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There is a saying that ‘the highest trees catch the most wind’, and in the case of celebrities, this is particularly apt. The bigger you become in the public eye, the more scrutiny and derision you attract.

Nobody understands this better than J.K. Rowling.

To some, she is a well-respected and loved author who, despite a challenging early life, managed to achieve great literary success, along the way encouraging millions of children to read books again. She is a philanthropist, mother, and almost-billionaire.

To others, she is a witchcraft-loving pied piper that will lead children to the devil, as well as a trans-hating sexist to boot. Yes, Rowling is one of the tallest trees that seem to catch wind from all sides.

All this makes the recently released podcast, The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, even more fascinating. Touted 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’, it is fascinating listening.

In conversation with host Megan Phelps-Roper, J.K. Rowling speaks with unprecedented candor and depth about the controversies surrounding her—from book bans to debates on gender and sex.

For those who don’t remember, Rowling recently caused a woke meltdown when she tweeted a response to an article about ‘people who menstruate’, saying that ‘there used to be a word for those people, Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud.”

What followed could have been mistaken for a scene from a Harry Potter book as people lost their minds, denouncing the author as a trans-hating sexist, racist, and pretty much all the -ist phrases they had in their woke arsenal. The controversy re-ignited the religious and right-wing fanatics as well, and there were renewed calls for her books to be burned. She was even accused of mainstreaming witchcraft and poisoning children’s minds with her fantasy books.

What makes the podcast so fascinating is that the host is none other than Megan Phelps-Roper, a former member of and spokesperson for The Westboro Baptist Church, which has been characterized as “arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America.”

Phelps-Roper wrote a letter to Rowling asking if she would be open to a conversation ‘seeking to understand her perspective and those of her critics’, and in true J.K. Rowling style, the author invited her into her home for a chat. What followed was the 7-part podcast. You’ve got to love this lady’s chutzpah.

It is an honest look into how mainstream media sometimes loses all rational thought when confronted with alternative views.

Rowling says she’s not worried about how her views will impact her legacy. “I do not walk around my house thinking about my legacy, I’ll be dead. I care about now. I care about the living.”

The first Harry Potter book was rejected by 12 publishers before one finally agreed to print  500 copies. What followed became the literary version of the Beatles as her books became a cultural phenomenon and cemented her as one of the most important writers of the last two decades.

You can find the podcast on iTunes here.

It will be interesting to see the response to the podcast series, but J.K. Rowling seems to be someone who does not shy away from controversy and speaks her mind. The world could do with more ‘witches’ like her.

[source:usatoday&applepodcasts]