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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 028 - Silmarillion Saturday: As He Ever Shall Be

Arien would need a restraining order against Tilion if it weren’t for her ability to burn him like a slice of toast. Join The Man of the West as he continues his read-through of the chapter Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor — which, I promise, will get hidden eventually. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 20248 minSeason 4Ep. 168

Week 028 - Fandom Friday: Sara It Was, and Dr. Brown Also

The Man of the West is joined by one of his esteemed cohort of co-hosts, Dr. Sara Brown, to talk about Éowyn, Discworld, and anything else she darn well wants to talk about! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 19, 202425 minSeason 4Ep. 167

Week 028 - Third Age Thursday: Riders of Great Courage

Learn about the migration of the Éothéod, the Stewardship of Cirion, and the discovery that a huge force of enemies was preparing an attack on Gondor as we continue the tale of Cirion and Eorl! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 20248 minSeason 4Ep. 166

Week 028 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Númenoréan Month or Prescription Medication?

Join The Man of the West for a closer look at the Kings’ Reckoning, the calendar system used for over 5,000 years by the Men of Númenor and Gondor. Side effects of Narquelië may include depression, darkness, and regret. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 20247 minSeason 4Ep. 165

Week 028 - Tolkien Tuesday: Grim Grinning… Drawer Handles?

It’s time to go back to more of the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters as we look at some letters dated around the time of the publication of The Hobbit. It appears the Professor understands the truth about math. Or maths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 20247 minSeason 4Ep. 164

Week 028 - Mailbag Monday: Túrin, Túna, and, uh… Celeborn

Join The Man of the West as he answers a mailbag question about a legendary Norwegian bowman and his possible inspiration of one of Tolkien’s most tragic characters. Plus, Alan almost certainly mispronounces the same name many, many times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15, 20249 minSeason 4Ep. 163

Week 027 - Silmarillion Saturday: As a Naked Flame

Learn about Arien and Tilion, the Maiar chosen to carry the Sun and the Moon through the skies of Arda, as we continue our journey through Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 20248 minSeason 4Ep. 162

Week 027 - Third Age Thursday: Which None Could Then Foresee

It’s time to continue our readings in the story of Cirion and Eorl, even if we’re still at the part of Calimehtar and Marhwini. At least Cirion and Eorl are easier to pronounce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 11, 202411 minSeason 4Ep. 160

Week 027 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The (Great) Green Region

We have time for two words on this Word-nerd Wednesday: the first is the name of the 30th King of Gondor, and the other is the name of a land that would eventually be gifted to the people of the Éothéod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 20247 minSeason 4Ep. 159

Week 027 - Tolkien Tuesday: Hi Dad, Send Cash

We take a look at three letters that Tolkien wrote to his sons: school grades, mom guilt, BBC criticism, a hand injury, and a plea for cash to a poor professor all feature in today’s Tolkien Tuesday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 09, 20248 minSeason 4Ep. 156

Week 027 - Mailbag Monday: Gandalf as a Dwarf?

Join The Man of the West as he answers a speculative question about the form that the wizards took when they came to Middle-earth. Now I’m picturing Radagast as a hobbit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 08, 20248 minSeason 4Ep. 157

Week 026 - Silmarillion Saturday: Dust Off the Piñata

A study of heavenly bodies begins with the aftermath of Fëanor storming out of the house, slamming the door, stealing the neighbor’s car, and peeling out of the driveway. Also, Manwë borrows a page from Nienna’s playbook and needs a tissue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 06, 20248 minSeason 4Ep. 156

Week 026 - Fandom Friday: The Full English: Chris Newton from A Book At Breakfast

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes fellow bibliophile and Tolkien fan Chris Newton, and learn about a new podcast you might want to listen to. Chris earns extra points for a ‘core of the original’ reference in an episode blurb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 05, 202415 minSeason 4Ep. 155

Week 026 - Third Age Thursday: And You Thought You’d Avoid Gothic

The Man of the West wanted to make a joke here about the Émo-théod and why their early names were Goth-ic, but we talked him out of it. We apologize for the fault in the blurb. Those responsible have been sacked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 04, 20248 minSeason 4Ep. 154

Week 026 - Tolkien Tuesday: All That Over a Comma

It’s time for The Man of the West to open the new Revised and Expanded Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien as we begin a new series of Tolkien Tuesday episodes! Learn why it’s always good to save your file versions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 02, 20246 minSeason 4Ep. 152

Week 026 - Mailbag Monday: Something About Rope

Join The Man of the West as he rings in 2024 with a new series of Today’s Tolkien Times! We start with a mailbag question about Sam’s mysteriously disappearing brothers, and his two sisters, both called Miss-Not-Appearing-In-This-Book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 01, 20249 minSeason 4Ep. 151

Week 025 - Fancy a Game of Snapdragons?

Tolkien brings in more real-world events — a really cold winter, and a bright comet — into his Letters From Father Christmas, while NPB is busy getting the Man in the Moon drunk. Also, Merry Christmas from the TTT! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 150

Week 025 - Rory Bory Aylis

The Man of the West introduces a new term for the Aurora Borealis, as he looks at Tolkien’s 1926 Letter From Father Christmas. North Polar Bear is up to his usual mischief, and the reindeer break loose. Also, the Man in the Moon is badly injured — but it’s nothing chocolate can’t fix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 22, 20236 minSeason 3Ep. 149

Week 025 - Dreadfully Busy

No, really, he means it. Father Christmas is busy, and so is Professor Tolkien, as Christmas of 1925 approaches. Holding down two jobs, writing the beginnings of Middle-earth mythology, moving house, and being the father to three boys ages 8, 5, and 1. Whew, I’m tired just writing that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 21, 20237 minSeason 3Ep. 148

Week 025 - A Letter for the LEGO Fans

We move to 1923 and a letter to a new address in Leeds, before looking at just how old Father Christmas really is. Also, when is a brick not a brick? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 20, 20237 minSeason 3Ep. 147

Week 025 - Dramatis Personae

Let’s start at the very beginning: it’s a very good place to start, after all. It’s time to open up the Introduction to the Letters and learn about the growing crew up at the North Pole, before we start with the first letter, written in 1920. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 20236 minSeason 3Ep. 146

Week 025 - Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe

Join The Man of the West for a very special holiday week of Today’s Tolkien Times as he dives into Letters From Father Christmas, beginning with words from Baillie Tolkien, Christopher’s wife and the editor of the Letters volumes. Resource links: https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/the-father-christmas-letters-4/ https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=Letters%20From%20Father%20Christmas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Dec 18, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 145

Week 024 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Elves Know Not

Men are mortal, and so is Series 3 of Today’s Tolkien Times! Join The Man of the West as he wraps things up (mostly) for 2023 with a look at the difference between Elves and Men — including a glimpse at an early version from The Book of Lost Tales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 25, 202310 minSeason 3Ep. 144

Week 024 - Fandom Friday: Time Flies When Your Book is Awesome — John Garth

You’ve enjoyed eight weeks of excerpts from his book, Tolkien and the Great War, so please welcome John Garth to Today’s Tolkien Times, as we celebrate 20 years since the publication of his award-winning biography! Plus insights on his new book — Tolkien’s Mirror — and how you can help get it published sooner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 24, 202317 minSeason 3Ep. 143

Week 024 - Third Age Thursday: Look After Your Darling

To those celebrating, the TTT wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! Join The Man of the West as he finishes up The Quest of Erebor and discovers the softer side of Gandalf, and why all of Middle-earth is thankful for a chance-meeting in Bree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 23, 20239 minSeason 3Ep. 142

Week 024 - Tolkien Tuesday: Pipe-smoking and Chin-wagging

Like so many other students before him, Tolkien wasn’t always entirely dedicated to his academic pursuits. Join The Man of the West as he revisits John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War one more time to learn about Tolkien’s ‘pure alpha’ and the major change in his, uh, major. 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 wel...

Nov 21, 20238 minSeason 3Ep. 140

Week 024 - Mailbag Monday: Linked In, Middle-earth

Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 3 of the TTT with an update for the holidays before he answers an interesting question about employment opportunities in Middle-earth. Polish up those resumes, folks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 20, 202311 minSeason 3Ep. 139
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