KISSY KISSY! This week, be sure to put on your chapstick because the Dementors are ready to pucker up! Join our hosts as they exit the Whomping Willow and attempt to tackle what awaits them on the Hogwarts grounds.

• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 20: The Dementor’s Kiss
• 7-Word Summary: Chaos ensues on Hogwarts grounds under moonlight
• WHAT IF… Peter hadn’t escaped and Sirius’ innocence had been proven? Would Dumbledore have been forced to explain Harry’s blood protection sooner? Would the Ministry have allowed Harry to live with Sirius?
• Do we think Sirius is mature enough or in the right state of mind to care for Harry?
• Does it cross Lupin’s mind at all that if the moon comes out, they’re screwed?
• Why is Pettigrew not completely immobilized?
• We rate Lupin’s transformation: did the book vs. the movie do it better?
• Lupin can be controlled by his Animagus friends, but Sirius doesn’t have much luck – is he out of practice?
• Soooo, Harry and Hermione are totally cool leaving Ron and Snape helpless with a werewolf running around while they go tend to Sirius?
• Why doesn’t Harry’s thought of living with Sirius work on the Dementors?
• Connecting The Threads: Harry attempts to save Sirius in both Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix
• Quizzitch: How old was Sirius Black when he played the trick on Snape with Lupin?
• Next week: We’re off, but we’ll be releasing our live show from LeakyCon in Chicago!
• Don’t forget! Year 2 of the MuggleCast Collectors Club is here!  Each year between now and 2026, we’re sending 4-5 exclusive, new stickers that celebrate the show’s past and present. We’re also giving you the Collector’s Club Card, on which you can place the stickers. It’s a beautiful backing card showing our MuggleCast listeners heading to Hogwarts. Pledge at the $5 or $10 level by September 22 to receive this year’s stickers and the Club Card at Patreon.com/MuggleCast!
• This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast)!

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OR, now read the Episode 624 Transcript!

The rat is revealed! We finally understand the events of this school year at Hogwarts as well as how Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban prison. Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss Chapter 19 of Book 3, including asking whether Crookshanks should be punished for stealing the password sheet and whether Sirius was selfish for not being the Potter’s Secret-Keeper.

• The MuggleCast Collectors Club stickers for 2023 have now been revealed!
• Pledge on Patreon at the $5 or $10 level by September 22 to receive this year’s stickers and the Club Card!
• Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 19: The Servant of Lord Voldemort
• 7-Word Summary: Pettigrew begs Harry for forgiveness for murder
• Snape enters in full Prosecute Mode! Why can he not be swayed to consider alternate views?
• Do the Marauders know more than they indicate about Snape’s feelings toward Lily?
• Would Snape have used an Unforgivable Curse in this moment? Would it have worked?
• What If? the Trio did not knock out Snape? How would events have unfolded differently?
• Micah has a theory on what Pettigrew’s missing toe might signify.
• Should Crookshanks see punishment for stealing the Gryffindor password sheet for Sirius?
• Was Sirius selfish to push the Secret Keeping on to Peter? The hosts discuss.
• The real reason Pettigrew was in hiding is revealed and there’s an unexpected connection to Book 6
• Are the others Marauders to blame for Peter’s poor choices?
• Harry comes into his own, and sparing Peter will have repercussions in Book 7…
• Quizzitch:  Who leads the group first out of the Shrieking Shack?
• This week’s MuggleCast is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month) and MeUndies (get 25% off your first order, plus free standard shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast).

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OR, now read the Episode 623 Transcript!

Orca, Pigeon, Racoon & Lemur! Well, it’s not exactly Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, but it sounds way cooler, right?!?! On this week’s episode, the truth about the Shrieking Shack and the Marauders is revealed, and we catch everyone’s favorite headmaster telling some pretty big fibs! The Dumbledore Lie Count is BACK, BABY!

• Welcome Slug Club Member, Jason!
• Eric and Micah attended LeakyCon this past weekend in Chicago and they recap their favorite moments!
• Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 18: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
• 7-Word Summary: Lupin reveals backstory to many children, tada!
• Sirius seemingly has no intentions to clear his own name. He’s waited all year to catch Peter and now he’s just going to kill him?  Why does he have so little regard for himself on this matter?
• Scabbers is a serious flight risk! Why didn’t the adults or even Hermione come up with a way to neutralize Pettigrew? 
• Main Discussion #1: Lupin’s Tragic Backstory and The Shrieking Shack Origin
• The Wizarding World has done little in the way of “normalizing” werewolves and their condition. Should there be a school for werewolves and other wizarding world beings/creatures? Or does that defeat the purpose of an integrated magical society?
• Main Discussion #2: The Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated in Hogsmeade Village
• What EXACTLY went down with the Shrieking Shack, historically? Who else was in on the hoax?
• The Dumbledore lie count is FINALLY going up!
• Amato Animo Animato Animagus! We take listeners step-by-step through the process of becoming an Animagus
• What Animagus would each of the hosts transform into?
• Why did Lupin feel more normal during his transformations with Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail around?
• Odds & Ends cover the Marauder’s Map legitimacy, Harry’s mental state, Snape the Sneak and more!
• Quizzitch:  Who casts “Expelliarmus” against Snape inside the Shrieking Shack?
• This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed (claim your $75 credit at Indeed.com/MuggleCast) and HelloFresh (visit HelloFresh.com/50muggle and use code 50muggle for 50% off plus free shipping)!

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OR, now read the Episode 622 Transcript!

MuggleCast was born on Sunday, August 7, 2005, and this week we’re releasing a special episode of Bonus MuggleCast from our Patreon to celebrate our 18th birthday!

Your Harry Potter friends look back at what was going on in the Muggle world in 2005, reflect on 18 years of podcasting, and attempt to say who our favorite host on the show is. We also share our favorite episodes and look at how the podcast has helped us in our daily lives.

Later, we play voicemails from our listeners, who shared really touching thoughts on the show’s impact on their lives. Here’s to the next 18 years!

Thank you everyone for sticking with us – the reason we continue to do this show is YOU!

For two exclusive Bonus MuggleCast episodes every month, join our Patreon! You’ll receive a slew of other sweet benefits too. Free trials and annual pledges are available as well.

This week’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month), Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), and Factor (visit FactorMeals.com/MuggleCast50 and use code mugglecast50 to get 50% off your first box.)

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It’s time to re-open the MuggleMail bag as we prepare to read the closing chapters of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah as they answer questions relating to class schedules, GCSE’s, sports equality, prejudice toward ‘soft’ subjects and more!

• Happy birthday, Neville and Harry! While we may not be covering those characters today, Episode 523 and Episode 481 both have excellent discussion of Neville and Harry and the prophecy.
• Speaking of birthdays, MuggleCast is about to turn 18! We will be releasing a special birthday episode on August 7th in conjunction with our Patreon where we release Bonus MuggleCasts twice monthly to patrons.
• The MuggleCast Live at LeakyCon schedule is now available on our web site! In addition to our Live MuggleCast show, all panels and events with us participating will be listed there in one place for attendees to reference. We hope to see you there!
• Main Discussion: MuggleMail returns!
• How does dropping a Hogwarts class work? Wouldn’t more students beside Hermione have class times that conflict?
• Was Scabbers / Pettigrew present during the table of 13, and does that doom Dumbledore?
• A listener draws the comparison between Quidditch broom model discrepancies between teams and professional Boblsleigh racing and Formula One. We love it.
• Is Divination maligned on purpose in the books, and does the issue largely resolve when Firenze is brought in?
• Harry’s Helping Horcrux is debated by a listener who thinks it would hinder Harry’s Patronus-making skills.
• Did Snape know about the DADA job being cursed? Was Professor Lupin searching Filch’s office for the Marauder’s Map?
• Quizzitch: Who did Snape see Lupin traveling with on the grounds of Hogwarts, toward the Whomping Willow, in the 1970s?
• Micah, Eric and Chloe will be at LeakyCon 2023 in Chicago from August 4-6!  Listeners interested in registering for the con can visit LeakyCon.com and enter code Muggle during checkout for a $10 discount. Our live panel will be on Saturday, August 5 at 1:15 p.m. Check the full list of our panels on our web site!

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The threads are slowly starting to connect themselves as we head toward the final few chapters of Prisoner of Azkaban! Join Andrew, Micah, Laura and Meg as they battle the Whomping Willow and brave the Shrieking Shack, only to be confronted by an unregistered Animagus and a fraudulent werewolf professor. All on this week’s episode!

• Welcome back, Meg!
• Our birthday is just a couple weeks away! To celebrate, we’ll be recording a special episode that looks back on 18 years of podcasting! AND WE WANT YOU INVOLVED! Submit a voice message to mugglecast@gmail.com by Friday, July 28 and we just might include it on our birthday episode!
• Last chance! There’s less than a week left to become a Patron and order the Exclusive MuggleCast Beanie! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here!
• Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 17: Cat, Rat and Dog
• 7-Word Summary: Sirius attacks Ron viciously when Scabbers appears
• Do we think the attack was premeditated? Was Crookshanks actively shadowing Harry, Ron and Hermione waiting for Scabbers to reappear?
• Animagus Sirius is really strong! Despite his weak, ragged human condition, how does he drag a (nearly) fully grown person, pulling so hard he breaks Ron’s leg?
• Why doesn’t Sirius come clean immediately with Harry, Ron and Hermione?
• What must Hermione be thinking when Crookshanks protectively leaps on Sirius’s chest? And just how have Sirius and Crookshanks been communicating?
• Harry is too young to know the Unforgivable Curses. How is he planning to kill Sirius? Could the Horcrux be influencing his emotional state?
• Why would Sirius not have told Lupin the truth about the Secret Keeper Switch? 
• Hermione and Ron SOUND OFF on Lupin! We examine their biases in depth!
• Strong threads are connected between lycanthropy and the HIV/AIDS epidemic
• Hagrid, Trelawney, Lupin: how do we feel about Dumbledore’s hires?
• When time turning, would Harry and Hermione appear twice on the Marauder’s Map?
• Quizzitch: According to the Animagus registrar Hermione looks at, how many registered Animagi have there been this century?
• Micah, Eric and Chloe will be at LeakyCon 2023 in Chicago from August 4-6!  Listeners interested in registering for the con can visit LeakyCon.com and enter code Muggle during checkout for a $10 discount. Our live panel will be on Saturday, August 5 at 1:15 p.m.
• This week’s episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month)!

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It’s exam time again! On this week’s episode we are joined by Professor Julian Wamble, PhD. (@ProfW on TikTok), who teaches a college course on Harry Potter and who shares his awesome thoughts on TikTok! The hosts dive in to chapter 16 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, “Professor Trelawney’s Prediction.” We examine Trelawney’s brand of divination and question whether she has ever been right to her knowledge. Is Dumbledore to blame for what kind of teacher she has become? And what is the source of Harry feeling out of it after leaving Hagrid’s hut? All of that and more on episode 619!

• Our 2023 Patreon Physical Gift is here! We’re so excited to debut our MuggleCast Beanie, perfect for those outdoor winter and indoor air conditioned months! Let’s face it, it’ll look great on you anytime of the year! This knitted, high quality beanie features colors inspired by our current album art (which, conveniently, are also the four hosts’ Hogwarts Houses) and a MuggleCast patch on the front with the MicBolt built in! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here!
• There will be a live MuggleCast meet up in downtown Chicago next month! Please RSVP to let us know if you can make it! The event is during LeakyCon but open to the public regardless of your ticket status.
• Welcome to the show Professor Julian Wample, PhD.!
• Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney’s Prediction
• 7-Word Summary: Exams consume clairvoyance and shocking revelations, executions
• Hermione’s exam schedule is the biggest example yet of her secretive methods, why do Ron and Harry not say something?
• Buckbeak’s appeal looms, but the executioner is coming. Should Ron have spoken his mind to Fudge?
• Some hosts believe that Hagrid gives Dumbledore WAY too much credit. Should Dumbledore have put a stop to the whole Buckbeak incident?
• What did Parvati Patil do to impress Trelawney so much? Why does Ron fail but Harry skate by on his?
• Andrew catches something amazing about the circumstances surrounding both Trelawney predictions.
• Harry feels “unreal.” Would this have something to do with there being *two* of him, we wonder?
• Odds and Ends features a particular pair of footsteps…
• Quizzitch: What spell does Sirius Black use on Harry and Hermione?
• Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney’s Prediction
• This week’s MuggleCast is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), ZocDoc (visit ZocDoc.com/MuggleCast, download the app, and schedule your next health appointment today!) and Factor (visit FactorMeals.com/MuggleCast50 and use code mugglecast50 to get 50% off your first box.)

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Our crystal ball told us that we can expect a lot of emotions this week as Chapter by Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 15, “The Quidditch Final”! Plus, there’s a new Gryffindor-themed playlist to listen to, new social media apps where you can find MuggleCast, and more technical fouls than you can shake a stick at! Join Andrew, Eric, Laura and Micah for this guaranteed good time episode.

• Our 2023 Patreon Physical Gift is here! We’re so excited to debut our MuggleCast Beanie, perfect for those outdoor winter and indoor air conditioned months! Let’s face it, it’ll look great on you anytime of the year! This knitted, high quality beanie features colors inspired by our current album art (which, conveniently, are also the four hosts’ Hogwarts Houses) and a MuggleCast patch on the front with the MicBolt built in! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here!
• TikTok star Chanel Williams has graced us with her talents by the record machine. Her new collab with MuggleCast is the Gryffindor Glory playlist! Sure to meet all of your Gryffindor representation needs.
• There will be a live MuggleCast meet up in downtown Chicago next month! Please RSVP to let us know if you can make it! The event is during LeakyCon but open to the public regardless of your ticket status.
• Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 15: The Quidditch Final
• 7-Word Summary: Fatigue sets in for Hermione intensely whoa
• From sleeping in the Common Room, slapping Malfoy and quitting Divination, just what is going on with Hermione?!
• The hosts examine the consequences of Hermione’s overpacked class schedule.
• Is Professor Trelawney a bully?
• A listener e-mail responds to common criticisms of Divination and defends the real-world practices, and we discuss our favorite types to use in real life.
• We contrast the Quidditch play style of Cho Chang versus this game’s Slytherin players.
• The age-old house rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin heats up once again. Entire groups must walk with Harry to keep their Seeker safe. Is this overkiil?
• Lee Jordan is at his peak best, while the whole school apart from Slytherins is cheering for the red team.
• We contrast the Quidditch play style of Cho Chang versus this game’s Slytherin players.
• Odds and Ends include Harry’s dreams, Crookshank’s friend and Draco’s name origin.
• Quizzitch: What is the first line of Professor Trelawney’s PETTIGREW prophecy?
• Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney’s Prediction
• This week’s MuggleCast is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now), BetterHelp (visit BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast today to get 10% off your first month) and MeUndies (get 25% off your first order, plus free standard shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast).

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This week, we’re hosting a Wizarding Wold BBQ! See who is invited and what they would bring to the party! Then, your Harry Potter friends attempt to be better friends to each other than Harry is to Hagrid, Lupin and Hermione as we discuss the latest chapter in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! 

• Our 2023 Patreon Physical Gift is here! We’re so excited to debut our MuggleCast Beanie, perfect for those outdoor winter and indoor air conditioned months! Let’s face it, it’ll look great on you anytime of the year! This knitted, high quality beanie features colors inspired by our current album art (which, conveniently, are also the four hosts’ Hogwarts Houses) and a MuggleCast patch on the front with the MicBolt built in! Learn more about how you can get yours by clicking here!
• Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 14: Snape’s Grudge
• 4-Word Summary: Mud finds its recipient
• Security is ramping up at Hogwarts! Why weren’t these measures taken after the Fat Lady was attacked? And, as we’ve asked many times before in this book, WHERE is the Ministry?
• Neville takes the fall for Hogwarts being a security nightmare! Is his punishment fair or just downright humiliating?
• DAD-GRID: Hagrid gives his best lesson of the year, but it’s not in Care of Magical Creatures, it’s in FRIENDSHIP! Does he get through to both Harry and Ron?
• Do we agree with Hermione’s threat to turn in the Marauder’s Map?
• Snape has DADDY — and bullying — issues!
• Is it a crime for Harry and Neville to be walking around the castle while the other students are in Hogsmeade? 
• Why doesn’t Harry wait in the passageway until the area is free of Snape?
• Does Snape use Legilimency on Harry or does he just sense a student being up to no good?
• Connecting The Threads: Snape’s Worst Memory (Order of the Phoenix) is an extension of Snape’s Grudge (Prisoner of Azkaban)
• We reveal never-before-heard audio from the 30-year-old conversation between Snape and Harry!
• Should a teacher really talk to a student the way Snape talks to Harry?
• How much does Snape truly know about the Marauders Map and its manufacturers?
• Much like in the beginning of the chapter, Harry feels as if he’s let someone else he cares about down! In this case, it’s Lupin!
• Odds & Ends cover Sirius Black’s knife, Ron’s popularity, Snape’s ego, the Shrieking Shack and more!
• Quizzitch: Which class with the Gryffindors does Hermione forget to attend?
• Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 15: The Quidditch Final

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The friendship between Ron and Hermione receives its greatest test to date, while the friendship of your MuggleCast hosts remains solid as ever. We tackle Chapter 13 of Prisoner of Azkaban, “Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw” and ask Micah all of the sports questions as it pertains to Harry’s new broom and Cho Chang’s sports tactics. There is also an appearance from Sirius Black, and four Slytherin students are busted but ultimately given a light slap on the wrist for their attempted sabotage. All of that and more on this week’s MuggleCast!

• The MuggleCast Patreon is now offering free trials for 7 days as a way of promoting our amazing bonus content, as well as the upcoming physical gift. Join our Patreon today!
• Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 13: Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw
• Seven Word Summary: Cho distracts Harry with her amazing looooooooooooks
• Is Ron being overdramatic about Scabbers’ disappearance? Do we side with Ron or Hermione now that the worst has presumably happened?
• Expert thread-connector Laura details moments when the trio argues with each other in the future.
• Did we ever argue with our friends when we were 13 and are we still mad about it today?
• On the Quidditch field, Cho has a strategy that gets Harry’s attention. We examine whether it’s fair to play in this way and whether Hogwarts should give everybody the same broom.
• Harry succeeds in casting his first full Patronus, but is it really an accomplishment given the circumstances?
• Does McGonagall go easy on Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Flint?
• The hosts examine Harry’s latest dream and connect it to future books.
• Did nobody show Sir Cadogan a picture of Sirius Black? How secure is Hogwarts anyway?
• Quizzitch: What does Flitwick do to the front doors of Hogwarts?
• Next Week: Chapter 14 of Prisoner of Azkaban, “Snape’s Grudge”
• This week’s episode is brought to you by Indeed. Visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now.
• In Bonus MuggleCast, Laura takes us through stories that seem to be full-on Harry Potter rip-offs, worldwide. Join our Patreon at Patreon.com/MuggleCast today to listen!

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