Category: Episodes

Listen to every episode of MuggleCast since 2005. Click here for our Chapter by Chapter Archive.

Episode #464: Dumbledore Gone Wild (OOTP 27, The Centaur and The Sneak)

/ Micah

  • JKR commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts (and responds to MuggleCast on Twitter!)
  • The MuggleCast 15th Anniversary T-Shirt is here! Become a Patron by June 30 at the Dumbledore’s Army level or higher to get yours! 
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 27: The Centaur and The Sneak
  • 7-Word Summary: Hogwarts changes direction due to Dumbledore’s departure
  • WHOA, HORSEY! What’s up with Hermione’s attitude toward Firenze?
  • Divination with Firenze – the magical class setting we’ve been waiting for!
  • We analyze Firenze’s teaching style and his perspective on humans teaching divination
  • Why does Dobby still punish himself?
  • Inside Dumbledore’s Office
  • Fudge’s attitude toward Harry in Prisoner of Azkaban vs. Order of the Phoenix
  • Marietta’s face! Did Hermione go too far?
  • Debate: Modifying Marietta’s Memory
  • Why doesn’t Fudge or Umbridge recognize what’s been done to Marietta?
  • Is Dumbledore’s story truly believable?
  • Does Fudge ever really regret his decision?
  • The Great Escape… with style!
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 69!
  • The hosts give their MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: What are the three spells James casts on Severus besides Levicorpus?
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week, we discuss the process behind our brand-spanking-new MuggleCast 15th Anniversary t-shirts and whether or not J.K. Rowling should apologize for killing characters!

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Episode #463: Umbridge’s Quibbles (OOTP 26, Seen and Unforeseen)

/ Micah

  • Happy Birthday, Eric!
  • Quizzitch Live: The Prisoner of Knowledge was a huge success! We hope you joined us and had fun!
  • Muggle Mail covers COVID-19 at Hogwarts and more Hagrid/Harry comparisons!
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 26: Seen and Unforeseen
  • 7-Word Summary: Dreams enter the mind through Snape’s lessons
  • How much legitimacy does Rita Skeeter provide to Harry’s story?
  • Umbridge’s latest Educational Decree: does it violate freedom of speech and freedom of the press?
  • Should Hermione have given Harry advice about Cho BEFORE their date?
  • Does Quidditch create bad blood amongst the Hogwarts Houses?
  • Inside Harry’s Dreams: Neville, McGonagall, Voldemort, Rookwood and more!
  • How is Voldemort not aware of proper prophecy protocol?
  • The truth about Broderick Bode and Sturgis Podmore is revealed!
  • Bad Hermione! Should Harry have told someone what he saw in his dream?
  • Does Snape share what he is seeing inside Harry’s mind with Dumbledore?
  • The door to the Department of Mysteries finally opens!
  • Snape’s childhood was a rough one!
  • Trelawney and Firenze
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 62!
  • The hosts give their MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: Who retrieves the list of Dumbledore’s Army members for Umbridge?
  • This week’s episode is brought to you by MeUndies! 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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Episode #462: Kreacher and the Keys (OOTP 25, The Beetle at Bay)

/ Micah

  • News covers JKR’s childhood home and her recent thoughts on Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix. One of these was her easiest Potter book to write.
  • Muggle Mail includes Voldemort’s possession of Ginny and The Knight Bus in Goblet of Fire
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 25: The Beetle at Bay
  • 7-Word Summary: Valentine’s Day happens amidst many bad choices
  • Mass Breakout from Azkaban!
  • Why doesn’t Ron react at all to hearing Antonin Dolohov’s name?
  • Is Fudge wrong to think Sirius Black could be behind the breakout?
  • Neville’s shift in mentality: the hosts each submit his “glow up” track! Add yours to this Spotify list!
  • Bye bye, Broderick Bode! We hardly knew ye!
  • Hagrid and Trelawney: were their classes destined for scrutiny and failure since Prisoner of Azkaban?
  • How is Umbridge able to attend every Care of Magical Creatures and Divination class? Doesn’t she have classes to teach herself?
  • Educational Decree No. 26 – joke’s on you Dolores! 
  • Harry and Cho’s first date: Quidditch, dementors, Madam Pudifoot’s, Roger Davies, Cedric, Hermione and more!
  • Is The Daily Prophet getting pressured by the Ministry? 
  • Hermione’s clever plan to have Rita Skeeter tell Harry’s story in The Quibbler
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 56!
  • The hosts give their MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: What topic does Xenophilius Lovegood tell Luna that Harry’s story is outselling?
  • This week’s episode is brought to you by Literati (get 25% off your first two orders by visiting Literati.com/MuggleCast) and Quip (get your first refill kit free by visiting GetQuip.com/Muggle)
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 462 Transcript!

Episode #461: Snape’s Secrets (OOTP 24, Occlumency)

/ Micah

  • Quizzitch Live: The Fandom of Secrets was a huge success! Keep an eye for our next hangout!
  • Rupert Grint is going to be a DAD!
  • Muggle Mail covers a random Lockhart encounter and when J.K. Rowling actually revealed Dumbledore’s sexuality (see J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life)
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 24: Occlumency
  • 7-Word Summary: Harry’s journey back into his mind fails
  • Snape vs. Sirius
  • A grim goodbye! Should we have known then?
  • What’s the deal with The Knight Bus? Can’t they “magic” a smoother ride?
  • Cho and Harry: he picks up on what’s she putting down relatively quickly for a teenage boy! See you on Valentine’s Day!
  • Nagini and The Department of Mysteries: Snape gives Harry the information Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix have refused to!
  • What in the world is Dumbledore thinking letting Snape penetrate Harry’s mind?
  • Why doesn’t Harry get the opportunity to remove memories he doesn’t want Snape to see?
  • Would Harry fair better if he actually listened to Snape’s instructions?
  • Could Occlumency be considered a form of rape?
  • Snape reveals a big truth about himself when describing Legilimency, but it goes over Harry’s head!
  • What does Voldemort know about Harry at this point in the story? Does he know he’s a Horcrux? If so, why the strong desire to kill him?
  • Does Dumbledore not consider the vulnerable position mentally and physically these lessons put Harry in? 
  • Why does Snape not like the use of Voldemort’s name?
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 52!
  • The hosts give their MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: What does Hagrid instruct Harry to put on the salamanders?
  • This week’s episode is brought to you by Wondery’s Imagined Life, and OpenFit (Start working out at home! Just text MuggleCast to 50-50-50 to get started)!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week, we discuss the difference between Snape and Queenie and their ability to “read people’s minds”!

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Episode #460: Loony Lockhart (OOTP 23, Christmas on the Closed Ward)

/ Micah

  • Quizzitch Live: The Fandom of Secrets returns this Thursday, April 9 at 7:15 p.m. ET! Keep an eye on our social media channels for the link to participate!
  • J.K. Rowling offers up a Character Personality quiz on Twitter! The hosts share which Harry Potter character they are most like… and the answers may surprise you!
  • News covers Harry Potter at Home, The Tales of Beedle The Bard audiobook release and the LEGO Harry Potter video game for only $6!
  • Muggle Mail covers Harry’s relationship with Mad-Eye Moody, Nagini and Dumbledore’s past, a maternity ward at St. Mungo’s and Harriet Potter
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 23: Christmas on The Closed Ward
  • 7-Word Summary: Harry heads to see Arthur in recovery
  • We Connect the Threads to… Chamber of Secrets?!?!
  • Possession by Voldemort, the importance of house elves and Professor Lockhart
  • Horcrux Takeover on the London Underground!
  • Harry’s having a nervous breakdown! Can someone HELP HIM?
  • Odd that Dumbledore has a direct line to Harry’s bedroom at Grimmauld Place?
  • Why doesn’t Harry think of consulting Ginny earlier about being possessed by Voldemort? Did they two bond over this shared experience in later years?
  • Opening presents in your bedroom? What’s up with Christmas at Grimmauld Place?
  • Harry makes an important observation about Kreacher. Should Sirius be more concerned he’s “missing”?
  • Welcome back Gildeory Lockhart! Do we think the former DADA professor ever recovers from his condition?
  • Goodnight Broderick! Is there no screening presents at St. Mungo’s? How is a venomous tentacula safe to put next to a patient’s bedside?
  • Hey, Augusta!  We compare grandma Longbottom’s evaluation of the trio to that of Lucius Malfoy’s from Chamber of Secrets!
  • Bubblegum wrapper theory galore!
  • The big Bellatrix reveal! Somebody better really check on Kreacher now…
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 50!
  • The hosts give their MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul returns!
  • Quizzitch: Who teases Harry about taking remedial potions?
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 460 Transcript!

Episode #459: Magicare For All (OOTP 22, St. Mungo’s, Part 2)

/ Micah

  • We had a blast with our first-ever Quizzitch Live!
  • J.K. Rowling returns to Twitter to comfort Voldemort, reveal her favorite Mario Kart character and more!
  • Muggle Mail covers why Harry didn’t see thestrals at the end of Goblet of Fire!
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 22: St. Mungo’s for Magical Maladies and Injuries (Part Two)
  • 7-Word Summary: Harry ventures to the hospital with family
  • Why does Harry feel as if he is an intruder upon the Weasley family’s guilt? Is he not a member of their family?
  • Why doesn’t Sirius take Harry seriously when he explains what really happened?
  • What if… J.K. Rowling had killed Arthur Weasley (as he had originally intended)?
  • Welcome to St. Mungo’s for Magical Maladies and Injuries!
  • Why couldn’t the hospital have been built underground like the Ministry?
  • How is the hospital funded? Do wizards have health insurance?
  • How does a wizard become a Healer? There are no classes at Hogwarts!
  • Broderick Bode has a visitor!
  • St. Mungo’s is a SECURITY NIGHTMARE!
  • Despite all that’s happened, Arthur couldn’t be in better spirits!
  • Why does Arthur not tell his kids what really happened? Was it irresponsible of him to not have a personal talk with Harry?
  • Why won’t Arthur’s wounds close? What’s so special about Nagini’s bite?
  • Did the movies miss a big opportunity in not including St. Mungo’s?
  • The Umbridge Suck Count stays put at 49!
  • Connecting The Threads, MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: What does Harry get Ron for Christmas in his fifth year?
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

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Episode #458: Portrait Party (OOTP 22, St. Mungo’s, Part 1)

/ Micah

  • We had a blast at our Forget About The World live show earlier in the week!
  • The hosts receive candles from our listener Devin, including a goat-scented one for Micah! Check out Devin’s website – Worndoll.com
  • J.K. Rowling loosens guidelines on recording Harry Potter books for schools
  • To lighten things up we play a fun Sporcle game – Harry Potter Name Chain
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 22: St. Mungo’s for Magical Maladies and Injuries (Part One)
  • 7-Word Summary: Arthur survives by receiving care from portraits
  • What’s up with Dumbledore’s passwords? They seem kind of… weak!
  • Portrait Party! Is this is a nightly occurrence? How annoying for Dumbledore!
  • Why does Dumbledore not acknowledge Harry… or Ron?
  • Portrait Superstars: Everard and Dilys
  • Why does the Order not have better security alert measures in place?
  • Phineas Nigellus Black says Sirius always had odd houseguests. Really? Like who?
  • In Essence Divided – Dumbledore’s Horcrux epiphany!
  • We discuss Dumbledore’s bond with Fawkes – how is the phoenix able to track Umbridge?
  • Who tipped off the old toad? Mrs. Norris?
  • Harry’s Rage toward Dumbledore: part Harry and part Horcrux!
  • Sirius shows maturity in his handling of the Weasleys at Grimmauld Place
  • OUT! How a single word to Kreacher seals Sirius’ fate!
  • The Waiting Game
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 49!
  • Connecting The Threads, MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: What color robes do Healers of St Mungo’s wear?
  • This week’s episode is sponsored by Thirdlove. Find your perfect fitting bra and receive 15% off your first order by visiting Thirdlove.com/MuggleCast!
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week, we discuss that silvery instrument inside Dumbledore’s office and J.K. Rowling’s post-Deathly Hallows comments about it!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 458 Transcript!

Episode #457: The Grim Granger (OOTP 21, The Eye of the Snake)

/ Micah

  • Welcome Slug Club member Abbey, who has her own podcast for Grey’s Anatomy fans: The On Call Room!
  • Coronavirus shuts down Cursed Child and the Wizarding World theme parks
  • The leaked Harry Potter RPG will finally be announced this year!
  • Fantastic Beasts 3 filming is now underway! Or at least, that was the plan. Since recording this episode, we’ve now learned that the movie has halted production.
  • We get a sneak peek at the Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition! What’s with the U.S. cover being so boring?
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 21: The Eye of the Snake
  • 7-Word Summary: Harry heads towards Arthur in peril snakily
  • The first part of the chapter takes us back to our Prisoner of Azkaban days
  • Thestrals: was it wise for Hagrid to put students who have seen death in this situation?
  • Dumbledore rides thestrals?!? What?!?
  • Did no professor prepare Hagrid for what to expect from Umbridge’s evaluation?
  • Umbridge treats Hagrid like he is mentally challenged and manipulates student reactions and sentiments!
  • Should Harry, Ron and Hermione have gone to McGonagall about Hagrid’s treatment?
  • Hermione wishes she could see thestrals! What?!? Andrew then proceeds to turn her into a serial killer!
  • Harry feels resentment towards Hogwarts for the first time ever as the holidays approach
  • Dumbledore’s Army: Decorator Dobby, Ginny The Seeker and Mistletoe Magic
  • We discuss Ron and Hermione’s opposite reactions to Harry’s first kiss
  • Inside Nagini: Do we think any of the snake’s initial hesitation in attacking Arthur Weasley had to do with her humanity?
  • Do we think Harry could have controlled the outcome if he wanted to? Or is it just like watching TV? Looking through the eyes of another Horcrux?
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 47!
  • Connecting The Threads, MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: What is the name on the department store front which hides Saint Mungos to the Muggles?
  • This week’s episode of MuggleCast is sponsored by Quip (Get your first toothbrush refill free at GetQuip.com/Muggle and OpenFit (get a free extended 14-day trial by texting ‘mugglecast’ to 50-50-50)
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast! This week, we discuss J.K. Rowling’s decision to give Arthur Weasley a reprieve in Order of the Phoenix!

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Episode #456: A Giant Waste Of Time (OOTP 20, Hagrid’s Tale)

/ Micah

  • Muggle Mail covers angry librarians and Harry-Draco shippers
  • We’re at the midway point of Order of the Phoenix! How has this recent read changed our feelings about the book? What are our biggest takeaways?
  • Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix – Chapter 20: Hagrid’s Tale
  • 7-Word Summary: Hagrid returns and fails to reveal lies
  • The Trio take a massive risk in going to see Hagrid given recent punishments!
  • Can Harry, Ron and Hermione really fit under the Invisibility Cloak?
  • Why doesn’t the snow wipe away their footprints?
  • What is Hagrid’s true level of trust in Harry, Ron and Hermione?
  • What do we know about Vampires in the Wizarding World?
  • We discuss real world parallels to the Giants being an ostracized community
  • What’s the value of aligning with the Giants?
  • Is Hagrid the best envoy? The best negotiator?
  • Could the Ministry be inadvertently tipping off the Death Eaters?
  • Does Hagrid blow his load on the first gift to the Gurg?
  • Name Origins: Karkus, Golgomath and Grawp
  • What could the Death Eaters have told Golgomath to convince them to join their side?
  • Who is that at the door? It’s Dolores!
  • Why didn’t Umbridge use Homenum Revelio to find Harry, Ron and Hermione? Why does she give up so easily?
  • The Top 7 Reasons Hagrid Was Really Missing In Action
  • The Umbridge Suck Count climbs to 43!
  • Connecting The Threads include Macnair, Buckbeak and Hermione
  • The hosts give their MVP of the Week and Rename The Chapter!
  • Quizzitch: Whose death allows Neville to see thestrals?
  • Join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including Bonus MuggleCast!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 456 Transcript!