Magic Beyond the Books

Mr. Ollivander revolutionized the wand-making industry and sold wands to many great wizards (including Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort). Today I breakdown his story throughout the Harry Potter books and beyond. I share a breakdown of the three magical beasts from which he sources his wand cores - dragons, phoenices, and unicorns - and ponder the dark theories surrounding his business practices. Grab your wand and avoid being captured by the death eaters, it’s time to learn more about Garrick Ollivander!

In this special episode, I discuss the two wizarding world gangs - Dumbledore’s Order of the Phoenix and Voldemort’s Death Eaters. I share the known members, leaders, companion groups, headquarters, communication methods, battle strategies, and even the other group names JK Rowling considered. Touch your tattoos and send patronuses to your friends because it’s time to talk about some secret societies!

It’s the Second Triwizard Task of the Triwizard Tournament and Harry Potter is unprepared. Hufflepuff Lynn guest-hosts as we discuss Mad-Eye Moody’s eye capabilities, wizarding world foods, and Viktor Krum’s appearance in the books vs the movies. Rene shares details on gillyweed, grindylows, and merpeople. Come seek us where our voices sound and listen to this episode!

Michael Corner lives a parallel storyline to Harry, dating the same women and fighting against Voldemort in Dumbledore’s Army. In this episode, I discuss Michael’s storyline throughout the Harry Potter books and get into some wild fan theories about the character (maybe Michael Corner is secretly a muggle?). Grab your bffs Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein and listen to this episode all about Michael Corner!

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It’s Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff in a Hogwarts quidditch match and none other than Luna Lovegood is commentating (book 6, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, chapter 18, Elf Tails). Jessie returns as we discuss our wands, Harry’s competency as a quidditch captain, and Cormac McLaggen’s questionable coaching. Fly in for this fun episode!

Calling all Harry Potter fans! In each Magic Beyond the Books episode, I break down a scene, character, or special topic from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Warning: there are spoilers in every episode. Grab your wands and send owl post to all your friends. Let's go on a magical journey through JK Rowling’s hit series. This is a Harry Potter podcast you don’t want to miss.

Stanley “Stan” Shunpike, conductor on The Knight Bus and secret death eater? I discuss Stan’s character arc through Harry Potter books 3-7, dive into the etymology behind his name, give my take on fan theories, and share my fan casting for the role. It’s time to play some jazz music and hop on The Knight Bus for this episode all about Stan Shunpike - “Take ‘er away, Ern!”

The trio, accompanied by the Granger parents and Weasley family, takes a trip to Flourish and Blotts during Gilderoy Lockhart’s book signing but are dismayed to run into the Malfoys (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, chapter 4, At Flourish and Blotts). I talk about Lucius Malfoy’s motivations to plant the diary on Ginny, Arthur Weasley’s surprising violence, and the theory that Draco rips out a book page to slip to Hermione. Overall, it’s an eventful day at the bookshop. Take a trip to Flourish and Blotts with me in this episode!

It’s the upbeat Harry Potter fan girl and Order of the Phoenix member, Dedalus Diggle! Despite sharing a name with the ingenuitive character of Greek mythology, Daedalus, Dedalus Diggle doesn’t seem like the brightest (though he does a great job protecting the Dursleys in book 7). I talk about Diggle’s cut scene from the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie, answer fan questions, and give my fan casting for the role. I hope you can drive while listening to this episode because “I would be utterly bamboozled by all those buttons and knobs.”

Voldemort is back, evil as ever, catching up with Harry and the Death Eaters (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, chapter 33, The Death Eaters, and chapter 34, Priori Incantatem). Jess guest-hosts as we discuss wands, portkeys, horcruxes, and rat lore. Get in, loser, we’re going to bring back the Dark Lord!