The Black Tower Podcast: A Wheel of Time Podcast

The White Tower has seen many Amyrlins, but few have left a legacy as complicated as Siuan Sanche and Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan. In this episode of Black Tower Podcast, we compare two of the most influential—and controversial—Amyrlins in Wheel of Time history. From Siuan's secret mission to guide the Dragon Reborn to Elaida's ruthless coup and disastrous reign, we explore how each woman rose to po...

Tonight we're discussing the most notorious dark friend of them all, Padan Fain!  Specifically what are the pieces of this entity and, what would happen if one of them were to be destroyed?   Did the destruction of Aridhol have any impact on the character Padan Fain? what would those changes be, and how might they manifest? Tune in and see what you think! #WheelOfTime #WoT #TheDragonsPeace #RandAl...

The Last Battle is over. The Dark One is sealed away. But can the world actually stay at peace? This week, The Black Tower Podcast takes a deep dive into one of Robert Jordan's most fascinating—and controversial—creations: The Dragon's Peace. Article by article, we're breaking down Rand al'Thor's grand treaty, examining why it was created, who benefits from it, and whether it's truly capable of pr...

The One Power may be the same, but the women who wield it couldn't be more different. This week, Andrew and Josh compare the three major female channeling societies of the Third Age: the Aes Sedai, the Wise Ones, and the Windfinders. From training methods and leadership styles to political influence, channeling skill, and effectiveness during the Last Battle, we're breaking down what each group di...

The Dragon Reborn saved the world... but he also made some spectacularly bad decisions. This week, Andrew and Josh take a look at Rand al'Thor's biggest mistakes throughout The Wheel of Time. From trusting the wrong people to choices that nearly shattered his alliances—and maybe even the Pattern itself—we're ranking and debating the decisions that cost Rand the most. Which choice was his worst? Wa...

Was Alanna’s bonding of Rand a cruel violation… or a necessary thread woven by the Pattern itself? This week on the Black Tower Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most controversial moments in The Wheel of Time and debate whether Alanna’s actions ultimately helped or harmed the Dragon Reborn. From ta’veren destiny and free will to Rand’s psychological decline and the Pattern’s possible intentio...

We know the The Wheel of Time turns, leaving memories that become legend, but what if those memories... are the ability to channel the One Power itself? What could happen to make channeling disappear — temporarily or almost completely — in another Age? Hold on to your milk cups everyone, things are about to get fun as Josh and Reese dive into all the possible ways it could happen, and how it wide-...

Some The Wheel of Time characters had incredible setups… and painful payoffs. This week, Andrew, Josh, and Reese break down the biggest character assassinations in Wheel of Time — from wasted potential and repetitive arcs to characters the story may have completely done dirty. Did Perrin stagnate? Was Padan Fain wasted? And is Gawyn actually badly written… or just too realistic? Expect hot takes,...

Was the Age of Legends in The Wheel of Time actually too perfect to survive? In this episode of Black Tower Podcast, Andrew and Reese break down the government, society, and hidden flaws of the most advanced age in the series. From the role of the Aes Sedai to the moment everything unraveled with The Dark One, we dig into whether its collapse was inevitable—or avoidable. Was it a true utopia… or a...

It is that time again. Yes, we are starting to plan  2026's The Gathering Madness!!! To help us with planning, we want to gauge your interest in attending our event.  Please take 2 minutes to fill out the interest survey (link below). Whether you are a yes, no, or maybe for either in person or virtual, we'd love to hear from you! See you in October! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwQISG...

In a world defined by violence, power, and the turning of the Wheel… what does it mean to choose peace? This week on the podcast, we dive deep into one of the most fascinating—and misunderstood—groups in The Wheel of Time: the Tinkers, also known as the Traveling People. From their origins as the Da’shain Aiel to their unwavering commitment to the Way of the Leaf, we explore the philosophy that re...

What if angreal weren’t rare at all? In this episode of the Black Tower Podcast, we dive deep into a wild but surprisingly grounded theory about the The Wheel of Time—that during the Age of Legends, angreal may have been everyday tools, not legendary artifacts. From household conveniences to medical devices and even industrial applications, we explore the idea that the angreal we see in the books...

It's time for another Background Breakdown!! Tonight we're discussing the Keeper of the Chronicles, the lady badass of the white tower Leane Sharrif! She's a super awesome character that doesn't get enough love! so if you have thoughts, or opinions (*snort) lets hear em in the comments! #WheelOfTime #Aiel #JietoH #BlackTowerPodcast #RobertJordan 📚 Follow the Black Tower Podcast for more Wheel of...

It is that time again. Yes, we are starting to plan 2026's The Gathering Madness!!! To help us with planning, we want to gauge your interest in attending our event. Please take 2 minutes to fill out the interest survey (link below). Whether you are a yes, no, or maybe for either in person or virtual, we'd love to hear from you! See you in October! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwQISGBh...

What happens after the Last Battle? In this episode of the Black Tower Podcast, Andrew and Reese explore The Next Generation of the Wheel of Time — the children who may shape the Fourth Age. From Rand al’Thor’s heirs with Elayne and Aviendha to the future bloodlines of Mat, Perrin, and Nynaeve, we look at the next generation of leaders, channelers, and legends. Who will rise to power in the Fourth...

Mat Cauthon never wanted power. He didn’t ask for prophecy. He didn’t seek command. He certainly didn’t volunteer to marry into an empire. And yet by the end of The Wheel of Time, Mat commands the Horn of Valere, leads the greatest army in the world, survives impossible odds, and outmaneuvers both the Seanchan and the Shadow. So how did he get there? In this episode of the Black Tower Podcast, we...

In this episode of the Black Tower Podcast, we explore one of the most fascinating — and potentially world-altering — questions in The Wheel of Time: Why are some channelers dramatically stronger than others… and what happens now that channelers can have children together again? From the structured strength hierarchies of the White Tower to the raw power of the Asha’man, the series makes one thing...

Rhuidean is not just a lost city—it may be the most important place in all of Randland. In Part 3 of our Rhuidean Explained series, we explore how Rhuidean shapes Aiel politics, leadership, and identity—and why its purpose extends far beyond the Aiel Waste. From enforced truth and cultural memory to Pattern-level intervention, Rhuidean may function as a deliberate mechanism built to prepare the wo...

Bonds in the Wheel of Time are meant to be unbreakable—but love, power, and the Shadow have a way of testing that promise. In this Friday the 13th episode of the Black Tower Podcast, we explore the bonds that bind people together… and the devastating cost when they fracture or fail. From Warder bonds to darker, more dangerous attachments, we examine how devotion becomes dependency, how love turns...

If the Forsaken are more than villains—if they embody human vice—what sins define them? In Part 2 of our Seven Deadly Sins series, the Black Tower Podcast assigns Greed, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth to the Forsaken using book canon evidence, core motivations, and the choices that lead to their downfall. We break down Graendal, Rahvin, Aginor, and Bel’al, explore Forsaken who don’t fit cleanly, and de...

What happens when brotherhood is built not on faith—but on shared fear and inevitable trauma? In Part 2 of this Black Tower Podcast deep dive, we turn our focus to the Black Tower, examining how men who can channel are forced into a brotherhood defined by power, survival, and the constant threat of madness. Using character case studies like Androl Genhald, Damer Flinn, Narishma, and the rise of Ma...

Whitebridge is more than just a stop along the Arinelle — it’s one of the quiet pivot points of The Wheel of Time that changes the direction of the story forever. In this episode of the Black Tower Podcast, we take a deep dive into Whitebridge: its history, geography, and why this seemingly unimportant town becomes the site of one of the earliest, most consequential moments in the series. We break...

Rhuidean is not just a ruin in the Aiel Waste—it is a mechanism of the Pattern. In Part 2 of our Black Tower Podcast series on Rhuidean, we break down why this mysterious city may be the most important city in all of Randland. This episode dives deep into the elements that make Rhuidean unique and irreplaceable: • The Glass Columns and how they preserve history, enforce truth, and shape leaders •...

In Part 1 of this Black Tower Podcast series, we begin assigning the Seven Deadly Sins to the Forsaken of The Wheel of Time, focusing on the first three sins: Pride, Envy, and Wrath. Rather than ranking power or evil, we dig into motivation, psychology, and self-destruction—asking what truly drives the Forsaken, how their core flaws shape their decisions, and why those flaws ultimately lead to fai...

What kind of brotherhood do the Children of the Light really offer the men who join them? In Part 1 of this two-part Black Tower Podcast series, we focus entirely on the Whitecloaks, examining how faith, certainty, and rigid structure shape their version of brotherhood—and what that means for men’s mental health in The Wheel of Time. Through in-world analysis and character case studies like Galad...