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

139. The Problem with Thorin – The Hobbit #26

June 10, 2025 • 46 mins

As Thorin and company finally reach the Lonely Mountain, reality sets in—and it doesn’t smell so pleasant.

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138. What Tolkien Really Thinks About Politicians – The Hobbit #25

May 27, 2025 • 43 mins

Tolkien makes it pretty clear what he thinks about politicians in this chapter.

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137. Do the elves have ANYTHING valuable to trade? – The Hobbit #24

May 13, 2025

Bilbo and the barrel-sealed dwarves make it to Laketown--with most of them barely alive!

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136. The Lowest IQ Elves of Middle-earth? – The Hobbit #23

April 29, 2025 • 44 mins

In this very special episode, we reveal the exact barrel music sung in Thranduil's halls as the dwarves were tossed into the river!

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135. The Greedy and Petty Elves of Mirkwood – The Hobbit #22

April 15, 2025 • 46 mins

Bilbo fully embraces his role as hero and finds a way to save the dwarves.

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134. When Bilbo Became the Hero – The Hobbit #21

April 1, 2025 • 60 mins

Bilbo is the only one left to save the dwarves--and to his own surprise, he's up to the task!

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133. Ainulindalë – A Reading in JRR Tolkien’s Voice

March 18, 2025

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.

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132. Evil or Elves or Both… Terror in Mirkwood : The Hobbit #20

March 4, 2025 • 54 mins

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.

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131. The Weirdest Chapter in Middle-earth (with dancing bears!?) : The Hobbit #19

February 18, 2025 • 64 mins

With talking animals, animals serving food and dancing bears, this may just be the oddest chapter in all of Middle-earth!

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130. Where did Beorn Originate (and what was Tolkien’s inspiration)? : The Hobbit #18

February 4, 2025

Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves are dropped off on the Carrock, and find themselves in the company of a man who rather doesn't like dwarves--but who loves a good story!

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129. Tolkien Loved Eagles (too much?) : The Hobbit #17

January 21, 2025 • 52 mins

Stuck in trees with fire at their heels, the company find themselves surround by intelligent wolves and taunting orcs.

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A Song of Ice and Fire

January 14, 2025

Life took an unexpected turn this week with the fires in Southern California this week.

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128. A Courageous Hobbit and Disloyal Dwarves : The Hobbit #16

January 7, 2025 • 40 mins

Bilbo makes it out of the Misty Mountains with more courage than ever before, while the dwarves prove their disloyalty.

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Revisiting Tolkien’s Lost ‘Noel’ Poem

December 25, 2024

This poem, Noel, was written by J.R.R. Tolkien before The Hobbit was published, and only just discovered in 2013. Here’s how that happened!

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127. Where War of the Rohirrim went Wrong – In Depth Review

December 24, 2024 • 69 mins

We all had high hopes when War of the Rohirrim was announced a few years ago. Are those hopes realized in this anime Lord of the Rings film?

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126. Why Did Tolkien Change The Hobbit (and what did he change)? : The Hobbit #15

December 17, 2024

Once Tolkien finished writing The Lord of the Rings, it became clear to him that The Hobbit needed to change--particularly Bilbo and Gollum's interaction. But what exactly did he change?

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125. Bilbo Trembled and Found Pity : The Hobbit #14

December 10, 2024

The 2nd half of "Riddles in the Dark" is the most rewritten part of The Hobbit in the 1951 rewrite! And it's where Bilbo takes a giant leap (so to speak) into the future of his adventure.

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124. Miserable Riddles in the Dark : The Hobbit #13

November 26, 2024 • 51 mins

"Riddles in the Dark" is not only the most memorable event from all of Middle-earth -- it's also the turning point that ultimately let to The Lord of the Rings.

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123. Nightmare in Moria : The Hobbit #12

November 19, 2024 • 46 mins

The goblins of moria grab the dwarves (and hobbit) who decided to camp out on their "front porch", leading to some real terrifying moments!

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122. The Real Misty Mountains : The Hobbit #11

November 12, 2024

The first part of Chapter 4, Over Hill and Under Hill, is unique for it's direct correlation with Tolkien's own past. We discuss: Tolkien's hiking experience and how it influenced this section of The Hobbit VERY obviously. Stone Giants... are they even necessary or part of Middle-earth? And what ARE they? What's the significance of Bilbo's dream? In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about: What we...

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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;}139. The Problem with Thorin – The Hobbit #26

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}138. What Tolkien Really Thinks About Politicians – The Hobbit #25

137. Do the elves have ANYTHING valuable to trade? – The Hobbit #24

136. The Lowest IQ Elves of Middle-earth? – The Hobbit #23

135. The Greedy and Petty Elves of Mirkwood – The Hobbit #22

134. When Bilbo Became the Hero – The Hobbit #21

133. Ainulindalë – A Reading in JRR Tolkien’s Voice

132. Evil or Elves or Both… Terror in Mirkwood : The Hobbit #20

131. The Weirdest Chapter in Middle-earth (with dancing bears!?) : The Hobbit #19

130. Where did Beorn Originate (and what was Tolkien’s inspiration)? : The Hobbit #18

129. Tolkien Loved Eagles (too much?) : The Hobbit #17

A Song of Ice and Fire

128. A Courageous Hobbit and Disloyal Dwarves : The Hobbit #16

Revisiting Tolkien’s Lost ‘Noel’ Poem

127. Where War of the Rohirrim went Wrong – In Depth Review

126. Why Did Tolkien Change The Hobbit (and what did he change)? : The Hobbit #15

125. Bilbo Trembled and Found Pity : The Hobbit #14

124. Miserable Riddles in the Dark : The Hobbit #13

123. Nightmare in Moria : The Hobbit #12

122. The Real Misty Mountains : The Hobbit #11

Popular Podcasts

139. The Problem with Thorin – The Hobbit #26

138. What Tolkien Really Thinks About Politicians – The Hobbit #25