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The Prancing Pony Podcast
Get your Tolkien every day by subscribing to Today’s Tolkien Times! Alan Sisto, host of the award-winning Prancing Pony Podcast and Rings of Power Wrap-up, hosts a new short-format daily podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Listeners get answers on Mailbag Mondays; discover more about the Professor on Tolkien Tuesdays; indulge your inner philologist on Word-nerd Wednesdays; learn more about the familiar stories of Middle-earth on Third Age Thursdays; hear from Tolkien fans around the world on Fandom Fridays; and dive deep into Middle-earth history on Silmarillion Saturdays!
And on Sundays? That’s what The Prancing Pony Podcast is for! So subscribe to Today’s Tolkien Times and follow us on all our social media channels!
Week 031 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Sum Total of Last Week’s Amusements
The revised and expanded edition of Letters continues to provide wonderful insight into Tolkien and his relationship with his sons. Today, three short letters to Christopher that remind us of the reality of the Blitz, and the importance of remembering birthdays.
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09:4906/02/2024
Week 031 - Mailbag Monday: Aren’t You a Little Underwhelming for a Maia?
Join The Man of the West as he attempts to answer an unanswerable question about the Goblins of the Misty Mountains and their recognition of important artifacts in their cultural history. Or something like that.
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11:1405/02/2024
Week 030 - Silmarillion Saturday: Love Not Too Well
You know the rest, folks — and if you don’t, that’s why you’re listening to this show! Join The Man of the West as we open the chapter Of the Noldor in Beleriand and learn about the founding of the most beautiful city in the history of Middle-earth: the Hidden City of Gondolin.
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09:1003/02/2024
Week 030 - Fandom Friday: A Númenórean Sea Shanty - Phil Dean
We welcome another of Team PPP to today’s Fandom Friday as Phil Dean joins Alan to chat about his experience as a Númenórean guardsman on the first season of The Rings of Power.
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26:1602/02/2024
Week 030 - Third Age Thursday: The Whispering Wood
The Man of the West reads more in the story of Cirion and Eorl, relishing in the mystery of Gondorian forestry policy, as well as why Gondor’s zoning regulations for Halifirien changed.
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09:3301/02/2024
Week 030 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The Beacons of Gondor Are… Etymologically Interesting
From Amon Dîn to Halifirien, the Man of the West takes a deep dive into the names of each of the beacons of Gondor — well, those of northern Gondor at least.
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10:1831/01/2024
Week 030 - Tolkien Tuesday: Be Of Good Heart
We return to the revised and expanded edition of Tolkien’s letters to take a closer look at a couple of letters written to his son, Michael. Tolkien offers some sage advice about young love, but strays a bit beyond his expertise when opining about women.
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09:5130/01/2024
Week 030 - Mailbag Monday: Given to Rhetorical Superlatives
Join The Man of the West as he answers a question about who’s older than who… thankfully, he’s not answering a question about his own age.
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09:0329/01/2024
Week 029 - Silmarillion Saturday: Save One Only
It’s time to conclude our readings through Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor as we finally arrive at that hiding the title has been suggesting might happen. Also: Morgoth’s a coward.
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08:1427/01/2024
Week 029 - Fandom Friday: The Tolkienist’s Take on Tolkien Talks and Tolkien Tage: A Visit with Marcel Aubron-Bülles
Join The Man of the West in welcoming one of the OG Tolkien bloggers to the TTT. Marcel’s the busiest guy in the Tolkien fandom, it seems, but he has a few minutes to spare for us!
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16:5126/01/2024
Week 029 - Third Age Thursday: Rochon Methestel
Bonus points if you get that reference without looking. The Man of the West continues his ride through the tale of Cirion and Eorl, as the Éothéod rides to the rescue of Gondor in Unfinished Tales.
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11:3325/01/2024
Week 029 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Fierce and Fabled
It’s time for another double word-nerd Wednesday as The Man of the West introduces you to the valiant steed of Eorl and the race of horses he sired.
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08:2724/01/2024
Week 029 - Tolkien Tuesday: Not Too Quick in the Uptake
We open up the Revised and Expanded edition of Letters to take a deep dive into one entirely new letter that Tolkien wrote to his good friend, E.V. Gordon. Also: don’t let Kenneth Sisam read this one.
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11:3323/01/2024
Week 029 - Mailbag Monday: Tiptoe To the Mewlips
Join The Man of the West as he reluctantly answers a mailbag question about some of the creepiest creatures Professor Tolkien ever imagined: the mysterious and malevolent Mewlips.
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10:4722/01/2024
Week 028 - Silmarillion Saturday: As He Ever Shall Be
Arien would need a restraining order against Tilion if it weren’t for her ability to burn him like a slice of toast. Join The Man of the West as he continues his read-through of the chapter Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor — which, I promise, will get hidden eventually.
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08:0320/01/2024
Week 028 - Fandom Friday: Sara It Was, and Dr. Brown Also
The Man of the West is joined by one of his esteemed cohort of co-hosts, Dr. Sara Brown, to talk about Éowyn, Discworld, and anything else she darn well wants to talk about!
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25:0419/01/2024
Week 028 - Third Age Thursday: Riders of Great Courage
Learn about the migration of the Éothéod, the Stewardship of Cirion, and the discovery that a huge force of enemies was preparing an attack on Gondor as we continue the tale of Cirion and Eorl!
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08:1018/01/2024
Week 028 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Númenoréan Month or Prescription Medication?
Join The Man of the West for a closer look at the Kings’ Reckoning, the calendar system used for over 5,000 years by the Men of Númenor and Gondor. Side effects of Narquelië may include depression, darkness, and regret.
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07:1517/01/2024
Week 028 - Tolkien Tuesday: Grim Grinning… Drawer Handles?
It’s time to go back to more of the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters as we look at some letters dated around the time of the publication of The Hobbit. It appears the Professor understands the truth about math. Or maths.
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07:1516/01/2024
Week 028 - Mailbag Monday: Túrin, Túna, and, uh… Celeborn
Join The Man of the West as he answers a mailbag question about a legendary Norwegian bowman and his possible inspiration of one of Tolkien’s most tragic characters. Plus, Alan almost certainly mispronounces the same name many, many times.
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08:3215/01/2024
Week 027 - Silmarillion Saturday: As a Naked Flame
Learn about Arien and Tilion, the Maiar chosen to carry the Sun and the Moon through the skies of Arda, as we continue our journey through Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor.
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07:3213/01/2024
Week 027 - Fandom Friday: Pity, Power, and a Chat with Tom Hillman
Join The Man of the West as he welcomes Tom Hillman, author of Pity, Power, and Tolkien’s Ring. Ah-ha moments abound as Alan and Tom chat.
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21:3612/01/2024
Week 027 - Third Age Thursday: Which None Could Then Foresee
It’s time to continue our readings in the story of Cirion and Eorl, even if we’re still at the part of Calimehtar and Marhwini. At least Cirion and Eorl are easier to pronounce.
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10:5011/01/2024
Week 027 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The (Great) Green Region
We have time for two words on this Word-nerd Wednesday: the first is the name of the 30th King of Gondor, and the other is the name of a land that would eventually be gifted to the people of the Éothéod.
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06:5010/01/2024
Week 027 - Tolkien Tuesday: Hi Dad, Send Cash
We take a look at three letters that Tolkien wrote to his sons: school grades, mom guilt, BBC criticism, a hand injury, and a plea for cash to a poor professor all feature in today’s Tolkien Tuesday!
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08:1809/01/2024
Week 027 - Mailbag Monday: Gandalf as a Dwarf?
Join The Man of the West as he answers a speculative question about the form that the wizards took when they came to Middle-earth. Now I’m picturing Radagast as a hobbit.
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08:2808/01/2024
Week 026 - Silmarillion Saturday: Dust Off the Piñata
A study of heavenly bodies begins with the aftermath of Fëanor storming out of the house, slamming the door, stealing the neighbor’s car, and peeling out of the driveway. Also, Manwë borrows a page from Nienna’s playbook and needs a tissue.
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08:0606/01/2024
Week 026 - Fandom Friday: The Full English: Chris Newton from A Book At Breakfast
Join The Man of the West as he welcomes fellow bibliophile and Tolkien fan Chris Newton, and learn about a new podcast you might want to listen to. Chris earns extra points for a ‘core of the original’ reference in an episode blurb.
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14:4705/01/2024
Week 026 - Third Age Thursday: And You Thought You’d Avoid Gothic
The Man of the West wanted to make a joke here about the Émo-théod and why their early names were Goth-ic, but we talked him out of it. We apologize for the fault in the blurb. Those responsible have been sacked.
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08:2704/01/2024
Week 026 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Because ‘Horse-People’ is Boring
Get ready for some Old English as we take a look at the Éothéod and one of their lords, Eorl the Young in the first Word-nerd Wednesday of 2024.
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06:2403/01/2024
Week 026 - Tolkien Tuesday: All That Over a Comma
It’s time for The Man of the West to open the new Revised and Expanded Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien as we begin a new series of Tolkien Tuesday episodes! Learn why it’s always good to save your file versions.
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05:4802/01/2024
Week 026 - Mailbag Monday: Something About Rope
Join The Man of the West as he rings in 2024 with a new series of Today’s Tolkien Times! We start with a mailbag question about Sam’s mysteriously disappearing brothers, and his two sisters, both called Miss-Not-Appearing-In-This-Book.
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09:1801/01/2024
Week 025 - Fancy a Game of Snapdragons?
Tolkien brings in more real-world events — a really cold winter, and a bright comet — into his Letters From Father Christmas, while NPB is busy getting the Man in the Moon drunk. Also, Merry Christmas from the TTT!
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07:4223/12/2023
Week 025 - Rory Bory Aylis
The Man of the West introduces a new term for the Aurora Borealis, as he looks at Tolkien’s 1926 Letter From Father Christmas. North Polar Bear is up to his usual mischief, and the reindeer break loose. Also, the Man in the Moon is badly injured — but it’s nothing chocolate can’t fix.
