P&C's Talking Tolkien Book Club: Recent Episodes
P&C's Talking Tolkien Book Club
Patrick and Clifford set out to bring you a Tolkien podcast for Middle Earth fans of ALL levels to enjoy!
Part 2 of our Final Farewell. Acknowledgments, regrets, a final power rankings, and last reflections. From the bottom of my & Clifford's hearts, thank you very much for taking the time to go on this journey with us. It'd been
Part 1 of our farewell is a long reminiscing reflection. It really could also serve as an extended trailer for this show. In fact feel free to send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
We come to the end of the road, literally to the Grey Havens & the Sea. Thank you to all who joined us for the whole journey. A two-part final wrap-up episodes will both follow come tomorrow. Please enjoy & send to a friend!
The hobbits arrive home to the Shire, but it is not at all how they left it. Things must be set right. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Highly recommended reading for yourself FIRST. Parts will feel familiar, but strangely packaged. Hopefully you will feel the enchantment & nostalgia. With this special, truly we enter the twilight. Please enjoy & send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
The entire chapter was a bold move on Tolkien's part, because little about it was wrapping up. We dive into why, and then tack on a lengthy game that helps bring the show full circle. Please enjoy and send to a friend, thank you for listening!
A bagillion goodbyes this chapter...or at least two dozen to cover. We dive into it, and though in a way all of them are sad, most are ultimately happy, fitting, and well done. Themes and games are reprised. And parting words filled with lasting wisdom abound. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
What was originally supposed to accompany chapter 5 about a possible deleted scene in Minas Tirith has become its own normal length episode. We cast our minds all the way back to the choice of Bilbo, and tell almost all about the wizards. Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
The final push begins! And we finally fulfill the book's title is in addition to a myriad of other tangents including courtship drama and the transition from legend to history. Please enjoy and share with a friend! Thank you for listening!
It's taken a lot of work to get here, but it is finally time to discuss in full the Chief Hero of Lord of the Rings, and possibly the greatest Eucatastrophe moment of the trilogy. Please enjoy, thank you for listening! Happy Easter! He is Risen!
Fittingly, on 4/15/22 (Good Friday of 2022) finally Frodo and Sam reach the slopes of Mt Doom to complete the quest. But can they complete it? We go over beautiful moments to treasure, love, and draw wisdom from. And major twists in the plot that need explanation are analyzed. Please enjoy, and Thank You THANK YOU for listening and coming so far with us.
A penultimate episode of sorts. Lots of action and drama, and also deep dives like Tolkien playing with the Priest, Prophet, and King Types. Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
Our two operatives behind enemy lines finally enter the dreaded Mordor, but not together. How does Sam handle himself with the Ring, and what does he do about Frodo's dilemma? Find on in this episode, as the real final push to the finish begins. Let us say second semester of senior year. Please enjoy and thank you for listening everyone!
Please enjoy this extra special episode to close out Book V. Warning: it is extremely heavy on the allegory Tolkien supposedly disliked. Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
Glorious marches and impending doom against impossible odds. Parleys and talks with dreadful characters, but surely the Blackland cannot be bargained with. An epic ending to Book V of LOTR, what is one of the most epic books in the history of literature. Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
We've uncovered a lot about the raggedy Ranger we met all the way back in Bree....but there is STILL enough backstory to cover in its own special episode. Thus lettuce dive into our hopeful future king. Please enjoy and thank you for listening.
The blood of the Men of Dol Amroth, Aragorn's leadership, Chess analogies, and a reprisal of the Council of Elrond. Look forward to this and more in this episode. Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
Another rich....and therefore long....episode about possibly the most underrated chapter of the series. Please enjoy discussions of leechcraft, herblore, and miraculous healings. Please enjoy and Thank you for listening!
We discuss all things Denethor who seems to have been reading an emo and angsty book of the Bible. We also discuss chapter order, Persian carpets, and the liberal arts. Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
One of our most over-the-top episodes yet. It's long. It's packed. The tangents stray far from the chapter, but it's also chuck full of things that we deem cannot go unmentioned. We hope you enjoy and thank you for listening!
A pinnacle chapter of the book, with an often overlooked but still beloved beginning. We hope everyone enjoys this one as much as we did recording it. We hope your blood gets pumping! And thank you for listening!
Super long one tonight. Mostly because Tolkien wrote a really long and action packed chapter.
Let no man or hobbit be left behind. Yet another army sets out to join in the greatest battle of the age! Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
Well, this was high on the list of favorite chapters, and it was really big. A lot of ground is covered metaphorically and cartographically. Please enjoy and thank you for listening!
A fun tangent of the episode turned into its own special. And honestly, I think it turned into one of our best episodes ever. Hope you enjoy, thank you for listening!
It's the beginning of the end: we talk architecture, mountain gradients, exiled kings, Jacobites, gathering clouds, and much more. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening.
The last special before we begin Return of the King. We hope you enjoy finding out about the origins of the critical alliance between Gondor and Rohan. We discuss Eorl, Cirion, and others in this episode. Please send to a friend, and thank you for listening!
The second part of our history of the Exiled Numenorean kingdoms. We focus on illustrious Gondor. We cover a lot of ground. We must set a show record for historical references in one episode.
The first of the Exiled Realms' history is discussed tonight. It was a fun one. In Appendix A lays quite a bit of the lore that make LOTR so authentic, so we really enjoyed going over and discussing this one. Hope you enjoy, and please send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
We figured it had to be addressed in full. One of the most important backstories to all of Lord of the Rings is described and analyzed in full this episode. Thank you for listening and please send to a friend. Hope you enjoy!
Most stories have a set up, a problem or challenge, and then a redeeming end. Spoiler alert! This one does not follow suit. We discuss the tragic end of Numenor here.
We reviewed the creation and build up of Numenor, now let us get into the meat and the tension. All good stories have a good conflict, we get into it here.
Alright, alright, just in time for all the hype about the Amazon show being one year away. Check out the first of our Part 3 special on Numenor, which will be an essential feature of the new show to come. And is The link (along with Sauron and the Noldor still in Middle Earth) from the Silmarillion to the Lord of the Rings, from the Elder Days to the Third Age.
Alright, laid-back for one tonight. Check out our oft-forgotten Druedain. But if you hear the these quirky tales, you'll never forget them again.
Alright, Alright this is a big one. We get in the weeds of the metaphysics of Elves and Men. Enjoy our explanation of this cult classic writing of Tolkien.
It was the one topic of Book 4 left unturned. We go back and talk about Faramir's epic broad strokes sweeping history of Men speech in the Window to the West chapter. From this 3 page monologue we build out an entire mini season of special episodes.
Please enjoy this Easter Special centered around the Tolkien and Lewis conversation about True Myth that held CS Lewis to convert to Christianity.
Patrick, Clifford, and Morgan go through 64 Middle Earth Characters and rank which is the most creative and well-crafted from Tolkien's whole legendarium. Happy end of March! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
To wrap up the Two Towers we ask what were the Two Towers, and we each run through what were our top five favorite chapters.
And with this episode we close out Two Towers besides the ultimate chapter Power Rankings still to come. We get into Sam and his Choices quite a bit. And we talk about the orcs quite a bit as well after one certain line really caught my eye. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Gollum leads the hobbits into the Tunnel...Shelob's Lair. It is the beginning of a the great finale at the end of the second volume of the Lord of the Rings. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Frodo and Sam make it past Minas Morgul, up the famous stairs, and have possibly the most memorable conversation in the whole series. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Sorry for skipping a week, Patrick had Corona. Hobbits are back in this ultimate transition chapter. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The hobbits ole' traveling companion shows up once again and meets Faramir. It seemed a good opportunity to contrast character who seem to have total resistance to the Ring (Faramir) and those completely obsessed by it (Gollum). Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
We learn all about this Faramir character -- he seems like a really good guy and then proves he's a really good guy. We talk about watercolor paintings, saying grace, waterfalls, and more. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening.
