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The Real Harry Potter: How Magic, Empire, and Bullies Shape Our World

clock13 min

Discover how the wizarding world's three forces operate in real life. Drawing from Shoshana Zuboff's surveillance capitalism research, Jonathan Haidt's work on digital childhood, and placebo effect studies, this episode reveals how our expectations physically change us and how tech platforms function as modern Ministries of Magic.

The Real Harry Potter: How Magic, Empire, and Bullies Shape Our World
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How This Personalized Podcast Was Made

This podcast was created using BeFreed’s AI, based on selected books, the creator’s learning goals, and their preferred tone.

Huberman Lab: Dr. Jonathan Haidt — How Smartphones & Social Media Impact Mental Health & the Realistic Solutions
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-jonathan-haidt-how-smartphones-social-media-impact-mental-health-the-realistic-solutions
The Anarchy
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-anarchy-by-william-dalrymple
The effect of open-label placebo on allergic rhinitis symptoms: systematic review & meta-analysis
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39212086/
How social learning amplifies moral outrage expression in online social networks
link
https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abe5641
Treatment-related pain may be ‘socially contagious’, study finds
link
https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/04/treatment-related-pain-may-be-socially-contagious-study-finds
Bad Is Stronger Than Good
link
https://experts.umn.edu/en/publications/bad-is-stronger-than-good
Cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents: A meta-analysis
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34537540/
Bullying and suicidal ideation and behaviors: a meta-analysis
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25560447/
So You've Been Publicly Shamed
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25424999-so-you-ve-been-publicly-shamed
A large-scale evaluation of the KiVa antibullying program: grades 4–6
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21291444/
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19186348-sapiens
A Large-Scale Replication of the Effectiveness of the KiVa Antibullying Program (Netherlands)
link
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11121-020-01116-4
Positive social modeling attenuates nocebo side effects
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40662257/
Power, Approach and Inhibition
link
https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/publications/power-approach-inhibition
When online shaming goes too far
link
https://www.english-video.net/v/en/2302
Huberman Lab: Dr. Anna Lembke — Understanding & Treating Addiction
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/dr-anna-lembke-understanding-and-treating-addiction/
Remotely Provided Open-Label Placebo Reduces Frequency of and Impairment by Allergic Symptoms
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35980787/
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32491659-behave
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/177660207-the-anxious-generation
The danger of a single story
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43792528-the-age-of-surveillance-capitalism
The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30224370-the-power-paradox
Modern Wisdom #766 — Jonathan Haidt: The Hidden Dangers Of Social Media On Mental Health
link
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-modern-wisdom-30936734/episode/766-jonathan-haidt-the-164634407/
The New Science of Awe — Dacher Keltner
link
https://ai.hubermanlab.com/hubermanlab/d/f3e14f86-5a9a-11ef-9f68-533f445ba758
Modern Wisdom #735 — Rory Sutherland: Hidden Psychology Of The World’s Best Advertising
link
https://www.tapesearch.com/episode/735-rory-sutherland-hidden-psychology-of-the-world-s-best-advertising/o8faGSTbvKvAeUKv86UPjF
Meta-analysis of the relationship between bullying and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents
link
https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-023-04681-4
How a handful of tech companies control billions of minds every day
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/tristan_harris_how_a_handful_of_tech_companies_control_billions_of_minds_every_day
The power of vulnerability
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability
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Input question

How does technology function like a real-world Ministry of Magic in our society?

Podcast Style
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
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star
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
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star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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