Expecto Podtronum: A Harry Potter Podcast

All about this Patronus form: Smartest bird ever!  PIKA PIKA! Always stays close to home SWOOPING SEASON!  Why are almost all nursery rhymes creepy? Many, many, many ties to witches and the devil Magpies raised the roof (aka sky) in Australia  If you see one, take that leap of faith Personality Traits: Homebody Good Communicators Very Smart  Persuasive  Resourceful The Patronus is Right! Fred and...

All about this Patronus form: AKA the Russian Wolf Hound  Used to be given as a present from the Russian Tsar Probably shouldn’t have this dog if you live in a city The Anastasia musical is the bomb Russians do not actually ride the dogs ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN Breed first came to the U.S. in 1889 Personality Traits: Loyal Affectionate Adaptive Energetic Strong Willed Gentle Graceful Whose Patronus...

All about this Patronus form: Not all robins are the same – American robins and European robins are very different They get kicked out of the nest really early Their songs are full of variety Can be associated with lost loved ones Reminds you to keep your heart open Zeus is also believed to have turned into a robin Symbolize change and living in the moment Stephanie does not like birds Personality...

All about this Patronus form: The Niffler of the real world!  Where don’t they live?  Witchy associations They are venomous Have strong connections to the earth and ground Does this fit a Creevy brother?  Swarm? Hoard? Army? Shrews want you to be productive today!  Personality Traits: Resilient Unassuming Agile Grounded Adaptable Proactive The Patronus Game The hosts have mixed opinions on if this...

All about this Patronus form: It is a horse shaped horse!  Piebald = Pattern, not breed Low Key Science with Liz ;) Europe got bored with them, so they sent them to America.  Lucy’s Question of the Episode: Can we see patterns in patronuses?  Skewball, throwing curveballs We use one of the more common Piebald horses, Irish Cobb, to narrow down personality traits for this Patronus Frequently seen i...

All about this Patronus form: Don’t pet a stranger! Originated in Canada Sphynx Cat gained popularity between 1960 and 1970 They use you for your heat They come in all different colors!  Just as picky as other cats when it comes to companionship A symbol of good luck in Russian culture No connection to Egypt other than then name Luna (Amy’s cat) joins the chat with opinions Personality Traits: Out...

All about this Patronus form: It’s the last episode of the season! Stephanie apparently doesn't know real animals from fictional ones. Roughly 22 species of albatross. They are carnivores with a diet consisting mainly of squid and fish. Both partners take turns caring for the egg and incubating it. Seen as a symbol of mystery, fortune, freedom, beauty, good luck, and strength. Personality Traits:...

All about this Patronus form: One of the two hare Patronus options Doesn’t dig burrows but instead resides in “forms” During warmer months it has a gray-brown coat with a bluish tint Witches had a reputation of shape-shifting into hares The hare is an intricate symbol used in various cultures Personality Traits: Shy Charming Endearing Solitary Cautious  Sensitive Nervous  Whose Patronus is it Anyw...

All about this Patronus form: Little bird of prey Eats smaller birds (sparrows, finches), small mammals, and insects Females are 25% larger than males They care for their young up to a month after they have left the nest Considered to be spiritual messengers A symbol of hope and new beginnings. Personality Traits: Secretive Solitary Intelligent Adaptable Fierce Whose Patronus is it Anyway? Amy wow...

What are the connections between animagi and Patronuses? Both are considered very advanced magic. Patronus forms represent the “hidden self” Becoming an animagus seems a little too involved for Liz. Do electrical storms happen a lot in Scotland? Teenagers have no problem taking on tedious tasks if they are of their own choosing. According to harrypotter.com, animagi sometimes find that their Patro...

All about this Patronus form: A group of about 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects Have long bodies with two narrow pairs of wings One species of dragonfly migrates 3,730 miles (6,000 km) yearly One of the most effective aerial predators Steph traumatizes Lucy and Liz with folklore Dragonflies are often associated with luck, good fortune, and spiritual awakening Personality Traits: Dominate...

All about this Patronus form: A British breed of small terrier First and foremost a working terrier They are “jaunty little fellows” A Jack Russell named Bothie made history in 1982 as part of the Transglobe Expedition Have the ability to learn quickly and adapt easily to new situations Symbolizes the importance of hard work and dedication Personality Traits: Intelligent Energetic Vocal Clownish A...

All about this Patronus form: Peacock is the name for a male peafowl. The female is called a peahen. The tail fans out as part of a mating ritual to attract the females. Peacocks get all the ladies!   National bird of India since 1963 Often considered a symbol of vanity and pride Personality Traits: Confident Creative Prideful Teamplayers Enthusiastic Persuasive Direct Whose Patronus is it Anyway?...

All about this Patronus form: Dappling can occur on any horse, not just greys, so our discussion focuses specifically on the grey horse color. The gene for a grey colored horse is dominant, so you only need one in there to have the chance of the horse being grey Grey horses often aren’t born grey You know it’s grey if it has white hair and black skin Unicorn revelations!  Grey horses are known in...

All about this Patronus form: They are giant balls of fur and energy Bred to work in packs The chattiest of all dog breeds Have a double coat to help keep them warm  Might not be the best watch dog Balto is a classic movie Chukchi legend states two sled dogs guard the gates of heaven where they can reject anyone who was mean to dogs while alive Personality Traits: Friendly Detail Oriented Mischiev...

All about this Patronus form: The king cobra has a wide distribution in South and Southeast Asia World's longest venomous snake Rarely bites humans It isn’t often seen in the wild and avoids being around civilization Doesn’t need to eat often due to slow metabolism Hisses in a frequency close to humans  They can reproduce asexually It's a faking, faker!  Personality Traits: Transformation Dangerou...

Prepare for the unhinged as we speculate whether or not Ginny’s Patronus form is actually a Thestral, not a horse! Recap of the Thestral How do you think Ginny’s patronus came to be? HORSE SHAPED!  Amy is set out to irritate Stephine  Lucy gets what Stephanie is pitching. Everyone else? Not so much. Pause for Dean and Alfie love  Has Ginny seen and understood death enough to see Thestrals in fourt...

On this episode, our hosts are joined by special guest Flick Miles. Flick was Emma Watson's body double on the first three Harry Potter films and currently hosts Behind the Wand , a podcast featuring the many talented individuals who worked behind the scenes on the Potter films. All about this Patronus form: Domestic cat breed made by crossing a Siamese and a Burmese cat. The first Tonkinese came...

All about this Patronus form: 23 different species of vultures across the world Our hosts think the Patronus would be a Griffon Vulture Moves in flocks as it searches for dead animals to scavenger  Unlike other birds, they are super calorically efficient with their flying Liz is jealous of their thermoregulation abilities Cultures view the bird as impure and a symbol of purification Personality Tr...

All about this Patronus form: Puffs unite!  The fifteen species of mustelid badgers are grouped into four subfamilies Their tails vary in length depending on species Badgers can run or gallop at 25–30 kmh (16–19 mph) for short periods of time The badger is the state animal of Wisconsin The Punxsutawney Phil of Europe Badgers often appear as wise and kind characters in books Most mythology paints b...

All about this Patronus form: Considered one of the rarest Patronus forms SIDNEY’S PATRONUS! Name comes from the Old English word “thestre,” meaning “dark” or “gloomy” Sleek, black coats that are so thin their bones are easily seen underneath. Thestrals are actually relatively peaceful creatures Can only be seen by those who have witnessed death and accepted its significance Can fly immense distan...

All about this Patronus form: The leopard is one of 5 species in the genus Panthera It has a pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Solitary creatures, they do not live in big groups Black panthers are just leopards with melanism Many cultures have deities with connections to leopards Spots are often associated with beauty, mystery, and complexity Personality Traits...

Our hosts give a breakdown of the Potters’ Patronuses Could Harry have a stag because he is holding on to the family he never knew?  Should Ginny’s Patronus match Harry’s? Why does the Weasley family have different Patronuses?  Stephanie thinks the Weasley family should have different Patronuses within the weasel family.  We’d love to hear from you! Send some Patronus Post our way at expectopodtro...

All about this Patronus form: There are 43 different species of deer Native to all continents except Antarctica and Australia Coat changes color depending on the season Can swim!  Personality Traits: Protective Nurturing Gentle Determined  Sensitive Noble The Patronus is Right We do a quick rundown of the Potter Family’s Patronuses (and Snape’s) to see if they match their personalities. This discu...

All about this Patronus form: Field mouse is a general term for deer mice Found in both rural and suburban/urban areas Male field mice get the attention of females by singing (you won’t be able to unhear it) Field mice are excellent navigators Mice can be seen as a negative omen Illyius, from Hogwarts Legacy, has a mouse patronus. Personality Traits: Endurance Focused Witty Fertile Adaptability In...