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Artwork for WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake

WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake

Moon Street Media
Finnegans Wake
James Joyce
Literature
Theater
Ulysses
Irish Literature
Dublin
Literary Analysis
Dubliners
Shakespeare
Bloomsday
Canada
Thornton Wilder
Irish Culture
Patreon
Joyce
Neil Wechsler
Buffalo
Dramaturgy
English Language

A cold reading of James Joyce’s "Finnegans Wake" just to hear it out loud.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes59Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DramaFiction

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Artwork for WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake

Latest Episodes

Long-promised, finally delivered! No, Toby and TJ didn't get their Finnegans Wake tattoos yet (it might happen one day), but we are finally back to talk about half of WAKE's epic visit to Ireland! Listen to the audio podcast but also hop on over to Y... more

YouTube

Vince Gilligan called, and WAKE answered! Toby and TJ are back for this special episode of WAKE, in response to the casual name-dropping of Finnegans Wake in the new Apple+ series, Pluribus. We spend some spoiler-filled time (spoiling the ending of b... more

As we bask in the wake of completing the Wake, Toby and TJ welcome renowned author, librarian, academic, and bookfluencer George Koors to discuss how to get into the Wake, as well as what to do after it's done. We discuss the benefits and risks of Bo... more

YouTube

We can't believe it. Can you believe it? We actually finished reading Finnegans Wake. What started out as a podcast to read an "unreadable book" has turned into a journey that has endeared us to a magical community, connected with our family and frie... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

George Koors
Writer, librarian, and YouTuber
Episode: Bonus: George Koors in the wake of the Wake
Michael Ian Black
Comedian and host of the podcast Obscure
Obscure Podcast
Episode: Episode 40: Finishing WAKE
Neil Wechsler
Playwright and returning guest
Buffalo University
Episode: Episode 39: 4.1 (Part 2), p613-628
Tommy Mackay
A legend in the Wake community, creator of Strammash Ups
Episode: Bonus: WAKE: The Album with Tommy Mackay
Lucy Brazier
Acclaimed author and international Joyce scholar
Episode: Episode 38: 4.1 (Part 1), p593-613
Adrien Peyrache
Associate Professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute
McGill University
Episode: Bonus: Professors Adrien Peyrache and Arjun Krishnaswamy on Wake and the Sleeping Brain
Arjun Krishnaswamy
Neural Circuits Researcher at the Department of Physiology
McGill University
Episode: Bonus: Professors Adrien Peyrache and Arjun Krishnaswamy on Wake and the Sleeping Brain
Igor Belokrinitsky
Representative of the Wake in Progress reading group
Episode: Bonus: Igor Belokrinitsky and the Ukrainian Wake in Progress Reading Group
Neal Kosaly-Meyer
A memorization expert and performer renowned for memorizing and performing James Joyce's Finnegans Wake.
Episode: Bonus: Neal Kosaly-Meyer and Memorising the Wake

Hosts

Toby Malone
Host of WAKE; frequently appears across episodes with insights on James Joyce and Finnegans Wake.
TJ Young
Co-host focusing on reading sessions, guest coordination, and cross-disciplinary discussions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 51 ratings
  • I love this podcast. I love the hosts and their dedication to reading this ridiculous book. They sometimes get it wrong and stumble but they do a better job than I could and I think it's truer for it. Their bonus episodes are really great supplemental stuff too. I am reading along for my second read-through. My one (very small quibble) is their choice to censor some of the text. Acknowledging problematic language exists does not mean endorsement by the narrator or author

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Hurinfan
    2 years ago
  • Great companion to Finnegans Wake

    Don’t read the wake a lone (a last a loved a long the riverrun)!

    Really a fun podcast. Their philosophy has been the same as mine, which is to pick up Finnegans Wake cold, and just experience it. I really enjoy the banter, and getting to hear the sections out loud. Very listenable indeed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Afternoon Sufficed
    United States2 years ago
  • Listening along

    I began reading the novel last week. I’ll listen to this as I read, page by page. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Themis831*
    United States2 years ago
  • Grateful

    Thank you for existing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anwi G.
    United States2 years ago
  • I’m along for the ride

    Listening to this “unlistenable podcast” cold reading of an “unreadable book” is the only way I’m ever going to get through this book. I appreciate the improvisational approach and the mix of enthusiasm and dread that is brought to this project. I find the reading meditative and I’m enjoying the sound of the language and I don’t worry about trying to finding references and meanings. I do hear the lines and references to the song Finnegan’s Wake. I’m not reading along with the book. I’m relaxin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    suzd62
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Reading aloud and community feel are strong positives.
Banter and enthusiasm drive accessibility for difficult texts.
The improvisational approach is appreciated, though transitions could be smoother.
Guests bring strong expertise that enriches the conversation.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#222
Germany/Fiction/Drama
Apple Podcasts
#9
Belgium/Fiction/Drama
Apple Podcasts
#19
Belgium/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#68
Chile/Fiction/Drama
Apple Podcasts
#150
Israel/Fiction/Drama
Apple Podcasts
#176
Denmark/Fiction/Drama

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bonus Episode: WAKE in Ireland
Q: For what languages does the WAKE make space?
Malone reflects that Joyce's language can create room for many interpretations and that translation into languages such as American Sign Language is not a one-to-one transfer, but can create new meaning.
Bonus Episode: WAKE in Ireland
Q: What do you think the life and value placed in Hamlet's question survives when to be itself ceases to be the organizing principle?
TJ Young says the idea of existence remains central to storytelling even when language is manipulated, while Toby Malone suggests that Joyce's expanded language makes space for multiple interpretations and forms of expression.
Bonus: Professors Adrien Peyrache and Arjun Krishnaswamy on Wake and the Sleeping Brain
Q: Why do we remember some dreams but not others?
Memory is influenced by the context of waking up; waking at the end of a dream enhances recall.
Bonus: Professors Adrien Peyrache and Arjun Krishnaswamy on Wake and the Sleeping Brain
Q: What happens when we dream?
Dreaming reflects the brain's processing of experiences and memories, where one revisits learned tasks or memories in a narrative structure, often in a fragmented manner.
Bonus: Professors Adrien Peyrache and Arjun Krishnaswamy on Wake and the Sleeping Brain
Q: Can our brains learn how to sleep in a shorter interval?
It is suggested that the brain can become trained to adjust sleep patterns, such as using power naps effectively.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake

What is WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A humor-inflected deep dive into a famously difficult text, with hosts reading Finnegans Wake aloud and unpacking its language, themes, and cultural echoes. Episodes blend literature analysis with personal anecdotes, community building, and creative crossovers (music, theater, and social media), often featuring guests who illuminate Joyce's influence or expand the conversation into related arts. The show stands out for its warm, collaborative vibe, approachable reading style, and willingness to remix highbrow literature with accessible, participatory discussion, making it appealing to both hardcore Joyce readers and culturally curious listeners.

Noteworthy elements include collaborative episodes with scholars and creators from fields like l... more

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Which podcasts are similar to WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake?

These podcasts share a similar audience with WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake:

1. The LRB Podcast
2. Fresh Air
3. The Plot Thickens
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake are there?

WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake launched 2 years ago and published 59 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake?

Recent guests on WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake include:

1. George Koors
2. Michael Ian Black
3. Neil Wechsler
4. Tommy Mackay
5. Lucy Brazier
6. Adrien Peyrache
7. Arjun Krishnaswamy
8. Igor Belokrinitsky

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.

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