23. Toxic Masculinity or Inscrutable Men – Of Men – The Silmarillion – 13

Were back looking at the first half of Chapter 10, “A Warm Welcome.” In this episode, we discuss the arrival of Bilbo and the dwarves at Laketown (check out Tolkien’s drawing), how this chapter leans ...

13 Maj 20250s

In this very special episode, we reveal the exact barrel music sung in Thranduil’s halls as the dwarves were tossed into the river!  😉 Then, we get into the details of barrel physics, the river, and ...

29 Apr 202544min

Bilbo fully embraces his role as hero and finds a way to save the dwarves — but not before we find out how the Elvenking distrusts the dwarves while comparing himself to the great wealthy kings of old...

15 Apr 202546min

Bilbo is the only one left to save the dwarves–and to his own surprise, he’s up to the task! This week we also look at: Bilbo’s moment of transformation into the hero of the story. The size of these ...

1 Apr 20251h

JRR Tolkien’s voice was, well, unique.  He was notably hard to understand (his students regularly complained that his classes were difficult because they simply couldn’t understand him), and even the ...

18 Mars 20250s

In this first half of chapter 8 of the hobbit–Flies and Spiders–Jonathan and Michael discuss the evil enchantment of Mirkwood, and if the elves might have a small part in it. This week we also look at...

4 Mars 202554min

With talking animals, animals serving food and dancing bears, this may just be the oddest chapter in all of Middle-earth! It kinda feels like it just doesn’t fit. We explore why the animals walk and t...

18 Feb 20251h 4min

Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves are dropped off on the Carrock, and find themselves in the company of a man (so-to-speak) who rather doesn’t like dwarves–but who loves a good story! This week we look ...

4 Feb 20250s