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Artwork for Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast

Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast

Potterversity
Harry Potter
Star Trek
Wizarding World
Fascism
Entrepreneurship
Fan Communities
Memory (false Memory)
Stranger Things
Intellectual Property
Women In Entrepreneurship
Deep Space Nine
Disability Studies
Religious Imagery In Sci-Fi
Book Bannings
Librarianship

In the hallowed halls of Potterversity, hosts Katy McDaniel (Marietta College) and Emily Strand (Ohio Dominican University) explore the Harry Potter series and wider Wizarding World from a critical academic perspective with scholars from a variety of fields, finding new ways to read and opening new doors.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes116Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast

Latest Episodes

We're entering the Upside Down to compare Harry Potter and Stranger Things following the Netflix series's final season. Spoilers ahead - proceed with caution!

Katy, Emily, and producer Laurie reflect on the end of Stranger Things and how the series ... more

We're heading to Hermione's favorite place in this episode: the library!

Ian McLaughlin, an PhD student in English who also holds an MLIS, joins Katy and Emily to reflect on libraries and librarians in Harry Potter, following up on his recent presen... more

We're back with another episode recorded live at the 14th annual Harry Potter Academic Conference, which took place online in October 2025.

Katy and Emily are joined by several conference regulars—producer Laurie Beckoff, John Anthony Dunne, Louise ... more

Why is there a lack of service businesses in the wizarding world?

Following up on our earlier episode about magical businesses, our technical director, Emma Nicholson, joins us to continue the conversation. Perhaps there aren't many businesses that ... more

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Recent Guests

Ian McLaughlin
Librarian-scholar focused on inclusive libraries and media in Harry Potter, with interdisciplinary research
University of North Carolina, Greensboro (Ph.D. candidate)
Episode: Potterversity Episode 68: When in Doubt, Go to the Library
John Dunne
Potter scholar
(as introduced)
Episode: Potterversity Episode 67: The Best Hope We Have
Lorrie Kim
Potter scholar
(as introduced)
Episode: Potterversity Episode 67: The Best Hope We Have
Mark-Anthony Lewis
Potter scholar
(as introduced)
Episode: Potterversity Episode 67: The Best Hope We Have
Mitchell Parks
Potter scholar
(as introduced)
Episode: Potterversity Episode 67: The Best Hope We Have
Emma Nicholson
Technical editor; senior business analyst
Tragic Gift; Potterversity technical editor
Episode: Potterversity Episode 66: Back to Wizarding Business
Louise Freeman
Professor Emerita of Psychology at Mary Baldwin University; Star Trek and psychology scholar
Mary Baldwin University
Episode: Potterversity Episode 65: Potter & Trek Part 2 - The Reality Inside Your Head
Laurie Bekoff
Potterversity producer
Potterversity
Episode: Potterversity Episode 64: Where No Potter Podcast Has Gone Before
Abigail Kohler
Adjunct lecturer at Brown University's Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship; co-founder and CEO of Resusetech
Brown University; Resusetech
Episode: Potterversity Episode 63: The Business of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hosts

Katy McDaniel
Co-host, Professor of History at Marietta College
Emily Strand
Co-host, Director of Campus Ministry and Liturgical Music at Ohio Dominican University

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 78 ratings
  • *** Warning: Content vacuum ….

    Talking about talking about Something. Without talking about it.

    Vacuous nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    I stand with JK Rowling
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    Overall, this is a phenomenal podcast if you can get past the episodes featuring heavy contributions by John Granger. His spastic stammering, constant interrupting of guests, and condescension and dismissal of anyone who is not as severely religious as he is are absolutely unbearable. He’s absolutely insufferable and detracts from every episode he is in

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    TheSteveOfRock
    United States4 years ago
  • Niffler-approved

    One of the best HP pods out there - it’s intellectual, captivating, easy to listen to, overall an excellent show. Even my Niffler is a fan. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kimira VP
    United States5 years ago
  • My favorite

    I’ve been writing books and essays and editing collections of works on Harry Potter for 15 years. This is my favorite Potter podcast. Don’t miss it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PubCaster
    United States5 years ago
  • Outstanding!

    I was a listener of MuggleNet Academia, so was really glad to discover Potterversity. I was sad to find out that John Granger left, but apparently he is a raging transphobe so good riddance, the show doesn’t need him to be amazing (and without him everyone else gets to talk more, which is a plus). The discussions are always very in-depth and clearly well-researched, the hosts are insanely smart and learned. I look forward to the releases and can’t wait to hear what they discuss next.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RubyWizard
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Long-form, well-researched episodes are frequently highlighted as a strength.
Some feedback notes varying audio quality but strong content and host intellect.
Listeners appreciate the depth and scholarly rigor of analyses.
Guests are described as well-informed and the discussions highly engaging.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#66
Switzerland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#150
Switzerland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#228
Poland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Potterversity Episode 66: Back to Wizarding Business
Q: How does secrecy influence wizarding businesses interacting with the Muggle world?
The group agrees that secrecy and the Statute of Secrecy restrict cross-over services and necessitate discreet handling of any muggle-facing business, which may limit or shape entrepreneurial opportunities in the wizarding community.
Potterversity Episode 66: Back to Wizarding Business
Q: Why might wizarding society favor labor performed by magic over manual labor, and what does that imply for economic activity?
The discussion suggests a cultural norm that devalues manual labor among witches and wizards, preferring magical labor or specialized skills; this shapes which services are seen as legitimate or prestigious and can constrain entrepreneurial activity in the wizarding economy.
Potterversity Episode 66: Back to Wizarding Business
Q: What is the core distinction between products and services in the Wizarding World, according to Emma's outpost?
Emma argues that products leave a tangible item, whereas services rely on specialized knowledge or labor, such as goblin financial services or house elf maintenance, which creates a status hierarchy around who can perform or provide certain kinds of labor.
Potterversity Episode 68: When in Doubt, Go to the Library
Q: Tell us, how did you first get interested in Harry Potter as a topic for scholarly study?
Ian describes a lifelong engagement with the series, tracing his path from teaching contexts and a university course to attending academic conferences, which fueled his scholarly focus on philosophy, religion, and library science within the Potterverse.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast

What is Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two academic hosts examine the Harry Potter canon and broader Wizarding World through critical theory, scholarly panels, and cross-franchise comparisons. Recent episodes cover libraries as democratic information spaces, fascism and resistance in Potterverse, wizarding commerce and labor, and crossovers with Star Trek, offering structured analyses of information access, culture, memory, and ethics. Notably, guests are drawn from Potter studies, media theory, and related fandom scholarship, which helps the show blend rigorous critique with engaging discussions for both students and professionals. The format frequently features guest experts, multi-episode arcs, and accessible deep-dives into world-building, culture, and real-world implication... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast:

1. The Three Broomsticks
2. Alohomora!: The Original Harry Potter Book Club
3. MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast
4. The Book Review
5. Stuff You Should Know

How many episodes of Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast are there?

Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast?

Recent guests on Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast include:

1. Ian McLaughlin
2. John Dunne
3. Lorrie Kim
4. Mark-Anthony Lewis
5. Mitchell Parks
6. Emma Nicholson
7. Louise Freeman
8. Laurie Bekoff

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