The Prancing Pony Podcast
Episodes
205 – Here Comes the Sun
18 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Upon entering the Golden Hall, Gandalf is challenged once again; this time by Wormtongue, the king’s counsellor who may not exactly have Rohan’s b...
204 – The Long and Winding Road
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our heroes ride up the long and winding road that leads to Théoden’s door, but first they have to get through two sets of guards. Fortunately, Gand...
203 – Questions After Nightfall 14
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Before we return to The Lord of the Rings for the further adventures of The White Rider and Friends in Rohan, we spend some time in the common-room wi...
202 – Tolkien Reading Day 2021
21 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Tolkien Reading Day! On March 25 every year — the date of the fall of Barad-dûr — Tolkien lovers worldwide celebrate by reading the Profess...
201 – A Nice Day for a White Wizard
14 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The newly-minted Gandalf the White advises the Three Hunters to leave the Hobbits in the strong, twiggy hands of Treebeard and go to Edoras. They agre...
200 – A Whiter Shade of Grey
07 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The old man is revealed to be an old friend: Gandalf the (Formerly) Grey, returned beyond hope from death in battle with the Balrog of Moria. Enhanced...
199 – Pretty Spry (For a Grey Guy)
28 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli follow the trail of the missing hobbits, gradually drawing closer to the forbidding fringes of Fangorn Forest. They find ne...
198 – Never Enough Tolkien: An Interview with Ted Nasmith
21 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome the acclaimed illustrator Ted Nasmith back to The Prancing Pony Podcast for his first full-length interview! We catch up with Ted about lif...
197 – Birnam Wood as It Should Have Been
14 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Waiting for the Ents to make a decision turns out to be an exercise in patience for Merry and Pippin, until Treebeard mercifully excuses them from the...
196 – Branch Managers' Meeting
07 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At Wellinghall, Merry and Pippin learn more about the Ents’ hope for the future (in song form!) and get some sleep — horizontally — before leavi...
195 – The Birches and the Beeches
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After hearing Merry and Pippin’s account of their recent adventures, Treebeard starts talking (and doesn’t stop) about wizards, ecopolitics, and “...
194 – Tree’s Company
24 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Merry and Pippin travel deeper into Fangorn Forest with a guided tour (really more of a picked-up-and-carried tour) provided by Treebeard. Their host ...
193 – Out on a Limb
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Escaping from mortal danger into deadly peril, Merry and Pippin wander into Fangorn Forest. The place seems more strange than scary, but it’s far fr...
192 - Race, Tolkien, and Middle-earth, Revisited
10 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Following up on our previous examination of race in Tolkien’s work in Episode 114, today we welcome listeners of different racial and ethnic backgro...
191 - A Trick of the Took
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Now ringed in by the Rohirrim, the Orcs wait for reinforcements, all the while continuing their civilized parliamentary deliberations. On the committe...
190 - Follow Uruks, Follow Me
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Hobbits continue their zero-star walking tour of Rohan, trudging along with the Orcs in an endless tunnel of misery with nary a pub nor a B&B in s...
189 - Supper’s Ready
06 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Looks like meat’s back on the menu as we pick up the tale of Pippin and Merry and their delightful hosts: an army of Orcs on their way to Isengard. ...
188 - Questions After Nightfall 13
22 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli look for their horses, we welcome listeners to the common-room for our last live Q&A episode of 2020! As always, the ...
187 - The Old Man and the Coconuts
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Éomer bends the rules “just this once” to let the wanderers go free in Rohan, and even lends them cocon— uh, horses* to ride, on the condition ...
186 - A Man That Has No Coconut
08 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Éomer, Third Marshal of the Riddermark, demands proper identification from the Three Hunters, and Aragorn gives it to him by name-dropping a lineage ...
185 - Proud Riders on Proud Coconuts
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Three Hunters continue their pursuit across the plains, their hearts growing wearier due to the physical effects of Saruman’s opposing will. A n...
184 - The Land of the Coconut-Lords
25 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli pursue the Orcs taking Merry and Pippin through Rohan, where the folk of Eorl raise the greatest cocon— uh, horses. Real...
183 - Wind and Brothering
18 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The three remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring (as far as they know) prepare Boromir for his last journey down the Anduin, and as the son o...
182 - And Then There Were Three
11 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Still searching for Frodo after the chaotic events of the previous chapter, Aragorn is interrupted by the sound of Boromir’s horn. He arrives on the...
181 - Two Shall Be the Number of the Towers
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
And the number of the towers shall be two. Or three. Or… five? If it’s not clear yet, we’ll clear it up in this introduction to Book III of The ...
180 - Questions After Nightfall 12
27 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before we return to The Lord of the Rings with Book III, we welcome guest listeners to the common-room for our first Q&A episode of the season! As alw...
179 - A Pandemic of Moots
20 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations like the Tolkien Society and Signum University have held their annual gatherings (Oxonmoot and Myt...
178 - Hard Choices and Strange Voices: An Interview with Verlyn Flieger
09 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn welcome Verlyn Flieger back to The Prancing Pony Podcast to finish out our fourth season! We catch up with her on Beowulf, free will, a...
177 - Exit... Stage Left
02 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While Frodo and Boromir are away “talking”, the Company (still not officially called “the Fellowship", but that won’t stop us) attempt to reac...
176 - Grace Under Pressure
26 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Fellowship stop at Parth Galen to rest and make the decision they’ve been putting off since Lórien: to go west to Minas Tirith, or east to Mord...
175 - Time Stand Still
19 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Gimli gives mad props to Legolas for shooting down the — whatever that thing was — while Frodo (who knows exactly what that thing was) deals with ...
174 - Drifting by the Limlight (The Universally Creepy Dream)
12 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Floating down the Anduin, the Fellowship put off their next move for a few days after leaving Lórien. Sam’s not sure if he’s most scared of the t...
173 - Questions After Nightfall 11
28 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join us once again as we welcome guest listeners to the common-room for our eleventh unscripted Q&A episode! Looks like Elves are back on the menu (th...
172 - Bye, Company (Till the Day You Die)
21 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Galadriel says farewell with a few extra-special gifts for the extra-special members of the Fellowship while the others sit back and grumble about the...
171 - Can't Get Enough of Your Leaves
14 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Now outfitted with boats, travel gear, and road snacks, the Fellowship leave Lothlórien. They make it just a little way down the river before they’...
170 - Feel Like Bakin' Loaves
07 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Galadriel and Celeborn test the Fellowship once again by kindly inviting them to leave Lothlórien and not let the light plaited screen hit them on th...
169 – The Grand Illusion
31 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Galadriel welcomes Frodo and Sam to come on in and see what’s happening with her Mirror. Sam receives a vision of some devilry at work in the Shire;...
168 - Too Much Time on Their Hands
24 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Fellowship pass “some days” in Lórien as guests of Galadriel and Celeborn (though not the kind of guests who actually get to see or speak to ...
167 - You're My Lady
17 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Fellowship comes to Caras Galadhon — the city of Lothlórien — where lights twinkle like stars in trees as tall as skyscrapers. After climbing...
166 – Inspiration in Unlikely (and Likely) Places: An Interview with John Garth
10 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn are pleased to welcome John Garth back to the podcast to talk about his upcoming book, The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien. It gives us an unp...
165 - Just a Little Bit of Peril
03 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Fellowship are led through Lothlórien blindfolded, and yes, Legolas is still complaining. Deprived of his sight, Frodo’s heightened senses take...
164 - Nobody Expected the Elvish Insinuation
26 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Haldir of Lórien greets the Fellowship (the less beardy fellows, at least) as friends and invites them to spend the night in his magic treehouse. Poo...
163 - Strange Women Singing in Streams
19 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
No basis for a system of government, maybe, but it’s a perfectly good reason for an Elf to wax poetic about the good old days (or the bad ones… bu...
162 - 'Tis but a Scratch
05 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Fellowship mourns Gandalf quickly before moving on to put as much distance as possible between themselves and Moria. Gimli makes a quick stop at a...
161 - Questions After Nightfall 10
29 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pull up a seat near the log-fire as we welcome a few guest listeners to our tenth quarterly unscripted Q&A episode! It’s a small gathering in the co...
160 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2020
22 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Tolkien Reading Day! On March 25 every year — the date of the fall of Barad-dûr — Tolkien lovers worldwide celebrate by reading the Profess...
159 - A Farewell to Wings
15 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On a very special episode of the Prancing Pony Podcast, we come to the most divisive question in Tolkien fandom: are Balrogs left-handed? No, wait, it...
158 - Troll the Bones
08 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Gandalf discovers a damaged book documenting the Dwarves’ doomed attempt to retake Moria. They read with growing horror about the fates of Balin, Or...
157 - Don't Stop Believin'
01 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Following an insensitive remark about the “darksome” halls of Khazad-dûm by Samwise at bedtime, Gimli delivers an impassioned defense of his peop...
156 - Any Way You Want It (Just Not the Middle Way)
23 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Frodo feels a sense of growing dread — and hears faint footsteps behind them — as the Fellowship marches across the long dark of Moria, navigating...
155 - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
16 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Fellowship has found the Hollin Gate! But before they can enter Moria, they need to figure out the password. Merry stumbles upon a clue quickly, b...
154 - Separate Ways
09 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After the warg attack the weather changes again, becoming sunny and clear. That’s terrible news, of course, since now the Fellowship is visible to a...
153 - When the Lights Go Down
02 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Defeated by Caradhras, the Fellowship regroups and discusses what to do next. Going back — though supported by the second-breakfast faction — is n...
152 - Trampled Under Snow
26 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The crossing of cruel Caradhras is hindered by snow, wind, and falling stones that seem to be sent by some supernatural force. Who or what is against ...
151 - Misty Mountain Hop
19 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Fellowship is forced to leave Hollin early when “no sign of life nearby” turns into “giant evil crows filling the sky”. Certain they are b...
150 - Time to Ramble On
12 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On a cold grey winter evening, Frodo sets out on the Quest of Mount Doom with eight companions. Boromir blows his horn to make sure everyone for miles...
149 - Good Times Bad Times
05 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We resume the narrative with the first part of “The Ring Goes South”, as Frodo and his friends come to terms with the decisions made at the Counci...
148 - Questions After Nightfall 9
15 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn once again open the doors of the common-room to our listeners for live, unscripted Q&A! We shoot from the hip on questions about “wil...
147 - Tales from the Perilous Green Room: An Interview with Brian Sibley
08 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn are thrilled to welcome back Brian Sibley for his first full-episode interview! A writer and broadcaster, Brian has been responsible fo...
146 - Bring It on Home
24 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Council of Elrond draws to a close, and options are finally debated about what to do with the One Ring. But the easy way is obviously the wrong wa...
145 - What Is and What Should Never Be
17 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Frodo finally learns why Gandalf never came as promised: Saruman the (Until Recently) White has turned to the dark side! The betrayal sinks in as the ...
144 - Nobody's Fault but Mine (and Yours, and Isildur's)
10 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Gandalf and Elrond come to terms with their own past mistakes while Aragorn reveals the lengths to which he’s gone to repair the faults of Isildur. ...
143 - Whole Lotta Lore
03 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Council of Elrond continues with a brief history of Arnor and Gondor since Isildur’s time, and Boromir begins to learn the meaning of the riddle...
142 - Confustication Breakdown (with special guest Corey Olsen)
27 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Council of Elrond begins, and to help us bring the meeting to order, we welcome Corey Olsen — the Tolkien Professor himself — to the Prancing ...
141 - Starship Trooper
20 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With his friends all gone, Frodo stays in the Hall of Fire listening to the minstrels of Rivendell. The Elvish singing speaks to him in sweet accustom...
140 - I've Seen All Good People
13 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Now taking a straight and stronger course to recovery, Frodo feels it’s time for food, drink, and merrymaking. He has a brief reunion with Sam, then...
139 - Close to the Edge
06 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We return to the text of The Lord of the Rings with the first chapter of Book II! Frodo awakens in Rivendell after the incident down by the river to f...
138 - Questions After Nightfall 8
29 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn welcome a cozy group of listeners to the common-room for another round of live, unscripted questions about Tolkien, the podcast, and mo...
137 - Go Back to the Beginning
22 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
That’s what Vizzini told us to do, so we have. As we shake off the jet lag and learn to live again without full English breakfasts and a steady supp...
136 - Live from Tolkien 2019
15 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn reunite in person for a live recording from Tolkien 2019 in Birmingham, England! We interviewed several special guests at the conferenc...
135 – Things You Don’t Want to Say No To: An Interview with Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull
04 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We end Season 3 by welcoming Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull to the podcast! This renowned husband-wife team have co-authored some of the most es...
134 – White Horses Could Drag Me Away
28 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Strider is remarkably not disappointed that the Elf who’s overtaken them on the road is not his girlfriend. It’s Glorfindel of Rivendell; and for ...
133 - It's Only Rock (Not Trolls) But I Like It
21 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Strider’s path to Rivendell leads the hobbits through rough terrain; all the while, the days get colder and Frodo gradually succumbs to the evil eff...
132 - Ranger's Little Helper
14 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Frodo awakens, wounded and bewildered, after the attack on Weathertop. Believing they’ve been led into a trap, Sam is certain (again) that Strider i...
131 - Visualizing Middle-earth: An Interview with Greg Hildebrandt
30 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn are pleased to welcome Greg Hildebrandt to the Prancing Pony Podcast! An iconic artist and illustrator, Greg (together with his twin br...
130 - Questions After Nightfall 7
23 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s our most Bombadilicious episode yet! Once again, Alan and Shawn open the common-room to listeners for live, unscripted questions that we answer...
129 - Fooled on the Hill
16 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Evening falls on Weathertop, and our heroes make camp beneath the stars with the Black Riders not far away. Strider tells stories to chase away their ...
128 - Magical Mystery Tour
09 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Strider leads the hobbits through the mysterious (and not entirely comforting) ruins of ancient kingdoms of Men along the road to Weathertop, with the...
127 - Twelve-Penny Lane
02 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Black Riders attack the inn during the night, so Strider opts for an early check-out to get out of Bree quickly. They soon discover that Merry’s pon...
126 - Noble Enough to Know What's Right
26 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Frodo reads Gandalf’s letter, more concerned than ever at the wizard’s absence and the delay caused by Barliman. But at least the letter confirms ...
125 - A Writer and a Ranger
19 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We begin with a review of the new biographical film Tolkien (spoilers: see below) before moving on to the first half of Book I, Chapter 10. Frodo, Sam...
124 - Living in the Limelight
12 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Cast in his unlikely role as “Mr. Underhill”, Frodo tries to keep a low profile at the Prancing Pony. But the attention he’s getting from a shad...
123 - Be Cool or Be Cast Out
05 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Frodo and his friends make their way to Bree, and to an inn with a strangely familiar name, in the first half of “At the Sign of the Prancing Pony”...
122 - The Digital Mead-Hall: TexMoot 2019 Keynote Presentation
28 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In January, Alan and Shawn were honored to be the keynote speakers at Signum University’s second annual Texas Literature & Language Symposium (“Te...
121 - Comfortably Tom
14 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the final pages of “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, the hobbits — now armed with nice, shiny daggers — reluctantly take their leave of Tom Bombad...
120 - Wish You Weren't Here
07 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As we resume “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, Frodo comes to and finds himself trapped in a barrow with his friends unconscious beside him, arrayed eeri...
119 - The Dark Side of the Tomb
31 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We begin the chilling chapter “Fog on the Barrow-downs” on the hobbits’ last morning in the house of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry. Soon they must ...
118 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2019
24 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Tolkien Reading Day! On March 25 every year – the date of the fall of Barad-dûr – Tolkien lovers worldwide celebrate by reading the Profess...
117 - Questions After Nightfall 6
17 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn once again welcome several of our listeners to the Prancing Pony Podcast for live, unscripted “Ask Me Anything”–style questions. ...
116 - Does Goldberry Float in Water?
10 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The hobbits experience a rain delay the morning after their first night in the house of Tom Bombadil, and Frodo couldn’t be happier. While Goldberry...
115 - Fetch the Comfy Chairs
03 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Frodo and friends get comfortable in the first half of “In the House of Tom Bombadil,” and Alan and Shawn finally begin to unwrap the enigma that ...
114 - Race, Tolkien, and Middle-earth
24 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time ever, the Prancing Pony Podcast is proud to release one of our patron-exclusive episodes to our general audience. In this special o...
113 - Trouble with the Trees
17 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s nap time in the Old Forest as our heroes gradually succumb to the power of an ancient and angry willow. Sam rolls a natural 20 to resist the sp...
112 - Unrest in the Forest
10 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Frodo and his companions enter into the Old Forest in the first part of Book I, Chapter 6 of The Lord of the Rings. Merry has been beyond the Hedge be...
111 - Eleventy-first Episode Extravaganza
03 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Alan and Shawn are celebrating their eleventy-first episode with a party of special magnificence! But instead of inviting you to a feast and risking a...
110 - With a Little Help from My Friends
27 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A conspiracy is finally unmasked in the second half of “A Conspiracy Unmasked”! Frodo’s dread turns to relief when he learns his friends already...
109 - Hello, Goodbye
20 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the first half of Book I, Chapter 5 of The Lord of the Rings, the Hobbits cross the Brandywine and come to Frodo’s new digs at Crickhollow, where...
108 - Ain't Gonna Walk on Maggot's Farm No More
13 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of “A Short Cut to Mushrooms” finds Frodo almost as scared of Farmer Maggot as he is of the Black Rider following him. His fears a...
107 - The Nazgûl is Wailin' in the Wind
06 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We begin the new year with a Tolkien Fun Fact in honor of the Professor’s birthday before starting on Book I, Chapter 4 of The Lord of the Rings, “...
An Evergreen PPP Holiday Event - The Father Christmas Letters
23 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In what has officially become an annual event, join Alan and Shawn as they use the wayback machine to revisit episode 028 in this special director's c...