MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Constant, Never-Ceasing Vigilance (GOF Chapter 14, The Unforgivable Curses) Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

CONSTANT VIGILANCE! On this week's episode of MuggleCast, you must be prepared for what awaits outside the walls of Hogwarts! Join us as we level up by learning the Unforgiveable Curses from a Death Eater-in-disguise, try our hand at Divination homework, and debate the rights of House-Elves!

News covers: Details about the third Wizarding World land coming to Epic Universe and and some updates to Hogwarts Legacy!
Bonus MuggleCast Alert: In May 2023, we spoke about what major ride we can expect in the Epic Universe land. And last month, we shared what we want to see Hogwarts Legacy add to the game. So, be sure to check them out at Patreon.com/MuggleCast!
Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14: The Unforgiveable Curses
7-Word Summary: Neville reacts in a panic ....
Main Discussion #1: Mad-Eye Fakey's First Lesson
Do the hosts recall ever being so excited for a class because the professor’s reputation preceded them?
We compare and constrast Mad-Eye and Umbridge's first lessons
Does REAL Mad-Eye Moody know or suspect the Defense Against The Darks Arts post is cursed? What about Barty Crouch Jr.?
Why is Barty Crouch Jr. so invested in teaching students how to recognize and combat dark curses?
Do we think that the real Moody would have been able to cast these curses so seamlessly?
Imperio: Was this practical demonstration the best way to drive home the severity of mind control?
Crucio: Neville's bravery, his parents and Moody's second attempt to build currency with Harry
Only at Hogwarts, would something as dark as the Killing Curse be taught to a class of fourth-years in their first lesson!
Main Discussion #2: The Aftermath
Do we think Mad-Eye is grooming Neville?
What can we learn from Harry and Ron's Divination homework? The hosts take a crack at predictions for each other!
Did the author set Hermione up for success with a name like S.P.E.W.?
What does Ron's reaction to S.P.E.W. say about his upbringing, his character and the wizarding world as a whole?
Quizzitch: What are the first two words of Sirius’ second letter back to Harry this year?
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Karma is Crookshanks Purring in My Lap (GOF Chapter 13, Mad-Eye Moody) Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

This week, it’s a competence competition between several Hogwarts professors. As Harry attends his first day of his fourth year, we follow along and rank each class and its teacher. Finally, Draco bites off more than he can chew, and we remember that we love Barty Crouch, Jr. when he cosplays an ex-Auror. Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as Chapter-by-Chapter covers Chapter 13 from Goblet of Fire, “Mad-Eye Moody.”

In this week’s news, Deadline reports that the Harry Potter TV series is looking for its head writers. The hosts briefly speculate - Stay tuned for a Bonus MuggleCast in which we take a closer look at the writers under consideration.
Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire Chapter 13: Mad-Eye Moody
7-Word Summary: Karma comes full ferret for Draco Malfoy
Back in school, it’s time to rank the first lessons of the year and assess teachers’ competence!
Micah asks: given the usefulness of Bubotuber pus, does Professor Sprout have a side hustle?
What makes Sprout’s gross lesson soar, and Hagrid’s gross lesson fail? One of the teachers prepared the students better.
Is it okay to ask “what is the point” when discussing magical Beasts?
Would Hagrid be better off as a teacher’s assistant, or outside of teaching at all?
Trelawney, the most competent Divination teacher Harry has had so far, gets his birthday wrong. Couldn’t she have looked it up?
Rita Skeeter’s new article shades Mr. Weasley, but wasn’t he just doing his job? How was the event with Moody’s rubbish bins any different than his day-to-day?
How is Rita getting her information? Does she have inside sources, or is she using her Animagus secret to its advantage this early?
Draco can dish, but not take, criticism about mothers.
Is it right for “Moody” to teach Draco a lesson?
Laura points out that Barty Crouch Jr.’s comments about Lucius work on multiple levels.
What would Barty Crouch, Jr. have to say to Snape?
Andrew recaps Ron’s funniest moments of the chapter.
Next week’s Quizzitch question: What is Lavender showing Parvati in DADA that gets her scolded by Mad-Eye?
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Mad-Eye Fakey (GOF Chapter 12, The Triwizard Tournament) Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

On this week's episode, the security nightmare meter is off the charts! Grab your galoshes and some treacle tart, and treat yourself to the rainy Sorting Ceremony of the 1994 school year at Hogwarts!

Welcome back, Micah! We hear about his recent European travels to Paris and London, including a tease of an upcoming Bonus MuggleCast on the Harry Potter Studio Tour!
Our official Etsy store now contains some special discount and bundled items, such as the Comfy Cozy Combo Pack! Fancy yourself some socks and a warm beanie? Check out the full assortment of items available now!
Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire Chapter 12: The Triwizard Tournament
7-Word Summary: Thunderstorms announce the arrival of Mad-Eye Fakey
Main Discussion #1: The Teachers’ Precautions For The 1994 School Year
Debating the First Years' arrival: safety vs. rite of passage
Do we think the weather is foreshadowing the year ahead?
If it weren’t for the intervention of The Giant Squid, would Dennis Creevey have drowned before Hagrid could reach him? Can Hagrid even swim?
Does The Giant Squid serve any other purpose? Does Dumbledore let him stay as a safety measure?
Peeves: The Indestructible Spirit of Chaos
Can Peeves actually be removed from Hogwarts? Why does he even bother listening to The Ghost Council?
Main Discussion #2: Excitement in the Great Hall
We hear The Sorting Hat song for the first time since Sorcerer's Stone!
What does The Sorting Hat do the rest of the year? Does he have a side hustle?
Hermione's Hunger Strike: who does she think was making her food all of these years?
The Triwizard Tournament is officially announced and Mad-Eye makes his grand entrance!
Odds & Ends cover Natalie Macdonald, Cho Chang and the return of the Dumbledore Lie Count!
Next week's Quizzitch question: What is the trio's first class of their 4th Hogwarts Year?
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Freshly Floo'd Toast (GOF Chapter 11, Aboard the Hogwarts Express) Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Choo Choo! It's time to return to Hogwarts as our Chapter-by-Chapter series continues with Goblet of Fire Chapter 11, "Aboard the Hogwarts Express." Join Andrew, Laura, Eric and Slug Club member Ning Xi as they dive deep into the topics that stand out on our latest reread.

Our official Etsy store now contains some special discount and bundled items, such as the Comfy Cozy Combo Pack! Fancy yourself some socks and a warm beanie? Check out the full assortment of items available now!
Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire Chapter 11: Aboard the Hogwarts Express
7-Word Summary: Traveling by train proves informative for Harry
Amos Diggory appears at the Burrow! In... the fireplace? Why!?
What makes (and doesn't make) the Floo Network a fitting medium for the equivalent of telephone communications? The hosts all examine.
The toast Molly offers is Eric's "I love magic" moment.
Mad-Eyes and misdirection abound. Does the fact that Arthur and Dumbledore like Alastor Moody make us more likely, or less, to believe that he is overly paranoid?
What would the function of real Muggle "Please-men" actually be? We speculate.
On the train to Hogwarts, Draco boasts that Durmstrang School does not let Muggleborns in. But, is that REALLY possible given the Statute of Secrecy?
How would a school that teaches Dark Arts, not just Defense Against the Dark Arts, actually operate?
Are the locations of the Wizarding schools hidden from the parents of the students who attend? Or just not known to Hermione in particular?
Should Arthur have told Ron, Harry et al about the Triwizard Tournament, which would have prevented Draco from bullying them for not knowing?
Shout-out to Barty Crouch Jr. who is actually pretty darn good at what he does. We'll... be keeping track of that.
In Bonus MuggleCast this week over on MuggleCast's Patreon, we review the recently announced sales figures for Hogwarts Legacy and discusswhat the future for Wizarding world video games may be given the game's success.
Next week's Quizzitch question: Name 2 of the 3 items that Filch has added to the list of forbidden objects (at the start of Harry's year 4)
Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us

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Rita Skeeter: A Voice For Potter Podcasters (GOF Chapter 10, Mayhem at the Ministry) Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Happy New Year! It's our first episode of 2024 and we’ll be watching our words carefully, lest Rita Skeeter twists any of our statements to create some hot goss for The Daily Prophet!

Welcome officially to MuggleCast: 19 years later!
The MuggleCast Overstock Store is open again! This is where you can buy MuggleCast merch and help support the show! And we have an update: It’s cold in the Northern Hemisphere, so MuggleCast is helping you out this winter with the MuggleCast Beanie and Socks Comfy Cozy Combo Pack: Purchase this new combo set for $25 – it’s cheaper than buying the socks and beanie separate, and you’ll be warm on both ends of your muggle body for winter!
Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10: Mayhem At The Ministry
7-Word Summary: Arthur laments over a problematic news cycle
Main Discussion #1: The Aftermath
Security Nightmare! Why did any witch or wizard hang around after the Death Eater attack? Evacuation plans should’ve been in place and activated!
We examine the exploitation of Mr. Roberts by both the Death Eaters and The Ministry. Why was he not taken to St. Mungo's? Could they have used a Pensieve to remove the memory of the attack?
Freaking Out Molly: Had the author not conceptualized Patronus messaging yet? And not ONE Weasley could have gone home early?
Main Discussion #2: Rita Skeeter, Unethical Journalism & Ministry Blunders
We discuss Rita’s ability to acquire information being aided significantly by her being an unregistered animagus
Just WHAT do beetles represent?
Does Rita’s journalism, unethical at times though it is, do an actual public service in the case of both of the Quidditch World Cup and the disappearance of Bertha Jorkins?
Molly clearly recognizes that Rita is a hack, but later on in Goblet of Fire she laps up every lie printed about Hermione. Why?
Obviously, we’re familiar with the real-world consequences of this brand of journalism. Have any of the hosts ever been caught up in following salacious, gossip-based reporting?
Have we ever caught ourselves pulling a Mrs. Weasley: either dismissing or assigning merit to a piece of reporting based on whether it reinforced our personal beliefs?
Odds & Ends cover Mundungus Fletcher, Ron's dress robes, Trelawney's prophecy and more!
Quizzitch: What spell does Hermione start learning on the Hogwarts Express (in Harry's fourth year)?
And don’t forget you can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including early access to the show, Bonus MuggleCast, physical gifts and more!

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Welcome to MuggleCast! Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

MuggleCast is your weekly ride into the Harry Potter fandom! Join us every Tuesday as we discuss each book in the series. We are currently hosting a fascinating Chapter-by-Chapter re-read in which we dive deep into the characters, plot, themes, and foreshadowing.

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What Harry Potter Fans Have To Look Forward to in 2024 Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

We'll be back to normal episodes next week! In the mean time, enjoy this Bonus MuggleCast installment from our Patreon! In this installment, we discuss all that happened in 2023 (it's more than we remembered!) and what we have to look forward to in 2024 and beyond for Harry Potter fans! We are thrilled always to make it through another year with our listeners and look forward to what exciting developments are in store for the future. Thank you for an EXCELLENT 2023!

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Favorite Headcannons: Holiday Edition Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

What would an upgraded, Wizard version of Santa Claus look like? Would he have any need for reindeer, or could he Apparate? This and other holiday-related questions are the focus of our last bonus MuggleCast segment for 2023! We also discuss non-Christmas holiday representation, and how many times "Santa" appeared in canon.
For two brand new Bonus MuggleCast installments every month, become a Patron or sign up for our paid Apple Podcasts subscription! We couldn't do this show without your support, so thank you in advance!

