Today's Tolkien Times
Episodes
Week 078 - Fandom Friday: A Song of Greater Power
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he sits down with Tolkien scholar (and Ph.D. student) Clare Moore to talk about things he only barely understands. Learn m...
Week 078 - Third Age Thursday: Unmarred, Unstained
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clearly not referring to The Man of the West or any of his clothing, today’s title references a line in a poem that Gandalf may have just made up on...
Week 078 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Or, “Deadly Forest of Deadly Death”
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a closer look at Taur-nu-Fuin than you ever thought you’d like. Also, it turns out we’ve been misspelling the name of...
Week 078 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Such a Churl
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yet another line that could describe The Man of the West — but today, it’s Túrin’s own self-evaluation, as he reunites with an old friend. Lear...
Week 078 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Between Down and Fen
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he follows the Three Hunters into Rohan for another Middle-earth Map Monday to start week 78 of the TTT. Learn more about ...
Week 077 - Silmarillion Saturday: There Mirth Also Dwelt
12 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he continues Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, as we witness the power of the Three Rings — and the inevitability...
Week 077 - Fandom Friday: Kaiakayy
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West welcomes Kaia to Today’s Tolkien Times to talk Tolkien, TikTok and trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
Week 077 - Third Age Thursday: Hwær Cwom Mearg?
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for an attempt at Old English as he looks at Aragorn’s Lament for the Rohirrim, the classic ubi sunt, and reads Tolkien’s...
Week 077 - Word-nerd Wednesday: It Would Explain Much
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We spend another Word-nerd Wednesday looking at names from the Tale of Túrin Turambar; today, including four Elves and three swords! Learn more about...
Week 077 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Guard Him and Guide Him
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We return to the story of Túrin Turambar as perpetually-underrated Beleg Cúthalion does everything within his power to help the troubled young man. ...
Week 077 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Swelled Like a Green Sea
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins week 77 of Today’s Tolkien Times with another Middle-earth Map Monday, joining the Three Hunters as they pursu...
Week 076 - Silmarillion Saturday: Stirred as by a Cold Wind
05 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for the continuing story Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, as we witness the fall of Arnor and the waning of Gondor. L...
Week 076 - Fandom Friday: History, Real or Feigned
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West in welcoming Be1mont_lotr to Fandom Friday; he’s another in the growing chorus of the Voices of Arda, a history buff, and d...
Week 076 - Third Age Thursday: Dark is the Path
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Galadriel has messages for the Three Hunters, even if Gandalf nearly forgets to deliver one of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
Week 076 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Say That Again?
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he brings to light more of the words from our Tuesday readings in the story of Túrin: today, a look at the family of Húr...
Week 076 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Marked With Sorrow
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The tragic tale of Túrin Turambar properly begins today, as we encounter the aftermath of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad through the eyes of Morwen Eledhwen....
Week 076 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Rush and Thunder
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins another week with a look at the last of the places the Company visited along the Great River. Learn more about y...
Week 075 - Silmarillion Saturday: Not Wholly Destroyed
29 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for more reading from Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age as, today, he learns that sometimes, a victory is only temporar...
Week 075 - Fandom Friday: Celebreabird
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s Tolkien Times returns to Fandom Fridays, as The Man of the West welcomes Celebreabird to talk about her Tolkien substack and her welcoming w...
Week 075 - Third Age Thursday: With Doom We Come
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
No, not The Man of the West and any of his PPP co-hosts; it’s time for Treebeard and the Ents to sing and march their way to Isengard to deal with s...
Week 075 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Vigorous Heart
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Time to explore a few of the names we encountered in yesterday’s Túrin Tuesday, including the names of the brothers Húrin and Huor, and The Man of...
Week 075 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Seventy Times He Uttered That Cry
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is it The Man of the West crying about another old joke? No, it’s Húrin, killing yet another member of the troll-guard of Gothmog. Learn more abou...
Week 075 - Middle-earth Map Monday: No Foot of Man Or Beast
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 10 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a visit to the lake of Nen Hithoel and the three peaks that helped sha...
Week 074 - Silmarillion Saturday: Brooded in the Dark
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for some unexpected advice about ‘brooding’ as we conclude the Second Age in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age in T...
Week 074 - First-Age Friday: Sudden Swift Surprise
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After 32 First Age Fridays, we reach the end of Tolkien’s Lay of Leithian. Beren Erchamion, folks: give him a hand. Learn more about your ad choice...
Week 074 - Third Age Thursday: Lighthearted, Quick-worded, and Soon Over
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Once again, while this could describe The Man of the West and the TTT episodes, it’s actually Treebeard’s thoughts about the Elvish song of the En...
Week 074 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Quenya for “Listen to Her”
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for the last of his 8-week series on the names of the Valar and Maiar, as we discover the stories behind the names of Arien, ...
Week 074 - Tolkien Tuesday: Her Last and Fattest Years
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tolkien’s in-depth explanation of hobbit birthdays continues, and transitions into a discussion of family structure and one morbidly funny story inv...
Week 074 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Silent Wardens
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 9 with another Middle-earth Map Monday, traveling down the Anduin. Also, Aragorn admires...
Week 073 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Yearning of Exile
22 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as we read a summary of the early years of the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, and their ‘many treasures and great heirlooms ...
Week 073 - First-Age Friday: Ecstasy Enchanted
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We promised it would get better after last week’s visions of Morgoth’s dark heart; but Beren and Lúthien are still, essentially, in hell — so k...
Week 073 - Third Age Thursday: More Than My Desire
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a closer look at Treebeard’s wanderings through the lands of Beleriand in the First Age. Learn more about your ad choic...
Week 073 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Place of Starlight
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West moves on from the names of the Valar and begins an in-depth look at the names of some of the Maiar, including the handmaid of Vard...
Week 073 - Tolkien Tuesday: Horrified the Shire-folk
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What in Middle-earth could do such a thing to the doughty hobbits? You’ll have to listen to The Man of the West as he continues looking at Tolkien’...
Week 073 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Burned and Uprooted
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for another week of Today’s Tolkien Times, starting with a ride down the Anduin as we look at the Brown Lands and the Undee...
Week 072 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Voices of Death
15 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for another reading in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age as we see the fates of the Seven and the Nine, and get a recap...
Week 072 - First-Age Friday: A Pretty Toy For Idle Hour
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also quite clearly not The Man of the West, but join him as he walks through a genuinely hellish moment for Lúthien as she endures the lustful stares...
Week 072 - Third Age Thursday: The Lore of Living Creatures
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aragorn longs for Gondor and a crown buried for a thousand years; Merry and Pippin long to be included in a list of people who don’t get squished by...
Week 072 - Word-nerd Wednesday: An Actual Perfect 10
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as we look at more names of the Valier, running down quite the list today including Nienna, Estë, Vairë, Vána, and Nessa. ...
Week 072 - Tolkien Tuesday: Considerable Social Importance
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t need me to tell you that today’s title has nothing to do with The Man of the West. Rather, it’s about hobbit birthdays in a letter Tol...
Week 072 - Middle-earth Map Monday: And the Land Was Silent
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for the third and final episode on the land of Lórien as we learn all about its time under the leadership of not-King Celebo...
Week 071 - Silmarillion Saturday: Is It Not Then Our Task
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as the Noldor of Eregion hearken to the persuasive words of the Lord of Gifts, much to their dismay. Learn more about your ad...
Week 071 - First-Age Friday: Thy Name, Thou Shrieking Waif, Thy Name!
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I’ll take ‘Pickup Lines That Result in Failure’ for $500, Alex.” Join The Man of the West for suggestions on what not to say when talking t...
Week 071 - Third Age Thursday: His Cloven Shield, His Broken Sword
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as Aragorn and Legolas sing a lament for Boromir, while Gimli watches on quietly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...
Week 071 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Lady of the West and Mother Earth
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We continue looking at names of the Valar in this series’ Word-nerd Wednesdays, today diving into the names of two of the Queens of the Valar, or th...
Week 071 - Tolkien Tuesday: Juicy Details
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as we look at Tolkien’s response to a letter asking him for ‘facts’ about himself, and discover that while he doesn’t...
Week 071 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Long Years of Peace and Obscurity
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
No, that doesn’t describe the tenure of The Man of the West at The Prancing Pony Podcast — although it certainly could. Join Alan as he continues ...
Week 070 - Silmarillion Saturday: Back Into Evil
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Repent? Sure! Oh, on second thought. Join The Man of the West as Sauron waffles in our first reading in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age (or Ot...
Week 070 - First-Age Friday: Immortal Flowers
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, having a strong perfume isn’t such a good idea. Join The Man of the West as he accompanies Beren and Lúthien to the very gates of Angban...
Week 070 - Third Age Thursday: More Quenya!
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West is in his happy place, reading the longest piece of Quenya text in The Lord of the Rings as we look at Galadriel’s Lament. Lear...
Week 070 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Tulk Smash
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a look at the captain of the Valar football team, Tulkas Astaldo. And because we don’t get to ignore him, Melkor also m...
Week 070 - Tolkien Tuesday: Sufferers Please Note
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Professor laments the process of getting work done at the house, and dispenses great medical advice to his cousin, and to us as well, on this week...
Week 070 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Greatly At Variance
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he tries to untangle the knots Tolkien gave us in The History of Galadriel and Celeborn as he begins his look at Lothlóri...
Week 069 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Roads Are Now Bent
25 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a busy time for cartographers after the Downfall of Númenor, as we read about the aftermath of Atalantë in the last reading of the Akallabêt...
Week 069 - First-Age Friday: Fight With Thine Own Hand and Sword
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a First Age Flashback in The Lay of Leithian as Fingolfin squares off against the mighty Morgoth, who would prefer to not...
Week 069 - Third Age Thursday: Sad and Sweet Was the Sound
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our journey through the songs and poems in The Lord of the Rings as we listen to Galadriel’s Song and her bittersweet memories of Eldama...
Week 069 - Word-nerd Wednesday: My Brother’s Office is So Much Nicer
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West in his continued effort to uncover more about the names of the Valar: in today’s episode, we chat with the Masters of Spiri...
Week 069 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Laughter of Ilúvatar
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tolkien presents two important stories from The Silmarillion 20 years before the book is published, as he explains in Letter 212 the tale of Míriel a...
Week 069 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Too Numerous and Valiant
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he ends his three-week look at the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm! From Galadriel’s far-sightedness and the innocence of...
Week 068 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Sky Reeled, and the Hills Slid
18 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Númenor pays the ultimate price for its pride and rebellion as Ar-Pharazôn suddenly discovers he’d rather not have immortality after all in this w...
Week 068 - First-Age Friday: In Love Must In Thy Dying Share
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The bestest good boy ever has some hard words for Beren before providing the best cosplay advice ever in another episode on The Lay of Leithian on thi...
Week 068 - Third Age Thursday: An Old Man in a Battered Hat
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Once again, no this isn’t a title describing The Man of the West: he doesn’t really wear hats. But Gandalf did, and Frodo missed him — so he san...
Week 068 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The World-Artificer and The Forester
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for another Word-nerd Wednesday: this week’s contestants on ‘Who’s Got the Coolest Name?’ are the Valar of Smithing a...
Week 068 - Tolkien Tuesday: Of Equal Lineage
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time to remind those Elves that they’re no better than us as The Man of the West looks at Letter 212 where Tolkien “adds a few lines” abo...
Week 068 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Given Without Love
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he starts Week 68 of Today’s Tolkien Times with another Middle-earth Map Monday in Moria as we look at more of the names...
Week 067 - Silmarillion Saturday: Repent For a Season
11 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as we spend just a few more weeks in the Akallabêth, watching the train wreck of Númenor. Ar-Pharazôn ignores the signs an...
Week 067 - First-Age Friday: Yet Were Its Making Good
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Beren bids farewell to everything and prepares to meet his fate alone — but Lúthien has other ideas. Join The Man of the West for another series in...
Week 067 - Third Age Thursday: As Light As Leaf of Linden-Tree
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Legolas sings a sad song about Nimrodel as The Man of the West continues his walk through the poems and songs in The Lord of the Rings in Series 9’s...
Week 067 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ainur We Have Heard on High
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West begins an 8-week look at the names of the Valar and Maiar — beginning with those exact words, actually. Learn more about your a...
Week 067 - Tolkien Tuesday: At the End of the Sixth Age
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tolkien tells us that the Fall of Barad-dûr was about 6000 years ago as The Man of the West continues his run through the Letters on Tolkien Tuesdays...
Week 067 - Middle-earth Map Monday: And I Mean ALL the Languages
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 9 of the TTT with another Middle-earth Map Monday momentarily on the meritorious megalopolis of Moria. Ok...
Week 066 - I Smell Goblin Strong
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he tries not to imagine what goblin smells like, let alone *strong* goblin. We wrap up this special holiday celebration by...
Week 066 - Properly Drawn Bears
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re struggling with drawing bears, Karhu might be able to help you. It’s time for the first part of the long 1932 Letter From Father Christm...
Week 066 - Paksu and Valkotukka
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
North Polar Bear’s cousins — ‘fat’ and ‘white-hair’ — show up and immediately cause the sort of turmoil you’d imagine NPB’s relative...
Week 066 - Polar Bears Get Whooping Cough?
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for another Letter From Father Christmas as we learn of North Polar Bear’s illness and recovery — and his not-thought-thr...
Week 066 - My Real Name is Karhu
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for more adventures with Father Christmas and North Polar Bear as Father Christmas is grateful for time zones around the world. Learn more...
Week 066 - Don’t Be a Silly Bear
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a special holiday celebration as we read through Letters From Father Christmas so that we can all realize what inadequate...
Week 065 - Silmarillion Saturday: That Land is Defiled
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as Ar-Pharazôn is drunk on Sauron’s words, while Amandil makes audacious but hopeless plans, as we conclude Series 8 of th...
Week 065 - First-Age Friday: She’s Also a Triage Nurse
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lúthien shows great promise for a career in the medical profession, as she heals Beren — and he thanks her by leaving her in the paws of the best d...
Week 065 - Third Age Thursday: The World Was Young
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, it was actually younger than The Man of the West. Join him for a deeper dive into the Song of Durin as we look at the rich history found in these...
Week 065 - Word-nerd Wednesday: But What About Middle-earth?
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for The Man of the West to finally do some word-nerdery on the name of everyone’s favorite place: Middle-earth itself. Learn more about ...
Week 065 - Tolkien Tuesday: Wizards, the Bayeux Tapestry, and Pterodactyls?
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a strange mix in the second half of Letter 211 as Tolkien answers a barrage of questions as only the Professor can. Learn...
Week 065 - Middle-earth Map Monday: No One Hinders Oromë
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as we move on from Eregion to study the longest mountain range in this part of Middle-earth: the Hithaeglir, or Misty Mountai...
Week 064 - Silmarillion Saturday: Torment and Great Wickedness
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Just a normal weekend for The Man of the West? Thankfully, no — just a summary of what’s happening as Ar-Pharazôn opens the latest infrastructure...
Week 064 - First-Age Friday: Frail of Purpose, Light of Love?
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You underestimate Lúthien at your own peril. Join The Man of the West for more from the Lay of Leithian as Huan once again proves to be the bestest b...
Week 064 - Third Age Thursday: Full of Light and Splendour
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Company finally leave Rivendell and so do we, as we join Gimli for a rich history lesson in this week’s Third Age Thursday poetry reading. Learn...
Week 064 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Chief Heavenly Lights
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for this deep dive into the names of four Faithful men in the darkest time of Númenor in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday. ...
Week 064 - Tolkien Tuesday: All the Answers
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No, this is not a claim of knowledge on behalf of The Man of the West; in fact, it’s a quote from one of Tolkien’s letters that we’ll look at to...
Week 064 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Skill and Fame of Fëanor
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West’s advice to Celebrimbor: never meet your heroes. Today’s Middle-earth Map Monday follows up on last week as we continue our ti...
Week 063 - Silmarillion Saturday: He Brooded Darkly
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he notes the company that Ar-Pharazôn keeps in brooding darkly, while the mightiest King of Númenor decides it’s time ...
Week 063 - First-Age Friday: Oaths are For Breaking of the Heart
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The folk of Nargothrond finally come to their senses about the Sons of Fëanor, while Beren decides it’s time to part ways with Lúthien, in this we...
Week 063 - Third Age Thursday: And Voices at the Door
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have time for one more poem in Rivendell before leaving with the Company, this time a nostalgic and sorrowful set of verses from Bilbo as he sits b...
Week 063 - Word-nerd Wednesday: No More Elvish, and I Mean It
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for some word-nerdery on several of the names of Númenóreans from last week’s reading in the Akallabêth for Silmarillion...
Week 063 - Tolkien Tuesday: Ridiculous Indeed
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once again, a title that could be speaking about The Man of the West but, thankfully, is instead referring to ‘silly alterations’ made for an adap...
Week 063 - Middle-earth Map Monday: In Happier Days
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as we venture south of Rivendell for this week’s Middle-earth Map Monday, with the Company arriving at “the country that ...
Week 062 - Silmarillion Saturday: … And the Havens of Andúnië Were Forlorn
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as a series of Númenórean kings play a game of “who can be worse than their fathers?”. Except for Tar-Palantír, of cou...
Week 062 - First-Age Friday: Flower of Elfland Ever Fair!
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for yet more beautiful poetry on First Age Friday as we continue our read through the Lay of Leithian: this time, Draugluin dies, Sauron s...
Week 062 - Third Age Thursday: Boromir Belays Begging Boon
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
That’s it, no more alliteration today. The Man of the West reads a bit more poetry in The Lord of the Rings, starting with a verse that stymied Men ...
Week 062 - Word-nerd Wednesday: How Many Names Can a Valley Have?
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he looks at far more names for Rivendell than you might have expected, and reads a bit about Tolkien’s adventures in the...
Week 062 - Tolkien Tuesday: Far More Unsatisfactory
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Now I’m just feeling called out; fortunately, those words of Tolkien’s were reserved for the storyline of Zimmerman in Letter #210 as we continue ...