Shows / Today's Tolkien Times
Today's Tolkien Times
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…
Episodes
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 037 - Word-nerd Wednesday: What’s With the Fat Jokes, Ronald?
We take a closer look at nine different Shire family names in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday and learn that the majority of them are based on hobbits ummm……
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 037 - Tolkien Tuesday: Chiefly As a Poet
We return to learn more about Tolkien’s fellow Inkling, C.S. Lewis, and their mutual admiration for “Northernness”. Also, dragons can spoil commutes: just ask…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 037 - Mailbag Monday: Sure, It Kindles Hearts — But Can It Blend?
Join The Man of the West as he kicks off this week in appropriate style — then answers a question about Saruman’s hospitality towards his guest at Orthanc…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 036 - Second Age Saturday: Sowed the Seeds of Restlessness
Tar-Meneldur’s concerns were well-founded, as it turns out. Join The Man of the West for another reading in the tale of Aldarion and Erendis. Also: we finally…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 036 - First Age Friday: Have Thy Pay!
If you ever wondered just how cruel Sauron could be, today’s reading in The Lay of Leithian will answer that question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 036 - Third Age Thursday: We Could Do With a Bit More Queerness
The Gaffer has words for Sandyman yet again, while outlandish folk pull into town — including one rather familiar old man with a long white beard and bushy…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 036 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Rebuking His Impertinence
Sometimes, the Man of the West imagines his own impertinence would be rebuked, should the Professor be alive to do so. Fortunately, this was just a pedantic…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 036 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Thought I Was the Only One
Step into a meeting of the Kolbítar and learn why Lewis found it so invigorating. Also, talking about the gods and giants of Asgard until 2:30 in the morning……
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 036 - Mailbag Monday: Short-lived and Weaker Race
Join The Man of the West for a speculative question about Fëanor and what he might have thought about the race of Men — if he bothered to think about them at…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 035 - Second Age Saturday: But They Looked Far Away
Aldarion sails on his first voyage, and it changes his life — and the lives of people he hasn’t met yet. Meneldur observes the beginning of a problem, while…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 035 - First Age Friday: Of Land Bereaved and Lordship Shorn
We return to the beautiful verses of the Lay of Leithian, only to be reminded that they do not always describing things of beauty. Also: a glimpse of the First…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 035 - Third Age Thursday: And Jools, By What I’ve Heard
It’s time to eavesdrop at the Ivy Bush as the Gaffer tries to fact-check Sandyman and Old Noakes; where are Community Notes when you need them? Learn more…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 035 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ranugad Galbasi, the Font of Hobbit Wisdom
The Man of the West digs through the Nomenclature and the Letters to learn more about the name of everyone’s favorite farmer. Learn more about your ad choices…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 035 - Tolkien Tuesday: Beer & Beowulf
We continue our chat about the Inklings and the “literature v. language” divide at Oxford. We ask Professor Tolkien how 1830 hurt his feelings. Learn more…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 035 - Mailbag Monday: I Like Big Boats and I Cannot Lie
Join The Man of the West as he begins Week 35 with terrible puns and an unanswerable question about Shawn’s favorite mariner. Learn more about your ad choices…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 034 - Second Age Saturday: Ready to Mirth, and Generous
It’s a series filled with long tales, as The Man of the West shifts gears with the first series of Second Age Saturdays. Get your sea-legs on and prepare to…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 034 - First Age Friday: Laughter Merry as the Spring
The Man of the West begins an epic series for this inaugural incarnation of First Age Fridays with a dive into The Lay of Leithian. Can you believe it’s not…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 034 - Third Age Thursday: Like Coming Home
A long-expected run through a long-expected chapter begins today as tongues begin to wag in Hobbiton and Bywater. Which would you rather have: (apparently)…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 034 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Running Private Jokes
For today’s word-nerdery, the Man of the West brings in some of Dr. Tom Shippey’s finest, including an observation that Gandalf repeatedly ignores the social…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 034 - Tolkien Tuesday: Liberal Studies Majors, Beware
We take a break from the Letters in Series 5 of the TTT to spend some time at the Bird & Baby with Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and more as we learn…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 034 - Mailbag Monday: Maybe He Left the Oven On?
Join The Man of the West as he starts out Series 5 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a Mailbag Monday asking a question we honestly haven’t heard before. Also, a…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 033 - Silmarillion Saturday: Never Drinking That Wine Again
We return to the halls of Menegroth as Angrod throws Fëanor under the bus, Thingol counts to ten, an entire language nopes right out of there, and Galadriel…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 033 - Fandom Friday: The Executive Board of Team Faramir
Join The Man of the West as he welcomes Miranda, the self-proclaimed CEO of Team Faramir to chat about her Tolkien Tuesday videos on Instagram, read-alongs on…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 033 - Third Age Thursday: Felt the Need of Wisdom
It’s time to finish our 8-week journey through the story Of Cirion and Eorl as we Eorl and Cirion part for a time. Also, we look at The Tradition of Isildur…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 033 - Word-nerd Wednesday: It Presents Me With Difficulty
Time to take a look at what the Rohirrim really called themselves after the Oath of Cirion and Eorl. Also, let’s look at éowords* because éoreds and éoherë are…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 033 - Tolkien Tuesday: No Pubs Lately
Lift up your heart! And spend one last week in the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s letters as we look at five shorter letters written to Christopher…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 033 - Mailbag Monday: Who’s Buried in Elendil’s Tomb?
Join The Man of the West as he starts the last week of TTT’s Series 4 with a question about the beacon on Halifirien — wouldn’t it disturb Elendil’s eternal…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 032 - Silmarillion Saturday: Literally red-handed
The Man of the West continues his read-through and discussion of the chapter Of the Noldor in Beleriand as Thingol hears, but once again doesn’t really listen…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 032 - Fandom Friday: What a Lovely Smial
The Man of the West invites the founders of The Grey Havens smial of The Tolkien Society to come and talk about creating and sustaining small regional groups…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 032 - Third Age Thursday: Enyalië!
We finally learn just why the Halifirien is so hali, and why the Whispering Wood, uh, whispers. Get ready for some gorgeous Quenya as Cirion and Eorl speak…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 032 - Word-nerd Wednesday: What About Frosty the Lossoth?
Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into a beautiful Quenya oath that unexpectedly leads to a (very bad) idea for our next Christmas break. Learn more…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 032 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Red Admiral
This week, we take a look at more letters from The Professor to his sons Michael and Christopher, including one that talks about a man who has almost as many…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 032 - Mailbag Monday: The Nakedest Dragonet
No, that’s not the title of the next Train Your Dragon film. Join The Man of the West as he tries to answer yet another question that has no answer: what is…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 031 - Silmarillion Saturday: For That Woe is Past
I’m not sure Melian shares Galadriel’s optimism on that point. Join The Man of the West as we read more in Of the Noldor in Beleriand and join Melian in…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 031 - Fandom Friday: Not Jealous At All, At All — A Conversation with Bill Fliss and Sarah Schaefer
The Man of the West is reminded of just how awesome the J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript exhibit was as he visits with its curators. He also wonders…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 031 - Third Age Thursday: As True Men
The Man of the West continues his reading and discussion of the tale of Cirion and Eorl, this week as the two climb the Hill of Awe. What do you get the man…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 031 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Knows No Season and Withers Not
Why are we going back to Tuor to discuss a word from Cirion and Eorl? Because we can. Join The Man of the West as he looks closely at some, ahem, flowery…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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. Learn more about…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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. Learn more…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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. Learn more about…
Today's Tolkien TimesWeek 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…