This song was composed right at the time we were beginning the History of Arda podcast. Years ago, when I read Tolkien aloud to my friend, I would improvise tunes and sing all the songs in the book to her, often accompanied by piano. These were never planned in advance, and I enjoyed them for their spontaneity. This version of Galadriel's Song of E…

Alex and Dean discuss Rings of Power one last time! Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account. Doing so …

Alex and Dean react and analyze the penultimate episode of Rings of Power! Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a …

Alex and Dean react and respond to Rings of Power episode 6. Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account. Doing so also hel…

Alex and Dean discuss episode 5 of Rings of Power. Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account. Doing so also helps support…

Alex and Dean respond to Episode 4 of The Rings of Power! Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account. Doing so also helps …

Alex and Dean review the third episode of The Rings of Power and point out fun Easter eggs! Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a …

Alex and Dean analyze episode 2 of The Rings of Power scene by scene! Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account. Doing so…

Alex and Dean break down Episode 1 of The Rings of Power scene by scene! Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account. Doing…

Alex and Dean talk about our experience seeing the fan release event in theaters of the first two episodes of Rings of Power. We have lots of thoughts--and we want to hear yours! Please drop us a line on our socials and let us know your own experiences/thoughts/reactions, or share your Tolkien-themed cosplay. Find us on social media! Twitter: @hist…

Dean and Alex bring our history of the Second Age to an end with the events of the end of the Second Age and the battle of the Last Alliance against Sauron. We also discuss issues related to adaptation and our hopes and fears concerning The Rings of Power. Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyof…

Dean and Alex do a review of the trailers put out by Amazon for The Rings of Power (and trailers can be tricksy!) We also continue our recap of the lore of this show, covering the story of the downfall of Numenor. These events will be central to The Rings of Power. Mae govannen John Taylor! Annon allen! Thank you for becoming the first patron of Hi…

Dean and Alex share some Rings of Power updates: a global fan event in movie theaters which we’ll be attending; a change in the episode release lineup (allowing some to see the premiere a day earlier than originally thought!), and the release of the Rings of Power soundtrack. We talk about an article from Total Film’s August 2022 issue: changes in …

In this episode, Dean and Alex talk about the news from Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con as well as Entertainment Weekly’s July 2022 Comic-Con issue featuring Rings of Power. We talk about the practical sets, the costumes, and… whether dwarf women have beards. We respond to some of the actor interviews from Comic-Con, the genius of having Stephen Colb…

In this episode, Dean and Alex explain what The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is and talk about some interesting things from the July 2022 issue of Empire magazine related to the show. We discuss its mega-budget, its casting diversity, and what Tolkien material it is working from; the relationship of Rings of Power to the Peter Jackson team…

In this episode the History of Arda podcast begins coverage of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power show, beginning Sep. 2, 2022. Dean introduces new cohost Alex, and we explain the format of the coming episodes. News, lore, and discussion to follow! We look forward to returning to Middle Earth with you this fall, and exploring the le…

In this episode, we explore Morgoth's breaking of the Siege of Angband, the most cataclysmic battle we've yet seen since the Noldor returned to Middle Earth. We also see the incredible fight of Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, and Morgoth. We'll also talk about how the History of Arda will be shifting gears after this episode in anticipation of …

In this episode we talk about the entrance of humans into the main story of the Silmarillion. Finrod Felagund finds the first humans, and we are introduced to the three main groups of humans that will play a role in our story going forward. Humans spread across the map, and we hear the story of how the People of Haleth got their name. Support the s…

In this episode, we cover the dark fairy tale-like story of Maeglin, son of a Noldorin princess and a Dark Elf. His troubled story ranges from the dark depths of the woods of Nan Elmoth to the glorious, shining city of Gondolin. A conflict with his possessive and dangerous father comes to a tragic conclusion. Support the show Find us on social medi…

In this episode we talk about the geography of Arda for 6 hours, and then edit down to a compact 20 minutes. Sorry folks. One day we'll have to release the other 5 hours and 40 minutes. From there, we'll talk about what the Noldor are up to. We'll see the founding of Gondolin and Nargothrond. Galadriel refuses to spill the beans. And Melian is (app…

Morgoth tests the strength of the Noldor again, and this time, he loses big--and Angband goes under siege for 400 years. Oh, and there's a dragon in this one. DRAGON. Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own p…

The Noldor are BACK! All the threads come together. We say farewell to a very important character, and things get interesting as the Noldor and Sindar butt heads. Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podca…

The sun and moon are created from the final fruits of the Two Trees, and humans wake up far off in the east. Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon…

Meanwhile, back in Middle Earth... In this episode we hear more about Thingol and Melian, we meet the Green Elves, and we see the first of the Battles of Beleriand! Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own pod…

In this episode we cover the fallout of the Oath, the Kinslaying, and the flight of the Noldor from Valinor. Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon…

The fallout of the darkening of Valinor. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear our dramatization of the terrible Oath that will set in motion all of the events to come. Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick of…

A sticky situation. It's going to get real dark in Valinor in this week's episode. Arachnophobes beware... Thanks again as always for your support and for following our show! Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off yo…

Melkor stirs dissent among the Noldor, and Fëanor begins a downhill slope that will lead to tragedy. Support the show Find us on social media! Twitter: @historyofarda Reddit: r/historyofarda Facebook: @historyofardapodcast If you're thinking of using Buzzsprout to kick off your own podcast adventures, use this link and get a free $20 Amazon gift ca…

In this episode: We have a pop quiz on the elves (a Faygo quiz, to be honest) We see the only known union of an elf and a divine being: Thingol and Melian We are introduced to the Grey Elves and the Elves of the Falas (and their lord Círdan, oldest elf in Middle Earth at the time of ‘The Lord of the Rings’) We see for the first time the tree that i…

Welcome back to the History of Arda! Grab a cold glass of bearded Guinness and join us for the introduction of Dwarves, Ents, Eagles, and Elves in Tolkien's mythology, covering chapters 2 and 3 of the Silmarillion. We look forward to hearing from you! Leave us a comment on our Facebook page and let us know things you'd like us to cover in future ep…

In this episode we cover Chapter 1 of the Quenta Silmarillion: The First War, Melkor's revenge, the establishment of Valinor, the creation of the Two Trees, and a discussion of the natures of Elves and Humans. Plus a bonus quiz at the end to test yourself on the names of the Valar and Maiar covered in our last episode! Support the show Find us on s…

"Mmm, tasty music." Welcome to our first episode, covering the first two sections of J. R. R. Tolkien's 'The Silmarillion.' The universe is sung into being, our villain is introduced, and we get a breakdown of the Valar and the Maiar (gods and angelic beings). Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or reach us at historyofarda@gmail.com, and let us know…

Welcome to the History of Arda podcast! Your hosts Dean and Aric will be taking you through the lesser-known lore of Arda--the world created by J. R. R. Tolkien. Join us as we learn the fascinating history behind 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings.' We'll be starting with a deep dive into works like 'The Silmarillion,' 'The Children of Hurin,'…