The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast

On this week's episode we conclude the story of Númenor, as its people turn to cruelty and tyranny, and Ar-Pharazon decides to make war with the Valar, as Sauron pulls the strings! To submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.com Check out Peter Owens' podcast Things You Can Do Music by Michael McBride Cover Art by Lauren Ciatti

It is the Atlantis of Arda, the famed lost island that vanished beneath the waves. Númenor, the most advanced Human civilization to ever exist in Middle Earth, where Aragorn's ancestors came from before they founded the Kingdom of Gondor. But what is its history, and what did the Númenoreans do to incur the destruction that came upon them? Find out in part 1 of this two part episode! To submit a q...

When you think about it, the entire story of The Lord of the Rings seems like one long string of extremely unlikely events. Is this all just a big coincidence, or is Eru Ilúvatar sticking his finger on the scale to make things all shake out the way he wants? We discuss Divine Intervention, Fate, and Free Will in this week's episode! To submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Med...

He's the Big Bad of Middle Earth, his forces spread across the land, he created the One Ring to rule all the others, he is Sauron. But who is Sauron, how did he become the Dark Lord of Mordor, and what can he actually do? We'll talk all about it on this week's episode of the show! To submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.com Music by Michael McBride Cove...

We're back to the Mailbag this week as we take a look at Galadriel's bae Celeborn, the history of Khazad-dûm, why the Fellowship couldn't have taken the Eagles, and pit our heroes against each other in a winner takes all Colosseum style death match! Clamavi De Profundis' YouTube Channel Patreon Interest Form Follow me on Social Media: Instagram Threads YouTube Bluesky TikTok Got questions? Email l...

She is the Lady of the Golden Wood, the wise Elven Queen who gives the Fellowship words of warning and gifts to aid them on their journey. She is also a member of the White Council, who drove The Necromancer (Sauron) from his fortress of Dol Guldur. She is Galadriel, and on this week's episode we dive into how powerful she actually is, plus take a look at how magic works in Middle Earth! Patreon I...

The Lord of the Rings is a tale of an epic journey, but just how far did they travel? And how long did it take? And how old is the world? And what lies beyond the edges of the map? All these questions (and not many more) will be answered on this week's episode! Map of the East Map of the South Early Map Showing the Dark Land Karen Wynn Fonstad Map of the World in the Second Age Patreon Interest Fo...

"In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit." And with that single sentence, the modern fantasy genre was born! But what are Hobbits? Where do they come from? Where did they go? We can't ask Cotton Eye Joe, so instead this week we'll do a deep dive into the origins of Hobbits the differences between types of Hobbits, plus some bonus material about other diminutive races in Middle Earth. Patreon...

Between giant trolls, flaming catapults, and wall demolishing explosives, the Good Guys seem vastly outgunned in their fight against Evil. So what gives? This week we look at the seeming disparity in the weapons of Middle Earth, why that might be, and what Tolkien thought about modern warfare! Patreon Interest Form Follow me on Social Media: Instagram Threads YouTube Bluesky Got questions? Email l...

In the beginning, the Valar created Light! But then that Light got destroyed, so they created A Different Kind of Light! But then that also got destroyed, so they created A Third and Fourth Kind of Light! On this episode we'll talk all about that light, in the form of the Two Trees of Valinor and the Sun and Moon. Patreon Interest Form Follow me on Social Media: Instagram Threads YouTube Bluesky G...

It's almost Halloween and we're telling ghost stories! All seems lost for our heroes at Minas Tirith when suddenly Aragorn arrives with CGI ghost army that tears through the Orcs and Oliphants that are attacking the city! But who are these spectacular specters? Why do the fight for Aragorn? And what's the difference between the version of them in the movies and in the book? Find out on this week's...

In the depths of Cirith Ungol, our two hobbit heroes almost despair when Frodo remembers something, a gift given to him by the Lady Galadriel in Lothlorien, a small crystal phial containing the Light of Eärendil. Grabbing it, light bursts forward, illuminating the cavern and driving back the mighty spider Shelob! But what is the light of Eärendil, where does it come from, and why is Shelob so afra...

On this week's episode we continue the story of Gondolin as it falls to ruin in the aftermath of treachery and devastating war, as well at looking at the impact the story of Gondolin had on the creation not just of The Silmarillion, but The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit! The House of Hador Patreon Interest Form Follow me on Social Media: Instagram Threads YouTube Bluesky Got questions? Email lo...

Hidden deep in the mountains of Beleriand, there is a city. A haven from evil, and a place of beauty and light. This is the City of Gondolin, the hidden realm of King Turgon. On this week's episode, we'll look at the rise of Gondolin and see its glory before its tragic downfall. Noldor Royal Family Tree Patreon Interest Form Follow me on Social Media: Instagram Threads YouTube Got questions? Email...

Humans, Elves, Hobbits, Ents, Eagles, we see all of these groups working together to fight Sauron, but the Dwarves just don't seem to be involved. What gives? What are those Dwarves up to during The War of the Ring? Find out on this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! The Song of During by Clamavi De Proundis Patreon Interest Form Follow me on Instagram ! (and Threads I guess?) Go...

On this week's episode we're looking at some questions that require a little less in depth research, including questions on: Saruman, Grima Wormtongue, Numenor, the critical reception to the SIlmarillion, and my favorite Christmas presents (yes, really). Follow me on Instagram ! (and Threads I guess?) Got questions? Email lotramapod@gmail.com Music by Michael McBride Cover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Goblins and Uruks and Orcs, oh my! We hear about all three throughout Tolkien's works, but it's not immediately clear what the difference between them? And, much like Cotton Eye Joe, where did they come from? We'll dive into all of that and more on this episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! Follow me on Instagram ! (and Threads I guess?) Got questions? Email lotramapod@gmail.com Music by M...

It's a big one today folks, the question people have been asking nonstop since The Fellowship of the Ring was first published. What's the deal with that singing guy with the blue coat and yellow boots? Where did he come from, where did he go, where did he come from Tom Bombadil-o? Find out on this week's episode of the Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! Map of the Shire, Old Forest, and Barrow Downs E...

Strider, Ranger of the North. Aragorn, son of Arathorn, chief of the Dúnedain. Elessar, heir of Isildur. He has many names and many titles, but he's 87 years old in Lord of the Rings and still not King! What's taking him so long? Find out on this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! Line of the Kings of Arnor Line of the Kings of Gondor (more detail than you need but, hey check it...

Athens and Sparta. Rome and Carthage. England and pretty much everyone. These are the rivalries that have shaped our world, and Middle Earth is no different. The rivalry between the Elves and the Dwarves stretches back to the very beginning of Arda. How did it start? Why do they still no get along? Find out on this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! Follow me on Instagram ! (and...

In Middle Earth, almost all of the focus is on Elves and Men, but relatively little is spent on the third major race: the Dwarves. Who are the Dwarves? Where do they come from? Why do they look similar to, but also very distinct from, Men and Elves? And how does their origin influence the creation of the Ents and the Eagles? Find out on this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! Fol...

Any time someone wants to walk from one Elven city to another in Middle Earth, they have to embark on a trek covering hundreds of miles and vanquishing some combination of Orcs, Balrogs, and Dragons. Why do these Elves live so far away from one another? Find out in this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! (Psst...you may want to go listen to episode 6 first) Follow me on Instagram...

Six episodes in and we're changing temporarily changing the format from an AMA to a LMTYASYNTKFNWE (let me tell you abut stuff you need to know for next week's episode)! On this week's episode you'll learn all about the different kinds of Elves of Middle Earth so future episodes will hopefully be less confusing! Resources: The Divisions of the Elves Map of Beleriand Follow me on Instagram ! Got qu...

Many people got into The Lord of the Rings thanks to the Peter Jackson films of the early 2000's, but not everyone moved from watching the movies to reading the books. So what exactly are the main differences between the two? Find out on this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! Got questions? Email lotramapod@gmail.com Cover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Frodo made it all the way to Mount Doom and couldn't even throw the Ring in. Why couldn't he have been like Bilbo and voluntarily gotten rid of the thing? Is he just a weakling compared to the mighty hero of the Hobbit? And what's the deal with the One Ring anyway? Find out on this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast! Got questions? Email lotramapod@gmail.com Cover Art by Lauren Ci...