Remember when Trump wasn’t president yet? What do Stranger Things, Pokemon GO, and Rihanna’s ANTI have in common? Why is ICE at the Olympics? What did Neil Young give to Greenland? Why does this new spider have a 9th leg? Also, what is a ‘largesse’?
-3 J
Is Culture Stuck?
It’s a weird time for culture. There is more of it than ever before, it’s more accessible than ever before, but so little of it feels original. New movies are based on old stories, new songs are recycling old hooks, and fashion trends are cycling so fast that everything’s in. Has our culture grown stagnant? The author and culture critic W. David Marx thinks so. His new book, Blank Space, argues that there is a “blank space” in the 21st century where cultural innovation should be. In this episode, David explains to Willa how culture change worked in the 20th century, what changed after the turn of the millennium, and what we might do about it. This episode was produced by Max Freedman. Decoder Ring is also produced by Willa Paskin, Katie Shepherd, and Evan Chung, our supervising producer. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com or leave a message on our hotline at (347) 460-7281. Get more of Decoder Ring with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of Decoder Ring and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Decoder Ring show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus for access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-4 J
How 'Heated Rivalry' Even Seduced Russia
Everyone is well aware of Heated Rivalry’s immense popularity. The gay hockey romance seduced the masses in ways we haven’t seen in years… Maybe decades? The show even has a following in Russia, where queer media is outlawed. Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar is familiar with that climate. He was exiled in 2022 when he came out as a gay and married his now husband. Mikhail recently wrote about the parallels between the show and his own life for Vanity Fair. He tells Sam about what it all means for state repression, freedom and hope for LGBTQ+ Russians. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.
-2 J
Bridgerton S4, and how Star Trek and Game of Thrones are trying to land new audiences
Season 4 of Bridgerton is here, with a Cinderella storyline and its first East Asian lead. And there are two new spinoff shows from the worlds of Star Trek and Game of Thrones, ‘A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms' and ‘Starfleet Academy’ respectively. And both shows seem to be taking those franchises in new directions. Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by senior writer at CBC entertainment Jackson Weaver, Vulture writer Roxana Hadadi and University of Toronto professor and pop culture critic Michelle Cho, to talk about these new shows and how they’re landing with fans.
-4 J
Louis Tomlinson
Louis chats about fatherhood, grief and brand new music in this coversation with Zane.
24 JANV.
Olympian-turned-alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding arrested
We hear from an investigative journalist who's been covering the story for more than a decade. A Canadian who served in Afghanistan tells us there's no place for the kind of insulting rhetoric the U.S. president is spreading about his country's NATO allies. As Valentino Garavani is laid to rest in Rome, director Matt Tyrnauer tells us about the fashion insight, friction, and friendship...that came with capturing the beloved designer's life and work in the documentary, The Last Emperor. It's a simple enough concept -- but knitters will tell you that it's a game changer. And it exists because of the late Barbara G Walker, who revolutionized the craft. Canada Post honours pioneering Canadian hiphop artists with their own stamps -- including the groundbreaking Michie Mee. She tells us it's a big deal to be on a small rectangle. Science thought a prehistoric kangaroo was just too gigantic to jump -- but now, new science has changed the old science's mind. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that finds this whole discussion pretty roo-dimentary.
John was an ex-gay, ex-drag queen and an evangelical Christian. He married an ex-lesbian, had three children and became the poster boy for “conversion therapy” for over 15 years, traveling across the world to preach the idea you can ‘pray away the gay’. John Paulk was living proof that they could change, that God would love them, and that they could live a “normal” heterosexual life. But John was living a lie: he was still gay. Now, he’s ready to tell his story.
3,7 (3)
DOCUMENTAIRE
From the team at The Big Story, comes Big Headlines – Canada's first daily news headlines podcast. Catch up on Canada’s top stories, with insight from reporters across the country. From breaking news to politics, sports climate, and culture. Big Headlines makes staying connected to the pulse of the country easier than ever. Perfect for busy Canadians on the go!
4,7 (14)
ACTUALITÉS DU JOUR
What if you could hypnotize yourself into a better you? Or…. secretly hypnotize others into giving you anything you want? That’s the promise of NLP, which emerged in 1970s California and then took over self-help… in spite of its connection to a gruesome unsolved murder in the late 1980s . NLP is the secret sauce connecting life coach Tony Robbins, Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort, pick-up artist Ross Jeffries, as well as NXIVM, the most infamous sex cult of the 21st century. Journalists and best friends Zoë Lescaze and Alice Hines investigate the controversies behind NLP, put the techniques to the test on themselves, and ask the ultimate question: is mind control real? Mind Games tells the story of NLP and its crazy cast of disciples, including the fake doctor who invented it at a New Age commune, took it to Fortune 500 boardrooms, and whose gruesome murder trial did little to stop its rise. The biggest mind game of all? NLP may actually work.
