Episode 261 "WonderCon 2026: The Psychological Journey of The Lord of the Rings"

The Lord of the Rings is an epic, high-fantasy tale that centers on fellowship, bravery, and good against evil. What does Aragorn's reluctance to become king say about him? Does the One Ring symbolize addiction? Does Gollum have multiple identities? How (and why) does fantasy storytelling improve mental health? Media psychologist Drea Letamendi, Ph.D. (The Arkham Sessions, UCLA), Miranda (host, Tolkien Tuesdays), and Todd Stashwick (actor, Marvel's VisionQuest; co-founder, ProgCore Fantasy) explore and explain the psychology of Middle-earth's riveting and unforgettable characters—both from the page and on-screen. Moderated by Brian Ward (The Arkham Sessions).

You can listen to Episode 261 "WonderCon 2026: The Psychological Journey of The Lord of the Rings" online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 261 "WonderCon 2026: The Psychological Journey of The Lord of the Rings" is an episode from The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More by Brian Ward.

This episode is 49:39 long.

This episode was published on Apr 7, 2026.

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