Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
Not Sorry Productions
It’s the English class you didn't know you missed and the meaningful conversations you didn't know you craved. Join Vanessa Zoltan and Matt Potts as they bring thought, reflection and laughter to Harry Potter; not just as novels, but as instructive and inspirational texts that will teach us about our own lives. Relive the magic of Harry Potter chapter by chapter as Matt and Vanessa explore themes such as commitment, revenge and forgiveness. This podcast creates time in your week to think about life’s big questions. Because reading fiction doesn’t just help us escape the world, it helps us live in it.Harry Potter and the Sacred Text is produced by Not Sorry Productions, a feminist organization that produces podcasts, educational content, live shows, and immersive experiences with the explicit goal of addressing the spiritual needs of its participants. Through community, rigor, and ritual, we treat traditionally secular things as if they were sacred. To learn more about what we do, visit https://notsorryworks.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 19, 2017 • 1h 19min
Trust: Cat, Rat and Dog (Book 3, Chapter 17) — Live from Washington, DC
Thank you so much to everyone who came out for our tour this summer and made it such a success! Here's the audio from our DC show, with special guest Scott Perlo. For our East Coast tour, we read Prisoner of Azkaban chapter 17, Cat, Rat and Dog, through the theme of trust. We'll be back to our regular episode on October 5th with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 12, 2017 • 32min
Special Edition: Owl Post and Sejal Patel
In our final episode of Season 3, we have a chance to sit down with lawyer and fellow divinity school graduate, Sejal Patel. She chats with us about justice, Hinduism, and the Niebuhr brothers. We also do a last round of owl posts for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, hearing your thoughts about friendship, trauma, isolation, and spiritual practices.The incredible choir is: Ann Phelps, Suzanne Daniel, John-Wesley Hodges, Robert Totten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 5, 2017 • 43min
Wrap-Up: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In the final episode of season three, Vanessa and Casper pull out a few key insights from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. They take some time to talk about Harry Potter himself, reflect on Voldemort's absence, and compare Draco to a young white supremacist. Throughout the episode they come back to ideas about purity, justice, and identity formation. Next week, we're rounding out the season with a final Owl Post and a conversation about justice with lawyer Sejal Patel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 29, 2017 • 35min
Love: Owl Post Again (Book 3, Chapter 22)
Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of love in the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This is our third time discussing love of the podcast, but we still have so many questions: Where does overwhelming love come from? Should we try to be selfless in our love? Is the tooth fairy a fraud?Our voicemail this week is thanks to Colin Holden. Next week we're doing a full book review of Prisoner of Azkaban! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 22, 2017 • 35min
Crisis: Hermione's Secret (Book 3, Chapter 21)
Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of crisis in chapter twenty-one of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This week, they discuss Snape's existential crisis, Dumbledore's rebellious streak, and Madame Pomfrey's delicious boulder of chocolate. Throughout the episode they consider the question: How do we find meaning in this time-turner business? Next week we're reading chapter twenty-two (the last chapter of Prisoner of Azkaban!), Owl Post Again, through the theme of love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 16, 2017 • 2min
Charlottesville: Call it what it is
Today was our first day back in the studio after the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, VA this past weekend. We wanted to share a few thoughts from the team. You can access the Charlottesville Syllabus that Casper mentions here. We've also put it as a button on the top of our website: harrypottersacredtext.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 15, 2017 • 33min
Justice: The Dementors' Kiss (Book 3, Chapter 20)
Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Justice in chapter twenty of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This week, they discuss justice in all its forms: poetic, divine, restorative and insufficient. Throughout the episode they consider the question: Can an injustice ever be rectified? This week's voicemail was thanks to Peighton. Next week we're reading chapter twenty-one, Hermione's Secret, through the theme of crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 8, 2017 • 37min
Forgiveness: Owl Post with Professor Stephanie Paulsell
This week, Casper's out of town so Vanessa sits down with Stephanie Paulsell, Professor of Ministry Studies at Harvard Divinity School, to talk forgiveness and answer some owl post. Our regular scheduled programing will be back next week with Chapter 20, The Dementors' Kiss through the theme of Justice. Much thanks to Bri, Elizabeth, Abby, and Seth for their voicemails. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 1, 2017 • 38min
Mercy: The Servant of Lord Voldemort (Book 3, Chapter 19)
Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of mercy in chapter nineteen of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This week, they discuss Snape's dual identity, Pettigrew's shrewd manipulations, and the legacy of Lily and James Potter. Throughout the episode they consider the question: What's the differing between mercy and forgiveness? This week's voicemail was thanks to Blair Boudreaux. Next week we're reading chapter twenty, The Dementors' Kiss, through the theme of justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 25, 2017 • 33min
Isolation: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs (Book 3, Chapter 18)
Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of isolation in chapter eighteen of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This week, they pity Peter Pettigrew, wonder about The Whomping Willow and solve the problem of suffering. (Just kidding on that last one.) Throughout the episode they consider the question: What stories do the buildings and objects around us have to tell? This week's voicemail was thanks to Keeley Harris. Next week we're reading chapter nineteen, The Servant of Lord Voldemort, through the theme of Mercy. Don't forget to tweet us your best Dumbledore drag names: @hpsacredtext. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
