The Prancing Pony Podcast
The Prancing Pony Podcast is a weekly show about the Middle-earth legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien, hosted – for six seasons – by Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. Now in its ninth season, Alan is joined by an all-star cast of co-hosts as he explores more of Middle-earth!
Alan and all his co-hosts are passionate Tolkien enthusiasts, inviting listeners to enjoy their detailed exploration of Tolkien’s work, with smart but straightforward discussion and a healthy dose of self-effacing humor, pop-culture references, and bad puns. These are the folks you’d want to hang out with at a pub and talk Tolkien with!
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378 – Don’t Panic
Maybe Celebrimbor just has poor penmanship; and maybe Alan still can’t pronounce things correctly. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we urge you to take the advice provided in the episode title when we dive into Appendix E to The Lord of the Rings on Writing and Spelling… but we know you’re here for the pronunciation humiliation! Fëanor stands on the shoulders of the giant Rumil, Tolkien retcons the Dwarvish ‘outer names’, and everything’s absurd to the Elves. We try to rhyme ‘were’ with ‘hair’, get stressed about stress, and are just extending the fricative, man. Also, James sings a Sesame Street song.
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377 – This Must Be Thursday
The Númenóreans altered the calendar of the Elves; Alan & James never could get the hang of Thursdays. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we practice only the best kind of pedantry in our exploration of Appendix D on the various intricate calendar systems in Middle-earth. The Elves are obsessed with sixes and twelves, the Númenóreans have to fix a millennial deficit — which has nothing to do with spending too much on Starbucks — and the Hobbits always do their own thing. We wonder if days not belonging to a month feel lonely, agree that 30-day months are best, and discover that pigs fly on Friday the First of Summerfilth. Also, James’ new nickname is optimistic.
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376 – Questions After Nightfall 31
Grab a drink at the bar and step into the Common Room — it’s time to join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we answer listener questions again in our 31st quarterly Questions After Nightfall. From questions about Saruman, Ring-maker to the Dagor Dagorath; from the Forsaken Inn to awkward conversations in the Halls of Mandos, our listeners bring their best questions — and their worst puns. Alan is a middle-aged softy, James thinks Istarí arrive in meteors, and we’re glad Tolkien’s funny, ‘cause we’re not so sure about us. Also, Maiar as Project Managers.
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375 – If You Don’t Know Me By Now
One of the greatest Elven loremasters finally gets his time in the spotlight; and in an ironic twist, James gets some time in the spotlight (or is that ‘under the bus’?). Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as Alan hands the reins of the show over to James, who brings us a special episode on Pengoloð the Wise of Gondolin. From the development of the Eldarin languages to an explanation of lembas, if you don’t know one of the greatest loremasters by now, you might never, never, never know him and his contributions to the collective knowledge of Middle-earth. So how and why did he disappear from the published stories? We chat about the Digital Tolkien Project, observe the blurred lines between Tolkien fans and scholars, and agree some subtitles are more like summaries. Also, totally tubular, dude.
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374 – Holding Back the Years
Tolkien is forced to shrink the Tale of Years to satisfy his publisher; James is forced to co-host a few episodes of the PPP to satisfy Alan. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we get to the sooner or later, flying through the history of the Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth in our look at Appendix B to The Lord of the Rings, known as The Tale of Years. Bias creeps in as historians change the Second Age record; Tolkien finds the limitations ‘profoundly uncongenial’; and Celebrimbor’s publicist would like a word. We speculate about hobbit libraries, give another shout out to The Lord of the Rings Online, and get a little choked up. Also, we don’t talk about Pharazôn-o.
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373 – Let’s Go Crazy (and Take a Hobbit)
Christopher Tolkien explains that “the textual situation… is complex and hard to unravel.” Fortunately, the podcast situation is quite simple. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we conclude our time with the Dwarves - and our time with Sara for this season - in an in-depth look at The Quest of Erebor, including bits of the story you’ve not likely read before. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness Gimli getting a clue, Thorin’s haughtiness forcing him to take a hobbit, and Balin revealing himself to be the King of Misunderstanding. Alan and Sara reminisce about pre-cloud data storage, wonder if it’s foresight or are we merely crazed, and try to avoid speaking confidently without knowledge. Also, “old grey man” is a reference to Gandalf, not Alan.
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372 – Little Red Dragon
Gandalf worries that the dragon Sauron might use with terrible effect; Sara worries that the bad jokes Alan might use with terrible effect. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we begin our longer-than-expected look into The Quest of Erebor from Unfinished Tales, as a sidebar to our walk through Appendix A III on Durin’s Folk. Gandalf is overtaken by Thorin on the road to Bree (“Thorin, you’re much too fast!”), underestimates how much damage 20 years can do to an adventurous hobbit, and reluctantly agrees to look after his darling. Alan and Sara discuss Gandalf’s fitness fashion, wish Dwarves would stop bequeathing vengeance, and speculate about Sauron’s new hobbies. Also, I got that reference!
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371 – When Dwarves Cry
A deep dive into Tolkien’s oldest stories about the Dwarves uncovers all sorts of interesting details, as Alan hands the reins of the PPP to Sara for her expertise on the Dwarves. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we explore the origin, awakening, culture, and language of Tolkien’s Dwarves as we take a sidebar into several volumes of The History of Middle-earth. From their early nature as evil creatures, to the fact that they all — women and babies, too — have beards, learn more about the Dwarves than you ever thought you could. Alan and Sara discuss recession-proof industries, dutifully avoid Disney jokes and figure Durin must have asked Aulë: “How could you just leave me standing alone in a world so cold?” Also, Sneezy and Bashful were the hardest.
