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There And Back Again

by Point North Media

In this series, story expert Alastair Stephens guides you through the pages of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

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Episodes

  1. There And Back Again 72: Well, I’m Back

    In this week's session, we return to the Shire to fight for its soul and find a new peace in the last three chapters of The Lord of the Rings.

  2. There And Back Again: Update

    Happy New Year, and welcome to 2024! In this short update, I'll share some plans I have for the end of the podcast, and talk a little about a new show you might like.

  3. There And Back Again 71: The Road Goes Ever On And On

    In this week's session, we return to Rivendell and say some fond farewells in chapters six and seven of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.

  4. There And Back Again 70: The Return Of The King

    In this week's session, we crown King Elessar and begin our long farewells in chapters five and six of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.

  5. There And Back Again 69: The Steward And The King

    In this week's session, we welcome Frodo and Sam back to the land of the living, and discuss the greatest romance in Middle-earth in chapters four and five of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.

  6. There And Back Again 68: For Good Or Ill

    In this week's session, the eagles are coming and the Ring is destroyed in chapters three and four of Book Six of The Lord of the Rings.

  7. There And Back Again 67: The End Of All Things

    In this week's session, we approach the final fate of the ring with a discussion of heroism, strength and fortitude in the shadow of Mount Doom in chapter three of book six of The Lord of the Rings.

  8. There And Back Again 66: The Cracks Of Doom

    In this week's session, we continue book six of The Lord of the Rings with more discussion of hope and despair, greatness and grace, and strong masculine relationships.

  9. There And Back Again 65: Beyond All Towers Strong And High

    In this week's session, we begin book six of The Lord of the Rings with the return to Samwise Gamgee, the influence of the ring, and spontaneous poetry.

  10. There And Back Again 64: Back To The Black Gate

    In this week's session, we conclude book five of The Lord of the Rings with the march to Morannon, Aragorn's mercy, and Pippin's last stand.

  11. There And Back Again 63: The Mouth Of Sauron

    In this week's session, we approach the end of book five of The Lord of the Rings with healing, debate and discussion, and the importance of gulls.

  12. There And Back Again 62: The Hands Of A Healer

    In this week's session, we discuss hope and despair at Denethor's pyre, and then bring athelas to the Houses of Healing.

  13. There And Back Again 61: Out Of Doubt, Out Of Dark

    In this week's session, we conclude the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and discuss eucatastrophe, magical winds, and try not to weep openly.

  14. There And Back Again 60: No Living Man Am I

    In this week's session, we ride with the Rohirrim to Minas Tirith and begin the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

  15. There And Back Again 59: A Sword-Day, A Red Day

    In this week's session, we discuss hope and despair, the siege of Gondor, and the clash of Gandalf and the Witch-King of Angmar.

  16. There And Back Again 58: Comfort Me Not With Wizards

    In this week's session, we discuss the new The Fall Of Gondolin book, the muster of the Rohirrim, and the beginning of the Siege of Gondor.

  17. There And Back Again 57: Where Will Wants Not

    In this unexpectedly abbreviated session, we discuss the role of women in Tolkien's world, and the conversation between Aragorn and Éowyn!

  18. There And Back Again 56: The King Of The Dead

    In this session, we make it to the second chapter of The Return Of The King with discussions of oaths and oathbreaking!

  19. There And Back Again 55: Tree And Tower

    In this session, we begin The Return Of The King with discussions of the White Tree of Gondor, high style and the nobility of hobbits.

  20. There And Back Again 54: Shagrat And Gorbag

    In this session, we discuss the future, Orc culture and the extensive history of the One Ring as we conclude The Two Towers.

  21. There And Back Again 53: The Choices Of Master Samwise

    In this session, we study separation and despair as we reach the end of The Two Towers in Chapter Ten of Book Four, The Choices Of Master Samwise.

  22. There And Back Again 52: Tales Never End

    In this session, we talk about the power of stories with Sam, then face the evil of Shelob with the phial of Galadriel in chapters eight and nine of book four of The Lord of the Rings.

  23. There And Back Again 51: The Crown Of The Fallen King

    In this session, we catch up with Frodo and Sam as they leave Ithilien for the dangers of Mordor in chapters six and seven of book four of The Lord of the Rings.

  24. There And Back Again 50: The Cross-Roads

    This week, we celebrate our fiftieth session by running long and adding an extra session as we continue our exploration of book four of The Lord of the Rings!

  25. There And Back Again 49: The Window On The West

    In this session, we talk about the excellence of Faramir and Sam as we discuss chapter five of book four of The Lord of the Rings!

  26. There And Back Again 48: Rabbits And Oliphaunts

    In this session, we find solace in Ithilien and meet Faramir of Gondor as we discuss chapters three and four of book four of The Lord of the Rings!

  27. There And Back Again 47: Gollum The Great

    In this session, we cross the Dead Marshes and discuss the second chapter of book four of The Lord of the Rings!

  28. There And Back Again 46: Gollum & Sméagol

    In this session, we discuss the first chapter of book four of The Lord of the Rings!

  29. There And Back Again 45: The Affairs Of Wizards

    In this session, we reach the end of book three of The Lord of the Rings and discuss Pippin and the palantír.

  30. There And Back Again 44: Gibbets And Crows

    In this session, we discuss chapters nine and ten of book three of The Lord of the Rings.

  31. There And Back Again 43: The Meeting Of Dear Friends

    In this session, we discuss chapter eight of book three of The Lord of the Rings, The Road to Isengard.

  32. There And Back Again 42: Helm’s Deep

    In this session, we are besieged with the Rohirrim in book three, chapter seven of The Lord of the Rings!

  33. There And Back Again 41: The Golden Hall

    In this session, we discuss the healing of the king of Rohan in book three, chapter five of The Lord Of The Rings!

  34. There And Back Again 40: Wise Fool

    In this session, we discuss the upcoming Amazon TV adaptation of Tolkien's world, then conclude our discussion of book three, chapter five of The Lord Of The Rings!

  35. There And Back Again 39: Fire And Deep Water

    In this session, we share the tale of the entwives and are reunited with Gandalf in book three, chapters four and five of The Lord Of The Rings!

  36. There And Back Again 38: Treebeard And Beardtree

    In this session, we meet Treebeard and delve into the history of the ents in book three, chapter four of The Lord Of The Rings!

  37. There And Back Again 37: Merry And Pippin’s Excellent Adventure

    In this session, we return to the hobbits and meet the Uruk-hai in book three, chapter three of The Lord Of The Rings!

  38. There And Back Again 36: Farewell To Boromir

    In this session, we send Boromir off into the Anduin and meet the Riders of Rohan in the first two chapters of book three of The Lord Of The Rings!

  39. There And Back Again 35: Two Roads Diverge

    In this session, we delve deep into the final temptation of Boromir, and discuss Frodo's choice at the end of the Fellowship of the Ring.

  40. There And Back Again 34: The Breaking Of The Fellowship

    In this session, we conclude The Fellowship of the Ring and witness the end of the Fellowship in chapters 9 & 10 of Book 2 of The Lord Of The Rings.

  41. There And Back Again 33: All Shall Love Me And Despair

    In this session, we discuss The Fellowship Of The Ring, Book 2, Chapters 7 & 8: The Mirror of Galadriel & Farewell to Lórien!

  42. There And Back Again 32: The Heart Of Elvendom

    In this session, we escape the shadow of Moria and cross the Nimrodel into Lothlórien in book two, chapter six of The Lord of the Rings!

  43. There And Back Again 31: You Cannot Pass

    In this session, we face Durin's Bane and fly from Moria in book two, chapter five of The Lord of the Rings!

  44. There And Back Again 30: The Watcher In The Water

    In this session, we confront Caradhras and venture into Moria in chapters three and four of book two of The Lord of the Rings!

  45. There And Back Again 29: Nine Vs. Nine

    In this session, we make a valiant effort to leave Rivendell and make it to Caradhras in Book 2, Chapter 3 of The Lord of the Rings!

  46. There And Back Again 28: Small, But Great In Mischief

    In this session, we complete our discussion of the Council of Elrond in Book 2, Chapter 2 of The Lord of the Rings!

  47. There And Back Again 27: Isildur’s Bane

    In this session, we try valiantly to make it through the Council of Elrond, and fall just a little short of our goal.

  48. There And Back Again 26: In The House Of Elrond

    In this session, we catch our breath in Rivendell and discuss a remarkable poetic achievement in book two, chapter one of The Lord of the Rings!

  49. There And Back Again 25: There My Heart Is

    In this session, we race from Weathertop to the Ford of Bruinen, meeting Glorfindel and facing down black riders in chapter twelve of The Lord of the Rings!

  50. There And Back Again 24: Lights On Weathertop

    In this session, we depart from Bree, confront the black riders on Weathertop, and hear the tale of Beren and Luthien!

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TOPICS IN THIS SHOW

Audio Commentary Fantasy Literature Hobbit Lord of the Rings Middle-earth Narrative Guide Tolkien

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

In this series, story expert Alastair Stephens guides you through the pages of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

HOSTED BY

Point North Media

CATEGORIES

arts tv film

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does There And Back Again have?

There And Back Again currently has 74 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is There And Back Again about?

In this series, story expert Alastair Stephens guides you through the pages of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

How often does There And Back Again release new episodes?

There And Back Again has 74 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to There And Back Again?

You can listen to There And Back Again on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts There And Back Again?

There And Back Again is created and hosted by Point North Media.
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