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 Times
Week 097 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Maybe Avoid the Fen of Serech?
Join The Man of the West as he practically sprints through ten place names from our Silmarillion Saturday readings about the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 097 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Should Make Him Apologize
The Man of the West is genuinely sorry; fortunately, Tolkien is talking about a Swedish interpreter of The Lord of the Rings instead. Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 097 - Middle-earth Map Monday: I Like Big Butteries
Join The Man of the West as he relives a Philology Faire of the past while walking you through the rest of the City of Minas Tirith: the Hall of Feasts, Rath…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 096 - Silmarillion Saturday: And Morgoth Came
The war goes badly for the Noldor, and Fingolfin finds himself knocking on the door of the most powerful being in Middle-earth as we continue our readings in…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 096 - First Age Friday: I Should Slay Him
Thankfully, nothing to do with The Man of the West in this title: just an acknowledgement that Voronwë has put his old friend in a hard spot as we continue our…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 096 - Third Age Thursday: Men of Twilight and Men of Darkness
Join The Man of the West as he begins a dive into a new topic on Third Age Thursdays looking at different cultures of the race of Men in the Third Age. Learn…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 096 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Fëanor Felt Aggrieved
What else is new, right? Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into the name of the first High King of the Noldor and a few other words from our recent…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 096 - Tolkien Tuesday: Simple-Minded Folk (Like Myself)
Join The Man of the West as we continue our look into Tolkien’s letters and discover just how badly the Professor was irritated by a Swedish translator. Learn…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 096 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Falling Year by Year Into Decay
Yet another episode title that could be a quote from the text, or a reference to The Man of the West. Join Alan as he starts Series 13 of Today’s Tolkien Times…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 095 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Aboard the Balrog Train
Choo-choo. Join The Man of the West as we discuss just how many balrogs there might have been on the southbound train from Angband and point out how Barahir’s…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 095 - First Age Friday: Forgotten In My Own Land
There’s always a title that could be read as applying to The Man of the West — but this is just Voronwë trying to make sure he and Tuor don’t get killed… or at…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 095 - Third Age Thursday: A Token of Hope
Join The Man of the West for an in-depth look at the original Elessar, and the two backstories of the one given to Aragorn. Learn more about your ad choices…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 095 - Word-nerd Wednesday: But Wait, There’s More
More names from Of Maeglin in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday, including the names of Turgon’s wife and daughter — and of a Dwarven hall that’s got a familiar…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 095 - Tolkien Tuesday: Neither ‘Foolhardy’ Nor German
The Man of the West isn’t German either, but he might not have much to say on the ‘foolhardy’ front. Join him as we take a look at Tolkien’s surname and read…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 095 - Middle-earth Map Monday: A Thousand Feet Above the Plain
Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 12 with a Middle-earth Map Monday exploring the City of Minas Tirith! Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 094 - Silmarillion Saturday: Their Roofless Grave
Join The Man of the West as he begins a new chapter on Silmarillion Saturdays, Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin. Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 094 - First Age Friday: Blame Me Not
Week 094 - First Age Friday: Blame Me Not Voronwë echoes the words of the Man of the West, but sounds so much better doing it. He and Tuor get oh-so-close to…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 094 - Third Age Thursday: Treasure Without Price
At least you know the title isn’t referring to The Man of the West! Join him as we look at the fascinating story behind the two versions of the Elendilmir…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 094 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Sounds Like…
Join The Man of the West as he looks at more words from the chapter Of Maeglin, and decides to fill in the blanks for a name that Tolkien was was “meaningless…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 094 - Tolkien Tuesday: What Have Penguins Done to You, Professor?
The Man of the West looks at some more of Tolkien’s letters, discovering that the Professor is overworked, criticizes Lewis’ “ponderous silliness”, and is not…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 094 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Huge Tracts of Land
Join The Man of the West as he goes inside the Rammas that we visited last week to see the wide tilth and many orchards of the Pelennor on another Middle-earth…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 093 - Silmarillion Saturday: Knowing That He Was Perilous
Join The Man of the West for the tragic conclusion to the chapter Of Maeglin as Eöl does the unthinkable, Aredhel protects her son, and Maeglin’s desires lead…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 093 - First Age Friday: Short is the Sight of Mortal Men
At least The Man of the West doesn’t have to do any curvature-of-the-earth calculations in this week’s reading in Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin! Learn…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 093 - Third Age Thursday: Yet to Earn It
Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into yet another Third Age Artifact in Middle-earth as we look at the nature and history of The Sceptre of Annúminas…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 093 - Word-nerd Wednesday: An Aberration
The Man of the West fully recognizes his status, but the title actually refers to a possible mixup on Tolkien’s part! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 093 - Tolkien Tuesday: Not Going Off Exactly as Hot Cakes
Does the title reference episodes of Today’s Tolkien Times? Well, yes… but Tolkien is referring to the Swedish translation of The Lord of the Rings on this…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 093 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Ah, but Which Denethor?
Join The Man of the West as he asks a question almost no one else would bother asking as we journey with Gandalf (and Pippin) as they pass the wall protecting…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 092 - Silmarillion Saturday: To Claim My Own
Join The Man of the West as Eöl proves he’s exactly who we’ve known him to be all along when he finally gets a chance to meet his brother-in-law, the King of…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 092 - First Age Friday: Death Walks Between
Join The Man of the West as we journey with Tuor and Voronwë through the Vale of Sirion; Tuor wants to fight, Voronwë offers better advice, and Ulmo’s cloak…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 092 - Third Age Thursday: Touch It and Die
Aragorn has strong words for Háma, as The Man of the West continues his look at Third Age artifacts with a study of Andúril, née Narsil, and the Ring of…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 092 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Well, I’m Back
Join The Man of the West as we discover that Sam’s statement upon returning home is a lot easier to decipher than Voronwë’s Alae! Ered en Echoriath, ered embar…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 092 - Tolkien Tuesday: Fauna of Mordor
It’s time to hear Tolkien tell us what he really thinks about cats (or a breed of them, perhaps) — as well as retirement, vacation, and publishing Gawain — in…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 092 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Stone for Food
Join The Man of the West as we continue our journeys in Anórien, stopping by the pine woods of the Drúadan Foreste, and walking the roads of Stonewain Valley…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 091 - Silmarillion Saturday: Knowing His Peril
Did you ever think Curufin would be a good guy? Yeah, me neither. Of course, the bar’s set pretty low today as he encounters Eöl on his way to seek Aredhel and…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 091 - First Age Friday: Only For a Moment
Join The Man of the West as Tuor and Voronwë discover the defilement of the springs of Ivrin, and spot a man with woe graven in his face. If only they’d…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 091 - Third Age Thursday: Homebrew
It’s time for more Middle-earth artifacts in the Third Age, as we spend this episode diving deep into the Arkenstone, answering the age-old question of “Is it…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 091 - Word-nerd Wednesday: He Said It Again!
Join The Man of the West as he walks through a half-dozen words from our journeys with Tuor and Voronwë on First Age Fridays. Learn more about your ad choices…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 091 - Tolkien Tuesday: Means ‘No’
It’s time for more subtlety, more reading between the lines, and more inferences… wait, who am I kidding? It’s time for the Letters and some more wonderful…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 091 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Less-important Fires
Join The Man of the West for an in-depth look at each of the Beacon-hills of Gondor in this Middle-earth Map Monday, as we continue exploring Anórien. Learn…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 090 - Silmarillion Saturday: Wholly Unwilling
We may have left the tragedy of Túrin behind for now, but troubling Middle-earth moments continue as Eöl stalks, manipulates, coerces, and finally takes…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 090 - First Age Friday: The Waves Hunted Us
Join The Man of the West as Voronwë concludes his sorrowful tale; now we all know why this year’s family vacation will not be a cruise. Learn more about your…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 090 - Third Age Thursday: Quite Polite
Join The Man of the West for a look at one of the more well-known artifacts of the Third Age: and no, it’s not the lead singer of The Police. Learn more about…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 090 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Redundant Redundancy
It’s time for another dive into (mostly) Sindarin words from our First Age Friday readings in Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin. Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 090 - Tolkien Tuesday: Above Our Measure
Join The Man of the West as we finish our look at Letter 215, where the Professor offers deep insight on our need for literature and, once again, disclaims any…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 090 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Paid Little Attention
While today’s title could describe The Man of the West’s years in college, it’s actually the narrative calling out a hobbit. Start this week with a…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 089 - Silmarillion Saturday: She Was Enmeshed
Join The Man of the West as he begins the story of Aredhel, the White Lady of the Noldor, and her ill-advised departure from Gondolin. Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 089 - First Age Friday: The Cure of All Sea-Longing
Join The Man of the West as he continues his reading of the story of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin, as today we listen to much of Voronwë’s tale, including a…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 089 - Third Age Thursday: Beater and Biter
With the poetry and songs from The Lord of the Rings in our rear-view mirror here on the TTT, it’s time to spend this series looking at important artifacts in…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 089 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Voronwë and the Willow-vale
Join The Man of the West for an exploration of several words we’ve encountered in our First Age Friday readings through the story of Tuor and His Coming to…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 089 - Tolkien Tuesday: Among Other Darknesses
We return to the revised edition of Tolkien’s Letters as we get back to Tolkien Tuesdays for Series 12 of the TTT. Edith’s broken arm and the Professor’s…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 089 - Middle-earth Map Monday: From Erui to Mindolluin
Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 12 of the TTT with a Middle-earth Map Monday on the region of Gondor known as Anórien. Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 088 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Secret Fire Imperishable, Or Something
It’s discussion and analysis time as The Man of the West looks back over the last six weeks in the Ainulindalë, answers a couple of questions, and recaps some…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 088 - First Age Friday: The Hidden Remain Hid
Join The Man of the West as Voronwë gets a few surprises from Tuor, and learns that his Spring Break has been cancelled. Learn more about your ad choices…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 088 - Third Age Thursday: Tidings Beyond Hope
The Eagles bring a message from the High King of Arda himself as the children of the West sing and rejoice after the ending of Sauron’s realm. Learn more about…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 088 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Unendurable Fate
Join The Man of the West for one more Word-nerd Wednesday walking through the names and words in our story of Túrin — with a bonus pair of names from our…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 088 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: No Lord or Loyalty
The story of Túrin Turambar reaches its tragic end as Túrin learns of what happened and implores Gurthang to do its job quickly. Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 088 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Fear Flowed From It
Join The Man of the West as he continues his way past the Hold of Dunharrow down the Dimholt Road to the Door of the Dead on another Middle-earth Map Monday…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 087 - Silmarillion Saturday: Not All in Vain
The Ainulindalë reaches its dramatic conclusion as Melkor gets jealous of the Valars’ new threads and throws a cosmic temper tantrum. Learn more about your ad…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 087 - First Age Friday: A Long Surf Glimmering
Join The Man of the West as we continue our readings in the story of Tuor, wrapping up our chat with the mighty Ulmo before eventually meeting a new friend…
- Today's Tolkien Times
Week 087 - Third Age Thursday: Praise Them With Great Praise!
We near the end of our nearly year-long run through the poems and songs in The Lord of the Rings with a discussion of a song that Tolkien says “brought tears…