Dear Friends,
The hobbits and Gollum come to the Garden of Gondor, Ithilien, and it is quite a place. It is one of THOSE places everyone remembers, and there is one of THOSE scenes that is so iconic. Check it out in this episode. Please send to a friend and enjoy! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Hobbits get to the Black Gate and find it impassable. Only then does Gollum tell them there is another way into Mordor. Why was this not mentioned before? In fairness, because the hobbits never asked. Check out what ensues for the rest of this episode. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Frodo, Sam, and Gollum cross the Dead Marshes. It is an unbelievably depressing process.....HEAR ALL ABOUT IT HERE! Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
We're back, and so are Frodo and Sam....and they are not alone. Check out everything that happens in this chapter from meeting Gollum to do hardcore research and calculations about the length of an ell. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thanks for listening everyone!
Merry Christmas Dear Friends!
We have produced for you a Special episode that is fit for Christmas if not actually about it....you'll see when you listen to it. We lay the groundwork to talk about the famous conversation between Tolkien and CS Lewis that brought Lewis back to the Christian Church. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Check out our record-longest episode as we go over the whole life of Feanor, probably the most famous elf of all time. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Pippin can't resist. He looks in the Palantir. Find out what happens and the consequences of his actions. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Gandalf and Theoden and their crews go up to speak with Saruman, even in victory he is dangerous. Find out the results of the meeting in this episode. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Friends,
Merry and Pippin recall all the action that took place at Isengard while the others were sieged in Helm's Deep, it was a fun chapter and we additionally talk about the tower of Orthanc itself. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
A great victory has been won at Helm's Deep, but Gandalf wants to be on the move immediately. Unexpectedly the victors go on a road trip to Isengard and see strange things. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
We cover the quick lead up and the battle of Helm's Deep itself. Of course we also make time to discuss Helm Hammerhand himself as well. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
In order to better understand the Riders of Rohan we decided to make a special episode about Beowulf. We look at Tolkien's influential essay on the book, relate parts of the story to LOTR, and have other fun with it. It is possibly my favorite episode we've done so far. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Gandalf and friends reach Edoras to mobilize Rohan for the present threats, but someone has a certain type of tongue and he must be dealt with. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Friends,
He's back! Please enjoy the episode and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Merry and Pippin befriend one of Tolkien's most memorable and iconic characters. Please enjoy and send this episode to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Our Hobbits are in trouble, captured by Orcs. We talk about their capture and escape in this episode. Thank you for listening and please enjoy! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Our Three Hunters run across the fields of Rohan, very reminiscent of one of the greatest movie scenes in history. Please enjoy this episode as we meet another new and unique people in Middle Earth, and also do our first movie review of the podcast. Thank you for listening and please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
We have returned! Alas the first chapter back is a sad one! We talk about the departure of Boromir and where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli must go next. Check it all out here! Please send to a friend and enjoy! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
We are here with a special episode of a deep dive into philology. We take a very full look at what philology is, how the study evolved to the present day, and how did Tolkien use it to influence is Middle Earth work. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
To finish our coverage of the Fellowship of the Ring, here is the last conversation we had at the end of the Breaking of the Fellowship chapter where we ranked our top 5 chapters of the book. Let us know what you think!
