Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

It’s the day of Harry’s hearing in our Chapter-by-Chapter re-read of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and we wouldn’t blame you if you lost sleep over it. While the odds are stacked firmly against Harry in several ways, Dumbledore decides to save Harry and us all by standing up against the increasingly-fascist Ministry of Magic. Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and our Slug Club guest Monet as they tackle Chapter 8, “The Hearing.” Welcome to the show, Slug Club guest Monet! Just like Monet, YOU can guest-host the show if you pledge to our Patreon at the Slug Club level. In addition, you can now gift a Patreon subscription to a friend! Additionally, we’re hosting a Black Friday sale (use code: SIRIUS, get it?!) on our MuggleCastMerch.com online store! Get 15% off your order now through Cyber Monday (December 1st). Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 8: The Hearing. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Be sure to check out Episo

Aren’t government buildings exciting? This week, the MuggleCasters jog their memories of how to do public transit because it’s time to go to the Ministry for Harry’s disciplinary hearing! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss Chapter 7 of Order of the Phoenix, “The Ministry of Magic.” Show announcements including what’s going on over at #Millennial and What the Hype?! as well as a unique gift idea for the upcoming Holidays. HP TV Show news! Actor Mark Rylance is reportedly a top pick for Dumbledore by the creators of the show. We can see it. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 7: The Ministry of Magic. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Be sure to check out Episode 440 and Episode 240 for prior Chapter 7 analysis! For their journey to the Ministry, why does Arthur go it alone? Does it put Harry at undue risk? How come Arthur didn’t know where he was going, and why wouldn’t he plan it in advance? Micah comes for

This week, grab your doxy spray and settle in because we're deep cleaning the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Join Eric, Micah and Laura as they dodge possessed music boxes, coughing wastebaskets, and mysterious lockets all while fighting with a deranged House-Elf and learning about pureblood wizarding families! News Alert: Hogwarts Legacy 2 to crossover with the new Harry Potter TV Show! Plus, get in the holiday spirit as Hogwarts: Wizards of Baking premieres on Food Network and MAX on Nov. 14! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 6: The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Be sure to check out Episode 439 and Episode 230 for prior Chapter 6 analysis! Have we ever been in a situation where an adult forbade us from talking to our friends after hearing something they deemed inappropriate? Does Molly not understand how kids work? Forbidding them from staying up to talk is the best way t

Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as we dive into the Muggle Mailbag and respond to listener feedback from the first five chapters of our Order of the Phoenix reread! Visit our new online store for can’t-miss items that are one of a kind! MuggleCastMerch.com Voicemails cover what Hermione would be like in grad school, and a theory as to why the Cursed Child runtime keeps being shortened in America. An astute listener writes in about the historical name origins of the wizengamot! We are all impressed. Ron wearing the locket in Book 7 has the same exact feelings we see Harry have in early Book 5. Other topics include: Why Salazar Slytherin may have chosen emeralds as a house gem, whether we should feel sorry for Petunia Dursley, why Nearly Headless Nick should still be frozen, and Harry’s sparse security detail. A fun What If… segment and Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul round out the discussion. Finally, our Lynx Line benefit exclusively for Patrons has them sharing their overall thoughts on Book

Happy Halloween! Welcome to Harry Potter and the Graveyard of Goods! Join us as we discuss the official projects by Wizarding World Inc. that’ve perished over the decades. These’ve been rejected by the Sorting Hat. They're on display in Diagon Fail-ey. You get the point. Our Time Turner segment takes us back to the echoes of Halloween episodes past! Be sure to check out Episode 633: Quizzitch Live - Halloween Edition (2023); Episode 535: Halloween Extravaganza (2021); Episode 487: The Scariest Moments in Harry Potter (2020); Episode 343: Fantastic Beasts And The Not 2 (2017); Episode 161: Larger Than Life (2008) and Episode 61: Ghosts (2006). Reminder! The MuggleCast Merch Store is now open! Grab brand-new, original MuggleCast designs. We have t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, hats, and more! So what names are on the headstones in the Graveyard of Goods? Fantastic Beasts... more like Fantastic Busts! Who really axed the MinaLima Illustrated Editions? Potter-NO-more Who pulled the plug on Wizards Unite & Mag

More like DISorder, are we right? The cracks against Dumbledore keep coming as the MuggleCasters discuss the events of Book 5, Chapter 5 in our continuing re-read. Join Andrew, Eric, Pam and Micah as they discuss Sirius’ godfatherliness and Molly’s intentions. And more! Reminder! The MuggleCast Merch Store is now open! Grab brand-new, original MuggleCast designs. We have t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, hats, and we’ll be rolling out more in the months ahead! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 5: The Order of the Phoenix. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Check out Episode 437 and Episode 230! We learn just how underground this “underground” organization really is! (Positively subterranean) Why Sirius is good for Harry Interrupting!Molly interrupts a would-be apology from Mundungus to Harry, and in general is trying to do too much all at once. Has nobody checked in with Dumbledore on his definition of “need to know” for Harry?

This week, just let it all out! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they listen in to Harry unloading on his best friends and get the latest Order of the Phoenix goss. But be sure to tiptoe down the hall quietly because we don’t want to wake up any maniacal pureblood portraits! BIG NEWS! The MuggleCast Merch Store is now open! Grab brand-new, original MuggleCast designs. We have t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, hats, and we’ll be rolling out more in the months ahead! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 4: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Check out Episode 436 and Episode 229! Foreshadow Alert: Grim-Old-Place, "house of a dying person"... OH NO, SIRIUS! We break down Harry, Ron and Hermione's reunion with a fun new edition of "Horcrux or Harry?" The hosts try their hands at impersonating ALL CAPS HARRY! One host is SCARY good! Does Harry feel better about being left in the dark after learning w

On this week's episode, Harry is rude to his owl. Then someone breaks into his home. It's very exciting to be leaving Privet Drive! Join us for a chapter of highs and lows as Chapter-by-Chapter covers Chapter 3 of "Order of the Phoenix," and the hosts as well as Slug Club member Katie discuss the recent passing of Maggie Smith, take answers from our Lynx Line, and generally have a nice time as usual. Welcome to our Slug Club guest Katie! The hosts reflect on the amazing life of Dame Maggie Smith, who has passed away. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 3: The Advance Guard. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Check out Episode 435 and Episode 229! Harry interrupts Hedwig’s dinner. Is this one step too far on making his friends’ lives miserable? Andrew loves Harry’s plan to ensure his friends give him answers, but it may remind us all of Professor Umbridge. Does the delay between the last chapter and the night the Advance Guar

On this week's episode, we learn things are never as they appear to be as Ms. Figg reveals herself as a Dumbledore informant and Petunia recalls her last correspondence with the Wizarding World! Plus, there are owls... EVERYWHERE! Welcome back, Meg! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2: A Peck of Owls. And our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Check out Episode 434 and Episode 228! Did Dumbledore suspect that Harry would be attacked on Privet Drive? If so, why was more (competent) manpower not invested in Harry’s protection? Why is Harry facing criminal charges for doing a bit of simple, defensive magic? Given how fast the owls show up, are they using some form of magic themselves? Say what?! Petunia knows about Dementors... and Azkaban! When Petunia references that awful boy, does she mean James... or Snape? Remember My Last! Was Petunia actually excited to receive a letter from the Wizarding World? Has she ever heard Dumbledor

This week, our Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix re-read begins! We examine the protections surrounding Harry now that Voldemort is back, and ask whether Dudley Dursley is a good boy now. News: There is an open casting call for children to become the next Potter trio for the HBO series. We’ll be talking more about it in Bonus MuggleCast, available on Apple Podcasts and our Patreon. Chapter-by-Chapter begins again with Book 5, and our brand new MuggleCast Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions. This week, Episode 433 and Episode 228. Harry’s mood has soured significantly! Were we repelled by the book’s immediately sadder protagonist? How much of Harry’s rage is justified? How much is due to his horcrux connection?  Could Harry have been removed from Privet Drive after just 24 hours? If so, why wasn’t he? Is Dumbledore to blame for all of harry’s problems? Feeling disconnected, Harry hears a loud noise but it makes him feel more desperate. The noise was the s

Before we start our Chapter by Chapter re-read of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, this week we're watching the fifth Harry Potter movie together! Bring your own copy of the Order of the Phoenix movie and watch the film with us. We offer commentary, behind-the-scenes info, wonder why there are so many montages, and fun facts about the production. To sync up with us, pause the movie right after the camera fully sweeps through the 'WB' logo, about 20 seconds into the movie. In the commentary track, we then tell you when to hit Play. (This is also explained on the episode) To listen to more of our Harry Potter movie commentaries, check out our Must Listens page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to put Goblet of Fire in the rear-view mirror as we conduct our ceremonial book wrap episode, featuring our 7-Word Chapter Summary redo, 7 Word Book Summary, and more MuggleMail than you can shake a non-plot-holed Portkey at! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah for this fun-filled episode catching up with all that our listeners have had to say recently. Next week we will be hosting an Order of the Phoenix movie watch commentary and on the following show we'll begin Book 5 chapter-by-chapter with new segments! Micah is back from a visit to Scotland! He tells us what he did over there. Andrew and Micah interview actor Joel Meyers, who currently plays Albus Severus Potter in Broadway's Cursed Child! Revisiting our Goblet of Fire 7 Word Chapter Summaries. Book Four 7-Word Summary: Resurrection for Voldemort awakens old echoes past. Two listeners point out that the return Portkey mystery is not a plot-hole, but was part of Voldemort's plan to stay hidden while alive. Is the Dark Mark on the arms of

This week, the four MuggleCasters are all under one roof for the first time since 2010! While attending Podcast Movement in Washington, D.C., we held a listener meet-up and later gathered around a single hotel room desk to answer questions about the show and each other. The entire experience was relaxing and fun, which you can hear for yourself now! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah IN PERSON while we celebrate 19 years of MuggleCast. Questions answered include: How does recording in person differ from recording on-line? Are the hosts as tall and as short as they each remember / expected? What city would we all live in if we could live together? What piece of HP merchandise would we never get rid of? How do each of the hosts take their coffee? If we went to karaoke, what would be the songs we would sing? Have any of us read books in foreign languages? Which HP character’s life would we want to swap ours with? Which HP book would we re-write if given the chance? What plot lines do we wish would have

Eric, Micah, and Chloé record a special, 19 years later-themed episode of MuggleCast live from LeakyCon in Portland, Oregon! We reflect on the show's journey so far, revisit the epilogue in Deathly Hallows, and play two of our show's games (Make the Connection and What If...) with listeners! This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Explore your curiosity with a therapist, today! Visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast for 10% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we wrap up our fourth year at Hogwarts, say goodbye to some new friends and prepare for what's to come! Join Andrew, Micah and Laura as we raise a glass to Cedric, Harry and our journey through Goblet of Fire! 7-Word Summary: Relationships blossom when the trio parts ways Chapter-by-Chapter concludes with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 37: The Beginning Could there be a less creative title for this chapter? What?! There was still a bit of term left after the Third Task? Harry & The Diggorys: examining another example of a mother's love Why is the real Mad-Eye Moody still hanging around Hogwarts? Tea Time with Hagrid is what we all need right now Dumbledore tells the student body Voldemort has returned. Smart or reckless move on his part? Should Dumbledore's have toasted Harry? Did any Slytherins stand for him? Do we think the Triwizard Tournament was successful in breeding international magical cooperation?  Hermione & Rita: how long has she been in that jar?! Showdown on the Hogwarts Express

This week, the battlelines are officially drawn between Dumbledore and Fudge! Join us as we try our very best to convince the Minister for Magic that Voldemort has indeed returned! News: MinaLima will not be releasing further editions of their illustrated books (we'll discuss this story in more detail in Bonus MuggleCast) 7-Word Summary: Fudge makes disastrous decisions about Lord Voldemort Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36: The Parting of the Ways Sympathetic Grandfatherly Figure or Master Manipulator: Is what Dumbledore says to Harry truly heartfelt and genuine? Does Fawkes know what went down in the graveyard? Should Harry tell his story without other Ministry officials present? The Gleam of Triumph and its connection to Deathly Hallows Why, specifically, did Voldemort and Harry’s wand cores come from Dumbledore’s pet phoenix? Ollivander has Dumbledore on speed dial! Comparing parental figures: Sirus and Molly's love for Harry is on full display, foreshadowing things to

On this week's episode, hard truths are revealed… by force! The culprit is finally revealed in our Chapter by Chapter discussion for Goblet of Fire Chapter 35, ‘Veritaserum.’ And, there’s been news about the new Universal theme park! A reveal trailer for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic theme park has been released! We discuss it in a new edition of Bonus MuggleCast, and now non-Patrons can listen for a one-time purchase of just $3! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35: Veritaserum Secrets are revealed by truth telling serum With Harry back at Hogwarts but his world turned upside down, how does Dumbledore let him out of his sight? Should we have predicted that ANOTHER Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a baddie? We review Barty Crouch, Jr.’s history of acts throughout the book so far. …but what Barty really wants, is a father figure! We discuss his possibly unique relationship with Voldemort. Dumbledore has “a look.” What does it look like? Should

On this week's episode, we're causing chaos in Little Hangleton, striking fear into the heart of the Dark Lord himself. Join us as we face the echoes of Voldemort's past trangressions! Someone should have studied Priori Incantatem at Hogwarts, Voldy! Welcome Slug Club member, Elizabeth! Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 34: Priori Incantatem 7-Word Summary: Echoes confront the dark past and spells Upon seeing Harry's ability to resist the Imperius Curse, do the Death Eaters now view him as a true and worthy adversary? Did the Horcrux aid Harry in his resistance to Voldemort's Imperius Curse? From Name Origin to effectiveness, we analyze Priori Incantatem To what extent do Harry's instincts allow him to "win" the Priori Incantatem battle? Is it a mark of a true Gryffindor? Was Fawkes at all impacted by this encounter between brother wands? Oh no, not again!!! What was going through Voldemort's mind? How do the echoes know that the Cup will take Harry back to Hogwarts? WHAT IF…

In this week’s MuggleCast, we’re setting book 4 down and picking up on real world controversy that was happening RIGHT as Goblet of Fire was first published, in July of 2000. At issue was whether the series, quickly gaining national publicity in the US, was instructing young readers to take up witchcraft, join the devil and abandon God. It’s HP vs Christianity on MuggleCast 666! New episodes of MuggleCast will now be released in full video on our YouTube channel, right when they are released on our podcast feed! For today’s Main Discussion, Eric has compiled a PDF of sources from the late 90’s to 2007 news media. The polished PDF is available via this link. By July of 2000, Harry Potter had gained massive popularity in the US, and raise alarm bells with some concerned parents. Were any of the hosts told not to read the HP books on religious grounds? The controversy may be categorized as a moral panic, not unlike the Satanic Panic phenomenon of the 80’s/90’s, which unfortunately had large ramifications.

This week, witness the return of Lord Voldemort himself after 13 years without a proper body! To celebrate this ‘rebirthing party’, we’ll be discussing two chapters of Goblet of Fire! LAST CHANCE to grab this year’s physical gift... The MuggleCast 19 Years Later t-shirt! If you aren’t a Patron, now’s a great time to join! Pledge today at the Slug Club level and fill out the form by July 19 to be eligible. Note: you will only receive your shirt after you’ve been a Patron at this level for a minimum of three months. In addition, you’ll get other great benefits such as twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, the chance to co-host the show, a video message from one of the four of us and much more! Visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast today! Thanks to everyone who came out to see us at LeakyCon Portland! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 31: Flesh, Blood and Bone and Chapter 32: The Death Eaters 7-Word Summary #1: Cedric falls to his untimely, sad demise Main Discussion #1: The Death of Cedric Diggory