Shire Reckoning Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/shire-reckoning Shire Reckoning is a twice-weekly podcast dedicated to the work of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. Join Alastair Stephens every Sunday for the latest from the Shire, and accompany our Fellowship every Tuesday evening as we study Tolkien's work in a welcoming, unhurried journey through the most influential fantasy stories of all time. © Next Word, 2025 049d2264-6472-54aa-9972-0982b2f4af64 yes Welcome To Shire Reckoning en Tue, 19 May 2026 05:35:23 -0500 Tue, 19 May 2026 05:37:25 -0500 https://img.transistorcdn.com/dManAwH-MZUpPuyfNH_R5GXvCrVA5AXyk9xE2y9qTQk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82ZGUx/NDk2MGMwYWI4OGNh/ZGUyOWE3NGE1MGRl/N2VkNC5qcGc.jpg Shire Reckoning episodic Next Word Shire Reckoning is a twice-weekly podcast dedicated to the work of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. Join Alastair Stephens every Sunday for the latest from the Shire, and accompany our Fellowship every Tuesday evening as we study Tolkien's work in a welcoming, unhurried journey through the most influential fantasy stories of all time. Shire Reckoning is a twice-weekly podcast dedicated to the work of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films Shire Reckoning shirereckoningpod@gmail.com No No Beren And Lúthien 1: Boy Meets Girl 41 41 Beren And Lúthien 1: Boy Meets Girl full 756e9e9a-57fd-4137-952c-6340e0a68ec1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/524881fc This week, we leave behind the hobbitry of the Third Age and consider one of the greatest of Tolkien's stories: Beren And Lúthien. How does this story help us understand all of the relationships in Tolkien's work, romantic and otherwise? Did we lose something essential when Tevildo became Sauron?

You can find the video version of this podcast by clicking here; the slides are available by clicking here. 

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we leave behind the hobbitry of the Third Age and consider one of the greatest of Tolkien's stories: Beren And Lúthien. How does this story help us understand all of the relationships in Tolkien's work, romantic and otherwise? Did we lose something essential when Tevildo became Sauron?

You can find the video version of this podcast by clicking here; the slides are available by clicking here. 

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 15:03:59 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3823 This week, we leave behind the hobbitry of the Third Age and consider one of the greatest of Tolkien's stories: Beren And Lúthien. How does this story help us understand all of the relationships in Tolkien's work, romantic and otherwise? Did we lose something essential when Tevildo became Sauron?

You can find the video version of this podcast by clicking here; the slides are available by clicking here. 

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 22: Death By Comedic Misadventure 40 40 The Hobbit 22: Death By Comedic Misadventure full 25e38bec-776b-4baa-b900-c2cee54df351 https://share.transistor.fm/s/27154117 This week, we leave the Mountain and return to the Hill in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Is this film a good film? A good sequel? Does Jackson deliver on the promised conflicts? Is there a worse sequence than the goat-powered chariot ride?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we leave the Mountain and return to the Hill in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Is this film a good film? A good sequel? Does Jackson deliver on the promised conflicts? Is there a worse sequence than the goat-powered chariot ride?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:38:00 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3997 This week, we leave the Mountain and return to the Hill in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Is this film a good film? A good sequel? Does Jackson deliver on the promised conflicts? Is there a worse sequence than the goat-powered chariot ride?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 21: Cartoon Physics 39 39 The Hobbit 21: Cartoon Physics full 571538d1-6ef6-45ac-ae73-3debf3f4f8bf https://share.transistor.fm/s/d5872b55 This week, we battle some audio goblins to consider the complicated structure and style of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Is there an internal tension between the Fairy Tale and the Tolkien Lore? Can great performances save a film? Who needs convection anyway?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we battle some audio goblins to consider the complicated structure and style of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Is there an internal tension between the Fairy Tale and the Tolkien Lore? Can great performances save a film? Who needs convection anyway?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:47:08 -0500 Next Word Next Word 4492 This week, we battle some audio goblins to consider the complicated structure and style of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Is there an internal tension between the Fairy Tale and the Tolkien Lore? Can great performances save a film? Who needs convection anyway?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Return Of The Thing 38 38 The Return Of The Thing full e1b30215-0fa8-47aa-9bb5-9d45a024b1d2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/be116e0d This week, we wake from our enchanted-stream slumber to catch up on the rumors of The Hunt For Gollum, craft a cozy meal or two in Tales From The Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, and consider what makes Tolkien so difficult to adapt.

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we wake from our enchanted-stream slumber to catch up on the rumors of The Hunt For Gollum, craft a cozy meal or two in Tales From The Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, and consider what makes Tolkien so difficult to adapt.

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:34:53 -0500 Next Word Next Word 2733 This week, we wake from our enchanted-stream slumber to catch up on the rumors of The Hunt For Gollum, craft a cozy meal or two in Tales From The Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, and consider what makes Tolkien so difficult to adapt.

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 20: The Archetype Of The King's Hot Nephew 37 37 The Hobbit 20: The Archetype Of The King's Hot Nephew full f0539837-15de-4e0a-aada-e1bf01db5297 https://share.transistor.fm/s/637b2813 This week, we return from an unexpected hiatus to embark upon an unexpected journey -- specifically, Peter Jackson's 2012 movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey! What does the film get right? Does the production history explain some of the miss-steps? Does anyone need Gloin?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we return from an unexpected hiatus to embark upon an unexpected journey -- specifically, Peter Jackson's 2012 movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey! What does the film get right? Does the production history explain some of the miss-steps? Does anyone need Gloin?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:21:00 -0600 Next Word Next Word 3963 This week, we return from an unexpected hiatus to embark upon an unexpected journey -- specifically, Peter Jackson's 2012 movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey! What does the film get right? Does the production history explain some of the miss-steps? Does anyone need Gloin?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 19: Quite A Little Fellow 36 36 The Hobbit 19: Quite A Little Fellow full e258adfb-6cd3-4695-ae4d-7fa25b50c8aa https://share.transistor.fm/s/7ea7c6fc This week, we return home to Bag End and consider the consequences of Bilbo's adventure in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is the Shire different now? What are the signs that we're back in the normal world? What has tired the Tookish part of our hero, and strengthened the Bagginsish?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we return home to Bag End and consider the consequences of Bilbo's adventure in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is the Shire different now? What are the signs that we're back in the normal world? What has tired the Tookish part of our hero, and strengthened the Bagginsish?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 24 Dec 2025 14:17:39 -0600 Next Word Next Word 3625 This week, we return home to Bag End and consider the consequences of Bilbo's adventure in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is the Shire different now? What are the signs that we're back in the normal world? What has tired the Tookish part of our hero, and strengthened the Bagginsish?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 18: The Kindly West 35 35 The Hobbit 18: The Kindly West full 07b70b82-2e9d-4b43-a8e0-551cc4a04acb https://share.transistor.fm/s/f5a5e0f1 This week, the aftermath of the Battle of Five Armies in Chapter 18 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Why don't we see Thorin's moment of redemption? Is his heroism enough to break the dragon-sickness for everyone else too? Is wisdom the right word for Bilbo's Baggins side?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, the aftermath of the Battle of Five Armies in Chapter 18 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Why don't we see Thorin's moment of redemption? Is his heroism enough to break the dragon-sickness for everyone else too? Is wisdom the right word for Bilbo's Baggins side?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:20:17 -0600 Next Word Next Word 3863 This week, the aftermath of the Battle of Five Armies in Chapter 18 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Why don't we see Thorin's moment of redemption? Is his heroism enough to break the dragon-sickness for everyone else too? Is wisdom the right word for Bilbo's Baggins side?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 17: Eucatastrophe 34 34 The Hobbit 17: Eucatastrophe full 2a3bce61-9d4c-475a-a176-dfe91e1ceb91 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f7c95619 This week, the Battle of Five Armies in Chapters 15 and 16 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is gold peculiarly evil in Tolkien's world? Does Thoring really value the Arkenstone above all things? Where and when does eucatastrophe intervene? 

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, the Battle of Five Armies in Chapters 15 and 16 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is gold peculiarly evil in Tolkien's world? Does Thoring really value the Arkenstone above all things? Where and when does eucatastrophe intervene? 

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0600 Next Word Next Word 3564 This week, the Battle of Five Armies in Chapters 15 and 16 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is gold peculiarly evil in Tolkien's world? Does Thoring really value the Arkenstone above all things? Where and when does eucatastrophe intervene? 

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 16: The King Of Friend And Kin 33 33 The Hobbit 16: The King Of Friend And Kin full 37b5ba58-3de3-4770-9c91-3a1f16e3ae40 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7631e237 This week, we return to the Lonely Mountain in Chapter 15 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "The Gathering Of The Clouds". Are two talking birds too many? How do we distinguish between Roäc, son of Carc, and the humble thrush? How does dragon sickness work?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we return to the Lonely Mountain in Chapter 15 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "The Gathering Of The Clouds". Are two talking birds too many? How do we distinguish between Roäc, son of Carc, and the humble thrush? How does dragon sickness work?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:26:09 -0600 Next Word Next Word 4268 This week, we return to the Lonely Mountain in Chapter 15 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "The Gathering Of The Clouds". Are two talking birds too many? How do we distinguish between Roäc, son of Carc, and the humble thrush? How does dragon sickness work?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 15: So Long, Black Arrow 32 32 The Hobbit 15: So Long, Black Arrow full eb88ddd6-ec17-4c3a-833e-53503f1b71cc https://share.transistor.fm/s/c728d277 This week, we switch our focus away from the Lonely Mountain to discover what happened to Smaug in Chapter 14 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Fire And Water". Does Bard become more three-dimensional every time we see him? Are the people of Esgaroth really wrong to believe in prophecy? Why is Smaug's final resting place cursed?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we switch our focus away from the Lonely Mountain to discover what happened to Smaug in Chapter 14 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Fire And Water". Does Bard become more three-dimensional every time we see him? Are the people of Esgaroth really wrong to believe in prophecy? Why is Smaug's final resting place cursed?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:35:22 -0600 Next Word Next Word 4059 This week, we switch our focus away from the Lonely Mountain to discover what happened to Smaug in Chapter 14 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Fire And Water". Does Bard become more three-dimensional every time we see him? Are the people of Esgaroth really wrong to believe in prophecy? Why is Smaug's final resting place cursed?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Trademark of Faerie 31 31 The Trademark of Faerie full 2f01a8d0-9b0d-4848-bcd0-0ff6edf4a319 https://share.transistor.fm/s/89712192 This week, we consider the dragons of Middle-earth: Glaurung, Ancalagon, Smaug and (to a much lesser extent) Scatha. Why are dragons so significant to Professor Tolkien and to his Legendarium? Why are the four named dragons so different from one another? Are there hidden dragons in The Lord of the Rings?

Thanks to Jules for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, we consider the dragons of Middle-earth: Glaurung, Ancalagon, Smaug and (to a much lesser extent) Scatha. Why are dragons so significant to Professor Tolkien and to his Legendarium? Why are the four named dragons so different from one another? Are there hidden dragons in The Lord of the Rings?

Thanks to Jules for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:36:05 -0600 Next Word Next Word 2307 This week, we consider the dragons of Middle-earth: Glaurung, Ancalagon, Smaug and (to a much lesser extent) Scatha. Why are dragons so significant to Professor Tolkien and to his Legendarium? Why are the four named dragons so different from one another? Are there hidden dragons in The Lord of the Rings?

Thanks to Jules for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 14: Lights In Dark Places 30 30 The Hobbit 14: Lights In Dark Places full c3e9a967-8774-48ec-a1b2-fdfe4be16ea7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/be875af3 This week, Thorin and Company finally recover at least a small amount of their treasure in Chapter 13 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Not At Home". What is the Arkenstone? For whom was Bilbo's mithril shirt made? Who is not at home, and why?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, Thorin and Company finally recover at least a small amount of their treasure in Chapter 13 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Not At Home". What is the Arkenstone? For whom was Bilbo's mithril shirt made? Who is not at home, and why?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:44:18 -0600 Next Word Next Word 3613 This week, Thorin and Company finally recover at least a small amount of their treasure in Chapter 13 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Not At Home". What is the Arkenstone? For whom was Bilbo's mithril shirt made? Who is not at home, and why?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Bad Boy Of The First Age 29 29 The Bad Boy Of The First Age full 10d074f2-5f1b-4192-b787-0b7b68700b92 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a0e33abc This week, a Q&A special in which we consider the nature of good and evil in a world made by a benevolent God, the tragedy (or not) of Fëanor, and the Ring of the Witch-King of Angmar.

Thanks to Steph, Fergus and Angela for the questions!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, a Q&A special in which we consider the nature of good and evil in a world made by a benevolent God, the tragedy (or not) of Fëanor, and the Ring of the Witch-King of Angmar.

Thanks to Steph, Fergus and Angela for the questions!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2025 22:57:52 -0600 Next Word Next Word 1638 This week, a Q&A special in which we consider the nature of good and evil in a world made by a benevolent God, the tragedy (or not) of Fëanor, and the Ring of the Witch-King of Angmar.

Thanks to Steph, Fergus and Angela for the questions!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 13: Inside The Mountain 28 28 The Hobbit 13: Inside The Mountain full 26b6b4f4-dff8-4339-99c5-03e604d9b86e https://share.transistor.fm/s/38bff951 This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Twelve of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Inside Information". Is Bilbo a leader now? How do we understand the symbolic and symbiotic connection between the dragon and the horde? Is Bilbo's riddling introduction to Smaug his best moment in the book?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Twelve of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Inside Information". Is Bilbo a leader now? How do we understand the symbolic and symbiotic connection between the dragon and the horde? Is Bilbo's riddling introduction to Smaug his best moment in the book?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:00:00 -0600 Next Word Next Word 3605 This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Twelve of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Inside Information". Is Bilbo a leader now? How do we understand the symbolic and symbiotic connection between the dragon and the horde? Is Bilbo's riddling introduction to Smaug his best moment in the book?

The video version of this session is available by clicking here; the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No Ol' Blue Jacket Is Back 27 27 Ol' Blue Jacket Is Back full fe5331d0-895c-4811-81c0-625ca8efd9dc https://share.transistor.fm/s/eed708d8 This week, in an extra-length episode of Shire Reckoning, we dive into the riddle of Tom Bombadil. Who and what is Tom? How do we understand his unique qualities from the text? How does he fit with the cosmology that Tolkien presents to us?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, in an extra-length episode of Shire Reckoning, we dive into the riddle of Tom Bombadil. Who and what is Tom? How do we understand his unique qualities from the text? How does he fit with the cosmology that Tolkien presents to us?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:15:08 -0600 Next Word Next Word 4302 This week, in an extra-length episode of Shire Reckoning, we dive into the riddle of Tom Bombadil. Who and what is Tom? How do we understand his unique qualities from the text? How does he fit with the cosmology that Tolkien presents to us?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 12: Desolated 26 26 The Hobbit 12: Desolated full a4c56bc6-0f00-43ed-ab6a-8dc6c53be0d0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a4f22a88 This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Eleven of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "On The Doorstep". How do we understand the Desolation of Smaug? Does Tolkien resolve the conflict between free will and prophecy? What is the function of the back door?

The slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Eleven of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "On The Doorstep". How do we understand the Desolation of Smaug? Does Tolkien resolve the conflict between free will and prophecy? What is the function of the back door?

The slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:03:49 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3018 This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Eleven of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "On The Doorstep". How do we understand the Desolation of Smaug? Does Tolkien resolve the conflict between free will and prophecy? What is the function of the back door?

The slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No Who Are You, Medieval Author? 25 25 Who Are You, Medieval Author? full 1012d11e-7846-4286-9d1e-65011bbc65bb https://share.transistor.fm/s/72ac1371 This week, we consider the textual history of Tolkien's Legendarium, from the stories told in the Cottage of Lost Play to the Red Book of Westmarch. How does Tolkien's framing of his work shift from myth to history? What are the benefits of this careful chain of texts? What are the other accounts that we wish we could read?

Thanks to Suzanne for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, we consider the textual history of Tolkien's Legendarium, from the stories told in the Cottage of Lost Play to the Red Book of Westmarch. How does Tolkien's framing of his work shift from myth to history? What are the benefits of this careful chain of texts? What are the other accounts that we wish we could read?

Thanks to Suzanne for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:23:57 -0500 Next Word Next Word 1984 This week, we consider the textual history of Tolkien's Legendarium, from the stories told in the Cottage of Lost Play to the Red Book of Westmarch. How does Tolkien's framing of his work shift from myth to history? What are the benefits of this careful chain of texts? What are the other accounts that we wish we could read?

Thanks to Suzanne for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 11: Passive Prophecy 24 24 The Hobbit 11: Passive Prophecy full 04f62b6e-ec35-4742-aabe-04827cad588f https://share.transistor.fm/s/cc412d20 This week, we finally meet some Men in chapter ten of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome". How does the book suggest the history of Esgaroth? How is the Master of Lake-town contrasted with Good Tolkienian Kings? What is the effect of prophecy, and how does it interact with free will?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we finally meet some Men in chapter ten of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome". How does the book suggest the history of Esgaroth? How is the Master of Lake-town contrasted with Good Tolkienian Kings? What is the effect of prophecy, and how does it interact with free will?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2025 08:59:16 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3554 This week, we finally meet some Men in chapter ten of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome". How does the book suggest the history of Esgaroth? How is the Master of Lake-town contrasted with Good Tolkienian Kings? What is the effect of prophecy, and how does it interact with free will?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Good With The Bad: The Rings Of Power, Season One 23 23 The Good With The Bad: The Rings Of Power, Season One full 88050b76-1177-4122-b321-368addbf6deb https://share.transistor.fm/s/9af5f987 This week, we break format a little bit to talk about the (actually pretty good) first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. What struggles does the show face on a conceptual level? How do the various plot threads and timelines work together, and with Tolkien's original stories? What is the difference between an intriguing mystery box, and lying to the audience?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, we break format a little bit to talk about the (actually pretty good) first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. What struggles does the show face on a conceptual level? How do the various plot threads and timelines work together, and with Tolkien's original stories? What is the difference between an intriguing mystery box, and lying to the audience?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:59:38 -0500 Next Word Next Word 5201 This week, we break format a little bit to talk about the (actually pretty good) first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. What struggles does the show face on a conceptual level? How do the various plot threads and timelines work together, and with Tolkien's original stories? What is the difference between an intriguing mystery box, and lying to the audience?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 10: Best Of Luck 22 22 The Hobbit 10: Best Of Luck full 16f22d95-5d9b-4e3d-aa11-ca1542feeb7f https://share.transistor.fm/s/cc286907 This week, the halls of the Elven King in chapter nine of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Barrels Out Of Bond". Is this the moment that The Hobbit becomes a fantasy novel? How does Bilbo's luck relate to eucatastrophe? Do these elves really seem like elves?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, the halls of the Elven King in chapter nine of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Barrels Out Of Bond". Is this the moment that The Hobbit becomes a fantasy novel? How does Bilbo's luck relate to eucatastrophe? Do these elves really seem like elves?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:14:20 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3836 This week, the halls of the Elven King in chapter nine of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Barrels Out Of Bond". Is this the moment that The Hobbit becomes a fantasy novel? How does Bilbo's luck relate to eucatastrophe? Do these elves really seem like elves?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No To Hope's End 21 21 To Hope's End full f3743239-ec40-4ad5-ad61-0d6d9765c2cc https://share.transistor.fm/s/b858fbfe This week, we discuss estel, hope. Why is it so important to our sense of Tolkien's Legendarium? How it is lost, or turned to despair? How do we continue to fight in the face of adversity?

Thanks to Elizabeth and Nathan for the questions!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, we discuss estel, hope. Why is it so important to our sense of Tolkien's Legendarium? How it is lost, or turned to despair? How do we continue to fight in the face of adversity?

Thanks to Elizabeth and Nathan for the questions!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2025 22:19:47 -0500 Next Word Next Word 1862 This week, we discuss estel, hope. Why is it so important to our sense of Tolkien's Legendarium? How it is lost, or turned to despair? How do we continue to fight in the face of adversity?

Thanks to Elizabeth and Nathan for the questions!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit (1977) 20 20 The Hobbit (1977) full b9270cba-5ca8-4522-873e-18e9dfcfe7fc https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e14a88d This week, we celebrate Hobbit Day by pausing in our journey through J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and looking at the 1977 TV movie adaptation. Can you compress the whole story into 78 minutes? What happens when the goblins and elves become more monstrous? How do we understand the anti-war sentiment?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we celebrate Hobbit Day by pausing in our journey through J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and looking at the 1977 TV movie adaptation. Can you compress the whole story into 78 minutes? What happens when the goblins and elves become more monstrous? How do we understand the anti-war sentiment?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:39:16 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3286 This week, we celebrate Hobbit Day by pausing in our journey through J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and looking at the 1977 TV movie adaptation. Can you compress the whole story into 78 minutes? What happens when the goblins and elves become more monstrous? How do we understand the anti-war sentiment?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Most Magical Snowglobe 19 19 The Most Magical Snowglobe full f9118fd8-e87d-4e8d-998c-8bf66a77998a https://share.transistor.fm/s/49259d61 This week, we discuss the most magical place in all of Middle-earth, Lothlórien. How did it get started? Why is it so magical? What's Galadriel's whole deal, anyway?

Thanks to Sarah for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, we discuss the most magical place in all of Middle-earth, Lothlórien. How did it get started? Why is it so magical? What's Galadriel's whole deal, anyway?

Thanks to Sarah for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:04:43 -0500 Next Word Next Word 1855 This week, we discuss the most magical place in all of Middle-earth, Lothlórien. How did it get started? Why is it so magical? What's Galadriel's whole deal, anyway?

Thanks to Sarah for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow @ShireReckoningPod on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 9: The Road Is 18 18 The Hobbit 9: The Road Is full f0930ed2-febe-44be-bb72-49ba9969b01f https://share.transistor.fm/s/69b43d4f This week, the enchantments of the Mirkwood in Chapter Eight of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How do we understand the conflict, physical and magical, between the elves and the spiders? Why does Bilbo feel more accomplished and confident in this chapter? Is this really a turning point in the adventure?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, the enchantments of the Mirkwood in Chapter Eight of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How do we understand the conflict, physical and magical, between the elves and the spiders? Why does Bilbo feel more accomplished and confident in this chapter? Is this really a turning point in the adventure?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:00:50 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3725 This week, the enchantments of the Mirkwood in Chapter Eight of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How do we understand the conflict, physical and magical, between the elves and the spiders? Why does Bilbo feel more accomplished and confident in this chapter? Is this really a turning point in the adventure?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No In Case Of Emergency, Break World 17 17 In Case Of Emergency, Break World full 97ec3e0f-ef4e-4384-9d82-4eca3da02d9d https://share.transistor.fm/s/01912be8 This week, we discuss the Great Powers of Arda, the Valar. Who are they? How do they teach us how to understand the philosophical framework of Tolkien's world? Did they make mistakes, or do they just look like mistakes from where we're standing?

Thanks to Darius for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, we discuss the Great Powers of Arda, the Valar. Who are they? How do they teach us how to understand the philosophical framework of Tolkien's world? Did they make mistakes, or do they just look like mistakes from where we're standing?

Thanks to Darius for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:23:28 -0500 Next Word Next Word 2350 This week, we discuss the Great Powers of Arda, the Valar. Who are they? How do they teach us how to understand the philosophical framework of Tolkien's world? Did they make mistakes, or do they just look like mistakes from where we're standing?

Thanks to Darius for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 8: Zootopia 16 16 The Hobbit 8: Zootopia full 192015eb-1d40-4bbb-a585-58b18c63c2da https://share.transistor.fm/s/d366e3b7 This week, we spend some time with Beorn and his Very Strange House in Chapter Seven of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Why are the rituals of courtesy so important? How does this encounter mirror the first chapter of the book? Who is Beorn, and where does he come from?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we spend some time with Beorn and his Very Strange House in Chapter Seven of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Why are the rituals of courtesy so important? How does this encounter mirror the first chapter of the book? Who is Beorn, and where does he come from?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:14:11 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3725 This week, we spend some time with Beorn and his Very Strange House in Chapter Seven of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Why are the rituals of courtesy so important? How does this encounter mirror the first chapter of the book? Who is Beorn, and where does he come from?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No Back To The Deep 15 15 Back To The Deep full e35f4fb6-89cf-4912-ab2a-873b9e02fd88 https://share.transistor.fm/s/927e5292 This week, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. How does this film combine anime influences and the visual language of the Jackson movies? Is the entire Rohirric civil war the fault of Helm Hammerhand? How do we understand Hèra's final fate?

Thanks to Simon for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. How does this film combine anime influences and the visual language of the Jackson movies? Is the entire Rohirric civil war the fault of Helm Hammerhand? How do we understand Hèra's final fate?

Thanks to Simon for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:46:41 -0500 Next Word Next Word 1992 This week, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. How does this film combine anime influences and the visual language of the Jackson movies? Is the entire Rohirric civil war the fault of Helm Hammerhand? How do we understand Hèra's final fate?

Thanks to Simon for the question!

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 7: Into The Wild 14 14 The Hobbit 7: Into The Wild full a8e7bbe8-9a57-4db1-996d-bb35dc76a13f https://share.transistor.fm/s/b8d12343 This week, Bilbo escapes from the dark and climbs a tree in Chapter Six of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How is the Wild different from the West? How do we understand the focus and the orientation of Goblin Town? Why did Gandalf have to say giant?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, Bilbo escapes from the dark and climbs a tree in Chapter Six of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How is the Wild different from the West? How do we understand the focus and the orientation of Goblin Town? Why did Gandalf have to say giant?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:38:00 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3576 This week, Bilbo escapes from the dark and climbs a tree in Chapter Six of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How is the Wild different from the West? How do we understand the focus and the orientation of Goblin Town? Why did Gandalf have to say giant?

