Rephonic
Artwork for Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast

Thomas Pynchon books discussed here!
Thomas Pynchon
Against the Day
Bleeding Edge
Infinite Jest
David Foster Wallace
9/11
Capitalism
Anarchism
Pynchon
David Lynch
Mulholland Drive
Blue Velvet
Webb Traverse
New York City
Eraserhead
Deep Archer
Tesla
Twin Peaks
Shadow Ticket
Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down

Each episode, we take a deep-dive into the book we are focusing on—we explore the references, characters, plot, and everything in between from a non-scholarly point of view. We are just four fans who love these books and can talk about them endlessly.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes118Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast

Latest Episodes

On this week's bonus episode, Luke discusses the short stories, novels, and life of R.A. Lafferty. Give it a listen? Yeah, you should.

If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we re... more

In the first of our series of bonus episodes in-between parts 2 and 3 of Against the Day, we talk with Sara Marcus about her 2010 book about the Riot Grrrl movement. We discuss the bands, the music, the zines, and the revolution itself.

If you're lo... more

YouTube

It's a beautifully tragic series of scenes we get with this section of the book. While this is some of the best writing in the novel, thus far, it's also tremendously upsetting and hard to get through. There's still plenty of humor and weirdness to b... more

YouTube

If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.

ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

You can als... more

YouTube

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.

The Big Picture
The Big PictureThe Ringer
Blank Check with Griffin & David
Blank Check with Griffin & DavidBlank Check Productions
Pynchon Pals
Pynchon PalsPynchon Pals
Backlisted
BacklistedBacklisted
Chapo Trap House
Chapo Trap HouseChapo Trap House

Recent Guests

Sara Marcus
Author of Girls to the Front, the True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution
Author/Scholar
Episode: Bonus Episode - Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution (w/ Sara Marcus)
Brett Biebel
Friend of the show, author of The Mason and Dixon Companion
Author/Scholar
Episode: Against the Day: Part 2 Wrap Up (w/ Brett Biebel)
Brett Bebel
Guest discussed for wrap-up on part two
Episode: Against the Day: Ch. 30-31
Alex Pheby
Author of the Cities of the Weft trilogy
Newcastle University
Episode: Bonus Episode - Alex Pheby
Johan Harstad
A notable Norwegian author
Episode: Bonus Episode - Talkin' It Up with Johan Harstad

Hosts

Cody
Co-hosts and recurring panelists who guide discussions and provide expert-level but approachable takes on complex novels; consistently contribute to the series' collaborative dynamic.
Kate
Co-host known for steering conversations, offering nuanced readings, and keeping discussions accessible and engaging.
Luke
Co-hosts and frequent participants who contribute to the show's collaborative exploration of narratives and themes.
Will
Co-hosts and steady voices in the discussion, helping balance analysis with accessible, welcoming conversation.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 138 ratings
  • My Thomas Pynchon Companion Podcast

    Fantastic podcast where the hosts go deep in examining Thomas Pynchon’s works. I’ve loved pacing my reading alongside the episodes as the hosts’ insights have really enhanced my understanding of and appreciation for each book.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annajrules
    Australia8 months ago
  • I like Luke

    That’s it. I like him

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DanielMHII
    United States10 months ago
  • Reading the Line With Podcast Jobbers *WHERE HAVE GONE?

    So glad to have another TP podcast (RIP PIP). Mason and Dixon is my favorite of Pynchon's novels, and the most under explored. They examine its nooks and crannies here in the convivial manner popular to the podcast format.

    Thank you! Vineland next I hope! *No new shows in over a month. What gives? Miss it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    junt
    United Statesa year ago
  • Boring libs missing the point

    Absolutely fantastic podcast if you want to hear a bunch of midwit libs misunderstand Pynchon and talk themselves out of believing he’s saying what is right there on the page. Maybe get a communist or an anarchist as one of the main hosts so you have somebody who actually ideologically relates with Pynchon’s writing. He is my favorite author and this is a huge disappointment.If you want better analysis listen to the Pynchon episodes of Programmed to Chill, Beverley Trillbillies, or Death is Just... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    scottryan88
    United Statesa year ago
  • Refreshing perspective

    The tone of the discussion is low key and inviting, so much so that you might miss how really thoughtful the hosts are. If you already love Pynchon or are just curious this is an absolute recommendation —this team has a fresh, open perspective and bring out the heart and the fun that many critics overlook. Cheers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doc Denoon
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the thoughtful, accessible deep-dives into dense books.
Fans appreciate the warm, conversational tone that makes complex ideas approachable.
Some listeners wish for deeper dives or more frequent episodes.
Many highlights comments note strong chemistry among hosts and engaging book-by-book discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#154
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#144
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#152
Belgium/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#156
Russia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#159
Brazil/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#185
Mexico/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bonus Episode - R.A. Lafferty
Q: Have there been film adaptations of Lafferty's work, or is it mainly print?
Adaptations are apparently rare or non-existent in English, with more likelihood of Japanese media than Western film, so for now his work remains primarily in print.
Bonus Episode - R.A. Lafferty
Q: Would you recommend starting with RA Lafferty's short stories or his novels, given how prolific he is?
The hosts recommend starting with his short stories, noting they're where he really shines and that the Best of collection is a solid introduction.
Bonus Episode - Kefahuchi Tract trilogy by M. John Harrison
Q: Do you think these are a good introduction to his work?
I think that these could be a good introduction to him.
Bonus Episode - Kefahuchi Tract trilogy by M. John Harrison
Q: What puts light into your top 10 books you've ever read, top three sci-fi you've ever read?
The world building is really exquisite, I would say, in terms of it's just really well thought out.
Bonus Episode - Kefahuchi Tract trilogy by M. John Harrison
Q: Does it tell us what we should or should not turn down for?
No, it doesn't. It does not address turning down or turning up.

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 This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A four-friend run deep-dive show that unpackes dense literary works through accessible, non-scholarly discussions. Episodes cover intricate references, character webs, and narrative structures, often mixing plot recaps with thoughtful interpretations and humor. The group frequently explores big ideas in postmodern and classic literature, with occasional side conversations about authorial style and book architecture. Notably, the show balances enthusiastic passion with a welcoming tone, making it a solid fit for listeners who want thoughtful, approachable literary analysis and recommendations for what to read next.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, 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 this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Big Picture
2. Blank Check with Griffin & David
3. Pynchon Pals
4. Backlisted
5. Chapo Trap House

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 118 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sara Marcus
2. Brett Biebel
3. Brett Bebel
4. Alex Pheby
5. Johan Harstad

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