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

“Allen v. Farrow” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Allen v. Farrow, the Golden Globes, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

“Secrets of the New York Times Spelling Bee” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Nomadland, the NYT Spelling Bee, and group chats.

“Oops I Did It Again” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Saint Maud, Framing Britney Spears, and “Drivers License.”

“$13,000 Bottle of Whine” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Minari, Mike Nichols, and Chrissy Teigen.

“Magic or Manipulation” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Locked Down, Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself, and a controversial review.

“Revenge Is a Dish Best Served French” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Promising Young Woman, Lupin, and nothingness.

“Sound of Marvel” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Sound of Metal, WandaVision, and TikTok sea shanties.

“Country So Unreal” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on City So Unreal, conservative media outlets, and “The Plague Year.”

“Pongs of the Past” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Let Them All Talk, 2020 in TV, and smells from the past.

“Snag a Duke” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Wonder Woman 1984, Bridgerton, and the Movie Club.

“Live From Lockdown” Edition

In this audio version of a recent virtual live show, the hosts reply to voicemail messages and emails from listeners.

“Mile High, Inch Deep” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Flight Attendant, and Disney.

“Algorithmic Rosebud” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Mank, Spotify Wrapped, and best books of 2020.

“Happiest Scaffolding” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Happiest Season, How To With John Wilson, and who should voice audiobooks.

“Girls on Film” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on The Crown, the TikTok Ratatouille musical, and the future of streaming.

“That Schmoopy Feeling” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on the Bachelorette, Saturday Night Live, and societal collapse.

The “Endgame” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on The Queen’s Gambit, Garner’s Quotations, and how the Trump administration will be remembered in American Studies classes.

The “Democracy Shaken, Not Stirred” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on What the Constitution Means to Me, Sean Connery, and Song Exploder.

“New Weird America” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Borat 2, “The Harry Smith B-Sides,” and Zoom.

“Ensorcelled by Sorkin” Edition

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