This week, we wrap up  our fourth year at Hogwarts, say goodbye to some new friends and prepare for what’s to come! Join Andrew, Micah and Laura as we raise a glass to Cedric, Harry and our journey through Goblet of Fire!

• 7-Word Summary: Relationships blossom when the trio parts ways
• Chapter-by-Chapter concludes with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 37: The Beginning
• Could there be a less creative title for this chapter?
• What?! There was still a bit of term left after the Third Task?
• Harry & The Diggorys: examining another example of a mother’s love
• Why is the real Mad-Eye Moody still hanging around Hogwarts?
• Tea Time with Hagrid is what we all need right now
• Dumbledore tells the student body Voldemort has returned. Smart or reckless move on his part?
• Should Dumbledore’s have toasted Harry? Did any Slytherins stand for him?
• Do we think the Triwizard Tournament was successful in breeding international magical cooperation? 
• Hermione & Rita: how long has she been in that jar?!
• Showdown on the Hogwarts Express
• Quizzitch: What does Harry ask Viktor Krum, when they shake hands before going to the Hogwarts Express?
• What’s Coming Up on MuggleCast: Next week, we’ll be recording a special, laid back episode all together in Washington D.C. (releasing August 27); the following week, MuggleCast Live at LeakyCon (releasing September 3);  MuggleMail (releasing September 10); Order of the Phoenix Movie Commentary (releasing September 17); Order of the Phoenix Chapter-by-Chapter Begins (releasing September 24).
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, including the chance to co-host the show, a new physical gift every year, and a video message from one of the four of us visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast

Download now OR, now read the Episode 670 Transcript!

This week, the battlelines are officially drawn between Dumbledore and Fudge! Join us as we try our very best to convince the Minister for Magic that Voldemort has indeed returned!

• News: MinaLima will not be releasing further editions of their illustrated books (we’ll discuss this story in more detail in Bonus MuggleCast)
• 7-Word Summary: Fudge makes disastrous decisions about Lord Voldemort
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36: The Parting of the Ways
• Sympathetic Grandfatherly Figure or Master Manipulator: Is what Dumbledore says to Harry truly heartfelt and genuine?
• Does Fawkes know what went down in the graveyard?
• Should Harry tell his story without other Ministry officials present?
• The Gleam of Triumph and its connection to Deathly Hallows
• Why, specifically, did Voldemort and Harry’s wand cores come from Dumbledore’s pet phoenix?
• Ollivander has Dumbledore on speed dial!
• Comparing parental figures: Sirus and Molly’s love for Harry is on full display, foreshadowing things to come in Order of the Phoenix
• Why did Fudge feel the need to bring a Dementor to Hogwarts to face Barty Crouch Jr.? Where are all the Aurors?
• COMPLETE DENIAL: Can Fudge find anyone in the Hospital Wing he believes?
• Why does nobody force Fudge to see the truth? Why doesn’t Dumbledore go get the Pensieve or Veritaserum?
• Snape takes a major risk in showing Fudge his Dark Mark tattoo!
• Dementors & Giants: Does Dumbledore overstep his bounds? Does he go too far? Or is Fudge already lost?
• With Fudge a lost cause, Dumbledore begins moving his chess pieces against Voldemort
• Quizzitch: What does Harry ask Viktor Krum, when they shake hands before going to the Hogwarts Express?
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, including the chance to co-host the show, a new physical gift every year, and a video message from one of the four of us visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 669 Transcript!

On this week’s episode, hard truths are revealed… by force! The culprit is finally revealed in our Chapter by Chapter discussion for Goblet of Fire Chapter 35, ‘Veritaserum.’ And, there’s been news about the new Universal theme park!

• A reveal trailer for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic theme park has been released! We discuss it in a new edition of Bonus MuggleCast, and now non-Patrons can listen for a one-time purchase of just $3!
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35: Veritaserum
• Secrets are revealed by truth telling serum
• With Harry back at Hogwarts but his world turned upside down, how does Dumbledore let him out of his sight?
• Should we have predicted that ANOTHER Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a baddie?
• We review Barty Crouch, Jr.’s history of acts throughout the book so far.
• …but what Barty really wants, is a father figure! We discuss his possibly unique relationship with Voldemort.
• Dumbledore has “a look.” What does it look like?
• Should the Foe Glass have told us definitively where Snape’s loyalties lay?
• How exactly did Mrs. Crouch continue to evade the Dementors and fellow prisoners while in Azkaban?
• Given Crouch Jr.’s confession, was Winky culpable for any of his actions? She’s pretty rude about Bertha.
• How do we feel about Barty Crouch, Sr. using the Imperius Curse on his son?
• Should Wormtail receive more credit for helping to subdue the real Mad-Eye? How much danger was Arthur Weasley in unbeknownst to him?
• Quizzitch: What six Death Eater names does Harry give directly to Fudge?
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, including the chance to co-host the show, a new physical gift every year, and a video message from one of the four of us visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 668 Transcript!

On this week’s episode, we’re causing chaos in Little Hangleton, striking fear into the heart of the Dark Lord himself. Join us as we face the echoes of Voldemort’s past trangressions! Someone should have studied Priori Incantatem at Hogwarts, Voldy!

• Welcome Slug Club member, Elizabeth!
• Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 34: Priori Incantatem
• 7-Word Summary: Echoes confront the dark past and spells
• Upon seeing Harry’s ability to resist the Imperius Curse, do the Death Eaters now view him as a true and worthy adversary?
• Did the Horcrux aid Harry in his resistance to Voldemort’s Imperius Curse?
• From Name Origin to effectiveness, we analyze Priori Incantatem
• To what extent do Harry’s instincts allow him to “win” the Priori Incantatem battle? Is it a mark of a true Gryffindor?
• Was Fawkes at all impacted by this encounter between brother wands?
• Oh no, not again!!! What was going through Voldemort’s mind?
• How do the echoes know that the Cup will take Harry back to Hogwarts?
• WHAT IF… Voldemort had been successful in making Harry’s wand spit out echoes of recent magic he had performed?
• Oopsie Doodle: In early versions of Goblet of Fire, James came out of Voldemort’s wand before Lily!
• Did we enjoy how Priori Incantatem came to life in the films? Why did they use its effect for every other spell battle in the series?
• Should the Death Eaters have intervened even though Voldemort told them not to? What would have happened if they did?
• Fun Segment: Echoes Said WHAT?! (To Voldemort) While it’s clear what each of the echoes say to Harry, we’re told they also say some not-so-nice things to Voldemort. But we can’t hear them… until now!
• Quizzitch: Which 3 individuals appear in Mad-Eye Fakey’s Foe Glass when he takes Harry up there to kill him?
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, including the chance to co-host the show, a new physical gift every year, and a video message from one of the four of us visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 667 Transcript!

In this week’s MuggleCast, we’re setting book 4 down and picking up on real world controversy that was happening RIGHT as Goblet of Fire was first published, in July of 2000. At issue was whether the series, quickly gaining national publicity in the US, was instructing young readers to take up witchcraft, join the devil and abandon God. It’s HP vs Christianity on MuggleCast 666!

• New episodes of MuggleCast will now be released in full video on our YouTube channel, right when they are released on our podcast feed!
• For today’s Main Discussion, Eric has compiled a PDF of sources from the late 90’s to 2007 news media. The polished PDF is available via this link.
• By July of 2000, Harry Potter had gained massive popularity in the US, and raise alarm bells with some concerned parents.
• Were any of the hosts told not to read the HP books on religious grounds?
• The controversy may be categorized as a moral panic, not unlike the Satanic Panic phenomenon of the 80’s/90’s, which unfortunately had large ramifications.
• Why was HP targeted? And why were evangelicals in particular caught up in it?
• We discuss four main arguments against the Potter books: that they will make children want to do witchcraft or join the occult; that they make children susceptible to evil by downplaying the danger of magic; that the books themselves are intentionally demonic; that the books are just plain immoral! (We find it hard to disagree with the last point).
• Is there any evidence that kids joined the occult after reading the books?
• Years later in 2005, what did Georgia parent Laura Mallory add to the discussion surrounding the books?
• We review our own attempts on MuggleCast to get a hold of Mrs. Mallory.
• As late as 2019, the argument was still being used to ban books. What lessons can we learn from these events?
• Be sure to subscribe to MuggleCast Gold via Apple Podcasts, or join our Patreon for access to Bonus MuggleCast segments.
• Visit mugglecast.com for transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, favorite episodes and more!
• A very special thank you to Connie Neal, Judy Bloom, Rainbow Rowell and others for extolling the virtues of the Harry Potter series when we were all children and too young to do so in print media.

Download now  OR, now read the Episode 666 Transcript!

This week, witness the return of Lord Voldemort himself after 13 years without a proper body! To celebrate this ‘rebirthing party’, we’ll be discussing two chapters of Goblet of Fire!

LAST CHANCE to grab this year’s physical gift…  The MuggleCast 19 Years Later t-shirt! If you aren’t a Patron, now’s a great time to join! Pledge today at the Slug Club level and fill out the form by July 19 to be eligible. Note: you will only receive your shirt after you’ve been a Patron at this level for a minimum of three months. In addition, you’ll get other great benefits such as twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, the chance to co-host the show, a video message from one of the four of us and much more! Visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast today!

• Thanks to everyone who came out to see us at LeakyCon Portland!
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 32: Flesh, Blood and Bone and Chapter 33: The Death Eaters
• 7-Word Summary #1: Cedric falls to his untimely, sad demise
• Main Discussion #1: The Death of Cedric Diggory
• In such a frantic state, how can Wormtail muster the ability to cast the Killing Curse? Would Cedric have a had chance at survival if not for helping Harry?
• Does Harry have any time to process what’s just happened to Cedric?
• Kill The Spare: Voldemort shows his complete disregard for human life
• Main Discussion #2: The Dark Lord’s Return
• We walk through the steps one must take in order to recreate a Dark Lord and analyze the symbolism of Voldemort in baby form
• Bone of the Father, Unknowingly Given. Why is it necessary for Voldemort to use his father’s bone given the magic comes from his mother’s side of the family?
• Flesh of the Servant, Willingly Given. How can one hand regenerate an entire body?
• By severing his right hand, has Wormtail eliminated any hope of Sirius’ innocence?
• Blood of the Enemy, Forcibly Taken. Why did Voldemort have to wait for Harry?
• 7-Word Summary #2: Loyalists arrive and worship Voldemort’s triumphant revival
• Main Discussion #3: Voldemort Is Feeling “Chatty”
• How much does Voldemort know about his mother and father’s relationship?
• Should Voldemort really be giving lessons on Chosen Family? Are any of his Death Eaters truly loyal to him?
• If Voldemort knew of Wormtail’s debt to Harry, would he have killed him right there?
• Roll Call: We analyze the Death Eaters who are and are not present in the graveyard
• Main Discussion #4: How Did Voldemort Do It?
• Horcrux Tease! How much do the Death Eaters know about the lengths Voldemort went to in order to avoid death?
• Did Nagini’s venom help Voldemort resume a more human form because Nagini herself used to be human?
• Quizzitch: What does the shadow of James Potter tell Harry he must do?
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 665 Transcript!

Get ready for an A-MAZE-ING episode as we take on the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they discuss Chapter 31 of Goblet of Fire, “The Third Task.”

Reminder: This year’s physical gift for Slug Club patrons is here…  The MuggleCast 19 Years Later t-shirt (Shirt Model 1, Shirt Model 2)! If you aren’t a Patron, now’s a great time to join! Pledge today at the Slug Club level and fill out the form by July 19 to be eligible. Note: you will only receive your shirt after you’ve been a Patron at this level for a minimum of three months. In addition, you’ll get other great benefits such as twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, the chance to co-host the show, a video message from one of the four of us and much more! Visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast today!

• News: the Harry Potter TV show has found its showrunner and director
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30: The Pensieve
• 7-Word Summary: Riddles guard the misleading way to victory
• Main Discussion #1: Family Matters
• Hermione, Ron and Harry are all becoming quite adept at useful spells. They’re such good friends!
• Rita Skeeter’s awful latest article is setting up the exact tone that the Ministry uses next year to discredit Harry Potter.
• Could Fudge have ushered along the publication of Rita’s hit piece on Harry, in retaliation for embarrassing him in the previous chapter?
• How can Molly Weasley tell Amos Diggory he’s overreacting, only to then go and treat Hermione poorly for Rita’s earlier article?
• What If?: The Dursleys actually did show up at Hogwarts for Harry’s Third Task?
• Main Discussion #2: The Maze
• Are there a sufficient amount of obstacles in The Maze for the champions to face? Is Mad-Eye Fakey removing some of them to make Harry’s job easier?
• Harry’s performance during the Third Task underscores how much he cares about other people.
• We examine each of the creatures and puzzles Harry faces in the maze.
• Micah, as a throwback to his own former section on MuggleNet, gets really into the origins of the sphinx.
• Could the sphinx’s riddle actually be pertaining to Snape?
• is Harry’s latest casting of Expelliarmus his most egregious yet?
• Would Fakey have allowed Cedric to take the cup on his own?
• Odds and Ends cover a future romance for Bill Weasley, as well as one in his past…?!
• Quizzitch: What are Voldemort’s first words after he climbs out of the cauldron, fully grown?
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• Reminder: Micah and Eric will be at LeakyCon! Visit LeakyCon.com to check out the latest guests, the full con schedule and use code ‘MUGGLE’ while registering for a discount! For a list of MuggleCast appearances at the con, visit MuggleCast dot com/live.

Download now OR, now read the Episode 664 Transcript!

This week, we’re diving headfirst into Dumbledore’s memories that he definitely didn’t leave accessible on purpose. So get ready to stand trial with Andrew, Micah, Laura and Morgan as we try to piece it all together before The Third Task begins!

Reminder: This year’s physical gift for Slug Club patrons is here…  The MuggleCast 19 Years Later t-shirt (Shirt Model 1, Shirt Model 2)! If you aren’t a Patron, now’s a great time to join! Pledge today at the Slug Club level and fill out the form by July 19 to be eligible. Note: you will only receive your shirt after you’ve been a Patron at this level for a minimum of three months. In addition, you’ll get other great benefits such as twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, the chance to co-host the show, a video message from one of the four of us and much more! Visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast today!

• Welcome, Slug Club guest Morgan of That Nerd Thing podcast!
• News: Dan Radcliffe wins his first Tony Award
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30: The Pensieve
• 7-Word Summary: Dumbledore craftily leaves exposed memories inside basin
• Main Discussion #1: The Trials & The Pensieve
• Dumbledore intentionally left the Pensieve cabinet door open for Harry, right?
• Why are there constant references to Dumbledore looking old?
• YUCK! It’s our first taste of the wizarding world justice system!
• Karkaroff the Canary: the hosts react to Snape’s Death Eater reveal!
• Ludo’s celebrity status bends the rules of justice! Can we make any real world compairsons? Should there have been any consequences for his actions?
• Hi, Bellatrix! 😉
• How was it determined that Barty Crouch Jr. actually took part in the torture of the Longbottoms? Could it be guilt by association?
• Looking at the memories all together, where is Dumbledore’s mind right now?
• Main Discussion #2: Dream Recap
• While still baffled by what’s happening at Hogwarts, Dumbledore is starting to put the pieces of Horcruxgate together!
• What does Dumbledore make of both Frank Bryce and Bertha Jorkins disappearing?
•  Why is Barty Crouch Sr. vanishing at Hogwarts not a huge red flag?
• The truth about Neville’s parents is revealed!
• Quizzitch: Which Weasley family members are not present for the Third Task? (you must list them all)
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• Reminder: Micah and Eric will be at LeakyCon! Visit LeakyCon.com to check out the latest guests, the full con schedule and use code ‘MUGGLE’ while registering for a discount!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 663 Transcript!

This week, get ready to be undoubtedly stimulated by the extraordinary clairvoyant vibrations of Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as your hosts deal with being grounded by not one, but two adults, processing wild dreams and battling Voldemort-inducing headaches!

This year’s physical gift for Slug Club patrons is here…  The MuggleCast 19 Years Later t-shirt (Shirt Model 1, Shirt Model 2)! If you aren’t a Patron, now’s a great time to join! Pledge today at the Slug Club level and fill out the form by July 19 to be eligible. Note: you will only receive your shirt after you’ve been a Patron at this level for a minimum of three months. In addition, you’ll get other great benefits such as twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, the chance to co-host the show, a video message from one of the four of us and much more! Visit Patreon.com/MugglecCast today!

• Welcome, Slug Club guest Feryal!
• News: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown fancies himself a Harry Potter fan
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 29: The Dream
• 7-Word Summary: Sirius grounds Harry because he is naughty
• Main Discussion #1: Grounded for His Own Good
• Why wasn’t the Ministry called to investigate immediately?
• Did Harry, Ron and Hermione’s experiences with Mad-Eye Moody (Fakey) and Barty Crouch Sr. feed the Ministry distrust we see develop in Order of the Phoenix?
• How many more “perfect cover” situations does Mad-Eye Moody (Fakey) have left in his arsenal? Are there signs he is starting to crack under the weight of it all?
• Does Harry’s lack of a true parental figure inform his reaction to Sirius’ letter?
• Main Discussion #2: The Dream and its Aftermath
• Why does Harry get regularly triggered inside of Trelawney’s classroom?
• Why is Harry’s perspective during the dream so erratic?
• While not mentioned by name, should Harry have picked up on the letter (he helped deliver) being about Barty Crouch Sr.?
• Could this be THE moment when Voldemort realizes the connection between himself and Harry?
• Why is Dumbledore’s office password-protected? Shouldn’t he at least have a doorbell? Or an assistant?
• Fudge begins to reveal his true colors! How delicious of a moment is the Dumbledore’s office scene for Barty Crouch Jr.?
• Odds & Ends cover Fred and George’s private business matters, Mars, humming insects, Snape the Bat and Cockroach Clusters!
• What If?! Barty Crouch Sr. had not fired Winky? Could she have saved him (and Cedric) from a horrible fate?
• Quizzitch: After Ludo Bagman’s trial, what Quidditch match does a jury member congratulate him on?
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• Reminder: Micah and Eric will be at LeakyCon! Visit LeakyCon.com to check out the latest guests, the full con schedule and use code ‘MUGGLE’ while registering for a discount!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 662 Transcript!

What’s that in the bushes? It’s another introduction into the horrors of true crime as we follow Harry and Viktor Krum into the woods of the Forbidden Forest! Joining us for this episode are Nicole and Lexi of Fantasy Fangirls podcast! With plenty of laughs and deep coverage of another massive chapter of Book 4, listen now as we discuss “The Madness of Mr. Crouch!”

• Welcome back Nicole and Lexi of the Fantasy Fangirls podcast!
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 28: The Madness of Mr. Crouch
• 7-Word Summary: Harry finds Crouch disturbed inside the forest
• Main Discussion #1: Drinky has a winking problem
• Down in the kitchens, Harry and Hermione uncover more clues at the expense of making every situation worse.
• Laura has calculated Winky’s BAC, and it’s not good.
• Is Crouch Sr. careless to not have taken Winky back, and does he rely on House-Elf magic to feel confident that she’ll keep his secrets, which she does?
• Main Discussion #2: a wild Mr. Crouch appears!
• Down on the pitch, we learn that the points so far haven’t mattered… much.
• Nicole explains why she would quit the Triwizard Tournament at this point.
• Krum pulls Harry aside… to talk about girls!
• Has Crouch Sr. traveled all this way on FOOT? Or by magic?
• Should Harry have asked Crocuh Sr. more direct follow-up questions before leaving Krum alone with him?
• Does Dumbledore fear Krum, or fear for Krum in this moment?
• Does Igor Karkaroff kind of have a point about fairness?
• Is Hagrid about to be revealed to be Uncle Vernon in disguise?
• Odds & Ends include the principality of Andorra! Cornelius Fudge’s wife! Christmas Nifflers, Barty Crouch Jr.’s test scores, and more.
• Quizzitch: Who is the second person Mad-Eye Fakey tells should become an Auror as a career?
• Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us!
• For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, including the chance to co-host the show, a new physical gift every year, and a video message from one of the four of us visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast!
• Reminder: Micah and Eric will be at LeakyCon! Visit LeakyCon.com to check out the latest guests, the full con schedule and use code ‘MUGGLE’ while registering for a discount!

Download now OR, now read the Episode 661 Transcript!