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In the hallowed halls of Potterversity, hosts Katy McDaniel (Marietta College) and Emily Strand (Mt. Carmel College and Signum University) explore the Harry Potter series and wider Wizarding World from a critical academic perspective with scholars from a variety of fields, finding new ways to read and opening new doors. Made in association with http://MuggleNet.com.
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"The Potterverse: A Harry Potter Podcast with Mary & Blake" is an engaging and immersive journey into the enchanting world of Harry Potter. As the executive producers of this original podcast series, Mary and Blake bring their deep love and commitment to preserving the magic of J.K. Rowling's iconic books to the forefront. This is a SPOILER PODCAST. If you are spoiler free, this podcast is not for you. This podcast series is a captivating journey that takes you deep into the mesmerizing wiza ...
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Potterversity Episode 53: Harry, Aeneas, and the Foundational Text
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Venture to the ancient past to explore Harry Potter and the Aeneid as foundational texts. Dr. Mitchell Parks (Knox College) joins us to discuss intertextuality and Harry Potter’s dialogue with classical works like Virgil’s Aeneid. In his chapter in The Ivory Tower, Harry Potter, and Beyond, he examines what it means for a text to be “foundational” …
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Potterversity Episode 52: The Ivory Tower, Harry Potter, and Beyond
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Get a preview of the latest Harry Potter academic anthology, featuring a diverse array of essays on the series. We're joined by Dr. Lana Whited (Ferrum College), editor of The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter (University of Missouri Press, 2002), one of the first anthologies focused on the series, and now the second volume, The Ivory Tower, Harry Potte…
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Mary & Blake discuss everything YOU have wanted to say to us, and answer all your questions in this listener feedback episode. In this episode, we discuss if Draco has been brave, or just fearful, our favorite books/chapters from Harry Potter, and if a dragon could actually eat a dementor! Plus much more. SUBSCRIBE TO GET A NOTIFICATION WHEN NEW EP…
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Potterversity Episode 51: Music and Fantasy in the Harry Potter Franchise
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Get swept away by the cinematic sounds of the Wizarding World. We're joined by musicologist Dr. Daniel White (University of Huddersfield), who has a new book about the music of two major fantasy franchises, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. He talks about the musical foundation laid by John Williams in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and ho…
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 26 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Seen And Unforseen. In this episode, we discuss one of Blake’s favorite scene transitions in this entire book, the nature of rebellion and how hit it can manifest in many different forms, and why Mary has a Chernobyl sized take about a certain baby… SU…
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 25 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Beetle At Bay. In this episode, we discuss why Cho and Harry should have never been together, why you need characters like Pansy Parkinson to push Harry, and why Bluey is way funnier than Blake expected… SUBSCRIBE TO GET A NOTIFICATION WHEN NEW EPI…
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 24 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Occlumency. In this special episode, we’re in the car on the way home from watching the total eclipse that just happened! We discuss whether or not Dumbledore and Snape have Harry’s best interests at heart, if Sirius was doing the right thing as a guar…
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Potterversity Episode 50: Teaching, the Hogwarts Way
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In the last of our episodes featuring contributors to our book, Potterversity: Essays Exploring the World of Harry Potter, take a look at two very different teachers: Albus Dumbledore and Dolores Umbridge. Our guests are Dr. M'Balia Thomas (University of Kansas) and Dr. Brent Satterly (Widener University), whose chapters focus on Hogwarts professor…
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 23 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Christmas At The Closed Ward. We chat the nature of friendship and the roles the trio share with each other, how much Alice is truly aware of Neville, and why Blake breaks because of one VERY special character… SUBSCRIBE TO GET A NOTIFICATION WHEN NEW …
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Potterversity: A Harry Potter History Holiday
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Hop on a tour of the UK this summer to see Harry Potter and more beloved works of fantasy come to life. On this episode, sponsored by History Bites Tours, Katy and Emily speak with History Bites founder Solomon Schmidt about the literary-inspired tour of England and Scotland he'll be leading in July. Solomon is the author of eight books in his Hist…
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 22 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – St. Mungo’s Hospital For Magical Maladies And Injuries. We chat the natural push and pull of character arcs for both Sirius and Harry, the real difference between foreshadowing and teasing, and why Harry’s ahd absolutely ENOUGH… UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, …
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 21 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – They Eye Of The Snake. We chat what separates the “Oneness” of Harry from Neville, the author setting up. major 3 beats to help amplify the remainder of the story, and why Blake is TOTALLY Pansy Parkinson… UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE…
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We're in for a bit of fun as we look at games in the wizarding world and using games to bring the wizarding world to the classroom. Katy and Emily are joined by two more contributors to our book, Potterversity: Essays Exploring the World of Harry Potter. Laurie Beckoff, our producer, and Tison Pugh, Pegasus Professor of English at the University of…
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Potterversity Episode 48: Self and Others
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On this episode, two more contributors to our book talk about their chapters on equality, inclusion, and compassion. Travis Prinzi and Mark-Anthony Lewis join Katy and Emily to discuss how the wizarding world serves as a lens through which to understand the social ethics of our own world, particularly amid racial tensions and diversity. Travis's ch…
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Potterversity Episode 47: A Question of Character
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Featuring more of our book contributors, this episode is about various members of Harry's found family. Katy, technical director Emma Nicholson, and Louise Freeman (Mary Baldwin University) discuss their chapters focused on character analysis: "Arthur Weasley and the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts," "Padfoot Revelio! The Life and Love of Sirius Black,"…
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 20 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Hagrid’s Tale. We chat the nature of storytelling within a story, how and why the death eaters are capable of making a more compelling case to the giants, and why Fang is feeling a little like Kevin McCallister right now… UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM…
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The next topic from our book up for discussion is old magic steeped in myth and tradition. Katy talks with co-host and co-editor Emily Strand and contributor Lana Whited (Ferrum College) about their chapters "The Real Magic of Christmas in Harry Potter" and "Here Be Dragons and Phoenixes: A Thematic Direction for the Fantastic Beasts Series." Emily…
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Mary & Blake recap and give reaction to chapter 19 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Lion And The Serpent. We chat why Dumbledore and Umbridge cannot exist in the same narrative, why the Slytherins are both good AND bad in this chapter, and Blake does his first different perspective in a LONG time…. UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM P…
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Potterversity Episode 45: Occult Knowledge
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We're starting off the companion episodes to our new book with the dark side of Harry Potter. Dr. Beatrice Groves (Oxford University and Bathilda's Notebook) and Dr. Amy Strugis (Lenoir-Rhyne University and Signum University) join us to discuss their chapters "Good Men and Monsters: The Influence of Bram Stoker's Dracula on Harry Potter" and "Dark …
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 18 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Dumbledore’s Army. We chat why Hermione’s judgement might not be the best in this chapter, Harry and Voldemort’s connection feeling like Rey and Kylo Ren, and why Dobby suffers from poor circulation. UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE Join The #NerdClan SUBSC…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 17 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four. We chat if Umbridge is actually correct in enforcing the decree, why characterization needs to include traits ONLY that character should have, and why Justin Finch Fletchley continues to be the worst character in all of Potter… UNLO…
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Potterversity Episode 44: The Stars Are Bright
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Venture to infinity and beyond for a look at astronomy in the wizarding world. We're joined by Jane Bright, a PhD candidate in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Arizona. Astronomy is the one subject wizards and Muggles seem to have in common. Why is it important enough to be a required subject at Hogwarts, and how is it different from…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 16 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – In The Hog’s Head. We chat why this chapter is more focused on the outside world looking in on Harry as opposed the other way around, Harry starting to experience his “Luke Skywalker Moment”, and why Blake’s school wouldn’t allow the “poors” like Mary in it’s pub on camp…
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Potterversity Episode 43: Live! From the Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Academic Conference 2023
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On this episode, we dish about this year’s Harry Potter Academic Conference and preview our new book, Potterversity: Essays Exploring the World of Harry Potter (McFarland). Katy and Emily welcome Potterversity producer Laurie Beckoff and technical editor Emma Nicholson, as well as Louise Freeman, Mark-Anthony Lewis, and Lana Whited to talk about HP…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 15 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Hogwarts High Inquisitor. We chat the dangers of state run media, examples of good character dialogue vs. bad character dialogue, and why Mary had a giant Harp in her college dorm room…. UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE Join The #NerdClan SUBSCRIBE TO G…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 14 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Percy And Padfoot. We chat the magic of dialogue placement and pacing, why the movie forgot to give Cho a character, and why Hermione is kinda living the life of that show “The Summer I Turned Pretty”. UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE Join The #NerdClan SUB…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 13 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Detention With Dolores. We chat why the scary is the subtlety, why this isn’t the best chapter for Hermione fans, and Blake gives a truly AWFUL impersonation of Bane from The Dark Knight Rises…. UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE Join The #NerdClan SUBSCRIBE …
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Potterversity Episode 42: Thoughts on Book Banning for Wizards and Muggles Alike
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In honor of Banned Books Week, this episode explores the causes and effects of book banning in the Muggle and wizarding worlds. Harry Potter is one of the most challenged works of the 21st century, frequently appearing on the American Library Association's list documenting book bans around the country. It has long been accused of inspiring interest…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 12 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Professor Umbridge. We chat if we think Umbridge is actually wrong with her assessment of Hogwarts, why McGonagall is sneaky great, and the unfortunate rise of “Pinkhats” in sports… UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE Join The #NerdClan SUBSCRIBE TO GET A NOTI…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 11 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Sorting Hat’s New Song. We chat the authors setting up Harry’s isolation and changing the fabric of the one place place in which he finds solace, why Umbridge should have been setting of MAJOR red flags from the jump, and why if you’re going to have friends, then you…
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Potterversity Episode 41: Terror and Trauma
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Harry Potter may not technically be considered a work of horror, but there are plenty of horrifying aspects to explore in this episode. Katy and Emily speak with Dr. Jeff Ambrose about the scariest parts of the series and the lasting effects horrific events have on characters (and readers and viewers). The series has its fair share of monsters, tor…
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Mary & Blake discuss chapter 10 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Luna Lovegood. We discuss why setting up Draco as a prefect is a stellar writing device on multiple levels, why the movie gets so much right from this scene but mistakenly leaves out a much needed form of levity, and why we desperately need a Ravenclaw to tell us what th…
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Potterversity Episode 40: Live from LeakyCon
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Join us for a special episode recorded live from LeakyCon Chicago! Katy, Emily, and producer Laurie give LeakyCon attendees an overview of the current state of Potter studies, including areas of interest, such as social justice, responses to the author and how authorship does or does not affect our reading, and where we see the field going. We also…
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Potterversity Episode 39: Considering Cockroach Clusters: Food in the Wizarding World - Part Two
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Return with us to the realm of refreshment in the wizarding world! Following up on Episode 29, Katy and Emily continue our conversation about the food foundations of Harry’s magical universe, joined by guests Louise Freeman and Emma Nicholson. Australian Emma shares her different interpretation of wizarding foods based on her cultural heritage, inc…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 9 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Woes Of Mrs. Weasley. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss how the author sets up a mental map of the Ministry for later in the book, why we should be way more terrified of Lucius Malfoy, and why Remus peaked in high school… UNLOCK BONUS EPISODE…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 8 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Hearing. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the motivations behind Fudge’s actions, why this might be the scariest chapter in all of Harry Potter, and we have a VERY special guest… UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE Join The #NerdC…
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Potterversity Episode 38: Jane Austen in the Wizarding World
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Explore connections between the works of Jane Austen and Harry Potter. Katy and Emily compare Austen's novels to the Potter series with Dr. Beatrice Groves (Trinity College, Oxford University), author of Literary Allusion in Harry Potter and columnist at Bathilda's Notebook. Bea first noticed a connection when she realized that Filch's cat shared a…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 7 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Ministry Of Magic. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the difficulty of writing this kind of chapter due to plot, theme, and world-building, why it’s important to see the Ministry through Harry’s eyes, and why Blake is horrified at the notion …
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 6 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Noble And Most Ancient House Of Black. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss why the struggle and motivation revealed in this chapter make Sirius a great character, the plot being very simple for a reason, and why Mary couldn’t help but do the Di…
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Potterversity Episode 37: Magical Mental Health
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Unpack mental health in the wizarding world and how Harry Potter can serve as bibliotherapy for readers. For insight into these topics, Katy and Emily talk to Nishi Ravi, a psychotherapist pursuing a PhD in Counseling Psychology at Marquette University. She recalls how reading Harry Potter as a preteen and teenager made her feel seen at a formative…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 5 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Order Of The Phoenix. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the need for tonal balance and characters like Tonks, the implications behind the decisions made for Harry by his Godfather and his adoptive mother, and why Blake LOVES the idea of a bow…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 4 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss if Harry is justified in his anger, the emotional complexity of Percy’s choices, and why Blake totally threw Mary off her “different perspective” game! UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIU…
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Potterversity Episode 36: Galactic Harry and the Intersecting Fandoms
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Fresh off of May the 4th, Emily and Katy talk about their love of and academic interest in Harry Potter alongside another fandom they hold dear: Star Wars. Emily came to Star Wars relatively recently, after the birth of her son and a class at Signum University taught by Amy Sturgis, but Harry Potter was a gateway for her into speculative fiction an…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 3 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – The Advance Guard. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am nature of the chapter, why Tonks is perfectly characterized within the first few lines of meeting her, and why Vernon Dursley LOVES to rat on his neighbors. UNLOCK …
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 2 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – A Peck Of Owls. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the split morality of Vernon and Petunia, why Sirius may have let Harry down, and why Blake doesn’t understand the conversion rate of Celsius to Fahrenheit… UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake gather an emergency podcast about HBO reportedly nearing a deal to reboot Harry Potter as a television series. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the business behind why HBO is rebooting reportedly rebooting Harry Potter as a television series, the thirst (or lack thereof) for more Harry Potter, who we would li…
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Potterversity Episode 35: Rule Breaking as Resistance
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Find out how breaking the rules leads to seeking justice in the wizarding world - and our own. An early critique of the Harry Potter series complained that Harry, Hermione, and Ron often break the rules and don’t always get in trouble for it. In this episode, Katy and Emily talk with Dr. Beth Sutton-Ramspeck about how seeing the limitations of rule…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 1 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – Dudley Demented. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the cultural zeitgeist of Harry Potter when this book was released, why the dementors are interesting but its the opening paragraph that really counts here, and why Mrs. Fig wants Harry to just h…
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The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss and review the 2005 film adaptation of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss how one simple line in the movie is the perfect bridge between films 1-3 and films 5-8, why there is a cognitive dissonance between the foundation of the book, and the structure of the film, and…
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Potterversity Episode 34: Hogwarts Forever
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We gotta get back to Hogwarts in this episode, where we chat about MuggletNet's Ultimate Unofficial Harry Potter Hogwarts Handbook. Katy and Emily are joined by Potterversity producer Laurie Beckoff and Marissa Osman, two of the authors of the latest release in MuggleNet's Unofficial Reference Library. Following a spellbook, character compendium, a…
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