Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

On this week's episode, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses makes it television premiere! And speaking of trivia, join us for Quizzitch Live: Holiday House Battle on Sunday, December 12 at 10 a.m. ET! In other news, our Fantastic Beasts character discussions continue with Queenie Goldstein. How has her character changed from Fantastics Beasts to Crimes of Grindelwald? Welcome Slug Club member, Sam! We review our magical stats from this year's Spotify Wrapped! Welcome to our new listeners in Cameroon, Mongolia, Brunei, Russia and Kenya! Eric and Micah will be doing an Instagram Live on Tuesday, December 7 at 7 p.m. ET! Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses debuts! We offer our initial thoughts! Our Fantastic Beasts Character Discussions return with Queenie Goldstein  What happened to Queenie between the first and second films? Have we seen a complete devolution of her character? Or is it just bad writing? Do Jacob and Queenie have a healthy relationship? What do we make of Queenie using

On this week's episode, major news hits the fandom! We discuss the upcoming reunion of cast and crew from Harry Potter to celebrate the first film's 20th anniversary. In addition, the new, shorter version of Cursed Child is reportedly a lot more heavy on an Albus/Scorpius relationship! And finally we bring you our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they reveal what awesome fan-crafted finds they've discovered this year. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will all take part in a 20th Anniversary Special for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone's release Even actors from later films, such as Gary Oldman and Mark Williams, will be joining in as well as SS/COS director Chris Columbus There have been no reports of J.K. Rowling in attendance. The hosts weigh in on what involvement she'll have, if any. A Cursed Child fan has passionately revealed that the new, shorter version of Cursed Child on Broadway has a lot more direct references to Albus and Scorpiu

On this week's episode, we empty some owl post from our Muggle Mail bag! What would the 1998-99 Hogwarts school year have looked like? Why did Harry decide to become an Auror? Plus, we analyze several new Credence theories, a Chicken Soup from India and a horcrux email from 2006 that we’ll finally answer! We're confounded! Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is closing this January! Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus says he thinks they got Harry’s scar wrong... and is interested in making a Cursed Child movie! It's our monthly Muggle Mail episode with voicemails covering Dumbledore and Grindelwald's blood pact, Mads Mikkelson's casting and more! Would Hermione, Ginny and Luna have been close? Would the Slytherin students have been treated poorly? How would Snape have been remembered? Credence theories abound! Would J.K. Rowling ever write a HP-world book from a different character's perspective? What is Grindelwald's emotional motivation? Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul ret

This week's episode is a movie commentary track for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone! The movie turns 20 years old this weekend, and you can finally watch along with the MuggleCasters. Listen as Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura share their insights and revisit the magical movie that launched the franchise.  You need to bring your own copy of the movie in order to fully enjoy this commentary track. We will help you sync up with us at the beginning (Press 'pause' as soon as the WB logo finishes fading to black. Then press 'play' when Andrew says '3'). Director Chris Columbus recently spoke about the movie in honor of its 20th anniversary, and some of his comments leak in to our lively discussion. The full list of MuggleCast movie commentaries can be found on our website's Must-Listens page. More to come in the years ahead! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we’re celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone hitting movie theaters, and kicking off an incredible film series! Where were we on opening night? How did movie critics react to the first Potter film? Who would we cast in some of our favorite Potter roles?  Plus, Eric as the Sorting Hat? Join us for the first of several episodes celebrating this epic movie anniversary!  Good news: ALL episodes of MuggleCast are now available in our RSS feed! Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the podcast feed to relive the old days. What did we do for the film's release on November 16, 2001? Thumbs up or thumbs down? We read some initial critical reviews of the movie! Quidditch hype! John Williams slander?!? No liberties taken?!? What were some of the more notable scenes that didn't make it to the screen? Box Office Breakdown: how did Sorcerer's Stone measure up? Recasting the first Potter film - our listeners weigh in with great suggestions! The hosts g

On this week's episode, long time friend of the show Evanna Lynch joins us to discuss her new book, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting. She talks about the challenges in writing her memoir and the hosts ask her about her experiences as a newly published author. Her book chronicles a struggle with mental illness and an eating disorder, as well as her correspondence with JK Rowling via letters, years before she was cast as Luna Lovegood. Evanna was kind to answer all of our questions and give us her time. This is one episode you won't want to miss! Evanna Lynch returns to MuggleCast, a newly published author! Her book, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting is a deeply moving, at times comical and mostly challenging tale of her struggles with an eating disorder while she was growing up. The hosts take turns asking Evanna questions both about her book, and some of the surprising stories found within. Evanna details why she was inspired to write Butterfly Hunting... and how she managed to remember so many detail

On this week's episode, it's our annual Halloween extravaganza! We invent some of our own wizarding world candy, discuss what treats Potter characters would hand out for Halloween and Potter-ize your favorite Halloween movies! Plus, some new and exciting info about The Secrets of Dumbledore following a test screening in Los Angeles last week! A new behind-the-scenes look at Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore sheds light on where the film will pick up and what countries we will be visiting! But what happened to Rio? We have a small, exciting, and spoiler-free tidbit about The Secrets of Dumbledore from someone who attended a test screening in Los Angeles last week. It's our annual Halloween episode! Have any of the hosts ever dressed up as Harry Potter characters for Halloween? (Here's Andrew's Morning Show appearance as Harry Potter) Laura has a great costume recommendation for Micah this year! We try our hand at inventing Wizarding World candy What kinds of goodies would Snape, Molly, Mad-

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we follow up on our original character discussion on Credence Barebone, aka Corvus Lestrange, aka "Aurelius Dumbledore"? Wading deep into prophecy, including forming one of our own using Nostradamus, the hosts try to answer the question: "Just what is going on with Credence?" Listen as we find some answers by reviewing the scenes and subplots of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. We heard from the creator behind Harry Potter Database and its astonishing collection of deleted and unreleased movie scenes! The surprise main character in Crimes of Grindelwald is Credence Barebone! Micah points out why this is more usual than unusual. Filmmakers chose twice not to include a scene where Credence survives his bout with MACUSA, both the end of the first film and the start of the second. Would such a scene have been an improvement? What brought Credence to "Circus Arcanus," and is it all one master manipulation from Grindelwald that has set Credence on his path to

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we get back to our Harry Potter character discussions with the brightest witch of her age, Hermione Jean Granger.  We discuss her personality traits, her academic prowess, and her overall perceptiveness. Plus, on Bonus MuggleCast on our Patreon, the hosts try to figure out if Hermione has a female best friend and debate which member of the trio is the "third wheel"? The Secrets of Dumbledore will hit theaters a week earlier in the UK. Why, just days after the franchise's big announcement, are they making this change? Unimpressed by the The Secrets of Dumbledore official movie synopsis, Micah writes his own! Wizarding World Gold is coming to an end this month! Does this news have larger implications for other endeavors of the Wizarding World franchise? Character Discussion: Hermione Jean Granger Much like Hermes, messenger of the gods, does Hermione serve as messenger between the Muggle and wizarding worlds? Why we, as readers, should identify more with Hermione

On this week's special episode of MuggleCast, we finally have some Fantastic Beasts 3 news to discuss! The third entry in the Fantastic Beasts series will be titled, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore! Also, a plot synopsis and new release date (April 15, 2022) are out! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss their first impressions of the title, what specific "secrets" the title may be hinting at, and we hear from Slug Club-level Patrons listening live who have some great theories as well!  Fantastic Beasts 3 will be titled, The Secrets of Dumbledore. The hosts all owe Andrew money. He has heavily speculated that "Dumbledore" would be in the title! Back on MuggleCast 442, the hosts each predicted the title of the movie in 2019, and some came close! What do we make of the title? Is this anything other than a money-motivated decision to get people to see the movie because it is called something "Dumbledore"? What does this mean for how prominent Dumbledore will be versus the Core F

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, Andrew has some news that's been 14 years in the making! Plus, we open up our Muggle mailbag to hear from listeners about our most recent Hogwarts House discussions (don't forget, you can find them all here: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw & Slytherin). And on Bonus MuggleCast, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, we review deleted and unreleased scenes from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone! Andrew's long-awaited Harry Potter Vibrating Broomstick review is here! Did Slytherins have collective guilt about leaving the Battle of Hogwarts? Was J.K. Rowling really trying to course correct for the lack of love for other Hogwarts Houses? Snapping the Elder Wand?!?! Why one listener thinks the movie got it right! Pickett The Ring Bearer Cuteness Alert! We hear from one of our youngest Hufflepuff listeners! Did J.K. Rowling subtly rank the Houses based on their colors? Do fans' perceptions of their House common rooms differ based on personality? We read several st

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 faul

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

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

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.

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

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 (suppo

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 E

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 Not

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 fr