There And Back Again
74 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 241 ratingsIn 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
There And Back Again: Update
January 03, 2024 22:05 - 2.66 MBHappy 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.
There And Back Again 71: The Road Goes Ever On And On
July 28, 2018 15:21 - 66.8 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 70: The Return Of The King
July 20, 2018 17:44 - 64.4 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 69: The Steward And The King
July 13, 2018 02:24 - 66.5 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 68: For Good Or Ill
July 06, 2018 16:32 - 62 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 67: The End Of All Things
June 22, 2018 23:29 - 59.2 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 66: The Cracks Of Doom
June 09, 2018 02:44 - 70.1 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 65: Beyond All Towers Strong And High
June 01, 2018 01:42 - 56.9 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 64: Back To The Black Gate
May 25, 2018 15:33 - 62.5 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 63: The Mouth Of Sauron
May 18, 2018 17:21 - 68.1 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 62: The Hands Of A Healer
May 11, 2018 14:54 - 62.7 MBIn this week's session, we discuss hope and despair at Denethor's pyre, and then bring athelas to the Houses of Healing.
There And Back Again 61: Out Of Doubt, Out Of Dark
May 04, 2018 04:05 - 61.9 MBIn this week's session, we conclude the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and discuss eucatastrophe, magical winds, and try not to weep openly.
There And Back Again 60: No Living Man Am I
April 28, 2018 04:09 - 65.3 MBIn this week's session, we ride with the Rohirrim to Minas Tirith and begin the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
There And Back Again 59: A Sword-Day, A Red Day
April 20, 2018 04:16 - 63.1 MBIn this week's session, we discuss hope and despair, the siege of Gondor, and the clash of Gandalf and the Witch-King of Angmar.
There And Back Again 58: Comfort Me Not With Wizards
April 13, 2018 14:34 - 66.3 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 57: Where Will Wants Not
April 09, 2018 15:29 - 43.4 MBIn this unexpectedly abbreviated session, we discuss the role of women in Tolkien's world, and the conversation between Aragorn and Éowyn!
There And Back Again 56: The King Of The Dead
April 01, 2018 16:02 - 61.7 MBIn this session, we make it to the second chapter of The Return Of The King with discussions of oaths and oathbreaking!
There And Back Again 55: Tree And Tower
March 24, 2018 01:16 - 72.6 MBIn this session, we begin The Return Of The King with discussions of the White Tree of Gondor, high style and the nobility of hobbits.
There And Back Again 54: Shagrat And Gorbag
March 16, 2018 22:03 - 68.3 MBIn this session, we discuss the future, Orc culture and the extensive history of the One Ring as we conclude The Two Towers.
There And Back Again 53: The Choices Of Master Samwise
March 11, 2018 02:15 - 48 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 52: Tales Never End
March 02, 2018 14:38 - 72 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 51: The Crown Of The Fallen King
February 09, 2018 05:14 - 72.8 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 50: The Cross-Roads
February 02, 2018 00:16 - 60.1 MBThis 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!
There And Back Again 49: The Window On The West
January 29, 2018 04:25 - 72.9 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 48: Rabbits And Oliphaunts
January 19, 2018 14:27 - 80.9 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 47: Gollum The Great
January 11, 2018 21:50 - 62.3 MBIn this session, we cross the Dead Marshes and discuss the second chapter of book four of The Lord of the Rings!
There And Back Again 46: Gollum & Sméagol
January 08, 2018 06:20 - 108 MBIn this session, we discuss the first chapter of book four of The Lord of the Rings!
There And Back Again 45: The Affairs Of Wizards
December 23, 2017 17:29 - 83.2 MBIn this session, we reach the end of book three of The Lord of the Rings and discuss Pippin and the palantír.
There And Back Again 44: Gibbets And Crows
December 15, 2017 05:21 - 74.1 MBIn this session, we discuss chapters nine and ten of book three of The Lord of the Rings.
There And Back Again 43: The Meeting Of Dear Friends
December 08, 2017 03:41 - 64.5 MBIn this session, we discuss chapter eight of book three of The Lord of the Rings, The Road to Isengard.
There And Back Again 42: Helm’s Deep
December 01, 2017 03:05 - 74.2 MBIn this session, we are besieged with the Rohirrim in book three, chapter seven of The Lord of the Rings!
There And Back Again 41: The Golden Hall
November 23, 2017 05:24 - 73.9 MBIn this session, we discuss the healing of the king of Rohan in book three, chapter five of The Lord Of The Rings!
There And Back Again 40: Wise Fool
November 20, 2017 16:09 - 68.6 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 39: Fire And Deep Water
November 16, 2017 23:17 - 81.7 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 38: Treebeard And Beardtree
November 03, 2017 23:20 - 69.9 MBIn this session, we meet Treebeard and delve into the history of the ents in book three, chapter four of The Lord Of The Rings!
There And Back Again 37: Merry And Pippin’s Excellent Adventure
October 26, 2017 23:26 - 73.9 MBIn this session, we return to the hobbits and meet the Uruk-hai in book three, chapter three of The Lord Of The Rings!
There And Back Again 36: Farewell To Boromir
October 20, 2017 01:46 - 62.5 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 35: Two Roads Diverge
October 13, 2017 12:27 - 72.5 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 34: The Breaking Of The Fellowship
September 29, 2017 13:23 - 73.6 MBIn 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.
There And Back Again 33: All Shall Love Me And Despair
September 22, 2017 17:10 - 67.2 MBIn this session, we discuss The Fellowship Of The Ring, Book 2, Chapters 7 & 8: The Mirror of Galadriel & Farewell to Lórien!
There And Back Again 32: The Heart Of Elvendom
September 08, 2017 14:15 - 67.4 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 31: You Cannot Pass
September 01, 2017 22:53 - 64.6 MBIn this session, we face Durin's Bane and fly from Moria in book two, chapter five of The Lord of the Rings!
There And Back Again 30: The Watcher In The Water
August 25, 2017 15:52 - 69.7 MBIn this session, we confront Caradhras and venture into Moria in chapters three and four of book two of The Lord of the Rings!
There And Back Again 29: Nine Vs. Nine
August 18, 2017 03:30 - 66.6 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 28: Small, But Great In Mischief
August 11, 2017 05:07 - 71.3 MBIn this session, we complete our discussion of the Council of Elrond in Book 2, Chapter 2 of The Lord of the Rings!
There And Back Again 27: Isildur’s Bane
August 04, 2017 16:05 - 73.7 MBIn this session, we try valiantly to make it through the Council of Elrond, and fall just a little short of our goal.
There And Back Again 26: In The House Of Elrond
July 28, 2017 00:40 - 76.2 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 25: There My Heart Is
July 27, 2017 16:36 - 44 MBIn 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!
There And Back Again 24: Lights On Weathertop
July 14, 2017 15:25 - 64.1 MBIn this session, we depart from Bree, confront the black riders on Weathertop, and hear the tale of Beren and Luthien!
There And Back Again 23: Not All Who Wander Are Lost
June 29, 2017 22:18 - 69.8 MBIn this session, we arrive in Bree, spend some time at the Prancing Pony, and meet the man they call Strider!