Podcasts about Rowling

** این اپیزود در تاریخ ۲ دی ضبط شده **گاهی جواب بزرگ‌ترین معماها نه در میدان جنگ، بلکه در خاطره‌های تلخ یک الف خانگی پنهان شده. در این قسمت از پادکست لوموس، همراه با شادی، خشایار، ایاز و امید سراغ راز ریگولوس بلک، هویت واقعی R.A.B و گذشته‌ای می‌ریم که مسیر جست‌وجوی هورکراکس‌ها رو تغییر می‌ده. دربارهٔ وفاداری پیچیدهٔ کریچر، مأموریت مرگبار ریگولوس در غار، نقش خانوادهٔ بلک در ماجرای ولدمورت و دزدیده شدن گردنبند توسط ماندنگاس صحبت می‌کنیم. این فصل یکی از جاهایی‌ست که نگاه‌مون به کریچر، سیریوس و حتی مفهوم وفاداری در دنیای هری پاتر عوض می‌شه.آنچه در این قسمت می‌شنوید:اجراکنندگان: خشایار، امید، شادی و ایازمترجم: حسین غریبیراوی: آرشیدا لاریآهنگساز: علی خانیکپی‌رایت: Warner Bros and J.K.Rowlingارتباط با ما: podcast@wizardingcenter.com (توییتر و اینستاگرام)

Videobeschreibung Wenn Sie sich auch nur ein bisschen auskennen in der deutschen Literatur, genügen Ihnen zwei, drei Sätze, um einen Text von Thomas Mann, von Franz Kafka, von Thomas Bernhard oder von Peter Stamm zu erkennen. Obwohl alle vier in derselben Sprache schreiben, drücken sie sich völlig unterschiedlich darin aus. Anders gesagt: Ihr Sprachstil unterscheidet sich. Auf Englisch spricht man von der eigenen Stimme, «his own voice». Das ist ein schöner Ausdruck: Mein eigener Sprachstil ist tatsächlich meine eigene Stimme. Diese individuelle sprachliche Stimme ist keine Einbildung: Der Sprachstil lässt sich mathematisch vermessen. Wie gut das funktioniert, zeigte 2013 der Fall um den Roman «The Cuckoo's Calling», also: Der Ruf des Kuckucks, von einem Autor namens Robert Galbraith. Bald wurde gemunkelt, es handle sich dabei um ein Pseudonym von J.K. Rowling. Ein amerikanischer Computerlinguist analysierte die Sprache des Romans und verglich ihn mit J.K. Rowlings Büchern und mit Werken anderer Krimiautorinnen. Die sprachstatistische Analyse zeigte, dass der Roman stilistisch deutlich näher bei J.K. Rowling lag als bei jeder der Vergleichsautorinnen. Wir alle erzeugen beim Schreiben offenbar einen eindeutigen sprachlichen Fingerabdruck, eine Sprachsignatur, die unseren Stil oder eben: unsere sprachliche Stimme ausmacht. Doch diese eigene Stimme ist in Gefahr: Die redigierende und korrigierende KI mittet Sprache ein und bügelt Eigenheiten weg. Wir hinterlassen sprachlich keine Fingerabdrücke mehr – es ist, als würden wir alle Plastikhandschuhe tragen beim Schreiben. Ich zeige Ihnen deshalb diese Woche, welche Elemente den eigenen Sprachstil ausmachen und ich biete Ihnen mit meinem Stil-O-Meter ein digitales Werkzeug, mit dem Sie Ihren eigenen Sprachstil vermessen und verbessern können.woko2624Matthias Zehnder ist Autor und Medienwissenschaftler in Basel. Er ist bekannt für inspirierende Texte, Vorträge und Seminare über Medien, die Digitalisierung und KI.Website: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/Newsletter abonnieren: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/abo/Unterstützen: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/unterstuetzen/Biografie und Publikationen: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/about/

In this hard-hitting episode of the Adult in the Room podcast, Victoria Taft tackles the massive stories shaking the geopolitical and cultural landscape. First, an American Apache helicopter is shot down over the Strait of Hormuz, pushing U.S.-Iran tensions to a knife-edge as President Trump prepares a response. Next, we expose the staggering House Judiciary hearing where Jim Jordan leveled explosive evidence against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), alleging the group used millions in donor funds to literally manufacture hate groups and coordinate the 2017 Charlottesville riots.We are joined by former UN Sanctions Coordinator Edmond Fitton-Brown to break down the cold reality of negotiating with terrorists, and author Solomon Schmidt joins to launch "Hot Book Summer" with shocking revelations about J.K. Rowling's abusive past. Plus, a look at Spencer Pratt's jaw-dropping $2.5 million California housing rebuild nightmare.

** این اپیزود در تاریخ ۲۵ آذر ضبط شده **این قسمت از پادکست لوموس با فرار شروع می‌شه؛ فراری ناگهانی از یک عروسی به دل لندن ماگلی. همراه با خشایار، امید، ملیحه و ایاز درباره شوک اولین درگیری مستقیم هری، رون و هرماینی با مرگخوارها وسط شهر، حس ناامنی دائمی و این واقعیت تازه حرف می‌زنیم که «هیچ‌جا واقعا امن نیست». بعد سراغ خانه شماره ۱۲ گریمولد می‌ریم؛ خانه‌ای که قراره پناهگاه باشه، اما خودش پر از سوال، ترس و تردیده. در این قسمت بررسی می‌کنیم مخفی شدن چه بهایی داره، چرا گذشته هنوز دست از سر قهرمان‌ها برنمی‌داره و این خونه فرسوده چطور دوباره به مرکز داستان برمی‌گرده.آنچه در این قسمت می‌شنوید:اجراکنندگان: خشایار، امید، ملیحه و ایازمترجم: حسین غریبیراوی: آرشیدا لاریآهنگساز: علی خانیکپی‌رایت: Warner Bros and J.K.Rowlingارتباط با ما: podcast@wizardingcenter.com (توییتر و اینستاگرام)

Fantasy awards have given us some incredible winners over the years.But what about the books that didn't win?In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, we're counting down the 30 greatest fantasy novels ever nominated for major fantasy awards that never actually took home the trophy. These are the bridesmaids of fantasy literature—the books that earned Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, or British Fantasy Award nominations, captured the hearts of readers, sold millions of copies, and became genre classics… yet somehow never heard their name called on awards night.From epic fantasy giants and beloved dragon adventures to urban fantasy masterpieces and modern classics, this list is packed with books that many readers would argue deserved a win.Which fantasy masterpiece was the biggest awards snub of them all?Let's find out.

Last week Ed Shardlow posted his thoughts about The Hallmarked Man being written in playful but meaningful parallel with Rowling's “political fairy tale,” ‘The Hallmarked Man Meets The Ickabog.' Nick Jeffery and John Granger called him up both to congratulate him on Arsenal winning the Premier League Cup — Go, Gunners! — and to learn as much as they could about the parallels he noted. After acknowledging the correspondences with Casual Vacancy, the trio explored Ed's argument about the Ickabog echoing just beneath the surface of Hallmarked Man, straight up and in inversion.The Ten Questions, Links, and Helpful Notes1. Nick, can you provide some context for this conversation? How did we get to the point that we expected Hallmarked Man to echo in characters, plot points, and themes either Casual Vacancy or The Ickabog? No one thought that was in the cards when Rowling-Galbraith and her publishers locked down the series at ten books.* ‘Parallels Series Idea' Pillar Post* Evan Willis' Tetractys Theory: Part 1, Part 2, Part 32. Open subject for the triumvirate to discuss here: there are a bunch of Casual Vacancy parallels in Strike 8 that have to be acknowledged. Name your favorites; I'll start this ball Rowling…* Ironbridge and Pagford seemed to be sister cities* each book ‘begins' with the sudden and tragic death of a man who haunts the rest of the novel, Barry Obama Fairbrother and Tyler Powell* The peanut allergy that Tyler and Andrew Price have; and* The incest secret in the Longcaster and Wall families3. Having noted those, Ed, why are you so sure that it's The Ickabog which is the parallel text with Hallmarked Man? Is the quantity of the parallels you and others have found, their quality, or the overarching feel of the works?* Ed's Post: ‘The Hallmarked Man Meets The Ickabog'4. I was surprised by your sheep parallel. I know my Ickabog memories are not fresh, but were there a lot of lambs and ewes in Strike 8?* Ed's Post: ‘The Hallmarked Man Meets The Ickabog'5. And the fish?* Ed's Post: ‘The Hallmarked Man Meets The Ickabog'6. Is there something akin to the Freemasonry of Hallmarked Man in The Ickabog?* Inversion of ‘Political Fairy Tale' with modern touches and gritty detective novel and Medieval coloration via Freemasonry symbolism and ritual7. Sandy Hope, our partner in the Group Adventure of charting Hallmarked Man, had a bunch of parallels that she shared in the comment thread to your post:* One of my favorite parallels you mention is the Old Forge and the Ickabog's cave, in which both Robin and the Ickabog tell tragic stories of birth. The Old Forge also reminds me of the transformation of the dungeon once Mrs. Beamish gets a stove installed and starts baking and feeding the prisoners. Mr. Dovetail's broken mind is restored by Mrs. Beamish helping him remember better times, and Robin's own brokenness is soothed by Strike's transformation from a self-serving, manipulative jerk to a selfless, compassionate listener and genuine friend. In both stories the fire is warm and purifying. Comment Url * One of my favorite parallels was “sticking to the game plan,” the ill-fated idea shared by Strike via Uncle Ted and also Lord Spittleworth. RFM reminds me of Ma Grunter, trying to appear sober when they're actually drinking on the sly. Dangerous Dick de Lion is not unlike King Fred the Fearless, who both have to learn about being contrite. Robin's bracelet is rather like Daisy's bandalore: both gifts are initially a hit but end up secretly hidden or stolen. Comment Url8. My favorite parallels were between the incest and ectopic pregnancy in Hallmarked Man and the Ickabog's manner of conceiving children and birthing them. Did you laugh out loud when you figured that out? I did when I read your post -- but it bears some explaining --* Ed's Post: ‘The Hallmarked Man Meets The Ickabog'9. Let's go around the table again and talk about the connection between the two books we haven't talked about yet --* Avenging Ghost of Beamish and Powell* Eslanda/Jolanda* Sandy Hope's Footprint Clue* Image of St George* The monster's cave, the Old Forge on Sark, and an ectopic pregnancy* Woman talking monster into returning to human society* Ed's brilliant parallel Character list10. You discuss in your post that you went through two stages before arriving at your conviction that The Ickabog was the model: first the overarching story and then on re-reading The Ickabog for specific detailed parallels. Do you think we should do a re-read of Casual Vacancy -- Nick is always ready for a trip to Pagford -- to see if there aren't specifics there, too? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

Depuis plusieurs semaines, je travaille sur "Moldu·es et fièr·es de l'être", un programme que je co-crée avec Anne Favier Barthéléry autour de notre relation à Harry Potter, à nos imaginaires et plus largement aux récits qui nous ont construits.Si tu veux en savoir plus, c'est ici : https://molduesetfieresdeletre.mailerpage.io/Et avant de demander à d'autres personnes de raconter leur histoire, j'ai ressenti le besoin de raconter la mienne.Dans cet épisode, je reviens sur mon enfance de fan d'Harry Potter, sur ce que cette œuvre a représenté pour moi, sur les liens qu'elle a créés avec mon père et ma sœur, sur mon attachement à Sirius Black, au Terrier, à l'idée de Poudlard, mais aussi sur les questions et les contradictions qui sont apparues au fil des années.Je parle de nostalgie, d'imaginaire, d'identité, de sentiment d'être différente, de J.K. Rowling, de désillusion, de créativité, de deuil, de pouvoir d'agir et de ce que l'on fait lorsque les histoires qui nous ont aidé·es à grandir commencent à se fissurer.Ce n'est pas un épisode pour dire aux gens quoi penser de Harry Potter.C'est une enquête personnelle.Une archive sonore.Une tentative honnête de comprendre ce que cette histoire a construit en moi... et ce que j'ai envie d'en faire aujourd'hui.Et peut-être que si vous avez vous aussi grandi avec Harry Potter - ou avec n'importe quel autre récit qui a compté dans votre vie - certaines questions résonneront.Bonne écoute !

Que bem que ela fala. E sabemos o bem que escreve e canta. A Carolina trouxe alguns dos livros que a mudaram e lhe entraram pelo coração, o lugar de onde se revela. Soube a pouco e muito falámos nós. Obrigada Carolina.Os livros que a cantautora escolheu:Estela sem Deus, Jeferson Tenório;A palavra que Resta, Stênio Gardel;Balada para Sophie, Filipe Melo e Juan Cavia;O Ano do Pensamento Mágico, Joan Didion.Outras referências:Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling;A Sombra do Vento, Carlos Ruiz Zafón;A Natureza da Mordida, Carla Madeira;A Papisa Joana, Donna Woolfolk Cross.Noites Azuis, Joan Didion;Capitães da Areia, Jorge Amado;Se Deus me chamar não vou, Mariana Salomão Carrara.Recomendei:As Primas, Aurora Venturini;ACOTAR, Sarah J. Maas;A Correspondente, Virginia Evans;A Educação de Eleanor, Gayle Honeyman;Lições de Química, Bonnie Garmus.O que ofereci:A Sombra das Árvores no Inverno, Carla Pais (Prémio Leya 2025);BeautyLand - Terra Bela, Marie-Héléne Bertino;O Retrato de Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde.Filme de animação referido: Coco.Os livros aqui:www.wook.pt

En su sección de ciencia en Más de uno, Alberto Aparici ha aprovechado la posible clasificación del CD Castellón para el playoff de ascenso a Primera para introducir un tema muy distinto: la desaparición progresiva de la escritura a mano. Junto a Begoña Gómez de la Fuente y Jorge Abad, el divulgador ha recorrido manuscritos originales de autores como Tolstói, Kafka, Dickens o J.K. Rowling para reflexionar sobre cómo la tecnología ha cambiado nuestra relación con la escritura. Aparici ha recordado además estudios recientes que apuntan a que escribir a mano podría favorecer una actividad cerebral más rica y una mejor comprensión de los conceptos frente al teclado. El programa contó también con la participación del biólogo y experto en neuroeducación David Bueno, profesor de la Universitat de Barcelona, que explicó cómo influye la escritura manual en el aprendizaje y el funcionamiento del cerebro.

En su sección de ciencia en Más de uno, Alberto Aparici ha aprovechado la posible clasificación del CD Castellón para el playoff de ascenso a Primera para introducir un tema muy distinto: la desaparición progresiva de la escritura a mano. Junto a Begoña Gómez de la Fuente y Jorge Abad, el divulgador ha recorrido manuscritos originales de autores como Tolstói, Kafka, Dickens o J.K. Rowling para reflexionar sobre cómo la tecnología ha cambiado nuestra relación con la escritura. Aparici ha recordado además estudios recientes que apuntan a que escribir a mano podría favorecer una actividad cerebral más rica y una mejor comprensión de los conceptos frente al teclado. El programa contó también con la participación del biólogo y experto en neuroeducación David Bueno, profesor de la Universitat de Barcelona, que explicó cómo influye la escritura manual en el aprendizaje y el funcionamiento del cerebro.Conviértete en un supporter de este podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mas-noticias--4412383/support.ESCUCHAR RADIO 

Imagine you and your teenager are sitting down for a nice meal and she/he asks, “What do you know about depression?” and you're stumped for an answer.Faced with that question, D. (Doug) Earl Johnston set out to find the answer and, along the way, identified 271 additional and distinct emotional states that formed the basis of his latest book, Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart.Doug shares what he learned about the amazing array of emotions all of us feel and how they protect us this week on Spirit Gym.Learn more about Doug and his work at his website and on social media via Instagram. Timestamps4:58 Doug's daughter asked him a question he couldn't answer: What do you know about depression?10:42 Identifying 272 distinct emotional states through famous quotes.21:41 Our emotions are tools that protect us.32:15 The fundamental misunderstandings people have about emotions.43:15 A consilience.47:35 Name it, blame it and tame it.56:30 “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.”1:06:35 Where do you draw the line between an emotion, mood, condition, pattern or life?1:23:54 “Can you change a default emotion?”1:33:38 Doug's reckoning with ego.1:39:05 Vocabulary and emotions.1:48:03 The domains of the head, heart and gut.1:52:55 One of Paul's guiding principles he learned from a student.ResourcesAtlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené BrownThe work of Rollo May, J.K. Rowling, Eckhart Tolle, Dr. Antonio Damasio, Jonathan Heidt, Daniel Kahneman, Niels Bohr, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Charles Kettering, Noam Chomsky, Dan Siegel, Stanley Krippner, Edgar Cayce and Sir Winston ChurchillPaul's podcast conversations with Rollin McCraty and Keith WittHow Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain by Lisa BarrettSwitch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan HeathFeelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol TrumanThe Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk Tao Te Ching: A New English Version by Stephen MitchellThe Second Book of the Tao by Stephen MitchellFind more resources for this episode on our website.Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear MusicThanks to our awesome sponsors:PaleovalleyBIOptimizers US and BIOptimizers UK PAUL15Organifi CHEK20Wild PasturesPique LifeCHEK InstituteWe may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.

In this episode of the Hugonauts we're breaking down what truly defines great Young Adult fiction and answering the ultimate question: do these books actually hold up when you read them for the first time as an adult? We look at the core guidelines of YA literature—from exploring the human condition through a young protagonist's eyes to (ideally) teaching profound stuff that resonates beyond teenhood.  We count down the absolute best YA sci-fi books and YA fantasy recommendations. We dive into legendary dystopian hits like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, masterclass sci-fi like Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and Red Rising by Pierce Brown, and classic fantasy staples like Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass, and C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. But we don't just look at the masterpieces.  We also separate the true YA novels from books that are actually meant for middle-grade kids (like The Giver, Redwall, and The Phantom Tollbooth). Finally, we tackle the controversial "duds" of the genre. Why are massive bestsellers like The Maze Runner, Divergent, and Scythe so incredibly popular, and why did they fall totally flat for us? Grab your reading list and let's find out which books are actually worth your time!  No spoilers anywhere in this episode. Join the Hugonauts book club on discord Or you can watch our episodes on YouTube if you prefer video This episode is sponsored by Memoirs of the End by Vincent Rylan All the books we recommend, plus timestamps: 00:00 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins  04:16 Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card  07:02 The Chrysalids by John Wyndham  08:55 SPONSOR - Memoirs of the End by Vincent Rylan  09:30 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline  12:54 Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff  15:20 Red Rising by Pierce Brown  18:47 Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden  20:15 A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket  22:39 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien  23:56 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman  26:40 The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis  29:10 The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett  31:38 Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin  34:14 The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King  35:14 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman  36:55 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling  39:10 Redwall by Brian Jacques 41:17  Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien  41:55 The Giver by Lois Lowry  42:41 The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster  43:34 Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer  44:40 Cinder by Marissa Meyer  45:56 Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix  46:54 How are these duds so popular?

Czas na temat wylosowany w trakcie urodzin, który robimy w pełnym wydaniu! Dwoje wielkich twórców. On z Łodzi, ona z Wielkie Brytanii. Oboje budzą kontrowersje, ale jednocześnie są twórcami niesamowitych historii kochanych przez miliony. Do której strony wam bliżej? Rowling czy Sapkowski? Zapraszamy do odsłuchiwania i głosowania!

Day Break | Freedom, Fraud & the Fight for America --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:18 – Amy King, widow of fallen Army Reserve Captain Andy King and author of Saying It Out Loud: A Young Widow's Triumph Over Tragedy. King discusses honoring her late husband's legacy following his death in a 2023 Humvee training accident in Virginia. She reflects on grief, resilience, motherhood, and the efforts behind the Captain Andy King Memorial 5K and scholarship fund created in his honor. 28:09 – Wayne Morrow, CEO of the John Birch Society. Morrow discusses concerns about government overreach, civil liberties, and parallels between modern society and themes found in George Orwell's 1984. He also examines the influence of Fabian socialism and political ideology in America. 38:19 - Monologue 47:24 – Solomon Schmidt, 22-year-old author of ten books, including A Pen to Change the World: The Life of J.K. Rowling. Schmidt discusses the life and cultural impact of J.K. Rowling, including controversies surrounding her public positions and the influence of her writing on generations of readers. 1:06:21 – Dr. Matthew Mehan, educator and author of The American Book of Fables. Mehan discusses his new book and the importance of storytelling, moral lessons, and civic education in shaping American culture and values. 1:16:25 - Monologue 1:25:23 – Steve Dulan, professor and attorney. Dulan discusses a lawsuit filed by civil liberties advocates challenging a blue-state firearm law requiring individuals to effectively “show papers” in order to exercise gun rights. He explains the constitutional concerns surrounding the legislation. 1:35:29 – Robert VerBruggen, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. VerBruggen discusses government fraud, abuse, and accountability, explaining why combating fraud is critical for public trust, economic stability, and taxpayer protection. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 15 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/2DY74e9ffLY

In yesterday's Hallmarked Man Notes: The Christmas Charm Bracelet Decoded, Tod Jameson and the Ectopic Pregnancy, and Venetian Blinds, Ed Shardlow explained three sub-texts within Strike 8 that, though invisible on first and second reading, pop up during structural analysis and in light of other Rowling-Galbraith notes.* The Christmas gift charm bracelet that Strike gives to Robin, for example, appears to be a ring and a key to Hallmarked Man, a meaning that occurred to Ed in light of Rowling's own bracelet gift to fandom last year as a key to Sleep Tight, Evangeline;* John Granger's posts about Strike 8's cryptonyms similarly encouraged Ed to think about the meaning of ‘Todd Jameson' and how the “egg-shaped” man had several names and seemed to be stuck on the Tube; and* Ed's efforts to finish his charting of each Part of Hallmarked Man brought up the theme of Robin's blindness and mental struggles in Part Three's chapter correspondences.In conversation with Nick and John explore these ideas as well as the potential importance of A. H. Murdoch, a historical figure that Rowling-Galbraith invented whole-cloth, the meaning of his name (‘Alexander Hughson'), and the passages from his book, Secrets of the Craft, which of course are also Rowling-written.Below are relevant links to the subjects the trio discuss and copies of the ten questions John and Nick asked Ed. Enjoy!Links to Conversation Subjects* Hallmarked Man Notes: The Christmas Charm Bracelet Decoded, Tod Jameson and the Ectopic Pregnancy, and Venetian BlindsCharm Bracelets* The Christmas Charm Bracelet of Strike 9 Clues (Part One)* The Christmas Charm Bracelet of Strike 9 Clues (Part Two)* 'Sleep Tight, Evangeline,' Miniature Psalters, and the Head of Persephone: A Conversation with Dimitra FimiCryptonyms of Hallmarked Man* The Allegorical Cryptonyms of The Hallmarked Man, Part One* What do Tyler Powell, Rupert Fleetwood, Jolanda Lindvall, and Lady Jensen Have in Common?* The Allegorical Cryptonyms of The Hallmarked Man, Part Two* Wet Squibs, Islamic Cub Names, the Seven Strike Series Structure Theories, and How a Human Being Reads a Story* The Lost Child Golden Thread in the Work of J. K. Rowling (Kanreki)* The Pre Natal Infanticide Theory Explaining the Lost Child Golden Thread (Kanreki)Rowling as Sacred Artist: A Perennialist Reading* Ray Livingston's 'The Traditional Theory of Literature' (Chapter 1: Preface and Prologue)* Ray Livingston's 'The Traditional Theory of Literature' (Chapter 2: Man, Society, Art )* Ray Livingston's 'The Traditional Theory of Literature' (Chapter 3: The Creative Process)* Martin Lings' The Sacred Art of Shakespeare* J. K. Rowling's ‘G-Spot' and ‘Triple Play:' The Lake & Shed Secret of Her SuccessThe Ring Readings of Rowling's Hallmarked Man Chapter Sets* Index to the Group Adventure of Charting Hallmarked Man (scroll to bottom)* Ed Shardlow's ring notes for Part ThreeA. H. Murdoch's Secrets of the Craft Excerpt in Hallmarked Man:[Strike skim read the entry under Degree Thirty Two.]The Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret becomes with the degree's endowment none other than a Christian Knight, the spiritual and legitimate successor of the Knights Templar…When she elevates and illuminates, a pure and chaste woman is as silver, or the moon. The […] Freemason is sure never to mistake base lead for the nobler metal, else he may find himself forever entombed in the dungeons of lust and lasciviousness. (ch 53, pp 400-401)The parenthetic ellipsis is in text, presumably there because “Murdoch's book hadn't been properly formatted, but scanned into digital form, so that the occasional word was illegible.” The Ten Questions1. We have a special guest today, Ed Shardlow, the author of a commissioned post that went up this week, one we begged him to write up. It's a weird post erven for a site that embraces the exotic, weird in the sense that it's actually three posts rolled into one. What's up with that, Ed?2. So the three topics are:* The charms on the Christmas gift bracelet Strike gives to Robin;* The meaning of Todd Jameson's name; and* Robin's sight and memory issues, ‘Venetian Blinds'Is there a thread running through these ideas?3. Tell us your charm bracelet idea and the meaning you think each charm has --4. And it's a ring, right? What a hoot. --5. I loved the charm bracelet piece, not only because you read it as a ring and showed that the charms together and separately act as something of a cipher for the book, but because you linked it with Rowling's Strike 9 charm bracelet. Do you think per Shanker's advice that Rowling-Galbraith is giving us jewelry as a gift, one that acts as a key to the work in Hallmarked and before Evangeline, because she wants to make up with us for the hardship readers are having with the book?6. True confession, though I was laughing out loud and delighted with your breaking the Todd Jameson cryptonym, I was also pretty disappointed; that name was number 1 on my not-yet-written third cryptonym post. What consoles me is that I doubt I would have picked up on what you saw, which is mind-blowing. Tell us how you figured it out as well as what you found --7. Now this is a new variant of Rowling-Galbraith inserting a text within the text. This ectopic sub-story isn't a written text, a fairy tale, an epigraph, a song playing in the background, an illustration based on a mad detective's Tarot card throws, or the story the bad guy is selling that we have to unwind and re-write; we've seen those books-inside-the-book before. This is Rowling concealing a narrative inside the narrative with really only the name to act as the cipher for the coded message. Hence her talking up the importance of names in this book (e.g. Jolanda -- violets)?8. You make a fascinating connection with Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and Todd Jameson, the Son Who Killed His Mother (?). Do you think she finally wrote in a Chosen One echo in the Strike series via Jameson?9. I want to leave the board here because I know you have to run -- thank you for joining us on such short notice! -- and talk about something you've been sharing on the Moderator's Back Channels, namely, A. H. Murdock. His Secrets of the Craft is another text within a text, right? Have you thought about his name or why Rowling gave his book that title?10. When will you be done with The Ickabog project? Inquiring minds want to know! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, has led a life of ups and downs and on way to becoming one of the world's best-selling authors, has overcome much adversity. She's also a complex woman — as complex as the characters she's developed in her much-beloved books. Even her faith and love for Jesus has not come without controversy. Solomon Schmidt, author of "A Pen to Change the World," dove deep into her background.

La ciudad de Edimburgo mantiene una estrecha relación con la literatura universal. En el programa Gente viajera, Sandra Martín recorrió algunos de los escenarios vinculados a autores como Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle o J. K. Rowling. El audio completo puede escucharse en Gente viajera, el programa de viajes de Onda Cero que se emite sábados y domingos de 12:00 a 14:00h, presentado por Carles Lamelo.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4016: Steve Pavlina reframes failure as an unavoidable and even valuable part of pursuing meaningful goals, using Disneyland's disastrous opening day as proof that spectacular setbacks don't have to destroy a bigger vision. By exploring J.K. Rowling's fear of failure alongside Walt Disney's persistence, he shows how resilience, adaptation, and long-term thinking can turn embarrassment and mistakes into momentum for growth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2020/06/your-relationship-with-failure/ Quotes to ponder: "Fear of failure is the saddest reason on earth not to do what you were meant to do." "Ultimately, wouldn't you rather be the person who actually finished the project you're dreaming about, rather than the one who talks about ‘always having wanted to'?" "Don't equate the failure of your projects with the death of your long-term goal." Episode references: J.K. Rowling Harvard Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4016: Steve Pavlina reframes failure as an unavoidable and even valuable part of pursuing meaningful goals, using Disneyland's disastrous opening day as proof that spectacular setbacks don't have to destroy a bigger vision. By exploring J.K. Rowling's fear of failure alongside Walt Disney's persistence, he shows how resilience, adaptation, and long-term thinking can turn embarrassment and mistakes into momentum for growth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2020/06/your-relationship-with-failure/ Quotes to ponder: "Fear of failure is the saddest reason on earth not to do what you were meant to do." "Ultimately, wouldn't you rather be the person who actually finished the project you're dreaming about, rather than the one who talks about ‘always having wanted to'?" "Don't equate the failure of your projects with the death of your long-term goal." Episode references: J.K. Rowling Harvard Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4016: Steve Pavlina reframes failure as an unavoidable and even valuable part of pursuing meaningful goals, using Disneyland's disastrous opening day as proof that spectacular setbacks don't have to destroy a bigger vision. By exploring J.K. Rowling's fear of failure alongside Walt Disney's persistence, he shows how resilience, adaptation, and long-term thinking can turn embarrassment and mistakes into momentum for growth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2020/06/your-relationship-with-failure/ Quotes to ponder: "Fear of failure is the saddest reason on earth not to do what you were meant to do." "Ultimately, wouldn't you rather be the person who actually finished the project you're dreaming about, rather than the one who talks about ‘always having wanted to'?" "Don't equate the failure of your projects with the death of your long-term goal." Episode references: J.K. Rowling Harvard Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Jeffery and John Granger sat down last weekend to discuss John's post, The Literary Alchemy of Hallmarked Man: What Do the Structural Models Tell Us? They'd talked about this subject briefly before John had written it up and he came to rather different conclusions in the process of writing and preparing slides for the post, all of which are rolled out in this inquisition.The questions Nick asked are below after the links in the post in case you want to follow up on what is said above about literary alchemy, the sequence of colors and symbols, and about the structural models for understanding the Strike series, especially Extended Play and Tetractys Theory.Enjoy!Links for Follow-Up and Easy Reference: Strike Alchemy* Literary Alchemy – A Primer for Those Interested in J. K. Rowling's Artistry* ‘Literary Alchemy' Pillar Post* Metallurgical, Literary, and Psychological Alchemy: Is Jung a Good Guide for Understanding J. K. Rowling's Artistry and Meaning?* The Literary Alchemy of Hallmarked Man: What Do the Structural Models Tell Us?* , ‘The Connection of Ring Composition and Literary Alchemy in the Layout of the Seven Book Harry Potter Series.' (William Sprague)* ‘Parallel Series Idea' Pillar Post* Robin Ellacott and Reverse Alchemy: Transformation Through the First Three Strike Texts (Louise Freeman)* ‘Troubled Blood: Strike's Transformation'* ‘Water, water everywhere: Baptism, baths, rivers, rain and showers as unifying themes in The Running Grave' (Louise Freeman)Seven Structural Theories for Strike Ten Book Series* (1) straight up Decalogy, no structural connection between books;* (2) Big Ring Composition, Double Wedding Band (Louise Freeman);* (3) Seven book series with Trilogy finale (Nick Jeffery, John Granger);* (4) Extended Play theory (John Granger per ‘Kathleen'),* (5) Sonnet Corona Form (Robyn Gomillion);* (6) Tetractys theory (Evan Willis with back-up explanations here, follow-up from Evan here); and* (7) Celtic Cross (John Granger) scroll down to bottom).Tetractys Theory in Depth:* Alastair Fowler's Triumphal Forms* Why the Cormoran Strike Novels are a Ten Book Series: Mythological Clues and Tetractys Parallelism with a Touch of Tarot Reveal the Strike Series Structural Echoes with Rowling's First Ten Book Set [Evan Willis, 10 July 2023]* Is Tetractys Theory the Best Explanation of Why the Cormoran Strike Series is Ten Books in Length? First Thoughts on Evan Willis' Numerological Exegesis of Rowling's Two Ten Novel Series and the Meaning of This Structure [John Granger, 18 July 2023]* Evan Willis: Running Grave Review In which the Tetractis theory is revisited in light of Strike 7 and the Theory is Updated [Evan Willis, 30 September 2023]* See The Literary Alchemy of Hallmarked Man: What Do the Structural Models Tell Us? for excerpts from and discussion of each.* The Tetraktys Tarot Card Spread!The Charts!The Ten Questions and John's Answers (notes!)1. So, John, you finally got the alchemy post you promised an age ago; what was the hold-up?· Tried to put too much into the posts…· Changed my mind several times as I was writing them!· had to relearn Tetractys ideas!2. You start off this Alchemy of Hallmarked Man discussion with a review of the literary alchemy of the first three Harry Potter novels; why did you have to reach that far back?· Because of the Parallel Series Idea, not alchemy at all, oddly enough.· Rowling seems to be writing Strike decalogy in parallel with Potter to include its alchemical sequences so I reviewed the ‘Reverse Alchemy' theory, how that worked for Strikes 1-3 but broke down at 6 and 7· To get Hallmarked Man‘s alchemical stage right, I wanted to figure out why Ink Black Heart and Running Grave weren't the alchemical stages we'd expect3. Some of our listeners may not have the literary alchemy three stages firmly in mind; can you go over what they are and why they're important in Rowling Studies?· Black, White, Red stages: what each represents in metallurgical and literary alchemy;· Rowling's one interview comment about alchemy, her PotterMore notes about colors;· Rowling's use in Harry Potter‘s last three books, fourth book, and first three books;· Galbraith's use in Strike series' first three books, fifth book, and six and seven;· Ward on astrology in CSL's Narniad ('Donegality'); similar use of alchemy in Rowling-Galbraith4. So the alchemical parallelism seemed to stop at Ink Black Heart but the other correspondences continued?· That's right, the first seven books paralleled their Harry Potter apposite numbers in structure, plot points, and some symbolism but the last two broke from the alchemical pattern;· I decided that the best place to look for a way that the new pattern could be explained would be looking at the seven theories about the Strike-Ellacott series structure;· If a specific structure had a very clear idea about the alchemical stage sequencing in the books, then I'd have a real head-start in what to look for in Hallmarked Man.5. The Seven theories -- last time we talked it was six! Remind me what they are and what each says about the alchemy...· No structure, Big Ring/Double Wedding Band, Septology and trilogy combo, Extended Play, Corona Sonnet, Tetractys, and Celtic Cross (see links above!);· Only Extended Play and Tetractys theories had clear theories about the alchemy; and· Oddly enough, they both explained why Hallmarked Man had to be considered an albedo or white novel even though they disagreed about what Ink Black Heart and Running Grave were...6. We've got slides here that help make what seems hopelessly nerdy something you can see. We'll start way back with the ring structure of The Harry Potter series and work our way toward Evan Willis' Tetractys ideas.· Harry Potter series, Sprague/Thacker ‘Reverse Alchemy:' Slides 1 and 2 (see above)7. And via the Parallel Series Idea we should see those same relationships that were found in the Potter books in the Strike series?· Extended Play idea: Slides 3 and 4 (see above)· Where it breaks down -- Running Grave like Troubled Blood an “aquatic Nigredo“8. And you think the Tetractys idea is better. We really need to have Evan on the show to talk about where he learned about this figure, its use in English literature prior to Rowling, and why he thinks Rowling is writing her second ten book series. Can you summarize his two Hogwarts Professor posts on this subject and why Rowling Readers will benefit from learning about this ancient ten point peg board model?· See Tetractys pyramid slides above;· Four levels: meaning of monad, dyad, triad, quaternity symbolism; (first Evan Willis post above)· Pyramid to climb, something akin to four levels of reading and knowledge; [Fowler, Triumphal Forms]· Benefit to Rowling Readers: Willis thinks the second Quaternion parallels Rowling's first -- and the differences explain the alchemical stage of Running Grave;· It also was used to predict three things about Hallmarked Man: it was all about silver, it would be an albedo or White stage novel, and it would parallel The Ickabog9. Three bullseyes with a special merit badge for figuring out the silver part before the title was announced. Let's go to the Tetractys slides for the Potter and Strike series:· All above!10. Both the Extended Play and Tetractys theories, then, have Hallmarked Man as an albedo. How will that influence your examination of Strike 8 for its alchemical symbols and sequences as well as your interpretation of them?· I'll be looking for the alchemical signatures of the second stage, leukosis or the ‘whitening,'· I'll be looking for evidence that contradicts the albedo dyad idea, and· I'll be researching if alchemical ideas, as in, say, incest, ‘Jason and the Medea,' and ‘dog and b***h,' are best read as white stage tokens This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

Nick Jeffery and John Granger sat down to discuss four Hogwarts Professor posts. Here are links to those posts with an excerpt from each and the most relevant urls embedded in them. Enjoy!What is a Squib, Really? And Where Would Rowling Have Met the Word? (John Granger, 27 April 2026)I confess that I assumed the word for barely magical witches and wizards born into magical families in J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World, the folk she calls ‘Squibs,' were given that name because of its onomatopoeic source in fireworks; per the Harry Potter Lexicon invaluable online resource, a squib is English idiom for “a dud firework that will not ignite properly.” It sounds like its meaning (as does “dud”) and a reader can feel in it the disappointment of magical parents when their child turns out not to have the gift that will make them full members of their community.I learned this morning, however, that a squib is not a dud firework, or wasn't originally though it may have that meaning today, and that it is mentioned more than once in one of Rowling's known literary influences.* ‘Squibbing' at the Bridgewater Carnival Fireworks Festival (YouTube video)* Toyohashi Tengu: Japanese Quidditch Team (Harry Potter Lexicon)* Tengu — Japanese Fantastic Beast not in Newt Scamander's textbook (Wikipedia)* Toyohashi Tezutsu fireworks 2022 (Tezutsu-hanabi — Wikipedia)* Dimitra Fimi's ‘A Kind of Elvish Craft' Substack site* The Fireworks of Gandalf: in which ‘squibs' are discussed (not duds!)* ‘The Slow Lord of the Rings Re-Read' Prof Fimi's Tolkien Reading Day Introduction* Reading Rowling as Myth Maker and Myth Re-Writer: A Conversation with Dr Dimitra Fimi * ‘Sleep Tight, Evangeline,' Miniature Psalters, and the Head of Persephone: A Conversation with Dimitra FimiHogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Ray Livingston's 'The Traditional Theory of Literature:' Chapter 2: Man, Society, Art (John Granger, 30 April 2026)In brief, the Perennialist reading of literature begins with a different idea of what a human being is, which reflects the social environment or society and culture that best fosters his achievement of his end or telos, which reflects what role art in general and story specifically plays in his best life. The human being as primarily spiritual, his end as profound communion with what is most Real, and story as non-liturgical sacred art (not necessarily or even usually ‘religious') which supports him in his vocation to that end are the premises of the traditional or theocentric understanding of man, society, and art.Which is the title of Livingston's second chapter and a description of its organization as well as of its contents. It's not easy reading; the subject matter is quite dense and he covers an enormous amount of ground relatively quickly so he can get to the ‘literature' in the remaining chapters of the work. Without setting out the premises of the Perennialist understanding with respect to what it means to be human, how a community is designed to make a fully human life possible, and how the art of everyday objects as well as set pieces for appreciation or entertainment — there being no meaningful difference in the value of practical and fine arts here — bring that polity to fruition, discussion of literature from the traditional view would be a waste of time.The Allegorical Cryptonyms of Hallmarked Man, Part 2: Ten More Cratylic Character Names and Best Guesses about their Embedded Meanings (John Granger, 1 May 2026)This is the second part of at least a three part series of articles with supplementary video discussion in which I take a long look at Rowling-Galbraith's choices for character names in the eighth Strike-Ellacott novel, The Hallmarked Man. For the first posts in this series, in which I explain why this is a worthwhile effort, one critical to Rowling's intentional artistry and complementary to her other Shed tools, see ‘The Allegorical Cryptonyms of The Hallmarked Man, Part One' and my conversation with Nick Jeffery about it ‘What do Tyler Powell, Rupert Fleetwood, Jolanda Lindvall, and Lady Jensen Have in Common?'Almost half of today's ten posts are about characters named ‘Lion' or variants on the leonine theme. I think the number of lions prowling through Hallmarked Man, not to mention the dogs from Hell and the bears benign and grizzly, deserve their own post, especially to contrast it with the predominant swan symbolism of the first seven books. Or are they conjoined in Jonny Rokeby, whose middle name is the lionesque ‘Leonard' and who plays the part of a Jovian swan in the Leda mating that produced Cormoran Strike (we think?). [Be sure to check out Ed Shardlow's full catalogue of the lions afoot in the pages of Hallmarked Man!]* ‘I'm an Essex Girl' (YouTube video)The Literary Alchemy of Hallmarked Man: What Do the Structural Models Tell Us? Seeking Pointers to the Hermetic Meaning of Strike 8 within (a) the Extended Play and Tetractys Ten Book Series Pictures and (b) the Parallel Series and Reverse Alchemy Ideas (John Granger, 8 May 2026)There are currently seven theories that I have read about of how best to think of the Strike-Ellacott series structure:* (1) straight up Decalogy, no structural connection between books;* (2) Big Ring Composition, Double Wedding Band (Louise Freeman);* (3) Seven book series with Trilogy finale (Nick Jeffery, John Granger);* (4) Extended Play theory (John Granger per ‘Kathleen'),* (5) Sonnet Corona Form (Robyn Gomillion);* (6) Tetractys theory (Evan Willis with back-up explanations here, follow-up from Evan here); and* (7) Celtic Cross (John Granger) scroll down to bottom).The first idea is that there isn't a series structure worth noting, which is the default position of the great majority of readers. They (we?) enjoy each book and appreciate the over-arching story parts and conflicts without wondering about the author's intentional narrative scaffolding. Rowling has repeatedly said that special sauce secret of her success is structure but as story organization artistry is very rarely discussed today in English classrooms even Literature wonks neglect it. The other six ideas have their advocates and rather than review each I've embedded links above to these proponents' online arguments in favor of their best guesses.All of these structure theories have advantages and support from previous work we and others have done in the field of Rowling Studies; all of it, however, it must be remembered is laughably speculative guesswork – we're not going to grasp the series structure with any certainty until it's done or Rowling actually answers questions about it or shares the information gratis (neither of which is likely given her history). Those of us who give any time to this, not to name those who are pre-occupied with it, are hunting phantom fandom garlands (as well as having a lot of fun).There actually is, however, a reason beyond personal insecurities and a search for redemption for thinking about how the ten book series is organized before all the books are out. If you're trying to figure out the alchemical quality or stage of a book already in print, understanding the sequence of books should theoretically reveal the sequence of stages (and vice versa). As explained above, Rowling seems to be writing the Strike series in parallel with her Harry Potter seven books. Until we got to the sixth book in Robin and Cormoran's adventures, those parallels included the alchemical coloration or stage the Potter numerical equivalent had. Other correspondences between the series continued, most notably, the seven book ring structure and playful plot point parallels (see my conclusions post Running Grave here, here, and here). The alchemy did not.In terms of alchemy, the most compelling ideas I think are Extended Play (EP) and Evan Willis' four-three-two-one pyramid, the Tetractys figure of the ancients, the ‘Great Quaternion.' Let's look at each.* Why the Cormoran Strike Novels are a Ten Book Series: Mythological Clues and Tetractys Parallelism with a Touch of Tarot Reveal the Strike Series Structural Echoes with Rowling's First Ten Book Set [Evan Willis, 10 July 2023]* Is Tetractys Theory the Best Explanation of Why the Cormoran Strike Series is Ten Books in Length? First Thoughts on Evan Willis' Numerological Exegesis of Rowling's Two Ten Novel Series and the Meaning of This Structure [John Granger, 18 July 2023]* Evan Willis: Running Grave Review In which the Tetractis theory is revisited in light of Strike 7 and the Theory is Updated [Evan Willis, 30 September 2023]* Literary Alchemy – A Primer for Those Interested in J. K. Rowling's Artistry* Metallurgical, Literary, and Psychological Alchemy: Is Jung a Good Guide for Understanding J. K. Rowling's Artistry and Meaning?The Ten Questions!Introduction: It's been a busy week, John, with posts on traditional reading, cryptonyms, and literary alchemy. I've got a bunch of questions about each subject so let's jump right in -- with some thoughts about Squibs in Bridgewater and Toyohashi, Japan!1. Ray Livingston: You're sending out a chapter of The Traditional Theory of Literature every week to our Paid Subscribers which I think everyone has access to, at least for one or two chapters. It's no small effort to type up this public domain book that isn't available anywhere on the internet, especially with the embedded links to the obscure references in the footnotes; why are you bothering?2. Ray Livingston: The first chapter you sent out went to everyone and included the glossary of terms as well as the Table of Contents, preface, and prologue (chapter one). I'm guessing this is more than throat-clearing and publisher's data; why does a literary theory text, for example, need a glossary?3. Ray Livingston: The second chapter, ‘Man Society, and Art,' was a dense read, I confess. Am I right in thinking this was Livingston's attempt to introduce the Perennialist ‘Theory of Everything' in one short chapter to lay the foundation for the literature chapters?4. Cryptonyms 2: It's been a minute since Part One of the Cryptonyms series, why the hold-up?5. Cryptonyms 2: [John] And part of my cryptonym-hesitancy was how much of this post was UK specific, as in the Branfoot = Branson idea and the Essex Girl bit, all of which was new to me. As a Brit living in Wales, should I have resisted the urge to speculate on those subjects? And is the anti-Semitism part of my Hafsa Mohamed interpretation just looking backward from current events?6. Cryptonyms 2: Do we have a Cryptonyms, Part 3, in queue? [Ottolie, ‘Jim Todd' (‘Jim Philpott,' Todd Jameson), Calvin ‘Oz' Osgood, Sofia Medina, Gretchen Schiff, Sapphire Neagle, Susan Iverson, Kim Cochran, Trevik Nancarrow, Peggy (Margaret ‘Leda') Nancarrow,, Carmen Ellacott (Dirk Ellacott, Barnaby Ellacott), Ralph Lawrence/ John Auclair – Open Invitation to readers to make name-deciphering requests in the comments; there are more than 150 names in Hallmarked Man so tell me the ones you want to hear more about]7. Alchemy (Series) We've been writing and talking about ‘how to understand literary alchemy best,' i.e., by taking a Jungian or a Perennialist perspective on how Rowling uses it, but this latest piece on the Literary Alchemy of Hallmarked Man is much more straight-reading or interpretation, no? And it starts out with how to understand Strike 8 in light of the series sequence of alchemical stages; what's the struggle with this kind of reading that we're only getting to this six months after the book came out?8. Alchemy (Hallmarked): How does your reading of specific alchemical images in Hallmarked Man differ from how you read them in, say, Troubled Blood?9. Alchemy (Hallmarked): There were quite a few finds in the ten images you found in Abraham's Dictionary that resonated with subjects we've been talking about -- the mythological backdrop to the story, to incest, to Lions and Masonry. What are we to make of this? Do you think it's a coincidence that Rowling-Galbraith's plot points and other artistry reflects these alchemical glyphs or is the hermetic symbolism driving the other elements?10. Coming Week: So what can we expect in the coming week, John? Lots and lots! Please send in your cryptonym deciphering requests — and your ideas for Hogwarts Professor merchandise (AI generated logo designs welcome)!Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

THE COMEBACK ECONOMY | How to Monetize Your Story When the Market Drops YoThe market crashed. Your story didn't."If you've been laid off, passed over, displaced by AI, or just feel like the economy left you behind — this episode was made for you.We are living through the most disorienting economic shift of our generation. Mass layoffs. AI replacing entire departments. The traditional career path collapsing in real time. And millions of people are sitting at home wondering — what do I do now?Here's what nobody is telling you:Every major economic downturn in history has created a new class of self-made people. The 2008 recession birthed Uber, Airbnb, and Instagram. The Great Depression built some of the most resilient entrepreneurs America has ever seen. And THIS moment — right now — is doing the same thing.The people who win in a down economy are not the ones with the most credentials.They are the ones who learned how to turn their story into their most valuable asset.And that is exactly what we break down today.In this episode you'll learn:

Paul Sloane joins James Smith to dismantle the myth of bad luck and reveal why the most successful innovations in history happened entirely by accident. A Cambridge engineer, former IBM marketer, and bestselling author, Sloane argues that what most people write off as misfortune is actually a hidden opportunity, and the people who notice it are the ones who change industries.

HARRY EARNS THE SWORD OF GRIFFINDOR & FIGHTS THE BASILISK!! Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Full Length Reaction Watch Along + Early Access:   / thereelrejects   HARRY POTTER and the Sorcerer's Stone Reaction:    • HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE REAC...   Gift Someone (Or Yourself) An RR Tee! https://shorturl.at/hekk2 Roxy Striar & Jon Maturan react to and review Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), the second installment in the beloved Wizarding World franchise directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire) and based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Follow Jon Maturan: https://www.instagram.com/jonmaturan/?hl=en Follow Roxy Striar YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@TheWhirlGirls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxystriar/?hl=en Twitter:  https://twitter.com/roxystriar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8:05PM: The Bruins cleaned up their turnovers and simplified their game, and they live to fight another day. Guest: Kevin Paul Dupont – Boston Globe Senior Staff sportswriter and columnist 8:15PM: A Pen to Change the World: The Life of J.K. Rowling-The only complete biography of the world’s most famous author, which includes exclusive interview content with relatives of Rowling. Guest: Solomon Schmidt - Author 8:30PM: Bridges Homeward - a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families through innovative programs and services that promote safety, stability, and opportunity.-Upcoming event: 2026 Circle of Friends Celebration and Gala at Fenway Park. Guest: Yoyo Yau – CEO of Bridges Homeward 8:45PM: S.S. Pierce: A Boston Tradition – The story and history of Samuel Pierce’s iconic gourmet food and wine emporium. Guest: Anthony Sammarco - renowned Boston historian and authorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going back ten years to 2016, Sarah and Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide) dive into the annual Bookish Time Capsule episode and revisit the book world from that year. They cover big bookish highlights — from the buzziest books of the year to the award winners — along with what was happening in the wider world at the time. They also look back at their own reading from 2016, including their favorite releases, and share a quick round-up of listener-submitted favorites. This episode is overflowing with great backlist titles to add to your TBR!   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights The big news that was going on outside the book world Book stories and trends that dominated 2016 The 2016 books that have had staying power Big books and award winners for the year Reading in the blog years before the Rock Your Reading Tracker Sarah's and Catherine's personal 2016 reading stats Listener-submitted favorites from 2016 2016 Bookish Time Capsule [1:45] The World Beyond Books Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018)| Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:09]  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:59]  My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:11] Ferrante's true identity has never been confirmed, despite multiple attempts by journalists and various theories pointing to different people. Book Industry Sales and Trends Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:02] The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:10] Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:21] A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:36] Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:40]  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:45]  All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:57]  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:12]  Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:16]  StrengthsFinder 2.0 from Gallup (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:20]  When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:30] The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:33] After You by Jojo Moyes (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:49] The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:52] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:59] Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (2016)| Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:36] Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:49] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:04]  Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:05] The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (English Translation, 2015) | Amazon| Bookshop.org  [13:32] My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman (English Translation, 2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:39] In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:51]  Big Books of 2016 It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:47] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 2) by Sarah J. Maas (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [16:28]   Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:25] Pines (Wayward Pines, 1) by Blake Crouch (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:57] Recursion by Blake Crouch (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [18:17] A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[18:34] Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [18:58] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:29] James by Percival Everett (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:42] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:51]  Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:10] When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:28] Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:46] Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [23:19] Award Winners of 2016 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:54] The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:06] Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:35] The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:51] Let Me Die In His Footsteps by Lori Roy (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:50] Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [25:56] All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:05] Catherine's Top Books Forty Rooms by Olga Grushin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:46]  A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[28:11] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:35]  The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (June 2, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [29:03]  Before the Wind by Jim Lynch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [29:57] Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:57] Miss Jane by Brad Watson (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:48]   Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:57] Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:08]  Adnan's Story by Rabia Chaudry (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:40]  Sarah's Top Books Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:45] Shelter by Jung Yun (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:58]   All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:06]  The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:16]  My Name Is Lucy Barton (Amgash, 1) by Elizabeth Strout (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:22] Oh William! (Amgash, 3) by Elizabeth Strout (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:38] Tell Me Everything (Amgash, 5) by Elizabeth Strout (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:47]   Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:05]  Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:30] Tender by Belinda McKeon (US Release, 2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:44] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:03]  When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:05] The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31]  Listeners' Top Books A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[44:14] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:19] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 2) by Sarah J. Maas (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:35]   Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:47] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:01]  Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:24] Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:30] Beartown by Fredrik Backman (English Translation, 2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:32] Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:40]  The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:45] Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:58] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:00] The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:16] 

Golden ThreadsLast July, Nick Jeffery and I put together a month long review of Rowling's work in celebration of her 60th birthday, a Kanreki party. Every day we posted conversations about each of Rowling's works with Nick discussing a ‘Lake' point, something biographical or bibliographical, and me talking about a ‘Shed' quality of the work, the author's traditional tools, artistry, and meaning.That worked great for about twenty days. Then we ran out of books. What to do for the remaining days of the month?We decided to talk about Golden Threads, the plot points, themes, and twists that run through everything Rowling has written. We started out with a survey of the fifteen-plus already identified by Rowling Re-readers and Fourth Generation types (see here and here) and then with more in depth looks at the ones that were controversial or more difficult to see. We closed off the month with the ‘Lost Child' Golden Thread and the possibility that Rowling's inspiration for the Harry Potter series was the trauma of pre-natal infanticide (‘abortion').As disturbing as that Golden Thread was to many Rowling fans and Feminist Gate Keepers, there was another third-rail string we didn't discuss, namely, the plot point of incest that readers encounter again and again in the Potter and Strike series as well as the stand-alone stories.Incest as Golden ThreadNick and I discuss the Incest Golden Thread on the fly in the conversation above about Strike-Ellacott fandom theories about Sleep Tight, Evangeline and the series finale. Here are some written references if you want to review them by looking at the books in question on your shelf.* Harry PotterThe foundation crime of the Hogwarts Saga is the abuse of Merope Gaunt by her father Marvolo and her brother Morfin. The abuse in question in this children's book series is not explicitly sexual. As with the abuse of Ariana Dumbledore by the Muggle boys, however, that Merope's father and brother violated her is there between the lines; her trauma is so great that she loses her capacity for magic (as she does after her Riddle lover leaves her) and the family does not send her to Hogwarts lest their shameful secret be revealed. No broken Merope, no Lord Voldemort, no Potter family murder and orphan Harry — no series. Though the Saga's foundation crime, the Gaunt family's abuse of its only young woman, is not revealed until Order of the Phoenix, it is the tragedy on which all the core conflicts of the septology are built.* Casual VacancyStuart ‘Fats' Wall is the adopted son of Tessa and Colin Wall. A teenager in Vacancy, he and Krystall Wheedon are the star-crossed lovers around whose choices and behaviors the ensemble drama largely turn. Fats at the end of the book claims responsibility for all the Ghost of Barry Fairbrother posts by means of which the secrets of Padford citizens are spilled.In the climax of the Wall family drama after Robbie's drowning and Krystall's suicide, Tessa reveals to Fats his personal history. His biological mother was only fourteen when he was born, an age that sadly means it is possible-to-likely that he is the fruit of incest. Tessa, a diabetic woman unlikely to carry a baby to term successfully, compelled her unwilling husband to agree to the adoption despite his mental fragility. Again, the foundation crime of this very involved story is incest, the abuse of a young woman by her family. * Lethal WhiteIn the first of only two Rowling books in which every epigraph was taken from a single work, the fourth Strike novel takes all of its headings from Henrik Ibsen's Rosmersholm, a play in which suicide and incest go hand in hand, especially in the White Horse finale. The novel parallels its epigraph source in astonishing ways.The Chiswell family has its secrets. The Minister of Culture hires Strike's agency to find ‘dirt' on Jimmy Knight and Geraint Winn that can used as counter “bargaining chips” to end their capacity to blackmail him. He shares neither what information they have that they are holding over his head to extort money and revenge nor what Billy Knight witnessed years ago. If Jasper or Izzy Chiswell had told Strike this information in the beginning, it is likely the pater familias would not have been murdered. The biggest secrets, of course, are about the sexual relationship between Raphael and his step-mother and the step-son's plans to murder father and eventually Kinvarra in order to be free to spend the millions he'll make from sale of the Stubbs. Not quite incest, a step-mother in bed with her step-son, but something like it.Rosmersholm‘s family secrets are if anything more disturbing. Kroll reveals to Rebecca that Dr. West, her adoptive father, was very likely her biological father as well. It is implied heavily that after her mother's death Rebecca's relationship with Dr. West changed from filial to sexual; Kroll's revelation about this is something of an Oedipus Rex moment. Rebecca realizes that she had been sleeping with her father and the incest taboo crushes her ability to accept Rosmer's overdue marriage proposal, a proposal for which she had convinced the ailing Mrs Rosmer to commit suicide.* Troubled BloodThe psychopathic murderer and torturer of children that the police and public believe killed Margot Bamborough is Dennis Creed. We learn in chapter 8 of Strike 5 via the Peg-Legged PI reading The Demon of Paradise Park that Creed was the incestuous rape off-spring of Agnes Waite and her step-father Awdry, a man who wanted to kill the child at birth but which the mother prevented (to her eventual regret). Awdry abused the boy all through his childhood, especially after Agnes' escape as a young woman (reminiscent of Peggy Nancarrow's flight from St Mawes). Troubled Blood is haunted by the victims of Creed's madness, all of whose deaths can be traced back to Awdry's violent sexual violation of his step-daughter.* Hallmarked ManThe mystery Cormoran Strike agrees with no little hesitation to try to solve is ‘What happened to Rupert Fleetwood?' Decima Longcaster Mullins, mother of Fleetwood's son Lion, believes her baby-daddy was the unidentifiable murdered man in the Ramsey Silver Vault. We learn before that victim's identity is revealed that Fleetwood fled the UK after he learned that the woman he loved was his half-sister and his son the product of unwitting incest. Rowling-Galbraith reveals only in the epilogue that Ian Griffiths murdered Tyler Powell because the young man was determined to rescue the young woman living with Griffith as his daughter who was pregnant with his child. Once again, the foundation crimes of a Rowling work turn on the intentional sexual abuse of a girl by a father-figure, here compounded by an Oedipus Rex like incest-in-ignorance episode. Incest Notes* Fantastic BeastsAs in the Harry Potter novels, there are no explicitly incestuous relationships in the Fantastic Beasts screenplays. The conception of Leta Lestrange, however, checks the ‘rape,' ‘power abuse,' and ‘inter-family' boxes of father-daughter incest nightmare. Her mother, Laurena Kama, was desired by Corvus Lestrange III even though she was married to Mustafa and the mother of Yusof. Corvus compelled her by the Imperius Curse to join him and, while she was under his control, which is to say ‘unable to consent or resist his will,' conceived Leta, who took his name as if her mother had been his wife. Leta unknowingly avenges the Kama family by her switching her younger half-brother Corvus IV with the Dumbledore baby that results in his death by drowning.* IckabogNick Jeffery points out in our conversation that there can be no more incestuous means of conceiving a child than the Ickabog species' parthenogenic reproduction. If one accepts that as incest, the Ickabog's death after delivery and the imprinted character of the Ickaboggle by its first contact post partum have to be read allegorically.* Cuckoo's CallingThere is no mention made in the first Strike novel of John Bristow's having sexually abused his younger also-adopted sibling-sister, Lula Landry. I'm going to include it in these ‘Incest Notes' because I think it possible that the man who killed his brother Charlie and envied his sister Lula ‘played' with her cruelly, which fostered her mental instability. I think this is more than imaginative free association head-canon because of Lula's successful search for and planned meeting her real sibling brother Jonah Agyeman the night of her death. Bristow-Agyeman, the false and true brothers, are figures of erotic and anterotic love in her life, so much that I don't think incest is a stretch for John Bristow, the unloved chick in the nest.Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.So what?There has been a real up-tick in speculation about how the Strike series will finish in its last two books with the guess work largely turning on how the Big Unresolved Mysteries will play out. The reason I've written up these thumbnail etchings of incest occurrences through Rowling's work is because several of the theories Nick and I are seeing in the comment boxes here and on the YouTube HogwartsProfessor channel are incest driven.To get that, a Serious Striker, beyond grasping that incest is a ‘thing' to expect in a Rowling piece like Bad Dad, Divine Mother, Violence Against Women, and at least one Lost Child, has to have in sight at all times three ideas that act as premises:* Closing Trilogy Theory: Hallmarked Man the first of a three book finale which introduces the main characters;There's a real split in Strike fandom about what to think of Hallmarked Man. The great mass of readers on Reddit I'm told and at least one Substack Sage believe it is “the worst book of the series,” a real stinker. Nick and I — and most of the Hogwarts Professor readers who comment on our posts and conversations — in contrast think it is a brilliant book, one that may eventually be considered one of the best in the Strellacott decalogy.The difference is that the one group reads Strike 8 as if it were just like the first seven books in the series, i.e., a stand alone mystery whose cast of characters will in large part disappear from the stage before the next book begins. That working assumption makes the extraordinarily large cast of players in Hallmarked Man and the five different story-lines just with respect to whom the silver vault corpse might be, not to mention the Strike-Ellacott romance and over arching mysteries clues seem a confusing pile-up of plot points and people, few of which made this book fun-to-read. The author seems like she just lost control of the story and threw everything that occurred to her into the story and cut none of it out.Our working theory disagrees with that Just-Like-All-the-Others assumption and finds the possibility that Rowling has just lost her way very unlikely. Having just finished charting each of Strike 8's chapter sets or ‘Parts' and found that each is an intricate ring, as well as those Parts working as a ring, too, believing that the author is asleep at the wheel seems borderline preposterous.We think that the first seven books, each written playfully on the model of its Harry Potter numeric counterpart, are a closed set — and that the last three books in the ten book series are being written as a trilogy in which the Great Mysteries introduced in the first seven will be resolved.Hallmarked Man, as the first book in this three part series, is burdened with introducing all the principal players of this extended finale inside a book whose mystery allows their appearance and character reveal without pointing too obviously to their part in the upcoming drama. Hence Tara, Dino, Valentine, Ralph Lawrence, Sacha, and at long last Rokeby playing the roles they do in this book.* Trilogy will resolve at last the Leda Margaret, Charlotte, and Strike/Ellacott story line mysteries; The end of Strike 10 seems to be a hard stop according to Rowling. She is obliged, consequently, in the next two books to give her readers satisfaction on the many hanging threads in the series, most notably:* The story of Strike's conception, the IED explosion, and his SIB medal;* Peggy Nancarrow, a.k.a., Leda Strike, why she left St Mawes as she did, why she raised her children as she did, and all the circumstances of her seeming suicide (Where's Switch?); and* Charlotte Campbell-Ross, sometimes referred to as the Honorable Milady Bezerko, and the baby she claims to have conceived with Strike, her backstage efforts to upend Strike's relationship with Robin, her break-up with the hotelier billionaire, her suicide note, and, echoing Leda, the circumstances of her seeming suicide.That's the shortest of lists obviously with nothing about Murphy or Robin or the host of other key players in the series. Given the ending of Hallmarked Man, I'm very much inclined to think that Sleep Tight, Evangeline's mystery will turn on where Robin went after Strike's proposal on the stairs which will necessarily involve Murphy, and, forgive me, many of the players from Strike 8 as Rowling-Galbraith begins rolling out the stunning twists hidden beneath the surface of Strike 8. All those fun confrontations with Charlotte's bizarro family, from Emilia at the end of Grave to Tara, Dino, Valentine, and Sacha? My bet is we'll learn in the next books how much Strike and Ellacott missed in their meetings with each.* Serious Strikers think incest is at the heart of the Strike, Nancarrow, and Campbell mysteries.Leda's Conception* Ted's Daughter with an Unknown WomenA real stretch, I know, but Ted, per the invaluable Cormoran Strike Timeline, was fourteen years older than his younger sister Peggy. If you think it inconceivable that Ted was Leda's father, you either imagine that just-barely-teenage boys cannot sire children (see George Hamilton's life for his sexcapades at age twelve with his stepmother) or you make nothing of the fact that Trevik gave up his daughter for his mother's upbringing when his wife died. Perhaps the cause of the Nancarrow house nightmare and Ted's departure for the Army “lest murder be done” was because, a la Hamilton, Leda's mother was not a young lass with whom Ted met outside The Victory but Trevik's abused wife, Ted's own mother. Which is to say he was both Leda's brother and biological father. Hence the otherwise almost inexplicable relationship of Ted, his barren wife, and Peggy-Leda. Just sayin'!Strike's conception:* Son of Leda and Ted;Leda is 23, give or take a year, at Strike's conception early in 1974 and her older brother is 37 and married to Joan who cannot have children. It's possible that Ted is Cormoran's dad, just as Joan is delighted to hear Strike say he is in Troubled Blood, the only barrier being our being told repeatedly that Ted was a “proper man.” Perhaps that repeated telling is a marker that he wasn't always that proper but did his best to set his sister (daughter?) up well with the Rokeby paternity evidence. See ‘Uncle Ted It' for more speculation along these lines.* Son of Leda and Trevik Nancarrow;I'm thinking that if Rowling is pointing to an incest relationship in the Nancarrow family it isn't with “proper man” Ted, the long-suffering and ever vigilant older brother but to the “pure terror” and “hard-drinking” man despised by sister and brother. You'll forgive for thinking that anything to which Rowling-Galbraith is clearly hopeful her readers will believe is not the surprise ending of her ten book series.* Rokeby deception If Strike's or Leda's conception was incestuous, especially if Ted was the father of either, then Rokeby was deceived about his parentage, I presume with Ted's SIB-driven assistance. The best motivation I have read about why Leda was murdered and her death staged as a seeming suicide, beyond even the Mad Guillespie theories, is that she tired of this deception, hence her refusal to accept Rokeby's child support, and intended to tell Cormoran who his father really was. So Ted killed her. Charlotte Conception and Abuse by Father, Relations with Half-Brother:* Tara and Dino's DaughterFiona wrote to me privately to share her theory that Dino is not only the father of Valentine, Cosima, Decima, and Rupert, but also of Charlotte:In response to a post by Cheryl Rose Orrocks on 17 Feb 2026, my current theory is that Dino Longcaster is Charlotte's father and that his son, Valentine Longcaster, will be revealed as her abuser and the possible biological father of Charlotte's children. Hence the 2nd incest storyline will also involve the Longcaster family. This could be why Charlotte's mother, Tara, despised Charlotte so much.If Jago Ross is somehow linked to the matter of the DNA test involving Bijou and Strike, it may be because he had Charlotte's birth children DNA tested to confirm parentage. Maybe Jago discovers he is not the biological father and assumes Strike is, hence the reason he wants to obtain Strike's DNA results.This would need a whole longish post to unfurl but the high points of Fiona's idea is that, just as with the Fleetwoods, Dino impregnated Campbell's wife Tara unknown to the father. When the Campbells divorced (he doesn't seem to have found out?), Dino then became Charlotte's stepfather in addition to being her biological father.And maybe even the father of her children that she claimed were Cormoran's and Jago's? Whew.* Dino's Sexual AbuseRubes posted her theory on a thread here on 3 March that Dino Longcaster abused Charlotte his step-daughter after his marriage to her then mother, Tara Campbell Longcaster:I think Charlotte got involved with Dino as a teenager (whether willingly or not). That is why she ran away and attempted to kill herself. She told her mother who disbelieved her or knew and it is the source of their conflict. Dino was also maybe the stepfather that tried to have her committed.Dino and his daughter [Cosima] gave me Ivanka and Donald Trump vibes. Maybe he sublimated that incestuous desire with young Charlotte. He is also obsessed with looks and perfection and we know Charlotte as Venus is the epitome of beautyI think Charlotte either extorted him all these years or else continued the on-and-off affair so he would help support her lifestyle.He might even be the father of the twins. It would support both the false paternity and incest themes in THM. We also have multiple examples of (step)fathers grooming/abusing their stepdaughters throughout the series.* Valentine or Sacha relations; Strike child, Ross twinsBoth the ‘Dino Did Her' theories suggest in turn that, a la the Brockbank twins Noel and Holly, the Longcaster and Legard half-siblings Valentine and Sacha had sexual relationships with their beloved swinging sis Charlotte. Either man could be the father of the mystery baby she told Strike was theirs and either one could also be the baby daddy of Jago Ross' supposed twins.As Fiona suggests, if the results of Bijou's DNA testing of Strike winds up in Ross' hands — perhaps Rowling makes the whole effort Ross-inspired after he discovers the twins are not his? — he is the one who reveals to Strike that neither of them was the father of Charlotte's only children. If so, I look forward to reading how Rowling has Strike or Robin connect the dots with the incestuous Campbell-Legard-Longcaster family love-pit.ConclusionsDoes incest tie up all the loose threads in this series? No way. I suppose incest or at least cousin-marriage is a way of life in Afghanistan but I don't see how incest explains for us all the questions surrounding the IED blast.But with respect to the several conception questions we've been straddled with, incest definitely throws up some fascinating possibilities (and ‘throws up' reflects the nausea inducing aspects of this viscerally felt taboo). If you accept the Finishing Trilogy Idea and its corollary that all the mysteries will be resolved in the last three books and that Hallmarked Man has given us our cast of characters, then the possibility that the soft-incest of Decima and Rupert with its sort of happy ending in Strike 8 was an introit to an inbreeding heavy finish in the last two books.Please share your thoughts in the comment boxes below about these theories and about my conversation with Nick in the video above!Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

Church of England revs with a difference Thomas Pelham, Jamie Franklin and Daniel French sit down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This week including: - J.K. Rowling's TERF-themed Twitter spat with Alastair Campbell- The latest Mandelson-related scandal to rock Number 10 Downing Street and former top civil servant Olly Robbins' explosive testimony; - And 'Does the Church of England have a death wish?' as the Diocese of Southwell announce spending review aimed at reducing the amount of parish clergy.Email the Show with comments and questions! irreverendpod@gmail.com You make this podcast possible. Support us and get episodes early, bonus Uncollared audio podcasts, monthly epic chats between Jamie and Nick Dixon and more!On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendOn Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/Buy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodBuy Jamie's Book THE GREAT RETURN!: https://amzn.to/4pwAH8RDaniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Support the show

Warner Brothers is rebooting Harry Potter as a television series. Bayleigh Ackman and I both enjoy the Harry Potter universe but, given J.K. Rowling's positions on trans rights, we are reluctant to watch the new show. In this conversation Bailey and Jerome talk about the things they enjoy about the Harry Potter universe and question whether or not you can ever really separate the art from the artist.GUEST INFO Bailey Ackman https://www.instagram.com/bayleighackmanYOUTUBE https://youtu.be/n-ipinKUX4s Our website is https://www.bottomlesscoffeeshow.comMORE FROM JEROME https://www.jerometevans.com (contact details and social links are there too)

[Apologies but the recording is quite poor at the start, but improves. Please bear with it - Nick]John Granger shared privately with Nick Jeffery that he thought it would be a good idea to read C. S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, a re-telling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, to get a better grip on Rowling-Galbraith's re-imagining of the same myth in her Cormoran Strike series.Nick, as is his wont, promptly read the book, wrote up the possible connections between the chapters of Till We Have Faces and the books in the Strike series — C. S. Lewis' ‘Till We Have Faces' and Rowling-Galbraith's Cormoran Strike Series (Part One) — which ‘Part One' constituted a challenge to John to write up his contrarian notes as ‘Part Two,' which he did yesterday.Today? They talk about CSL's Till We Have Faces, what it tells us (and doesn't tell us) about JKR's Strike series, and the reasons why a Serious Striker or ‘every thoughtful reader' really should read Lewis' last novel, one he and Tolkien thought was his best.Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Links to everything they discuss can be found in their respective write-ups: C. S. Lewis' ‘Till We Have Faces' and Rowling-Galbraith's Cormoran Strike Series (Part One) by Nick and C. S. Lewis' ‘Till We Have Faces' and Rowling-Galbraith's Cormoran Strike Series (Part Two) from John.Here is a copy of the ten questions that kept their conversation — for the most part! — between the guard rails. Enjoy!CSL and JKR Tackle ‘Cupid and Psyche:' The Ten Questions1. (Nick) So, why, John, are we talking about a book Rowling has never mentioned, in a genre she has never attempted, by an author from whom she has tried to distance herself, and which has no obvious connection to what Rowling is writing today? [See the first paragraphs of John's Part Two.]2. (John) Can you give our listeners a quick review of the book's history, Nick, that is, the story behind the story? [Nick discusses information here not in either of their posts!]3. (Nick) Which is all very interesting from the Lake side of the reading, but it's the story itself that is the connection to Rowling. Give us the plot points, structure highlights, and spoil the ending, too, won't you, John? [John reads Nick's plot summary from his Part One (below). Another summary can be found on the Faces wikipedia page.]Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis is a first-person retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, narrated by Orual, the eldest daughter of the King of Glome (a fictional barbarian kingdom). Orual frames Part One as a bitter complaint or accusation against the gods, particularly Ungit (a cruel fertility goddess akin to Aphrodite/Venus, represented by a black stone) and her son, the god of the Grey Mountain (the “Shadowbrute” or Brute). She writes in old age as queen, claiming the gods have wronged her, especially by taking her beloved half-sister Istra (whom she calls Psyche). The novel is divided into two parts. Part One (the bulk of the book, spanning 21 chapters) recounts events from Orual's perspective as she experiences them, portraying her actions as justified love and the gods as unjust. Part Two (a short addendum of about 4 chapter) is written later, as Orual nears death. Here, she gains new insight through dreams, visions, and self-reflection, realizing how her “love” was often possessive, jealous, and devouring—much like Ungit's. The veil she wears becomes a central symbol: initially to hide her ugliness, later as a barrier to truth and self-knowledge. “Till we have faces” suggests that true self-revelation and honest relationship (with gods or others) require facing reality without masks or illusions.4. (John) We know for sure that CSL was re-telling the Cupid and Psyche myth here; Lewis and the text make that undeniable. I argued from the text five years ago that Rowling-Galbraith was doing something similar and she suggested strongly by tweet this was the case. In your post, Nick, you swung for the fences to explore the possibility that Till We Have Faces was a model of sorts for the Strike series. Did you establish or eliminate that possibility -- and what were the most interesting connections you found? [See Part One!]5. (Nick) You've recently re-read this, too, John; were you struck by story echoes in Strike from Faces? [John discusses CSL's wonderful cryptonyms, several of which have alchemical notes, a point he didn't write up in Part Two, and then talks about the allusion to Psyche as “Artemis and Aphrodite combined” in Faces, the importance of ‘The Real' in Lewis and Rowling, and the importance of “the riddle” to Lewis and a “debate” to Rowling, all in Part Two.]6. (John) The key connection, though, of course, is in the use of the myth and how the modern and postmodern authors parallel the original version and depart from it. Care to compare and contrast the two adaptations, Nick? [Nick answers this with some references to Part One and John offers a Planet Narnia inspired opinion.]7. (Nick) You brought up in our alchemy conversation earlier in the month, John, and in your Faces post that Rowling seems to want to foster a “debate” within and among her readers about how to best understand her work, specifically between a psychological or spiritual interpretation. That seems to be on Lewis' agenda, too, no, in Faces? [Part Two, Point #4]8. (John) As fascinating as that parallel is, Nick, the structural one is better, I think. What do you make of Faces' two Parts and our conversations about how the ten book series seems to be playing out? [Part Two, Point #5]9. (Nick) You've played with the names a bit, John; what do you think is the meaning of the title? There's a specific passage in which Till We Have Faces is spoken as dialogue and we know Lewis' preferred title was Bareface, but what do you think Lewis was after with the Faces idea -- and does it have any relevance to Strike?[Part Two, Point #6]10. (John) So, let's do another tally of CSL/JKR correspondences. And what are the differences between Lewis and Rowling?List: Ten Points of Correspondence1. Christian symbolism,2. kappa atmosphere artistry,3. literary alchemy,4. psychomachia,5. ring composition,6. the debate/riddle about God7. Mythic retelling8. Genre blending9. Narrative misdirection, big twist10. Most famous for magical world behind portalDifferences:* Violence against women!* Old White Man; Old White Woman* [Fill In Your Best Contrast between CSL and JKR]Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

This audio clip from Erik Qualman's #1 bestselling book The Focus Project explores the true meaning of meditation. It challenges the idea that meditation requires a perfect setting (like sitting in the lotus position surrounded by candles) and instead reframes it as simply being fully present in any given moment.   5x #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 55 countries and reached over 50 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling.   Have Erik speak at your conference: eq@equalman.com   Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.   Learn more at https://equalman.com

Você já estava curtindo demais um filme e, do nada, aquela informação inconveniente sobre o diretor apareceu na sua timeline e arruinou tudo? Bem-vindo ao dilema mais chato, e necessário, da cultura contemporânea.Neste episódio, Rafael Arinelli, Daniel Cury e Fabiana Lima debatem sobre a relação espinhosa entre a obra e o artista. Sem respostas fáceis, sem julgamentos apressados, mas com muita discussão honesta e alguns incômodos necessários.O papo passa por casos que você já conhece: Woody Allen, cujos filmes parecem ecoar de forma perturbadora sua vida pessoal; Roman Polanski, condenado e aplaudido de pé em Hollywood na mesma década; e J.K. Rowling, cujo ativismo anti-trans transforma cada Galleon gasto em Hogwarts numa escolha política, queira você ou não.Para dar embasamento teórico ao debate, o episódio apresenta dois lados da moeda: a Morte do Autor, de Roland Barthes, que defende que a obra pertence ao público assim que sai das mãos de quem a criou; e o Intentismo, que insiste que ignorar o autor é dar um cheque em branco para quem produz arte.No fim, a conversa não é sobre cancelamento, é sobre consumo consciente. Afinal, onde você coloca seu tempo, sua atenção e seu dinheiro diz muito sobre quem você é.Coloque seus fones de ouvido e venha pensar junto!• 05m50: Pauta Principal• 1h26m04: Plano Detalhe• 1h42m17: EncerramentoOuça nosso Podcast também no:• Spotify: https://cinemacao.short.gy/spotify• Apple Podcast: https://cinemacao.short.gy/apple• Android: https://cinemacao.short.gy/android• Deezer: https://cinemacao.short.gy/deezer• Amazon Music: https://cinemacao.short.gy/amazonAgradecimentos aos padrinhos: • André Marinho Moreira• Bruna Mercer• Charles Calisto Souza• Daniel Barbosa da Silva Feijó• Diego Alves Lima• Eloi Xavier• Guilherme S. Arinelli• Thiago Custodio Coquelet• Wilmar Arinelli Jr• William SaitoFale Conosco:• Email: contato@cinemacao.com• X: https://cinemacao.short.gy/x-cinemacao• BlueSky: https://cinemacao.short.gy/bsky-cinemacao• Facebook: https://cinemacao.short.gy/face-cinemacao• Instagram: https://cinemacao.short.gy/insta-cinemacao• Tiktok: https://cinemacao.short.gy/tiktok-cinemacao• Youtube: https://cinemacao.short.gy/yt-cinemacaoApoie o Cinem(ação)!Apoie o Cinem(ação) e faça parte de um seleto clube de ouvintes privilegiados, desfrutando de inúmeros benefícios! Com uma assinatura a partir de R$30,00, você terá acesso a conteúdo exclusivo e muito mais! Não perca mais tempo, torne-se um apoiador especial do nosso canal! Junte-se a nós para uma experiência cinematográfica única!Plano Detalhe:• (Daniel): Livro: A elegância do ouriço• (Daniel): Revista: Cascártica• (Daniel): Filme: Oi, Sumido!• (Fabi): Texto: What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men?• (Fabi): Filme: Repulsa ao Sexo• (Fabi): Filme: Limite• (Fabi): Série: Hacks• (Rafael): Vídeo: Roda Viva - Erika Hilton• (Rafael): Vídeo: Erika Hilton mostra pilha de livrosEdição: ISSOaí

Author J. K. Rowling said, “I appear to have a God-shaped vacuum inside me, but I never seem quite able to make up my mind what to do about it." Timmerie dives into helping others find God. Episode Guide Why we should help others desire Baptism (0:43) Rethinking the content we consume (24:17) Finding rest on Sundays starts on Friday (42:19) Resources mentioned: J.K. Rowling on Religion: https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1966488315890123141 Scientific evidence for God – Shroud of Turin: https://omny.fm/shows/trending-with-timmerie-catholic-principles-applied/scientific-proof-for-the-resurrection-the-eucharist Fridays are for making Sundays restful https://schoolforhousewives.substack.com/p/fridays-are-for-making-sundays-restful

“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling's trans persecution feeds off her vast fortune. Rowling uses her estimated $1.2 billion net worth to directly fund anti-trans causes.As executive producer of the upcoming Harry Potter HBO show, Rowling will make even more money that she can funnel into what she calls “women's and girls' sex-based rights.” Early media criticism of the Harry Potter reboot is just starting to contend with Rowling's commitment to erasing trans people from public life.This week, Jessie Gender returns to the podcast to discuss HBO's Harry Potter show with Katelyn and Christine. The three discuss the shortcomings of nostalgia with the HBO reboot and how media criticism must include J.K. Rowling's trans obsession. It is not possible to separate this artist from her art.Stream on our YouTube channel—remember to ring the bell! Listen via Apple or Spotify. Be sure to check out the merch store—Merch Me, Daddy!Links for Apple:- Subscribe to YouTube's Jessie Gender and Jessie Gender After Dark- Stream Jessie Gender's Frak This Podcast - A Battlestar Galactica journey- Katelyn Burns for MS NOW: A new trans character doesn't fix ‘Hogwarts Legacy' transphobia- Charles Pulliam-Moore for The Verge: There is no ethical consumption of HBO's Harry Potter series- Ryan Adamczeski for The Advocate: J.K. Rowling uses Harry Potter wealth to fund anti-transgender organization- Samantha Riedel for Them: John Lithgow Says J.K. Rowling's Trans Views Have Been “Twisted and Misrepresented”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Neste episódio do PodClássica, reunimos um time de professoras para enfrentar uma das maiores polêmicas entre pais cristãos: a saga Harry Potter. Discutimos o que a Bíblia realmente condena quando fala de magia, o papel da fantasia na formação das crianças e o que acontece quando tentamos eliminar toda a magia das histórias. Pelo caminho, descobrimos elementos surpreendentes escondidos na obra de J.K. Rowling que você provavelmente nunca tinha notado. Neste episódio, Anne Kathleen e Barbara Lores recebem as professoras Juliana Poiares, Renata Knupp e nossa convidada especial Bárbara Ehler Andrade, mestre em Literatura Inglesa pela Universidade de Oxford e doutoranda em Artes Liberais pela Faulkner University. Recursos mencionados no episódio:

Þróunaraðstoð hefur dregist mikið saman undanfarið og í raun aldrei minna en á nýliðnu ári. Þjóðir heims forgangsraða þessari aðstoð sífellt aftar á listann. Mest munar þarna um Bandaríkin, sem hafa dregið saman seglin þegar þróunaraðstoð er annars vegar um eina 24 milljarða. Þýskaland, Frakkland, Bretland, Holland, Belgía, Sviss og Svíþjóð hafa gert það sömuleiðis. Og afleiðingar þessara ákvarðana geta haft mikil áhrif á líf fjölda jarðarbúa. Hallgrímur Indriðason fjallar um málið og ræðir við framkvæmdastjóra Mannfjöldastofnunar Sameinuðu þjóðanna. Það eru að verða 30 ár síðan Harry Potter leit fyrst dagsins ljós í bókinni Harry Potter og Viskusteinninn. Um jólin verða nýir sjónvarpsþættir frumsýndir sem segja söguna upp á nýtt, eins og hún birtist í bókum J.K. Rowling. Ekki eru þó allir á eitt sáttir með nýju þættina og með Rowling almennt. Hún hefur á síðustu árum stundað mótmæli gegn réttindabaráttu trans fólks, einkum og sér í lagi trans kvenna, sem hún segir að sé rekin á kostnað kvenna. Mörgum aðdáendum er svo gróflega misboðið að þeir hafa hætt með öllu að samsama sig galdraheimi Rowling og öllu því sem hún hefur skapað. Oddur Þórðarson fjallar um málið.

This is the second of a series of posts about the literary alchemy of J. K. Rowling, a discussion jumpstarted by a post by ‘Iris' at a Strike fan website, an article that championed a Jungian perspective on this subject. The first post in this series, Literary Alchemy – A Primer for Those Interested in J. K. Rowling's Artistry, both explained what the ‘Iris' post asserted and reviewed much of the critical literature that the brevity of the S&E Files article prevented her from discussing. See that post for links to this material. The conversation between Nick Jeffery and John Granger above was recorded in the same spirit as the first post was written, namely, simultaneously a welcome to Strike fans and Rowling readers who have learned about literary alchemy only recently and an introduction to the work of the last twenty five years on this subject. Upcoming posts in the series will include a counter-point discussion in the debate Rowling is fostering about whether a psychological or spiritual perspective is better for understanding art and life and a review of the alchemical signatures that crowd Rowling-Galbraith's Hallmarked Man.This post is largely links to sources for points Nick and John discuss in their naturally enthusiastic and contrarian conversation, question by question. Enjoy!1. Welcome to the Conversation! (Nick) I just sent out an article about literary alchemy, John, in response to an article written by ‘Iris' and posted on the Strike-Ellacott Files website, a piece titled ‘What is Literary Alchemy? Spotting symbols that map Strike and Robin's growth.' What advice or guidance would you give to, say, Cormoran Strike readers who are brand new to the subject? * There are three types of alchemy and it is important to understand the common ground they share and the differences between them;* The first type is alchemy proper, which is to say ‘metallurgical alchemy,' the sacred science of purifying metals and the adept's soul via the creation of a Philosopher's Stone that will transform lead to gold and exude an elixir of life, the drinking of which will bestow immortality;* The second and third types of alchemy derive from interpretations of metallurgical alchemy's aims and the symbolic texts detailing the work in the hermetic laboratory;* Literary alchemy is the use of metallurgical alchemy's language, colors, sequences, and symbols in plays, poetry, and story to foster an edifying and transformative experience in the artist's theater or reading audience;* Psychological alchemy is Carl Jung's use of metallurgical alchemy's texts during and after WWII to illustrate his ideas of the integration of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the human mind;* Metallurgical alchemy was practiced in China, the Levant, India, and Europe within the revealed religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity until its degeneration in the late Medieval period and eventual evolution into the strictly materialist chemistry we know today;* Literary alchemy has been a continuous stream in literature from Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and the Metaphysical poets through to Dickens, Yeats, the Inklings, Joyce, Nabokov, and J. K. Rowling;* The academic study of “alchemy in literature” was the province of Baconian and allegorical readings of Shakespeare (cf., Beryl Pogson, Peter Dawkins, Martin Lings) until the late 20th Century and the advent of academic specialists in ‘Hermetic Studies,' e.g., Stanton Linden, Lyndy Abraham, and Charles Nicholl (cf., Cauda Pavonis: A Journal of Hermetic Studies, 1982-2000).* Jung and his followers used their psychological interpretations of metallurgical alchemy as allegories of the soul to interpret mythology (cf., Erich Neumann, Marie-Louise Von Franz, Robert Johnson);* Jungian analysis of story using Jung's ideas of subconscious archetypes within a collective unconscious was popularized by Joseph Campbell in his guides to Joyce's Ulysses and his more well known works on mythology (e.g., The Hero With a Thousand Faces);* ‘Isis' in her S&E Files article, ‘What is Literary Alchemy?,' suggests that Rowling-Galbraith is writing an allegory of soul transformation in the Cormoran Strike series using metallurgical alchemy's symbols and sequences as understood by Carl Jung and his disciples rather than as used by English writers since the 13th Century;* It's a challenging theory, the depth of which is hard to grasp without an appreciation of the types of alchemy, what they have in common, and their differences in approach and subject matter.2. The Lake: (John) What I found most fascinating in your post, Nick, was your best guesses about where Rowling would have learned about literary alchemy. She claimed in 1998 that she'd read a lot of alchemical texts from which she set the “magical parameters” of the Hogwarts Saga; if you had only three chances to name one of those books, what would you choose? * Charles Nicholl's The Chemical Theatre;* Titus Burckhardt's Alchemy: Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul (or Mirror of the Intellect: Essays on Traditional Acience and Sacred Art);* Lyndy Abraham Summerhaze's Marvell and Alchemy or her Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery;* Martin Lings' The Secret of Shakespeare3. Carl Jung, Alchemy: (Nick) I see you're chafing at the bit, John, with book titles I haven't mentioned so let me name-drop the author not on my list because, as you pointed out, he wasn't really a literary alchemist so much as a psychologist who discussed alchemy as a means of illustrating his own ideas about the ‘Great Work.' You've written, though, that literary alchemy as with metallurgical alchemy is a subset of soul-allegories or Psychomachia. Don't Jung's ideas jibe with that? * Yes and no!* Jung's ideas of the soul and archetypes (or archetypal forms) are based on late 19th Century Volkischer German ideas, which is to say, modern and materialist (some say ‘vitalist') premises. His hostility to Christianity and Judaism was grounded in his acceptance of Darwinian evolution and derived philosophically from Nietzsche (see Richard Noll's The Jung Cult and The Aryan Christ).* He conflates the spiritual with the psychological, consequently, and embraces integrated individual psychological health as the telos of human existence, none of which is consistent with traditional metallurgical or literary alchemy (see Titus Burckhardt's Mirror of the Intellect, Philip Sherrard's ‘An Introduction to the Religious Thought of C. G. Jung,' and Harry Oldmeadow's ‘C.G. Jung & Mircea Eliade: ‘Priests without Surplices'? Reflections on the Place of Myth, Religion and Science in Their Work.'* Psychological alchemy, insomuch as it is ‘Jungian,' is well removed from the other two types of alchemy. Which is not to say that Rowling is not a Jungian and hence a Jungian psychological alchemist.4. Back into the Lake: (John) You covered in your article, though, Nick, the several reasons to think it possible, even probable that the evidence from Rowling's life suggests she is using Jungian ideas in her literary alchemy. Iris over at S&E Files obviously thinks that is the case. What are the for and against ideas with respect to Rowling being a Jungian? There's Plenty of Evidence That Rowling IS a Jungian Writer:John Granger's discussion in Troubled Blood: A Jungian Reading* Robin's name-dropping Jung in conversation about astrology;* The Jungian notes sounded throughout Strike 5: Archetypes, Synchronicity, Persona;* The connection between Jung's illustrated ‘New Book' and Talbot's ‘True Book;' and* Pointers to Cupid-Psyche myth as understood by Jungians (see below)The Advent of Prudence Dunleavy, Jungian Psychologist, in Ink Black Heart* Hard to imagine a more sympathetic portrait of a Jungian than half-sister Prudence!* She clearly was the genius behind the Rokeby reconciliation in Hallmarked ManThe Cupid and Psyche myth underpinning the Strike series* A Mythological Key to Cormoran Strike? The Myth of Eros, Psyche, and Venus (note the discussion here of the Jungian understanding of this specific myth)* Ink Black Heart: Strike as Zeus to Robin's Leda and as Cupid to Mads' Psyche* ‘Rowling Points to Myth of Cupid and Psyche in order to Console Strike Fans Disappointed with Hallmarked Man‘* The Hallmarked Man‘s Mythological Template (Nick Jeffery, John Granger)Anything Else? Oh, yeah —* Rowling studied mythology in her ‘Classical Studies' program at UExeter and almost certainly encountered Jungian interpretation of myths there (e.g. the work of Neumann, Johnson, Campbell).* Rowling told Val McDermid if she had not become a successful writer she would have sought training and certification as a psychologist. * Her work reflects a broad reading in psychology (cf., Louise Freeman Davis' ‘J. K. Rowling and the Phantoms in the Brain,' ‘Cormoran Strike and the Itch that Cannot Be Scratched') and it is likely that she has read her fair share of Jung and Jungian authors during her studies.* Rowling benefited from psychological therapy and exercises herself when suffering from depression, the experience of and recovery from which she depicted in story via the Azkaban Dementors and Robin Ellacott's treatment for PTSD in Lethal White.And There is Plenty of Evidence That Rowling Is NOT a Jungian Writer:* Rowling has never been asked or revealed how she learned about literary alchemy; this includes, of course, any reference to Carl Jung, whose work was not focused on literary alchemy per se but a psychological interpretation or explanation of metallurgical alchemy's symbolism.* All that Rowling has revealed about her experiences as a patient seeking help with depression are about Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), which treatment modality owes nothing to Jung or to Jung's students.* It is possible that Rowling encountered esoteric metallurgical alchemy, the precursor to literary alchemy, in her study of astrology, the complementary traditional sacred science to alchemy, a skill-set with which we know she was accomplished. That route to alchemy would have led her to Perennialist interpretations of alchemy, most notably Titus Burckhardt‘s Alchemy, Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul; the paperback cover of the Penguin Metaphysical Library edition of that book (1974) features an androgynous giant named REBIS standing on a dragon and a winged golden sphere (i.e., Rubeus, Norbert, Snitch).* As mentioned above, it is more likely that she encountered literary alchemy in her study of Shakespeare. The year she was studying for her A Levels, she traveled to see a production of King Lear which has prompted the idea that it was on her list of texts to prepare for her tests. The most challenging interpretation of Lear then in print was Charles Nicholl's The Chemical Theatre (1980), a book that explains almost every scene in perhaps Shakespeare's greatest tragedy as a parallel step in the Great Work of alchemy. If the budding astrologer was fascinated by this allegorical interpretation of the Bard, the most popular work in print at that time that championed reading Shakespeare as the author of soul allegories was Perennialist Martin Lings‘ The Secret of Shakespeare (1984).* Literary Alchemy is a tool set employed not only by Shakespeare but by a host of Rowling favorite authors to include Dickens, Nabokov, Lewis, and Tolkien. This view of alchemy, that is, as an allegorical depiction of the soul's transformation that affects that same cathartic experience in its theater or reading audiences, is the one found in Rowling's work, which is well removed from psychological alchemy, an analytic art which, though it springs from metallurgical alchemical texts, does not aim at the transformation at work in the sacred art or the science of traditional alchemy. * Rowling's use of chiastic structures and psychomachian allegory, tools that complement literary alchemy in spiritual perspective and aim, make a Jungian rather than a literary and Perennialist view of alchemy seem unlikely.* Alchemy: Jung, Burckhardt, or Maclean? John Granger, April 2007* Rowling's Soul Triptych Psychomachia: Is It From Shakespeare's ‘Macbeth'? John Granger, September 20245. The Debate at King's Cross: (Nick) So, John, you've mentioned Jung quite a few times in your posts about the Mythological framework of the Strike series and even written about the Jungian ideas of animus and anima with respect to Cormoran and Robin's relationship. You seem fairly confident, though, that Rowling is writing from the traditional esoteric ideas of alchemy a la Shakespeare rather than Jung's. Why is that? * Everything you just said!* As noted, Jung's ideas are modern and psychological while the stream of literary alchemy in English Literature is almost exclusively more Medieval and pointedly spiritual;* The Most Notable Exception: Angela Carter's The Passion of the New Eve (1977), that reads like a Jungian ‘Red Book' slide-show (think Bombyx Mori) or a transgender Odyssey written for feminists. Rowling has never mentioned her to my knowledge but it would be surprising if she hadn't read this book more than once. What Alana Bolton Cooke wrote about Carter's Passion could be said about Rowling's literary alchemy if she is a Jungian writer (or about Galbraith's fictional Elizabeth Tassel?):Angela Carter in The Passion of New Eve (1977) uses the exoteric phases of alchemy and Carl G. Jung's theory of esoteric alchemy as a means of demonstrating allegorically the idea ofrebirth and renewal. The purpose of this allegorical method is to produce an 'alchemical' change of thought in the reader about sexuality and gender associated with women's repression and liberation. In the novel Carter develops themes and ideas explored in her essay, The Sadeian Woman: An Exercise in Cultural History (1979), an analysis of the Marquis de Sade's pornography and its affect on the roles of men and women in society. The clash of opposites involved in combining alchemical symbolism, feminism and pornography within the fiction can be seen as representative of the state of chaos present in alchemy before the beginning of change. The circular narrative and alchemical structure of the fiction creates a literary version of the alchemical process as it brings together opposites involved in chaos, represented by events and characterisation that the protagonist, Evelyn/Eve, experiences, until, in the manner of alchemy, harmony is reached. The harmony created represents women's empowerment. Carter uses Evelyn's individuation process to encourage growth within the reader by altering patterns of thought to bring about change through self-confrontation and self-knowledge. The structure of Carter's fiction, thus, corresponds to the process of esoteric alchemy contained within the structure, imagery and symbolism of exoteric alchemy. The fiction is designed to stimulate the unconscious of the reader and make conscious hitherto unknown and repressed thoughts about gender and sexuality to bring about change in the lives of men and women.* I think what Rowling said she was trying to do with Harry Potter's meeting with Dumbledore at the dream-like King's Cross strongly suggests she is aware of the two approaches and wants readers to discuss them – but that she has made her own choice, however conflicted she may be.* In her 2008 interview with Adeel Amini, Rowling said that her hope for Harry's post-mortem conversation with Dumbledore at King's Cross was to stimulate “a debate” among readers about whether it was a psychological moment, that is, a fantasy in which Harry understands what he's been missing all along, or a spiritual event in which he is actually speaking with the late Headmaster:Enough Potter-plot, I think. Moving on to a slightly more contentious issue, Rowling has categorically said that she does believe in a higher power, a statement reinforced by her childhood church-going (“Till I was 17,” she clarifies). It must be difficult to reconcile her religious beliefs with those that denounce Harry Potter as anti-Christian, I wonder aloud. Rowling's expression does not change a fraction. “There was a Christian commentator who said, which I thought was very interesting, that Harry Potter had been the Christian church's biggest missed opportunity. And I thought, there's someone who actually has their eyes open.“I think he said it before the publication of the seventh book, and with the publication of the seventh book I think that clarified a lot of people's view on where I was standing. But I should emphasise that I am not pushing a specifically Christian agenda, and indeed till the very last moment in book seven, one can interpret what happens to Harry after he presents himself with death as him going into an unconscious state in which his subconscious reveals to him what he already knew.” I hum in faux-comprehension of what she's referring to; luckily my clued-in companion is nodding wildly. Proceed. “Any re-reading of Chapter 35 will show you that there's nothing that the Dumbledore he sees tells him that he couldn't have guessed for himself or already realised, and of course there's a key piece of information that Dumbledore doesn't articulate that Harry has realised. So you can deliberately interpret it that way, or you can say that he did go into a state of limbo beyond which there was another life, and that idea was expressed repeatedly, and most explicitly at the end of book five, Order of the Phoenix, where Harry understands that there is an ‘on', that you do go on. “I wanted there to be a debate there, so of my three main characters - when they come into the room which examines death at the Ministry of Magic - Hermione, the ultimate sceptic and a hyperrational person, hears nothing behind the veil and is scared of it. Ron is just uneasy; Ron is someone who does not grapple with anything deeper than beer, if he can avoid it. Harry's drawn to it, and therein lies Harry's slightly reckless, almost morbid streak, because Harry does have a hint of that dangerous adolescent trait which is the attraction to death.” Heavy. Obviously with this ambiguity, you do get a fair degree of misinterpretation as well; there is a certain section that does dislike Harry Potter intensely. “Oh, vehemently,” says Rowling, before muttering under her breath “…and they send death threats.”* I think that “debate” she's trying to foster is between the psychological, call it ‘Jungian' “just inside your head” subconscious perspective, and the authentically spiritual view of her work (well, of art and human existence, too, of course). And that this debate is one she has had for most of her life. Check out her comments about the “greatest missed opportunity” and explain to me how that doesn't line up with her preferring the spiritual, albeit “not explicitly Christian,” to the psychological and humanist. 7. Jungian Readings of Rowling's Work: (Nick) John, you're familiar with what has been written by Potter Pundits because of your PhD critical literature surveys; what are the better ones about Rowling and Jungian psychology and what do they emphasize? Here are seven off the top of my head (and Thesis ‘Works Cited' drafts):* Grynbaum, G.A. (2000). The Secrets of Harry Potter. The San Francisco Jung Institute Library Journal: Reviews From a Jungian Perspective of Books, Films and Culture, [online] 19 (4) pp. 17-48* Patrick, Christopher and Sarah (2007), ‘Exploring the Dark Side: Harry Potter and the Psychology of Evil,' in Mulholland (ed.), The Psychology of Harry Potter, BenBella Books, pp 221-232* Gerhold, C. (2011). The Hero's Journey Through Adolescence: A Jungian Archetypal Analysis of “Harry Potter.” PsyD. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. * Rectenwald, Bob (2019). ‘Carl Jung's Impact on the Work of J. K. Rowling' * Skipper, Alicia and Kate Fulton (2021) ‘Out from the Shadows into the Light: Persona and Shadow in Harry Potter‘ in Anne Mamary (ed.) The Alchemical Harry Potter: Essays on Transfiguration in J. K. Rowling's Novels, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2021, pp 79-96* The Unfolding Journey, Jung's Shadow Self in Harry Potter: Confronting the Darkness Within (YouTube video)* My own Troubled Blood: A Jungian ReadingBob Rectenwald's piece is the best of the six I didn't write but it shares the several faults all the Jungian pieces make:* the first failing of even the best Jungian readers is the assumption that Rowling is a Jungian, which is an open question;* the next is that Jung's ideas (and Joseph Campbell's) are indisputably true; and* the last is, when alchemy is mentioned, the critics do not clarify either the commonalities of or the differences between literary alchemy, psychological alchemy, and Jungian analytic psychology. * Note, though, that Rowling, while aware of such Jungian tropes as the Hero's Journey, tweeks it shamelessly, adding a symbol of Christ and resurrection scene in every Potter story (cf., How Harry Cast His Spell, ‘The Harry's Journey,' pp 21-28).* Read her brief PotterMore piece on alchemy and note that it is written in such a way that it can be read as confirmation of either a psychological or spiritual perspective on alchemy and art:One interpretation of the ‘instructions' left by the alchemists is that they are symbolic of a spiritual journey, leading the alchemist from ignorance (base metal) to enlightenment (gold). There seems to have been a mystical element to the work the alchemist was engaged upon, which set it apart from chemistry (of which it was undoubtedly both an offshoot and forerunner).This “original writing” by Rowling, especially the words “spiritual” and “mystical,” suggests that she is a Perennialist rather than a Jungian, at least with respect to her understanding of alchemy. But the debate is still possible with Jungians who read those words as cyphers for the subsconscious contact they hold we have with archetypes.8. Back to the Alchemy: (John) I think the real question of whether Rowling's literary alchemy is predominantly literary and spiritual or psychological in orientation comes down to the postmodern confusion about the immaterial aspects of the human person, which is to say, the soul (or mind, psyche) and the spirit. Rowling's recent work may seem prosaic or secular to a casual reader who compares it to the relatively otherworldly and “obviously” symbolic Potter books, but she loads each Strike book with Shakespearean romance of soul and spirit, i.e., alchemical dramas, and hermetic tropes. I'm writing a piece now about the lions, dogs, incest, and the red man and white woman in Hallmarked Man, each of which are touchstones of alchemy. I think, though, that your work with Rowling's favorite books and her epigraph sources, Nick, point to a strong spiritual rather than psychological foundation in Rowling's work —* Louisa May Alcott, Little Women* Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle* The Victorian Women Poets in Running Grave* Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh* Robert Browning, The Ring and the Book* The Jungian love of the I Ching, Running Grave's epigraph source9. Jung in Running Grave: (Nick) Rowling's favorite writers, from Shakespeare and Nabokov to C. S. Lewis and Victorian Women poets, all clearly believe in a world-transcending spiritual realm. Given the quantity of the Jungian scholarship in Rowling Studies that Iris referred to and you've mentioned, it's curious -- if Rowling is aware of it and is resistant to it -- that she doesn't push back against it explicitly in her work. Can you think of a character that seems something like Jung in the books, someone as bad as Prudence Dunleavey is good? I can think of three:* United Humanitarian Church's guru Jonathan Wace in Running Grave: his “psychologizing of religion,” the comparative religion avenue to denial of any true faith, the psychological critical analysis of a patient using mythological tropes (”Artemis”), the cult leader, and the abuser of women and children -- he's a ringer for Jung! * Paul Satchwell, one-eyed serpent with a one-track mind, in Leamington Spa, a true Jungian artist working psycho-sexual motifs graphically on canvas:Naked figures twisted and cavorted in scenes from Greek mythology. Persephone struggled in the arms of Hades as he carried her down into the underworld; Andromeda strained against chains binding her to rock as a dragonish creature rose from the waves to devour her; Leda lay supine in bulrushes as Zeus, in the form of a swan, impregnated her.Two lines of Joni Mitchell floated back to Robin as she looked at the paintings: “When I first saw your gallery, I liked the ones of ladies…”Except that Robin wasn't sure she liked the paintings. The female figures were all black-haired, olive-skinned, heavy-breasted and partially or entirely naked. The paintings were accomplished, but Robin found them slightly lascivious. Each of the women wore a similar expression of vacant abandon, and Satchwell seemed to have a definite preference for those myths that featured bondage, rape or abduction. (Troubled Blood, 542)* And then there are the Masons, kind of an old school Jungian cult in Hallmarked Man. Like the UHC and “harmless” fraternal and charitable group with Christian touches but which doesn't change a man or human nature per Hardacre (and which harbors the rich and powerful like Lord Branfoot). * Coupled with Prudence, the Front of Jungian Beliefs, we get the front and back of Jung in Rowling's work, a characteristic touch of Rowling nuance as she did with Islam in Hallmarked Man.10. Conclusion: (John) I'm obviously not a Jung fan and I don't think Rowling is writing Jungian psychomachia in alchemical symbols a la Angela Carter, but I see how people would come to a contrary conclusion; Rowling's ‘spiritual not religious' public statements and political positions with respect to Same Sex Attraction and abortion line up much more easily with New Age and Jungian types than with any kind of orthodox Christianity. The great thing about essays like Isis' at S&E Files is that it brings more people into the conversation of what literary alchemy is and the various approaches to it. You've been reading about literary alchemy for several years now, Nick; what do you think the person whose first encounter with the subject was the S&E Files article do to hone their alchemy detection skills? * “Read your books and online talks, John!”* How Metallurgical Alchemy Worked and How it Became Literary Alchemy (from Deathly Hallows Lectures, Chapter 1):Alchemy, in a nutshell, was the science for the perfection or sanctification of the alchemist's soul. This heroic venture I need to say straight off is all but impossible today because the way we look at reality, at ‘things' per se makes the Great Work itself almost an absurdity. Unlike the medieval alchemists, we moderns and postmoderns see things with a clear subject/object distinction, that is, we believe that you and I and that table are entirely different things and between them is there is no connection or relation. The knowing subject is one thing and the observed object is completely ‘other.'To the alchemist that is not the case. His efforts in changing lead to gold are based on the premise that he as the subject will go through the same types of changes and purifications as the materials he is working with. In sympathy with these metallurgical transitions and resolutions of contraries, his soul will be purified in correspondence as long as he is working in a prayerful state within the Mysteries (sacraments) of his revealed tradition.Now, historically there was an Arabic alchemy, a Chinese alchemy, a Kabbalistic, as well as a Christian alchemy; each differs superficially with respect to their spiritual traditions but in every one, the alchemist was working with a sacred natural science or physics to advance his spiritual purification. This was only possible because he looked at the metal he was working with as something with which he was not ‘other' but with which he was in relationship, artifex and artifact in sacred art imitating and accelerating the work of the Creator creating a bridge, so that, as lead changes to gold or material perfection, his soul was going through similar transformations and purifications.The common ground is the logos in every created thing, to include persons (cf. John 1:9), which are all continuous with the Logos fabric of reality. As much as the alchemist identifies with this metaphysical ground, purifying himself of the ‘old man' or ego-driven individual and identifying himself with the spiritual Heart or light within him, that light will become his dominant quality, hence his “illumination” or “enlightenment”. And lead or solid darkness turning into gold, hard light.How does this edifying magic become the scaffolding for Harry's adventures? Largely through the genius of William Shakespeare. Hermetic wisdom and alchemical efforts were such commonplaces in Elizabethan England that Shakespeare and his contemporaries recognized, I think. that the magic of staged drama is essentially alchemical. If we groundlings are all watching what's going on up on the stage and everything is working the way it's supposed to, the subject-object distinction dissolves inasmuch as we identify with the characters and their agonies through our logos-imaginations. As they go through their changes, like the metals in a crucible, we identify with them and pass through the same cathartic moment.As the great dramatists of that period realized, “if what we're doing is alchemical, why don't we use alchemical imagery and language, too?” And, voila, literary alchemy is born. This stream of English literature in which narrator or characters and the reader or audience in correspondence pass through the stages of the alchemical work, the black the white and the red (basically dissolution, purification, and then perfection) runs through the next five centuries of poetry, stage work, stories and novels. You may not have recognized it, but its a big part of things you have read.* Literary Alchemy: Sacred Science, Sacred Art, and ‘The Alembic of Story':A Perennialist Explanation of J. K. Rowling's Signature Hermetic Symbolism This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics! It's been a hectic start to the year here at "Tis the Podcast" Headquarters—between kids, work, home life, accidents, and everything in between—so episodes have been a bit inconsistent this first quarter. Not wanting to miss another week, though, Anthony (sadly flying solo without Thom and Julia) invited Santa Matt from "North Pole Radio" and Ashley from "The Christmas Chapters Podcast" to join him for a special episode that, while a little light on Christmas, dives into something many of you care about: "Harry Potter". That's right! This week, the trio sits down to break down HBO Max's first teaser trailer for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"—the upcoming television adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved story about the boy wizard and his magical journey at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Tune in as they tackle the controversies surrounding the series—from Rowling's personal views to the race-swapping of certain characters and everything in between—while also debating whether this adaptation is even necessary. They share their reactions to this first official look and go shot-by-shot through the trailer, comparing what's shown to both the original novel and the 2001 film. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this fun, geeky episode! And be sure to let us know your thoughts on this new take on Harry Potter and his world. One thing's for sure: we here at "Tis the Podcast" are hyped. With a Christmas 2026 premiere on the horizon, it's only making us even more excited for the most wonderful time of the year! As always, thank you all for your love and support!

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠Analytic Dreamz reacts to the official teaser for the HBO Original series Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first season of the highly anticipated live-action television adaptation. Premiering Christmas 2026 on HBO and streaming on HBO Max, the series marks a new era of Hogwarts as it faithfully brings J.K. Rowling's beloved first novel to the screen with fresh casting and expanded storytelling.In this dedicated reaction segment on Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz provides a detailed breakdown of every key moment from the teaser, including visuals of Privet Drive, early glimpses of young Harry Potter, the Dursley family, and hints at the magical world awaiting at Hogwarts. The analysis covers production quality, cinematography, tone, casting impressions, and how the adaptation honors the source material while introducing the story of the boy who lived to a new generation.This timely reaction from Analytic Dreamz examines the teaser's record-breaking viewership and discusses expectations for the full eight-episode season. Listeners gain clear insights into narrative choices, visual style, and the potential for deeper exploration of the Wizarding World.Tune in for the complete teaser reaction and thoughtful commentary from Analytic Dreamz on the upcoming HBO Max Harry Potter series.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The new play “Giant,” on Broadway, dramatizes the scandal around Roald Dahl, the beloved children's-book author who, in the nineteen-eighties, began making antisemitic statements and invoking stereotypes about Jewish influence. John Lithgow portrays Dahl as he faces off against his American publisher, who presses him to retract his statements. The events that the show focusses on took place more than forty years ago, but they couldn't be more relevant today, as antisemitism surges during a war in the Middle East. Lithgow joins David Remnick to discuss the question of whether to separate the art from the artist—and about his own hesitation regarding his role as the wizard Dumbledore in HBO's new “Harry Potter” series, because of J. K. Rowling's history of anti-trans statements.    Further reading:  “‘Giant' Takes on Roald Dahl and his Antisemitism,” by John Lahr   New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians.

She was the first girl Harry Potter called his "girlfriend." But, she was also a seeker, Cedric's date, a defender of her best friend, a member of Dumbledore's Army, and the only person brave enough to feel all the feelings when Cedric was taken. In this episode, we give Cho Chang the full Critical Magic Theory treatment.Listeners weighed in, and chaos ensued! What does it mean that J.K. Rowling's only (??) East Asian character is named Cho Chang, sorted into the house synonymous with intelligence, and written to be most desirable when she is least demanding? How do we reconcile the fact that her emotions are treated as a weakness? Who is this girl outside of what Harry sees?Let's find out together!

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks just told the anti-Harry Potter activists to kick rocks on a podcast — the company is keeping the Wizarding World toys and games alive no matter how loud the outrage gets. Meanwhile on Bluesky, the usual suspects are already threatening to boycott Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons because Hasbro won't cancel J.K. Rowling. Clownfish TV breaks down the latest episode of cancel culture failing spectacularly and why these massive franchises keep surviving the mob.Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify.CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles.Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks just told the anti-Harry Potter activists to kick rocks on a podcast — the company is keeping the Wizarding World toys and games alive no matter how loud the outrage gets. Meanwhile on Bluesky, the usual suspects are already threatening to boycott Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons because Hasbro won't cancel J.K. Rowling. Clownfish TV breaks down the latest episode of cancel culture failing spectacularly and why these massive franchises keep surviving the mob.Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify.CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles.Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

This audio clip from Erik Qualman's #1 bestselling book The Focus Project highlights the importance of sleep quality and shares practical ways to improve your sleep habits.   5x #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 55 countries and reached over 50 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling.   Have Erik speak at your conference: eq@equalman.com   Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.   Learn more at https://equalman.com

This audio clip from Erik Qualman's #1 bestselling book The Focus Project challenges the classic phrase "Practice Makes Perfect," explaining why it isn't entirely true, and how a simple rewording makes it far more powerful.   5x #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 55 countries and reached over 50 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling.   Have Erik speak at your conference: eq@equalman.com   Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.   Learn more at https://equalman.com

For our first episode of the Three Ravens Bestiary for 2026, we're talking all about Centaurs and Pegasus!We begin in Dark Age Greece, way back before Homer, when horse-riding cavalry suddenly became a factor in human life. Representations in art leave us in no doubt - the combination of a horse with a man makes for a terrifying foe, though that's only the start of the story.Starting with Homer, developed by Hesiod, expanded upon by Pindar, then reinterpreted by Ovid, Centaurs graduate from fearful, lusty, xenophobic savages to become something else - a version of human beings, though unable to restrain their animalistic urges. From Cheiron, the wise and noble mentor to many an Ancient Greek hero, on through to C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling, we are left in a place where now we have to wonder what ought a Centaur be a symbol for, if anything at all?Then we switch our focus to the primal flying wonder-horse and father of horsekind, Pegasus, who is born out of his mother's neck, has a non-identical twin brother we don't talk about, and who perhaps got a bit carried away himself during escapades with Bellerophon, Prince of Corinth. As always, expect lots of nerdy references to dead people and things, a few digressions to talk about, for example, whether horses are innately shifty, and plenty more besides - so bring your Golden Bridle and let's giddyup!Speak to you again on Saturday for Eleanor's Local Legends interview about Glamorganshire with author, folklorist and storyteller Cath Little!Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastREGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOURVisit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is Cancel Me, Daddy's fifth anniversary! This week, former co-host Oliver joins Katelyn and Christine to discuss all the panic around cancel culture. Oliver and Katelyn pinpoint how they defined cancellation when the podcast started in 2021 and what has and hasn't changed about it over the past five years.Some of the very same “cancellation grifters”—Bari Weiss, Dave Chappelle, and J.K. Rowling—from the show's earlier days are still profiting from their so-called cancellation[s]. They've evolved into what Katelyn and Christine call “media villains,” which exist within the show's increasingly focused media and politics lens. Oliver, Katelyn, and Christine scrutinize the cancellation-to-grift pipeline with the show's trademark wit. Come celebrate five years of thoughtful analysis and verbal shitposting! Thank you, listeners, for five years of support!Stream on our YouTube channel—remember to ring the bell! Listen via Apple or Spotify. Be sure to check out the merch store—Merch Me, Daddy!Links:Listen to our Dave Chapelle episodes: Cancel Me, Daddy Classics: Shame on Chappelle and Netflix Part 2Catch up on Bari Weiss (again) and the rest of the Harper's Letter crew: They Screamed “Cancel Culture” — Then Went Silent While Trump Gutted Free Speech (ft. Parker Molloy)Tune into J.K. Rowling's cancellation: Canncel-o Wizard Game-o (ft. Ana Valens)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The story continues. In part 2 of this episode of the True Geordie Podcast, we go deeper into the fallout between J.K. Rowling and Emma Watson, exploring the reactions, long-term consequences, and cultural impact of their very public divide. The True Geordie Podcast examines how online backlash, ideology, and celebrity pressure intensified the conflict, separating fact from emotion with careful research and balanced analysis. This episode adds vital context to the controversy, revealing why the feud escalated — and what it means for both figures moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What really caused the explosive fallout between J.K. Rowling and Emma Watson? In this episode of the True Geordie Podcast, we break down the deeper reasons behind the public clash, examining ideology, personal values, and the pressure of fame. With detailed research and thoughtful, compassionate analysis, the True Geordie Podcast goes beyond headlines to uncover how this conflict escalated and why it matters. From social media backlash to long-term consequences, this episode explores the real story behind one of pop culture's most divisive feuds only on the True Geordie Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices