This week, the panel is first joined by Slate senior editor Sam Adams to review Past Lives, Celine Song’s gentle yet affecting directorial debut. Then, Dana and Stephen dive into The Ultimatum: Queer Love with Slate’s June Thomas. Finally, the trio debate the virtues of closed captioning, based on a recent piece by The Atlantic, “Why Is Everyone Watching TV With the Subtitles On?” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dana and Stephen are joined by Slate senior editor Rebecca Onion to discuss the...
Jun 14, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, the panel begins by unraveling Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Then, the three discuss Platonic, a new Apple TV+ show starring Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen. Finally, they are joined by Slate staff writer Luke Winkie to examine the surprisingly wholesome journalism storyline found in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel reflects on their professional lives with a listener question: What is your relationship to your work after you’v...
Jun 07, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, the panel begins by dissecting (and spoiling) the Succession finale. Then, the three discuss You Hurt My Feelings, a great new comedy by writer/director Nicole Holofcener starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Finally, they examine the Obama’s Netflix docuseries Working: What We Do All Day. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel gets deep with a question from Julia Turner: What is one small life thing you’re absolutely terrible at? Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Steph...
May 31, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Slate’s senior editor Rebecca Onion fills in for Julia. The panel begins by examining Sanctuary, a claustrophobic BDSM thriller starring Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott. Then, they debate Freevee’s hard-to-define “reality” series Jury Duty. Finally, Dana and Stephen are joined by Slate music critic Chris Molanphy to discuss Morgan Wallen and his number one song, “Last Night” and the nature of cancel culture. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel talks about Martha Ste...
May 24, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen start by talking about the movie BlackBerry. Then they discuss the new Peacock series Bupkis. Finally, Slate’s Isaac Butler sits in to talk about the questions around Shakespeare’s identity that refuse to die. In Slate Plus, Steve's recent move and how physical place relates to phases of life. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: The vibes-based playlists on Matthew Perpetua’s YouTube channel Julia: Amityville: An Origin Story on MGM+ and Mis...
May 17, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen begin by talking about the new Amazon series, Dead Ringers. Then the L.A. Times’ Anousha Sakoui joins to discuss the WGA strike. Finally, Slate’s Dan Kois sits in to talk about the writing and revising of the story of digital media and Ben Smith’s book "Traffic.” In Slate Plus, the panel gets into the health of alcohol and caffeine, inspired by this Slate article: https://slate.com/technology/2023/04/alcohol-wine-drinking-healthy-dangerous-study.html Email us ...
May 10, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Dana, Julia, and Stephen begin by talking about the new Netflix series “The Diplomat.” Then Slate’s Heather Schwedel joins them to discuss the adaptation of Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Finally, they chat about weddings, as inspired by Slate’s recent wedding coverage. In Slate Plus, the panel gets into their relationships with Google Maps, prompted by this article in the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/04/google-maps-world-perception...
May 03, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, host Julia Tuner is joined by guest-hosts Jamelle Bouie and Nadira Goffe. In the first segment, they discuss The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which currently tops the box office and stars Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and numerous other big stars. After that, the panel talks about Chimp Empire, a new Netflix nature series narrated by Mahershala Ali. Then they wrap things up with a conversation about A.I. music and the song Heart on My Sleeve, which sounds like a collaboration between Drak...
Apr 26, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Slate’s Sam Adams joins Dana and Stephen to talk about auteur Ari Aster’s newest film, Beau is Afraid. Then they discuss the new Hulu limited series, Tiny Beautiful Things. Finally, they chat about the state of the music business as inspired by this recent article: https://www.thenation.com/article/society/music-industry-ipod/ In Slate Plus, the panel goes deep into spoilers and specifics about Beau is Afraid. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Sir John Soane’s Mus...
Apr 19, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Slate’s Rebecca Onion joins Julia and Stephen to talk about the Nike shoe story, Air. Then they discuss the new Netflix series Beef. Finally, Slate’s Carl Wilson joins to chat about the first full album by supergroup Boygenius. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about leftovers and food waste, inspired by Tamar Adler's book The Everlasting Meal Cookbook. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Rebecca: The new memoir Don’t Call Me Home by Alexandra Auder. Julia: Julia is endorsin...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 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 talks about Phantom of the Opera finally leaving Broadway after more than three decades. Email us at culturefes...
Apr 05, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 sings Handel Nadira: The app and website Music League Stephen: “The Trails of the Young: A Semester” by M...
Mar 29, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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: Dana: The movie Smooth Talk from 1985. Julia: “You Didn’t” by Brett Young Stephen: The Poetics of Space by Gast...
Mar 22, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Yorker profile, “Agnes Callard’s Marriage of the Minds.” Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsement...
Mar 15, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 as “he” instead of “she.” Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Charlie Kaufman’s speec...
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 books. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Nathan Hiller’s article ‘The End of the Engli...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 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.com/2023/02/16/technology/bing-chatbot-microsoft-chatgpt.html Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorse...
Feb 22, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Syndrome. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Burt Bacharach’s live concert with El...
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 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 mission to empower others to make bold and brave choices. Afterwards, Kristen talks with Michelle Fermin,...
Feb 11, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 great, great affection for Jason Segel. Nobody is talking about his children’s books. It’s this series call...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 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 culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Kiss Me Petruchio is an hour long documentary about the 1981 Shakespeare i...
Feb 01, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 production assistant for the Culture Gabfest, please send a cover letter with two suggestions for topics to cult...
Jan 25, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 formidable villain of Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel Matilda, is still evolving. Email us at culturefest@slate.co...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 a critic. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Eleonor Bindman is an incredible pianis...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experienc...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. They also chat about creative collaboration and tough career decisions. In the exclusive Slate Plu...
Dec 28, 2022•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Spending an afternoon at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents in Ber...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Endorsements Dan: I’m endorsing a delightful book called What Artists Wear by Charlie Porter. It is exa...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Natalie Walker is a wonderful actress, singer, and perf...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 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: Inspired by chatting about the new Chippendales series this week, my endorsement is the true, non-fictionalized ...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast