Podcasts about valar

The wizards went about in simple guise, as it were of Men already old in years. Alan and Shawn have been doing that for years. Join The Man of the West and The Lord of the Mark as they embark on a three-episode look at the chapter on the Istari in Unfinished Tales. The Valar send five emissaries, two of whom promptly disappear; Radagast gets distracted watching nature documentaries, and Gandalf has nothing to do with Grand-Elf. We engage in some light blasphemy, imagine Saruman and Gandalf in a Highlander-universe, and decide we ought not count on the parakeets of doom. Also, Kermit the Wizard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode #1375: Shawn Fain kicks off his reelection campaign as UAW leadership tensions heat up, industry leaders debate who really owns pricing in today's complex retail ecosystem, and startup Valar Atomics reaches a major nuclear milestone.Today's sho...

In this week's episode, I take a look at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Spring 2026, and rate them from least to most favorite. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragontiarna series at my Payhip store: DRAGONJUNE The coupon code is valid through June 15, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 305 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is May 29th, 2026 and today we'll be discussing my Spring Movie Review Roundup for 2026, where I discuss the movies and streaming shows I watched over the last few months. We will also have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. So let's start off with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragontiarna series at my Payhip store. That coupon code is DRAGONJUNE. And as always, you get the coupon code and the links in the show notes for this episode. This coupon code will be valid through June the 15th, 2026. So if you need a new ebook for this summer, we have got you covered. Now let's move on to my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. As I mentioned last week, Dragon-Mage is out and you can get it at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited and it's doing well, so thank you for that. My next main project is Blade of Thieves and as of this recording, I am on chapter 11 of 25, though that'll probably expand in the final draft, which puts me at 56,000 words in. So I'm almost halfway through. I think probably it's going to be the length of Blade of Wraiths or a little longer, but we'll see. I'm hoping to have it out towards the end of June, but depending on how June goes, that might slip till July. Hopefully we can avoid that. I'm also 5,000 words into Cloak of Frost and that will be my main project once Blade of Thieves is done. I'm hoping to have Cloak of Frost out towards the end of July, but depending on how June goes, it might slip to August. For audiobook projects, Blade of Wraiths is still processing at ACX, though I believe as of right now, you can get it at Google Play, Kobo, Spotify, and my own Payhip store. The other stores should be available within a few weeks. As of right now, I don't actually have any current audiobooks in production, though we have some scheduled for the future. Once Blade of Thieves is finally done, Brad Wills will record that for us. Hollis McCarthy is scheduled to record Cloak of Worlds in June, if all goes well. Leanne Woodward will be recording Dragon-Mage sometime in July, if all goes well. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. Hopefully we'll have new things for you to read and listen to before much longer. 00:02:32 Main Topic: Spring 2026 Movie Review Roundup Now without any further ado, let's move on to our main topic, my Spring 2026 Movie Review Roundup. It's time for the Spring 2026 Movie Review Roundup, where I review the movies and streaming shows I watched over the last few months. As always, they're listed from least favorite to most favorite. The grades are wholly subjective and based on nothing more than my own opinions and thoughts. With that disclaimer out of the way, let's go to the movies. First up is Kicking and Screaming, which came out in 2005. This is a family comedy with Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall. Pharrell plays Phil Weston, a mild mannered vitamin store owner and Duvall plays his father, Buck Weston, owner of a successful chain of sports equipment stores. Buck is one of those hyper competitive guys who has to win at everything and Phil has always rolled with it. But when Phil's son is a benchwarmer on the youth soccer team that Buck coaches, Phil's had enough and starts coaching a rival team to get his son into the game and to defeat his father. Along the way, of course, he descends into Will Ferrell style comedic lunacy, but the PG version since this is a PG movie. Mike Ditka was also hilarious as Phil's sidekick and assistant coach. It seemed like an '80s family movie. It was a sort of movie where you could have taken the entire family to the theater in 2005 and everyone would have been at least moderately entertained. Overall Grade: C Next up is the animated Lord of the Rings, which came out in 1978. As I mentioned, this was the animated version of Lord of the Rings from 1978. Extremely ambitious, but I think it's fair to say this landed in ambitious failure territory, but they tried the best they could given the constraints of the technology at the time and the actual available budget. They tried to pack the entirety of the Fellowship of the Ring and the first half of The Two Towers into about two hours and 20 minutes. I'm sorry to say it just didn't work. Like Dune, the Lord of the Rings is one of those books that requires like 10 hours of very expensive filmmaking to pull off properly. That said, I think it is fair to say that this stumbled so that the Peter Jackson live action trilogy could run. Adapting a book (especially a big book) into a movie is a challenge and I don't think this quite got there. Too much was cut out and if you hadn't read the book, you would probably have no idea what was happening or just been confused the entire time. Additionally, the movie relied heavily on rotoscoping and it didn't always quite work. Like the rotoscope Nazgul looked creepy and unsettling, so that worked for them. However, the rotoscoped orcs just looked bad. You know how in live theater stagehands will dress all in black? The orcs kind of looked like that, albeit they're wearing yellow ponchos over their black stagehand outfits, almost like the stagehands were expecting inclement weather backstage. That said, the vocal performances and the music were very good. So an ambitious and admirable failure. As I said, I think the filmmaker's vision exceeded the grasp of their budget and the available technology of the 1970s. Overall Grade: C Next up is Airplane!, which came out in 1980. It was interesting to watch this as a cultural artifact. It had the leisurely pace of an '80s movie, with far more absurdist humor. It was a parody of various airplane disaster movies from the 1970s. It's also interesting that this is remembered as a Leslie Nielsen movie nowadays, though Leslie Nielsen 's character is only a supporting character. For all that he's known for his absurdist humor these days from later movies, Nielsen plays his character stone cold dead straight, which makes him all the funnier, amazingly enough. Some of the jokes in this movie have aged very badly, but it's still worth watching as an interesting and amusing cultural artifact, given how it influenced the entire genre of comedy movies afterwards. There's also the obligatory three seconds of nudity that can get cut on cable TV broadcast. Overall Grade: B- Next up is the Thomas Crown Affair, which came out in 1999. This is an interesting remake of a movie from the 1960s. Pierce Brosnan plays Thomas Crown, a billionaire who has grown bored with his life, so he orchestrates the theft of a priceless Monet painting from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The heist goes off flawlessly and the museum's insurance company sends out investigator Catherine Banning (played by Renee Russo) to retrieve the painting and avoid a hundred million dollar insurance payout. Banning immediately intuits that Crown is the thief and sets about to find the painting. This investigation is complicated by the fact that Crown and Banning immediately develop a strong attraction and start an affair. It was interesting to watch since neither Crown nor Banning are particularly sympathetic characters. In 2026, the phrase "bored New York billionaire" has much more sinister connotations than it did in 1999 and Banning breaks all kinds of laws and sleeping with her target is not a particularly bright idea. That said, the opening heist was interesting and Crown's final gambit to return the painting was extremely clever and enjoyable to watch. So overall, I like the movie, but there's still way too much nudity. Cable broadcasts are probably like 10 minutes shorter than the actual runtime from cutting it all out. Overall Grade: B- Next up is Whiskey Galore, which came out in 2017 and this is a remake of the original Whiskey Galore from 1949. Honestly, this is exactly the same movie from 1949 that I watched in the Movie Review Roundup for Summer 2025, just updated with modern filmmaking techniques. If the movie makers in the '40s could have done it this way, they would have. Though I would recommend watching the 1949 one first and then the one from 2017. Overall Grade: B Next up is Super Mario Galaxy, which came out in 2026. And I have to admit, it felt a little strange to be the oldest person at the theater watching Super Mario Galaxy, but I've been playing Mario games since before any of these kids were born, so I think I had a right to be there. Anyway, I would say this movie is about 75% as good as the first one. It was a little overpacked and the plot wasn't quite as tight, but it's still fun to watch. The animation was excellent and I enjoyed all the callbacks to the various Mario games and since I haven't actually played all the Mario games (as a reminder, I played no console games of any kind between 1998 and 2019), I'm sure there were quite a few I missed. The plot is that Bowser Jr is coming to rescue his father, Bowser, who's been held captive since the end of the last movie. To power his doomsday weapon, Junior kidnaps Princess Rosalina and Princess Peach goes to rescue her while Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi stay to protect the Mushroom Kingdom. Their separate subplots will end up crossing when Bowser Jr. invades the Mushroom Kingdom to get Bowser. Glen Powell was an excellent choice to voice Fox McCloud. I'd say if you could imagine a movie that the audience would enjoy and the critics would hate, you'd end up with Super Mario Galaxy. Since that appears to be what happened to the tune of $970 million, it appears that metaphor was accurate. Also, to be less glib, "movies you can take your kids to" do serve a valuable social function (in my opinion). Overall Grade: B Next up is the Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins, which came out in 2026. This was a comedy with a fun premise. Reggie Dinkins (played by Tracy Morgan) was an elite NFL player who got bounced out of the league for placing bets on himself. Years later, he teams up with an indie filmmaker named Arthur Tobin (played by Daniel Radcliffe), to make a documentary to rehabilitate his image. However, Tobin has his own issues. He has an Oscar, but after the Oscar, he got hired to direct a Marvel movie and cracked