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06:2722/12/2023
Week 025 - Dreadfully Busy
No, really, he means it. Father Christmas is busy, and so is Professor Tolkien, as Christmas of 1925 approaches. Holding down two jobs, writing the beginnings of Middle-earth mythology, moving house, and being the father to three boys ages 8, 5, and 1. Whew, I’m tired just writing that.
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06:3621/12/2023
Week 025 - A Letter for the LEGO Fans
We move to 1923 and a letter to a new address in Leeds, before looking at just how old Father Christmas really is. Also, when is a brick not a brick?
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07:0520/12/2023
Week 025 - Dramatis Personae
Let’s start at the very beginning: it’s a very good place to start, after all. It’s time to open up the Introduction to the Letters and learn about the growing crew up at the North Pole, before we start with the first letter, written in 1920.
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05:5919/12/2023
Week 025 - Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe
Join The Man of the West for a very special holiday week of Today’s Tolkien Times as he dives into Letters From Father Christmas, beginning with words from Baillie Tolkien, Christopher’s wife and the editor of the Letters volumes. Resource links:https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/the-father-christmas-letters-4/https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=Letters%20From%20Father%20Christmas
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07:5818/12/2023
Week 024 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Elves Know Not
Men are mortal, and so is Series 3 of Today’s Tolkien Times! Join The Man of the West as he wraps things up (mostly) for 2023 with a look at the difference between Elves and Men — including a glimpse at an early version from The Book of Lost Tales.
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09:3425/11/2023
Week 024 - Fandom Friday: Time Flies When Your Book is Awesome — John Garth
You’ve enjoyed eight weeks of excerpts from his book, Tolkien and the Great War, so please welcome John Garth to Today’s Tolkien Times, as we celebrate 20 years since the publication of his award-winning biography! Plus insights on his new book — Tolkien’s Mirror — and how you can help get it published sooner.
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17:1624/11/2023
Week 024 - Third Age Thursday: Look After Your Darling
To those celebrating, the TTT wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! Join The Man of the West as he finishes up The Quest of Erebor and discovers the softer side of Gandalf, and why all of Middle-earth is thankful for a chance-meeting in Bree.
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08:5523/11/2023
Week 024 - Word-nerd Wednesday: What Do Fëanor and Dol Guldur Have in Common?
We’ll let Gandalf explore the dungeons of Dol Guldur; The Man of the West will explore its etymology. Observe his shocked face as he learns the connection between the Noldor and dark sorcery.
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07:1522/11/2023
Week 024 - Tolkien Tuesday: Pipe-smoking and Chin-wagging
Like so many other students before him, Tolkien wasn’t always entirely dedicated to his academic pursuits. Join The Man of the West as he revisits John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War one more time to learn about Tolkien’s ‘pure alpha’ and the major change in his, uh, major.Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.
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08:2121/11/2023
Week 024 - Mailbag Monday: Linked In, Middle-earth
Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 3 of the TTT with an update for the holidays before he answers an interesting question about employment opportunities in Middle-earth. Polish up those resumes, folks!
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11:0820/11/2023
Week 023 - Silmarillion Saturday: Where Every Leaf is Green
I’m sure it won’t stay that way, though. Join The Man of the West as he concludes this week of the TTT by reading the first half of the chapter Of Men. Distant Valar, condescending Elves, and Morgoth on the loose: the Men will be just fiiiiiine.
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07:4118/11/2023
Week 023 - Fandom Friday: The Tolkien Professor
Sometimes, the big voices in the fandom have things to say too — Alan welcomes the OG Tolkien podcaster, Dr. Corey Olsen to the show to talk about all things Signum, and to put him in charge of Amazon’s marketing for Rings of Power.
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27:1217/11/2023
Week 023 - Third Age Thursday: He Was Getting Greedy and Fat
No, not The Man of the West — well at least not both of them — Bilbo! Gandalf recalls just how disappointing Bilbo was in the second part of The Quest of Erebor. Also, keep old maps and keys for 95 years, just in case.
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08:5016/11/2023
Week 023 - Word-nerd Wednesday: (The Rest of) The Many Names of Gandalf
The Man of the West returns to his wizardy wording ways this week as he brings you more of the names of Gandalf — and fills in a few unintended blanks on one of last week’s names!
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08:3115/11/2023
Week 023 - Tolkien Tuesday: Time For You To Go, George
We join Tolkien on his winter break as he writes and stars in his own play that just might bear some similarities to real-life. He is finally allowed to write to Edith and the results are… not what you’d expect. Give it up for poor George.Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.
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08:3614/11/2023
Week 023 - Mailbag Monday: Not a David Letterman Top 10
Join The Man of the West as he begins week 23 with a list of the top 10 scariest or creepiest creatures in Middle-earth, just in time for… two weeks after Halloween. You’ll never guess what #5 is!
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14:5713/11/2023