Welcome to the first episode of The Deep Water Fellowship, a podcast about J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, Middle-earth, mythology, faith, friendship, and the stories that shape us.

In this introductory episode, we explain why we’re beginning a conversational read-through of The Silmarillion—even though we’re Tolkien fans, not Tolkien scholars. We share how each of us first discovered The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, revisit the unforgettable release of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, and discuss why Tolkien’s world has only become richer with time.

We also begin exploring some of the ideas behind Tolkien’s legendarium: his friendship with C.S. Lewis and the Inklings, his understanding of myth and fairy stories, the relationship between faith and fantasy, and the creation story found in the Ainulindalë. Along the way, we discuss Eru Ilúvatar, the Ainur, Melkor, the Flame Imperishable, Valinor, and the deeper meaning behind Gandalf’s confrontation with the Balrog.

This is a read-through for curious fans. We’re approaching Tolkien’s work with enthusiasm, questions, and a willingness to get things wrong as we learn.

If you’ve wanted to read The Silmarillion but found it intimidating, join us as we make our way through it together.

In this episode:

• The origin of The Deep Water Fellowship
• Why we decided to read The Silmarillion
• Our first experiences with Tolkien and Middle-earth
• Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films and extended editions
• An unforgettable “Trilogy Tuesday” experience
• The Inklings, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien’s faith- Myth, allegory, and truth in fantasy
• The Ainulindalë and Tolkien’s creation story
• Gandalf, the Balrog, and the Secret Fire
• What to expect from the podcast

Tell us in the comments: How did you first discover Tolkien—and have you ever finished The Silmarillion?

Subscribe and join us for the next episode, when we begin at the beginning: “There was Eru, the One…

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CHAPTERS:

• 00:00 Welcome to The Deep Water Fellowship
• 01:48 Why We’re Reading The Silmarillion
• 03:47 Our Plans for the Podcast05:28 Our First Experiences With Tolkien
• 08:21 Falling in Love With the Extended Editions
• 11:34 The Return of the King and Trilogy Tuesday
• 17:21 Experiencing Return of the King for the First Time
• 19:11 From the Movies to Tolkien’s Books
• 21:24 The Inklings and C.S. Lewis
• 22:40 Discovering The Hobbit as a Child
• 25:05 Rediscovering Middle-earth Through the Films
• 27:06 How C.S. Lewis Led Back to Tolkien
• 28:33 Tolkien’s Faith, Languages, and World-building
• 31:30 Would Tolkien Have Liked the Movies?
• 33:30 Tolkien’s Letter About The Silmarillion
• 35:32 Why Tolkien Created His Own Mythology
• 38:02 Tolkien, Lewis, and Allegory
• 40:04 The Ainulindalë and Biblical Creation
• 41:03 Why Myths Contain Truth
• 42:11 The Fall, Valinor, and the Two Trees
• 43:05 Why The Silmarillion Feels Like Scripture
• 44:23 Hidden History in Middle-earth
• 47:04 What We’ll Explore Next
• 48:04 Gandalf, the Balrog, and the Secret Fire
• 50:21 Planning the Read-Through
• 51:54 The Journey Begins
• 52:57 Closing Thoughts

SUBSCRIBE

Join us as we explore The Silmarillion, Middle-earth, mythology, faith, and storytelling:

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Apple Podcasts: Coming soon

Other platforms: Coming soon

CONTACT

Questions, corrections, or ideas for the fellowship?

Email: mellypod@gmail.com