Beyond the Veil

Latest Episodes:

Episode 14: Brewing Your Own Wolfsbane Potion Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

Reading, watching, or listening to fictional characters who reflect us can be a powerful experience for mental health and healing. This week, we spoke with Aniela Schaefer about some of the lessons Remus Lupin has to teach about living with physical and mental illnesses.

On Episode 14, we discuss…

→ TRIGGER WARNING: self-harm mention 28:40-30:15

→ Growing up with a chronic illness

→ The connections of mental and physical health

→ Connecting deeply with Remus Lupin

→ What would Lupin do?

→ Being an advocate for mental health as a teacher

→ Accidentally discovering the things we love

→ Learning to work with yourself and your abilities

→ Refusing to give in to shame

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 13: Relationships, Connections, and Harry Potter Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing folks whose work deals with mental health. This week, we spoke with Emily Wilhelm Riley about how she incorporates the Harry Potter series into her social work job.

On Episode 13, we discuss…

→Getting to know people by their Hogwarts House

→Opening up about difficult subjects using Patronuses, Dementors, and the Mirror of Erised

→Understanding trauma reactions and understanding Order of the Phoenix Harry

→Relating to Hermione Granger

→Harry Potter as a means of social connection

→What was Harry's early childhood like?

→Jennifer Morris's Harry Potter Psychotherapy Resources

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 12: "Just Because Harry Didn't Have a Therapist Doesn't Mean He Didn't Need One" May 27, 2019

Show notes

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing folks in the mental health field about mental health and Harry Potter. This week, we spoke with Rebecca Richardson about expressive arts therapy and the magic of the Potter series.

On Episode 12, we discuss…

→Using artistic expression to benefit your mental health

→Turning your mental health monsters into magical creatures

→Getting inspired by the Potter soundtracks and Wrock

→Expressing your emotions by acting as our favorite Potter characters

→Just because Harry didn't have a therapist doesn't mean he didn't need one

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 11: Gratitude May 20, 2019

Show notes

Join host Madison for a brief episode about self-kindness and gratitude.

On Episode 11, we discuss…

→Big life changes

→How practicing gratitude can be good for mental health

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 10: You're Already the Chosen One with Dr. Janina Scarlet May 13, 2019

Show notes

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing mental health professionals about mental health and Harry Potter. This week, we spoke with Dr. Janina Scarlet about Superhero Therapy, the magic of the Harry Potter series, and why we come back to the Potter books for comfort.

On Episode 10, we discuss…

→Integrating pop-culture into therapy with Superhero Therapy

→Origin stories, post-traumatic growth, and vulnerability

→Harry Potter Therapy

→Why so many find safety, support, and sanctuary in the Potter series

→Parasocial relationships

→Harry Potter Therapy: a new podcast with a chapter by chapter analysis of mental health and psychology in the Potter series

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 9: Give Caps Lock Harry a Break! May 06, 2019

Show notes

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing mental health professionals about mental health and Harry Potter. This week, in our interview with Sarah Olivares, we examine Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix era Harry through a trauma-informed perspective.

On Episode 9, we discuss…

→General mental health metaphors in the Potter series

→A crash course in post-traumatic stress disorder

→A trauma-informed examination of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix era Harry

→Why Harry and other trauma victims deserve our compassion

→How to help someone who's facing trauma without accepting abuse

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 8: Overcoming Isolation Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

Forums, podcasts, fan fiction, LEGO sets, and more: The Potter world has plenty of resources with which we can work at overcoming our obstacles. In our interview with Julianna Coughlin, we talk about her feelings of loneliness and depression after moving and how she used Potter podcasts and fandom to move through her mental illness.

On Episode 8, we discuss…

→The feelings of isolation and loneliness that come with moving

→How Julianna used podcasts to help with her mental health

→Rediscovering the magic of Potter through podcasts, books, and fandom

→Running a marathon

→"I'm perfectly normal, thank you very much."

→This week's Whisper: an unconventional loss

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 6: Hermione Granger and the Importance of Self-Acceptance Apr 15, 2019

Show notes

Every day we're affected by societal pressures that want to push us into certain boxes based on our race, gender, sexuality, and more. When we start to believe these ideas about ourselves, it can have a negative impact on our mental health. In our interview with Sarah Olivares, we discuss her experiences with internalized misogyny, the impact of the Potter series on her perception of her gender, and how to fight off the Dementors of depression.

On Episode 6, we discuss…

→Growing up with kid's media in the 1990s

→Discovering the author of the famous Harry Potter books was a woman

→Hermione Granger, self-acceptance, and expanding possibilities

→The impact of internalized misogyny on mental health

→Dementors and depression

→How to cast your Patronus

→This week's Whisper: always looking for the light

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 5: Don't Be Afraid to Seek Help Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

When our Muggle lives get overwhelming, it's nice to turn to Harry Potter for something that feels safe and familiar. In our interview with Sacha Huynen, we discuss her experience of the world with high-sensitivity, how she uses the Potter series for comfort, and the wonderful community she found in her Quidditch team.

On Episode 4, we discuss...

→What is high-sensitivity, and how can it impact your life?

→Finding a lifelong friend in Harry Potter

→Managing stress and overwhelm in the Gryffindor Common Room

→Immersing yourself into the world of Harry Potter through Muggle Quidditch

→Potter's impact on our activist impulses

→The warmth and acceptance you can find in communities based around the Potter series

→This week's Whisper: finding validation through Harry's story during an abusive childhood

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!

Episode 4: Through Harry I Really Blossomed Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

Some of the most amazing parts of the Harry Potter experience are the connections we get to make with other fans from around the world. In our interview with Eric Scull, we discuss the huge impact of fandom on his life and his fears that he may never have gotten acquainted with our favorite wizard.

On Episode 4, we discuss...

→Scholastic Book Fair pamphlets and reading Potter for points

→How skepticism about the Potter sensation led to lost time with Harry

→Fear of a life without Potter

→The influence of Potter on empathy and acceptance

→How fandom can give you the confidence to be yourself

→This week's Whisper: navigating grief with the help of the Potter series

If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast!

Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!