Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling is out now — here’s how to listen to the podcast

Everyone has an opinion about J.K. Rowling. To some, she’s simply the author of one of the most beloved children’s book series of all time, Harry Potter. To others, she’s an outspoken feminist who writes detective novels under an assumed name. To most people, she’s now known as the famous person who has espoused views that are discriminatory toward trans people.

It’s hard to believe that the creator of Diagon Alley and Butterbeer would be such a magnet for controversy, but this is 2023, not 2001, and Rowling has not backed down on her very public stance despite enormous backlash from fans, critics, and stars alike. Now, The Free Press will be releasing a series of interviews with the notorious author via a podcast called The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling. Where, when, and how can you listen to the interview? Digital Trends has all the answers for you.

When does the next episode of The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling come out?

The first five episodes are now available to stream. The remaining episodes will be released in weekly installments. The sixth episode will be released March 21.

The main image for The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling.

How long is The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling?

The podcast series consists of seven installments. The first episode, Plotted in Darkness, runs 56 minutes. The second episode, Burn the Witch, lasts 47 minutes. The third episode, A New Pyre, runs 63 minutes. The fourth episode, TERF Wars, is 63 minutes. The fifth episode, The Tweets, runs 60 minutes.

Where can you listen to The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling?

The podcast is not limited to one streaming service. You can listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Audible, or wherever podcasts are available.

The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling on Apple Podcasts.

The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling on Spotify.

What is The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling about?

The podcast is one long extended interview with J.K. Rowling conducted by Megan Phelps-Roper, an ex-member of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church. Phelps-Roper visited Rowling at her home in Scotland in May and August of last year. In an official statement, Podcast host Free Press describes the show as an “audio documentary that examines some of the most contentious conflicts of our time through the life and career of the world’s most successful author.”

Rowling herself has commented on the podcast, tweeting the following: “Last year, I received a long, thoughtful letter from Megan Phelps-Roper inviting me to take part in a personal, in-depth discussion with her about the issues that have interested me in recent years. Megan proposed bringing in other voices, and looking at the wider picture, bringing her own unique viewpoint as a former fundamentalist who’s dedicated her life over the past decade to difficult conversations.

I agreed to sit down with Megan because, having read her wonderful book, Unfollow, I thought the two of us could have a real, interesting, two-sided conversation that might prove constructive.”

Is there a trailer for The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling?

Believe it for not, yes. You can watch the trailer below.

The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling Coming February 21

Is there additional context to understand before I listen to The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling?

Absolutely. Glamour has a great breakdown of Rowling’s statements regarding trans people while The N.Y. Times has a mailbag spotlighting different viewpoints on Rowling’s controversial stance.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Is there a Shazam! Fury of the Gods streaming date? Will you be able to watch it at home?
Zachary Levi points with a dragon behind him in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

DC Studios is amid a creative overhaul with new co-CEOs James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Peter Safran (I Want You Back) at the helm. Four films from the DCEU have yet to be released. The first of those four films is Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Serving as the sequel to 2019's Shazam!, the second film in the franchise marks the return of Billy Batson/Shazam (Darby and the Dead's Asher Angel and American Underdog's Zachary Levi), the teenage boy who receives superpowers from the ancient wizard Shazam (Black Adam's Djimon Hounsou). Billy and his foster siblings face a new threat in the form of the three daughters of Atlas: Anthea (West Side Story's Rachel Zegler), Kalypso (Elementary's Lucy Liu), and Hespera (Fast X's Helen Mirren). The daughters are after their stolen magic, but their quest could destroy everything, so Billy and his friends are forced to step in and save the world.

Read more
The 49 best shows on Netflix this evening
The Netflix logo in app.

Looking for a great new show to start this evening? Head over to Netflix. The streaming service has a massive library filled with new and classic series, and with new shows coming to Netflix all the time, it's always growing and changing, too. We try to make your decision even easier by looking through the entire collection every week and updating this list of the best shows on Netflix right now.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive
You don't need to know anything about Formula 1 racing, or tune into the Formula 1 live stream each Grand Prix, to enjoy this documentary series that offers an inside look at the drama and high-stakes competition fueling the annual Formula One World Championship. A joint production between Netflix and Formula One, Drive to Survive is credited with igniting (or reigniting) interest in the competition around the world -- particularly in the U.S. Each season of the series chronicles the races, drivers, intense rivalries, and all the highs and lows for teams competing in that year's competition, with exclusive access to the teams, owners, and managers. It makes for plenty of compelling, behind-the-scenes moments, and even if you've never watched a Formula 1 race before, there's a good chance you'll be a fan before the end of the season with Drive to Survive.

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal
This documentary series chronicles the unraveling legacy of a prominent South Carolina family that began with a fatal boating accident in 2019 and continued with multiple murders, a high-profile trial, and an investigation that unearthed a century of cover-ups, corruption, and cruelty. The series digs into the Murdaugh family's generation-spanning power as the region's top prosecutors, which was allegedly wielded to secure fortunes and hide legal troubles. Fans of true-crime series will find plenty to latch on to in this series. Don't believe us? We've rounded up some shocking revelations from Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal that'll show you exactly what you're getting into.

Read more
The 10 most popular TV shows on Netflix right now
Joe teaching a class in season 4 of You.

Exploring the thousands of titles on Netflix can be both exciting and overwhelming. From dramas and comedies to reality shows and documentaries, content of all types abounds. There's even a Top 10 list to help narrow down your decision by letting you see the most popular Netflix shows.

Every week, Netflix releases a list of the 10 most-watched TV shows over a recent seven-day period. Below, we’ve listed the top 10 shows in the U.S. from March 6 to March 12, along with general information about each show, including genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.

Read more