The Prancing Pony Podcast
The Prancing Pony Podcast
The Prancing Pony Podcast is a weekly show about the Middle-earth legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien, hosted - for six seasons - by Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. Now in its ninth season, Alan is joined by an all-star cast of co-hosts as he explores more of Middle-earth!Alan and all his co-hosts are passionate Tolkien enthusiasts, inviting listeners to enjoy their detailed exploration of Tolkien’s work, with smart but straightforward discussion and a healthy dose of self-effacing humor, pop-culture references, and bad puns. These are the folks you'd want to hang out with at a pub and talk Tolkien with!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 3, 2017 • 47min
029 - Tolkien's 125th Birthday Special
We celebrate the twelfty-fifth birthday of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien with tributes from our listeners and our own thoughts on what Tolkien has meant to us. We also give the traditional birthday toast to the Professor, and we announce the winners of our giveaway drawings for The Art of the Lord of the Rings and the Facsimile First Edition of The Hobbit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2016 • 1h 45min
028 - Father of the Century: a PPP Christmas Special
Alan and Shawn call for a Christmas truce on the Beleriand battlefront to enjoy Tolkien’s letters from Father Christmas to his children John, Michael, Christopher, and Priscilla. Not content to write about just toys and reindeer, Tolkien filled his letters with the charming misadventures of a host of North Pole residents, including elves, goblins, and a trickster bear with poor spelling. You’ll never feel good about your parenting skills again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2016 • 2h 3min
027 - Go West, Young Edain
Men arrive in Beleriand in Chapter 17 of The Silmarillion, and Middle-earth will never be the same. The Elves' reaction to the newcomers varies, but Morgoth's goal is clear: to keep the two races from forming an alliance. We introduce the Three Houses of the Edain, discuss one of Tolkien's great mythological puns, and expose the terrible manners of string instruments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2016 • 1h 56min
026 - You're The One That I Want
In Chapter 16 of The Silmarillion, Aredhel of Gondolin shacks up with the Dark Elf Eöl and bears a son whose coming may spell doom for the last hope of the Noldor. We revisit Elvish marriage customs and answer a question about rejected lovers in Tolkien's world. Plus, Alan completely forgets how to tell time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2016 • 1h 41min
025 - Watch Your Language
In Chapter 15 of The Silmarillion, Turgon heeds Ulmo's warning and begins the construction of the hidden city of Gondolin. The truth finally comes out about why the Noldor returned to Beleriand, and Thingol is not pleased. Plus a special announcement about our Tolkien's 125th Birthday Giveaway, and tips for goodlier speaking from a teenage Tolkien. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2016 • 1h 54min
024 - Territories
A journey through the geography and realms of the Elves in Beleriand in Tolkien's Silmarillion. Lessons in Dwarvish pronunciation, a deep woodwind sound, and a personal pronoun. Discussions on biography accessibility, Treebeard, and C.S. Lewis's voice. Importance of maps, geographic locations, and the beauty of Belarian and Dorthonian. Exploring Tarns and Tours in the rugged landscapes resembling the Scottish Highlands. Descriptions of Middle-earth and ancient forms of Kwenya and Entish speech. Imagery of seasons, the terrifying forest of Nandungortheb, and the formation of hills in Beleriand.
Oct 23, 2016 • 1h 43min
023 - Distant Early Warning
A great feast is held in the conclusion of Chapter 13 of The Silmarillion, but not all is well in Beleriand, and two Elf-princes receive important messages about taking action before it’s too late. The Noldor successfully place Angband under a siege that will last for centuries, but Morgoth has a new secret weapon in development. A question from Barliman’s Bag gives us a chance to revisit Fëanor - and Tolkien’s own thoughts about the character - one last time, and we stretch the limits of pop culture reference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9, 2016 • 1h 45min
022 - Subdivisions
In Chapter 13 of The Silmarillion, Fëanor's host arrives in Middle-earth shortly before Fingolfin's, leading to an awkward family reunion that just gets more awkward when somebody calls Uncle Thingol. Fëanor's dream of revenge goes up in flames, and we tally up his good-or-evil score including Tolkien's own thoughts from his letters. We also read the inspiring story of Fingon and Maedhros, and have way too much fun with the new toy in Alan's studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2016 • 1h 43min
021 - New World, Man
In Chapter 12 of The Silmarillion, the Second Children of Ilúvatar - the Atani, or Men - awake, and we quickly learn precisely what the Elves think of them. We revisit the differences that Tolkien created between Elves and Men in both life and death, along with the ominous portent this new race holds for the Firstborn. Plus, the monotony of Manwë’s wardrobe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 snips
Sep 18, 2016 • 1h 4min
020 - Tolkien's Secret Vice: An Interview with Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins
Alan and Shawn welcome Dr. Dimitra Fimi and Dr. Andrew Higgins as the first guests to The Prancing Pony Podcast! They are the editors of the new critical edition of Tolkien’s A Secret Vice. We turn the word-nerdery up to 11 to talk about Tolkien’s approach to language invention and the lasting impact his work had on the Middle-earth legendarium and the fantasy genre itself. Our inner geeks get the vicarious thrill of handling manuscripts written in the Professor’s own hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