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370 – Take Me With U, Legolas
They say that Gandalf is wise and knows more than any other of what goes on in the world; they say Alan can sometimes do math. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we continue our team in Appendix A III to The Lord of the Rings, on Durin’s Folk. Thorin is too proud to beg, Gandalf begins to worry about Smaug and Sauron becoming BFFs, and Gimli says he don’t care where we go, he don’t care what we do, just take me with U to the Undying Lands. Alan and Sara ask what Sauron would have actually done with the Seven, agree that bequeathing vengeance is not very kind to your descendants, and wonder what might happen if the Dwarves were just nicer to their women. Also, we knew Finrod — you’re no Finrod.
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369 – Party Like it’s (Third Age) 1999
Thráin escapes the Balrog in Moria and establishes Erebor; Sara can’t escape Alan and the PPP quite yet, despite her best efforts. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we begin a five-part look at the Dwarves, starting with two episodes on Appendix A III to The Lord of the Rings on Durin’s Folk. Durin the Deathless lived a very long time, but still managed to die - for now; the Balrog drives Durin’s Folk out of Moria — there were people runnin’ everywhere, tryin’ to run from the destruction; and Azog signs his own death certificate: on Thráin’s forehead. Alan and Sara wonder how new baby Durins are recognized, ask if cold drakes have air conditioning, and salute Azog for not using Comic Sans MS. Also, Nar the pirate dwarf from Somerset shows up.
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368 – If You Leave Me Now
After a long reign as King, Aragorn finally takes his rest, and a great beauty was revealed in him; after a season of the PPP, Alan takes a week off, and… well, the comparison ends there. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan for an unexpected episode as we conclude the now three-part discussion of The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen from Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings. Arwen tries to convince Aragorn to wait (if you leave me now, you’ll take away the very heart of me); Aragorn speaks no comfort to her, but offers hope; and Arwen’s death is even more tragic than at first glance. Alan and Sara ask why Elrond didn’t stick around a bit longer, think through what “the Elder Days” means now, and accuse Ar-Pharazôn of dining and dashing. Also, Alan asks Sara about The War of the Rohirrim.
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367 – Hard to Say I’m Sorry
After years away doing errantry, Aragorn returns to Rivendell, looking like an Elf-lord. After a week away doing a few errands, Alan returns to the Common Room, looking much the same. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan for the second of three episodes on The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen from Appendix A of The Lord Of the Rings. Aragorn just couldn’t stand to be kept away, Arwen renounces the Twilight, and Elrond sets the highest of bars. Alan and Sara discuss the importance of choice, renounce Twilight too, and advise you to get betrothed for the job you want, not the job you have. Also, Alan feels a pressing need to change his nickname.
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366 – You’re the Inspiration
Gilraen’s mom and dad have differing opinions on whether she should marry Arathorn; Alan and Sara just have differing opinions. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we begin a two-part series — which rapidly becomes three parts — on The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen as the PPP returns to Appendix A in The Lord Of the Rings. Aragorn strays into a dream and discovers she’s the meaning in his life, she’s the inspiration; Elrond seems to learn a lesson from Thingol’s error; and Aragorn has some errantry to run. Alan and Sara wonder what song Aragorn was singing, speculate about Aragorn’s teenage angst, and decide that Aragorn’s journeys must have taken him at least 500 miles from Arwen’s door. Also, Sara’s retirement dreams: bon-bons in the Hall of Fire.
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365 – QAN 30
It’s time to come into the Common Room with The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we answer listener questions again in our 30th Questions After Nightfall! From the necessity of real-world physics to whose brooch did Bombadil find; from Fëanor’s favorite games to Thingol’s quite-appropriate guilt, our listeners always bring their A game… or would that be their Q game? Alan is confusticated and bebothered, and Sara reminds us all of how Tolkien could do all that he did. Also, never disrespect librarians.
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364 – Tolkien Reading Day 2025
Join the Tolkien fandom and community — along with The Man of the West and The Lord of the Mark — for the PPP’s 10th annual Tolkien Reading Day, observed every March 25 in honor of the destruction of the Ring and the downfall of Barad-dûr. This year’s theme, as chosen by the Tolkien Society, is Fellowship and Community — and not only do we have some incredible readings that showcase this year’s them, the PPP is demonstrating its own fellowship by bringing in each of the co-hosts from the last two seasons! Matt stops the story of Beleg where it ought to have ended, Don sings a bath song, James prepares to say goodbye to Rivendell, Sara leaves the Quenya for Alan, and Shawn makes Alan feel at home.
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363 – Til You Find Your… Ancient & Military Historian?
The Man of the West bids farewell to The Nerd of the Rings, as they welcome everyone’s favorite ancient and military historian back to the PPP: Dr. Bret Devereaux, author of A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry returns to answer an absurd number of questions that Alan and Matt have come up with from their last ten episodes. We get our 40k references out of the way early, discover Bret doesn’t read Old Norse, get an expert explanation of weregild, and have our eyes opened to Helm Hammerhand’s missteps. We also discuss peace through Black Death, wonder what the Quenya would be for “It’s all yours, buddy”, and lament the fact that the tales, they are so unfinished. Also, the emperor’s name is spelled Pupienus, just to be clear.
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362 – Follow Every Marshal
The Marshals of the Mark faithfully serve the King by leading their trained Riders in battle; Matt faithfully serves Alan by… well, we’re still figuring that one out. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as they dive into the inner workings of Rohan’s command structure in our final episode on The Battles of the Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales. Turns out Théoden was pretty young as far as Kings of Rohan go, Éomer gets all the duties of a job without its title, and it turns out keeping the key to a fortress hundreds of miles away doesn’t work out so well. We spend more time with French than we’re comfortable with, issue extra pedantry points, and speculate about all the terrible things that would have happened had Gandalf stayed dead. Also, Alan alarmingly (and annoyingly) alliterates again.
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361 – Ford Every Stream
Erkenbrand takes command of the West-mark after the death of Théodred; Matt makes it clear that, in the event of Alan’s death, he wants no such responsibility. Join us as there is a coincidence of calendars in our second episode on The Battles of the Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales. Grimbold stands firm by the Fords, Elfhelm is the Admiral Ackbar of Rohan, and none of it really matters because quantity has a quality all its own. Matt breaks out his best Ent voice, we lament the adaptation fates of Erkenbrand, Tom Bombadil, and Glorfindel, and agree it would be a nice day for a white wizard. Also, in Bilbo’s next book, he interviews Fingolfin on challenging Morgoth: “I’ve had better days.” Finally, here’s the link we promised for Tom Shippey’s talk: https://www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/tolkien-book-to-jackson-script-medium-and-message
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360 – Climb Every Eyot
The Rohirrim are loyal to Théoden, even in his dotage; Matt’s loyalty to Alan is in doubt. Join us as Saruman begins his assault on Rohan with a strategic faux pas in the first of three episodes covering The Battles of the Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales. Wormtongue pits brother against brother, Théodred proves to be the Faramir of Rohan, and Grimbold and Elfhelm save what’s left of a very bad day. We ask when a brother is like a father, wonder where Éomer was when the Fords fell, and explain unfortunate sports analogies. Also, Alan changes his mind: will wonders never cease?
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359 – Play the Tradition Tonight
Isildur counsels his successors to bring their heirs to the Hill of Awe to reveal the secrets of the realm; Alan and Matt wonder if there’s a Gondorian equivalent to Area 51. Join us as we step back in time to the establishment of the Tradition of Isildur in our final episode on Cirion & Eorl. Isildur gets out a map and points to the middle (like putting a memorial to George Washington in the middle of Kansas), the Stewards play rules-lawyer to justify their going to the hallow and then hardly ever go, and Cirion makes a tough decision about exhumation. We discover that Tolkien thinks he’d squandered his best “motifs and characters” in The Hobbit, discover that an absence of dead people means an absence of alfirin, and suggest that you talk to your doctor to see if Meneldil is right for you. Also, a Barrow-wight that sounds a little like Tom Bombadil.
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358 – Oath of No Return
The Steward of Gondor and the Lord of the Éothéod swear oaths to one another; Alan and Matt simply try not to swear at one another. Join us as Eorl knows it’s time to ‘show the way and leave today’ in the fifth of our six episodes covering Cirion & Eorl. The Prince of Dol Amroth discovers the reason for the awe on the Hill of Awe, Eorl swears such an oath that we can only ever know the translation, and Cirion returns the favor by invoking the name of Eru for the first time in 2500 years. We wonder if Eorl’s oath was in alliterative verse, speculate about when to celebrate Rohan Day, and agree that Cirion is highly underrated. Also, let’s make Christmas carols in Quenya a thing.
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357 – Cirion, Wayward Son
Come on, you had to know it was coming. Everyone wonders how Cirion will reward Eorl; nobody wonders how Alan will reward Matt. Join us as Cirion and Eorl rise above the noise and confusion atop the Halifirien in our fourth of six episode covering Cirion & Eorl. Tolkien keeps hyping up the secret on top of the mountain, Cirion gives an amazing gift (but, like most men, leaves it unwrapped), and Eorl offers to seal their friendship with an unforgettable oath. We compare the Hill of Awe to the Hill of Awwwww, decide that the Éothéod deserve at least a pizza party, and visit with Trotter from Tolkien Collector’s Guide about a fancy book. Also, Matt’s search for Bigfoot.
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356 – Hold On
Cirion uses his Phone-a-Friend lifeline and, fortunately, Eorl picks up; Alan uses his Phone-a-friend lifeline and… Matt picks up. Join us as Cirion sees that the end of Gondor is “closer than you think and you’re standing on the brink” in our third of six episodes on Cirion & Eorl. The Northmen contribute blood to Gondor, Borondir becomes a legend, and Galadriel runs interference for the good guys. We long to hear the unwritten songs, admire how Tolkien’s heroes do the right thing because it’s the right thing, and think that Ruckus in Rhovanion would be a great name for a fight. Also, hobbit strike zones and the new paladin ability: smell evil.
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355 – Dust in the Wind
Ondoher learns that battlefield intelligence is crucial to survival; Alan and Matt learn that bad dad jokes are crucial to this podcast. Join us as King Ondoher closes his eyes, only for a moment, and the moment’s gone, in our second of six episodes on Cirion & Eorl. The Gondorian army remains in column formation too long, the vanguard of the Wainriders does their job almost too well, and an unexpected guest shows up to the battle. We do more word-nerdery, hope nothing happens to Faramir (oops), and offer to beta test Total War: Middle-earth. Also, we mock Eärnur again.