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639: Christmas Lights or Chaos? (GOF Chapter 9: The Dark Mark) Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we're wrapping up 2023 at the Quidditch World Cup! Grab your best pair of running shoes and dont forget your wand (*cough* Harry *cough*), as we try to avoid Death Eaters, Veela and annoying Ministry officials!
*Please note that we discuss some heavy topics in this episode and while we certainly pride ourselves on being a family-friendly podcast, the content may not be suitable for all ages.*

Happy Holidays and New Year to all of our listeners! It’s our final episode of 2023, but don't fret because we'll be releasing a couple of bonus segments over the break!
Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9: The Dark Mark
7-Word Summary: Winky struggles to explain herself to Crouch
Main Discussion #1: Death Eaters & The Dark Mark
Death Eaters & Terrorism: Voldemort's followers use the Quidditch World Cup celebration to cause mass hysteria
The Death Eaters are dressed in hooded cloaks with masks, and are marching in a clan-like formation. We discuss similarities to the KKK here in the United States.
We react to the torture of the Roberts family and exactly what Draco suggested be done to Hermione
The Dark Mark & the Swastika: Both marks inspire fear and convey hatred. As an adult that lived through Voldemort’s reign, what must it have been like to see the Dark Mark return?
Hermione is the only one of the trio who understands the gravity of the Dark Mark. What does this say about the wizarding world’s ability to insulate their children from the terror that Voldemort inflicted on the wizarding world?
Was the Dark Mark cast to inspire fear in those at the Quidditch World Cup or in the Death Eaters themselves?
Main Discussion #2: The Conviction of Winky & The Treatment of House-Elves
Winky is found at the scene of the crime and is unjustly accused (and convicted).
Similar to other situations we’ve experienced with Ministry justice, much of the real evidence is ignored!
Our eyes are opened even further to the treatment of House-Elves by the larger wizarding world
How has Hermione growing up in the Muggle world informed her views on House-Elves? Do we attribute Ron’s views to immaturity or his own upbringing?
Hermione begins her outspoken criticism of the Ministry!
Evanesco That returns as Andrew lays waste to all of the he-said-she-said-elf-said back-and-forth, blah, blah, blah in this chapter!
Odds & Ends cover Fred & George's winnings, Beauxbatons, Madam Maxime, Stan Shunpike, Priori Incantato and more!
Quizzitch: What did Rita Skeeter once call Bill Weasley in an interview with Gringotts curse-breakers?
And don’t forget you can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! We have two brand-new ones for you in December, including our recap of the biggest events in fandom of 2023 and a look ahead to 2024! And, we celebrate with some of our favorite holiday Headcannons!
This week’s episode is brought to you by MasterClass! This holiday season, give the gift of one annual membership and get one free at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast!

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638: Nothing About Quidditch Is Fair (GOF Chapter 8, The Quidditch World Cup) Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

The Quidditch World Cup is a security nightmare! (Are you really surprised?) This week, the MuggleCasters dive in (from no less a height than the Top Box) to discussion about rogue mascots and classism as we discuss Chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, "The Quidditch World Cup."

Thanks to all who listen to our podcast on Spotify! You made our Wrapped something special.
Reminder to check out The MuggleCast Overstock Store for any last-minute holiday gifts you may be seeking! Give the gift of MuggleCast merch to you and yours!
Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 8: The Quidditch World Cup
7-Word Summary: Athletes compete vigorously against their formidable opponents
Main Discussion #1: House-Elves return!
Harry thinks he sees Dobby. But how exactly does Winky know Dobby?
Are Dobby's ideas of being paid for his work too radical, or is Winky too conservative or downtrodden? And why is it a bad thing that Dobby remains free?
We also get a reunion of sorts between Lucius and Arthur. What is this chapter trying to tell us about class differences in the Wizarding World?
Main Discussion #2: The Veela are DANGEROUS!
Right after first seeing them, Harry almost jumps out of the Top Box! How are they allowed?
The Veela are of Slavic origin and may have roots in Greek myths; we explore.
Are the Veela more like modern cheerleaders in their purpose, or are they emblematic of something else?
Both team's mascots should be banned in the future, we consider.
Quizzitch: From which book does Hermione learn about Beauxbatons Academy of Magic?
Coming up in Bonus MuggleCast, we review the biggest events in fandom of 2023 and look ahead to 2024!
This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast) and MeUndies (get 25% off your first order, plus free standard shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast)!