To celebrate our first 'Tolkien Reading Day' as a podcast, we each chose a favourite poem from Tolkien to read. Grace selected 'The Mewlips' (1962), Alicia chose 'Progress in Bimble Town' (1931), and Leah's pick was 'Errantry' (1933).

Episode 10.5 - Tolkien Reading Day 2023 Bonus Episode

Leah, Grace, and Alicia are joined by 'Tolkien White Man' Tim to discuss representations of masculinity, patriarchy, and gender roles in Middle-earth, with a specific focus on Aldarion, Faramir, Aragorn, and Elrond.

Episode 10 - Masculinities of Middle-earth

To celebrate Black History Month, we welcome Tolkien scholars Megan B. Abrahamson and Maria K. Alberto for a discussion on their in-progress research into Black fan art depictions of the elf Fingon. In between Fëanorian apologia, they share what inspired Tumblr artists to break with the 'default' depiction of Tolkien's elves as light-skinned.

Note: We experienced some intermittent audio issues while recording this episode. Please excuse the audio quality in places.

Episode 9 - 'Black Fingon' with Megan B. Abrahamson & Maria K. Alberto

We're back for our first episode of 2023! Leah, Grace, and Alicia welcome on new friend-of-the-podcast Taylor Driggers, author of 'Queering Faith in Fantasy Literature: Fantastic Incarnations and the Deconstruction of Theology', to discuss the intersections between faith, fantasy, and queerness. Get ready for discussion of the history of queerness and the influence of christianity upon it, queer readings of Tolkien, and some recommendations for new queer fantasy.

Episode 8 - Special Guest Taylor Driggers

As our special holiday gift to our listeners, Alicia, Grace, and Leah take a look at a lighter topic of Tolkien fandom - fan fiction. In particular, the festive pairing of 'Silvergifting'... that's Sauron/Celebrimbor, for the uninitiated. After some introduction to fan fiction and its history, we engage in a few dramatic readings of Silvergifting fics. Let's just say we really earn the 'Explicit' tag this episode, and uncover a disappointing lack of 'creative' uses of Rings of Power with this pairing.

Episode 7 - Silvergifting

In the second part of our 'Queer Reading' of Galadriel, Leah leads Grace and Alicia through a deep-dive discussion into some of the character's flaws and journey to redemption. Pride, colonialism, revenge, sub-creation, and more! Plus, how does Galadriel stack up against one of Arda's worst decision-makers, Feanor?

Episode 6 - Queer Readings: Galadriel Part 2

Part 2 (of 2) of our discussion about Season 1 of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'. Alicia, Grace, Leah, and Tim examine how the series depicts elves and their gender roles, "Incel Sauron", and Queer representation (including everyone's favourite "Throuple"). Spoilers Ahead!

Episode 5 - Rings of Power Season 1 Discussion, Part 2

Leah, Grace, and Alicia are joined by Tim to discuss the Tolkien event of the year - the first season of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'. We start by giving each of our wide-ranging reviews of the series, then get into the divisive fan response and resulting challenges with talking about the series in public spaces. And we analyze how the series depicts race, gender, disability, and their intersection, as well as representations of 'the other'. This episode is 'part 1' of our discussion - stay tuned for part 2!

Episode 4 - Rings of Power Season 1 Discussion, Part 1

Alicia & Tim share their experiences from their first time attending 'A Long-Expected Party' at the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village in Kentucky with Grace and Leah, and recount how they were pleasantly surprised to find it to be quite a Queer event! Then we check our mailbox for the first edition of the 'Shire Quick Post', to discuss some recent happenings in the world of Tolkien - some troubling, others inspiring.

Intro/Outro music is 'Who Would Have Thought' by Crowander.

Episode 3 - ALEP Trip Report & Shire Quick Post

In our first 'Queer Readings' episode, Leah, Grace, and Alicia dive deep into one of the most complex characters that Tolkien could never quite make up his mind about: Galadriel, Lady of Lothlórien. We dig deep into the lore to uncover the queer identity and relationships of the mightiest and fairest Elf in the Third Age, and get nerdy about language and gender roles.

Episode 2 - Queer Readings: Galadriel Part 1

Queer Lodgings is a queer-led podcast covering all things Tolkien. Join Alicia, Grace, and Leah (and sometimes Tim), a group of fans and scholars, as we discuss Middle-earth from a lgbtq+-focused, intersectional, antiracist, and non-christian perspective.

Queer Lodgings: A Tolkien Podcast