Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

This week, the MuggleCasters tackle the fiercest Hogwarts house of them all with their main discussion centered on Gryffindor! Joining the discussion is long-time friend of the show and boyfriend of Andrew, Pat! The panel of current and former Gryffindors talk about the good and the bad traits of Gryffindor, like why being bold can be a bad thing, and how being "daring" can mean you like to get into trouble. The hosts also examine Gryffindor's security system, ask why it is so insecure, and how famous Gryffindors like Minerva McGonagall and Peter Pettigrew fit into their house assignments! On this episode we conclude our epic House-themed discussions with Gryffindor House! What do daring, nerve and chivalry have to do with the panel's own experiences as former/current Gryffindors? Is the Sorting Hat's description of Gryffindors the complete picture? Why is Pottermore's welcome letter for Gryffindors so hilariously short? We examine the good and bad of Gryffindor, including their readiness to admit fault o

Intelligence. Wisdom. Learning. Wit. Our four-part series on the Houses of Hogwarts continues this week with Ravenclaw (be sure to check out our Slytherin and Hufflepuff episodes)! Andrew and Eric are surprised with just how critical Micah and Laura are of their own house (but, honestly, would you expect anything less of Ravenclaws?). Join us as we "look down" upon the Hogwarts grounds from high atop Ravenclaw Tower and discuss some of the House's most notable members! Main Discussion: Ravenclaw House Could Ravenclaw be the house we know the least about? Does the Sorting Hat group Ravenclaws together based on academic prowess, regardless of their intent?  Why was Hermione not sorted into Ravenclaw? What makes Micah and Laura Ravenclaws... Andrew and Eric have some ideas! Do certain descriptions of Ravenclaws, especially that of their common room, make them come across as elitist? What sort of students were the hosts during their younger years? What does it mean for Ravenclaw House that Luna was the charac

CHOO CHOO! Join us as we head back to Hogwarts on this week's episode of MuggleCast! Andrew, Eric, Micah and Meg as they play a few games and discuss the school's prime locations for first kisses, homework, parties and more! Plus, with David Yates beginning a new project, could the latest Fantastic Beasts news spell more trouble for the five-part movie franchise? Last chance! Only one day remains to select your 2021 MuggleCast patrons physical gift! Join us at Patreon and make your selection between our throwback socks and the customizable wooden car by September 1st! With so much time having already elapsed between Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts 3, what do we make of the news that there will be a "break" between Fantastic Beasts 3 and 4? Could the Fantastic Beasts franchise rest on the success of the third film? Andrew has a theory for what this break really means! Main Discussion: It's time to go Back to Hogwarts! Where would each of the hosts sit on the Hogwarts Express? What would be the

Coming off of the success of our last episode where we defended Slytherin House, the MuggleCasters turn their sights to that other maligned Hogwarts house: Hufflepuff! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss the qualities possessed by Hufflepuff students, examine why Hufflepuff does not get much glory in the books, and why everyone should want to know a Hufflepuff in real life. All that and more, on MuggleCast episode 527! Important: Only one week remains to select your 2021 MuggleCast patrons physical gift! Join us at Patreon and make your selection between our retro throwback socks and the customizable wooden car by September 1st! We begin the episode with a fun segment, "The Top 5 Most Disparaging Scenes Featuring Hufflepuff"! Main Discussion: While they may have been "picked last for kickball" in the books, Hufflepuffs may represent the best of us. A brief video of the author from after the books were published seems conciliatory to all Hufflepuffs burned by their book representation. What

Welcome Tylor, President of the Wizarding World-inspired animal rights nonprofit, The Protego Foundation, and co-host of The ChickPeeps podcast with Evanna Lynch! Who is Tylor's favorite character? The answer may shock you (but is perfect for this episode)! Main Discussion: In Defense of Slytherin House What do we make of the first words revealed to us by the Sorting Hat about Salazar Slytherin? Does this introduction mislead us? Is there an argument to be made that Slytherin’s preference for pure-blood students could have been due to muggle persecution of wizardry?  Andrew shares why he converted to Slytherin House How much of Salazar Slytherin’s legacy should be used against current members of his house? The Slytherin Spectrum: we rate notable members of Slytherin House, including Merlin, Severus Snape, Regulus Black, Leta Lestrange, Dolores Umbridge, Horace Slughorn and more! Which characters are still down with Slytherin's pure-blood mania? Which are on the right side of history, but may have some ingrai

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we're discussing Tina Goldstein's role following the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, and what lies ahead! Plus, we revisit our predictions made after seeing her in the first Fantastic Beasts movie. Welcome to Slug Club Member Deanna and Alohomora's Katy Haile! Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Tina Goldstein and her role in The Crimes of Grindelwald We revisit some of the things we mentioned back in Episode 320 during our initial Tina discussion to see if anything held true in Crimes of Grindelwald! Did her standoffishness subside? Did she get her mojo back after catching Grindelwald? What does Tina's horoscope say about her character? What happened to Tina's story between movies? Why did she never reach out to Newt about the photo of him and Leta? Why didn't Queenie help to clarify the situation? Tina The Auror & The Search for Credence Why was she so easily duped by Yusuf Kama? What will Tina and Queenie’s relationship be like now that she has (suppose

It's another MuggleMail episode, folks! But first: The Cursed Child's North American productions are being condensed into one part! What does this mean for the show's future? It's time to announce this year's MuggleCast Patreon physical gifts: Throwback socks and a "Sweet 16" customizable wooden model car! Listeners must sign up to our Patreon and choose their gift by September 1st to be eligible to receive them. Voicemails from listeners concern Petunia's motivations for spying on her neighbors, character maturities, a big fandom moment, and fond memories from the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 red carpet. It's DumbledoreMail galore as listeners write in about the hiding of Ariana, the blood pact and 12 uses of dragon's blood being related, and when phoenixes appear. Could Travers already be working for the Dark side in the time of Crimes of Grindelwald? He's got family history. Bellatrix's comment about Snape's neighborhood leaves one listener asking if his home town puts Snape in hot water with the Death Eaters.

Our character discussions return as we celebrate the birthday of Neville Longbottom! Professor Trelawney drops in to give us a refresher on the Lost Prophecy Had Voldemort marked Neville as his equal, would a similar situation have played out with Alice sacrificing herself to save her son?  Neville & Hannah Abbott: was the plan all along that she and Neville end up together, or did the idea evolve as the series neared its end? The hosts give their reactions to the movies pairing Neville and Luna together. It's not fair! Augusta constantly compares Neville to her own son, Frank! Both orphaned in their own way, we discuss the similarities of Harry and Neville's upbringings. Was Neville always doomed to feeling “second best” even if  he had a more supportive parental figure? Why did Neville want to be sorted in Hufflepuff? Did it further diminish the house's reputation for readers early on in the series? The hosts share moments from their own lives where they felt like they didn't belong. Neville's Notable

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 turns ten years old! On this episode, the MuggleCasters and Slug Club member Molly reminisce about the last film in the original series. Where were we when Deathly Hallows came out? We experience the touching farewell speeches given by Dan, Rupert and Emma on the red carpet in London. Movie 8 has the highest Rotten Tomato rating of the whole series! And it made the most money. Can we see why? We deep dive the plot of DH2 and re-learn what was new and different, including Aberforth. Micah recaps the biggest omissions in adaptation from the page to the screen. Tonks' pregnancy, portrait Dumbledore and Carrows vs. McGonagall all got changed. Meanwhile, the scene in the Chamber of Secrets is shown for the first time, and Snape gets a change of scenery! The hosts revisit what they were most looking forward to, after having read the book, and what scenes surprised them. The Epilogue was shot, and then re-shot. Remembering the geriatric non-millennial trio and friends.

With one year to go until the film's release (we think), our Fantastic Beasts character discussions return! Up first... Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore in his younger years! Jude Law: Youngledore, DumbleDAMN, Yumbledore! How did Deathly Hallows help inform our knowledge of the Dumbledores before seeing Crimes of Grindelwald? Aunt Muriel and Rita Skeeter weigh in! Did Albus fail in his responsibility to take care of both Ariana and Aberforth? What was so terrifying about the duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald? Exactly what happened during the fight that killed Ariana? Why was Ariana seemingly kept a secret from the larger wizarding world? Gellert the Manipulator: did Grindelwald go to Godric's Hollow with the intent of meeting the Dumbledores? Was Ariana Dumbledore the first person to die “for the greater good”? Why does Dumbledore have such a close & trusting relationship with Newt? Even at a young age, Dumbledore didn't see eye-to-eye with the Ministry The Blood Pact : does it really need t

We continue our discussion on the most shocking moments in Harry Potter fandom history, with some stories you'll remember -- and others you probably forgot! In 2012, Micah discovered that JKR had announced she was actively working on a Harry Potter Encyclopedia, but it was quickly retracted once the story got out. In 2013, Rowling was outed as male author Robert Galbraith by a lawyer's... wife's... friend... and a British newspaper. Later that same year, only a week after MuggleCast "ended," the Fantastic Beasts film series was announced! Years later, can we all agree Fantastic Beasts IS a prequel? Dumbledore's appearance in Crimes of Grindelwald and the casting of Jude Law was a delightful surprise. In 2016, more Wizarding World schools were announced, and controversy may have prevented us from getting more that were promised. The same year, the stage show Cursed Child is announced, and debuts in 2 parts! We revisit the original description of the show, which is very different than the final product. Honora

