Would You Date a Wizard or Witch? We Debate the Pros and Cons

New year of Hogwarts, new song from the Sorting Hat! That’s the way it goes this week as our first Chapter by Chapter of 2025 delves into Chapter 11 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Join Eric, Laura and Micah on a fun adventure past thestrals, toady new teachers, and unexpected conflicts with dorm mates. But first, a reminder! Still rolling from the holidays? The MuggleCast Merch Store is open year-round for all your gifting needs! Grab brand-new, original MuggleCast designs. We have t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, hats, and more! And don’t forget, you can now also gift a Patreon subscription! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 11: The Sorting Hat’s New Song. Our Time Turner segment has us spinning an old recording from past discussions! Be sure to check out Episode 446 for our prior Chapter 11 analysis! Harry sometimes sees things others don’t, but how often is death involved in the process? Laura connects some threads for us. How fair or unfair is Luna’s assertion that Hagrid is not well-loved by the Ravenclaws? According to the Sorting Hat, Godric and Salazar were BEST FRIENDS! The Hat could use some career advice right about now, it’s second guessing its own mission. Someone interrupts Nick talking about previous times the Hat has given a warning. So, we guess at when that might have occurred. Enter Umbridge, an Orwellian villain who talks way too much to bury her sinister intent. Fortunately, HermioneGPT can explain the speech to Ron, Harry, and anyone who accidentally fell asleep. Harry’s own House mates are on their way toward believing the lies of the Daily Prophet. But Neville is coming into his own, and defends Harry. You love to see it. Our What If? segment covers: What If Seamus moved out? Lynx Line: Which Hogwarts teachers and lessons could use the most reform, and how would you reform them? Quizzitch:In light of Umbridge’s long and boring speech, what is the length of the longest speech ever given in the UK, presented by Henry Peter Brougham in 1828? Don’t forget you can support the show over at Patreon.com/Mugglecast! You’ll get great benefits such as Bonus MuggleCast, live streams, yearly stickers, Lynx Line participation, a physical gift, a video message from one of the four of us made just for you, our private Facebook and Discord groups where you can hang out with fellow Potter fans, and so much more! Visit mugglecast.com for 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

MuggleCast returns January 14 with new episodes in which we continue to explore Order of the Phoenix! Until then, we present this episode of our other podcast What the Hype?! in which we look at what we're most looking forward to in pop culture in 2025! And before looking ahead, we look back at the fandoms we adored in 2024, with the goal being to share the ones we haven't spoken about on the show. We were addicted to games like Balatro and WWE 2k24, and were grooving to music from Maggie Rogers. We also loved the Sonic film franchise and TV shows like Arcane and English Teacher. 2025 topics include the next Hunger Games spinoff Sunrise on the Reaping, Grand Theft Auto 6, Yellowjackets Season 3 , the Stranger Things finale, and so much more! Thank you to everyone for joining What the Hype?! this year! Make sure to follow us in your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. We'd also deeply appreciate a review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final episode of 2024, MuggleCast hosts a live Harry Potter trivia game! We're joined by special guest Rohan Gotobed as we quiz fans on the Hogwarts Houses, the origins of Hogwarts, and the Holidays in Harry Potter. Even though this was recorded earlier in December, you get to play along as we read each of the questions and possible answers. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year - The show is one of the great joys of our life, and we absolutely love being your Harry Potter besties. For more Quizzitch Live episodes, visit our YouTube page! Listener support is the only reason we can conjure this show and Quizzitch Live events. Please consider supporting us on Patreon today, and in return you'll receive many magical benefits! For example, you'll receive two new Bonus MuggleCast episodes each month. In our latest, we discuss what a trivia night would look like within the Wizarding World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a tumultuous summer, it’s time to go back to Hogwarts! Harry is still navigating his feelings of Ron and Hermione being made prefects, and he’s about to meet an entirely new character who might refresh his perspective, all in the latest Chapter-by-Chapter segment from the MuggleCasters, covering Chapter 10 of Order of the Phoenix, Luna Lovegood. It’s the holiday season and the MuggleCast Merch Store is open for all your gifting needs! Grab brand-new, original MuggleCast designs. We have t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, hats, and more! And don’t forget, you can now also gift a Patreon subscription! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 10: Luna Lovegood. Our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Be sure to check out Episode 241 and Episode 445 for prior Chapter 10 analysis! Harry is dreaming again. What can we make of this latest barrage of symbolism and metaphor? Why does Harry’s security entourage keep changing? Is it a mark of safety, or dwindling numbers in the Order? Sirius makes an unfortunate move. Bad dog, Snuffles! Should we be concerned for Sturgis Podmore? Hogwarts’ practice of prefects in place of real security might fall short. But at least their carriage is probably nice! Will the upcoming HP tv series have the most trouble re-casting Luna? Can Ginny be considered Luna’s friend? Can Neville? Hermione’s foot enters her mouth regarding the Quibbler. Should she know better than to pick a fight about something a stranger is reading in front of her? Unfortunately Harry’s arrival at Hogwarts reveals that not a lot has stayed the same how he wanted it. Sad. Lynx Line: the Best made up Quibbler headlines Quizzitch: Which UK tabloid, known for its sensationalist journalism, was founded in the year 1896 by a man who would later become 1st Viscount Northcliffe? Don’t forget you can support the show over at Patreon.com/Mugglecast! You’ll get great benefits such as Bonus MuggleCast, live streams, yearly stickers, Lynx Line participation, a physical gift, a video message from one of the four of us made just for you, our private Facebook and Discord groups where you can hang out with fellow Potter fans, and so much more! Visit mugglecast.com for 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

Harry has been cleared of all charges! Ron and Hermione have been made Prefects! We're throwing a banger of a party at Grimmauld Place! Come join us as we discuss The Woes of Mrs. Weasley, just leave the boggart at home, please! Welcome, Slug Club Member Rex!  It's the holiday season and the MuggleCast Merch Store is open for all your gifting needs! Grab brand-new, original MuggleCast designs. We have t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, hats, and more! And don't forget, you can now gift a Patreon subscription! Mark your calendars! A special holiday edition of Quizzitch Live is headed your way Sunday, December 15 at 12 PM ET. Stay tuned for more details! We discuss some exciting Harry Potter TV Show news: Paapa Essiedu is rumoured as the favorite for Snape, while we get confirmation that filming is set for Summer 2025. David Holmes, the stuntman for Daniel Radcliffe, who was injured on the set of Deathly Hallows: Part 1 has released a new book called The Boy Who Lived. Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 9: The Woes of Mrs. Weasley. Our Time Turner segment has us spinning some old recordings from past discussions! Be sure to check out Episode 443 and Episode 241 for prior Chapter 9 analysis! Why was Dumbledore in such a rush to exit the trial chamber? And why didn't he bother to give Arthur the good news about Harry? What was Lucius Malfoy doing down on Level 9? How does he know enough about Harry's situation to call him "Patronus Potter"? We analyze his level of (financial) influence over Ministry officials. What does it say about Fudge that despite being surrounded by Death Eaters, Dumbledore believes he's acting of his own free will? Arthur explains Muggle Baiting to Harry. Do Fred and George’s actions from last summer with ton-tongue toffee fall into this category? Why doesn't Sirius seem to be happy for Harry? When is he going to grow up? Are we surprised that everyone was surprised that Ron was made Prefect? Who would have made a better choice? Neville? Dean? Seamus? What are the pros and cons if Dumbledore had made Harry a Prefect? Molly's Greatest Fear and the many lessons it teaches us as readers What would each of our boggarts be (within the context of Grimmauld Place)? Lynx Line: Should Dumbledore have made Harry a Prefect instead of Ron? Why or why not? Quizzitch: What fountain gets the most money thrown into it per year, in the real world? Don’t forget you can support the show over at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! You’ll get great benefits such as Bonus MuggleCast, live streams, yearly stickers, Lynx Line participation, a physical gift, a video message from one of the four of us made just for you, our private Facebook and Discord groups where you can hang out with fellow Potter fans, and so much more! On this week's Bonus MuggleCast, we debate whether or not the Harry Potter Movies are Christmas movies? 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