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 MuggleCas...
Aug 24, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 527
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 pu...
Aug 17, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 526
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...
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 525
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...
Aug 03, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 524
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 ...
Jul 27, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 523
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 ...
Jul 20, 2021•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 522
With one year to go until the film's release (we think), our Fantastic Beasts character discussions return! Up first... Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore in his younger years! Jude Law: Youngledore, DumbleDAMN, Yumbledore! How did Deathly Hallows help inform our knowledge of the Dumbledores before seeing Crimes of Grindelwald? Aunt Muriel and Rita Skeeter weigh in! Did Albus fail in his responsibility to take care of both Ariana and Aberforth? What was so terrifying about the duel between ...
Jul 13, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 521
We continue our discussion on the most shocking moments in Harry Potter fandom history, with some stories you'll remember -- and others you probably forgot! In 2012, Micah discovered that JKR had announced she was actively working on a Harry Potter Encyclopedia, but it was quickly retracted once the story got out. In 2013, Rowling was outed as male author Robert Galbraith by a lawyer's... wife's... friend... and a British newspaper. Later that same year, only a week after MuggleCast "ended," the...
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 520
Welcome back Andy, of Harry Potter Fan Zone (and PotterNoMore.com)! This is Part 1 of a two-part episode, wherein the hosts discuss the most Shocking Moments in Harry Potter Fandom History. First up: In 2005, JK Rowling invites fan site heads Emerson and Melissa to her house! In 2007, before Deathly Hallows and high-speed internet, a live stream revealed a new Harry Potter theme park! What was the significance of a Potter-themed park at the time? ...but Andy had already been to a Harry Potter th...
Jun 29, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 519
It's a MuggleMail episode! But first: Micah & Eric visit the newly-opened Harry Potter New York flagship store and share some pro tips for fans looking to visit in the near future! What are some of the top items? And more importantly, how is the butterbeer? To celebrate Pride Month in the Wizarding World, listeners send in their favorite LGBTQ+ couples Voicemails cover Draco's "real" dad, the Battle of Hogwarts, Sprout & Snape's relationship and more! Do the they teach sex education at Hogwarts?...
Jun 22, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 518
Welcome Swish and Flick's Meg & Katie! Main Discussion: Celebrating Pride Month in the Harry Potter fandom Andrew, Meg & Katie share their personal experiences of coming out and the feeling of safety in the Potter fan community What is it about the Harry Potter fandom that makes it a welcoming place for diversity? What have the hosts noticed about inclusion at Potter events? What’s a “different” thing about the other hosts that the fandom didn’t judge them for? Why was it such a big deal to reve...
Jun 15, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 517
The Harry Potter Store in New York City is now open. Will Micah be going? In celebration of the character's birthday, today we are discussing all things Draco Malfoy. Malfoy's name implies he will act in bad faith, and his horoscope suggests a duality of character. Do the hosts agree? According to LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Malfoy's Boggart is Lord Voldemort. Is this canon? Are there any other things his Boggart might be? We all agree Tom Felton was an excellent choice for Draco, and we love ...
Jun 08, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 516
This week's episode is our fifth-ever Wizarding World movie commentary! Watch Prisoner of Azkaban with the MuggleCasters, and listen as we react in real-time to everything happening. Is this movie as bad as some people say it is? What do we love and hate about it? We discuss it all as we watch! Note: You will need your own copy of Prisoner of Azkaban in order to watch with us. We will help you sync up the movie with us at the start of the commentary track. We strongly recommend listening to this...
May 25, 2021•2 hr 17 min•Ep. 515
The Cursed Child will not reopen with other Broadway shows this Fall as it rethinks its length and structure, targeting a 2022 return What's at the heart of this decision? We discuss a few ways The Cursed Child could accomplish a cutdown version of the show. Main Discussion: Revisiting The Best of MuggleNet and other Potter Fan Sites, particularly during the biggest year for Harry Potter The hosts revisit their roles and how they got their start in the Potter fandom The layouts, the countdowns, ...
May 18, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 514
Welcome Slug Club member, Franzi! Main Discussion: Professor Sprout & Herbology’s Role in the Harry Potter Series To start off, the hosts test their skills in a new game: Potter Plant or... Pokemon? What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of Professor Sprout? What does Sprout's name origin tell us about her character? Miriam Margoyles shined in her limited screen time in the Potter films The Chronicles of Sprout and McGonagall are canon - should it be a spin-off series? Laura dis...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 513
Take note! The new-ish Harry Potter Database is keeping track of deleted and never-seen scenes from the movies, with stills and even script excerpts! Including the alternate ending from Goblet of Fire that we mentioned last week. It's the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts! The hosts honor the occasion by looking at what the movie left out from the book. How do the hosts feel about the Harry/Voldemort face-off, now that they've reread it? What role would Andrew, Laura, Micah, and Eric taken i...
May 04, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 512
News: Harry Potter flagship store opening on June 3 in New York City, but not everyone on the panel is into the news. This week’s episode is all MuggleMail! Did Harry's "I am The Chosen One" line miss its mark with some fans? Listeners share lots of feedback on our Fred and George episode! We even hear from several twins! Should you omit "problematic" parts of the books when reading Harry Potter to your children? Seline from South Australia sparks a spirited discussion about teaching basic readi...
Apr 27, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 511
News: British star of stage, film and TV Helen McCrory has died. We wish the best to her family and loved ones. Main Discussion: Former MuggleNet Fan Fiction moderator Laura Tee is here to discuss fanfic! Have the MuggleCast hosts read fanfic before? Why or why not? Was there a stigma attached in the early days? Laura runs through some common Harry Potter fanfic tropes including American exchange students, students getting "HOT" over the summer, and replacement love interests for Snape. The host...
Apr 20, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 510
Main Discussion: What Would We Change About The Harry Potter Books & Movies? A couple of Mary GrandPre's book covers should've taken a different direction! It's Philosopher's Stone, NOT Sorcerer's Stone! Get with it, America! What's Buggin' Micah returns as he Americanizes the other Harry Potter book titles Enough Expelliarmus, Harry! Don't you know more than one spell? Justice for Slytherin! What in the world was that final fight scene between Harry and Voldemort? Too many directors, not enough...
Apr 13, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 509
News: Warner Bros' recent deal with Regal means a shorter window between theaters and streaming for future Wizarding World films. This week, we focus our attention on Fred and George Weasley, in celebration of their April 1st birthday. Following up on our Ron discussion, we read the Twins' horoscope (Aries) for insight into their personality. Is it strange for George to marry Angelina Johnson, after Fred's death? The hosts weigh in. The Weasley Twins have traits that can be found in each of thei...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 508
This week, we're joined by Bradley Bakes, a YouTuber in the United Kingdom who’s currently baking his way through the entire Harry Potter book series! Bradley shares why he started creating every food and drink item mentioned in the Harry Potter books 64 recipes for Sorcerer's Stone, 54 recipes for Chamber of Secrets - what's next on the menu? Golden Snitch Lemon Meringue Pie... Whomping Willow Chocolate Cabbage Cake... Bradley puts a twist on some notable Potter items! Bradley shares a few simp...
Mar 30, 2021•50 min•Ep. 507
We asked our listeners, following last week's discussion, what fan films they would like to see made. From Arthur and Molly's courtship, to Regulus' thwarting of Voldemort, the hosts discuss what the best plots yet to be seen could look like. Since Ilvermorny has been more or less forgotten about by the author, should fans take it back / make it their own? This week's episode is all MuggleMail! Theories on how Ron inherited Charlie's wand, and similarities between Hogwarts and boarding school ar...
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 506
The MuggleCasters recently appeared on Evanna Lynch’s ChickPeeps podcast, where we nerded out on Harry Potter - check it out! We remember Harry Potter fandom icon Nigel Taylor (Vladimir Snape) Grab the popcorn, candy and soda and hide it inside Laura's huge purse, because this week, we're going to the movies! In our main discussion this week, we review several excellent Harry Potter Fan-Made Short Films We review some of the best fan-made movies over the last several years Severus Snape the The ...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 505
Welcome Slug Club guest Olivia! The Hogwarts Legacy video game will reportedly allow for players to customize their character's gender identity. To celebrate International Womens Day 2021, the hosts discuss achievements by women in the Harry Potter series Not only did Lily Potter save her son, but she ended the war with Voldemort the first time, saving thousands of lives! Hermione has saved Ron and Harry's lives more times than we can count! Ginny overcame the trauma of Tom Riddle's teenage Horc...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 504
Happy Birthday, Ronald Bilius Weasley! Today we're kicking off a new monthly feature, where we’ll be hosting a main character discussion timed around their birthday. We start with Ron! One of the most underrated characters in the Wizarding World, let's get Ron's Fandom ID! We discuss our first impressions of Harry's best friend and Ron's complex about his family's socioeconomic status What were our favorite Ron moments in the books? What was his defining chapter? What were some of Ron's worst ch...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 503
Did Wizards Unite finally confirm a long-standing theory about Lavender Brown? Main Discussion: All The Ways That Hogwarts Is A Security Nightmare For decades, students and teachers have been lied to about Hogwarts safety! Are moving staircases really a good idea? The Forbidden Forest & Black Lake are no place for students of any age! The Triwizard Tournament? Ask Cedric Diggory how that turned out! Background check, anyone? We discuss how professors like Quirrell, Lockhart, Hagrid & Impostor Mo...
Feb 23, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 502
A new Harry Potter Exhibition will be touring the globe. How similar will it be to the one we've already been to? The hosts discuss how they would like to see Fantastic Beasts 3 start, from blood pact flashbacks to a street chase in Rio! Will director David Yates finally make a substantive flashback sequence? Will the colors of this film at last be cheery and bright? Lynx Line: Our Patrons weigh in with their opening ideas. What if our heroes are all turned into Nifflers? Could Leta Lestrange st...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 501
We made it to Episode 500! To celebrate, we have a fun a look at MuggleCast By The Numbers How many emails have we received over the years? How many times has the show been downloaded? Which host has appeared on the most episodes? Guess That MuggleCast Episode Title! Eric quizzes Andrew, Laura and Micah on some of the more memorable episode titles on the last 15 years! To celebrate Valentine's Day, we set the mood and deliver some of the best Harry Potter Pickup Lines Alternate Universe Pairings...
Feb 09, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 500
Welcome to our listener and Patron Julia, whose son Wyatt sent us a great question a few weeks ago. News: As we predicted, a Potter television series is reportedly in the works. And, Fantastic Beasts 3 finishes filming this week! In Bonus MuggleCast, available on our Patron, we'll discuss when to expect more news and updates about the third Fantastic Beasts movie. Today we discuss the trials and tribulations of being an adult fan of the Harry Potter series! The hosts discuss whether they've rece...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 499
News: With a new appointment at Warner Brothers, could a Harry Potter television show be in our future? (Note: This episode was recorded before The Hollywood Reporter reported on January 25 that a live-action Harry Potter series is officially in development, but our news discussion still relates to the news) It's Not Just For Kids! Listeners weigh in on Ollivander's wand choosing ceremony at the Wizarding World theme park. Main Discussion: Harry Potter Companion Novels. As we continue the 20th a...
Jan 26, 2021•59 min•Ep. 498
