On this week's episode we dig deep into our MuggleMail bag as listeners weigh in on our latest chapter-by-chapter discussions. One voicemail leads the hosts to take sides in a Harry Potter date debate! Plus, we have fun paging through the beautifully illustrated Order of the Phoenix by Jim Kay.




We review the Order of the Phoenix Illustrated Illustrated Edition. There's SO much to love in this one!

Speaking of books, don't forget to check out The Magic of MinaLima, which is an exhaustive look at MinaLima's work for the Harry Potter movies.

Voicemails cover magic's origin, a Harry Potter first date, a Draco-focused Harry Potter TV show and more

Several listeners write in about Christmas gifts and Quidditch rules

Why doesn’t Hermione use her own wand to stop the troll? 

Why did Hagrid really go to get Harry from the Dursleys?

Should Ron be allowed to have a rat at Hogwarts?

Is it the job of the Sorting Hat to equally divide the first year students?

One listener presents a strong defense of Petunia Dursley

Is the Hogwarts Express super inconvenient for students who already live close to Hogwarts?

Troll in the Dungeon:  is Dumbledore sending the Slytherins to their doom?

Quizzitch: When McGonagall gives detentions to the trio and Neville in Book 1, she says she's "never heard of such a thing before." What is the "thing" to which she is referring?

Next week: Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Chapters 15 (The Forbidden Forest) & 16 (Through The Trapdoor) of Sorcerer's Stone

This week's episode is brought to you by MasterClass ( get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast).


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585: Does the Sorting Hat Divide Students Equally Across Hogwarts Houses? And More MuggleMail

MuggleCast is your weekly ride into the Wizarding World. Our Harry Potter podcast, hosted by four life-long friends, brings its listeners entertaining and thought-provoking discussions about the universe. With each new episode we discuss everything Harry Potter: the latest news, the Potter books, Fantastic Beasts, the theme parks, the video games, the fandom, and more! The show is currently hosting a Chapter by Chapter re-read of the original seven Harry Potter books!

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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!


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Witchcraft and Rizzardry (GOF Chapter 22, The Unexpected Task)

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!


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Dobby Lobby (GOF Chapter 21, The House-Elf Liberation Front)

This week Chapter by Chapter returns as Harry faces off against the CLEARLY most-dangerous dragon. Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah and special Slug Club guest Catherine as they tackle Chapter 20 of Goblet of Fire, “The First Task.”

Welcome to the show, Slug Club guest Catherine, who is a college professor of psychology!

In the news: Helena Bonham Carter was asked about Miriam Margolyes’ recent, controversial remarks about adult Harry Potter fans! We discuss Helena's response.

Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 20: The First Task

7-Word Summary: Dragons are afoot inside Hogwarts’ grounds AHHHHHHH

Harry “does the right thing” with Cedric. What does this tell us about his character?

Mad-Eye Fakey’s dark detectors are going off, but not for the reason he says!

Professor McGonagall is a mother figure to Harry, and we get an inkling of it in this chapter.

Should the Triwizard Tournament feature four of the same dragon?

Why does Ludo Bagman keep asking Harry to cheat?

Harry and Ron are friends again, and we discuss what was missing in Harry’s life while he was gone.

Who do we think had the best solution for the First Task?

Karkaroff gives Harry a FOUR. Isn’t there a rubric or a better way to prevent against this absurd favoritism?!

Odds and Ends touch on Poor Poppy Pomfrey, pointed caps, Trelawney nonsense, and a cool connection between books 1, 4 and 7.

Quizzitch question: What is the pattern of Dobby's tie when Harry first encounters him in the Hogwarts kitchens?

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 play a quiz where we try to name all the Harry Potter characters mentioned more times than Seamus Finnigan. For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast!


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Accio, Golden Egg (GOF Chapter 20, The First Task)

The ladies of MuggleCast are back for Part 2 of our Girls Takeover Series! This week we’re diving deeper into the roles of women as mothers, teachers, care givers, and warriors. We’re joined by our social media manager Chloé, transcriber manager Meg, and sister-podcast host Pam. 

This week, we dive deeper into the roles of women as mothers we didn’t get to dig as deep into on our last installment. 

We spend time ruminating on the show’s current position in Goblet of Fire, and give Hermione props for being the friend Harry needs, even if it’s not necessarily what Harry wants. 

Did Merope Gaunt make the ultimate sacrifice out of love for her son? 

Is Narcissa a good mother? We examine how being a good mother and being a good person are not mutually exclusive. 

No matter the role examined, we continue to find that for the women in Harry Potter, motherhood is a core theme. Even women who don’t have children, they still serve mother-like roles in some capacity. 

That’s right, even Umbridge represents a particular flavor of motherhood (ugh). 

We also examine the roles of women and fandom, and reflect on our tenure as Potterheads, and what our fandom engagement looks like outside of the podcast these days. 

Demographics for leaders in the Harry Potter fandom has evolved in the last 20 years: a fandom where many of the site runners, content creators, and podcasters were men has seen a dramatic shift towards more women and non-binary people leading in the fandom space. 

We look to organizations like Fandom Forward, MuggleNet, and LeakyCon as organizations that are heavily woman-led making efforts to create better inclusivity and representation in the wizarding world fan space. 

Did you enjoy this installment of Girls Takeover? Keep an eye out for our next installment, where we’ll be taking on an installment of Chapter by Chapter! 

This week's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast



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Girls Takeover, Part 2: How Motherhood Is A Core Theme in Harry Potter

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!


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585: Does the Sorting Hat Divide Students Equally Across Hogwarts Houses? And More MuggleMail

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