Arts

The Tolkien Professor

The Tolkien Professor podcast is a series of lectures, discussions, and seminars on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien by Corey Olsen, Assistant Professor of English at Washington College in Maryland. Find me on Facebook at “The Tolkien Professor,” on Twitter at @tolkienprof, or at my website at www.tolkienprofessor.com. I have also begun a grand new venture: the Mythgard Institute, offering courses on Tolkien studies for credit at the MA level, or just for fun! Join us at www.mythgard.org.

Latest Episodes:

665: SilmFilm 8-14: The Frame Story Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

It is time to decide on the frame story for Season 8! Today, we consider possibilities and flesh out its relationship to the main story and theme of Season 8. Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Mythmoot XIII: June 25-28, 2026
https://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-xiii-june-25-28-2026/

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664: SilmFilm 8-13: The Season Outline Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

In today's writers'-room meeting, the SilmFilm team will complete the planning of the Season Outline for Season 8!

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

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663: Other Minds and Hands, Episode 130 Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Maggie and Corey return today, and they return to Jane Austen, to check in on and continue that production.

Other Minds and Hands: An Open and Friendly Discussion of Tolkien Adaptation, Episode 130,
recorded on June 1, 2026.

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.gg/szXMFAv

Join us on Mondays at 4:30 PM ET,
on this SignumU Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/SignumUniversity
and SignumU Twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/signumu
Check the schedule here. https://www.twitch.tv/signumu/schedule
For more information https://mythgard.org/miscellany/
You can watch or listen to the recordings here.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLasMbZ4s5vIV0nHc_Ji8CLs1C-a6iuXMY
https://tolkienprof.fireside.fm/subscribe

Hosts:
Dr. Corey Olsen the Tolkien Professor
https://signumuniversity.org/directory/corey-olsen/
Dr. Maggie Parke
https://signumuniversity.org/directory/maggie-parke/

For more information about Signum Studios and Signum Collaboratory, visit
Signum Studios
https://studios.signumuniversity.org/
Signum Collaboratory
https://collaboratory.signumuniversity.org/

For more information about Signum University
https://signumuniversity.org/

Support The Tolkien Professor

662: SilmFilm 8-12: The Season Outline May 15, 2026

Show notes

As they near the end of the pre-production process, the SilmFilm team sits down to examine and finalize the detailed outline of all of Season 8.

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661: Other Minds and Hands, Episode 129 May 15, 2026

Show notes

Maggie and Corey return to Anne of Green Gables for Part 2 of their discussion of LM Montgomery adaptation.

Other Minds and Hands: An Open and Friendly Discussion of Tolkien Adaptation, Episode 128,
recorded on May 11, 2026.

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Join us on Mondays at 4:30 PM ET,
on this SignumU Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/SignumUniversity
and SignumU Twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/signumu
Check the schedule here. https://www.twitch.tv/signumu/schedule
For more information https://mythgard.org/miscellany/
You can watch or listen to the recordings here.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLasMbZ4s5vIV0nHc_Ji8CLs1C-a6iuXMY
https://tolkienprof.fireside.fm/subscribe

Hosts:
Dr. Corey Olsen the Tolkien Professor
https://signumuniversity.org/people/corey-olsen/
Dr. Maggie Parke
https://signumuniversity.org/people/maggie-parke/

For more information about Signum Studios and Signum Collaboratory, visit
Signum Studios
https://studios.signumuniversity.org/
Signum Collaboratory
https://collaboratory.signumuniversity.org/

For more information about Signum University
https://signumuniversity.org/

Support The Tolkien Professor

660: Other Minds and Hands, Episode 128 May 06, 2026

Show notes

It's May the 4th, so Maggie and Corey are going to indulge in a Star Wars Diversion and take a close look at the final trailer for the upcoming Mandalorian film.

Other Minds and Hands: An Open and Friendly Discussion of Tolkien Adaptation, Episode 128,
recorded on May 4, 2026.

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.gg/szXMFAv

Hosts:
Dr. Corey Olsen the Tolkien Professor
https://signumuniversity.org/directory/corey-olsen/
Dr. Maggie Parke
https://signumuniversity.org/directory/maggie-parke/

For more information about Signum Studios and Signum Collaboratory, visit
Signum Studios
https://studios.signumuniversity.org/
Signum Collaboratory
https://collaboratory.signumuniversity.org/

For more information about Signum University
https://signumuniversity.org/

Support The Tolkien Professor

659: SilmFilm 8-11: The Villains Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

As the SilmFilm Writer's Room nears the end of the pre-production planning, they look north, turning to the Villains.

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Support The Tolkien Professor

658: Other Minds and Hands, Episode 127 Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Tonight, Maggie and Corey fulfill a long-standing request and look at Anne of Green Gables!

Other Minds and Hands: An Open and Friendly Discussion of Tolkien Adaptation, Episode 127,
recorded on April 13, 2026.

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Join us on Mondays at 4:30 PM ET,
on this SignumU Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/SignumUniversity
and SignumU Twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/signumu
Check the schedule here. https://www.twitch.tv/signumu/schedule
For more information https://mythgard.org/miscellany/
You can watch or listen to the recordings here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLasMbZ4s5vIV0nHc_Ji8CLs1C-a6iuXMY
https://tolkienprof.fireside.fm/subscribe

Hosts:
Dr. Corey Olsen the Tolkien Professor
https://signumuniversity.org/people/corey-olsen/
Dr. Maggie Parke
https://collaboratory.signumuniversity.org/

For more information about Signum Studios and Signum Collaboratory, visit
Signum Studios
https://studios.signumuniversity.org/
Signum Collaboratory
https://collaboratory.signumuniversity.org/

For more information about Signum University
https://signumuniversity.org/

Support The Tolkien Professor

657: SilmFilm 8-10: Galadriel Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Today, the SilmFilm team finally turns to the question that Tolkien himself never got around to answering fully: What was Galadriel up to in the last stages of the First Age?

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Support The Tolkien Professor

656: SilmFilm 8-09: The Havens Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Join the SilmFilm team as we continue pre-production discussions, takling about Elves.

Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Support The Tolkien Professor