Culture Gabfest

This week Dana and Steve are joined by Slate staff writer Karen Han. First, the panel discusses the movie Zola. Next, they talk about the British sitcom We Are Lady Parts. Finally, the panel is joined by Seth Stevenson, the host of Slate’s Thrilling Tales of Modern Capitalism, to discuss the past, present, and future of HBO. 

In Slate Plus, the panel talks about Conan O'Brien's departure from late night TV.

Email us at [email protected]

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Cleo Levin.

Outro music is "Did I Make You Wait" by Staffan Carlen

Endorsements

Dana: “The Story Behind Luca’s Whale Carcass-Loving Breakout Character” by Karen Han for Slate 

Karen: “Navillera” on Netflix.

Steve: “Rothko Chapel” by Morton Feldman.

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This week Dana and Steve are joined by Slate staff writer Karen Han. First, the panel discusses the Pixar movie Luca. Next, they talk about the first two episodes of Marvel’s TV show Loki. Finally, the panel is joined by Willa Paskin and Benjamin Frisch, the host and producer of Slate’s Decoder Ring podcast, to discuss the making of the new season.

In Slate Plus, the panel talks about whether seeing movies in the theater is a tradition worth preserving.

Email us at [email protected]

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Cleo Levin.

Outro music is "Eightball" by Gabe Nandez.

Endorsements

Dana: The playlist of the music found in James Baldwin’s apartment, “This Giant Prehistoric Rhino Was the Biggest Land Mammal to Walk the Earth” by Jack Guy and Zixu Wang for CNN

Karen: Try making ice cream at home

Steve: The writing of Janet Malcolm in the New York Review of Books and The New Yorker

Further Reading

“How Gay Is Pixar’s Luca?” by Marissa Martinelli for Slate

“The Many Contradictions of Owen Wilson” by Isaac Butler for Slate

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This week Dana and Steve are joined by Monica Castillo, arts and culture reporter for Colorado Public Radio, to discuss In the Heights. Next, Atlantic staff writer Sophie Gilbert comes on to talk about HBO’s Hacks. Finally, Dana and Steve dive into Liz Phair’s new album, Soberish, with the expertise of Slate music critic Carl Wilson.

In Slate Plus, Dana, Steve, and Carl talk about Gen X musicians and how they’re aging gracefully—or not.

Email us at [email protected]

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

Outro Music: "Any Other Way" by Particle House

Endorsements

Dana: The soundtrack to Bo Burnham’s Inside

Carl: Clairo’s single “Blouse” and the series Feel Good (especially the placement of “Motion Sickness” by Phoebe Bridgers)

Steve: Herzog by Saul Bellow

Further Reading

“In the Heights Fumbles Some of Its Changes, but It Still Soars” by Dana Stevens for Slate

“’In the Heights’ Film Review: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Stage Hit Becomes a Screen Celebration” by Monica Castillo for the Wrap

“What Hacks Proves About Jean Smart” by Sophie Gilbert for the Atlantic

“An Alt-Rock Queen Returns to Take Back Her Crown” by Carl Wilson for Slate

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus.

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This week Dana is joined by Slate senior editor Sam Adams and Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk. First, the panel discusses the HBO mini-series Mare of Easttown. Next, they talk about Bo Burnham’s Netflix special Inside. Finally, Dana and Sam dive into the recent Amazon-MGM deal.

In Slate Plus, the panel talks spoilers galore about Mare of Easttown.

Email us at [email protected].

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. 

Outro Music: "On the Keys of Steel" by Dusty Decks

Endorsements

Dana: MGM: Hollywood’s Greatest Backlot

Sam: Lucy Dacus’s song “VBS” from her upcoming album Home Video

Further Reading

“Mare of Easttown’s Creator on Its Final Shocking Twist” by Sam Adams for Slate

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This week Steve is joined by Slate senior editor Allegra Frank and Slate staff writer Karen Han. The group first discusses Cruella, starring Emma Stone. Next, they discuss the television adaption of Colson Whitehead’s novel The Underground Railroad. Finally, the group is joined by Slate’s Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy to dive into Olivia Rodrigo’s breakout album Sour.

In Slate Plus, the panel shares their experiences going back to movie theaters.

Email us at [email protected].

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. 

Outro music: "I Want a Change" by The Big Let Down

Endorsements

Allegra: Doomin’ Sun by Bachelor, Jay Som, & Palehound

Karen: The perfume company Snif

Steve: Robyn Hitchcock & Emma Swift’s cover of “Motion Pictures” by Neil Young

Further Reading

“Cruella Shouldn’t Work, but It Mostly Does” by Karen Han for Slate

“Why Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Good 4 U’ Is Rock’s First Hot 100 No.1 in Years” by Chris Molanphy for Slate

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus.

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This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss HBO Max’s film Those Who Wish Me Dead, starring Angelina Jolie. Next, the panel is joined by Slate books critic Laura Miller to dive into a strange publishing trend—where literary criticism meets self-help. Finally, Slate’s technology editor Jon Fisher talks with the hosts about M.O.D.O.K., Hulu’s latest series on the Marvel character.

In Slate Plus, the hosts open up about their schedules, productivity, and hacks for cultural consumption in response to a listener question.

Email us at [email protected]

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. 

Endorsements

Dana: A series of films by Lois Weber on the Criterion Channel

Julia: A new daily news podcast from the L.A. Times called The Times: Daily news from the L.A. Times

Steve: The restaurant Feast & Floret in Hudson, New York

Further Reading

“Enough With Literature as Self-Improvement!” by Laura Miller in Slate

https://slate.com/culture/2021/03/wonderworks-angus-fletcher-review.html

Outro music: "200 Dont's" by Conditional

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This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss Netflix’s animated film The Mitchells vs. the Machines. Next, the panel dives into the cultural resonances of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck aka “Bennifer.” Finally, the group is joined by Isaac Butler, co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, to talk about the latest Zoom version of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.

In Slate Plus, Isaac Butler joins the hosts to talk about the state of theater and what its reopening will look like in the coming months.

Email us at [email protected]

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

Outro music: "You Know What I Want" by Staffan Carlen

Endorsements

Dana: “The Trees” by Philip Larkin

Julia: Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener

Steve: “Arendt and Roth: An Uncanny Convergence” by Corey Robin and DeFazio’s Pizzeria in Troy, NY

Further Reading

“What Everyone Forgot About Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez” by Heather Schwedel in Slate

“Why is Bennifer 2.0 so exciting? Because last time, we screwed it up” by Meredith Blake in the LA Times

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus.

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This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss Tina Fey’s new Peacock sitcom Girls5Eva. Then the panel dives into vaccine personalities—how did Pfizer really become the “status vax”? Finally, the group discusses Netflix film The Disciple with LA Times film critic Justin Chang.

In Slate Plus, the panel talks about their relationship with cars, courtesy of a listener question. Email us your questions at [email protected]

Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis and Asha Saluja. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

Endorsements

Dana: Morning Ragas, Bombay 1965 by Nikhil Banerjee

Julia: Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe and “The Composer at the Frontier of Movie Music” by Jamie Fisher (and Nicholas Britell’s Culture Gabfest episode!)

Steve: “Quintin Jones Is Not Innocent. But He Doesn’t Deserve to Die.” by Jonah M. Kessel, Suleika Jaouad, and Lindsay Crouse

Further Reading

“Pfizer Snobs Are Wong. Johnson & Johnson Is the Coolest Vaccine.” by Dan Kois in Slate

“How Pfizer Became the Status Vax” by Heather Schwedel in Slate

“Review: ‘The Disciple’ is already one of the year’s best movies. Does Netflix know—or care?” by Justin Chang in the LA Times

 Hosts

Stephen Metcalf

Dana Stevens

Julia Turner

Social Media

@slatecultfest on Twitter

https://twitter.com/slatecultfest

@slateculturepodcasts on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/slateculturepodcasts/

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This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss the Netflix film Stowaway with Slate book and culture columnist Laura Miller. Then the panel dives into the French dramedy Call My Agent! with New Yorker staff writer Lauren Collins. Finally, the group discusses the social realities and challenges of the CDC’s new guidelines on masking outdoors.

In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss the ending to Stowaway and other spoilers from the film.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

Email the hosts at [email protected]

Endorsements

Dana: You Must Remember This podcast and Jacques d’Amboise, specifically Jacques d’Amboise in China

Julia: The Mirage Factory

Steve: “The Abiding Scandal of College Admissions” by Matt Feeney in the Chronicle of Higher Education

Further Reading

“'Dix pour cent’: les agents et leurs doubles” by Benjamin Locoge in Paris Match

“Fanny Herrero, créatrice de ‘Dix pour cent’: ‘Mon rêve est de faire une série d’auteur populaire’” in Les Inrockuptibles

Outro Music

"Go slow" by Daniel Fridell

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This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss the Oscars in a pandemic year. Then the panel dives into the Bob Odenkirk action flick Nobody. Finally, the group discusses the allegations of workplace harassment against the producer Scott Rudin, as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the fallout surrounding sexual assault allegations against Blake Bailey, who published a biography of Phillip Roth earlier this month.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews and Jasmine Ellis. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

Email the hosts at [email protected]

Endorsements

Dana: Call My Agent! and the accompanying French podcast

Julia: Sheet-Pan Sausages and Brussel Sprouts With Honey Mustard recipe from the New York Times

Steve: Sturgill Simpson, specifically his NPR Tiny Desk concert and “The Woman Who Shattered the Myth of the Free Market” by Zachary D. Carter in the New York Times

 Further Reading

 “Scott Rudin, As Told by His Assistants” by Anne Victoria Clark, Jackson McHenry, Lila Shapiro, Gazelle Emami, Helen Shaw, Tara Abell, Nate Jones, E. Alex Jung, and Megh Wright in Vulture

Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.

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