69 episodes

First Years is a podcast for adult first-time readers of Harry Potter, who need a space to enjoy each book and have adult conversations about it.

Join us for literary discussions along your journey! Spoiler free!

Read Harry Potter before? This is a perfect excuse to reread the series. Come join us!

First Years: A Harry Potter Podcast First Years Podcast

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 14 Ratings

First Years is a podcast for adult first-time readers of Harry Potter, who need a space to enjoy each book and have adult conversations about it.

Join us for literary discussions along your journey! Spoiler free!

Read Harry Potter before? This is a perfect excuse to reread the series. Come join us!

    #67: Thoughts & Ghosts

    #67: Thoughts & Ghosts

    For today's episode you need to have read CHAPTER of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! We chat about the power of thought, how thoughts play into magic, ghosts, and more!

    We're officially done with Order of the Phoenix! How do we feel?! Get ready for Half Blood Prince coming up! We will be doing an episode on OOTP the movie since the strike is over, so that's coming up. In the meantime, we'll be taking a quick break to prep for all things Half Blood Prince. I hope you guys are as excited as I am!

    Follow us: @firstyearspod (IG)

    @veritasarahm (IG & TikTok)

    Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com





    SOURCES:



    “Explaining How the Mind Works: A New Theory.” Research Outreach, 8 Nov. 2023, researchoutreach.org/articles/explaining-mind-works-new-theory/. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024. 



    “Exploring the Power of The Mind: How Psychology Works in Real Life.” Medium, 27 Sept. 2023, onlinepsychologist.medium.com/exploring-the-power-of-the-mind-how-psychology-works-in-real-life-3b697de47760. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024. 



    “Ghost.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jan. 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/ghost-spirit. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024. 



    “History of Ghost Stories - Early Sightings, Famous Ghosts & Haunted Places.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/halloween/historical-ghost-stories. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024. 



    Lewis, Ralph. “What Actually Is a Thought? And How Is Information Physical?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-purpose/201902/what-actually-is-a-thought-and-how-is-information-physical#:~:text=Fundamentally%2C%20our%20thoughts%20are%20maps,these%20are%20electrochemically%20mediated%20processes. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024. 



    Silver, Nicole Serena. “Accessing the Power of Your Mind: Placebo Effect and Mindset.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 12 Sept. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/nicolesilver/2022/02/17/accessing-the-power-of-your-mind-placebo-effect-and-law-of-attraction/?sh=5f6f23a15bf7. Accessed 06 Feb. 2024. 

    • 20 min
    #66: Dumbledore's Audacity

    #66: Dumbledore's Audacity

    For today's episode you need to have read CHAPTER 37 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! We chat about the aftermath of the ministry visit and Dumbledore's audacity!



    Thank you to everyone who came to my Leaky panels or tuned in via live stream! You guys are the best!

    For next episode, finish OOTP and get ready to jump into Half Blood Prince!



    Follow us: @firstyearspod 

    Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com

    • 21 min
    #65: Mourning

    #65: Mourning

    For today's episode you need to have read CHAPTER 36 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! We chat about Harry's heartbreak, what happens when spells go wrong, and dive a little deeper into the veil.

    Catch me at Leaky Con:

    Honoring the Unsung Heroes of Your Favorite Series

    Death as a Symbol in Harry Potter

    Can You Hear Me Now?

    The Chosen One's Chosen Girl



    Follow us: @firstyearspod

    Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com

    • 20 min
    #64: The Department of Mysteries

    #64: The Department of Mysteries

    Okay, but seriously...who works security and the front desk at the Ministry of Magic?! We're joined by Dani and Paula from Creating Magic today to cover chapters 34 and 35 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

    Connect with us! @firstyearspod

    Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com

    Follow Creating Magic: @creatingmagicpodcast



    SOURCES:

    Bryant, Megan. “Numerology 9 Meaning: Growth and Attainment.” The Coolist, 11 Jan. 2023, www.thecoolist.com/mystic/numerology/9-meaning/. 

    Bryant, Megan. “Numerology 7 Meaning: Insight and Intellect.” The Coolist, 11 Jan. 2023, www.thecoolist.com/mystic/numerology/7-meaning/. 

    Ward, Kerry. “Here’s What the Number 9 Means in Numerology.” Cosmopolitan, 20 Apr. 2022, www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a39751280/numerology-9-meaning/#:~:text=The%20number%209%20is%20powerful,life%27s%20ongoing%20ebb%20and%20flow. 

    • 1 hr 20 min
    #63: Centaurs and Ministry Methods

    #63: Centaurs and Ministry Methods

    For today's episode, you need to have read CHAPTERS 32 & 33 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We're going to chat about McGonagall's absence, Snape's motives, Umbridge's "methods", and we'll deep dive into torture and why it doesn't work and into the mythology of centaurs.



    Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com

    Follow us: @firstyearspod (IG & Twitter)





    SOURCES:

    Chaliakopoulos, Antonis. “9 Facts about the Centaurs of Greek Mythology.” TheCollector, 3 Apr. 2021, www.thecollector.com/centaurs-greek-mythology-facts/. 



    The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Centaur.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 21 Apr. 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/Centaur-Greek-mythology. 



    Eisen, Lauren-Brooke. “Review: 'Why Torture Doesn't Work: The Neuroscience of Interrogation'.” Brennan Center for Justice, 4 Apr. 2016, www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/review-why-torture-doesnt-work-neuroscience-interrogation. 



    “Kentauroi.” CENTAURS (Kentauroi) - Half-Horse Men of Greek Mythology, www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KentauroiThessalioi.html. 



    O'Mara, Shane. “Why Torture Doesn't Work.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-interrogated-brain/201603/why-torture-doesnt-work. 



    Shermer, Michael. “We've Known for 400 Years That Torture Doesn't Work.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 1 May 2017, www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-rsquo-ve-known-for-400-years-that-torture-doesn-rsquo-t-work/. 

    • 21 min
    #62: O.W.L.s

    #62: O.W.L.s

    For today's episode, you need to have read CHAPTER 31 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! We'll chat about promises, Ron's newfound confidence, O.W.L.s, Umbridge's effect on an entire generation of students, and more! 

    For next episode, you need to read chapters 32 and 33! :)

    Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com

    Follow us: @firstyearspod (IG & Twitter)

    @veritasarahm (IG and TikTok - not spoiler free!)

    • 13 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

Slinky1126 ,

Lovely Podcast

Sarah’s voice is so soothing and the entire podcast is just a labor of love when it comes to Harry Potter

Tweikerz ,

Positively charming!

I met the host at a convention, and I thought they were positively charming! So of course, I had to check out their show. Very insightful and entertaining. Precisely what you would want from a podcast like this 😊

Smalls42 ,

Just discovered my new obsession

Just heard about this and I couldn’t be more excited! Always happy for an excuse to do a reread…

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