Rephonic
Artwork for The Prancing Pony Podcast

The Prancing Pony Podcast

The Prancing Pony Podcast
The Lord Of the Rings
Frodo Baggins
Middle-Earth
Mount Doom
Mordor
Samwise Gamgee
Sauron
Cotton Family
Tolkien
The Prancing Pony Podcast
The Return Of the King
Gollum
Christopher Tolkien
Sam Gamgee
Tolkien's Linguistics
Tolkien's Legendarium
Éowyn
The Silmarillion
Philology Fair
J.R.R. Tolkien

The Prancing Pony Podcast is a weekly show about the Middle-earth legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien, hosted - for six seasons - by Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. Now in its ninth season, Alan is joined by an all-star cast of co-hosts as he explores more of Middle-earth! Alan and all his co-hosts are passionate Tolkien enthusiasts, inviting listeners to enjoy their detailed exploration of Tolkien’s ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes409Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmFilm ReviewsArtsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Prancing Pony Podcast

Latest Episodes

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes The Nerd of the Rings for his run of episodes this season by throwing him into the deep end of a Live Q&A in the PPP Common Room for our 34th Questions After Nightfall! Matt and Alan decide to crash several leg... more

Treebeard and the unnamed King of Lórien set bounds between them; Alan and James clearly know no bounds. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we conclude our six-episode look at The History of Galadriel and Celeborn in Unfinished Tal... more

Of the Elessar two things are said, though which is true only those Wise could say who now are gone — to paraphrase Merry, “that leaves us out, James”. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we return from our short break from The Hist... more

Join us all in the Common Room for the Prancing Pony Podcast’s 11th annual Tolkien Reading Day special. Tolkien Reading Day is observed every March 25 in honor of the destruction of the Ring and the downfall of Barad-dûr. This year’s theme, as chosen... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Don Marshall
Published author, The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts guy
The Prancing Pony Podcast
Episode: 405 – Tolkien Reading Day 2026
Matt from The Nerd of the Rings
Content creator and co-host
The Nerd of the Rings
Episode: 405 – Tolkien Reading Day 2026
Sara Brown
Shield maiden of Rohan, co-host
The Prancing Pony Podcast
Episode: 405 – Tolkien Reading Day 2026
Shawn Marchese
Co-host, Lord of the Mark
The Prancing Pony Podcast
Episode: 405 – Tolkien Reading Day 2026
Chris Pete
Tolkien enthusiast and creator of the Imladris calendar
Wizard Way
Episode: 399 – Under Pressure
Joe Hanfman
Listener and Tolkien enthusiast
Episode: 397 – Rebel, Rebel
Dawn Marshall
TikTok creator known for his Lord of the Rings facts; discussing his new book about J.R.R. Tolkien
Adams Media
Episode: 392 – Help!
Michael D.C. Drout
Accomplished Tolkien scholar and author of 'The Tower and the Ruin'
Wheaton College
Episode: 391 – By Grabthar’s Hammer, What a Book!
Jordan Rannells
Soundscape artist and creator of the soundscapes for the podcast
Episode: 390 – Hello, Goodbye

Hosts

Alan Sisto
Host and co-creator, passionate about Tolkien's works and engaging discussions.
James Talbot
Co-host contributing insights into Tolkien's storytelling and lore.
Sara Brown
Co-host who brings a unique perspective to discussions about Middle-earth.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 5.3k ratings
  • Great reading accompaniment

    After years of trying on my own I finally finished reading the Silmarillion AND feel like I understand it. The hosts are long winded (and often digress) but when they actually talk about the text, it is so informative and enjoyable. Episodes are long but worthwhile. I’m years late to the party having just finished the Silmarillion section but looking forward to moving on to the hobbit!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bfjjcsdjk
    United States2 months ago
  • Essential listening for deep Tolkien lore

    So glad I found this podcast, it has been indispensible in guiding me through the deeper meanings and layers to Tolkien's whole Legendarium. The humour invoked by the guys is absolutely superb also, I genuinely find myself going between a mix of laughing at their wonderful jokes, and crying at the beautiful text they read.

    I'm just glad I've still got years worth of listening having only found it recently.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cfc lover
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • This pod is my dragons horde of treasure

    Hi I am a 12 year old student in 6th grade and reading the first age book/the silmarillion and have I have watched the rings of power and the lord of the rings and the hobbit and I have read them to and I know so much about jrr’s legendaryum and I am very happy to see someone who loves it and knows just as much as me 😁

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eragon lover
    United States2 months ago
  • Fun and informative

    Great show! Funny and informative. Hosts bring in outside sources to expand our knowledge of the books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ploskd
    United States2 months ago
  • Niceee

    love the show! :)

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    KetchNotFinal
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The depth of analysis and literary insight is appreciated, often described as a great companion to reading Tolkien's works.
Overall, the balance of humor, knowledge, and community engagement is highlighted as standout features.
Listeners praise the show for its engaging hosts and humorous take on Tolkien lore.
Audience feedback can be polarizing, with some comments reflecting dissatisfaction with discussions around social issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#33
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#122
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#37
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#38
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#110
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#123
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

399 – Under Pressure
Q: When were you first introduced to Tolkien's works and what is it about them that keeps you coming back?
Chris Pete recounts that he was introduced to Tolkien through the Peter Jackson films before reading the books, and his fascination with Elves has driven his ongoing interest.
398 – Changes
Q: What do you hope your non-Catholic readers in particular take away from the book?
I hope to shine light on symbols and meanings that may resonate with readers from different backgrounds.
398 – Changes
Q: What is the elevator pitch for 'Into the Heart of Middle-earth'?
The book is a spiritual journey for the Hobbit at heart, helping readers explore Tolkien's work and themselves.
398 – Changes
Q: Tell us a bit about your corner of the fandom and why community speaks so strongly to you.
Our community has just been growing at such a crazy speed, with many people joining our Discord server.
396 – Questions After Nightfall 33
Q: Why won't Gandalf say the ring verse at Frodo's living room, but will say it at the Council of Elrond?
It's a matter of vulnerability; Gandalf does not want to draw attention to the ring in Frodo's home where they are at risk, but in Rivendell, they are safe, and the verse adds weight to their discussions about the ring.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Prancing Pony Podcast

What is The Prancing Pony Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers a thorough exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, engaging audiences with smart yet accessible discussions filled with humor and pop culture references. Each episode tackles various aspects of Tolkien's work, supported by textual evidence and personal insights from the hosts and guests, who are all avid Tolkien enthusiasts. Listeners can expect a blend of literary analysis and practical interpretations that make the complex lore more understandable. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting, reminiscent of casual conversations among friends in a pub, which enhances the overall enjoyment of the content.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Prancing Pony Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Prancing Pony Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Prancing Pony Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Prancing Pony Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Prancing Pony Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Prancing Pony Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Prancing Pony Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Prancing Pony Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Prancing Pony Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Prancing Pony Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Prancing Pony Podcast:

1. Today's Tolkien Times
2. My Brother, My Brother And Me
3. The Adventure Zone
4. Gom Jabbar: A Dune Podcast
5. Mythgard's Exploring The Lord of the Rings

How many episodes of The Prancing Pony Podcast are there?

The Prancing Pony Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 409 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Prancing Pony Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Prancing Pony Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Prancing Pony Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Prancing Pony Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Prancing Pony Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Prancing Pony Podcast?

Recent guests on The Prancing Pony Podcast include:

1. Don Marshall
2. Matt from The Nerd of the Rings
3. Sara Brown
4. Shawn Marchese
5. Chris Pete
6. Joe Hanfman
7. Dawn Marshall
8. Michael D.C. Drout

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days