The Devil Wears Pink: The Violence, Villainy, and Vanity of Dolores Umbridge

Critical Magic Theory takes on Lily Potter, the first Muggleborn episode of the season. Working through 202 listener survey responses, Professor Julian Wamble asks whether Lily was a good person, moth...

16 Sep 1h 13min

Before the Muggleborn surveys begins in earnest, Critical Magic Theory looks at the world Muggleborns are actually stepping into in the Harry Potter series. Drawing on this summer's episodes on the Mi...

9 Sep 50min

They're status symbols. They're propaganda. They might just be really good marketing. In this Prof Responds episode, Professor Julian Wamble digs back into two fan-favorite deep dives on wand lore — p...

4 Sep 50min

Part 2 of Critical Magic Theory's wand series asks what wands actually offer if they don't grant magical ability. Professor Julian Wamble traces the dependency wands create, Ron's broken wand, Voldemo...

26 Aug 55min

Critical Magic Theory returns with Part 1 of a two-part series on wands, tracing what Ollivander's promise that "the wand chooses the wizard" actually determines about belonging in the wizarding world...

19 Aug 50min

In this Prof Responds episode of Critical Magic Theory, Professor Julian Wamble digs into listener reactions from Patreon and Spotify to unpack what "squib" really means in the Wizarding World. Drawin...

12 Aug 53min

What does it actually mean to be magical in the Wizarding World, and who gets to decide? On this episode of Critical Magic Theory, Professor Julian Wamble dives into one of Harry Potter's most overloo...

5 Aug 57min

Professor Julian Wamble kicks off Critical Magic Theory's summer series by unpacking the Ministry of Magic through Half-Blood Prince's opening chapter, "The Other Minister." Starting with Hagrid's off...

29 Jul 1h 5min