Dear Friends,
The Fellowship comes to an end. Conflicts arise between members causing a couple to run off on their own. We'll cover all of it in this chapter. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
We interview Scott Smith the author of "The Lord of the Rings and the Eucharist." It was a super fun interview because we hop around all of Tolkien's mythology to discover some wild theological connections covering some Silmarillion stories that otherwise would not have fit anywhere else. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Fellowship has a series of river adventures as the choice finally looms of which way they must set out for Mordor. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Fellowship leaves Lothlorien and it is a sad parting. But they are not sent on their way without many gifts to help them on their incredible journey! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
One of the most ancient characters in Lord of the Rings gets her own special with an interlude about the creation of the Rings of Power. We got through everything we know about Galadriel, she's too big a character to not do a deep dive on! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Fellowship arrive and meet the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. It is an extremely enchanting place. Prophesies and temptations abound, and it's clearly spelled out that the elves have come to the final scenes of their "Last Act." Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Fellowship moves on despite their loss. They come to another strange land: the forest of Lothlorien. A great elf people lives here, and the deeper into the forest the Company enters, the most wonderful the forest becomes. Enjoy and thank you for listening! Please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
We discuss the epic chapter of the escape from Moria. It is exciting and suspenseful, and in the end we say goodbye to a beloved character. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Fellowship fights off wargs, figures their way into Moria, get most of the way across, and find Balin's Tomb. All that is set up as we talk about the most minor character of the entire mythology: Queen Beruthiel and her cats. Tune in to find out more. Enjoy and thanks for listening! Please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
The Fellowship is assembled and sets out. Check out the first stage of their journey and see how they pick their route and handle their first set of team icebreakers! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The history is laid out and now it is time for decisions! We talk about what options these heroes can choose to do with the Ring. Finally, the Ring-bearer is chosen and yet he also freely volunteers. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The first part of the Council of Elrond chapter. We examine the whole history of the Ring: everything Elrond has to tell from the beginning about Sauron and Isildur and the creation of Rings of Power, to happenings in Mirkwood and the Lonely Mountain, to what Gandalf has been up to this whole time. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Thanks to Bilbo's 3 page song about Earendil in the last chapter we thought this was a good time to give a good look at his life. Not just how Earendil fits into the Silmarillion but in Tolkien's whole mythical world. Check it out here! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The story continues with a celebration and feast. It feels like Christmas day with all our friends in one place! Frodo catches up with Gandalf, Gloin the dwarf, and one very old special friend...in one of the coolest rooms of all time! Please enjoy and share with a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
As we break in between the two books of the Fellowship, please enjoy our episode covering the Creation story, the Music of the Ainur. This is our nod to Fantasia. Additionally we discuss the Gifts of Iluvatar to Elves and Men. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
We wrap up the most epic love story of all time! Hear about Beren and Luthien's stealing of the Silmaril, and the Hunt for the Great Wolf, and the ultimate conclusion with cosmic implications. Thank you for listening! Please enjoy and send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
We reach the end of Book 1! The group recovers from the attack on Weathertop and make their way to the Ford where the final attack takes place. Many unseen and unexpected friends must help them. Check it all out on this episode! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
As promised in the Knife in the Dark chapter, here it is. Strider begins to tell the hobbits of the story of Beren and Luthien. We now take this opportunity to talk about it ourselves. Part 2 should hopefully be out soon. Thank you for listening and please send to a friend! Enjoy!
Dear Friends,
The Hobbits leave with Strider to arrive at Weathertop. They have a rough journey, climb hills, tell tales of great history, and finally at the end the Black Riders attack! Take an in depth look at all of it with Patrick and Clifford. Thank you for listening and please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
The Hobbits have to discern whether to trust this shaggy looking Strider fellow. Join Patrick and Clifford as they debate about the choice as well. Enjoy and thank you for listening. Please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
The hobbits reach Bree and have a party at the Inn. Strange guests are about and the hobbits get in trouble, find out more in this episode. Enjoy and please send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Hobbits set out from Bombadil's house only to get themselves caught in another predicament and need rescuing once again. Patrick and Clifford will talk about it all on this episode. Enjoy and please send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The hobbits go on a retreat and spend a lazy day speaking with Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry. We muse on their discussion and who or what Tom Bombadil could be. Enjoy and please send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
A new phase of the books have begun. The hobbits have their first adventure outside of the Shire and they meet the most unique character in the book! Patrick and Clifford divide into the origins and inspirations of the Old Forest, check it out. Enjoy and please send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Happy Thanksgiving! Chap 5 of FOTR is up....Frodo will have lots of friends to be thankful for. Check out this week's episode to find out more! Thank you for listening and please send to a friend! Enjoy!
Dear Friends,
We hit a myriad of topics: Sam, tramping across the Shire, Farmer Maggot, distributism, and GK Chesterton. Enjoy and please send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The adventure proper begins. Bag End is sold. Ground is covered. Scary Black Riders monitor the road. And a host of Elves treat our heroes to a heavenly banquet. We hope you will enjoy as much as we did! Thank you for listening and please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
Patrick and Clifford dive into what was the most crucial chapter of the series in Tolkien's eyes. For this reason this episode is very long: the plot is laid out and discussed as well as major themes that will fill the rest of the book. Additionally we ramble about Callings and draw wisdom from the most Epic movie in the history of cinema. Enjoy and please share with a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The story proper is underway! Patrick and Clifford dive into the first chapter of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. We talk about hobbits, Bilbo's party and departure, Frodo, early drafts, and most importantly Twelve. Mile. Cousins. Hope you enjoy! Thank you for listening and please send to a friend!
