Podcast
Mythmakers
Hosted by Oxford Centre for Fantasy · EN
Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them.
Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city’s magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows.
Ready to step into the Wardrobe with us into your next big adventure? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ to learn more!
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Don’t the Great Tales Never End? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8
6d ago00:38:45Tap to summarizeWe are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.00:00 Introduction: Climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol01:28 The Road as Character: An Unusual Opening03:39 Beyond Caring: The Exhaustion of War05:26 Minas Morgul: Imprisoned Moonlight and Corpse Light09:53 Shadowy Meads: White Flowers and Perverted Beauty15:40 The Army Departs: Beacons of Darkness20:06 The Phial of Galadriel: Starlight Against Shadow22:52 Frodo's Lament and the Shire's Echo24:29 The Straight Stair and the Winding Stair29:35 Don't the Great Tales Never End: Sam's Famous Speech35:11 The Pieta Moment: Gollum's Fleeting ChanceFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/websiteInstagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/InstagramFacebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/FacebookTikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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They Cannot Conquer for Ever! - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 7
2w ago00:30:59Tap to summarizeWe are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.00:00 Introduction: The Journey to the Crossroads01:53 Faramir's Farewell: Provisions and Prophetic Warnings05:10 Blindfolds and Echoes: Parallels to Lorien05:58 The Edge of Dreams: A Landscape on the Brink08:07 Gollum's Grievance: The Storm About to Break09:37 Flora and Darkness: Tolkien's Botanical Precision11:55 Woodland Creatures: Hobbits Flitting Through Shadows13:21 Frodo's Vision: Geopositioning and the Forlorn Towers17:16 The Voice of Waters: Cold, Cruel, and Contrasting19:42 The Thorny Hall: A Hollow Haven of Dead Branches and Spring Shoots21:52 Sam's Dream and Shire Wisdom: Light Relief in Darkness23:05 The Burden of Gollum: A Conversation Between Friends26:09 The Crossroads: Ozymandias and the Fallen King28:30 They Cannot Conquer Forever: A Crown of Flowers and Fading LightFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/websiteInstagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/InstagramFacebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/FacebookTikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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Rock Music in Narnia and 1980s Fantasy Highlights
3w ago00:47:52Tap to summarizeThe rumour mill is turning! Early screenings of the upcoming Narnia film suggest that the soundtrack may be dipping into 70s and 80s rock. Nothing is certain yet—it could all be a red herring—but could it work, and if so, how?Join Jacob Rennaker and Julia Golding in today’s Mythmakers episode as they discuss the possibilities before turning their attention to the fantasy books of the 1980s, each sharing some of their favourite reads from one of the genre’s most influential decades.For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/websiteInstagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/InstagramFacebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/FacebookTikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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Then I Will Declare My Doom - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 6
4w ago00:34:50Tap to summarizeWe are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.00:00 Introduction: The Forbidden Pool - A Pivotal Transition01:12 The Two Towers as Tapestry: Light and Dark Contrasts03:06 Alliterative Awakening: Faramir Rouses Frodo04:40 Painting with Words: The Moon Over Gondor09:26 The High Place Moment: Frodo's Vision Across Middle-earth13:12 Boil and Bubble: Shakespearean Echoes and Gollum's Dive14:19 The Battle of Wits Continues: Faramir's Staged Interrogation16:57 A Brief Holiday from Darkness: Gollum at His Happiest19:09 Frodo's Moral Dilemma: The Burden of Compassion21:39 Locked Doors and Dark Rooms: Faramir's Judgment28:11 The Path to Cirith Ungol: Warnings of Dark Terror30:35 The Cleft Stick: No Good Choices Remain32:21 Beyond Hope: Faramir's Farewell and Laughing at Old Grief33:53 Closing Thoughts: Journey to the Crossroads AwaitsFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/websiteInstagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/InstagramFacebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/FacebookTikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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Were you a friend of Boromir? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 5
Jun 400:43:40Tap to summarizeWe are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.00:00 Introduction: Window on the West - An Unusual Chapter03:37 The Battle of Wits: Faramir's Interrogation Begins07:09 Characterizing Through Point of View: Frodo Under Pressure08:18 Were You a Friend of Boromir? The Pivotal Question12:50 Boromir Was My Brother: A Game-Changing Revelation14:11 The Poetic Vision: Boromir's Death as Anglo-Saxon Lament18:04 Faramir's Wisdom: Works of Art and Their Imprint22:27 The Detective at Work: Piecing Together Isildur's Bane25:07 Gandalf the Grey: Names and the Archives of Minas Tirith30:43 The Window on the West: A Vision of Beauty and Creativity35:39 Grace Before Meals: A Rare Religious Moment38:20 Springless Autumn: Gondor's Decline and Lost Hope41:23 The Moment of Choice: Faramir Resists the Ring42:31 Conclusion: The Highest Quality and Return to the JourneyFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/websiteInstagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/InstagramFacebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/FacebookTikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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The Rainshadow Orphans: Naomi Ishiguro and Anime Inspired Fantasy
May 2800:52:13Tap to summarizeWe were delighted to welcome Naomi Ishiguro to the podcast to discuss the first book in her new trilogy, The Rainshadow Orphans. Her world is inspired by Japanese culture, involving three brave young people, undocumented workers in a found family, the young son of the emperor, and the outsider who has become mixed up with a terrifying gang. Although written as an adult novel, Naomi explains how the students she once taught at high school were also very much in her mind while writing. The conversation ranges from how to create characters, plot and stylistic choices, via anime and snacks. We end with a flight on dragonback. To order your own copy of The Rainshadow Orphans, visit:For UK readers: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-rainshadow-orphans/naomi-ishiguro/9781398562400 For US readers: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rainshadow-orphans-naomi-ishiguro/1148779915(00:00) Introducing Naomi Ishiguro and The Rain Shadow Orphans(01:14) Childhood Stories, Disney Animation, and a Love of Fantasy(05:17) What Readers Can Expect from The Rain Shadow Orphans(07:47) Space, Belonging, and the Politics of the Island(11:16) Writing After the Pandemic and Finding a New Creative Direction(13:47) Building an Anime-Inspired Fantasy World(18:45) Eastern Dragons, Weather Magic, and Representation(21:40) The Main Characters and the Heart of Found Family(30:28) Discovering Plot, Structure, Drama, and Shakespearean Influence(45:00) Snacks, Comfort, Dragon Travel, and Final ReflectionsFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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Something Hot Out of the Pot - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 4
May 2100:42:01Tap to summarizeWe are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.(00:35) Introducing “Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit”(02:40) Turning Away from the Black Gate(06:50) Entering Ithilien and the Return of Hope(10:40) Ruins, Lost Landscapes, and Tolkien’s Sense of History(12:20) Ithilien as Tolkien’s Poetic Garden(17:20) Sam’s Hunger and the Comic Relief of Cooking(19:00) Sam’s Love for Frodo(20:10) Rabbits, Hobbit Culture, and Sam’s Travelling Kitchen(22:00) Gollum, Potatoes, and the Clash of Tastes(26:00) The Cooking Fire and the Arrival of Faramir’s Men(31:00) Faramir, Boromir, and the Hidden Rangers of Gondor(36:30) The Skirmish in Ithilien and Sam’s First Sight of an Oliphaunt(42:30) Wonder, Danger, and the Chapter’s Lasting CharmFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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The Best Fantasy Books of the 1990s
May 1400:31:07Tap to summarizeWhat an extraordinary decade for fantasy! In the first instalment of a decade by decade look at fantasy publishing, in this episode Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker begin with a period that gave us countless instant classics. Each shares their top three picks—will you agree with their choices? Tune in to find out!(00:04) Revisiting the Fantasy Reads of the 1990s(02:31) Major Fantasy Titles of the Decade(05:28) Adding Game of Thrones and Good Omens to the List(07:51) Defining “Best” as Books Worth Returning To(09:19) Jacob’s Number Three: Star Wars and Heir to the Empire(12:03) Julia’s Number Three: J.D. Robb’s In Death Series(15:07) Jacob’s Number Two: Northern Lights / The Golden Compass(19:34) Julia’s Number Two: Garth Nix’s Sabriel(23:36) Why Harry Potter Tops Both Lists(28:54) Final Rankings and an Invitation to ListenersFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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Galahad and the Grail: Malcolm Guite Is on a Quest
May 700:51:16Tap to summarizeToday’s guest on Mythmakers is the wonderful Malcolm Guite—poet, priest, literary critic, and so much more. He had been lured on a quest to tell his Arthurian epic in ballad form and has published the first volume, Galahad and the Grail, which takes us straight to the heart of the matter of Arthur.Listen as he joins Julia Golding to discuss how and why he set out on this journey, his plans moving forward, and the authors who have accompanied and inspired him along the way as he seeks to revive this timeless cycle of stories for our current age. Stay tuned to hear where you might best embark on your own Grail quest in other fantasy worlds—and where it might not go quite to plan.Follow along with more of Malcolm’s riveting adventures over at his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@malcolmguitespell?si=o-Tw3IOrr2CKWIWp and learn more about his works at https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/ (00:00) Introduction to Malcolm Guite and Galahad and the Grail(01:23) How Arthur Called Malcolm to “Take Up the Tale”(04:36) The Ballad Tradition and the Influence of Chesterton(05:34) Why Malcolm Chose Poetry for an Arthurian Epic(10:48) Literary Echoes, Influence, and Creative Collaboration(15:57) Dandrene, Lucy, and the Spiritual Imagination of C.S. Lewis(20:56) Galahad, Jeopardy, and the Challenge of the Perfect Knight(26:27) The Grail, Communion, and Charles Williams’ Influence(31:28) Why the Ballad Form Works for Enchantment(35:23) Dandrene, Women’s Wisdom, and Creation as God’s Word(38:40) Why the Epic Begins with the Grail Quest(41:20) What Comes Next in Malcolm’s Arthurian Cycle(43:33) Where Else Could a Grail Quest Belong?(48:16) Where to Find Galahad and the Grail(49:23) Looking Ahead to The Coming of Arthur and Future VolumesFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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Nursery Toys, Their Fantastical Journeys and Which Is the Best Cinematic Universe
Apr 3000:57:52Tap to summarizeWith the King and Queen of the United Kingdom heading to the US this week, Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker begin today’s episode of Mythmakers with a playful look at soft toy diplomacy and the source of many fantasy stories in nursery toys—including a bonus Tolkien connection.From there, the conversation turns to the thorny question of which cinematic universe is the best? Expect strong opinions as Julia and Jacob weigh the merits of Marvel, DC, Star Trek, Star Wars, and amongst others…(00:00) Introduction & Episode Overview(01:12) Soft Toy Diplomacy & Winnie-the-Pooh Legacy(03:00) Toys in Fantasy: Childhood Stories & Lasting Themes(05:20) Imagination, Play, and Growing Up in Toy Narratives(07:40) Worldbuilding in Winnie-the-Pooh vs Other Stories(10:00) Toy Stories as Cultural Reflection & Social Commentary(14:40) Play as the Foundation of Fantasy Storytelling(18:40) Defining the Cinematic Universe(23:30) Marvel & DC: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Evolution(30:00) Star Wars: Expansion, Innovation, and Challenges(36:30) Star Trek vs Star Wars: Themes and Cultural Impact(44:30) Personal Preferences, Nostalgia, and Final Verdicts(57:00) Closing & Transition to 1990s Fantasy Discussion For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
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