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. 6d ago

    Chapters 17 & 18- The Four Champions & The Weighing of the Wands

    Harry Potter didn't enter the Triwizard Tournament. So how can he be bound by a magical contract he never agreed to? This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapters 17 and 18 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Four Champions and The Weighing of the Wands. Harry's name has just emerged from the Goblet of Fire, and absolutely nobody seems happy about it. The visiting headmasters are furious, the other champions are confused, and Harry is suddenly being forced to compete in a potentially deadly tournament he never wanted to enter. But our biggest question is one that nobody at Hogwarts seems particularly interested in answering: How can someone else enter your name into a binding magical contract without your permission? And if Harry didn't agree to the contract, does he actually have to compete? In this episode, we talk about: The chaotic meeting following Harry's selection and why the adults seem more interested in arguing than protecting a fourteen-year-old Fleur Delacour's reaction and whether she's being unreasonable or simply standing up for herself The mysterious rules surrounding magical contracts and whether Harry could refuse to participate Why Barty Crouch's behavior deserves a closer look Ron's jealousy and the heartbreaking breakdown of his friendship with Harry Why understanding Ron's insecurities doesn't necessarily excuse his behavior Malfoy's obnoxious Potter Stinks badges Snape's cruel treatment of Hermione after a spell causes her teeth to grow uncontrollably Rita Skeeter's introduction and her suspiciously familiar Quick-Quotes Quill Whether Rita Skeeter has essentially invented wizarding AI The Weighing of the Wands and the fascinating details behind each champion's wand Why Gregorovitch is a name worth remembering And Sirius continuing to be one of the few adults genuinely concerned about Harry's safety We also get into some of the more complicated character dynamics in these chapters. Ron has spent his entire life living in the shadows of his older brothers, only to arrive at Hogwarts and become best friends with the most famous boy in the wizarding world. We understand why he might feel overlooked, but does that make it acceptable to abandon Harry when he needs him most? And then there's Snape. His treatment of Hermione in this chapter raises some serious questions about why Dumbledore continues allowing him to teach children. Whatever we eventually learn about Snape's past, does that excuse the way he treats his students? Of course, we still find time for some unexpected detours, including Amazon's surprisingly bizarre shopping profiles, the difference between how academics write and speak, the size of a seventeen-hand unicorn, and why Ollivander apparently thinks sneaking up on enormous magical horses is a perfectly reasonable way to collect wand materials. Plus, Johnna is still keeping track of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's detentions, and the numbers are starting to tell an interesting story. With the first Triwizard task approaching, Harry is isolated, Ron is furious, Rita Skeeter is already twisting the truth, and Sirius wants a private conversation. Things are only getting more complicated. Grab your Butterbeer, keep an eye on Rita's quill, and settle in! Next week: The Hungarian Horntail and The First Task!

  2. Oct 22

    Chapters 15 & 16: Beauxbatons And Durmstrang & The Goblet Of Fire

    Three schools. Three champions. One Goblet of Fire. What could possibly go wrong? This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie are trying something new! We're combining chapters for the first time as we dive into Chapters 15 and 16 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Beauxbatons and Durmstrang and The Goblet of Fire. The Triwizard Tournament is finally here, and Hogwarts is preparing to welcome two visiting wizarding schools. Between the arrival of Beauxbatons in a massive flying carriage, Durmstrang emerging from the depths of the Black Lake, and the excitement surrounding the selection of the champions, there's plenty to discuss. But before the tournament can begin, Harry discovers that resisting the Imperius Curse might be one of his unexpected talents, Ron finds himself struggling with another reminder of Harry's abilities, and the Hogwarts professors seem determined to make their students presentable before their guests arrive. In this episode, we talk about: Harry learning to resist the Imperius Curse and why Moody's teaching methods continue to raise questions Ron's frustration when he cannot resist the curse and how this adds to his growing insecurities Snape's questionable approach to teaching Potions and whether he actually likes anyone The surprisingly complicated lives of Hogwarts' magical portraits Fred and George continuing to behave suspiciously The spectacular arrivals of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang and how differently they're portrayed in the movies Whether the Durmstrang ship creates a rather enormous Hogwarts security problem Viktor Krum's book description versus his movie appearance Madame Maxime's enormous horses and their rather questionable drinking habits Hagrid's increasingly obvious crush and his unfortunate attempt at dressing to impress The surprisingly ordinary appearance of the Goblet of Fire Fred and George attempting to outsmart Dumbledore's age line The selection of Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, and Cedric Diggory as the three Triwizard champions And the unexpected fourth name that changes absolutely everything We also get into some of our favorite book-versus-movie differences, including why the dramatic entrances of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang never quite worked for us on screen. And why, exactly, did the movies decide that one school was entirely girls and the other entirely boys? Plus, we somehow end up discussing Hey Arnold!, Snape's complicated relationship with Lily Potter, the logistics of magical transportation, and whether Hagrid's horses could possibly survive on a diet of single-malt whiskey. But the biggest moment comes at the very end. The Goblet of Fire has chosen its three champions. Everyone is celebrating. Dumbledore is ready to move forward with the tournament. And then the Goblet produces one more name. Harry Potter. For once, even Dumbledore seems genuinely surprised. Grab your Butterbeer, settle in, and join us as the Triwizard Tournament officially begins! Next week: The Four Champions and The Weighing of the Wands.

  3. Oct 15

    Chapter 14: The Unforgivable Curse

    Three curses. One classroom. And a Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson that raises a LOT of questions. This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 14 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Unforgivable Curses. Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally attend their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with Mad-Eye Moody, and it is nothing like they expected. Instead of learning ordinary countercurses, the students witness demonstrations of the three Unforgivable Curses: Imperius, Cruciatus, and Avada Kedavra. Most of the class thinks Moody is brilliant. But Harry, Hermione, and Neville have very different reactions, and reading this chapter as adults has us questioning just about everything happening in that classroom. In this episode, we talk about: If you had to choose between the Imperius Curse and the Cruciatus Curse, which would you rather experience? Whether demonstrating the Unforgivable Curses to fourteen-year-olds is an appropriate teaching method The many red flags surrounding Moody's behavior and how differently we interpret them knowing what happens later Why Neville's reaction to the Cruciatus Curse is so heartbreaking Hermione being the only student who recognizes that something is seriously wrong Why Moody's treatment of Neville, including his seemingly thoughtful gift, deserves a much closer look The surprising number of times Moody actually says "Constant Vigilance!" Harry and Ron's spectacularly ridiculous Divination homework Our own experiences with school assignments that got a little out of hand Fred and George acting suspiciously in the Gryffindor common room Hermione officially introducing S.P.E.W. and her campaign for house-elf welfare Sirius deciding to return north after hearing about Harry's scar And why Harry's frustration with Sirius leads to a very unfair reaction toward poor Hedwig We also discuss how much more carefully Goblet of Fire needs to be read the second time around. Moments that initially seem like ordinary classroom interactions become something entirely different when you understand the motivations behind them. And then there is Neville. What makes this chapter especially difficult to revisit is knowing what Neville has experienced and watching him struggle through a lesson that most of his classmates find entertaining. His reaction, Hermione's concern, and the quiet ending of the chapter remind us that not everyone walks away from the same experience unaffected. Of course, we still find time to discuss a chameleon princess escaping a tower, an undergraduate paper that somehow included three paragraphs about the Romanovs' dog, and whether Professor Trelawney would notice if Ron predicted that he drowned twice. Because apparently we cannot get through even the darkest chapters without a few unexpected detours. Grab your Butterbeer, settle in, and remember: Constant Vigilance! We're also making a little change to our reread! Starting next week, we're going to experiment with covering two chapters per episode. We'd love to hear whether you prefer our traditional chapter-by-chapter discussions or enjoy spending a little more time moving through the story together. Next week: Beauxbatons and Durmstrang AND The Goblet of Fire!

  4. Oct 8

    Chapter13: Mad-Eye Moody

    Draco Malfoy is a ferret. Do we really need to say anything else? This week on Books & Butterbeer, Johnna and Katie dive into Chapter 13 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Mad-Eye Moody. The school year is officially underway, Hermione is mysteriously disappearing into the library despite having no homework, Professor Trelawney is back to making ominous predictions, Hagrid has introduced yet another questionable creature into his classroom, and everyone is eagerly waiting for their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with Hogwarts' newest professor. But before Harry, Ron, and Hermione even make it to Mad-Eye Moody's classroom, they get a rather unforgettable demonstration of his teaching philosophy. Don't attack someone when their back is turned. Especially when Mad-Eye Moody is watching. In this episode, we talk about: Mad-Eye's magical eye and the increasingly disturbing implications of being able to see through almost anythingWhether Moody could technically give himself a CAT scanTrelawney incorrectly deciding that Harry was born in midwinter and why her particular style of fortune-telling works so well on peopleOur own experiences with fortune-telling, astrology, and predictions that were spectacularly wrongHermione's mysterious trips to the libraryRita Skeeter continuing to stir up trouble for the WeasleysHagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts and our theory about why Hogwarts students might conveniently be raising them this yearDraco insulting the Weasleys and then attempting to curse Harry when his back is turnedThe ethics of turning a student into a ferret and repeatedly bouncing him off a stone floorWhy McGonagall's reaction is completely understandableDraco discovering that “my father” doesn't work particularly well as a threat against Mad-Eye MoodyAnd why the conversation Moody has about Lucius Malfoy and Snape means something very different once you know how this book endsThe ferret scene may be one of the funniest moments in the series, but on a reread, it is also one of the cleverest. Almost every word takes on a different meaning once the truth is revealed later in the book. Chapter 13-FAST And we noticed something else this time around: this may be the beginning of a major shift for Draco Malfoy. Until now, he's largely been a spoiled kid who expects his name, his father, and his family's influence to protect him from consequences. Here, someone sees what he does, punishes him immediately, and couldn't care less who his father is. From this point forward, Draco's life is going to become a lot more complicated. Chapter 13-FAST Grab your Butterbeer, keep your wand pointed at people who can actually see you coming, and settle in. Next week: The Unforgivable Curses.

  5. Oct 1

    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

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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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
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © BooksandButterbeer
  • Show Website
    Books and Butterbeer