Beyond The Veil

Whether you’ve read the books a hundred times or only seen the movies, if you love the Potter books, you’re a part of this fandom. This week, we spoke with Sunny Thayer about how the Potter books helped her come to terms with a family member’s passing, taking on a new social identity as a Potter expert, and why fandom gatekeeping needs to end. TRIGGER WARNING: Death of a loved one On Episode 17, we discuss… → The Potter series as a source of grounding during a difficult mental health period → Anticipation for the next Potter moment as a spark of light → Strengthening bonds with family during times of illness → Finding peace when a loved one passes away → Gaining a new identity: the Potter nerd → From Potter-cons to close friends: the magic of community → Why fandom gatekeeping needs to stop If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twi

Something incredibly magical happens when our favorite fictional worlds bring us safety, comfort, and joy. This week, we spoke with Ashley Aselin about how the Harry Potter books helped her cope with bullying, PTSD, and how she was able to bring wisdom from her own mental health experiences into her career. TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual assault, disordered eating, and self-harm discussion throughout the episode  On Episode 17, we discuss… → Having a refuge from bullying at school in the Potter books, movies, and online forums → The mental health aftermath of sexual assault → The love and safety of the Harry Potter fandom → Making new mental health discoveries as an adult → Getting through the difficult time of the year with the help of Harry Potter → Bringing wisdom and understanding into a job in the foster care system If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond t

Hermione is the smart one, Ginny is the only daughter, Harry is the Chosen One, but who are these characters without the labels put on them by others? This week, we spoke with Corrie Ferguson about how the Potter books helped her grow closer to her own identity. TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide discussion in Whisper segment On Episode 16, we discuss… → Being introduced to the books by a beloved brother → Finding yourself in Harry’s ability to love and Hermione’s fears of failure → How living with a chronic disability can affect mental health and your sense of identity → Feeling like your own version of “The Chosen One” → Struggles and successes with escaping the labels you’ve been put under → Who are you today? → This week’s Whisper: J.K. Rowling, Luna Lovegood, and the magic of being alive If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, an

No matter what age you discovered the Harry Potter series, it has the potential to create huge ripples of change in your life. This week, we spoke with Josh Cook about how the Potter books opened up his world and helped him rediscover himself. On Episode 15, we discuss… → Growing up “normal”, almost Dursley-ish → Not being allowed to read the Potter books growing up → Feeling dissatisfied with Dumbledore after watching the movies → The magic of audiobooks → Opening up your world with Remus Lupin, Kreacher, and more → Relating to Tonks, being a chameleon, and learning to be yourself → This week’s Whisper: some thoughts on bravery If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!  

Reading, watching, or listening to fictional characters who reflect us can be a powerful experience for mental health and healing. This week, we spoke with Aniela Schaefer about some of the lessons Remus Lupin has to teach about living with physical and mental illnesses. On Episode 14, we discuss… → TRIGGER WARNING: self-harm mention 28:40-30:15 → Growing up with a chronic illness → The connections of mental and physical health → Connecting deeply with Remus Lupin → What would Lupin do? → Being an advocate for mental health as a teacher → Accidentally discovering the things we love → Learning to work with yourself and your abilities → Refusing to give in to shame If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, a

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing folks whose work deals with mental health. This week, we spoke with Emily Wilhelm Riley about how she incorporates the Harry Potter series into her social work job. On Episode 13, we discuss… →Getting to know people by their Hogwarts House →Opening up about difficult subjects using Patronuses, Dementors, and the Mirror of Erised →Understanding trauma reactions and understanding Order of the Phoenix Harry →Relating to Hermione Granger →Harry Potter as a means of social connection →What was Harry's early childhood like? →Jennifer Morris's Harry Potter Psychotherapy Resources If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!  

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing folks in the mental health field about mental health and Harry Potter. This week, we spoke with Rebecca Richardson about expressive arts therapy and the magic of the Potter series. On Episode 12, we discuss… →Using artistic expression to benefit your mental health →Turning your mental health monsters into magical creatures →Getting inspired by the Potter soundtracks and Wrock →Expressing your emotions by acting as our favorite Potter characters →Just because Harry didn't have a therapist doesn't mean he didn't need one If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!  

Join host Madison for a brief episode about self-kindness and gratitude. On Episode 11, we discuss… →Big life changes →How practicing gratitude can be good for mental health If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!  

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing mental health professionals about mental health and Harry Potter. This week, we spoke with Dr. Janina Scarlet about Superhero Therapy, the magic of the Harry Potter series, and why we come back to the Potter books for comfort. On Episode 10, we discuss… →Integrating pop-culture into therapy with Superhero Therapy →Origin stories, post-traumatic growth, and vulnerability →Harry Potter Therapy →Why so many find safety, support, and sanctuary in the Potter series →Parasocial relationships →Harry Potter Therapy: a new podcast with a chapter by chapter analysis of mental health and psychology in the Potter series If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcas

For Mental Health Month in May of 2019, Beyond the Veil is interviewing mental health professionals about mental health and Harry Potter. This week, in our interview with Sarah Olivares, we examine Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix era Harry through a trauma-informed perspective. On Episode 9, we discuss… →General mental health metaphors in the Potter series →A crash course in post-traumatic stress disorder →A trauma-informed examination of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix era Harry →Why Harry and other trauma victims deserve our compassion →How to help someone who's facing trauma without accepting abuse If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!  

Forums, podcasts, fan fiction, LEGO sets, and more: The Potter world has plenty of resources with which we can work at overcoming our obstacles. In our interview with Julianna Coughlin, we talk about her feelings of loneliness and depression after moving and how she used Potter podcasts and fandom to move through her mental illness. On Episode 8, we discuss… →The feelings of isolation and loneliness that come with moving →How Julianna used podcasts to help with her mental health  →Rediscovering the magic of Potter through podcasts, books, and fandom →Running a marathon →"I'm perfectly normal, thank you very much." →This week’s Whisper: an unconventional loss If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Go

A huge story like Harry Potter can give us the strength and willpower to work through some of life's most difficult obstacles. In our interview with Tobie-Lynn Andrade, we talk about how she used the vast resources in the Harry Potter universe to help her recover from a traumatic brain injury. TW: Suicide mentions from 17:45-20:12 On Episode 7, we discuss… →Surviving a traumatic brain injury →Connection of physical, mental, and emotional health →Recovering with the Harry Potter books, movies, LEGO sets, and more →Journey to the Hogwarts Studio Tour →The last enemy that shall be defeated is death →This week’s Whisper: a dangerous motorcycle ride If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud, and Google!  

Every day we're affected by societal pressures that want to push us into certain boxes based on our race, gender, sexuality, and more. When we start to believe these ideas about ourselves, it can have a negative impact on our mental health. In our interview with Sarah Olivares, we discuss her experiences with internalized misogyny, the impact of the Potter series on her perception of her gender, and how to fight off the Dementors of depression. On Episode 6, we discuss… →Growing up with kid's media in the 1990s →Discovering the author of the famous Harry Potter books was a woman →Hermione Granger, self-acceptance, and expanding possibilities →The impact of internalized misogyny on mental health →Dementors and depression →How to cast your Patronus →This week’s Whisper: always looking for the light If you have a Potter story you want to share, we’d love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Faceboo

When our Muggle lives get overwhelming, it's nice to turn to Harry Potter for something that feels safe and familiar. In our interview with Sacha Huynen, we discuss her experience of the world with high-sensitivity, how she uses the Potter series for comfort, and the wonderful community she found in her Quidditch team. On Episode 4, we discuss... →What is high-sensitivity, and how can it impact your life? →Finding a lifelong friend in Harry Potter →Managing stress and overwhelm in the Gryffindor Common Room →Immersing yourself into the world of Harry Potter through Muggle Quidditch →Potter's impact on our activist impulses →The warmth and acceptance you can find in communities based around the Potter series →This week's Whisper: finding validation through Harry's story during an abusive childhood If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Faceboo

Some of the most amazing parts of the Harry Potter experience are the connections we get to make with other fans from around the world. In our interview with Eric Scull, we discuss the huge impact of fandom on his life and his fears that he may never have gotten acquainted with our favorite wizard. On Episode 4, we discuss...  →Scholastic Book Fair pamphlets and reading Potter for points →How skepticism about the Potter sensation led to lost time with Harry →Fear of a life without Potter →The influence of Potter on empathy and acceptance →How fandom can give you the confidence to be yourself →This week's Whisper: navigating grief with the help of the Potter series If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussions, and more! Listen to us on iTunes, Pocketcast, Soundcloud,

For many of us, the Potter books are a safe place we can turn when our realities get scary or painful. In our interview with Monet Polny, we discuss her Hermione-like experiences in high school and how she found comfort in the Potter books and community. On Episode 3, we discuss... →The dangers of reading the Potter books under your desk →Getting teased for being a reader →Finding solace in Potter podcasts and the online fandom →Returning to Sorcerer's Stone when crossing a big threshold in life →The value of unhappy Potter memories →This week's Whisper: how we can escape our personal Azkabans If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Please fill out the form on our website. At the end of every show, we also read anonymous submissions from anyone who doesn't want to have their name shared with their story. You can also submit anonymous stories through our website. Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out

The Harry Potter series inspired a love of reading in millions, and some of us even learned how to read using these magical books. In our interview with Emily Garrison, we discussed how she identified with Harry's outsider status, how the books helped her overcome a major learning obstacle, and how the Potter books helped her deal with grief. On Episode 2, we discuss... →Having a learning difficulty can make you feel like an outsider, just like Harry →The magic of the books pushing us to overcome our challenges →What's to love about Harry and Sirius's relationship? →Not taking the power of reading for granted →There's nothing shameful about being different →This week's Whisper: learning valuable lessons from a character you hate If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Please email us at beyondtheveilpod@gmail.com Share your thoughts on this episode with us below in the comments! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagr

The first episode of Beyond the Veil has finally been released! For the first time ever, join host Madison Ford for a conversation about Harry Potter, mental health, and the importance of sharing our stories. On Episode 1, we discuss... →Chamber of Secrets Harry and the importance of sharing your story →Origins of Beyond the Veil →Everyone is invited to be a guest! →How to share your story as a guest or anonymously If you have a Potter story you want to share, we'd love for you to join us as a guest on the podcast! Share your thoughts on this episode with us! Be sure to check out Beyond the Veil on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, Potter and mental health discussion, and more! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at beyondtheveilpod@gmail.com.