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354 – Fight Fire With Northmen
The story of Cirion and Eorl begins with an introduction to the Northmen; the story of Alan and Matt begins with Matt having to pronounce hard words. Join us as the Northmen have nothing to lose ‘cause it’s already lost, as we begin our six-episode sidebar on Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan — can we just call it Cirion & Eorl? Narmacil II loses badly, the Northmen form the Éothéod, and the Great Plague sets everyone back a century. We learn that about Tolkien’s trench fever, talk about the importance of rearguard actions, and explain the Undeeps. Also, Alan admits he’s pedantic.
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353 – They Should’ve Known
Gondor and Rohan honestly believed in Saruman, while Alan and Matt aren’t sure what to believe anymore. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we look at all the Kings of Rohan, and Matt gives Alan his new nickname. Saruman’s gets the keys to his new place, Aldor the Old is what it says on the tin, and no one has anything good to say about Fengel. We start with a review of the new film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, wish we could pronounce Old English, and wonder if kings should choose more peaceful hobbies. Also, we talk about Tolkien and AI (no AI used in the generation of this blurb).
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352 – White Horse
Felaróf pays Eorl back by surrendering his freedom, while Matt pays Alan back with poetic body shaming. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we meet the first King of the Mark, and flashback to his naming of Felaróf, in our first of two episodes on Appendix A II - The House of Eorl. Fram kills Scatha, but earns the enmity of the Dwarves; Helm proves he’s the original One-Punch Man; and Wulf’s time as King of the Mark is short-lived. We discover a creepy poem about Scatha, make future predictions from the past, and come up with a disturbing origin story for Santa Claus.
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351 – Questions After Nightfall 29
Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we answer listener questions once again in our 29th Questions After Nightfall! From Nazgûl backstories to chess in Middle-earth, from fantastic Middle-earth insults to the meaning of ‘crownless’, our listeners once again challenge us with unexpected questions. Alan helps Matt with some music history, while Matt admits we’re clueless.
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350 – Wanted Dead Or Alive
The Stewardship of Gondor became hereditary as a kingship; should the PPP co-hosts follow suit? Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy on his last episode this season as the Stewards of Gondor harden their hearts against the return of a king, any king. Cirion looks for an answer, and decides to phone a friend; the Stewards keep Gondor the same, only the names will change; and Thorongil has good advice for Ecthelion. Alan finds another excuse to read Quenya, while Don looks for his copy of Parmesan Eggplant #17, and we realize we don’t use “bereft” enough. Also, Mount Doom has a funny start button.
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349 – I’ll Be There For You
The Wainriders strike Gondor, leaving them without a king for a time, while Don’s old jokes leave Alan to cry a thousand rivers. Join The Man of the West and the Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy as the arrival of the Wainriders triggers a series of Unfortunate Events. Eärnil saves the day for Gondor, but not for Arthedain, Malbeth has some important words, and Glorfindel could afford to be more specific. We observe that if you knock Gondor down then it gets up again, note a little passive-aggressive “per my last email” tone from the Council of Gondor, and make our own Rings of Power prophecy. Also, is Don even old enough to go to a pub?
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348 – You Give Love a Bad Name
The waning of Gondor had already begun in Atanatar’s day; let’s hope Don brings better luck for the PPP. Join us as Gondor reaches the summit of its power in the first of two episodes on the Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion in Appendix A. Lazy kings and racist Gondorians lead to a civil war, Eldacar is shot through the heart and Castamir’s to blame, and the greatest evil is yet to come. We talk about poetry, war crimes, and all things Goth(ic). Also, we wonder what drives a king to marry a nefarious, solitary and loveless cat-lady.
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347 – Livin’ On a Prayer
Arvedui offers the Lossoth jewels they don’t want; Alan and Don offer bad puns you don’t want. Join us as evil comes to Arnor as we continue our time in Appendix A, this time on Arnor and the Heirs of Isildur. Rhudaur goes bad, the Barrow-downs get new residents, and Arvedui finds he’s not even halfway there. We speculate on the reason for Arnor’s breakup, challenge listeners to draw a map with a crayon while blindfolded, and brook no dissent about our praise for Círdan. Also, Don gets Rhudaur in the podcast split.
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346 – Already Gone
Tolkien gives us 3400 years of Númenórean history in just a few pages; Alan and Don make those few pages *feel* like a 3400-year long episode. Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts guy as we walk through the line of Kings and Queens of Númenor in our second episode on Appendix A I (i) on Númenor. We wonder what would have happened if Silmariën had become the first Ruling Queen, talk about agnatic primogeniture again, and watch as Kings of Númenor come up with ‘very bad ideas’™. Also, Sara joins Alan to chat with the translator of the Welsh edition of The Hobbit, Tar-Atanamir says ‘hold my beer’, and Alan gives some very depressing advice about mortality.
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345 – Take It Easy
Shall I describe it to you, or would you like Alan and Don to find you a map? Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts guy as Tolkien introduces us to his island paradise in the what-it-says-on-the-tin chapter, A Description of the Island of Númenor, from Unfinished Tales! We have fun with Quenya pronunciations, decide that it’s best not to build the Meneltarma Visitor Center after all, and speculate that Eldalondë the Green smelled like a smoothie shop. Also, we stumble upon a great name for a rock band, make a joke about the… larch, and wisely choose not to laugh at dancing bears.
