Exploring Tolkien

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

November 11, 2025
Did Tolkien "earn" The Battle of the Five Armies, or is the surprise enough to justify its existence?
Mark as Played
Bilbo completes his betral
Mark as Played
We look at Chapter 16 of The Hobbit, where Bilbo makes his most controversial choice-—handing the Arkenstone over to Bard and the Elvenking.
Mark as Played
Thorin shrugs off Bard's 3 reasons for having a claim to the treasure... is Thorin really gold-sick? Or does the elves presence affect him?
Mark as Played
You'd think the death of the dragon is is the climax of The Hobbit... right?
Mark as Played
Smaug is gone, so the Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach their treasure--but Bilbo makes a choice to REALLY become the burglar when he sees the Arkenstone.
Mark as Played
Smaug is finally fully revealed as Bilbo finally comes face-to-face with the unassessably wealthy dragon
Mark as Played
The new game, Tales of the Shire was released last month after numerous delays... so, I took a bullet for the team and played the game.
Mark as Played
Bilbo finally becomes a real burglar in this chapter, venturing alone into the heart of the Lonely Mountain.
Mark as Played
In this interview--just before The Return of the King was released--Elijah wood reflects on the journey of becoming Frodo Baggins.
Mark as Played
In this episode, we discuss one of The Hobbit’s quieter chapters, where Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach Erebor’s hidden entrance.
Mark as Played
As Thorin and company finally reach the Lonely Mountain, reality sets in—and it doesn’t smell so pleasant.
Mark as Played
Tolkien makes it pretty clear what he thinks about politicians in this chapter.
Mark as Played
Bilbo and the barrel-sealed dwarves make it to Laketown--with most of them barely alive!
Mark as Played
In this very special episode, we reveal the exact barrel music sung in Thranduil's halls as the dwarves were tossed into the river!
Mark as Played
Bilbo fully embraces his role as hero and finds a way to save the dwarves.
Mark as Played
Bilbo is the only one left to save the dwarves--and to his own surprise, he's up to the task!
Mark as Played
Here is an approximation of Tolkien's voice reading Ainulindalë from The Silmarillion that we put together including some of his idiosyncratic pauses and speech patterns.
Mark as Played
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.
Mark as Played
With talking animals, animals serving food and dancing bears, this may just be the oddest chapter in all of Middle-earth!
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Ruthie's Table 4

    For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    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.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.