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Working: Inside the Casting Process for FX’s Reservation Dogs Jul 31, 2022

Show notes

This week, host June Thomas talks to casting director Angelique Midthunder, who recently worked on the FX series Reservation Dogs. In the interview, Angelique describes the casting and audition processes for the show and shares what it was like to organize an open casting call in Oklahoma. She also talks about the decision to cast Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack, which was originally supposed to be a male role.

After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss identity and authenticity in casting.

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Angelique explains why the letters C.S.A follow the names of some casting directors in the credits of movies and TV shows.

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus.

Thanks to Atlassian Work Check

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ICYMI: We Have Some Gossip For You Jul 30, 2022

Show notes

Everybody loves to gossip, especially when it comes to celebrities. On the show today, Rachelle is joined by Normal Gossip host Kelsey McKinney to talk about the state of internet gossip. They discuss the early days of online gossip from Gawker, Perez Hilton, and Reality Steve, how social media changed the gossip landscape, and why those changes have made it so we all have the chance to be the subject of online gossip.

This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.

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Hit Parade: Point of No Return Part 2 Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

After the so-called-but-not-really “death” of disco, dance music in the 1980s moved to its own beat. There was synthpop, electro, hi-NRG and house. But the scrappy genre that seemed to pull it all together was called freestyle—a breakbeat-tempo, Latin-flavored genre fortified with dizzying, proudly synthetic beats. Freestyle grew out of the clubs and streets of New York and Miami and briefly dominated ’80s dance-pop.

Freestyle’s flagship artists were only medium-level stars: Shannon. Exposé. Lisa Lisa. Stevie B. Nu Shooz. Sweet Sensation. But these acts—most especially their yearning, floridly romantic, rhythmically hectic songs—punched above their weight on the charts and even affected the hits of superstars from Madonna to Duran Duran, Whitney Houston to Pet Shop Boys.

Join Chris Molanphy as he defines the byways of this bespoke dance genre and traces how it bridged the disco era into the hiphop era.

Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.

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A Word: The Third COVID Summer Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

People are back in the office; schools are planning full classes in the fall; masks are seen less and less frequently. It’s the third COVID summer, but the latest variant of the virus is causing another surge in infection rates and hospitalizations. What do we need to do to protect ourselves now? And how can we be prepared for monkeypox, and the next pandemic?

Guest: Dr. Ebony Hilton, practicing physician, and a frequent medical analyst for MSNBC.

Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for just $1 for your first month.

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The Waves: Cafeteria Catholics Can Support Abortion Rights Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by staff writer Molly Olmstead to talk about the much-hyped threat against the Catholic Church in the wake of Roe’s dismantling. They talk about Molly’s piece, “Is the Catholic Church Under Attack” and where the vandalism against churches stacks up against other religious persecution. Then they take a look at “Cafeteria Catholics” - those who follow the religion, but not all the teachings at the top of the male hierarchy.

In Slate Plus, is the “Little Miss” meme feminist?

Recommendations:

Cheyna: Apple+ series Stillwater

Molly:Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith

Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Alicia Montgomery, and Daisy Rosario.

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

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Working: Learning a New Creative Hobby Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas help a listener who works in publishing but wants to exercise their writing skills on the side. Karen and June start by talking about their own creative side projects and hobbies. Then they discuss writing specifically and offer tips for how someone might begin a casual writing practice.

And here are some productivity videos that June recommends!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG1tfC7tSYw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2WBHyqRsxA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vvs7CjyS1M

Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.

Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.

Link to Atlassian Work Check

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Culture Gabfest: Summer Strut 2022 Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

This week, the panel is joined by the host of Slate’s Hit Parade podcast, Chris Molanphy, for our annual Summer Strut episode. First, they discuss this year’s chart-topping songs of the summer and their lack of strut-ness. Then, the panel dives into the longest listener-suggested summer playlist to date (42 hours!), and takes turns in a roundtable discussion of their top favorites from the list.

You can find the panel’s shortlist of favorite summer strut songs here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2oc68EJC3OyLUi1Honhxlw?si=44ec68203e8d47a9&nd=1

In Slate Plus, the panel gives one more bonus round of strut picks.

Email us at culturefest@slate.com.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe.

Outro music is "Lonely Calling" by Arc De Soleil.

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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ICYMI: What is "Hitting the Strip"? Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

On today’s show: more scams! Rachelle is joined by Daily Beast entertainment editor and former Slatester Allegra Frank; the two discuss the launch and social media rollout of the new multi-level marketing company Elomir. Later in the episode they examine how, despite the abundance of information on MLMs predatory nature, they still manage to pull people in.

This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, Daisy Rosario and Kevin Bendis.

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Decoder Ring: The Mall is Dead (Long Live the Mall) Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

What do we lose if we lose the mall? 70 years into their existence, these hulking temples to commerce are surprisingly resilient and filled with contradictions. In this episode, Alexandra Lange, the author of the new book Meet Me at the Fountain: an Inside History of the Mallwalks us through the atriums, escalators, and food courts of this singular suburban space. We also hear from mall-goers whose personal experiences help us make sense of this disdained yet beloved, disappearing yet surviving place.

This episode of Decoder Ring was written by Willa Paskin and produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director.

If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com

If you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you get ad-free podcasts, bonus episodes, and total access to all of Slate’s journalism.

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Hang Up: Pickleball Is Everywhere Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

Josh Levin and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham are joined by Tim Layden to discuss the record breakers of the world track and field championships; by Abe Riesman to talk about Vince McMahon’s scandal-laden retirement from WWE; and by Sarah Larson for a conversation about her New Yorker feature on pickleball.

Track and field (1:30): What’s next for Sydney McLaughlin, Noah Lyles, and the sport as a whole?

Vince McMahon (25:24): Why did he retire now? What’s next for WWE?

Pickleball (47:23): Why is it so popular? Is a billionaire ruining it?

Afterball (1:05:40): Josh on Carl Lewis’ mythical 30-foot long jump.

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