The Prancing Pony Podcast

The Prancing Pony Podcast is a weekly show about the Middle-earth legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien, hosted - for six seasons - by Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. Now in its ninth season, Alan is joined by an all-star cast of co-hosts as he explores more of Middle-earth!

Alan and all his co-hosts are passionate Tolkien enthusiasts, inviting listeners to enjoy their detailed exploration of Tolkien’s work, with smart but straightforward discussion and a healthy dose of self-effacing humor, pop-culture references, and bad puns. These are the folks you'd want to hang out with at a pub and talk Tolkien with!

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

424 episodes
Updated July 26

Episodes424

Newest first

May 5, 2019 · 1 hr 39 min
123 - Be Cool or Be Cast Out
Frodo and his friends make their way to Bree, and to an inn with a strangely familiar name, in the first half of “At the Sign of the Prancing Pony”. The Men of Bree are an independent people, cheerful and friendly as a rule… but Sam is nervous with...
Apr 28, 2019 · 1 hr 8 min
122 - The Digital Mead-Hall: TexMoot 2019 Keynote Presentation
In January, Alan and Shawn were honored to be the keynote speakers at Signum University’s second annual Texas Literature & Language Symposium (“TexMoot”) in Waco, Texas! Our talk, recorded live, explored podcasts as modern-day mead-halls providing a...
Apr 14, 2019 · 1 hr 58 min
121 - Comfortably Tom
In the final pages of “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, the hobbits — now armed with nice, shiny daggers — reluctantly take their leave of Tom Bombadil. Before we say goodbye to Tom, we give the greatest enigma in Middle-earth the full Prancing Pony Podcast...
Apr 7, 2019 · 1 hr 39 min
120 - Wish You Weren't Here
As we resume “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, Frodo comes to and finds himself trapped in a barrow with his friends unconscious beside him, arrayed eerily in the buried treasures of long-dead lords. For a moment, Frodo is tempted to flee with the Ring and...
Mar 31, 2019 · 1 hr 24 min
119 - The Dark Side of the Tomb
We begin the chilling chapter “Fog on the Barrow-downs” on the hobbits’ last morning in the house of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry. Soon they must be off again and into the haunted hills beyond; but they should be safe if they just keep to the west side...
Mar 24, 2019 · 2 hr 13 min
118 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2019
Happy Tolkien Reading Day! On March 25 every year – the date of the fall of Barad-dûr – Tolkien lovers worldwide celebrate by reading the Professor’s works. A theme is chosen by The Tolkien Society every year, and for 2019 the theme is Tolkien and the...
Mar 17, 2019 · 1 hr 43 min
117 - Questions After Nightfall 6
Alan and Shawn once again welcome several of our listeners to the Prancing Pony Podcast for live, unscripted “Ask Me Anything”–style questions. In this episode, we give our best on-the-spot answers to questions about the power of the Elven Rings,...
Mar 10, 2019 · 1 hr 40 min
116 - Does Goldberry Float in Water?
The hobbits experience a rain delay the morning after their first night in the house of Tom Bombadil, and Frodo couldn’t be happier. While Goldberry does her “washing”, Tom regales his guests with stories, but after supper Frodo starts telling his own...
Mar 3, 2019 · 1 hr 40 min
115 - Fetch the Comfy Chairs
Frodo and friends get comfortable in the first half of “In the House of Tom Bombadil,” and Alan and Shawn finally begin to unwrap the enigma that is Tom and his wife Goldberry. While the hobbits eat and drink as only famished hobbits can, we dive into...
Feb 24, 2019 · 1 hr 40 min
114 - Race, Tolkien, and Middle-earth
For the first time ever, the Prancing Pony Podcast is proud to release one of our patron-exclusive episodes to our general audience. In this special originally released in October 2018, we take a serious look at a topic that’s not always easy to...