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344 – Life in the Fast Lane
Tolkien regrets the ‘truncated and compressed form’ of the Appendices to The Lord of the Rings, while Alan and Don regret the truncated and compressed form of this episode! Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts guy as Tolkien gives us the fastest version of The Silmarillion ever in our first episode on the Annals of the Kings and Rulers. We beat the Fëanor piñata, visit the Hotel Thangorodrim and watch the Edain follow the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning to reach their new land. Also starring: grim grinning door handles and the avoided-for-that-cometh-anyway.
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343 – Questions After Nightfall 28
Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy as we answer listener questions in our 28th Questions After Nightfall episode! From the negative buoyancy of hobbits to how long the wait is for a new Elf body, from Elves in HDR to Silmariën and the laws of agnatic primogeniture (which still confuse Don), our listeners pose challenging and unexpected questions. Alan blows Don’s mind yet again, while Don reveals his Middle-earth power rankings.
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342 – Paperback Writer
Sam answers all of Elanor’s questions, as Alan tries to dodge most of Don’s questions. Join The Man of the West and the Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy, as we look at what was almost Tolkien’s post-credit bonus scene. Samwise gets writer’s block, Elanor longs for the old days, and Rose remembers a moment of unexplained joy. We discuss whether Merry was Sam’s ghost-writer, agree that one must stop somewhere, and look for our letter from the King. Also, Don leans into the mediocrity.
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341 – Everyday I Write the Book
Well, we’re back. Join The Man of the West and Don Marshall, the Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy, as we begin Season 9 of The Prancing Pony Podcast with a deep dive into the first version of the Epilogue to The Lord of the Rings. We chat about elanor the flower and Elanor the young hobbit-lass, wonder when a prophecy isn’t a prophecy, and get a few answers about Legolas, Gimli, and the rest. Also, we discover Ents are Alan's kinda people.
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340 – Since You’re Gone
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339 – You’re the Girl
From our intro, here is the link to the 2009 fan film The Hunt for Gollum, directed by our guest Chris Bouchard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H09xnhlCQU
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338 – Good Times Roll
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337 – Magic
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336 – Let’s Go
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335 – Just What I Needed
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334 – Shake It Up
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333 – Triple Nelson: The PPP Turns 333
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332 – Hello Again
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331 – Questions After Nightfall 27
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330 – And Here’s To You, Master Barliman
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329 – Hello Pony, My Old Friend
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328 – Alive and Kicking
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327 – Promised You a Miracle
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326 – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
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325 – When Love Comes to Town
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324 – A Sort of Homecoming
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323 – Tolkien Reading Day 2024
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322 – Questions After Nightfall 26
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321 – Something to Talk About
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320 – Love Sneakin’ Up On You
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319 – Big Damn Heroes, Sir
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318 – Burn the Land and Boil the Sea
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317 – Curse Your Sudden But Inevitable Betrayal
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316 – I Swear By My Pretty Wheel of Fire, I Will End You
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315 – Sometimes A Thing Gets Broke, Can’t Be Fixed
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314 – Everybody Dies Alone
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313 – Breakfast in Mordor
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312 – Take the Long Way ‘Round
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311 – When All the World’s Asleep
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310 – Give a Little Bit (of Your Cloak to Me)
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309 – Questions After Nightfall 25
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308 – Boy, You’re Gonna Carry That Weight
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307 – I Want to Hold Your Hand
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306 – We Can’t Work it Out
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305 – All You Need is Love
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304 – Not Your Father's Hobbit
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303 – Questions After Nightfall 24
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302 – Live at Oxonmoot 50!
Recommended Reading: include Letters from FC, Fall of Númenor, and The History of the Hobbit, along with our own book.
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301 – A Little Bit Me, A Little… Nah, it’s All You
Sauron smells a trap, and sends his lieutenant to open the door and see who’s there; Matt smells a sidebar, and sends Alan to find out more. Join us as the Mouth of Sauron says too much, but doesn’t lose his head, as we conclude The Black Gate Opens — and Season 7 of the PPP! We meet perhaps the scariest steed ever to walk the earth, discuss the absurdity of killing ambassadors, and decide we know how about how old the Mouth of Sauron is. Matt wants to read the edited Letters of Alan and Shawn; Alan just wants to see a bear on a hell-steed; both of us want to see White Horse and Silver Swan in concert. Finally, we realize just what a terrible cliffhanger Tolkien can write.
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300 – Another Unpleasant Valley Sunday
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299 – Not a Trace of Hope in My Mind
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298 – Take the Last Train to Harlond
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297 – Questions After Nightfall 23
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296 – A Farewell to Kings (For Now)
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295 – It’s Good to Be King
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294 – King of Pain (Relief)
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293 – We’ve Got to Have Some Bears In Here: An Interview with Brian Sibley
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292 – (Goodness, Gracious) Great Ball of Fire
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291 – Whole Lotta Heathen Goin’ On
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290 – Beautiful Day
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289 – Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
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288 – Pride (In the Name of Hindering)
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287 – Questions After Nightfall 22
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286 – Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
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285 – In Ghân’s Country
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284 – Tolkien Reading Day 2023
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283 – He Won’t Back Down
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282 – Runnin’ Down a Rout
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281 – Don’t Come Around Here No More
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280 – Don’t Do Him Like That
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279 – You Got Lucky
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278 – The Lion & Unicorn: Another Visit with John Garth
Alan and James welcome John Garth in his return to the Common Room here at The Prancing Pony Podcast! We talk about everything in this one: his landmark work Tolkien and the Great War, his essay in The Great Tales Never End, his talk at the J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript exhibition, his thoughts on The Fall of Númenor, and more. Bonus bits: A lion and unicorn provide convincing proof, John stops James from snoring, Tolkien falls down the stairs, and the expert misspells a headline.