England! The answer is England dear Friends. Join Patrick and Clifford as they break down the Lord of the Rings Prologue and highlight all of Tolkien's sources of creation, additionally they explore who is the author of LOTR within the story itself. Thanks for listening and please share with a friend!
Dear Friends,
Patrick and Clifford are back with a full introduction to the Lord of the Rings series as they discuss the measly four page Foreword. Sure you could have read it yourself in a quarter of the time--we encourage you to--but why not also go beyond and really set the stage for the most epic trilogy of all time. Thank you for listening and please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
We will soon be releasing our LOTR series, but just ahead of that here is a recording of Patrick and Clifford hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. In our "Foreword" episode that will be coming out soon Patrick and Clifford had no time to introduce themselves. This is an episode to hear about some other interests that they have outside of LOTR. We totally understand if you pass on this one...it's quite a ramble.
Dear Friends,
After completing a deep dive into Tolkien's oldest writings about Middle Earth with the Fall of Gondolin. Patrick and Clifford set out to understand what Tolkien was hoping to achieve when he first began creating Middle Earth in 1917 by exploring the first chapter of the Book of Lost Tales. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thanks for listening!
Dear Friends,
All good things must come to an end. We discuss the heroism that took place during the Fall of Gondolin, reflect on Tolkien's recent battlefield memories and any mythical stories that would have been a good reference for him. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thanks for listening!
Dear Friends,
The story of Gondolin progresses towards its end as Ulmo's long awaited messenger is sent to Gondolin. It was quite a tale to be told of Tuor's Coming to Gondolin, many adventures were had! We will be drawing from the Silmarillion and the first chapter of Unfinished Tales. Thank you for joining us and please enjoy and send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
Clifford continues to be away on his trip, but here is the first of a few episodes we recorded before he left. This special three part series will cover the rise and fall of the First Age (Silmarillion) city of Gondolin. In this episode we talk of its origin and some essential characters and events from its history. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Clifford is travelling around the world only slightly faster than Phileas Fogg so Morgan Rogers (our resident artist) helped Patrick review the new Tolkien movie. Patrick and Morgan discuss what they liked, what the movie got wrong, and possible missed opportunities. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening.
Dear Friends,
As Patrick and Clifford gear up for LOTR, here is an episode of some Hobbit subjects we didn't have time for in the regular episodes that really help set the stage for LOTR. Please enjoy and share with a friend! Thanks for listening!
Dear Friends,
We cometh to the end. Bilbo and Gandalf pass through Rivendell, Clifford and Patrick discuss many heroes steps and also discuss the ending conversation between Bilbo, Gandalf, and Balin. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening! Get pumped for LOTR!!!
Dear Friends,
The battle is over. In this penultimate episode of the Hobbit, Patrick and Clifford talk about the aftermath of the battle, the many goodbyes that take place, and another step on the Hero's Journey. Please enjoy and share with a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The Battle of Five Armies commences! Patrick and Clifford discuss the lead up to it and the battle itself as well as hitting on one of Tolkien's big literary concepts: Eucatastrophe. Please and enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Bilbo is making moves and shaking up the game. We discuss the dwarves' plans, Bilbo's actions and his meeting, Gandalf, and some Hero steps that ended up sounding very musical. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
The story is not over, because Thorin is dragging out the conflict by becoming a dragon himself. Check out this episode where we talk about birds, Thorin's lunacy, and the meeting of ancient warriors. Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
He has been pierced by the Black Arrow! Find out who "he" is in this episode! We talk all about the major death scene: the killer, was it anti-climatic, an HJ step, and where the story goes from here. Please enjoy and send to a friend. Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Patrick and Clifford's Epic is out! We're talking dragons! From the possibility of a biological/psychological fear of them being hardwired into our human nature to many examples of dragons across many cultures. Dragons in the Bible. Dragons of the Far East in China and India. The famous story of St. George and the dragon. The Norse/Anglo-Saxon dragon fighters of Thor, Beowulf, and Sigurd. And finally of course we discuss Tolkien's own dragons: Smaug and the Father of Dragons Glaurung. Join us for all or part, thank you for listening! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you!
