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Working: “Genre-Fluid” Musician Yola on Mining Her Subconscious Jul 11, 2021

Show notes

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to the multitalented singer/songwriter Yola. In the interview Yola breaks down her songwriting process from the first seed of an idea to the final product. She also discusses her forthcoming album, Stand for Myself, and the collaborative work that went into it.

After the interview Isaac and co-host June Thomas marvel at Yola’s intuitive songwriting style.

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Yola talks about her musical influences and her upcoming tour.

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.

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ICYMI: The Pro-Trump Social Network Has an Anime Porn Problem Jul 10, 2021

Show notes

GETTR, a new social media network from former Trump aide Jason Miller, launched on July 1 and quickly became an unmanageable mess. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison discuss this low-budget Twitter clone, how it got overrun with hentai, and why its privacy issues may indicate that the network is already dead. If you’d like to read more on GETTR, Slatester Aaron Mak wrote about what happened when he tried to make a profile on the platform as Donald Trump.

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.

Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month.

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Spoiler Specials: Black Widow Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate staff writer, Karen Han, to spoil Black Widow, the new Marvel origin story for one of it’s Avengers, Black Widow.

Who was Black Widow before she became the beloved and troubled hero we’ve all come to know over the years?

Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.

Email us at spoilers@slate.com.

Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.

Hosts

Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic and you can read her review here.

Karen Han isstaff writer at Slate.

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ICYMI: How Zola Went From Twitter Thread to Major Movie Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Zola, a new movie based on the infamous Twitter thread by Aziah “Zola” Wells King, follows a part-time stripper who goes on a weekend trip to Florida with a new friend to make money, and how things quickly escalated until their friendship fell apart. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison talk to Tony-nominated playwright and screenwriter Jeremy O. Harris about how he and director Janicza Bravo translated the 148-tweet saga into a feature-length film, the scene that almost made members of the crew quit, and why he considers Zola’s tale to be akin to Homer’s epic poetry.

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.

Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month.

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Culture Gabfest: I Think Jack Antonoff Should Leave Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

This week Dana is accompanied by Allegra Frank, Slate senior editor. First the panel is joined by Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson to discuss Summer of Soul, a documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Next, the panel discusses season two of the Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave with Vulture senior editor Jesse David Fox. Finally, Carl returns to talk about the productions of Jack Antonoff.

In Slate Plus, Carl and the panel talk about the concerts they’re looking forward to seeing and the live music experience.

Email us at culturefest@slate.com

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

Outro music: "Bloody Hunter" by Paisley Pink

Endorsements

Carl: The work of Lauren Berlant, especially “Trump, or Political Emotions.” (And Dana recommends an episode of the podcast Big Brains Berlant appeared on: “Why Chasing the Good Life is Holding Us Back.”)

Allegra: The video game Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

Dana:The website Radio Garden.

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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Slate Money: Movies: The Hudsucker Proxy Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.

Katherine Bell, Editor in Chief of Quartz, joins to talk about The Hudsucker Proxy. They discuss the heightened depiction of corporate culture, circles, and yet another female reporter character who sleeps with her source.

Email: slatemoney@slate.com

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.

Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck

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Decoder Ring: The Sign Painter Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Ilona Granet was a New York art-scene fixture who won the praise of the art world when she put up anti-harassment street signs in lower Manhattan in the mid- 1980s. Her career seemed like a sure thing, but three decades on, and so much more art later, it still hasn’t materialized, even as her contemporaries are now hanging in museums. This episode is not about the familiar myth of making it, but the mystery of not making it. What happens, to an artist—to anyone—when they’re good enough, but that’s not enough?

If you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you can binge the whole season of Decoder Ring right now, plus ad free podcasts, bonus episodes, and much more.

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Working: Undocumented Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas Fought to Tell His Story Jul 04, 2021

Show notes

This week, host June Thomas talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. In the interview, Jose discusses the origins of a piece he wrote for the New York Times Magazine titled “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant.” He also talks about his organization, Define American, which aims to influence how immigrants are depicted on TV, in movies, and on the national stage broadly.

After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about which groups are still not represented adequately on TV and in movies.

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jose lists his favorite books about immigration and citizenship.

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.

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ICYMI: Dance Challenge TikTok Is on Strike Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

Black dance creators on TikTok are sick of white influencers stealing their work without credit. Now, they have collectively refused to choreograph dance challenges for the app’s latest trendy hit, Megan Thee Stallion’s new song, “Thot Shit.” On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison discuss the origins of this strike, the ineptitude of white dancers trying to create their own dances for the song, and how empty TikTok is without these Black creators.

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.

Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month.

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Hit Parade: Say My Name, Say My Name, Part 2 Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

In Part 2 of this episode of Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy continues his analysis of when singing became central to rap music. Rap has always been musical. But back in the day, rappers generally, well, rapped: talked in cadence over a beat. Fans judged MCs primarily by their rhymes and rhythms, not their melodies.

Now? Rappers are mostly singers: MCs from Drake to DaBaby slip seamlessly in and out of melody. Some hits that appear on Billboard’s Rap charts feature literally no rapping. When did this change?

Part 2 takes a close look at an integral pivot point in this progression: when Beyoncé changed the game by singing with triple-time flow like the baddest MC.

Podcast production by Asha Saluja.

Hit Parade episodes are now split into two parts, released two weeks apart. For the full episode right now, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our Trivia show and bonus deep dive. Click here for more info.

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