Welcome back Andy, of Harry Potter Fan Zone (and PotterNoMore.com)! This is Part 1 of a two-part episode, wherein the hosts discuss the most Shocking Moments in Harry Potter Fandom History. First up: In 2005, JK Rowling invites fan site heads Emerson and Melissa to her house! In 2007, before Deathly Hallows and high-speed internet, a live stream revealed a new Harry Potter theme park! What was the significance of a Potter-themed park at the time? ...but Andy had already been to a Harry Potter theme park, down in Australia, called Warner Bros. "Movie World"! Also in 2007, JKR Fan Site Award winner The HP Lexicon was taken to court by JKR/WB over their plans for a book. How did this feel to us as fellow fan site workers? The split that changed it all: How WB's decision to break up The Deathly Hallows changed history and set the bar for future film franchises to come. Half-Blood Prince's unexpected release date postponement disappointed fans like few things had at the time. Andrew had made a reaction video and

It's a MuggleMail episode! But first: Micah & Eric visit the newly-opened Harry Potter New York flagship store and share some pro tips for fans looking to visit in the near future! What are some of the top items? And more importantly, how is the butterbeer? To celebrate Pride Month in the Wizarding World, listeners send in their favorite LGBTQ+ couples Voicemails cover Draco's "real" dad, the Battle of Hogwarts, Sprout & Snape's relationship and more! Do the they teach sex education at Hogwarts? One listener gives us an epic ending for Trelawney in the Battle of Hogwarts! What are some details left out of the Potter movies that should be in the TV show? How are wizards educated in early academics? Why does Draco criticize students for staying at Hogwarts during the holidays when HE DOES IT HIMSELF? We reminisce about where we all though the final battle of the series would take place and the significance of The Veil! In Chamber of Secrets, did Harry have an immediate connection to the Diary Horcrux t

Welcome Swish and Flick's Meg & Katie! Main Discussion: Celebrating Pride Month in the Harry Potter fandom Andrew, Meg & Katie share their personal experiences of coming out and the feeling of safety in the Potter fan community What is it about the Harry Potter fandom that makes it a welcoming place for diversity? What have the hosts noticed about inclusion at Potter events? What’s a “different” thing about the other hosts that the fandom didn’t judge them for? Why was it such a big deal to reveal Dumbledore's sexuality? What other gay characters were in pop culture at the time? How important is it for us to remember the time at which the Harry Potter series was written? Does the lack of an LGBTQ+ character in the Harry Potter series speak to its larger diversity issue? Would J.K. Rowling  have viewed including a gay character as a risk? Would publishers be concerned about how parents might react to a gay character?  We discuss the possible sexualities of several Potter characters, including Nymphado

The Harry Potter Store in New York City is now open. Will Micah be going? In celebration of the character's birthday, today we are discussing all things Draco Malfoy. Malfoy's name implies he will act in bad faith, and his horoscope suggests a duality of character. Do the hosts agree? According to LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Malfoy's Boggart is Lord Voldemort. Is this canon? Are there any other things his Boggart might be? We all agree Tom Felton was an excellent choice for Draco, and we love how active he is in fandom today. Fun Segment: To kick off our in-depth character analysis, the hosts recap the Top 7 Moments Draco was a Jerk While the first four moments were concerning, the top three moments could have or did result in the loss of life! Can Draco Malfoy be redeemed? How much of his upbringing is to blame for his casual racism? Is there a "sweet spot" age where Draco can be held responsible for all of his actions, and if so, when? Drawing from Cursed Child, all the hosts strangely agree that Draco w

This week's episode is our fifth-ever Wizarding World movie commentary! Watch Prisoner of Azkaban with the MuggleCasters, and listen as we react in real-time to everything happening. Is this movie as bad as some people say it is? What do we love and hate about it? We discuss it all as we watch! Note: You will need your own copy of Prisoner of Azkaban in order to watch with us. We will help you sync up the movie with us at the start of the commentary track. We strongly recommend listening to this episode with your own copy of the movie. Otherwise, it may be difficult to follow along with what we're discussing. See more of our movie commentaries on our Must-Listens page.

The Cursed Child will not reopen with other Broadway shows this Fall as it rethinks its length and structure, targeting a 2022 return What's at the heart of this decision? We discuss a few ways The Cursed Child could accomplish a cutdown version of the show. Main Discussion: Revisiting The Best of MuggleNet and other Potter Fan Sites, particularly during the biggest year for Harry Potter The hosts revisit their roles and how they got their start in the Potter fandom The layouts, the countdowns, the breaking news: what were some of our favorite parts of  MuggleNet? The Wall of Shame, Editorials, MuggleSpace and more! Be sure to check out older versions of MuggleNet using The Wayback Machine! What was the rivalry like with other Harry Potter fansites? The hosts read their old staff profiles from 2007 - laughter... and cringing ensue! Our patrons share their favorite parts and memories of MuggleNet Quizzitch: Some of the earliest Harry Potter fan conventions were run by a group called HPEF. What does HPEF stand

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 series i

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: What

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 flying For