In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss Tolkien's 1939 essay "On Fairy Stories." Part 2 of 2.Primary sources: On Fairy Stories (PDF) | The Lord of the Rings | The Letters of J.R.R. TolkienSecondary sources:Carpenter - J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biograph

Of Faerie and Fairies (Part 1)

Feb 16th, 2024 1h 5m

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss Tolkien's 1939 essay "On Fairy Stories." Part 1 of 2.Primary sources: On Fairy Stories (PDF) | The Lord of the Rings | The Letters of J.R.R. TolkienSecondary sources:Carpenter - J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biograph

A Mere Individual

Nov 15th, 2023 1h 8m

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss Tolkien's experience fighting in World War I and the ways it informed his worldview.Primary sources: The Lord of the Rings | The Silmarillion | The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien | The Fall of GondolinSecondar

And Melkor Was Afraid

Oct 12th, 2023 55m 39s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss chapters seven and eight of the Quenta Silmarillion, including Feanor's creation of the Silmarils, Melkor's first plot to steal the Silmarils, Feanor's exile from Valmar, and Melkor's destruction of the T

The Orkish Problem (Part 2)

Aug 16th, 2023 52m 8s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam continue their discussion of a posthumously published essay by Charles W. Mills on the subject of race and racism in Lord of the Rings. Part 2 of 2.Primary sources: The Lord of the Rings | The Silmarillion | The

The Orkish Problem (Part 1)

Jul 16th, 2023 48m 4s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss a posthumously published essay by Charles W. Mills on the subject of race and racism in Lord of the Rings. Part 1 of 2.Primary sources: The Lord of the Rings | The Silmarillion | The Letters of J.R.R. Tol

The Quendi Have Fun And Let Go A Little

Jun 27th, 2023 53m 43s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss chapters three, four, and five of The Silmarillion, including the origin story of the Elves.Primary sources: The Silmarillion | The Lord of the Rings | The Letters of J.R.R. TolkienSecondary sources:Carpe

Aulë and the Seven Dwarves

Apr 20th, 2023 42m 39s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss chapters one and two of the Quenta Silmarillion, including the creation of the Trees and the origins of the dwarves.Primary sources: The Silmarillion | The Lord of the Rings | The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkie

A Surrogate For The Revolution

Mar 25th, 2023 51m 49s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss leftist interpretations of Tolkien's work, and take some detours along the way.Primary sources: The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings | The Silmarillion | Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth | The L

The Powers of Arda

Feb 11th, 2023 44m 11s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss the Valaquenta, our formal introduction to the Valar and the Maiar.Primary sources: The Silmarillion | The Lord of the Rings | The Letters of J.R.R. TolkienSecondary sources:Carpenter - J.R.R. Tolkien: A

Music of the Ainur

Jan 28th, 2023 54m 37s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss the Ainulindalë, the creation myth of Tolkien's universe.Primary sources: The Silmarillion | The Lord of the Rings | The Letters of J.R.R. TolkienSecondary sources:Carpenter - J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

Hard Right Hobbits

Nov 26th, 2022 48m 32s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss the hard right's obsession with Tolkien, particularly through the figures of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and tech financier Peter Thiel. Sources: Hobbits and the Hard Right: How Fantasy Inspires

Making Tolkien A Neocon (Part 2)

Nov 12th, 2022 59m 42s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss The Hobbit Party by Jonathan Witt and Jay W. Richards, and slightly lose their minds in the process. Part 2 of 2.Primary sources: Witt/Richards - The Hobbit Party | The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings | Th

Making Tolkien A Neocon (Part 1)

Oct 29th, 2022 49m 36s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss The Hobbit Party by Jonathan Witt and Jay W. Richards. Part 1 of 2.Primary sources: Witt/Richards - The Hobbit Party | The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings | The SilmarillionSecondary sources: Carpenter - J

Sex and the Silmarils

Oct 15th, 2022 55m 15s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss sex and sexuality across Tolkien's legendarium, particularly in the story of Beren and Luthien. Please be advised that this episode contains non-graphic discussion of sexual assault.Primary sources: Beren

Frodo Lives! (w/ Maurice Isserman)

Oct 1st, 2022 48m 24s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss the influence of The Lord of the Rings on the 1960s counterculture. Later, Maurice Isserman, the Publius Virgilius Rogers Professor of American History at Hamilton College, talks with Kenny about his own

Mob Rule in Middle-earth

Sep 17th, 2022 51m 54s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss formal democratic institutions (or lack thereof) across Tolkien's legendarium.Primary sources: The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings | The Silmarillion | Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth | The Le

Of Distributism

Sep 3rd, 2022 50m 45s

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam discuss the economic philosophy of distributism and how it influences Tolkien's depiction of life in The Shire.Primary sources: The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings | The Silmarillion | The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkie