There And Back Again

By Point North Media

What's There And Back Again about?

In this series, story expert Alastair Stephens guides you through the pages of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

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There And Back Again episodes:

01.03.2024
There And Back Again: Update
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2024! In this short update, I'll share some plans I have for the end of the podcast, and talk a little about a new show you might like.
07.28.2018
There And Back Again 71: The Road Goes Ever On And On
In this week's session, we return to Rivendell and say some fond farewells in chapters six and seven of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.
07.20.2018
There And Back Again 70: The Return Of The King
In this week's session, we crown King Elessar and begin our long farewells in chapters five and six of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.
07.13.2018
There And Back Again 69: The Steward And The King
In this week's session, we welcome Frodo and Sam back to the land of the living, and discuss the greatest romance in Middle-earth in chapters four and five of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.
07.06.2018
There And Back Again 68: For Good Or Ill
In this week's session, the eagles are coming and the Ring is destroyed in chapters three and four of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.
06.22.2018
There And Back Again 67: The End Of All Things
In this week's session, we approach the final fate of the ring with a discussion of heroism, strength and fortitude in the shadow of Mount Doom in chapter three of book six of The Lord of the Rings.
06.09.2018
There And Back Again 66: The Cracks Of Doom
In this week's session, we continue book six of The Lord of the Rings with more discussion of hope and despair, greatness and grace, and strong masculine relationships.
06.01.2018
There And Back Again 65: Beyond All Towers Strong And High
In this week's session, we begin book six of The Lord of the Rings with the return to Samwise Gamgee, the influence of the ring, and spontaneous poetry.
05.25.2018
There And Back Again 64: Back To The Black Gate
In this week's session, we conclude book five of The Lord of the Rings with the march to Morannon, Aragorn's mercy, and Pippin's last stand.
05.18.2018
There And Back Again 63: The Mouth Of Sauron
In this week's session, we approach the end of book five of The Lord of the Rings with healing, debate and discussion, and the importance of gulls.
05.11.2018
There And Back Again 62: The Hands Of A Healer
In this week's session, we discuss hope and despair at Denethor's pyre, and then bring athelas to the Houses of Healing.
05.04.2018
There And Back Again 61: Out Of Doubt, Out Of Dark
In this week's session, we conclude the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and discuss eucatastrophe, magical winds, and try not to weep openly.
04.28.2018
There And Back Again 60: No Living Man Am I
In this week's session, we ride with the Rohirrim to Minas Tirith and begin the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
04.20.2018
There And Back Again 59: A Sword-Day, A Red Day
In this week's session, we discuss hope and despair, the siege of Gondor, and the clash of Gandalf and the Witch-King of Angmar.
04.13.2018
There And Back Again 58: Comfort Me Not With Wizards
In this week's session, we discuss the new The Fall Of Gondolin book, the muster of the Rohirrim, and the beginning of the Siege of Gondor.
04.09.2018
There And Back Again 57: Where Will Wants Not
In this unexpectedly abbreviated session, we discuss the role of women in Tolkien's world, and the conversation between Aragorn and Éowyn!
04.01.2018
There And Back Again 56: The King Of The Dead
In this session, we make it to the second chapter of The Return Of The King with discussions of oaths and oathbreaking!
03.24.2018
There And Back Again 55: Tree And Tower
In this session, we begin The Return Of The King with discussions of the White Tree of Gondor, high style and the nobility of hobbits.
03.16.2018
There And Back Again 54: Shagrat And Gorbag
In this session, we discuss the future, Orc culture and the extensive history of the One Ring as we conclude The Two Towers.
03.11.2018
There And Back Again 53: The Choices Of Master Samwise
In this session, we study separation and despair as we reach the end of The Two Towers in Chapter Ten of Book Four, The Choices Of Master Samwise.
03.02.2018
There And Back Again 52: Tales Never End
In this session, we talk about the power of stories with Sam, then face the evil of Shelob with the phial of Galadriel in chapters eight and nine of book four of The Lord of the Rings.
02.09.2018
There And Back Again 51: The Crown Of The Fallen King
In this session, we catch up with Frodo and Sam as they leave Ithilien for the dangers of Mordor in chapters six and seven of book four of The Lord of the Rings.
02.02.2018
There And Back Again 50: The Cross-Roads
This week, we celebrate our fiftieth session by running long and adding an extra session as we continue our exploration of book four of The Lord of the Rings!
01.29.2018
There And Back Again 49: The Window On The West
In this session, we talk about the excellence of Faramir and Sam as we discuss chapter five of book four of The Lord of the Rings!
01.19.2018
There And Back Again 48: Rabbits And Oliphaunts
In this session, we find solace in Ithilien and meet Faramir of Gondor as we discuss chapters three and four of book four of The Lord of the Rings!
01.11.2018
There And Back Again 47: Gollum The Great
In this session, we cross the Dead Marshes and discuss the second chapter of book four of The Lord of the Rings!
01.08.2018
There And Back Again 46: Gollum & Sméagol
In this session, we discuss the first chapter of book four of The Lord of the Rings!
12.23.2017
There And Back Again 45: The Affairs Of Wizards
In this session, we reach the end of book three of The Lord of the Rings and discuss Pippin and the palantír.
12.15.2017
There And Back Again 44: Gibbets And Crows
In this session, we discuss chapters nine and ten of book three of The Lord of the Rings.
12.08.2017
There And Back Again 43: The Meeting Of Dear Friends
In this session, we discuss chapter eight of book three of The Lord of the Rings, The Road to Isengard.
12.01.2017
There And Back Again 42: Helm’s Deep
In this session, we are besieged with the Rohirrim in book three, chapter seven of The Lord of the Rings!
11.23.2017
There And Back Again 41: The Golden Hall
In this session, we discuss the healing of the king of Rohan in book three, chapter five of The Lord Of The Rings!
11.20.2017
There And Back Again 40: Wise Fool
In this session, we discuss the upcoming Amazon TV adaptation of Tolkien's world, then conclude our discussion of book three, chapter five of The Lord Of The Rings!
11.16.2017
There And Back Again 39: Fire And Deep Water
In this session, we share the tale of the entwives and are reunited with Gandalf in book three, chapters four and five of The Lord Of The Rings!
11.03.2017
There And Back Again 38: Treebeard And Beardtree
In this session, we meet Treebeard and delve into the history of the ents in book three, chapter four of The Lord Of The Rings!
10.26.2017
There And Back Again 37: Merry And Pippin’s Excellent Adventure
In this session, we return to the hobbits and meet the Uruk-hai in book three, chapter three of The Lord Of The Rings!
10.20.2017
There And Back Again 36: Farewell To Boromir
In this session, we send Boromir off into the Anduin and meet the Riders of Rohan in the first two chapters of book three of The Lord Of The Rings!
10.13.2017
There And Back Again 35: Two Roads Diverge
In this session, we delve deep into the final temptation of Boromir, and discuss Frodo's choice at the end of the Fellowship of the Ring.
09.29.2017
There And Back Again 34: The Breaking Of The Fellowship
In this session, we conclude The Fellowship of the Ring and witness the end of the Fellowship in chapters 9 & 10 of Book 2 of The Lord Of The Rings.
09.22.2017
There And Back Again 33: All Shall Love Me And Despair
In this session, we discuss The Fellowship Of The Ring, Book 2, Chapters 7 & 8: The Mirror of Galadriel & Farewell to Lórien!
09.08.2017
There And Back Again 32: The Heart Of Elvendom
In this session, we escape the shadow of Moria and cross the Nimrodel into Lothlórien in book two, chapter six of The Lord of the Rings!
09.01.2017
There And Back Again 31: You Cannot Pass
In this session, we face Durin's Bane and fly from Moria in book two, chapter five of The Lord of the Rings!
08.25.2017
There And Back Again 30: The Watcher In The Water
In this session, we confront Caradhras and venture into Moria in chapters three and four of book two of The Lord of the Rings!
08.18.2017
There And Back Again 29: Nine Vs. Nine
In this session, we make a valiant effort to leave Rivendell and make it to Caradhras in Book 2, Chapter 3 of The Lord of the Rings!
08.11.2017
There And Back Again 28: Small, But Great In Mischief
In this session, we complete our discussion of the Council of Elrond in Book 2, Chapter 2 of The Lord of the Rings!
08.04.2017
There And Back Again 27: Isildur’s Bane
In this session, we try valiantly to make it through the Council of Elrond, and fall just a little short of our goal.
07.28.2017
There And Back Again 26: In The House Of Elrond
In this session, we catch our breath in Rivendell and discuss a remarkable poetic achievement in book two, chapter one of The Lord of the Rings!
07.27.2017
There And Back Again 25: There My Heart Is
In this session, we race from Weathertop to the Ford of Bruinen, meeting Glorfindel and facing down black riders in chapter twelve of The Lord of the Rings!
07.14.2017
There And Back Again 24: Lights On Weathertop
In this session, we depart from Bree, confront the black riders on Weathertop, and hear the tale of Beren and Luthien!
06.29.2017
There And Back Again 23: Not All Who Wander Are Lost
In this session, we arrive in Bree, spend some time at the Prancing Pony, and meet the man they call Strider!

