Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie

Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Prologue, Note on the Text, Forward to the Second Edition

Join Maggie and Cam as they read through Tolkien’s introduction to The Lord of the Rings. For the f…

Discussion of Rankin & Bass’ The Hobbit

Join Maggie and Cam for a psychedelic adventure through time and space and hideous character models. This episode explores the strange animated world of Rankin…

Discussion of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [Extended Edition]

Join Maggie and Cam for two hours of praising Martin Freeman. This episode explores Peter Jackson’s final Middle-earth movie…

The Last Stage [The Hobbit, Ch.19]

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Nineteen

Join Maggie and Cam for the grand finale of The Hobbit. Bilbo finally chooses a future and resolves his longstanding Took…

Join Maggie and Cam for a special mailbag episode. We respond to your comments about our recent episodes – including Bilbo’s role as a burglar, Gandalf’s god-like role in the story, Maggie’s greed th…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Eighteen

Join Maggie and Cam for a melancholy meditation on hollow victories, tragic deaths, and the outcome of the Battle of the Five Armies! We continue our discus…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Seventeen

Join Maggie and Cam as they slash and debate their way through the Battle of the Five Armies. This chapter brings everything to a head – Bilbo’s character …

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Sixteen

Join Maggie and Cam as celebrate Gandalf’s return and analyze Bilbo’s parlay with the enemy. The hobbit’s character growth seems to have come full circle in …

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Fifteen

Join Maggie and Cam as they head back into the Lonely Mountain – and Thorin’s mind. This episode explores the psychological trauma of the dwarves’ displaceme…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Fourteen

Join Maggie and Cam for this discussion of a very pivotal chapter. A dragon is dead, and the survivors are grumbling. This episode explores the book’s hard …

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Thirteen

Join Maggie and Cam as they triumphantly return to the books to talk about magic and ghosts. This episode explores the unnerving similarities between the Ri…

Discussion of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [Extended Edition]

Join Maggie and Cam in this special episode, where they question the narrative implications of having Benedict Cumberbatch voice e…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Twelve

Join Maggie and Cam as they finally meet a dragon. Smaug's arrival provokes an extended, heated debate about pride and self-preservation. This episode explore…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Eleven

Join Maggie and Cam as they finally reach the Lonely Mountain. This episode explores a short chapter that is loaded with symbolism and existential meditation.…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Ten

Join Maggie and Cam on their weekend getaway to Lake-town. This episode explores the dwarves' relationship with fate and legend, as well as the politics of non-i…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Nine

Join Maggie and Cam as they fight off drunken Wood-elves and stuff each other into barrels. This episode explores Bilbo's motivations and subconscious as he wor…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Eight

Join Maggie and Cam as they encounter the scariest Creature of the Week so far - giant spiders! This episode explores Bilbo's shocking character development an…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Seven

Join Maggie and Cam as they encounter yet another new creature, Beorn! He's hairy and grim and maybe a way for Tolkien to talk to us about disappointing father…

Discussion of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)

Join Maggie and Cam in this special episode exploring the 2012 movie adaptation of The Hobbit. This film covers the first six chapte…

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Six

Join Maggie and Cam as they encounter snarling, red-eyed wolves and eagles who apparently speak English. This episode explores the limits and convenience of Tolk…