Nick Polk (he/him)
@tolkienpop.substack.com
Educator | Production Editor for Mallorn
@tolkiensociety.org | Creator of Tolkien Pop! | Coffee Addict | Wannabe Punk Theologian
linktr.ee/NJSPOLK
@tolkiensociety.org | Creator of Tolkien Pop! | Coffee Addict | Wannabe Punk Theologian
linktr.ee/NJSPOLK
Pinned
For those on here who are new friends, my name is Nick and I spend most of my time reading and writing about Tolkien, religion, and pop culture. I do most of my writing on my Substack Tolkien Pop! and have a book out if you are interested in Tolkien and Pop Culture! a.co/d/cFbzzH5
If you’re interested in more work that acknowledges the importance of Tolkien’s faith, but doesn’t make it a hermeneutical requirement or an authoritative standard of exclusion, Abby’s writing is fantastic
I am only the least interesting person to have written about this.
Tolkien’s Imagined Pre-Christian Past
When J.R.R. Tolkien described the era depicted in Beowulf as "heathen, noble, and hopeless," was he also talking about his own work?
buttondown.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:14 AM
If you’re interested in more work that acknowledges the importance of Tolkien’s faith, but doesn’t make it a hermeneutical requirement or an authoritative standard of exclusion, Abby’s writing is fantastic
Reposted by Nick Polk (he/him)
Holding Tolkien nerds gently by the hand and saying “yes there are Christian things in the legendarium but there are other things too”
February 12, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Holding Tolkien nerds gently by the hand and saying “yes there are Christian things in the legendarium but there are other things too”
Here is my latest Substack where I give a friendly and critical response to “Between Mount Doom and the Wall of ‘Likes’” by Paola Castagno and Leandro Pascual, which was published in the latest issue of Amon Hen, the bulletin of the @tolkiensociety.org open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
A Critical Response to “Between Mount Doom and the Wall of ‘Likes’” in Amon Hen #317
A Critical Response to “Between Mount Doom and the Wall of ‘Likes’” by Paola Castagno and Leandro Pascual in Amon Hen: The Bulletin of the Tolkien Society #317
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Here is my latest Substack where I give a friendly and critical response to “Between Mount Doom and the Wall of ‘Likes’” by Paola Castagno and Leandro Pascual, which was published in the latest issue of Amon Hen, the bulletin of the @tolkiensociety.org open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
Had the opportunity to talk with The White City podcast about my work on holiness and Tolkien’s works and my own particular Christian application of the legendarium if you’re into that sort of thing!
youtu.be/EaxaWgKwiGc?...
youtu.be/EaxaWgKwiGc?...
The Fellowship of the Ring: Heroes Set Apart By Humility
YouTube video by The White City
youtu.be
February 10, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Had the opportunity to talk with The White City podcast about my work on holiness and Tolkien’s works and my own particular Christian application of the legendarium if you’re into that sort of thing!
youtu.be/EaxaWgKwiGc?...
youtu.be/EaxaWgKwiGc?...
Reposted by Nick Polk (he/him)
@tolkienpop.substack.com @clarelmoore.bsky.social the Mîm referenced earlier
January 25, 2026 at 8:24 PM
@tolkienpop.substack.com @clarelmoore.bsky.social the Mîm referenced earlier
POV Gil-galad and Galadriel bullying Elrond in the Second Age:
January 25, 2026 at 8:03 PM
POV Gil-galad and Galadriel bullying Elrond in the Second Age:
At this point, if you see the images of Liam Ramos and shrug your shoulders or the interfaith clergy that were arrested and refuse to name it as anything but religious persecution then I fear for your soul and pray that hell truly doesn’t exist like I believe it doesn’t, i.e., if the show fits
January 24, 2026 at 4:37 AM
At this point, if you see the images of Liam Ramos and shrug your shoulders or the interfaith clergy that were arrested and refuse to name it as anything but religious persecution then I fear for your soul and pray that hell truly doesn’t exist like I believe it doesn’t, i.e., if the show fits
I’m obviously biased, but this is my favorite chapter in Brian’s book. The Lord of the Rings speaks truth to power and so does the Gospel. Both along with Brian’s chapter are as relevant now as they’ve ever been. Worth the read
January 24, 2026 at 3:11 AM
I’m obviously biased, but this is my favorite chapter in Brian’s book. The Lord of the Rings speaks truth to power and so does the Gospel. Both along with Brian’s chapter are as relevant now as they’ve ever been. Worth the read
Reposted by Nick Polk (he/him)
The book I've been working on will be released in March. And I love the cover!
January 22, 2026 at 6:25 PM
The book I've been working on will be released in March. And I love the cover!
Just posted a paper I gave back in 2022 when the first season of The Rings of Power released. I explore why there were so many negative memes in response to ROP and think that some of my musings still hold water. You can read it here: open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
Negative Reactions to The Rings of Power Memes
Heidy Ho, Tolkien Poppers!
Today's post is a paper I presented at the 2022 Northeast PCA Conference for the roundtable on the varied responses to the trailers for Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The ...
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Just posted a paper I gave back in 2022 when the first season of The Rings of Power released. I explore why there were so many negative memes in response to ROP and think that some of my musings still hold water. You can read it here: open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
The real winners of the National Championship are the university bands. There has been nonstop playing of the Uruk-hai and Nazgûl themes from Howard Shore’s score for LOTR and it has been *chef’s kiss*
January 20, 2026 at 3:21 AM
The real winners of the National Championship are the university bands. There has been nonstop playing of the Uruk-hai and Nazgûl themes from Howard Shore’s score for LOTR and it has been *chef’s kiss*
Talking about South Park and Phineas and Ferb with @systematicgeek.bsky.social was so freaking fun. If you love Mr. Hankey, Christmas, and cartoons, this conversation is a love letter to you ❤️ podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Tales of Tinsel and Toilet Humor: South Park Meets Phineas and Ferb
Podcast Episode · Systematic Geekology · 12/25/2025 · 1h 22m
podcasts.apple.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Talking about South Park and Phineas and Ferb with @systematicgeek.bsky.social was so freaking fun. If you love Mr. Hankey, Christmas, and cartoons, this conversation is a love letter to you ❤️ podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Getting super stoked for ORTLINE26! Had the privilege of participating in the past and am honored to be a part of this year’s put on by @thomasjayoord.bsky.social and Center for Open and Relational Theology and it’s 100% online!
You can get tickets to here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ortline-20...
You can get tickets to here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ortline-20...
January 14, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Getting super stoked for ORTLINE26! Had the privilege of participating in the past and am honored to be a part of this year’s put on by @thomasjayoord.bsky.social and Center for Open and Relational Theology and it’s 100% online!
You can get tickets to here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ortline-20...
You can get tickets to here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ortline-20...
Saruman: begs for mercy after destroying Middle-earth and countless innocent lives
The Valar:
The Valar:
January 11, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Saruman: begs for mercy after destroying Middle-earth and countless innocent lives
The Valar:
The Valar:
Current reading for upcoming projects…and yes, one of them is Tolkien-related 😎
January 11, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Current reading for upcoming projects…and yes, one of them is Tolkien-related 😎
Mîm the Petty Dwarf leading Túrin to Amon Rûdh
January 10, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Mîm the Petty Dwarf leading Túrin to Amon Rûdh
Reposted by Nick Polk (he/him)
Very very excited to share this conversation I had with @tolkienpop.substack.com about my work for Tea with Tolkien and my forthcoming book, Into the Heart of Middle-earth!
You can listen to the full interview here:
open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
You can listen to the full interview here:
open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
Kaitlyn Facista of Tea with Tolkien:
Into the Heart of Middle-earth
open.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Very very excited to share this conversation I had with @tolkienpop.substack.com about my work for Tea with Tolkien and my forthcoming book, Into the Heart of Middle-earth!
You can listen to the full interview here:
open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
You can listen to the full interview here:
open.substack.com/pub/tolkienp...
In the first Tolkien Pop! episode of 2026, I got to talk with @teawithtolkien.com about her upcoming book Into the Heart of Middle-earth: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
January 10, 2026 at 12:01 AM
In the first Tolkien Pop! episode of 2026, I got to talk with @teawithtolkien.com about her upcoming book Into the Heart of Middle-earth: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Had the pleasure to contribute to Tom’s theology of amipotence. His theology has altered the trajectory of my theological journey towards the better and it was so fun to utilize amipotence in my own theological work. Go read my essay along with others’ and Tom’s response!
c4ort.com/essays/the-d...
c4ort.com/essays/the-d...
The Decline of Omnipotencein Pop Culture - Center for Open & Relational Theology
The Decline of Omnipotencein Pop Culture By Nick Polk Pop culture illustrates the move from traditional power towards collective power through love. In a 2022 interview with the late night … Continue ...
c4ort.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Had the pleasure to contribute to Tom’s theology of amipotence. His theology has altered the trajectory of my theological journey towards the better and it was so fun to utilize amipotence in my own theological work. Go read my essay along with others’ and Tom’s response!
c4ort.com/essays/the-d...
c4ort.com/essays/the-d...
POV: You read The Ainulindalë for the first time
January 7, 2026 at 3:35 AM
POV: You read The Ainulindalë for the first time
Was gonna toast with beer, but decided to go Gandalf and have a little red wine. The Professor! 🥂
January 4, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Was gonna toast with beer, but decided to go Gandalf and have a little red wine. The Professor! 🥂
Reposted by Nick Polk (he/him)
WORK IN PROGRESS: #TOLKIEN BIRTHDAY TOAST!
Events all across the world, collected via Google Maps!
Let me know if you want to be added!
maps.app.goo.gl/vCDSFPzAC6zd...
Events all across the world, collected via Google Maps!
Let me know if you want to be added!
maps.app.goo.gl/vCDSFPzAC6zd...
maps.app.goo.gl
January 3, 2026 at 11:17 AM
WORK IN PROGRESS: #TOLKIEN BIRTHDAY TOAST!
Events all across the world, collected via Google Maps!
Let me know if you want to be added!
maps.app.goo.gl/vCDSFPzAC6zd...
Events all across the world, collected via Google Maps!
Let me know if you want to be added!
maps.app.goo.gl/vCDSFPzAC6zd...
Happy 134th birthday to the man, the myth, and the legend that is J.R.R. Tolkien. Every year, today, we get to celebrate the man who gave us The Lord of the Rings and so much more. What brought you to Middle-earth? Cheers to the Professor! 🍻
January 3, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Happy 134th birthday to the man, the myth, and the legend that is J.R.R. Tolkien. Every year, today, we get to celebrate the man who gave us The Lord of the Rings and so much more. What brought you to Middle-earth? Cheers to the Professor! 🍻