The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast

What is the Tale of the Children of Hurin? Part 4: The End of the Tale 22.06.2026 44min

With Turin trying to live peacefully in Brethil and Morwen and Nienor safely in Doriath, things should be pretty easy going for the family of Hurin, right? It turns out leaving Doriath is a family trait, as Morwen and Nienor set out to find Turin, and along the way meet Glaurung, Father of Dragons, who isn't done yet meddling in Turin Turambar's life. Find out the fate of the Children of Hurin, along with Morwen and Hurin himself, in this week's episode!Map of BeleriandHurin's Family TreePatreon SurveyOur Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What is the Tale of the Children of Hurin? Part 3: Enter the Dragon 15.06.2026 34min

With Turin captured by Orcs, it’s up to Beleg to rescue his friend. Along the way he discovers a runaway elven Lord, Gwindor of Nargothrond. Events transpire, and Turin winds up in Nargothrond itself where he starts Turining all over the place. With a dragon on the way, will his presence in the hidden kingdom bring victory or disaster? Find out on this week’s episode!Map of BeleriandHurin's Family TreeThe Dragon Helm of Dor-LominPatreon SurveySupport Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What is the Tale of the Children of Hurin? Part 2 08.06.2026 35min

Following on from last week's episode, Turin is now living in Doriath as the foster son of King Thingol, but fate or his bad personality has made him an enemy in Saeros, advisor to the King. Their feud will boil over, and Turin will go on the run, living as an outlaw in the Wild, until his friend Beleg Strongbow finds him and talks some sense into him (but not much). Hear all about it in this week's episode!Map of BeleriandHurin's Family TreeThe Dragon Helm of Dor-LominPatreon SurveySupport Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What is the Tale of the Children of Hurin? Part 1 01.06.2026 35min

Doom, Despair, Death, and Dragons. These are the hallmarks of Tolkien's longest and most completed story of the First Age: The Children of Hurin. Find out how Hurin and his family were cursed by Morgoth in this 1st part to the story!Map of BeleriandHurin's Family TreeThe Dragon Helm of Dor-LominPatreon SurveySupport Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What is the History of Rohan? 25.05.2026 36min

Upon their trusty steeds, the Rohirrim charge into battle, crying "Death" as the speed towards their foes! The charge at the fields of Pelennor is one of the most striking moments in all of the Lord of the Rings, and their alliance with Gondor turned the tide in the War of the Ring. But who are these strange Northerners? How did the come to be so bonded with their horses? And is Eowyn, shieldmaiden of the House of Eorl, unique, or one in a long line of fearsome female warriors? Find out on this week's episode!Patreon SurveySupport Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Who are the Nazgûl? 18.05.2026 36min

They are Sauron's most loyal servants, evil men enslaved to his will by the Rings of Power they wear. They are the Nazgûl, the Ring Wraiths, and they struck fear into the hearts of the people of Middle Earth for over 4000 years. But who were they in life? And what did they do in the service of the Dark Lord Sauron? Find out all this and more on this week's episode!Patreon SurveySupport Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Things You Can Do and The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast Present: The Hunt for Gollum's Conscience 11.05.2026 1h 11min

In today's episode, Peter Owens from the Things You Can Do and I talk about Gollum. What motivates him? What's wrong with him? Should we pity him or fear him? Or something else? Come along for a journey into the ethics of Middle Earth where we'll discuss good and evil, pain and addiction, love and pity, and incontinence. Also, Frodo and Sam's Special Boat for Boys™ .9:30 | Illustrated Hobbit Reddit Post11:30 | Film Depiction Blog Post23:45 | Anti-Climacus (Soren Kierkegaard), The Sickness Unto Death (Normally Peter try to put the edition and page, but I got this off the internet because I couldn't find my copy of this text - it's probably in a box somewhere in the basement, but I promise a cursory google search will confirm it's factuality!)Things You Can Do, Season 1 SoundtrackSubmit a question and follow me on social media!

Who Are the Northmen? 04.05.2026 36min

In the Hobbit, we meet strange men found nowhere else in Middle Earth: The Men of Lake-Town, the Men of Dale, and Beorn, a skin-changer who takes the form of a huge bear. Who are these people? Where do they come from? And are they related to any of the other Men we see throughout Tolkien's stories? Find out in this week's episode!Map of RhovanionSupport Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

The Details of the Devil, Part 2: Morgoth Bauglir 27.04.2026 41min

On the run from the Valar, Melkor seeks out a new ally in his quest for revenge against those who imprisoned him. The result of this alliance will be the complete remaking of the world order, and establish him as Morgoth: The Dark Foe of the Earth. Learn about Morgoth, his war with the Noldor, and his influence on early Mankind in this week's episode!Support Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

The Details of the Devil, Part 1: Who is Melkor? 20.04.2026 39min

Greatest of the Ainur, the bringer of Fire and Ice, He Who Arises In Might: He is Melkor, the source of all evil in Middle Earth. But what motivated him to turn from Eru Iluvatar? And how far will he go in his mission to rule the Arda; or barring that, destroy it? Find out on this week's episode!Support Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What's the Deal with Dragons? 13.04.2026 47min