under the pressure. He and Reggie have to go on a journey to recover their reputations. I thought this was a pretty funny sitcom. Tracy Morgan is a comedic natural, but Daniel Radcliffe turned out to be an excellent comedic actor as well. He was great in that Weird Al biopic a few years ago and he's very funny in this. Craig Robinson was also great as Jerry Basmati, Reggie's sleazy nemesis. Overall Grade: B+ Next up is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which came out in 2026. I enjoyed this. It was like three pretty good episodes of The Mandalorian show put together. The end result was an adventure movie that kind of reminded me of the best of 1980s fantasy and sci-fi movies with a lot of creature work and a lot of action scenes. For an extended stretch of the movie, Grogu takes over as the primary protagonist, and given that Grogu is a very expensive puppet, that's an impressive feat. The plot picks up from the end of The Mandalorian show. The Mandalorian and his adopted son Grogu are now working for the New Republic, helping to hunt down Imperial warlords. Mando gets assigned to hunt down in a mysterious Imperial warlord named Commander Coin, but the only people who have information on Coin's location are the Twins, a pair of Hutt crime lords and relatives of Jabba the Hutt from Return of the Jedi. The Twins are willing to give up Coin's location if Mando does a job for them, but as Han Solo could have warned Mando, working for the Hutts is not a good idea. I was surprised that the reviews for this movie were as mixed as they were, but I suspect that's a combination of three social factors: Number one, cumulative ill will towards Disney as a corporation, which has done numerous sketchy things in the 2020s. I think something similar happened with Microsoft and Starfield. Number two, the lingering bad aftertaste of the sequel trilogy and number three, the tendency of the hardcore Star Wars fandom to chronically overthink things. Overall Grade: B+ Next up is the animated Hobbit, which came out in 1977. Peter Jackson's Hobbit Trilogy from the 2010 famously stretched The Hobbit across three movies, which really didn't work and added a bunch of epic battle scenes, which was totally off for what was essentially a children's book. The animated 1977 version of The Hobbit, by contrast, went in a different direction, neatly adapting it down to 70 minutes or so, presumably because animation is very expensive. At the time, this got mixed reviews, but looking back nearly 50 years later, I think we can appreciate it more because of the sheer amount of work that goes into hand-drawn animation. Like computer-based animation is unquestionably a lot of work as well, but hand-drawn animation is on something of a higher level in terms of difficulty, in my opinion. That said, I think this adaptation did a better job of compressing the story down than the animated Lord of the Rings movie I mentioned earlier in this episode. There's also a lot of 1970s style folk singing-like a LOT. I suspect J.R.R. Tolkien would have hated every single adaptation ever made of any of his works (with perhaps the exception of the audiobooks), but he would have approved of the number of songs and poetry in this. Though it was amusing that the high elves in this movie sing in a '70s folk music style. It would be humorous if in the Silmarillion, Earnedil the Mariner had finally crossed the Sundering Seas to reach Valinor and appeal the aid of the Valar against Morgoth and his hordes, only to hear '70 style folk music echoing across the shining hills of the Undying Lands. Anyway, it's definitely worth watching this if you like The Hobbit or old style animation. Overall Grade: A- Next up is House of David Season 2, which came out in 2026. I wrestled with what grade to give this because it used a lot of AI for the big battle scene in episode one and as long time readers and listeners know, I do not generally approve of LLM generated slop. Ironically, I think episode one, the big battle sequence with all the AI, was definitely the weakest point of the entire second season. Everything else was better. That said, all the character drama and interactions and acting were really good, which amusingly shows that while LLM stuff can generate blurry scenes of mounted soldiers charging at night, the real human emotion comes from, well, real human emotion. Anyway, this picks right up from the end of Season 1, right after David kills Goliath, which means it takes place during most of the events with the third quarter of the book of 1 Samuel from the Bible. David becomes one of the chief commanders of King Saul, but David is secretly the anointed king of Israel. Saul's deteriorating mental state becomes threatening to David while Saul's children scheme for position (with the exception of Jonathan, who has accepted that God has chosen David as the next king of Israel) and the Philistines prepare for war against Israel. It is interesting how the show alternates between leaning into the Grimdark aspects of life in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age and avoiding them. Like, constant warfare was a fact of life for a Mesopotamian king around 1000 BC. But the show also shows David as having passionate romantic love for Saul's daughter Michal and in the Bible, David ended up with at least eight wives that we know about (there were likely others) and an unnamed number of concubines. So late Bronze Age/early Iron Age monarchs were not likely to have been in the grips of fervent romantic love. Though based on the Psalms he wrote, David seems to have been a man who definitely was in touch with his emotions and quite possibly he would have passionately loved multiple women at the same time. Anyway, I enjoyed the show. While I am not an expert, I probably have a higher than average level of Old Testament knowledge. So when the show expanded on something from 1 Samuel (such as the role of Doeg, the murderous Edomite shepherd), I could see where they were coming from. Or the subplot where Jonathan falls in love with an Israelite woman since in the Bible, David took care of Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, logically, Jonathan had a wife at some point. Related to that as Saul continues his descent, in a moment of rage in 1 Samuel, he calls Jonathan "the son of a perverse and rebellious woman" and the show has a subplot explaining how Saul came to see Queen Ahinoam as a "perverse and rebellious woman". So I enjoyed this and will definitely watch Season 3 when it comes along. That said, the opening battle with the AI generated battle scenes is still definitely the weakest part of the series, though. Overall Grade: A- Next up is Maul: Shadow Lord, which came out in 2026. And in my opinion, this was pretty good. I think he could call the plot Sith Noir. Maul, desiring vengeance against the Emperor for all the pain he has endured, has decided to rebuild his criminal syndicate (previously destroyed in the Clone Wars) and use it to bring down the Empire. Meanwhile, Captain Lawson, a detective on a minor world, is trying to rebuild his relationship with his teenage son and keep his career afloat. This becomes tricky when a pair of fugitive Jedi fleeing from the Inquisitors turn up on their world. But in the younger of the two Jedi, Maul sees a potential apprentice for himself, one he could corrupt to the dark side. The animation has improved by quantum leaps and bounds since the days of the Clone War show. The lighting and the shadows are excellent. Maul looks spooky and a little uncanny. The lightsaber fights are quick and fluid. No spoilers, but the final episode is absolutely excellent. I also think one of the best things about the Star Wars animation shows is how Maul's character has evolved from simply the cool swordsmen at the end of The Phantom Menace to a sympathetic yet still evil warrior-philosopher, a tragic figure whose every effort always contains the seeds of its own downfall. Overall Grade: A Next up is Emma, which came out in 2020. This is an excellent adaptation of the Jane Austen's novel. Good performances, good cinematography, and it captures the essence of the novel quite well and it's probably a must for Austen fans to see. I don't really have anything negative to say about it, say that it has the three seconds of unnecessary nudity that can be cut in cable broadcasts. Ironically, and quite amusingly, that three seconds of nudity is quite literally the only thing this movie has in common with Airplane!. Overall Grade: A Next up is No Packers, No Life, which came out in 2025. This was a fun documentary about a group of Japanese Green Bay Packers fans. Obviously, there are fairly large cultural and linguistic divides between the United States and Japan, so American football is not hugely popular in Japan. However, the Green Bay Packers are the only community owned team in the NFL to this day and so they're quite a bit more sympathetic than one that's owned by a faceless billionaire. Anyway, an American businessman goes to Japan and stumbles across a Japanese man wearing a Packers jersey at a bar. From there, he learns of a small club called the Japanese Packers Cheering Team that gathered to watch Packers games. This businessman in question happened to be from Wisconsin, so he befriended the Japanese Packers Cheering Team and invited them to Green Bay for a game. The invitation snowballed and so the entire club and their families arrived to watch the game. Sports fandom really isn't one of my interests, so it's always interesting to look at it from the outside. That said, this was an enjoyable documentary about cross-cultural communication at its best. Overall Grade: A Let's close out this episode with my favorite thing I saw in spring 2026, which was Project Hail Mary, which came out in 2026. This is another "science man solves space problem that saves the day with math and science", type science fiction adventure like The Martian, though some new twists on the formula. Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship with all the other crew dead and no memory of how he got there. Gradually, he partially remembers and works out that he is part of Project Hail Mary, a last ditch effort to stop Earth's sun from dimming due to an extremophile organism called the Astrophage. Only one other star in Earth's stellar neighborhood was showing no signs of Astrophage infection, so Grace's ship was sent there on a suicide mission to try and recover some means of defeating the Astrophage. While there, he encounters an alien ship with a sole survivor and he slowly works out how to communicate with the alien, who he dubs Rocky. It turns out Rocky's people sent him there on a mission to solve the Astrophage problem as well and together Grace and Rocky try to work out how to save their respective home worlds. Quite enjoyable and worth seeing. At the time I typed this in March of 2026, it was the highest-grossing movie of 2026 and I think it deserved that, though it did eventually get overtaken by Super Mario Galaxy. Overall Grade: A I suppose that was an eclectic range of movies, wasn't it? Interestingly, I actually saw three of them in theaters: Project Hail Mary, Super Mario Galaxy, and The Mandalorian and Grogu, so I went to the theater three times in three months. I think that's the most I've been to the movie theater in a single year in the entirety of the 2020s. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show interesting. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and we'll see you all next week.  

Welcome back to the Pear Healthcare Playbook! Every week, we'll be getting to know trailblazing healthcare leaders and diving into building a digital health and biotech business from 0 to 1.We would greatly appreciate it if you took a moment to listen to the episode on either Apple or Spotify and leave us a rating! Your support helps our guests' insights reach a larger audience!Today we're thrilled to host Anirudh Joshi, co-founder of Valar Labs, who is building the company with co-founder Viswesh Krishna. Valar is pioneering AI-native oncology diagnostics using standard pathology slides to predict treatment response, starting with bladder cancer and expanding across oncology. The company raised a $22M Series A co-led by DCVC and Andreessen Horowitz, with continued backing from Pear VC since day one. In this conversation, Anirudh walks through how the genesis of the company, why pathology has long been underutilized and what it took to bring Vesta, its genitourinary-focused portfolio of AI powered pathology tests, to the clinic.

Tolkien's women don't need the spotlight to hold the world together. That's the point. Alix Murray, Jeff Haecker, and Kathryn Laffrey trace the powerful, mysterious women of Middle-earth from the Valar to the Shire. The post Women of Middle Earth appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Joshua Noel is joined by former host, Nick Polk, to dive into the lush world of Tolkien this Arbor Day, exploring the vital character of Yavanna—the Vala of nature herself. They kick things off by highlighting how Yavanna is not just the face behind the two iconic trees of Valinor, but also the creative force that brought about the Silmarils and the Ents. With a mix of reverence and cheeky banter, they discuss how Yavanna's essence intertwines with the very fabric of Middle-earth, influencing everything from the light of the sun and moon to the fate of the Ents in the battle against Saruman. As they ramble through Tolkien's rich lore, they emphasize the importance of caring for trees in our own world, echoing Yavanna's devotion to nature. So if you're down for a wild ride through Arda, this episode is a must-listen for any Tolkien fan! Yavanna, the Vala of Nature, takes center stage in this rich podcast episode that dives into the intricacies of Tolkien's world. Joshua and Nick kick things off with a casual banter about the significance of Arbor Day, seamlessly transitioning into a deeper exploration of Yavanna's role in the creation of the two Trees of Valinor and the Silmarils. Listeners are treated to an engaging narrative that paints Yavanna not just as a background character, but as a pivotal force in the lore of Middle-earth. The hosts discuss how her nurturing spirit led to the birth of the Ents and the preservation of the natural world, making the case that without Yavanna, Tolkien's universe would lack the lush greenery that defines it. They draw parallels between Yavanna's lament and the creation of new life, showcasing how Tolkien intertwines sorrow and beauty in his storytelling. As the episode unfolds, they delve into the implications of Yavanna's actions on the larger narrative, emphasizing her integral role in the tales of the Silmarillion and the fate of Middle-earth. This summary encapsulates the episode's exploration of Yavanna's character, her relationships with other Valar, and the broader themes of creation and loss within Tolkien's mythos.Takeaways:Yavanna is the Vala responsible for creating the two trees of Valinor, which symbolize hope and beauty in Tolkien's legendarium.Without Yavanna, there would be no Silmarils, the sun and moon, or even the Ents, making her a crucial character in Middle-earth's mythology.The intertwining of sorrow and beauty in Yavanna's story reflects Tolkien's concept of eucatastrophe, where joy arises from tragedy.Nick Polk and Joshua Noel explore how Yavanna's creation of the Ents embodies the theme of nature's resilience against industrial destruction.Tolkien's deep affection for trees is evident, as he uses them to symbolize life, hope, and the consequences of industrialization in Middle-earth.This Arbor Day episode emphasizes the significance of preserving nature, paralleling Yavanna's care for the trees with contemporary environmental concerns..Be sure to check out our merch, find extra content, and become an official member of Systematic Geekology on our website:https://systematic-geekology-shop.fourthwall.com/.Follow Nick on his Substack:https://tolkienpop.substack.com/.Listen to last year's Arbor Day special too:https://systematic-geekology.captivate.fm/episode/the-erdtree-and-its-symbolism-a-celebration-of-arbor-day-in-elden-ring/.Check out other episodes in this ear's theme of "The Faces Behind Us":https://player.captivate.fm/collection/dd903597-98be-49ed-998c-5cdaf73b6af4.Listen to our other Middle Earth episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/cd11887b-5998-452c-aa1f-330423162b51.Check out other episodes with Joshua:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/642da9db-496a-40f5-b212-7013d1e211e0.Check out other episodes with great guests like Nick:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/f4c32709-d8ff-4cef-8dfd-5775275c3c5eMentioned in this episode:Systematic GeekologyOur show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.Join our Facebook group and Discord ServerFind our Facebook group, "Priests to the Geeks", then join our Discord server with this link to continue on the conversation with us!DiscordBecome a member of Systematic Geekology on our Website!Check out the link to become a member of Systematic Geekology! All member get exclusive extras and shout outs on the show! Some of the paid tiers of membership get store discounts, free merch, and more!SG on FourthwallThe Anazao Podcast NetworkBe sure to check out the network website to see other podcasts trying to engage honestly with Scripture, Theology, Pop Culture, Martial Arts, Science, and more!Anazao Podcast NetworkCheck out our Fourthwall site for quite literally everything to do with our show!All SG merch, extra content, our youtube page, SG memberships, tips / donations, etc. can all be found at this one convenient spot!SG on Fourthwall

✨ Nel quinto episodio di A(maze)ing Fantasy dedicato al Simarillion, raccontiamo il risveglio degli Elfi, i Primogeniti di Ilúvatar, e l'inizio del loro cammino nel mondo di Arda.

Welcome to Day 2831 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – J R R Tolkien's Theological Imagination: Rebellion, Redemption, and the Divine Pattern Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2831 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2831 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled:  J R R Tolkien's Theological Imagination: Rebellion, Redemption, and the Divine Pattern. J R R  Tolkien believed storytelling was a sacred act. As a devout Catholic, his fiction was shaped not by overt allegory but by deep theological truths. Through the concept of subcreation, Tolkien affirmed that humans, made in the image of the Creator, have the capacity to craft secondary worlds that echo divine realities. While The Lord of the Rings is not an allegory, its themes align powerfully with Christian theology and the Divine Council Worldview (DCWV), a framework in Scripture that speaks of God ruling among other spiritual beings and assigning nations to them after Babel. The first segment is: The Powers and Principalities of Arda. Tolkien's legendarium includes a clear divine hierarchy. At the top is Eru Ilúvatar, the One, creator of all. He is the source of the Ainulindalë-the- the Music of the Ainur-through which the world is first imagined. Even when Melkor introduces discord into the harmony, seeking to dominate the music with his own themes, Eru responds not with destruction but with deeper orchestration. He tells Melkor that all the discord he weaves will only serve to make the final symphony more profound. Nothing, not even rebellion, lies outside Eru's ultimate sovereignty. This reflects a vision of God's authority that is both supreme and redemptive, where even the schemes of the wicked are ultimately turned to the fulfillment of divine purpose. Below Ilúvatar are the Ainur, powerful spiritual beings created before the shaping of the world. Among them, the Valar function as guardian spirits of Arda, similar in structure to the Divine Council of Psalm 82. The Maiar, lesser but still mighty beings, assist the Valar. Gandalf and Sauron both belong to this order. Just as in Divine Council Worldview, where God delegates spiritual authority to lesser elohim, Tolkien's mythos reflects a structure where divine beings are given spheres of responsibility. Yet, like in Scripture, rebellion corrupts this order, setting the stage for cosmic conflict. In the end, those spirits who persist in rebellion are not merely restrained but ultimately removed forever from the renewed creation. Their fate reflects the biblical destiny of the fallen sons of God, whose judgment ensures that the restored order will no longer be corrupted by their presence. The second segment is: Melkor, Sauron, and the Corruption of Divine Authority Melkor, later known as Morgoth, the mightiest of the Ainur, mirrors the rebel gods in biblical theology. His pride leads him to seek domination rather than stewardship. Morgoth's rebellion reflects the cosmic insurrection of Psalm 82 and Isaiah 14, spiritual beings grasping for power they were never meant to wield. Sauron, his chief lieutenant, becomes a second-tier deceiver who continues Morgoth's dark legacy. Like the sons of God in Genesis 6 and Deuteronomy 32, Sauron imposes false worship and enslaves others, manipulating through fear and domination. The rings of power function almost like tokens of delegated but twisted authority, tools meant for order, turned toward control. The third segment is: Sacred Geography and Territorial Spirits Middle-earth is shaped by geography charged with meaning. From the spiritual corruption of Mordor to the divine echoes of Lothlórien and the exile of Númenor, Tolkien paints a world where places are more than political. They are spiritual battlegrounds. This resonates with the DCWV understanding of cosmic geography, the biblical idea that certain regions are under the influence of rebellious divine beings. Tolkien's world shows that the land itself can groan under the weight of spiritual oppression or be hallowed by divine presence. The Fourth Segment is: Free Will, Providence, and the Role of Mortals Tolkien's theology insists that free will matters, even in a world shaped by fate. This mirrors the DCWV framework in which God's imagers, both divine and human, are granted real choice. The fall of Melkor and Sauron is not deterministic, nor is Frodo's endurance guaranteed. Instead, history is a tapestry of choices woven into divine purposes. Even Gollum, an unlikely figure, plays a providential role through his disobedience. As Elrond says, “Even the very wise cannot see all ends.” God remains sovereign in Tolkien's world, but human (and hobbit) agency is honored. At the same time, Tolkien also shows that Ilúvatar does not remain distant. When free will threatens to unravel the entire order of creation-such as with the rebellion of Númenor-Eru steps in directly. That rebellion was not born in a vacuum. It was Sauron, functioning as a kind of Satan figure, who seduced the Númenóreans with promises of godhood, twisting their fear of death into a desire for domination. Under his influence, they turned against the Valar and Ilúvatar himself. In response, Ilúvatar reshapes the world, removes Valinor from its physical reach, and ensures the continuation of his plan. Divine intervention is rare, but never absent, reflecting a theology where human freedom is real, yet ultimately guided by a higher will. The fifth segment is: Christ Figures and Divine Reversal Tolkien avoids a single Christ figure, but the roles of prophet, priest, and king are reflected across characters. Gandalf, as a Maia, is sent back as a resurrected figure who guides and speaks truth. Frodo, the suffering servant, bears the burden of evil though it scars him permanently. Aragorn, the hidden king, returns to heal and rule with justice. Their combined roles reflect a mosaic of messianic themes, aligned with DCWV's understanding that God's rule is ultimately restored through His chosen representative. The sixth Segment is: The Redemption of the Noldor One of the most profound theological arcs in Tolkien's legendarium is the redemption of the Noldor. These High Elves, once dwellers in the light of Valinor, chose rebellion. Under Fëanor, they defied the Valar, left the Blessed Realm without permission, and pursued Morgoth in pride and vengeance. Their exile into Middle-earth was a direct consequence of their disobedience, and their long suffering across the First, Second, and Third Ages reflects the cost of that choice. And yet, by the time of The Lord of the Rings, the story shifts. Elrond, Galadriel, and others of Noldorin descent are no longer defined by rebellion but by wisdom, sacrifice, and faithful stewardship. Galadriel, who once sought dominion and glory, now resists the temptation of the One Ring. Elrond becomes a healer, counselor, and protector. Their final return to Valinor is not a defeat or escape, but a homecoming long delayed. It is the restoration of exiles whose hearts have been refined by ages of sorrow and service. This echoes the biblical pattern of return from exile, of forgiveness extended to those who wandered far but endured. Their story is not one of perfection, but of transformation. In the end, the Noldor who return do so not in pride, but in humility. And Valinor, far from rejecting them, welcomes them home. In Conclusion Tolkien didn't write sermons, but he did what theology often fails to do. He made us feel the weight of glory, the darkness of evil, and the staggering grace of redemption. His myth tells the same cosmic story as Scripture: creation, rebellion, judgment, mercy, and restoration. By embedding DCWV themes into his secondary world, Tolkien baptized the imagination and helped countless readers glimpse the true story beneath all stories. For further study, consider these Discussion Questions How does Tolkien's portrayal of Eru Ilúvatar compare to the biblical view of God's sovereignty, especially in response to rebellion? In what ways does the story of the Noldor reflect biblical themes of exile, refinement, and return? How does Tolkien depict the relationship between free will and divine providence across different characters and events? What parallels can be drawn between Sauron's temptation of Númenor and the biblical role of Satan in stirring rebellion? How does Tolkien's treatment of spiritual rebellion and ultimate judgment align with the destiny of fallen divine beings in Scripture? Join us next Theology Thursday to learn Fencing the Torah: When Guardrails Become a Cage If you found this podcast insightful, please subscribe and leave us a review, then...

This month, Jude and Stef explore Tolkien's complex thoughts on justice, healing, and the intricacies of Elven marriage and reincarnation through an in-depth analysis of the 'Laws and Customs Among the Eldar' in the History of Middle-earth Volume 10, Morgoth's Ring. We delve into Tolkien's writing process, the philosophical debate of the Valar and the Statute of Finwë and Míriel, and the implications for understanding Elven mortality in Arda Marred.   Citations Tolkien, J. R. R. Morgoth's Ring. Ed. Christopher Tolkien. The History of Middle-earth: Vol. 10. HarperCollins, London, 1993. 

Celeborn has dwelt in the West since the days of dawn; it only seems like Alan has as well. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we embark on a six-part journey through The History of Galadriel and Celeborn from Unfinished Tales. Christopher Tolkien concedes ‘severe inconsistencies', while Galadriel's got a way about her; I don't know what it is. Celeborn meets his wife in Doriath… or in Alqualondë. We marvel at the hubris of claiming to have learned everything the Valar can teach, wonder if Celeborn needs an upgrade, and ask ‘Whose Test is it Anyway?' Also, any excuse to bash Fëanor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rising star Valar returns to Iboga with a compelling new journey titled The Message. Defined by a melodic, fluid flow and pure progressive psytrance basslines, the release draws the listener into Valar's sonic world from the very first moment. Impeccable production finesse and emotional drive make The Message a focused, immersive statement from an artist in clear ascent.

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1==================================================== DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA JÓVENES 2025“HOY ES TENDENCIA”Narrado por: Daniel RamosDesde: Connecticut, USAUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================21 de NoviembreCuando Dios canta«Jehová está en medio de ti; ¡él es poderoso y te salvará! Se gozará por ti con alegría, callará de amor, se regocijará por ti con cánticos». Sofonías 3: 17, RV95¿Alguna vez te has imaginado a Dios cantando? ¿Cómo crees que sonaría? ¿Sobre qué temas cantaría? A mediados del siglo XX el profesor y escritor J. R. R. Tolkien, reconocido por sus obras El Hobbit y El señor de los anillos, se imaginó la creación del universo ficticio donde se desarrollan sus historias como una gran canción entonada por Eru, el creador de este universo ficticio, y sus ayudantes, los Valar.* Según Tolkien el mundo es producto del canto de Eru; y la maldad es consecuencia de la disonancia introducida por una de sus criaturas: Melkor.Aunque la idea del profesor Tolkien me parece interesante, no puedo negar que me gusta mucho más lo que dicen las Sagradas Escrituras sobre la razón que mueve a Dios a entonar un cántico. El profeta Sofonías relaciona el canto de Dios con su obra redentora, diciendo que Dios es «poderoso y te salvará» y cuando te haya salvado, «se regocijará por ti con cánticos». ¿No te parece hermosa esa idea? Cada vez que una de sus criaturas se arrepiente, Dios entona una canción de alegría.En Lucas 15, Jesús amplió la escena para incluir también a los ángeles. El Maestro dijo que «hay alegría entre los ángeles de Dios por un pecador que se convierte» (Lucas 15: 10). El cantante cristiano David Phelps, en su canción My Child is Coming Home, se imagina la escena de esta manera: «Dios solo canta cuando un alma perdida cree [...]. Dios mismo dirige el coro y la banda de bienvenida y luego él canta: "Abran las puertas de perla. Construyan otra mansión al lado de la mía. Todos griten de alegría alrededor del trono. Coloquen otro lugar en la mesa. Toquen la trompeta fuerte y claro. Aleluya, mi hijo viene a casa"».Al iniciar este día, Dios desea entonar una vez más su canción de gozo y celebración. Quizás estoy escribiendo estas líneas para ti que todavía no has tomado la decisión de entregar tu vida a Jesús, o tal vez necesites renovar tu compromiso con el Señor. Cualquiera que sea tu caso, hoy puedes colocar una sonrisa en el rostro de Dios. Puedes hacerlo cantar de alegría. Solo tienes que dejar que él te salve. 

The Second Age unfolds after Morgoth's defeat in the First Age, a time of rebuilding and shifting ambitions across Middle-earth. Sauron, a former servant of Morgoth, returns to power, masking his true nature and manipulating events from the shadows. He quickly gains influence among various peoples, exploiting discontent and fear to consolidate power. His most enduring strategic move is the forging of the Rings of Power, a deception that promises unity and prosperity while hiding his own creation of the One Ring to dominate all others. This move reshapes the political landscape: Elves, Dwarves, and Men are drawn into a fragile balance of power and suspicion as competing factions seek control of the legendary artifacts. During this era, Númenor—the majestic realm of Men granted by the Valar for their valor in the wars against Morgoth—rises to prominence. Its people become formidable mariners and builders, but their growing pride and longing for immortality sow the seeds of downfall. The Númenóreans' hubris leads them to challenge the Valar's design for mortality, resulting in their grim fall from grace and the eventual destruction of their island homeland. This catastrophe reverberates through Middle-earth, influencing future alliances and conflicts. The Elves, warned by Phantoms of danger and guided by the Valar's decrees, form an uneasy coalition with Men to counter Sauron's growing menace. The Last Alliance of Elves and Men culminates in a climactic but ultimately inconclusive battle, ending with Sauron's temporary defeat and the loss of his physical form. Yet this victory is short-lived; Sauron's enduring cunning and the division among the Free Peoples set the stage for renewed conflict in the Third Age, with the Rings of Power and the struggle for sovereignty continuing to shape the fate of Middle-earth.

Aldarion claims to ask for only two years, but takes a lot more; Alan and Sara ask for only two hours, and only take a little bit more. Join The Man of the West and the Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we begin to discover that maybe we should have asked for more than 10 episodes in the story of Aldarion and Erendis from Unfinished Tales. Ancalimë, the daughter of Aldarion and Erendis, is born just in time for Aldarion to let her down; the King's Heir proves to be as blind as he can be, just sees what he wants to see; and Núneth once again proves that motherly advice is not always good advice. We decide to stop long enough to smell the Oiolairë, note that guile is the last thing we want the Valar to send our children, and wonder if Aldarion just used the Númenórean version of “calm down, woman”. Also, we'd buy tickets to see Turuphanto in concert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Namaste and welcome back, dear listeners, to the Samay Chakra Radio Show. This is Chapter #69 A special Diwali Edition of our ongoing musical journey.Today, as India celebrates the Festival of Lights, we embrace the spirit of illumination,light over darkness, clarity over confusion, and love over fear. To honor this beautiful occasion, here comes a two-hour continuous journey of sound flowing from deep progressive to stellar full-on vibrations, crafted to awaken your senses and move your spirit. This edition features brand-new music from incredible artists such as Protonica, Asgard, Starlab, Ace Ventura, Imagine Mars, Morsei, Valar, DJ Antrix, Mekkanikka, Alientrik, Imaginarium, Pogo, Ital, Neo Shaman, Tristan, and many more. So wherever you are take a deep breath, tune in, and let the rhythm guide you through this intellectual and spiritual musical experience. This is Samay Chakra Radio. Let the music unfold. Happy Diwali!

