Tolkien Pop! Podcast

Nick Polk
  • 4.8 (6)
  • Society & Culture

Where Tolkien and Pop Culture Collide tolkienpop.substack.com

  1. Sep 4

    Dr. Thomas Hermans-Webster - Tolkien, Dungeons & Dragons, and Spiritual Formation

    In this episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Thomas Hermans-Webster to talk about the chapter he co-wrote with his dad entitled “Role-play, Spiritual Formation, and Theological Education,” in the volume Theology, Religion, and Dungeons & Dragons. We also talk about Tom’s Tolkien experience, Tolkien’s influence on Dungeons & Dragons, and how D&D can be used as a tool for spiritual formation. Tom is an editor, theologian, and educator. Tom earned his PhD in Constructive Theology and Theological Ethics from Boston University School of Theology.His research develops Norman Pittenger's process theology of the eucharist through sacramental ecological theology. Broadly, Tom's research aims to encourage Christians to eat all of our meals with an ecological consciousness and for ecological justice. Along with his own scholarly work, Tom is a professional editor of academic Christian theology and theological ethics. His experience with established and emerging scholars alike covers fields of study that include Decolonial Theology, Ecclesiology, Ecological Theology, Liberation Theology, Migration and Religion, Missiology, Panikkar Studies, Clergy-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse and Trauma, and Process Theology. You can follow Tom and his work at these places: Instagram: @nottomwebster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-hermans-webster-ph-d-4b7497199/ Orbis Books: https://orbisbooks.com/ Buy Theology, Religion, and Dungeons & Dragons here: https://a.co/d/0iKV62CX This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.camp Follow Nick on: Instagram: @njspolk Threads: @njspolk Facebook: Tolkien Pop! Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.com Pick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZs Get your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Support me on my journey in writing my first fantasy novel: Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

  2. Aug 29

    Dr. Tripp Fuller - Tolkien’s Apocalyptic Vision

    In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick talks with Dr. Tripp Fuller, host of Homebrewed Christianity and Process This about apocalypse in the ages of Tolkien’s legendarium. We also hear Tripp describe his personal Tolkien experience, our excitement for Season 3 of The Rings of Power, and Theology Beer Camp. Follow Tripp at all these places: Homebrewed Christianity Podcast: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homebrewedchristianity Instagram: @theologynerd Threads: @theologynerd Bluesky: @trippfuller.bsky.social YouTube: @TrippFuller TheologyClass.com: https://theologyclass.com/ This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.camp Follow Nick on: Instagram: @njspolk Threads: @njspolk Facebook: Tolkien Pop! Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.com Pick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZs Get your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Support me on my journey in writing my first fantasy novel: Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Jul 25

    Dr. Sørina Higgins - Tolkien and the Power of Words

    In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Sørina Higgins to discuss the power of the words of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams, and other members of The Inklings. We also talk about Sørina’s professional work as a scholar, creative, and cultural critic. Dr. Sørina Higgins is an editor, author, English teacher, and writing consultant. She holds a PhD in English from Baylor University, and her scholarly interests include British and Irish modernism, magic, the Inklings, and Arthuriana. She edited an academic essay collection entitled The Inklings and King Arthur (Apocryphile Press, 2017), winner of the 2018 Mythopoeic Society Inklings Scholarship Award, and created one of The Great Courses from The Teaching Company on the Inklings. As a creative writer, Sørina has previously published two books of poetry, Caduceus (David Roberts Books, 2012, and The Significance of Swans (Finishing Line Press, 2008). She also hosts a podcast and Substack called Words Do Things, where she explores public rhetoric and the power of speech. Checkout Sørina’s work at her website and these places: Website: https://wyrdhoard.com/ Check out The Inklings and King Arthur: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1944769897?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Twitter: @SorinaHiggins Facebook: Sørina Higgins Instagram: @drsorinahiggins Bluesky: @sorinahiggins.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrSorinaHiggins Substack: Words Do Things This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.camp Follow Nick on: Instagram: @njspolk Threads: @njspolk Facebook: Tolkien Pop! Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.com Pick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZs Get your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Support me on my journey in writing my first fantasy novel: Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

  4. Jul 1

    Dr. Robert Tally - The Mismeasure of Orcs and What it Means to be an "Orc Sympathizer"

    In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Robert Tally to discuss his book The Mismeasure of Orcs, the importance of taking orcs into account in Tolkien’s work, and what the practical implications are for fostering a sense of orc sympathy. Rob also shares his Tolkien experience and his other academic work. Get your copy of The Mismeasure of Orcs here: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-mismeasure-of-orcs/?srsltid=AfmBOoqpA4EramjfPqSPpeoHaDfyhl9W6N_8w1hUeaXwUuILiLFqh1nD Checkout some more of Rob’s Tolkien work here: “Let Us Now Praise Famous Orcs: Simple Humanity in Tolkien’s Inhuman Creatures” Check out Rob’s faculty profile: https://faculty.txst.edu/profile/1922030 Follow Rob at all these places: Twitter: @RobertTally Facebook: Robert Tally Bluesky: @roberttally.bsky.social This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.camp Follow Nick on: Instagram: @njspolk Threads: @njspolk Facebook: Tolkien Pop! Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.com Pick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZs Get your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Jun 18

    Dr. Tom Hillman - Pity and Power in Tolkien and What that Means for Us

    In this Tolkien Pop! podcast episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Tom Hillman to discuss his book Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring along with Tom's Tolkien experience and how pity and power are not only important for understanding Tolkien, but giving us insight into a better way we as people can act in the primary world. Get your copy of Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring here: https://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com/2023/pity-power-and-tolkiens-ring/ Check out Tom's blog "Alas, not me": https://alasnotme.blogspot.com/ Follow Tom at all these places: Substack: @tomhillman3 Facebook: Tom Hillman Instagram: @alas_not_me Bluesky: @alas-not-me.bsky.social This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.camp Follow Nick on: Instagram: @njspolk Threads: @njspolk Facebook: Tolkien Pop! Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.com Pick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZs Get your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

  6. May 17

    Rev. Dr. Tom Emanuel - Tolkienian Theology Beyond the Boundaries of Religion

    In this Tolkien Pop! Podcast episode Nick sits down with Rev. Dr. Tom Emanuel to discuss his recently completed PhD work on the religiosity of Tolkien fandom in a post-religious world. We also discuss his Tolkien experience, progressive theology and religious studies in Tolkien Studies, and how his work sheds light on the experience of Tolkien fans and existing and future scholarship. Find Tom and his work at these places: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/realtomemanuel.bsky.social Blog: Queer and Back Again Articles: “An Aspirational Cultus? Tolkien Fandom at the Borders of Belief” “It Is ‘About’ Nothing But Itself”: Tolkienian Theology Beyond the Domination of the Author” This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.camp Follow Nick on: Instagram: @njspolk Threads: @njspolk Facebook: Tolkien Pop! Bluesky: @tolkienpop.substack.com Pick up your copy of Nick’s book Tolkien and Pop Culture here: https://a.co/d/39E9dZs Get your Tolkien Pop! merch here: https://byte-geist-shop.fourthwall.com/products/tolkien-pop Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

  7. May 3

    Dr. Luke Shelton - Tolkien, Young Readers, and the Importance of Experience & Relationality

    In this Tolkien Pop! Podcast Episode Nick sits down with Dr. Luke Shelton, Editor-in-Chief for Mallorn, the academic of The Tolkien Society and overall awesome Tolkien scholar and friend. We talk about his Tolkien experience, doctoral work and dissertation ‘Small Hands Do Them Because They Must’: examining the reception of The Lord of the Rings among young readers, his current work, and upcoming work in Tolkien Studies and fandom. Find Luke and his work at these places: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lukebshelton.bsky.social Instagram: @lukebshelton Website: https://luke-shelton.com/ Tolkien Experience Podcast: Check out Westmoot 2026: https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/westmoot-2026/ This podcast is brought to you by Theology Beer Camp. Check it out and get your tickets at theologybeer.camp Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

  8. Mar 25

    C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien: The Forge of Friendship - Ralph Linhardt, Kirk Manton, and Jock Petersen

    Nick sits down with Ralph Linhardt, Kirk Manton, and Jock Petersen, the filmmakers of the documentary series The Forge of Friendship, which focuses on the lives and friendships of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Ralph, Kirk, and Jock talk about their own Tolkien and Lewis experiences, how it has impact their lives and friendships, and how all that led to their work at Eastgate Creative and the making of The Forge of Friendship. Watch The Forge of Friendship trailer: https://youtu.be/sVf46qyTK5c?si=YdiEA5ONS8c1yfxf Check out Eastgate Creative: https://www.eastgatecreative.org/ Support Eastgate Creative and The Forge of Friendship: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/support-the-forge-of-friendship-and-other-projects Get full access to Tolkien Pop! at tolkienpop.substack.com/subscribe

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Where Tolkien and Pop Culture Collide tolkienpop.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Polk
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Nick Polk
  • Show Website
    Tolkien Pop! Podcast

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