Smaug, Glaurung, Ancalagon the Black: Names that strike fear throughout the history of Middle Earth. The Dragons were the bane of Elves, Men, and Dwarves from the their first appearances in Beleriand to the Northern Wastes of the Third Age. But what are Dragons? Where do they come from? And are they still alive today? Find out answers to all these questions and more on this week's episode!Support Ashley's Go Fund Me!Check out The Marion E. Wade CenterOur Sponsors: The Ex-Baptist Sister's Podcast and Things You Can DoTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comTheme Music by Michael McBrideProudfoots/Proudfeet Music by Martin Landstrom & Peter OwensCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Why Did Gandalf Choose Bilbo? 06.04.2026 30min

Bilbo Baggins: Respectable Hobbit, Resident of Bag End, and... Burglar? How did a upstanding Shire citizen get mixed up in an adventure with dwarves and dragons to begin with? That meddlesome wizard had something to do with it, but what were Gandalf's reasons for choosing Bilbo? And why that particular timing? Find out all that and more on this week's episode!Support Ashley's Go Fund Me!Our Sponsor: The Ex-Baptist Sister's PodcastTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Mailbag March: Oops All Opinions! Aragorn the Ring Lord, Merry and Pippin's Mordor Adventure, How to Read Tolkien, and The Rings of Power: Good or Bad? 30.03.2026 44min

It's the last day Mailbag March! On this mailbag episode, I'm giving my biased opinions on topics such as:What if Aragorn Claimed the One Ring?What if Merry and Pippin Were Tasked with Taking the Ring to Mordor?How to Read Tolkien without Getting Bogged Down in the Details?Is Amazon's "The Rings of Power" Any Good?Find out answers to all this and more on this week's episode!Rings of Power Spoilers: 30:24-34:28Our Sponsor: The Ex-Baptist Sister's PodcastTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Mailbag March: The Arkenstone, Gandalf the White's New Name, and J. R. R. Tolkien: Author or Historian? 23.03.2026 36min

It's Mailbag March! On this mailbag episode, we answer some smaller topics such as:What is the Arkenstone and Why Did Thorin Want It So Badly?Should Gandalf the White Have Been Given A New Name?Did Tolkien View Himself as an Author or Historian?Find out answers to all this and more on this week's episode!MythopoeiaOn Fairy StoriesTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Mailbag March: Stone Giants, King Éomer, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Sequel, and the Proudfoots/Proudfeet Investigation 16.03.2026 35min

It's Mailbag March! On this mailbag episode, we answer some smaller topics such as:What are the Stone Giants?Does Éomer Become King?Did Tolkien Consider Writing a Lord of the Rings Sequel?and Why Do They Call Themselves Proudfeet?Find out answers to all this and more on this week's episode!To submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Mailbag March: Frodo's Fate, Ecthelion's Reward, Ents & Huorns, and The Eye in the Sky 09.03.2026 35min

Welcome to Mailbag March! On this mailbag episode, we answer some smaller topics such as:Why Can Frodo Go to Valinor?Why Didn't Ecthelion Return?What's the Difference Between Ents and Huorns?and Why is Sauron a Giant Eye?Find out answers to all this and more on this week's episode!Jokien with Tolkien's Essay: Wounds That Cannot Be Wholly CuredTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

Who Are The Wizards? 02.03.2026 44min

Some are heroes, some are villains, some are fools, some are mysteries: They are the Wizards, and with their magical powers they either help or hinder the people of Middle Earth. But who are they? Where did they come from? Learn all about them on this week's episode of The Lord of the Rings AMA Podcast!To submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What is the Tale of Beren & Luthien? Part 3 23.02.2026 30min

On this week's episode, we conclude the Tale of Beren and Luthien, as our heroes descend into the depths of Hell on Middle Earth to claim a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown. Will their tale end in death, or life, or both?To submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What is the Tale of Beren & Luthien? Part 2 16.02.2026 32min

On this week's episode, we continue the story of Beren and Luthien as they face off against werewolves, vampires, Sauron, and, perhaps worst of all, the sons of Feanor! But don't worry, they receive help from the best dog in Middle Earth: Huan!To submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti

What is the Tale of Beren & Luthien? Part 1 09.02.2026 33min

Before Sam and Rosie Cotton, before Aragorn and Arwen, well before Tauriel and whichever dwarf from the Hobbit movies, there was one great love story in Middle Earth: The Tale of Beren and Luthien. Join us over the next few weeks as we dive into the first Great Tale of the First Age of Middle Earth!Map of BeleriandNoldor Family TreeHouse of BëorTo submit a question to the show and to find all of my Social Media go to lotramapod.comMusic by Michael McBrideCover Art by Lauren Ciatti