The White City

It isn't necessarily wrong to desire power in The Lord of the Rings. What matters is how that power is used to influence others. Sauron and Saruman seek power to dominate others, while good characters like Gandalf demonstrate how power can be exercised through wisdom, humility, and guidance. Tolkien's portrayal of meekness challenges the idea that power must involve force or domination.  Join Philip and his guest Tyler Wilson as they explore the differences between selfish ambition and using power for the good of others.--TYLER WILSONSubstack: tylerblainewilsonInstagram: @tylerblainewilson--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction02:57 Good vs Bad Forms of Power14:48 Power in Service, Not Strength17:33 Power in Empathy Towards Others27:44 Power in Physical Strength: Good or Bad30:06 Power in Aragorn's Humility33:22 Galadriel's Power Over the Ring37:38 Tyler's Journey Into Tolkien's World42:07 Tolkien's Timelessness45:17 Conclusion

Philip brings on Phylicia Masonheimer, founder of Every Woman a Theologian, to discuss universal morality in Middle-earth: objective truth about the members of the fellowship sacrificing their own desires for the good of everyone else. Right and wrong aren’t one thing for an elf and another thing for a dwarf. Good is good and bad is bad. This episode will help you see the differences between the modern subjective moral standard where everyone is right in his own eyes, and the moral standard that Tolkien followed which is timeless.--PHYLICIA MASONHEIMERWebsite: phyliciamasonheimer.comInstagram: @phyliciamasonheimerFacebook: @phyliciadeltaEVERY WOMAN A THEOLOGIANInstagram: @everywomanatheologian--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction03:37 Universal Morality Today and the Application to LOTR08:03 The One Ring Has Only Evil Intentions16:51 Right and Wrong Is the Same Thing for All Characters24:38 The Readers Appreciation of Tolkiens Objective Morality29:15 Gollums Sacrifice and Resistance to the Ring40:07 Melkor Can Only Corrupt Illuvatars Good Creation44:45 The Virtuous Writing Makes LOTR Timeless51:05 Phylicias Journey Into Tolkiens World55:27 Conclusion

Philip brings on Elise to discuss mentors of Middle-earth who show different styles of guidance that either paves the way for wisdom or leads to folly. Gandalf stays true to his purpose as an Istari, while his fellow wizard Saruman strays from what he was sent to accomplish. Melian and Galadriel have a calm way about them such that they offer wisdom with hardly saying a word.--ELISELinkTree--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: BusinessPageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: PodcastPageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction06:13 Gandalf: The Guide Among thePeople15:25 Saruman: When Lore ReplacesWisdom23:10 Aragorn: Leading by Example27:45 Tolkien, Language & theReal-World Teacher39:50 The Learner's Responsibility48:39 Melian & Galadriel: ThePower of Quiet Wisdom57:04 Conclusion

Philip brings on Paul Backholer to discuss the Christian themes around Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings, such as his dilemma in leaving the Shire, his resilience against the One Ring, and his mercy towards Gollum. Frodo’s journey is unique to any character in Middle-earth in that he knowingly chose to carry an extremely weighty burden to save Middle-earth.--PAUL BACKHOLER@walkthebible (tag for all socialmedia)tiktok: @walkthebibleofficialX: @walkthebible@byfaithmedia (tag for all social media)tiktok: @byfaithmedia--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction1:50 Paul Backholer's Journey Into Tolkien's World6:19 Frodo's Dilemma on Leaving the Shire: Universal Morality13:11 Did Frodo Fail?: Perseverance and the Burden of the Ring17:11 Frodo's Mercy and Compassion: Divine Intervention24:37 Frodo's Determination Against the Allure of The One Ring: Good vs Evil39:42 Will Frodo Die In The Undying Lands?50:42 Conclusion

Philip brings on Matthew Colvin to discuss how Turin slaying Glaurung the dragon is a type scene among monster slayings in Beowulf, Volsunga Saga, 1st Maccabees (and scenes from the slaying of other monsters in middle-earth). There is commonality among these stories that Tolkien used as a way to reignite a method of storytelling. Unlike typical modern storytelling that focuses on coming up with new ideas and breaking from the past.--MATTHEW COLVINGravatar: LinksWebsite: colvinism.wordpress.com/matt-colvin/Instagram: @colvinismFacebook: @matthew.colvin.378Substack: https://substack.com/@colvinismTeacher at Wilson Hill Academy--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction4:33 The Silmarillion: Earendil Slays Ancalagon the Black (Type Scene 1)7:06 Volsunga Saga: Sigurd Slays Fafnir (Type Scene 2)10:21 The Silmarillion: Turin Slays Glaurung (Type Scene 3)16:14 The Hobbit: Bard Slays Smaug (Type Scene 4)22:07 The Two Towers: Sam Stabs Shelob (Type Scene 5)26:38 1st Maccabees: Eleazar Avaran Slays an Elephant (Type Scene 6)33:30 Beowulf: Wiglaf and Beowulf Slay the Dragon (Type Scene 7)56:35 Conclusion

Philip brings on author and professor Austin Freeman to discuss the theme of hope in The Lord of the Rings. Their conversation revolves around hope as placed in what is unseen and at odds with despair. Austin also gives insight into how, for Tolkien, evil corrupts itself and only the in-your-face allegory is despised.--AUSTIN FREEMAN⁠Professor at Houston Christian University⁠Book: "Tolkien Dogmatics"Book: “Theology and Tolkien: Constructive Theology”Facebook: @austinmfreeman--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction16:22 The Importance of Hope in Lord of the Rings31:33 The Tree of Gondor as a Symbol of Hope...42:37 Hope vs Corruption48:20 Evil Overcome by Good01:08:41 Conclusion

Philip brings on Michael Elam to discuss a much debated issue in The Lord of the Rings, are the orcs and Gollum redeemable? The discussion revolves around the orc as a type of person and Gollum as a pitied creature for all of the evil he has done. Did Tolkien mean for them to be unredeemable?--Find Michael Elam Here:Professor at Regent University--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction07:08 Opening on Orcs and Gollum09:41 Redeemability of Orcs22:08 Redeemability of Gollum45:53 Conclusion

Philip brings back Ben Avery from the Stangers and Aliens podcast to discuss the Rankin/Bass animation, “The Hobbit”. The conversation revolves around the four pillars of Tolkien's worldview, a major focus of The White City Podcast: divine intervention, universal morality, temptation, and good vs evil. Divine intervention appears during any lucky circumstance such as Bilbo finding The One Ring, the host and guest argue. Universal morality plays out when Bilbo has to make a decision to join Thorin and company during the Battle of Five Armies. Gollum is tempted by the ring. Through the animation style it is clear who is evil and who is good.--Ben AveryStrangers and Aliens YouTube ChannelWebsite--THE WHITE CITYFacebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction05:46 Divine Intervention in the Rankin/Bass Hobbit18:47 Universal Morality in the Rankin/Bass Hobbit25:56 Temptation in the Rankin/Bass Hobbit31:11 Good vs Evil in the Rankin/Bass Hobbit43:54 Ending Thoughts51:24 Conclusion

Philip brings back Anthony Lee Phillips to continue their discussion on the languages of middle-earth; more specifically the pronunciations, the consonants, the vowels, and the languages of different races such as the Ents. Anthony talks about his experience with languages and how Shakespeare was paramount to formalizing the English language. Philip talks about the vision and mission of The White City podcast.--Author Anthony Lee PhillipsWebsite: ⁠anthonyleephillips.com⁠YouTube: ⁠@anthonywritesfantasy⁠Facebook: ⁠@anotherinsectkingdom⁠--Facebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: Business PageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: Podcast PageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction04:04 Appendix E Pronunciation Key19:26 Appendix F Languages of the Races28:05 Anthony's Experience with Languages and Shakespeare35:46 Start with Appendices E and F48:42 Conclusion--#tolkien #jrrtolkien #middleearth #lordoftherings #lotr #thelordoftherings #elvish #dwarvish #entish #hobbit#hobbitnames #thereturnoftheking #thefellowshipofthering #thetwotowers #middleearthlanguages #tolkienlanguages #westron #returnofthekingappendices #appendixe #appendixf

Philip brings on author Anthony Lee Phillips to discuss Tolkien's Languages. Anthony makes a connection between Tolkien's poetry and what he thought of languages. The discussion moves to the background of the Middle-earth languages and how they are the center of the story for Tolkien. --Author Anthony Lee PhillipsWebsite: anthonyleephillips.comYouTube: @anthonywritesfantasyFacebook: @anotherinsectkingdom--Facebook: @thewhitecitypodcastLinkedIn: BusinessPageInstagram: @the-white-city-podcastSpotify: PodcastPageYouTube Channel: @thewhitecitypodcast--00:00 Introduction00:28 Anthony's Journey into Tolkien's World04:08 Diving into Appendix F12:58 Philip's Knowledge of Languages16:06 The Significance of Appendix E and F for Tolkien23:39 Poetry and Language Mesh for Tolkien30:41 Fleshing Out the Languages39:27 Conclusion