• Bonus Episode: Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution (w/ Sara Marcus)
    May 8 2026

    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 looking to hear Riot Grrrl music, I've compiled a playlist (see below) of bands and artists who were either part of the movement or who I feel are carrying the torch of those women into the 21st century. You don't need Tidal to play it; the playlist will open in any streaming platform.

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    You can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get early access to our Infinite Jest series as well as any other bonus episodes/series we do down the road (or just to support us!)

    If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:

    Music: https://tidal.com/playlist/05b96c9e-0a9c-40b2-a200-8e36e5215b29

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Introduction
    Mar 9 2023

    In this inaugural episode of Mapping the Zone, our hosts introduce themselves and discuss a few topics to provide some insight into who they are and what they love about the subject of this podcast, Thomas Pynchon. Also discussed is what listeners can expect of the show going forward and which of Pynchon's books they will discuss first.

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

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    29 mins
  • Infinite Jest: "I just need to put the book down and go for a walk"
    May 1 2026

    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 be found, so join us as we talk about the ups ad downs of this motley cast of characters.

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

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    3 hrs and 43 mins
  • Slow Learner: Low-lands
    Apr 24 2026

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    You can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get early access to our Infinite Jest series as well as any other bonus episodes/series we do down the road (or just to support us!)

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com

    Edited by: Max

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Against the Day: Part 2 Wrap Up (w/ Brett Biebel)
    Apr 10 2026

    It's been nearly a year and a half since we started covering Against the Day and we've finally come to the end of Part 2, Iceland Spar! With us for this wrap-up is friend of the show (and basically the fifth host) Brett Biebel who chats with us about what makes Against the Day such an incredible work of fiction and what we love so much about it (so far).

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    You can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get early access to our Infinite Jest series as well as any other bonus episodes/series we do down the road (or just to support us!)

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

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    2 hrs and 3 mins
  • Infinite Jest: "Mmmyellow?"
    Apr 8 2026

    The story begins to take more shape, the characters are becoming more dynamic, and the world is making as much sense as it can in this section of the book. Join us as we talk about the importance of Marathe's conversation with Steeply, Americanisms, the haunting backstory of Himself, and so much more.

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

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    2 hrs and 43 mins
  • Against the Day: Ch. 30-31
    Mar 27 2026

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    You can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get early access to our Infinite Jest series as well as any other bonus episodes/series we do down the road (or just to support us!)

    If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:

    Books: William Vollmann’s Seven Dreams series

    Video Games: Disco Elysium, Final Fantasy VI

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

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    3 hrs and 44 mins
  • Against the Day: Ch. 29
    Mar 13 2026

    Time: var. moments of social cavitation

    Location: var. locales of New Old Mexico, esp. northern

    Subject: Quiselgur, El Chavalito "Frank Traverse"

    Concerns:

    - rigid and constricted manifolds

    - succulent flora

    - turnabout

    Recommendations:

    - Continue observation

    - Maintain separation from subject "QR"

    - Apply steady pressure along lines of cleavage

    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.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:

    Music: Hermanos Gutierrez El Bueno Y El Malo (2022)

    Film/TV: Acid westerns of Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo, The Holy Mountain)

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/

    Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com

    Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

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    2 hrs and 35 mins