Slate Culture Feed

So, sure—Billy Joel’s first Top 40 hit, way back in 1974, was “Piano Man,” and the nickname stuck. But for a guy who became famous sitting behind 88 keys, few of his biggest hits are really piano songs. In fact, on all three of his No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, keyboards are not the primary instrument.The truth is, Joel isn’t the Piano Man, he’s the pastiche man. He has openly admitted to borrowing genre tropes, vocal styles, and even specific song hooks from his Baby Boom-era heroes, from Ray Charles to the Beatles to the Supremes. He’s been a jazzy crooner, a saloon balladeer, an anthem rocker, even a pseudo-punk. And on his most hit-packed album, he literally tried on a different song mode on every single—and was rewarded for it. This month, Hit Parade breaks down the uncanny success of pop magpie Billy Joel, the guy who would try anything for a hit: the next phase, new wave, dance craze, any ways.Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch and Kevin Bendis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We took some of your burning student loan questions to our favorite expert on the topic, Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors.If you have a question that was not answered in this episode, you can contact Betsy by going to her website where you can also find all sorts of helpful resources, like a guide to forgiveness, and where to start when thinking about a repayment plan. Did you know we have a weekly email newsletter for the Death, Sex & Money community? Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox, and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter, and follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.Got a story to share? Email us at deathsexmoney@wnyc.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everybody loves indulging in thirst online. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Slate’s Nadira Goffe to discuss exactly what makes internet thirst so much fun. They talk about the qualities of a good internet boyfriend, when thirsting can go wrong, and how much these thirst objects really owe us.This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the panel begins by discussing Peacock’s latest mystery series The Resort. Then, the panel takes a more light-hearted turn with Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Finally, the panel is joined by author and Slate editor Dan Kois to discuss his recent Slate piece about “The 50 Greatest Fictional Deaths of All Time.”In Slate Plus, the panel talks about movie and television credits.Email us at culturefest@slate.com.EndorsementsDana: A suggestion from Carl Wilson (and in memory for Olivia Newton-John) a cover of the Olivia Newton-John song, “A Little More Love” by Juliana Hatfield, which is a track on an entire album of Newton-John covers titled Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John. Julia: More from Recipe Julia: the Six Seasons cookbook recipe for peperonata.Steve: The song “Watch the Sunrise” by Big Star.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe.Outro music is "Bloody Hunter" by Paisley Pink.Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you think of an alien abduction, what do you picture? Humanoid creatures, medical experiments, lost memories retrieved through hypnosis? That narrative was largely unknown until Betty and Barney Hill went public about their own alien abduction in the 1960s. Betty Hill’s niece, Kathleen Marden, recounts how the story went viral and her aunt and uncle became unwitting celebrities. Then professors Susan Lepselter, Chris Bader, Joseph O. Baker and Stephanie Kelley-Romano explain how the Hills’ alien abduction changed science fiction forever.Thanks to Eric Molinsky for bringing us this story that originally aired on his terrific podcast Imaginary Worlds. Eric’s got a lot more stories like this one so subscribe wherever you listen. Decoder Ring is written by Willa Paskin and produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director.If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.comIf you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you get ad-free podcasts, bonus episodes, and total access to all of Slate’s journalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin, the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham, and Slate’s Henry Grabar take an audio tour of Vin Scully’s broadcasting career. They also discuss the documentary NYC Point Gods. Finally, Josh interviews tennis players Maxime Cressy and Daria Saville. Vin Scully (2:36): Eight moments from 66 years in the booth. NYC Point Gods (33:11): Is the new basketball documentary worth watching? Tennis (48:33): Conversations with two of the most fascinating players on tour. Afterball (1:16:42): Josh on the Shammgodd—or is it the Pooh Allen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Daisy Rosario to open up the mailbag for another session of Read Receipts. They get into drama surrounding Nicki Minaj’s alleged former assistant airing the rapper’s alleged dirty laundry, Diane Warren stirring up trouble with Beyoncé, satisfying restocking videos, and an explanation of Ana Mardoll.This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your reactions to the end of Roe, plus, a conversation with Mississippi-based reproductive justice activist Laurie Bertram Roberts about how their work has shifted, and what's remained the same.Over the years, we've featured many conversations about navigating change and uncertainty around sex, gender, and reproduction. Here are a few more we're thinking about right now, from Ellen Burstyn describing her pre-Roe illegal abortion, to Jane Fonda talking about her own gender identity confusion as she came of age. We did an episode about mistaken paternity and what makes someone a father, and we spent a day at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Brooklyn a few years back, where client after client told us about the varied health care they were getting there, including abortions. We also collected your funny, enlightening, and sometimes horrifying stories about your misfires when it came to what you were taught about sex in an episode called So Many Sex Ed Fails.As we all chart our way through changing circumstances, we're here to listen. Email us or send us a voice memo anytime at deathsexmoney@wnyc.org.Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney, and sign up for our newsletter at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter. Every Wednesday, we'll send you podcast listening recommendations, listener letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On was a viral sensation when he first popped up on the internet in 2010, and now he’s back in a major motion picture. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Daisy Rosario to discuss Will Smith’s sneaky news dump, do some High Speed Downloads on the Pink Sauce, and the Little Miss meme, and get into why Netflix is suing the Unofficial Bridgerton Musical. Then, Rachelle speaks to Marcel the Shell With Shoes On director and co-writer Dean Fleischer-Camp to discuss what it’s been like translating an internet character to the big screen, what gets lost when things go viral, and how the internet virality to mainstream success pipeline has changed over the years.This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton and Daisy Rosario. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the panel begins by trying to tackle Jordan Peele’s most recent sci-fi, western, horror film NOPE. Then, the panel is joined by author and host of Slate’s Working podcast, Isaac Butler, to discuss the new HBO series The Last Movie Stars. Finally, Slate’s editorial assistant and production assistant for Culture Gabfest, Nadira Goffe, joins to discuss Beyoncé’s 7th studio album Renaissance.In Slate Plus, the panel gets into some NOPE spoilers.Email us at culturefest@slate.com.EndorsementsDana: The proper name pronunciation of two Irish artists from our Spoiler Special episode: Roisin Murphy and Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (aka CMAT). In that vein, an endorsement for CMAT’s album If My Wife Knew I’d Be Dead.  Julia: An endorsement from “Recipe Julia” for Alison Roman’s Mustardy Green Beans with Anchovied Walnuts from her cookbook Nothing Fancy.Steve: From a previous Julia endorsement: the app Merlin. Also, alto saxophonist Sonny Red’s album Out of the Blue.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe.Outro music is "What We Didn't Do" by Particle House.Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.