The Tolkien Lore Podcast

Discussing anything and everything related to J.R.R. Tolkien, from Middle-earth to real life.

Tolkien on Masculinity: How to Be a Good Man in Middle-Earth

Tolkien gives us several pointers on how to be a good man with his characters in Lord of the Rings, and also some pointers on how NOT to be a good man. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

11-23
22:10

Fall, Mortality, and Machine in Tolkien, Part 3: Machines and Magic and the Human Condition

Tolkien’s attitude toward mechanization sometimes leads people to think of him as a Luddite, but that’s not really accurate. Nevertheless, he did have some negative opinions about “the Machine,” which he equated with “Magic,” and this final video in this series explores some of the ways he might have been onto something.For my previous two videos in this series:Fall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJCXQqCE5no&pp=0gcJCbIJAYcqIYzvMortality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJGfWI-aGWEFor GirlNextGondor’s excellent video on Tolkien and AI, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1FvJdNKn6YOther Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon):https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

09-01
26:06

Tolkien Geek Rates Tolkien Related Memes, Part 5: All Good Memes Must Come to an End

Thiswill be the final installment (at least for now) of my series onrating memes. And it’s a bit of a strange grab bag to be sure….Priorvideos in the series:Part1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2Sm0eraS8Part2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVrk2hWMiFoPart3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUrgrL6bHCo&t=242sPart4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yNfhsg7BvUOtherLinks: Playeur(formerly Utreon):https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble:https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee:https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter:https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXeroShoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscordserver invitelink:https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9(Iflink is expired contact me attolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

08-25
36:52

Fall, Mortality, and Machine in Tolkien, Part 2: Lessons on Dying Well in Middle-Earth

Inthis second part of my series examining these three themes thatTolkien said were what his work was about, I examine mortality as aresult of the fall, and the various reactions to it, setting up thefinal video on Machine. Forthe first part of this series, click here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJCXQqCE5noOtherLinks: Playeur(formerly Utreon):https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble:https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee:https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter:https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXeroShoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscordserver invitelink:https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9(Iflink is expired contact me attolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

08-18
21:00

Tolkien Geek Rates Tolkien Related Memes, Part 4: Have I Gone Too Far??

Can you handle Jeff Goldblum as Legolas? How about Saruman? Get ready for some of the most...interesting memes I’ve covered so far.Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2Sm0eraS8 Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVrk2hWMiFo Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUrgrL6bHCo&t=242s&pp=0gcJCa0JAYcqIYzv Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

08-11
35:52

Fall, Mortality, and Machine in Tolkien, Part 1: From the Fall of Melkor to the Fall of Frodo

Tolkien once said that his stories contained the themes of Fall, Mortality, and Machine, and in this video I begin by exploring the first of these, with the other two to follow in subsequent videos.For more on the fall of Man and related topics, check out my videos on the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwi7_nABWDI) and the Tale of Adanel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcOISb-59rw)For my video on the consistent them of declining civilizations ending in renewal, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLme8xfiY6oOther Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

08-04
27:12

Tolkien Geek Rates Tolkien Related Memes, Part 3: Third Time Is the Silmaril?

We’ve had some funny memes up to this point, but nothing quite a 10/10. Will we get there this time?Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2Sm0eraS8Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVrk2hWMiFoOther Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

07-28
32:43

Tolkien Geek Rates Tolkien Related Memes, Part 2: The Return of the Meme

Ready for more chuckles (and maybe even some orcish laughter)?For part 1, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2Sm0eraS8 Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

07-21
17:59

Is “The Lord of the Rings” Only for Boys? Let’s Interview an Actual Girl Fan

A child in my household once said she didn’t like The Lord of the Rings because it’s “for boys.” Well I happen to know some girls who also like the story (and other things Tolkien to boot), and here I interview one whom you probably know but might not recognize at first about this question.Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

07-14
39:10

Tolkien Geek Rates Tolkien Related Memes, Part 1

The internet has seen a lot of Tolkien related memes, and we all need a good laugh now and then, so let’s see how funny these things really are.Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

07-07
21:59

Turin’s Weakness Is His Lack of Tolkien’s Greatest Weapon: Friendship

A Lord of the Rings meme I saw recently made me realize that Turin, alone among Tolkien’s protagonists, seems incapable of forming close friendships with those around him. I think this might explain a lot about his story.Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link:https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

06-30
26:48

Tolkien Geek Game Night: Journeys in Middle-Earth

This video goes through some actual gameplay and I also discuss how the game incorporates Tolkien’s themes into the mechanics. If you want my review of the game, check this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjBJ91OrgZ4Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

06-23
53:50

“It Was Always a Vast Globe” for Tolkien, to the End of His Life

After my video on how Tolkien almost “ruined” his own mythology (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7YDFGc5j28&pp=0gcJCd4JAYcqIYzv), a member of my discord shared his work showing how Tolkien actually stuck to the round world version pretty much for the remainder of hislife. We discuss here.If you want to read his paper, you can find it here: https://realelvish.net/2024/04/14/it-always-had-been-a-vast-globe/Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

06-16
38:09

Why Do We Know So Little About Tolkien’s Most Impressive Heroes?

I mentioned in a recent video about Earendil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM6enxxfj4c) that there seems to be a pattern of Tolkien writing impressive heroes but not actually giving us details on why they’re impressive. Let’s look at that in a bit more detail.Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

06-09
28:04

The Parallel but Opposite Internal Debates of Gollum and Samwise Gamgee

Aviewer recently asked whether Gollum is a “grey” character oractually two characters in light of his apparent split personality,and it made me think about an interesting parallel with the otherextended internal debate in the story: Sam’s debate over whether toleave Frodo in Cirith Ungol. It’s a fascinating comparison, as itturns out.OtherLinks: Playeur(formerly Utreon):https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble:https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee:https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter:https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXeroShoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscordserver invitelink:https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9(Iflink is expired contact me attolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

06-02
27:56

Book Review | “Tolkien in the Twenty-First Century: The Meaning of Middle-Earth Today”

My wife got me a book about Tolkien I didn’t know existed forChristmas (yay!). Unfortunately it’s not really worth the read(boo!).Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon):https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

05-26
35:29

Who’s the Most Impressive Character in Tolkien’s Legendarium? Maybe Not Who You Think…

Thereare many impressive heroes in Middle-earth, and Tolkien is oftenscant on the details of just how impressive they are, but this onecharacter takes the cake….OtherLinks: Playeur(formerly Utreon):https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble:https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee:https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter:https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXeroShoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscordserver invitelink:https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9(Iflink is expired contact me attolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

05-19
17:14

What Would Have Happened if Samwise Chose to Stay with Frodo in Cirith Ungol?

In my previous video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMXe8EwXsf0) I addressed the question of whether Sam made the right decision to leave Frodo and take the Ring in an attempt to reach Mount Doom alone. That raises the follow-up question: what would have happened if he chose differently? It turns out this also creates a new angle on the original question….Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

05-12
11:18

Was Samwise Right to Leave Frodo at Cirith Ungol?

A viewer sent me an email asking this question, and it’s certainly one worth exploring. There are lots of issues that come up, such as the nature of Sam’s decision, the role of faith and providence, and the source of Sam’s conviction that he should never leave his master.Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon):https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:fTwitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlorePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeekXero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (Iflink is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.comand I’ll send a fresh invite link).

05-05
28:04

Is Gandalf the White Invulnerable Like the Witch King of Angmar?

A viewer left a question in the comments section: What did Gandalf mean when he told Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli that none of them had any weapon that could hurt him? Let’s explore that question and see what we can come up with.Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeekDiscord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

04-28
22:56

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