Welcome to episode #17 of Potterwatch!  In this latest installment we meet film critic Bryan VanCampen.  Bryan comes along inside the pensieve to share his journey with a passion for movies and how he was first introduce to the Harry Potter story.  Bryan brings a host of talent and interests from creating his own YouTube channel acting in his local Shakespeare company, he keeps a hand in everything creative.  

     During Voldemort's corner Bryan spontaneously outlines what type of attitude keeps a maker making.  He shines some light on his own personal journey as a creator and how life can both inspire us and challenge us along the way.  It's easy to see the contrast with the "Dark Lords" tendency to destroy and avoid collaborating.  We round out this episode with a Kirstyn Hippie tune, "Bigger Than Me".  

Welcome to episode #16 of Potterwatch.  In this episode we have a talk with Matt Maggiacomo the executive director of the Harry Potter Alliance.  During "Inside the Pensieve" we hear about Matt's array of roles he has played in the Harry Potter fandom, including wizard rocker and fan activist.  Matt carries a lot of history from both worlds.  Matt shares his personal story of being a fan moved by how his own story of tragedy, triumph, and friendship follows Harry's.  During Voldemort's corner we look more closely at Matt's experience with the HPA and examine how Voldemort might have approach his leadership role had he the awareness of how to lift others up as a leader.  Finally, we take a listen to one of Matt's wizard rock tunes from the Whomping Willow, "I Believe in Nargles".  

Join us in episode #15 where Brian Ross of "Draco and the Malfoys" tells stories of the early days of Wizard Rock and gives us a glimpse into his own experience as a Harry Potter fan while "Inside the Pensieve".  Brian and his brother Brad started the band around 2005 and became one of the very first Wizard Rock bands to seriously hit the scene.  They have recorded albums, played all over and even toured.  This has been a big year for the band and Brian has his finger on the pulse of a new generation of wizard rockers looking to keep this genre of music alive and well.  In "Voldemort's Corner" we explore how having fun and making music keeps us in touch with ourselves and our friends.  We feature two Draco and the Malfoys great tunes, "My Dad is Rich" and "I like to Cry".  

     Welcome to episode #14 where we meet special guest Tamar Shapiro-Tamir from Ithaca, NY.  Tamar is a playwright and avid reader of all types of literature with a lot to say about Harry Potter, folk literature, the theater, and her own personal story.  Whether you are a long time listener or new to the podcast there is a bit of everything in this episode that captures the spirit of PW!  Insidee the Pensieve Tamar displays an exceptional grasp on how our own personal experience is connected to the larger world and how literature is a bridge between the two.

     In Voldemort's corner we explore the darker side of that equation in considering the roots of political corruption when stories out of touch with the real world influence the everyday workings of government.  In that spirit I review Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s text "Where Do We Go From Here" and highlight his psychological acumen.  I was inspired by my visit with Tamar to write another wizard rock tune I call "Cursed Boomerang" that I feature before we wrap up.  Potterwatch will be at the 42nd Ithacon comic book convention on March 25th at Emerson Suites on the Ithaca College campus, come on over if you are in the area!

Join us in Episode #13 of Potterwatch where we meet Harry Potter fan Chandler Robertson.  Chandler has been a lifelong fan and gives us her perspective from both her childhood and adult perspectives.  We explore the topic of leadership on this Valentines Day episode and take a close look at the major and minor female characters in the series.  During Voldemort's corner Tony reviews "Confessions of a Sociopath" by M.E. Thomas.  A first person perspective on a psychiatric condition that is often misunderstood and as a result leave those who are labeled as such "in the closet" without help.  The book makes us think twice about the origins of immoral leadership, the role between mental illness and choice, and the concept of normality.  Then we take a break from the Dark Lord and tune into the less developed character of Dolores Umbridge.  We wrap things up with the Kristin Hippie tune "Honeydukes" performed by Mary Kate Wiles and Joey Richter.

Welcome to episode #12 of Potterwatch.  In the first episode of 2017 we invite Erica Cotraccia from Ithaca New York to the show.  Erica is a chemical dependency counselor who has been a long time Harry Potter fan who appreciates the way that reading good literature can ease the mind and set us off on a good start to the day.  Erica explores her early experiences with reading the series as a child as well as how she incorporates re-reading the series as part of maintaining mental health.  In Voldemort's corner we take a look at "The Mindful Brain", written by one of the foremost contemporary researchers in the area of mindfulness, Daniel Siegel, who gives us a window into how being attuned to ourselves and others promotes neural integration and therefore, well being.  Is it possible that the way JK Rowling develops her characters taps into our capacity for imagination empathy that promotes neural integration?  Well, you can be the judge of that and while you are contemplating the answer take a listen to a great techo Harry Potter tune, "Expecto Patronum" by the Goblins From Mars Trap!