The Fandom Apprentice

Saruman tries to talk his way out of consequences and Gandalf is having none of it, while Pippin discovers that even well-meaning impulsive actions have unintended consequences, but Gandalf didn't have to be so mean about it!- Ryn and Sam talk about magic wands, crystal balls, and the effect of a good voice. Come along as we finish our coverage of the first half of the book and Sam has a revelation about The Two Towers as a whole!

Covers chapters X: The Voice of Saruman and XI: The Palantír

The Three Hunters finally find their quarry! And their quarry has found food and pipe-weed! That means of course, that it's time for a reunion dinner and some catching-up! Join Ryn & Sam as we discuss the history of cannabis, trees getting hasty, and the consequences of Saruman's actions!

Covers the second half of Chapter VIII. The Road To Isengard and all of Chapter IX. Flotsam and Jetsam

Ryn + Sam talk about Gimli and Legolas's sex life, cheese, and nuclear proliferation and the horrors of war as we cover the Battle of Helm's Deep!

Covers Chapter VII. Helm's Deep and the first half of VIII. The Road to Isengard

Ryn & Sam ask the big questions: What is a god? Is it ethical to just shoot an old man wandering through the forest? Will wizards ever just speak plainly? Does a person remain the same following resurrection? What's in a name? All this and more within!

Covers Chapters 5 & 6 of The Two Towers: The White Rider and The of the Golden Hall

I think we all know where they're taking the Hobbits....
Ryn and Sam shift perspectives to find out what Merry and Pippin have been up to this whole time! We get to meet Ryn's favorite character in all of Lord of the Rings, get hit with some 2005 nostalgia, and talk about sloppy derndingles.
A slightly longer episode than normal this week- enjoy the extra content!  

Covers Chapters 3-4 of The Two Towers, The Uruk-hai and Treebeard

Sam and Ryn join The Three Hunters on their quest as we dive into The Two Towers! We discuss gentle masculinity and the loss of another party member, witness a Royal Dick-Measuring Contest, come up with a new Rule of Fantasy,  and chase some Hobbits!

Covers Chapters 1 & 2 of The Two Towers:  The Departure of Boromir and The Riders of Rohan

Ryn and Sam talk about Tolkien's most approachable text and the reason this podcast exists- The Hobbit! This is an anti-Sackville-Baggins podcast. Consider yourself warned. 

Covers the Hobbit and its context

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Ryn and Sam take a break from the books to talk about Tolkien- his life, academic career, influences, and his love for his wife!

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Ryn and Sam finish Fellowship! Gimli and Legolas have some intimate moments in the boat, Boromir gives off incel vibes, and Frodo and Samwise set out on the "last stage of their journey" that will take them two more volumes to complete.

Covers The Great River and The Breaking of the Fellowship

Ryn and Sam go through the remainder of the Company's time in Lothlórien and talk about Shakespeare, weaving, summer camp, the corruption that inevitably springs from power, immortality, Gimli and Legolas learning more about each other (carnally), and gender (always)!

Covers chapters 19-20 of Fellowship: The Mirror of Galadriel + Farewell to Lórien