Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Special Edition: Why Do We Love Mystery Novels?

Vanessa Zoltan is joined by friend and mentor Dr. Stephanie Paulsell to discuss the appeal of mystery novels and their relationship to religion. If you're interested in

Mar 27
12 min

Commitment: The Boy Who Lived (Book 1, Chapter 1)

In the very final episode of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Vanessa Zoltan, Casper ter Kuile, and Matt Potts revisit Book 1, Chapter 1 through our very first theme of

Feb 19
58 min

Special Edition: Lectio Divina with Vanessa and Ariana

A new Lectio Divina every week with Vanessa and Ariana. Sign-up on Patreon at www.patreon.com/harrypottersacredtext Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform

Feb 18
22 min

Whole Series Wrap-Up: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Vanessa and Casper look back at the past ten years of making Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and their experience reading Harry Potter. What have they learned along the

Feb 12
54 min

Wrap-Up: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Vanessa and Casper wrap up their discussion of The Deathly Hallows with a look back on the entire book! They discuss Grindelwald's end, Harry's clarity, and the bravery a

Feb 5
45 min

Love: Nineteen Years Later (Book 7, Epilogue)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Love in the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss 'all was well,' Ron as a husband and father,

Jan 29
38 min

Legacy: The Flaw in the Plan (Book 7, Chapter 36)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Legacy in Chapter 36 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Bellatrix's death, the centaurs and house el

Jan 22
41 min

Sympathy: King's Cross (Book 7, Chapter 35)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Sympathy in Chapter 35 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss whether the Voldemort baby could be helped

Jan 15
40 min

Impossibility: The Forest Again (Book 7, Chapter 34)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Impossibility in Chapter 34 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Voldemort’s understanding of Harry, t

Jan 8
48 min

A Christmas Poem from Casper: Priest by Knut Ødegård

Every Christmas, we like to share a favorite poem. This year it's 'Priest' by Knut Ødegård. We'll be back with our regularly scheduled episodes on January 8th. Happy Hol

Dec 25 2025
1 min

Special Owl Post Edition: Reflecting with Ariana!

This week Vanessa and Casper are joined by their old pal Ariana to respond to a few of the wonderful voicemails we've received while making our final season of Harry Pott

Dec 18 2025
34 min

Imagination: The Prince’s Tale (Book 7, Chapter 33)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Imagination in Chapter 33 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Petunia’s childhood, Snape & Lily, and

Dec 11 2025
53 min

Humility: The Elder Wand (Book 7, Chapter 32)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Humility in Chapter 32 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Snape’s final words, Hermione’s plea, and

Dec 4 2025
41 min

Freedom: The Battle of Hogwarts (Book 7, Chapter 31)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Freedom in Chapter 31 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Fred’s death, Malfoy’s pals, and the very b

Nov 27 2025
40 min

Our Favorite Episodes! Friendship: Halloween (Book 1, Chapter 10)

As we wrap up our final season of HPST, we're taking a look back at some of our favorite moments! This week we're revisiting our 2016 episode on Friendship - one of the f

Nov 20 2025
32 min

Mercy: The Sacking of Severus Snape (Book 7, Chapter 30)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Mercy in Chapter 30 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Harry’s unforgivable curse, Percy’s return, a

Nov 13 2025
38 min

Growth: The Lost Diadem (Book 7, Chapter 29)

This week, Casper and Jolie Doggett explore the theme of Growth in Chapter 29 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Neville’s growth, the last relatively

Nov 6 2025
40 min

Special Edition: Halloween! with Jackson Bird

Every once in a while we like to take a step back from our current chapter, and appreciate some overarching themes and important characters from the series. This week, Va

Oct 30 2025
29 min

Closure: The Missing Mirror (Book 7, Chapter 28)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Closure in Chapter 28 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss Aberforth’s advice, the real story of the D

Oct 23 2025
48 min

Advocacy: The Final Hiding Place (Book 7, Chapter 27)

This week, Casper and Vanessa explore the theme of Advocacy in Chapter 27 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! They discuss empathy for the dragon, Voldemort’s big re

Oct 16 2025
37 min

Chart positions

Where Harry Potter and the Sacred Text ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 27, 2026).

#163 NEW Religion & Spirituality US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I’ve been a listener of HPST since the beginning and it’s gotten me through the good, the bad, and the every day. Vanessa, Casper, and Matt are such important people in my life because they have the gift of connection and that’s such a valuable gift to possess because it is meant to be shared with others. I’m still hoping to go on a pilgrimage one day to connect with them in person. As a therapist I help people retrain their brains everyday, and this podcast helps me retrain my brain and makes me feel like I’m reading something different whenever I pick up on of the 7 books. Keep reading, keep listening. Always.

Adrianna1127 · Nov 2024

Vanessa, Matt, Casper & team - You have ruined me for all other Harry Potter podcasts. I tried to listen to others but keep coming back to Harry Potter and The Sacred Text because....you guys are gold. You make me think about things in a deeper way and help me reminise in such a meaningful way. I appreciate that you keep the focus on the theme of each episode. Molly Weasley is my favorite character but I'm sending a special blessing to...Madam Pomfrey. With all of the injuries throughout the series, she always has her hands full and gives the best care without judgement. Thank you for this podcast! I am starting over from 2018. :-)

CJtravels · Sep 2024

After listening to each episode, I feel a little bit better about life and challenged to be a better version of myself. I love rereading Harry Potter and listening to this podcast for new ideas & understandings!

SammiYJo · Aug 2024

I can’t believe I haven’t done this already, but I have been listening since the very beginning, and wow has this podcast seen me through a lot of hard times and growth. It is my go to comfort show, a way to continue engaging with the Harry Potter series with fresh eyes and some necessary distance from its author. To Vanessa, Casper, Matt, and all of the wonderful contributors - thank you for the company through all of these years.

Emily Unhappy · May 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.