Beyond the Brandywine

Episode 8 - When Disease Meets Destiny: Plague, Wraiths, and Wounds in Middle‑earth

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.

Episode 7 - The Worst Jobs in Middle‑Earth

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. 

Episode 6 - Are Shire Animals Hobbit-Sized?

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?

Episode 5 - Middle-Earth's Most Haunted Places (Part 2)

Hosts Angela and Kelsey wander through the scariest corners of Middle-earth, focusing on First‑Age horrors such as Utumno, the deep, nameless things linked to Moria, Nan Dungortheb (the Valley of Dreadful Death) haunted by Ungoliant and giant spiders, and Tol‑In‑Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves and vampires where Sauron once held prisoners.
They discuss how evil can scar the land, the terrifying mysteries Tolkien only hints at, and why the Silmarillion-era First Age feels far darker than the later ages.

Episode 4 - Middle-Earth’s Most Haunted Places (Part 1)

Angela and Kelsey go full-spooky for October and tour the creepiest corners of Middle-earth — from the bone-chilling Barrow-downs and the ghostly Dead Marshes to the Paths of the Dead, Shelob’s lair, and the corrupted splendor of Minas Morgul. They explore why these places haunt the lore, what makes them terrifying, and the history that turns landscapes into nightmares.This is part one of a two-part dive into Tolkien’s darker places, with more First Age horrors promised next episode.

Episode 3 - Where Would You Live in Middle-Earth?

Hosts Kelsey and Angela debate where they would actually live in Middle-earth if they had to move there for real. They weigh geography, culture, safety, and lifestyle—covering places like Lindon, the Shire, Rivendell, Gondolin, Doriath, Gondor, Númenor, and even Mordor—while sharing personal preferences and what retirement might look like in each locale.
Tune in for cozy takes, lore tangents, and a playful exploration of Tolkien’s richly imagined world as the hosts decide between hiking coasts, cozy hobbit-holes, and everything in between.

Episode 2 - Lembas, Cram & Honeycakes: A Middle-earth Food Tour

Hosts Angela and Kelsey wander the kitchens and lore of Middle-earth, tasting the ideas behind lembas, cram, and Beorn's famous honeycakes. They discuss who makes each dish, what they might taste like, and the role these foods play in Tolkien's stories.
This cozy episode blends foodie curiosity with literary lore, invites listeners to share recipes and impressions, and explores how comfort food and survival rations shape the journeys of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men.

Episode 1 - A Long-Expected Podcast

In the first episode of Beyond the Brandywine, hosts Angela and Kelsey introduce themselves and explore some of Tolkien's strangest and most intriguing lore.They discuss Tom Bombadil's mystery, the roaming huorns and the lost Entwives, and the terrifying tale of Ungoliant — mixing personal anecdotes with close readings and plenty of tangents.

Trailer - Welcome to Beyond the Brandywine

New - coming 22 September 2025! Join hosts Angela and Kelsey on Beyond the Brandywine, a cozy and curious podcast exploring the stories and oddities of Middle-Earth. Join them as they share personal stories, nerdy tangents, and why Tolkien’s Middle-earth has been a lifelong refuge.
Expect laughter, lore, and the promise of many amusing detours—hobbits included.

Trailer - Wandering Middle-Earth with Angela & Kelsey

New - coming 22 September 2025! Join hosts Angela and Kelsey on Beyond the Brandywine, a cozy and curious podcast exploring the stories and oddities of Middle-Earth.
They laugh over strange lore, follow delightfully chaotic tangents (like hobbits chasing second breakfast), and wander into the map's faded corners where questions get weird.