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

Jan 7, 2018 · 1 hr 31 min
064 - And Now, the Larch
As Chapter 6 of The Hobbit opens, Bilbo emerges from the mountains and soon hears the familiar voices of Gandalf and the Dwarves. He sneaks up on them with the help of his new ring, and finally wins some respect with his stealth and the tale of his...
Dec 17, 2017 · 1 hr 41 min
063 - How Not to Be Seen
We conclude our trilogy of episodes on Chapter 5 of The Hobbit. Gollum begins to realize that Bilbo has his ring, and Bilbo begins to realize what it does. He uses its power of invisibility to escape from Gollum, but stops short of killing the...
Dec 10, 2017 · 1 hr 39 min
062 - Ere the Other Side He See
Our second episode on Chapter 5 of The Hobbit. Tension mounts as the riddle contest between Bilbo and Gollum continues, with Bilbo’s life at stake. His luck saves him in the final round, but when Gollum accuses him of not playing fair, he’s still very...
Dec 3, 2017 · 1 hr 32 min
061 - Answer Me These Questions Five...
The first of three episodes on Chapter 5 of The Hobbit. Bilbo wakes up in the darkness below the mountains, and soon finds himself in a life-or-death riddle-game with one of Tolkien's most infamous creations: Gollum. We begin to discuss the changes...
Nov 19, 2017 · 1 hr 34 min
060 - Questions After Nightfall 1
It’s our first ever Prancing Pony Podcast Q&A episode! Alan and Shawn answer live questions from our very special guests, ranging from the fun to the philosophical. Topics include our favorite villains, the surprising similarities between goblins and...
Nov 12, 2017 · 1 hr 25 min
059 - Run Away!
As we resume Chapter 4 of The Hobbit, Bilbo and friends are captured by goblins. Thorin Oakenshield’s name and reputation are known in these parts, and the Great Goblin does not take kindly to his arrival. Gandalf comes to the rescue with his shining...
Nov 5, 2017 · 1 hr 26 min
058 - There Lies a Cave
In Chapter 4 of The Hobbit, our heroes begin the crossing of the mountains under threat of stormy weather and rock-hurling stone-giants. They seek shelter in a cave, but caves up in the mountains are seldom unoccupied, and this one is no exception. We...
Oct 29, 2017 · 1 hr 24 min
057 - 'Tis a Silly Place
In Chapter 3 of The Hobbit, Bilbo’s story takes its first steps into Tolkien’s greater mythology, but these aren’t your grandfather’s Eldar. We uncover the hidden secrets of the notorious “silly Elves” of Rivendell, introduce Elrond, and discuss the...
Oct 22, 2017 · 1 hr 35 min
056 - He’s a Burglar and He’s OK
In Chapter 2 of The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins wakes up to the pleasant lack of Dwarves. He’s beginning to think that he’s escaped adventure after all when Gandalf pushes him out the door. Immediately, little Bilbo misses the comforts of home, but the...
Oct 15, 2017 · 1 hr 33 min
055 - Pining for the Hoards
We wrap up Chapter 1 of The Hobbit, “An Unexpected Party”, where Bilbo’s Tookish side is awakened by the mysterious dwarf-song filling his home, but his Baggins side is less enthusiastic once Thorin and Gandalf lay out the details of the dwarves’...
Oct 8, 2017 · 1 hr 47 min
054 - Nobody Expects the Dwarvish Inquisition
We begin our reading of The Hobbit with the famous first line and meet Bilbo Baggins, living a predictable life of luxury and ease until Gandalf comes by one Tuesday morning. Soon Bilbo’s world is turned upside down by an unexpected party of hungry...
Sep 24, 2017 · 1 hr 47 min
053 - A Hole New World
It’s the start of Season 2 here on The Prancing Pony Podcast as we start discussing the book that first introduced Middle-earth to the world: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit! In this episode, we look at the novel’s composition, publication and lasting...
Sep 21, 2017 · 2 hr 3 min
052 - Exploring The Hobbit and More: An Interview with Corey Olsen
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit, Alan and Shawn are excited to welcome Corey Olsen, the Tolkien Professor himself, to The Prancing Pony Podcast! We talk about Corey’s work as a Tolkien podcaster — and get the latest...
Sep 10, 2017 · 2 hr 1 min
051 - Why Does It Hurt So Much?: The Hobbit Film Trilogy
It’s there and back again at the movies with the Prancing Pony Podcast! After talking about The Lord of the Rings films in our last episode, Alan and Shawn dive into Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit film trilogy. Once again, we watch clips of the changes we...
Aug 27, 2017 · 1 hr 58 min
050 - You Have Kept Your Honor: The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy
Put aside the books and join us at the movies! In this episode, Alan and Shawn discuss Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. We watch clips of our favorite (and not-so-favorite) changes and go back to Tolkien’s own words about film...
Aug 13, 2017 · 1 hr 51 min
049 - The First Age Strikes Back: The Silmarillion Retrospective
A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, Alan and Shawn started discussing The Silmarillion. Now, witness the power of this fully armed and operational retrospective episode! First, we open Barliman’s Bag and stay on target to answer as many...
Jul 30, 2017 · 2 hr 10 min
048 - People Are People
In the second half of "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age,” Isildur refuses to destroy the One Ring when he has the chance, keeping it as his prize from the vanquished Sauron. But he is stripped of the Ring, and his life, when he's ambushed by...
Jul 16, 2017 · 2 hr 7 min
047 - Never Let Me Down Again
Alan and Shawn rewind to the end of the War of Wrath to begin "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age." Sauron refuses to beg the Valar’s pardon for his misdeeds, and remains in Middle-earth to follow in Morgoth’s footsteps as the new Dark Lord. Men...
Jul 2, 2017 · 2 hr 32 min
046 - Master and Servant
The second of two episodes on the Akallabêth, Tolkien's story of Númenor. Ar-Pharazôn is offered no resistance by Sauron, and gets the bright idea to take him as a hostage. Soon, you-know-who has wormed his way into the King’s trust and turned the...
Jun 18, 2017 · 2 hr 40 min
045 - Just Can’t Get Enough
The first of two episodes on the Akallabêth, the story of Númenor. At the outset of the Second Age, the Valar reward the Edain with wisdom, long life and their own private island in the Great Sea. The Númenóreans become legendary seafarers, sailing...

The Prancing Pony Podcast

064 - And Now, the Larch

063 - How Not to Be Seen

062 - Ere the Other Side He See

061 - Answer Me These Questions Five...

060 - Questions After Nightfall 1

059 - Run Away!

058 - There Lies a Cave

057 - 'Tis a Silly Place

056 - He’s a Burglar and He’s OK

055 - Pining for the Hoards

054 - Nobody Expects the Dwarvish Inquisition

053 - A Hole New World

052 - Exploring The Hobbit and More: An Interview with Corey Olsen

051 - Why Does It Hurt So Much?: The Hobbit Film Trilogy

050 - You Have Kept Your Honor: The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy

049 - The First Age Strikes Back: The Silmarillion Retrospective

048 - People Are People

047 - Never Let Me Down Again

046 - Master and Servant

045 - Just Can’t Get Enough