The world would be a different place without “Harry Potter”, says streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.

THE tales of the boy wizard Harry Potter and his adventures at Hogwarts inspired a new passion for reading and pulled off a magical feat indeed by getting a whole new generation interested in literature.

For a long time author JK Rowling was considered a hero and feminist icon, but today her name is no longer one that reserves near universal respect and admiration.

In 2023 a furore swirls around Rowling. She has become the subject of a hate campaign, one that has gone so far as to compare her to a nazi and, in her words, fear for her family’s safety.

For those who aren’t tuned into the controversy, Rowling sparked this fire after a series of tweets where she challenged the views of the transgender movement.

She espoused the view that someone born a man is a man and someone born a woman is a woman and that fact cannot be biologically changed.

Since then many have looked at Rowling in an entirely new light.

Thousands have called for her cancellation and said her views have put transgender lives at risk. Some have filmed while they burn her famous books and uploaded it to social media (ironically, it should be mentioned, by some of the very people who have called her a nazi).

In some cases there have even been attempts to alienate her from her own creation like last year’s reunion of the cast and crew of the “Harry Potter” films. 

The streaming event on Binge saw the actors, producers and directors of the franchise invited back to reminisce on their time shooting the movie. However, the author of the universe that is the reason the films exist in the first place was sidelined, only given a select few lines that made it to the documentary in a pre-recorded video.

Almost three years on from when Rowling first announced her position on the issue and she hasn’t yet had the chance to have her say in an unedited public forum. That is until now.

“The Witch Trials of JK Rowling” is a new podcast that goes deep into the controversy, challenging Rowling to explain her views in detail and share her experience of the last few years. 

The podcast comes from American media company The Free Press, one that describes itself as built on “honesty” and “fierce independence”. All six of its episodes are available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most Podcast sites.

While the podcast is in large part about Rowling and does position her as a victim, it’s certainly no one-sided affair.

In its later episodes, the podcast includes the perspectives of people in the trans community that Rowling hurt with her views, some of those who say they were heartbroken after finding comfort in the “Harry Potter” books when they had no one else to turn to.

Rowling says her views on the issue stem from her passionately held feminist beliefs, believing the erasure of the word “woman” will hurt the hard-fought progress that has been made in securing women’s rights.

It’s no surprise Rowling is such a fierce feminist. 

As she reveals in the podcast, she herself has been a survivor of domestic violence. She shares this not to garner pity but to draw more attention to the struggles women face. 

She’s also experienced sexism in its many forms, including the publishing industry. When “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” first released the name “JK Rowling” was recommended for the front cover out of concerns that boys weren’t going to read a novel written by a woman.

I won’t go any further in explaining her position, but instead leave listeners to decide themselves what they make of her appeal.

However, no matter what side of the argument one is on, “The Trials of JK Rowling” is one podcast that makes for worthwhile streaming.