Culture Gabfest

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Laura Miller discuss the best TV, books, and movies of 2015.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Prudential’s 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life—and the future—looks like to today’s 40-somethings. Hear what inspires real people, the hopes they have for tomorrow, and much more. See yourself in their stories at slate.com/4040visio...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the movie The Big Short, the hit musical Hamilton, and whether scholarly work be less and not more accessible.    The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the latest cinematic adaptation of Macbeth, Bill Murray's Netflix Christmas special "A Very Murray Christmas," and Katy Waldman’s recent Slate exploring the cultural narratives that underscore (and misinterpret) anorexia.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Shari's Berries. Fresh berries dipped in chocolate—starting at just $19.9...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Rocky reboot Creed, the atypical Marvel TV series Jessica Jones, and whether we should regulate our internet addiction.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dan Kois discuss the film Spotlight, the Philip K. Dick novel-turned-TV show The Man in the High Castle, and a Westboro Baptist woman's Twitter conversion with author Adrian Chen.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Prudential’s 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life—and the future—looks like to today’s 40-somethings. Hear what insp...

Live from Town Hall in New York City, Slate's Culture Gabfest is joined by the Political Gabfest and Hang Up and Listen to discuss the growing threat of ISIS, Aziz Ansari's Master of None, and the Russian doping scandal. Plus, an interview with Hamilton cast members Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the latest Steve Jobs biopic, virtual reality and Facebook's Oculus Rift technology, and whether subtlety in art sucks.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine direct...

Stephen Metcalf and Dana Stevens discuss the career of Elvis Costello on the heels of his recent memoir, "Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink" with Slate's Carl Wilson, Drake's viral Hotline Bling video with Slate's Leon Neyfakh, and Adele's anticipated album 25 with Slate's Chris Molanphy.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-enginee...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss CW's musical comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, whether NASA has discussed a super alien race with Slate's Bad Astronomer Phil Plait, and the digitally annotated Bartleby the Scrivener with Slate's Andrew Kahn.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Prudential’s 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life—and the future—looks...

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Laura Miller discuss Spielberg's Cold War Movie "Bridge of Spies," Kathryn Schultz’s recent New Yorker takedown of Henry David Thoreau, and whether the lecture still has a place in the college classroom.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their al...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Rahmin Bahrani's latest film 99 Homes, our identity obsession with Wesley Morris, and Dana Stevens's travelogue meditation about her recent trip to Japan.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Whispersync for Voice, an Amazon and Audible innovation. Add narration to more than 60,000 Kindle bestsellers and popular titles. Read on yo...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the blockbuster science movie The Martian, Fox's standout fall TV show The Grinder, and whether Hamlet is fat. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration....

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss ABC's How To Get Away Murder with Slate's TV critic Willa Paskin. Plus, we're joined by Jody Rosen, the critic at large for "T" the style magazine of The New York Times, to talk about Ryan Adams and his cover of Taylor Swift's "1989" album. And Dan Pashman, former Gabfest producer and current host of WNYC's The Sporkful, chimes in to chat pum...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens are live in Chicago this week and discuss the film Black Mass, the sketch comedy of Second City, and the cultural phenomenon known as Donald Trump. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Open Account, a podcast series created by SuChin Pak and Umpqua Bank. Open Account explores, through honest and sometimes comical interviews, our uncomfortab...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the FXX anti-romantic comedy "You're the Worst," Stephen Colbert's late night debut, and whether it's OK to be a Luddite. Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required. Host...

Dana Steves, Willa Paskin, and Seth Stevenson discuss FX CEO John Landgraf’s recent remarks about how there is “simply too much television” available today, Bill Hader and Fred Armisen IFC mockumentary series Documentary Now, and Google's new logo with Slate's Will Oremus.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is sponsored by Warby Parker, a new concept in eyewear. Warby Parker makes buying glasses online e...

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Slate's Laura Miller discuss Narcos, Netflix original series about the Medellín drug cartel, Jonathan Franzen's new book Purity, and the refusal of some first-year students at Duke to read Allison Bechdel’s Fun Home.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Braintree. If you’re working on a mobile app and searching for a simple payments solution, check ou...

Julia Turner and June Thomas discuss the film Diary of a Teenage Girl with Slate's Laura Miller, the Walking Dead pre-quel, Fear of Walking Dead with Slate's Mike Vuolo, and the Ashley Madison hack with Slate's Amanda Hess. Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcast...

Stephen Metcalf and Julia Turner discuss the HBO mini-series Show Me A Hero based on a landmark housing integration case with Slate's Jamelle Bouie, the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton with Slate's John Swansburg, and Amazon work culture with Slate's Allison Benedikt. Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy i...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Seth Stevenson discuss Netflix's Wet Hot American Summer reboot, the David Foster Wallace biopic End of Tour with Slate's Jessica Winter, and the morals of air conditioning. Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Mission Impossible franchise's latest installment, Rogue Nation, girl squads with Slate's Katy Waldman, and the problem of country music for people who don't like country with Carl Wilson.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Braintree. If you’re working on a mobile app and searching for a simple payments solution, check out B...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss The Look of Silence, filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer's companion to his 2012 documentary The Act of Killing. Also, Slate's national correspondent, Will Saletan, talks about GMOs and fearmongering. Plus, how will What Pet Should I Get? affect the legacy of Dr. Seuss? Read Dana's review of The Look of Silence and her interview with Oppenheimer. An...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Amy Schumer's debut film Trainwreck, the cyberpunk thriller Mr. Robot on USA Network, and the latest dustup at Gawker.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is sponsored by the Great Courses, offering engaging audio and video lectures taught by top professors. Courses like "The Every Day Gourmet: Rediscovering the Lost Art of Cooking." Right now, get u...

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the TV show Catastrophe, the Grateful Dead with Slate's John Swansburg, and the book The Next Next Level with author Leon Neyfakh.   The Slate Culture Gabfest is sponsored by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchas...

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Slate's Mike Pesca discuss Magic Mike XXL, the Nina Simone documentary "What Happened, Miss Simone?", and whether the American actor is in decline.   Slate's Culture Gabfest is sponsored by Boll & Branch, making luxury bedding affordable and convenient to order from home. Right now, get $50 off a set of sheets, plus free shipping, when you go to www.bollandbr...