With 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

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In today’s episode of Mythmakers, we cover three lively topics of discussion. Join Julia Golding and friend of the podcast, Jacob Rennaker, as they begin with the latest casting news for the upcoming prequel film The Hunt for Gollum—hits or misses?

Next, they turn to the content challenges surrounding Stephen Colbert’s script for the second Lord of the Rings film currently in development—which we’re calling “the interval.” Rather than focusing on canon, Julia and Jacob explore the storytelling possibilities from a creative perspective.

Finally, with Julia having just secured a new contract for a middle-grade fantasy novel, they discuss the best approaches for breaking through in today’s publishing market. What does it really take to get noticed by publishers these days?

(00:00) Introduction & Episode Overview
(02:00) Casting News for The Hunt for Gollum
(08:00) New Characters & Story Speculation (Halvard & Companions)
(10:00) Kate Winslet’s Role & Expanding Middle-earth’s Female Presence
(16:00) Andy Serkis Directing & Acting Challenges
(19:00) Stephen Colbert’s LOTR Film & “The Interval” Concept
(26:00) Character Depth: Frodo, Merry & Adaptation Challenges
(30:00) Tom Bombadil & Goldberry – Adapting the Unadaptable
(38:00) Balancing Tone, Audience & Modern Expectations
(41:00) Writing Fantasy Today: Breaking Into Publishing
(52:00) Editing Process, Trends & Modern Children’s Publishing
(56:00) Final Thoughts & What’s Next

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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Ireland is one of the world’s greatest fantasy hot spots. Join Irish fantasy writer Peadar Ó Guilín and Julia Golding as they embark on an exploration of Ireland’s rich storytelling tradition and its influence on Peadar’s work.

Discover how ancient tales of invasion gave rise to the Sidhe, and why the folk of the Mounds have it in for us. The Call features a brutal competition where they get their revenge—what might that tell us about the world Peadar grew up in and the themes emerging from his work? The conversation turns to The Sword Garden, his new book, which takes inspiration from Irish legend to begin a new tale of sci-fi fantasy world collisions. Be sure to stay to the end to hear Peadar and Julia pick the best place to take part in a magical contest—though most may be best avoided for health and safety reasons…

To dive deeper into Peadar’s various works, visit https://www.peadar.org/

(00:00) Introduction and Guest Overview
(01:40) Language Evolution and Writing Systems
(04:00) Ireland’s Influence on Fantasy Storytelling
(06:00) Reimagining Fairies: The Aas Sídhe Explained
(07:40) Irish Mythology and the Book of Invasions
(11:40) Themes of History, Class, and Conflict in Fantasy
(15:50) Irish Folklore Traditions and Story Cycles
(18:20) Local Legends and Landscape-Based Storytelling
(21:00) Stereotypes of Irish Writers and Global Perception
(23:00) Preserving Folklore: Monks, Records, and Oral History
(29:20) Tolkien, Fairy Stories, and Audience Perception
(34:40) Favourite Fantasy Worlds and Final Reflections

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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Today on Mythmakers, we welcome author Alwyn Hamilton, who has crafted a gripping fantasy that mingles Grimm fairy tale tropes with a sleek, 1920s-inspired world on the brink of disaster. In this episode, Alwyn joins Julia Golding to discuss her path to publication and how she connects her series to build a richly expanding universe.

Together, they explore the challenges of writing with multiple points of view and reflect on what the 1920s can reveal about our own moment in time. Discover Alwyn’s recommendations for recent fantasy titles as the conversation turns to magic systems, before finally ending on a lighter note—join the debate as to which fantasy world would host the most stylish party. Tune in to see if you agree with their pick!

Discover more of Alwyn's works, and follow her social accounts, at https://www.alwynhamilton.com/

(00:04) Introduction to Alwyn Hamilton and Her Work
(03:08) Harry Potter and Shared Reading Experiences
(04:34) Removing Parents in Children’s Stories
(05:08) Introducing The Notorious Virtues
(08:00) Reversing Tropes and Exploring Adoption Narratives
(11:00) Challenging Characters Through Unfamiliar Virtues
(12:20) The 1920s Setting and Historical Influences
(14:20) Wealth, Power, and Generational Control
(18:00) Balancing Character Perspectives and Storylines
(21:00) The Bodyguards and the Cost of Loyalty
(24:30) Wealth Inequality and Social Commentary in Fantasy
(28:00) Creation Myths and Magic as Currency
(29:30) Influential Fantasy Magic Systems and Final Thoughts

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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Here’s a story that will encourage many of our listeners: SJ Poyton’s epic journey to publication has spanned nearly 20 years, and her perseverance has paid off with the release of her sci-fi children’s novel, Mammoth Rider. Think Jurassic Park, but much more plausible.

In this episode, SJ and Julia Golding sit down to discuss the environmental themes behind the book, as well as the importance of including neurodiverse characters in a way that portrays their unique minds as simply being part of who they are, and even as a part of their gifts. SJ and Julia go on to decide how one should name a mammoth, before speculating about which mythical creature they would wish to introduce into the real world.

To learn more about SJ, and to order your own copy of Mammoth Rider, visit https://www.sjpoyton.com/

(00:04) Introduction to SJ Poyton and Mammoth Rider
(00:47) A 19-Year Journey to Publication
(04:35) What Mammoth Rider Is About
(06:56) How Mammoths Could Help Fight Climate Change
(09:05) Greenland, Nyala, and the White Mammoth
(12:15) Neurodiversity in the Book and in SJ’s Life
(17:10) Dyslexia Representation in Fantasy
(21:01) Writing the Sequel to Mammoth Rider
(26:08) Science Notes, Ethics, and Questions for Readers
(26:56) Which Fantasy Creature Would You Bring Back?

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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Saddle up and join the Round Table as Mythmakers embarks on a journey through some of the most famous retellings of King Arthur in celebration of Tolkien Reading Day. Which author started the ball rolling, and who poetically kicked it on into the 19th century? Where do the traces of these tales become most apparent in the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis? And who has continued the Arthurian tradition into modern times?

Finally, we turn to the screen—what is the most successful adaptation of them all? Tune in to see if you agree with our pick!

(00:00) Tolkien Reading Day and the Power of Arthur
(03:09) Malory and the Rise of Arthur in Print
(05:26) Arthur Pulls the Sword from the Stone
(09:24) Keats and the Melancholy of Arthur
(12:08) Tennyson, Avalon, and Echoes in Tolkien
(15:15) William Morris and Arthur’s Expanding World
(16:52) T.S. Eliot, Charles Williams, and the Modern Grail
(22:22) Film, Comedy, and Reinventing Arthur
(23:00) Tolkien and Lewis Through an Arthurian Lens
(27:02) Modern Retellings and Julia Golding’s Own Arthur Stories
(29:12) Why BBC’s Merlin Works So Well
(30:43) Reading Arthur to Better Understand Tolkien

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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We 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) A Chapter Built Around a Single Decision
(02:00) Why the Black Gate Must Be Impossible to Enter
(05:00) Mordor as a Living Landscape of Evil
(08:00) Frodo’s Resolve and the Stakes of the Quest
(11:00) Writing Into Uncertainty and Finding the Way Forward
(13:30) Trust, Suspicion, and Gollum’s Divided Nature
(17:00) The Hidden Path and Foreshadowing What Lies Ahead
(21:00) Tension, Stillness, and Delaying the Decision
(26:00) Sam’s Perspective and the Power of Small Hope
(29:00) Choosing to Trust Gollum and Moving Forward

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
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We 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) Introducing the Passage of the Marshes
(02:20) The Structure of the Chapter and Its Locations
(04:30) Gollum as Guide and Contradictory Character
(08:40) Food, Lembas, and Gollum’s Drama
(14:00) Frodo and Sam’s Changing Relationship
(17:00) Entering the Dead Marshes
(22:30) The Atmosphere and Worldbuilding of the Marshes
(27:30) The Dead Faces Beneath the Water
(31:10) The Ringwraith’s Overflight and Growing Fear
(37:10) Gollum’s Inner Debate and the Road to Mordor

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