The Prancing Pony Podcast

By: The Prancing Pony Podcast
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  • Summary

  • 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!
    © The Prancing Pony Podcast
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Episodes
  • 355 – Dust in the Wind

    355 – Dust in the Wind
    Jan 19 2025
    Ondoher learns that battlefield intelligence is crucial to survival; Alan and Matt learn that bad dad jokes are crucial to this podcast. Join us as King Ondoher closes his eyes, only for a moment, and the moment’s gone, in our second of six episodes on Cirion & Eorl. The Gondorian army remains in column formation too long, the vanguard of the Wainriders does their job almost too well, and an unexpected guest shows up to the battle. We do more word-nerdery, hope nothing happens to Faramir (oops), and offer to beta test Total War: Middle-earth. Also, we mock Eärnur again. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code pony at mandopodcast.com/pony! #mandopod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • 354 – Fight Fire With Northmen

    354 – Fight Fire With Northmen
    Jan 12 2025
    The story of Cirion and Eorl begins with an introduction to the Northmen; the story of Alan and Matt begins with Matt having to pronounce hard words. Join us as the Northmen have nothing to lose ‘cause it’s already lost, as we begin our six-episode sidebar on Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan — can we just call it Cirion & Eorl? Narmacil II loses badly, the Northmen form the Éothéod, and the Great Plague sets everyone back a century. We learn that about Tolkien’s trench fever, talk about the importance of rearguard actions, and explain the Undeeps. Also, Alan admits he’s pedantic. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code pony at mandopodcast.com/pony! #mandopod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • 353 – They Should’ve Known

    353 – They Should’ve Known
    Jan 5 2025
    Gondor and Rohan honestly believed in Saruman, while Alan and Matt aren’t sure what to believe anymore. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we look at all the Kings of Rohan, and Matt gives Alan his new nickname. Saruman’s gets the keys to his new place, Aldor the Old is what it says on the tin, and no one has anything good to say about Fengel. We start with a review of the new film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, wish we could pronounce Old English, and wonder if kings should choose more peaceful hobbies. Also, we talk about Tolkien and AI (no AI used in the generation of this blurb). Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code pony at mandopodcast.com/pony! #mandopod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 7 mins

Featured Article: The Lord of the Rings—The Essential Guide to the Peoples, Places, and History of Tolkien's Middle-earth


Welcome to Middle-earth, the main continent of Arda and the setting for J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and a host of other in-universe stories. Middle-earth is a fantastical realm rooted in detailed world-building and mythos that have since gone on to inspire many other fantasy works. Read on for everything you need to know.

Featured Article The Lord of the Rings The Essential Guide to the Peoples Places and History of Tolkien's Middle earth
Continue Your Journey Through Middle earth

Continue Your Journey
Through Middle-earth

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Awesome. I absolutely love this podcast. Thanks for the great insight

This podcast is funny, interesting and entertaining. I absolutely love it. Please keep it going!

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Profile Image for Red Riverbrook

True Tolkien scholars, for true Tolkien scholars!

An informative and thought provoking journey through Tolkien's world. The show has a very seamless performance as well.

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Profile Image for Joshua de Rose

New Listener Not a New Nerd

Hey guys I’m about 35 episodes into this podcast and I love it. Is exactly what I’m looking for as a fantasy fan. Especially as a J. R. R. Tolkien fan. These guys dig right into the heart of the lengendarium and pinpoint supple plots and Easter eggs. I love it. If you’re a fan you should listen.

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Profile Image for Arthur Vandalay

Simply splendid!

These two experts on Tolkien and his works deliver a delightful, in-depth discussion on the wonders of JRR Tolkien’s books. Their discourse will leave you laughing and pondering the underlying themes of Middle Earth.

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Profile Image for Chiara Siasat

My go to Podcast

Been a huge fan of the PPP for a while now and Alan and company do not disappoint with their vast knowledge of the books and lore as well as the many interviews with Tolkien scholars and artists. I can’t think of a better podcast to listen to everyday.

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Profile Image for Joan Frederickson

Tolkien for All!

Wow! that's my main reaction! Family friendly, Feanor piñata bashing, hilarious, deep word nerdery dives...fun!

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Profile Image for Michael M.

Details

Can you guys do an episode on the New Shadow ? I am enthralled with the little bit that the master wrote and would very much like to hear your perspectives

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Profile Image for Daniel Morlan

A Fun Haven for the Tolkien Enthusiast

Intelligent, funny, digressive, and wonderful sanctuary for the fans of Tolkien's work. Listening to this podcast is a welcome reprieve from the rigors and stresses of the world. A place of peace and a strong sense of fellowship flavors this family-friendly show. If you would like to understand the depth of the Lord of the Rings story, and appreciation of Tolkien's prose and poetry, this fun podcast is for you. I write this review with so much gratitude to the PPP, and my quality of life has been greatly enriched by their presence.

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Profile Image for Aimee H

Helped me get through the Silmarillion...

These guys are amazing. their podcast was suggested to me in March of 2020 on Spotify and I saw they were going chapter by chapter through the Silmarillion. I've been a hard-core Tolkien fan since I saw the Peter Jackson films and I read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books. I could never get through the Silmarillion and the Prancing Pony Podcast got me through it! These guys are delightful and knowledgeable. I can't recommend them enough!

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Profile Image for andre hernandez rosado

Genius !

I started this podcast and I can't get enough. I find everything so entertaining and I can relate so much to what is being discussed. I feel like I can visit Tolkien world with friends and I am so happy I founded this.

Thank you so much for creating this!

Btw the way back machine was so genius

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