Episodes

  • 415 – Saruman’s OPSEC Problem: Unfinished Tales with Dr. Bret Devereaux

    415 – Saruman’s OPSEC Problem: Unfinished Tales with Dr. Bret Devereaux
    May 31 2026
    Short cuts lead to long delays… or perhaps just slaughter and death. Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy as we welcome back the always-insightful, often-hilarious Dr. Bret Devereaux to the Common Room! Our favorite ancient and military historian (the conjunction is important) joins us to answer questions ranging from Númenórean naval power to the practicality, or lack thereof, of steel bows. You’ll learn more about ship-building than you thought you’d ever need to know, find out that donut armies are (sadly) not covered in sprinkles, and hear about centuries-old food that is still edible — alcohol is a good plan. We ask why a navy might take five years to arrive for their “friends”, wonder how Saruman thought he could actually win this thing, and find ourselves educated about riverine transport. Also: “they’re the same flaw”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 51 mins
  • 414 – With or Without You

    414 – With or Without You
    May 24 2026
    The Elendilmir worn by the Kings of Arnor had not the ancientry nor potency of the original; there’s got to be a joke in there about Alan and Don, right? Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy as we conclude our two-part look at The Disaster of the Gladden Fields from Unfinished Tales. Isildur realizes he can’t live with or without the Ring, Aragorn discovers a piece of ancient Númenórean history, and Saruman is a naughty wizard. We wonder what the Ring makes invisible, decide neither of us will take part in The Isildur Challenge, and wonder if Aragorn can count. Also: will Don write a new TTRPG campaign? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 5 mins
  • 413 – The Unforgettable Fire

    413 – The Unforgettable Fire
    May 17 2026
    Isildur proclaims his sovereign lordship over all the Dúnedain; Alan knows better than to proclaim lordship over his own podcast. Join The Man of the West as he welcomes back Don Marshall to the Common Room to begin our two-part look at the chapter The Disaster of the Gladden Fields from Unfinished Tales. Isildur plans a long road trip, the orcs have the high ground, and Elendur tells his dad to walk til you run and don’t look back. We discuss the state of hand-me-downs among families of Númenórean descent, agree that it is dawn — not Don — that is ever the hope of men, and discover we both liked Solo, thank you very much. Also: another book from Don! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • 412 – Far Fallen

    412 – Far Fallen
    May 10 2026
    Saruman has no time for the simples of peasants; Alan and Matt wouldn’t mind if things were simpler. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we get an in-depth look at Saruman’s continuing jealousy of Gandalf as we conclude our four-episode study of The Hunt for the Ring from Unfinished Tales. Saruman knows it’s a long day living in Isengard, Gandalf gives reasons why smoking is actually good, and Radagast gets stuck in the middle. We alliterate with Sean Connery, wonder where the non-smoking section is in Rivendell, and decide we clearly cannot choose the hobbit in front of you. Also, the Nazgûl’s wet socks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • 411 – Saruman Won’t Back Down

    411 – Saruman Won’t Back Down
    May 3 2026
    Gollum was peculiarly fitted to survive in Moria, though at cost of great misery; Matt is also able to survive his time on the PPP with the same cost. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we get a closer look at Saruman’s unenviable position in our third episode of four on The Hunt for the Ring from Unfinished Tales. Gollum doesn’t know how to open a door, Saruman discovers there ain’t no easy way out, and the Nazgûl make a new friend on the road north. We conclude that Númenor messed up Middle-earth timezones but agree they’re still smart enough not to bother with Daylight Saving Time, agree with Bret Devereaux’s conclusion that “Saruman is a dummy-wummy whose plans fail because they are bad”, and observe that we might be the only two people in the Venn diagram of sports fans and Tolkien fans. Also: Matt gets the munchies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • 410 – You Got Lucky, Gollum

    410 – You Got Lucky, Gollum
    Apr 26 2026
    Christopher Tolkien tells us that the manuscripts for this story are “in great, though hardly exceptional, confusion” — so it seems this podcast is in good company. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we begin to sort through the various versions of the story of The Hunt for the Ring as our four-part look at the chapter continues. The Nazgûl, it seems, have an unexpected weakness; Sauron decides speed is more important than secrecy, but it’s already late in the game; and Gollum successfully hides in Moria after a failed jailbreak-slash-murder attempt. We talk about shooting nerds in a barrel, speculate about Sauron’s pro-con list, and examine the couch cushions of the Anduin. Also, you got lucky, babe, when you found us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 52 mins
  • 409 – Runnin’ Down a Ring

    409 – Runnin’ Down a Ring
    Apr 19 2026
    Saruon had never paid heed to the halflings, even if he had heard of them — and Matt still doesn’t pay heed to Alan, even if he works with him. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we begin our four-part dive into the chapter The Hunt for the Ring from Unfinished Tales. Sauron hesitates to unleash his most powerful servants; the Witch-king is workin’ on a mystery, goin’ wherever it leads; and Saruman felt so good, like anything was possible — he’s just wrong. We decide that we won’t walk 900 miles with a Gollum in our bag, imagine that Sauron has short little T-Rex arms, and wonder if traveling naked is really the best idea. Also, an idea for a new carnival snack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • 408 – Questions After Nightfall 34

    408 – Questions After Nightfall 34
    Apr 12 2026
    Join The Man of the West as he welcomes The Nerd of the Rings for his run of episodes this season by throwing him into the deep end of a Live Q&A in the PPP Common Room for our 34th Questions After Nightfall! Matt and Alan decide to crash several legendarium weddings, but we skip Túrin’s: we know too much. We answer an interesting question about what the Tolkien fandom will look like in 500 years, decide to film a documentary in Rivendell, and argue whether being voted your school’s “safest driver” is an insult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 39 mins