What's There And Back Again about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

There And Back Again episodes:

There And Back Again: Update

There And Back Again 71: The Road Goes Ever On And On

There And Back Again 70: The Return Of The King

There And Back Again 69: The Steward And The King

There And Back Again 68: For Good Or Ill

There And Back Again 67: The End Of All Things

There And Back Again 66: The Cracks Of Doom

There And Back Again 65: Beyond All Towers Strong And High

There And Back Again 64: Back To The Black Gate

There And Back Again 63: The Mouth Of Sauron

There And Back Again 62: The Hands Of A Healer

There And Back Again 61: Out Of Doubt, Out Of Dark

There And Back Again 60: No Living Man Am I

There And Back Again 59: A Sword-Day, A Red Day

There And Back Again 58: Comfort Me Not With Wizards

There And Back Again 57: Where Will Wants Not

There And Back Again 56: The King Of The Dead

There And Back Again 55: Tree And Tower

There And Back Again 54: Shagrat And Gorbag

There And Back Again 53: The Choices Of Master Samwise

There And Back Again 52: Tales Never End

There And Back Again 51: The Crown Of The Fallen King

There And Back Again 50: The Cross-Roads

There And Back Again 49: The Window On The West

There And Back Again 48: Rabbits And Oliphaunts

There And Back Again 47: Gollum The Great

There And Back Again 46: Gollum & Sméagol

There And Back Again 45: The Affairs Of Wizards

There And Back Again 44: Gibbets And Crows

There And Back Again 43: The Meeting Of Dear Friends

There And Back Again 42: Helm’s Deep

There And Back Again 41: The Golden Hall

There And Back Again 40: Wise Fool

There And Back Again 39: Fire And Deep Water

There And Back Again 38: Treebeard And Beardtree

There And Back Again 37: Merry And Pippin’s Excellent Adventure

There And Back Again 36: Farewell To Boromir

There And Back Again 35: Two Roads Diverge

There And Back Again 34: The Breaking Of The Fellowship

There And Back Again 33: All Shall Love Me And Despair

There And Back Again 32: The Heart Of Elvendom

There And Back Again 31: You Cannot Pass

There And Back Again 30: The Watcher In The Water

There And Back Again 29: Nine Vs. Nine

There And Back Again 28: Small, But Great In Mischief

There And Back Again 27: Isildur’s Bane

There And Back Again 26: In The House Of Elrond

There And Back Again 25: There My Heart Is

There And Back Again 24: Lights On Weathertop

There And Back Again 23: Not All Who Wander Are Lost