Exploring Tolkien

It’s a little sad that we spent 34 episodes in the 1st age, but the 2nd age only gets 2 ????… We finish up the Akallabêth this week talking about religion in Númenor, if the Valar gave up governing Arda (and for how long), if men of Númenor are addicted to the light of Valinor, and if the Rings of Power got ANYTHING right! Join us in our extended episode where we discuss if chasing the...

Jonathan, Michael, and Dan reach the 2nd age of Middle-earth, and with it are compelled to bring up The Rings of Power–and, particularly, how they couldn’t even get right the perfectly clear reason Tolkien gave for the Númenorean downfall! Join us in our extended episode where we discuss why Elwing chose to be immortal “because of Luthien”, if Tolkien made parallels between...

Michael, Dan, and Jonathan finish the first age of Middle-earth! We see the final destruction that Fēanor’s Silmarils wrought, how Ēarendil’s desperate hope drove him to Valinor, and determine that–no–Elrond and Elros are not ACTUALLY half-elven! Join us in our extended episode where we discuss why Elwing chose to be immortal “because of Luthien”, if Tolkien mad...

Here’s a bonus podcast this week — our inaugural Fellowship Fridays Live discussion! Listen in as Michael Grumbine (from Exploring Tolkien), John Trent from Bounding into Comics, John Carswell From The Tolkien Road podcast, The MIddle-earth Mixer, and Steve Babb from Glass Hammer talk Tolkien, movies, games, Steven Spielberg and more! Hope you enjoy this extra episode! You can also WAT...

The last great stronghold of the elves falls to Morgoth, even though Ulmo has been right to warn them all along. This penultimate chapter of the Quenta Silmarillion sets the stage for the final battle against Morgoth and the remaking of the world! Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they discuss Ulmo’s influence, Turgon’s pride, Maeglin’s treachery, and the Tolkien’s rule on...

Podcaster, Tweeter, and Tolkien fan, we chat with The Middle-earth Mixer about Tolkien, The Rings of Power, and where these upcoming new films from Warner Bros might be going: • How the movies were his gateway drug into Tolkien • That there might actually be some positive parts to The Rings of Power • Where Warner Bros. new movies might be going • Which of Tolkien’s stories SHOULD be made in...

Morgoth’s curse over Hurin and the Curse of Mandos over the Noldor come join forces and end up destroying the the oldest elven kingdom from the inside out.  When the Nauglamir and the Silmaril meet, all hell breaks loose: the dwarves make a move, Beren makes his return, and Fēanor’s sons strike in the aftermath. In this episode, Jonathan, Michael, and Dan discuss the power of curses (a...

In this episode, we find the footsteps of doom overtaking Túrin–despite naming himself “Turambar” (Master of Doom). We take a little extra time to discuss who is more responsible for the doom that leads to the death of so many–Túrin or Morgoth? Should we blame Túrin for any of it? Or should we blame Morgoth’s curse spoken of Húrin? Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as t...

The tale of Túrin Turambar is one of the great stories of Middle-earth — Tolkien even mentions it in 1951 as a possible publication after finishing Lord of the Rings. But it’s COMPLETELY different… Túrin isn’t really a hero–he makes bad decisions and runs from them. He refuses forgiveness. He ignores wise advice. Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they discuss this tr...

Dan, Michael, and I had a thorough, deep, and fun conversation with Austin Freeman, author of “Tolkien Dogmatics”. In our free podcast, we discuss: How Tolkien’s theology is shown in his works (and how it changed) What Tolkien thought about criticism How fantasy is actually a DEEPER look into our world, and not a rewrite What sub-creation actually is and isn’t Balrogs! Stic...

John Carswell has been producing The Tolkien Road podcast for almost 8 years– and he’s written two books! Jonathan and Michael dive into what John finds so compelling with Tolkien, his own road to finding more depth and meaning in Tolkien’s works, and what Warner Bros can do to make truly excellent films set in Middle-earth (hint: it has nothing to do with money or effects). Beco...

Bounding into Comics isn’t the usual starry-eyed, Hollywood-glorifying, news magazine–the site reports on culture and geek news, but doesn’t ever hesitate to call out the hypocrisy, double-standards, and cronyism seen in those coastal, gilded, navel-gazing circles. Michael and Jonathan had the pleasure of talking with John Trent, founder and editor-in-chief of Bounding into Comic...

