Lucky Kiwi Podcast

We’re joined by our friend Matt Graf, the creator behind Nerd of the Rings!

Since launching Nerd of the Rings in 2020, Matt has built an incredible community of Tolkien fans, sharing videos exploring the characters, history and lore of Middle-earth, along with the books, films, games, collectibles and the wider world of Tolkien. 

The channel now has almost 300 million views, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers.

This conversation is about much more than Tolkien lore. We talk about Matt’s journey with Nerd of the Rings, his love of Middle-earth, connecting with fans around the world, and what it’s like to build a life around something you genuinely love.

With special appearances from Billy Boyd and the Mellon Heads, it might just be our nerdiest episode yet!

Subscribe to Lucky Kiwi Podcast and stay tuned for:

🍀 Lucky Kiwi Costume Party coming in October
🍀 Ian McKellen interview
🍀 LOTR 25th Anniversary Special
🍀 More surprises to come!

Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy
Editing: Amanda Brophy
Guest: Matt Graf / Nerd of the Rings
Featuring: Billy Boyd & Mellon Heads
Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher
© 2026 Lucky Kiwi Podcast. All Rights Reserved.

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Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations.
CREDITS:
Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy
Editing: Amanda Brophy
Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher
© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST
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Peter Hambleton is known around the world as Glóin, one of the dwarves of Middle-earth in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy.

But Glóin is just one chapter in a remarkable New Zealand acting career.

After graduating from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 1982, Peter built a long career across theatre, film and television. He won the 1995 New Zealand Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Last Tattoo, and later won Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for his performances in Copenhagen and The Letter Writer.

Then came Middle-earth.

As Glóin, Peter joined an extraordinary ensemble of actors bringing Tolkien’s world to life, becoming one of the most recognizable dwarves in The Hobbit trilogy.

Since then, he has continued working across New Zealand screen and theatre, with roles in The Brokenwood Mysteries, One Lane Bridge and After the Party.

More recently, Peter played Adrian Templeton, the larger-than-life theatre director at the centre of the New Zealand musical comedy series Happiness. The role earned him the 2025 New Zealand Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series.

In this conversation, Peter takes us behind the beard and into the career that came long before Middle-earth, the experiences that shaped him as an actor, and of course, his time as Glóin.

Welcome to Lucky Kiwi Podcast, Peter Hambleton!
Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations.
CREDITS:
Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy
Editing: Amanda Brophy
Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher
© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST
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https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/
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Website:
https://luckykiwipodcast.com

Royd Tolkien has been part of Jed and Amanda’s story since the very beginning. Join them as he shares a personal perspective on growing up as the great-grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, one of the world’s most beloved authors.

He also talks about his brother Mike and his battle with motor neurone disease, a journey that led to Royd’s documentary and book, There’s a Hole in My Bucket.
Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations.
CREDITS:
Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy
Editing: Amanda Brophy
Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher
© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/
Facebook:
facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast
X:
https://x.com/luckykiwipod
Website:
https://luckykiwipodcast.com

In this episode of Lucky Kiwi Podcast, we’re joined by someone who has been part Jed’s life for more than 35 years. Mark Hadlow isn’t just a dear friend to us. He’s family.

One of New Zealand’s best-known actors, Mark has performed in countless theatre shows, dozens of film appearances, television series, commercials and radio voice-overs in the thousands. He has directed theatre, opera, and film throughout New Zealand.

International audiences will know Mark through his long-standing creative relationship with fellow Kiwi filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, beginning with the cult classic Meet the Feebles, followed by King Kong, The Hobbit trilogy, where he played the beloved dwarf Dori, and Mortal Engines. 

But for us, Mark is so much more than an extraordinary actor. This conversation celebrates a friendship that has lasted through decades of life, work, laughter and everything in between.

Those of us who know Mark know there is something particularly special about him. He wears his heart on his sleeve, with an almost childlike openness and innocence that is both disarming and deeply genuine. He is loving, generous and wonderfully unguarded.

This is Mark Hadlow as we know and love him: warm, funny, honest, emotional, mischievous and completely himself.

We hope you enjoy getting to know him.
Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations.
CREDITS:
Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy
Editing: Amanda Brophy
Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher
© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/
Facebook:
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X:
https://x.com/luckykiwipod
Website:
https://luckykiwipodcast.com

Stephen Hunter, the man behind Bombur in The Hobbit trilogy, joins us for one of our funniest interviews yet!

Stephen takes us behind the scenes of Middle-earth and shares stories, memories, and plenty of laughs from his time working on The Hobbit.
Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations.
CREDITS:
Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy
Editing: Amanda Brophy
Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher
© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/
Facebook:
facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast
X:
https://x.com/luckykiwipod
Website:
https://luckykiwipodcast.com