5,0 (3)
DOCUMENTAIRE
Stop doomscrolling. Start decoding the tech rewiring your week - and your world. The Interface is the BBC's fiercely informed, fast and funny take on how tech is changing everything. Hosted by three leading tech journalists whose work covers every aspect of the subject, each episode unpacks week-by-week the unfolding story of how technology is shaping all our futures. No guests. No jargon. Just three sharp voices debating the tech news stories that matter - whether they shook a government, broke the internet, or quietly tipped the balance of power. As TikTok shifts geopolitics, Trump drives digital shockwaves, Elon Musk expands his space-internet empire and AI reroutes the routines of everyday life - the trio ask: what world are the tech titans building for us? And do we want to live in it?
0,0 (0)
TECHNOLOGIES
Growth isn’t a one-time event — it’s a choice we make every day. This is a show that proves that there is more life waiting for us on the other side. Each week, Carl Radke, star of Bravo’s Summer House, sits down with celebrities, thought leaders, creators, and everyday people to explore the moments that push us toward becoming better, braver, and more intentional versions of ourselves. From career pivots and new passions, to healing, sobriety, and mental wellness, these unfiltered conversations dive into the inner breakthroughs that help us live more fully. Carl brings his own lived experience — navigating loss, change, and self-discovery — while inviting guests to share the tools, perspective shifts, and habits that keep them moving forward. Whether you’re rebuilding, reinventing, or just ready to feel more aligned with who you are, this show is for you. Every episode opens with Carl’s honest reflections and closes with practical takeaways you can apply to your own life right now. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
5,0 (2)
DÉVELOPPEMENT PERSONNEL
This is Truish, your weekly soft news bulletin where broadcaster Daisy Maskell unpacks the weird and wonderful headlines, moments, and curiosities of the week with hilarious guests. New episodes every Monday, from January 19th.
We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. But what happens when we can’t trust them? Dr. Death is the award-winning series hosted by Laura Beil, now in its fourth season: Bad Magic. Need more Dr. Death? With Wondery+, you can listen to all episodes, unlock exclusive content, get early access to upcoming episodes, and enjoy an always ad-free experience. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.com/links/dr-death/ now. When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billion dollars. But when a team of researchers makes a startling discovery, they begin to suspect the brilliant doctor is hiding a secret. Season 3: Paolo is a smart and handsome surgeon, renowned for his ability to perform surgeries that transform his patients’ lives. When television producer Benita covers him for a story, he’ll transform her life too, but not in the ways she expects. As Benita crosses professional lines to be with him, she learns how far Paolo will go to protect his secrets. And halfway around the world, four doctors at a prestigious medical institute make shocking discoveries of their own that call everything into question. Season 2: If someone you love is diagnosed with cancer you want them to get the best treatment from the best doctors. In 2013, patients in Michigan thought Farid Fata was that doctor. Between his prestigious education, years of experience and pleasant bedside manner, Fata was everything you could want in a doctor. But he was not who he appeared to be. From Wondery, this is the story of hundreds of patients in Michigan, a doctor, and a poisonous secret. Season 1: We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. We trust the person at the other end of that scalpel. We trust the hospital. We trust the system. Christopher Duntsch was a neurosurgeon who radiated confidence. He claimed he was the best in Dallas. If you had back pain, and had tried everything else, Dr. Duntsch could give you the spine surgery that would take your pain away. But soon his patients started to experience complications, and the system failed to protect them. Which begs the question: who - or what - is that system meant to protect? From Wondery, the network behind the hit podcast Dirty John, Dr. Death is a story about a charming surgeon, 33 patients and a spineless system.
4,8 (4603)
CRIMINOLOGIE
Marc Maron welcomes comedians, actors, directors, writers, authors, musicians and folks from all walks of life to his home for amazingly revealing conversations. Marc's probing, comprehensive interview style allows guests to express themselves in ways listeners have never heard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4,6 (3023)
HUMOUR
Normal Gossip delivers juicy, strange, funny, and utterly banal gossip about people you’ll never know and never meet. Host Rachelle Hampton discusses reader-submitted comedic gossip with guests, diving into the lives and decisions of complete strangers. The second-hand truth really is stranger than fiction. Produced by Se'era Spragley Ricks and Jae Towle Vieira. Created by Kelsey McKinney and Alex Sujong Laughlin. Show art by Tara Jacoby. https://normalgossip.komi.io/
The stories behind the world’s most iconic and fascinating sounds.
4,9 (542)
DESIGN
You think you know the NXIVM story. The secretive self-help empire. The sex cult headlines. The downfall of its leader, Keith Raniere. But the most famous woman at the centre of the story has remained largely silent. Allison after NXIVM tells the story of Allison Mack: former Smallville actress, high-ranking NXIVM member, and convicted felon. With exclusive access following her release from prison, this series traces her astonishing path from Smallville fame to NXIVM’s inner circle — and her effort to rebuild a life in the wreckage. Through raw interviews and revealing conversations with those who knew her before, during, and after NXIVM, this season dives deep into the gray zones of influence, accountability, and redemption. Crime. Investigation. Revelation. Uncover brings you explosive, high-caliber true crime year-round. From CIA mind control to serial abuse, mysterious disappearances to wrongful imprisonment. Each season features a new host who is deeply connected to the story, committed to tracking down the truth. With over 30 seasons to choose from, Uncover represents the best in true crime. For early access to episodes, plus ad-free listening, visit apple.co/cbctruecrime.