Athrabeth

Mar 05 2025 100 ep. 66 mins 288

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Athrabeth is a monthly podcast that invites you down the lesser trod paths of Tolkien's Legendarium. Each episode we pick a single chapter, essay, fragment, or topic, and do a deep dive, exploring it as both fans and scholars.

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Episode 80: Lesser-trod Histories 7 - The Shaping of Middle-earth

Mar 05 2025 58 mins

We’re back to our Lesser-trod Histories series! This month, we are looking at the History of Middle-earth Volume 4, The Shaping of Middle-earth. Jude and Stef chat about the Dagor Dagorath (a.k.a. the Last Battle, or the Second Prophecy of Mandos) from its earliest stages in the Sketch of the Mythology through to the most recent version in The War of the Jewels. We discuss why a

Episode 79: Lesser-trod Paths with Dr. Sara Brown

Feb 05 2025 88 mins

This month we are joined by Tolkien professor and scholar, Dr. Sara Brown! Join us for Sara’s lesser-trod path, Feminist criticism of Tolkien’s work! In context of the four waves of feminism, Sara gives us an overview of the past and present of feminist criticism of Tolkien’s work, as well as some thoughts on the future. Thanks for joining us, Sara!

Episode 78: Lesser-trod Paths with Cameron Bourquein

Jan 01 2025 96 mins

Join us this month for a deep dive on Tolkien’s bodacious baddie, the one and only Sauron. Tolkien scholar and Sauron expert, Cameron Bourquein, leads us down her lesser-trod path exploring Sauron’s evolving nature, the meanings of his name, and his changing role in the legendarium throughout its development.

AthraChats: War of the Rohirrim

Dec 16 2024 39 mins

In this very special AthraChat, Jude and Stef sit down to discuss the new film, Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim, directed by Kenji Kamiyama. We ruminate on giant turkey legs, things that go crunch in the water, and general punching. Beware of spoilers!

Episode 77: Interview with Andrew “Trotter” Ferguson

Dec 04 2024 76 mins

Stef and Jude are joined by Tolkien collecting expert and moderator of the Tolkien Collector’s Guide, Andrew “Trotter” Ferguson. Andrew tells us about his experience collecting and sharing the Professor’s material culture. As it is the holiday season, we finish our discussion with the Father Christmas Letters. Thank you for joining us, Andrew!

Episode 76: Interview with Shaun Gunner

Nov 06 2024 70 mins

Join us this month for a special interview with Shaun Gunner, Chair of the Tolkien Society. We discuss Shaun’s time with the Society, the upcoming Christopher Tolkien Centenary Conference, and a brand new event for 2025.

Hobbitween 2024

Oct 31 2024 113 mins

To celebrate the ghastliest time of the year, the Weenie gang is back in this very special bonus episode of creepy chimeras and monstrous mills. Join us for Hobbitween 5, and Happy Hobbitween to one and all!

AthraChats: Rings of Power S2 - Episode 8

Oct 07 2024 42 mins

We are bummed that Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is over. Join us for one last AthraChat for episode 8, “Shadow and Flame.” Beware of spoilers and sexy Sauron. Find us on the web at https://podcast.athrabeth.com/Join the conversation on the Athrabeth discord!Athrabeth is a production of the Athrabeth Podcast Network.Athrabeth is Produced by James

Episode 75: Sauron’s Magic

Oct 02 2024 52 mins

In episode 75, Jude and Stef take you on a textual safari to explore the... let's be honest… very weird magic of Sauron. Jude connects the Ósanwe-kenta to how Sauron gets the title of Necromancer, and we have a SPIRITed (hah, see what we did there) discussion of explicit descriptions of his magic in The Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion. Come for the werewolves and stay for

AthraChats: Rings of Power S2 - Episode 7

Sep 30 2024 33 mins

This isn’t fine…. We just dropped a new AthraChat in which Jude and Stef discuss just how Celebrimboned everyone is in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, episode 7, “Doomed to Die.” Beware of spoilers and aerial horse acrobatics. Find us on the web at https://podcast.athrabeth.com/Join the conversation on the Athrabeth discord!Athrabeth is a prod