The Prancing Pony Podcast Podcast By The Prancing Pony Podcast cover art

The Prancing Pony Podcast

The Prancing Pony Podcast

By: The Prancing Pony Podcast
Listen for free

About this listen

 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
  • 378 – Don’t Panic

    378 – Don’t Panic
    Jun 29 2025
    Maybe Celebrimbor just has poor penmanship; and maybe Alan still can’t pronounce things correctly. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we urge you to take the advice provided in the episode title when we dive into Appendix E to The Lord of the Rings on Writing and Spelling… but we know you’re here for the pronunciation humiliation! Fëanor stands on the shoulders of the giant Rumil, Tolkien retcons the Dwarvish ‘outer names’, and everything’s absurd to the Elves. We try to rhyme ‘were’ with ‘hair’, get stressed about stress, and are just extending the fricative, man. Also, James sings a Sesame Street song. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 9 mins
  • 377 – This Must Be Thursday

    377 – This Must Be Thursday
    Jun 22 2025
    The Númenóreans altered the calendar of the Elves; Alan & James never could get the hang of Thursdays. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we practice only the best kind of pedantry in our exploration of Appendix D on the various intricate calendar systems in Middle-earth. The Elves are obsessed with sixes and twelves, the Númenóreans have to fix a millennial deficit — which has nothing to do with spending too much on Starbucks — and the Hobbits always do their own thing. We wonder if days not belonging to a month feel lonely, agree that 30-day months are best, and discover that pigs fly on Friday the First of Summerfilth. Also, James’ new nickname is optimistic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 8 mins
  • 376 – Questions After Nightfall 31

    376 – Questions After Nightfall 31
    Jun 15 2025
    Grab a drink at the bar and step into the Common Room — it’s time to join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we answer listener questions again in our 31st quarterly Questions After Nightfall. From questions about Saruman, Ring-maker to the Dagor Dagorath; from the Forsaken Inn to awkward conversations in the Halls of Mandos, our listeners bring their best questions — and their worst puns. Alan is a middle-aged softy, James thinks Istarí arrive in meteors, and we’re glad Tolkien’s funny, ‘cause we’re not so sure about us. Also, Maiar as Project Managers. We're proud to partner with Oscha and their Middle-earth collection, and offer 10% off for new customers with code PONY! https://oschaslings.com/discount/PONY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 36 mins

Featured Article: When Does The Rings of Power Take Place? Tolkien's Second Age, Explained


The Prime Video streaming series The Rings of Power is set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Rooted in J.R.R. Tolkien's history of Middle-earth, the series is expected to cover all of the major events of the fictional world's Second Age. But what is the Second Age, and how does this period of time factor into the rest of Tolkien's world? Read on to find out.

Featured Article When Does The Rings of Power Take Place Tolkien's Second Age Explained
Continue Your Journey Through Middle earth

Continue Your Journey
Through Middle-earth

Explore collection
All stars
Most relevant  
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wow! that's my main reaction! Family friendly, Feanor piñata bashing, hilarious, deep word nerdery dives...fun!

Tolkien for All!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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 !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews