Books and Butterbeer

BooksandButterbeer
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Books and Butterbeer is a podcast hosted by Johnna and Katie, where they revisit the stories that ignited their love for reading. Each episode takes listeners on a journey back to the books that captured their imaginations and kept them turning pages late into the night. From the enchanting world of Harry Potter to other beloved tales, Johnna and Katie explore the stories that sparked the magic of storytelling. Grab a butterbeer and join them as they dive into the books that shaped their hearts and minds.

  1. 5d ago

    Chapter 12: The Triwizard Tournament

    Yes! Chapter 12 finally feels like the starting gun after all that setup. You even say it near the end: now the book starts going boom, boom, boom. We are finally at Hogwarts, Mad-Eye has arrived, Hermione has discovered the house-elves, and the Triwizard Tournament is officially happening. Chapter 12-FAST We made it. We are finally back at Hogwarts. And after nearly 200 pages of setup, Goblet of Fire is ready to get moving. This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 12, The Triwizard Tournament, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally return to Hogwarts and discover that this year is going to look very different from any year before it. Peeves welcomes everyone back by throwing water balloons at students who are already soaking wet, we get our first Sorting Hat song since Harry’s own Sorting, Dennis Creevey has an unexpectedly eventful trip across the lake, and Hermione makes a discovery about Hogwarts that is about to give her an entirely new cause. Then the doors open, Mad-Eye Moody arrives, and Dumbledore finally reveals the secret everyone has been keeping: The Triwizard Tournament is coming to Hogwarts. Chapter 12-FAST In this episode, we talk about: Peeves and why leaving him out of the movies makes it surprisingly easy to forget how chaotic he actually isThe Sorting Hat’s song and our continuing investigation into whether Slytherin was ever actually supposed to sound appealingDennis Creevey falling into the lake and treating it like the greatest first-day-of-school story imaginableHermione discovering that more than 100 house-elves work at HogwartsWhy Hogwarts: A History apparently never bothered to mention themThe beginning of Hermione’s crusade for house-elf rights and why this storyline matters to her development even if it doesn't drive the main plotFilch’s increasingly enormous list of banned itemsThe wonderful news, at least according to Katie, that the Quidditch Cup has been canceledOur first look at Mad-Eye Moody and just how much more intimidating his book description is than his movie appearanceThe long and rather deadly history of the Triwizard TournamentThe magical contract that apparently means you can't simply change your mind after enteringWhy seventeen is the magic age for competing and our many questions about parental permission for a potentially deadly school competitionAnd Fred and George immediately deciding that an age restriction sounds more like a challenge than a ruleWe also somehow manage to compare proud Slytherins to people proudly announcing that they're Sith Lords, investigate exactly what a fen is, discuss the working conditions of house-elves, and wonder what kind of school requires parental permission to visit Hogsmeade but apparently not to enter a tournament with a history of killing its contestants. Chapter 12-FAST Chapter 12-FAST And, of course, Harry has started noticing Cho Chang. We cared deeply about this development when we first read the book. Just kidding. We wanted to get back to the magic. Chapter 12-FAST The groundwork is finally in place. Mad-Eye Moody is here. The Triwizard Tournament is coming. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are on their way. And Goblet of Fire is about to take off. Grab your Butterbeer, stay away from Peeves' water balloons, and settle in. Next week: Mad-Eye Moody. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Chapter 12: The Triwizard Tournament

  2. Sep 24

    Chapter 11: Mayhem At The Ministry

    All aboard! After 150-ish pages, we are finally going back to Hogwarts. This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 11 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Aboard the Hogwarts Express. After several incredibly heavy chapters, this one gives us a much-needed palate cleanser. The trunks are packed, everyone is headed to King’s Cross, Malfoy is back to being Malfoy, and Hogwarts is finally within reach. But before the train even leaves the station, we overhear a conversation about a retired Auror named Mad-Eye Moody, who apparently spent the previous night battling an intruder, cursed rubbish bins, and his own highly suspicious household objects. Everyone seems willing to write the whole thing off as Mad-Eye being Mad-Eye. We have a feeling we should remember that. In this episode, we talk about: Our first real introduction to Mad-Eye Moody and why his reputation mattersThe very important conversation between Arthur Weasley and Amos Diggory that is incredibly easy to skim right pastWhy sticking your head into a fireplace may actually be one of the wizarding world’s better communication methodsThe adults doing an absolutely terrible job of pretending nothing unusual is happening at Hogwarts this yearPercy once again being PercyCharlie and Bill dropping hints they definitely aren't supposed to be droppingThe introduction of DurmstrangDraco Malfoy knowing something everyone else doesn't and being completely insufferable about itHermione deciding that The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 counts as casual train readingAnd why such a short, quiet chapter still contains one enormous piece of setup for everything that's comingWe also take a little detour into how differently we each remembered the Mad-Eye conversation from our first read, why his history as an Auror shapes the way other characters interpret his behavior, and how cleverly this scene hides something enormously important in what initially sounds like ordinary Ministry business. Plus, because this chapter didn't give us quite enough to talk about, we wander into Harry Potter casting news, A Very Potter Musical, The Walking Dead, Warm Bodies, and somehow end with Johnna smacking herself in the head with Goblet of Fire. Apparently the book decided to provide its own dramatic conclusion. Grab your Butterbeer, find an empty compartment, and settle in.

  3. Sep 17

    Chapter 10: Mayhem At The Ministry

    The World Cup is over, but the fallout is just beginning. This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Mayhem at the Ministry. Harry and the Weasleys finally make it back to the Burrow, where a terrified Mrs. Weasley is waiting after reading about the attack in the Daily Prophet. But while everyone is safely home, the Ministry is scrambling to contain the damage, and a certain reporter named Rita Skeeter is more than happy to make the situation even worse. In this episode, we talk about: Mrs. Weasley realizing that her last words to Fred and George could have been an argumentThe lasting effects of Memory Charms and another seemingly small detail worth rememberingOur introduction to Rita Skeeter and her particular talent for stretching the truth without necessarily telling an outright lieWhy separating facts from opinions matters, in the wizarding world and the real onePercy’s increasingly frustrating devotion to Mr. Crouch and the MinistryBertha Jorkins still being missing while apparently no one is sufficiently concerned about itHermione’s growing anger over the treatment of house-elvesThe cultural divide between Hermione’s Muggle upbringing and attitudes the wizarding world considers completely normalThe Weasley family clock finally making an appearanceRon’s truly spectacular secondhand dress robesAnd why Ron’s reaction to those robes is about much more than some unfortunate laceWe also take a closer look at Ron and the embarrassment of constantly receiving hand-me-downs while his closest friends don't share the same financial struggles. What can look like jealousy or complaining on the surface feels very different when we remember that Ron is only fourteen and has spent his entire life watching other people have things his family simply cannot afford. And somehow, before discussing any of that, we take a completely unexpected detour into Shaq, Kazaam, Space Jam, the Mandela Effect, and a genie living inside a boombox. Because apparently that's where Chapter 10 needed to begin. The World Cup may be behind us, but Goblet of Fire is still laying its pieces on the board. Rita Skeeter has arrived, Bertha Jorkins is still missing, Hermione is asking questions the wizarding world would rather ignore, and tensions inside the Weasley family are beginning to show. Grab your Butterbeer, hide Ron’s dress robes, and settle in.

  4. Sep 10

    Chapter 9: The Dark Mark

    This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 9, The Dark Mark, a chapter that feels completely different reading it as adults than it did when we first read the book as kids. The Quidditch World Cup celebration turns terrifying when masked wizards begin marching through the campground, tormenting the Muggle family who runs it while more people join the crowd. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are sent into the woods for safety, but things only get worse when Harry discovers his wand is missing and the Dark Mark suddenly appears in the sky. In this episode, we talk about: Why the attack on the Roberts family is so much more disturbing than we rememberedThe frightening way the crowd grows as more witches and wizards decide to join inWhy sending a group of children into the woods without a single adult may not have been Arthur Weasley’s finest planDraco Malfoy somehow becoming even more awfulWinky, Harry’s missing wand, and why cutting her from the movie changes so much of the mysteryThe staggering amount of foreshadowing packed into this chapterLudo Bagman’s strange behavior and whereabouts during the attackWhy Barty Crouch’s reaction to finding Winky is worth paying very close attention toAmos Diggory conducting some extremely questionable investigative workHermione beginning to recognize how deeply house-elves are mistreated, even by supposedly “good” wizardsPriori Incantatem and another little piece of magic that will matter laterAnd why almost every seemingly insignificant detail in this chapter deserves to be filed away for laterThere are still a few moments of humor, including Ron attempting to impress the Veela at possibly the worst moment imaginable, but this chapter marks a real shift in the story. The danger surrounding Voldemort is no longer something safely tucked away in Harry’s past. Something is happening again. And someone in those woods knew exactly how to summon the Dark Mark.

  5. Sep 3

    Chapter 8: The Quidditch World Cup

    The Quidditch World Cup is finally here. This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where the wizarding world gathers for one massive international sporting event complete with a stadium that holds 100,000 people, magical mascots, celebrity athletes, and some very important faces sitting in the top box. In this episode, we talk about: How enormous the Quidditch World Cup stadium really isWhich real-world sports we actually enjoy watchingWinky, the mysterious empty seat beside her, and why both matter so much laterThe Veela and the folklore that may have inspired themLeprechauns, magical gold, and one very rude gestureWhy Viktor Krum is clearly carrying the Bulgarian team on his shouldersThe strange strategy of catching the Snitch even when it means losing the matchFred and George’s suspiciously accurate prediction coming trueRon paying Harry back with leprechaun goldLudo Bagman seemingly paying out the twins’ winningsAnd why the Malfoys absolutely had to be seen sitting with the Minister of MagicThe match itself may be over, but Goblet of Fire is only getting started. Winky, Bagman, the Malfoys, the twins’ bet, and that mysterious empty seat are all pieces worth remembering. Grab your Butterbeer, find your seat in the top box, and get ready for Ireland versus Bulgaria.

  6. Aug 27

    Chapter 7: Bagman and Crouch

    This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Bagman and Crouch, and the Quidditch World Cup is finally starting to come alive. Before we even make it to the match, there is plenty to unpack. We debate whether wizard camping is the only acceptable form of camping, question the Ministry's rather questionable treatment of poor Mr. Roberts, revisit the mystery of the Salem Witches' Institute, and meet two very different Ministry officials: Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch. Then there is Archie. One flowered nightgown. One very strong opinion about Muggle trousers. And one conversation that sends us down a rabbit hole we probably never needed to enter about what wizards are actually wearing underneath their robes. Some questions are better left to the Department of Mysteries. We also dig into some surprisingly important details hiding beneath all the World Cup chaos: Fred and George's incredibly specific bet, the fan theory that the Weasley family may have a little Seer blood running through it, the introduction of the Unspeakables, and the increasingly concerning fact that Bertha Jorkins is still missing and apparently no one is particularly motivated to find her. And finally, we take a closer look at Percy. Is he actually a bad person, or is his obsession with titles, authority, and the Ministry preventing him from seeing the people behind the positions? Because knowing what happens later makes his admiration for Barty Crouch particularly interesting. Grab your Butterbeer, pitch your magically enormous tent, and please wear whatever makes you comfortable. Apparently Archie certainly will.

  7. Aug 20

    Chapter 6: The Port Key

    How can nine pages contain almost no plot... and somehow set up half the book? This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie are diving into Chapter 6 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Portkey. It may be the shortest chapter yet, but there is a surprising amount hiding inside it. Fred and George are still attempting to smuggle their Ton-Tongue Toffees past Mrs. Weasley, Harry officially meets Cedric Diggory, Amos Diggory manages to irritate us almost immediately, and everyone grabs an old boot for one of the wizarding world's stranger methods of transportation. We're talking about: • How Portkeys actually work and why traveling by one sounds mildly horrifying• Why Hogwarts students apparently used to travel to school by Portkey• The mystery of why Molly Weasley doesn't attend the Quidditch World Cup• Fred and George versus Mrs. Weasley: Ton-Tongue Toffees, Round Two• Our rapidly growing dislike of Amos Diggory• Why Cedric's reaction to his father's behavior tells us so much about his character• The strange logistics of hiding magical transportation inside literal garbage• Why wizards insist on scheduling things at ridiculous times like 7:05• And an unexpected detour into baby names, alarm clocks, and the historical reason your snooze button is nine minutes This chapter may be short, but don't mistake short for unimportant. Cedric Diggory and Portkeys have officially entered the story, and absolutely nothing could possibly go terribly wrong with either of those things later... Right? Grab your Butterbeer, find the suspicious old boot on top of the hill, and whatever you do: Don't be an Amos Diggory parent.

  8. Aug 13

    Chapter 5: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes

    What’s the best way to travel in the wizarding world... and which one would you absolutely refuse to try? This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie are diving into Chapter 5 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as Harry finally makes it back to the Burrow and finds himself right in the middle of the wonderful chaos of the Weasley family. Fred and George are celebrating the success of their Ton-Tongue Toffee experiment, Mrs. Weasley is decidedly not celebrating, and Harry finally meets the two oldest Weasley brothers, Bill and Charlie. Meanwhile, what feels like a quiet family dinner is casually dropping names and details that are going to become very important later. We’re talking about: • Which form of wizard transportation we’d actually want to try and why the Knight Bus is an immediate NO• Whether Fred and George’s prank on Dudley crossed the line from funny to dangerous• Realizing as adults that we might understand Mrs. Weasley a little more than we used to• Why Percy may actually deserve a tiny bit more credit in this chapter• Finally meeting Bill and Charlie Weasley and what the movies left out• Pigwidgeon being an absolutely adorable little ball of chaos• Ludo Bagman, Mr. Crouch, Bertha Jorkins, and the seemingly casual conversation packed with future clues• Book versus movie descriptions of the Weasley family• Why we’re excited to see a new generation of actors take on these characters It may seem like a relatively quiet night at the Burrow, but Goblet of Fire is already planting pieces of a much bigger story. Grab your Butterbeer, settle in, and watch out for flying knives. We’re spending the evening with the Weasleys.

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Books and Butterbeer is a podcast hosted by Johnna and Katie, where they revisit the stories that ignited their love for reading. Each episode takes listeners on a journey back to the books that captured their imaginations and kept them turning pages late into the night. From the enchanting world of Harry Potter to other beloved tales, Johnna and Katie explore the stories that sparked the magic of storytelling. Grab a butterbeer and join them as they dive into the books that shaped their hearts and minds.

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  • Creator
    BooksandButterbeer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © BooksandButterbeer
  • Show Website
    Books and Butterbeer