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

“Live from Los Feliz” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Parasite, the pursuit of happiness, and Dickinson.

“Chaos Is the New Cocaine” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Dolemite Is My Name, The Morning Show, and the demise of Deadspin.

“Hail Satan” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Rosemary’s Baby, Modern Love, and Morrissey.

“Voice Like a Jangly Bell” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Pain and Glory, Dolly Parton’s America, and playwright Lauren Gunderson.  

The “Claggy Sponge” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on El Camino, The Great British Baking Show, and the streaming wars.

“Your Boundary Is My Trigger” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Joker, Transparent’s musical finale, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

“Gap-Toothed Rube” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Judy, Unbelievable, and drag.

“Iconic Staircase” Edition

The Culture Gabfest on Ad Astra, A Very Brady Renovation, and George Packer’s piece on meritocracy and schools.

“Climb Inside My Fur” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Hustlers, Ken Burns’ Country Music, and Caroline Calloway.

“Our Poetry Is Bad” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on American Factory, Lana Del Rey, and Dana’s residency at a monastery.

“Stinker Thinker” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Sterling Affairs, On Becoming a God In Central Florida, and Taylor Swift’s album Lover.

Culture Gabfest “Will You Be There for Me?” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Blinded by the Light, Lodge 49, and Friends’ 25th anniversary.

Culture Gabfest “Where’d You Go, Jar Jar Binks?” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Where’d You Go, Bernadette, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Slate’s list of the 25 most important characters of the past 25 years.

Culture Gabfest “Super-Abled” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Nightingale, The Boys, and Toni Morrison.

The Culture Gabfest “Best in Blow” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Farewell, Blown Away, and the legacy of Hal Prince.

The Culture Gabfest “Gunfight at the O.K. Career” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Netflix’s The Great Hack, and chronic Lyme disease.

The Culture Gabfest “Uncanny Savannah” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Lion King, TikTok, and The Loudest Voice.

The Culture Gabfest “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Peterloo, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the legacy of Mad magazine.

The Culture Gabfest “Fetch the Mallets” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Midsommar, João Gilberto, and the end of life hacking.

The Culture Gabfest “Summer Strut 2019” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on this year’s candidates for song of the summer and our annual Summer Strut playlist.