Tolkien holds nothing back when the races of Middle-earth decide to take on Morgoth. There’s treachery, gore, rage, victory, defeat–pretty much what Game of Thrones tried to be. Join Jonathan and Michael as they discuss chapter 20 of The Silmarillion, “Of the Fith Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad”. This is probably one of the hardest chapters to figure out; it brings together man...

Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they close up the story dearest to Tolkien. Beren and Luthien’s tale isn’t just a love story, it’s the apex of events that sets the rest of the history of Middle-earth into motion. We also talk about Luthien’s feminine power, Morgoth’s Kaiju, and how–after reading this story deliberately and intently–we all like it better...

Did you know that “some parts of the book have aged poorly because they are problematic and offensive in ways that went uncorrected at the time.” Michael, Dan, and I TEAR APART this article that claims Tolkien’s original writing has problems that just aren’t successful with Modern Audiences ™. It’s a ridiculous, vapid, and completely meritless claim that deserve...

The story of Beren and Luthien takes a dark turn with death and cruelty, but also reveals a more fairy tale side with all the shape-shifting, magic, and a talking dog! Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they get deep into the 2nd part of Beren and Luthien’s story! Don’t forget to checkout our extended podcast by becoming a patron–it’s almost another 30 minutes of Tolkien ta...

The story of Beren and Luthien is the beating heart of Tolkien’s entire Middle-earth. It’s one of the first two stories he wrote (while serving in World War 1), and was directly inspired by moments he spent with his not-yet-wife, Edith. In this episode, we look deeply into what it must have been like for Beren to meet Thingol and Melian, question how much Beren valued the Silmarils (if...

“Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures. And of these histories most fair still in the ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien. Of their lives was made the Lay of Leithian, Release from Bondage, which is the longest save one of...

Sauron makes his big entrance into Middle-earth in this chapter, and does some serious damage to the elves and men. But Morgoth still seems to underestimate his foes. Join Michael, Dan, and I as we read through the second part of chapter 18 of The Silmarillion! And stick around for our extended discussion on CS Lewis’s thoughts on The Two Towers and The Return of the King… SUPPORT THIS...

We delve into the first half of Chapter 18, “Of the Ruin of Beleriand and Fall of Fingolfin”, taking a long look at this valiant elf’s hopeless assault on Morgoth–an elf who ACTUALLY HAS A TEMPEST IN HIM, and not the dust devil in The Rings of Power’s Galadriel. Join us as we look at things like: Tolkien Gives us the end of the story at the beginning Fingolfin’s...

Who is the REAL “strong” woman in Tolkien’s Middle-earth? Why do men fear elves? Death really weirds-out the elves… and why we measure our lives in milestones, and elves do not! Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they tackle the 2nd half of Chapter 17, of the Coming of Men into the West! SUPPORT THIS PODCAST AND BECOME A PATRON! Get access to the extended edition of this po...

This poem, titled “Noel”, was written by J.R.R. Tolkien before The Hobbit was published, and only just discovered in 2013 in a 1936 copy of The Annual of Our Lady’s School (a school magazine). The beautiful imagery Tolkien creates with his words resonates profoundly with the winter season’s cold and desolate landscape… but the heavens and earth are overwhelmed with jo...

Do elves regard men as enemies? Foes? Invaders? How did the elves treat men the first time they met them? Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they look at how the Noldor (surprisingly) treated men VERY differently than the Sindar. Find out about something new in our “All that is gold” this week… and see what happens with that Burger King toy! If you’re looking for a Christma...

Dan’s Big Thought is a little TOO controversial… a Disney princess!? And of course we meet the Dark Elf, Eöl — even though, as we find out, his name is not the first time Tolkien uses the capital “D” Dark Elf moniker! Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan in this discussion of Chapter 16, Of Maeglin. We talk about Rohan on steroids, a philologist’s greatest punishment...

As Turgon builds the city of Gondolin in secret, the bitter seeds of distrust between the Noldor and the Sindar find fertile ground, for Melian warns Thingol, “Their swords and their counsels shall have two edges.” Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan in this discussion of Chapter 15. They talk about Rohan on steroids, a philologist’s greatest punishment, and why Michael has to eat cr...