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 Heights and the Depths” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on In the Heights, Hacks, and Liz Phair.

“Here, We Made You Some Content” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Mare of Easttown, Bo Burnham, and the Amazon-MGM deal.

“It’s Brutal Out Here” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Cruella, The Underground Railroad, and Olivia Rodrigo.

“Angelina Jolie, Firefighter” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Those Who Wish Me Dead, literary criticism and self-help, and M.O.D.O.K.

“Godot vs. the Machines” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Bennifer, and Waiting for Godot.

“Always3Gether” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Girls5eva, vaccine personalities, and The Disciple.

“Hard Sci-Fi” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Stowaway, Call My Agent!, and masks outdoors.

“Monster Boss” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on the Oscars, Nobody, and Scott Rudin.

“Organized Crime” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Collective, Law & Order: Organized Crime, and Substack.

“Sleeps With the Fishes” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on What Lies Below, Worn Stories, and Prince

“What’s Love Got to Do With It” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Judas and the Black Messiah, Tina, and The Beauty Myth.

“Unreal World” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on The Father, The Real World Homecoming: New York, and Philip Roth.

“Monotextural Pasta Slurry” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Another Round, pasta, and art museums.

“WFT is an NFT” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Coming 2 America, The Human Voice, and NFTs.

“Silent or Silenced” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Oprah’s Harry and Meghan interview, Stanley Tucci, and Dr. Seuss.

“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.