SQPN: Secrets of Middle-earth

The trilogy ends! Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Alix Murray finish their discussion of the Peter Jackson LOTR trilogy, diving deep into the themes of sacrifice, courage, resilience, and more,...

https://sqpn.com/2024/04/peter-jacksons-the-return-of-the-king/

The theme for Tolkien Reading Day 2024 is Service and Sacrifice, so Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Patrick Mason shares their favorite quotes from Tolkien's works on the subject, concluding th...

https://sqpn.com/2024/03/tolkien-reading-day-2024-service-and-sacrifice/

Awakening. Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Pat Mason continue their walk through the Silmarillion, covering the creation and awakening of Elves, origins of orcs, the first binding of Morgoth, a...

https://sqpn.com/2024/03/quenta-silmarillion-ch-3-4-5/

So much happens in Peter Jackson's film verison of The Two Towers. Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Alix Murray discuss the film's portrayals of Faramir and Theoden; the themes of hope, unity, a...

https://sqpn.com/2024/02/peter-jacksons-the-two-towers/

Continuing their discussion of The Silmarillion, Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason discuss the beginning of the Quenta Silmarillion and the themes of fate, free will, creation, and ...

https://sqpn.com/2024/02/quenta-silmarillion-ch-1-2/

We gave Patrons the opportunity to ask our Tolkien experts Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, Mike Schramm, and Patrick Mason their related questions and made the answers available exclusively to Patr...

https://sqpn.com/2024/01/where-did-the-blue-wizards-go-and-more-patron-questions/

Focusing on Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring, Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Alix Murray share their experiences of the film; highlights, including Boromir's redemptive death; its cultur...

https://sqpn.com/2024/01/peter-jacksons-the-fellowship-of-the-ring/

Over 23 years Tolkien wrote a series of letters from Father Christmas to his children. Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason discuss their experiences of the letters; Tolkien's whimsica...

https://sqpn.com/2023/12/father-christmas-letters/

Tolkien's Silmarillion begins with the Ainulindale and Valaquenta and so Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason begin the first part of a conversation about these two stories, on Middle ...

https://sqpn.com/2023/12/ainulindale-and-valaquenta/

StarQuest CEO Dom Bettinelli has a special message for listeners as we approach the Christmas season. We need to hear from you this Advent and Christmas at sqpn.com/give The post A special mess...

https://sqpn.com/2023/12/a-special-message-from-starquest-ceo-dom-bettinelli/

Examining Tolkien's Elves and Dwarves, Thomas Salerno, Mike Schramm, and Jeff Haecker discuss their mystical and earthly natures; portrayals in media; their rich backstory in "The Silmarillion;" ...

https://sqpn.com/2023/11/elves-and-dwarves/

Explore the theological and philosophical themes concerning good, evil, and power, as reflected in the One Ring's symbolism. Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Mike Schramm discuss the influences ...

https://sqpn.com/2023/10/the-one-ring/

One of the first film versions of Tolkien's work, Rankin Bass's animated The Hobbit continues to delight. Thomas Salerno, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jeff Haecker discuss the virtues of the adaptation a...

https://sqpn.com/2023/09/the-hobbit-1977/

We need your help to continue to produce our great Catholic shows that explore the intersection of faith and modern culture and look at the world from a uniquely Catholic perspective. The post ...

https://sqpn.com/2023/09/a-message-from-dom-bettinelli-of-starquest/

Not all Middle-Earth movies are big-budget Hollywood productions. Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, and Jeff Haecker review the fan-made LOTR film "Born of Hope" and discuss the bittersweet tale o...

https://sqpn.com/2023/08/born-of-hope/

Smeagol or Gollum? Thomas Salerno, Thomas Sanjurjo, Jeff Haecker, and Kaitlyn Facista do a deep dive on the character of this Ringbearer, his motivations and roles in various, the latest video ga...

https://sqpn.com/2023/07/gollum/

Happy Father's Day! Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, and Thomas Sanjurjo are celebrating Dads as they discuss the fathers of Middle Earth, both good and bad, including both biologic...

https://sqpn.com/2023/06/middle-earth-fathers/

Happy Mother's Day! Jeff Haecker, Kaitlyn Fascista, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Thomas Salerno discuss motherhood in Tolkien's Legendarium and Rings of Power, including how his own mother's death at a y...

https://sqpn.com/2023/05/mothers-of-middle-earth/

The Valar are the angelic guardians of Middle-earth who watch over the heroes and influence the world in dramatic and surprising ways. Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jeff H...

https://sqpn.com/2023/04/the-valar/

It's Tolkien reading day and Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, Jeff Haecker, and Thomas Sanjurjo offer up their favorite passages on the theme of travel and adventure, from the darkest depths to t...

https://sqpn.com/2023/03/tolkien-reading-day-2023-adventure/

Tolkien's stories are filled with tales of romance and friendship, and Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jeff Haecker discuss all the great love stories, including their favor...

https://sqpn.com/2023/02/love-stories-of-the-legendarium/

Faith is the topic for Jeff Haecker, Thomas Sanjurjo, Thomas Salerno, and Kaitlyn Facista as they discuss Tolkien's own Catholic faith and how he saw it in his works, plus the faiths of the peopl...

https://sqpn.com/2023/01/the-faith-of-tolkien/

Who is Tom Bombadil? Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Salerno, and Jeff Haecker discuss the enigmatic Tom: Who is he? What did Tolkien have to say about him? And what other similarly enig...

https://sqpn.com/2023/01/tom-bombadil/

What to get that Tolkien fan in your life for Christmas? Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Salerno, and Jeff Haecker have Tolkien-related and adjacent gift ideas for all the fans in your l...

https://sqpn.com/2022/12/tolkien-christmas-gift-guide/

Dom Bettinelli, CEO of StarQuest, has a special Advent and Christmas greetings for all listeners and an important message about the mission of StarQuest. The post Blessed Advent, Merry Christma...

https://sqpn.com/2022/12/blessed-advent-merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year-from-starquest-2/

With Season 1 complete, Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, and Jeff Haecker give a new look back to the whole season, including how it all appears on a re-watch, plus their predictions for what com...

https://sqpn.com/2022/11/rings-of-power-season-1-review/

Finale! Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Salerno, and Jeff Haecker discuss the Rings of Power finale; the big reveal of two characters; the forging of the Rings; and the future of this po...

https://sqpn.com/2022/10/rings-of-power-ep-8-alloyed/

As season 1 races toward its end, Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Salerno, and Jeff Haecker continue to play "guess the Sauron;" marvel at the Dwarves; note the characters who CAN'T die;...

https://sqpn.com/2022/10/rings-of-power-episode-7-the-eye/

Doom! Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, and Jeff Haecker discuss the latest episode, including the question of the redeemability of orcs; Halbrand's secret; and Galadriel's focused drive. The po...

https://sqpn.com/2022/10/rings-of-power-ep-6-udun/

The mystery of mithril. Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Salerno, and Jeff Haecker discuss the latest episode, including the great friendship between Durin and Elrond; the odd trio follow...

https://sqpn.com/2022/09/rings-of-power-ep-5-partings/

Choose not the path of fear, but of faith. Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Salerno, and Jeff Haecker discuss episode 4 and the vision of the great wave; theories about the identities of ...

https://sqpn.com/2022/09/rings-of-power-ep-4-the-great-wave/

Mysteries abound this week as Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Jeff Haecker, and Thomas Salerno discuss the arrival at Numenor, and the increasing number of questions and strangers in this 3rd e...

https://sqpn.com/2022/09/rings-of-power-ep-3-adar/

Hope and vigilance! Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, Thomas Salerno, and Kaitlyn Facista discuss the 1st 2 episodes of The Rings of Power, the themes it is unrolling so far, and how faithful to T...

https://sqpn.com/2022/09/shadow-of-the-past-and-adrift/

Preparing for The Rings of Power, Dom Bettinelli gathers Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Kaitlyn Facista to talk about their love for Tolkien; their hopes and fears for the new...

https://sqpn.com/2022/08/were-going-on-an-adventure/

The Secrets of Middle Earth is returning. As Amazon prepares to unveil its blockbuster series that brings us back to Tolkien's world, Starquest is relaunching its popular podcast, The Secrets of ...

https://sqpn.com/2022/07/return-middle-earth/

StarQuest (SQPN) wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are grateful for all your support in 2020 whether by listening to our programs, sharing them with your friends, or providing f...

https://sqpn.com/2020/12/blessed-advent-merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year-from-starquest/

It's in the darkest moments, when Bilbo faces the most dangerous monsters, that he grows the most. What can his encounters with goblins, spiders and Smaug teach us about facing the dangers in our...

https://sqpn.com/2016/10/htl004-dragon-sickness/

In this episode, we follow Bilbo Baggins and learn from his encounter with the trolls. How can we deal with the trolls in our own lives? The post HTLH003: Trolls appeared first on StarQuest Me...

https://sqpn.com/2016/10/htlh003-trolls/

What would you do if one day a wizard knocked on your door, looking for someone to go on an adventure? Would you jump up and leave, or would you politely refuse the invitation and stay where you ...

https://sqpn.com/2016/10/htlh002-adventure/

Who wouldn't want to trade their busy, noisy and stressful world for a life in the Shire? It all starts with what is perhaps the most important characteristic of a Hobbit lifestyle: contentment. ...

https://sqpn.com/2016/10/htl001-contentment/

In this episode, Fr. Roderick, Laura and Inge take you to Duillond, Celondim and Gondamon to discover the history of the elves in Ered Luin. Click here and leave us a review on iTunes! Subscribe ...

https://sqpn.com/2013/07/sme026-the-elves-of-ered-luin/

In this special Christmas episode, we visit the town of Frostbluff and talk about Tolkien’s letters from Father Christmas and their influence on the creation of Middle-earth. Click here and lea...

https://sqpn.com/2012/12/sme025-frostbluff/

  In this episode, we follow the great river Anduin to the south and we explore Thinglad and Eorlsmead. We also briefly visit the town of Stangard and stumble upon an impressive statue! Click he...

https://sqpn.com/2012/04/sme024-the-great-river/

  In this episode we explore Lothlórien, we visit Caras Caladhon and meet with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. We even discover Galadriel’s mirror and talk to Frodo and the rest of the Fell...

https://sqpn.com/2012/03/sme023-lothlorien/

In this episode we explore the mysterious Mirrormere and learn more about the ancient history of the dwarves. After that, we venture back into Moria in search of the Endless Stair. Click here and...

https://sqpn.com/2012/01/sme022-mirrormere/

  We enter the Mines of Moria and we explore the depths of Khazad-dum. Click here and leave us a review on iTunes! Subscribe to the Feed |Subscribe with iTunes   The post SME021: The Mines o...

https://sqpn.com/2011/10/sme021-the-mines-of-moria/

  In this episode, we look at the night sky above the hills of Eregion, and we explore the origins of the moon, the sun and the stars. Click here and leave us a review on iTunes! Subscribe to th...

https://sqpn.com/2011/09/sme020-middle-earth-cosmology/

  In this episode, we explore the Trollshaws east of the Lone-lands, an area long ago inhabited by the Men of Rhûdaur. Subscribe to the Feed |Subscribe with iTunes The post SME019: The Troll...

https://sqpn.com/2011/09/sme019-the-trollshaws/

In this episode we travel to Michel Delving to meet with special guest Dr. Jason Jewell. He tells us all about the Inklings and about the three hobbits and the small rabbit in the Bird and Baby I...

https://sqpn.com/2011/06/sme018-the-inklings/

  In this episode, we travel from Buckland to the ‘Green Dragon’ in Bywater to talk with the Tolkien Professor about the importance of Hobbits in Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Subscribe to the ...

https://sqpn.com/2011/06/sme017-hobbits-and-humility/

In this episode we continue our Lone-Lands exploration, visiting the southern ruins of Minas Eriol, Mithrenost and Ost Guruth where we meet Radagast the Brown. Who is he? What are wizards and whe...

https://sqpn.com/2011/06/sme016-the-lone-lands/

  We investigate the Hobbit settlement of Staddle, east of Bree. In the footsteps of the Fellowship of the Ring we trek east to Weathertop through the Midgewater Marshes and the Midgewater Pass....

https://sqpn.com/2011/05/sme015-the-midgewater-marshes/

  In this episode we take you on a tour of Bree and discover the past and the present of the town where Frodo met Strider for the first time. Subscribe to the Feed |Subscribe with iTunes The ...

https://sqpn.com/2011/05/sme014-visiting-bree/

  We travel from Ram Dúath through Malenhad to Nan Gurth in Angmar. Subscribe to the Feed |Subscribe with iTunes The post SME013: Journey Through Angmar appeared first on StarQuest Media .

https://sqpn.com/2011/05/sme013-journey-through-angmar/

  We enter Angmar and look for dragons! Subscribe to the Feed |Subscribe with iTunes   The post SME012: Dangerous Dragons appeared first on StarQuest Media .

https://sqpn.com/2011/05/sme012-dangerous-dragons/

  We meet the rangers of Esteldin and travel to the perilous ruins of Fornost. Subscribe to the Feed | Subscribe with iTunes The post SME011: The Rangers of Esteldin appeared first on StarQu...

https://sqpn.com/2010/10/secrets-of-middle-earth-11/

  We explore the North-Western part of the Misty Mountains and climb the Bitter Stair to get a glimpse of Helegrod. Subscribe to the Feed | Subscribe with iTunes The post SME010: The Bitter S...

https://sqpn.com/2010/09/sme010/

  In this episode we travel to the perilous Misty Mountains to explore the Western Bruinen Source, the High Crag and the Giant Halls while trying to avoid trolls, evil dwarves and giants. Subscr...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/sme009/

  In this episode we talk about the complex relations between elves and humans and we discuss how the books and the movies portray the romantic relationship of Arwen and Aragorn. Subscribe to th...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/sme008/

  In this episode we walk around in Rivendell and we continue our discussion about the elves in Middle-earth. Subscribe to the Feed | Subscribe with iTunes The post SME007: Children of Ilúva...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/secrets-of-middle-earth-07/

  In this episode we travel to Rivendell and visit the Last Homely House. We talk about the origins and the history of the elves in Middle-earth. Subscribe to the Feed | Subscribe with iTunes ...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/sme006/

  In this episode of the Secrets of Middle-earth, we explore the snowy region of Ered Luin, where dwarves mine the depths of the Blue Mountains for treasure. We learn about the surprising origin...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/sme005/

  We travel from the Shire to Lake Evendim and discover the glorious past of the city of Annuminas. Who is represented by the gigantic statue on the eastern shore of the lake? Why is the city of...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/sme004/

  In this episode, we make a perilous journey through the Old Forest in search of Tom Bombadil. Tom is one of the most mysterious characters in Middle Earth. How old is he? And what is he? A hum...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/sme003/

  This episode of the Secrets of Middle-earth is recorded in the Shire! We will visit the place where it all began for Bilbo and Frodo: Bag End. We will explore the ancient medieval legends tha...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/slotr02-bilbo-frodo-beowulf-king-arthur-moses-and-jesus-3/

  In this first episode of the Secrets of Middle-earth: presentation of the podcast; Middle Earth in books, movies and games; news: Children of Hurin, the world wide launch of Lord of the Rings ...

https://sqpn.com/2010/07/sme001-archet/