Pynchon Pals
Pynchon Pals
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About This Podcast
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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Recent Episodes
19: In which this book is sort of like The History Channel meets The Great Mouse Detective meets Severance meets Riverdale meets Dumb and Dumber (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 2.3-2.5)
Debauchery. Grotesquerie. Eschatology. Showtunes. That’s Thomas Pynchon, for ya! Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8, or pp. 247-282 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe…
18: In which Patrick finally finds an excuse to do his Jimmy Stewart impression (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 2.1-2.2)
Ah, now this is what we’ve been missing! The sun, the sea, the songs! This episode’s all escapades along the esplanade. At least until the paranoia sets in. Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 2.3…
17: In which we tour Mr. Pynchon’s Mysterious Society for Peculiarly Gifted Bureaucrats (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.17-1.21)
Do we dare go beyond “Beyond the Zero”? Well, first we’ve got to meet a bunch of characters who will surely—surely—be important later. Then, this book heard you liked the occult, so it put a séance…
16: In which Crest the savior is born (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.14-1.16)
GR just keeps getting V.-ier and V.-ier. Luckily, there’s a funny scene about candy waiting for us on the other end. And hey, it’s our favorite couple Jessica and Roger! Oh dear, they look very…
15: In which a real live rocket launches (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.8-1.13)
Discussions of Pavlov bookend interdepartmental conspiracy and pseudo-domesticity. Meanwhile Slothrop, like Benny Profane and Herbert Stencil before him, ventures into the sewer. Makes you miss the…
14: In which the Pynchon Pals, in their arrogance, thought they could talk through more of the book in three hours (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.1-1.7)
Well, we’ve arrived at The Big One. Or, The First Big One, anyways. Join us -- again or for the first time -- as we puzzle out plots, diagram arcane organizational structures, and go long on…
13: In which we wonder, what if this book was, like, six times as long? (The Crying of Lot 49 Ch. 6)
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…
12: “In which the Pynchon Pals retell Platonic dialogues and Porky Pig cartoons” (The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 4-5)
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…
11. In which the Pynchon Pals, unseen, do a little dance (The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 1-3)
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…
10: In which a ludicrously high budget is needed to produce the V. adaptation of our dreams (V. Q+A)
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…
09: In which the verdict on V. is, at long last, delivered (V. Epilogue and Wrapup)
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…
08: In which Thomas Pynchon, like his cousin Taylor Swift, reflects on love (V. Chs. 14-16)
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…
07: In which a solid option for a V.-themed tattoo emerges (V. Chs. 12-13)
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…
06: In which the phrase, “history is like a sine wave,” like a sine wave, recurs (V. Chs. 10-11)
In this episode, we flop around with the Whole Sick Crew, then flip over to the metaphysical hellscape of besieged Malta, before finally deconstructing this whole “V” situation, literally. Next time,…
05: In which Forrest Gump is revealed as the Hegelian World-Soul (V. Chs. 8-9)
In this episode, we yo-yo from bohemian banality to colonialist atrocity. Awful house parties occur amidst both. Next time, V. Chs. 10-11.Show Notes:Archive.org “Report on the natives of South-west…
04: In which appear a bodacious cowboy, a Babylon sister, and several gentleman losers (V. Ch. 7)
In this episode, we get our teeth checked for ego, encounter the Situation, and finally chat for a bit about Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another (spoilers for the film after…
S1E3 03: In which Andrew uncovers a conspiracy and North Carolina is mentioned (V. Chs. 5-6)
In this episode, we head underground and somehow spend a long time talking about Dr. Seuss books, the musical Grease, and the modern classic (?) John Cena movie Ricky Stanicky.Next time: V. Ch. 7Show…
02: In which the Pynchon Pals never resolve how to pronounce “Porpentine” (V. Chs. 3-4)
In this second ever episode, we learn about imperialist territorial disputes, nineteenth century travel guides, and layered Biblical allusions, while making intertextual comparisons to children’s…
01: In which the Pynchon Pals propose a cookbook (V. Chs. 1-2)
In this inaugural episode, we meet the Whole Sick Crew, who would have a podcast in 2025.Next time: V. Chs. 3-4Show Notes: Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and…
Frequently Asked Questions
Pynchon Pals has published 19 episodes since September 2025, covering topics in Arts, Books.
Pynchon Pals is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 2h 48m.
Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Pynchon Pals, including email and social media links.
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