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Wander Middle-earth with Past Episodes

March 26, 2025

206: Will This Nerd Love Lord of the Rings? | Special Guest Nerd Best Friends Podcast

Join us for a special crossover as we welcome the hosts of Nerd Best Friends ! Their podcast dives into all things nerdy—from Marvel and Star Wars to 80s cartoons and comic books—but they’ve never done an episode on The Lord ...
March 23, 2025

Q+A 002: Rings of Power and Invisibility | A Listener Question Lights the Beacons

Why does the One Ring make some wearers invisible but not others? Why could the Nazgûl still see Frodo when he put on the Ring at Weathertop? And why didn’t Sauron, Gandalf, or Galadriel vanish when wielding a Ring of Power? ...
March 19, 2025

205: Lore, Wraiths, and Blades | JRR Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Bk 1 Ch 11 Part 5

Dive into one of the most chilling moments in The Fellowship of the Ring : the attack on Weathertop. As Frodo and the hobbits face the Nazgûl, we explore the overwhelming power of fear, the courage of Aragorn, and the deep th...
March 16, 2025

Wander Farther: Eärendil, The Evening Star | Download the chapter guide at ringspodcast.com/attack

Eärendil the Mariner—hero, wanderer, and the ancestor of Elrond and Aragorn—holds a legendary place in Tolkien’s mythology. But how does his tale connect to The Lord of the Rings ? In this bonus mini-episode, we explore the h...
March 12, 2025

204: Overwhelmed on Weathertop | JRR Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Bk 1 Ch 11 Part 4

We continue our exploration into A Knife in the Dark from The Fellowship of the Ring . Unravel Tolkien’s masterful use of time, explore the growing sense of overwhelm the hobbits feel on Weathertop, and uncover Strider’s chil...
March 5, 2025

203: History and Surprises | Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Bk 1 - ch 11 - Part 3

As Strider leads the hobbits toward Weathertop , the journey becomes more than just miles traveled—it’s a slow descent into fear and uncertainty . The vastness of Middle-earth weighs heavily on the hobbits, and even Strider h...
Feb. 27, 2025

202: Hunted in the Wild | JRR Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring | Bk 1 Ch 11 Part 2

As Frodo and the Fellowship leave Bree, danger and destiny close in from all sides. In this episode of Lore of the Rings , we explore the chapter “ A Knife in the Dark ” from The Fellowship of the Ring , diving into Tolkien’s...
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 confr...
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 Bilb...
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 i...
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 Tolk...
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 Aragor...
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 w...
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 intrica...
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 in...
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, vis...
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 expl...
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. L...
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 s...
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 ...