In this episode, hosts Angela and Kelsey explore the overlooked topic of illness in Middle‑earth—everything from Bilbo’s runny cold to the Great Plague, Morgul‑wounds and the Black Breath, dragon‑sickness, and the spiritual trauma carried by characters like Frodo.

The episode looks at canonical mentions, theories about Sauron and Morgoth’s influence, how different peoples (elves, men, hobbits, and dwarves) resist or suffer disease, and the ways healing—herbal lore, Elvish arts, and the Houses of Healing—try to mend body and spirit.

**This episode contains brief mentions of sensitive topics in the context of Tolkien’s works, including depression, PTSD, and suicide, that may be triggering for some individuals.

Back from the holiday break, Angela and Kelsey take a playful, lore‑rich tour of Middle‑earth’s worst jobs. Ever wonder what it would be like to be a hobbit postman, or survive the deadly the mountain patrols past Shelob's lair? What about what it's really like to work for Barliman Butterbur? Or how about if you had to make a fleet of thousands of ships doomed to failure and alter the very nature of the universe?

Mixing humor and close reading, we explore thankless, hazardous, and even cosmically consequential roles and invite listeners to weigh in with their own picks. Check out Episode 7 - the Worst Jobs in Middle-Earth.

Hosts Angela and Kelsey explore a playful yet puzzling question: are animals in the Shire hobbit-sized or normal-sized? They sift through Tolkien's text, movie visuals, and whimsical speculation—covering cows, sheep, pigs, dogs, foxes, swans, and even the curious Badger Folk—to imagine how proportions would shape farming, safety, and daily life in Hobbiton. A cozy, humorous episode that blends lore, logistics, and fan theories to wander beyond the map and ask: How terrifying would the Shire be if animals weren’t scaled to hobbits?