Épisodes

  • 027 - Isengard's Greatest Foe Might Be "Treebeard"
    Jul 16 2025

    This week we discuss book 3, chapter 4, "The Departure of Boromir", from The Two Towers.

    Today's "Food For Thought": Treebeard's Ent-Draught

    This one was a challenge- the drink was like water but "reminded them of the smell of a distant wood borne from afar by a cool breeze at night." Yes, of course.

    The internet saved me on this one. I based the non-alcoholic drink on this recipe: https://www.innatthecrossroads.com/ent-draught-the-lord-of-the-rings/

    It's described as a "distilled herbal infusion," also called a hydrosol. Basically you are making tea in a pot, covering and simmering it, and collecting the condensation it produces.

    Follow the website for the instructions. My herbal infusion consisted of jasmine green tea and about a tablespoon of an herbal blend called Starry Night with marigold, spearmint, lemongrass, rosehips, chamomile, hibiscus, peppermint, valerian root, and cornflower petals. It smelled AMAZING!

    Cool the distillate, whatever you want to call it, before sipping. The scent and flavors will be subtle, but I think it accomplished our goal!

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
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    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

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    1 h et 10 min
  • 026 - "The Uruk-Hai" Are Terrifying
    Jul 9 2025

    This week we discuss book 3, chapter 3, "The Uruk-Hai", from The Two Towers.

    Today's "Food For Thought": Ugluk's Orc-Draught

    This drink was described as burning the mouth and giving an unbelievable burst of energy to the hobbits.

    My best attempt at an unpleasant drink to meet these requirements was a mix of Red Bull and Fireball cinnamon whiskey. Turns out it wasn't as gross as I had expected. Someone suggested adding Jaeger to finish the job and I stood up and walked away from them.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
    TikTok
    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 11 min
  • 025 - "You Can't Outrun "The Riders of Rohan"
    Jul 2 2025

    This week we discuss book 3, chapter 2, "The Riders of Rohan", from The Two Towers.

    Today's "Food For Thought": The Blondies of Rohan

    Listen, I wasn't feeling particularly inspired this week, OK? The riders are blond... right...?

    Honestly, just follow this recipe as written, it is perfect. https://smittenkitchen.com/2006/11/blondies/

    For the mix-ins, I used toasted pecans, chopped up soft caramels, white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, and dark chocolate chips. DECADENT!

    Oh, also, ignore the 10 minute cooling in the pan comment. They are still MOLTEN at this point and if you attempt to move them you will create a giant mess. I am still finding bits of these things under coffee makers and in corners. They will be just fine if you let them cool in the pan and then flip them out onto a cutting board.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
    TikTok
    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

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    1 h et 16 min
  • 024 - BONUS EPISODE: Discussing "THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - Tolkien’s Text vs. Jackson’s Vision
    Jun 25 2025

    *FYI - This episode is AUDIO only*

    A special BONUS EPISODE of Fool of a Took Podcast for the season 2 premiere. We sat down and analyzed Peter Jackson's 2001 Oscar winning adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring (the extended versions). We discuss the movie's triumphs, what we loved about it, and what we didn't love so much.

    Today's "Food For Thought": Movie Theater Popcorn

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
    TikTok
    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 29 min
  • 023 - SEASON TWO PREMIERE: We Weren't Ready for "The Departure of Boromir"
    Jun 25 2025

    This week we discuss book 3, chapter 1, "The Departure of Boromir", from The Two Towers.

    Today's "Food For Thought": Boromir's Cream Horn

    Yes, that name was meant to be gross. Anyway, a cream horn is a real dessert and it felt right to honor Boromir.

