horror films but when did horror start? I am joined by Dave Martel on tonight’s Jive Talk in which we discuss how horror films have their precedents in early mythology and ghost stories.Get exclusive Heathen content on https://hearthfireradio.com/ Please support Survive the Jive: https://linktr.ee/SurvivetheJive Thumbnail art of draugr by Joan Francesc Oliveras

Oct 15, 2024 • 1h
Ask Me Anything: Live Oct 2024
It is about time for another Jive Talk AMA! STREAMED LIVE on YouTube and X on 11th October 2024https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/survivethejivePlease support me: https://linktr.ee/SurvivetheJive

Oct 8, 2024 • 1h 31min
Theurgy: Reaching the Gods Through Ritual
Jive Book Review of Theurgy and the Soul by Gregory Shaw, Professor of Religious Studies at Stonehill College. In this work he outlines the philosophy and ritual practise of Iamblichus of Syria (ca. 240 325), whose teachings set the final form of pagan spirituality prior to the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Theurgy literally means "divine action" or "godly work"I describe how this work is useful for modern polythesists including Heathens like myself.

Oct 7, 2024 • 18min
Pagan Gods and Myths Explained
How does one interpret the hidden meaning of a pagan myth? Some wise Platonist pagan authors help us to understand this, since they explained it in plain writing. One such author is Sallust aka Sallustius the neoplatonist, others include Emperor Julian and Plotinus. In this video I look at how Sallust's writing on the gods and the cosmos help us to understand not only myth, but also the meaning of rites and sacrifices and why they are so important for pagans. Originally recorded January 2019.This podcast depends on your support:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/survivethejiveSubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/survive-the-jiveTelegram: https://t.me/survivethejive

16 snips
Sep 28, 2024 • 1h 11min
Eat Like Your Ancestors with Raw Egg Nationalist
Raw Egg Nationalist, also known as Charles Cornish-Dale, is a health influencer and the author of *The Eggs Benedict Option*. He dives into the dietary repercussions of the Neolithic revolution, suggesting that agriculture may have diminished human health. The discussion touches on lactose tolerance linked to Yamnaya ancestry and explores how hunter-gatherer diets far outweighed medieval grain-heavy lifestyles in nutritional value. Charles reveals that animal-based diets played a crucial role in ancient diets and societal developments, advocating for a return to these practices.

Sep 23, 2024 • 14min
What is English Identity? Does England Exist?
Some people are saying the English have no identity or culture of their own. Others are trying to ban the term "Anglo-Saxon" from academic discourse. Why is England under attack? Starting Heathenry: https://startingheathenry.thinkific.com