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Nick Polk (he/him)

@tolkienpop.substack.com
434 followers 513 following 411 posts

Educator | Production Editor for Mallorn @tolkiensociety.org | Creator of Tolkien Pop! | Coffee Addict | Wannabe Punk Theologian tolkienpop.carrd.co

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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 16/09/2026
Happy 49th anniversary to The Silmarillion! Posthumously published because of the editorial work of J.R.R. Tolkien’s son Christopher, this was the first book that gave audiences insight into the further depths of the legendarium. The History of Middle-earth and countless Tolkien texts would follow
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 12/09/2026
Hello, my pet!
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 12/09/2026
Recent Tolkien scholarship acquisition from the GOAT herself
A picture of the book “A Real Taste for Fairy-stories” Essays by Verlyn Flieger
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 03/09/2026
RIP to J.R.R. Tolkien, the man who kicked off fantasy as we know it. His work and life changed mine forever. May we create, live, and drink well in his memory 🍻
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 24/08/2026
Stay this madness!
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 23/08/2026
Just received this awesome shirt from one of my Substack supporters! Thanks for the support and only political candidates that could meet the challenges of power in this age 🫡
A mirror selfie of Nick wearing a light blue shirt that says “Frodo and Sam ‘28” in the style of American presidential campaign slogan
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 11/08/2026
🚨 GIVEAWAY 🚨 Aspyr Media has released The Lord of the Rings™ War in the North™ Legacy Edition and I’m giving away 6 codes for the game! How to enter: 1️⃣ Like and comment on this post 2️⃣ Follow me or subscribe to my Substack (link in bio) 3️⃣ Winners will be selected Tuesday, August 18th
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 05/08/2026
New record in anticipation for Season 3 of The Rings of Power
A vinyl record of The Rings of Power Season 2 soundtrack playing on a turntable while its album art is on display
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 13/07/2026
I do not deny my heart has greatly desired this
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 10/07/2026
One of my favorite recent pickups
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 08/07/2026
I mean, I’d be stressed too
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 06/07/2026
Baruk Khazâd!
An edited picture of Haaland from Norway running onto the soccer pitch with a double sided axe with the caption “Gimli, rushing into the battle at Helm’s Deep”
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 04/07/2026
Talk about deus ex machina
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 03/07/2026
Pippin, every time Gandalf reprimands him
Screen shot of Lt. Steven Hauk from the movie Good Morning Vietnam saying “Sir, in my heart, I know I’m funny”
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 29/06/2026
All the America 250 celebrations across the country are just this and it’s honestly heartbreaking. Literally the worst time for the U.S. to turn a quarter of a century
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 24/06/2026
Someone once told me
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 21/06/2026
Frodo, after Bilbo leaves the Shire: I hope Bilbo is alright How Frodo finds Bilbo in Rivendell, after a horrifying journey and being stabbed by a Nazgûl:
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 21/06/2026
Mmmm love me a good dose of despair - Denethor
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 15/06/2026
Aragorn after Gandalf suggests the Fellowship go through the Mines of Moria:
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 05/06/2026
What’s wieners, precious? What’s wieners, eh?
Gollum from The Lord of the Rings wearing a Costco hat and heating a hot dog in a Costco food court with the text “Gollum got that dog in him” above the him
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 31/05/2026
Happy Pride to all my Tolkienistas and beyond! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 31/05/2026
I regret to inform you that Aragorn Son of Arathorn, the rightful king of Gondor has dropped out of the Freedom 250 concert
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 19/05/2026
You have elected the way of pain!
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 14/05/2026
He just fell into the depths of the Misty Mountains. Knock the One Ring out of Gollum’s pocket
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 13/05/2026
Tennessee Strawberry Festival and the Pantheon in Nashville for Kelly’s birthday!
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 11/05/2026
Rings of Power Season 3 coming out this year on November 11th. Get stoked! 🤘🏼
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 07/05/2026
Was stoked to be featured in the latest news from the Center for Open & Relational Theology from @thomasjayoord.bsky.social! preview.mailerlite.com/w4x5r0k7y6/2...
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 07/05/2026
Lucky for us, I snapped this totally not fake photo of @clarelmoore.bsky.social and I in front of a Nashville staple. Good times 🤘🏼
A photo shopped photo of a Caucasian man and woman in front of Baja Burrito in Nashville, Tn
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 03/05/2026
Latest episode of the Tolkien Pop! Podcast just dropped! Got to sit down with @lukebshelton.bsky.social of @tolkiensociety.org to talk about his Tolkien experience, area of research, and his current and future work in Tolkien studies podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 01/05/2026
Anytime Gollum breathes
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 26/04/2026
This book has me in a damn chokehold
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 21/04/2026
Sam, writing about Gollum after Frodo gave him the Red Book of Westmarch
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 18/04/2026
Me after being left behind by AI
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 18/04/2026
Sméagol and Déagol before finding the One Ring vs Sméagol and Déagol after finding the One Ring
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 17/04/2026
Gandalf: YOU SHALL NOT PASS 10 year old me in the movie theater:
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 12/04/2026
I won’t be seeing you later
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 25/03/2026
Tolkien Pop! podcast episode drop! I got to hang out with Ralph, Kirk, and Jock, the filmmakers behind the upcoming documentary series The Forge of Friendship, which highlights the lives and friendships of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. It’s a fun one: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 20/03/2026
With Tolkien Reading Day around the corner, there are some awesome Tolkien events this weekend! Saturday, March 21 Holy Moot, organized by David Rowe: www.eventbrite.com/e/holy-moot-... Sunday, March 22 Tolkien Reading Day Soundscape, organized by Jordan Rannells: www.youtube.com/live/cAK0XuU...
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 07/03/2026
Latest podcast episode with @mercuryreads.bsky.social and it is a nerdy, hopeful, and fun one! 🤘🏼 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
A thumbnail with a selfie from Tolkien scholar Mercury Natis with the label “Tolkien, Queer Theory, and Punk Rock” for the Tolkien Pop podcast
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 21/02/2026
Birthday music pulls!
Three vinyl albums: MxPx’s Panic, Van Halen’s 1984, and Bon Jovi’s best of Cross Road and one cassette tape: Hilary Duff’s Luck…or Something
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 16/02/2026
POV you just told me there’s only one way to interpret The Lord of the Rings:
A kid with glasses and wearing a backpack, winding up a punch with the caption “POV you just told me there’s only one way to interpret The Lord of the Rings”
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 25/01/2026
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 25/01/2026
POV Gil-galad and Galadriel bullying Elrond in the Second Age:
A medieval French knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail saying, “Your mother was a song bird, and your father smelt of cosmo-ferry!”
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 14/01/2026
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...
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 11/01/2026
Saruman: begs for mercy after destroying Middle-earth and countless innocent lives The Valar:
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 11/01/2026
Current reading for upcoming projects…and yes, one of them is Tolkien-related 😎
A stack of three books. Title list from top to bottom: “Discourses in Mormon Theology,” “The Mormon Doctrine of Deity,” and “The Silence of the Lamb: Exploring the Hiddenness of Christ and God”
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 10/01/2026
Mîm the Petty Dwarf leading Túrin to Amon Rûdh
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 10/01/2026
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...
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 07/01/2026
POV: You read The Ainulindalë for the first time
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 04/01/2026
Was gonna toast with beer, but decided to go Gandalf and have a little red wine. The Professor! 🥂
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