Culture Gabfest

Slate’s critics debate the week in culture, from highbrow to pop.

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About the Show

New York Times critic Dwight Garner says, “The Slate Culture Gabfest is one of the highlights of my week.” The award-winning Culturefest features Slate culture critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner debating the week in culture, from highbrow to pop.

Hosts

The “Cool Cats and Kittens” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Tiger King, Paddington 2, and celebrity music telethons.

The “Walking into the Abyss” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on The Plot Against America, walking, and Big Night.

The “Viral Songs and Quarantine Culture” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Spenser Confidential, Reply All’s “The Case of the Missing Hit,” and culture during quarantine.

The “Cows and Capitalism” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on First Cow, You’ve Got Mail, and the millennial aesthetic.

The “Is Love Blind?” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Love Is Blind, tomboys, and coronavirus.

The “Portrait of Taylor on Fire” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Miss Americana, and “garbage language.”

The “Gender Swap” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on The Assistant, High Fidelity, and Jenny Odell.

“Parasite Without a Host” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on the Oscars, Star Trek: Picard, and television’s fantasy of New York.

“Boingity Boing Music” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Ford v Ferrari, The Circle, and American Dirt.

“Making Mat” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Jojo Rabbit, Cheer, and the Grammys.

“Half for Me, Half for You” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Honeyland, Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time tournament, and Jia Tolentino.

“Royal Pain in the Arse” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on 1917, 63 Up, and Megxit.

“The Secret Mailbox” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Little Women, the Golden Globes, and the Movie Club.

“Welcome to Slaht Ploos, Books, and Cats” Edition

Revisiting our favorite Slate Plus segments.

The “Call Us, Definitely” Edition

Steve, Dana, and Julia answer listener questions on our annual call-in show.

“Peloton Prisoner” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on TV Club, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” and the “Peloton wife.”

“Impenetrable Façade” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on department store window displays, Marriage Story, and the decade.

“The Doughnut Inside the Doughnut Hole” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Knives Out, Clive James, and Watchmen.

“Posh Veg” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on the British reality show Gogglebox, Bon Appétit’s Gourmet Makes video series, and the 50 best nonfiction books.

“Live from Vancouver” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Irishman, Schitt’s Creek, and targeted advertising.