Culture Gabfest

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by Slate’s Aymann Ismail to discuss the Emmy-nominated series Ramy (check out Aymann’s story for Slate on Ramy Youssef here). Next, the panel talks with Glenn Whipp, an entertainment columnist for the LA Times, about the new inclusion requirements the Oscars recently announced. Finally, the panel dives in HBO Max’s movie Unpregnant. In Slate Plus, the hosts open up about the first thing they’ll want to do in a post-pandemic world and what things, to their surprise, they will not want to return to doing. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work.Endorsements:Dana: “Aquarium” from “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns (as heard in Days of Heaven)Julia: Rösle Stainless Steel Mincing Garlic PressSteve: Hilltown Hot Pies (“Feast your eyes!”)Phoebe Bridgers’ cover of “Teenage Dirtbag” by WheatusPodcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Last Sunday by OTE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve is joined by guests hosts Laura Miller, a books and culture columnist for Slate, and Jamelle Bouie, a columnist for the New York Times and Slate’s former chief political correspondent. The panel takes on Lovecraft Country, HBO’s new horror series. Next, they talk about Charlie Kaufman’s enigmatic I’m Thinking of Ending Things. And finally, the panel dives into the “is NYC over?” debate.In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about a George Washington University professor’s recent confession that she falsely claimed a Black identity.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work.Endorsements:Laura: The Silver Arrow by Lev GrossmanJamelle: The Way Back, a sports film starring Ben AffleckSteve: “What Ails America” by Timothy Snyder in the New York Review of Books, adapted from his new book, Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital DiaryAnd finally, please check out Jamelle’s cereal reviews for Serious Eats.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Bloody Hunter by Paisley Pink Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss Bill & Ted Face the Music, the decades-later sequel to the 1989 and 1991 originals. (This was also Dana’s first movie review for Slate after the pandemic’s monthslong disruption! Check it out here.) Next, the panel talks about Chadwick Boseman’s legacy with Wesley Morris, a critic-at-large for the New York Times who wrote about the late actor’s powerful approach to biographical moviemaking. Finally, they dive into Dana’s comfort pick—Days of Heaven.In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about moviegoing with Sam Adams, Slate’s very own writer who ventured into a newly opened theater to review Tenet.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work.Endorsements:Dana:Alex Winter’s Showbiz Kids, an HBO documentary about child stars.Julia:Plus One, starring Maya Erskine and Jack Quaid.https://www.amazon.com/Plus-One-Maya-Erskine/dp/B07RYT666RStephen:“American Fascism: It Has Happened Here,” by Sarah Churchwell in the New York Review of Books.“Ur-Fascism,” by Umberto Eco in the New York Review of Books in 1995.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro music: Spinning the Wheels by Dusty Decks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss a recent video of twins’ listening to Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight” that went viral. Then, the panelists talk about John M. Barry’s The Great Influenza. Finally, they take on this week’s comfort watch—Network.In Slate Plus, the hosts break down The Daily’s recent two-part series on cancel culture.Endorsements:Dana: The accurate lime cordial recipe!Julia: Rodham by Curtis SittenfeldSteve: “Dickens in Brooklyn” by Jay Neugeboren in the New York Review of BooksPodcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson to take on Taylor Swift’s Folklore. Then, the panelists discusses school reopenings, riffing off of Dana’s recent op-ed for the Washington Post. Finally, they break down this week’s comfort watch—the 1936 screwball comedy, My Man Godfrey.In Slate Plus, the hosts are joined by Slate staff writer Lili Loofbourow to discuss her recent pieces on cancel culture and online debate.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work.Other items discussed in this show:“Taylor Swift’s New Album Reveals That Social Distancing Has Served Her Well” by Carl Wilson in Slate“Held back: As parents realize how badly the U.S. botched the next school year, we’re furious” by Dana Stevens in the Washington Post“The Cancel Culture Trap” by Lili Loofbourow in Slate“Illiberalism Isn’t to Blame for the Death of Good-Faith Debate” by Lili Loofbourow in SlateEndorsements:Dana: Dana’s original drink “This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison,” inspired by a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem. To make the cordial, boil a 2:1 ratio of lime juice to water on stove until reduced to half. Sweeten to taste. Mix with bourbon or rye whiskey. Throw in basil or mint leaf as garnish.Julia: Strand by the Spinanes, especially “Winter on Ice.”Steve: “Publish and Perish” by Agnes Callard in the Point.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Back to Silence by OTE  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy to take on contenders for song of the summer, an unusual competition this year that has been heavily influenced by TikTok. Then, the team dives into 20 hours of listener-nominated songs to determine the “struttiest,” giving you new music to listen to as you strut around your house this summer or when venturing out on an exciting adventure to the grocery store.In Slate Plus, the hosts zip through a lightning round of their Summer Strut recommendations.Summer Strut 2020 Short List on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0P17fljddUDgdDHJx7Sa27?si=MrLdELutSJSdcw5WyW-ekQPast “Summer Strut” Gabfests are available here: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by New Yorker staff writer Doreen St. Félix to talk about I May Destroy You. Then, Steve and Dana are joined by Isaac Butler, writer and co-host of this season of Slate’s Working podcast, to discuss the filmed version of Hamilton, now streaming on Disney Plus. Finally, the panel dives into Julia’s comfort-watch pick of the week: the 1996 disaster film Twister.In Slate Plus, the hosts continue to talk with Isaac about Hamilton, its ending, its significance in 2020, and more.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Smartface by SmartfaceEndorsementsDana: Scott Brick’s narration of Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton.Julia: The movie Dave.Steve: “Wanting Wrong” by Anne Enright in the New York Review of Books.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by Jamelle Bouie to talk about the toppling of statues across the country. Then, the panel talks about Spike Lee’s latest film Da 5 Bloods. Finally, they discuss Julia’s comfort-watch pick: Center Stage.In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss the postponement of the Oscars to 2021.Other items discussed in the show:The Slate podcast series Reconstruction, hosted by Jamelle Bouie and Rebecca OnionThis Twitter thread on the history of Mount Rushmore“‘First Cow’ for best picture? A critic’s guide to the Oscars if movie theaters don’t reopen in 2020,” by Justin Chang in the Los Angeles TimesPodcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Self Made Woman by Katharine AppletonEndorsementsDana: Jamelle Bouie’s newsletter.Julia: Waterproof UNO, the card game.Steve: Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.The French spy thriller The Bureau. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by Lauren Michele Jackson to discuss her recent piece in Vulture, “What Is an Anti-Racist Reading List For?” Then, the panel talks about cop shows during this current moment, jumping off of a recent article in the Washington Post by Alyssa Rosenberg that argues these procedurals that tend to glorify the police should be canceled. Finally, they discuss the power of citizen-shot videos of police brutality that are widely shared on social media.In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss the New York Times’s decision to publish an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton and what the fallout means for newsrooms today. You can sign up for Slate Plus at slate.com/cultureplusPodcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Cheap Flights by Dylan Sitts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss Mindy Kaling’s new television show Never Have I Ever. Next, they talk about Twitter beefs in the time of COVID-19—from Alison Roman to Lana del Rey. Finally, the panel dives into Steve’s comfort watch for this week: Out of Sight.On the Slate Plus segment this week, Dana and Steve try Sudoku for the first time, as inspired by this recent captivating video. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Woke by SINYEndorsementsDana: Anne V. Coates’s interview on Out of Sight.Charlotte Brontë’s Villette, especially as an audiobook.Julia: “The Miracle Sudoku” video, as discussed in our Plus segment.“How to Make Wylie Dufresne’s Incredibly Creamy Scrambled Egg Sandwich,” by Wylie Dufresne, as told to Emma Wartzman in Bon Appétit.Steve: “The Painting Behind the Door,” by Emily Benedek in Tablet magazine.Singer Laura Marling’s breaking down her guitar chords on social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.