A Balrog with Simon Pegg's voice, a husband missing for two seasons, and zero Harfoots. Jeff Haecker, Fr. Bryan Shackett, Rob Leonardi, and Rob Story pick apart the Rings of Power season 3 teaser and argue over how much of it Tolkien would recognize.

The post Rings of Power S3: The Balrog Talks appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Despair isn't sadness — it's the choice to stop hoping, and it destroys Denethor. Patrick Mason, Rob Leonardi, Robert Story, and Fr. Bryan Shackett on the palantír, Sauron's algorithm of doom, and the Gandalf line Pope Leo just quoted.

The post The Sin of Denethor appeared first on StarQuest Media.

A dog bites a wizard's trousers, gets turned into a toy for his trouble, and that's the least strange thing that happens. Thomas Salerno, Rob Leonardi, Rob Story, Fr. Bryan Shackett, and Patrick Mason unpack Tolkien's Roverandom.

The post Roverandom appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Is Rings of Power Peter Jackson fanfiction or genuine Tolkien? Patrick Mason asks Rob Leonardi, Robert Story, and honorary "Rob" Fr. Bryan Shackett to give their takes on Seasons 1 and 2 — and cautious hope for Season 3.

The post The Council of Robs appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Tolkien called 111 "eleventy-one." For our 111th episode, we celebrateswith a six-round Tolkien trivia competition that tests our panel of Jeff Haecker, Rob Leonardi, Patrick Mason, and Robert Story, who must face host Alix Murray's toughest questions. Who will win and be crowned King Under the Trivia?

The post The Eleventy-First Quiz Show appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Every creature in Arda has a story. The panel examines Middle-earth's animals — Huan, the Eagles, Ungoliant's brood, Beorn, the Nazgûl's horses — and asks what separates the natural from the supernatural in Tolkien's world.

The post Animals of Middle Earth appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Tolkien's women don't need the spotlight to hold the world together. That's the point. Alix Murray, Jeff Haecker, and Kathryn Laffrey trace the powerful, mysterious women of Middle-earth from the Valar to the Shire.

The post Women of Middle Earth appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Music didn't just accompany the creation of Middle-earth — it *was* the creation. Jeff Haecker, Alix Murray, and Patrick Mason trace how song, horn, and verse shape everything from the Ainulindalë to the charge at Pelennor Fields.

The post Music of the Legendarium appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Tolkien's "Leaf by Niggle" gets a full panel reading — purgatory, sub-creation, and the eternal weight of creative work. Thomas Salerno leads Kathryn Laffrey, Rob Leonardi, and Robert King through this haunting, personal story.

The post Leaf by Niggle appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Sam resists the Ring. Fatty Bolger outruns the Nazgûl. Lúthien tears down Sauron's tower. Jeff Haecker, Robert Story, Patrick Mason, and Rob Leonardi celebrate Tolkien Reading Day with favorite passages on unlikely heroes.

The post Tolkien Reading Day 2026: Unlikely Heroes appeared first on StarQuest Media.