Episode 25 - Special Guest Knewbettadobetta

Explicit content warning

05/18/25 • 83 min

Queer Lodgings returns for its first episode in 6 months, with special guest Willie Jenkins, better known on Tiktok and other platforms as "Knewbettadobetta". Willie joins Alicia, Grace, Leah, and Tim to discuss growing up as a Tolkien fan in Brooklyn, how Tolkien's Legendarium provided escapism, and a former home with some friends that's known as "Goblintown" to this day. It even had its own rap, and Willie graced us with a bit of its verse! We chat about Willie's strategies for dealing with and attempting to "convert" Tolkien trolls, and experiences of racism on different social media platforms, as well as his positive experiences and community with other diverse Tolkien creators, which includes his work with the "Voices of Arda" podcast.

Connect with Knewbettadobetta & Voices of Arda: https://linktr.ee/Knewbettadobetta

Join us on the Queer Lodgings Discord server! https://discord.gg/8NPNaPqCAY

Connect with Knewbettadobetta & Voices of Arda: https://linktr.ee/Knewbettadobetta

Join us on the Queer Lodgings Discord server! https://discord.gg/8NPNaPqCAY

Previous Episode

Episode 24 - Tolkien Adaptations Part 2: Interview w/ Adam Brown of "The Hobbit" Films!

We are so excited to bring you this interview with actor Adam Brown - Ori in the Jackson "Hobbit" films - as part of our series on Tolkien adaptations! Adam graciously joined us from the UK to discuss his experiences as a gay man in the production of the Hobbit movies (including adventures in Wellington gay bars), his fellow dwarves dropping dwarf slash fic art in their group chat, and his passion for British pantomime theatre (including touring "Mother Goose" with Sir Ian McKellen). Plus a never-before-told tale of a planned Moscow premiere for "The Desolation of Smaug" which was cancelled after actors and crew wrote a letter of concern regarding Russia's anti-LGBTQ policies.