Slate Culture Feed

Latest Episodes:

The Waves: What E. Jean Carroll Did For Women May 11, 2023

Show notes

On this week’s episode of The Waves, E. Jean Carroll won, but what now? Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth talks with Slate senior writer Christina Cauterucci about the use of civil trials in cases of alleged rape and domestic violence, how the #MeToo movement influenced the trial, and what Carroll’s win could mean going forward.

More About Carroll:

“Not My Type” by Christina Cauterucci

Lie Detector by Christina Cauterucci

There’s a Remarkable Piece of Evidence in the E. Jean Carroll Trial by Christina Cauterucci

Make No Mistake About the $5 Million E. Jean Carroll Verdict Against Trump by Christina Cauterucci

In Slate Plus, the stupidity of one of Trump’s lies.

If you liked this episode, check out: What Amber Heard’s Makeup Palette Says About the Legal System

Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Tori Dominguez with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.

Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decoder Ring: Who Owns the Tooth Fairy? May 10, 2023

Show notes

We pride ourselves on being grounded, rational beings, but flitting amongst us is a mystery: the Tooth Fairy. This flying piece of folklore is alive and well in the 21st century, handed down to kids in whatever way their parents see fit.

In this episode, with the help of Tinkerbell, Santa Claus, and some savvy humans who are trying to exploit this strange creature’s untapped intellectual property, we’ll explore the origins of this childhood ritual, its durability—and its remarkable resistance to commercialization.

This podcast was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Jamie York. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.

Thank you to Charles Duan, Jim Piddock, Purva Merchant, Hannah Morris, Laurie Leahy, Torie Bosch, and Rebecca Onion. Also, a big tip of the hat to Rosemary Wells, the dental school instructor who in the 1970s began exploring the Tooth Fairy’s, ahem, roots . Much of Wells’ work is out of print, but you can find one of her pieces in a collection called The Good People: New Fairylore Essays.

If you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.

If you’re a fan of the show, sign up for Slate Plus. You’ll be able to listen to Decoder Ring without any ads—and your support is crucial to our work. Go to www.slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.

Decoder Ring is now available on YouTube. Listen here: https://slate.trib.al/ucMyTst

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ICYMI: We’re Sorry May 10, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by the co-host of NPR’s Throughline podcast, Ramtin Arablouei, who recently did an episode about the history of public contrition from the Salem witch trials to the infamous notes app apology. The two discuss how the internet turbo-charged the commodification of apologies, the cynicism it’s led to and where we go from here.

This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Rachelle Hampton and Daisy Rosario.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Culture Gabfest: 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear Me Out: Your Kids Don’t Owe You Anything May 09, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… stop with the breakfast in bed.

As we approach the summertime season of parenting holidays in the U.S. — Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June — it’s worth remembering that these holidays’ histories are deeply political… not unlike parenting itself.

Parenting is complicated, now more so than ever. In the best of circumstances, it’s a two-way relationship with a person who didn’t ask to be here. So what can we expect from our children?

Gabrielle Blair, founder of DesignMom.com and author of Ejaculate Responsibly, joins us to make the case that kids aren’t bound by blood to do, or be, anything.

If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can now email the show: hearmeout@slate.com

Podcast production by Maura Currie

You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi-Phi Nation: Effective Altruism and its Critics May 09, 2023

Show notes

Curtis is setting aside a large chunk of money to donate to charity, and it is up to us to persuade him where he should donate it. Luckily, philosophers, economists, and the nonprofit world has been thinking a lot about this issue in recent years. On this episode, effective altruism’s defenders and critics try to persuade Curtis of where he should donate. Who is the most effective in persuading an ordinary person as to the right way to donate to charity? And do the recent scandals involving effective altruism’s biggest donor implicate its philosophical foundations?

We start with arguments that you should always try to save the most lives possible, no matter where they are on the planet. We then hear a critic of that view, who argues that local giving can also be a good. We then turn to the view that we should save humans from extinction from threats like pandemics, nuclear war, and AI takeover. And finally, we hear from a critic of that view, who says we should not blow future risks out of proportion.

Guests include philosophers Richard Yetter-Chappell (Miami), Savannah Pearlman (Indiana), Shakeel Hashim (Center for Effective Altruism), and Seth Lazar (Australia National University).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hang Up: Bronny to USC May 09, 2023

Show notes

Josh Levin and Slate’s Jack Hamilton and Ben Mathis-Lilley discuss Nikola Jokic’s tiff with Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Kevin Durant’s quest for a third title. They also talk about Alabama’s head baseball coach getting fired in a sports gambling scandal. Finally, they assess Bronny James’ decision to go to USC.

NBA (3:11): The subplots and plot twists of the Suns-Nuggets Western Conference semis.

Gambling (24:58): The NCAA and the pro sports leagues are walking a thin line with legalized betting.

Bronny (47:50): What his decision to play college basketball says about the sport and his future prospects.

Afterball (1:05:00): Josh and Jack on gun violence, sports, and the three Virginia football players who were killed in November.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slate Money: Succession S4 Ep7: Two Indias (And Two Episode Directors) May 08, 2023

Show notes

Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined this week by a star-studded lineup to discuss episode seven of HBO’s Succession. Author Taffy Brodesser-Akner, plus Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (the directors of this episode) join the gang to talk about the Roys’ election tailgate party.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and an additional segment of our show every week. You’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Slate Money. Sign up now at slate.com/moneyplus to help support our work.

Podcast production by Patrick Fort.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Working: The Queen of the Amazons on Transforming Into an Iconic Danish Novelist May 07, 2023

Show notes

For this week’s episode of Working, host June Thomas interviews Danish actor Connie Nielsen on her latest role as the famed author Karen Blixen. Nielsen has an expansive career starring in such films as Gladiator, Wonder Woman, and Brothers, but this latest role in The Dreamer returns her to her Danish roots.

Later in the episode co-host Karen Han joins for a discussion about making sacrifices for art and finding time for books in a busy world.

Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com.

Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political Gabfest Reads: The Classic Hollywood Romance Gets a Makeover May 06, 2023

Show notes

Emily Bazelon talks with author author Curtis Sittenfeld about her new book Romantic Comedy.

They discuss why ordinary guys get to be with famous women, but usually not the other way around, the fun of writing a fictional version of Saturday Night Live, and how to write witty email exchanges.

Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected