Culture Gabfest

Culture Gabfest “Need for Speed” Edition

Slate’s Culture Gabfest on Top Gun: Maverick, George Carlin’s American Dream, and the Depp/Heard trial.

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Episode Notes

This week, the panel begins by revisiting the Top Gun academy with Top Gun: Maverick. Then, the panel is joined by critic and author Jason Bailey to assess the career of George Carlin, presented in the two-part documentary George Carlin’s American Dream. Finally, the panel discusses the defamation trial of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard that is gripping the media.

In Slate Plus, the panel remembers the career of Ray Liotta.

Email us at culturefest@slate.com.

Endorsements

Dana: The film Paris, 13th District, which is a light, French relationship movie where everyone has perfect sweaters, deep wine glasses, and engaging romantic arguments.

Julia: A birdwatching app, Merlin. Which can now identify birds by shazaming its song to identify the bird species.

Steve: Guardian book review from Anil Gomes for The Guardian, titled “Private Notebooks 1914–1916 by Ludwig Wittgenstein review—sex and logic,” about the first translation of famous philosopher’s notebooks in English.

Buy Dana’s book and Isaac’s book!

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe.

Outro music is “Any Other Way” by Particle House.

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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.

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Hosts

  • Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic.

  • Jason Bailey is film editor at Flavorwire and the author of three books. His work has also appeared at the New York Times, VICE, the Atlantic, and the Village Voice.

  • Julia Turner, former editor in chief of Slate, is a deputy managing editor at the Los Angeles Times and a regular on Slate’s Culture Gabfest podcast.

  • Stephen Metcalf is Slate’s critic at large. He is working on a book about the 1980s.