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Culture Gabfest

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New York Times critic Dwight Garner says “The Slate Culture Gabfest is one of the highlights of my week.” The award-winning Culturefest features critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner debating the week in culture, from highbrow to pop. For more of Slate’s culture podcasts, check out the Slate Culture feed.Want more Culture Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Culture Gabfest show page. Or, visit slate.com/cultureplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Michael Jackson Moonwalks the Box Office Edition

    This week, Dana, Steve, and Nadira Goffe assess if we as a culture can ever really escape Neverland— namely, the gigantic and fraught legacy of Michael Jackson. They unpack the biopic Michael. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, starring Jackson’s own nephew Jaafar Jackson, and produced by much of the Jackson family, the film is chock full of musical numbers and light on the troubling aspects of the singer’s life. Does it ever rise above King of Pop hagiography? They discuss. Next, they take up Half Man, the new limited series from Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd. It’s a brutal look at a toxic male relationship. Is its unflinching eye too unflinching? Perhaps. Finally, how can one become cultured? What does that even mean!? Such are the questions raised by T Magazine’s recent special issue “How to Be Cultured.” Our panel debates the package’s various high brow listicles, takes their quiz, and Nadira even makes her own culture list as rebuttal! (See below.) In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, our hosts share which cultural figures they think would make for good biopic subjects. Endorsements Nadira: The new EP NAIL from Yves, particularly the title track, and Curtis Live! the live album by Curtis Mayfield, especially the song "The Makings of You." Steve: The poem "Like the Train's Beat" by Philip Larkin. Dana: The book On Michael Jackson by Margo Jefferson about Michael Jackson's complicated cultural place. Nadira's Culture List: (Editor’s Note: Nadira added two things since our discussion — we’re all still staying curious and expanding our cultural horizons!) “Throw Some Ds on It” — Rich Boy (Song; 2007)“Jealous Guy” — Donny Hathaway covering John Lennon live (Song; 1972)Any vlogger on YouTube, but particularly the work of Casey NeistatHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Show; 1995)Fleabag (TV Show; 2016-2019)Monster (Anime Series, currently avail. on Netflix; 2004)Stop Making Sense (Movie; 1984)The Devil Wears Prada (Movie; 2006)Step Up 2: The Streets (Movie; 2008)Tampopo (Movie; 1985)Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Movie; 2018)Original Cast Album Company (Movie; 1970)Quo Vadis, Aida? (Movie; 2004)Playing in the Dark — Toni Morrison (Book; 1992)Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — Gabrielle Zevin (Book; 2022)Any painting by Kerry James Marshall, but particularly “School of Beauty, School of Culture” and “Portrait of the artist as a shadow of his former self”Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright (Architecture; 1964) -- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO ·  BONUS • SLATE PLUS ONLY

    Biopics We Actually Want To See

    What figure from history or culture deserves the biopic treatment? Steve, Dana, and Nadira share their picks for the historical figures and celebrities whose lives would make for compelling movie plots— or deserve better films than they got. Some of the big names discussed: the founder of Adidas, Marcus Garvey, FloJo, Tastykake, Dorothy Arzner, John Maynard Keynes, Toussaint Louverture, Ambroise Vollard, and Grace Jones!

    20 min

  3. 22 APR

    Mother Troubles Edition

    Steve, Dana, and Julia convene once more for a rousing Gabfest. First up, it’s Mother Mary. David Lowery’s strange psychodrama centers on a pop star, played by Anne Hathaway, reuniting with her estranged friend and costume designer, played by Michaela Coel, and the menacing piece of red chiffon that haunts them both.  Next, they turn to another pair of mothers in Margo’s Got Money Troubles. The new series stars Elle Fanning as a new single mom— and Michelle Pfeiffer as her mom— who turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet.  Finally they welcome back Gabfest favorite Caity Weaver to dish on her epic quest to find the best free restaurant bread in America— as chronicled in her hilarious and insightful piece in The Atlantic. In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, Julia shares a behind-the-scenes peek into the founding of her new local media startup L.A. Material.  Endorsements Dana: The completely unscripted shows of The Improvised Shakespeare Company—on tour now. Caity: The live album Sam Cooke at the Copa, especially the song "The Best Things in Life Are Free"—the best bread certainly is. Julia: The sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins which really hits its stride after a few episodes. Steve: The novel The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley as well as Paul Buchanan, of the band The Blue Nile, covering David Bowie’s "Ashes to Ashes." -- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 2min

  4. 22 APR ·  BONUS • SLATE PLUS ONLY

    Inside Julia’s Life as a Founder

    One month after its lively and informative launch, Julia talks with Dana and Steve about what it’s been like to co-found and run L.A. Material. She shares why she wanted to start a local new media company in the first place, her vision for sustainable journalism in Southern California, and why most books about founding companies suck.

    17 min

  5. 17 APR ·  BONUS

    Richard Pryor: The Truth Teller Who Changed Comedy Forever | From Big Lives

    Richard Pryor redefined comedy by telling the truth, even when it scorched him.Today, we’re sharing a preview of a new podcast, Big Lives, and a special episode about Pryor. Every week, hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to explore the story behind the icons who shape our culture—trailblazers like David Bowie, Meg Ryan, Amy Winehouse, and Tina Turner—and better understand how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape. In this preview, Kai and Emmanuel look at how Richard Pryor rose from a Peoria, Illinois brothel to become comedy’s GOAT, only to then wrestle with racism, fame, desire, and self‑destruction. If you like what you hear, find more episodes of Big Lives on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min

  6. 15 APR

    There Are No Small Parts Only Miniature Wives Edition

    On this week’s show, Dana, Steve, and Dan Kois get into cultural topics of various scales. First, they examine The Christophers, the latest film from Steven Soderbergh. The small scale two-hander starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel about an aging artist and an upstart forger is intentionally intimate, but is it too slight? They discuss. Next, they pick up their cultural magnifying glasses to peep at The Miniature Wife, the new marital comedy series starring Matthew Macfadyen and Elizabeth Banks about a scientist who accidentally aims his shrink ray on his wife. Is this diminutive premise too small for its multiple episode execution? They discuss.    Finally, they take up the small but mighty objects apparently floating at the bottom of many an it girl’s purse: cigarettes. They respond to a recent piece in the Ankler “Cigarettes Get a Sequel: Hollywood’s ‘Cool’ Bad Habit Is Back.” In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel gazes at the vast expanse of space and talks about Artemis II’s mission to the far side of the moon.  Endorsements Dan: The novel Possession by A.S. Byatt. Steve: The essay in New York Review of Books “From the Rooftops of Tehran,” an anonymous first person account of life under fire from American and Israeli bombs. Dana: The radio show Shocking Blue on New York’s WFUV from the DJ Delphine Blue— if you miss it on Saturday nights 8pm-11pm when it airs, check out at WFUV’s archives to listen to episodes after broadcast. -- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  7. 15 APR ·  BONUS • SLATE PLUS ONLY

    Awe for Artemis II

    For this week’s bonus episode, Dan Kois, Dana, and Steve take a moment to salute the astronauts of the Artemis II who went farther away from Earth than any human has before and, in the process, made space travel wondrous again. After grossly capitalistic and egoist endeavors from the likes of Musk and Bezos, NASA’s Artemis II provided a rare opportunity for collective awe for the vastness of space and an appreciation for publicly-backed science. In addition to the incredible photos from their space craft, the crew of astronauts inspired a wonderfully reverent piece from Ruth Graham on the front page of The New York Times and produced a truly great internet dog video.

    17 min

  8. 8 APR

    The Drama Surrounding The Drama Edition

    What’s the worst thing Steve, Dana, and Julia have ever done? And would you still love them if you knew the answer to that question? That’s not a subject for today’s episode, but these three do get into The Drama, the dark, polarizing rom-com directed by Kristoffer Borgli starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson which is animated by such disquieting inquiries. Next, it’s time for elk meat, Montana golden hour, and feckless city slickers as our hosts take on Taylor Sheridan’s latest The Madison. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, our hosts agree it’s an effective Western soap opera but is its Red State agitprop worth the price of admission? Finally… there’s good boy. With their curly mop tops and wet eyes, doodle dog hybrids have nuzzled their way into Americans’ hearts. What does that say about us? The hosts discuss these questions and more raised in a recent New Yorker piece by John Seabrook, How Doodles Became the Dog du Jour. In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they have a spoiler-rich conversation divulging all of The Drama’s dirty secrets. Endorsements Dana: The latest from children's book author (and Dana's partner) Rowboat Watkins, Mousestache, Mooosestache about a riotous world overrun with mustaches.  Julia: The memoir The Wanderers by immigration journalist Daniela Gerson detailing her unlikely family history. Steve: Book three of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay and the work of singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, including his cover of Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection to My Heart" and his self-titled debut album.   -- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 2min
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About

New York Times critic Dwight Garner says “The Slate Culture Gabfest is one of the highlights of my week.” The award-winning Culturefest features critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner debating the week in culture, from highbrow to pop. For more of Slate’s culture podcasts, check out the Slate Culture feed.Want more Culture Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Culture Gabfest show page. Or, visit slate.com/cultureplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    Slate Podcasts
  • Creator
    Slate Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    971
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2019 The Slate Group
  • Show Website
    Culture Gabfest
  • Provider

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