Slate Culture Feed

Latest Episodes:

Culture Gabfest: Making Mat Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner untangle the oddity that is Jojo Rabbit, discuss whether Netflix’s sport docu-series Cheer lives up to the hype, and talk to Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson about this year’s Grammys.

On the Slate Plus segment this week, the panel discusses Kobe Bryant and the reactions to his death.

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

Outro Music: Lizzo's "Cuz I Love You" & "Truth Hurts" 2020 Grammy Performance

Endorsements

Dana:

‘Gigi Bryant Was a Great Basketball Player’ by Josh Levin

Julia:

‘The Rise of the Dancefluencer’ by Makeda Easter

Steve:

‘The Myth of Self-Reliance’ by Jenny Odell

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Flashback: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Jan 26, 2020

Show notes

In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the psychological thriller The Silence of the Lambs(1991), directed by Jonathan Demme.

Flashback is available in full only to Slate Plus members. Sign up now to listen to the rest of this episode and all the others.

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Culture Gabfest: Half for Me, Half for You Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner dive into Honeyland, Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov’s Academy Award-nominated documentary following a beekeeper in Macedonia. Next, they chat about Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time. Finally, Slate’s Laura Miller joins the panel to discuss Jia Tolentino’s Trick Mirror and the role—and critiques—of the modern female essayist.

On the Slate Plus segment this week, the panel discusses Oscar nominations.

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

Outro Music: The Futureheads’ cover of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love.”

Hosts

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner

Endorsements

Dana:

Jia Tolentino’s Trick Mirror audiobook.

Julia:

Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing.

Steve:

Ian Rankin’s “Inspector Rebus” book series.

The Futureheads’ cover of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love.”

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Culture Gabfest: "Royal Pain In The Arse" Edition Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and June Thomas discuss Sam Mendes' film 1917, the new installment in the UP documentary series, 63 UP, and the British royal phenomenon that has become known as Megxit.

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Spoiler Specials: The Witcher Jan 10, 2020

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, Sam Adams is joined by Benjamin Frisch, Rachelle Hampton and Daniel Schroeder to discuss The Witcher, Netflix’s popular new show about a monster hunter. This show isn’t the first adaptation from Andrzej Sapkowski’s work; video games based on The Witcher have been released starting in 2007. Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) is a monster hunter with supernatural powers. But, what exactly is a witcher? How will the Law of Surprise bring people together? Will Geralt ever find the girl in the forest who he is destined to find? And what kind of transformation comes at the cost of removing one’s womb?

You can also check out past Spoiler Specials, and you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Note: As the title indicates, spoilers galore.

Email us at spoilers@slate.com.

Hosts

Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor and the editor of Slate’s culture blog, Brow Beat.

Benjamin Frisch is the producer of Slate's Culture Gabfest and the author of the graphic novel The Fun Family.

Rachelle Hampton is a Slate editorial assistant.

Daniel Schroeder is a Slate podcast producer and freelance writer.

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Culture Gabfest: The Secret Mailbox Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner dive into Little Women, writer-director Greta Gerwig’s adaption—perhaps the best adaption yet—of Louisa May Alcott’s novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters. Next, they discuss the risky jokes, heartfelt speeches, and weird red carpet looks of this year’s Golden Globes. Finally, they chat about The Movie Club, Slate’s annual conversation among film critics led by Dana about this year in film.

On the Slate Plus segment this week, the panel spoils the ending to Little Women.

Endorsements

Dana:

Atlantics, a Cannes Grand Prix-winning film by French-Senegalese director Mati Diop, streaming on Netflix.

Julia:

A withdrawal of a previous endorsement—the book The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow—because of its sexist treatment of women.

The Marvel supervillain M.O.D.O.K.

Steve:

The German-Austrian comedy-drama Toni Erdmann, directed, written, and co-produced by Maren Ade. Available for rent on Amazon Prime.

Outro Music: It’s Romance by Alexandre Desplat from the Little Women Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.

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Spoiler Specials: Cats Jan 03, 2020

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, Sam Adams and Marissa Martinelli discuss Cats, the movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, which was based on poems by T.S. Eliot. Many jokes have been made about Tom Hooper’s Cats, mostly stemming from the “digital fur technology.” After the premiere, Universal Pictures released an updated version with “some improved visual effects.” But the 1981 musical wasn’t free from criticism either - yet it was still a hit. Does the movie adaptation have more of a plot? Does the star-studded cast add to the many cat introductions? Which cat at the jellicle ball will be picked for another life? And what exactly does jellicle mean?

You can read Marissa Martinelli’s review here.

You can read Dana Stevens’ review here.

You can read Violet Kim interview with Cats’ ‘feline movement expert’ here and read the investigation into how many times the Cats in Cats Say “Cats” here.

You can also check out past Spoiler Specials, and you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Note: As the title indicates, spoilers galore.

Email us at spoilers@slate.com.

Hosts

Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor and the editor of Slate’s culture blog, Brow Beat.

Marissa Martinelli is a Slate assistant editor.

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Culture Gabfest: "Welcome to Slaht Ploos, Books and Cats" Edition Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

Dana Stevens hosts a selection of a few of our favorite Slate Plus bonus segments, offering them to our regular listeners for the first time. You'll hear Steve, Julia and Dana talk about the new live action CATS, discuss impactful nonfiction with Slate's Laura Miller, remember critic Harold Bloom, and decipher what went wrong with Jill Abramson's Merchants of Truth.

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Culture Gabfest: "Call Us, Definitely" Edition Dec 25, 2019

Show notes

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner take listener call-in questions, including what books, music, and beverages they would take to a well-appointed Alpine cabin and much, much more.

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Spoiler Specials: Little Women Dec 25, 2019

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, Dana Stevens and Rachel Syme discuss Little Women. Arriving just in time for Christmas, Greta Gerwig plays with the March sisters’ timeline while staying true to Amy, Jo, Beth and Meg’s adventures. Will they find their own ways? Will Jo (Saoirse Ronan) end up with Laurie (Timothée Chalamet)? What comes of Jo’s writing?

You can read Dana Stevens’ review here.

You can also check out past Spoiler Specials, and you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Note: As the title indicates, spoilers galore.

Email us at spoilers@slate.com.

Hosts

Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic.

Rachel Syme is a writer in Brooklyn.

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