Queer Lodgings: A Tolkien Podcast

Returning guest Rory and friend-of-the-pod Clare join us to talk about the recently-published special issue of the Journal of Tolkien Research that they co-edited on Asexual and Aromantic readings of Tolkien's works. They share what it was like to work on this groundbreaking piece of scholarship (including how it was partially brought about by Rory's first appearance on Queer Lodgings!), some of the great articles included in the issue, and some of the response they've received to its publication.

Join us as we deep dive into Humphrey Carpenter's 1977 biography of JRR Tolkien, in particular Carpenter's treatment of Edith Tolkien and their relationship/marriage. Spoiler alert: Authorial bias exists outside of the Legendarium as well!

In this episode, Leah, Grace, and Alicia discuss the main reasons why we didn't get much recording done in 2025, including jointly writing a book chapter for an upcoming edited volume, and various personal life challenges. Learn more about the process of academic publishing as Leah and Grace recount their first times writing for academic publishing, guided by Alicia's experience. Thank you for sticking with us! We have so much more in store for you. Content Warning: Discussion of family death, pet death, chronic illness, and domestic abuse between 1:01 and 1:04.

Well, we're back! Join Alicia, Grace, and Leah as we shake off the cobwebs and delve deep into the Hobbit-holes of Bag End to explore Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. Is she actually the villain she's made out to be in "The Hobbit" and "Fellowship", or simply a victim of narrative bias? Plus JIRT's "mommy issues" and a contrast of Lobelia as an 'Aunt' archetype with biographical information about Tolkien's own aunts and uncles, and some teasers for our inevitable "Fuck Humphrey Carpenter" episode. Stay tuned after the outro for some extended B-roll of the comedy of errors that was our first recording session in way-too-long!

We have a special treat for you this episode... a discussion about "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" with the film's credited "Tolkien Expert" (and a Lodger herself), Janet Brennan Croft! Join us as we talk about Janet's approach to encouraging lore accuracy and consistency in the film's script, and how she pursued questions like "Could glasses and spyglasses reasonably exist in Middle-earth?". We also explore queer readings of the film's characters and narrative, especially Sapphic and ace/aro readings. And you can even hear Janet encourage Alicia to embark on her highly-anticipated rant on the "Watcher" creature and the cultural history of Japanese tentacle "art."  Information regarding the "Tolkien in Popular Culture" subject area (chaired by Janet) at the Southwest Popular Culture Association conference, including the Call for Papers, may be found here:  https://robinareid.substack.com/p/cfp-swpca-tolkien-in-popular-culture https://swpaca.org/subject-areas/ Janet's IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5523767/