Hosts Angela and Kelsey explore how music shapes Tolkien’s world, from the cosmic creation song of the Ainulindalë to the emotional and magical uses of song throughout The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings.

The episode examines the power of song through characters like Tom Bombadil, Luthien, and even Fingolfin's rap battle with Morgoth. The episode talks about how Tolkien's songs influence the text and the films, and how Howard Shore’s score brought those songs to life for new audiences.

In this episode, hosts Angela and Kelsey explore the overlooked topic of illness in Middle‑earth—everything from Bilbo’s little cold to the Great Plague, Morgul‑wounds and the Black Breath, dragon‑sickness, and the spiritual trauma carried by characters like Frodo.

The episode looks at canonical mentions, theories about Sauron and Morgoth’s influence, how different peoples (elves, men, hobbits, and dwarves) resist or suffer disease, and the ways healing—herbal lore, Elvish arts, and the Houses of Healing—try to mend body and spirit.

**This episode contains brief mentions of sensitive topics in the context of Tolkien’s works, including depression, PTSD, and suicide, that may be triggering for some individuals.

Back from the holiday break, Angela and Kelsey take a playful, lore‑rich tour of Middle‑earth’s worst jobs — from overworked Hobbit postmen and Prancing Pony staff, to isolated beacon keepers, and even the deadly labor used to fuel the Dark Lord's ambitions.

Mixing humor and close reading, they explore thankless, hazardous, and even cosmically consequential roles and invite listeners to weigh in with their own picks.

Angela and Kelsey go full-spooky for October and tour the creepiest corners of Middle-earth — from the bone-chilling Barrow-downs and the ghostly Dead Marshes to the Paths of the Dead, Shelob’s lair, and the corrupted splendor of Minas Morgul. They explore why these places haunt the lore, what makes them terrifying, and the history that turns landscapes into nightmares.

This is part one of a two-part dive into Tolkien’s darker places, with more First Age horrors promised next episode.

Hosts Kelsey and Angela debate where they would actually live in Middle-earth if they had to move there for real. They weigh geography, culture, safety, and lifestyle—covering places like Lindon, the Shire, Rivendell, Gondolin, Doriath, Gondor, Númenor, and even Mordor—while sharing personal preferences and what retirement might look like in each locale.

Tune in for cozy takes, lore tangents, and a playful exploration of Tolkien’s richly imagined world as the hosts decide between hiking coasts, cozy hobbit-holes, and everything in between.

Hosts Angela and Kelsey wander the kitchens and lore of Middle-earth, tasting the ideas behind lembas, cram, and Beorn's famous honeycakes. They discuss who makes each dish, what they might taste like, and the role these foods play in Tolkien's stories.

This cozy episode blends foodie curiosity with literary lore, invites listeners to share recipes and impressions, and explores how comfort food and survival rations shape the journeys of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men.