Can mercy undo millennia of pride? Thomas Salerno, Patrick Mason, Jeff Haecker, and Rob Leonardi tackle Eärendil's voyage, the Valar's return, and Morgoth's ruin—where hope is forged from doom. The post Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Last episode ended on a heavy note with Mablung's sorrow, but in today's chapter the path takes some unexpected turns. What begins with a glimmer of relief quickly shifts into new challenges, as a long journey leads through hidden roads, moments of weariness, and dangers lurking closer than anyone dares to expect. Along the way, we'll talk about Tolkien's tender touches of parenthood woven into the tale, curious echoes of the Valar, and imagery that feels both haunting and beautiful. And just when rest seems possible, storm and shadow change everything once again—setting the stage for a powerful new turn in the story.https://linktr.ee/sistersoftheshirepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/sistersoftheshirepodcast/https://www.patreon.com/sistersoftheshirepodcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/1HIhmdeX6761vi7RyOjl8f?si=_qwdGdP7SbmAP2RWlji54w

Will You Look Into the Mirror?Join us as we shine a light on Galadriel, one of Tolkien's most enigmatic and powerful beings. We trace her sweeping arc, from her origins in the blissful light of Valinor, through exile and long voyages across Middle-earth, to the deep wisdom and quiet power she wields in her later years.We explore her entangled history with the Rings of Power, giving special honour to her own ring, Nenya, the Ring of Adamant. It is Nenya that sustains the heart of Elvendom in Middle-earth, that lends her Mirror the gift of foresight and reflection, and that keeps Lothlórien safe even when Sauron's shadow falls most darkly across the land.Lothlórien, “the Land of Blossom Dreaming.” There is a dreamlike quality to both Lórien and this podcast, as we attempt to follow the shifting path of Galadriel's story through Tolkien's ever-evolving legendarium. Tolkien himself revised her history many times, and in the final month of his life, he returned to her once more, describing her as:“brilliant in mind and swift in action; she had early absorbed all of what she was capable of from the teachings the Valar thought fit to give the Eldar.”Yet it took Galadriel thousands of years to truly master the magnificence of those teachings. Only when she learns to embody all she has endured, created and sacrificed does she finally pass the test and earn her return to Valinor. She does not return to reclaim her old names or noble lineages, but to carry the weight and wisdom of her long years under the name her beloved Celeborn gave her: Altariel in Quenyan, Galadriel to us.We also honour that our own roles—as Tarot Reader and Psychotherapist—find a strange reflection in Galadriel's Mirror. In the spirit of her foresight, we close our episode by gazing into those waters ourselves: Libby looks into the Mirror to glimpse “the things that are, the things that were, and some things that have not yet come to pass,” while Molly, taking up the Helm of Galadriel, offers a mini Tarot reading of what emerges from its depths.Will you dare to look into the Mirror with us? Listen in, share what you see, and tell us what Galadriel stirs in you.Love the pod? Please buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/fortheshireIf you'd love to geek out with us, reach out to ⁠fortheshire.pod@gmail.com⁠ or follow us on @fortheshire.pod on Instagram. Co-hosted by Molly Davis and Libby Rose Waite.(FYI - We didn't manage to work out video... but this will be uploaded to YouTube soon!)Music by Steve Ernenwein, host and composter for The Dreams that Shape Us Podcast: ⁠https://linktr.ee/dreamsthatshapeus⁠ / ⁠https://linktr.ee/aqthedreamwalker

Isaiah Taylor is the audacious visionary behind Valar Atomics, an El Segundo based startup on a mission to reinvent atomic energy and fuel the future of mankind. Isaiah Taylor dropped out of high school at 16 to start a business and write software for the world's largest hedge fund, but his real obsession, inherited from his physicist great-grandfather, is nuclear energy.  After ten years of obsessive research, Isaiah founded Valar Atomics with a radical plan to reboot the atomic age with mass-manufactured nuclear reactors which can make energy for AI and reverse combustion itself, turning atmospheric CO2 and water into carbon-neutral jet fuel and gasoline cheaper than drilling for oil. In one year, Valar Atomics has already built a 100,000-pound prototype reactor, the first step on their journey to making civilization beautiful again with abundant energy. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://americanfinancing.net/srs NMLS 182334, www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org https://aura.com/srs https://bubsnaturals.com – USE CODE SHAWN https://shawnlikesgold.com https://helixsleep.com/srs https://hexclad.com/srs https://ketone.com/srs Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order https://moinkbox.com/srs https://preparewithshawn.com https://patriotmobile.com/srs https://ROKA.com – USE CODE SRS https://shopify.com/srs https://betterhelp.com/srs This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. Valar Atomics - https://www.valaratomics.com X - https://x.com/isaiah_p_taylor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the episode title fairly describes this podcast (and, in a way, its host), it's actually what the Valar saw in the Children of Ilúvatar as we continue our reading of the Ainulindalë from The Silmarillion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hoy tenemos el privilegio de homenajear de nuevo la obra del maestro J. R. R. Tolkien, rescatando uno de los más célebres momentos de su Legendarium, con la introducción y el relato del gran Javier Gil y ilustración de portada del maestro Fran Fernández. "Derramaréis Lágrimas innumerables; y los Valar cercarán Valinor contra vosotros, y os dejarán fuera, de modo que ni siquiera el eco de vuestro lamento pasará sobre las montañas. Sobre la Casa de Fëanor la cólera de los Valar caerá desde el Occidente hasta el extremo Oriente, y sobre todos los que los sigan caerá del mismo modo. El juramento los impulsará, pero también los traicionará, e incluso llegará a arrebatarles los mismos tesoros que han jurado perseguir". Profecía de Mandos Desde que en el Silmarillion se arrojara luz sobre las historias que sustentaban la narrativa del Señor de los Anillos, se nos contó cómo los Valar y los Pueblos Libres gozaron de pocos periodos de equilibrio y paz. Desde los albores del mundo, desde la primera nota de la canción que diera origen a Arda, la música y el propósito de los Ainur parecía verse frustrado por los ardides de Melkor. Son bien conocidas las trágicas consecuencias que tuvieron para los primeros nacidos las semillas de la desconfianza y la discordia. La Maldición de Mandos selló el destino de los noldor, y al mismo tiempo, de aquellos que estaban llamados a ser sus aliados, y de tal modo las inevitables cadenas del destino forjado por Fëanor arrastraron consigo a elfos, hombres y enanos. Sigan a Javier Gil en sus redes: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:zafhu2itv5sj4iq6o4qaehl7 Sigan las artes del Maestro Fran Fernández: https://www.instagram.com/fran_fdz/ https://www.artstation.com/fran_fdez Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

In which co-hosts Kenny and Sam talk to Professor Robin Reid about feminist and queer Tolkien scholarship and fandom.Robin Reid is a Tolkien scholar who was a professor of English at Texas A&M University until her retirement in 2020. She is currently working on a book that will be a feminist reception study of women and non-binary readers of Tolkien, with updates posted on her Substack here.More Robin:Women & Tolkien: Amazons, Valkyries, Feminists, and SlashersJ.R.R. Tolkien, Culture WarriorThrusts in the Dark: Slashers' Queer PracticesSources/mentions:Brown - “Éowyn it was, and Dernhelm also”Carpenter - J.R.R. Tolkien: A BiographyCraig - Queer Lodgings: Gender and Sexuality in The Lord of the RingsCrowe - Power in Arda: Sources, Uses, and MisusesDonovan - The Valkyrie Reflex in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the RingsFimi - Tolkien, Folklore, and Foxes (YouTube)Kisor/Vaccaro (ed) - Tolkien and AlterityMerrick - The Secret Feminist Cabal: A Cultural History of Science Fiction FeminismsQueripel - The Mariner (and his wife): Rethinking Aldarion's (A)sexualityRateliff - The Missing Women: J. R. R. Tolkien's Lifelong Support for Women's Higher EducationSmith - At Home and Abroad: Éowyn's Two-fold Figuring as War Bride in The Lord of the RingsTimmons - Hobbit Sex and SensualityVaccaro - “Dyrne Langað”: Secret Longing and Homo-amory in Beowulf and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the RingsWalls-Thumma - The Inequality Prototype: Gender, Inequality, and the Valar in Tolkien's SilmarillionEmail us at entmootpod@gmail.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we establish Maeglin in Gondolin and the Men in the West as we move through the end of Chapter XVII of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Does the Maeglin apple fall far from the Eöl tree? Why are the connections and distinctions between languages so important? What did the elves learn from the Valar when it comes to welcoming new arrivals?To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!Next week, we reach the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin in chapter XVIII of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Wednesday, April 24th at 9PM Central.Footnotes:The SilmarillionStars And Swords on YouTubeThe Silmarillion Unit Production ScheduleStars And Swords on Bookshop.org ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We continue in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age as the Dark Lord makes his return, the forest gets a new name, and the Valar send a little help. They could have screened them a bit better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris was indisposed, so I've returned to spill some home truths about the world.In this captivating exploration of Middle Earth, this truther delves into the hidden truths and conspiracies surrounding the Valar, Mount Doom, and the mysterious disappearance of the Entwives. He presents a compelling argument that Mount Doom is not merely a volcano but a clean energy reactor, and that the Valar have a vested interest in keeping Middle Earth in a state of stagnation. The discussion also touches on the enigmatic Nameless Things that consume history and knowledge, posing a dire warning about their influence on the world.

De underliga varelser som finns i havens djup har genom hela människans historia hyrt en stor våning i vårt inre liv. Valar, sjöormar och sirener har lockat skrämt och intresserat generation efter generation.I det här avsnittet följer vi den varelse som på många sätt har varit allra mest avvikande. Bläckfiskens rykte har nästan genomgående varit dåligt. ”Det dummaste djuret” sa Aristoteles. ”Det läskigaste djuret” sa Victor Hugo.I sin ljuvliga bok ”Vattenvarelser” går historikern Jakob Christensson igenom bläckfiskens kulturhistoria. Inspirerad av honom hämtade vi monsterlitteraturen och påbörjade vår egen poddomsegling under havet.Välkomna!Litteratur:Christensson, Jakob, Vattenvarelser: en kulturhistoria, Bladh by Bladh, [Stockholm], 2021Eriksson, Bo, Monster: en världshistoria om det skrämmande, Natur & kultur, Stockholm, 2016Eriksson, Bo. (2009). Bestiarium: en medeltida djurbok. (1. uppl.) Stockholm: Dialogos. Lyssna på våra avsnitt fritt från reklam: https://plus.acast.com/s/historiepodden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus Q&A, we address the issue of inheritance among the immortal elves, the lost story of Lady of Lothlórien, the political infrastructure of The Shire, and the official power ranking of the Valar!On Thursday, we continue our journey with Chapters XIII and XIV of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, March 27th at 8PM Central.Footnotes:The SilmarillionStars And Swords on YouTubeThe Silmarillion Unit Production ScheduleStars And Swords on Bookshop.org ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with Chapters XI and XII, including the creation of the sun and the moon, the securing of Valinor, and the awakening of Men. How do we understand moral philosophy in a world of eucatastrophe? How do we judge the action (and inaction) of the Valar? To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here! Next week, we continue our journey with Chapters XIII and XIV of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, March 27th at 8PM Central. Footnotes: The Silmarillion Stars And Swords on YouTube The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org Deontological Ethics Immanuel Kant John Stuart Mill To join me for the live YouTube broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support! Stars and Swords: Footnoting Genre Fiction is a Next Word production, written and produced by Alastair Stephens. Copyright © 2024 Stars and Swords. All Rights Reserved. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Join The Man of the West for the last of his 8-week series on the names of the Valar and Maiar, as we discover the stories behind the names of Arien, Tirion, and many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Man of the West moves on from the names of the Valar and begins an in-depth look at the names of some of the Maiar, including the handmaid of Varda and the herald of Manwë. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue looking at names of the Valar in this series' Word-nerd Wednesdays, today diving into the names of two of the Queens of the Valar, or the Valier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for a look at the captain of the Valar football team, Tulkas Astaldo. And because we don't get to ignore him, Melkor also makes an appearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special bonus episode, test your knowledge of the Valar and the Maiar, the relationships between them, and a few other things besides!

Join The Man of the West in his continued effort to uncover more about the names of the Valar: in today's episode, we chat with the Masters of Spirits: Námo and his little brother, Irmo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for another Word-nerd Wednesday: this week's contestants on ‘Who's Got the Coolest Name?' are the Valar of Smithing and of Hunting: Aulë and Oromë. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this mini Lore of the Rings episode, we explore the hidden connections between our world and Middle-earth through a starry detail in the chapter "Strider" from *The Fellowship of the Ring*. Discover how the constellation we know as the Big Dipper was crafted by Varda, the Valar, as a defiant sign against Melkor, Sauron's master. For a deeper dive into the chapter, download our free guide at ringspodcast.com/strider.Who are you?What's the best day for you to listen to new episodes? Tell me here: ringspodcast.com/newTell me more about you! ringspodcast.com/feedbackWander FartherDownload my free chapter guide for "Strider": ringspodcast.com/striderDeals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Download my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493About the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this mini Lore of the Rings episode, we explore the hidden connections between our world and Middle-earth through a starry detail in the chapter "Strider" from *The Fellowship of the Ring*. Discover how the constellation we know as the Big Dipper was crafted by Varda, the Valar, as a defiant sign against Melkor, Sauron's master. For a deeper dive into the chapter, download our free guide at ringspodcast.com/strider.Who are you?What's the best day for you to listen to new episodes? Tell me here: ringspodcast.com/newTell me more about you! ringspodcast.com/feedbackWander FartherDownload my free chapter guide for "Strider": ringspodcast.com/striderDeals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Download my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493About the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Man of the West begins an 8-week look at the names of the Valar and Maiar — beginning with those exact words, actually. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

¡Vótame en los Premios iVoox 2024! “Tres anillos para los Reyes Elfos bajo el cielo. Siete para los Señores Enanos en casas de piedra. Nueve para los Hombres Mortales condenados a morir. Uno para el Señor Oscuro, sobre el trono oscuro En la Tierra de Mordor donde se extienden las Sombras. Un Anillo para gobernarlos a todos. Un Anillo para encontrarlos, un Anillo para atraerlos a todos y atarlos en las tinieblas en la Tierra de Mordor donde se extienden las Sombras. Verso del Anillo Esta noche en nuestro podcast de ivoox tenemos el privilegio de estrenar un nuevo relato en homenaje al universo de J.R.R Tolkien. Ulairi: Espectro del Anillo, una historia de Javier Gil, con la ilustración de portada de Fran Fernández y la voz invitada de Rey Insomne. ¿Por qué no hemos de envidiar a los Valar o aun al último de los Inmortales? Pues a nosotros se nos exige una confianza ciega y una esperanza sin garantía, y no sabemos lo que nos aguarda en el próximo instante. Pero también nosotros amamos la Tierra y no quisiéramos perderla” Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Join The Man of the West for a closer look at the name of Gil-galad's father… or, maybe his father, or maybe not. Where's Maury Povich when you need him? Also, bonus word-nerdery on the Vanyar's favorite Valar.

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop interviews Kip Mock from Valar Atomics. They discuss Valar Atomics' innovative approach to creating synthetic hydrocarbons using nuclear energy, diverting from traditional electricity-based methods. Kip explains the technical challenges and advantages of their thermal-chemical process, the economic implications, and the potential impact on global energy markets. They also delve into the startup culture in El Segundo, California, and its role as a hotspot for deep tech and hard tech innovation. Additionally, they explore the philosophical and societal impacts of advancing technology and addressing humanity's energy needs.   Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation   Links of interest Valar Atomics Kip Mock on Twitter Kip Mock on Linkedin   Timestamps   00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast 00:24 Valar Atomics' Vision for Synthetic Fuels 01:45 Thermochemical Process and Engineering Challenges 05:12 Entrepreneurial Insights and Market Strategy 10:00 Microsoft's Energy Needs and Nuclear Power 14:13 AI Revolution and Energy Efficiency 23:51 Valar Atomics' Current Status and Future Plans 25:50 Combining Engineering Solutions 27:28 Targeting Jet Fuel Production 29:14 Challenges and Skepticism in Synthetic Fuels 32:28 The Mission of Valar Atomics 35:14 El Segundo: A Hub for Deep Tech 46:46 The Future of Technology and Society 50:09 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information   Key Insights Synthetic Hydrocarbons from Nuclear Energy: Kip Mock introduces Valor Atomics' innovative approach to nuclear energy, which focuses on producing synthetic hydrocarbons instead of electricity. This method leverages nuclear heat to create fuels like diesel, kerosene, and gasoline, integrating seamlessly into existing energy infrastructures designed for hydrocarbons. This innovation addresses the logistical challenges of transporting large amounts of energy, highlighting the potential of synthetic fuels in revolutionizing the energy sector​​ . Thermochemical vs. Electrical Processes: Kip explains the significance of using a thermochemical process over the conventional electrical methods for producing synthetic fuels. Valor Atomics employs the sulfur-iodine cycle to catalyze water splitting at lower temperatures, making the process more efficient by avoiding the energy loss associated with generating electricity first. This approach underscores the technical ingenuity and complexity involved in Valor Atomics' solution, aiming to optimize the use of nuclear reactor output for fuel production​​ . Economic and Environmental Viability: The episode delves into the economic rationale behind Valor Atomics' focus on synthetic fuels. Kip emphasizes that the company's success hinges on producing hydrocarbons at a cost lower than traditional extraction and refining methods. By potentially reducing the cost of energy, Valor Atomics aims to drive a significant shift in the energy market, offering a commercially viable alternative that does not depend on government subsidies or mandates ​​. Challenges and Milestones: Kip outlines the company's current status and future milestones. Valor Atomics is in the early stages, focusing on building and testing non-nuclear prototypes and developing their fuel synthesis process. The next crucial steps include validating their reactor design and achieving successful fission tests, with a target to reach production within three years. These milestones are essential for demonstrating the feasibility and reliability of their technology​​ . Innovative Business Model: Drawing parallels to Elon Musk's strategy with SpaceX, Kip discusses Valor Atomics' decision not to sell nuclear reactors but to own and operate them, selling the fuel instead. This vertical integration strategy aims to streamline the commercialization process, avoiding the lengthy and complex sales cycles typical in the nuclear industry. This business model reflects a strategic shift designed to accelerate market entry and impact​​ . The El Segundo Deep Tech Hub: The conversation highlights the burgeoning deep tech and hard tech scene in El Segundo, California. Stewart and Kip discuss the concentration of innovative companies tackling complex problems in a small area, attributing this to a supportive ecosystem and a culture of high standards and collaboration. This environment fosters a unique camaraderie and competitive spirit among entrepreneurs, driving advancements in various high-tech fields, including aerospace and manufacturing ​​. Philosophical Reflections on Technology and Society: Throughout the episode, there are reflections on the broader implications of technological advancements. Stewart and Kip touch on the balance between innovation and its societal impact, discussing the potential for technology to both solve critical problems and create new challenges. They explore the idea that while technology enhances human capability, it also requires thoughtful integration to ensure it serves humanity's best interests ​​.

Join The Man of the West as he begins week 44 of Today's Tolkien Times by answering a question about the Valar's knowledge: who would win Valerin Jeopardy?

The Man of the West welcomes people who fanboy… about Sara, the Shield-maiden of Rohan, as we answer listener questions in our 26th Questions After Nightfall! From Dr. Brown's TED talk to Alan's improving sarcasm, from creation mythologies to the frat bros of the Valar, our listeners remind us we can always go lower. Alan guesses wrong, we apply the Prime Directive to the Valar, and decide that we don't talk about Túrin, no no no.

Isaiah Taylor is the Founder & CEO of Valar Atomics. Valar is an atomic energy company focused on mass manufacturing nuclear fission reactors. In this conversation, we talk about what it is, how it works, risks, and what the future will look like if they are successful. ======================= Base is making it their mission to bring a billion people onchain. But what exactly is Base? It's an Ethereum L2 offering a seamless experience for both builders and users. With near-zero gas fees and rapid transaction speeds, Base is shaping the future of the onchain world. Base is a canvas for everyone, with hundreds of apps in the Base ecosystem, whether you're an emerging creator, a seasoned developer, or someone exploring the onchain space for the first time, Base is designed to bring your ideas to life. So, if you're looking for a platform where the future of onchain is being built daily, Base is your destination. Join in and make onchain the next online. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠base.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along on Twitter at @BuildOnBase to see cool things to do onchain, everyday. ======================= Get Better Crypto Data: Do you want faster, easier crypto data? Sign up for Velo Data, a new product that we have been working on to solve this problem: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠velowaitlist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ======================= Pomp writes a daily letter to over 265,000+ investors about business, technology, and finance. He breaks down complex topics into easy-to-understand language while sharing opinions on various aspects of each industry. You can subscribe at https://pomp.substack.com/ ======================= View 10k+ open startup jobs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dreamstartupjob.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enroll in my Crypto Academy: https://www.thecryptoacademy.io/

The First Dornish War was Aegon the Conqueror's last war. For the rest of his reign he was largely concerned with peace. However, enforcing peace in warlike Westeros is no easy thing. Did Aegon actually rule well, or was everyone just afraid of him? Did his policies lead to the many civil conflicts that came less than a generation after his death? Go to https://magicmind.com/westeros and get up to 56% off your subscription for the next 10 days with code WESTEROS20.

The deaths of Queen Rhaenys and even moreso, Princess Meria, led to the end of the First Dornish War. But ultimately the final decision was made by Aegon upon receipt of the mysterious letter that he burned immediately afterwards. What was in the letter? That, and the legacies of Rhaenys and Meria are the focal points of this episode. Get up to 56% off at https://magicmind.com/westeros with our code WESTEROS20. Head to factormeals.com/westeros50 and use code westeros50 to get 50% off. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com Nina: goodqueenaly.tumblr.com Sean's YouTube: bit.ly/3818H9X www.historyofwesteros.com

A strange but true fact about the First Dornish War: by far the longest and most brutal phase came after the Conqueror declared victory and took most of his troops home. We break down the assassinations, bounties, raids and other shameful acts of intrigue that came to define the conflict more than battles ever could. You get 1 month for free, when you're subscribing for 3 months at: https://magicmind.com/JANwesteros And with our code WESTEROS20, it's an extra 20% off, which gets you to 75% off, until Feb 10. Head to factormeals.com/westeros50 and use code westeros50 to get 50% off. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com Nina: goodqueenaly.tumblr.com Sean's YouTube: bit.ly/3818H9X www.historyofwesteros.com

Last time we discussed the first few years of Aegon's reign. The final subtopic we covered was the peaceful attempts to bring Dorne into the realm. We wondered what kind of offers and/or threats were made… regardless, though, they didn't work. You get 1 month for free, when you're subscribing for 3 months at: https://magicmind.com/JANwesteros And with our code WESTEROS20, it's an extra 20% off, which gets you to 75% off, until the end of January. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com Nina: goodqueenaly.tumblr.com Sean's YouTube: bit.ly/3818H9X www.historyofwesteros.com

An episode with a lot of sisters… The Three Sisters, meaning the islands north of the Vale and South of White Harbor… and the Two Sisters, meaning Aegon's Queens. Mighty though they are in war, and we'll see more of that… along with their brother, it's time to see how they are as rulers. You get 1 month for free, when you're subscribing for 3 months at: https://magicmind.com/JANwesteros And with our code WESTEROS20, it's an extra 20% off, which gets you to 75% off, until the end of January. Bonus Eps & More - www.patreon.com/historyofwesteros Shirts & Stickers - historyofwesteros.threadless.com Nina: goodqueenaly.tumblr.com Sean's YouTube: bit.ly/3818H9X www.historyofwesteros.com

We're known for our short and concise answers, says The Nerd of the Rings, as he joins The Man of the West just in time to answer listener questions on our 25th Questions After Nightfall! From Ainur bowling leagues to light bulb moments, from Farmer Maggot to our favorite head canon, our listeners keep us on our toes. Matt whiffs on a Firefly reference, and we agree that the Valar are less murdery than most pantheons.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4468251/advertisement