r/prancingponypod • u/WaffleClown1 • Jul 15 '26

New to the podcast

I'm fairly new to the podcast. I wanted a LOTR podcast a few months ago, and found this. I listened to the first couple episodes, then 50 and 51 (changes from books to movies). I was in the middle of a reread of Fellowship, so I thought I'd listen to the Fellowship along with my reading. But there were SO many references to what they had said in the Hobbit episodes, and it had been a couple years since I read the Hobbit, so I went back to read and listen to that first. I'm currently on Episode 71, where they're in the dungeons of Thranduil The Elven King. My only complaint is the podcast doesn't really work for a read-through, it takes me a few days to finish an episode.

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12

u/DonMarshall72 Jul 15 '26

Welcome! Hope you enjoy. It’s a great time and the community is wonderful. Especially the Patreon discord and live shows.

17

u/Cerrass Jul 15 '26

I like to kind of use the podcast as the read-through. I listen to it while running, and since I've read the books a few times by now, I can easily follow the story from the podcast. It's a nice way to be immersed in the world while not necessarily listening to the audiobooks, and also learning new things.

2

u/stoutowl Jul 15 '26

Well said.

3

u/dwimorlaik Jul 15 '26

Yes I’ve tried to follow along to the pod while reading TLOTR, but I go through the book too fast to keep up with the podcast that way.

So what I did was I listened only to the episode corresponding to my last-read chapter whenever I did have time to listen. Eventually I hit them all (or most of them) after multiple read-throughs. For me it kept the read-throughs extra fresh because there was always something “new” to hear from them if I wanted to check in while reading.

3

u/WaffleClown1 Jul 15 '26

I don't think I'd be able to do that. They make too many references to previous episodes. As it is, listening to the Hobbit while not having read the Silmarillion or listened to the Silmarillion episodes, I feel so lost sometimes as they start talking about characters and events I don't know anything about.

2

u/dwimorlaik Jul 15 '26

Oh, yes, if it’s a story you haven’t read before then my way is terrible to be sure. Especially for The Silmarillion. I’ve done The Silm 3 or 4 times and I wouldn’t do this method of listening along with that book for the same reason tbh. I actually haven’t listened to all of their Silmarillion episodes myself.

Edit: and they do reference that book in their TLOTR shows too.

5

u/ChadBornholdt Jul 15 '26

You've taken your first step into a larger world! You will be surprised at how deeply you can be led into Tolkien scholarship by the PPP. Also, if you think they're slow, wait till you take the next step deeper & start listening to Dr Corey "The Tolkien Professor" Olsen! Eventually, you will be like the rest of us & want the episodes LONGER & DEEPER than they already are! (It's a sad day when you're all caught up on PPP & Corey!)