MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

On this week's episode, we interrupt your regularly scheduled schoolwork to announce (quite last minute) that there will be a Yule Ball this year! Grab your dress robes and find a dance partner before all the "good ones" are taken! This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast! Check out the MuggleCast Overstock Store to grab MuggleCast t-shirts, signed album art, and so much more! Supplies are limited, so act fast and help us support the show! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 22: The Unexpected Task 7-Word Summary: Cho regrets not saying ‘yes’ to Greatness Main Discussion #1: McGonagall's announcement Is Professor McGonagall not being sensitive to Harry's youth? How long have the teachers known about the Yule Ball this year, and why would they announce it a week before Christmas? Laura asks what our high school dances were like and the hosts try to remember. Fred Weasley has the Cha(rizz)ma to win The Unexpected Task of Asking Girls Out Would it be so wrong if Harry, a champion, went stag to the ball? Harry turns on Cedric Diggory after learning he's Cho's date Cho lets Harry down easy, and we compare her character here vs Book 5 Ginny wins at playing the long game; Ron and Harry both mess up at romance This chapter represents the last time Harry will forget about bezoars Next week: Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23: The Yule Ball Quizzitch question: What gift does Harry get Ron for Christmas in 1994? 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, the band is back together! So grab your golden eggs and bring ‘em to the Gryffindor Common Room, because it’s a PAR-TAY and even the House-Elves are invited! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 21: The House-Elf Liberation Front 7-Word Summary: Shrieks and panic erupt from Gryffindor base Main Discussion #1: Blast-Ended Rita Ron or Hermione? Who has the better perspective after The First Task? Anxiety or Relief? How do feel about the The Second Task being three months away? We analyze the different student reactions to Harry opening his egg Sneaky Skeeter: Why is Rita so interested in speaking with Hagrid? What do we make of her tactics? Main Discussion #2: Tea Time With Dobby Who wore it better? Dobby or Mr. Weasley? What is it in Dobby’s character that makes him enjoy being free? What do we make of Winky’s current situation? Her perception of Dobby? Why did it take Dobby two years to come back to Hogwarts? Dobby is gettin' paid and time off! Does this offer stand for all House-Elves working at Hogwarts? Keep The Secrets: Are we to believe Dobby is doing additional work for Dumbledore that makes him “in the know"? We deep dive into the conditioning of House-Elves, their generational trauma, physical treatment and more Next week: Goblet of Fire, Chapter 22: The Unexpected Task Quizzitch question: How many girls ask Harry Potter to the Yule Ball? 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Catherine, a college professor of psychology, joins hosts to discuss Goblet of Fire Chapter 20. Topics include Harry's integrity, Moody's surveillance, Minerva's maternal concern, dragon debate, Harry-Ron reconciliation, and intense moments in the Triwizard Tournament.

Chloé, Meg, and Pam explore motherhood in Harry Potter, discussing Merope Gaunt's sacrifice, Narcissa's role, and the evolving role of women in the fandom. They reflect on the characters' maternal qualities, such as Hermione's friendship with Harry, and how even characters like Umbridge represent motherhood in their own ways.

This week, we're busting open the MuggleMail bag and listening to your voicemails on all things Goblet of Fire! So grab your (stuffed) Hungarian Horntail and Quick Quotes Quill and settle up for our latest installment, where we hear direct from you, our listeners! Controversy! Miriam Margolyes roasted Harry Potter fans in recent interview! The hosts react!  Voicemails cover Security at Gringotts, Portraits & Horcruxes, Rita Skeeter, Viktor Krum, Veelas and their ability to effect Voldemort and much more! A fantastic connection is made between Harry and Ron's divination homework and the three Triwizards Tasks! How do we feel about the way Rita Skeeter's character is first described? Did Dumbledoree see the name of the school Harry Potter was entered under for the Triwizard Tournament? If so, what was it? Could Dumbledore have used a tracking spell (Appare Vestigium) to find who placed Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire, much like how Newt was able to follow Tina in Crimes of Grindelwald? Why doesn't Barty Crouch Jr. (emphasis on the Jr.) show up on the Marauder's Map? Do the first three Harry Potter books mirror the three Triwizard Tasks? Would the Sorting Hat have done a better job than the Goblet of Fire? Who does the laundry at Hogwarts? One mom makes the case for why Hogwarts students are generally ignorant to how their food is made! Did Barty Crouch Jr. teach the students the Imperius Curse as a means of protection, having experienced the curse himself? What if Percy told Barty Crouch Sr. his name was Weatherby so as not to be associated with his father while working at the Ministry? Quizzitch: What is the first bit of Professor Moody’s advice to Harry about the First Task? Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us! Coming up in Bonus MuggleCast, we discuss the final three candidates chosen to write the new Harry Potter TV series! And its upcoming 2026 release date! For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week it's into the woods we go as the MuggleCasters read and discuss Chapter 19 of Goblet of Fire, the Hungarian Horntail. And they are joined by someone who is reading the books for the very first time! Welcome to the show, TikTok icon Kierra Lewis! Harry Potter reaction videos from Kierra are reminding us how fun it was to read the Potter series for the first time! (Find her on Instagram and YouTube, too) Kierra tells us what it's like having hundreds of thousands and people following her reading the Harry Potter books, and how she has successfully avoided spoilers. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 19: The Hungarian Horntail 7-Word Summary: Karkaroff sneaks around Hogwarts suspiciously one night Hagrid invites Harry to a clandestine meeting in the woods, but it turns out that he's a third wheel. Harry watches as 8 grown wizards stun a dragon into submission. Is any ONE Triwizard champion in grave danger? Charlie Weasley warns Hagrid that he's counted the eggs of the dragons. So, he definitely knows his old mentor well! Harry discovers Karkaroff trying to cheat. Is some level of cheating to be expected across all Houses? Does Dumbledore know what the tasks are, and if so, is that fair? Harry finally gets quality time with Sirius, and Sirius is his sounding board for everything that's been bothering him. Aw. The clues multiply that Karkaroff may be the one who put Harry's name in the Goblet. Why wouldn't Sirius be sharing everything he knows about Snape, to Harry here? If Dumbledore knows Karkaroff's history (he does), and suspects him, would he have suggested a replacement representative from Durmstrang for the tournament? Sirius is just about to tell Harry how to defeat a dragon, when Ron ruins everything. Ron and Harry have their first real confrontation and it breaks all of our hearts (while feeling sort of good). Quizzitch question: What class does Cedric Diggory have next, when Harry catches up with him? Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us! Coming up in Bonus MuggleCast, we discuss a recent Wall-Street Journal article describing the tempestuous relationship between Warner Bros and JKR. For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the hosts as they tackle bullying towards Harry, Rita Skeeter's manipulative journalism, and the mysteries of wands in a broom closet interview. Discussion includes the Quick Quotes Quill, Dumbledore's knowledge, and Ollivander's shady behavior. Next up: the Hungarian Horntail and a quirky quiz on Hungarian capitals!

Join your Harry Potter friends as they investigate who put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire. Suspects include Ludo Bagman, Igor Karkaroff, and Mad-Eye Moody. The discussion also touches on magical contracts, the backlash of Harry's inclusion, and the complex character of Barty Crouch Jr. Listen for lively debates and humorous speculations!

Arriving with the foreign visitors to Hogwarts is a whole new set of cuisine options in the Great Hall, and - like some of the MuggleCast hosts - Ron is having none of it! Fred and George attempt to hoodwink a 700-year-old cup and a 150-year-old headmaster, failing spectacularly. And the trio learn that Hagrid has a crush! Join us as we deep dive into Chaper 16 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, "Goblet of Fire"! Welcome to our very special musical guest James Durbin, whose new single "Hallows" excites us in all the right ways! Also check out his website and follow him on Instagram Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 16: The Goblet of Fire 7-Word Summary: Poliakoff wants eternal wine because Krum’s better Mini Discussion #1: Cultural differences at Hogwarts While Ron turns his nose up at French cuisine, the hosts discuss which foreign foods they most enjoy since growing up. The Beauxbatons students are laughed at for standin when Madame Maxime does. But isn't it just showing respect and discipline? Mini Discussion #2: Karkaroff and his favoritism What exactly is headmaster Igor's game? Is he gunning for a career in the celebrity entourage industry? Why bring 19 other students to Hogwarts when it is so clear that Karkaroff detests the other kids? What is Karkaroff really thinking when he bumps into Harry Potter? Mini Discussion #3: Fred and George's whimsy Mini Discussion #4: Hagrid and His Crush Odds and Ends: Despite Ron feeling cheated by Harry later, Harry never says out loud that he would love to enter the Tournament. Quizzitch: What was the birthday present that Mad-Eye Moody received and smashed, thinking it was a basilisk egg? Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we find out which of our co-hosts should switch to Divination as their primary hobby as we check back in on our predictions about one another. In Chapter-by-Chapter, Harry develops a resistance to the Imperius Curse cast upon him repeatedly by Mad-Eye Fakey, who is TOTALLY casting those curses with the full knowledge and approval of Dumbledore... right? And, everybody's getting ready for the arrival of more students! Listen as Andrew, Eric, Micah and special Slug Club guest Katie tackle Chapter 15 of Goblet of Fire, "Beauxbatons and Durmstrang" Welcome Slug Club guest Katie to the show! Did our host predictions from last week net any accurate results? We check in. Spotify now lets users review individual episodes! Be kind to us and let us know what you liked! Coming up in Bonus MuggleCast, we play MuggleCast's first ever edition of The Snogging Club! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15: Beauxbatons and Durmstrang 7-Word Summary: Foreigners arrive at the clean, squeaky school Main Discussion #1: Mad-Eye Fakey's never-ending Imperius Curses Is there any way Dumbledore actually knows what's going on? Is Moody's lesson tailored for Harry and, thus, only for this one class of Fourth Years? Is Moody chewing with his food before he eats it, or is he actually helping Harry to resist Voldemort? Why do NONE of the students say anything to other professors about these illegal happenings? Inside Imperius: Does the description in the book meet what we would expect for such a curse? Is Harry's Horcrux helping him to do what no other student can, and resist? Main Discussion #2: Tournament Anticipation Ron insults Cedric Diggory. What's the beef? Teachers get the school in tip-top shape. But, it's a centuries-old castle. How successful are they? Odds and Ends touches on Hermione's continuing efforts with S.P.E.W., and Snape's threat to poison the students. Is Snape trying to out-do Mad-Eye Fakey? Quizzitch: Which Durmstrang student asks Igor karkaroff to have some wine? Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices