Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

On this week's episode, we bust open our Muggle Mailbag to answer your burning questions and take your feedback on Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore! Twitter Polls Galore! Which host would the Qilin bow to? What was the best Secrets of Dumbledore ship? And overall, what did listeners think of the movie? What did Yusuf Kama have to help fight Grindelwald? The hosts celebrate Eulalie Hicks after leaving her hanging in our initial review! Why did Grindelwald's followers not kill Theseus when they captured him? Why did Theseus not question Queenie after her return to the good side? Did Dumbledore and Grindelwald's fight scene fail to deliver? Why did the Qilin bow to Dumbledore? Why not Newt? Or Jacob? Did the producers tie up loose ends enough so that this could be the last film? Where are Graves and Nagini? How did Jacob and Queenie get permission to marry? Prediction Time: Which host was closest to the box office number and what does this number mean for the future of the franchise? On

This week, we continue our review of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, this time focusing on the various odds and ends of the film! Plus, we hand out our "Bunty Awards," which are accolades for several aspects of the movie! Stay tuned for many, many more thoughts on the weeks and months ahead! The "Bunty" award for our Favorite New Character, Favorite New Beast, etc What was the one stand-out scene of the film? Was the movie poster for the film misleading? (YES) Eric took a stopwatch into his Secrets of Dumbledore screening... for a very specific experiment. We, like Jacob, were confused by the plot to confuse Grindelwald. What about Grindelwald's visions in the puddles and mirrors, what do they mean? Was Credence made to sound more like Aberforth at the start of the film? And was anyone else thinking he would have a romance with Queenie from their early interaction? The re-use of classic Harry Potter lines is scrutinized by Micah. Was the Anton Vogel actor too similar in appearance to

On this week's episode, it's all about reviewing Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore! It's finally here, so just how many secrets were there, and did they live up to expectations? We touch on some of the film's biggest moments and discuss whether or not this could be the last installment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Welcome Slug Club member, Jemima! Main Discussion: Our review of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore The hosts given their spoiler-free initial reactions to the third Fantastic Beasts film before jumping into all the details and spoilers Did this movie course-correct like we hoped it would? The Top 7 Moments from The Secrets of Dumbledore... Say what, kid?!? Aurelius is Aberforth's lovechild?!? Ariana WAS an obscurus! Were we satisfied with the reveal? Tea time with Albus and Gellert Is Mads the Grindelwald we've been waiting for? The Brothers Scamander take on the Manticore Could any of us make sense of The Election? The Blood Pact: Explained & Destroyed Quee

With just a few days before the release of Secrets of Dumbledore, we host our 7th installment of Quizzitch Live to test your knowledge to-date on the Fantastic Beasts series. Are you up on your fantastic casting? Can you guess who said these memorable quotes? Is your knowledge of beasts at the Magizoologist level? Just how well do you know Gellert Grindelwald ? Join us for Quizzitch Live: Fantastics Beasts and the Suitcase of Fun! Prizes benefit Lambda Legal, The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline and GLSEN! Next week will be part 1 of our big Secrets of Dumbledore review! After you see the movie, be sure to send in your feedback and theories, and we may include it on air! This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Go to BetterHelp.com/mugglecast and get 10% off your first month) and HelloFresh (Go to HelloFresh.com/muggle16 and use code muggle16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With this being our final episode before The Secrets of Dumbledore hits theaters (in the U.K., at least), we set our predictions and theories for the third Fantastic Beasts movie in stone. Plus, one of us has already seen the movie and offers a positive spoiler-free review! Are you new to MuggleCast? Be sure to subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app, and check out our Patreon for additional benefits! Our next Quizzitch Live is Saturday, April 9th, at 11 AM ET! Winners will receive $40 to a charity of their choice and tickets to see the next Beasts film. Main Discussion: The hosts make their final predictions and theories about The Secrets of Dumbledore ...but Eric has just come back from an early screening! He gives a quick, spoiler-free review of the movie. What will the film's Tomatometer score end up being? How much money will it gross on opening weekend in the U.S.? Andrew, Micah and Laura guess  how gay the Dumbledore and Grindelwald relationship will be? On the subject of relationships,

With just a few weeks to go until the release of The Secrets of Dumbledore, the hosts review some recently released clips and featurettes. Why did Dumbledore create the blood pact and what happens if he tries to destroy it? Will Dumbledore's love for Grindelwald continue to cloud his judgment? And, are the Fantastic Beasts producers relying too much on Harry Potter nostalgia? Plus next week, don't miss our Secrets of Dumbledore predictions episode! News roundup covers Hogwarts Legacy for Nintendo Switch, early Fantastic Beasts fan screenings and The Secrets of Dumbledore screenplay Main Discussion: The Latest Secrets of Dumbledore Clips & Featurettes Dumbledore attempts to destroy the blood pact! Why does this scene feel oddly familiar? Dumbledore confesses his love for Grindelwald! How will Newt and team bring down Grindelwald... it's all about CONFUSION?!?! Does David Heyman's Dean Thomas reference seem out of place? Are the Fantastic Beasts producers relying too heavily on Harry Potter nostalgia?

On this week's MuggleCast, we return to an e-mail that we received that asks us what the 1998-1999 Hogwarts school year would have been like, when Hermione returned to complete her Hogwarts education and when Ginny and Luna were her classmates. The hosts think critically and speculate which accommodations might be made in wake of the destruction of the school and considering the mental health and well-being of students and staff! Plus, a recent Hogwarts Legacy trailer gives us the first real look inside the much-anticipated Wizarding World game. All this and more can be found inside the episode! Playstation's 'State of Play' event gives Potter fans an in-depth look at Hogwarts Legacy. The hosts discuss what interests them about it as gamers. Main Discussion: Annette asks us, what do we think the 1998/1999 school year would have looked like at Hogwarts? September 1 is only 4 months after the Battle of Hogwarts! Is that enough time to repair the school and memorialize the fallen? What would the Sorting H

On this week's episode, our Fantastic Beasts character discussions return to focus on the one-and-only Newt Scamander. With about a month to go before the release of Secrets of Dumbledore, we analyze all of Newt's relationships from the last film and debate what the future holds for our favorite magizoologist. Plus, its Newt's birthday, so just will the hosts gift him? A niffler fanny pack may be in his future! Welcome to our social media manager, Chloe! The cover of the Order of the Phoenix Illustrated Edition has been revealed! Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Newt Scamander We last talked about Newt back on Episode 326 with Evanna Lynch! Horoscope Check: Newt is the perfect Pisces! The hosts break down Newt's relationships in Crimes of Grindelwald What exactly is the dynamic between the brothers Scamander? Does Newt still love Leta? Why does Dumbledore trust Newt so much? Are there more comparisons between Newt and Snape than meet the eye? The Newt and Jacob BROMANCE continues! Did th

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we break down new scenes from the recently released Japanese Secrets of Dumbledore trailer, take listener feedback and talk about the 18 new character posters. Plus, we're joined by a very special guest to review Cursed Child in San Francisco! #Millennial co-host Pam joins the show to review the new-and-improved one-part Cursed Child in San Francisco! Check out new episodes of Andrew, Laura, and Pam's #Millennial every Wednesday. Subscribe via Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen! The hosts analyze the new Japanese Secrets of Dumbledore trailer, which includes even more exciting footage! Oh brother! Did Theseus and Newt successfully defeat the Manticore? Professor McGonagall namedrop! Dumbledore comes face-to-face with the portrait of Ariana Newt: “To save our world, each of us has a role to play." What exactly are the roles that Theseus, Eulalie, Jacob, Yusuf and Bunty will play in the third Fantastic Beasts film? Tina is inside Newt's suitc

The latest (and final?) trailer for Fantastic Beasts: the Secrets of Dumbledore is here! Overall the trailer is very Dumbledore-and Grindelwald-focused and we are here to pick it apart, scene by scene! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss that interesting Michael Gambon cameo, long-haired Credence, Jacob's wand, Dark Queenie, and more. Plus, is Theseus in trouble? Do we know some of the "new" beasts? And did Bunty get a promotion? Listen now! First, we stand with the people of Ukraine and encourage everyone to keep an eye on the news coming out of the country. It's time to talk about the new Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore trailer! This time the hosts will all be on the same page... YouTube page, that is! We use this video when referencing all timestamps during our discussion. Laura is optimistic that the Michael Gambon Pensieve appearance foreshadows memory being a crucial part of the plot for this film... ...and Eric thinks it's another desperate attempt to market the film t

This week we're talking about black characters as well as people of color in the core Harry Potter books, the movie adaptations of those books, and the media that has come out since! Joining us as our honored guest is the amazing Adriana Redding, who led Hufflepuff Team to victory on Harry Potter: Tournament of Houses! Together she, Andrew, Eric and Laura discuss the reasons why black characters are so few and far between, and what their diversity hopes are for future releases set in the Wizarding World. Our guest Adriana Redding talks about her time on Harry Potter: Tournament of Houses as well as black representation in the Harry Potter series! Adriana recounts how she got into Harry Potter a bit later than others, and how this affected her take on diversity in the series. The hosts discuss the importance of seeing somebody like yourself in the stories you consume. Was the statistical diversity of England and Wales in the 1990's a factor in the lack of black and POC characters in Harry Potter? We exp

Our mailbag is overflowing with feedback from our recent Snape and Lily episode, and people want to talk about Jacob in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts film. We hear from another one of our youngest fans, and even dig up a classic e-mail from 2006. All on this latest milestone episode of MuggleCast! Important Note: Next week, we're celebrating Black History Month by talking about how the books handle representation. If you're a listener of color and have feedback on this topic, please send us your owls! Previously unseen photos of Ariana Dumbledore have leaked online, and Andrew and Micah did an IG Live about it. View that now on our Instagram. Last week, Eric attended Albion School, a live action roleplay, and had a blast. The results of our listener house survey are in! Find out what Hogwarts house the majority of our listeners are in! (It's very close, but not as close as O.G. Pottermore said they were.) Voicemails kick off from an Aquarius listener who brings even more insight into Lily's characte

It's our annual Valentine's Day episode and this year we're switching things up to talk about the female friendships in the Harry Potter series!  So... Happy GALENTINE's Day! Hermione & Ginny, Ginny & Luna, and Lavender & Parvati are just a few of the pairings we dive deep into! Also, don't miss our Top 7 Moments Male Characters Were Emotionally Vulnerable! Next week, we're opening up our Muggle Mail bag, so don't forget to send us your owls! Don't forget to follow us on our new TikTok! It's Galentine's Day and we talk about the importance of female friendships in the Harry Potter series! Hermione and Ginny: are they best friends? Why are the two so mean towards Fleur? Sisterhood in Friendship: Ginny and Luna Why did these two characters bond so closely with each other? Support and Compassion: Lavender and Parvati & Tonks and Molly The Top 7 Moments Male Characters Were Emotionally Vulnerable in Harry Potter Harry, Ron, Draco, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Sirius and Dudley all make the list! Quizzitch: In

After the Potter series proved to be successful, there was the Twilight Series. Next came The Hunger Games. And then came Divergent! Each series was marketed as "the NEXT Harry Potter." But, they weren't really as successful as Harry Potter at all! On this special episode of MuggleCast, the hosts dive deep into what makes the tale of a boy wizard so enduring, and how the other series just didn't measure up in terms of financial success OR staying-power. We also compare HP to Star Wars and discuss what the two series have in common. It's another great episode this week, be sure to listen at your leisure! MuggleCast is now on TikTok with the username @MuggleCast! Be sure to follow us there and enjoy all the fun content we've got coming. This week's Main Discussion: Why the so-called "Next Harry Potter" hasn't happened yet. Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah discuss what made Harry Potter so special. From the story beats to the complexity of the mystery, we dive deep into what we love and what inevitably transl

In light of Snape and Lily both being born in January, this week we're analyzing the rise and fall of the relationship between the two characters! What did Lily initially see in Snape? Should she have given him another chance? And just how creepy is Snape's life-long commitment to Lily? Then, we unveil the Top 7 pickup lines Snape used on Lily... no wonder things didn't work out! Welcome back to our guest host and HP super-fan, Irvin! Irvin's book on Dumbledore titled Dumbledore: The Life and Lies is available now wherever books are sold! MuggleCast is now on TikTok, aka Laura's favorite app. Subscribe to us at @mugglecastpod Our 2022 Patreon perks have been announced! The new MuggleCast Collector's Club and Fandom Lookback features are sure to thrill all who subscribe to our Patreon. Our main discussion this week is on Lily Potter and Severus Snape, and their relationship throughout the series. Both Lily and Severus are born in January! But, they have different star signs. What in their zodiac align

