The old man is revealed to be an old friend: Gandalf the (Formerly) Grey, returned beyond hope from death in battle with the Balrog of Moria. Danger is all around, not least in Barliman's Bag where we pull a hardball question about the inevitably of...
Before we return to The Lord of the Rings, we welcome guest listeners to the common-room for our first Q&A episode of the season! We get a timely look ahead with questions about Ents and the Hobbits who love them. Also: Galadriel unfriended Fëanor...
The Fellowship put off their next move for a few days as they float down the Anduin, followed by a curiously Gollum-shaped log. Plus we talk Entwives and Elven bows...
Gandalf and Elrond come to terms with their own past mistakes while Aragorn reveals the lengths to which he’s gone to repair the faults of Isildur. We meet Radagast (in flashback), get word nerdy on a rather condescending name for Hobbits, and look...
The Council of Elrond continues with a brief history of Arnor and Gondor since Isildur’s time, and Boromir begins to learn the meaning of the riddle that brought him to Rivendell. He takes the revelation of Aragorn’s identity surprisingly well; but...
Alan and Shawn welcome a cozy group of listeners to the common-room for another round of live, unscripted questions about Tolkien, the podcast, and more! We return to the Ford of Bruinen to figure out exactly what happened, and even look back on the...
Strider is remarkably not disappointed that the Elf who’s overtaken them on the road is not his girlfriend. It’s Glorfindel of Rivendell. Plus, more questions about Elvish rebirth, a booth review on who attacked the Prancing Pony in the previous...
It’s our most Bombadilicious episode yet! Once again, Alan and Shawn open the common-room to listeners for live, unscripted questions that we answer on the spot as best we can. This time around we tackle several questions about Rings of Power (and...
Frodo reads Gandalf’s letter, more concerned than ever at the wizard’s absence and the delay caused by Barliman. But at least the letter confirms Strider’s identity, and Frodo is wise enough to choose to trust him. Also, we welcome Marquette...
In the first half of Book I, Chapter 5 of The Lord of the Rings, the Hobbits cross the Brandywine and come to Frodo’s new digs at Crickhollow, where a hot bath and all the comforts of home await them. Also in this episode: architectural musings...