Rephonic
Artwork for Blooms & Barnacles

Blooms & Barnacles

Kelly Bryan
Ulysses
James Joyce
Dubliners
Dublin
Advertising
Parallax
John Alexander Dowie
Counterparts
Abuse
Irish History
Zion City
Pride and Prejudice
Alcoholism
Masculinity
Araby
Eveline
Irish Language Revival
Freemasonry
Gordon Bennett Cup
The Odyssey

A blog and podcast that discuss James Joyce's Ulysses from a non-academic point of view. Less snooty, more movie references.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes206Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Blooms & Barnacles

Latest Episodes

We discuss the 1955 film version of Richard III.

Listen to or watch the full episode at patreon.com/barnaclecast

What if the Shakespeares were really a bunch of crumb-bums?

Topics in this episode include Shakespeare’s brothers Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund, which ones Stephen thinks were bad brothers and which were good brothers, whether Shakespeare turned his ... more

In which, Stephen proves through algebra that Hamlet’s grandson is Shakespeare’s grandfather.

Topics in this episode include Puritanism, whether or not Anne Hathaway became a religious fanatic late in life, Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her Pur... more

We review the 2025 Chloe Zhao film, Hamnet.

To watch or listen to the full episode, visit patreon.com/barnaclecast

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4
Close Readings
Close ReadingsLondon Review of Books
The LRB Podcast
The LRB PodcastThe London Review of Books
Poetry Unbound
Poetry UnboundOn Being Studios

Recent Guests

Penelope Wade
An artist and tarot card reader who creates tarot decks based on "Ulysses".
Episode: Bonus Ep. 25 - The Tarot of Mme Marion Bloom w/ Penelope Wade [TEASER]
Zoe Patterson
PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin researching Joycean community groups
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: James Joyce Community Groups (w/ Zoe Patterson)
Senan Molony
Political correspondent at the Irish Independent and author of several books including 'The Phoenix Park Murders' and 'Helen of Joyce'
Irish Independent
Episode: Bonus Ep. 24 - Jack the Ripper w/ Senan Molony [TEASER]
Katherine Ebury
Senior lecturer in modern literature at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
Episode: Bonus Ep. 23 - Molly Bloom v. Misogyny w/ Katherine Ebury [TEASER]
Elizabeth Foley O'Connor
Associate Professor of English and Director of the Gender Studies Program at Washington College.
Washington College
Episode: Lizzie Twigg (w/ Elizabeth Foley O'Connor)

Hosts

Kelly
Co-host with a focus on making Joyce's works accessible and engaging, often providing insightful analysis with a touch of humor.
Dermot
Co-host providing literary insights with a humorous perspective, often discussing Irish culture and connecting themes within Joyce's works.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 130 ratings
  • There are more readers

    I’ve purposely avoided Joyce for 30 years. When I recently found a copy of Ulysses at the Goodwill, with the internet support, I decided it was time to give it a go. The Podcast makes the whole Ulysses experience better. Great job and the pictures are great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bd dkdndnd
    United States6 months ago
  • Infectious enthusiasm for Ulysses

    Love this production. Since the loss of Frank Delaney’s ReJoyce this has become my go-to podcast for all things Ulysses.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BeardySteve1
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Great Great Great podcast and blog!

    I enjoy reding Ulysses with this podcast! I listen to your podcast while reading paragraph by paragraph! Guys you are just fantastic! Your work is just incredibly helping! Thank you so so so much! p.s. Amount of exclamation marks in my comment cannot describe my appreciation for you guys!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KamiMaji
    Japan2 years ago
  • All Things Joyce

    Have only started this podcast. Up to Ep 18 & have found it a real gateway in cracking open Ulysses. The general information, interviews given, have added a dimension that with my modern public education seriously lacked. Thanks so much as a 59 year old, I can finally say I am reading Ulyssses & enjoying it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoanMCT
    Australia2 years ago
  • Intelligent, funny, insightful podcastery

    I chose Ulysses as a school prize in 1974 and managed to stumble my way though it without understanding much more than the rude jokes. Re reading Joyce is such a pleasure and is made even more so by the Blooms and Barnacles podcast. I’m reading episodes from Ulysses then reading the relevant pages in critical books and finally listening to see what the charming couple on the podcast made of it all. I always learn something new but I love listening to their conversations irrespective of that. Thi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    faxoff
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners describe the discussions as engaging and humorous, making complex literary themes approachable.
Some feedback indicates a desire for more varied topics beyond Joyce and Shakespeare.
The podcast is recognized as a valuable resource for both newcomers and seasoned readers of Joyce.
Reviews highlight the strong chemistry between the hosts, making for an entertaining listening experience.
Many appreciate the non-academic perspective that demystifies James Joyce's works.

Top Arts Podcasts

The Moth
The MothThe Moth
99% Invisible
99% InvisibleRoman Mars
The Book Club
The Book ClubGoalhanger
The Chef's Cut
The Chef's CutLevel Media
Spooked
SpookedKQED and Snap Studios

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Puck Mulligan
Q: How do you perceive Mulligan's character in relation to Stephen?
Mulligan represents chaos and unpredictability, serving as a disruptive force to Stephen's serious aspirations, ultimately emphasizing the power dynamics in their relationship.
Horseness is the Whatness of Allhorse
Q: Do you recall what happened last time on Ulysses?
We're in the library with Mr. Best and Mr. Eglinton discussing the nature of art and theosophy.
Bonus Ep. 25 - The Tarot of Mme Marion Bloom w/ Penelope Wade [TEASER]
Q: What was the process like of actually coming up with the themes for each tarot card?
Wade explains that the themes emerged through her philosophical exploration of tarot and its connection to Joyce's characters, particularly Molly Bloom's cartomancy in Ulysses.
James Joyce Community Groups (w/ Zoe Patterson)
Q: What is the average Joyce community like in terms of demographics?
Joyce groups tend to focus on native English speakers, usually older adults, with a mix of genders, often meeting in Anglophone countries and not solely in Ireland.
Is Blazes Boylan the worst man in Dublin?
Q: Is Blazes Boylan the worst man in Dublin?
It's debatable, as Bloom's bias influences his perception of Boylan, who might represent typical flaws rather than outright villainy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Blooms & Barnacles

What is Blooms & Barnacles about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Episodes primarily explore James Joyce's *Ulysses*, blending literary analysis with a sense of humor and accessibility. The discussions often reference Shakespeare, as hosts Kelly and Dermot draw parallels between the two authors, tackling themes such as infidelity, paternity, and artistic legacies within their works. By providing a non-academic perspective, the hosts invite both seasoned Joyceans and newcomers into the conversation, making the dense text of *Ulysses* more approachable through engaging banter, movie references, and personal anecdotes. Unique to this podcast is its ability to elucidate complex subjects while maintaining a casual and welcoming tone, which resonates with listeners and fosters a sense of community around the ch... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Blooms & Barnacles?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Blooms & Barnacles. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Blooms & Barnacles and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Blooms & Barnacles get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Blooms & Barnacles, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Blooms & Barnacles?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Blooms & Barnacles, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Blooms & Barnacles have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Blooms & Barnacles has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Blooms & Barnacles?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Blooms & Barnacles:

1. HistoryExtra podcast
2. In Our Time
3. Close Readings
4. The LRB Podcast
5. Poetry Unbound

How many episodes of Blooms & Barnacles are there?

Blooms & Barnacles launched 7 years ago and published 206 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Blooms & Barnacles?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Blooms & Barnacles?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Blooms & Barnacles from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Blooms & Barnacles?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Blooms & Barnacles. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Blooms & Barnacles?

Recent guests on Blooms & Barnacles include:

1. Penelope Wade
2. Zoe Patterson
3. Senan Molony
4. Katherine Ebury
5. Elizabeth Foley O'Connor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days