#60: Ministry Control & Unlikely Empathy

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. 

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

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

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. 

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/. 

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!)

For today's episode you need to have read CHAPTERS 29 & 30 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We'll chat about James Potter, Fred & George, higher education in the wizarding world, Grawp, and invasive species.  For next episode you need to read chapter 30!  Follow us: @firstyearspod (Insta and Twitter) @veritasarahm (Insta & TikTok - not spoiler free!) Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com 

For today's episode you need to have read CHAPTERS 27 & 28 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We'll talk about Umbridge's role as headmistress, the ministry interfering at Hogwarts, and Snape's worst memory.  Follow us: @firstyearspod (Insta & Twitter) @veritasarahm (Insta & TikTok -- not spoiler free!) Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com  For next episode, 29 & 30 

For today's episode, you need to have read CHAPTER 26 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We'll talk about the reaction to Harry's interview, deep dive into doors/doorways, Snape's past, and Trelawney.  Follow us: @firstyearspod (Insta & Twitter) @veritasarahm (TikTok - NOT spoiler free!) Email us: firstyearspodcast @ gmail . com  For next episode, you need to read chapters 27 & 28!  Sources:  Curator, FaB. “Fringe Arts Bath - the Symbolism of Doorways.” Fringe Arts Bath (FaB), Fringe Arts Bath (FaB), 25 Jan. 2018, www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/2018-blog/2018/1/24/the-symbolism-of-doorways. “Door Symbolism & Meaning (Choice, Transition and...).” Symbolism & Metaphor, 9 June 2022, symbolismandmetaphor.com/door-symbolism/. Sburiek. “The Symbolism and Importance of Doors: According to Cinema.” Medium, Medium, 30 Sept. 2019, medium.com/@sburiek/the-symbolism-and-importance-of-doors-according-movies-53f7c53f12ed. “The Symbolism of Doors.” The Psychology Centre & Ta Moko Services, www.psychologycentre.co.nz/the-symbolism-of-doors.html. “Symbolism of the Door.” Symbolreader, 31 Mar. 2020, symbolreader.net/2020/03/31/symbolism-of-the-door/.

Hey guys!  First off: we are not going anywhere! We are just taking a break for the summer. Recently I've been having trouble keeping up with things and I have several trips planned over the next two months. So instead of rushing through and giving you episodes I haven't taken the time to really dive into just to keep on schedule, I've decided we'll take a break for this summer.  We will be back in September with our regularly scheduled programming :)  In the meantime, you can still earn house points on our Instagram (@firstyearspod) and if you want some non-related book content, you can find me on TikTok at @veritasarahm.  See you back on the Hogwarts Express! <3 Sarah