• We discuss the latest Fantastic Beasts casting news
• Young Dumbledore, Grindelwald, Newt & Leta – are we headed back to
  Hogwarts & Godric’s Hollow?
• And we theorize on Sebastian? Who is he? A sibling? A goat? A likely casualty?
• What about Aberforth and Ariana?
• Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: The Barebones Family
• Rowling draws parallels to institutional orphanages
• Do Mary Lou and Grindelwald share a similar objective in exposing
  the wizard community?
• Did she know the truth about Credence?
• Who, if anyone, will continue her cause?
• This Week in MuggleCast History
• Voicemails cover Grindelwald, House sortings and a new Potter fan film

This week’s episode is sponsored by Casper!

1. Get $50 off an obsessively engineered and insanely comfortable mattress by visiting Casper.com/MuggleCast and using code MuggleCast!

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Running time: 1:08:13, 40.9 MB

• Welcome Slug Club member Juliana!
• It’s been 13 years since the release of Prisoner of Azkaban in theaters! We reminisce.
• The 20th anniversary editions of Philosopher’s Stone have shipped!
• Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Credence Barebone
• How much is there still to learn about him? Who was his mother? Could his father still be alive?
• Can Credence control his powers? He’s very targeted in his attacks, but his actions sometimes have unintended consequences (Chastity).
• Is it odd given how powerful Grindelwald is that he couldn’t figure out Credence was the obscurial?
• Does the obscurial mask its own identity?
• We discuss Credence’s relationship with Graves/Grindelwald
• Will Dumbledore extend a helping hand to Credence given what happened to Arianna?
• The Barebone name origin conversation takes an inappropriate turn
• What’s next for Credence? Did he really make it onto the boat?
• Voicemails: Ron, Queenie, Grindelwald, Puffs and more!

This week’s episode is sponsored by Harry’s!

1. Harry’s: Get $5 off any shaving kit. Visit Harrys.com/MuggleCast to learn more!

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Running time: 1:08:13, 40.9 MB

• Welcome Slug Club Member Clara
• The original cast of Cursed Child close the show on an interesting note
• We’ll be at MuggleNet Live in Orlando this September!
• Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Percival Graves (Grindelwald)
• We discuss his name origin and other notable Percivals in the Potter series
• What truly happened to Graves?
• Was the Graves/Grindelwald story all a little bit too Mad-Eye Moody? We consult the Twitter poll!
• When did Graves return from his overseas travel? How closely was he working with Theseus Scamander?
• Can we expect to see Graves in future films? Was he detained? Imprisoned? Killed?
• Grindelwald’s masterful job of impersonation and manipulation
• What does it say about MACUSA that NOBODY suspected him?
• David Heyman describes Grindelwald as both “seductive” and a “rock star”
• Does his treatment of Credence shine a light on his relationship with Dumbledore?

This week’s episode is sponsored by Blue Apron!

1. Check out this week’s menu and get your first three meals free (including free shipping!) by going to BlueApron.com/MuggleCast

Download now OR, now read the Episode 322 Transcript!

Running time: 1:05:37, 39.4 MB

• “You’ve never heard of midnight release parties?”
• Wizarding World Hollywood is getting a nighttime show
• The original cast of Cursed Child calls it a wrap
• Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Seraphina Picquery
• What does Seraphina being selected by all four Ilvemorny Houses tell us about her?
• Sorting Hat vs. Gordian Knot – it’s on!
• Picquery’s term as President (1920-1928) – how exactly did it come to an end?
• Seraphina’s wand was made by Violetta Beauvais – we discuss the implications!
• How does her leadership compare to Cornelius Fudge & Rufus Scrimgeour?
• Her relationship with Tina
• Listeners share their thoughts on the President of MACUSA
• And a few more first-time Potter stories are shared

This week’s episode is sponsored by Harry’s!

1. Harry’s: Get $5 off any shaving kit. Visit Harrys.com/MuggleCast to learn more!

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Running time: 1:12:24, 43.4 MB

• Slug Club member Katy joins the show!
• Andrew visits a Thunderbolt.. ThunderBIRD restaurant in middle-of-nowhere Utah
• Pottermore launches a Harry Potter book club… been there, done that
• Cursed Child sets its opening date on Broadway. We make plans to attend
• Andrew steals the Potter prequel
• We take listener rebuttals on last week’s Jacob discussion
• Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Porpetina Esther Goldstein
• Katy gives us a breakdown of Tina’s name origin
• Was her character written to just not be all that interesting… initially?
• Could the Goldsteins face religious persecution in future films?
• Tina is the most straight-laced of the quartet but is not without her quirks or passions
• What does the reasoning behind her demotion at MACUSA tell us about her character?
• The Tina-Credence connection
• Voicemails return with some entertaining messages… and threats

Running time: 1:36:32, 57.9 MB

Direct download

• It’s a two-man show with Andrew traversing the country
•  But he does make a pit-stop at a very interesting restaurant
• Listeners give their feedback on last week’s Queenie discussion
• The Cursed Child has been filmed! It’s not what you think…
• On the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, JKR apologizes for another character death!
• Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Jacob Kowalski
• The heart of the film and our first major, non-magical character
• What is Jacob’s role in the Quartet?
• We discuss how he humanizes Newt and his relationship with Queenie
• Why take Jacob on a ride of a lifetime only to have it taken away at the end of the movie?
• What does he truly remember?
• How will Jacob factor into the next film? Is he vulnerable? Can he be used against Newt?
• Dueling Club: No-Maj edition

This week’s episode is sponsored by Harry’s!

1. Harry’s: Get a free trial shaving kit, just pay $3 in shipping! Visit Harrys.com/MuggleCast

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Running time: 1:14:12, 44.5 MB

• Jude Law responds to being cast as Dumbledore
• Listeners give their thoughts on Theseus Scamander
• We begin our first Fantastic Beasts character discussion: Queenie Goldstein
• Queenie’s Legilimency does not appear to be common knowledge
• How her abilities could be used for both good and evil in future films
• Was she forced to repress her Legilimency growing up?
• Is she intentionally keeping the truth from MACUSA?
• How Queenie’s Legilimency differs from that of Snape
• Why does she reveal so quickly to Jacob and Newt that she can read minds?
• JKR: While Queenie could read your mind right now, she doesn’t always draw the right conclusions from what she’s reading. What are the implications of this statement?
• Make The Music Connection returns with an interesting twist
• Sage schools us on the latest Wizard Rock
• In Bonus MuggleCast we discuss Newt’s Patronus. Why does J.K. Rowling call it a “big” spoiler?

This week’s episode is sponsored by Puffs the Play, Canvas People, and Blue Apron!

1. Puffs: Use code MugglePuffs at checkout and save 10% off your order!
2. Canvas People: Use code Muggle to get an 11×14 print FREE! Just pay shipping.
3. Blue Apron: Get your first three meals free, just pay shipping! Visit BlueApron.com/MuggleCast

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Running time: 1:15:25, 45.2 MB

• Happy Birthday Eric!
• Callum Turner cast as Theseus Scamander
• What do we know about Newt’s older brother besides a brief mention in Fantastic Beasts?
• We analyze the letter between brothers that never made the final cut. Would it have put too much emphasis on Grindelwald early on?
• What kind of relationship do the two brothers share? Micah and Eric have differing opinions.
• Isn’t it a bit ironic that Theseus is tasked to track down Grindelwald and its Newt who catches him? How will Theseus react?
• Theseus and Graves worked together – how close did Grindelwald get to Theseus without him knowing?
• Is Theseus even still alive? Could he possibly be a Grindelwald supporter?
• Will the two brothers work together when Grindelwald inevitably escapes?
• Will Theseus die tragically like the Greek hero for which he is named?
• We share some more first Potter memories!

This week’s episode is sponsored by Puffs the Play, Canvas People, and Harry’s!

1. Puffs: Use code MugglePuffs at checkout and save 10% off your order!
2. Canvas People: Use code Muggle to get an 11×14 print FREE! Just pay shipping.
3. Harry’s: Get a free trial shaving kit, just pay $3 in shipping! Visit Harrys.com/MuggleCast

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Running time: 1:14:12, 44.5 MB

Slug Club member James joins the show as we discuss some of the best special features on the Fantastic Beasts DVD / Blu-ray (and Digital)!

• We have very, very few MuggleCast t-shirts still available!
• The Wizarding World theme park is getting decked out for Christmas!
• What other holidays/celebrations would listeners like to see?
• Our main discussion: The Fantastic Beast Creature & Design Features
• It’s not all green screens and CGI
• “Honey, what did you do today?” “Oh I dressed up as an erumpant and traded mating calls with Eddie Redmayne!”
• Dougal the Demiguise is JKR’s favorite
• “If you don’t like the Niffler, there is something wrong with you!”
• JKR wanted to have one thing that was “quintessentially” American – Frank the Thunderbird
• Which begs the question – where were the other American beasts?
• Shaping The World of Fantastic Beasts
• Rebuilding New York City, inside MACUSA, The Newtcase, The Blind Pig & more
• What special features were missing that we would have liked to see?
• Voicemails
• Get your MuggleCast t-shirt while supplies last!

This week’s episode is sponsored by Puffs the Play and Canvas People!

1. Puffs: Use code MugglePuffs at checkout and save 10% off your order!
2. Canvas People: Use code Muggle to get an 11×14 print FREE! Just pay shipping.

Download now

Running time: 1:15:31, 45.3 MB

This week’s episode of MuggleCast is brought to you by Puffs the Play! Save 10% on your tickets by using code MugglePuffs at checkout.

• Grindelwald’s line at the end of Fantastic Beasts gets an explanation (kind of)
• Cursed Child cleans up at the Olivier Awards. Did they deserve it?
• The super duper deluxe awesome edition of Cursed Child is coming (in paperback), and Micah isn’t impressed
• Jude Law has been cast as Dumbledore!
• We’re headed back to Hogwarts!
• What other characters can we expect to see?
• Beard or no beard?
• Listeners share their thoughts on the news of Jude Law’s casting
• How deep will the movies dive into the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald?
• Celebrating 20 years of Potter, listeners share their Favorite Memories
• Voicemails
• And a new segment that will rival The Voice

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Running time: 1:24:27, 50.7 MB