Hello magical friends, and welcome to episode 74 of WZRD Radio! I’m your hostwitch Bess and before we get to the music, I want to point you to a petition.
Other folks, including the Goblet of Wine podcast, have said it better, but Harry Potter, and the Harry Potter fandom, are rapidly becoming synonymous with transphobia, anti-Semitism, and bigotry thanks to Rowling and the creators of Hogwarts Legacy. The fact that HBO think that that is a good platform for a new TV show is alarming.
It’s up to us to let people know this is not what the fandom is about, which is why I’m a proud signatory of the HP Fans Against Transphobia petition, asking HBO to reconsider. I’ve put the link in the show notes, and I hope you’ll join me. Until the Harry Potter franchise is no longer used to fund hatred, supporting new projects just isn’t worth the cost. [link]
I’m sorry I’m starting us off on such a grim note, but fandom joy comes with responsibilities and I’m not willing to look away.
At last, here’s the music. First up is “Patronus for the Day” by Penelope Clearwater Revival.
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That was “Patronus for the Day” By Penelope Clearwater Revival [lyrics], Stephanie and the Quaffles with “Sacrifice” [lyrics], and “Cheering Charm” by Grace Kendall.
This month’s wandoscope is for magical friends who carry wands of sugar maple. Yum!
I am delighted to inform you, sugar maple, that nothing is know whatsoever about your wand wood. In the magical sense, I mean. Obviously ecologically your wood is very interesting. As far as magical destinies go, however, you get to write your own.
Your mundane destiny is easier to read. June is a month for you to make connections. Not in the scary, professional way. Just…go out and meet people. Find an interesting event or join an organization. Start showing up, and see who you meet. I don’t know if they’ll be your bestie, but you’re guaranteed to find someone special. Don’t be afraid if they’re a little different from you; you’ll both gain something irreplaceable just by being in each others’ lives.
The next block of music begins with Seven Potters and “Why Fight.”
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That was “Why Fight” by Seven Potters [lyrics], Totally Knuts with “Protego” [lyrics], and “Break This Spell” by Romilda Vane and the Chocolate Cauldrons [lyrics].
Are you ready to get out in the world and be nerdy? Here are some events for you:
June 3rd is “Harry Potter Weekend” at Rivers Edge Campground in Stevens Point, WI, making it a perfect time to go catch the movies under the stars. [link]
June 8th will have the Blibbering Humdingers playing a special show for the DragonCon Filk Music Track! [link]
Otherworld Theatre in Chicago, IL is putting on Puffs the play from June 15th through July 23rd. It’s Slytherspouse’s favorite show, so you know it’s good! [link]
Striking Down Diggory is coming back, and bringing a new album with them! They haven’t said when exactly, so keep an eye on that.
ARCHON is looking for filk artists to contribute to their lyrics book. If you want to see your wrock shared with the wider world, message Sandra Greenberg over in the Filk Marketplace on Facebook. [link]
(DragonCon is also doing this: [link])
If you’re in Lebanon, OH on June 24th, catch Tonks and the Aurors at the public library for “Music on Main.” [link]
The Wizard Rock Sampler is open for submissions! Get your feelings out and submitted by August 28th. [link]
And I missed some music last month!
Clerics of Ohm released an acoustic version of “The Prophecy.” [link]
and
Dream Quaffle gave us the wonderful “I’m A Puff, and I’m Staying. “ [link]
Our last music break begins with Undesirable #1 and “Lumos Maxima.”
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You just heard “Lumos Maxima” by Undesirable #1 [lyrics], “Scream” by Marked As His Equal [lyrics], and “Worth Fighting For” by Seen and Unforeseen [lyrics].
And that’s almost the end of our episode.
But first!
I want to tell you how magical MISTI was.
MISTI—the Ministry Interdepartmental Service and Training Institute—is my favorite convention in the world, and this year’s 10 year reunion was everything I love about it.
There are lots of conversation about how hard it is to be in the fandom these days, including the opening of this episode. At MISTI it was a hotel filled with all my dearest friends sharing our anxieties and love. And out of that came all the joy that fandom brings. Everyone there is doing the hard work day-to-day of fighting bigotry and making sure the fandom is as safe and expansive a place as they can make it, and that pays off in places like MISTI where we had academic discussions about the series, fan fiction readings, cosplay contests, wizard rock… all the fun parts. Late nights with friends, impromptu pool parties, and Hogwarts house dance-offs.
It filled my cup. I’ve come back from a weekend of magic restored and ready to keep fighting, keep creating, and keep protecting the beautiful place we create together.
I hope you all have a space like it, magical friends. And whether you do or not, I hope I see you at the next MISTI-Con.
Until next time, magical friends: Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world.
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