The early ’70s was a great time for R&B queens on the charts: Roberta Flack. Dionne Warwick. Patti LaBelle. Chaka Khan. They had come through the ’60s—Dionne as a smooth pop-and-B star, Patti as a girl-group frontwoman, Roberta as a cabaret pianist—and found themselves in a new decade with limitless possibilities. Flack turned folk songs into chart-topping, Grammy-winning R&B. Warwick shifted from Brill Building pop to Philly soul. LaBelle threw her insane voice at rock, funk, and glam. ...
Mar 26, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 124
This past weekend, Rachel Zegler, known for playing Maria in the new remake of West Side Story , told a fan on Instagram that Disney wasn’t sending her to the Oscars. Her plan to watch the ceremony from home quickly changed, however, once the internet heard about it. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison break down the Oscars scandal’s online origins, and then they open up the mailbag. They answer questions about stuck boats , peeling eggs live on TikTok, a woman with 22 babies, drama in the k...
Mar 23, 2022•26 min
This week, New York Times columnist and Slate graduate, Jamelle Bouie, fills in for Steve as the panel begins by entering the Gotham of Matt Reeves’ The Batman . Then, for our final pre-Oscars round-up, the panel digs into Best Picture nominee Drive My Car. Finally, the panel discusses the trend of ever-elongating movie runtimes. In Slate Plus, the panel questions Jamelle about his recent deep dive into the work of Martin Scorcese. Email us at culturefest@slate.com . Endorsements Dana: Pedro Alm...
Mar 23, 2022•54 min
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the top storylines from the men’s NCAA tournament, and they’re joined by the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings for a conversation about the women’s tournament. Finally, they talk about the Cleveland Browns’ trade for Deshaun Watson. NCAA men (3:07): TCU’s heartbreaking loss, Cinderella Saint Peter’s, and more. NCAA women (24:34): Why are there more upsets all of a sudden? And has the NCAA really made its tourneys more equitable? Deshaun Watson (48:2...
Mar 22, 2022•1 hr 16 min
The internet has birthed so many wild moments of hilarity over the years. During the second half of their South by Southwest show, Rachelle and Madison play a game to find out which piece of internet history is the greatest. With contestants like the man singing a gospel remix of the Golden Girls theme song, “Thank You For Being a Friend,” the Beto O’Rourke sex tweet, Julia Fox saying “uncut gems,” and the infamous DashCon, it’s quite the tough field. Tune in to find out which piece of internet ...
Mar 19, 2022•27 min
The acclaimed playwright tells me why she left theater for a few years, and how quitting her day job and making an investment in herself helped her return. 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...
Mar 16, 2022•32 min•Ep. 338
ICYMI went to Austin this week and recorded a live show at South by Southwest. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison are joined by Bridget Todd , host of the podcast There Are No Girls on the Internet , to discuss the recent “womblands” drama , their favorite scams on the internet , and what it’s like covering the internet beat. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 16, 2022•28 min
This week, senior editor at Slate, Allegra Frank, fills in for Steve as the panel begins by debating the enjoyability of Apple TV+’s new star-studded thriller Severance . Then, the panel digs into Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest Oscar contender Licorice Pizza. Finally, the panel discusses longform YouTube videos and the rise and fall of attention spans, inspired by Terry Nguyen’s article “The video essay boom” for Vox. Referenced video essays include: Mike’s Mic on Pretty Little Liars , Jenny Nich...
