Tolkien Pop! Podcast

In this episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Thomas Hermans-Webster to talk about the chapter he co-wrote with his dad entitled “Role-play, Spiritual Formation, and Theological Education,” in the volume Theology, Religion, and Dungeons & Dragons. We also talk about Tom’s Tolkien experience, Tolkien’s influence on Dungeons & Dragons, and how D&D can be used as a tool for spiritual formation. Tom is an editor, theologian, and educator. Tom earned his PhD in Constructive Theology and Theological Ethics from Boston University School of Theology.His research develops Norman Pittenger's process theology of the eucharist through sacramental ecological theology. Broadly, Tom's research aims to encourage Christians to eat all of our meals with an ecological consciousness and for ecological justice. Along with his own scholarly work, Tom is a professional editor of academic Christian theology and theological ethics. His experience with established and emerging scholars alike covers fields of study that include Decolonial Theology, Ecclesiology, Ecological Theology, Liberation Theology, Migration and Religion, Missiology, Panikkar Studies, Clergy-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse and Trauma, and Process Theology.You can follow Tom and his work at these places:Instagram: @nottomwebster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-hermans-webster-ph-d-4b7497199/Orbis Books: https://orbisbooks.com/Buy Theology, Religion, and Dungeons & Dragons here: https://a.co/d/0iKV62CXThis podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.campFollow Nick on:Instagram: @njspolkThreads: @njspolkFacebook: Tolkien Pop!Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.comPick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZsGet your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-popSupport me on my journey in writing my first fantasy novel: Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick talks with Dr. Tripp Fuller, host of Homebrewed Christianity and Process This about apocalypse in the ages of Tolkien’s legendarium. We also hear Tripp describe his personal Tolkien experience, our excitement for Season 3 of The Rings of Power, and Theology Beer Camp. Follow Tripp at all these places:Homebrewed Christianity Podcast: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homebrewedchristianityInstagram: @theologynerd Threads: @theologynerd Bluesky: @trippfuller.bsky.social YouTube: @TrippFuller TheologyClass.com: https://theologyclass.com/ This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.campFollow Nick on:Instagram: @njspolkThreads: @njspolkFacebook: Tolkien Pop!Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.comPick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZsGet your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-popSupport me on my journey in writing my first fantasy novel: Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Sørina Higgins to discuss the power of the words of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams, and other members of The Inklings. We also talk about Sørina’s professional work as a scholar, creative, and cultural critic.Dr. Sørina Higgins is an editor, author, English teacher, and writing consultant. She holds a PhD in English from Baylor University, and her scholarly interests include British and Irish modernism, magic, the Inklings, and Arthuriana. She edited an academic essay collection entitled The Inklings and King Arthur (Apocryphile Press, 2017), winner of the 2018 Mythopoeic Society Inklings Scholarship Award, and created one of The Great Courses from The Teaching Company on the Inklings. As a creative writer, Sørina has previously published two books of poetry, Caduceus (David Roberts Books, 2012, and The Significance of Swans (Finishing Line Press, 2008). She also hosts a podcast and Substack called Words Do Things, where she explores public rhetoric and the power of speech.Checkout Sørina’s work at her website and these places:Website: https://wyrdhoard.com/Check out The Inklings and King Arthur: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1944769897?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Twitter: @SorinaHiggins Facebook: Sørina Higgins Instagram: @drsorinahigginsBluesky: @sorinahiggins.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrSorinaHiggins Substack: Words Do Things This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.campFollow Nick on:Instagram: @njspolkThreads: @njspolkFacebook: Tolkien Pop!Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.comPick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZsGet your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-popSupport me on my journey in writing my first fantasy novel: Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Robert Tally to discuss his book The Mismeasure of Orcs, the importance of taking orcs into account in Tolkien’s work, and what the practical implications are for fostering a sense of orc sympathy. Rob also shares his Tolkien experience and his other academic work.Get your copy of The Mismeasure of Orcs here: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-mismeasure-of-orcs/?srsltid=AfmBOoqpA4EramjfPqSPpeoHaDfyhl9W6N_8w1hUeaXwUuILiLFqh1nDCheckout some more of Rob’s Tolkien work here: “Let Us Now Praise Famous Orcs: Simple Humanity in Tolkien’s Inhuman Creatures”Check out Rob’s faculty profile: https://faculty.txst.edu/profile/1922030Follow Rob at all these places:Twitter: @RobertTallyFacebook: Robert TallyBluesky: @roberttally.bsky.socialThis podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.campFollow Nick on:Instagram: @njspolkThreads: @njspolkFacebook: Tolkien Pop!Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.comPick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZsGet your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Tom Hillman to discuss his book Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring along with Tom's Tolkien experience and how pity and power are not only important for understanding Tolkien, but giving us insight into a better way we as people can act in the primary world.Get your copy of Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring here: https://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com/2023/pity-power-and-tolkiens-ring/Check out Tom's blog "Alas, not me": https://alasnotme.blogspot.com/Follow Tom at all these places:Substack: @tomhillman3Facebook: Tom HillmanInstagram: @alas_not_meBluesky: @alas-not-me.bsky.socialThis podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.campFollow Nick on:Instagram: @njspolkThreads: @njspolkFacebook: Tolkien Pop!Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.comPick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZsGet your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe