A New Trio, and That Same Author

Another episode, another attack at Hogwarts! Join us as we enter the pages of a secret diary, get treated to a special Valentine's Day by Professor Lockhart and witness an epic showdown in Hagrid's Hut between Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge! All as the threads between Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince continue to grow stronger! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13: The Very Secret Diary 7-Word Summary: Memories are misleading within Riddle’s secret diary  Don't touch that book! Ron provides some important wizarding world advice to his best friend. Harry, Ron and Hermione begin to connect the dots between The Chamber of Secrets opening 50 years ago and Tom Riddle being at Hogwarts 50 years ago... they just draw the wrong conclusion! Harry notes it was "almost as though Riddle was a friend he’d had when he was very small, and had half-forgotten.” Is this our first introduction to the Horcrux connection? Could Tom Riddle have killed Harry by trapping him inside the diary? Connecting The Threads: memory alteration and manipulation are integral plot points in Half-Blood Prince! Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14: Cornelis Fudge 7-Word Summary: Hagrid receives terrible news about leaving Hogwarts Harry, Ron and Hermione are surprised to learn it was Hagrid who opened the Chamber of Secrets, but they’re not really surprised, are they? As Hermione begins to piece things together, why doesn't she seek out a professor? Hermione is petrified and Tom Riddle's Diary is stolen! But whose the culprit? Checkout “A Very Secret Diary” by Arabella, which details Ginny Weasley’s interactions with the diary for her entire first year! Note: this is intended for a mature audience. Would the Invisibility Cloak prevented Harry & Ron from being killed by the basilisk? So many questions surround Hagrid's arrest, first and foremost... WHERE'S THE ACTUAL EVIDENCE? Do any alternatives exist for Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge? Much like Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore leaves the school (in absolute chaos), with Harry shouldering the burden of solving the mystery! Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 15 & 16! Quizzitch: Who escorts the Gryffindors to their Herbology lesson? Support the show! There’s much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon! Benefits include Bonus MuggleCast, early access to each episode of the show, ad-free episodes, access to our recording studio, an exclusive Discord and Facebook group, you’ll become a member of the MuggleCast Collectors Club, and at the Slug Club level you’ll receive a physical gift every year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 Jan 20231h 20min

This week Snape demonstrates the famous Disarm Charm to a clearly impressionable Harry. Harry, meanwhile, throws a well-placed firework into Goyle's cauldron. And it's pandemonium when Harry is revealed to be a Parselmouth, leading the entire school to suspect him of being Slytherin's heir (except Dumbledore, who weirdly lets Harry leave without interrogation.) Tons to talk about as the hosts cover chapters 11 and 12 of Chamber of Secrets during Chapter-by-Chapter! News: Eddie Redmayne says he's not aware of a 4th Fantastic Beasts movie. Is this the end? Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11: The Dueling Club 7-Word Summary: Students get ready for their dueling club We rank the trio's plans to break into Snape's personal potions storage and their successful execution! Would Harry have been less suspected by Snape if he sabotaged a fellow Gryffindor? After being discovered as a Parselmouth, the whole school suspects Harry is opening Slytherin's chamber. We examine ALL the evidence against Harry and see if we are convinced. When people are petrified, are they conscious or unconscious until they get cured? Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12: The Polyjuice Potion 7-Word Summary: Draco confirms that he isn’t Slytherin’s baddie Dumbledore lets Harry leave his office without any explanation or follow-up questions. Why? Could Dumbledore have probed Harry's mind deeper than we realize and gotten all the answers? If so, what did he do with that information? Despite Hermione's amazing planning, Ron and Harry stumble through their Polyjuice adventure. They don't even know where the other common room is! Does Harry ever visit Hedwig? We rank Harry's Christmas presents!! Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 13 & 14! Quizzitch: What Spell does Hermione use on T.M. Riddle's diary? This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 Jan 20231h 32min

The Chamber of Secrets is officially opened! But as Dumbledore says, the question is not who, but how? Join us as we learn more about the Chamber's legend, check books out from the Restricted Section, evade Rogue bludgers and handle (un)helpful House-Elves. Plus, we continue to connect some major threads to events of Half-Blood Prince! Welcome Slug Club member, Alyssa! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9: The Writing on The Wall 7-Word Summary: Filch scares Harry because he’s acting accusatory Was the attack on Mrs. Norris a trial run? Was Filch the intended target? Or is Mrs. Norris too meddlesome for her own good? What do we make of Ron's reaction to Filch being a Squib? How is it possible that no other students were aware? Why is Snape seemingly trying to implicate Harry? At this early stage, might Snape suspect Harry’s susceptibility to having his mind infiltrated by Voldemort?  Do we think students actually checked out all copies of Hogwarts: A History, or was it a strategic choice by Madam Pince to remove them from the library? Harry struggles internally with almost having been sorted into Slytherin. Could he in fact be the heir? Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 10: The Rogue Bludger 7-Word Summary: Broken bones consume Lockhart’s reputation at Quidditch Lockhart continues to draw suspicion with his questionable actions Do Muggle schools have restricted sections? Rule-breaking Hermione: let's brew some Polyjuice Potion! Why didn’t Madam Hooch notice the tampered bludger? And... where are the adults? The decision to continue play is not Harry's to make! Why is there no medical personnel present at Quidditch matches? Did Lockhart ever get in trouble for removing Harry's bones? Welcome back, Dobby! But... why are you trying to kill Harry? Colin Creevey becomes the first human casualty of the basilisk! Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 11 & 12! Quizzitch: During the Dueling Club, who does Snape pair Hermione with? This episode is brought to you by MeUndies (get 20% off your first order and free US shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast) and ZocDoc (go to ZocDoc.com/MuggleCast to download the Zocdoc app for FREE; then find and book a top-rated doctor today). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 Jan 20231h 31min

Happy New Year! As we begin 2023, and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chamber of Secrets, we examine the some of the book's and series' biggest themes! Join us as we hit the Quidditch pitch, visit Hagrid's hut, spend detention with Lockhart and celebrate Halloween with Nearly-Headless Nick on our latest episode of MuggleCast! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 7: Murmurs & Mudbloods 7-Word Summary: Nepotism reigns supreme when Draco receives brooms We begin to see the influence of the Malfoy family’s wealth and the impact it has at Hogwarts and in the larger wizarding community! Is it fair to assume Draco made the Slytherin Quidditch team on money alone? Unconscious bias: Why were we okay with McGonagall giving Harry a Nimbus 2000 in Sorcerer's Stone but against Lucius giving the Slytherins Nimbus 2001s in Chamber of Secrets? Why isn't there greater punishment for Malfoy using the term mudblood? Why do the male characters seem to be onto Lockhart, but most of the female characters come across as hoodwinked by his charm and good looks? Laying the Groundwork: Blood purity, Hagrid's expulsion, Ginny's strange behavior, Riddle's trophy, the cursed DADA position and more! Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 8: The Deathday Party 7-Word Summary: Nick helps Harry out with Peeves’ assistance  What does it say about Filch that he’s working while he has the flu? Is he trying to prove himself given he is a Squib? Peeves drops an important piece of furniture with strong ties to Half-Blood Prince! Would the Deathday Party have been a good film adaptation? The hosts make some interesting observations about Moaning Myrtle and The Bloody Baron. The Chamber of Secrets is opened! What does it say about Harry that he runs toward an  issue rather than away from it? Or better yet, that he doesn’t go and get a teacher to help investigate? Next week: We dive into Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 9 & 10! Quizzitch: What curse does Lockhart say was probably performed on Mrs Norris? This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast) and MasterClass (get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast). On Bonus MuggleCast, we discuss Pottermore's sales dropping 40% in 2022! Bonus MuggleCast, which we now release twice per month, is just one of many great benefits of becoming a patron of the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Jan 20231h 19min

MuggleCast returns January 10th with new episodes, but until then we're releasing one of our favorite episodes of Bonus MuggleCast that we initially recorded for Patrons earlier in the year! In this installment, we discuss the late actor Alan Rickman's diary entries about playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies. As you might expect from a diary, he is very candid about his work and the cast members around him. Prepare to be surprised by how he felt while filming each Harry Potter movie! For more installments of Bonus MuggleCast, pledge to our Patreon today at Patreon.com/mugglecast. In 2023, we'll be releasing two Bonus MuggleCast episodes every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 Dec 202244min

Happy Holidays! Join us for our final episode of the year! What were some of our top moments? Our favorite episodes of the show? Then we open up our MuggleMail bag one last time and look ahead to what to expect in 2023 for Harry Potter fans! Our top 5 Social Media Moments Why do you wish you were a teenager in the early 2000s? MuggleCast #tbt!  Black Harry Potter content creators you should follow this Black History Month!  Dan Fogler’s Cameo to celebrate Micah’s Birthday! MuggleCast Through the Years Timeline  Last-minute MuggleCast Halloween Costumes! Each host shares their favorite episodes of the year: Andrew: Episode #566: WB is Planning HBO Max Harry Potter Shows — We Pitch Lots of New Ideas! and Episode #555: ’98-’99 Hogwarts School Year Deep Dive Eric: Episode #567: ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ Illustrator Thomas Taylor Reveals the Secrets Behind the Cover and #573: ‘MuggleCast, A History’ Trivia Game! Laura: Episode #576: How Are Spells Created? Discussing the Physics of Harry Potter and Episode #551: The Importance of Black Representation in Harry Potter Micah: Episode #580: Sorting Too Soon (Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapters 7 – 8) and Episode #548: Will There Ever Be Another Harry Potter-Level Book Series? Muggle Mail covers HBO Max's Hogwarts Holidays: Fireplace feature, Lucius Malfoy's Ministry job status, crackpot theories, thread connecting and more! What can Harry Potter fans expect in 2023? Hogwarts Legacy hits store shelves in February! Does the Discovery/Warner Brothers merger mean good things ahead? A Harry Potter television show, perhaps? We'll celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chamber of Secrets! Quizzitch: What does Oliver Wood say the Nimbus 2001 brooms do in comparison to the Cleansweep series? This week's episode is brought to you by MeUndies (get 20% off your first order, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast), BetterHelp (save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast) and MasterClass (give the perfect gift of an annual MasterClass membership and get one free at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast). Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Our next episode is headed your way January 10, 2023! In the meantime, be sure to visit our Wall of Fame and keep your eyes out for a Bonus MuggleCast available to all in the coming weeks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 Dec 20221h 13min

On this week's episode, Harry and Ron invent a new way to get to Hogwarts, but break a few international statutes! Settling in to classes would be easier for Harry if Draco Malfoy and Gilderoy Lockhart weren't following him around! Still, it is so good to be back within the castle walls. Join us for Chapter by Chapter segments of chapters 5 and 6 of "Chamber of Secrets." Welcome Slug Club guest Miranda! Announcement! Slug Club members of our Patreon will be able to participate in our holiday year-end MuggleCast AMA this coming Saturday, December 17 at 1pm ET. The event will be viewable by ALL when it goes live, and Slug Club members can submit their Q's! Stay tuned to our social for reminders. Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5: The Whomping Willow 7-Word Summary: The tree captures the Ford toughly, rawr! Are there further investigations into why the Kings Cross barrier didn't let Harry through, after his and Ron's story come out? What makes Ron leap right to taking the car, instead of waiting for one of the many parents on the platform to come find them? Which other ways of transport can someone take to get to Hogwarts? Portkeys? Floo powder? The hosts discuss the prevalence of herbology-related mentions in this book as foreshadowing. Does the Anglia's arrival at Hogwarts prove that Hogwarts is a Security Nightmare? Do Ron and Harry get off a little easy for their world-exposing stunt? Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 6: Gilderoy Lockhart 7-Word Summary: Chaos ensues when Lockhart takes over class Mrs. Weasley's Howler to Ron may have consequences that she doesn't intend. Could she have been more discreet with her reprimand, and even shown up in person? For all things Professor Sprout, whose introduction occurs in this chapter, check out MuggleCast #513 which covers her presence throughout all 7 books! Has the Whomping Willow injured Sprout, or has she deftly applied the bandages? Words in the book are hard. Micah makes a piercing connection between the Mandrakes and the Basilisk. The hosts review Gilderoy Lockhart's early life, full of interesting tidbits from his extended canon backstory. Was Dumbledore really trying to expose Lockhart during the events of Harry's Year Two? The subtle way in which Colin and Justin are introduced to Harry as Muggle-born is sending us. Write this down! The students at Hogwarts have washed themselves! We award our standard MVP of the week to chapters and characters. Next week, MuggleCast does our annual Year in Review / MuggleMail extravaganza, after which we break for the holidays. Quizzitch question: Which potion makes Madam Z. Nettles of Topsham, patron of Kwikspell, the center of attention at parties? This episode is brought to you by MeUndies (Get 20% off your first order and free shipping at MeUndies.com/mugglecast) and BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Dec 20221h 17min

On this week's episode, we make our first visit to The Burrow and meet several characters for the first time in Diagon Alley! Plus, hold onto your Sorting Hat as we connect a handful of threads between Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince! Micah visits Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in New York! Main Discussion #1: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3: The Burrow 7-Word Summary: Weasley’s House Features New Magic And... Gnomes Fred & George are truly their father's sons (be sure to check out our Weasley Twins episode from April 2021) Right family, wrong motive - Dobby DOES belong to the Malfoys! What if... Molly and Arthur had gone to pickup Harry at Privet Drive? Comparing and contrasting Harry and Ron's view of The Burrow Main Discussion #2: Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4: At Flourish & Blotts 7-Word Summary: Lucius takes Ginny’s father in a fight Should the Weasleys have given Harry a bit more assistance with Floo Powder? Inside Borgin and Burkes: vanishing cabinets, necklaces and hands of glory, oh my! What is Lucius Malfoy's true motive in getting Tom Riddle's diary to Hogwarts? Several characters are exhibiting odd behavior, Percy and Hagrid included! What are our first impressions of Gilderoy Lockhart? 7 BOOKS?!?! Why is Hogwarts bankrolling Gilderoy's bad habits? Bookstore Throwdown: Lucius and Arthur get into it! Next Week: Chapters 5 & 6 of Chamber of Secrets This week's episode is brought to you by Stamps.com (visit Stamps.com, click on the microphone, and enter code MUGGLECAST for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, plus free postage, and a free digital scale), BetterHelp (save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast) and MeUndies (get 20% off your first order, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast)! On Bonus MuggleCast, we uncover and discuss some exciting new info about what Harry Potter attraction is coming to Epic Universe! Bonus MuggleCast is just one of many great benefits of becoming a patron of the show! And special thank you to those who have shared that MuggleCast appeared in their Spotify Wrapped’s this year! The show was the top podcast for 1,500 listeners, in the Top 5 for 4,600 listeners, and in the Top 10 for 6,700 listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Dec 20221h 17min