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277 – I Will Follow
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276 – With or Without You, Rohan
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275 – Who’s Gonna Ride Your War Horses?
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274 – Live from PPP Moot!
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273 – Questions After Nightfall 21
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272 – Bad Company
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271 – Feel like Breakin’ Love
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270 – Run With the Pack
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269 – It’s All Part of My Gondorian Fantasy
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268 – Waiting for the Son
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267 – This is the End, My Hobbit Friend
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266 – People Are Strange When You’re a Halfling
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265 – Hello, I Loathe You
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264 – Riders on the Storm
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263 – Come on Gondor, Light That Fire
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262 – Questions After Nightfall 20
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261 – Drinking the Cup of Farewell
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260 – Hanging Out with Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan
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259 – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
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258 – We Can Be Heroes, Just for One Day
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257 – There’s a Star, Man
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256 – Questions After Nightfall 19
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255 – She Never Begs, She Knows How to Choose Them
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254 – She’s Got (Eight) Legs, She Knows How to Use Them
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253 – …That Leads to Mordor
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252 – The Long and Winding Stair…
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251 – Don’t Stop and Don’t Smell the Flowers
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250 – In the Sunshine of Your Love
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249 – Down to the Crossroads
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248 – Much More Than Skin Deep: An Interview with Clifford Broadway
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247 – Everybody Out of the Pool
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246 – Return of the Giant Squirrel
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245 – Questions After Nightfall 18
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244 – Tolkien Reading Day 2022
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243 – Just a Little Bit of Peril
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242 – And the People Did Feast
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241 – There Are Some Who Call Me… Tharkûn
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240 – Bereft of Life, He Rests in Peace
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239 – Nobody Expects the Mannish Inquisition
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238 – Gondor Calling
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237 – Should I Stew or Should I Go Now
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236 – Go Straight to Smells, Boys
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235 – All Along the Watchtower
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234 – Knockin’ on Sauron’s Door
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233 – Questions After Nightfall 17
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232 – Don't Stand So Close to Me
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231 – Spirits in the Material World
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230 – Choking on a Crust of Bread
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229 – Always Reaching: An Interview with John Howe
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228 – Where Sméagols Swear
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227 – Where Sméagols Dare
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226 – Places High
The shrieking cry of what might sound like a Ringwraith if they weren’t destroyed forever at the Ford of Bruinen (They were, right? Right!?) makes Frodo lose his grip and his sight while climbing down a cliff. He manages to land on his feet on a ledge not far below, but he can’t get back up or down without a rope, which Sam just so happens to have, and knows how to use. We ponder (and worry slightly about) Alan’s fondness for ropes, Shawn’s fondness for booze, and Sam’s therapy bills thanks to the Gaffer’s old-fashioned parenting methods.
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225 – Strangers in a Strange Land
We finally begin our readthrough of Book IV of The Lord of the Rings with “The Taming of Sméagol”! All alone after fleeing Parth Galen, Frodo and Sam are lost among the barren slopes of the Emyn Muil, seeking a way down to the stinking bog below (zero stars for this hiking tour). But how alone are they, really? Are the two eyes following them attached to the head they think, and will Sam be able to get a tight enough grip on the neck below it to, uh, “handle the situation”? All this, plus a new segment welcoming our youngest listeners: Questions Before Bedtime.
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224 – Whose Story Line Is It Anyway?
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223 – Questions After Nightfall 16
It’s our first live Q&A episode of the season, which means Alan and Shawn have got our speculating caps on for another round of questions from our guests! We field questions on the married life of the Valar (but not in the way you’re thinking), the size of Hobbit feet, and an almost forgotten fight between Galadriel and Dol Guldur. Plus, opinions on The Nature of Middle-earth, a booth review of the cutting of the Ring from Sauron’s finger… and wings, schmings! We want to know: do Balrogs have the power of speech?
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222 – Double Nelson: The 222nd Episode Extravaganza
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221 – Dancing Bears: An Interview with Carl F. Hostetter
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220 – The Worst of Times
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219 – Crystal Ball
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218 – Renegade
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217 – Fooling Yourself (The Angry Old Man)
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216 – Questions After Nightfall 15
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215 – (Flash)Back in Black
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214 – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
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213 – Let There Be (Lots of Broken) Rock
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212 – Highway to Dell
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211 – For Those About to (Rave About a) Rock, We Salute You
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210 – Live from PPP Moot 2021
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209 – Pyromania
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208 – White Lightning
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207 – Rock of Ages
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206 – I Saw Her Standing There
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205 – Here Comes the Sun
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204 – The Long and Winding Road
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203 – Questions After Nightfall 14
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202 – Tolkien Reading Day 2021
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201 – A Nice Day for a White Wizard
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200 – A Whiter Shade of Grey
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199 – Pretty Spry (For a Grey Guy)
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198 – Never Enough Tolkien: An Interview with Ted Nasmith
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197 – Birnam Wood as It Should Have Been
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196 – Branch Managers' Meeting
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195 – The Birches and the Beeches
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194 – Tree’s Company
Merry and Pippin travel deeper into Fangorn Forest with a guided tour (really more of a picked-up-and-carried tour) provided by Treebeard. Their host may be more wooden than Alan and Shawn, but he’s both informative and entertaining, singing songs and telling stories about the forest and the Ents themselves. Soon they arrive at Wellinghall, where he sets them down and offers them jars of some potent drink that we can only hope he has a license to make and distribute. Hopefully, the ent-draught won’t have any long-term effects on the young hobbits.
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193 – Out on a Limb
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192 - Race, Tolkien, and Middle-earth, Revisited
Alan and Shawn wish to sincerely thank our listeners who came forward to let their voices be heard for this episode. Your stories have inspired us and opened our eyes. 'Eglerio! A laita te!'
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191 - A Trick of the Took
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190 - Follow Uruks, Follow Me
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189 - Supper’s Ready
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188 - Questions After Nightfall 13
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187 - The Old Man and the Coconuts
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186 - A Man That Has No Coconut
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185 - Proud Riders on Proud Coconuts
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184 - The Land of the Coconut-Lords
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli pursue the Orcs taking Merry and Pippin through Rohan, where the folk of Eorl raise the greatest cocon— uh, horses. Real-life horses. But the Orcs are moving quickly, not stopping by night or by day; and for the three weary hunters to stop and rest might mean losing their trail. We pause to remember some late-October dates in a new This Week in Tolkien History, and pick out Halloween costumes for the Fellowship. Plus, no African or European swallows here, just an eagle… and why is Aragorn lying down on the job?
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183 - Wind and Brothering
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182 - And Then There Were Three
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181 - Two Shall Be the Number of the Towers
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180 - Questions After Nightfall 12
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179 - A Pandemic of Moots
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations like the Tolkien Society and Signum University have held their annual gatherings (Oxonmoot and Mythmoot) online in 2020. Alan and Shawn begin the new season by interviewing some of the people who made those moots possible — including Tolkien Society chair Shaun Gunner, Signum University President Corey Olsen, and more — to learn about the challenges and advantages of bringing these events into the digital space, glimpse the changing face of Tolkien fandom, and remember the importance of fellowship in difficult times.
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178 - Hard Choices and Strange Voices: An Interview with Verlyn Flieger
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177 - Exit... Stage Left
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176 - Grace Under Pressure
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175 - Time Stand Still
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174 - Drifting by the Limlight (The Universally Creepy Dream)
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173 - Questions After Nightfall 11
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172 - Bye, Company (Till the Day You Die)
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171 - Can't Get Enough of Your Leaves
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170 - Feel Like Bakin' Loaves
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169 – The Grand Illusion
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168 - Too Much Time on Their Hands
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167 - You're My Lady
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166 – Inspiration in Unlikely (and Likely) Places: An Interview with John Garth
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165 - Just a Little Bit of Peril
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164 - Nobody Expected the Elvish Insinuation
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163 - Strange Women Singing in Streams
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162 - 'Tis but a Scratch
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161 - Questions After Nightfall 10
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160 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2020
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159 - A Farewell to Wings
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158 - Troll the Bones
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157 - Don't Stop Believin'
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156 - Any Way You Want It (Just Not the Middle Way)
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155 - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
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154 - Separate Ways
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153 - When the Lights Go Down
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152 - Trampled Under Snow
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151 - Misty Mountain Hop
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150 - Time to Ramble On
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149 - Good Times Bad Times
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148 - Questions After Nightfall 9
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147 - Tales from the Perilous Green Room: An Interview with Brian Sibley
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146 - Bring It on Home
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145 - What Is and What Should Never Be
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144 - Nobody's Fault but Mine (and Yours, and Isildur's)
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143 - Whole Lotta Lore
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142 - Confustication Breakdown (with special guest Corey Olsen)
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141 - Starship Trooper
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140 - I've Seen All Good People
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139 - Close to the Edge
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138 - Questions After Nightfall 8
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137 - Go Back to the Beginning
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136 - Live from Tolkien 2019
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135 – Things You Don’t Want to Say No To: An Interview with Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull
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134 – White Horses Could Drag Me Away
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133 - It's Only Rock (Not Trolls) But I Like It
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132 - Ranger's Little Helper
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131 - Visualizing Middle-earth: An Interview with Greg Hildebrandt
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130 - Questions After Nightfall 7
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129 - Fooled on the Hill
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128 - Magical Mystery Tour
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127 - Twelve-Penny Lane
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126 - Noble Enough to Know What's Right
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125 - A Writer and a Ranger
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124 - Living in the Limelight
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123 - Be Cool or Be Cast Out
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122 - The Digital Mead-Hall: TexMoot 2019 Keynote Presentation
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121 - Comfortably Tom
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120 - Wish You Weren't Here
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119 - The Dark Side of the Tomb
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118 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2019
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117 - Questions After Nightfall 6
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116 - Does Goldberry Float in Water?
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115 - Fetch the Comfy Chairs
Frodo and friends get comfortable in the first half of “In the House of Tom Bombadil,” and Alan and Shawn finally begin to unwrap the enigma that is Tom and his wife Goldberry. While the hobbits eat and drink as only famished hobbits can, we dive into Tolkien’s letters, poetry, and more for clues to the nature of our mysterious hosts and their relationship; but don’t hold your breath for any conclusions just yet. We also answer a listener question on why Tom has been cut out of every screen adaptation so far, and get word-nerdy on one of Gandalf's most memorable lines.
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114 - Race, Tolkien, and Middle-earth
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113 - Trouble with the Trees
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112 - Unrest in the Forest
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111 - Eleventy-first Episode Extravaganza
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110 - With a Little Help from My Friends
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109 - Hello, Goodbye
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108 - Ain't Gonna Walk on Maggot's Farm No More
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107 - The Nazgûl is Wailin' in the Wind
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An Evergreen PPP Holiday Event - The Father Christmas Letters
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106 - Questions After Nightfall 5
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105 - Who Wants to Leave Forever?
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104 - I See a Little Silhouetto of a Man
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103 - Goodbye Everybody, I've Got to Go
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102 - Arthur of the Century: An Interview with Sørina Higgins
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101 - Now I Need a Place to Hide Away
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100 - There's a Shadow Hanging Over Me
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099 - Yesterday, All My Troubles Seemed So Far Away
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098 - Questions After Nightfall 4
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097 - A Hard Day's Night
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096 - I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, So I'll Go
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095 - They Say It's Your Birthday
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094 - This Shire is Your Shire
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093 - We're In the Same Tale Still!
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092 - We're Not Saying It's Monsters, But It's Monsters
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091 - Laughing Shall We Die: An Interview with Tom Shippey
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090 - Between Light and Dark: An Interview with Verlyn Flieger
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089 - Questions After Nightfall 3
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088 - Live From Mythmoot Five
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087 - No Shrubberies: The Hobbit Retrospective
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086 - Not Quite Dead
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085 - Bilbo "Two Chests" Baggins
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084 - The Violence Inherent in the System
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083 - Oh Yes, Ees Very Nice-uh
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082 - What is the Airspeed Velocity of a Decrepit Old Raven?
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081 - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
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080 - And There Was Much Rejoicing
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079 - Smaug Gets Quite Irate
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078 - Every Worm is Sacred
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077 - Questions After Nightfall 2
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076 - The Ministry of Silly Locks
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075 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2018
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074 - A Mandate From the Masses
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073 - Some Farcical Aquatic Ceremony
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072 - King Name-Not-Appearing-In-This-Book
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071 - Fortress Around Your Hoard
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070 - If You Love Somebody, Cut Them Free
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069 - Be Still My Fleeting Hart
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068 - Exit, Pursued by a Bear
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067 - Forget About Your Worries and Your Strife
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066 - A Slaying Song Tonight: An Interview with Michael Drout
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065 - Lobbest Thou Thy Holy Pine Grenade
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064 - And Now, the Larch
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063 - How Not to Be Seen
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062 - Ere the Other Side He See
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061 - Answer Me These Questions Five...
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060 - Questions After Nightfall 1
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059 - Run Away!
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058 - There Lies a Cave
In Chapter 4 of The Hobbit, our heroes begin the crossing of the mountains under threat of stormy weather and rock-hurling stone-giants. They seek shelter in a cave, but caves up in the mountains are seldom unoccupied, and this one is no exception. We investigate the nature of the mysterious stone-giants, a new Philology Faire segment unveils surprises in Tolkien’s original conception of Treebeard, and we get a little spooky for a listener question about the Dead Marshes.
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057 - 'Tis a Silly Place
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056 - He’s a Burglar and He’s OK
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055 - Pining for the Hoards
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054 - Nobody Expects the Dwarvish Inquisition
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053 - A Hole New World
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052 - Exploring The Hobbit and More: An Interview with Corey Olsen
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051 - Why Does It Hurt So Much?: The Hobbit Film Trilogy
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050 - You Have Kept Your Honor: The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy
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049 - The First Age Strikes Back: The Silmarillion Retrospective
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048 - People Are People
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047 - Never Let Me Down Again
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046 - Master and Servant
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045 - Just Can’t Get Enough
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044 - The Threshold of Middle-earth: An Interview with John Garth
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043 - The Final Frontier
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042 - Resistance is Futile
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041 - Make It So
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040 - He's Dead, Gem
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039 - Exit the Warrior
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038 - I Will Choose Free Will
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037 - No Man's Land: An Interview with Simon Tolkien
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036 - Fly By Night, Away From Here
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035 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2017
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034 - Let It All Out
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033 - The Princess Bride
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032 - Lady and the Tramp
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031 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
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030 - Another One Bites the Dust
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029 - Tolkien's 125th Birthday Special
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028 - Father of the Century: a PPP Christmas Special
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027 - Go West, Young Edain
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026 - You're The One That I Want
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025 - Watch Your Language
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024 - Territories
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023 - Distant Early Warning
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022 - Subdivisions
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021 - New World, Man
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020 - Tolkien's Secret Vice: An Interview with Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins
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019 - How to Get the Celestial Body You Want
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018 - Menegroth: Love It or List It
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017 - ...Don't You Come Back
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016 - Hit the Road, Jack...
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015 - Along Came a Spider
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014 - Trouble in Paradise
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013 - The Blame Game
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012 - All in the Family
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011 - Elves and All! Hooray!
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010 - It Is A Gift
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009 - The Odd Couple
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008 - And So It Begins
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007 - The Powers of Arda
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006 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2016
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005 - The Music of the Ainur
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004 - The Great War
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003 - The Origins of Quenya and Sindarin
Shawn takes a solo look at the real-world linguistic inspirations that shaped Tolkien's invented Elvish languages, Quenya and Sindarin, while Alan is away doing whatever a Man of the West does on his day off.
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002 - The Myth-lover
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001 - In Defense of Fantasy
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Fler poddar
Podcasten The Prancing Pony Podcast är skapad av The Prancing Pony Podcast. Podcastens innehåll och bilderna på den här sidan hämtas med hjälp av det offentliga podcastflödet (RSS).
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.