Mythmakers

Oxford Centre for Fantasy
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them. Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city’s magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows. Ready to step into the Wardrobe with us into your next big adventure? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ to learn more!

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Mythmakers Encore: Things You Don't Know About Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Oxford

    There are many experts on the Inklings but there are still lots you might not know about how they lived in their home of Oxford. Julia Golding challenges some myths and makes some new ones about Tolkien and Lewis, and their experiences here. Was the Eagle and Child Pub where Narnia and The Lord of the Rings was first read aloud - or was that somewhere else? What's the mental geography of Oxford for someone who lives here long-term? Find out about Oxford as a place for military training for both writers and the surprising role of Wytham Woods. We jump from local ferries to sport to favorite trees - there's bound to be something in this that you didn't know and might find enriches your reading of their work. We go on to pick our favourite fantasy forest. Can you guess where it is? 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers from Oxford 01:23 The Inklings' Meetings: Eagle and Child Myths Debunked 04:41 Oxford as Backdrop: The Real Geography of Middle-earth and Narnia 05:30 The Kilns and Shotover: C.S. Lewis's Countryside Retreat 06:58 Tolkien's North Oxford: Rivers, Willows, and the Charwell 08:51 Port Meadow and River Walks: Shire-like Landscapes 09:59 The Road Goes Ever On: Personal Reflections on Epping Forest 11:14 Military Training Grounds: Wytham Woods and the Trenches 13:42 Bivouacking Under the Stars: Lewis's Letters from Training 15:38 University Parks and Drill Practice: Tolkien's Training Ground 17:09 The Bucklebury Ferry: Oxford's Lost River Crossings 19:23 Tolkien the Sportsman: Rugby, Squash, and Tennis 21:56 The Active Outdoor Life: Walking, Rowing, and Family Adventures 23:59 Tolkien and Trees: Specimen Parks and Ancient Forests 27:43 Best Fantasy Forest: From Lothlorien to the Woods Between Worlds 31:23 Conclusion: Next Time on Mythmakers and How to Connect For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Mythmakers Encore: Things You Don't Know About Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Oxford

  2. Aug 13

    Mythmakers Encore: Andy Serkis Reads The Silmarillion - The Verdict

    Since April of 2022 Andy Serkis has been working his way through Tolkien's books, producing audio versions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit- he has now turned his attention to The Silmarillion. Our expert on audiobooks, Andrew Head, who as a blind consumer often turns to audio versions to access stories, talks with Julia Golding about this latest version of The Silmarillion and the Martin Shaw reading that came before it. Which would you buy now? How does Andy cope with a book that has far less opportunities for a dramatic reading than the other Tolkien books? What more do you get from this version? Tune in to hear our verdict! 00:00 Introduction: Welcome and Andy Serkis' Silmarillion 01:51 What is The Silmarillion? A Listener's Guide 03:50 The Style and Structure: History Book vs Novel 06:26 Top Three Takeaways: Voices, Tone, and Accessibility 09:22 Pronunciation and Dramatic Moments: Serkis Shines 11:18 Comparing Narrators: Andy Serkis vs Martin Shaw 15:17 Favorite Parts: Beren and Luthien, and the Music of Creation 18:13 The Standalone Novels: Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, and Fall of Gondolin 21:51 Dream Projects: Stories That Deserve Full Novels 26:47 Best Places for Storytelling: From Rivendell to Cair Paravel For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Mythmakers Encore: Andy Serkis Reads The Silmarillion - The Verdict

  3. Aug 6 ·  Video

    LOTR: An Author's Journey - Wrap Up of The Two Towers, Book 4

    We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.  00:00 Introduction: Two Towers Book Four Summer Wrap-Up 00:56 Gollum States the Stakes: The Dark Lord Will Eat Us All 02:13 Writing Into the Dark: Tolkien's Creative Process 06:05 The Rule of Three: Frodo's Third Act of Trust 07:33 Faramir's Poetic Vision: A Lament for Boromir 12:10 The Imprint of Art: Grief, Pity, and the Power of Stories 13:50 Frodo's Moral Dilemma: The Forbidden Pool 19:01 Locked Doors and Dark Rooms: Faramir Sees Through Gollum 20:48 The Thorny Hall: A Hollow Haven on the Edge of Mordor 22:26 The Journey's Persistence: Each Weary Step with Frodo and Sam 25:46 Gollum as Narrative Whip: Childlike Malignity Keeps Urgency 26:55 Don't the Great Tales Never End: Sam's Famous Speech 30:36 Laughter in Dark Places: Meta-Narrative and Story Within Story 33:10 Conclusion: Looking Ahead to Return of the King For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    LOTR: An Author's Journey - Wrap Up of The Two Towers, Book 4

  4. Jul 30 ·  Video

    Mythmakers Season 8 Wrap Up: Top 5 Author's Tips

    As Mythmakers takes a short summer break, Julia Golding looks back at some of the standout conversations from Season 8, gathering five memorable pieces of writing wisdom from the season’s top-performing author interviews. Join us as we revisit Darren Simpson’s reflections on the long road to publication, and hear from Peadar Ó Guilín on how history and myth shape fantasy worlds. Marisa Linton shares her journey and advice for finding your publishing path, while Naomi Ishiguro dives into worldbuilding and creative collaboration, before Malcolm Guite gets candid about reviving the Arthurian tradition in poetry. This episode offers a rich collection of insights and tips for aspiring authors, while giving fellow fantasy enthusiasts a peek into the process that brings so much creativity to life. 00:00 Introduction: Season 8 Summer Wrap-Up and Top Author Tips 00:56 Tip One: The Gift of Time - Darren Simpson on the Long Road to Publication 02:00 The Value of Practice: Every Rejection Feeds Your Success 03:13 Working with Editors: The Dragon Skin Metaphor 05:00 The Economics of Writing: Dispelling the Wealth Myth 06:25 Tip Two: Writing What You Know - Padda O'Gillene on Irish History and Mythology 08:19 Themes Emerge Naturally: The Falling Apple Principle 11:00 Myths and Legends as Foundation: Growing Up with Irish Stories 12:00 Tip Three: Finding Your Publisher - Marisa Linton on Navigating the Market 16:05 Trusting the Editorial Process: Finding the Best Path Up the Mountain 18:07 Learning to Be Edited: A Critical Professional Skill 19:13 Tip Four: Nothing is Plain Sailing - Naomi Ishiguro on Writing Through Challenges 22:00 World Building in Service to Story: Balancing Fun with Purpose 23:59 The Team Effort: Drawing on Expert Friends and Beta Readers 26:54 Tip Five: Answering the Call - Malcolm Geit on Epic Ambition 28:02 Finding the Right Form: The Ballad as Modern Epic 29:57 The Unique Selling Point: Now or Never 32:44 Closing: Join the Mythmakers Community For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Mythmakers Season 8 Wrap Up: Top 5 Author's Tips

  5. Jul 23 ·  Video

    The Top 5 Writing Lessons from The Two Towers

    Having completed our journey through The Two Towers, in today's Sidecast episode Julia Golding pauses to reflect on the top five lessons she has taken from Tolkien’s craft as an author. From the interlacing of multiple storylines and the careful maintenance of suspense, to the creation of epic, living landscapes, Julia explores how Tolkien handles the challenges of a middle volume with remarkable skill. She also reflects on the poetry of his prose and the depth of his themes, amongst the wealth of qualities that keep readers returning to Middle-earth again and again. Tune in for this special, reflective episode before we prepare for the final leg of our journey as we take on The Return of the King. 00:00 Introduction: Completing the Journey Through The Two Towers 01:08 Lesson One: The Art of Interlacing Multiple Storylines 06:31 Lesson Two: Maintaining Tension Through Strategic Cuts 09:45 Lesson Three: Landscapes as Character 12:57 The Range of Color Palettes: From Fangorn to Mordor 15:13 Lesson Four: The Poetry Beneath the Prose 18:41 Lesson Five: Profundity and the Pull to Continue 22:04 Sam's Revelation: The Enemy as Person 24:55 What Makes a Hero: The Great Tales Never End 26:19 The Hero Who Follows His Heart: Sam's Ultimate Choice For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    The Top 5 Writing Lessons from The Two Towers

  6. Jul 16 ·  Video

    Not Asleep, Dead - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 10

    We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.  00:00 Introduction: The Choices of Master Samwise 03:22 Sam's Instinctive Defense: A Small Beast Against a Monster 04:58 The Spider Fight: Evil Undoing Itself 10:33 The Phial Burns Bright: Light as Infection to Evil 14:23 Unbearable Grief: Sam's Despair Over Frodo's Body 17:21 The Debate: Plain Hobbit Logic and Impossible Choices 19:57 Taking the Ring: The Last Hobbit in the Chain 23:36 Inside the Ring: The World Changed 28:02 Eavesdropping on Orcs: Shagrat and Gorbag Reveal the Truth 31:54 The Sucker Punch: Frodo is Alive But Taken For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Not Asleep, Dead - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 10

  7. Jul 9 ·  Video

    She Had Many Exits From Her Lair - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 9

    We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Shelob's Lair 02:15 Torech Ungol: The Tunnel of the Spider 04:45 Drawing a Deep Breath: Entering the Darkness 07:25 The Cumulative Horror: Building Tension Through Sensory Deprivation 10:08 Hand in Hand: Frodo and Sam's Tender Bond 12:11 Abandoned in Darkness: Gollum Disappears 12:52 The Memory of Light: From Tom Bombadil to Galadriel 15:37 Aiya Earendil: The Phial Burns Bright 21:03 Frodo, Hobbit of the Shire: Walking Steadily to Meet the Eyes 22:38 Sting and the Webs of Gondolin: False Escape and Ancient Lineage 24:00 A Fey Mood and Many Exits: Frodo's Fatal Mistake 24:48 The History of Shelob: Daughter of Ungoliant 29:22 The Final Battle: Sam's Wrestling Trick and Gollum's Defeat 30:20 He Was Too Late: A Terrible Ending For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    She Had Many Exits From Her Lair - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 9

  8. Jul 2 ·  Video

    Don’t the Great Tales Never End? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8

    We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Introduction: Climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol 01:28 The Road as Character: An Unusual Opening 03:39 Beyond Caring: The Exhaustion of War 05:26 Minas Morgul: Imprisoned Moonlight and Corpse Light 09:53 Shadowy Meads: White Flowers and Perverted Beauty 15:40 The Army Departs: Beacons of Darkness 20:06 The Phial of Galadriel: Starlight Against Shadow 22:52 Frodo's Lament and the Shire's Echo 24:29 The Straight Stair and the Winding Stair 29:35 Don't the Great Tales Never End: Sam's Famous Speech 35:11 The Pieta Moment: Gollum's Fleeting Chance For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

    Don’t the Great Tales Never End? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them. Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city’s magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows. Ready to step into the Wardrobe with us into your next big adventure? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ to learn more!

Information

  • Creator
    Oxford Centre for Fantasy
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    230
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Mythmakers

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