It’s the English class you didn’t know you missed and the meaningful conversations you didn’t know you craved. Join Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile as they bring thought, reflection and laughter to Harry Potter; not just as novels, but as instructive and inspirational texts that will teach us about our own lives. Relive the magic chapter by chapter as they explore themes such as commitment, revenge and forgiveness. This podcast creates time in your week to think about life’s big questions. Because reading fiction doesn’t just help us escape the world, it helps us live in it.
This week, Vanessa and special guest Hope Rehak explore the theme of Attention in Chapter 25 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Harry and Cho’s date, Umbridge’s surveillance, and Wizarding journalism. Throughout the episode we consider the question: how is attention a loving act? Thank you to Nat for this…
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This week, Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Release in Chapter 24 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Sirius’s imprisonment, Harry’s first Occlumency lesson, and Hermione’s assistance. Throughout the episode we consider the question: what does it mean to release something? Thank you to Ian for this week’s voicemail!…
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This week, Vanessa and Matt explore the theme of Vulnerability in Chapter 23 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss our reintroduction to Gilderoy Lockhart, Neville’s parents, and Mr. Weasley’s experiments in muggle medicine. Throughout the episode we consider the question: how does vulnerability affect our decision-making capabilities? Thank you to…
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This week, Vanessa and Mauricio Bruce explore the theme of Individuality in Chapter 22 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Harry’s dream, the Weasley clan, and Dumbledore’s wall of support. Throughout the episode we consider the question: how do we focus in and out of our own individuality? Thank you…
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Every once in a while we like to take a step back from our current chapter, and appreciate some overarching themes from the series and our approach to the podcast! This week, Matt and Vanessa are talking about treating books as sacred, some of their favorite authors, and the role reading currently plays in their…
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This week, Vanessa and Matt explore the theme of Care in Chapter 21 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Hagrid’s return to teaching, Hermione’s attempts to aid Hagrid’s return to teaching, and ~young love~. Throughout the episode we consider the question: what are the many ways we show care to…
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This week, Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Heartbreak in Chapter 20 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Hagrid’s mother, the new Gurg, and the healing powers of dragon meat. Throughout the episode we consider the question: how do we carry on after a heartbreak? Thank you to Therisa…
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This week, Vanessa and Matt explore the theme of Grace in Chapter 19 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! They discuss Harry’s game-saving capture of the snitch, Ron’s first big match, and Hermione’s magical talent. Throughout the episode we consider the question: what are the conditions which allow us to be graceful?…
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Every Christmas, we like to share a favorite poem. This year it’s ‘The Magi’ by William Butler Yeats. We’ll be back with our regularly scheduled episodes on January 5th. Happy Holidays! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week we’re concluding our collaboration with The Greater Good Science Center, examining the theme of Intellectual Humility as Vanessa and Matt look back at key moments in the entire Harry Potter Series! They discuss the lack of overlap between Wizard and Muggle worlds, the unraveling of the Ministry, and Neville’s blossoming self confidence. We’re…
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