Exploring Tolkien

By TheOneRing.com

The bi-weekly podcast for serious Tolkien fans. Hosts Jonathan Watson and Michael Grumbine of TheOneRing.com (the internet’s longest Tolkien community since 1999) read through The Hobbit, The Lord of ... more

4.6

3636 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Exploring Tolkien:

How many episodes does Exploring Tolkien have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.

Exploring Tolkien episodes:

August 05, 2026168. Orcs Writing Poetry and Galadriel’s Love Triangle – The Rings of Power News
Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives!
Is The Rings of Power Season 3 course-correcting—or just running out the clock? In this episode, we wade through two weeks of Comic-Con news and leaks, catching all the ways Amazon’s show is retooling, rewriting, and ruining Tolkien’s world. From the much-maligned Harfoots’ quiet removal to a new class of “Nazgnagol” proto-wraiths and the baffling “Balrog teaches Sauron” rumor, we break down what’s actually changing (and what’s still totally bonkers).
We also look at:
The accelerated release schedule and what it means for viewers (and podcasters)
The “dismal retreat” – showrunners’ subtle admissions about failed seasons
The orc who writes poetry and the continued humanizing of evil that breaks Tolkien’s world
Galadriel’s love triangle with Sauron and Celeborn—officially confirmed. Good lord.
How the focus on spectacle and “member berries” misses Tolkien’s core themes
In our extended episode (available for members at https://theonering.com/members), we dig into:
Why blurring good and evil undermines Tolkien’s moral universe
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month) or download the app!
🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
57min
July 21, 2026167. Pride Comes Before the Thrall : Children of Húrin #5
Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives!
Is Morwen heroic, tragic, or just stubborn to a fault? We’re on to chapter 4 of The Children of Húrin, exploring how pride, fate, and Morgoths curses shape the next generation after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. We unpack why Morwen refuses help, howt fate and free work in tandem, and how Túrin’s story is already marked by sorrow and legacy.
We also discuss:
Whether Morwen’s choices are shaped by pride or the curse of Morgoth—or both
Why Tolkien spends so much time on the theme of charity and nobility in hard times
The meaning of the Helm of Hador and why Thingol reveres it
Sador’s role as a substitute father and teacher for Túrin when Morwen won’t speak
In our extended episode (available for members who’ve downloaded the Exploring Tolkien app and at https://theonering.com/members), we get into:
Andy Serkis’s defense of The Hunt for Gollum’s casting and the use of AI on set
First glimpses of the new Gandalf in The Rings of Power—and what we make of it
How modern adaptations handle mythology, diversity, and audience immersion
Tolkienian pride—from Morwen to modern filmmakers
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).
🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
53min
July 07, 2026166. Is Evil Really in Control? : Children of Húrin #4
Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives!
Is evil REALLY in control? Tolkien pursues this in this chapter–for the first and only time Morgoth reveals himself in a long discussion… and the results are….? We dissect this showdown on a hill of bones and discover why it is unlike anything else in Tolkien’s works, what it reveals about free will, evil, and despair, and how Húrin’s stubborn defiance sets the stage for all the tragedy to follow.
We also cover:
Brandon Sanderson’s “five ingredients” for epic fantasy
The real meaning behind Morgoth’s boasts about fate and power
Where Tolkien slips myth, theology, and “eucatastrophe” right into the dialogue
Free will or predestination… is there an answer here?
In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:
Did Tolkien “ruin” fantasy by setting too high a bar? Why so much modern fantasy struggles in his shadow
How much control did Morgoth really have over Húrin (and Turin)?
More listener questions: the flame from Fingon’s helm, the Doom of Mandos, and the limits of fantasy as a genre
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).
Image Credit: The Words of Húrin and Morgoth by Alan Lee
🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
51min
June 25, 2026165. An Interview with Bernard Hill (Théoden)
Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives!
This is my favorite interview from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions for The Return of the King! Bernard Hill was such a real, genuine, and engaged personality. He had great stories from the set, from time spent with James Cameron, and how much he found joy in his home and horses. And he really like the iPod I used to record this interview! 😂
He also discusses:
How he helped shape iconic scenes, including the “spears” charge at Pelennor Fields
The collaborative script process and what it revealed about the making of LOTR
Bernard’s own shire: restoring a wildflower meadow and building his haven in Suffolk
In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:
New app features–including Word of the Day feature and trivia
How you can join the conversation, give feedback, and win giveaways
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).
🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
33min
June 09, 2026164. A Glimmer of Hope Through the Eyes of Death : Children of Húrin #3
Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives!
“Day shall come again”–but for now, it’s the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. In this episode, we walk through Chapter 2 of The Children of Húrin a breaking down Tolkien’s bloodiest, most tragic battle. We cover the epic (and doomed) alliance of elves, men, and dwarves, the double-cross by the Easterlings, and why Morgoth’s victory still leaves him filled with dread. And we even get the Pope involved!
We also look at:
Why the elves’ greatest host could never stand against Morgoth—and what the battle’s tactics reveal about Tolkien’s “epic history” mindset
The legendary valor (and fate) of Húrin and Huor—plus the prophecy that links Gondolin to Morgoth’s ruin
Tolkien’s use of prophecy, fate, and heroism: why the darkest chapter is full of hope for the future
The difference between Tolkien’s approach to battles and the modern appetite for nonstop action
In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:
Listener comments about tragic foreshadowing, and Turin’s nature.
More LEGO Lord of the Rings
Why pop culture’s take on Tolkien struggles with the deeper logic of Middle-earth
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).
🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
53min
May 26, 2026163. The Most Tragic Middle-earth Childhood : Children of Húrin #2
Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives!
Turin’s tragic journey starts here. In this episode, we examine the opening chapter of The Children of Húrin, exploring the foundational relationships and lineage that shape Turin’s fate. Why does Tolkien focus so much on houses and kin? How does the friendship with the crippled servant Sador color Turin’s early years? We unpack the narrative roots of tragedy, prophecy, and the fraught bond between elves and men.
We also look at:
What Tolkien’s “fire” actually means when describing Húrin
The rare, uneasy alliance between elves and men in the First Age
How tragedy marks Turin’s family from the very beginning
Giving, pity, and the early signs of Turin’s character—before everything goes wrong
In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:
The roles of Morwen and Húrin—and how their contrasting natures shape Turin’s destiny
Tolkien’s craft: why his metaphors never just describe, but also worldbuild
Why houses and heraldry matter so much in Middle-earth’s oldest tales
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).
🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
1h 6min
May 12, 2026162. Morgoth’s Curse and the Pride of Men : The Children of Húrin #1
We finally return to Tolkien’s First Age for a new deep-dive series on The Children of Húrin, starting with Christopher Tolkien’s introduction. We discuss why Tolkien considered Turin’s tale one of his “three great stories” alongside Beren and Luthien and the Fall of Gondolin, the central themes of pride, what Morgoth’s curse actually was, and more!
We also look at:
The three great houses of men—and why they matter in this story
The encroaching darkness of Morgoth and the echoes of Greek tragedy
Whether Turin’s fate is his own making, or shaped by the will of a Dark Lord
The role of pride—of Húrin, Morwen, Turin, and even Morgoth himself
View the The Map of Beleriand we talked about
In our extended episode (available for members at https://theonering.com/members), we talk about:
Listener pushback on Finnish vs. Russian naming traditions in epic storytelling
How The Hunt for Gollum is progressing
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month) or at Patreon (https://theonering.com/patreon).
🔗 Episode Links
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
47min
April 28, 2026161. Tolkien’s First Tragic Tale : The Story of Kullervo
The Kalevala is perhaps Tolkien’s earliest inspiration… In this episode, we dig into The Story of Kullervo the tragic Finnish myth (from the Kalevala) that captured Tolkien’s imagination as a young man. We explore why Kullervo’s tragic tale—full of vengeance, orphaned rage, and doomed family bonds—became the seed for later stories like The Children of Húrin (and even Beren and Lúthien!).
We also examine:
The Kalevala’s raw, unfamiliar style and why Tolkien found it so fresh
How Tolkien’s early attempts at rewriting folklore reveal his love of language and poetry
How the Kalevala’s influence shaped Middle-earth’s earliest legends
The parallels (and differences) between Kullervo and Turin Turambar
What makes Kullervo so unlike Tolkien’s usual heroes
In our extended episode (available for members at https://theonering.com/members), we discuss:
The big ol’ Lego set that’ll be released in a month
Elanor Gamgee as the face of the new LOTR movie.
Listener’s feedback on Saruman’s strength.
🔗 Episode Links
The Story of Kullervo
The Children of Hurin
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
1h 8min
April 14, 2026160. Did Peter Jackson make Saruman too Powerful? : Film Changes #49 and #50
This episode tackles two more changes from Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring—Saruman orchestrating the storm on Caradhras, and the missing warg attack in Hollin. We break down how these adaptations simplify Middle-earth, debate whether Saruman’s powers go too far, and discuss what’s lost when the mountain itself isn’t an antagonist.
We also examine:
Why Jackson condensed multiple threats into “just Saruman and Sauron”
The cinematic potential of Gandalf’s fiery defense against spirit wargs
Aragorn’s warnings vs. Saruman’s prophecies—and who really drove the Fellowship’s next moves
What removing the Hollin warg attack means for Sauron’s reach in the story
In our extended episode (members at https://theonering.com/members), we dive into:
News about Tolkien’s rare books and LOTRO’s new expansions
Listener comments over Boromir’s character moments on the slopes of the Misty Mountains
The fated 5 seasons of The Rings of Power
What’s next for the podcast (Children of Húrin, Kullervo, and maybe Lord of the Rings itself)!
🎉 Get the extended episode by becoming a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo, free for the 1st month) or at Patreon (https://theonering.com/patreon).
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon
🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
52min
March 31, 2026159. Boromir’s Slippery Slope : Film Change #48 (and Stephen Colbert’s Lord of the Rings movie!?)
In this episode, we examine the insertion of Boromir’s ring-handling scene on the slopes of the Misty Mountains–though it was completely invented, how close was it REALLY to the books? … and THEN we discuss Peter Jackson’s NEXT Lord of the Rings films, this time written by Stephen Colbert! 😬
We look at:
Boromir’s believable corruption
How much of this scene was actually pulled straight from the book?
Will this be a movie we want, or just another exercise in fan-service?
Will the film really just be a flashback?
Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:
Is the word “simple” the most important part of Boromir’s statement?
And how necessary were Merry and Pippin at the council?
How much of Colbert’s ideology will be in the new film?
Other opportunities for films around the time of The War of the Ring
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon
🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
...more
55min

FAQs about Exploring Tolkien:

How many episodes does Exploring Tolkien have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.

More shows like Exploring Tolkien

The Tom Woods Show by Tom Woods

The Tom Woods Show

3,368 Listeners

The Tolkien Road by The Tolkien Road

The Tolkien Road

384 Listeners

The Andrew Klavan Show by The Daily Wire

The Andrew Klavan Show

22,692 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,370 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,895 Listeners

Morning Wire by The Daily Wire

Morning Wire

26,615 Listeners