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!

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424 episodes
Updated July 26

Episodes424

Newest first

Jun 11, 2017 · 1 hr
044 - The Threshold of Middle-earth: An Interview with John Garth
Alan and Shawn are honored to welcome John Garth, the award-winning author of Tolkien and the Great War and Tolkien at Exeter College, to The Prancing Pony Podcast! John’s work as a biographer and researcher offers a rare glimpse into the early life...
Jun 4, 2017 · 2 hr 28 min
043 - The Final Frontier
Join Alan and Shawn as they don red shirts for the final chapter of the Quenta Silmarillion, the voyages of the star-ship Vingilot. Its continuing mission: to bring Eärendil and Elwing into the West, to seek the pardon and aid of the Valar, and to...
May 28, 2017 · 1 hr 36 min
042 - Resistance is Futile
We return to Chapter 23 of The Silmarillion with our second episode on Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin. Tuor’s star rises in the realm of Turgon, and soon he finds himself wedded to Idril Celebrindal, becoming the second Man ever to marry one of the...
May 21, 2017 · 2 hr 27 min
041 - Make It So
In the first of two episodes on Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin, we go beyond The Silmarillion into Tolkien's Unfinished Tales to tell the story the way it was meant to be told. The son of Huor and Rían survives capture, thraldom, and life as an outlaw...
May 7, 2017 · 1 hr 56 min
040 - He's Dead, Gem
In Chapter 22 of The Silmarillion, Húrin is released from Angband to finish his son’s work of destroying everything he touches, and his visit to Thingol starts a chain reaction leading to war between Doriath and the Dwarves of Nogrod. As Menegroth...
Apr 23, 2017 · 3 hr
039 - Exit the Warrior
We conclude our trilogy of episodes on Chapter 21 of The Silmarillion, "Of Túrin Turambar." After Glaurung sacks Nargothrond, Morwen pulls a Thingol and ignores Melian's advice. She leaves Doriath, Nienor secretly follows, and the dragon ensnares...
Apr 9, 2017 · 1 hr 51 min
038 - I Will Choose Free Will
We continue our trilogy of episodes on Chapter 21 of The Silmarillion and Tolkien’s tragic hero Túrin Turambar. Túrin comes to Nargothrond with Gwindor, then quickly surpasses his friend in the favor of the king and the love of the king’s...
Apr 2, 2017 · 1 hr 19 min
037 - No Man's Land: An Interview with Simon Tolkien
Alan and Shawn are thrilled to welcome Simon Tolkien, novelist and grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, to The Prancing Pony Podcast! Simon's new novel No Man's Land tells the story of a young man's journey from a class-divided coal mining town to the Battle...
Mar 26, 2017 · 2 hr 9 min
036 - Fly By Night, Away From Here
Alan and Shawn begin yet another trilogy of episodes — this time on The Silmarillion Chapter 21, “Of Túrin Turambar.” The son of Húrin of Dor-lómin is fostered by the King of Doriath, but an awkward dinner party drives him to a life among outlaws....
Mar 25, 2017 · 2 hr 1 min
035 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2017
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 aloud. The theme for 2017 is Poetry and Songs in Tolkien’s Fiction, so Alan and Shawn read...
Mar 12, 2017 · 1 hr 53 min
034 - Let It All Out
Shout for joy with Fingon as day breaks on the morning of the Fifth Battle, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, in Chapter 20 of The Silmarillion. Shout for outrage at the treachery and brutality of Morgoth’s forces (these are the things we can do without). Elves and...
Feb 26, 2017 · 2 hr 13 min
033 - The Princess Bride
The last of three episodes on The Silmarillion Chapter 19, “Of Beren and Lúthien.” After putting the Dark Lord down for a nap, the lovers succeed in prying a Silmaril from Morgoth’s iron crown. Beren needs a helping hand to escape from Carcharoth, and...
Feb 12, 2017 · 2 hr 1 min
032 - Lady and the Tramp
The second of three episodes on The Silmarillion Chapter 19, "Of Beren and Lúthien." Man's best friend has a soft spot for Elf-maidens too, as Huan the hound of Valinor befriends Lúthien and assists in her quest to fetch Beren from the dungeons of...
Jan 29, 2017 · 1 hr 56 min
031 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
The first of three episodes on The Silmarillion Chapter 19, "Of Beren and Lúthien." The fugitive son of Barahir comes to Doriath and has a fateful meeting with the daughter of Thingol. Unimpressed with Lúthien's new boyfriend, Thingol sends Beren on...
Jan 15, 2017 · 2 hr 11 min
030 - Another One Bites the Dust
In Chapter 18 of The Silmarillion, Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband with a sneak attack, beginning the Battle of Sudden Flame. As the fires die down, Fingolfin responds by challenging the Dark Lord to single combat. Meanwhile, displaced survivors...
Jan 3, 2017 · 47 min
029 - Tolkien's 125th Birthday Special
We celebrate the twelfty-fifth birthday of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien with tributes from our listeners and our own thoughts on what Tolkien has meant to us. We also give the traditional birthday toast to the Professor, and we announce the winners of...
Dec 23, 2016 · 1 hr 44 min
028 - Father of the Century: a PPP Christmas Special
Alan and Shawn call for a Christmas truce on the Beleriand battlefront to enjoy Tolkien’s letters from Father Christmas to his children John, Michael, Christopher, and Priscilla. Not content to write about just toys and reindeer, Tolkien filled his...
Dec 18, 2016 · 2 hr 2 min
027 - Go West, Young Edain
Men arrive in Beleriand in Chapter 17 of The Silmarillion, and Middle-earth will never be the same. The Elves' reaction to the newcomers varies, but Morgoth's goal is clear: to keep the two races from forming an alliance. We introduce the Three Houses...
Dec 4, 2016 · 1 hr 55 min
026 - You're The One That I Want
In Chapter 16 of The Silmarillion, Aredhel of Gondolin shacks up with the Dark Elf Eöl and bears a son whose coming may spell doom for the last hope of the Noldor. We revisit Elvish marriage customs and answer a question about rejected lovers in...
Nov 20, 2016 · 1 hr 41 min
025 - Watch Your Language
In Chapter 15 of The Silmarillion, Turgon heeds Ulmo's warning and begins the construction of the hidden city of Gondolin. The truth finally comes out about why the Noldor returned to Beleriand, and Thingol is not pleased. Plus a special announcement...

The Prancing Pony Podcast

044 - The Threshold of Middle-earth: An Interview with John Garth

043 - The Final Frontier

042 - Resistance is Futile

041 - Make It So

040 - He's Dead, Gem

039 - Exit the Warrior

038 - I Will Choose Free Will

037 - No Man's Land: An Interview with Simon Tolkien

036 - Fly By Night, Away From Here

035 - Tolkien Reading Day Special 2017

034 - Let It All Out

033 - The Princess Bride

032 - Lady and the Tramp

031 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

030 - Another One Bites the Dust

029 - Tolkien's 125th Birthday Special

028 - Father of the Century: a PPP Christmas Special

027 - Go West, Young Edain

026 - You're The One That I Want

025 - Watch Your Language