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The Prancing Pony Podcast

The Prancing Pony Podcast

By: The Prancing Pony Podcast
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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 Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • 381 – The Bywater Village Committee — an interview with Wētā Workshop’s Darren Ormandy

    381 – The Bywater Village Committee — an interview with Wētā Workshop’s Darren Ormandy
    Jul 27 2025
    Alan and James sit down with fellow Tolkien-nerd and lead writer for Wētā Workshop's new game, Tales of the Shire. We discuss the depth of world-building by Tolkien and how to reflect that in a game set in the Shire, and celebrate the appearance of familiar names and places in the game. Darren tells us about an unbelievable meeting in Oxford, compares the Silmarillion to a dehydrated feast, and we all wonder about the lost company of Hobbit archers! Also, food is love, and we agree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 4 mins
  • 380 – So Mind-Bogglingly Useful

    380 – So Mind-Bogglingly Useful
    Jul 20 2025
    Tolkien believes that his method of translation-by-sense “perhaps needs some defence”; Alan and James know their method of podcasting requires a lot of defense. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we misplace our Babel fish in the second half of Appendix F from The Lord of the Rings, on translation. Tolkien speaks to the reader directly, gives us a fantastic analogy with Arthur and Camelot, and provides comic relief in the form of Hobbit names. We wonder how ‘amused’ Denethor really was, realize that someone just wasn’t Goodenough, and speculate about Dwarvish interpolation again. Also, Odo from DS9 gets a mention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • 379 – A Big Wide Sounding Name

    379 – A Big Wide Sounding Name
    Jul 13 2025
    The Elves speak in a more gracious and antique style; James thinks there’s an old joke in there somewhere. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we begin our two-episode exploration of Appendix F to The Lord of the Rings, and the languages of Middle-earth take center stage. Pengoloð shows up again, someone is trying to gloss over Thingol’s linguistic genocide, and Galadriel has her scribes everywhere. We discuss Tolkien’s gripe with translations a week early, give another shout-out to Círdan and wonder (but not for long) about Entish pillow talk. Also, Weber bread makes an unexpected appearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 7 mins

Featured Article: Sauron—A Lord of the Rings Character Guide


Mairon, Annatar, the Necromancer—the evil Dark Lord Sauron has gone by many names. But who is he, really, and what is his impact on J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth? Sauron is the trilogy's primary antagonist and the one who forged the One Ring to Rule Them All in the fires of Mount Doom. Sauron is storied throughout Tolkien’s lore and mythos. Here's what we know about the powerful and evil Sauron—his character, his history, his powers, and more.

Featured Article Sauron A Lord of the Rings Character Guide
Continue Your Journey Through Middle earth

Continue Your Journey
Through Middle-earth

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

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

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

True Tolkien scholars, for true Tolkien scholars!

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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.

New Listener Not a New Nerd

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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.

Simply splendid!

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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.

My go to Podcast

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

Tolkien for All!

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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

Details

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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.

A Fun Haven for the Tolkien Enthusiast

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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!

Helped me get through the Silmarillion...

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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

Genius !

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