Feb 17, 2019 · 1 hr 22 min
113 - Trouble with the Trees
It’s nap time in the Old Forest as our heroes gradually succumb to the power of an ancient and angry willow. Sam rolls a natural 20 to resist the spell and manages to save Frodo, but Merry and Pippin are trapped inside the enormous tree. Just when all...
Feb 10, 2019 · 1 hr 28 min
112 - Unrest in the Forest
Frodo and his companions enter into the Old Forest in the first part of Book I, Chapter 6 of The Lord of the Rings. Merry has been beyond the Hedge before and does his best to guide them, but it’s hard to navigate a forest when the trees won’t stop...
Feb 3, 2019 · 2 hr 19 min
111 - Eleventy-first Episode Extravaganza
Alan and Shawn are celebrating their eleventy-first episode with a party of special magnificence! But instead of inviting you to a feast and risking a possible appearance by the Sackville-Bagginses, we’re looking back at a few dozen of our best clips...
Jan 27, 2019 · 1 hr 28 min
110 - With a Little Help from My Friends
A conspiracy is finally unmasked in the second half of “A Conspiracy Unmasked”! Frodo’s dread turns to relief when he learns his friends already know much more than he gave them credit for. They insist on leaving with him and promise to stick to him...
Jan 20, 2019 · 1 hr 25 min
109 - Hello, Goodbye
In the first half of Book I, Chapter 5 of The Lord of the Rings, the Hobbits cross the Brandywine and come to Frodo’s new digs at Crickhollow, where a hot bath and all the comforts of home await them. Frodo does his best to enjoy a well-earned second...
Jan 13, 2019 · 1 hr 33 min
108 - Ain't Gonna Walk on Maggot's Farm No More
The second half of “A Short Cut to Mushrooms” finds Frodo almost as scared of Farmer Maggot as he is of the Black Rider following him. His fears are quickly eased, however, and he finds a good friend in an unexpected place. We discuss the hospitality...
Jan 6, 2019 · 1 hr 46 min
107 - The Nazgûl is Wailin' in the Wind
We begin the new year with a Tolkien Fun Fact in honor of the Professor’s birthday before starting on Book I, Chapter 4 of The Lord of the Rings, “A Short Cut to Mushrooms.” Frodo, Sam, and Pippin wake up after the Elf-party refreshed and encouraged,...
Dec 23, 2018 · 1 hr 30 min
An Evergreen PPP Holiday Event - The Father Christmas Letters
In what has officially become an annual event, join Alan and Shawn as they use the wayback machine to revisit episode 028 in this special director's cut re-release of our episode on Letters From Father Christmas. Marvel at how far we've come since our...
Dec 16, 2018 · 1 hr 56 min
106 - Questions After Nightfall 5
It’s time once again for Alan and Shawn to welcome several visitors to the Prancing Pony! Hear us stay mostly on topic as we attempt to answer live, unscripted “Ask Me Anything”–style questions about The Lord of the Rings and much more. We revisit...
Dec 9, 2018 · 1 hr 49 min
105 - Who Wants to Leave Forever?
Now with more Elves — for a limited time only! Book I, Chapter 3 of The Lord of the Rings concludes with a meeting between our hobbit heroes and the company of Gildor Inglorion in the Woody End. We reach back into The Silmarillion for a recap of the...

The Prancing Pony Podcast

123 - Be Cool or Be Cast Out

122 - The Digital Mead-Hall: TexMoot 2019 Keynote Presentation

121 - Comfortably Tom

120 - Wish You Weren't Here

119 - The Dark Side of the Tomb

118 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2019

117 - Questions After Nightfall 6

116 - Does Goldberry Float in Water?

115 - Fetch the Comfy Chairs

114 - Race, Tolkien, and Middle-earth

113 - Trouble with the Trees

112 - Unrest in the Forest

111 - Eleventy-first Episode Extravaganza

110 - With a Little Help from My Friends

109 - Hello, Goodbye

108 - Ain't Gonna Walk on Maggot's Farm No More

107 - The Nazgûl is Wailin' in the Wind

An Evergreen PPP Holiday Event - The Father Christmas Letters

106 - Questions After Nightfall 5

105 - Who Wants to Leave Forever?