Exploring Tolkien

Exploring Tolkien is a weekly show that dives deep into JRR Tolkien and all the ages of Middle-earth. Jonathan Watson and Michael Grumbine are your hosts as they read through Tolkien’s works, interview other Tolkien enthusiasts and authors, and critically examine how Tolkien’s world is being treated by mega-corporations like Amazon.com and Warner Bros.

Episodes

Should The Lord of the Rings Films have kept the Barrow-downs?

May 14, 2024 • 52 mins

Dropping the Barrow-downs removes one of the most important callbacks in the final Battle of the Pelennor Fields before Minas Tirith.

Mark as Played

Tom Bombadil is NOT important? Tolkien said it!

May 7, 2024 • 35 mins

Tom Bombadil is a polarizing figure in Middle-earth. Some hate him, some love him. Peter Jackson decided to completely avoid that discussion and simply excise him from the film.

Mark as Played

Why Peter Jackson Cut the Old Forest and Old Man Willow

April 30, 2024 • 41 mins

The first REAL dangers outside of the Shire were cut from the films... but did that decision improve them?

Mark as Played

Peter Jackson CUT the Godfather of the Shire : Film Changes #30 and #31

April 23, 2024 • 36 mins

Peter Jackson cut the one Hobbit who had the backbone to stand up to a Nazgul, the one who struck fear in the hearts of other Hobbits!

Mark as Played

The Wizard Duel and Orthanc in Real Time : Film Changes #29 and #30

April 16, 2024

Peter Jackson made some pretty significant changes to Orthanc... especially when it comes to that Wizard's Duel!

Mark as Played

An Interview with Howard Shore, Lord of the Rings Composer – 2003 Roundtable Interviews

April 9, 2024 • 44 mins

We spoke with Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore. He really goes in depth on his thoughts and composing process!

Mark as Played

The Rings of Power is PEAK TV – Top Scenes, Top Characters and Top Quotes

April 1, 2024 • 62 mins

As season 2 of the Rings of Power approaches, Michael and I decided to look back at our favorite scenes, favorite characters, and favorite quotes from our favorite television show!

Mark as Played

Sauron’s FIRST Defeat – Finishing Tolkien’s Unfinished Tale – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 8

March 26, 2024 • 60 mins

In this final episode of looking at The Mariner's Wife, we fully finish Tolkien's tale--but staying true to Tolkien's characters and world.

Mark as Played

NEW Tolkien Book with UNPUBLISHED Content Announced!

March 19, 2024 • 23 mins

This month we found out that renowned Tolkien scholars Christian Scull and Wayne Hammond will be publishing a NEW book with NEW content by Tolkien!

Mark as Played

Finishing Tolkien’s Unfinished Tale – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 7

March 5, 2024 • 53 mins

Aldarion and Erendis is perhaps Tolkien's most emotionally gut wrenching tale.... and it deserves to be finished!

Mark as Played

A Spiteful Marriage, a New Enemy, and a Watery End – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 6

February 27, 2024 • 50 mins

We don't know exactly how Tolkien intended to finish Aldarion and Erendis--but he gave us some pretty strong clues!

Mark as Played

The Sacrificial King and the Fallen Queen – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 5

February 20, 2024 • 46 mins

As we close out the prose of this story, the king makes a great sacrifice for the greater good of Númenor, and the new queen becomes a pitiable creature with no hope for her own future.

Mark as Played

Middle-earth’s Worst Dad – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 4

February 13, 2024 • 47 mins

Aldarion gets married and is able to stay on land for a few years... up until his daughter turns 4, and then he just leaves AGAIN!

Mark as Played

Mariner, King, or Husband? – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 3

February 6, 2024 • 53 mins

Aldarion and Erendis finally get married! But Aldarion can't seem to make up his mind on who he really is.

Mark as Played

Men are from Mars, Women Hate the Ocean – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 2

January 30, 2024

These two aren't exactly star-crossed lovers--their complicated and long-gestating relationship runs for decades, and that's just BEFORE they get married.

Mark as Played

This Sea is NOT Always Right – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 1

January 23, 2024

Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife is not exactly a happy story, but as you'd expect with anything Tolkien writes, it's full of meaning, beauty, depth and wisdom.

Mark as Played

Removing Radagast and Hobbit Thieves : Film Changes #27 and #28

January 16, 2024 • 33 mins

Radagast was completely removed from the film... and Merry and Pippin are common Hobbit thieves!

Mark as Played

Meeting Gandalf in Bree and a Glimpse of Gildor : Film Changes #25 and #26

January 9, 2024 • 44 mins

Peter Jackson cut 6 chapters from the Fellowship of the Ring when Gandalf told Frodo to meet him at the Prancing Pony!

Mark as Played

Bilbo’s Party Changes and 17 Years Lost : Film Changes #23 and #24

December 28, 2023

Is Bilbo's party true to how Tolkien wrote it? And what happened to those 17 years Tolkien talked about?

Mark as Played

Tolkien Created an Entire North Pole Mythology!

December 19, 2023 • 10 mins

Starting in 1920, JRR Tolkien wrote letters from Father Christmas to his children--and continued doing that for 24 more years!

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.

The Nikki Glaser Podcast

Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Crime Junkie

If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.

Start Here

A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.

Advertise With Us

Exploring Tolkien

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Should The Lord of the Rings Films have kept the Barrow-downs?

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Tom Bombadil is NOT important? Tolkien said it!

Why Peter Jackson Cut the Old Forest and Old Man Willow

Peter Jackson CUT the Godfather of the Shire : Film Changes #30 and #31

The Wizard Duel and Orthanc in Real Time : Film Changes #29 and #30

An Interview with Howard Shore, Lord of the Rings Composer – 2003 Roundtable Interviews

The Rings of Power is PEAK TV – Top Scenes, Top Characters and Top Quotes

Sauron’s FIRST Defeat – Finishing Tolkien’s Unfinished Tale – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 8

NEW Tolkien Book with UNPUBLISHED Content Announced!

Finishing Tolkien’s Unfinished Tale – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 7

A Spiteful Marriage, a New Enemy, and a Watery End – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 6

The Sacrificial King and the Fallen Queen – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 5

Middle-earth’s Worst Dad – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 4

Mariner, King, or Husband? – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 3

Men are from Mars, Women Hate the Ocean – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 2

This Sea is NOT Always Right – Aldarion and Erendis – Part 1

Removing Radagast and Hobbit Thieves : Film Changes #27 and #28

Meeting Gandalf in Bree and a Glimpse of Gildor : Film Changes #25 and #26

Bilbo’s Party Changes and 17 Years Lost : Film Changes #23 and #24

Tolkien Created an Entire North Pole Mythology!

Popular Podcasts

Should The Lord of the Rings Films have kept the Barrow-downs?

Tom Bombadil is NOT important? Tolkien said it!