Pynchon Pals

Pynchon Pals
  • 4.9 (13)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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.

  1. 5D AGO

    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 bananas.  Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.8-1.13, or pp. 48-94 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: “Banana Breakfast,” by Tom Pynchon’s Liquor Cabinet  “There Will Be Bananas,” by NPR’s Throughline podcast “Vintage Original Chiquita Banana 1940's Commercial Ads Complete Series!,” via YouTube “Bananas Don’t Taste Like They Used To. Here’s Why,” by Brandon Summers-Miller via Epicurious The Morrison shelter and other Battle of Britain era protections via the Royal Air Force Museum “Some Things that ‘Happen’ (More or Less) in Gravity’s Rainbow,” by Michael Davitt Bell. The simplest and most useful quick reference for the goings on in Gravity’s Rainbow we’ve found so far. Spoiler warning, obviously, for things we and maybe you haven’t read yet—and, less obviously, for references to things that will be (but aren’t yet) important. Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny.  --- 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.

    3h 11m

  2. MAR 11

    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 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.  --- 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.

    2h 48m

  3. FEB 25

    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 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 “The dolphin who loved me: the Nasa-funded project that went wrong,” by Christopher Riley via The Guardian (or, the one about LSD trials on dolphins) Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, suicide, genocide, antisemitism --- 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.

    2h 50m

  4. FEB 11

    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 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. --- 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.

    2h 46m

  5. JAN 28

    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 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. --- 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.  Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    2h 7m

  6. JAN 14

    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 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 --- 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.  Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    2h 19m

  7. 12/31/2025

    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 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.  Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    2h 52m

  8. 12/17/2025

    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 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.  Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    2h 19m
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4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Pynchon Pals
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Pynchon Pals

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