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

Culture Gabfest “Lash, Pre-Lash, and Parasocial Relations” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on The Card Counter, Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, and how John Mulaney inspired a wider discussion on parasocial relationships.

Culture Gabfest “10 Rings, 12 Minutes, and 20 Years” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Shang-Chi, Spike Lee’s 9/11 docuseries, and the star-studded video game 12 Minutes.

“Say Their Names” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Candyman, Netflix’s The Chair, and Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts.

“Flying Puppet Baby” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Annette, The Pursuit of Love, and the board game Wingspan.

“One Year in the Dungeon” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on CODA, Boyfriend Dungeon, and the Slate podcast One Year.

“Summer Strut” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on the songs of the summer.

Heads Are Gonna Roll

The Culture Gabfest on The Green Knight, Billie Eilish’s new album, and Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit.

“Capitalist Pigs” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Pig, White Lotus, and The Plot Thickens: The Devil’s Candy.

“Deepfake” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Roadrunner, Schmigadoon, and Landslide.

“The Patriarchy Can F Itself” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Black Widow, Kevin Can F**k Himself, and the viral essay responding to “Cat Person.”

“I Think Jack Antonoff Should Leave” Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Summer of Soul, I Think You Should Leave, and Jack Antonoff’s role in pop music.

“Tweeting Through It’ Edition

Slate Culture Gabfest on Zola, We Are Lady Parts, and the future of HBO.

“Man Out of Time, Fish Out of Water” Edition

Luca, Loki, and the new season of Slate’s Decoder Ring.

“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.