Culture Gabfest

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

Illustration depicting a female with a microphone

Listen longer

Slate Plus members get ad-free versions of all Slate podcasts, plus extra segments, bonus episodes, and more. Try it free today.

Join Slate Plus

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

“Ensorcelled by Sorkin” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Trial of the Chicago 7, Ted Lasso, and “Cereal Eats” with Jamelle Bouie.

“Might As Well Jump” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Dick Johnson Is Dead, We Are Who We Are, and Eddie Van Halen.

“Lost Me at Bonjour” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Glorias, Emily in Paris, and Trump with COVID-19.

“The Kardashians and Other Liquid Creatures” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on My Octopus Teacher, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and QAnon.

The “Live From Home” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Cuties, the Emmys, and the future of fashion.

The “Pregnancy and Prayer” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Ramy, the Oscars inclusion requirements, and Unpregnant.

The “Horrors Real and Imagined” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Lovecraft Country, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, and is NYC over?

The “Bogus Journey” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Bill & Ted, Chadwick Boseman, and Days of Heaven.

The “Mad as Hell” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on a viral YouTube reaction video, The Great Influenza, and Network.

The “Folklorn” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Taylor Swift’s Folklore, school reopenings, and My Man Godfrey.

The “Summer Strut 2020” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on the songs of the summer.

The “Hamilton in the Trump Era” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on I May Destroy You, Hamilton, and Twister.

The “Toppling Teddy Roosevelt” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on the toppling of statues, Da 5 Bloods, and Center Stage.

The “Black Lives Matter” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on anti-racist reading lists, cop shows, and citizen-shot videos of police brutality.

The “Never Will I Ever Beef with Chrissy Teigen” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Never Have I Ever, Twitter beefs in the time of COVID-19, and Out of Sight.

The “Normal People?” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Normal People, John Krasinski’s Some Good News, and In a Lonely Place.

The “Don’t call me Shirley” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Unorthodox, the state of comedy, and Airplane!

The “Fetch the Patriarchy” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Mrs. America, Fiona Apple, and Local Hero.

“The Talented Mr. Quibi” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Quibi, John Prine, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

The “Will Restaurants Survive?” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on the restaurant industry, Adam Schlesinger, and Sneakers.