The Prancing Pony Podcast

Strider leads the hobbits through the mysterious (and not entirely comforting) ruins of ancient kingdoms of Men along the road to Weathertop, with the hope of meeting Gandalf there. The Ranger’s knowledge of ancient lore surprises the hobbits nearly as much as Sam’s does; and as they roll up to the hill, they discover they’re not the only ones to have been here recently. Plus, Strider still needs to lighten up, a listener shares a pro tip about reading Tolkien to kids at bedtime, and we see how many quotes from The Princess Bride we can squeeze into a short amount of time.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 ponies are missing, delaying their departure; but Barliman, uh, ponies up the money to compensate their losses and buys them one underfed beast of burden for the road. Bill Ferny (now twelve silver pennies richer) sees the heroes off on their way out of town, and Sam repays his kind gesture with an apple. Also: more listener questions on the Rings of Power, and word-nerdery on the itchiest place name in Middle-earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Strider’s identity, and Frodo is wise enough to choose to trust him. Sam’s continued protests give the Ranger a chance to be tempted by the Ring, but he keeps his self-control; and before long Merry returns with a report that the Black Riders are much closer than they think. Also, we welcome Marquette University archivist Bill Fliss to talk about his exciting new project: the J.R.R. Tolkien Fandom Oral History Collection.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, and Pippin retire to their parlor after the “accident” in the common-room, only to find the mysterious Ranger called Strider there with them. Strider seems to know a lot about their errand, but before Frodo can find out how, Barliman comes in with a not-exactly-rush delivery. We investigate the peculiar names of inns, mock the poverty of bards, and reveal there’s more in our CD collections than just classic Rush albums. SPOILER ALERT: Our review of the new biopic film Tolkien is (of course) full of spoilers, and (also of course) went longer than we planned. If you haven't seen the film and don't want it spoiled, skip ahead to just before the 59-minute mark for our chapter discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 shady-looking Ranger approaches the unreal, and someone has to distract the room from the loose-lipped Pippin. Frodo handles the situation with insufficient tact, delivering a speech and a song that offer the Ring an opportunity to keep itself intact. Shawn gets on with the fascination of etymology, and Alan has way too much fun using sound effects to announce a Double Sidebar on an underlying theme in Tolkien’s poetry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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”. The Men of Bree are an independent people, cheerful and friendly as a rule… but Sam is nervous with all these Big Folk and bigger buildings about, and Frodo stays on his guard while Pippin makes friends with the Little Folk among the locals. We revisit the role of forests in the legendarium, offer tips on which Tolkien moot is right for you, and walk in the Professor’s footsteps to the nearest pub.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January, Alan and Shawn were honored to be the keynote speakers at Signum University’s second annual Texas Literature & Language Symposium (“TexMoot”) in Waco, Texas! Our talk, recorded live, explored podcasts as modern-day mead-halls providing a virtual place for communities to come together around a work of literature. We shared our experience of seeing a community of Tolkien fans build up around our own podcast, cracked the kind of jokes that can only happen in front of a live audience, and even trotted out a few old favorites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final pages of “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, the hobbits — now armed with nice, shiny daggers — reluctantly take their leave of Tom Bombadil. Before we say goodbye to Tom, we give the greatest enigma in Middle-earth the full Prancing Pony Podcast treatment! We answer listener questions, respond to popular theories, and assemble a council’s worth of comments from our favorite scholars (including an unpublished letter by Tolkien himself) before making our final conclusions about what Tom Bombadil really is. A day may come when your hosts have an epic disagreement… is it this day? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 eerily in the buried treasures of long-dead lords. For a moment, Frodo is tempted to flee with the Ring and leave his friends behind, but there is a seed of courage hidden in the heart of every hobbit, and Frodo isn’t just any hobbit. Also: halfling streaking, a listener question about Sauron’s massive blind spot, and we’ll take “Unflattering Names to Call Your Pony” for $200, Alex.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 be off again and into the haunted hills beyond; but they should be safe if they just keep to the west side of the barrows and get out of the downs before sunset, so let’s just see how that works out for them. Plus, more about wights than you ever wanted to know, another prophetic dream for Mr. Frodo Baggins, and a pair of incredible The Lord of the Rings–inspired parody songs that deserve better singers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices