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Working: Julia Turshen on Writing a Very Personal Cookbook Mar 14, 2021

Show notes

This week host Rumaan Alam talks to cookbook author Julia Turshen about her career as a professional home cook and her new book Simply Julia: 110 Easy Recipes for Healthy Comfort Food. In the interview, Julia explains why she was drawn to cookbooks from a young age and how she later managed to combine her love of writing and her love of cooking into one career. She also talks about the deeply personal details in Simply Julia and discusses why she’s trying to get readers in and out of the kitchen “as easily and as efficiently as possible.”

After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas dig into Julia’s advice to “only write the book that only you can write.”

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Julia helps Rumaan out of his cooking rut.

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 Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

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Culture Gabfest: Silent or Silenced Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

This week Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by Slate’s executive producer of podcasts Alicia Montgomery for a segment about Oprah’s widely viewed interview with Meghan and Harry. Then the hosts discuss the ever-growing popularity of Stanley Tucci, from his viral cocktail videos to his CNN show Searching for Italy to his new movie Supernova. Finally, the group talks about the discontinuation of six Dr. Seuss books.

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

Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com

Outro Music: "Bring My Friends" by Tigerblood Jewel

Slate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work.

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Slate Money: Movies: Wall Street Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

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

This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and Wall Street superfan, to talk about Oliver Stone’s 1987 ode to yuppie culture. They’ll discuss the corporate raider culture of the 80s, the era of “smiling and dialing” and the wonky legality of insider trading.

Email: slatemoney@slate.com

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.

Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas

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Working: How an Audiobook Narrator Plays All the Parts Mar 07, 2021

Show notes

This week, host June Thomas talks to audiobook narrator Abby Craden about voicing multiple characters, narrating fiction and nonfiction, and finding a niche in the world of lesbian romances. (The books June referenced are Radclyffe’s “Honor” series.) Abby also discusses her home recording setup and her surprising workload.

Learn more about Abby and her work at abbycraden.com.

After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler help a listener who feels too stressed out to write.

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Abby talks about one of her side gigs, where she helps create background audio for film and TV.

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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Spoiler Specials: Coming 2 America Mar 05, 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 senior editor Allegra Frank is joined by Slate staff writer Rachelle Hampton to spoil Coming 2 America, the sequel to the 1988 hit comedy, Coming to America.

Set in the royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York - where it all began.

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

Email us at spoilers@slate.com.

Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work.

Hosts

Allegra Frank is Slate’s senior editor.

Rachelle Hampton is a staff writer at Slate.

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Culture Gabfest: Allen v. Farrow Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

This week Steve and Dana talk to Slate senior editor Sam Adams about the HBO documentary Allen v. Farrow, which examines the legal battle between Woody Allen and Mia Farrow in the early 90's and the sexual assault allegations at the heart of it. Then Steve, Dana, and Julia talk about the Golden Globes and a report by the LA Times that revealed dubious spending practices by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the group behind the Globes) and a lack of diversity in its ranks. After that, University of Pennsylvania English professor Alan Filreis joins the show to talk about the poet, activist, and bookstore owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who recently passed away.

In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss the new gender-neutral rebranding of Mr. Potato Head and the reaction from right-wing pundits. Send us your questions and topic suggestions at culturefest@slate.com.

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

Outro Music: "Mother" by The Big Let Down

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Slate Money: Movies: 9 to 5 Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

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

This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Louise Roug, International executive Editor at HuffPost, to talk about the hit 1980 comedy 9 to 5. They discuss how the film’s original, darker tone was abandoned, why its themes are, sadly, still so relevant today and, of course, the wonderful Dolly Parton.

Email: slatemoney@slate.com

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.

Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas

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Working: She-Ra Showrunner Noelle Stevenson on Creating a Diverse Kids Show Feb 28, 2021

Show notes

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to cartoonist and now showrunner Noelle Stevenson about the process of rebooting the ‘80s TV show She-Ra: Princess of Power. In the interview, Noelle talks about developing a fresh vision for the show and ultimately creating one of the most diverse kids shows in history. She also discusses her webcomic, Nimona, which was adapted into a graphic novel and earned her a National Book Award nomination at the age of 23.

After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas offer advice to a listener who wonders if focusing on their art, rather than working with vulnerable people, is too privileged a life choice.

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Noelle talks about The Weight of Them, a webcomic she created about her decision to get top surgery.

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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Hit Parade: The AC/DC Rule, Part 2 Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

In Part 2 of this episode of Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy continues to demonstrate a weird chart phenomenon he calls The AC/DC Rule.

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.

What was the only No. 1 album by Jimi Hendrix? How about the first No. 1 by Billy Joel? Jackson Browne? Pat Benatar? Pearl Jam? Lady Gaga?

In all cases, the answer isn’t obvious—it’s not the album you know best, the one with the most hits on it. It’s the album after that classic that goes to No. 1. And there’s no better example than AC/DC, the Australian-by-way-of-Scotland hard rock band that’s sold more than 20 million copies of Back in Black. But it was their next album (can you name it?) that topped the Billboard album chart.

Just as less-good movie sequels open better at the box office than classic first installments, follow-up albums often chart higher than their slow-growing but hit-packed predecessors. Some of the rock and pop legends who fell prey to this chart phenomenon might surprise you…might just leave you shook all night long.

Podcast production by Asha Saluja.

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Culture Gabfest: Secrets of the New York Times Spelling Bee Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

This week Steve, Dana, and Julia talk about Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland. Next, they dig into their obsession with the New York Times’s Spelling Bee puzzle and interview its creator, 24-year-old Sam Ezersky. Finally, they discuss group chats in light of Heidi Cruz’s recent troubles with the forum.

In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss a piece of culture that they used to love and are now done with? Thanks to listener James Callan. Send us your questions and topic suggestions at culturefest@slate.com.

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

Outro Music: "Back to Silence" by OTE

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