The Dragon Reborn saved the world... but he also made some spectacularly bad decisions.

This week, Andrew and Josh take a look at Rand al'Thor's biggest mistakes throughout The Wheel of Time. From trusting the wrong people to choices that nearly shattered his alliances—and maybe even the Pattern itself—we're ranking and debating the decisions that cost Rand the most.

Which choice was his worst? Was he wrong, or did the Dragon Reborn simply do what had to be done?

Join us as we break down the Dragon's greatest errors and decide which mistake nearly changed the fate of the world.

#WheelOfTime #RandAlThor #DragonReborn #BlackTowerPodcast #WoTPodcast

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Intro Music - Black Tower Podcast by Slylock https://soundcloud.com/theslylock

Outro Music - The Black Tower by Androl-Bard of Time https://www.youtube.com/c/AndrolBardoftime

Was Alanna’s bonding of Rand a cruel violation… or a necessary thread woven by the Pattern itself?

This week on the Black Tower Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most controversial moments in The Wheel of Time and debate whether Alanna’s actions ultimately helped or harmed the Dragon Reborn. From ta’veren destiny and free will to Rand’s psychological decline and the Pattern’s possible intentions, we unravel the threads behind one of the series’ most uncomfortable—and important—relationships.

Was this the Pattern’s cruelest thread?

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We know the The Wheel of Time turns, leaving memories that become legend, but what if those memories... are the ability to channel the One Power itself? What could happen to make channeling disappear — temporarily or almost completely — in another Age? Hold on to your milk cups everyone, things are about to get fun as Josh and Reese dive into all the possible ways it could happen, and how it wide-spread that impact could be!

📚 Follow the Black Tower Podcast for more Wheel of Time deep dives! https://linktr.ee/blacktowerpodcast

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more: https://blacktowerpod.podbean.com

📺 Subscribe for weekly WoT content: @blacktowerpod

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Intro Music - Black Tower Podcast by Slylock https://soundcloud.com/theslylock

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Some The Wheel of Time characters had incredible setups… and painful payoffs. This week, Andrew, Josh, and Reese break down the biggest character assassinations in Wheel of Time — from wasted potential and repetitive arcs to characters the story may have completely done dirty. Did Perrin stagnate? Was Padan Fain wasted? And is Gawyn actually badly written… or just too realistic? Expect hot takes, chaos, and probably a few arguments.

📚 Follow the Black Tower Podcast for more Wheel of Time deep dives! https://linktr.ee/blacktowerpodcast

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Was the Age of Legends in The Wheel of Time actually too perfect to survive?

In this episode of Black Tower Podcast, Andrew and Reese break down the government, society, and hidden flaws of the most advanced age in the series. From the role of the Aes Sedai to the moment everything unraveled with The Dark One, we dig into whether its collapse was inevitable—or avoidable.

Was it a true utopia… or a ticking time bomb?

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It is that time again. Yes, we are starting to plan  2026's The Gathering Madness!!! To help us with planning, we want to gauge your interest in attending our event.  Please take 2 minutes to fill out the interest survey (link below). Whether you are a yes, no, or maybe for either in person or virtual, we'd love to hear from you! See you in October! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwQISGBhL1gIJqQQ2zVJELqoem2WYVktxSI-5qYdu1iOWq4w/viewform?usp=header

Corporate wants you to find the difference between the Aes Sedai… and real-world power structures.

Yeah… good luck with that.

In this episode of the Black Tower Podcast, we’re breaking down how Robert Jordan built the organizations of The Wheel of Time using real-world history, religion, and politics—and why groups like the Children of the Light and the Seanchan Empire feel way more familiar than they should.

Turns out… the Wheel didn’t invent these power structures. It just gave them magic.

Drop your favorite (or most terrifying) real-world comparison in the comments 👇

📚 Follow the Black Tower Podcast for more Wheel of Time deep dives! https://linktr.ee/blacktowerpodcast

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In a world defined by violence, power, and the turning of the Wheel… what does it mean to choose peace?

This week on the podcast, we dive deep into one of the most fascinating—and misunderstood—groups in The Wheel of Time: the Tinkers, also known as the Traveling People.

From their origins as the Da’shain Aiel to their unwavering commitment to the Way of the Leaf, we explore the philosophy that rejects violence in a world that demands it. Is their pacifism noble… or naive? Are they preserving something ancient and vital—or clinging to a broken ideal?

We break down:

Join Andrew, Josh, and Reese as we unpack the lore, challenge the philosophy, and ask whether peace can survive in a world built on war.

📚 Follow the Black Tower Podcast for more Wheel of Time deep dives! https://linktr.ee/blacktowerpodcast

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Outro Music - The Black Tower by Androl-Bard of Time https://www.youtube.com/c/AndrolBardoftime

What if angreal weren’t rare at all?

In this episode of the Black Tower Podcast, we dive deep into a wild but surprisingly grounded theory about the The Wheel of Time—that during the Age of Legends, angreal may have been everyday tools, not legendary artifacts.

From household conveniences to medical devices and even industrial applications, we explore the idea that the angreal we see in the books are just the survivors of the Breaking of the World, not the full picture.

Are modern Aes Sedai unknowingly using the scraps of a once hyper-advanced magical society?

This episode blends lore, logic, and a little chaos as Andrew and Reese break down what the Age of Legends might really have looked like—and what we’ve lost since.

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It's time for another Background Breakdown!!

Tonight we're discussing the Keeper of the Chronicles, the lady badass of the white tower Leane Sharrif! She's a super awesome character that doesn't get enough love! so if you have thoughts, or opinions (*snort) lets hear em in the comments!

#WheelOfTime #Aiel #JietoH #BlackTowerPodcast #RobertJordan

📚 Follow the Black Tower Podcast for more Wheel of Time deep dives! https://linktr.ee/blacktowerpodcast 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more: https://blacktowerpod.podbean.com 📺 Subscribe for weekly WoT content: @blacktowerpod

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It is that time again. Yes, we are starting to plan 2026's The Gathering Madness!!! To help us with planning, we want to gauge your interest in attending our event. Please take 2 minutes to fill out the interest survey (link below). Whether you are a yes, no, or maybe for either in person or virtual, we'd love to hear from you! See you in October! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwQISGBhL1gIJqQQ2zVJELqoem2WYVktxSI-5qYdu1iOWq4w/viewform?usp=header

Ji’e’toh is the foundation of Aiel culture in The Wheel of Time—a complex system of honor (ji) and obligation (toh) that governs everything from leadership and warfare to personal relationships. But is this famous Aiel code of honor actually a stable moral system… or is it fundamentally flawed?

In this episode of The Black Tower Podcast, Andrew, Josh, and Reese break down the philosophy behind Ji’e’toh and debate whether it truly works. Andrew argues the system is unstable because it relies heavily on subjective interpretation, Josh explores how Ji’e’toh often leads to disastrous and compensatory outcomes, and Reese asks whether the system itself isn’t broken—but has simply been outgrown by the Aiel in a changing world.

Join us as we dive deep into Aiel culture, morality, and the long-term future of Ji’e’toh in the Fourth Age.

If you enjoy deep discussions about The Wheel of Time, Aiel society, and the philosophy behind Robert Jordan’s worldbuilding, make sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments.

#WheelOfTime #Aiel #JietoH #BlackTowerPodcast #RobertJordan

📚 Follow the Black Tower Podcast for more Wheel of Time deep dives! https://linktr.ee/blacktowerpodcast

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Intro Music - Black Tower Podcast by Slylock https://soundcloud.com/theslylock

Outro Music - The Black Tower by Androl-Bard of Time https://www.youtube.com/c/AndrolBardoftime