Tolkien’s Legacy: The Hero’s Journey and Literary Nods to Middle-earth

Put a Bird on It: Judging Books by Their Covers & Summer Book Bingo

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth discuss the complicated world of book covers and how first impressions shape our reading expectations. From romantasy trends and movie tie-in editions to mass market paperbacks, special editions, and social media influence, they explore whether anyone can truly avoid judging a book by its cover. Along the way, they share stories about their current reads, misleading covers, and the books they almost didn’t want to be seen reading in public. Plus, they officially kick off the Galaxies and Goddesses Summer Book Bingo. 00:48 Currently Reading 04:01 Book Covers as Marketing 05:19 Blind Date with a Book 07:50 Special Editions and Movie Poster Covers 13:57 Social Media Influence 18:39 Misleading Covers 22:10 Embarrassing Covers 24:27 E-readers vs Physical Books 26:30 Summer Book Bingo Kickoff Books mentioned in the episode: Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov The Antidote by Karen Russell Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The Crazies: The Cattleman, the Wind Prospector, and the War Out West by Amy Gamerman Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris Chocolat by Joanne Harris The Memory of Forgotten Things by Kat Zhang Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Portlandia – “Put a Bird on It” sketch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpIOlDhigw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpIOlDhigw]

Reading Foundation in 2026: What Holds Up and What Feels Dated

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Foundation by Isaac Asimov, one of the most influential works in classic science fiction. Together they explore the concept of psychohistory, and how the novel’s ideas about power, technology, religion, and knowledge preservation still resonate today. They also discuss what feels dated in a mid-century sci-fi classic, from communication technology to the near absence of women in positions of power, and reflect on how modern readers engage with older speculative fiction. Along the way, the conversation branches into AI, technological dependence, and why some books remain classics even when they challenge or frustrate us as readers.  01:01 Expectations for a Classic 03:04 Serialized Structure and Star Wars Vibes 05:48 Psychohistory and Power Politics 09:41 What Aged Poorly and Who Gets Included 14:13 Who Decides What is a Classic 17:43 Why is it a Classic 18:54 Tech Dependence And AI 29:30 Ratings And Wrap Up Freakonomics Radio episode “New Technologies Always Scare Us. Is AI Any Different?” https://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-technologies-always-scare-us-is-a-i-any-different [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-technologies-always-scare-us-is-a-i-any-different/] The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. 2026. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39150120/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39150120/]

Independent Bookstore Day Adventures in Montana

On this week’s episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, join Andrea and Elizabeth as they share their Independent Bookstore Day adventures on a bookish road trip through cozy indie bookshops in Bozeman and Livingston to an unexpected stop in West Yellowstone. They talk about the bookstores they visited, books they picked up, and the unique experiences that made each shop special, from discounts and staff picks to author events and community art. Along the way, they reflect on the role independent bookstores play in supporting local communities and connecting readers. If you love bookstore crawls and hauls this episode is for you.  00:59 What is Independent Bookstore Day 02:17 Bozeman Bookstores & Bargains 15:32 Livingston Bookstores & Community Vibes 23:17 West Yellowstone 27:57 Take a Book Leave a Book Finds 28:17 Overall Vibes 29:46 Thoughts for Next Year Books mentioned in this episode: Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones Exhalation by Ted Chiang A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro Shōgun by James Clavell The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Tolkien’s Legacy: The Hero’s Journey and Literary Nods to Middle-earth

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, we explore the lasting influence of J. R. R. Tolkien on modern fantasy and beyond. From shaping iconic tropes in The Lord of the Rings to inspiring authors like R. F. Kuang and Christopher Paolini, Tolkien’s impact spans generations. We also discuss the Hero's Journey as a timeless storytelling framework and how it plays into the Lord of the Rings. At the end of the episode we announce our next trilogy pick, swinging back into the realm of science fiction with Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy. 03:43 Spotting Tolkien References 05:56 Influence vs Infringement 08:57 What Is The Hero’s Journey 12:16 Why Tropes Still Work 13:56 Travel Inspired by Books 14:40 Back to The Hero's Journey 16:50 The Circle as a Symbol 20:48 Tolkien-esque Names 25:51 Tolkien Language Intent 28:52 Eragon And Dragon Nostalgia 32:05 Next Read Foundation Trilogy 33:56 Episode Wrap And Teaser Books Mentioned The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien Katabasis by R. F. Kuang The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown Brimstone by Callie Hart When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker Eragon by Christopher Paolini Foundation by Isaac Asimov Love chatting about books? Follow Galaxies and Goddesses and leave a review to support the show.

Return of the King: Epic Battles, Healing Hands, and Returning to the Shire

Join Andrea and Elizabeth as they discuss The Return of the King, the epic conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, highlighting standout moments, character arcs, and what makes the ending memorable. They compare book and film differences, while emphasizing the book’s quieter moments and added history. They focus on Aragorn’s kingship revealed through the House of Healing, Éowyn’s confidence and role in defeating the Lord of the ringwraiths, and Faramir’s unexpected romance. They note the extensive chapters after the Ring’s destruction and both rate the series five stars, giving appreciation to Tolkien for his gift to the world. 00:52 Where Return of the King Begins 05:26 Books Versus Movies Debate 07:55 Stand Out Moments 10:52 Love in the House of Healing 15:54 Encounters with Saruman 18:39 The Battle Isn't the End of the Story 24:348 Library Reading Buddies 29:59 Feelings at the End 32:28 It's Not a Trilogy 38:05 Ratings Spoiler warning for: The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King Reddit fan theories mentioned in the episode: Was Bilbo’s mithril coat originally made for Legolas? https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/yr9lrl/bilbos_mithril_coat_was_made_for_legolas/ [https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/yr9lrl/bilbos_mithril_coat_was_made_for_legolas/]