Culture Gabfest

Latest Episodes:

How the BlackBerry Got Squashed May 17, 2023

Show notes

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 Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One | The Biggest Stunt in Cinema History (Tom Cruise)

Stephen: SeeFeist live if you have the opportunity.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.

Outro music: "Bloody Hunter" by Paisley Pink

Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

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Dead Ringers' Gynecological Horror May 10, 2023

Show notes

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 at culturefest@slate.com.

Endorsements:

Dana: Newsreels from the UCLA Film & Television Archive

Julia: The Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf

Stephen: Jan Lisiecki - Chopin: Complete Nocturnes

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

Outro music: "The Red Light Special" by Matt Large.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows. You’ll also be supporting the work we do here on the Culture Gabfest. Sign up now at Slate.com/cultureplus to help support our work.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judy Blume Blooms Again May 03, 2023

Show notes

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/673834/

Email us at culturefest@slate.com.

Endorsements:

Dana: The 2010 National Theatre production of Hamlet starring Rory Kinnear.

Julia: L.A. Times’ The Wide Shot newsletter to help you stay informed about the WGA strike.

Stephen: The HBO series High Maintenance. (And, via Dana, the original web series.)

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

Outro music: "Champions Day" by Lupus Nocte.

Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mario Movie's Star Power Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

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 Drake and The Weekend, but…isn’t.

Endorsements

Jamelle Bouie: The 1971 film Carnal Knowledge, directed by Mike Nichols.

Nadira Goffe: Ackee and saltfish, a delicious Jamaican breakfast.

Julia Turner: The 2011 documentary Sing Your Song about Harry Belafonte.

Questions? Comments? Email us at culturefest@slate.com

Production assistance by Yesica Balderama. Production by Cameron Drews.

Outro music: “What We Didn't Do” by Particle House.

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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Beau is Afraid and Ari Aster is Unwell Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

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 Museum in London.

Sam: The Voyager by Jenny Lewis

Stephen: Multitudes by Feist, as well as the Feist and Kings of Convenience collaboration “Red Wing” (mislabeled as “Rewind” on YouTube).

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

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

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nike Gets Its Biopic Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

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 endorsing the activity that is googling things with your kids, as inspired by her family’s deep dive into the history of Fanta while on vacation.

Stephen: Jazz pianistBrad Mehldau’s album Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

Outro music: "Jenny's Alright" by OTE.

Make an impact this Earth Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to bring more parks to more people across the country. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

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Dungeons, Dragons, and Depressed College Professors Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

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 culturefest@slate.com.

Endorsements:

Nadira: Nadira encourages you to visit the weirdo, small museums in your area that you might not go to otherwise, as inspired by her impromptu visit to the New York Transit Museum.

Isaac: The movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and the book Dear Committee Members.

Dana: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

Outro music is: "Last Sunday" by OTE

Make an impact this Earth Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to bring more parks to more people across the country. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Wick Whacks the Box Office Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

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 Mary Gaitskill

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

Outro music is: "Self Made Woman" by Katharine Appleton.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daisy Jones and the Fictional Fleetwood Mac Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

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 Gaston Bachelard

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

Outro music is: "Blue Nights and Yellow Days" by Matt Large.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Oscars Are Back, Baby! Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

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.

Endorsements:

Dana: “Fat Suit Fart Attack: The Whale,” by Lindy West in her newsletter Butt News

Julia: The monthly Cartoon Club at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles.

Stephen: The live music and food at the Lagniappe House in Miami.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.

Outro Music: “200 Dont’s” by Conditional

Make an impact this Women’s History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund girls in STEM. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

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