Every Christmas, we like to share a favorite poem. This year it's 'Christmas Dog' by Shel Silverstein.
We'll be back with our regularly scheduled episodes on January 5th. Happy Holidays! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Christmas Poem from Matt: Christmas Dog, by Shel Silverstein

It’s the English class you didn't know you missed and the meaningful conversations you didn't know you craved. Join Vanessa Zoltan and Matt Potts as they bring thought, reflection and laughter to Harry Potter; not just as novels, but as instructive and inspirational texts that will teach us about our own lives. Relive the magic of Harry Potter chapter by chapter as Matt and Vanessa explore themes such as commitment, revenge and forgiveness. This podcast creates time in your week to think about life’s big questions. Because reading fiction doesn’t just help us escape the world, it helps us live in it.
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is produced by Not Sorry Productions, a feminist organization that produces podcasts, educational content, live shows, and immersive experiences with the explicit goal of addressing the spiritual needs of its participants. Through community, rigor, and ritual, we treat traditionally secular things as if they were sacred. To learn more about what we do, visit https://notsorryworks.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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This week, Vanessa and Matt are joined by special guest Neil J. Young as they explore the theme of Anger in Chapter 33 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Grawp’s big feelings, Harry’s outburst, and the Centaurs’ generational anger! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how does our anger guide us?
Thank you to Brittany for this week’s voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 34, The Department of Mysteries, through the theme of Success with Jolie Doggett!
Check out Neil’s upcoming book, “Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right,” and more of his work on his website at https://neiljyoung.com/ ! -- It’s two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only two dollars to join our Patreon for extra bloopers every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anger: Fight and Flight (Book 5, Chapter 33)

This week, Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Isolation in Chapter 32 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Umbridge’s leadership, Hermione’s master plan, and Snape’s code! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how can we get creative to combat isolation?
Thank you to Annalisa for this week’s voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 33, Fight and Flight, through the theme of Anger with Matt Potts! -- It’s two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only two dollars to join our Patreon for extra bloopers every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isolation: Out of the Fire (Book 5, Chapter 32)

This week, Vanessa and Matt explore the theme of Naivete in Chapter 31 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Hagrid’s arrest, Harry’s big plan, and the end of Occlumency lessons! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how does naivete leave us more vulnerable?
Thank you to Alex for this week’s voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 32, Out of the Fire, through the theme of Isolation with Casper ter Kuile!
-- It’s two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only two dollars to join our Patreon for extra bloopers every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Naivete: O.W.L.s (Book 5, Chapter 31)

This week, Vanessa and special guest Jackson Bird explore the theme of Determination in Chapter 30 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss the titular Grawp, Peeves’ newfound determination, and times the word actually comes up in the text! Throughout the episode we consider the question: how are sacrifice and determination intertwined?
Thank you to Grace for this week’s voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 31, O.W.L.s, through the theme of Naivete with Matt Potts!
-- It’s two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only two dollars to join our Patreon for extra bloopers every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Determination: Grawp (Book 5, Chapter 30)

This week, Vanessa and Matt are joined by Delphene Mooney of On The Rise as they explore the theme of Community in Chapter 29 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Fred & George’s departure, Draco’s (lack of) community, and the various sub-communities of Hogwarts. Throughout the episode we consider the question: what does it mean to be a good community?
Thank you to Janie for this week’s voicemail! Next week we're reading Chapter 30, Grawp, through the theme of determination with Jackson Bird!
You can learn more about On The Rise and their Empty Bowls fundraiser by going to https://www.ontherise.org/emptybowls , and you can help us in our fundraising efforts by visiting notsorryworks.com !
-- It’s two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only two dollars to join our Patreon for extra bloopers every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Community: Careers Advice (Book 5, Chapter 29)

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

A Christmas Poem from Matt: Christmas Dog, by Shel Silverstein

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