Exploring Tolkien

Exploring Tolkien


Latest Episodes

144. Never Laugh at Live Dragons – The Hobbit #29
August 19, 2025

Smaug is finally fully revealed! This week, we finish Inside Information, where Bilbo finally comes face-to-face with the unassessably wealthy dragon. We break down the wordplay Bilbo engages in as he denies Smaug his real name, Smaugs memorable boasts

143. Playing Tales of the Shire So You Don’t Have To
August 07, 2025

The new game, Tales of the Shire was released last month after numerous delays… so, I took a bullet for the team and bought the game. I livestreamed playing the game for the very first time earlier this week–and it was everything I thought it

142. Size Matters to Every Dragon – The Hobbit #28
July 22, 2025

Bilbo finally becomes a real burglar in this chapter, venturing alone into the heart of the Lonely Mountain as Thorin and company are once again exposed for the unprepared adventurers they are. Meanwhile, And Smaug the possessive is finally revealed.We a

141. An Interview with Elijah Wood
July 11, 2025

In this interview--just before The Return of the King was released--Elijah wood reflects on the journey of becoming Frodo Baggins.

140. Into the Mountain’s Throat – The Hobbit #27
June 24, 2025

In this episode, we discuss one of The Hobbits quieter chapters, where Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach Erebors hidden entrance.

139. The Problem with Thorin – The Hobbit #26
June 10, 2025

As Thorin and company finally reach the Lonely Mountain, reality sets inand it doesnt smell so pleasant.

138. What Tolkien Really Thinks About Politicians – The Hobbit #25
May 27, 2025

Tolkien makes it pretty clear what he thinks about politicians in this chapter.

137. Do the elves have ANYTHING valuable to trade? – The Hobbit #24
May 13, 2025

Bilbo and the barrel-sealed dwarves make it to Laketown--with most of them barely alive!

136. The Lowest IQ Elves of Middle-earth? – The Hobbit #23
April 29, 2025

In this very special episode, we reveal the exact barrel music sung in Thranduil's halls as the dwarves were tossed into the river!

135. The Greedy and Petty Elves of Mirkwood – The Hobbit #22
April 15, 2025

Bilbo fully embraces his role as hero and finds a way to save the dwarves.