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Wander Middle-earth with Past Episodes

Feb. 20, 2025

201: Five Hobbits, Two Attacks, One Night of Terror | JRR Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Book 1 Chap. 11 Part 1

Black Riders attack both Crickhollow and the Prancing Pony, forcing Frodo and his companions to flee into the wild under Strider’s guidance. As danger closes in, Fatty Bolger sounds the alarm in Buckland, and a chilling conf…
Feb. 13, 2025

200: Favorite Passages from Fellow Wanderers

Twelve Tolkien fans, creators, and scholars share their favorite passages from The Hobbit , The Lord of the Rings , and beyond, reflecting on the words that shaped their love for Middle-earth. Featuring iconic lines from Bil…
Feb. 6, 2025

199: Why do you love Lord of the Rings? | Revisiting JRR Tolkien's "On Fairy Stories" with the Booked All Night Podcast

Why do you love Lord of the Rings so much? As a fan of Tolkien, you’ve probably heard that question more than once. I know I have! In fact, after three years and nearly 200 episodes, I think it’s hard for me to pin down just…
Jan. 30, 2025

198: New to The Silmarillion? Advice from a First-time Reader

Dive into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion with Kenzie from kenziescozybooksta . In this episode, Kenzi shares her first-time experience reading Tolkien’s epic masterpiece, discussing what inspired her to pick …
Jan. 23, 2025

197: Tolkien & Tabletop Role Playing Games | Clint Scheirer from Claim to Game

You may be familiar with TTRPGs—tabletop role playing games—like Dungeons and Dragons. But did you know that there's an officially-licensed Lord of the Rings TTRPG? Join me and Clint, host of Claim to Game, as we discuss Tol…
Jan. 16, 2025

196: From Rascal to King | Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Book 1 Chap 10 Part 3

In this final deep dive into the chapter " Strider " from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring , we explore how Tolkien transformed a mysterious character into the iconic hero, Aragorn . Discover the subtle hints of Arago…
Jan. 13, 2025

Wander Farther: The Constellation of the Valacirca | Download the "Strider" chapter guide at ringspodcast.com/strider

In this mini Lore of the Rings episode, we explore the hidden connections between our world and Middle-earth through a starry detail in the chapter "Strider" from *The Fellowship of the Ring*. Discover how the constellation …
Jan. 9, 2025

195: All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter | Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Book 1, chap. 10, Part 2

In this episode of Lore of the Rings , Aaron dives into the chapter " Strider " from JRR Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring , examining Frodo's decision-making process about accepting Strider as a guide. Uncover the intric…
Jan. 2, 2025

194: Strider Knows Too Many Dark Things | Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Book 1, chap. 10, Part 1

What makes Strider one of Tolkien’s most compelling characters? In this episode, we examine the "Strider" chapter from JRR Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring to uncover hidden layers of Aragorn’s wisdom, Frodo’s linguistic…
Dec. 26, 2024

193: A Year in the Life of a Tolkien Podcaster

Where we wandered in 2024, and a sneak peek on where we're headed in 2025. Thank you for listening to the Lore of the Rings podcast and wandering Middle-earth with me. Links mentioned in this episode: 138 : Fellowship of the…
Dec. 23, 2024

Q+A 001: Are the Eagles in War of the Rohirrim accurate to Tolkien's lore?

Why were the Great Eagles in War of the Rohirrim ? Were these majestic creatures true to Tolkien’s lore, or was their presence an adaptation choice? In this episode, I answer listener Tiffany’s intriguing question and dive i…
Dec. 19, 2024

192: Merry Christmas, Middle-earth: JRR Tolkien’s Thoughts on the Holiday

If you love J.R.R. Tolkien , the Christmas season, or both, this episode is for you! Tolkien, a devout Catholic and master storyteller, wrote beautifully about Christmas in his personal letters —sharing memories, reflections…
Dec. 16, 2024

191: Should You Watch War of the Rohirrim? A Spoiler-Free Reaction

Thinking about seeing The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim in theaters but not sure if it’s worth it? This episode is perfect for newcomers and casual fans alike! I break down the film’s story, characters, dialogue, vi…
Dec. 12, 2024

190: Why and How The Lord of the Rings is a "Religious and Catholic Work"

JRR Tolkien described The Lord of the Rings as a " fundamentally religious and Catholic work ." When this statement isn't outright ignored, it's wildly misunderstood. John Carswell of the Tolkien Road podcast joins me to exp…
Dec. 9, 2024

189: You Are The Wind | Inspired by "The Rider" from War of the Rohirrim

"The Rider" from the new War of the Rohirrim movie touches my heart, and I know you'll find some courage, hope, and inspiration as we explore these beautiful words and a few passages about Rohan that may have inspired them. …
Dec. 5, 2024

188: The War of the Rohirrim: Watch it or Skip it? | Raw Reactions to the Extended Sneak Peak

My raw reactions to the recently released 8-minute sneak peek of The War of the Rohirrim , the highly anticipated animated film set in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Join me as I dive into the epic visuals, the …
Nov. 28, 2024

187: Happy Hantalë: Thanksgiving in Middle-earth | Thoughts on Thanksgiving from JRR Tolkien

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Tolkien’s timeless wisdom on gratitude, exploring the theme through the eyes of Bilbo Baggins , Faramir of Gondor, and the ancient practices of Númenor . Discover how Bilbo expressed thanks during…
Nov. 25, 2024

Wander Farther into "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony" | Tolkien's Fellowhip of the Ring | Book 1 | Chapter 9

Download your free guide to this chapter at ringspodcast.com/pony
Nov. 14, 2024

185: Frodo Meets Strider | Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring | Book 1 Chapter 9 Part 2

In a quiet, shadowed corner of the Prancing Pony , the destiny of Middle-earth takes a turn with the arrival of a mysterious figure—a ranger known only as Strider . Few recognize him, and fewer still know his true purpose. A…
Nov. 7, 2024

184: Bree: Crossroads of Middle-earth | JRR Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring | Chapter 9 Part 1

Journey to Bree , the legendary village at the crossroads of Middle-earth. As Frodo and his friends step into the warm glow of the Prancing Pony , they’re met with a gathering of mysterious strangers, ancient secrets, and ec…
Oct. 31, 2024

183: Real-Life Ring Quest: Friendship, Adventure, and the Teton Trail | A hike inspired by Lord of the Rings

What happens when two friends decide to bring the world of J.R.R. Tolkien to life on the Teton Crest Trail? In this special episode of Lore of the Rings , host Aaron takes you on an epic journey with modern adventurers Andre…
Oct. 24, 2024

182: "If You Don’t Like It, Don’t Watch It" | How Rings of Power Failed

In this episode, I dive deep into the ongoing debate surrounding Rings of Power and respond to the popular sentiment: "If you don’t like it, don’t watch it." As a long-time fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, I explain why walkin…
Oct. 17, 2024

181: How to "Read the Book" After Watching Amazon's Rings of Power Season 2 | Recommended reads for the Second Age of Middle-earth

Watched Rings of Power Season 2 and want to go back to "read the book"? Well, it's not so simple! In this episode I outline 7 different sources for you to read the tale of the Second Age, from the quickest reads in the appen…