Podcast: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

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.

Special Edition: New Series, New Host, New Us

We made it all the way back to Book 1 and there are some changes happening around Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! Namely, we have a brand new co-host: The brilliant and wise Matt Potts.This week, Vanessa and Matt get together to talk abo…

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Witch, Please: Queer Theory

We have one more week off between seasons of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! While we’re off, we thought we’d share a recent episode from our sister show, the brilliant feminist Harry Potter podcast Witch, Please. –We have an episode…

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The Real Question: Grandparents

We’re taking a two week break between seasons of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text! While we’re off, we thought we’d share a recent episode of The Real Question. Casper wants to feel closer to his paternal grandparents. But there’s a p…

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Transitions: The Boy Who Lived (Book 1, Chapter 1) – Live From Vanessa’s Living Room

This week, Vanessa and Casper finish their time together by reading Book 1, Chapter 1 through the theme of Transitions. We recorded this episode live in front of a streaming audience in partnership with 6th and I in Washington, D.C. It’s Casper…

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Special Edition: Whole Series Wrap-Up

Vanessa and Casper look back at the past five years of making Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and their experience reading all seven Harry Potter books. What surprised them along the way? What do they wish they had done differently? And will they ever…

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Owl Post Edition: The Importance of Re-Reading with Stephanie Paulsell

This week, Vanessa and Casper are joined by mentor Stephanie Paulsell to discuss why we re-read sacred texts and what we should keep in mind for starting again at Book 1.Thanks to Ali, Julianne, Scott, Melissa and anonymous for their beautiful voice…

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Wrap-Up: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Vanessa and Casper look back at all of Season 7 and pull out a few key insights from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. They explore the path of the Malfoys throughout this book, the blooming relationship between Ron and Hermione, and what they thin…

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Love: Nineteen Years Later (Book 7, Epilogue)

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of love in the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This week we discuss Casper’s criticisms of boarding school, Arthur Weasley’s anti-pure-blood agenda, and why everyone should be giving…

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Introducing: The Real Question

We’re reaching the end of Casper’s tenure here on Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, but never fear! You can still get your Casper and Vanessa fix over on our new show, The Real Question. Our first episode is out today, and Casper and Vanessa …

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Hope: The Flaw in the Plan – with John Green (Book 7, Chapter 36)

Vanessa and Casper are joined by John Green to explore the theme of hope in the penultimate chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This week we discuss what to do with the Malfoys, what to do with Slytherin house, and how Neville finds the co…

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