Pynchon Pals – Details, episodes & analysis

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Pynchon Pals

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Frequency: 1 episode/14d. Total Eps: 23

Pynchon Pals is a podcast about finally reading Thomas Pynchon.

Join co-hosts and good friends Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long as they talk through, break down, and identify exciting new recipes from the works of one of American literature's foremost figures.

Just saw One Battle After Another? Picked up Shadow Ticket? Had Gravity's Rainbow on your shelf for a decade? Or just a longtime fan looking to revisit your favorites? Everyone's welcome to be a Pynchon Pal!

Support us at patreon.com/pynchonpals for additional bonus episodes, and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

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Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇩🇪 Germany - books
01/08/2026
#90
🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
30/09/2025
#96
🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
28/09/2025
#50
🇫🇷 France - books
28/09/2025
#53

Spotify

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Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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http://www.patf.io
23 shares
https://kinggizzard.bandcamp.com/album/polygondwanaland
23 shares
http://archive.org
3 shares

https://bsky.app/profile/pynchonpals.bsky.social
23 shares
https://bsky.app/profile/patfio.bsky.social
23 shares

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Score global : 64%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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Latest published episodes

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01: In which the Pynchon Pals propose a cookbook (V. Chs. 1-2)

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 • Duration 02:47:39

In this inaugural episode, we meet the Whole Sick Crew, who would have a podcast in 2025.

Next time: V. Chs. 3-4

Show Notes:

Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

Vulture: "On the Thomas Pynchon Trail: From the Long Island of His Boyhood to the ‘Yupper West Side’ of His New Novel" by Boris Kachka

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, firearms, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia

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23: In which meet die ganze kaputte Bande und/y la dotación enferma (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 3.6-3.10)

Episode 23

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 • Duration 02:47:37

Well gang, we made it to our very own brennschluss point. Or at least we think we did? Join us for the thrilling first issue of ROCKETMAN and reencounter some old friends and some old, old friends.

Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episode 3.11, or pp. 403-440 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

For the month of July’s Patreon-exclusive bonus episode, we’re watching Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong (1933).

Show Notes:

Explanation of Lucretius’ “swerve” by Simon Trépanier in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lucretius/#Book2)

“Althusser’s Clinamen: Aleatory Materialism and Revolutionary Politics,” by Promise Li in Meditations: Journal of the Marxist Literary Group (https://mediationsjournal.org/articles/Aleatory_Materialism)

“Scottish Commentary on the Worst Tackle in the History of Football by Boris Johnson - McKallaster,” via YouTube (https://youtu.be/0UYrLfxvfhM)

Excerpts from Roland Barthes’ The Pleasure of the Text, .pdf via The University of Pennsylvania (https://web.english.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Barthes_Pleasure_of_the_Text.pdf)

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny, antisemitism, xenophobia, genocide.

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Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

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22: In which one sequence, at least, is pretty straightforward (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 3.3-3.5)

Episode 22

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 03:08:10

A round of applause for the staff at Thomas Pynchon’s local library in the early 1970s. Working overtime getting that man his Herero cosmologies and Soviet orthographical histories. And, hey, let's hear it for the projectionist at the repertory theater showing all those old slapstick flicks, too.

Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, and 3.10, or pp. 365-403 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

For the month of July’s Patreon-exclusive bonus episode we’re watching Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong (1933).

Show Notes:

“Thomas Pynchon Shows Us How White Writers Can Avoid Appropriation,” by Ariel Saramandi via Electric Literature (https://electricliterature.com/thomas-pynchon-shows-us-how-white-writers-can-avoid-appropriation/)

Clip from Sun Ra’s Space is the Place (1974) (https://youtu.be/Fgz-iQ5lSw4)

r/AskHistorian thread on the New Turkic Alphabet in Pynchon (https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/djxp0c/in_the_book_gravitys_rainbow_by_thomas_pynchon/)

“The National Writer,” by Ted Trautman via The Paris Review on Chinghiz Aitmatov, author of The Day Lasts More than A Hundred Years (https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2014/06/10/the-national-writer/)

13: In which we wonder, what if this book was, like, six times as long? (The Crying of Lot 49 Ch. 6)

Episode 13

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 • Duration 02:47:35

Angels, dark and light, descend on Southern California, and we bid adieu to Arnold Snarb, I mean, Edna Mosh.

Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow sections 1.1 through 1.9, or pp. 1-60 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

Show Notes:

“The Simple Art of Murder,” by Raymond Chandler, online e-book via Faded Page.

Thomas Pyncon’s introduction to Richard Fariña’s Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me, via pynchon.pomona.edu.

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, suicide, antisemitism, pedophilia.

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Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

12: “In which the Pynchon Pals retell Platonic dialogues and Porky Pig cartoons” (The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 4-5)

Episode 12

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • Duration 02:49:39

The devil is in the details in this episode—or should we say, the demon? We follow Oedipa up north and into the entropic underground. Groovy…

Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Ch. 6.

Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

Show Notes:

Spoilers for Twin Peaks Season 2 around 2:31:50 to 2:32:05!

Thomas Pynchon, in correspondence, on The Crying of Lot 49 as a “potboiler,” via Mel Gussow in the New York Times archive

“The Crisis of the University Started Long Before Trump,” by Clifford Ando via Compact, on the Bayh–Dole Act and its implications for patents on government funded research

“Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius,” by Jorge Luis Borges, .pdf via University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

“Encuentro,” by Remedios Varo (1959) via the National Galleries of Scotland

The “Batusi” in Batman (1966) via YouTube

Project OXYGAS (Dolphin Training) via the CIA online reading room

11. In which the Pynchon Pals, unseen, do a little dance (The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 1-3)

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • Duration 02:46:04

Move over Benny, Rachel, Stencil, and Paola, it’s time for a new book! Journeying into the swingin’ 60s, we talk on the phone, watch television, and even go to the theatre. Hey, wait a second, I know that kazoo tune…

Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 4-5.

Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

Show Notes:

“Embroidering the Earth's Mantle,” by Remedios Varo (1961) via Obelisk

Covers for The Crying of Lot 49 via thomaspynchon.com

The Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air via YouTube

Droodles by Roger Price (1953) via Wikipedia

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism.

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Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album .

10: In which a ludicrously high budget is needed to produce the V. adaptation of our dreams (V. Q+A)

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 • Duration 02:07:06

We hope you enjoy listening to this Q+A episode as much as we enjoyed making it! If so, you can now sign up to support the show via the brand new patreon.com/pynchonpals to get access to future Patreon-exclusive bonus episodes featuring Q+A’s, movie discussion, and more.

Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 1-3. (Wow, a whole new book!)

Show Notes:

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism.

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Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

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09: In which the verdict on V. is, at long last, delivered (V. Epilogue and Wrapup)

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 • Duration 02:18:44

Sydney Stencil’s in Valletta for one last job, and so are we. Sail on, sailor!

Next time, V. Q+A. Last chance to send in questions on Bluesky or by email: if you’ve got one, we want to read it!

Show Notes:

St. Agatha’s Crypt, Catacombs & Museum, website

“V.: Analysis of Major Characters,” by Victoria Price via EBSCO

“The Mysterious Manicule,” by Keith Houston via Slate

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, body dysmorphia, suicide

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Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

08: In which Thomas Pynchon, like his cousin Taylor Swift, reflects on love (V. Chs. 14-16)

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 • Duration 02:52:21

Things lurk Behind the Curtain as we bid farewell to Benny and the gang. And time is running out to send in questions for our V. Q+A in the episode after next!

Next time, V. Epilogue.

Show Notes:

Frank C. Stanley performs “Auld Lang Syne,” recorded 1910 on (now public domain) wax cylinder, released by the Indestructible Record Company, UC Santa Barbara Cylinder Audio Archive

Family Relationship of Taylor Swift, Singer and Songwriter, 9th cousin 2 times removed to Thomas Pynchon, American Novelist, FamousKin.com

“The Feather Heist,” This American Life, WBEZ Chicago

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, incest, misogyny, racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, suicide.

---

Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

07: In which a solid option for a V.-themed tattoo emerges (V. Chs. 12-13)

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 • Duration 02:19:06

Happy Holidays from Pynchon Pals! In this episode, we stick with the Whole Sick Crew through their ups, their downs, their subsequent downs, their—wow, more downs, huh?

Next time, V. Chs. 14-16.

Show Notes:

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, suicide, abortion.

---

Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

Read moreCollapse

Pynchon Pals – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Pynchon Pals – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other60

Blueskye2

Youtube15

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other60

Blueskye2

Youtube15