Infinite Jest: Eating Granola With A Large Wooden Spoon (v 2.0)

Infinite Jest: Eating Granola With A Large Wooden Spoon (v 2.0)

Author: Thomas Pynchon books discussed here! March 5, 2026 Duration: 2:15:37

Nothing new about this episode, despite the 2.0 in the name. We had some problems with the original being Apple Podcasts exclusive, so the workaround was in changing the title (slightly).

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Next episode: Pages 198-306

https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

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

Interview with Michael Silverblatt: David Foster Wallace on Bookworm (1996-2006)YouTube · M.J. NichollsSep 22, 2021

String Theory by David Foster Wallace

As always, thanks so much for listening!

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Dense, sprawling, and endlessly rewarding, the novels of Thomas Pynchon invite the kind of conversation that can last for hours. That’s precisely what you’ll find on Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast. Instead of dry literary analysis, this series offers the lively, sometimes meandering, talk of four dedicated fans unpacking these complex texts together. They approach each book as an adventure, tracing its winding plots, deciphering its historical and pop culture references, and debating the fate of its many peculiar characters. The tone is accessible and enthusiastic, driven by a genuine love for the material rather than an academic agenda. You’re essentially listening in on a great, ongoing book club discussion where the jokes are as welcome as the insights. Whether you’re a seasoned Pynchon veteran looking to compare notes or a curious newcomer daunted by the sheer scale of the work, this podcast provides a companionable guide through the zones of paranoia, coincidence, and profound humanity that define the author’s world. It’s a space where the pleasure of the text is taken seriously, one deep-dive episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast
Podcast Episodes
Infinite Jest: "Like Last Time, Only Moreso" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:09:16
Next episode: Pages 410 - 503 (ending at “This was how I first became interested in the possibilities of annulation.”)If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi.…
Bonus Episode - Billy Woods "Hiding Places" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:53
Finally wrapping up our hiatus episodes, Will is back, and he's stirring the pot again. Inside, listeners will find a lyrical brief on billy woods & Kenny Segal's Hiding Places, making this a meaningful step in the evolu…
Bonus Episode - The Franchiser by Stanley Elkin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:54
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…
Bonus Episode - R.A. Lafferty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:36
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 do…
Infinite Jest: "I just need to put the book down and go for a walk" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:43:25
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 plen…
Slow Learner: Low-lands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:53
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…
Against the Day: Part 2 Wrap Up (w/ Brett Biebel) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:02
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…
Infinite Jest: "Mmmyellow?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:42:31
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 conversatio…
Against the Day: Ch. 30-31 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:44:27
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…