Dear Friends,
In this chapter, the dwarves continue to be cowards so Bilbo takes the lead. Gold is found, but the dragon is missing and the company retreats to a watchtower outside of the mountain. Bilbo makes an important discovery: the Arkenstone, and we discuss if this is possibly a Silmaril?? Please enjoy, send to a friend, and thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
A monumental chapter is reached and Patrick and Clifford have a monumental recording...in the same room together! Anyways Bilbo lives up to his burglar name, confronts Smaug, and notches up two more steps on the HJ. Please enjoy, share with a friend, and leave a review now that you know how! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Bilbo and the dwarves reach the doorstep. Patrick and Clifford discuss their journey through the desolation of the dragon, finding the doorstep, and opening the door. A heavy reexamination of Durin's Day and the moon takes place. Thank you for listening! Enjoy! And please send to a friend!
Dear Friends,
Another episode, the gang makes it to Laketown! Topics of discussion include: Middle Earth geography, Laketown: its inhabitants & real life places like it, prophecies of sleeping kings, and finally another step on the HJ. Please enjoy & send to a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
We discuss Bilbo's successful barrel escape, then do a deep dive into what sources influenced Tolkien's creation of HIS elves, and we finish off the episode with the origins of the ancient feud between elves and dwarves. Please enjoy and share with a friend! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Patrick and Clifford discuss Mirkwood and possibly close real equivalents, a step and a missed step on the HJ, these spiders, a little bit of elves, and at the end: a snippet of when we are reunited in person! Please enjoy and send to a friend! Thank you!
Dear Friends,
In this episode Patrick and Clifford talk about the strange host of Beorn: Tolkien's origins for him and his changing personality. They also discuss the departure of Gandalf and what lies ahead on the adventure: Mirkwood. Please enjoy and share with a friend! Merry Christmas!
Thank you to all who produced the resources utilized.
Dear Friends,
As Bilbo escapes from the mountains, Patrick and Clifford discuss East of the Misty Mountains geography, Bilbo's reunion with the group and his new status among them, wargs and their origins, and finally the eagles including the story of their first appearance in Middle Earth! Please enjoy and share with friends! Thank you!
Dear Friends,
In this episode Patrick and Clifford talk about Gollum, foul play in the riddle game, riddle game inspirations, creating luck, this Ring, and an epic step on the HJ. Also we are joined by a special guest narrator throughout. Thank you to the internet for having this recording, based on the letters of J.R.R. Tolkien it must have originally come from George Sayer! Please enjoy and share with a friend!
Dear Friends,
In this chapter Clifford and Patrick discuss goblins, goblins of today, the history of the dwarves and goblins' mutual hatred, and another step on the HJ (Step 4: Crossing the Threshold). Please enjoy and share with a friend!
Thanks!
Dear Friends,
In this episode Patrick and Clifford discuss Rivendell, elves, luck and the quest, and begin to dive into the Silmarillion paying particular attention to the story of Gondolin. Enjoy and please send it to a friend!
Thanks for listening!
The adventure gets underway as the expedition sets out and the first adversaries are encountered! Topics of discussion include: the Narrator, fairy tale inspiration, this company of dwarves and their inspirations, the famous trolls scene, and steps 2 & 3 of HJ: Refusal of the Call and Supernatural Aid.
Enjoy! Send us your thoughts and reviews! Thank you for listening!
Dear Friends,
Patrick and Clifford talk about the first chapter of the Hobbit. After a brief synopsis of the chapter, topics of conversation include the famous first line of the book and what hobbits are, the time period of hobbit lands, our main character Bilbo, the legendary song, Smaug, Bilbo's burglar invitation, and the first step in the Hero's Journey. Please enjoy and send us your thoughts to talkingtolkienpodcast@gmail.com.
Dear Friends,
Here is an Introductory Episode to introduce ourselves and give a format for the show, we also give a Timeline of J.R.R. Tolkien's life.
Enjoy! And please share!