Episode 170: The Boy Who Lived | Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), Alchemy & the Monomyth

Take the first steps with us into a world of magic. Over the next eight weeks, we’ll be going one-by-one through all eight films in the Harry Potter series, following the Boy Who Lived through his years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and his battle against the forces of evil. This week, we discuss Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001). Okay, maybe this isn’t the strongest movie in the series, but dang if it isn’t chock-full of history, mythology, and philosophy! We’ll learn a little bit about the legends surrounding the Philosopher’s Stone and alchemical tradition, the real Nicolas Flamel, and what those elements mean for the story at large. Plus, we’ll unpack one stop on Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey—the Crossing of the First Threshold—which manifests in myriad ways in Sorcerer’s Stone. Yer a wizard, Harry. — We will be donating our Patreon earnings for the next two months to the Transgender Law Center, the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Donate here: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate — Support us at www.patreon.com/midnightmyth Check out our merch store for Midnight Myth, Boomerangerang, and Wheel of Ka tees and totes! Learn more, view sources and inspiration, and sign up for e-mail updates at www.midnightmyth.com Twitter Facebook Instagram If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!