Exploring Tolkien

By TheOneRing.com

Exploring Tolkien is a weekly show that dives deep into JRR Tolkien and all the ages of Middle-earth. Jonathan Watson and Michael Grumbine are your hosts as they read through Tolkien’s works, intervi... more

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FAQs about Exploring Tolkien:

How many episodes does Exploring Tolkien have?

The podcast currently has 159 episodes available.

Exploring Tolkien episodes:

February 13, 2024 88. Middle-earth’s Worst Dad – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 4
Aldarion gets married and is able to stay on land for a few years… up until his daughter turns 4, and then he just can’t stay away from the sea anymore.
We look at:
* Does Tolkien hate Aldarion?
* What drives Aldarion?
* Does Erendis hate everything?
* Home is where your wife is
Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members):
* Should the kingship of Númenor had more constitutional rules?
* Would Middle-earth have been better off with Meneldur instead of Aldarion?
* Did the elves need Aldarion?
Join our Discord Channel (for free!) ► https://discord.gg/fRATdAqEFr
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Middle-earth Mixer
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

...more
48min
February 06, 202487. Mariner, King, or Husband? – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 3
Join our Discord Community (for free)!
In this episode we learn when Tolkien wrote this story, as well as what might have inspired him to put this to paper. Then, Aldarion and Erendis FINALLY get married! But Aldarion manages to get in one more voyage before committing to it… and then we get elves! And birds! And a white tree!
We look at:
Tolkien getting inspired by the Prose Edda again!
When Tolkien wrote Aldarion and Erendis (it was AFTER the Lord of the Rings!)
Is Aldarion a Mariner or King?
What’s important about the elves coming to their wedding–and which elves were they!?
Erendis bears a real resemblance to Lúthien. Was this intentional?
In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk more about these changes, and also:
A deeper discussion into the parallels between Edith Tolkien and Erendis
Why do we get a glimpse of Erendis’ thoughts, in a much deeper level than Aldarion’s?
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
The Númenorean Helm
The Road to Middle-earth by Tom Shippey
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
54min
January 30, 2024 86. Men are from Mars, Women Hate the Ocean – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 2
Join our Discord Community (for free)!
Jonathan and Michael continue their analysis of “Aldarion and Erendis”. These two aren’t exactly star-crossed lovers–their complicated and long-gestating relationship runs for decades, and that’s just BEFORE they get married. Aldarion tries to balance his love of the sea with his love for Erendis… and fights the battle ceaselessly!
In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk more about these changes, and also:
* Did the Valar remove their protection from Aldarion?
* Was their relationship ever actually compatible?
* And what’s up with Aldarion’s title, Lord of the Ships and Havens of Númenor?
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
47min
January 23, 2024 85. This Sea is NOT Always Right – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 1
Join our Discord Community (for free)!
After Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion, he looked in his father’s notes for more works… and then published Unfinished Tales.
This week, Jonathan, Michael, and one of our favorite guests– the Middle-earth Mixer– look at the tale of “Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner’s Wife”! It’s not exactly a happy story, but as you’d expect with anything Tolkien writes, it’s full of meaning, beauty, depth and wisdom.
In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk more about these changes, and also:
* Did Meneldur push Aldarion away?
* Did Aldarion dislike Númenor?
* What about Aldarion and the Harfoots?
* And more members-only questions!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
54min
January 16, 202484. Removing Radagast and Hobbit Thieves : Film Changes #27 and #28
Join our free Discord community!
These are our last 2 changes for awhile — listen to hear what we’ll be reading next!
Radagast is completely excised from the film… which might just have been a good decision
Merry and Pippin become common veggie thieves that just happen to run into Frodo and Sam in a cornfield. Lucky coincidence.
In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about these changes, and also:
Questions from our members about Farmer Maggot and Mushrooms.
Farmer Maggot — the John Wick of Middle-earth
Generating action hero maggot with AI art…. check out these images!
👉 https://www.theonering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Farmer-Maggot-and-Dogs-Poster.jpg
👉 https://www.theonering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Farmer-Maggot-Defends-his-Mushrooms.jpg
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Join our Free Discord Community
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
34min
January 09, 202483. Meeting Gandalf in Bree and a Glimpse of Gildor : Film Changes #25 and #26
We’re going over 2 more changes to The Fellowship of the Ring this week!
Gandalf tells Frodo to meet him at the Prancing Pony… which leads to a full 6 CHAPTERS cut from the films!
Frodo and Sam never get to spend any time with Gildor in the films–and only get a fleeting glimpse of “Wood Elves” 🤮
In our extended episode (available for our members — $4/mo and free for the first month) we talk more about these changes, in addition to:
Would the “spotted toad” threat have been a bad movie moment if Jackson added it?
If we could keep one–and ONLY one–of the myriad things Jackson left out between Hobbiton and Bree, what would it be?
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
45min
December 28, 202382. Bilbo’s Party Changes and 17 Years Lost : Film Changes #23 and #24
We’re going over 2 more changes to The Fellowship of the Ring this week!
Is Bilbo’s party true to how Tolkien wrote it? If it isn’t.. did Jackson change it for the better?
Peter Jackson dropped nearly all 17 years from the time of Bilbo’s party to the start of Frodo’s journey. Isn’t that a lot to change? Or maybe–just maybe–this is actually true to the book?
In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about these changes, and also:
If those 17 years would’ve been part of the film, what would have taken place, and how would it have been scripted?
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
45min
December 19, 2023 81. Tolkien Created an Entire North Pole Mythology!
Starting in 1920, JRR Tolkien wrote letters from Father Christmas to his children–and continued doing that for 24 more years!
Through those letters, he created an entire mythology, including characters (like the North Polar Bear, Ilbereth his elf helper, bear cubs, goblins), stories, and even battles! Thankfully, all those letters were kept and can now be read by us in the “Letters from Father Christmas” book!
This year, we put together a reading of Tolkien’s 1926 letter–by Father Christmas himself!
More about Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas
Listen to the letter again on YouTube!
In our extended episode (available for our members) I talk a bit more about the letters he wrote, and read his final (and somewhat gut-wrenching) letter to his daughter Priscilla.
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Get Letters from Father Christmas
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
More about Letters from Father Christmas
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
11min
December 12, 202380. Gandalf’s a Headbanger and Frodo’s Unexpected Introduction
We’re going over 2 more changes to The Fellowship of the Ring this week!
The theatrical edition of The Fellowship of the Ring started with Frodo and Gandalf’s relationship, even though the book didn’t establish any of that until AFTER Bilbo’s party. Was this good for the film?
When Gandalf enters Bag End, it’s as though he’s never been there before–knocking his head on the chandelier and banging it into the doorjamb. Is this actually in Gandalf’s character?
In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about the these changes, including:
Should Peter Jackson have added more Hobbiton characters earlier in the film?
Did we miss out by not having Dwarves with carts delivering party goods?
How missing out on making Bilbo’s party MASSIVE would have made for better comedy.
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
26min
December 05, 2023 79. Tolkien’s Christmas poem was lost for 80 years!
In 1936, Tolkien wrote a poem published in an obscure school magazine–and it was only found again 10 years ago! Michael and Jonathan look at how the poem was found, what the poem means, and what makes it unique in the landscape of Tolkien’s creativity.
Read the Poem
Listen to the poem Noel again on YouTube!
In our extended episode (available for our members) we debate whether the Lord of the Rings can be considered a Christmas movie (there’s a lot of leeway if Die Hard is a Christmas movie, right?!).
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
8 Things The Rings Of Power Does Better Than Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings Movies
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
...more
21min

FAQs about Exploring Tolkien:

How many episodes does Exploring Tolkien have?

The podcast currently has 159 episodes available.

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