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Today's Tolkien Times

The Prancing Pony Podcasttolkientimes.com
Get your Tolkien every day by subscribing to Today’s Tolkien Times! Alan Sisto, host of the award-winning Prancing Pony Podcast and Rings of Power Wrap-up, hosts a new short-format daily podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever else you get your podcasts! Listeners get answers on Mailbag Mondays; discover more about the Professor on Tolkien Tuesdays; indulge your inner philologist on Word-nerd Wednesdays; learn more about the familiar stories of Middle-earth on Third Age Thursdays; hear from Tolkien fans around the world on Fandom Fridays; and dive deep into Middle-earth history on Silmarillion Saturdays! And on Sundays? That’s what The Prancing Pony Podcast is for! So subscribe to Today’s Tolkien Times and follow us on all our social media channels!
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Episodes

Week 023 - Silmarillion Saturday: Where Every Leaf is Green

I’m sure it won’t stay that way, though. Join The Man of the West as he concludes this week of the TTT by reading the first half of the chapter Of Men. Distant Valar, condescending Elves, and Morgoth on the loose: the Men will be just fiiiiiine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 18, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 138

Week 023 - Fandom Friday: The Tolkien Professor

Sometimes, the big voices in the fandom have things to say too — Alan welcomes the OG Tolkien podcaster, Dr. Corey Olsen to the show to talk about all things Signum, and to put him in charge of Amazon’s marketing for Rings of Power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17, 202327 minSeason 3Ep. 137

Week 023 - Third Age Thursday: He Was Getting Greedy and Fat

No, not The Man of the West — well at least not both of them — Bilbo! Gandalf recalls just how disappointing Bilbo was in the second part of The Quest of Erebor. Also, keep old maps and keys for 95 years, just in case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 136

Week 023 - Word-nerd Wednesday: (The Rest of) The Many Names of Gandalf

The Man of the West returns to his wizardy wording ways this week as he brings you more of the names of Gandalf — and fills in a few unintended blanks on one of last week’s names! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 15, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 135

Week 023 - Tolkien Tuesday: Time For You To Go, George

We join Tolkien on his winter break as he writes and stars in his own play that just might bear some similarities to real-life. He is finally allowed to write to Edith and the results are… not what you’d expect. Give it up for poor George. Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to suppor...

Nov 14, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 134

Week 023 - Mailbag Monday: Not a David Letterman Top 10

Join The Man of the West as he begins week 23 with a list of the top 10 scariest or creepiest creatures in Middle-earth, just in time for… two weeks after Halloween. You’ll never guess what #5 is! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 13, 202315 minSeason 3Ep. 133

Week 022 - Silmarillion Saturday: I Think You Know What That Word Means

Melkor hides, fakes friendship, almost persuades Fëanor, goes too far, but manages to understand thralldom better than Fëanor. Also, Tulkas is thinking, “I told you this would happen.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 11, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 132

Week 022 - Third Age Thursday: Brooding On His Wrongs

Join Gandalf — and the Man of the West — as he relates his own take on “the incident with the dragon” in The Quest of Erebor. From Gandalf’s grand strategy to how seriously Dwarves take their duty, we also get a teaser about our old friend, Bilbo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 09, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 130

Week 022 - Word-nerd Wednesday: (Some of) The Many Names of Gandalf

It’s a wizardy Wednesday as The Man of the West begins his exploration of several — but not all — of the names of everyone’s favorite Middle-earth wizard. No, it’s not that blue guy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 08, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 129

Week 022 - Tolkien Tuesday: An Assault on Finnish

The Man of the West combines the best of Carpenter and Garth to talk about Tolkien in 1912: from his wet and windy cavalry camp, to his discovery of a wine-cellar that intoxicated him… and led directly to the Quenya language. Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work ...

Nov 07, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 128

Week 022 - Mailbag Monday: No, YOU Be the Mortal One

The Man of the West opens up the mailbag this week with a speculative question: what happens to the kingship of Gondor if Aragorn dies at the Black Gate? Well, I don’t know about the kingship of Gondor, but Arwen is not going to be happy about this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 06, 202310 minSeason 3Ep. 127

Week 021 - Silmarillion Saturday: Master of Thralls

Okay, so it’s a great name for a metal album, but it’s also a theme in today’s Silmarillion Saturday, as Fëanor threatens his younger brother, and gets a 12-year time out for it. Then again, if you’re an Elf, what’s 12 years, really? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 04, 202311 minSeason 3Ep. 126

Week 021 - Third Age Thursday: No Queen in Gondor

Gandalf explains just how important those “off screen” battles were at the end of the Third Age, as The Man of the West finally concludes his reading in the Appendices on Durin’s Folk, wrapping up with a beautiful example of friendship featuring Legolas and Gimli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 02, 202310 minSeason 3Ep. 124

Week 021 - Tolkien Tuesday: Certain Among the Gods

Happy Halloween to all the TTT followers — but there’s nothing spooky about today’s Tolkien Tuesday, unless Tolkien “revisiting old haunts” counts. Today, we take a short break from John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War to revisit Carpenter’s biography to learn about Tolkien’s own Mrs. Doubtfire moment. Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook...

Oct 31, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 122

Week 021 - Mailbag Monday: Past Their Expiration Date

The Man of the West starts off week 21 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a question about everyone’s favorite equestrian group: the Black Riders. Specifically, what happens to them after the One Ring is destroyed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 30, 202311 minSeason 3Ep. 121

Week 020 - Silmarillion Saturday: A Greedy Love

Our adventures in “Fëanor, No!” continue as Melkor continues to sow Discord in Valinor. Also, secret weapon stashes and awkward family dinners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 120

Week 020 - Fandom Friday: Real Elvish - a Chat with Fiona Jallings

The Man of the West welcomes your friendly neighborhood linguist, the creator of RealElvish.net and the author of books to help you learn Neo-Sindarin, Fiona Jallings! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27, 202317 minSeason 3Ep. 119

Week 020 - Third Age Thursday: A Chance Meeting

The Man of the West’s readings through the Appendix on Durin’s Folk continues as Thorin ascends the throne and just happens to run into Gandalf while on a business trip in Bree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 118

Week 020 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Orcs, Uruks, and Balrogs - Oh My!

The Man of the West dives deep into the Etymologies to explain how the words for just about every nasty creature in Middle-earth are actually connected! Also, fleshy mud pods: you’re welcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 117

Week 020 - Tolkien Tuesday: A Nerd’s Nerd

It’s time to go back to school and study your Latin. And Greek. And Nevbosh. And Gothic. And… well, any other language you can get your teenage boy’s hands on. The Man of the West opens up Tolkien and the Great War and A Secret Vice to learn more about the Professor. Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John ...

Oct 24, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 116

Week 020 - Mailbag Monday: To Me, All Are One

The Man of the West opens up this new week of the TTT by actually finishing an answer he began last week. A close look at Christopher Tolkien’s words reveals that bowing to necessity was a grief to the Professor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 115

Week 019 - Silmarillion Saturday: Fast Bound to These Things

You thought the Fëanor piñata would catch a break with the end of the last chapter, wouldn’t you? Well, The Man of the West returns to read about the Silmarils themselves, and the beginning of the end of peace in Valinor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 114

Week 019 - Fandom Friday: How Much Can One Man Do? A Chat with James Tauber

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes the talented — and busy — James Tauber to chat about his 12-month course on The History of Middle-earth, his continuing efforts on the Digital Tolkien Project, and a lot more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 20, 202322 minSeason 3Ep. 113

Week 019 - Third Age Thursday: To the Anvil!

The Dwarves may have had their victory, but the cost was high — and Dáin has bad news about the current squatter in Khazad-dûm. The Man of the West continues his reading and discussion through Appendix A on Durin’s Folk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 202310 minSeason 3Ep. 112

Week 019 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Because It’s a Cantrip

Why wouldn’t we weave words about wizards on Wednesday? Join The Man of the West — who is now officially out of W tiles in Scrabble — as he dives into the ‘problematic’ word “wizard” and discovers that Gandalf doesn’t actually have to rest before casting Magic Missile again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 20237 minSeason 3Ep. 111

Week 019 - Tolkien Tuesday: Didn’t We All Read Chaucer By Age 10?

The Man of the West returns to Tolkien and the Great War to learn more about Tolkien’s incredible gift and passion for languages. Maybe if someone had given me an Etymological Dictionary when I was… no, that wouldn’t have changed a thing. Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support...

Oct 17, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 110

Week 019 - Mailbag Monday: Let Me Explain. No, There Is Too Much.

Start your week off with The Man of the West as he starts to tackle a simple question with some complicated answers and quickly realizes he’s bitten off more than he can chew in one week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 109
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