Welcome to Beyond the Brandywine - a Tolkien and Lord of the Rings podcast where we wander, wonder, and occasionally get lost in Middle Earth! Beyond the Brandywine is a cozy, curious, and occasionally chaotic journey across the lands of Middle Earth. Join us as we wander through stories, laugh over the odd bits of lore, and follow tangents like hobbits chasing second breakfast. We’re here to explore the places where the map fades and the questions get weird.
Each episode is a journey—sometimes we end up exactly where we planned, sometimes we discover something completely unexpected.
New episodes drop bi-weekly. Available at Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode 18 - Hobbit Day Tangents (1 Year Anniversary Episode)
One year in, and we threw out the research notes. For Hobbit Day and our first anniversary, hosts Angela and Kelsey surprise each other with questions and follow the tangents wherever they go. What would you ask Galadriel for? Who gets your last conversation before you sail West? Is Celeborn staying behind an elvish divorce? Who would be Middle-earth's worst roommate? And should Gandalf have skipped tea with Tom Bombadil to help the hobbits save the Shire? It's cozy, a little chaotic, and entirely unprepared, the way a Hobbit Day party should be.
7 Jul 2026
Episode 17 - Are Men Weak? Investigating Elrond's Controversial Movie Line
Hosts Angela and Kelsey examine Elrond's famous movie line "Men are weak" and debate whether humans truly are more corruptible than elves. They review examples across the ages—Isildur, Númenor, the Nine Rings, Fëanor's kin-slayings, and more—consider authorial bias, and argue that every race has notable failures and blind spots. The episode questions whether the line is fair or simply elvish propaganda.
23 Jun 2026
Episode 16 - Ulmo Sends His Regards: Water vs Evil in Middle-Earth
How many times does water ruin a villain's day in Tolkien's books? The Nazgûl swept away at the Ford of Bruinen. Isengard dismantled by an afternoon flood. Númenor swallowed whole. Angband sunk beneath the sea. You could chalk it up to Tolkien reaching for a convenient solution — but we'd argue otherwise. There's someone behind all that water, and his name is Ulmo.
In this episode, we dive into one of the legendarium's most quietly essential figures: Ulmo, Lord of Waters, the Vala who never truly left Middle-earth and never stopped helping elves and men. From his role in the fall of Gondolin to the rescue of Elwing, from the music of creation echoing in every river to his very un-Valar habit of actually showing up when it matters, we make the case that Ulmo might be the most important character in Tolkien's world that nobody talks about enough. Grab a glass of water and join us — Ulmo's listening.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Contact Beyond the Brandywine
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Beyond the Brandywine?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