With just three months to go until the release of Secrets of Dumbledore, we continue our Fantastic Beasts character discussions with Jacob Kowalski!  The heart of the Fantastic Beasts series is a true, loyal friend and partner. But what does the future hold for him? Slipping on a strudel? Getting lost in Newt's suitcase? Don't miss our Top 10 Ways in Which Jacob Kowalski WILL DIE! And next week we explore the loving/semi-toxic relationship between Lily Potter and Severus Snape, so send us your feedback! Welcome Slug Club member, Roshni! Coming this October... the Illustrated Edition of Order of the Phoenix by Jim Kay! Did you buy your Harry Potter eBooks from Pottermore back in the day? Make sure you have your digital copies downloaded! Here's why Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Jacob Kowalski If you missed our first deep dive on Jacob, check out Episode 319! How does Jacob humanize his fellow wizards? Why introduce a Muggle as one of the core four? Is Jacob the stereotypical fat, funny guy

We open up our Muggle Mail bag for the first time in 2022, as we take listener feedback on  the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special! You wont want to miss our Top 10 Outtakes That We Don’t Know For Sure Happened During the Reunion But They Totally Did! Plus, did Andrew predict Jacob getting a wand five years ago?!? And speaking of Jacob, next week we return to our Fantastic Beasts character discussions, so send us your feedback! What did we miss during our Reunion Special episode? Where was Steve Kloves? Why did Emma Roberts make a cameo? Can Warner Bros. tell the Phelps twins apart? MuggleCast’s Top 10 Outtakes That We Don’t Know For Sure Happened During the Reunion But They Totally Did Muggle Mail, Muggle Mail, Muggle Mail! Listeners sound off on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on everything from Tom Felton and Emma Watson to Dan Radcliffe and Helena Bonham Carter! Voicemails cover Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane and the In Memoriam Andrew predicted Jacob having a wand

MuggleCast excitedly kicks off the year 2022 with their review of the brand new Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they go "chapter-by-chapter" on the 100 minute show and discuss the highs and lows, cast members who were noticeably absent, and how the reunion special did or didn't meet their expectations. We also have a mail-bag show next week, so be sure to send us YOUR thoughts on the special! 2022 started off with a brand new Reunion Special, looking back on the making of all 8 films and featuring the cast including Dan, Rupert and Emma Harry Potter Reunion Special First Impressions: did it satisfy our craving? Did it make us cry? (Spoiler alert: yes, it did.) Andrew found the beginning to be a little clunky, and the fact that Rupert, Dan and Emma were not physically all in the same space was ultimately a missed opportunity. Laura thinks the special would have benefitted from having a dedicated host to guide us through the many di

On this week's episode, we preview the forthcoming Harry Potter Reunion Special, dive deeper into The Secrets of Dumbledore trailer, take listener feedback on just what in the world Jacob is doing with a wand and look ahead to 2022! Plus, a bonus MuggleCast you won't want to miss - just what goes down at a Hogwarts Holiday staff party! Another year, gone (in your best Dumbledore voice)! We discuss the upcoming Harry Potter Reunion Special. The trailer was supposed to be released last week prior to our recording, but never appeared. It was eventually released Monday, December 20th. Rumors abound about a member of the trio not being present for the reunion! Don't forget, we'll be recording our first MuggleCast of 2022 following the airing of the reunion on HBO MAX! We return to analyzing The Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer now that we've had more time with it Look close... can you see Ariana? Dumbledore is in New York City! What brings him there? Could the portkey in the Room of Requirement be a Tibeta

The first trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore has finally arrived, and we're here to discuss everything in it! What's up with Jacob and his wand? Hey there, Aberforth Dumbledore! New Year, New Doo for Credence! And thank goodness that there are still magical beasts in this thing! We recorded this Secrets of Dumbledore trailer analysis just minutes after it was released Monday morning, so we go character by character and scene by scene to figure out what we can expect in the Fantastic Beasts threequel. (Just THREE points awarded to Hufflepuff? THREE?) Send us your feedback about the Secrets of Dumbledore trailer, and we may include it in the next episode, which we're recording later this week! We want your theories and feelings. This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and MeUndies (get 15% off your first order and free shipping at MeUndies.com/mugglecast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice