Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

This week, we hope you like the taste of Polyjuice Potion because we're all transforming into Harry to (narrowly) escape Privet Drive! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, Laura and Grace as they climb aboard Hagrid's motorbike for a fun ride to the home of Ted and Andromeda Tonks! Welcome to the show, Grace Candido-Beecher, author of Voldemort: An Unofficial Exploration! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4: The Seven Potters 7-Word Summary: Moody helps Harry escape safely from Voldemort Let’s discuss this plan: is it brilliant or unnecessarily risky? Do any other options come to mind that may have been overlooked? Which of the seven Potters surprises us the most (putting Mundungus aside)? We analyze the characters willing to transform into Harry and why they'd be so willing! Grace compares the 7 Harrys to the 7 Divine Virtues Does Hedwig's death symbolize the end of Harry's childhood more than any other moment in the series? Did the movie do it better?  MAX THAT

We're taking a break from releasing new episodes this week, so please enjoy this Bonus MuggleCast episode that was released on our Patreon! Become a member TODAY to receive instant access to lots of magical benefits! It's now '19 years later' following the release of the final Harry Potter book! In light of this anniversary, and our Chapter by Chapter re-read of Deathly Hallows approaching, we look back at the July 2007 midnight release! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, it's a series of awkward goodbyes at Privet Drive! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they say so-long to Dudley, Petunia and Vernon in Deathly Hallows, Chapter 3: The Dursleys Departing! 7-Word Summary: Goodbyes are flying through awkwardly among family Why is Vernon Dursley so impressed by Kingsley Shacklebolt? Are Daedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones really the best the Order have to offer? Would any of the Dursleys actually sell out Harry to Voldemort? What If... the Dursleys were kidnapped? Would Harry come to their rescue? Why can't Vernon bring himself to shake Harry's hand? Dudley does a complete 180! What made him warm up to Harry? What was Petunia going to say to Harry? The movie got it right, but why was the scene deleted? Lynx Line: In this chapter, the Dursleys are off with Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones into the unknown. What adventures will they go on over the next year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, don't believe everything you read in the paper, because we’re reading criticism of the great Albus Dumbledore, penned by the untrustworthy Rita Skeeter. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they continue the read-through of Deathly Hallows! Quizzitch Question: What is the term used for when students take a year for travel between secondary and tertiary education? Chapter-by-Chapter of Deathly Hallows continues with Chapter 2, "In Memoriam" Our DH2 Seven-Word Summary: Rita maliciously attacks Dumbledore’s back in media Could the reader infer maybe there was more going on between Elphias Doge and Albus Dumbledore, from the tone and content of his memorial essay in print? How was Dumbledore making money for his family right after he left school? Was he borrowing some from Nicolas Flamel? We connect Elphias' mention of the Grindelwald and Dumbledore battle back to Book One and Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog Card writeup. Briefly, the hosts talk about how that moment was never brough

This week, we hope you brought your appetite, because we’re joining Nagini for dinner. Pull up a chair alongside Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura at the dining room table inside Malfoy Manor for some delicious Death Eater tea! We're going chapter-by-chapter through Deathly Hallows for the first time since 2007! Deathly Hallows: A History: we reflect back on the ultimate midnight release party and the fastest selling book ever in a 24-hour period! Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Deathly Hallows, Chapter 1 - The Dark Lord Ascending 7-Word Summary: Voldemort hosts his people menacingly around updates Can Voldemort trust the portraits inside Malfoy Manor? Snape and Yaxley jostle for Voldemort's affection: who has the better intel on Harry Potter? The Ministry has been infiltrated! The Castration of Lucius Malfoy: we discuss the symbolism of Voldemort taking his wand and utter humiliation the Malfoy family receives inside their own home The irony of Voldemort discussing blood status So

Ahead of our Chapter-by-Chapter re-read of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, which first premiered in 2010. The film is a favorite of several of the hosts for its time spent on characterization and the acting quality of the leads, so this is a real treat to experience. As usual, you will need to bring your own copy of the movie and be sure to follow instructions in order to sync up the film with your own TV! Thanks also to our Patrons who were watching and listening live as well as commenting on our Patron-only Discord server. Their comments added greatly to the discussion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're less than six months away until the premiere of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on HBO Max (!), and this week we're sharing some exciting casting news, looking at the possibility of characters being introduced earlier than they were in the Harry Potter books, and more! Welcome back, friend of the show Ivana! Check out her Tumblr and her Charlie Weasley fan fiction! Peeves has been cast! Why did the news come so late? We break down the poltergeist's history in the Potter films! Ginny has been recast for Season 2 due to "unforeseen circumstances". What does this mean for the character's screen time in Season 1? A "new" clip of Ollivander?! We debate his somewhat sinister tone, and why fans love a relatively minor character! Should we anticipate a new Harry Potter TV show trailer on September 1? If not, when? MAX That: Philosopher's Stone: Charlie Weasley. There's LOTS that could be brought to screen! What other Weasleys should be getting more screen time? Or a better perform

This week, we hope you can sing in Mermish or fire an arrow cleanly, because we’re paying tribute to the great Albus Dumbledore. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they wrap the sixth book in the Harry Potter series! Welcome Slug Club Member Sam! Chapter-by-Chapter of Half-Blood Prince concludes with Chapter 30, "The White Tomb" Harry has developed a mantra of all of the remaining Horcruxes. Did we ever establish similar practices when we were younger? Could the rope ladder turning to snakes in Harry's dream actually be the Horcrux within him preventing him from obtaining the others? Harry makes some astute observations about Snape and Voldemort. Do we think it's a fair comparison? Pity for Draco: What does this say about Harry’s character development? Is Dumbledore’s funeral is as much about paying tribute to him as it is about a transfer of responsibility? Should Harry have accepted the offer to have Auror protection/assistance? Dumbledore is clearly beloved by the wizarding

Has everyone got their tissues handy? Our chapter-by-chapter segment at last reaches the penultimate chapter of Half-Blood Prince, wherein the recent actions of a certain “Prince” are discovered by Harry and friends. Also, there’s a new headmistress in town and she intends to rule by committee?! Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura discuss all of that and more on episode 756 of MuggleCast. Chapter by Chapter: Half-Blood Prince Chapter 29, “The Phoenix Lament” Harry retraces Snape’s final steps. And they involve knocking out Flitwick! Is this protective or adversarial behavior from Snape? Could Snape have helped the Order when they were pinned in the corridor? Did he, and we just don’t know it? Harry refuses to tell McGonagall about his and Dumbledore’s mission. He thinks he’s being faithful, but is this smart? Is Harry’s decision partly to protect Minerva? Andrew has a HUGE foreshadow alert Micah blows Eric’s mind with a comparison between Hogwarts founders and the current heads of house Har

This week, saddle up your Hippogriff and prepare for the hunt - there's a fleeing Potions Master on the loose. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, and Laura as they pursue Snape across the Hogwarts grounds, determined to avenge their fallen Headmaster. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Chapter 28 of Half-Blood Prince, “Flight of The Prince” With Dumbledore Dumbledead, Harry has no choice but to step up. Has Dumbledore adequately prepared him for the road ahead? MAX THAT BATTLE! Keep your mouth shut and your mind closed! Despite the circumstances, is Snape actually teaching Harry? Given the need to maintain Harry's hatred and preserve his cover, could Snape have acted differently during his escape, or was his approach the only one that could have worked? What is it about being called a coward that rocks Snape to his core? Buckbeak to The Rescue: Connecting The Threads to Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban Locket Loss: Who is RAB? Lynx Line: You’re Harry Potter, enraged at Severus Sna

This week on MuggleCast: “SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE!” It’s time to discuss one of the biggest shocks in the entire Harry Potter series. Join us as we begin to wrap up our chapter-by-chapter re-read of Half-Blood Prince! Chapter by Chapter continues with Chapter 27 of Half-Blood Prince, “The Lightning Struck Tower” (cue Andrew pitching Universal his attraction idea once again) Draco thinks he has the upper hand here, but Dumbledore shows grace and humility. Is Draco trying to blame Albus for the trouble they’re both in? Did Dumbledore know about the Vanishing Cabinet? This chapter offers us a couple of clues. Micah offers several fascinating bits of symbolism concerning the Lightning-Struck Tower itself. We look at how the idea to use coins to communicate has come around full circle, from Death Eaters, to Hermione, and back to Death Eaters. Did Dumbledore think such a large audience would witness his death? For a big planner like Albus, he may not’ve seen that twist coming. The Astronomy Tow

On this week's episode... are Molly and Vernon are having an affair?! Join Andrew, Micah, Laura and special guest Amanda as we catch up on the latest Harry Potter TV show news and have fun discussing the newly released Full-Cast Audiobooks! Welcome to The Leaky Cauldron's Amanda Kirk, who visited the Harry Potter TV Show Set! Read her TV show set report. What was it like being on the set of the show, and how does one feel after getting to experience it? Amanda shares how she's feeling about the show after getting a first-hand experience! It's a Harry Potter TV Show-themed episode and Chamber of Secrets has been renewed for Season 2! What do we think this means for its release date? Basilisk Blasphemy! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chamber of Secrets is the most disliked book! Do we agree? Why are Molly and Vernon so chummy in this paparazzi photo?! We discuss what we're most looking forward to in Philosopher's Stone and reveal what we think Will Be Impossible to Do Better Than The Mo

On this week's episode, we're following Dumbledore and Harry into an unholy place... and finding deep comparisons between the chosen location for Voldemort's most protected Horcrux, and the legacy of the item it is contained within. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, and Laura as they discuss a particular cave filled with water you wouldn't want to drink, and an important bonding moment between Harry and his headmaster. This week we're discussing Half-Blood Prince Chapter 26, “The Cave” The hosts analyze a new metaphor for the Cave by comparing it to a mother's womb. Harry and Dumbledore hope to retrieve a life form from the center, but it will cost them. What is the significance between Voldemort choosing his mother's locket, and this natural formation as its hiding spot? Real Talk, Part One: Could Harry have ever "beaten" the cave without Dumbledore's help? Real Talk, Part Two: Does the punishing difficulty of the Cave set an unreasonably high standard for readers regarding future Horcrux retrieva

On this week's episode, don't talk to your Divination professor when she’s had a few too many because she might just SET YOU OFF! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they confront Dumbledore about that night at the Hog's Head. Year 5 of the MuggleCast Collectors Club is here! You can receive SIX exclusive stickers by joining us on Patreon. These stickers can go on the custom Collectors Club Card we released a few years ago, or you can put them wherever else you like! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Chapter 25 of Half-Blood Prince, The Seer Overheard Harry is contemplating retrieving the Prince’s book from the Room of Requirement. Hasn't Harry learned anything from trusting mysterious books? Hermione discovers an old newspaper clipping featuring Eileen Prince, Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team. But the Prince can't be a woman, right?! Connecting the Threads: much like Hermione discovers the monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a basilisk, she begins to unravel the identity of the Half-

On this week's episode, don’t get on Harry’s bad side! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah, and Laura as they discuss the bathroom duel between Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. This week we're discussing Half-Blood Prince Chapter 24, “Sectumsempra” What did Harry hope to achieve in barging in on Draco? Would it have been smarter for him to have waited and developed a plan? Given the escalation in severity of the spells cast, was Harry right to use Sectumsempra on Draco? What made Harry’s casting of the spell so successful the very first time he tried? Was it his being in imminent danger? Was Snape tailing Draco and therefore able to get to the bathroom so quickly? Why else might he have been nearby? Snape calls Harry a liar. Does he KNOW from which source Harry learned that particular spell? We notice that the Prince’s diary is hidden right next to a Horcrux, and feel it fits. Is the Room of Requirement more, or less, secure becoming the same room for everyone that wants to hide or dispose of thei

On this week's episode, get ready for the worst scavenger hunt ever! Join Eric, Micah, Laura and special guest Rachel as they take a trip down Horcrux memory lane and learn what near-impossible task lies ahead for Harry and company!  Welcome Slug Club member and host of The Menuscript, Rachel! This week we're discussing Half-Blood Prince Chapter 23, "Horcruxes" The Slughorn Files: UNREDACTED What do we make of Slughorn's interest in Tom becoming Minister of Magic? Did Tom learn some of his less-than-wholesome skills from observing Slughorn? What was the inciting event that made Dumbledore so “fierce” about a no-Horcrux curriculum?  And should Horcruxes be a banned topic at Hogwarts? Why was Voldemort willing to risk part of his soul to reopen the Chamber of Secrets? Hallows Happy Dumbledore: with both the Elder Wand and Resurrection Stone in his possession, why didn't Albus ask Harry for his Invisibility Cloak and just dip? When Dumbledore suggests the possibility of a living Horcr

On this week's episode, it's time for Slughorn Unfiltered. We're going into the true memory that Dumbledore and Harry have been after, opening a significant path forward in the quest to defeat Voldemort! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 22: After the Burial Is Hagrid being a bad friend by asking the trio to break curfew? This isn't the first time Hagrid has put Harry in danger re: Aragog; we recall moments in Chamber of Secrets which connect. Hermione and Ron's reactions to Harry taking liquid luck still make us giggle. How did Hagrid actually fend off all of Aragog's family to get him to his hut? Is Harry being a bad friend to Hagrid by inviting Slughorn to the funeral, knowing Slughorn wants to turn a profit? Could Harry have gotten Horace's memory without using Felix Felicis? We go through why Harry is successful and what steps are taken which ensure his victory with the memory. Does Horace Slughorn appear again in this book? Does

On this week's episode, we hope you know the difference between a ghost and an Inferius, lest you want to incur the sass of Severus Snape. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as we suffer through Defense Against The Dark Arts while trying very hard to break into the Room of Requirement. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room Main Discussion #1: Distracted by Draco Fudge Flashback: We reflect on the Minister's comments in the very first chapter of this book: "The other side can do magic too." As Hermione consistently reminds Harry throughout the chapter, he is taking his eyes off the prize. Why is Harry not more focused given how testy Dumbledore was with him during their last lesson? We debate whether or not Dumbledore should have offered Harry more guidance Snitch Report: Given how Dobby behaves after tailing Draco, should Harry have been more mindful of what he was asking the former Malfoy house-elf to do? Why did it tak

As if last week's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone TV Show trailer wasn't enough, HBO Max has released a new documentary giving us a behind the scenes look at the making of the upcoming book to TV adaptation! We react to this new documentary called Finding Harry and how it leaves us feeling about the new Harry Potter TV show. The thought and detail that is going into this series is nothing short of incredible, and we explain why we're feeling reassured about rebooting this story. From the numerous animatronics to an earthy Hogwarts to making illogical magic logical, we go moment by moment through this documentary. Your Harry Potter friends at MuggleCast are continuing to cover the TV show now through the December 2026 premiere and beyond. Be sure to follow us in your favorite podcast app and tell a fellow Muggle about our TV show analysis! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EMERGENCY EARLY POD RELEASE! Our first BIG look at the Harry Potter TV show is here, and it's way earlier AND bigger than expected! The first season of the upcoming TV show is now titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and Holy Dumbledore do we have thoughts. Heads up! For one week only: Celebrate the TV show coming out THIS YEAR by using code '2026' from now through April 1 to receive 26% off your first month of our Patreon! Visit Patreon.com/mugglecast and pledge now! Your support helps us cover the TV show. Before we can even analyze the trailer, we have to talk about that title (RIP "Sorcerer"), and the equally surprising release date: Christmas 2026! How many episodes will they release at the launch, and do we expect more episodes on New Years? I guess we won't be taking a break over the holidays... After discussing those developments, we go scene-by-scene through the trailer. One of our big takeaways is that this TV adaptation is being more loyal than the movies ever were! From Petunia cutt