Rephonic
Artwork for Blooms & Barnacles

Blooms & Barnacles

Kelly Bryan
Ulysses
James Joyce
Dublin
Shakespeare
Dubliners
Hamlet
Aristotle
William Shakespeare
Colonialism
Plato
Irish Literature
Oscar Wilde
Theosophy
Freemasonry
Advertising
Patreon
Leopold Bloom
Culinary Arts
Grafton Street
Bloomsday

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes219Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Blooms & Barnacles

Latest Episodes

We discuss Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's novel Venus in Furs

Listen to the full version at patreon.com/barnaclecast

Put on your costliest frillies!

Topics in this episode include Bloom's literary interest, Aristotle's Masterpiece, Fair Tyrants, Victorian flagellation literature, Molly's desire for some decent erotica, the origins of Sweets of Sin, why Bloom choos... more

We tell the story of Silken Thomas' rebellion in 1534.

To listen to the full episode or watch a video version, please visit patreon.com/barnaclecast

All you need is Love.

Topics in this episode include tertiary Ulysses characters, Ned Lambert, J.J. O'Molloy, the many lives of St. Mary's Abbey, the Reverend Hugh C. Love, the Fitzgeralds, Silken Thomas' rebellion, what Reverend Love gets right and... more

Key Facts

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.

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
Host of Blooms & Barnacles; co-leads discussions on Joyce with a keen eye for accessibility, cultural context, and humorous banter.
Dermot
Co-host with a background in Irish history, philosophy, and literary analysis; balances humor with insightful commentary.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 143 ratings
  • My Happy Place

    I cannot express how much I love this podcast! I have been listening since lockdown in 2020 where it fast became my happy place in those dark times. I am not sure why it has taken me 6 years to write a review! I have been a fan of Joyce and particularly Ulysses for over 25 years. I knew I was no scholar of this, the world’s greatest novel, but I thought I knew a bit. This podcast has illustrated by ignorance! And I love it for that!! Thank you so much to Kelly for such a deep dive into the world... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mcfd13
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Joyful companions to June 1904

    I started listening to Blooms and Barnacles six months ago and have finished every available episode. It has helped me unlock the doors of Ulysses and explore every room.

    This is my third attempt at the book, which for better or worse now lives in my head, heart and soul.

    Kelly and Dermot are excellent companions. Kelly is profoundly intelligent and deeply well read. Dermot is kind, perceptive and just the right amount of curmudgeonly.

    It’s a huge undertaking. I hope they finish it. This podc... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DavidShan57
    Australia6 months ago
  • 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 Statesa year 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

Listeners Say

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

Quality production and consistent research are highlighted as strengths.
Listeners praise the show for being welcoming to beginners while deep-diving into tough Joyce passages.
Hosts are repeatedly described as intelligent, thoughtful, and engaging with a good balance of humor.

Top Arts Podcasts

The Moth
The MothThe Moth
Spooked
SpookedKQED and Snap Studios
99% Invisible
99% InvisibleRoman Mars
Eating History
Eating HistoryLevel Media Inc.
DTFae
DTFaeDTFae Podcast
The Chef's Cut
The Chef's CutLevel Media

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?

A conversational, non-academic exploration of James Joyce's Ulysses, with a steady emphasis on close-reading paired with cultural, historical, and pop-culture tangents. Episodes frequently map Dublin life, mythic parallels, and literary allusions to contemporary media, architecture, and Irish history, while staying welcoming to newcomers and rewarding to seasoned Joyceans. Notable strengths include a warm dynamic between hosts, accessible breakdowns of complex passages, and a robust blog and Patreon ecosystem that complements the audio. The show stands out for balancing rigorous context with humor, visual artwork, and practical takes that help listeners connect with Ulysses on multiple levels.

For potential sponsors or guests, the show off... 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 four 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. The News Agents
2. The Rest Is History
3. In Our Time
4. The Rest Is Politics: US
5. The Rest Is Politics: Leading

How many episodes of Blooms & Barnacles are there?

Blooms & Barnacles launched 8 years ago and published 219 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