Podcasts about hogwarts express

The team behind Pottermore Publishing and Audible's “Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions” joins guest host Richard Addis to discuss one of the most ambitious audiobook productions ever attempted. Featuring more than 200 actors, original music, detailed sound design, and fully immersive Dolby Atmos® mixes, the series brings all seven books to life in a new way — while staying true to the text, the characters, and the world fans know so well. *NOTE: This interview may contain spoilers from the Harry Potter series.Joining today's conversation:- Ann Scantlebury - Head of Audio Development, Pottermore Publishing- Chris Jones - Senior Director of Production, Audible- Lawrence Kendrick - Co-creative Director, Sound Designer and Composer, String and Tins- Rob Baker - Head of Engineering, Forever Audio“We can take people on the Hogwarts Express. They can go through the doors into the Great Hall. They can hear the footsteps echoing. They can be there and they can have it all playing out around them. To us, that was incredibly appealing. It was always about creating something that felt very real to the listener, really putting them in the heart of the action.”—Ann Scantlebury, Head of Audio Development, Pottermore PublishingBe sure to check out all seven of “Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions,” now available on Audible in Dolby Atmos.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode on YouTube.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Harry explores Diagon Alley after escaping from 4 Privet Drive. He learns that Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to find him, but he hopes that Dumbledore will keep him safe at Hogwarts. The trio meets a dementor for the first time on the Hogwarts Express, and Professor R. J. Lupin is there to help them. They go through the first few classes of their time at Hogwarts, and episode three ends with Sirius Black's break in to Hogwarts. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:22 Quick recap and Harry in Diagon Alley. He gets to explore a little bit and we get to go along for the ride. He spends a lot of time admiring the Firebolt. Ron and Hermione arrive after a while and they all go around buying their books and supplies. The night before they leave for King's Cross, Harry hears Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talking about Sirius Black's true goal being to find Harry.·      17:53 Off to Hogwarts! They get Ministry cars from the Leaky Cauldron to King's Cross. On the platform, Mr. Weasley takes a confused Harry aside to tell him not to go looking for Sirius Black. On the train, they have their first terrifying encounter with a dementor. They arrive at Hogwarts and the episode ends with the welcome feast.·      32:36 Episode three begins with divination class. We learn about the wild predictions of Professor Trelawny, and then McGonagall dispels them. We have our hippogriff class with Hagrid, then off to the bogart. Lupin jumps in front of Harry when his time comes to face it, and Harry asks Lupin about it later. This episode ends with Sirius Black's first entrance into Hogwarts, the Gryffindor dormitory door slams shut, and the castle is in chaos.  ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Welcome to the Infinite Taylorverse!  Here at the Infinite Taylorverse, we talk about all things nerdy and pop culture! Movies, TV, cartoons, comics, books, video games, tabletop games, and so much more! We talk about the latest pop culture news as well as rumors and fan theories.  Be advised that spoilers are imminent! In this, our 275th episode, we talk about some really cool mail that Billie got fresh off of the Hogwarts Express!  We talk about the latest adventure with our favorite bounty hunter and his ward aka The Mandalorian and Grogu!  We talk about an upcoming new wave of prequels, sequels, and remakes, and so much more!  As always, thanks for strapping in for a ride through The Infinite Taylorverse!

Heute dreht sich alles um unsere Lieblingsdampflok: den Hogwarts Express! Was kann man alles bei der Hexe mit dem Imbisswagen kaufen? Wer hat die SchülerInnen eigentlich im Blick? Und ist der Zug groß genug für alle? Es gibt neuen Merch: https://www.seedshirt.de/shop/schokofroescheshopIhr wollt uns FanArt schicken oder Sticker von uns bekommen?Schreibt uns an:Postfach 71053281455 München

For Harry Potter fans, Universal Orlando Resort isn't just a theme park destination — it's a chance to step directly into the Wizarding World.In this episode of All Things Travel, Ryan and Julie explore all three Harry Potter lands across Universal Orlando Resort, including Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, and the newest addition at Epic Universe: the Ministry of Magic inspired by Fantastic Beasts.They share their personal experiences walking through the hidden brick entrance into Diagon Alley, riding the Hogwarts Express between parks, and stepping inside some of the most immersive themed environments ever created. Along the way, they discuss: What makes each Harry Potter land unique  The must-do attractions for fans and first-time visitors  Why the Hogwarts Express is worth the park-to-park ticket  Tips for navigating the parks as a Harry Potter fan  Favorite food and drink experiences (yes… including Butterbeer)  Interactive wand experiences and hidden details throughout the parks  How Epic Universe takes immersion to a whole new level Whether you're a lifelong Harry Potter reader, someone who grew up with the movies, or a parent planning a future family trip, this episode breaks down what makes Universal Orlando such a special destination for Wizarding World fans of all ages.If you've ever dreamed of strolling through Hogsmeade, escaping from Gringotts, or stepping into the Ministry of Magic, this episode is for you.To learn more about planning your own Universal Orlando vacation or other unforgettable travel experiences, visit Wonder & Beyond Travel at: Wonder & Beyond TravelSupport the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/newReady to plan your vacation?  Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation"Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page!Please share the show with your travel buddies!!  Click this link and share the show!Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we analyze the trailer for the Harry Potter TV show. We have our first looks at Hogwarts, The Hogwarts Express, 4 Privet Drive, Snape, Dumbledore, and many more exciting characters and places in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:36 4 Privet Drive looks similar to the films. The Dursleys clearly have a mean streak, and Petunia has a big feature. Is she going to be the one doling out punishment to Harry the most? The cupboard under the stairs is more depressing than the films for sure. The whole house looks similar, but it feels a little darker.·      12:40 Harry looks great in action! This is the first time we've seen him acting live.·       14:22 Rubeus Hagrid makes an appearance, but it's not what I imagined. His voice is just the voice of a normal person, not the big clumsy person we know and love. I'm sure we will grow to love him as we always do, but right now I don't see the vision.·      18:35 The Hogwarts Express is fantastic! It looks pretty much the same which is the right choice. They did it right the first time and I'm glad they didn't mess with it. However, King Cross is something of an improvement I think compared to the films. Hogsmeade Station is also a cool place which comes across well.·      23:41 Hogwarts is …… interesting. In every shot, I thought one of two things: this is a sky lodge, or this looks exactly like the film. I'm a little disappointed that this is our first impression of the castle because the best parts of the castle are big and bright, not closed off and lit with torches like the majority of what we saw.·      30:30 The characters look awesome. I am blown away by Snape and Dumbledore! Snape clearly has such depth and I'm so looking forward to seeing him develop. And Dumbledore looks like a combination between the Gambon and Harris versions which might be the best of both worlds. Ron is something of a dufus, but that might open the door for the biggest character transformation in the whole series. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Send a textIn this episode, Harry finally sees the Burrow for the first time and meets the entire Weasley family. They go shopping for their Hogwarts supplies at Diagon Alley, and meet Gilderoy Lockhart for the first time. Finally, Harry and Ron miss the Hogwarts Express and have to take the Ford Anglia to school. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      3:10 Quick recap and life at the Burrow. I want to see what a wizard family does in a day. How do they live? This is Harry's first time seeing a magical dwelling like the Burrow, and I want to make the most of it. The Weasley family is a lively bunch and that should come across.·      9:59 Off to Diagon Alley! Harry's mistake with the floo powder sends him to Knockturn Alley and he sees Draco and Lucius shopping for some dark artifacts.·      16:48 Flourish and Blotts. Now that Harry has escaped, we get to see the famous Gilderoy Lockhart in his element. He is a rambunctious idiot. We officially meet Lucius, and he plants the diary with Ginny.·      27:07 Trip to Hogwarts. They cram their car full of things and people and the rush to the platform. Harry and Ron can't pass through to Platform 9 ¾! They are stuck so they have to make a decision. They decide to take the flying Ford Anglia to Hogwarts. The episode ends with Hogwarts fading into view and another year on the horizon.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Harry Potter has been brought to life on page and screen. But what would it take to make the wizarding world come alive using sound alone? In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the new full-cast editions of the Harry Potter series, where a team of sound designers spent eighteen months crafting 130 hours of immersive audio. From the whistle of the Hogwarts Express to the rasp of the Dementors, every spell, creature, and location had to sound tangible and emotionally distinct. Featuring Will Cohen and Lawrence Kendrick of String and Tins. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠Defacto Sound⁠. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow You'll Hear It wherever you get your podcasts, or subscribe on Youtube. Explore incredible speakers, soundbars, and more at ⁠sonos.com⁠. Get 3 months of free payroll at ⁠gusto.com/20k⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this listener response episode, Professor Julian Wamble returns to Nymphadora Tonks to engage the CMT community on the most compelling reactions to the original episode. Listeners weigh in on four major themes: whether Tonks embodies the Hufflepuff ideal, what the Hogwarts Express scene reveals about how the text treats her competence and grief, the Lupin relationship as a case study in identity erosion and the "I can fix him" dynamic, and the deeply divided question of whether Tonks was a good mother.The episode closes with Prof. Wamble reconsidering his original argument about heroism and professional duty are mutually exclusive. The case that emerges reframes not just how we read her death, but how we read her life.

Kelsey sits down with Joy Smith from Franklin, TN, creator of Savvy Travel Mamas (Instagram + podcast), to share the ultimate Harry Potter-inspired trip for a 12-year-old. After Joy's son finished all seven books, she promised to take him to iconic filming locations and bring the magic to life and in summer 2025, they did exactly that!From London highlights and a special Harry Potter afternoon tea to the must-do Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Joy breaks down what to book early and how to plan a perfect kid-approved itinerary. Then it's off to Scotland for jaw-dropping scenery and real-life “Hogwarts” moments, including spotting the Jacobite Steam Train (the “Hogwarts Express”) crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct and visiting the dreamy cloisters at the University of Glasgow. Tune in for practical tips, favorite moments, and the kind of trip your Harry Potter fan will never forget!This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Vessi Waterproof Travel Sneaker: https://go.shopmy.us/p-44154365- Go City Passes: https://prf.hn/click/camref:1110l7UuS- MINNEAPOLIS: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Mall of America- Air France Minneapolis to London on points- LONDON: Holiday Inn Express Victoria, Pimlico Subway Station, The Georgian Hotel, Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Harry Potter Tea, Butterbeer, Tower of London, Crown Jewels, St. Paul's Catherdral, Thames River Cruise, London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, London Lego Store, Piccadilly Circus, Bread Ahead, London City Airport- SCOTLAND: Glasgow, The Highlands, Fort William, Hogwarts Express, Jacobite Steam Train, Glenfinnan Viaduct, The Garrison Hotel, Ben Nevis Mountain, Mallaig, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness Monster (Nessie), the Cloisters at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow Airport, Scotland Rail- WEST KILBRIDE: Joy visits her family castle, Clan Hunter Home, Hunterston Castle, William Wallace tree from Braveheart- DUBLIN: Hyatt Centric Dublin, Go City Pass, St. Patrick's Cathedral, City Bus Tour, Guinness Tour, Marsha's Library, Aer LingusTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.

Nymphadora Tonks is one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter series — and one of the most underserved. In this episode, we dig into 303 listener responses about the only woman Auror we meaningfully encounter in the wizarding world. The data is striking: 93% of listeners say she's a good person, 80% call her a hero, but when it comes to whether she was a good mother, the majority said they simply don't know.We break down every survey question, pull unabridged listener quotes, and sit with the moment that never gets enough attention — Tonks finding Harry on the Hogwarts Express through pure deductive reasoning, in a scene the films handed to someone else.So much of what listeners felt about Tonks wasn't about who she is. It was about who she was going to be. We talk about what it means that she enters this series without a gendered anchor — and why the series seems deeply uncomfortable leaving her that way.This one is for everyone who saw her. And was paying attention.

In the 280th episode of The Main Street Electrical Podcast, Jenn & Dave are ready to chat about the Wizarding World... but first, the Star Wars... To open up, both are set with their Guardians of the Galaxy Lightning Lanes for their upcoming trip with Upon a Star Team! Then... the big news that Original Trilogy Star Wars is coming to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge - Han, Luke, Leia, Vader, with John Williams music, as Disney seeks to redo a little theming and timelines in the SW areas.  Plus, a quick look at the sequel trilogy and why this move maybe should have been done years ago (we've been screaming it!) Then, focusing on the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando!  We discuss our own relationships to the Potterverse - reading the books, watching the movies, and impressions on seeing the first Potter area in Islands of Adventure many years ago.  Then, a look at Hogsmeade, along with Hogwarts Castle and Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure over in Islands, then Diagon Alley, with Gringott's ride and Nocturn Alley in Universal Studios, and finally, the Parisian theming and the Ministry of Magic, plus the circus show and that French cafe that we forgot the name of, all over in Epic Universe. It's not nearly as comprensive as it could be - that would take many hours - but it's a great overview of what you can expect at the Wizarding Worlds - plus how you can (and should) ride the Hogwarts Express! 

Kelsey recaps her family's epic Thanksgiving week in Orlando, Florida (November 2025), where 11 of them – her family of 5, her sister's family, and her parents – all shared a 7-bedroom house at Evermore Resort. With kids ranging from 4 to 13 years old, they packed in all the fun: Express Passes at Epic Universe, Universal Studios Orlando, and Islands of Adventure, plus lots of downtime enjoying their multi-generational home base at Evermore. Kelsey shares everything you need to know about staying at Evermore Resort, how Express Passes worked for their crew, what the parks were like over Thanksgiving week, and tips to help you decide if this kind of Orlando trip is right for you.If you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Travel planner Courtney Gibson: https://www.instagram.com/pixietravelbycourtney- Flip 7 card game: https://amzlink.to/az0ecfatrzQIM- Evermore Resort- Epic Universe with Express Passes- Ministry of Magic: Battle at the Ministry- Isle of Berk: Hiccup's Wing Gliders, Mead Hall for lunch- Celestial Park: Stardust Racers, Celestial Carousel- Super Mario Land- Dark Universe: Monsters Unchained, Curse of the Werewolf, Burning Blade Tavern- Helios Grand Hotel- Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure: Butter Beer, Seuss Landing, VelociCoaster, Mythos Restaurant, Hogwarts Express, Universal's Holiday ParadeTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.

Yo — we rip into Teespring's holiday failures, swap wild family-gaming stories (I totally cheated at UNO), and nerd out over N64 rematches and a Hogwarts Express train for the tree. Plus wild job-interview scams, snow horror stories, gingerbread ambitions, and a Florida Man who threw hands at an inflatable Santa. Come hang, laugh, and commiserate like we're on the couch.

Send us a textIn this episode we discuss Harry's journey to Hogwarts in our version of the TV show. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:21 Quick Recap, and opening at Kings Cross. We could also open in the Leaky Cauldron, but it would be better for us to take that extra time exploring the wizarding world than the Muggle one. We see Harry meet the Weasleys, go through the barrier, get on the Hogwarts Express, and arrive at Hogsmeade Station.·      13:15 There's Hogwarts! The moment where the students round the bend and see Hogwarts is the biggest milestone so far. We see the symbol of magic in the wizarding world, and the place where the core parts of the story will take place. As viewers, we have seen this place more times than we can count, so it's almost as if we are showing it to Harry for the first time.·      20:53 The Sorting Ceremony. The doors to the Great Hall swing open, and we see the beginnings of the Hogwarts factions form. Draco and Harry are the most important sortings of the ceremony. The hat barely touches Draco's head, and he is sorting into Slytherin. Harry goes through a bit of a conversation with the Sorting Hat, and it is important to see Dumbledore reaction to all of this. We end with Harry standing in his dormitory with his trunk, Hedwig, and the window with the Hogwarts grounds.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

It's time for the very first of Amanda's Fave Chaps, and the premiere selection is Book 6's “Snape Victorious”. We're renewing our membership to the Snape Haters Club, theorizing about who exactly is conducting the Hogwarts Express, and having a moment for Emo Tonks. Join us!Support the showSupport FFH on Patreon: patreon.com/thefoxandthefoxhoundFollow us!IG: @thefoxandthefoxhoundTikTok: @thefoxandthefoxhound

We spent September at Drew Collins University by Granger (you know the vibes

We've well and truly kicked off season 7 in style as we welcome our first guest onto the show - IAAPA Board Chairman, Massimiliano Freddi. In this episode, Paul sits down with Massimiliano Freddi, the first Italian to ever hold the role of IAAPA Chairman in the association's 107-year history. From his early dream of running a theme park to founding Wonderwood and shaping Italy's unique attractions landscape, Massi shares how passion, storytelling, and a people-first mindset continue to drive his vision for the industry. Skip The Queue is back for Season 7 and we're announcing some big changes! Get ready for new hosts, a fresh new look, weekly content and find out where you can catch us live at events to be part of the action.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn, or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 24th September 2025. The winner will be contacted via LinkedIn or Bluesky. Show references:  https://iaapa.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddi/Massimiliano Freddi  a leading figure in the amusement and entertainment industry, has been appointed president of the steering committee of IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the leading international association for attractions and theme parks) for 2025. This is the first time since the foundation of the World Association of Attractions (1918) that this position has been entrusted to an Italian.The appointment underscores his extensive experience and significant contribution to the global industry. Freddi brings a wealth of experience gained at some of the industry's most prominent companies. His career began in marketing and press office for the Italian market at Disneyland Paris. He subsequently joined Leolandia.A visionary entrepreneur, in 2018, Massimiliano Freddi founded Wonderwood, an adventure and amusement park for all ages, of which he is currently CEO, in his hometown of Trarego Viggiona, in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola region on Lake Maggiore. This growing business has redeveloped several local facilities and provided employment to several young residents of the small towns in the area. His passion for the sector also extends to academia. Since 2016, he has been a member of the coaching staff of Seth Godin's Altmba and is a professor of marketing and experience design at IULM University in Milan. At the same university, where Italy's first course in theme park and attraction management was introduced, he teaches subjects such as consumer experience, marketing, and soft skills as an adjunct professor. Freddi was also one of the original founders of Parksmania, the first newspaper dedicated to amusement parks.Freddi will continue to bring his innovative vision and deep industry knowledge to the global association, helping shape the future of attractions internationally. Regarding Italy, he commented that he sees great potential and wants to help realise it. Transcriptions:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best visitor attractions and the people that work in them. I'm Paul Marden, along with my co-hosts Andy Povey and Sinead Kimberley, I spend my days working with ambitious attractions like theme parks, museums, galleries, and science centres to help them to attract more guests. Paul Marden: Today on Skip the Queue, I'm joined by someone who has been shaping the attractions industry in truly remarkable ways. Massimiliano Freddi is the first Italian ever to hold the role of chairman in IAAPA's 107-year history. A milestone that not only celebrates his career, but also shines a light on Italy's growing influence in the global attractions landscape. Massimiliano has worn many hats across his journey, from fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a Theme Park Managing Director at just 28, where he grew guest numbers from 300,000 to over 800,000, to founding his own destinations like Wonderwood on Lake Maggiore and Wonderwood Spina Verde, overlooking Lake Como. Along the way, he's pioneered inclusive and eco-conscious practices, championing the power of storytelling and shown how attractions can thrive by creating meaningful experiences for every guest.Paul Marden: Beyond his leadership roles, Massimiliano is also a Professor of Marketing and Experience Design at IULM University in Milan, where he's passionate about nurturing the next generation of talent in our sector. Often described as both a dreamer and a doer, he brings together vision and practicality in a way that continues to inspire operators around the world.Paul Marden: Massimilliano, welcome to the show. It really is a pleasure to have you with us. We always start Skip the Queue and the kickoff of season seven, no less, is going to be no different. We always start with an icebreaker question. And I'm thinking back to, we're just back off of our summer holidays, aren't we? For your perfect holiday, would it start with planes, trains or driving.Massimiliano Freddi: Oh, that's a beautiful question. By the way, congratulations because you've pronounced Massimiliano in a very correct way. So that's unusual. I have a complicated name. I know, I know.Massimiliano Freddi: Hey, I would say train. Train is really, really part of the way that I love to travel with. And unfortunately, too often it happens by car, which I like a little bit less. I get dizzy, you know, and stuff. Train is my ultimate, ultimate way to travel.Paul Marden: I did a sleeper train to Scotland a couple of years ago, and it was amazing. I absolutely loved it. And what's brilliant is there's more of those sleeper trains hitting Europe, aren't there now? So there really is very few excuses for us not to be holidaying with the start with some elegant sleeper train. My only disappointment was that there was no murder on the train, so I couldn't have an Agatha Christie style novel themed around my train  journey, but uh, you know.Massimiliano Freddi: I mean, I mean, it could have been the Hogwarts Express, but apparently, it doesn't run every day, so.Paul Marden: That would be pretty cool as well. I've just come back from Edinburgh, actually, and we saw, you know, the viaduct where the train goes to Hogwarts, and completely unplanned, there was a steam train that went over the bridge whilst we were there. It was amazing.Massimiliano Freddi: Happy go lucky.Paul Marden: Yeah. So enough of my holidays. Let's kick off talking about you and IAAPA. What can international markets learn from attractions in Italy? Tell us a little bit about the attractions landscape over there in Italy at the moment.Massimiliano Freddi: Yes. So let's say that the attraction landscape is very similar, somehow, to how the restaurants or the retail landscape has always been, which means a lot of mom and pop stores. And I think that what people who travel to Italy love is to find something that is one of a kind that you can find only in Italy. I have a deep respect for Starbucks, but I'm always... questioning myself, you know, when somebody comes to Italy, do they really want to find Starbucks? Is this a real thing? So when it comes to parks and attractions, Italy has not faced a big concentration in players like it has happened in other countries. Of course, some big players are there. Parques Reunidos owns Mirabilandia, which is the second most important Italian park. And the most important Italian park is Gardaland, owned by Merlin Entertainment. Then we have a few other groups. Owning and operating some of the facilities, but let's say that, out of 250 parks between—or, you said, attractions— that's very correct now, if we talk about attractions, now the number is endless, because where is the border?Paul Marden: What is an attraction? Yeah, that's a big philosophical question.Massimiliano Freddi: Okay, okay, so let's say that, once upon a time, we used to count parks. So when we talk about parks, we have roughly 250 parks in Italy, and most of them are tiny, tiny, tiny, and they are independently owned. That's my case. I own and operate two parks right now, and I'm about to open, a third location that will be an indoor one this November. And so, yes, I think that what what others can learn from Italy i think is to keep this respect for your roots and to make sure that you don't make every attraction look like another one, but you kind of keep it, you know, different.Massimiliano Freddi: And so it's a matter of the mix of how people can have fun and get entertained. But it's really also about retail and about food and about shows and festivals and you name it, you know. So there are these places that we see on Instagram and immediately we say, oh, that's, I mean, when I see a picture of the Empire State Building or of the Tower Bridge. I know immediately where it belongs to. And so I think that, with attractions, we need to think in the future always about this. Guests coming to visit us, they want to have the ultimate experience and they want to have something that's different from anything they've done before. So this is the responsibility we have.Paul Marden: And a big one it is. Let's talk a little bit about the experience economy. And especially when we think about, you know, beyond the parks, there's this... massive ecosystem around the outside of different ways that people can enjoy themselves. What does that experience economy mean to you, especially in Italy?Massimiliano Freddi: The experience economy, first of all, it truly matters to me, the book. Because in 1999, it was once upon a time, it was really difficult to find literature and scientific literature on the leisure industry. And so I think that at that time, we thought that everybody could take inspiration from the attractions industry. And it has happened because right now. Yes, definitely. You know, food is experience and travel is experience and lodging is experience. You name it, you name it. You know, even there is also a funeral house in Italy, which has become very famous because they are really based on the experience they will give, you know, not to the people who passed away, unfortunately, you know, but the people remain. So I think that it's very hard now to find an industry that doesn't think, that we are in the experience economy and that everything should be experienced and experiential. And so I think that when I go back to my example, I think that we as attractions, we need to be even more wise in how we choose to present ourselves and what we cater to our guests.Massimiliano Freddi: Because of course, we need to raise the bar. So right now, we know that some access... And some services to our attractions have become better with technology. But still, we are, you know, long lines sometimes. And we feel we are paying too much for what we are getting back.Massimiliano Freddi: I would say that in the end, experience economy starts with people and ends with people. And so we need to be people-centric. And only like this, we can be truly experiential. I don't think that an experience is about technology.  It's always, always about people.Paul Marden: Absolutely. I wonder as well, I'm always struck by this industry, how close we are, how we collaborate with one another. And really, the competition aren't the other parks or attractions. The competition is getting people out and doing something. There are so many things at home that could keep you at home, getting you out and about and visiting places and enjoying those experiences. I wonder whether collaboration is the answer to this.Massimiliano Freddi: I think you nailed it because it's crucial. Everybody who has not been working for this industry, when they enter the industry, because they might change jobs, everybody is so surprised that we collaborate so heavily. And I think that a key to this success has always been this big collaboration. I have almost always in my career been part of smaller facilities. And to me, IAAPA and the associations were, it's been crucial, you know, because you are alone. Very, very often your facility is in the middle of nowhere. No matter if you're part of a big group, because even big groups have facilities in the middle of nowhere, but for family-owned and operated attractions, that's almost the golden rule.Massimiliano Freddi: And so there are so many days in your life, in your career, in your profession, where you would benefit strongly from talking to somebody else who's been through something like you before and who's found a different solution and who can open up your eyes. So I think that's the beauty of our industries is getting together. Again, if we don't get together, how can we make people get together?Paul Marden: Yeah, I'm very excited about getting together because I've got my first IAAPA in Barcelona coming up. And I'm very excited about what this is going to be like.Massimiliano Freddi: Oh, you will be blown away.Paul Marden:  I can't wait. I absolutely can't wait. Now, look. Someone has once described you as a dreamer and a doer. One of your dreams was to be managing director of a theme park. Where did that inspiration come from?Massimiliano Freddi: So it comes from a terrible childhood. And so it comes from the fact that, yeah, the world around me when I was a kid was not a positive world. And my family had a lot of troubles. And I'm an orphan from the side of my mother. I mean, I went through several things. And so I think that the attractions industry, to me, it really meant this place that's always happy and where grownups can really take great care of kids and kids at heart.Massimiliano Freddi: So I think that my passion came out of that. Now, dreaming and doing, of course, we all have as a big myth and as a reference, Walt Disney himself, and he was the guy who first said, 'Dreamers and doers' talking about, what enterprises, so his imagineers. I think that whenever I see something, I want to say something. Everybody who knows me knows pretty well. But it means that I love to see the world in a constant improvement. So, if I check in at a hotel and I see that there is something in there that, you know, it even doesn't impact me. But with a small step, they could make it better and fix it. I just share it and I share it, you know, wherever I am. And so I think that maybe this was a bit of my secret weapon because I got involved in several things. I think because I'm curious and maybe because I'm generous in sharing.Massimiliano Freddi: And I don't know if there is a secret there. There is just that in the moment in which you accept yourself the way you are and you acknowledge that you have some talents, and you don't have some others, and some skills you can get better, some others no way—okay. I could never never be an attorney, I could never do a lot of jobs on the planet, but now I know, at the age of 44, that I know what I'm good at, and even if I'm good at that, I want to constantly improve. So I think that maybe the support that I could bring to the table to the companies I've worked for, to the associations, to my own business, and so on, it's always been this obsession with constant improvement every day.Paul Marden: I think it takes a certain vulnerability, doesn't it? To spot something that you think can be improved and to offer a suggestion. And I think it's so valuable. I was at an attraction recently and I got the email at the end of the day, saying, 'How was it?' Please leave us a review. I went to click it and it didn't work. I knew the head of marketing, so I just pinged him off a quick email that just said, 'Oh, I had such a brilliant time but I couldn't leave you a review. I wanted to give you a brilliant review, but I couldn't do it because it didn't work. And that led them to go and look at all of their outbound emails, and none of them were working properly. But you know, you could walk by and just leave that alone. But I can't do it. However, it is sometimes does make you feel really awkward, couldn't you? But when I get great services in a restaurant, when somebody looks after me while at an attraction, I want to tell them how good it was, and if I can see something they can do better, I want to tell them what they could do.Massimiliano Freddi:  Totally, totally. And I'm so much on the same page. I was about to say that it's equally important to call people out when they're doing well.Paul Marden: Yeah.Massimiliano Freddi: So to make sure that they are aware. And sometimes, you know, to say there was one day where I travelled during a bank holiday, and I arrived at the entire bank holiday, and I arrived to the airport, and I decided I wanted to thank each and every employee that I would meet because they were there that day. I mean. We got used that Sundays are no longer Sundays, but the bank holidays, these are the moments in which you spend time with your family and with your kids and so on. And if you're there and you're working, I mean, it's good that somebody sees you and tells you, 'Hey, thank you because you're working even today, you know?' And you can tell how everybody gets surprised. So I think that we learn so much more by positive reinforcement.Massimiliano Freddi: And so how important it is also to tell attractions, facilities, managers, CEOs. I mean, CEOs, they are so used to just getting... I can't use swear words. Yes, you can. Under those kind of storms, you know, all the time, all the time. And so when a CEO does something good, come on, let's tell her.Paul Marden: Yeah, it's a really lonely job. And all you get is... is the spankings and the tellings off. Isn't it? So when they get it right, they definitely need a pat on the back because they're not going to get it. They're not going to get it. So I can't believe this. At the age of 28, you made your dream come true and you were managing director of a theme park in Italy for Minitalia, which became Leolandia, in this role you took guest numbers from 300, 000 guests a year to over 800,000.Paul Marden: Tell us that story. How do you so dramatically increase footfall at the attraction?Massimiliano Freddi: I don't think it was me. I think it was a great teamwork because it's a great teamwork, you know, and you can grow this much. If your operation is working very well, if your safety is right on spot, if the park is clean, you know, and so on. I can tell you one thing that when we were at the basic level, so at the very beginning, of course, we couldn't afford to buy big attractions or too heavily themed. And we needed really, I remember that the first Halloween, we had a 10K budget, 10,000 euro budget for a whole month of Halloween. Okay, so we would go to the do-it-yourself stores and buy brooms and build everything. I mean, that was a magical moment because it created the capability of the team to envision that, if you want, you can do with the things you have. And of course, with a huge budget, you can do fantastic things.Massimiliano Freddi: But sometimes, you know, this helps. So in that moment... TripAdvisor was a true success still. We're talking about 20 years ago. So TripAdvisor was kind of the reference. That's even before Google Maps and all that. So I remember that I did an analysis and I understood that every restaurant or park who had over 4. 5 out of 5 was growing. And having 4 out of 5 was not enough. Now we call it NPS, we call it a different way. But there, in this practical way, so I remember this moment with my team saying, 'Hey, we need to be obsessed with getting five stars.' And this is the point. So what can we do? First of all, we can have the cleanest toilets on earth. Let's make sure that the smell is good, they are super clean, and so on. Because people, that's a level of service. Of course, this is not a driver of visit, but this is a driver of satisfaction. And in the same way, let's start to work with better suppliers when it comes to food and beverage.Massimiliano Freddi: Let's start to make things more comfortable. So I think that this was the first thing. The second aspect, again, it's very much linked to IAAPA because I think that attending the show every year and knowing the people. At that time, Jakob Wahl, he used to be one of the employees of IAAPA in Brussels. I don't think he was a manager at the time yet. He was in charge of keeping relationships with members. So I reached out to him. We are the same age. I reached out to him and I said, 'Hey, I would love to visit a few facilities in other countries because I need to get fresh ideas.' It was a very delicate moment. We came out of two bad seasons due to bad weather. Because then you know, you don't go from here to here as a straight line, but always as this roller coaster. And in a moment you think, 'Oh, I made it.' There's a dip.Paul Marden: Yeah.Massimiliano Freddi: You can never sleep. And so he put me in contact with several facilities. I visited some in Belgium, in the Netherlands, and in the UK. And in the UK, I visited this, at that time, small park still called Paulton's Park. You might know that. I remember it was a weekday with bad weather and the parking lot was packed. And I was like, 'How comes?' Kids are not at school today. What is the point? I enter the park. The park is, yeah, not so crowded. So I really suspect that they are, you know, keeping the people all shut down together in a place. I don't know. I don't know what the point was. And then I enter the Peppa Pig's World.Massimiliano Freddi: And it blows my mind. And again, what blows my mind is that it didn't have any huge attraction. But it had that feeling. And people were just so happy. It was magic. Little kids there with their families, a lot of strollers all over the place, traffic jams due to strollers. And so I came back and I said, 'Hey, we need to get Peppa Pig.' And I remember that the team was like, 'It can't happen.' It has happened. In the end, we were the second park in the world after Paulton's Park to get Peppa. And that reshaped the entire strategy of the park we had at that time, turning it into what we wanted to achieve, is to become the best park for the kids under the age of 10 in Southern Europe. And best means really the best, rated from the bottom of the heart. And so this is what has happened. So I think that, you know, before Leolandia, I had worked for Disneyland Paris and I'm a big Disney fan. So that was kind of the school I had attended and I just had to apply. The theory that I've learned, I had to apply it, and I had a fantastic team and the resources to do that.Paul Marden: Amazing. Now, fast forward to 2018, and you've taken the step from MD to founder and founded Wonderwood on Lake Maggiore. Now, let's test my Italian. You've also founded Wonderwood Spina Verde. Massimiliano Freddi: I'm speechless. I can't correct anything.Paul Marden: Wonderful. Overlooking Lake Como, both of which, by the way, were... So I've been to Maggiore and Lake Como for my honeymoon. So a beautiful, beautiful place. And you've put two parks there. How has that been?Massimiliano Freddi:  It has been crazy. So I remember that the first year, and I mean, we created the company at the end of 2018. We've opened our gates in the summer of 2019. Now, if we all remember what has happened at the beginning of 2020.Paul Marden: Yeah.Massimiliano Freddi: Okay, so perfect timing. Now, I can tell you that the first season, every day, I would literally cry, but for real.Massimilliano Freddi: I was exhausted. My husband was exhausted. We thought that this was a nightmare, the worst possible nightmare. And if somebody had knocked on my door and asked me, 'Hey, could I just take it over?' I don't give you a penny. I will just take home the loans. I would have said yes. And that's because, of course, every project is over budget. Of course. No matter. No matter.Massimiliano Freddi: And when it's a family company and you don't have the money because you've contracted several loans and so on, it makes it super, super difficult. So in that moment, my call for action was because the possibility of Lake Maggiore was in the town where I spent every summer as a kid. So it was a love story. And I wanted to give back to the community. I wanted to do something in the nature that would inspire kids to hike more. To become more active and just not only to stay in front of a screen, but to do something different. So that came out of this kind of dream. And so it was a nightmare. It was a nightmare at the very beginning. Then COVID hit and we were very lucky, of course, because we didn't lose anyone from our families and friends. So I am very thankful for that. And at the same time, it gave us the possibility to stop for a second, rewind, and refine our strategy.Massimiliano Freddi: Because we had just closed the park in, I mean, the week before Christmas, and we were supposed to reopen in less than three months, but we were exhausted. So I'm telling this story because usually it's so nice to tell that the triumphs, you know, and say, 'Hey, it's been fantastic.' Yeah, we nailed it. We had, no, we made 200 mistakes.Massimiliano Freddi: And we paid for all the mistakes. So I think that in that moment, yeah, we were struggling at the beginning. We were reflecting in the middle part. And then three years ago, two to three years ago, I woke up one morning and I understood that I really loved what I was doing. And it had changed. It had changed. And seeing so many families happy and so many people visiting and seeing... How many young professionals or students started to work with us and then you see them leaping? I think that this is the most beautiful thing on earth. It's very empowering. So right now I'm in this situation where I am so grateful for this entire six years, even if they started in a way that was very, very heavy. But, you know, the Latins used to say 'per aspera ad astra.' It means... 'towards the stars through the asperities.' And so we need to go through that thing, that tunnel.Paul Marden: Absolutely. Now, as if founding your own parks wasn't enough, you also mix your time as a professor at the university. I can hear from what you were talking about, about bringing the young professionals into the park, that there's an element to you of apprenticeship almost, of teaching that next cohort of people that are going to come and take over the world.Paul Marden: How exciting is that for you to be able to mix that in at the university?Massimiliano Freddi: It's fantastic. It's fantastic. And again, it came out of passion. It came out. I didn't do a PhD after my university. My career wasn't supposed to be the academic one. And I didn't trust I would be able to do that. And then I got called for a lecture, then two lectures, and three lectures. And then, right now, I have several courses at university.Massimiliano Freddi: There's a point. The point is that, if we meet between our age of 14, 14, 15, until our 25, and if we narrow it down, it's between maybe 16 and 22, this is the moment in which it's more important to meet some mentors. And most of us don't meet mentors. They meet nice people around them, giving them very nice advice based on their experience and not seeing the talents they have in front of them. And in several cases, we are scared. We think that we are not enough. And so I really think that it's such a huge privilege for me to be able to be at university and to meet so many hundreds of students every year and to try to make my small impact so that, first of all, they can believe in themselves and they can believe that the world can be a better place, even if right now it's kind of a tough moment. But from tough moments, again, we can learn things.Massimiliano Freddi: Even at IAAPA, one of the things that I really am passionate more about is what are the spaces we can create for young professionals and students. So I want to give two very short examples. The IAAPA Foundation has evolved a lot over the last few years. We were able to collect so many more donations.Massimiliano Freddi: And now, this year, it will be a record-breaking year when it comes to scholarships to which students can apply in universities around the globe. So I think that's... But to me and to all of us in the board of the IAAPA Foundation, that's like the starting point. We are here celebrating because it's a big achievement and then we look each other in the eyes and say, 'Okay, now what's next?' Now, how can we make sure that the impact is even bigger? And if we go on the side of IAAPA, I think we are very... We pay a lot of attention to make sure that the membership fees are very low for the people entering. The word of leisure. Just a few weeks ago, it got launched on the IAAPA job board that whoever has a company and wants to post an internship, that's free to post. So that, you know, there could be thousands of internships available for students.Massimiliano Freddi: Of course, as a big association, we are used to talk to members and maybe older members because we visit facilities and we visit manufacturers and we need to deal with safety and stuff. But students and young professionals are not on the back of my head. They are like near and dear to my heart. And so my real question is: when this year ends in a couple of months, how can I dedicate myself even more to contribute to young people? Because I think that they are making a change. They will make a change. And we are learning so much from them because the work we are leaving you and me right now. I have bad news. It's no longer our world. We don't have the code to decode that. So we don't have the keys. We can just support people that are better than us and make sure that they can live, that they can teach, that they can learn.  That's a bit of what I see.Paul Marden: I completely agree with you. I think it's interesting because you talk about what you're giving, but you're also getting something back. This is not entirely altruistic, is it? The support that you're giving for these young people and early career professionals, you're getting something back, enriching yourself and learning new things from them.Massimiliano Freddi: Always, always. And I think that, you know, I don't always teach. Market leisure marketing and stuff— you know, I teach marketing at a at a Master's Degree in Management of Beauty and Wellness, total different industry, you know, food and wine. As I was telling, but what I bring home every time is how much young people need to feel seen and, and this is truly important because if we create for them not a safe zone, because of course we want them to get messy. We want them to take risks, but they need to feel safe as humans and they need to feel safe as seen. And so I appreciate a lot this because then the energy that I... And you know, when we talk about IAAPA, we have so many ambassadors that have been contributing to the IAAPA trade shows and events all over the globe. We have young people joining the committees.Massimiliano Freddi: Right now, there are a few, more than a few young professional task forces around the globe that are really helping us, old people, to understand what they need. So I think that we are at the very beginning. And if I could say a dream out loud, I wish that IAAPA in five or ten years, maybe in five years, can multiply the number of young engaged people in the association by 100. 10 is not enough. 20 is by 100. We need to make an impact. And I think we want to make an impact. So hopefully.Paul Marden: Well, there's an ambition for you. And I think every... worthwhile project— every it always starts with that kind of ambitious goal— at the very beginning of it you need to be driven by that  hundred times impact not the 10 times impact we we always like to finish our interviews with a book recommendation, fiction, non-fiction, industry-related or not, give us a view uh into your reading habits, okay, so can I mention more than one book? You bankrupt me because I always offer the book recommendation as a prize for people, but you can have more than one.Massimiliano Freddi: Okay. Okay. Thank you because I'm a big reader. So the first author that I would love to mention is J. K. Rowling because Harry Potter is not just a story of a kid or of magic, but it's a story of a woman who was a bit desperate. And then... She followed what she was feeling. She allowed her emotions to flow. And she has created a masterpiece. And she has impacted us all, you know, no matter business-related, non-business-related, and so on. So I think that, to read again, the first Harry Potter book, it's very important because it brings us back to some reason why, you know, and to some things. The second book that I would love to mention is a book written by Seth Godin. I have had the privilege to work for Seth for several years.Paul Marden: Really?Massimiliano Freddi: And yeah, he's an amazing guy. He's an amazing guy. And come on, he's such a generous person and he's amazing.Massimiliano Freddi: I don't have any other words that's amazing. He wrote a book maybe 10 years ago, 15 years ago called Linchpin. And Linchpin is not his most famous book, but it's the book that changed my life because it really nudges you. In a gentle and not so gentle way sometimes. No, I'm saying in a gentle way. It nudges you to don't set for what you have, but to see your inner talents and to innovate and to be creative, be generous, and so on. So, Linchpin to me is the book that changed it all for me. So, I think that everybody, young, less young, everybody should read once in a lifetime.Paul Marden: I feel like I need to go and read this because that is one Seth Godin book I have not read. So there we go. Listeners, if you would like a copy of Linchpin, then the first person that heads over to LinkedIn and reposts our show notice and says, 'I want Massimiliano's book' and can spell Massimiliano correctly, will have a copy of the book sent to them. We've got IAAPA Europe taking place next week in Barcelona.Paul Marden: And we have a very special Skip the Queue announcement. We are going to be hitting the show floor on a daily basis. We are going to go live for daily episodes of Skip the Queue from the show floor. We're going to be talking to operators about what their challenges are like. Finding out what new supplier announcements are coming out. And the Skip the Queue team is going to be feverishly working away. We'll be recording during the day and Steve and Wenalyn will be editing and producing through the night, ready to post the show the following morning. So I'm very excited about that.Massimiliano Freddi: And I think we are super excited to have you guys on the trade show floor. And I recommend... Of course, visiting it, making the most out of it, and don't underestimate the fantastic education sessions that take place. There is a strong lineup of speakers that will impact the way that the industry will be in a few years. So, great opportunity.Paul Marden:  How's that for a trailer? That sounds amazing. Massimilliano, it really has been a pleasure to talk to you.Massimiliano Freddi: Thank you so much, Paul, for me as well. And see you in Barcelona.Paul Marden: Yes, how exciting. Looking forward to it.Paul Marden: Remember, if you'd like a copy of today's book, head over to LinkedIn and repost our show notice saying, 'I want a copy of Massimiliano's book.' If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your podcasting platform. It really helps people to find the show. If you didn't enjoy it, or you've got ideas about how we could improve the show, then let us know at hello@skipthequeue.fm. My thanks to Massimiliano and his team at IAAPA for their help with this episode. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, the digital agency that creates amazing websites for ambitious visitor attractions. This episode was written by Emily Burrows, produced by Wenalyn Dionaldo and edited by Steve Folland. To Skip the Queue team, also includes Sami Entwistle, Sinead Kimberley, Claire Furnival, and Andy Povey. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Elizabeth returns to discuss a scene where Harry & Ginny talk about Harry's latest nightmare. Also, the Hogwarts Express is the setting for some interesting conversations as Rose confronts Albus, Albus & Scorpius hug, and The Trolley Witch surprises.

Send us a textIn this episode, we rank the seven most important sets of the Harry Potter films. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      2:11 #7: Ollivander's Wand Shop. We aren't there for too long, but what goes on here is extremely important. This is where Harry got his first wand and learned of the twin cores, themes that would follow him forever.·      9:49 #6: Gringotts's Bank. This beats Ollivander's because more happens here. Harry gets his fortune here, and it is the first building he went in in Diagon Alley. This is also the site of their flight from the security after getting the Hufflepuff Cup from the Lestrange vault.·      16:36 #5: Platform 9 ¾ and the Hogwarts Express. What an iconic set. We take these two for granted after seeing the films so many times, but we can't deny just how integral they are for the story and just how much we would miss them if they were gone. ·      21:10 #4: The Ministry of Magic. The first time we go here is in the fifth book, but it is one of the most important places for the story after that. It represents the forces of evil trying to take away Harry's freedom, the freedom of the rest of the wizarding world by extension. ·      25:18 #3: The Burrow. There is a incredible amount of character with the Burrow. It is messy, but full of family. As Voldemort's power grows, it comes to represent all that is good with the wizarding world and the resistance that will never stop fighting. The Burrow is true to itself.·      29:05 #2: 4 Privet Drive. This is a now brainer. 4 Privet Drive is a tough place for Harry, but it is the place where he grew up and learned about himself and his past whether he likes it or not. Name a more iconic place than the cupboard under the stairs, I dare you. When Harry is saying goodbye to this home in the final book, we realize just how much his childhood home meant to him despite all he went through within its walls.·      34:42 #1: The Great Hall. This is where the story begins and ends. Harry is sorted here and finds his friends and family. In the end, this is where he has one final duel with Voldemort and claims victory for the wizarding world. Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

The gang is back, bags are packed, and the wizard robes are ironed for the Hogwarts Express! Mike and Cass are headed back to the wizarding world and in this one Harry, Ron and Hermonie are growing up and face new dangers!

Tsch-tsch-tsch-tschuuuu! Tuuut tuuuut! Ratter-ratter-ratter – Pfffffff!Und damit begrüßen wir euch zu dieser tollen Folge – in der es um nervige Geräusche geht!Nein, Spaß. Es geht natürlich um nervige Wortspiele, denn dieser Zug ist für uns niemals abgefahren!Eure beiden Lokomotivführer aus Lüdenscheid haben sich mal richtig ins Zug gelegt und fast alle Fakten über den Hogwarts-Express herausgefunden.Und damit diese Folge so richtig Fahrt aufnimmt, setzen wir uns gemeinsam ins Abteil der Freude und düsen mit der Bock-o-Motive ins Tschu-Tschu-Land!Bevor wir uns allerdings alle wegen dieser schlechten Wortspiele übergeben müssen und jemand die Notbremse zieht, beenden wir diese Entgleisung der geschmacklosen Kalauer und stellen die Weichen auf: FunFunFun!Du bist am Zug – also einschalten, zurücklehnen und Spaß haben! Dampf! Zisch! Ratter-ratter – Abfahrt!

Send us a textThis week, we sip from the Holy Grail (okay, it's a Japanese beer cup), explore theme park trauma (Universal's nut-busting coaster design, we're looking at you), and go deep on cursed objects—like the time Post Malone got possibly haunted via shoulder contact. We also ride the Hogwarts Express, review Hagrid's rollercoaster, debate who really deserves the Millennium Falcon pilot seat, and relive Disneyland ghost stories involving, projectors, and maybe a Shop-Vac full of grandma. All this and so much more

Welcome to the fifth episode of ‘Yer a Wizard', a Harry Potter Sleep Saga where you are the main character.  Tonight you embark on the enchanted Hogwarts Express and journey across a majestic countryside, before seeing the famous Guardian of Hogwarts, and drifting into a deep sleep as the wonderful sounds of an old steam train soothe your mind. If you would like to enjoy ad-free content, exclusive sleep stories, live readings and more, then you can join our wonderful Patreon community here: https://www.patreon.com/sleepycatmeditations  Note: There is no intentional copyright infringement in this meditation. This is an original sleep story, based loosely on the fictional world of Harry Potter created by JK Rowling.

SCARED POTTER?! YOU WISH! Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets!! https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thereelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/thereelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Save & Invest In Your Future Today, visit: https://www.acorns.com/rejects Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Reaction, Recap, Commentary, Analysis, & Spoiler Review! Tara Erickson and Greg Alba delve into Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second film in the iconic series directed by Chris Columbus. This installment follows Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe, The Woman in Black, Now You See Me 2) as he returns to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, only to encounter new challenges when the mysterious Chamber of Secrets is opened, unleashing a monster that petrifies students. Key moments include Harry's encounter with Dobby, the house-elf, who warns him of impending danger; the thrilling escapade where Harry and Ron (Rupert Grint, Driving Lessons, Wild Target) fly a bewitched Ford Anglia to Hogwarts after missing the Hogwarts Express; the humorous scene where Ron receives a Howler from his mother, reprimanding him for stealing the car; and the climactic battle in the Chamber itself, where Harry confronts Tom Riddle (Christian Coulson) and the deadly Basilisk. The film also introduces memorable characters such as Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh, Henry V, Murder on the Orient Express), the flamboyant new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and features returning favorites like Hermione Granger (Emma Watson, Little Women, Beauty and the Beast), Severus Snape (Alan Rickman, Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility), and Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane, Cracker, GoldenEye). Notable quotes from the film include Dumbledore's profound insight, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities," and Ron's humorous remark, "Why spiders? Why couldn't it be 'follow the butterflies'?" Join Tara and Greg as they explore these scenes and more, discussing the film's impact, character developments, and how it continues to enchant audiences worldwide. Follow Tara Erickson: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaraErickson Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/taraerickson/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/thetaraerickson Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Music Used In Manscaped Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moody Movies: Philosopher's Stone (2001), Chamber of Secrets (2002), Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Goblet of Fire (2005), Order of the Phoenix (2007), Half-Blood Prince (2009), Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 (2010), Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 (2011)Welcome witches, wizards, and non-binary magical folks. Accio some popcorn and butterbeer, as we board the Hogwarts Express and unpack all eight films in the Harry Potter series. We unequivocally do not support the views of the original author. Full stop: gender diversity and transfolk make this world a better and more magical place. Welcome to The Rad Wrap: a series on series, where Kylie and Elliott explore films with a common thread. In this, their longest episode yet, they explore their complicated relationship to the Harry Potter movie and book series. They relive the movie magic and revisit a world that has meant so much to them, remembering how the films made clear that they were mispronouncing character names; realizing that the entire series is rooted in grief; identifying Hagrid and Sirius Black as fun and cool uncles, respectively; whistling along to Hedwig's Theme; loving Dobby, as always; admiring Potter Plosives; re-evaluating which films are a favourite and why; and so much more. Follow along onInstagram: @moodymovie.clubLetterboxd: kylieburton Letterboxd: ElliottKuss Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorrie:  I don't know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I think that Lucius and Narcissa have by far the most functional marriage in this whole series. JC: I can't think of a couple that seems to be more of a team. Lorrie: They discussed their disagreement and they compromised. Oh, my God. For full show notes, transcripts, ways to contact the hosts or support the show, and more, visit hpafter2020.com.

Back in December, Rick and his co-host Maz took part in the Orlando Informer Meetup at Universal Orlando Resort.  Maz went to both nights of the event, and talked about Friday in last week's episode of the podcast.  Today, the two co-hosts will cover Saturday night.

 A missive has arrived in your mailbox, dear cultie!  What's this? An invitation to an exclusive, mystical, and splendidly nerdy episode of Sounds Like A Cult that's only a short ride from King's Cross station away!  YES, your most British, nostalgia-packed dreams have been realized because this week Amanda and Reese are hopping aboard the Hogwarts Express to every 90s baby's starter cult, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!    Joined by the hilarious and wise podcasters Sequoia of Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them and Mike of Potterless, Reese and Amanda are drinking the butterbeer and covering everything from Hogwarts houses to Snapewives. Follow us as we attempt to dissect the undeniably world-shifting franchise, fandom, and capitalist dreamscape that might have more mommy issues than Harry Potter himself…  Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube! Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles.  Thank you to our sponsors! Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://LIQUIDIV.COM and use code CULT at checkout. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/CULT today to get 10% off your first month. Please consider donating to those affected by the Los Angeles Fires. Some organizations that Team SLAC are donating to are:  https://mutualaidla.org/ https://give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/#!/donation/checkout https://shorturl.at/SGW9w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rick and his co-host Maz took part in the Orlando Informer Meetup at Universal Orlando Resort last month.  For the next two weeks, the two of them will discuss everything they were able to accomplish at the event. 

Ho Ho Holy Moly it's nearly Christmas and it's time for the final (Harry Potter based) Goblet Of Wine Christmas special. This time we're coming at you from our real drive home for Christmas ... to Norfolk. Yes we are showing you how ridiculous it is for the Hogwarts Express to go from London to Scotland via Norfolk by driving you there. Expect terrible signing, not much Harry Potter chat and a LOT of chat about what people are eating for tea - including some special guests! We strongly recommend watching this rather than listening so you can understand what on earth is happening. Sorry for the rattling ⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy Harry Potter Without Funding JK Masterlist - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19H9-NRMfaISLNMAaLSssQFrNy8dUTR3Jeq6oioK4OwQ/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch - https://www.redbubble.com/people/gobletofwine/shop?asc=u⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.gobletofwine.co.uk  ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/gobletofwine ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com/gobletofwinepod   ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/gobletofwinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/gobletofwinepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@gobletofwinepod?lang=en⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@gobletofwinepodcast

As a mere muggle - or so you think - you find yourself in King's Cross Station amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Suddenly you discover a blank piece of paper in your pocket. Right before your eyes, the paper transforms into a magical train ticket; a one-way ticket aboard the Hogwarts Express, bound for the enchanting Hogwarts castle, where you are destined to go. This journey is unique, for tonight, you will be able to fall asleep on the Hogwarts Express, with the sound of the steam train running along the tracks through the night, and guarded by a new companion. When you wake in the morning, Hogwarts will be waiting. If you would like to enjoy ad-free content, exclusive sleep stories, live readings and more, then you can join our wonderful Patreon community here: https://www.patreon.com/sleepycatmeditations _________________________________ Thumbnail Image created using AI tools (Canva Magic Write) Music: Liborio Conti & Enlightened Audio (A Touch of Grace) SFX: Homemade / Freesound & YouTube Audio Library Note: There is no intentional copyright infringement in this meditation. This is an original sleep story, based loosely on the fictional world of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.

Potterheads have been left furious at Kings Cross station in London after the station has decided to end their yearly tradition. Usually HP fans are invited to the station to celebrate the arrival of the ‘Hogwarts Express' but the station has shut it down due to overcrowding. Fitz instead has a really good idea what our yearly tradition can be on the new Sydney Metro to do with munted party goers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we wrap up our fourth year at Hogwarts, say goodbye to some new friends and prepare for what's to come! Join Andrew, Micah and Laura as we raise a glass to Cedric, Harry and our journey through Goblet of Fire! 7-Word Summary: Relationships blossom when the trio parts ways Chapter-by-Chapter concludes with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 37: The Beginning Could there be a less creative title for this chapter? What?! There was still a bit of term left after the Third Task? Harry & The Diggorys: examining another example of a mother's love Why is the real Mad-Eye Moody still hanging around Hogwarts? Tea Time with Hagrid is what we all need right now Dumbledore tells the student body Voldemort has returned. Smart or reckless move on his part? Should Dumbledore's have toasted Harry? Did any Slytherins stand for him? Do we think the Triwizard Tournament was successful in breeding international magical cooperation?  Hermione & Rita: how long has she been in that jar?! Showdown on the Hogwarts Express Quizzitch: What does Harry ask Viktor Krum, when they shake hands before going to the Hogwarts Express? What's Coming Up on MuggleCast: Next week, we'll be recording a special, laid back episode all together in Washington D.C. (releasing August 27); the following week, MuggleCast Live at LeakyCon (releasing September 3); MuggleMail (releasing September 10); Order of the Phoenix Movie Commentary (releasing September 17); Order of the Phoenix Chapter-by-Chapter Begins (releasing September 24). Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us! For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, including the chance to co-host the show, a new physical gift every year, and a video message from one of the four of us visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the battlelines are officially drawn between Dumbledore and Fudge! Join us as we try our very best to convince the Minister for Magic that Voldemort has indeed returned! News: MinaLima will not be releasing further editions of their illustrated books (we'll discuss this story in more detail in Bonus MuggleCast) 7-Word Summary: Fudge makes disastrous decisions about Lord Voldemort Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36: The Parting of the Ways Sympathetic Grandfatherly Figure or Master Manipulator: Is what Dumbledore says to Harry truly heartfelt and genuine? Does Fawkes know what went down in the graveyard? Should Harry tell his story without other Ministry officials present? The Gleam of Triumph and its connection to Deathly Hallows Why, specifically, did Voldemort and Harry's wand cores come from Dumbledore's pet phoenix? Ollivander has Dumbledore on speed dial! Comparing parental figures: Sirus and Molly's love for Harry is on full display, foreshadowing things to come in Order of the Phoenix Why did Fudge feel the need to bring a Dementor to Hogwarts to face Barty Crouch Jr.? Where are all the Aurors? COMPLETE DENIAL: Can Fudge find anyone in the Hospital Wing he believes? Why does nobody force Fudge to see the truth? Why doesn't Dumbledore go get the Pensieve or Veritaserum? Snape takes a major risk in showing Fudge his Dark Mark tattoo! Dementors & Giants: Does Dumbledore overstep his bounds? Does he go too far? Or is Fudge already lost? With Fudge a lost cause, Dumbledore begins moving his chess pieces against Voldemort Quizzitch: What does Harry ask Viktor Krum, when they shake hands before going to the Hogwarts Express? Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us! For twice-monthly Bonus MuggleCast, as well as other great benefits, including the chance to co-host the show, a new physical gift every year, and a video message from one of the four of us visit Patreon.com/MuggleCast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Multiverse News, your source for information about all of your favorite fictional universes. Marvel Studios Town Hall (H) Our favorite shared universe multimedia franchise, that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, blessed us with an outpouring of updates this week, so let's tackle them in a segment we dub Town Hall: Hall H Speaking of Halls, Deadline sources say that Marvel Studios plans to return to San Diego Comic Con's marquee panel, Hall H, for the first time since 2022's Phase 5 and 6 slate reveals. With no lack of projects, series and films in the works, how big of a splash are we expecting from the studio come late July? Fantastic FourWhile speaking on the recently launched Marvel Official Podcast, Kevin Feige confirmed that the upcoming Fantastic Four film is a period piece set in New York in the 1960s. He also tipped his hat to fan observations noting the apparent alternate history setting seen in the promotional art, as quote, “smart”. And not to bury the lede, the studio president also confirmed the film's shooting start date for July 29, the day after Comic Con concludes. How do these deets jive with everything else we know about this hotly anticipated flick? AgathaEmpire Magazine unveiled an exclusive first image from Agatha All Along, of course featuring Kathryn Hahn, but also giving us our first look at Patti LuPone as Lila, Ali Ahn as Alice, Sasheer Zamata as Jennifer and WandaVision's Debra Jo Rupp, as Sharon. Showrunner Jac Schaeffer provided the additional detail that the characters share the common bond of being witches without covens, who strain to work together, in spite of their selfish tendencies. Are we bewitched by these magical morsels? A Leaky Legacy for Supes? We aren't ones to celebrate or propagate unofficial leaks here on Multiverse News, but the magnitude and scale of the recent set leaks from James Gunn's Superman, beg a discussion. We won't go into details or describe the images in question, so you're free from spoilers; but it is worth noting that the clarity of the images, characters, costumes, and settings within, feel a bit more authorized or allowed than one might expect, with James Gunn even gesturing and posing for the camera. In typical fashion, the images have elicited a range of reactions from fans, both muted and hyperbolic. How about us? Does a production so leaky, have us quite as squeaky as some fans? Headmasters of HogwartsAfter the recent announcement that it would be an HBO series, rather than Max, the Harry Potter series has found its creative voice and force, with a pair of Succession alumni, Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, joining the project. Gardiner will serve as writer and showrunner and Mylod will direct and executive produce the entire first season, which as we understand, will adapt JK Rowlling's first novel, The Sorcerer's Stone, for television. Gardiner's previous credits include AMC's Killing Eve, Amazon's The Man in the High Castle as well as His Dark Materials for HBO and the BBC, while Mylod recently directed The Menu as well as episodes of The Last of Us. Do any of these developments have us keen to catch the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 and ¾ when the series lands in 2026?

Hop aboard the Hogwarts Express, sip on some butter beer, and enjoy this magical deep-dive of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In this episode, Knox, Jamie, and Erin kick off a journey through all eight Harry Potter films by unpacking the sacred and secular themes of the movie that started it all. You'll hear about Jamie's QTNAs as she watches this movie for the first time, interesting perspectives on Spape, a few gentle rebukes, and so much more! MENTIONS I need more: Purchase the Harry Potter Bundle | Listen with the Doctoral Tier on Patreon Source Material: Watch Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone on Max  Tell Me More: Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb  Snapewives? Learn more here Quidditch Deep-Dive: Here's everything you need to know Which house are you in? Get sorted here Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith AdjacentFaith Adjacent Merch: Shop HereShop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacentFollow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hop aboard the Hogwarts Express, sip on some butter beer, and enjoy this magical deep-dive of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In this episode, Knox, Jamie, and Erin kick off a journey through all eight Harry Potter films by unpacking the sacred and secular themes of the movie that started it all. You'll hear about Jamie's QTNAs as she watches this movie for the first time, interesting perspectives on Spape, a few gentle rebukes, and so much more!  MENTIONS I need more: Purchase the Harry Potter Bundle | Listen with the Doctoral Tier on Patreon Source Material: Watch Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone on Max  Tell Me More: Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb  Snapewives? Learn more here Quidditch Deep-Dive: Here's everything you need to know Which house are you in? Get sorted here Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith Adjacent Faith Adjacent Merch: Shop Here Shop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacent Follow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the history and exciting (hopeful) future of the Disney Skyliner. The Skyliner currently serves four resorts and two theme parks at Walt Disney World. Inspired by the original Skyway gondola system that once connected Fantasyland and Tomorrowland in Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, the Skyliner combines nostalgia with modern innovation. Each gondola features designs with beloved Disney characters, adding an extra touch of magic to the transportation experience.With the help of Johnny J from the DMSW Podcast, we're thrilled to unveil a new extension and update to the Skyliner. This expansion aims to enhance the transportation system while adding immersive and interactive experiences, similar to the Hogwarts Express at Universal. Redesigned Skyliner cabins will feature state-of-the-art screens displaying themed visuals and character interactions, making the ride an attraction in itself. We're also introducing air conditioning and solar panels to ensure comfort and eco-friendliness. This new line will connect six additional locations, including Galaxy's Edge, Blizzard Beach, All-Star Resorts, and Coronado Springs, each offering unique interactive experiences. Join us as we explore these exciting plans to transform the Disney Skyliner into a magical journey across Walt Disney World!We've even got commentary from Hannah of Learning the Magic Podcast!Follow our guests on Instagram:@thedmswpodcast & @hannahlearningthemagicProject Managers: Marissa & Johnny JDon't forget to check us out on Instagram and our brand new website!

“Where are all the new Interrogang episodes‽” you, our gentle listener, may be asking yourself. Here's a quick programming update and a brief trip on the Hogwarts Express. Support the Show.

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 History Bites series and host of the History Bites YouTube channel. In addition to his interest in history, he incorporates his love of fantasy literature, including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia, into his travel itineraries to take fans to relevant landmarks. In just eight days, Solomon will lead fans through London, Oxford, Edinburgh, and more to discover sites of significance to Lewis, Tolkien, and Rowling, as well as filming locations for the Harry Potter movies. From Platform 9 3/4 to the Hogwarts Express, the tour lets travelers immerse themselves in fantasy, visiting the pubs and cafes the writers frequented and breathtaking natural and historic wonders. We've previously discussed the transcendent experience of Harry Potter fan pilgrimages, and this tour offers just that opportunity. Check out the History Bites website for more information on registering for the trip of a lifetime.

Witches and wizards, please locate your tables – Gryffindor and Hufflepuff to the left, Ravenclaw and Slytherin to the right. The Hogwarts Express will soon pull into the station again, and more students will crowd into this hall. Meal service has begun, so please take your seats. Do not be concerned about the thunder. Although our enchanted ceiling appears to be open to the evening sky, you are indeed protected from the weather. If you were not, how would the floating candles remain alight? Some of you will be receiving messages via owl post; please don't forget that your feathered friends must be checked-in. We invite you to meet your fellow students, appreciate this fine meal, and enjoy the dulcet tones of our very own Frog Choir as they perform throughout the evening. ---

Download our Mobile App! Apple App Store | Google Play Store --- Witches and wizards, please locate your tables – Gryffindor and Hufflepuff to the left, Ravenclaw and Slytherin to the right. The Hogwarts Express will soon pull into the station again, and more students will crowd into this hall. Meal service has begun, so please take your seats. Do not be concerned about the thunder. Although our enchanted ceiling appears to be open to the evening sky, you are indeed protected from the weather. If you were not, how would the floating candles remain alight? Some of you will be receiving messages via owl post; please don't forget that your feathered friends must be checked-in. We invite you to meet your fellow students, appreciate this fine meal, and enjoy the dulcet tones of our very own Frog Choir as they perform throughout the evening. ---

Choo Choo! It's time to return to Hogwarts as our Chapter-by-Chapter series continues with Goblet of Fire Chapter 11, "Aboard the Hogwarts Express." Join Andrew, Laura, Eric and Slug Club member Ning Xi as they dive deep into the topics that stand out on our latest reread. Our official Etsy store now contains some special discount and bundled items, such as the Comfy Cozy Combo Pack! Fancy yourself some socks and a warm beanie? Check out the full assortment of items available now! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire Chapter 11: Aboard the Hogwarts Express 7-Word Summary: Traveling by train proves informative for Harry Amos Diggory appears at the Burrow! In... the fireplace? Why!? What makes (and doesn't make) the Floo Network a fitting medium for the equivalent of telephone communications? The hosts all examine. The toast Molly offers is Eric's "I love magic" moment. Mad-Eyes and misdirection abound. Does the fact that Arthur and Dumbledore like Alastor Moody make us more likely, or less, to believe that he is overly paranoid? What would the function of real Muggle "Please-men" actually be? We speculate. On the train to Hogwarts, Draco boasts that Durmstrang School does not let Muggleborns in. But, is that REALLY possible given the Statute of Secrecy? How would a school that teaches Dark Arts, not just Defense Against the Dark Arts, actually operate? Are the locations of the Wizarding schools hidden from the parents of the students who attend? Or just not known to Hermione in particular? Should Arthur have told Ron, Harry et al about the Triwizard Tournament, which would have prevented Draco from bullying them for not knowing? Shout-out to Barty Crouch Jr. who is actually pretty darn good at what he does. We'll... be keeping track of that. In Bonus MuggleCast this week over on MuggleCast's Patreon, we review the recently announced sales figures for Hogwarts Legacy and discusswhat the future for Wizarding world video games may be given the game's success. Next week's Quizzitch question: Name 2 of the 3 items that Filch has added to the list of forbidden objects (at the start of Harry's year 4) Visit MuggleCast.com for episode transcripts, social media links, our full episode archive, our favorite episodes, and to contact us

Happy New Year! It's our first episode of 2024 and we'll be watching our words carefully, lest Rita Skeeter twists any of our statements to create some hot goss for The Daily Prophet! Welcome officially to MuggleCast: 19 years later! The MuggleCast Overstock Store is open again! This is where you can buy MuggleCast merch and help support the show! And we have an update: It's cold in the Northern Hemisphere, so MuggleCast is helping you out this winter with the MuggleCast Beanie and Socks Comfy Cozy Combo Pack: Purchase this new combo set for $25 – it's cheaper than buying the socks and beanie separate, and you'll be warm on both ends of your muggle body for winter! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10: Mayhem At The Ministry 7-Word Summary: Arthur laments over a problematic news cycle Main Discussion #1: The Aftermath Security Nightmare! Why did any witch or wizard hang around after the Death Eater attack? Evacuation plans should've been in place and activated! We examine the exploitation of Mr. Roberts by both the Death Eaters and The Ministry. Why was he not taken to St. Mungo's? Could they have used a Pensieve to remove the memory of the attack? Freaking Out Molly: Had the author not conceptualized Patronus messaging yet? And not ONE Weasley could have gone home early? Main Discussion #2: Rita Skeeter, Unethical Journalism & Ministry Blunders We discuss Rita's ability to acquire information being aided significantly by her being an unregistered animagus Just WHAT do beetles represent? Does Rita's journalism, unethical at times though it is, do an actual public service in the case of both of the Quidditch World Cup and the disappearance of Bertha Jorkins? Molly clearly recognizes that Rita is a hack, but later on in Goblet of Fire she laps up every lie printed about Hermione. Why? Obviously, we're familiar with the real-world consequences of this brand of journalism. Have any of the hosts ever been caught up in following salacious, gossip-based reporting? Have we ever caught ourselves pulling a Mrs. Weasley: either dismissing or assigning merit to a piece of reporting based on whether it reinforced our personal beliefs? Odds & Ends cover Mundungus Fletcher, Ron's dress robes, Trelawney's prophecy and more! Quizzitch: What spell does Hermione start learning on the Hogwarts Express (in Harry's fourth year)? And don't forget you can join our community at Patreon.com/MuggleCast and receive magical benefits, including early access to the show, Bonus MuggleCast, physical gifts and more!

OUR PATREON IS LIVE! GET BONUS CONTENT FROM THE BOOK PILE WHILE SUPPORTING US! CLICK RIGHT BELOW THIS SENTENCE!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*Exciting news today as we announce the launch of our Patreon! Also, today we cover one of Agatha Christie's most famous whodunnits, as well as the magical parody, “Murder on the Hogwarts Express”, in which Neville is stabbed to death with a dozen knives and no one notices...Plus, Kellen announces a new special! And Dave tells you about his bad dreams.*To buy the book and support the podcast, purchase Murder on the Orient Express HERE!https://amzn.to/3E5o5yY*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

CHOO CHOO! On this week's episode, we're on the Hogwarts Express for what is sure to be another lovely… enchanting… peaceful… safe….. ride to Hogwarts. As they say, the third time's the charm, and this year everything's gonna be A-OK! News covers the recently confirmed Harry Potter television series! Be sure to check out Episode 606, where we dive deep into the initial news leak and this week's Bonus MuggleCast, where we discuss all the new details! And... check out MuggleCast Episode 483, where we fan-casted a Harry Potter television show, and Episode 566, where the hosts developed ideas for an all-new Harry Potter television series! Main Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5: The Dementor 7-Word Summary: Fear about the murderer abounds on trains We contrast Harry's trips to King's Cross in Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix How much information do we think Arthur would have offered to Harry about Sirius Black if Harry didn't tell him he was already "in the know"? Welcome, Remus Lupin! Check out the full Pottermore article on him and his family! How did Dumbledore convince Lupin to take the post of Defense Against The Dark Arts? Laura offers some interesting insight on the Wolfsbane Potion, lyncathropy and the AIDS epidemic of the 1990s Why is Snape so angry with Lupin being named to the Defense Against The Dark Arts post? We analyze the effect the Dementor had on Harry, Ginny and Neville Could a Dementor have removed the Horcrux from Harry? What if it took Harry's soul and left Voldemort's? Could anything have been done to prevent the Dementors from boarding the train? Did Dumbledore intentionally place Lupin on the train for this very reason? With McGonagall tending to Harry and Hermione, just who the hell hosted the Sorting Ceremony? Odds & Ends cover Sneakoscopes, Hogsmeade, the Shrieking Shack, secret passages, thestrals, forgetting passwords and more! Quizzitch: Who guides the trio to their first Divination class? Next Week: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6: Talons and Tea Leaves This week's episode is brought to you by Indeed (visit Indeed.com/MuggleCast to start hiring now) and MeUndies (get 25% off your first order, plus free standard shipping at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast). And don't forget! There's much more MuggleCast waiting for you on Patreon, including Bonus MuggleCast segments! This week, we discuss breaking news... a brand-new Harry Potter TV show is coming to HBO! Become a patron of ours today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast! As always, we appreciate your support of the show!

This week, Vanessa and Matt are joined by special guest Jolie Doggett as they explore the theme of Peace in Chapter Eleven of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! They discuss the lack of peace in Moody's life, a classic Draco Malfoy train encounter, and Ron's superhuman strength. Throughout the episode we consider the question: how can we find little pockets of peace when life becomes overwhelming? Thank you to Bitty for their voicemail! Next week we're reading Book 4 Chapter 12, The Triwizard Tournament, through the theme of Paranoia.--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only two dollars to join our Patreon for extra bloopers every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Vanessa and Matt explore the theme of Quitting in Chapter Ten of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! They discuss Arthur's obligations as both a parent and government employee, Harry's confession to his pals, and the usefulness (or lack thereof) of portkeys. Throughout the episode we consider the question: when does quitting allow us to choose something better? Thank you to Sarah for their voicemail! Next week we're reading Book 4 Chapter 11, Aboard the Hogwarts Express with special guest Jolie Doggett (!!), through the theme of Peace.Vanessa's new project, "Should I Quit" is now available wherever you listen to podcasts!--It's two sickles to join S.P.E.W., and only two dollars to join our Patreon for extra bloopers every week! Please consider helping us fill our Gringotts vault so we can continue to make this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode we dig deep into our MuggleMail bag as listeners weigh in on our latest chapter-by-chapter discussions. One voicemail leads the hosts to take sides in a Harry Potter date debate! Plus, we have fun paging through the beautifully illustrated Order of the Phoenix by Jim Kay. We review the Order of the Phoenix Illustrated Illustrated Edition. There's SO much to love in this one! Speaking of books, don't forget to check out The Magic of MinaLima, which is an exhaustive look at MinaLima's work for the Harry Potter movies. Voicemails cover magic's origin, a Harry Potter first date, a Draco-focused Harry Potter TV show and more Several listeners write in about Christmas gifts and Quidditch rules Why doesn't Hermione use her own wand to stop the troll?  Why did Hagrid really go to get Harry from the Dursleys? Should Ron be allowed to have a rat at Hogwarts? Is it the job of the Sorting Hat to equally divide the first year students? One listener presents a strong defense of Petunia Dursley Is the Hogwarts Express super inconvenient for students who already live close to Hogwarts? Troll in the Dungeon:  is Dumbledore sending the Slytherins to their doom? Quizzitch: When McGonagall gives detentions to the trio and Neville in Book 1, she says she's "never heard of such a thing before." What is the "thing" to which she is referring? Next week: Chapter-by-Chapter returns with Chapters 15 (The Forbidden Forest) & 16 (Through The Trapdoor) of Sorcerer's Stone This week's episode is brought to you by MasterClass ( get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast).