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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 058 - Silmarillion Saturday: Silver Flame in the Paths of the Sun

The Man of the West gets to read about… well, the Men of the West! The Edain are rewarded with wisdom, power, long life, and a new island home, in our first look at the Akallabêth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 12, 202410 minSeason 8Ep. 348

Week 058 - First Age Friday: A Song of Staying

The Man of the West returns to the Lay of Leithian for another eight weeks in First Age Fridays, beginning with the epic song battle between Sauron and Finrod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 11, 202411 minSeason 8Ep. 347

Week 058 - Third Age Thursday: Just a Bit of Nonsense

Who’s coming up with these episode titles? Today’s Third Age Thursday reading continues with poetry in The Lord of the Rings ; this time, with Sam’s recitation of his own epic lay about trolls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 202410 minSeason 8Ep. 346

Week 058 - Word-nerd Wednesday: She That Has Fallen

The Man of the West begins this series of Word-nerd Wednesdays with a look at several words from Akallabêth, including a few names for the island itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 09, 20248 minSeason 8Ep. 345

Week 058 - Tolkien Tuesday: Hasty, Insensitive, and Impertinent

While the Professor continues to make The Man of the West feel called out, the invectives here are meant for a guy by the name of Zimmerman. Tell us what you really think, Professor! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 08, 202410 minSeason 8Ep. 344

Week 058 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Nesting Dolls of the North

Join The Man of the West as he kicks off a new 8-week series of Today’s Tolkien Times, starting with a return to a new fan favorite segment — get your maps out for today’s look at Arthedain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 07, 202410 minSeason 8Ep. 343

Week 057 - Second Age Saturday: Whom I Prefer Above All Others

The Man of the West finishes his 24-part foray into the tragic tale of Aldarion and Erendis as Ancalimë marries, but not for love, and Erendis meets her sorrowful end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 21, 202411 minSeason 7Ep. 342

Week 057 - Third Age Thursday: The Long & Short Of It

We complete our look at the Song of Beren and Lúthien as recited by Aragorn by first looking at what in the world ann-thennath means. Plus a reminder that The Man of the West is not a poet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 202410 minSeason 7Ep. 340

Week 057 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Plethora of Place-names Perchance?

Join The Man of the West as he looks at a number of places named in Aragorn’s retelling of the Song of Beren and Lúthien. Bonus: we learn what Morgoth’s fortress has in common with the Halls of Mandos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 18, 20249 minSeason 7Ep. 339

Week 057 - Tolkien Tuesday: Equal Obstinacy

Once again, a title that could have something to do with The Man of the West, but does not. Today, we look at the importance of male friendships to Tolkien, and a quick nod to Edith’s well-deserved stubbornness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 17, 202411 minSeason 7Ep. 338

Week 057 - Middle-earth Map Monday: I Can Haz Palantir?

Join The Man of the West as he looks at the results of inequitable palantíri distribution amongst the kingdoms formerly known as Arnor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 16, 202411 minSeason 7Ep. 337

Week 056 - Second Age Saturday: The Root Of All Their Troubles

Aldarion’s sure he’s identified the cause of his “disastrous marriage to Erendis” and changes the law so that it won’t happen to his daughter, Ancalimë. But did he ask her? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 14, 20249 minSeason 7Ep. 336

Week 056 - Tolkien Tuesday: Blundering, Brusque, or Downright Rude

While these words have been used of The Man of the West from time to time, it’s C.S. Lewis who needs to take heed this time, as we look at his views on male friendship in Oxford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 10, 202410 minSeason 7Ep. 332

Week 056 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Filled With Evil Folk

Join The Man of the West for another Middle-earth Map Monday, as he takes a closer look at Arnor’s second capital, Fornost. Also, Círdan makes another appearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 09, 202410 minSeason 7Ep. 331

Week 055 - Second Age Saturday: Enjoy It Before They Ruin It

Erendis offers strong words for her daughter in this week’s Second Age Saturday, as The Man of the West continues his readings through Aldarion and Erendis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 07, 202410 minSeason 7Ep. 330

Week 055 - Fandom Friday: The Tea Is Always Right

The Man of the West continues his Fandom Friday chats with content creators who attended San Diego ComicCon in July, as Kaitlyn from Tea With Tolkien stops by to continue her support for Galadriel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 06, 202420 minSeason 7Ep. 329

Week 055 - Third Age Thursday: Mirrored in His Silver Shield

We can’t get enough of Gil-galad on Today’s Tolkien Times; in today’s episode, the Man of the West continues his look at the poetry of The Lord of the Rings with The Riddle of Strider and The Fall of Gil-galad taking center stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 05, 20248 minSeason 7Ep. 328

Week 055 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Revered King

Join The Man of the West as he looks at the names of — well, this is awkward — The Man of the West, in a Word-nerd Wednesday on the many names of Aragorn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 04, 20249 minSeason 7Ep. 327

Week 055 - Tolkien Tuesday: Holy Terror of Coteries

This week’s Tolkien Tuesday looks more closely at the kind of friends the Inklings were, along with a deep dive into C.S. Lewis’ view on the unofficial cliques that so often seem unavoidable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 03, 20249 minSeason 7Ep. 326

Week 055 - Middle-earth Map Monday: His Chief City

Join The Man of the West as he begins another week of the TTT with Middle-earth Map Monday and a look at the original capital city of the Kingdom of Arnor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 02, 20248 minSeason 7Ep. 325

Week 054 - Second Age Saturday: Too Late, or Too Early

A wizard may never be late, Frodo Baggins, but Aldarion apparently could be. Join The Man of the West for another reading in the Second Age tale of the mariner-king of Númenor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 31, 202410 minSeason 7Ep. 324

Week 054 - Fandom Friday: Always Optimistic

The Man of the West is joined by The Tolkien Professor himself, Dr. Corey Olsen, for another chat about The Rings of Power and what we can be looking forward to in the upcoming season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 30, 202433 minSeason 7Ep. 323

Week 054 - Third Age Thursday: Totally Irrational Non-Sequiturs

While this week’s title could describe most of The Man of the West’s ramblings, it’s actually a quote from Tom Shippey. Listen to find out more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 202410 minSeason 7Ep. 322

Week 054 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Unto No Maner Wight

If Chaucer is quoted in the title, you know the episode must be good. Join The Man of the West for some word-nerdery on not one, but two words in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28, 202410 minSeason 7Ep. 321
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