Episode #72: Harry Potters Anonymous
Firstly, we apologize for the lateness of this episode. If you have been paying attention to the goings on at this blog, you’ll know that I have been ready to be committed to St. Mungos Psych ward because of all the problems editing this episode. It has taken 3 days and it is finally ready to go. Thanks for your patience.
In this week’s episode, we interviewed Dr. Jeffrey Rudski from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Dr. Rudski just completed a study that is being submitted to the Journal of General Psychology examining signs of addiction to the Harry Potter series and the fandom that surrounds it. Dr. Rudski was very interesting to talk to and he has some great insights into the Harry Potter fandom and the emotional connections that have come with the series and the fandom. Thanks to Dr. Rudski for taking the time to speak with us. Once again, we apologize for the audio quality of this interview.
The rest of the episode was dedicated to various voicemails we have received over the past week or so. Some of the voicemails were Patterns in Potter related, some were general Potter observations, and some were either guilt inducers or ego strokers for Greg. Enjoy them!
We promised to link to our listener, Katrina’s new podcast, “Kat Got Your Tongue”. Check it out and enjoy!!
As always, we look forward to hearing from everyone. Please be in touch with your comments, thoughts, and suggestions!Please vote for us on Podcast Alley and rate and review us on iTunes.In the news:
- The Wyrd Sisters Band not happy with WB.
- Daniel Radcliffe bought a nice place in NYC.
- JKR is REALLY rich. In other news, the sky is blue.
- Jim Dale is coming to Portus!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Really interesting new interview with JKR. She discusses religion and HP, her history of depression and Dumbledore’s sexuality.
- Filming for Half Blood Prince took place at Millenium Bridge in London this week.
- David Yates took home and Empire Award. Stated that he is “tempted” to direct Deathly Hallows movie.
- JK Rowling still suing over paparazzi photos of her son.
LATE BREAKING: Since we recorded it was announced that Deathly Hallows will be split into two movies, to be directed by David Yates!!You can listen to the episode with the player below, or download it directly as an mp3.
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Tags: addiction, Harry Potter, interviews
March 12th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
yayyy finally! I’m very interested in hearing this interview, and thanks so much for posting my link!
March 12th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I’m downloading the episode now on iTunes. Can’t wait to hear it!
March 12th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hi, Chapter 25 in Goblet of Fire is where Crouch takes the map. Harry Never gets it back from him before he was kissed by the dementor (maybe it was a deleted scene).
March 13th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Hey. Thanks for putting my audio comment on your podcast. I was the one who Penny thought my name was “Sade”. It was supposed to be “Jade”. Sorry, I don’t speak very well on the phone. Thanks! You guys are awesome!
March 13th, 2008 at 5:18 am
just wanted to briefly elaborate on why I see the theme of emotions and Harry’s identification with the (idealized) image of his father as closely related.
Loving someone exposes one to feeling certain emotions beyond those related only to ones self. There is the anger felt when those close to us are taunted and there is always fear of losing someone beloved.
While Voldemort seeks to overcome his fear and thus completely dismisses the power of love, Harry is determined to connect with his parents even if this appears to weaken him.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:31 am
im on itunes and it does not think there is a new podcast any tips on what to do
March 13th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Austin- I just looked and it appears to be on iTUnes. did you hit refresh? If you keep having trouble, I would suggest downloading it directly from this page. Let me know if you still have trouble.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Ok I have a Harry Potter addict story. ( I’m told the first step is admitting you have a problem) I have always wanted a large monitor for my PC so after pricing them decided that a high def LCD TV was a cheaper way to go, so off to the store I went. Traffic is bad in Houston so on the way I dug for some music and all I could find was wizard rock and stuck it in the cd player. Arriving at the store, I was ignored. Couldn’t find any help so I stood by the TV sets and watched Goblet of Fire that just happened to be on. Finally some fellow with a heavy foreign accent helped me out. I picked what I thought was the best value for my needs and he said it would be taken to the front for me to pay and pick up. Well apparently my attire of jeans and T-shirt and general Hagrid appearance made them not take me seriously. They even called my bank to make sure I had money. This big brother stuff is getting scary because I had never had issue prior for them to question my ability to pay but all the info that is inputted about you allows them to basically keep a file on every customer including bank accounts and who knows what. Well after a 30 minute inquisition I was deemed worthy enoughy to purchase this TV. I ask them politely if I was good and there was enough money in the bank and all of a sudden everything was yes sir so I ask for the manager.
Well I told him to basically stick the TV somewhere but my insults were along the line of calling him a Delorus Umbridge pure blood loving nargle! As I stormed out he kept calling me Mr progs.
Yep guess what T-shirt I was wearing.
As a side note My wife got me a nice TV at a much nicer store. I would not be surprised if Mr Progs picture was in the other one with the caption of undesirable #1.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Hey Greg and Penny!
I’m a fairly new listener and I just wanted to drop by and tell you how much I love your podcast! I’ve hear some of the other more ‘mainstream’ HP podcasts, and cannot stand them. They are just silly in my opinion. Anyhow, I love to hear you converse not only with each other, but you seem to have a close relationship with your many listeners as well. I always look forward to hearing your ideas. I love the patterns in Potter Series and am excited for it to continue. Loved the interview on addiction, by the way, my husband is constantly telling me that I’m addicted, guess he was not too far off of the mark. Well, I will be prognosticating, and can’t wait to hear from you, perhaps you will hear from me, if I decide to leave a voicemail! Thanks guys, you’re amazing!
March 13th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
You missed your chance when book 7 came out, but what about the anniversary of the release? WE could all write new letters, from the point of view of someone one year out, and Greg could actually write a letter, and we could send it! No one that I know of has done that.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
thanks alot my computer was just slow this morning
March 13th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
First of all, thanks to all of you who sent in voice comments this week- they were great!!
Mrs. Cramer- Thanks sooo much for the kind words! We’d love to hear from you!!!
March 14th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Great show, guys.
If you are an obsessed fan – check out this video. I think you will be able to relate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar4Mwk4ULvc
March 14th, 2008 at 9:06 am
“I named my child Hermione even though its a he!” HYSTERICAL, Delma!!!!
March 14th, 2008 at 9:22 am
This is hilarious !!! ‘Snuck into the girls bathroom but the invisibility cloak didn’t work for me, told them I was imperioused but they did not believe me’ !! Incredible
March 14th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I emailed this comment to Greg and Penny, and they thought I should post it here. I’ve never posted on the blogs and this is my first time…yay!
While I listened to Episode #72, your guest mentioned that 18-20 year olds seemed to have the biggest withdrawl symptoms. The conclusion from him was that some of the younger people pretended to be 18. I don’t think this is the case. I am 20 and I probably had a lot of withdrawl symptoms. (Ok, I said “probably” and my boyfriend thinks i should change that word to “definitely”….) I think that the reason it is troubling to this age group is because we have read it longer than most other age groups. The books came out in the US when I was in the 6th grade (At least I think this is the case). This is probably right around the age group the books were initially targeted towards. I read the books from the 6th grade until the summer before my Sophmore year in college (8 years+ from the time I started to when the series ended). That is all of my teenage years. Harry Potter is like a security blanket in a way….something to go to when you have something bothering you and you want to get away. When it was “over” it was a traumatic thing. I went through having to wait for the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th books and when there was no other Harry Potter book to look forward to, it was really sad. That’s just what I think…(And I could be crazy…)
March 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Are we implying that that is not normal behavior? Seems normal enough although my wife didn’t leave me when I said she looked like Hagrid. She took it as a compliment.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:58 am
My wife actually reminds me more of Dobby, come to think of it……..
March 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I am NOT wearing your socks!! EWWW
They smell like old combat boots
March 14th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I think Cris makes an excellent point. There is definitely something that goes with reading a book and having it be a very large part of your life during the formative years. For these 18-21 year olds, they have been reading HP since they were pre-teens. I don’t think we can discount the impact something like that would have on someone, even someone who doesn’t or normally wouldn’t have addictive tendencies.
Now what is my excuse?
March 14th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Hi guys love the show, but usually have to wait an extra day to get the podcast as I live in Drogheda, Ireland. Only started listening a few months ago and am already addicted to the show. Can’t wait for the next show and hope you have a great St. Patrick’s Day
March 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Hi DroghedaBaby! My favorite (obsessively) color is GREEN so I LOVE St. Patrick’s Day!!!
March 15th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I love green too! I was wondering if you guys could do a contest sort of thing. everyone who wants to submits an idea for a show, then you chose your favorites, and use them as topics.
March 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I am not happy at all about a two-part movie. We are going to have to watch one part in November and the other in May? I think they made a really stupid
error in judgement. Real Potter fans would sit for 4 hours. Does anyone agree with me?
March 16th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
another thing: if someone didn’t read book seven and just saw the movies, do you think everyone will remember everything that happend between six month?
March 16th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
P.S I am more upset about this then when the Redsox came back from being down to the Yankees is the 2004 ALCS (and that’s saying somethint!)
March 16th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Potter’s number one fan: Yes, Potter fans would certainly sit through a four-hour movie. But for many, many people, it’s really a lot to ask, even with an intermission. It’s a very different thing to attend a two-and-a-half hour movie and a four-hour-movie; it takes more energy to sit through, and it’s a much bigger time investment. For casual movie goers, that could be a big factor in deciding whether or not to see the movie.
Also, I don’t think it will be that difficult for audiences to remember the plot; they’ve done pretty well between all the other installments, and I’m sure there will be some kind of preface to refresh our memories.
March 16th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Ack!
March 16th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
i for one would not sit through a four hour movie
March 17th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I like the idea of 2 movies. They have a lot of information to complete the series that needs to be put into these last couple of movies to make the series of movies better as a whole. I know they can’t get every little detail that they missed when the made the books into movies. At least this gives them more time to get this information in, instead of trying to cram it in or just leave information out altogether. I think it is a good idea for the fans (we get a longer and hopefully better movie 7, even if it is in 2 parts) and for the people making the movie (the 7th hp movie was going to be big, so now it is 2x as big which means $$$ x2). I think it’s a win-win. I just wish people would stop complaining. If they had decided to make 1 movie that was 2 1/2 hours, ya’ll would complain about it being to short, haha..
March 17th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Now we have to think of two themes for book seven!?!
March 17th, 2008 at 11:39 am
2 movies? Does that mean two names? Perhaps one of JKR’s alternate titles will be used. Just when you thought you knew it all now this. On the bright side I have heard that George Lucas will be making the Harry Potter prequil movies. Jar Jar binks is auditioning for a role as a house elf.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Oh yeah Happy St. Patricks day. Nice enough fellow but I think he made all the Irish snakes move to Texas.
March 17th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day everyone! I am being pure Slytherin today, in honor of Irelands colours. (I’m being a nice Slytherin though.)
March 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I guess you all are right, I would much rather have all the details in the two parts. We are all forgetting about Half-blood Prince however, what do you all think of that movie and how much are you looking forward to it? Also, what part of HBP are you all looking forward to the most?
March 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I’m looking forward to Harry And Ginny the most! I’m a total romantic.
March 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Hey, hope you guys have a good Easter holiday!
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Longaberger Products…
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you….