Mar 16, 2022•56 min
Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Bryan Curtis to discuss Tom Brady’s unretirement and other huge quarterback news. Alex Kirshner also joins to discuss March Madness storylines and Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s suspension for betting on NFL games. Quarterbacks (3:36): Brady back to Tampa, Russell Wilson to Denver, Deshaun Watson to … somewhere. March Madness (23:20): What to watch out for in the men’s and women’s tournaments. NFL and gambling (47:03): Football, bett...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 19 min
The term “womblands” blew up on TikTok this past week, and the drama surrounding its origin is dense and confusing. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison venture deep into TikTok to explain why the story behind this funny term is darker than you may realize. It involves racism, sexism, and sexual assault allegations, and it yet another case of interpersonal drama taken too far by the TikTok community. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
Mar 12, 2022•25 min
Struggling to make a decision about your relationship? Panelists Heather Havrilesky, George Civeris and Tuck Woodstock take on your questions about everything from infidelity to gender transitions to getting married. Listen to the Straightiolab episode on cheating here , and the Live in NYC episode of Gender Reveal here . 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...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 337
Brian Johnson, aka the Liver King, has amassed millions of followers with his bizarre yet addictive workout and raw-meat-diet videos. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison comb through the king’s core tenets, his obsession with explosives, and of course his taste for liver with a side of maple syrup. Later in the show, science communicator Johnathan Jarry joins for a discussion of why we look to people like the Liver King, and why we can’t look away. If you’ve listened to the episode, here’s ...
Mar 09, 2022•31 min
This week, the panel begins by hashing out Hulu’s new Silicon Valley miniseries The Dropout . Then, the panel breaks down Pedro Almodóvar’s recent film Parallel Mothers . Finally, the panel is joined by author and Slate writer Dan Kois to rant about the growing dangers of pickup trucks . In Slate Plus, the panel answers the classic celebrity hall pass question. Email us at culturefest@slate.com . Endorsements Dana: The website Timemaps.com , where you can view maps of the world over time and foc...
Mar 09, 2022•52 min
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Yahoo’s Hannah Keyser to discuss the Major League Baseball lockout. They also talk about WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia and assess the spectacle of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game. Baseball (3:28): When will the lockout end? What’s at stake? Griner (23:16): Why was she in Russia in the first place, and what comes next for her and women’s basketball? Coach K (46:35): Was this the perfect regular-season ending...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr 18 min
Nepotism is everywhere, and it’s always funny when a new generation realizes that. On today’s show, Madison is joined by Nichole Perkins to talk about the recent online conversation about nepotism babies that got started when people realized Lexi from Euphoria , played by Maude Apatow, is the daughter of two famous people. Madison and Nichole discuss the unending list of entertainment nepotism babies, why nepotism is a fact of daily life, and how privilege factors into it all. Plus, they share a...
Mar 05, 2022•24 min
The metaverse wants to convince us it’s the future of retail, even for buying marijuana. On the show today, Madison is joined by Slate’s Shannon Palus to talk about Shannon’s recent journey into the metaverse to buy weed gummies . They discuss what it’s like to enter the metaverse, the mediocre graphics on display there, and if it really is the future of retail—or just a misguided lark from Big Tech. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...
Mar 02, 2022•26 min
This week, the panel begins by discussing the Norwegian Oscar contender The Worst Person in the World . Then, they're joined by Slate’s TV critic and host of the Decoder Ring podcast, Willa Paskin, to digest the New York Time’s latest hit podcast The Trojan Horse Affair. Finally, the panel is joined by screenwriter, director, and journalist Michael Idov to discuss Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s pivot from the entertainment industry to president of Ukraine. In Slate Plus, the panel answers a question from...
Mar 02, 2022•58 min
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham discuss the sports world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They also talk about LeBron James’ plan to play alongside his son Bronny. And ESPN’s Katie Barnes joins Stefan and Josh for a conversation about trans swimmer Lia Thomas. Russia (2:33): What’s happened so far and what should come next. Bronny (24:25): Is LeBron putting too much pressure on his son? How good is Bronny anyway? Lia Thomas (49:47): The UPenn swimmer ...
Mar 01, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Millie Bobby Brown turned 18 last week, so of course those creepy “legal age” countdown clocks popped up as that day approached. On the show today, Madison is joined by Nichole Perkins to talk about the phenomenon of counting down to a celebrity’s 18th birthday, the history of their online and offline ickiness, and why girls of color always seem to be left out of this discussion. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 26, 2022•23 min
Today on Hit Parade , we continue tracing the history of the remix. From Jennifer Lopez to Billie Eilish to Lil Nas X, the remix has become a ubiquitous part of contemporary pop chart battles. In part 2 we continue to story of how the remix became the defacto mode of reviving flagging singles, resulting in some of the most dominant pop songs of all time. Sign up for Slate Plus now to get episodes in one installment as soon as they're out. You'll also get The Bridge, our trivia show and bonus dee...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 122
I talk with producer Ian Coss about the many divorces in his family, and how learning about them inspired his podcast Forever is a Long Time . Listen to Forever is a Long Time here , and find The Experiment's SPAM series here . 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 ...
Feb 23, 2022•31 min•Ep. 336
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison open up the mailbag to answer all of the latest listener questions. They respond to inquiries about evil animatronics on TikTok, the latest food fetish content, why Tumblr is obsessed with Horse Plinko, and more. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 23, 2022•25 min
This week, the panel begins by pondering the longevity of the Jackass franchise , focusing on the latest addition, Jackass Forever , with Slate staff writer Sam Adams . Then, the panel watches the surprise Oscar Best Picture contender Nightmare Alley . Finally, the panel discusses the conversation-starter article from The Cut ’s Allison P. Davis, “A Vibe Shift Is Coming. Will Any of Us Survive It?” In Slate Plus, Sam joins the panel again to answer a listener's question about how knowing the way...
Feb 23, 2022•57 min
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Justin Peters for an Olympics wrap-up. They also discuss the Wisconsin-Michigan handshake line scuffle. Finally, Slate’s Alex Kirshner joins to talk about Saudi Arabia’s efforts to start a new golf tour. Olympics (3:01): Were there any bright spots during these dark Winter Games? Handshake fight (24:18): Why did things escalate? Should Juwan Howard have been suspended? Saudi golf (47:00): How a plan to disrupt pro golf fell apart...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 18 min
Kanye West recently got into an online feud with his daughter, North West, his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, and her new boyfriend, Pete Davidson. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison run through Kanye’s long history of fighting online, our changing understanding of him as his mental health struggles came to light, and how we should talk about celebrities whose private dramas play out so publicly. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 19, 2022•27 min
Today on Hit Parade, we trace the multifarious history of the remix: a musical term with a universe of meanings. Rethinks. Reboots. Reinventions. Re-recordings. Even instances where the so-called remix came before the supposed original. (How is that even possible?) In a way, the most pivotal “remix” in chart history was the one so transformative, it compelled a change in our understanding of what a remix even is. In part 1, we explore the experimental origins of the remix and its slow but steady...
Feb 19, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 121
You've heard Lisa Fischer singing backup vocals for everyone from the Rolling Stones to Beyoncé. But after decades of touring with rock stars, Fischer lives in a far more humble reality. Find our Breakup Survival Guide here . 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 sh...
Feb 16, 2022•28 min•Ep. 335
On today’s show, Rachelle Hampton is joined by Allegra Frank to talk about two new pieces of scammer-tainment from Netflix: the documentary The Tinder Swindler , which chronicles a con man’s exploitation of the popular dating app, and the series Inventing Anna, starring Julia Garner as faux-heiress Anna Delvey. Rachelle and Allegra discuss how the internet was essential to both these stories and why we’re all on the hunt to uncover the next online scam. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder. Ho...
Feb 16, 2022•26 min
This week, the panel begins by discussing Hulu’s new biopic Pam & Tommy . Then, they dive into the Academy Award-record breaking animated Danish film Flee . Finally, the panel discusses Jennifer Senior’s popular article for The Atlantic , “It’s Your Friends Who Break Your Heart” about friendships as you age. In Slate Plus, the panel takes inspiration from the Scriptnotes podcast and ponders what aspects of other languages they would want to borrow for English. Email us at culturefest@slate.c...
Feb 16, 2022•58 min
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Rams’ Super Bowl win over the Bengals. They’re also joined by David Epstein to discuss the decision to allow Kamila Valieva to skate in the Olympics. Finally, they assess the mega-trade between the Nets and 76ers. Super Bowl (3:36): How Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp led the Rams to victory. Valieva (23:13): Why is the 15-year-old competing after testing positive for a banned substance? NBA (45:20): Who won the James Harden for Ben Simmon...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 13 min