You can see the video version of this podcast here, and the slides are available for download by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No Other Minds And Hands 13 13 Other Minds And Hands full c2ac2c17-d176-41fd-b369-dd80f5823681 https://share.transistor.fm/s/523348be This week, adaptation. Tolkien originally envisioned his legendarium as a mythology to which other writers and artists could contribute. How, in the world of intellectual property and licensing agreements, are adaptations handled? What separates the good from the bad? Where do we go from here?

Thanks to William for the question! 

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> This week, adaptation. Tolkien originally envisioned his legendarium as a mythology to which other writers and artists could contribute. How, in the world of intellectual property and licensing agreements, are adaptations handled? What separates the good from the bad? Where do we go from here?

Thanks to William for the question! 

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Sun, 31 Aug 2025 22:06:21 -0500 Next Word Next Word 2030 This week, adaptation. Tolkien originally envisioned his legendarium as a mythology to which other writers and artists could contribute. How, in the world of intellectual property and licensing agreements, are adaptations handled? What separates the good from the bad? Where do we go from here?

Thanks to William for the question! 

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.  

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 6: More Questions Than Answers 12 12 The Hobbit 6: More Questions Than Answers full d1cddba7-83d5-4c25-aee4-02f30665ba73 https://share.transistor.fm/s/4998de01 This week, we reach the turning point in Bilbo's career in Riddles in the Dark, Chapter Five of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How is Gollum presented in the first and second editions? What can we learn from the riddles? How quickly does the Ring begin to influence Bilbo, and what are the limits of its power?

Unfortunately, the video from this week's live session was lost to a technical issue, but the slides are available for download by clicking here. You can see the images of Gollum, as rendered by artists from around the world, by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we reach the turning point in Bilbo's career in Riddles in the Dark, Chapter Five of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How is Gollum presented in the first and second editions? What can we learn from the riddles? How quickly does the Ring begin to influence Bilbo, and what are the limits of its power?

Unfortunately, the video from this week's live session was lost to a technical issue, but the slides are available for download by clicking here. You can see the images of Gollum, as rendered by artists from around the world, by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:50:27 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3823 This week, we reach the turning point in Bilbo's career in Riddles in the Dark, Chapter Five of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How is Gollum presented in the first and second editions? What can we learn from the riddles? How quickly does the Ring begin to influence Bilbo, and what are the limits of its power?

Unfortunately, the video from this week's live session was lost to a technical issue, but the slides are available for download by clicking here. You can see the images of Gollum, as rendered by artists from around the world, by clicking here.

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Returned King 11 11 The Returned King full 3522c0e7-7837-4900-a57a-f8d1b4906419 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ad7d511d This week, the Aragorn, son of Arathorn. How was Aragorn first envisioned in the text? Why is he so influential as a character? Would he be even cooler with big wooden shoes?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> This week, the Aragorn, son of Arathorn. How was Aragorn first envisioned in the text? Why is he so influential as a character? Would he be even cooler with big wooden shoes?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Sun, 17 Aug 2025 22:57:13 -0500 Next Word Next Word 2032 This week, the Aragorn, son of Arathorn. How was Aragorn first envisioned in the text? Why is he so influential as a character? Would he be even cooler with big wooden shoes?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 5: Down Down To Goblin Town 10 10 The Hobbit 5: Down Down To Goblin Town full 482e1d58-26de-4b9f-9295-566c5165ad1a https://share.transistor.fm/s/5e05b92d This week, we face the greatest danger in the Misty Mountains in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. What are the qualities of the border between the West and the Wild? Why do the goblins sing? Are the giants real, really real, or just metaphorically real?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we face the greatest danger in the Misty Mountains in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. What are the qualities of the border between the West and the Wild? Why do the goblins sing? Are the giants real, really real, or just metaphorically real?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:20:12 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3921 This week, we face the greatest danger in the Misty Mountains in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. What are the qualities of the border between the West and the Wild? Why do the goblins sing? Are the giants real, really real, or just metaphorically real?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No A Penny A Pint 9 9 A Penny A Pint full a07c493d-52aa-403c-bbfb-9a256ef38c8e https://share.transistor.fm/s/9555103e This week, the paradoxical comforts of the Shire. How did it come into being, and how did the hobbits settle there? How does if embody and reject the vision of a nostalgic, nationalist England? And how long is the High Hay anyway?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> This week, the paradoxical comforts of the Shire. How did it come into being, and how did the hobbits settle there? How does if embody and reject the vision of a nostalgic, nationalist England? And how long is the High Hay anyway?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2025 23:12:19 -0500 Next Word Next Word 2003 This week, the paradoxical comforts of the Shire. How did it come into being, and how did the hobbits settle there? How does if embody and reject the vision of a nostalgic, nationalist England? And how long is the High Hay anyway?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 4: The Edge Of The Wild 8 8 The Hobbit 4: The Edge Of The Wild full 939ac330-6998-4067-9677-b21315e62cce https://share.transistor.fm/s/19bbfb23 This week, we pause for prophecy at the Last Homely House in chapter three of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is Elrond who he seems to be? What are the elves singing about? How much magic is evident in the moon-letters?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we pause for prophecy at the Last Homely House in chapter three of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is Elrond who he seems to be? What are the elves singing about? How much magic is evident in the moon-letters?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:43:34 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3591 This week, we pause for prophecy at the Last Homely House in chapter three of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is Elrond who he seems to be? What are the elves singing about? How much magic is evident in the moon-letters?

