Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

The latest (and final?) trailer for Fantastic Beasts: the Secrets of Dumbledore is here! Overall the trailer is very Dumbledore-and Grindelwald-focused and we are here to pick it apart, scene by scene! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss that interesting Michael Gambon cameo, long-haired Credence, Jacob's wand, Dark Queenie, and more. Plus, is Theseus in trouble? Do we know some of the "new" beasts? And did Bunty get a promotion? Listen now! First, we stand with the people of Ukraine and encourage everyone to keep an eye on the news coming out of the country. It's time to talk about the new Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore trailer! This time the hosts will all be on the same page... YouTube page, that is! We use this video when referencing all timestamps during our discussion. Laura is optimistic that the Michael Gambon Pensieve appearance foreshadows memory being a crucial part of the plot for this film... ...and Eric thinks it's another desperate attempt to market the film t

This week we're talking about black characters as well as people of color in the core Harry Potter books, the movie adaptations of those books, and the media that has come out since! Joining us as our honored guest is the amazing Adriana Redding, who led Hufflepuff Team to victory on Harry Potter: Tournament of Houses! Together she, Andrew, Eric and Laura discuss the reasons why black characters are so few and far between, and what their diversity hopes are for future releases set in the Wizarding World. Our guest Adriana Redding talks about her time on Harry Potter: Tournament of Houses as well as black representation in the Harry Potter series! Adriana recounts how she got into Harry Potter a bit later than others, and how this affected her take on diversity in the series. The hosts discuss the importance of seeing somebody like yourself in the stories you consume. Was the statistical diversity of England and Wales in the 1990's a factor in the lack of black and POC characters in Harry Potter? We exp

Our mailbag is overflowing with feedback from our recent Snape and Lily episode, and people want to talk about Jacob in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts film. We hear from another one of our youngest fans, and even dig up a classic e-mail from 2006. All on this latest milestone episode of MuggleCast! Important Note: Next week, we're celebrating Black History Month by talking about how the books handle representation. If you're a listener of color and have feedback on this topic, please send us your owls! Previously unseen photos of Ariana Dumbledore have leaked online, and Andrew and Micah did an IG Live about it. View that now on our Instagram. Last week, Eric attended Albion School, a live action roleplay, and had a blast. The results of our listener house survey are in! Find out what Hogwarts house the majority of our listeners are in! (It's very close, but not as close as O.G. Pottermore said they were.) Voicemails kick off from an Aquarius listener who brings even more insight into Lily's characte

It's our annual Valentine's Day episode and this year we're switching things up to talk about the female friendships in the Harry Potter series!  So... Happy GALENTINE's Day! Hermione & Ginny, Ginny & Luna, and Lavender & Parvati are just a few of the pairings we dive deep into! Also, don't miss our Top 7 Moments Male Characters Were Emotionally Vulnerable! Next week, we're opening up our Muggle Mail bag, so don't forget to send us your owls! Don't forget to follow us on our new TikTok! It's Galentine's Day and we talk about the importance of female friendships in the Harry Potter series! Hermione and Ginny: are they best friends? Why are the two so mean towards Fleur? Sisterhood in Friendship: Ginny and Luna Why did these two characters bond so closely with each other? Support and Compassion: Lavender and Parvati & Tonks and Molly The Top 7 Moments Male Characters Were Emotionally Vulnerable in Harry Potter Harry, Ron, Draco, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Sirius and Dudley all make the list! Quizzitch: In

After the Potter series proved to be successful, there was the Twilight Series. Next came The Hunger Games. And then came Divergent! Each series was marketed as "the NEXT Harry Potter." But, they weren't really as successful as Harry Potter at all! On this special episode of MuggleCast, the hosts dive deep into what makes the tale of a boy wizard so enduring, and how the other series just didn't measure up in terms of financial success OR staying-power. We also compare HP to Star Wars and discuss what the two series have in common. It's another great episode this week, be sure to listen at your leisure! MuggleCast is now on TikTok with the username @MuggleCast! Be sure to follow us there and enjoy all the fun content we've got coming. This week's Main Discussion: Why the so-called "Next Harry Potter" hasn't happened yet. Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah discuss what made Harry Potter so special. From the story beats to the complexity of the mystery, we dive deep into what we love and what inevitably transl

