The Prancing Pony Podcast

Latest Episodes:

298 – Take the Last Train to Harlond Jul 09, 2023

Show notes

Legolas and Gimli reunite with Merry and Pippin, telling them stories about the last few days. Shaun Gunner (not Shawn) reunites with Alan, telling him how much he hates seagulls. Join us as we learn just how wrong everybody’s been about beards as we begin The Last Debate. Legolas and Gimli play SimCity; we read the tragic story of Nimrodel and Amroth; and discover just how differently we feel about seagulls than Legolas. We argue about who “the eldest of our race” is (hint: it’s not Alan after all), and discuss whether men are more like cockroaches or rats. Finally, a tepid pile of code appears in the mailbag.

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297 – Questions After Nightfall 23 Jun 25, 2023

Show notes

Join Alan and Sara, as we send Sara back to more civilized realms by joining some of our listeners in the Common Room for our latest Q&A episode. We rely on our shelves and our brains - because the latter alone would make for a short episode - as we answer questions about Amazon’s plans for a LotR MMO, why Legolas was sent with the Company when they had a perfectly good Glorfindel available, and why Gil-galad didn’t just phone home for some help. We work out a collective noun for a group of balrogs (and a group of Fëanors), examine Sara’s head canon - though not too closely - and wonder just how badly Aragorn beat up Gollum. Finally, Alan is promoted to head coach of Thorin & Co’s basketball team and needs to make a roster, while Sara tries to make the most of Ancient Sumerian.

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296 – A Farewell to Kings (For Now) Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

Hobbits use light words and fear to say too much; we use light words and clearly don’t fear saying too much. Join Alan and Sara, and the many fragrances of athelas, as we conclude our visit to The Houses of Healing. Éowyn gets a delivery of brand-new air, while Merry gets a bunch of bees; Aragorn reveals his sarcastic humor, prompting Merry to get a little philosophical; Imrahil seems to have been forgotten. Also: Sara offers apologies to beige-lovers, compares Aragorn to cake, and sings. Finally, a piece of advice: don’t fight your nature.

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295 – It’s Good to Be King Jun 11, 2023

Show notes

It turns out Aragorn has a LOT of names; it’s good that none of them are Herbert or Alan and Sara would argue about the leading ‘h’ for (h)ours. Join us as Gandalf threatens to show Ioreth the meaning of haste in the second of three episodes on The Houses of Healing. Imrahil wonders why Aragorn has such a vulgar name, but it’s just one of a dozen; Ioreth’s boss is just as verbose as she is, but with a sprinkle of mansplaining; and we get the first of three powerful healing scenes as Faramir wakes up to meet his new boss. Also: Gandalf runs out of spoons, Sara rolls her eyes, and Christopher Tolkien makes jokes about his father’s handwriting.

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294 – King of Pain (Relief) Jun 04, 2023

Show notes

Merry and Pippin meet again after Merry’s agelong ascent; Alan and Dr. Sara Brown meet again after Alan climbs some stairs - nowhere near as dramatic. Join us as everyone’s favorite old woman (not named Dennis) talks about plants as we begin our visit to The Houses of Healing. Merry wonders exactly where Pippin plans to take him; Théoden lies in state; and Éowyn is only mostly dead. We learn that Sara was given books to keep her quiet, and that she digresses like a pro. Finally, Aragorn really knows how to make an entrance.

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293 – We’ve Got to Have Some Bears In Here: An Interview with Brian Sibley May 28, 2023

Show notes

Alan and KnewBetta roll out the red carpet — and put away the Hawaiian shirts — for Brian Sibley’s return to the Common Room! A prolific and talented writer, Brian is the force behind some of the most beloved adaptations of Tolkien’s work, including the BBC radio adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and Tales from the Perilous Realm, but we’re here to talk with him today about his Tolkien Society-award winning book, The Fall of Númenor. Bronze dragons, dancing bears, book destruction, and Pauline Baynes’ owls all make an appearance, along with Alan’s alleged sartorial brilliance.

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292 – (Goodness, Gracious) Great Ball of Fire May 21, 2023

Show notes

You’ve heard of ‘quiet quitting’, right? Well, Denethor clearly wants nothing to do with such a trend. Join Alan and KnewBetta as the steward resigns his position quite loudly indeed, in the second of two episodes on The Pyre of Denethor. Gandalf wants to rule the world; Denethor and logic have parted ways; and, let’s be honest, Pippin would make a terrible spy. We learn a few things about KnewBetta: he got in trouble on purpose to read Tolkien, questions Uinen’s fidelity, and just might be the Witch-king (or wishes he was). We speculate on the what-if of Denethor’s survival, and compare Denethor to Usain Bolt. Finally, one more serious content warning as suicide is discussed at length in this episode.

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291 – Whole Lotta Heathen Goin’ On May 14, 2023

Show notes

Authority is given to you, listener of The Prancing Pony Podcast, to order the hour of your listening! Join Alan and KnewBettaDoBetta as Beregond saves the day, and Faramir, in our first episode on The Pyre of Denethor. Pippin explains — no, there is too much — Pippin sums up the madness of Denethor, leaving Gandalf with an impossible decision; Imrahil is that guy; and Denethor takes his ball and goes home. The Tolkien Professor joins us to discuss a book 18 years in the making, and Alan invites KnewBetta back even after their Gandalf v. The Witch-king debate. On a serious note, this episode comes with a content warning: suicide is discussed at length.

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290 – Beautiful Day May 07, 2023

Show notes

Éomer forms a final shield-wall and thinks of songs that will never be sung; Alan and Shawn offer to gladly butcher, uh, sing those songs. Join us as the appearance of black sails thrills the forces of Sauron right up until it doesn’t, on the last of our episodes on The Battle of the Pelennor Fields. We cry at the sudden joyous turn, discuss Rohirric aphorisms, and admire Tolkien’s rolled ‘R’s. We spend way too long on a sidebar about the Elendilmir and say goodbye to Shawn again. Finally, we decide to call the legal specialists at 1-800-OATHS4U to negotiate our way out of Middle-earth oaths.

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289 – Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

The king is dead, long live the king! Meet was Théoden’s ending; will meat be Alan and Shawn’s ending? Join us as Éomer receives an unexpected promotion in our second episode on The Battle of the Pelennor Fields. We learn about Merry’s blade, Éomer’s fey mood, and Imrahil’s shiny armor, while we speculate if Gandalf might’ve managed a modicum of mighty Maia medical magic. We cry in our bier, discuss elephant pedicures, and talk about dream-team Tolkien adaptations. Finally, Variag revenge is a dish best served cold in Pelennor Trek II: The Wrath of Khand.

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