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No Battle Accents 7 7 Battle Accents full 58eae8df-665f-41d0-98cc-af101bdca10a https://share.transistor.fm/s/9463348d This week, the many mysteries of dwarves in Tolkien's legendarium. How do the dwarfs of Old Norse myth become the Longbeards of Khazad-dûm? What does the film trilogy get wrong about Gimli? How did dwarves become Scottish, anyway?

Show Notes

The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two
Three Hearts and Three Lions (Poul Anderson)
Magician (Raymond E. Feist)
"Dwarves are Not Heroes": Antisemitism and the Dwarves in J.R.R. Tolkien's Writing (Rebecca Brackmann)
Professor Tolkien in the Botanic Garden, Oxford, 1973
Tales Of The Shire: A The Lord Of The Rings Game
It's been a rough decade for Lord of The Rings games (Polygon)
Tolkien’s Greek Horsemen (Thoughts on Tolkien)
Society calls for Tolkien to feature on a new bank note (Tolkien Society)
The Rings Of Power Season 3 Enters Production As Amazon Teases Sauron’s Return (Empire)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> This week, the many mysteries of dwarves in Tolkien's legendarium. How do the dwarfs of Old Norse myth become the Longbeards of Khazad-dûm? What does the film trilogy get wrong about Gimli? How did dwarves become Scottish, anyway?

Show Notes

The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two
Three Hearts and Three Lions (Poul Anderson)
Magician (Raymond E. Feist)
"Dwarves are Not Heroes": Antisemitism and the Dwarves in J.R.R. Tolkien's Writing (Rebecca Brackmann)
Professor Tolkien in the Botanic Garden, Oxford, 1973
Tales Of The Shire: A The Lord Of The Rings Game
It's been a rough decade for Lord of The Rings games (Polygon)
Tolkien’s Greek Horsemen (Thoughts on Tolkien)
Society calls for Tolkien to feature on a new bank note (Tolkien Society)
The Rings Of Power Season 3 Enters Production As Amazon Teases Sauron’s Return (Empire)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Sun, 03 Aug 2025 21:01:45 -0500 Next Word Next Word 2040 This week, the many mysteries of dwarves in Tolkien's legendarium. How do the dwarfs of Old Norse myth become the Longbeards of Khazad-dûm? What does the film trilogy get wrong about Gimli? How did dwarves become Scottish, anyway?

Show Notes

The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two
Three Hearts and Three Lions (Poul Anderson)
Magician (Raymond E. Feist)
"Dwarves are Not Heroes": Antisemitism and the Dwarves in J.R.R. Tolkien's Writing (Rebecca Brackmann)
Professor Tolkien in the Botanic Garden, Oxford, 1973
Tales Of The Shire: A The Lord Of The Rings Game
It's been a rough decade for Lord of The Rings games (Polygon)
Tolkien’s Greek Horsemen (Thoughts on Tolkien)
Society calls for Tolkien to feature on a new bank note (Tolkien Society)
The Rings Of Power Season 3 Enters Production As Amazon Teases Sauron’s Return (Empire)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 3: Fire In The Night 6 6 The Hobbit 3: Fire In The Night full 7c2b3c51-1f38-43eb-ac83-c060e63f27e6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6939c61e This week, we continue our discussion of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, looking at the second chapter: trolls and talking purses, the Took and Baggins fighting for control of Bilbo, and the form of the fairytale. 

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we continue our discussion of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, looking at the second chapter: trolls and talking purses, the Took and Baggins fighting for control of Bilbo, and the form of the fairytale. 

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2025 12:54:51 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3358 This week, we continue our discussion of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, looking at the second chapter: trolls and talking purses, the Took and Baggins fighting for control of Bilbo, and the form of the fairytale. 

Show Notes:

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Arc Reacter 5 5 The Arc Reacter full 3670685f-0ef5-405c-8886-4fb2a263d500 https://share.transistor.fm/s/df34b17a This week, heroes and heroism in The Lord of the Rings. How do we react to arcs, or the absence of arcs? Is success a means of measuring the worth of a hero? Who gets the best arc in the whole book? Is Merry more of a Squirtle, or a Bulbasaur?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> This week, heroes and heroism in The Lord of the Rings. How do we react to arcs, or the absence of arcs? Is success a means of measuring the worth of a hero? Who gets the best arc in the whole book? Is Merry more of a Squirtle, or a Bulbasaur?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Sun, 27 Jul 2025 19:46:23 -0500 Next Word Next Word 1868 This week, heroes and heroism in The Lord of the Rings. How do we react to arcs, or the absence of arcs? Is success a means of measuring the worth of a hero? Who gets the best arc in the whole book? Is Merry more of a Squirtle, or a Bulbasaur?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay. 

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 2: Less Noise And More Green 4 4 The Hobbit 2: Less Noise And More Green full 2d6b5b96-ac6c-4f03-840a-e4e8b4a4aa67 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a2098f12 This week, we read the first chapter of The Hobbit, and discuss the introduction of Bilbo, the temporary permanence of The Shire, the value of the unreliable narrator, and the (speculative) adventures of Belladonna Took.

Show Notes:
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Corey Olsen)
The Annotated Hobbit (Douglas A. Anderson)
The History of the Hobbit (John Ratliffe)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, we read the first chapter of The Hobbit, and discuss the introduction of Bilbo, the temporary permanence of The Shire, the value of the unreliable narrator, and the (speculative) adventures of Belladonna Took.

Show Notes:
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Corey Olsen)
The Annotated Hobbit (Douglas A. Anderson)
The History of the Hobbit (John Ratliffe)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:35:29 -0500 Next Word Next Word 3330 This week, we read the first chapter of The Hobbit, and discuss the introduction of Bilbo, the temporary permanence of The Shire, the value of the unreliable narrator, and the (speculative) adventures of Belladonna Took.

Show Notes:
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Corey Olsen)
The Annotated Hobbit (Douglas A. Anderson)
The History of the Hobbit (John Ratliffe)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No Sufficiently Advanced Magic 3 3 Sufficiently Advanced Magic full 37412001-c468-4842-ab4f-1c8d1c25eb76 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c8a5ab7d This week, how do we understand the how, what and why of magic and spellcasting in the stories of Professor Tolkien? Why is free will so important when it comes to asking for help? How do the adaptations of Tolkien's books stack up against those of other fantasy authors?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, how do we understand the how, what and why of magic and spellcasting in the stories of Professor Tolkien? Why is free will so important when it comes to asking for help? How do the adaptations of Tolkien's books stack up against those of other fantasy authors?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Sun, 20 Jul 2025 20:25:10 -0500 Next Word Next Word 1748 This week, how do we understand the how, what and why of magic and spellcasting in the stories of Professor Tolkien? Why is free will so important when it comes to asking for help? How do the adaptations of Tolkien's books stack up against those of other fantasy authors?

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No The Hobbit 1: A Wide World 2 2 The Hobbit 1: A Wide World full 00917d0c-004e-492e-902a-251a26527167 https://share.transistor.fm/s/859f4a2e In our first live session, we take a look at the history of The Hobbit, from it's (very famous) initial conception, through to the publication of the first edition in 1937. How does this the tale of Bilbo Baggins sit alongside the great stories of Elves and Men that Tolkien was already writing? How are we to understand the narrative frame?

Show Notes:
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Corey Olsen)
The Annotated Hobbit (Douglas A. Anderson)
The History of the Hobbit (John Ratliffe)
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Adam's Notebook (Medium)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> In our first live session, we take a look at the history of The Hobbit, from it's (very famous) initial conception, through to the publication of the first edition in 1937. How does this the tale of Bilbo Baggins sit alongside the great stories of Elves and Men that Tolkien was already writing? How are we to understand the narrative frame?

Show Notes:
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Corey Olsen)
The Annotated Hobbit (Douglas A. Anderson)
The History of the Hobbit (John Ratliffe)
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Adam's Notebook (Medium)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Sat, 19 Jul 2025 11:59:56 -0500 Next Word Next Word 2424 In our first live session, we take a look at the history of The Hobbit, from it's (very famous) initial conception, through to the publication of the first edition in 1937. How does this the tale of Bilbo Baggins sit alongside the great stories of Elves and Men that Tolkien was already writing? How are we to understand the narrative frame?

Show Notes:
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Corey Olsen)
The Annotated Hobbit (Douglas A. Anderson)
The History of the Hobbit (John Ratliffe)
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Adam's Notebook (Medium)

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No A Wise Start 1 1 A Wise Start full 36482523-5364-4f9a-b00d-29919fda1859 https://share.transistor.fm/s/aa6b636a This week, the magic of maps in fantasy fiction -- and in Tolkien in particular -- and an introduction to the podcast.

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> This week, the magic of maps in fantasy fiction -- and in Tolkien in particular -- and an introduction to the podcast.

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Sun, 13 Jul 2025 16:33:46 -0500 Next Word Next Word 1612 This week, the magic of maps in fantasy fiction -- and in Tolkien in particular -- and an introduction to the podcast.

Show Notes

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay.

]]> Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, books, movies, films No Welcome To Shire Reckoning Welcome To Shire Reckoning trailer 9850f0b5-95f8-4671-8ae0-8b4008c7c626 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ee1b7ec8 Welcome, and thanks for listening! Shire Reckoning is a new podcast dedicated to the study, discussion and celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The first episode will arrive on Sunday, July 13th, 2025. I hope you can join me!

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay

]]> Welcome, and thanks for listening! Shire Reckoning is a new podcast dedicated to the study, discussion and celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The first episode will arrive on Sunday, July 13th, 2025. I hope you can join me!

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay

]]> Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:23:49 -0500 Shire Reckoning Shire Reckoning 75 Welcome, and thanks for listening! Shire Reckoning is a new podcast dedicated to the study, discussion and celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The first episode will arrive on Sunday, July 13th, 2025. I hope you can join me!

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Music by Corvus from Pixabay

]]> Tolkien, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion No