Episode #479: The Best Chapters in the Harry Potter Series

  • 20 Years Ago: Dan, Emma and Rupert were announced to play Harry, Ron and Hermione
  • Sorcerer’s Stone surpasses $1 billion at the box office as theaters reopen in China
  • Fantastic Beasts 3 set to resume filming in September — will the movie’s release date be delayed?
  • Main Discussion: The Best Chapters of the ENTIRE Harry Potter series, and why these are our favorites!
  • What makes a good Harry Potter chapter? Pivotal moments? Action? Suspense? World expanding moments? Hindsight? The ability to connect the threads? We discuss.
  • Which book(s) didn’t have any chapters make our final cut? It’s not you, it’s us!
  • Each of the hosts share their two top picks from the Potter series
  • Listeners weigh in with overwhelming support for… Goblet of Fire!
  • Quizzitch: Who wrote the Standard Book of Spells: Grades 1-7?
  • Don’t forget! You can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week, because two clearly wasn’t enough, each hosts covers their third favorite chapter in the Potter series!

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Episode #478: How MuggleNet Created a Harry Potter Encyclopedia

  • Welcome to the show Marissa, co-author of MuggleNet’s new Character Compendium, available now in bookstores everywhere!
  • MuggleMail has Umbridge fever! An e-mail from Matt suggests actress Olivia Coleman for the future role of Umbridge in a Harry Potter TV series! Here is a highlight reel for your consideration.
  • Should MuggleCast make Umbridge pillows that you can punch? And, finally, a mention of Umbridge from Half-Blood Prince is brought to our attention.
  • In our Main Discussion, we ask Marissa about the creation of The Unofficial Harry Potter Character Compendium: MuggleNet’s Ultimate Guide to Who’s Who in the Wizarding World. How did this book come about, how did they gather information on over 700 characters, and which characters stood out to her in her research?!
  • Special sections in the Barnes & Noble edition discuss MuggleNet’s favorite non-canon characters, and who is the REAL hero of the Harry Potter series?
  • What is the role of a fan site in 2020? We discuss the early days of MuggleNet and where it stands today
  • The hosts play GUESS. THAT. CHARACTER!
  • Quizzitch: What is Daisy Pennifold known for?
  • This week’s episode is sponsored by Quip! Visit GetQuip.com/muggle and get your first refill FREE.
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

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Episode #477: Burning ‘Order of the Phoenix’ Questions That Were Never Answered

  • News: The Harry Potter film series is moving to Peacock and leaving HBO Max.
  • Muggle Mail covers Potter People The Podcast and an interesting fan fiction about Voldemort’s return!
  • It’s our Order of the Phoenix Rewind episode, and we’re discussing what fans were thinking post release, as well as the biggest (or weirdest) questions opened by Order of the Phoenix that were never answered in later books!
  • Acceptable. Troll. Exceeds Expectations. Just how good were our 7-Word Summaries during Chapter-by-Chapter? The grades are in!
  • Dumbledore vs. Voldemort. The Lost Prophecy. Harry’s trial. What were our Top 7 Most Critical Moments of Order of the Phoenix?
  • We take a Time Turner back to 2003! What were fans theorizing most about between the Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince book releases?
  • From Peter Pettigrew to Dumbledore’s mysterious absence, what burning questions did Order of the Phoenix and the final two books leave unanswered?
  • Luna Lovegood. Dolores Umbridge. Bellatrix Lestrange. We discuss Order of the Phoenix’s Most Notable New Characters and how they translated on screen!
  • The hosts give their Favorite Moments and Rename The Book
  • Quizzitch: What do Jamie Parker, Jim Dale and Evanna Lynch all have in common (besides Harry Potter)?
  • This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast to get 10% off your first month of therapy)!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

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Episode #476: Celebrating 15 Years of MuggleCast (with Jamie!)

  • SPOILER WARNING: Do not listen if you haven’t finished Book 6 yet, but today we’re celebrating 15 YEARS OF MUGGLECAST!
  • Welcome back everyone’s favorite Brit, Jamie! He has some huge life updates for everyone.
  • Why in the world did we ever decide to start a podcast? Who is this mystery “Sarah” person?
  • We dig deep into the archive to roll clips from Episode 1! Were our predictions any good? Or totally wrong?
  • From Steve Jobs to David Heyman to Pickle Pack and more, Andrew, Eric, Micah, Laura and Jamie share their favorite MuggleCast Moments!
  • The hosts give their best fandom moments and top Potter news items over the last 15 years
  • What will be the state of the Harry Potter fandom 15 years from now? We think the current state of the Star Wars and Marvel fandoms should clue us in.
  • Make The Music Connection returns, with music from 2005!
  • Why we still love doing MuggleCast after all this time…and…
  • British Joke of the Day!
  • After the outro, listeners share their favorite moments from over the years
  • This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/mugglecast to get 10% off your first month of therapy) and BeachBody On Demand (text ‘mugglecast’ to 30-30-30 for your free trial membership!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

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Episode #475: Denial and Acceptance (OOTP 38, The Second War Begins)

  • It’s our final Chapter-by-Chapter episode! The reading archive is now complete!
  • Congratulations to our recent Quizzitch Live winners Morg97, Molly, Melissa, Kate, and Kiran.
  • Eric has a new podcast, Thank You For Spieling! Find it on your favorite podcast app.
  • MuggleMail includes Occlumency lessons, the Marauders watching Snape and Lily, and whether you can grow out of reading Harry Potter books.
  • Chapter-by-Chapter CONCLUDES with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 38: Second War Begins
  • 7-Word Summary: Hogwarts is not the most safe space
  • Fudge’s behavior following Voldemort’s return leaves the hosts all bothered.
  • What really happened to Umbridge, and how did Dumbledore leave the Forest unscathed?
  • Malfoy means business, but is his anger misplaced? Snape and McGonagall square off.
  • Why can’t Hagrid make Harry feel better? Can anyone?
  • To add insult to injury, Harry discovers Sirius’ mirror…
  • …and Nearly-Headless Nick is roped into a counselor role for his fellow Gryffindor.
  • Luna offers hope. Why doesn’t Harry talk to Lupin? And the book ends!
  • Our final Umbridge Suck Count segment is Brutal! Listen for the final tally.
  • MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter
  • To wrap up this book, we each share our favorite character and a lesson we each learned from Order of the Phoenix.
  • Quizzitch: Multiple Choice! How many times does the word “grim” appear in Book 5, including in ‘Grimmauld Place’? A) 50-79 times B) 80-119 times C)120-149 times D)150+ times
  • This week’s episode is brought to you by Thirdlove. Find your perfect fitting bra by going to Thirdlove.com/mugglecast, and get 15% off your first order!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

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Episode #474: There’s Something About Harry (OOTP 37, The Lost Prophecy)

  • Our next Quizzitch Live is Tuesday, July 21 – The topic is Deathly Hallows!
  • Harry Potter at Home has wrapped up their chapter readings for Book One.
  • In Muggle Mail, the hosts are asked how Harry Potter led them to branch out into being a fan of other things.
  • We debut a brand new listener-inspired segment, Wizard Court! Bellatrix is on trial for killing Sirius.
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 37: The Lost (?) Prophecy
  • 7-Word Summary: Dumbledore tells Harry some of the truth
  • A portrait tells Harry that Dumbledore thinks highly of him. What do we think?
  • Dumbledore says, “I know how you’re feeling, Harry.” But does he?
  • At multiple times, Dumbledore refers to his own age while seeking forgiveness from Harry. Is this fair?
  • Do we blame Kreacher, or do we blame wizards, including Sirius, for Kreacher’s betrayal?
  • Snape has shows his heroic side, but Dumbledore is keeping his secret from Harry still. Why?
  • The hosts discuss the blood magic that keeps Harry save on Privet Drive, and if Dumbledore had to withhold this information for so long.
  • We dig into the Prophecy, the part that was overheard, and Laura makes a Bible connection.
  • The significance of Dumbledore counting Harry’s escapes from Voldemort.
  • MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter
  • Quizzitch: What is the last word of Book 5?
  • This week’s episode is brought to you by Quip. Get your first refill FREE by visiting GetQuip.com/mugglecast. Support MuggleCast by supporting our sponsors!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

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Episode #473: Dumbledore v Voldemort (OOTP 36, The Only One He Ever Feared)

  • Our next Quizzitch Live will be Tuesday, July 21 – An installment themed around the Deathly Hallows book!
  • Muggle Mail covers Kreacher, the Department of Mysteries, The Veil, Lupin and more!
  • Which came first, the Ministry or The Veil? Listeners weigh in with their thoughts!
  • We debut a new game… Guess. That. Book!
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 36: The Only One He Ever Feared
  • 7-Word Summary: Voldemort is trying to kill Harry Potter
  • Neville consoles Harry following Sirius’ death
  • The Cruciatus Curse: can Harry actually perform it?
  • What factors into one’s ability to cast an Unforgivable Curse? Intent? Age? Character?
  • Bella, Bella, Bella!
  • Dumbledore vs. Voldemort… and the entrances fans have always wanted!
  • What does Dumbledore mean by “we both know there are other ways of destroying a man?” Is it a hint towards Horcruxes or his own personal life struggles?
  • The Symbolism of the Fountain of Magical Brethren
  • How does Dumbledore’s magic work both in the Death Chamber and in the Atrium?
  • Fudge’s downfall
  • The hosts make some fun comparisons between the book and the movie!
  • MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter
  • Quizzitch: What does Phineas Nigellus Black call Sirius when Dumbledore tells him he’s dead?
  • This week’s episode is brought to you by BeachBody On Demand (text ‘mugglecast’ to 30-30-30 for a free trial!), HelloFresh (get $80 off your first box by using code ‘muggle80’) and ThirdLove (get 15% off your first order by using the link!). Support MuggleCast by supporting our sponsors!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week we discuss whether or not Fantastic Beasts is the world’s most problematic film franchise!

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Episode #472: DUBBLEDORE! (OOTP 35 ‘Beyond the Veil’)

  • News covers the latest chapter of Sorcerer’s Stone with Matthew Lewis and Imelda Staunton. Plus, an update on the Harry Potter RPG!
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 35: Beyond The Veil
  • 7-Word Summary: Sirius falls through the unknown to death
  • Our initial impressions of Bellatrix Lestrange
  • Dreams vs. Reality: Where’s Sirius, and how can you tell what’s a dream and what’s not?
  • What do we make of Harry’s leadership in his first real battle?
  • Why didn’t Voldemort just infiltrate the Ministry himself?
  • Was Dumbledore’s plan to keep Harry out of the loop a good one?
  • “Accio, Prophecy!” – are we being for real now?
  • We reminisce about The Broken Prophecy and the theories that followed
  • The Evolution of Neville Longbottom: Why is this the chapter where he really comes into his own.
  • How talented are the Order? Are they fighting fire with fire against the Death Eaters?
  • DUBBLEDORE! Did we prefer his book or movie entrance?
  • Goodbye, Sirius! We play a couple songs to pay tribute to this beloved character.
  • We give our MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: What planet does not survive the battle in the Department of Mysteries?
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week we’ll discuss if the Death Eaters do or don’t care that Voldemort is a half-blood.

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Episode #471: PUNK’d (OOTP 33 and 34, ‘Fight or Flight’ and ‘The Department of Mysteries’)

  • News covers The Blair Partnership controversy and suspended Chapter Readings
  • This week: It’s a double dose of Chapter-by-Chapter!
  • First up, Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 33: Fight or Flight
  • 7-Word Summary #1: Centaurs react aggressively to Hermione’s faulty argument
  • Did Umbridge fail to search Hagrid’s Hut after she gave him the boot?
  • Leading Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest: was it Hermione’s top Gryffindor moment? Listeners weigh in with their thoughts.
  • Umbridge vs. The Centaurs: What happened to Umbridge when she was attacked by the Centaurs?
  • For additional information on Centaurs and what may have happened to Umbridge, check out: GreekMythology.com, Kialo.com, and Pandova University Press
  • Is there any symbolism to the Centaurs breaking Umbridge’s wand in half?
  • Did Hermione really think through what would happen to Umbridge? Should she have let Harry do the talking with the Centaurs?
  • Why does Harry look down upon Ginny, Neville and Luna?
  • Next up, Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 34: The Department of Mysteries
  • 7-Word Summary #2: Prophecies are exposed when doors are opened
  • For a breakdown of the actual departments, give a listen to Episode 374
  • The Ministry of Magic is A SECURITY NIGHTMARE!
  • Why is Harry so entranced by The Veil?
  • Did The Veil exist before the Ministry of Magic?
  • What exactly was Harry’s plan if he discovered Voldemort in the Hall of Prophecy?
  • Umbridge Suck Count, MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter return!
  • Quizzitch: What planet does not survive the battle in the Department of Mysteries?
  • This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies (Underwear that’s so good, Dobby would never take it off his head! Get 15% off your first order and free shipping by going to MeUndies.com/MuggleCast)!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

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