In light of Snape and Lily both being born in January, this week we're analyzing the rise and fall of the relationship between the two characters! What did Lily initially see in Snape? Should she have given him another chance? And just how creepy is Snape's life-long commitment to Lily? Then, we unveil the Top 7 pickup lines Snape used on Lily... no wonder things didn't work out! Welcome back to our guest host and HP super-fan, Irvin! Irvin's book on Dumbledore titled Dumbledore: The Life and Lies is available now wherever books are sold! MuggleCast is now on TikTok, aka Laura's favorite app. Subscribe to us at @mugglecastpod Our 2022 Patreon perks have been announced! The new MuggleCast Collector's Club and Fandom Lookback features are sure to thrill all who subscribe to our Patreon. Our main discussion this week is on Lily Potter and Severus Snape, and their relationship throughout the series. Both Lily and Severus are born in January! But, they have different star signs. What in their zodiac align

With just three months to go until the release of Secrets of Dumbledore, we continue our Fantastic Beasts character discussions with Jacob Kowalski!  The heart of the Fantastic Beasts series is a true, loyal friend and partner. But what does the future hold for him? Slipping on a strudel? Getting lost in Newt's suitcase? Don't miss our Top 10 Ways in Which Jacob Kowalski WILL DIE! And next week we explore the loving/semi-toxic relationship between Lily Potter and Severus Snape, so send us your feedback! Welcome Slug Club member, Roshni! Coming this October... the Illustrated Edition of Order of the Phoenix by Jim Kay! Did you buy your Harry Potter eBooks from Pottermore back in the day? Make sure you have your digital copies downloaded! Here's why Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Jacob Kowalski If you missed our first deep dive on Jacob, check out Episode 319! How does Jacob humanize his fellow wizards? Why introduce a Muggle as one of the core four? Is Jacob the stereotypical fat, funny guy

We open up our Muggle Mail bag for the first time in 2022, as we take listener feedback on  the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special! You wont want to miss our Top 10 Outtakes That We Don’t Know For Sure Happened During the Reunion But They Totally Did! Plus, did Andrew predict Jacob getting a wand five years ago?!? And speaking of Jacob, next week we return to our Fantastic Beasts character discussions, so send us your feedback! What did we miss during our Reunion Special episode? Where was Steve Kloves? Why did Emma Roberts make a cameo? Can Warner Bros. tell the Phelps twins apart? MuggleCast’s Top 10 Outtakes That We Don’t Know For Sure Happened During the Reunion But They Totally Did Muggle Mail, Muggle Mail, Muggle Mail! Listeners sound off on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on everything from Tom Felton and Emma Watson to Dan Radcliffe and Helena Bonham Carter! Voicemails cover Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane and the In Memoriam Andrew predicted Jacob having a wand

MuggleCast excitedly kicks off the year 2022 with their review of the brand new Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they go "chapter-by-chapter" on the 100 minute show and discuss the highs and lows, cast members who were noticeably absent, and how the reunion special did or didn't meet their expectations. We also have a mail-bag show next week, so be sure to send us YOUR thoughts on the special! 2022 started off with a brand new Reunion Special, looking back on the making of all 8 films and featuring the cast including Dan, Rupert and Emma Harry Potter Reunion Special First Impressions: did it satisfy our craving? Did it make us cry? (Spoiler alert: yes, it did.) Andrew found the beginning to be a little clunky, and the fact that Rupert, Dan and Emma were not physically all in the same space was ultimately a missed opportunity. Laura thinks the special would have benefitted from having a dedicated host to guide us through the many di

On this week's episode, we preview the forthcoming Harry Potter Reunion Special, dive deeper into The Secrets of Dumbledore trailer, take listener feedback on just what in the world Jacob is doing with a wand and look ahead to 2022! Plus, a bonus MuggleCast you won't want to miss - just what goes down at a Hogwarts Holiday staff party! Another year, gone (in your best Dumbledore voice)! We discuss the upcoming Harry Potter Reunion Special. The trailer was supposed to be released last week prior to our recording, but never appeared. It was eventually released Monday, December 20th. Rumors abound about a member of the trio not being present for the reunion! Don't forget, we'll be recording our first MuggleCast of 2022 following the airing of the reunion on HBO MAX! We return to analyzing The Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer now that we've had more time with it Look close... can you see Ariana? Dumbledore is in New York City! What brings him there? Could the portkey in the Room of Requirement be a Tibeta

The first trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore has finally arrived, and we're here to discuss everything in it! What's up with Jacob and his wand? Hey there, Aberforth Dumbledore! New Year, New Doo for Credence! And thank goodness that there are still magical beasts in this thing! We recorded this Secrets of Dumbledore trailer analysis just minutes after it was released Monday morning, so we go character by character and scene by scene to figure out what we can expect in the Fantastic Beasts threequel. (Just THREE points awarded to Hufflepuff? THREE?) Send us your feedback about the Secrets of Dumbledore trailer, and we may include it in the next episode, which we're recording later this week! We want your theories and feelings. This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and MeUndies (get 15% off your first order and free shipping at MeUndies.com/mugglecast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice

On this week's episode, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses makes it television premiere! And speaking of trivia, join us for Quizzitch Live: Holiday House Battle on Sunday, December 12 at 10 a.m. ET! In other news, our Fantastic Beasts character discussions continue with Queenie Goldstein. How has her character changed from Fantastics Beasts to Crimes of Grindelwald? Welcome Slug Club member, Sam! We review our magical stats from this year's Spotify Wrapped! Welcome to our new listeners in Cameroon, Mongolia, Brunei, Russia and Kenya! Eric and Micah will be doing an Instagram Live on Tuesday, December 7 at 7 p.m. ET! Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses debuts! We offer our initial thoughts! Our Fantastic Beasts Character Discussions return with Queenie Goldstein  What happened to Queenie between the first and second films? Have we seen a complete devolution of her character? Or is it just bad writing? Do Jacob and Queenie have a healthy relationship? What do we make of Queenie using

On this week's episode, major news hits the fandom! We discuss the upcoming reunion of cast and crew from Harry Potter to celebrate the first film's 20th anniversary. In addition, the new, shorter version of Cursed Child is reportedly a lot more heavy on an Albus/Scorpius relationship! And finally we bring you our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they reveal what awesome fan-crafted finds they've discovered this year. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will all take part in a 20th Anniversary Special for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone's release Even actors from later films, such as Gary Oldman and Mark Williams, will be joining in as well as SS/COS director Chris Columbus There have been no reports of J.K. Rowling in attendance. The hosts weigh in on what involvement she'll have, if any. A Cursed Child fan has passionately revealed that the new, shorter version of Cursed Child on Broadway has a lot more direct references to Albus and Scorpiu

On this week's episode, we empty some owl post from our Muggle Mail bag! What would the 1998-99 Hogwarts school year have looked like? Why did Harry decide to become an Auror? Plus, we analyze several new Credence theories, a Chicken Soup from India and a horcrux email from 2006 that we’ll finally answer! We're confounded! Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is closing this January! Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus says he thinks they got Harry’s scar wrong... and is interested in making a Cursed Child movie! It's our monthly Muggle Mail episode with voicemails covering Dumbledore and Grindelwald's blood pact, Mads Mikkelson's casting and more! Would Hermione, Ginny and Luna have been close? Would the Slytherin students have been treated poorly? How would Snape have been remembered? Credence theories abound! Would J.K. Rowling ever write a HP-world book from a different character's perspective? What is Grindelwald's emotional motivation? Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul ret

This week's episode is a movie commentary track for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone! The movie turns 20 years old this weekend, and you can finally watch along with the MuggleCasters. Listen as Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura share their insights and revisit the magical movie that launched the franchise.  You need to bring your own copy of the movie in order to fully enjoy this commentary track. We will help you sync up with us at the beginning (Press 'pause' as soon as the WB logo finishes fading to black. Then press 'play' when Andrew says '3'). Director Chris Columbus recently spoke about the movie in honor of its 20th anniversary, and some of his comments leak in to our lively discussion. The full list of MuggleCast movie commentaries can be found on our website's Must-Listens page. More to come in the years ahead! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we’re celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone hitting movie theaters, and kicking off an incredible film series! Where were we on opening night? How did movie critics react to the first Potter film? Who would we cast in some of our favorite Potter roles?  Plus, Eric as the Sorting Hat? Join us for the first of several episodes celebrating this epic movie anniversary!  Good news: ALL episodes of MuggleCast are now available in our RSS feed! Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the podcast feed to relive the old days. What did we do for the film's release on November 16, 2001? Thumbs up or thumbs down? We read some initial critical reviews of the movie! Quidditch hype! John Williams slander?!? No liberties taken?!? What were some of the more notable scenes that didn't make it to the screen? Box Office Breakdown: how did Sorcerer's Stone measure up? Recasting the first Potter film - our listeners weigh in with great suggestions! The hosts g

On this week's episode, long time friend of the show Evanna Lynch joins us to discuss her new book, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting. She talks about the challenges in writing her memoir and the hosts ask her about her experiences as a newly published author. Her book chronicles a struggle with mental illness and an eating disorder, as well as her correspondence with JK Rowling via letters, years before she was cast as Luna Lovegood. Evanna was kind to answer all of our questions and give us her time. This is one episode you won't want to miss! Evanna Lynch returns to MuggleCast, a newly published author! Her book, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting is a deeply moving, at times comical and mostly challenging tale of her struggles with an eating disorder while she was growing up. The hosts take turns asking Evanna questions both about her book, and some of the surprising stories found within. Evanna details why she was inspired to write Butterfly Hunting... and how she managed to remember so many detail

On this week's episode, it's our annual Halloween extravaganza! We invent some of our own wizarding world candy, discuss what treats Potter characters would hand out for Halloween and Potter-ize your favorite Halloween movies! Plus, some new and exciting info about The Secrets of Dumbledore following a test screening in Los Angeles last week! A new behind-the-scenes look at Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore sheds light on where the film will pick up and what countries we will be visiting! But what happened to Rio? We have a small, exciting, and spoiler-free tidbit about The Secrets of Dumbledore from someone who attended a test screening in Los Angeles last week. It's our annual Halloween episode! Have any of the hosts ever dressed up as Harry Potter characters for Halloween? (Here's Andrew's Morning Show appearance as Harry Potter) Laura has a great costume recommendation for Micah this year! We try our hand at inventing Wizarding World candy What kinds of goodies would Snape, Molly, Mad-

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we follow up on our original character discussion on Credence Barebone, aka Corvus Lestrange, aka "Aurelius Dumbledore"? Wading deep into prophecy, including forming one of our own using Nostradamus, the hosts try to answer the question: "Just what is going on with Credence?" Listen as we find some answers by reviewing the scenes and subplots of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. We heard from the creator behind Harry Potter Database and its astonishing collection of deleted and unreleased movie scenes! The surprise main character in Crimes of Grindelwald is Credence Barebone! Micah points out why this is more usual than unusual. Filmmakers chose twice not to include a scene where Credence survives his bout with MACUSA, both the end of the first film and the start of the second. Would such a scene have been an improvement? What brought Credence to "Circus Arcanus," and is it all one master manipulation from Grindelwald that has set Credence on his path to

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we get back to our Harry Potter character discussions with the brightest witch of her age, Hermione Jean Granger.  We discuss her personality traits, her academic prowess, and her overall perceptiveness. Plus, on Bonus MuggleCast on our Patreon, the hosts try to figure out if Hermione has a female best friend and debate which member of the trio is the "third wheel"? The Secrets of Dumbledore will hit theaters a week earlier in the UK. Why, just days after the franchise's big announcement, are they making this change? Unimpressed by the The Secrets of Dumbledore official movie synopsis, Micah writes his own! Wizarding World Gold is coming to an end this month! Does this news have larger implications for other endeavors of the Wizarding World franchise? Character Discussion: Hermione Jean Granger Much like Hermes, messenger of the gods, does Hermione serve as messenger between the Muggle and wizarding worlds? Why we, as readers, should identify more with Hermione