Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

In this week's episode, Harry and Ron rack up substantial points for Gryffindor, and Dobby is freed! It's the final Chapter-by-Chapter segment of our read-through of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with Andrew, Eric, Laura and our social media manager Chloé! Eric tries desperately to up Dumbledore's Lie Count, but Andrew isn't having it. Finally, Quizzitch looks ahead to the third book, which we will be starting in a few weeks' time! We revisit last week's topic of inter-Horcrux communication, with quotes from the later books. Main Discussion: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18: Dobby's Reward 7-Word Summary: Harry accepts Dumbledore’s comforting advice on Voldemort Dumbledore is back! But unlike last year, he did not save Harry beneath the school. How much does the headmaster really know about the events of the past year? Who are his sources regarding Voldemort's current location? Is what happened in the Chamber a perfect recruiting opportunity for DD of Molly and Arthur? Dumbledore pays Voldem

In this week's episode, Harry finally enters the Chamber of Secrets! But does he leave with more questions than he had coming in? And, knowing what the diary truly represents, the hosts dive deep into the world of Horcruxes! Join us as we discuss the penultimate chapter of Chamber of Secrets! Welcome, Voldemort enthusiast and friend of the show, Tylor Starr! Be sure to follow him on social media and check out his Unofficial Harry Potter Vegan Cookbook! Main Discussion: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin 7-Word Summary: Memories reveal answers about Tom’s legacy fulfillment  Are Horcruxes self-aware? Do they have a hivemind? Does the diary-version of Tom Riddle know he’s a Horcrux?  How does a Horcrux work when another form still exists? If Tom Riddle weren’t killed here, would there have been a current Voldemort and a Tom Riddle, or would they have merged together? What if… Ginny had found fulfillment and happiness instead of being teased by her brothers, feeling like she didn’t fi

What exactly did the Forbidden Forest do to the Flying Ford Anglia? What did the teachers do all day when Ginny Weasley was discovered missing? And, should Hogwarts lock its front door? These questions and more are asked as your MuggleCast hosts delve into Chapters 15 and 16 of Chamber of Secrets on this week's jam-packed Chapter-by-Chapter episode of MuggleCast! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura, Micah, and Slug Club guest Kimberly (who came prepared with some fun HP-themed Valentines greetings) as we near the final chapters of Book 2. Welcome to the show Slug Club guest Kimberly! Is it really Valentine's Day without some Harry-Potter-themed greetings? The hosts are delighted to hear something new. Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 15: Aragog 7-Word Summary: Andrew and Micah devise, "Spiders spiders spiders spiders vroom vroom vroom" Parallels abound between life at Hogwarts without Dumbledore in Book 2, and a similar time for students in Year 7. Should Hogwarts lock its front door at night to

Another episode, another attack at Hogwarts! Join us as we enter the pages of a secret diary, get treated to a special Valentine's Day by Professor Lockhart and witness an epic showdown in Hagrid's Hut between Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge! All as the threads between Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince continue to grow stronger! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13: The Very Secret Diary 7-Word Summary: Memories are misleading within Riddle’s secret diary  Don't touch that book! Ron provides some important wizarding world advice to his best friend. Harry, Ron and Hermione begin to connect the dots between The Chamber of Secrets opening 50 years ago and Tom Riddle being at Hogwarts 50 years ago... they just draw the wrong conclusion! Harry notes it was "almost as though Riddle was a friend he’d had when he was very small, and had half-forgotten.” Is this our first introduction to the Horcrux connection? Could Tom Riddle have killed Harry by trapping him inside the di

This week Snape demonstrates the famous Disarm Charm to a clearly impressionable Harry. Harry, meanwhile, throws a well-placed firework into Goyle's cauldron. And it's pandemonium when Harry is revealed to be a Parselmouth, leading the entire school to suspect him of being Slytherin's heir (except Dumbledore, who weirdly lets Harry leave without interrogation.) Tons to talk about as the hosts cover chapters 11 and 12 of Chamber of Secrets during Chapter-by-Chapter! News: Eddie Redmayne says he's not aware of a 4th Fantastic Beasts movie. Is this the end? Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11: The Dueling Club 7-Word Summary: Students get ready for their dueling club We rank the trio's plans to break into Snape's personal potions storage and their successful execution! Would Harry have been less suspected by Snape if he sabotaged a fellow Gryffindor? After being discovered as a Parselmouth, the whole school suspects Harry is opening Slytherin's chamber. We examine ALL the evidence against

The Chamber of Secrets is officially opened! But as Dumbledore says, the question is not who, but how? Join us as we learn more about the Chamber's legend, check books out from the Restricted Section, evade Rogue bludgers and handle (un)helpful House-Elves. Plus, we continue to connect some major threads to events of Half-Blood Prince! Welcome Slug Club member, Alyssa! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9: The Writing on The Wall 7-Word Summary: Filch scares Harry because he’s acting accusatory Was the attack on Mrs. Norris a trial run? Was Filch the intended target? Or is Mrs. Norris too meddlesome for her own good? What do we make of Ron's reaction to Filch being a Squib? How is it possible that no other students were aware? Why is Snape seemingly trying to implicate Harry? At this early stage, might Snape suspect Harry’s susceptibility to having his mind infiltrated by Voldemort?  Do we think students actually checked out all copies of Hogwarts: A History, or was it a strategic choic

Happy New Year! As we begin 2023, and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chamber of Secrets, we examine the some of the book's and series' biggest themes! Join us as we hit the Quidditch pitch, visit Hagrid's hut, spend detention with Lockhart and celebrate Halloween with Nearly-Headless Nick on our latest episode of MuggleCast! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 7: Murmurs & Mudbloods 7-Word Summary: Nepotism reigns supreme when Draco receives brooms We begin to see the influence of the Malfoy family’s wealth and the impact it has at Hogwarts and in the larger wizarding community! Is it fair to assume Draco made the Slytherin Quidditch team on money alone? Unconscious bias: Why were we okay with McGonagall giving Harry a Nimbus 2000 in Sorcerer's Stone but against Lucius giving the Slytherins Nimbus 2001s in Chamber of Secrets? Why isn't there greater punishment for Malfoy using the term mudblood? Why do the male characters seem to be onto Lockhart, but most of the female characters com

MuggleCast returns January 10th with new episodes, but until then we're releasing one of our favorite episodes of Bonus MuggleCast that we initially recorded for Patrons earlier in the year! In this installment, we discuss the late actor Alan Rickman's diary entries about playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies. As you might expect from a diary, he is very candid about his work and the cast members around him. Prepare to be surprised by how he felt while filming each Harry Potter movie! For more installments of Bonus MuggleCast, pledge to our Patreon today at Patreon.com/mugglecast. In 2023, we'll be releasing two Bonus MuggleCast episodes every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Holidays! Join us for our final episode of the year! What were some of our top moments? Our favorite episodes of the show? Then we open up our MuggleMail bag one last time and look ahead to what to expect in 2023 for Harry Potter fans! Our top 5 Social Media Moments Why do you wish you were a teenager in the early 2000s? MuggleCast #tbt!  Black Harry Potter content creators you should follow this Black History Month!  Dan Fogler’s Cameo to celebrate Micah’s Birthday! MuggleCast Through the Years Timeline  Last-minute MuggleCast Halloween Costumes! Each host shares their favorite episodes of the year: Andrew: Episode #566: WB is Planning HBO Max Harry Potter Shows — We Pitch Lots of New Ideas! and Episode #555: ’98-’99 Hogwarts School Year Deep Dive Eric: Episode #567: ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ Illustrator Thomas Taylor Reveals the Secrets Behind the Cover and #573: ‘MuggleCast, A History’ Trivia Game! Laura: Episode #576: How Are Spells Created? Discussing the Physics of Harry Potter and Ep

On this week's episode, Harry and Ron invent a new way to get to Hogwarts, but break a few international statutes! Settling in to classes would be easier for Harry if Draco Malfoy and Gilderoy Lockhart weren't following him around! Still, it is so good to be back within the castle walls. Join us for Chapter by Chapter segments of chapters 5 and 6 of "Chamber of Secrets." Welcome Slug Club guest Miranda! Announcement! Slug Club members of our Patreon will be able to participate in our holiday year-end MuggleCast AMA this coming Saturday, December 17 at 1pm ET. The event will be viewable by ALL when it goes live, and Slug Club members can submit their Q's! Stay tuned to our social for reminders. Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5: The Whomping Willow 7-Word Summary: The tree captures the Ford toughly, rawr! Are there further investigations into why the Kings Cross barrier didn't let Harry through, after his and Ron's story come out? What makes Ron leap right to taking the car, instead of

On this week's episode, we make our first visit to The Burrow and meet several characters for the first time in Diagon Alley! Plus, hold onto your Sorting Hat as we connect a handful of threads between Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince! Micah visits Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in New York! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3: The Burrow 7-Word Summary: Weasley’s House Features New Magic And... Gnomes Fred & George are truly their father's sons (be sure to check out our Weasley Twins episode from April 2021) Right family, wrong motive - Dobby DOES belong to the Malfoys! What if... Molly and Arthur had gone to pickup Harry at Privet Drive? Comparing and contrasting Harry and Ron's view of The Burrow Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4: At Flourish & Blotts 7-Word Summary: Lucius takes Ginny’s father in a fight Should the Weasleys have given Harry a bit more assistance with Floo Powder? Inside Borgin and Burkes: vanishing cabinets, necklaces and ha

It's our fourth Harry Potter holiday gift guide episode! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they share their latest favorites Harry Potter-adjacent merchandise. Autobiographical works from several of the films' biggest stars are now published, and certain handcrafted and fan-made items are too good to resist. Looking for the gift that your HP-obsessed friend doesn't already have? Start here, with us, on this week's MuggleCast! This year's holiday gift guide episode features largely Harry Potter-adjacent items for the HP-obsessed friend who has everything, or so they think! We'd like to draw attention to BookShop.org, where with their special Store Locator page you can support your local bookstore through the purchase of books mentioned on this episode, and all books in general. Check it out! This year's fiction recommendations include 'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman, the 'Percy Jackson' series by Rick Riordan, the 'Simon Snow' trilogy of books by Rainbow Rowell, Michael Scott's 'Immortal Nicholas Fla

Join us as we begin Chapter-by-Chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! Harry's abuse rises to new levels, the Dursleys obtain Death Eater status, and Dobby complicates Harry's life despite his good intentions. From horcruxes to house-elves, from animal cruelty to servitude, there's lots to unpack from on this weeks' episode! We reflect on reading Chamber of Secrets for the first time and what we're expecting to get out of our re-read Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 1: The Worst Birthday 7-Word Summary: The Day Harry Was Beaten By Family We deeply analyze the Dursley's mistreatment of Harry and add animal cruelty to the list of offenses Wouldn’t Petunia know that Harry can’t do magic outside of school? Perhaps she does not want to reveal her knowledge of the wizarding world to Vernon? How could Harry overcome the Dursleys’ restrictions except for the rescue from the Weasleys? How does Dumbledore allow for this level of abuse to go on for so long? Don't use THAT word (MAGI

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we dive deep into the final chapter of Sorcerer's Stone, connect some serious threads to Deathly Hallows and get after everyone's favorite headmaster. Dumbledore apologists beware! News: Leslie Phillips, voice of the Sorting Hat passes away at 98  The 6th Annual MuggleCast Patreon Holiday Gift Exchange is now live! Chapter-by-Chapter for Sorcerer's Stone concludes with Chapter 17: The Man With Two Faces 7-Word Summary: Dumbledore comes at the situation with lies Main Discussion 1: Dumbledore’s Task - we draw some strong parallels between Sorcerer's Stone and Deathly Hallows Does Voldemort read Harry’s mind, is it the Horcrux connection or just a lucky guess?  What made Dumbledore initially move the stone from Gringotts? What tipped him off? Do we know how Quirrell found out about its location? Could Dumbledore not trust himself enough to keep the Stone in his own possession? We analyze Snape's "protection" of Harry throughout his first year Main Discussion #2

Americans! Don't forget to vote in the 2022 Midterms by Tuesday, November 8! Visit IWillVote.com to find your local polling place. This week the hosts are joined by Slug Club guest Michele, and Chapter by Chapter continues with chapters 15 and 16 of Sorcerer's Stone. Listen as we discuss how the Centaurs may have been right all along, while Harry serves detention in "The Forbidden Forest." After that, follow along as the trio go "Through the Trapdoor"! And we analyze each of the obstacles designed to protect the Sorcerer's Stone. All this and more, including: Welcome Slug Club guest Michele! If you would like the chance to guest-host on our show, visit our Patreon News: New Warner CEO David Zaslav wants "More Harry Potter movies!" What does that mean?! Main Discussion #1: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 15: The Forbidden Forest 7-Word Summary: Mars might tell of future conflicts forthcoming  Harry experiences exclusion like never before, after Gryffindor is down so many points. Have we ever disappointed o

On this week's episode we dig deep into our MuggleMail bag as listeners weigh in on our latest chapter-by-chapter discussions. One voicemail leads the hosts to take sides in a Harry Potter date debate! Plus, we have fun paging through the beautifully illustrated Order of the Phoenix by Jim Kay. We review the Order of the Phoenix Illustrated Illustrated Edition. There's SO much to love in this one! Speaking of books, don't forget to check out The Magic of MinaLima, which is an exhaustive look at MinaLima's work for the Harry Potter movies. Voicemails cover magic's origin, a Harry Potter first date, a Draco-focused Harry Potter TV show and more Several listeners write in about Christmas gifts and Quidditch rules Why doesn’t Hermione use her own wand to stop the troll?  Why did Hagrid really go to get Harry from the Dursleys? Should Ron be allowed to have a rat at Hogwarts? Is it the job of the Sorting Hat to equally divide the first year students? One listener presents a strong defense of Petunia Du

This week the hosts are joined by Andy of Harry Potter Fan Zone, and Chapter by Chapter continues with chapters 13 and 14 of Sorcerer's Stone. Listen as we discuss the real-life origins of Nicolas Flamel, debate whether 'Sorcerer's Stone' or 'Philosopher's Stone' is a better title, and revisit a fan theory about what Dumbledore did with alchemy. Then, the trio visit Hagrid's Hut and Harry uses his powers of persuasion that he may or may not have inherited from Voldemort?! All this and more, including: Welcome back, Andy! Check out Harry Potter Fan Zone, the top Australian HP fan site. News: Many new books are now available including Tom Felton's autobiography, Alan Rickman's posthumous diary, and Order of the Phoenix illustrated by Jim Kay. The hosts discuss which ones they'll be checking out. Main Discussion #1: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 13: Nicolas Flamel 7-Word Summary: Secrets are revealed when chocolate is eaten. We never did find out what work Dumbledore and Nicolas did on alchemy. Did Fantastic

On this week's episode, we pay tribute to Robbie Coltrane, whose iconic role as Rubeus Hagrid made him beloved to costars and fans alike. Chapter-by-Chapter continues as we take flight with Harry in his first Quidditch match and explore the halls of Hogwarts beneath the Invisibility Cloak. We remember Robbie Coltrane, the beloved actor who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter series Main Discussion #1: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapter 11: Quidditch 7-Word Summary: Gryffindor surprises Hogwarts with winning very tastily  Why does Snape choose to confide in Filch after being attacked by Fluffy? Why does he not go to Madam Pomfrey? Or heal himself? What is going through Snape's mind when Harry sees him in this vulnerable situation? Does Professor Quirrell’s attack on Harry during the Quidditch match do Quirrell more harm (for him) than good? Security Nightmare: Why are there not more protections in place during Quidditch matches? Main Discussion #2: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapter 12: The Mirror of Erised 7-Word Sum

There are certain things you can't do without becoming best friends, and podcasting about Harry Potter together is one of them! Chapter-by-Chapter returns with analysis of Sorcerer's Stone's "The Midnight Duel" and "Halloween"! Our trio of heroes get goaded by Malfoy into a trap, and then accidentally lock a troll in a bathroom. Harry also finds the one thing that he is naturally good at.  News: Jim Kay has announced he will be stepping down from making the illustrated edition Potter books. We thank him for his work. Main Discussion #1: Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 9: The Midnight Duel 7-Word Summary: Draco challenges Harry to a Midnight Fakeout After Neville's injury, the students leap to his defense. Have the hosts had similar moments at school, or were we all too scared to speak up? In what is clearly another security nightmare, Madame Hooch abandons her class of 11-year-olds who 5 minutes ago were handed a very fast and dangerous broomstick for each of them. No wonder something bad happens next! Lau

On this week's episode, we're busting open our MuggleMail bag as listeners send in owls about the first several chapters of Sorcerer's Stone! We entertain a few What Ifs about Petunia and Dudley and get some enlightening perspectives on Narcissa and Lupin! Hey, Apple Podcast users! You can now subscribe to the show right within the Apple Podcasts app. For $2.99/month, you'll receive early episode releases and ad-free MuggleCast! Thanks in advance for your support. We're opening up our Chapter-by-Chapter MuggleMail bag! Why was Hagrid sent for Harry? How big is the student body at Hogwarts? What happened to both sets of Harry's grandparents? How did Dudley's pigtail finally get removed? Did Harry's Horcrux impact the Dursley's treatment of him? What if... Petunia had magical ability and had been accepted at Hogwarts? What if... Dudley was a wizard? Would Vernon have disowned him? Could House-Elves be responsible for sending the Hogwarts letters? Other MuggleMail covers Leta Lestrange, The Elder W