    Recipe adapted from https://stressbaking.com/cream-horns/#recipe

    Thaw a sheet of puff pastry and slice it into 1/2 inch strips.
    Grab either pastry cones or some abomination of a DIY pastry cone. Spay with non-stick spray and gently wrap a strip of pastry around it, overlapping slightly. You can add a second strip if the cone is not large enough after one.
    Freeze all the pastry horns for 20-30 min so they hold their shape.
    Place horns on a baking sheet and brush with egg wash.
    Bake at 400F for 15 minutes until the pastry is golden brown. Cool on the baking sheet and remove the cones.
    Whip about 1 cup of heavy cream until it forms soft peaks, then add 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Whip again until stiff peaks form.
    Use a piping bag to squeeze the cream into the pastries.
    Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
    TikTok
    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 6 min
  • An important message to our fans...
    Jun 23 2025

    June 25th - Season 2 - THE TWO TOWERS

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
    TikTok
    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

    Voir plus Voir moins
    3 min
  • 022 - SEASON ONE FINALE: Unimaginable Consequences from "the Breaking of the Fellowship"
    Feb 19 2025

    As season one concludes, Frodo does an exposition dump, Chris nearly dies, and Sam forces Frodo to relive this childhood trauma. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 10, "The Breaking of the Fellowship", from The Fellowship of the Ring.

    Today's "Food For Thought": The Eye of Sugar

    I've been waiting a whole book to make these, so the final episode of season 1 felt like the right time! Use any cupcake recipe you like- I did a white cake from scratch but a box mix would be fine.

    Once cupcakes have cooled, mix up some red jam with a bit of red food coloring. I used a long piping tip to fill the cupcakes; you could also just cut out a little hole in the center.

    For frosting, again you could use homemade American buttercream or white frosting from a can. Mix up some dark yellow, orange, reddish orange, and black. Use an offset small metal spatula to apply a smooth layer of yellow to the cupcakes. Use a toothpick to draw where the black pupil will go. Then use a piping tip to make orange lines coming away from the pupil. I squeezed the leftover orange frosting out and added red to get the reddish orange color. Once you have those on, pull a toothpick through the fire colors to create a jagged, flame effect. Finally, pipe the black in a cat-eye pupil shape. If you want to smooth it as I did, run your spatula under hot water and gently smooth the black icing with it.

    Then have your husband attempt to create a tower for it out of graham crackers and your leftover frosting. Act surprised when it falls over due to no structural integrity and makes a giant mess.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
    TikTok
    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 29 min
  • 021 - It's Either Death or Drowning in "The Great River"
    Feb 12 2025

    Sam has a "crappy" time on the boat, Pat can't tell what color his shirt is, and Boromir gaslights the fellowship. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 9, "The Great River", from The Fellowship of the Ring.

    Today's "Food For Thought": Mini Swiss Rolls with Eyes (What Sam Saw)

    The Cake: 6 large eggs, separated, room temp 1/4 tsp cream of tartar, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process) 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt

    Preheat oven to 375F. Spray an 18x13 rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, line the bottom with sprayed parchment paper. Whisk egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar slowly, and increase the speed and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Mix egg yolks with the other wet ingredients and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. In another bowl, sift/whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Whisk dry mixture into the egg yolk mixture until smooth.

    Add about 1/3 of egg whites into the batter and mix in well. Then add another 1/3 and FOLD. Add the last 1/3 and FOLD into the batter. Spread out the batter in the baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cake from the baking sheet and sift a layer of cocoa powder on top of the cake in the sheet. Lay a kitchen towel over and invert to free the cake. Remove the baking sheet / parchment paper, and sift a layer of cocoa powder onto the other side of the cake. Using the towel, roll the cake into a log starting at the long end. Place the log seam-side down on a cooling rack and fully cool.

    The Filling: 1 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup light corn syrup 1/2 tsp vanilla. Whip the ingredients together until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.

    Outer Coating: 8 oz semisweet chocolate (chips or chopped) Candy eyeballs I deviated from the recipe here because I didn't have any coconut oil, which would have helped the chocolate glaze harden. I simply melted some chocolate. Unroll the cake and spread your filling on top. Slice the cake into 6 strips parallel to the short edge. Then slice it in half vertically for 12 strips. Roll into logs. Chill for 15 minutes. Place the logs onto a cooling rack and pour/spoon the melted chocolate/glaze over them until fully covered. After chocolate coating has had a few minutes to set, place the candy eyeballs on top. Chill for 15 minutes. Use a fork or toothpick to scratch some bark-like lines into each log.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.

    With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone.

    Content Warning: Explicit

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.

    Watch the podcast on Youtube!
    Instagram
    TikTok
    Original music for the show composed by Chris Newhard
    Got a question? Email us Foolofatookpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow the fools on IG:
    Chris
    Robbie Jean
    Pat
    Laura

    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 2 min