Culture Gabfest

This week, Slate’s own Nadira Goffe and Working co-host Isaac Butler join Dana to talk about Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves . Then they discuss the new AMC series starring Bob Odenkirk, Lucky Hank . Finally, Slate’s Dan Kois joins to talk about the poet Maggie Smith and an essay that was excerpted from her new memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful . In Slate Plus, the panel talk...

This week, Slate’s own Nadira Goffe joins Dana and Stephen as they begin by talking about John Wick 4. Then they discuss a new streaming series about fandom gone too far called Swarm . Finally, they chat about why classical music is getting more popular among young people.  In Slate Plus, the panel discusses Freud’s comeback.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com . Endorsements:  Dana : Lorraine Hunt...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen begin by talking about Daisy Jones & the Six. Then they discuss the new film Palm Trees and Power Lines . Finally, writer Dan Charnas joins to chat about why it is time to finally legalize sampling in music .  In Slate Plus, the panel answers a listener question about the practicalities of being a critic.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com . Endorsements:  D...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen start by discussing the wins and losses of Oscar night. Then, they’re joined by Slate’s Sam Adams to talk about his recent piece, “ Peak TV Is Over. Welcome to Trough TV ,” and the current state of streaming television. Finally, they try out TikTok’s new “Bold Glamour” filter and discuss how they feel about it. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses the recent New Y...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen begin by talking about Creed III . Then they chat about the Oscar-nominated animated short My Year of Dicks . Finally, a conversation about the history of the Oscars and their relevancy.  In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the poor state of projection at movie theaters.  Editor’s note: In the episode, the historian Kim Phillips-Fein is incorrectly referred to...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen begin by talking about the return of the Starz comedy Party Down . Then they discuss Andrea Riseborough’s Oscar-nominated performance in To Leslie . Finally, NPR’s Aisha Harris joins to chat about the newest entries to the Black Film Canon; a collaboration between Slate and NPR .  In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the controversial changes to Roald Dahl’s boo...

This week, Dana and Stephen are joined by Jamelle Bouie, and they start by discussing Marc Maron’s new HBO comedy special From Bleak to Dark . Then they review the Oscar-nominated Polish film EO . Then, Slate writer Dan Kois joins to talk about his article on the importance of hanging out .  In Slate Plus they talk about the Bing Chatbot and this article in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes....

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen start by talking about Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime performance with Slate’s Nadira Goffe . Then they discuss the new mockumentary series Cunk on Earth. Finally, they chat about Oscar-nominated documentary All That Breathes. In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss Leslie Jamison’s article in the New Yorker, “Why Everyone Feels Like They’re Faking It,” about Imposter S...

In this episode of The Relentless , host Kristen Meinzer is joined by, not one, but two fearless Michelles who know that to be a successful leader, you need to take risks and have a strong support system.  First, she speaks with Michelle “Mace” Curran, a former F-16 fighter pilot and the second woman to fly as Lead Solo in the Air Force Thunderbirds. Now an entrepreneur, Curran has made it her mis...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen start by talking about the new AppleTV+ series Shrinking. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated film Triangle of Sadness . Finally, they chat about modern etiquette, inspired by The Cut’s piece on the topic. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the closing of the “World’s Best Restaurant” Noma.    Email us at culturefest@slate.com . Endorsements:  Dana : I have...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen start by talking about Natasha Lyonne’s modern take on Columbo , aka the new Peacock series Poker Face. Then they discuss Netflix’s Oscar-nominated All Quiet On The Western Front . Finally, the chat about the changed aesthetics of shopping, inspired by this Grub Street article .  In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the sleepover panic.    Email us at culturefes...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen start by discussing the film, Women Talking . Then they chat about the new U.K. import Traitors with Slate’s own Carl Wilson. Finally, they finish by talking ChatGPT and the coming of AI chatbots. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about this year’s Oscar nominations.    Email us at culturefest@slate.com . Also, we're hiring! If you'd like to apply to be the product...

This week, Dana and Julia are joined by Slate writer Dan Kois. They start by discussing HBO’s new series, The Last of Us , a video game adaptation with culture editor and writer at The New Yorker, Alex Barasch. Then they discuss the French film, Saint Omer , shortlisted for Best International Film at the 2023 Oscars. Finally, they finish by talking about Dan's essay on how the Trunchbull, the form...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen begin by reviewing the very buzzy horror comedy M3GAN. Then the panel dives into Slate’s annual movie club . Finally, L.A. Times columnist Carolina A. Miranda joins to talk about her article on how TikTok is changing our culture .   In Slate Plus, the panel answers a listener's question about whether it is more fun to love or hate a piece of art when working as...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen bring you their yearly call-in episode where they answer questions from Culture Gabfest listeners.  In Slate Plus, the panel answers one final question from a listener named James.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama. Outro music: "Blue Nights and Yellow Days" by Matt Large. If you e...

This week, we're taking a break from our usual programming to bring you a great episode of Slate's "Working" podcast. In it, host June Thomas talks to author Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who recently adapted her novel Fleishman is in Trouble into a limited series for Hulu. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss the faulty metric of character likeability in both fiction and nonfiction...

This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen get started by discussing Avatar: The Way of Water . Then they discuss the new Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan . Finally, they finish by talking about the new Lensa AI art app and all the photos it’s generating online. In Slate Plus, the panel answers a listener question about which works of art they like to revisit again and again? Email us at cul...

This week, Isaac Butler and Dan Kois fill in for Stephen and Dana, joining to chat about Netflix’s new series, Wednesday . Then, they talk about the documentary, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed . Finally, they discuss what our Spotify Wrapped results tell us about ourselves.  In Slate Plus, the panel shares a fun follow-up on one of Julia’s recent endorsements.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com....

This week, the Gabfest team starts by discussing Spirited , the new AppleTV+ musical comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell. Then, they talk about comedian Matt Rogers’ new Showtime special, Have You Heard of Christmas? . Finally, a chat about the sending and receiving of holiday cards.  In Slate Plus, the panel talks about when the holiday season officially begins for each of them. Email...

This week, Sam Adam sits in for Julia as the panel begins by reviewing Steven Spielberg’s new semi-autobiographical film , The Fablemans . Then, a discussion about the Hulu limited series Welcome to Chippendales . Finally, a chat about Ticketmaster.  In Slate Plus, the panel answers a listener question about the songs that make us cry.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com .   Endorsements   Dana: In...

This week, Jamelle Bouie sits in for Dana as the panel begins by reviewing She Said , the new film about investigating the Harvey Weinstein story. Then, a discussion about the Hulu limited series Fleishman is in Trouble . Finally, they chat about the auction of Joan Didion’s private items.    In Slate Plus, the panel talks to the very online Jamelle Bouie about the recent wild weeks of Twitter.   ...

This week, Nadira Goffe sits in for Julia as the panel begins by reviewing the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever . Then, a discussion about the Selena Gomez documentary, My Mind & Me . Finally, they chat about Gen Z’s impact on the midterms and the election of Maxwell Alejandro Frost.  In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the art they resisted at first, but came to love.   Email us at cult...

In this episode of The Relentless , we look at how the people we surround ourselves with can help us move fearlessly on the road to success. Host Kristen Meinzer is joined by two inspiring guests who know that turning visions into reality means pushing past fear and, to do that, you need a solid support system. First, she talks to Aida Rodriguez , a comedian, writer, and actor, whose career took o...

This week, the panel begins by reviewing the Weird Al biopic, Weird . Then, a discussion about the entire run of Derry Girls . Finally, Matt Levine joins to explain crypto.  In Slate Plus, the panel takes on a listener question and talks about comfort food.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com .   Endorsements   Dana: A movie I saw a couple of weeks ago that is one of the best movies I’ve seen this...

This week, the panel begins by talking about Elon Musk taking over Twitter. Then, a discussion about the new film Aftersun . Finally, Angelica Jade Bastién joins to talk about her recent article about Brangelina.  In Slate Plus, the panel takes on a listener question and talks about swap casting.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: I know I’m constantly endorsing things on the C...