Dr. Cyril Jenkins, Richard and Fr. Andrew get together to look at three passages from The Nature of Middle-earth: “Beauty and Goodness,” “Mind Pictures / Knowledge and Memory,” and “Manwë’s Ban.” But first they discuss two listener comments -- on how Tolkien’s works inform one’s Christian faith and whether Tolkien risks being “canonized,” thus stifling further mythopoeic creativity.

Richard is joined by Fr Andrew and legendary Tolkien scholar Carl Hostetter for Part 1 of their discussion of Carl’s (and JRR Tolkien’s!) new book, The Nature of Middle-earth. If you’ve ever wondered about the question of “canon” in Tolkien’s legendarium, how old Elves are when they marry, or what an E.L.F. is anyway, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Fresh from keynoting DoxaMoot 2021, Richard joins Fr. Andrew in his Emmaus studio to debrief the moot experience. They also discuss a grab bag of topics suggested by the mooters, including Old English and its relationship to Orthodox Christianity and Tolkien, what it means to see things through Morgoth’s eyes, Gandalf’s last words to the hobbits before the Scouring of the Shire, what Richard thinks of the 2021 “Green Knight” film, and whatever else comes to mind in this freewheeling chat.

Fresh from keynoting DoxaMoot 2021, Richard joins Fr. Andrew in his Emmaus studio to debrief the moot experience. They also discuss a grab bag of topics suggested by the mooters, including Old English and its relationship to Orthodox Christianity and Tolkien, what it means to see things through Morgoth’s eyes, Gandalf’s last words to the hobbits before the Scouring of the Shire, what Richard thinks of the 2021 “Green Knight” film, and whatever else comes to mind in this freewheeling chat.

Richard is rejoined by Tom Hillman as they discuss the qualities you need to get into the high-pressure, fast-paced, and unbelievably profitable world of Tolkien scholarship! They also finish their discussion of “Of the Flight of the Noldor” and a new epithet for Ulmo is coined.

Richard is rejoined by Tom Hillman as they discuss the qualities you need to get into the high-pressure, fast-paced, and unbelievably profitable world of Tolkien scholarship! They also finish their discussion of “Of the Flight of the Noldor” and a new epithet for Ulmo is coined.

Tolkien scholar Dr. Lisa Coutras returns to the podcast to continue the discussion of Túrin Turambar, focusing on her two Túrin chapters in Tolkien’s Theology of Beauty. They start with a disappointed note from a listener and ask: Is Túrin a hero? What exactly is an Elf-Friend? And what version of the Túrin story does Elrond know?

Tolkien scholar Dr. Lisa Coutras returns to the podcast to continue the discussion of Túrin Turambar, focusing on her two Túrin chapters in Tolkien’s Theology of Beauty. They start with a disappointed note from a listener and ask: Is Túrin a hero? What exactly is an Elf-Friend? And what version of the Túrin story does Elrond know?

Richard is joined by insightful Tolkien scholar, book seller, and long-time friend Tom Hillman. They talk about pity, peril, the Flight of the Noldor, and the Doom of Mandos.

Fr. Andrew and Richard team up to talk the Master of Doom himself, Túrin Turambar. They take a long look into his many names, wrestle with the question of fate, doom, and free will, and ask this burning question: What is Túrin’s spiritual gift? Fr. Andrew wraps up by putting Richard in the hot seat and takes those hobbits to Isengard.