The Tolkien Road

Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 5 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië.In Chapter 5, we come to find out how the three Elvish peoples (the Vanyar, the Noldor, and the Teleri) came to Aman, the Blessed Realm. We also learn a great deal more about the Noldor and the Teleri, and about the personalities of these groups of Elves. The princes of the Noldor, in particular, start to come into focus as key players near the end of the chapter.Hey there, fellow travelers!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/E8Bl86m5Y9kWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124430840Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63713802Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths Pre

Hey there, fellow travelers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 4 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of Thingol and Melian!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.Chapter 4 of The Silmarillion is a short and succinct “boy-meets-girl” story, or so a surface reading would suggest. However, as with most things Tolkien, there is much more to it than that, as it is in fact an important development in the history of Middle-earth, and in it we see key themes begin to develop to the point of fruition.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/z1a3ELPMuqwWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123934895Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63380305Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.s

Hey there, fellow travelers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 3 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of The Awakening of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.In Chapter 3, we finally embark upon something like a continuous narrative. Up to this point, much has been given by way of background, but chapter 3 is primarily concerned with the awakening of the Elves, their journey to Valinor, and another epic war against Melkor and his minions!To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/2ZEa5HCYYYAWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/122949096Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62785284Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/pod

Hey there, fellow travellers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 2 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of Aulë and Yavanna!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.In Chapter 2, we're introduced to the contentious relationship of Aulë, the father of the Dwarves, and Yavanna, the mother of the Ents.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbQhz9qR5JAWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/afv-0279-ch-02-122881548Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62439992Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

Hey there, fellow travellers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 1 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of the Beginning of Days, part 2!Yes, Chapter 1 had so much to discuss that we had to break it into two parts, so you're getting the second half right now!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.Having established their home in Valinor of the Blessed Realm, the Valar begin a new work: the Two Trees of Valinor. What are the Two Trees and what is their significance for Middle-earth? Furthermore, how do they prepare the way for the coming of Elves and Men, and work against the dark designs of Melkor?To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/aoFKAh__wDAWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/afv-0288-ch-01-2-122358918Listen AD-FREE: https

Hey there, fellow travellers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 1 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of the Beginning of Days.Just to be clear, "Quenta Silmarillion" means "The History of the Silmarils". While Tolkien intended "Ainulindalë" and "Valaquenta" to be essentially standalone works, Quenta Silmarillion encompasses the next 24 chapters.Over the next several months, we'll be revisiting the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.Chapter 1 - Of the Beginning of Days tells of the First War of Arda, the creation of the two Great Lamps by the Valar, and the malicious actions of Melkor, the fallen Ainu and chief villain of Quenta Silmarillion.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/Xx9zh7c6zyoWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/afv-0277-ch-01-121803352Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.c

Hey there, fellow travellers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Valaquenta - The Story of the Valar!Over the next several months, we'll be revisiting the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.As mentioned, this episode is an overview of Valaquenta - The Story of the Valar - which introduces us to many of the great powers, or gods, that govern Middle-earth. In addition, it also tells us briefly of the true nature of familiar figures like Sauron and Gandalf.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/wtRxezDytYoBuy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

Hey there, fellow travellers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Ainulindalë - The Music of the Ainur - which, simply put, is the Middle-earth creation story.Over the next several months, we'll be revisiting the 30-episode series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.This episode is an overview of Ainulindalë - The Music of the Ainur - which is the creation story of Middle-earth.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6k3fwOdGdkBuy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

Hey there, fellow travellers!Right now, I have one major goal for The Tolkien Road: to finish my next book!While I'm doing that, I want to invite you to read through The Silmarillion with The Tolkien Road this year!Over the next several months, we'll be revisiting the 30-episode series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters. You can find that link in the show notes!The first episode is an overview of The Silmarillion, including its background, structure, and themes.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTX9Y-FX5zkBuy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

Hey there fellow travellers!This week we'll be revisiting episode 197, which focused on 6 amazing spiritual insights from Tolkien. Visit TolkienRoad.com/spirit to download these 6 points as a PDF!Also, visit TrueMythsPress.com to for Tolkien Road gear like Two Trees coffee mugs, Tolkien Road t-shirts, and signed copies of my books (which are almost gone!).Finally, if you'd like to support our work, visit Patron.com/TolkienRoad!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

Listen to the whole episode: https://www.ringspodcast.com/190-why-and-how-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-a-religious-and-catholic-work/Hey there, fellow travellers!Merry Christmas! I was recently a guest on the Lore of the Rings podcast - that's L-O-R-E - where I joined host Aaron to discuss the ways in which Lord of the Rings is a "fundamentally religous work".We uncovered:- The grace Faramir says before sharing a meal with Frodo and Sam.- The liturgical significance of March 25 — the day the One Ring was destroyed.- The mysterious Three Prayers of Númenor, preserved in Unfinished Tales.- Why Tolkien preferred absorbed symbolism over overt allegory.I wanted to share a portion of this interview on The Tolkien Road's podcast feed, but you really need to go check out the whole thing over on Aaron's feed.Listen to the whole episode: https://www.ringspodcast.com/190-why-and-how-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-a-religious-and-catholic-work/Enjoy!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-r

In The Tolkien Road Episode 396, we review The War of the Rohirrim, the newly released animated Middle-earth film from Executive Producer Peter Jackson!I have to be honest: the first 2 seasons of The Rings of Power were so painfully bad that I was not feeling enthusiastic about The War of the Rohirrim going into seeing it last night.The one spark of hope that I felt was the knowledge that it had Peter Jackson as an Executive Producer, and that it had nothing to do with Amazon Studios.We stayed away from the marketing and from others’ thoughts and opinions, hoping to go into it with as much fresh perspective as we could garner.So what did we think? Watch and find out!EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- John R- KG- Eärendil HopeWATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/E_ho9RV_M_EFOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD:PATREON » SUPERFANS!TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMLINKS & MATHOMS:- take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at chec

Hey there fellow travellers!This week we'll be revisiting episode 261, which focused on Tolkien's EPIC Christmas poem NOEL. Visit TolkienRoad.com/noel for plenty of resources related to it!Also, visit TrueMythsPress.com to for Tolkien Road gear like Two Trees coffee mugs, Tolkien Road t-shirts, and signed copies of my books (which are almost gone!).Use promo code NOEL20 to take 20% off your purchase until December 14th.Show Notes » https://tolkienroad.com/noelBuy Christmas Gifts » https://truemythspress.com/Watch the video » https://youtu.be/K3dICFZQIecBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

I'm done with Season 2 of Amazon's The Rings of Power, but I didn't watch all 8 episodes. I just can't watch anymore...EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- John R- KG- Eärendil HopeWATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/4g1ugQfbHFEFOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD:PATREON » SUPERFANS!TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMLINKS & MATHOMS:- take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)- listen to TOLKIEN'S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everon- buy Tolkien's Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/ - buy Tolkien's Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING PATRONS:- John R- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- KG- SaberSystems- Jeremy D- Melkor27- Emilio P- Jonathan D- Richard K- Paul D- Julia- Werty- Chris B- Tuor91- Carolyn S- Emiel K- Brian O (the 2nd)- Jonathan R- Matthew W- Daniel D- Harrison C- Jason C- Seb M- Willbo Baggins- Ms. Anonymous- Andrew T- Redhawk- Shannon S- Brian O (the 1st

Welcome to The Tolkien Road Episode 394!In this bonus MAILBAG episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll be considering your thoughts on the Foreword and Prologue to The Lord of the Rings!EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- John R- KG- Eärendil HopeWATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/Lr_mqGgHwCwWATCH / LISTEN AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/tolkienroadFOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD:PATREON » SUPERFANS!TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMLINKS & MATHOMS:- take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)- listen to TOLKIEN'S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everon- buy Tolkien's Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/ - buy Tolkien's Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING PATRONS:- John R- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- KG- SaberSystems- Jeremy D- Melkor27- Emilio P- Jonathan D- Richard K- Paul D- Julia- Werty- Chris B- Tuor91- Carolyn S- Emiel K- Brian O (the 2nd)- Jonathan R- Matthe

Welcome to The Tolkien Road Episode 393!In this bonus MATHOMS episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll take a look at some fascinating footnotes to the Foreword and Prologue of The Lord of Rings!TOPICS COVERED: - Lord of the Rings' attraction - The Silmarillion adapted - Negative reviews of Lord of the Rings - Tolkien vs allegory - Sarehole Mill as Hobbiton - The word "Hobbit" - "Dwarrow", Dwarfs, Dwarves - Tolkien's description of hobbits - The location of Middle-earth - Arnor / Gondor meanings - Marcho and Blanco found the Shire - Angmar meaning - The Shire is rural England - Origin of "Shirriff"EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- John R- KG- Eärendil HopeWATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/jwJkSEmphPUWATCH / LISTEN AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/tolkienroadFOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD:PATREON » SUPERFANS!TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMLINKS & MATHOMS:- take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)- listen to

Hey there, fellow travellers! Let's revisit our discussion of Sauron's sack of Eregion and defeat of Celebrimbor from 2023, as Tolkien told it!Episode notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0349/Video: https://youtu.be/DnI07pSeqXQBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

Hey there, fellow travellers! Let's revisit our 2023 episode on Sauron's seduction of the Elves, which led to the creation of the Rings of Power!Episode notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0345/Video: https://youtu.be/cY5EmQrBD2kBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

Welcome to Episode 22 of DO NOT BE HASTY - I'm calling this one "Sam's Grand Entrance". (This is episode 392 of The Tolkien Road podcast).‘Well, sir,’ said Sam dithering a little. ‘I heard a deal that I didn’t rightly understand, about an enemy, and rings, and Mr. Bilbo, sir, and dragons, and a fiery mountain, and – and Elves, sir. I listened because I couldn’t help myself, if you know what I mean. Lor bless me, sir, but I do love tales of that sort. And I believe them too, whatever Ted may say. Elves, sir! I would dearly love to see them. Couldn’t you take me to see Elves, sir, when you go?’In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we conclude our journey through The Shadow of the Past, as Frodo decides on his course of action, and finds himself with a surprise traveling companion.SECTION START: “There was a long silence.”SECTION END: the end of the chapterEXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- John R- KG- Eärendil HopeWATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/WrG6NRhqyH0WATCH / LISTEN AD-FREE » https://www.p

Hey there, fellow travellers! In this REVISITED episode, we're looking at episode 315 from 2022, which was our latest discussion concerning Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, Tolkien's history of the events from the beginning of the Second Age until the end of the Lord of the Rings. Enjoy!Video: https://youtu.be/oajJtpC8_HABecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.