Any phenomenon is going to have plenty of coverage surrounding it, but fourteen years after the final Harry Potter book was published and ten years after the final movie in the original series was released, there is proven staying power in the Wizarding World like no other. Nothing seems capable of deterring the passion that Harry Potter fans maintain on a consistent basis.
As such, there are dozens upon dozens of podcasts that have unique takes on covering the franchise, from the books to the movies to the theme park attractions and beyond. There is such depth and density to the Potterhead fandom that it seems like there will never be a dry spell of what to talk about. These podcasts prove that and then some.
The Restricted Section
Many podcasts release weekly and the Harry Potter sub-genre has taken advantage of that format. A vast majority of the Potter pods dive into the series by exploring the books on a chapter-by-chapter basis. With nearly two hundred chapters in the main series, it's a self-sustaining strategy.
However, The Restricted Section puts a fun (and occasionally emotional) spin on that guide. The team behind the show is uniquely equipped to track how the story has shaped them throughout their lives, as they grew up with the books and now reckon with them as adults.
WizardTeam
Just last month, WizardTeam, a stellar Harry Potter podcast from the Black Girls Create network, wrapped up its run with two hundred and seventy-five episodes. But just because the podcast has concluded, that doesn't mean the back catalog isn't waiting to be explored.
The podcast is filled with emotional insights and thought-provoking leading questions. Considering the series is a timeless one that is ripe for revisits, this podcast is certainly no different.
The Gayly Prophet
On The Gayly Prophet, intersectionality is the name of the game. Updating a bit sporadically, it's still regarded as one of the top-rated Potter pods available.
The Gayly Prophet explores the text through many questionable elements that were glossed over upon the initial boom of the books. Plus, during a time when J.K. Rowling's personal views have mired the story for many, it's important to celebrate those who critique it from a thoughtful and honest place.
Goblet Of Wine
Hosts Hannah and Charlie have collaborated for a delightful Harry Potter podcast that maintains similar themes and analysis of the above-mentioned pods, but through a lens that returns the books to their roots. Their British roots, of course.
Goblet of Wine is currently journeying through Order of the Phoenix with its patented brand of British humor that is also fueled by inebriation. If there was ever a podcast to imbibe along with, Goblet of Wine might be the match.
Fanatical Fics And Where To Find Them
A significant side of the Harry Potter fandom is the seemingly infinite number of fan fiction stories that have popped up. Fan fiction is a popular enough medium on its own, but the Hogwarts side of the form is truly prolific.
Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them is a bi-weekly podcast that dives deep into the wacky world of Potter fan fiction. Some of the stories they find and share on the pod are quite creative, to say the least. It's a fun listen every time.
Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast
It would be a mistake to discuss the best Harry Potter podcasts without writing about one that goes into detail on the theme park elements of the Wizarding World. Enter: the Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast.
Hosted by Lee, Tracey, Chris, Michelle, and an ever-rotating panel of theme park nerds and experts, UUOP has spent hours diving into the Wizarding World's offering (from thrilling attractions to delicious Butterbeers). For Potterheads, discussions on Jurassic Park and Dominic Toretto are a bonus.
Potterless Podcast
As already mentioned, there are plenty of pods that break down Harry Potter weekly and one chapter at a time. But Potterless is another one that finds an engaging and enriching take on the topic.
That is, Potterless follows Mike Schubert, who is reading the books for the first time in his life. It makes for fun predictions and vicarious listening on its own. But the pod has become popular enough that Schubert has managed to share the love with other Potter hosts and even interviews with cast members, like James and Oliver Phelps, who portrayed the Weasley twins.
Harry Potter And The Sacred Text
Another interesting spin on the chapter-by-chapter structure comes from Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. Over half a decade ago at Harvard Divinity School, Vanessa Zoltan and Casper Ter Kuile linked up to evaluate the Harry Potter book series through the lens of it being a "sacred text."
The religious practices really help to inform the stories in a light many have not considered before. The podcast recently finished its first read-through of the books, but is now having a second go-around with Zoltan and Matt Potts. It's a podcast that exploded on the charts initially (even garnering the attention of John Green) and even if listeners don't always agree with the hosts, there are consistently interesting discussions to be had.
Binge Mode: Harry Potter
Over on The Ringer, Binge Mode might be a defunct podcast. Mallory Rubin is still with The Ringer (she now hosts The Ringer-Verse with Van Lathan), but Jason Concepcion departed the company for Crooked Media.
When Rubin worked with Concepcion, they collaborated on Binge Mode, a podcast that took a deep (deep!) dive into Game of Thrones, Star Wars, the MCU, Black Mirror, Pixar, The Good Place, and more. Their Harry Potter miniseries was one of their most beautiful and most extensive, though. It's worth returning to the catalog to hear those two friends wax gorgeously over one of the most beloved fantasy series of all-time.
MuggleCast
It might be cliche at this point to place MuggleCast atop the list of the best Harry Potter podcasts, but it's there for a reason. First beginning back in 2005, it was one of the premiere podcasts, let alone one of the first Harry Potter podcasts.
As such, it's one of the only pods to have archives that actually dealt with the series before its ending became so well-known. That's a really special side to have to a podcast. Over the years, the hosts have changed, but its current iteration (Andrew Sims, Eric Scull, Laura Tee, and Micah Tannenbaum) is a lovely one and they always find something interesting to discuss, even hundreds of episodes on. It's the listeners who help make it, too, as the guests they have on make for some enriching chats, with Slug Club member Jac and Slug Club member Olivia providing some of the most memorable installments.