This week on Going Beyond the Castle, Ashley Rude officially steps into the host chair while Fred Briley heads into full-on baby-prep mode. (Don’t worry — he still pops in with peak chaos before heading off for coffee and new-dad duties!) Joined by the ever-fabulous Podcast Princess, Lori Talamo, the trio dives deep into the Wizarding World with the Ultimate Harry Potter Fan Guide for Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe.

From wand mishaps and butterbeer debates to Lori accidentally getting kicked off the livestream, this episode is packed with laughs — and tons of truly helpful wizarding info.

In This Episode

• Fred’s “farewell tour” before baby #3 arrives

• Two huge podcast announcements — including a BRAND NEW sponsorship

• Universal’s spring deals, onsite perks & annual passholder savings

• Disney’s new 13 chicken-strip flavors (yes, this becomes a full conversation)

• Full breakdown of Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Ministry of Magic

• Which attractions are MUST-DO vs. motion-sickness traps

• Hagrid’s vs. Guardians (the debate continues)

• Where to find the best butterbeer (hot, frozen, or classic!)

• Dining deep dive: Leaky Cauldron, Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes & more

• Wand shopping tips, spell locations & interactive secrets

• Epic Universe’s Ministry of Magic — what to expect & what’s worth skipping

• The beetle & bard puppet show, dragon fire cycles, and a whole lot of chaos

• The trio picks their favorite Harry Potter land (spoiler: Hogsmeade wins big)

Whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or someone who fast-forwards through the scary parts (cough Lori cough), this episode gives you everything you need to plan the perfect Wizarding World visit — laughs included.