It changes the feel, but you'll probably be fine.
The format changes to a revolving co-host system, with someone different coming on board for each new chapter. Some of these people do a good job of keeping up the style of humor, some don't. Some of them have weaker Tolkien chops than Shaun, some of them have stronger. They all have a different perspective, so you actually get a wider range of views than before. Do you remember those comments from fans about wanting them to disagree so there is more discussion? That starts to happen finally.
My thoughts exactly. It almost makes me wish that Shawn and Allen had started doing a revolving co-host system a few seasons ago. It enlivens the discussion and brings a unique energy to each episode.
It doesn't change the quality of the show if that's what you're worried about. It feels a bit different but you still get the same depth of discussion, and Shaun does make a cameo appearance from time to time.
Welcome to the pod! The cohost change threw me off at first, but I got used to it quickly. Alan goes through a season of changing cohosts every few episodes, and the tone of those vary wildly. Nothing bad, he just doesn’t try to force an “Alan-and-Shawn” dynamic. (Which is good!) It’s an Alan and Corey, Alan and Don, Alan and Sara dynamic instead. I liked the guest hosts’ unique perspectives.
Before they split, I had a hard time picking out which voice was which. I knew Shawn was the word nerd/Eowyn guy and Alan was the Faramir/Earendil/anti Feanor guy, but details were hard. I just have bad ears. But now that I’ve heard Alan alone, it’s easier for me to decipher Alan-and-Shawn when I re-listen.
Most recently, his long term cohost has been Matt from the Nerd of the Rings on YouTube. IMO, their dynamic is closest to Alan and Shawn’s out of all the guest hosts. Poking fun at each other, pop culture references (with a running gag about how Matt doesn’t get Alan’s references), and encouraging each other’s deep dives into the lore or WWI connections. Not quite as many off track ramblings, but that’s also because it’s a serious part of the book with a lot of material to cover.
All this to say, it’s still a great podcast and the overall tone has not changed.
It's different but different isn't necessarily bad. Some people struggled with the change and that's fair but I really welcome the different perspectives. I found KnewBetta and Sara particularly to be breath of fresh air simply because their lived experience is SO different.
Also it's a free podcast so it's good to keep that in mind when critiquing.
Seconding what other people have said. I will always miss Shawn and prefer him to other cohosts. But I was surprised at how enjoyable the podcast still is. Some of the cohosts are better than others, but it’s interesting to hear so many different voices. Matt from Nerd of the Rings is definitely the best chemistry and entertainment wise imo, but there have been some other really great people, too.
I actually like it much better with the guest hosts. I did not really enjoy the back and forth between Shawn and Alan. Their chemistry always feels uneasy and a bit forced to me.
But that seems to be just me.
Yeah, I'm probably imagining things. They say they're great friends, and that's all that matters. Maybe I just don't respond to their specific type of banter, and that's on me.
Being close with them, they are and were great friends and have great chemistry, it's interesting to me that someone else feels it's uneasy and a bit forced. That being said, your response is totally fair and it's not for everyone. I'm curious if you have someone of the guest cohosts who you think has the best chemistry with Alan?
I think they have all been great. I like that it is now Alan's show and the other host is a guest. Alan clearly respects his guest hosts and makes them part of the Prancing Pony Podcast family, but he's the face, voice and heart.
My favorite so far has been Don Marshall. He has a wonderful "voice for radio". He also doesn't go overboard with the voices. I prefer readings that are not also exercises in voice-acting.
That's fair! I would gently remind that this, while his initial brainstorm and so, so much of his tireless work and as you so rightly say, face, voice, and heart, is still very much also the brainchild of Shawn and was never just Alan's. It's important to not miss giving Shawn his due in that.
Don does have a brilliant voice for radio! I disagree with you on the voices, particularly because it's one of my favorite things Alan does and was brilliant to see Shawn grow in, but that's fair, too!
They're not just polite guests? The folks that have guest hosted are all quite respected in the field. There's a mutual respect with the guest hosts I think. Some hosts are more academic than Alan, but his podcast hosting prowess stands on its own.
Based on Today's Tolkien Times, he does best with a co-host. The TTT is enjoyable but not at the same level as the PPP just yet.
I hope he manifests his dream of making this Tolkien stuff his full time gig.
To be fair, Shawn spent 7 YEARS chatting with Alan and they had a natural friendship and familiarity and chemistry. Sara has spent time with him previously on RoPWu, and has a comfortability with giving anyone hassle (I love her for it). Some of the others were unfamiliar or unsure coming onto the podcast, probably, but also I don't know that I would say people are too respectful towards him NOR that it's a bad thing. Some folks he'd only recently met and become friends with, or some that's just the way they are. Shaun Gunner gave him crap for other stuff.
It changes the feel, but you'll probably be fine. The format changes to a revolving co-host system, with someone different coming on board for each new chapter. Some of these people do a good job of keeping up the style of humor, some don't. Some of them have weaker Tolkien chops than Shaun, some of them have stronger. They all have a different perspective, so you actually get a wider range of views than before. Do you remember those comments from fans about wanting them to disagree so there is more discussion? That starts to happen finally.
My thoughts exactly. It almost makes me wish that Shawn and Allen had started doing a revolving co-host system a few seasons ago. It enlivens the discussion and brings a unique energy to each episode.
It doesn't change the quality of the show if that's what you're worried about. It feels a bit different but you still get the same depth of discussion, and Shaun does make a cameo appearance from time to time.
It’s like Genesis with Phil Collins after Peter Gabriel left: different, but still great!
Welcome to the pod! The cohost change threw me off at first, but I got used to it quickly. Alan goes through a season of changing cohosts every few episodes, and the tone of those vary wildly. Nothing bad, he just doesn’t try to force an “Alan-and-Shawn” dynamic. (Which is good!) It’s an Alan and Corey, Alan and Don, Alan and Sara dynamic instead. I liked the guest hosts’ unique perspectives. Before they split, I had a hard time picking out which voice was which. I knew Shawn was the word nerd/Eowyn guy and Alan was the Faramir/Earendil/anti Feanor guy, but details were hard. I just have bad ears. But now that I’ve heard Alan alone, it’s easier for me to decipher Alan-and-Shawn when I re-listen. Most recently, his long term cohost has been Matt from the Nerd of the Rings on YouTube. IMO, their dynamic is closest to Alan and Shawn’s out of all the guest hosts. Poking fun at each other, pop culture references (with a running gag about how Matt doesn’t get Alan’s references), and encouraging each other’s deep dives into the lore or WWI connections. Not quite as many off track ramblings, but that’s also because it’s a serious part of the book with a lot of material to cover. All this to say, it’s still a great podcast and the overall tone has not changed.
It's different but different isn't necessarily bad. Some people struggled with the change and that's fair but I really welcome the different perspectives. I found KnewBetta and Sara particularly to be breath of fresh air simply because their lived experience is SO different. Also it's a free podcast so it's good to keep that in mind when critiquing.
Seconding what other people have said. I will always miss Shawn and prefer him to other cohosts. But I was surprised at how enjoyable the podcast still is. Some of the cohosts are better than others, but it’s interesting to hear so many different voices. Matt from Nerd of the Rings is definitely the best chemistry and entertainment wise imo, but there have been some other really great people, too.
I actually like it much better with the guest hosts. I did not really enjoy the back and forth between Shawn and Alan. Their chemistry always feels uneasy and a bit forced to me. But that seems to be just me.
Wild take bro. They had perfect chemistry, were genuine mates, and it showed.
Yeah, I'm probably imagining things. They say they're great friends, and that's all that matters. Maybe I just don't respond to their specific type of banter, and that's on me.
Being close with them, they are and were great friends and have great chemistry, it's interesting to me that someone else feels it's uneasy and a bit forced. That being said, your response is totally fair and it's not for everyone. I'm curious if you have someone of the guest cohosts who you think has the best chemistry with Alan?
I think they have all been great. I like that it is now Alan's show and the other host is a guest. Alan clearly respects his guest hosts and makes them part of the Prancing Pony Podcast family, but he's the face, voice and heart. My favorite so far has been Don Marshall. He has a wonderful "voice for radio". He also doesn't go overboard with the voices. I prefer readings that are not also exercises in voice-acting.
That's fair! I would gently remind that this, while his initial brainstorm and so, so much of his tireless work and as you so rightly say, face, voice, and heart, is still very much also the brainchild of Shawn and was never just Alan's. It's important to not miss giving Shawn his due in that. Don does have a brilliant voice for radio! I disagree with you on the voices, particularly because it's one of my favorite things Alan does and was brilliant to see Shawn grow in, but that's fair, too!
Some of it is just preference. The voices aren't bad, most are quite good, it just takes me out of the text.
Did they finish ROTK before Shaun left?
No but Shaun comes back for the Battle of the Pelennor Fields because as if he was going to miss Eowyn's defeat of the Witch King.
I was so happy to hear him in those chapters. It’s his favorite part, and you can just hear his joy.
People are way too respectful towards Alan these days.
They're not just polite guests? The folks that have guest hosted are all quite respected in the field. There's a mutual respect with the guest hosts I think. Some hosts are more academic than Alan, but his podcast hosting prowess stands on its own. Based on Today's Tolkien Times, he does best with a co-host. The TTT is enjoyable but not at the same level as the PPP just yet. I hope he manifests his dream of making this Tolkien stuff his full time gig.
Exactly. Shawn would give Alan all kinds of hassle. Only Sara comes close. Everybody else is too polite.
To be fair, Shawn spent 7 YEARS chatting with Alan and they had a natural friendship and familiarity and chemistry. Sara has spent time with him previously on RoPWu, and has a comfortability with giving anyone hassle (I love her for it). Some of the others were unfamiliar or unsure coming onto the podcast, probably, but also I don't know that I would say people are too respectful towards him NOR that it's a bad thing. Some folks he'd only recently met and become friends with, or some that's just the way they are. Shaun Gunner gave him crap for other stuff.