The Halfling

The Halfling

A Middle-earth show hosted by writer, nerd, and all-around Tolkien aficionado Jaron Pak. The podcast is devoted to exploring the nooks and crannies of Middle-earth with an emphasis on the source material being used for the "Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power" streaming series. Jaron is one of the main Tolkien journalists for the entertainment site Looper. He also writes for the fan site Fellowship of Fans and has spent decades obsessively reading Tolkien. He's even memorized entire chunks of the legendarium. He loves assembling the complex, multi-faceted material in an accessible manner that allows others to enjoy its wonder, too.Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalfling

Episodes

The Halfling Interviews Alan Sisto (Part 5 of The Rings of Power Influencer Roundup)

November 4, 2022 • 48 mins
With season 1 of "The Rings of Power" officially in the books, Alan Sisto from The Prancing Pony Podcast and The Rings of Power Wrap Up drops by for some final thoughts. Alan is a leader of one of the biggest and most enjoyable Tolkien communities on the web, and his insights are some of the best in the business. Tune in as we digest the season as a whole and look forward to what we can expect in season 2. Help cover costs and ke...
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The Halfling Interviews Nerd of the Rings (Part 4 of The Rings of Power Influencer Roundup)

October 10, 2022 • 65 mins
As the finale of the first season of "The Rings of Power" approaches, the one and only Matt from Nerd of the Rings joins the show to share his thoughts. Matt runs one of the largest, most vibrant Tolkien communities online. In this interview, the Tolkien creator, master theorist, and all-around aficionado fills us in on many of his deepest, lore-driven thoughts about how the first season has gone and where the show's future could b...
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The Halfling Interviews Fellowship of Fans (Part 3 of The Rings of Power Influencer Roundup)

September 17, 2022 • 38 mins
In the wake of the busy fourth episode of "The Rings of Power," we welcome Harry from Fellowship of Fans onto the show. Harry leads a dynamic online Tolkien community that is the best place to follow breaking news and inside scoops regarding the show. We get Harry's unique and informed perspective on the latest episode, how the first half of the season has gone, and his hopes and fears for the rest of the season.Help cover costs an...
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The Halfling Interviews The Mellon Heads (Part 2 of The Rings of Power Influencer Roundup)

September 15, 2022 • 57 mins
For the second part of our Influencer Roundup series for Prime Video's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," we have "the Mellon Heads" Dave and Johnny from The Council of Elrond podcast. This pair of Irish host an entertaining show that is filled with fun facts for Tolkien fans. They're also rising stars in the Tolkien social media landscape with some of the best and funniest posts this side of the Misty Mountains. Check ou...
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The Halfling Interviews The Broken Sword (Part 1 of The Rings of Power Influencer Roundup)

September 2, 2022 • 40 mins
For the first installment of our Influencer Roundup series for Prime Video's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," we hear from James and Jake from The Broken Sword. These two Welsh filmmakers are some of the internet's top Tolkien influencers, and we spend some time digging into the first two episodes of "The Rings of Power," from analyzing some good and not-so-good character adaptions to choosing their favorite places on t...
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Episode 28: Celebrimbor Meets His Doom

August 27, 2022 • 15 mins
In our last episode of Season 1, we finish up Celebrimbor's epic (and tragic) tale. We walk through his time with Annatar, analyze his Ring-making skills, and talk about some of the major ways this Elven hero impacts Middle-earth history, from befriending Dwarves to setting the stage for Sauron's ultimate demise.Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingHelp cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buyme...
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Episode 27: Celebrimbor and the Rings of Power

August 21, 2022 • 19 mins
With Celebrimbor established as his own Elf, the master craftsman settles down in a new kingdom right next to the Dwarves of Moria. From beautiful friendships to masterful knowledge, Celebrimbor and his people rise to their greatest heights only to run into a friendly new acquaintance ...who marks the beginning of the end.Interested in supporting the show? Go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingHelp cover costs and keep the ...
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Episode 26: Celebrimbor, Silver-Fist

August 14, 2022 • 16 mins
In the first installment of our last series of the season, I finally do some unembargoed explaining regarding why new episodes have been so sporadic lately. Then we dive into the early backstory of Celebrimbor, the Elf who is eventually one of the prime movers and shakers behind the whole "Rings of Power" business in the Second Age.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport the sho...
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Episode 25: Narvi, the Elf-friend

July 18, 2022 • 15 mins
In the second half of our time with Narvi, we break down the defining factor that makes this mysterious Dwarven craftsman so important. And no, it's not his incredible skill. It's not his enduring fame, either. It's his friendship ...with an Elf.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport the show
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Episode 24: I, Narvi, Made Them

July 9, 2022 • 17 mins
Narvi is an overlooked Dwarf of Khazad-dûm. But he's not just any Dwarf. He's one of the greatest craftsmen to ever come out of the subterranean mansion. He's also an Elf-friend, which is kind of a big deal. In this episode we lay some background and begin to delve into the largely unaddressed yet important life of this famous Dwarven hero.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport...
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Episode 23: Ancient Bree and the Prancing Pony

June 17, 2022 • 16 mins
In the second half of our time in Bree, we dive into the larger Bree-land, its four towns, and why the area is such an important place in northern Middle-earth. We also investigate how long the ancient Men of Bree have inhabited the area, and we explore some of the ways the show could influence the "Rings of Power" story.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport the show
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Episode 22: The Wonderful World of Bree

June 9, 2022 • 16 mins
In this series, we take a look at the village of Bree. We start by doing a side-by-side comparison of Tolkien's original version of the Bree-land and the less-than-faithful adaptation in Peter Jackson's movies. From the diversity of its inhabitants to the overall tone, Bree is a much happier, multi-ethnic place in the books than what we get in the on-screen adaptation.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymea...
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Episode 21: The Waffling Blue Wizards

May 18, 2022 • 18 mins
In our last episode with the Blue Wizards, we finally put all of the very scattered, dissonant pieces together. We explore this pair of characters' roles in Middle-earth, both as villains and as heroes. We also consider the major adjustment Tolkien made at the end of his life that could make their appearance in the "Rings of Power" show a real possibility.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/th...
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Episode 20: Blue Wizard Origins

May 10, 2022 • 16 mins
In the second part of our Blue Wizard series we dig into where the Blue Wizards came from, what their names are, and the important role they may have played as some of the Guardians early in Middle-earth history.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport the show
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Episode 19: The Mysteriously Awesome Blue Wizards

May 4, 2022 • 19 mins
The Blue Wizards are a mystery of Middle-earth. There isn't much out there about who they are or what they do. But there are just enough glimpses out there to pull together a fascinating story – a story that we start to dig into in this episode.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport the show
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A Halfling Announcement

April 3, 2022 • 4 mins
The winter is over. Spring is in the air. The show is taking a short break, and then we'll be diving into the lead-up to the "Rings of Power" premiere just on the other side of Summer. If you have topic requests, please send them to thehalflingpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks, friends!Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport the show
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Episode 18: Entish Tragedy, Sorrow, and Hope

March 28, 2022 • 22 mins
In our last episode with the Ents, we bring everything together and tell the entire Entish story from their creation right through to what happens after the end of "The Lord of the Rings." From the history of the Entwives during the Second Age to unknown Entish battles fought during the War of the Ring, the story is full of tragic loss, epic engagements, incredible longsuffering, and a steady glimmer of Tolkienian hope that always ...
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Episode 17: Ents, Entwives, and Huorns, Oh My!

March 20, 2022 • 21 mins
In the third part of our Ent series, we break down the different groups within Entish culture. We start with a recap on the Ents before moving on to who the Entwives, Entings, and Huorns are. From there, the conversation wanders all the way to the borders of the Shire, where it turns out that parts of the Entish subculture appear to be alive and well ...and angry.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffe...
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The Tolkien Professor Interview

March 13, 2022 • 82 mins
The Halfling hosts The Tolkien Professor, Corey Olsen! In this exclusive interview, Jaron and Corey tackle the challenge of adaptations and how to enjoy Tolkien both in printed form and on-screen.Topics coveredThe Tolkien professor's projects, especially Signum UniversityWho is the man in the fire in the "Rings of Power" trailer?Is Middle-earth round or flat?Advice for how to adapt Tolkien's writingsDefining the Jacksonian knee-jer...
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Episode 16: Entish Culture and Geography

March 6, 2022 • 18 mins
In this episode, we dig into what it looks like to live as an Ent. What do they look like? What do they eat? Where do they live? It turns out that, by the time of "The Lord of the Rings," the Ents are living a much smaller version of their slow lives than they did in the past.Help cover costs and keep the content coming! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thehalflingSupport the show
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