Written by contributor Lisa D
There is no secret that, just like any other significant successful franchise, Harry Potter has already gone far from being just a book series. Aside from the popular films, theatre production, adventure parks, and an enormous amount of fanfiction and fanart produced over the last 20 years, there is a relatively underestimated genre of Harry Potter-themed podcasts which gained traction in recent years. Here, we will present all Harry fans as well as those who are just beginning their journey through the Wizarding World with nine entertaining, exceptionally interesting podcasts that feature Harry Potter as a major topic of a discussion.
Harry Potter and The Sacred Text
With Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile
Approximate length of an episode: ca. 30-45 min.
This podcast features intriguing, meaningful conversations about events and feelings in the Harry Potter book series. Every episode is themed according to a dominating emotion or phenomenon in a chapter, whether it is loneliness, responsibility, love, or wonder. Moreover, bringing laughter to such serious discussions, Vanessa and Casper have a competition, trying to recapture the basic events of a chapter faster than the other one at the beginningof each episode.
One may be piqued with the continuously repeated word “bless” in the podcast. However, no need to worry: although having a naturally religious connotation, here, it is used in a sense of “paying due respect to a character, a feeling or an event”.
Listening to it and gaining lots of insight, one cannot stop re-evaluating ideas and views of the story. In fact, this as well as the two following podcasts are created by the same production organisation called Not Sorry Productions. The main goal of this committed team is to produce entertaining and educational content with incredible care and devotion to their audience. You can find out more on their website.
The Women of Harry Potter
With Vanessa Zoltan and Ariana Nedelman
Approximate length of an episode: ca. 20-30 min.
Women play one of the central roles in the Harry Potter series. In this feminist podcast, Vanessa and Ariana try to “lift up the successes and struggles of the women in [their] favourite book series”, according to the bio of the podcast on Spotify.
Indeed, focusing on the in-depth discovery of the women in Harry Potter and dedicating each episode to a certain significant female from the novels, Vanessa, Ariana, and their guests celebrate the characters achievements and pay close attention to their motivations. Furthermore, each episode is provided with an exciting and, in many cases, enlightening quiz which not only considers a topic of an episode but also sheds light onto particular chapters of American and world history, stories of the famous personalities and much more.
Witch, Please
With Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman
Approximate length of an episode: 60-110 min.
This is another Harry Potter-themed podcast from Not Sorry Productions, where two lady scholars share their thoughts and views on the books, movies and all the Wizarding World. The quality of structure and content give the scholarly-creative natures of its makers with each episode consists of the segments with a thematically underlined discussion.
Since 2015, Hannah and Marcelle are discovering and discussing the pitfalls, meanings, and messages. However, returning from a two-year break in 2020, they started a whole new run on Hogwarts day, September, 1st. Differently shaped and re-boosted, the podcast now has several episodes dedicated to one book from a series at a time with the topics and events looked on through the prism of literary criticism and research. “We research so many things in our work already that we are relying 100% on the actual Harry Potter texts to provide us with the answers to the questions that we are asking. And if those answers are not there, we are just going to speculate back and forth at this table”- they were laughing, recording their first episode back in 2015, meaning not to be quite concerned with the textual evidence. Although that is also not totally true, this time Hannah and Marcelle decided to have a look on Harry Potter from some serious scientific perspectives such as Orientalism, Queer Theory, Feminist Theory, Class and Status etc.
S.P.E.W.: Serious Potter in an Everyday World
With Seth and Justin Quam
Approximate length of an episode: ca. 40-60 min.
In each episode, two brothers, Seth and Justin, discuss and debate their views on Harry Potter, with the major theme of the podcast: how Harry Potter and the real world we all live in mirror each other in all possible ways and forms, from a phenomenon of journalism as a social and political tool to the idea of unrequited love and the notion of self-care. Sometimes joined by their guests, the pair share their interpretations of the text and show how much one can “learn from the Harry Potter universe in social justice struggles”.
Some topics might seem too controversial in terms of politics, cultural differences, or social activism, but it does not make the episodes less noteworthy. Actually, it only gives more desire to discuss the subject further, which in the case of Harry Potter is usually an inevitable outcome.
#WizardTeam: A Harry Potter Podcast
With Bayana Davis and Robyn Jordan
Approximate length of an episode: 60-100 min.
This podcast is one of the creations of a project Black Girls Create, a media space established by and for Black creators and critical fandom. They call themselves a “unique intersectional hub” with an aim of encouragement and representation of Black women and people of colour overall in media, culture, fandoms etc.
In their podcast #WizardTeam, apart from a thorough “chapter-by-chapter” reading of Harry Potter novel series, Bayana and Robyn also examine Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the Fantastic Beasts series, reconciling the whole Wizarding World for their listeners. Moreover, their recent “What if…?” rubric, featuring a milestone of each Harry Potter fan, deserves a separate mention. Here, the podcasters and their guests together seek the answers to the questions every Potterhead asked themselves at least once: “What if Dumbledore had never been cursed with the Resurrection Stone?”, “What if Remus Lupin joined the Golden Trio in the seventh novel?” or “What if Hermione never got the Time Turner?”.
Wizard Studies: Perusing All Things Harry Potter Podcast
With Katie and Audrey
Approximate length of an episode: 60-100 min.
Two times a month since March 1st 2019, Katie and Audrey meet up to peruse all possible things from the magical world of Harry Potter novels, contributing each episode to a character, his/her personality type and features, the way of communication with other figures, major and minor events, items, places and other important topics and issues about the books and the wizarding universe.
Likewise, there are very witty pop quizzes at the end of every episode, and a Facebook group, Wizard Studies Podcast Group, arranged for everybody who would like to answer occasional pop quiz questions and eventually get their voices heard on the podcast.
PotterStudy: A Harry Potter Podcast
With Zahra Pain
Approximate length of an episode: 50-60 min.
This podcast is a creation of a Middle East-born American living in Britain who dedicate each episode to a separate character, examining his nature and everything that surrounds him/her, how this influenced figure’s development and growth, if it does.
Each episode has a special guest with whom Zahra talk about Potterian characters as if they are real people: what would they feel, how they behaved or would behave if a certain situation turned out differently. Why Draco is an “almost character”; is Luna really much more mature than the majority of figures in all 7 novels; would Dudley Dursley vote for Brexit, or where does Hermione’s sense of justice leads her – all these are the topics debated here.
Tales From Godric’s Hollow
With Josh Brown (a.k.a. The Muggle) and Matt Sonnenberg (a.k.a. The Professor)/Joe Slionski (a.k.a. The Dean) and Marissa Dorado (a.k.a. The Boss)
Approximate length of an episode: 90-210 min.
Initially, the podcast starts with Matt “The Professor” leading Josh “The Muggle” through the whole Harry Potter novel series for the very first time. For a fan and a constant re-reader (which is practically the same thing), it is amazing to listen to the process of someone else step by step exploring the magical universe, you are so keen on; for a first-reader, it’s a great opportunity to read and amuse yourself along the way! After each book, there comes a movie and a detailed discussion of its distinctions from an original written story.
Although both of them step out later in the show, there is always nature that abhors the vacuum. Therefore, Joe and Marissa a.k.a The Dean and The Boss step into to enjoy the Wizarding World with the podcast’s listeners, taking them on the journey not only through the books but way further. They discuss each and every little unit of Harry’s world, from the primary narrative to Fantastic Beasts, Cursed Child, Tales of Beedle the Bard, Orlando adventure park, fanfiction, breaking news and a lot more. If you are interested in knowing more, check out the podcast’s own website.
Swish and Flick: An All Potter Podcast
With Tiffany O’Malley, Sarah O’Malley, Megan Petras, Katie Petras
Approximate length of an episode: 90-135 min.
The infamous expression of one of the loveliest characters of the whole series, Professor Filius Flitwick, could not even possibly indicate a bad thing. And indeed, it does not. This podcast is led by four friends, each representing a Hogwarts House. Designed as a book club, the chapter-by-chapter travel through the magical world goes along multiple ideas and hypothesis based on never-ending interpretations. “We explore unknown areas with fan theories and even come up with some theories and ideas of our own” – write the hostesses on the Swish and Flick’s website.
Dynamic friendly discussion and tons of various opinions, it’s a perfect match for either a cup of cocoa with marshmallows or a glass of dry red. The podcast also has its own collection of merch: mugs, sweatshirt, pins are presented on its website.
At first glance, all such podcasts might seem quite similar, considering a relatively limited amount of topics and issues to discuss. However, the ideas and thoughts that Harry Potter evokes in every single one of the podcasters and their listeners are absolutely diverse. This variety is where the beauty of podcasting lies in. Such conversations make it clear that there is no one particular right or specifically wrong point of view on a single story, every theory, concept or notion is valid as long as one can prove the position.
Sincere Recommendations And Important Disclaimers:
- Consider reading (not watching a movie!) before listening as it can inevitably influence your perception of the story and characters.
- The chapter-by-chapter type of podcasts is perfect for those who encounter Harry Potter for the first time.
- There are too many good podcasts on such a popular topic as Harry Potter. Those presented in this article are a personal choice of the author, hence, there are as well the other fabulous works that, unfortunately, did not make their way here. If you know some, we would be happy if you share in the comments below!
- There is no ranking logic in placing of the podcasts the way they are situated in the article.
Check out the belated binge podcast! https://www.belatedbinge.com/