Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

Welcome Slug Club member, Franzi! Main Discussion: Professor Sprout & Herbology’s Role in the Harry Potter Series To start off, the hosts test their skills in a new game: Potter Plant or... Pokemon? What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of Professor Sprout? What does Sprout's name origin tell us about her character? Miriam Margoyles shined in her limited screen time in the Potter films The Chronicles of Sprout and McGonagall are canon - should it be a spin-off series? Laura dishes on some good Sprout fan fictions as we revisit the Splitwick publishing controversy! Does Professor Sprout's character suffer from lack of representation? How would we rank her in comparison to other heads of house?  Does the connection between Professor Sprout and Hufflepuff house get lost on the reader? Is she not that memorable for the average reader?  Do Sprout (Hufflepuff) and Flitwick (Ravenclaw) suffer from not being focal points of Harry’s story and attention?  Top Sprout Moments in the Potter se

Take note! The new-ish Harry Potter Database is keeping track of deleted and never-seen scenes from the movies, with stills and even script excerpts! Including the alternate ending from Goblet of Fire that we mentioned last week. It's the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts! The hosts honor the occasion by looking at what the movie left out from the book. How do the hosts feel about the Harry/Voldemort face-off, now that they've reread it? What role would Andrew, Laura, Micah, and Eric taken in defending the school? Would any particular moment during the Battle of Hogwarts have caused us to retreat or rethink our strategy? What is the one thing that we'd change after all these years about what happened during the Battle of Hogwarts in the book? Listeners weigh in with the top things they would change as well. Which character who died would Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah save, and who would we kill in their place? We eulogize those who lost their lives on this fateful day in the book series. Quizzitch

News: Harry Potter flagship store opening on June 3 in New York City, but not everyone on the panel is into the news. This week’s episode is all MuggleMail! Did Harry's "I am The Chosen One" line miss its mark with some fans? Listeners share lots of feedback on our Fred and George episode! We even hear from several twins! Should you omit "problematic" parts of the books when reading Harry Potter to your children? Seline from South Australia sparks a spirited discussion about teaching basic reading, writing and arithmetic at Hogwarts! Do the hosts enjoy the books more because the movies omit so much? We examine a secret deleted scene from the Goblet of Fire movie Night Crawler: Wasn't Harry old enough to crawl or even walk away from the Dursley's doorstep at the beginning of Sorcerer's Stone? Everyone seems to want a Harry Potter TV show. Well, what if it's really bad? Is Ron the glue that holds the trio together? What was Hermione doing on the train ride to Hogwarts while Harry and Ron were in the

News: British star of stage, film and TV Helen McCrory has died. We wish the best to her family and loved ones. Main Discussion: Former MuggleNet Fan Fiction moderator Laura Tee is here to discuss fanfic! Have the MuggleCast hosts read fanfic before? Why or why not? Was there a stigma attached in the early days? Laura runs through some common Harry Potter fanfic tropes including American exchange students, students getting "HOT" over the summer, and replacement love interests for Snape. The hosts have each read some of the most popular Potter fanfics as suggested by our listeners, and are here to dish! In "The Very Secret Diary" by Arabella, Laura found a depth to Ginny's character that was lacking for her in the books. Eric describes the 700,000 word Hermione time-travel epic, "The Debt of Time" by ShayaLonnie Debt of Time is so massive that it even has its own read-through podcast, Firewhisky and Honey. Micah's choice for fan fiction, "In the Light of the Stars" by little0bird, features a lot of di

Main Discussion: What Would We Change About The Harry Potter Books & Movies? A couple of Mary GrandPre's book covers should've taken a different direction! It's Philosopher's Stone, NOT Sorcerer's Stone! Get with it, America! What's Buggin' Micah returns as he Americanizes the other Harry Potter book titles Enough Expelliarmus, Harry! Don't you know more than one spell? Justice for Slytherin! What in the world was that final fight scene between Harry and Voldemort? Too many directors, not enough consistency! Plainclothes Hogwarts students - this isn't an Abercrombie & Fitch ad! Why is every major wizard duel made to look like Priori Incantatem? Our patrons weigh in with their book & movie changes! Why does Harry break the Elder Wand? Where is S.P.E.W.? Why does Bellatrix burn down The Burrow? Moody Sirius, Sassy Harry, Tonks & Lupin, Grawp and more! Quizzitch:  What is the British Television series from 2003 which was directed by David Yates, and scored by Nicholas Hooper? Visit MuggleCast.com/Qu

News: Warner Bros' recent deal with Regal means a shorter window between theaters and streaming for future Wizarding World films. This week, we focus our attention on Fred and George Weasley, in celebration of their April 1st birthday. Following up on our Ron discussion, we read the Twins' horoscope (Aries) for insight into their personality. Is it strange for George to marry Angelina Johnson, after Fred's death? The hosts weigh in. The Weasley Twins have traits that can be found in each of their other family members, like Percy's ambition and Arthur's ingenuity. Are Fred and George the most entrepreneurial characters in Harry Potter? Eric asks: Can readers readily tell the twins apart from one another in the books? It turns out, Fred and George really do have different personalities! One of the twins often "goes too far," while the other is more restrained. The hosts read textual evidence to support the findings. From harming childhood pets to forcing Unbreakable Vows and feeding acid pops, one Weasl

This week, we're joined by Bradley Bakes, a YouTuber in the United Kingdom who’s currently baking his way through the entire Harry Potter book series! Bradley shares why he started creating every food and drink item mentioned in the Harry Potter books 64 recipes for Sorcerer's Stone, 54 recipes for Chamber of Secrets - what's next on the menu? Golden Snitch Lemon Meringue Pie... Whomping Willow Chocolate Cabbage Cake... Bradley puts a twist on some notable Potter items! Bradley shares a few simple recipes the listeners (and hosts) can try at home and the most challenging food for him to make How long does each recipe take from start to finish? What's it like to shop for all of these delicious items? Which item in the upcoming books is Bradley most looking forward to making? MuggleCast gets its very own recipe! Fans have no excuses for their next Harry Potter party! Be sure to check Bradley out on YouTube, Instagram and his blog! Snog, Marry, Avada Kedavra returns! Can the hosts name the Top 50 Most

We asked our listeners, following last week's discussion, what fan films they would like to see made. From Arthur and Molly's courtship, to Regulus' thwarting of Voldemort, the hosts discuss what the best plots yet to be seen could look like. Since Ilvermorny has been more or less forgotten about by the author, should fans take it back / make it their own? This week's episode is all MuggleMail! Theories on how Ron inherited Charlie's wand, and similarities between Hogwarts and boarding school arrive in hushed tones in new voicemails from our listeners. We've received a litany of responses to our Security Nightmare series, agreeing that Hagrid, the Floo Network, the troll, and the Chamber of Secrets all prove Hogwarts is not safe. We hear from a listener who homeschools her kid and loves sharing Harry Potter as a proud parent. MuggleMail covers other topics such as: Could Harry and a Young Tom Riddle be romantically involved? Could Mrs. Norris be a secret Animagus? And how one listener feels about the w

The MuggleCasters recently appeared on Evanna Lynch’s ChickPeeps podcast, where we nerded out on Harry Potter - check it out! We remember Harry Potter fandom icon Nigel Taylor (Vladimir Snape) Grab the popcorn, candy and soda and hide it inside Laura's huge purse, because this week, we're going to the movies! In our main discussion this week, we review several excellent Harry Potter Fan-Made Short Films We review some of the best fan-made movies over the last several years Severus Snape the The Marauders Voldemort: Origins of the Heir Lily Evans and the Eleventh Hour Life After Fred Dumbledore and Grindelwald: For The Greater Good Harrey Podder: Say The Magic Word Sisters of House of Black The hosts give their own ideas for a Harry Potter short film Quizzitch: At what United States college was A Very Potter Musical written and first performed? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's episode is sponsored by MD Acne (Take the quiz and get your first month supply for free,

Welcome Slug Club guest Olivia! The Hogwarts Legacy video game will reportedly allow for players to customize their character's gender identity.  To celebrate International Womens Day 2021, the hosts discuss achievements by women in the Harry Potter series Not only did Lily Potter save her son, but she ended the war with Voldemort the first time, saving thousands of lives! Hermione has saved Ron and Harry's lives more times than we can count! Ginny overcame the trauma of Tom Riddle's teenage Horcrux and turned out well adjusted, in spite of a lack of psychological services at Hogwarts Fleur Delacour and Nymphadora Tonks distinguish themselves as strong and powerful witches Sirius Black's mother defeats the Order of the Phoenix! How comes nobody could get her painting down? The hosts uncomfortably talk about Umbridge's attack on Privet Drive and Harry, before they even met.  Others we discuss include Luna, Professor McGonagall, Narcissa, and Molly. Do the ladies on our panel feel like women in the se

Happy Birthday, Ronald Bilius Weasley! Today we're kicking off a new monthly feature, where we’ll be hosting a main character discussion timed around their birthday. We start with Ron! One of the most underrated characters in the Wizarding World, let's get Ron's Fandom ID! We discuss our first impressions of Harry's best friend and Ron's complex about his family's socioeconomic status What were our favorite Ron moments in the books? What was his defining chapter? What were some of Ron's worst character moments? We discuss The Yule Ball Dating Lavender, and more.  In celebration of Rupert Grint, we share our favorite Ron scenes from the movies! ... But we can't forget all the great Ron moments that were given to Hermione in the films! What would each of the hosts get Ron for his birthday? We play two Ron-themed games: Snog, Marry, Avada Kedavra and Two Truths, One Lie! Quizzitch: What did Fred turn into a spider when Ron was three? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week's epi

Did Wizards Unite finally confirm a long-standing theory about Lavender Brown? Main Discussion: All The Ways That Hogwarts Is A Security Nightmare For decades, students and teachers have been lied to about Hogwarts safety!  Are moving staircases really a good idea? The Forbidden Forest & Black Lake are no place for students of any age! The Triwizard Tournament? Ask Cedric Diggory how that turned out! Background check, anyone? We discuss how professors like Quirrell, Lockhart, Hagrid & Impostor Moody endangered the students year-after-year. Quidditch... need we say more? Dear Dumbledore, you REALLY couldn't find the the Chamber of Secrets? Or the giant snake? The Whomping Willow (emphasis on whomping) Mental health check: should students really be experiencing their worst fears (Boggarts) in  front of each other? Remember that year Dementors "safeguarded" the school? Listeners weigh in with their security concerns, including The Room of Requirement, Portraits, Secret Passages and more! Are parents

A new Harry Potter Exhibition will be touring the globe. How similar will it be to the one we've already been to? The hosts discuss how they would like to see Fantastic Beasts 3 start, from blood pact flashbacks to a street chase in Rio! Will director David Yates finally make a substantive flashback sequence? Will the colors of this film at last be cheery and bright? Lynx Line: Our Patrons weigh in with their opening ideas. What if our heroes are all turned into Nifflers? Could Leta Lestrange still be alive? Voicemails cover thoughts on being an adult Harry Potter fan, how John Williams joined the world of Harry Potter, getting our kids into Harry, and what if Voldemort had killed Draco? Ron, Neville, and Ginny are three potential POV's that our e-mails analyze for the story. The last two e-mails involve Snape and his love for Lily. What if Harry had been a girl, and did he leave Harry under the rubble in Godric's Hollow? We answer a question sent to us in July 2007! Our pick-up lines segment from E

We made it to Episode 500! To celebrate, we have a fun a look at MuggleCast By The Numbers How many emails have we received over the years? How many times has the show been downloaded? Which host has appeared on the most episodes? Guess That MuggleCast Episode Title! Eric quizzes Andrew, Laura and Micah on some of the more memorable episode titles on the last 15 years! To celebrate Valentine's Day, we set the mood and deliver some of the best Harry Potter Pickup Lines Alternate Universe Pairings that've been popular head cannon: could Harry and Luna have really happened? What about Hermione and Draco? Remus and Sirius? We examine some of the more popular head canon couples in the series and try to identify the turning point where they could have become a reality! What Hogwarts House is your soulmate in? Take the quiz! Quizzitch: How far did Harry throw the gnome that bit him? This week's episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (Get 20% off your order at the link!) and our newest sponsor Magic Spoon (hit the

Welcome to our listener and Patron Julia, whose son Wyatt sent us a great question a few weeks ago. News: As we predicted, a Potter television series is reportedly in the works. And, Fantastic Beasts 3 finishes filming this week! In Bonus MuggleCast, available on our Patron, we'll discuss when to expect more news and updates about the third Fantastic Beasts movie. Today we discuss the trials and tribulations of being an adult fan of the Harry Potter series! The hosts discuss whether they've received backlash for liking Harry Potter as adults. How the New York Times Bestseller List  cleverly sidelined Harry Potter back in the heyday to make room for more "adult" book series Eric discovered a 2003 Telegraph article overflowing with derision for adults who like "kids movies" We discuss the United Kingdom "adult edition" book covers, and ask why Scholastic never did the same thing in the United States. Listeners who got into Harry Potter as adults weigh in over on Twitter! When is the best time to get yo

News: With a new appointment at Warner Brothers, could a Harry Potter television show be in our future? (Note: This episode was recorded before The Hollywood Reporter reported on January 25 that a live-action Harry Potter series is officially in development, but our news discussion still relates to the news) It's Not Just For Kids! Listeners weigh in on Ollivander's wand choosing ceremony at the Wizarding World theme park. Main Discussion: Harry Potter Companion Novels. As we continue the 20th anniversary celebration of the Sorcerer's Stone movie, whose eyes would we want to see the first story through? Twilight and Fifty Shades have taken this approach: have other book series? (MuggleCast interviewed Twilight author Stephenie Meyer back on Episode 156). What would Sorcerer's Stone look like from Professor Quirrell's perspective? Would Draco Malfoy and Boy Who Snubbed Me be a bestseller? Would readers enjoy Severus Snape's story and his constant struggle to protect the son of his worst enemy? Andrew ta

Welcome Slug Club member Pablo to the show! Spanish language speakers, check out Pablo's HP podcast Cuarantena 9 3/4! In a bit of sad news, Hogwarts Legacy has been given a 2022 release window, not 2021 as we had hoped. How will the hosts fill the time without the new game? By checking out other games like Micah? The Sorcerer's Stone movie turns 20 this year! To celebrate, we'll be hosting discussions about the first film throughout the year! The hosts discuss which character was given the best introduction in the movie. The rest of today's episode is all MuggleMail! The hosts answer your e-mails and voicemails Why don't we hear more about teachers' spouses at Hogwarts? Should Samuel L. Jackson voice the Sorting Hat on a new TV series? We listen to his audition tape. Did Dumbledore fail to protect Frank and Alice Longbottom sufficiently in the wake of the death of the Potters? 12-year-old listener Wyatt asks us, would throwing a Horcrux through The Veil destroy it? The hosts ruminate on whether a Ch

Welcome to 2021 - our 16th year of Potter podcasting! What Harry Potter gifts did we receive over the holidays? Main Discussion: The New Year's Resolutions of Harry Potter Characters But first... the host share resolutions of their own! Which character shouldn’t make promises he can’t keep? Who might want to regularly check on his Horcruxes this year? Which character should wash his socks? Smile more? From Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix to Neville and Lavender Brown, our Patrons weigh in with their Potter character resolutions! For more fun, we discuss what Harry Potter lines we and fellow fans say out loud? The hosts try their hand at some of most notable lines in the Harry Potter series! Quizzitch: Which actor, who had worked with Chris Columbus before, asked to audition for Hagrid? This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Receive 10% off your first month) and ThirdLove (visit ThirdLove.com/mugglecast for 20% off your first purchase). Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like

As 2020 comes to a close, we're so thankful to have all of you! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! To celebrate the holidays, the hosts each pick a Harry Potter-themed cocktail of their choice and taste test live on air! See who comes out the winner as Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah battle it out for the title of Heads Up champ! Main Discussion: 2020 Year in Review. From Grindelwald's recasting to J.K. Rowling's tweets to Hogwarts Legacy and Harry Potter at Home, we reflect on the most notable Potter moments of 2020 And on top of it all, we celebrated our 15th anniversary! Muggle Mail covers some thoughts on our gizmos and gadgets episode, a defining chapter for Molly Weasley and more! Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul Quizzitch: The Fizzing Whizbee is said to contain parts of which Fantastic Beast? This week's episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (visit ThirdLove.com/mugglecast for 10% off your first purchase), Literati (get 25% off your first two orders!) and BetterHelp (Receive 10% off your first mo

The hosts are joined by Dave Jorgenson, Washington Post's TikTok Guy, who's a huge Harry Potter fan and a longtime MuggleCast listener! Dave is a long-time listener of MuggleCast and has his finger on the pulse of Harry Potter TikTok trends. This week's Main Discussion: The gadgets and gizmos of the Wizarding World We ask this of each gadget: How does it work? Is it cool or dumb or dangerous? Also, what would we pay for each? Far fewer people are on Team Cool regarding Dumbledore's Put-Outer than you'd expect! And what's up with the change in name to Deluminator? Wizards' Chess sets and the Flying Ford Anglia both get passing grades and positive reviews. The Monster Book of Monsters and Pocket Sneakoscope fall behind... ...and the Time Turner also turns some heads! Omnioculars, Wormtail's Hand, Decoy Detonators, and Auto-Answer Quill receive mixed feedback... ...while the Pensieve, Quick Quotes Quill, and Hermione's beaded bag impress everyone! Which gadget would you most like to own? Did we leave a