Rephonic
Artwork for The Plunge

The Plunge with Derek Holser

derekholser
William Blake
Charlotte's Web
Inklings
Charles Williams
The Place Of the Lion
Redwall
Watership Down
Winnie-the-Pooh
Wilbur
Animals In Literature
Literary Analysis
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
That Hideous Strength
Brian Jacques
Cultural Impact Of Redwall
Imagination
Englishness
Technology
Romanticism
Jesus Christ

The Plunge is a serial podcast, hosted by Derek Holser, and anchored by conversations about Theology, Philosophy, and Culture. The Plunge is a forum for producing extended conversations with a variety of guests that invite the listener to explore stories and their creators, thinkers and their ideas, artists and athletes, and their unique aesthetics. The Plunge endeavors to dive into deep waters sa... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes97Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualitySociety & CultureChristianity

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Plunge

Latest Episodes

Welcome to Episode One in our Summer Replay Series. Today's conversation features Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson, Kerry Dearborn, Chris Green, and Jordan Daniel Wood.

The discussion ranges from George MacDonald's conception and practice of true community, ... more

Welcome to Episode 6, our final installment in our series William Blake: Mystic for Modernity.

Today's guest is Valentin Gerlier. Valentin is a scholar, songwriter, and musician, and our conversation is a poetic and lyrical gem. Full of light and wi... more

YouTube

Welcome to Episode Five in our latest series: William Blake: Mystic for Modernity. As we continue to explore the life and majesty of William Blake, I am joined by a returning Plunge favorite: Landon Loftin.

This conversation explores G.K. Chesterton... more

YouTube

Welcome to Episode Four in our latest series: William Blake: Mystic for Modernity. As we continue to explore the life and majesty of William Blake, I am joined by a returning Plunge favorite: the Inimitable Ron Dart!

Ron has had an abiding interest ... more

YouTube

Welcome to Episode Three in our latest series: William Blake: Mystic for Modernity. As we continue to explore the life and majesty of William Blake, I am joined by a most enchanting guest: Susanne Sklar.

Susanne Sklar, PhD, is a leading internationa... more

YouTube

Welcome to the second episode in our latest series, William Blake: Mystic for Modernity. William Blake (1757–1827) was a visionary English poet, painter, and printmaker of the Romantic Age.

Jason Whittaker is a writer and academic at the University ... more

YouTube

Welcome to the first episode in our latest series, William Blake: Mystic for Modernity. William Blake (1757–1827) was a visionary English poet, painter, and printmaker of the Romantic Age.

My guest today is Mark Vernon. Mark is a writer and psychoth... more

YouTube

Welcome to Episode Twelve in our Animals in Literature series. Today's conversation features a fun, nostalgic, endearing discussion of Christopher Robin and his friends in The Hundred Acre Wood, created by A.A. Milne.

Today's guest is returning Plun... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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.

OnScript
OnScriptMatthew Bates, Matthew Lynch, Erin Heim, Dru Johnson, Amy Brown Hughes, & Chris Tilling
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Turning to the Mystics with James Finley
Turning to the Mystics with James FinleyCenter for Action and Contemplation

Recent Guests

Ron Dart
Author, professor, and commentator on Blake and Romanticism
(not explicitly stated in transcript)
Episode: William Blake: Mystic for Modernity, Episode 4 | Ron Dart
Susanne Sklar
Scholar and reader of William Blake; part of the Blake series
Independent scholar/Blake series participant
Episode: William Blake: Mystic for Modernity, Episode 3 | Susanne Sklar
Jason Whittaker
Guest expert on William Blake and reception
Independent scholar (across the pond)
Episode: William Blake: Mystic for Modernity, Episode 2 | Jason Whittaker
Mark Vernon
Author of Awake! William Blake and the Power of Imagination
Author/Philosopher
Episode: William Blake: Mystic for Modernity, Episode 1 | Mark Vernon
Brenton Dickieson
Returning favorite guest discussed Winnie the Pooh and The Hundred Acre Wood
Episode: The Hundred Acre Wood: Animals in Literature | Brenton Dickieson
Olga-Maria Cruz
Guest discussing Watership Down through theology and literature
Episode: Watership Down: Animals in Literature | Olga-Maria Cruz
Thomas Cannariato
Guest discussing The Redwall Series and its impact
Nashville, Tennessee (recording location)
Episode: The Redwall Series: Animals in Literature | Thomas Cannariato
Sørina Higgins
Author and scholar focusing on Charles Williams and related topics
Independent scholar/author
Episode: Lions & Bears & Menageries, OH MY!: Animals in Literature | Sørina Higgins
Simon Horobin
Medieval literature scholar, Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Episode: The Creatures of Narnia: Animals in Literature | Simon Horobin

Host

Derek Holser
Host of The Plunge

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
The Why Files: Operation Podcast
The Why Files: Operation PodcastThe Why Files: Operation Podcast
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Modern Wisdom
Modern WisdomChris Williamson
Dream Life Club
Dream Life ClubSumi Krishnan

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

William Blake: Mystic for Modernity, Episode 1 | Mark Vernon
Q: How does Blake's thinking about perception contrast with the Newtonian worldview you described?
Blake critiques the reduction of reality to external measurement and argues for an interior, spiritual perception that recognizes moral and imaginative dimensions, enabling a more integrated understanding of life beyond mere surface observations.
William Blake: Mystic for Modernity, Episode 1 | Mark Vernon
Q: You mentioned Blake's fourfold vision; could you briefly explain what that entails for someone new to his ideas?
The fourfold vision is Blake's way of describing an expanded perception that includes layers of reality beyond surface appearances, where living intelligences inhabit every facet of existence and the imagination can engage with the divine to reveal deeper truth.
Easter Interlude: The Resurrection | Jordan Daniel Wood
Q: How does Maximus reinterpret the middle of Christology to address the edges of creation and eschatology?
Maximus preserves the Origenian form of thinking—that what is true of Christ is true for beginning, middle, and end—by reconfiguring the content of the middle, i.e., Christology, so that it reconciles pre-existence concerns and ultimate restoration within a Chalcedonian framework.
Lions & Bears & Menageries, OH MY!: Animals in Literature | Sørina Higgins
Q: Returning to The Plunge for the second time, Sørina Higgins, how are you?
The question sets a friendly tone for the discussion and frames Sørina as the guest; she responds with warmth and appreciation for the ongoing conversation.
Watership Down: Animals in Literature | Olga-Maria Cruz
Q: Is there a passage you'd like to read to us before we conclude?
The host invites a reading, leading to reflections on the power of epigraphs, mythic storytelling, and the role of stories in forming a community.

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 The Plunge

What is The Plunge about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on deep conversations at the intersection of theology, philosophy, and culture, featuring scholars, authors, and thoughtful commentators. Across recent episodes, the host guides extended dialogues with guests who bring literary, religious, and philosophical perspectives to bear on modern life—often exploring how imagination, myth, and critical inquiry shape ethics, society, and personal belief. Notable throughlines include William Blake's mystical theology, the reception of classic children's literature through literary and spiritual lenses, and the role of storytelling in forming communities and thought. The format often includes thoughtful sponsor segments and a focus on how ideas from literature and theology translate in... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Plunge?

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

How many listeners does The Plunge get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Plunge, 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 The Plunge have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Plunge 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 The Plunge?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Plunge:

1. Forging Ploughshares
2. OnScript
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Turning to the Mystics with James Finley
5. The Dallas Willard Podcast

How many episodes of The Plunge are there?

The Plunge launched 2 years ago and published 97 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 The Plunge?

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 The Plunge?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Plunge 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 The Plunge?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Plunge. 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 The Plunge?

Recent guests on The Plunge include:

1. Ron Dart
2. Susanne Sklar
3. Jason Whittaker
4. Mark Vernon
5. Brenton Dickieson
6. Olga-Maria Cruz
7. Thomas Cannariato
8. Sørina Higgins

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