Slate Culture Feed

More Americans are taking out more debt to pay for higher education, but we often don’t feel comfortable talking about our student loans. We want to show you that you’re not alone.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for audio picks, letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.Follow the show on Twitter @deathsexmoney and Facebook at facebook.com/deathsexmoney.Email us any time at deathsexmoney@wnyc.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Kevin Draper to discuss the upcoming Mayweather-McGregor mega-fight. Ben Lindbergh also joins to discuss whether major-league baseballs are juiced. Finally, David Gessner talks about his memoir Ultimate Glory.Mayweather-McGregor (1:28): A conversation with the New York Times’  Kevin Draper about the logistics of the upcoming match-up between boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial artist Conor McGregor, and whether McGregor has any chance of pulling off an unlikely upset. Juiced balls (13:37): Ben Lindbergh of the Ringer comes on the show to explore the various theories behind why baseball players are hitting more home runs than ever before.Ultimate Frisbee (30:01): David Gessner discusses his memoir Ultimate Glory: Frisbee, Obsession, and My Wild Youth. Was it a mistake for Gessner to spend the best years of his life chasing a flying disc?Afterballs (42:21) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dana Stevens, Stephen Metcalf, and Isaac Butler discuss the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest with journalist Michelle Dean, the Julius Caesar controversy at Shakespeare in the Park, and the philosophy storytelling podcast Hi-Phi Nation.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by I’M DYING UP HERE on Showtime, the new drama series from Jim Carrey that centers around a group of young comedians hoping to make it big in the 1970s L.A. comedy scene. Don’t miss new episodes Sundays at 10/9 Central only on SHOWTIME. Download the SHOWTIME App now to start your free trial.And by Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans. They give you confidence when it comes to refinancing your existing mortgage or buying a home. Go to RocketMortgage dot com/Culture to get started.And by The Black Tux. For high-quality rental suits and tuxedos delivered right to your door, go to TheBlackTux.com/Culture and you’ll receive free shipping, plus 20 dollars off your purchase. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Mike Pesca to discuss the Warriors' NBA Finals win. George Dohrmann also joins to talk about U.S. soccer phenom Christian Pulisic. Plus, an interview with Ice Cube about the documentary Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies. NBA Finals (2:06): A conversation with Hang Up alum Mike Pesca about the Golden State Warriors’ NBA title, Kevin Durant's greatness, and where LeBron James, the Cavs, and the NBA go from here. Christian Pulisic (21:56): George Dohrmann joins to discuss his story on how Christian Pulisic came to be a star, and whether U.S. soccer will learn the right lessons from his development. Ice Cube (38:46): The narrator of the ESPN 30-for-30 documentary Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies explains his affection for his hometown team and how race played a role in the Boston/L.A. rivalry. He also talks about 3-on-3 basketball becoming an Olympic sport. Afterballs (57:03) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Domestic violence. Grave plot sales. The ripples of the financial crisis. A new immigrant's dashed hopes. This is what we heard about after we asked, "Why'd you start driving for Uber?"Become a member today by donating just $7 a month to support Death, Sex & Money. Sign up now!Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for audio picks, letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.Follow the show on Twitter @deathsexmoney and Facebook at facebook.com/deathsexmoney.Email us any time at deathsexmoney@wnyc.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens are live from Sydney with performances and a discussion with Courtney Barnett, plus Wonder Woman and cultural stereotyping with  Michael Williams, director of The Wheeler Centre. Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Boll and Branch. Right now, get 50 dollars off your first set of sheets plus free shipping by going to BollandBranch.com and using promo code culture.And by I’M DYING UP HERE on Showtime, the new drama series from Jim Carrey that centers around a group of young comedians hoping to make it big in the 1970s L.A. comedy scene. Don’t miss new episodes Sundays at 10 / 9 Central only on SHOWTIME. Download the SHOWTIME App now to start your free trial.And by Harry's. Harry’s is all about a great shave at a fair price. With 5 German-crafted blades, a flex-hinge, and a lubricating strip, they make the perfect Father’s Day gift. Go to Harrys.com/CULTURE right now to get $5 off one of their Shave Sets.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Marcus Thompson to discuss the NBA Finals. Bruce Arthur also joins for a conversation about the Stanley Cup Final, and Sadie Stein comes on the show to talk about Mr. Met.NBA Finals (1:10): A conversation with Marcus Thompson about the Golden State Warriors' dominance thus far, how the Cleveland Cavaliers might turn the series around, and Kevin Durant's relationship (or lack thereof) with Rihanna.Stanley Cup Final (17:15): Bruce Arthur examines the series between the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins, assesses Sidney Crosby's performance, and looks at why the NHL won't be sending players to the 2018 Olympics.Mr. Met (33:57): Sadie Stein explains her ardor for the New York Mets' baseball-headed mascot and examines why he snapped at a bunch of unruly fans.Afterballs (45:50) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Stephen Metcalf, and Dana Stevens are in Sydney Australia for the first of two Australian live shows! They discuss the film Baywatch, The novel and tv series The Handmaid's Tale, and the state of arts criticism with pulitzer-winning critic Sebastian Smee.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Harrys. Get the close, comfortable shave you deserve. Sign up at Harrys.com/CULTURE, and you’ll receive their most popular Trial Set - a 13 dollar value - for FREE, you just cover the shipping.And by AT&T. Enjoy unlimited entertainment with unlimited data from AT&T. Don’t settle for any unlimited data plan. Only the AT&T Unlimited Plus plan comes with HBO included. Learn more at att.com/unlimited. After 22 gigabytes of data usage, AT&T may slow speeds. Credits for HBO start within two bills. Channels available subject to change.  Charges, other usage and restrictions apply. See att.com/unlimited for details.And by Casper, an online retailer of premium mattresses. Get 50 dollars toward any mattress purchase by going to Casper.com/CULTURE and using the promo code CULTURE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Ethan Sherwood Strauss to preview the NBA Finals. They also talk with Charles P. Pierce about the legacy of writer Frank Deford, and Daniel Engber joins for a conversation about our favorite non-famous athletes.NBA Finals (1:54): A conversation with Ethan Strauss about what to look out for in the third consecutive finals matchup between the Warriors and Cavs. What will Golden State do in crunch time? Will Draymond Green kick anyone?Frank Deford (21:25): Charles P. Pierce, who worked with Deford at Sports Illustrated and The National, talks about what made him a great writer and reminisces about his favorite Deford stories.Non-famous athletes (40:10): Daniel Engber discusses his obsession with Mets utility player Keith Miller, and we talk about our listeners’ favorite non-superstars.Afterballs (56:50)More information at slate.com/hangup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode two, Chris Molanphy takes a look at the historic week the Beatles swept the entire Billboard Top Five. You can see that chart right here. It’s a feat that’s never been repeated. But the Fab Four’s total domination of the pop charts was both a reflection of their massive popularity and a huge screwup by their American record label. Here’s the story of how Capitol Records nearly sabotaged the biggest rock band of all time.  Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at Slate.com/gistplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.