Slate Plus Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Slate Plus
It feels like we live in a world of near constant environmental disasters. Whether it’s living through an emergency, or consuming coverage in the media, collective trauma takes a mental toll. What steps can we take to be ready—for ourselves, our communities, and to help the recovery?
Guest: Dr. Tara Powell, associate professor, School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
On today’s show, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton are joined by Slate business and tech writer Nitish Pahwa to describe his recent piece on the deranged world of vintage fast-food training videos. In the depths of Youtube, videos from companies like McDonald’s, Hardee’s, and Jack in the Box depict a bygone era where employees were trained by animated burgers and celebrity cameos. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim.
This week, Stephen and Dana are joined by guest host Kat Chow, journalist and author of the 2021 memoir Seeing Ghosts. The panel begins by wading through HELL, Chris Fleming’s new hour-long comedy special that’s both puzzling and delightfully goofy. Then, the three consider Astrakan, a deeply dark and unsettling first feature from director David Depesseville, and attempt to parse through the film’s (intentionally?) ambiguous messages. Finally, they conclude by discussing Rotten Tomatoes, the widely used critical review aggregation site and subject of the recent Vulture exposé by Lane Brown, “The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes,” which details a “gaming of the system” by Hollywood PR teams.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel dives into the 2023 U.S. Open, specifically the effect of extreme heat on gameplay and how the sport will need to contend with climate change going forward.
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Kat: C Pam Zhang’s brilliant upcoming novel The Land of Milk and Honey.
Dana: One of the best novels she’s read in years, Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas.
Stephen: The Guest by Emma Cline, a novel that serves as a “carefully observed ethnography of the super rich.”
Outro music: “On the Keys of Steel” by Dusty Decks.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
Danny Lavery welcomes poet Elisa Gonzalez, whose first book, Grand Tour, will be published this month. Lavery and Gonzalez offer advice to someone who feels responsible for complicating their friend’s life by sparking their interest in transitioning. Another letter writer is wondering at what point would it be less painful to move on from an unsupportive dad. Plus a listener writes in to comment on the episode “Time to Move On”. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… popping the question.
By The Knot’s estimates, we’re officially entering peak wedding season. And we know there are many, many controversial opinions we could tackle about weddings, but let’s start with that thing that precedes most weddings: the engagement ring.
The ring – especially a diamond one – is an institution that feels like a foregone conclusion for couples taking the next step in their relationship. But does it need to be?
Belinda Luscombe, author of Marriageoloy and editor-at-large at TIME Magazine, joins us to argue for the end of the engagement ring.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
Back in January, Ron DeSantis appointed six new trustees to the board of Florida’s New College, who swiftly set about remaking the school according to a much more conservative vision of what college should be. Now, as the new school year begins, we’re starting to see what that vision actually looks like.
Guest: Sam Greenspan, freelance journalist who attended New College of Florida from 2004 to 2008.
Niky just isn’t jibing with Spanish. She’s tried courses, podcasts, apps, and even private tutors in order to make a connection with Spanish speakers around Toronto, at her job, and while traveling. But years into her language-learning journey, she’s not even close to being fluent. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace introduces Niky to Luca Lampariello. A speaker of 14 languages, Luca is a teacher and the founder of the Smart Language Learning Academy. He offers up tons of insight into why we learn the way we do, making what we learn actually stick, and how to have fun along the way.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Remember Everything
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001. We might invite you on the show! Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Joel Meyer, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Coco Gauff’s big breakthrough at the U.S. Open. They also discuss Texas’ win over Alabama, and whether the Longhorns are back, baby. Finally, the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver joins to assess Team USA’s non-medal-winning performance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Coco Gauff (2:48): Why her first grand slam victory felt so monumental. Texas-Alabama (24:38): Are the Longhorns rising up or is the Crimson Tide on the way down? FIBA World Cup (41:08): Why did Team USA flop again? Does it matter? Afterballs (1:08:22): Joel on Willie Jeffries and Stefan on how Billie Jean King and a deodorant manufacturer secured equal pay for women at the U.S. Open in 1973.
This week, guest-host Nate Chinen talks to Kalia Vandever, a trombonist and bandleader who recently performed alongside Harry Styles in the U.S. and Europe during his “Love on Tour” tour. In the interview, Kalia explains how she got used to performing in front of gigantic, loud, high-energy crowds. She also shares how her experience touring with Harry has informed her solo work.
After the interview, Nate and co-host June Thomas talk about the challenges and learning opportunities that come from moving to a larger stage–literally or figuratively.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Kalia discusses some of her favorite horn sections in popular music. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
It wasn’t long ago when social media was a place to go for up-to-the-minute updates in an emergency. But even as internet access is more widespread than ever—and natural disasters more frequent—Twitter and Facebook are less useful than ever. As hubs for news, that era appears over.
Guest: Will Oremus, tech reporter for the Washington Post.
Danny Lavery welcomes Vani Gupta, a speech language pathologist in Sydney, Australia. Lavery and Gupta offer advice to someone who is wondering if they should tell their girlfriend that they overheard her family wondering why they were together. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The racist murders of three Black Americans in Jacksonville renewed fears of a rising tide of violent white supremacists. At the same time, fascist movements are successfully recruiting more diverse members. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Daryle Lamont Jenkins, an activist who has devoted his career to tracking and confronting extremists, and even to helping people escape white supremacist groups. Jenkins proudly embraces the maligned “antifa” label, and is encouraging followers to find ways every day to stand up to organized extremists, from neighborhoods to the national government.
Guest: Daryle Lamont Jenkins, Executive Director of the One People’s Project
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel
In this episode, Dr. Orna Guralnik (host of Showtime's Couples Therapy) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when a friend is obsessed with misogynistic love and relationship podcasts, when your husband just can’t figure out birthday gifts, and when you’re wondering “Does therapy just not work for me?” If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
As Twitt—sorry, X—continues to go through tumult, an unlikely, long-time player is emerging as the last acceptable place to post.
Guest: Sarah Frier, tech editor at Bloomberg Businessweek.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s trials schedule and the 2024 election calendar; Vivek Ramaswamy; and “What the Best Places in America Have in Common.” Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Devlin Barrett, Rachel Weiner, and Perry Stein for The Washington Post: “Trump’s D.C. election-obstruction trial scheduled for March 2024 Josh Barro in Very Serious: “Section Guy Runs For President” Kathryn J. Edin, H. Luke Shaefer, and Timothy J. Nelson in The Atlantic: “What the Best Places in America Have in Common” and The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America MGM’s “Red Dawn” official trailer John Dickerson for CBS News’ Prime Time: “Russia accuses Ukraine of large-scale drone attack” Hamlet by Shakespeare: “To die, to sleep– To sleep–perchance to dream.” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Strike Force Five podcast on Spotify; Caroline Anders for The Washington Post: “France has too much wine. It’s paying millions to destroy the leftovers.”; Giri Viswanathan for CNN: “Marijuana and hallucinogen use, binge drinking reached records highs in middle-aged adults, survey finds”; and James Martinez for AP: “’Like Snoop Dogg’s living room’: Smell of pot wafts over notorious U.S. Open court” Emily: Tennis.com: “Azarenka, Svitolina, Wozniacki among 10 moms in the US Open main draw this year” David: Tree of the Year 2023 by the Woodland Trust; European Tree of the Year; Asian Tree of the Year; and Josh Levin for Slate’s One Year: 1955 podcast: “The Team Nobody Would Play” Listener chatter from Brian Jackson: Jordan Pascale for DCist: “At DCA, Crews Race Each Night To Repave A Bit Of Runway Before The Next Day’s Flights”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, Emily, and David discuss militias.
In this month’s Gabfest Reads, Emily, David, and John talk with Barbara Kingsolver about her best-selling book, Demon Copperhead. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
On this episode: Award-winning journalist Dashka Slater joins to talk about her new book, Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed. It’s a story of a teen sharing extremely racist memes and photos of classmates on a private instagram and what happened when the account was discovered. It led to even more hurt, protests, botched mediation, and a community-wide conversation about justice and what it means to be complicit.
Besides the interview, hosts Jamilah Lemieux, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen share their parenting ups and downs of the week—including a late night before the first day of kindergarten and big-kid summer camp. Then, on Slate Plus: we share lots of listener letters ranging from two player games to suggestions for handling the great bathroom conundrum of 2023.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
In 1955, the frontiersman Davy Crockett became the most famous man in America, more than a century after his death at the Alamo. This week, Evan Chung dives into a cultural phenomenon nobody saw coming. Not the kids in coonskin caps who started the craze, not the parents whose money fueled it, and least of all Walt Disney, the legendary studio head who created it totally by accident.
Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.
This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional production by Sophie Summergrad.
It was edited by Joel Meyer and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.
Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re talking about The Kiss. Scaachi Koul is joined by Women’s World Cup reporter for The Athletic and freelance sports reporter, Tamerra Griffin to talk about Spanish Soccer President, Luis Rubiales forcibly kissing player Jennifer Hermoso after Spain’s World Cup final win. They dig into the internal strife that was already going on within the Spanish team, Rubiales’s history of alleged misconduct, where the sport can go from here, and more.
In Slate Plus: How female players express themselves on the pitch. If you liked this episode, check out: Watch the Women’s World Cup, Damnit! Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Scaachi Koul, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
The Cannon Street All-Stars dreamed of playing in the 1955 Little League World Series. Their biggest obstacle didn’t come on the field. In the year that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, these Black 12-year-olds became unlikely civil rights pioneers—and faced the wrath of a white society that wasn’t ready to change.
Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.
This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional production by Sophie Summergrad.
It was edited by Joel Meyer and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.
Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on April 27. What Next will resume regular programming next week.
A self-described activist had late-stage, fallopian tube cancer. She didn’t live in one of the 11 jurisdictions that allows terminally-ill patients the choice to medically end their own lives. But rather than relocating, she argued Vermont’s residency restrictions were unconstitutional.
Guest: Lynda Bluestein, a 75-year-old woman seeking to end her life on her terms, who successfully sued Vermont over their residency requirement in their “Patient Choice At End of Life” law.
In the early days of television, women struggled to find their place. In 1955, they got it: forecasting the weather, on stations all across the country. But as these “weather girls” transformed the airwaves, a group of powerful men hatched a plan—one that had the potential to push women weathercasters off the air forever.
Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.
This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional production by Sophie Summergrad.
It was edited by Joel Meyer and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.
Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on Nov. 9, 2022. What Next will resume regular programming next week.
As Texas laws have become more discriminatory against trans individuals and their families, many wonder if they can even stay in the Lone Star State, especially when parents could be investigated as child abusers for providing healthcare to their children. This family made the difficult decision to move to Colorado.
Guests: Katie Laird, social justice blogger. Noah Laird, high school student.
This week, Julia is joined by Slate associate culture writer Nadira Goffe and Jamelle Bouie, opinion columnist at The New York Times. The panel begins by test driving Gran Turismo, a sports movie that is essentially a Playstation commercial based on popular intellectual property and “real life.” Then, they explore Mask Girl, a visually stylish K-drama that tackles men, capital letters, systemic violence, Korean beauty standards, and fame through smart social satire. Finally, the three discuss the virtues, or lack thereof, found in Oliver Anthony’s number one hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond” (which Jamelle also covered in his essay “The Irony in the ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’”). In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel considers prep, preppy style, and their relationships to the American art form, inspired by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela’s piece for The New Republic, “We’re All Preppy Now.” Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Jamelle: The films of Satoshi Kon, the legendary Japanese film director, animator, and screenwriter. Jamelle particularly enjoys Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress, which he calls a “love letter to mid-century Japanese filmmaking.” Julia: A recent tomato sandwich devotee, Julia endorses Eric Kim’s furikake tomato sandwich recipe for The New York Times. It calls for Wonder Bread, a bit of mayonnaise, heirloom tomatoes, and a sprinkling of the dry Japanese condiment. Nadira: British neo-funk electronic collective, Jungle, and the dance-based music videos for their latest album, Volcano, specifically “Candle Flame,” “Dominoes,” and viral sensation “Back on 74,” brilliantly choreographed by Shay Latukolan. Outro music: "Warefare" by Sandra Bjurman Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong. Hosts Julia Turner, Nadira Goffe, Jamelle Bouie
As an end of summer treat, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim dive deep into the drama that engulfed BookTok earlier this August. Over the spring and early summer, hockey-themed romance novels enjoyed a rise in the BookTok charts, a rise that led to an influx of new fans into the hockey community. One team in particular, the Seattle Krakens, became the unofficial team of BookTok, with Swedish player Alex Wennberg receiving special attention. Sexualized commentary by content creators like Kierra Lewis was both tacitly and overtly encouraged by the Kraken, who flew Lewis out to games. All of this changed when Wennberg’s wife asked fans to stop posting sexualized content about her husband, a request that sent HockeyTok into a tailspin. So, what does this all mean in an era where loud and overt female desire is not only celebrated but monetized? Is there a difference between thirsting loudly for celebrities like Chris Evans and minor stars like Wennberg? And has internet thirst perhaps gone too far? This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Danny Lavery welcomes Vani Gupta, a speech language pathologist in Sydney, Australia. Lavery and Gupta offer advice to someone who upset their husband after revealing that her former therapist and her used to flirt in therapy. Plus, an update on the letter “Clingy Sister Syndrome”, which appeared in our September 13th, 2022 episode. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… preventing the preventable.
At best, the rate of epidemic of drug overdose deaths in this country is slowing — but by many metrics and in many jurisdictions, the situation remains as dire as ever.
Which begs the question: what tactics will work to prevent these deaths, if nothing has yet?
Laura Guzman, Executive Director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition, joins us to say that harm reduction strategies like clean needles, clean pipes, and Narcan distribution are the way forward… because criminalizing drug use isn’t.
RESOURCES FOR PREVENTING OVERDOSES: Access guidance and emergency mental health support via Overdose Lifeline. Find Naloxone near you here. You may be able to receive Naloxone through the mail; check here. Find harm reduction centers near you here.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
It’s a family joke that Dave and his 13 year-old son are the same person. So when his son found out he is autistic, Dave realized that he, too, is on the autism spectrum. The label is a comfort—a reassurance that his personality “quirks” have an explanation. But, at the same time, it’s led to all of these questions like should he tell people? What does this change, if anything? And how does he learn to navigate a neurotypical world? On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings in journalist and podcast host, Lauren Ober. Lauren documented her own autism journey on The Loudest Girl In the World. She has lots of advice for living life as a newly diagnosed neurodivergent person.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Love Your Face
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on April 17. What Next will resume regular programming next week.
Iowa was one of the first states in the country to pass legislation against teaching that the United States is systemically racist — an idea some equate with “critical race theory.” But when one social studies teacher asked how he could teach U.S. history without running afoul of the new law, he didn’t get any clarity — or help.
What happens when legislation targets teachers? And as America’s teacher shortage grows — what will this mean for the country’s kids?
Guest: Greg Wickenkamp, former eighth grade social studies teacher in Fairfield, Iowa.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the American stars at the world track and field championships. They also review the documentary BS High, on the Bishop Sycamore high school football scandal. Finally, journalist Semra Hunter joins Stefan and Josh to discuss the latest in the battle between Luis Rubiales and Spain’s women’s soccer team. Track (5:20): Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles won gold and are shooting for stardom. BS High (24:05): Looking back at an amazing con and the man who perpetrated it. Spain (44:49): A fight over soccer, power, and chauvinism. Afterball (1:05:48): Josh on the FIBA Basketball World Cup, naturalized players, and a contretemps in Cambodia.
As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on March 30. What Next will resume regular programming next week.
Two weeks after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Lauren Hall found out the baby she was carrying had a fatal condition: her head and skull weren’t properly developing. Texas’s three overlapping bans on abortion forced her to fly to Washington to terminate the unviable pregnancy. With the Center for Reproductive Rights, she became one of thirteen plaintiffs suing the state, so no one else will have to go through what she did.
Recently, a district court judge decided in their favor, but the state of Texas immediately appealed, leaving pregnant Texans in limbo until the appeals process finishes.
Guest: Lauren Hall, plaintiff suing the state of Texas over its abortion bans.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah help a listener who isn’t happy with her kid’s friend getting unrestricted phone access. Is there a way to enforce their family rules when they’re playing at the friend’s house? Then, Elizabeth has a back-to-school conundrum of her own and is seeking advice.
Recommendations: Jamilah: Simply Light Lemonade with Raspberry. Zak: Jazz Baby Elizabeth: Caep phone strap
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Most pet food is made from the byproducts of the meat that we, humans, eat. Recently, there’s been a rise in high-end pet food products - including things like lab-grown meat - that are touted as sustainable options for your furry friend. But a closer look raises questions about whether or not this food is actually better for the environment.
Guest: Chloe Sorvino, writer for Forbes and the author of the book Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed, and the Fight for the Future of Meat.
Special thanks to Patrick Fort and Garbanzo.
This week, host June Thomas is joined by writer Carlos Fonseca, the author of three critically acclaimed novels, and the much-lauded literary translator Megan McDowell. Fonseca and McDowell discuss their working relationship, the creative process of translation itself, and their latest collaboration on the book Austral.
After the interview June is joined by co-host Nate Chinen, for a discussion of the ebb and flow process between complexity and clarity that can exist within a collaborative project.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Fonseca about why translation is important and the background of how the non-textual elements of his book, were translated.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers speak with author and academic Bjorn Lomborg about his latest book, “Best Things First”. How does Bjorn’s advice differ from effective altruism? And where should you donate your own money? In the plus segment: A deep dive into land ownership. Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
In Amicus’ summer series of conversations about books that expanded our thinking about justice and the courts, beyond the churn of headlines, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Judge Margaret M McKeown of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CIrcuit, to discuss her book Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of William O. Douglas―Public Advocate and Conservation Champion
On today’s show, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton walk through Addison Rae’s quest for Hollywood stardom. They run through her moments of flop before the release of AR, a collection of Rae’s leaked music from her “lost album.” Then, Candice and Rachelle are joined by Pitchfork associate editor Cat Zhang to break down her bold and delicious review of “I Got It Bad.” This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Danny Lavery offers advice to someone who wants to be sensitive to their friends who have been trying to have a baby for years. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In this episode, Brian Lehrer (host of WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about how roommates should handle mismatched levels of COVID caution, how to split a check when your friends forget they had appetizers, and how to settle a debate about going braless around teenage sons. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
In the spring, it looked like TikTok was on the verge of being banned in America. Since then, it’s continued operating business as usual.
But this week, it was revealed that ByteDance and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States came close to striking a deal that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. The negotiations give a glimpse into how social media—and by extension speech itself—could be regulated on the internet.
Guest: Emily Baker-White, tech reporter and senior writer at Forbes
A small-town government’s failures pushed volunteer Patrick Braxton to run for mayor. He won the right to lead in Newbern, Alabama. But a white minority has literally locked him out of office. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Aallyah Wright, the Capital B journalist who helped elevate Braxton’s ordeal to national news. They discuss the wider issue of ways Black political power is thwarted by old school racism, and the need for a more wide ranging response.
Guest: Aallyah Wright, Capital B News reporter
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, John Dickerson is back and joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the first Republican primary debate and the simulcast Tucker Carlson interview of Donald Trump; the Republican law professors’ debate about whether the U.S. Constitution prohibits another Trump presidency; and the United Diners of America. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Colectivo Coffee in Madison, Wisconsin Josh Dawsey, Michael Scherer, and Marianne LeVine for The Washington Post: “Republican rivals clash sharply in combative debate with no Trump” Sam Levine for The Guardian: “Could Trump be barred under the constitution’s ‘engaged in insurrection’ clause?” William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review: “The Sweep and Force of Section Three” J. Michael Luttig and Laurence H. Tribe in The Atlantic: “The Constitution Prohibits Trump From Ever Being President Again” Eric Segall in Dorf on Law: “Of Insurrections, Presidents, and the Utter Failure of Constitutional Law to Address the Real Issues” Catherine Rampell for The Washington Post: “Where do socioeconomic classes mix? Not church, but Chili’s.” Maxim Massenkoff and Nathan Wilmers: “Rubbing Shoulders: Class Segregation in Daily Activities” Freevee original “Jury Duty” on Amazon Julie V. Iovine for The New York Times: “Dog Parks Are Great for People. Too Bad They’re Terrible for Dogs.” Applebee’s America: How Successful Political, Business, and Religious Leaders Connect with the New American Community by Ron Fournier, Douglas B. Sosnik, and Matthew J. Dowd “Fancy Like (feat. Kesha)” by Walker Hayes Here are this week’s chatters: John: “Weathervanes” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit; “Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed“ on Max; “Volunteer” and “Cast Iron Skillet” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Emily: Jeff Amy for AP: “Georgia prosecutors are suing to strike down a new state law that undermines their authority” David: Emily Heil for The Washington Post: “Eggo’s ‘Brunch in a Jar’ sippin’ cream is a boozy, diabolical disaster”; Cheez-It Snap’d; City Cast DC 1 Year Anniversary Live Taping Listener chatter from Leonie: Ronan Casey for Classic Rock: “Meat Loaf, a flying wheelchair, and the greatest story ever told” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, Emily, and David debate calendar invitations. In this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily, David, and John talk with Barbara Kingsolver about her best-selling book, Demon Copperhead. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/
It’s the season finale of Max’s Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That…Cheyna Roth and Daisy Rosario unpack the big last supper, and ponder where the show could possibly go from here.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah help a listener who’s realized their community at school is super tight knit… to the point that new families feel left out and lonely. How can this listener and the PTA help bring newbies into the fold?
We also go over our week in triumphs and fails — including potty training breakthroughs, overrated board games, and a mishap involving a glass wall. Then, on Slate Plus: handling little kids’ big feelings about going back to school.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, why can’t celebrities and sports organizations leave trans people alone? On the heels of the International Chess Federation excluding trans women from competing, and some terrible statements from singer Ne-Yo (remember Ne-Yo?) Waves host Scaachi Koul wants to know why everyone is so obsessed with trans people. She talks with cartoonist and author of the graphic novel, Boys Weekend, Mattie Lubchansky about why celebrities can’t help but get involved, why trans women continue to take the brunt of these types of attacks, and what hope there is for the future of trans rights.
In Slate Plus: It’s the season finale of And Just Like That…season 2.
If you liked this episode, check out: How a Drag Queen Recreated the American Dream
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Scaachi Koul, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Additional help from Victoria Whitley-Berry.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on How To!. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus to help support our work.
Over the past year, a growing number of women and children started appearing on New York City subway platforms and trains, selling candy. Their stories illuminate a country in turmoil a continent away—and an ongoing migrant crisis at home.
Guest: Jordan Salama, author of “The Candy Sellers: The lives and livelihoods of some of the city’s newest migrant children” for New York magazine.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler reflect on their times at different arts festivals. Being around like minded individuals drawn together by an appreciation of art can be inspiring. Even if a festival isn’t physically possible to attend, finding creative groups and online communities can sometimes be just as rewarding.
Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Polls show Vivek Ramaswamy pulling even with Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary, trailing only Donald Trump (albeit substantially).
How did Ramaswamy go from anonymous multimillionaire to a potential Trump alternative in just six months? And what would a Ramaswamy administration look like?
Guest: Mini Racker, staff writer covering politics for TIME Magazine.
This week, Dana is joined by Slate’s books and culture columnist, Laura Miller, and senior editor Rebecca Onion (who are filling in for Julia and Stephen). The panel begins by unraveling Passages, the sexy but also, at times, repelling feature from director Ira Sachs about a complicated love triangle. The film received a controversial NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Association. Then, they head to Detroit to discuss Justified: City Primeval, FX’s revival of the Raylan Givens cult classic that ran for six seasons. Finally, the three consider Michael Oher’s recent legal allegation that the Tuohy family (immortalized in the 2009 Oscar-winning movie The Blind Side) never really adopted him but instead, placed him in a conservatorship. It’s a scandal at the fascinating convergence of exploitation, fame, race, and adoption.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel examines nature writing and their relationship to the form, inspired by Jonathan Franzen’s essay for The New Yorker, “The Problem with Nature Writing.”
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Laura: Her quest for a new detective series (that isn’t stupid or cliché) is over: Laura endorses Deadloch, a Prime Video comedy set in Tasmania that’s equal parts genuine mystery and delicious social satire.
Rebecca: Anya Liftig’s memoir, Holler Rat, beautifully recounts her upbringing where she often felt caught between two worlds: the comfortable, upper-middle-class life in Connecticut where she lived, and the summers spent in Appalachia, her mother’s home.
Dana: A behind-the-scenes video for, what could potentially be the song of the summer, “I’m Just Ken” has just been released. In it, we see Ryan Gosling rehearsing and cameos from Greta Gerwig, Simu Liu and co-writer Mark Ronson, and it’s just super fun.
Outro music: “I Want a Change” by The Big Let Down.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
On today’s episode, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim are joined by Slate staff writer Luke Winkie to discuss his recent profile of Critical Role’s Matthew Mercer. Launched by Mercer and his friends in 2015, Critical Role is undoubtedly a megahit, boasting over 600 million views on YouTube. As Winkie wrote in his profile, “A 2021 data leak out of Twitch confirmed that Critical Role is one of the richest channels on the platform, generating a mammoth $9.6 million in revenue between 2019 and 2021.” Hampton, Lim and Winkie discuss the appeal of Critical Role, the so-called “Mercer Effect” and whether Critical Role’s success indicates that Dungeons & Dragons is no longer just the domain of the proudly geeky. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Danny Lavery offers advice to someone who wants to connect to their body as actually part of themself. Another letter writer is troubled that their partner’s partner never pays for anything. Plus, a listener comments about ways to advocate for foster youth. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… main character syndrome.
As concerts and movie theaters have roared back to life this summer, so has a disturbing trend: bad behavior. You’ve seen the videos, probably — picking fights with neighbors, throwing things onstage, and taking videos during Barbie.
Some of these behaviors have higher stakes than others, obviously. But it’s clear that we’re in a new frontier of public behavior… and that it might be more difficult, and more dangerous, to chide our neighbors.
Freelance writer Sara Stewart joins us to argue that times have changed… and it’s time for venues to step up.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
Last week, retired NFL lineman Michael Oher sued the Tuohy family and revealed a gulf between real life and how he and the family were portrayed in 2009’s The Blind Side.
Guest: Santul Nerkar, reporter on sports and business for the New York Times.
Susan never really got over saying goodbye to her eldest daughter, who left for college four years ago. She knew it would be sad, but she didn’t expect to be nauseous. Now her youngest is applying to college, and she’s already dreading drop-off next fall which makes her feel like a "pathetic loser." What can Susan do to prep herself for more heartbreak and a completely empty nest? On this episode of How To!, Amanda Ripley brings on Kelly Corrigan, best-selling author and host of the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders. She recently dropped her youngest daughter off at college, which she wrote about in an essay for the New York Times called “How to Let Go of Your Irreplaceable, Unstoppable Daughter.” She shares some hard-earned wisdom about how to handle major life transitions with grace. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Get Your Kid to Finally Grow Up” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus.
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Yahoo Sports’ Henry Bushnell to talk about Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory and the turmoil that preceded it. The New York Times’ Kurt Streeter joins to discuss the controversy over The Blind Side. Finally, ESPN’s Luis Miguel Echegaray assesses Lionel Messi’s brilliant opening month with Inter Miami. Spain (2:56): The story behind La Roja’s World Cup win and everything that came before. The Blind Side (26:51): Revisiting the book and the movie in light of Michael Oher’s allegations. Messi (48:38): Could anyone have imagined that his transition to America would go this well this quickly?
On this episode: Zak Rosen, Jamilah Lemieux, and Elizabeth Newcamp help a parent who wants to give their youngest some mindfulness tools to help with their nighttime anxiety. They share a ton of resources—so you’re bound to find something that will work for your family!
This week’s non-meditation recommendations: Jamilah: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Elizabeth: Cino Linko Zak: Goodles
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers speak with Yepoka Yeebo, author of Anansi’s Gold: The Man Who Looted the West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled the World. Yeebo explains how John Ackah Bley-Miezah convinced people that he held the keys to a large fortune. All they needed to do was help him access it. Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
Over the last 20 years, the average college student at a public university has seen prices go up 64 percent, as schools spend more and more on amenities to attract students and raise their own rankings.
Guest: Melissa Korn, higher education reporter at the Wall Street Journal.
Sorting through a loved one’s things after they’ve died can be an emotional, difficult chore. But now, added to that, people have to sort through the deceased’s password-protected online presence.
Guests: Kate Lindsay, author of the internet culture newsletter Embedded and the article “My Mom Will Email Me After She Dies” in the Atlantic.
For this week’s episode of Working, host Isaac Butler interviews author Daniel Hornsby on his new novel Sucker and his creative process. The author of Via Negativa, Hornsby’s latest tale was spun out of jokes among friends about Elizabeth Holmes being a vampire and Martin Shkreli’s failed foray as punk-rock label owner, for a deeply sardonic salad of tech world billionaires, and campy horror. Butler is also joined by co-host Nate Chinen, to discuss Hornsby’s inspired ways of generating ideas from physically writing drafts in the bar, to exploring the rules of genres.
Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss FDIC chair Martin Guenberg’s proposal to let big bank debt holders lose money before the uninsured depositors. Also, Rao’s upscale cornering of the red sauce market leads to its $2.7 billion sale to Campbell’s. Finally “The Wig”: Argentina’s right-wing primary winner Javier Milei’s arresting mop and his plan to toss out the currency.
In the Plus segment: Why can’t it be Halloween all year round?
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and an additional segment of our show every week. You’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Slate Money. Sign up now at slate.com/moneyplus to help support our work. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Patrick Fort.
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson talk with author Barbara Kingsolver about her new book, Demon Copperhead. They discuss her inspiration for the novel, what we keep getting wrong about Appalachia, and more.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
On today’s episode, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton dive deep into the mystery shrouding Lil Tay, a 14-year-old influencer who went viral in 2018 for being the “youngest flexer of the century.” In the years since her arrival onto the scene, Lil Tay has been hounded by controversy concerning her parents custodial battle, allegations of abuse and suggestions of exploitation. When rumors started swirling early last week that the 14-year-old and her older brother had passed, online speculation began in earnest, speculation that was in no way stemmed by news that Lil Tay and her brother are alive. Since the dawn of social media, content created about and by children has been inescapable—and extremely profitable. As these children reach adulthood, a national reckoning similar to the one that led to the Coogan Law seems inevitable. But who will have suffered before that reckoning comes? This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kristina Gaddy, the author of Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo’s Hidden History and Flowers in the Gutter: The True Story of the Edelweiss Pirates, Teenagers Who Resisted the Nazis. Lavery and Gaddy offer advice to someone who is concerned that her sister’s drinking is destroying her family. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
At first, cryptocurrency seemed like the solution to the problems sex workers have had with traditional banks. But as the US moves to regulate the crypto industry, many are finding it hasn’t worked out like they'd hoped.
Guests: Joel Khalili, reporter at Wired Liara Roux, sex worker, organizer, and writer
You can check out Joel’s reporting in Wired here.
This week’s indictment of former President Donald Trump in Georgia is widely considered to be the most ambitious prosecution he faces. With 41 counts, and 18 named co-conspirators, it covers alleged crimes in Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 loss in the state. But the case also highlights his attacks on individual Black women, and legitimacy of Black votes in general. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by attorney and voting rights advocate Nse Ufot. She’s the founder of the New South Super PAC, and a long-time activist in Georgia. She says that—no matter what happens in this particular case—voting rights for people of color and other marginalized groups are under constant threat across Georgia, and preserving democratic principles there will require vigilance, strategy, and determination.
Guest: Nse Ufot, voting rights activist and founder of the New South Super PAC
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel.
In this episode, Lori Gottlieb (advice columnist and co-host of the Dear Therapists podcast) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about postpartum depression, wedding-planning anxiety, and what to do when you think neurodivergent people are getting away with way too much. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Lulu Garcia-Navarro of The New York Times to discuss the indictment in Georgia of Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants for trying to overturn the state’s 2020 election results; the court win by Montana youth for “a clean and healthful environment” and the devastating losses of Maui residents to wildfire; and the lawsuit of Michael Oher against his supposed “Blind Side” parents. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: C-SPAN: “Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on the Indictment of Former President Trump” David Gelles, Brad Plumer, Jim Tankersley, and Jack Ewing for The New York Times: “The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think” Christopher Flavelle and Manuela Andreoni for The New York Times: “How Climate Change Turned Lush Hawaii Into a Tinderbox” Josh Levin for Slate: “The Other Blind Sides” and Hang Up and Listen podcast Robyn Autry for MSNBC: “’The Blind Side’ isn’t the only film that gets things wrong. All white savior movies do.” Kristine Parks for Fox News: “Liberal columnists seize on ‘Blind Side’ controversy: ‘White savior’ story looks ‘even more fake’ than before Emily Laurence and Jeff Temple for Forbes: “The Psychology Behind The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Fear of Too Much Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts by Stephen Bright and James Kwak and The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization That Transformed America by Katherine Turk Lulu: Only Murders In The Building on Hulu David: Hijack on Apple TV+ and hiring for Host, City Cast Las Vegas Listener chatter from Julian: Liz Lindqwister for The San Francisco Standard: “San Franciscans Are Having Sex in Robotaxis, and Nobody Is Talking About It”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Lulu, Emily, and David discuss the return of FOMO.
In the most recent edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
On this episode: Zak Rosen, Jamilah Lemieux, and Elizabeth Newcamp are reunited! They start the show with a round of ‘Triumphs and Fails,’ which include a back-to-school clothing haul, a budding song writer, and a difficult swim test. Then they advise a listener who is wondering how to tell their kids about the realities of life, especially when there are so many difficult conversations to be had. If you, or anyone you know, are in crisis—contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
Then, on Slate Plus: Elizabeth shares some of the whimsical playgrounds her family has encountered on their international travels.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Hawaii is in flames, with the death toll from fires on Maui exceeding 100. Now, the search for where the failure—or multiple failures—occurred begins.
Guest: Brianna Sacks, reporter covering climate change and extreme weather for the Washington Post.
The fourth shoe dropped this week, when Fulton County DA Fani Willis announced Donald Trump’s latest indictment, charging the former president, along with 18 others, for engaging in a sprawling criminal conspiracy to disenfranchise Georgia voters. Trump has been responding by lashing out against Willis and voters in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.
Guest: Rick Hasan, professor of law at UCLA and director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project.
This month, hosts Christina Cauterucci, Jules Gill-Peterson, and Bryan Lowder discuss Amazon Prime’s adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s best-selling queer rom-com Red, White & Royal Blue. They also speak with intersex activist and educator Pidgeon Pagonis about their memoir Nobody Needs to Know and the campaign to end nonconsensual surgeries on intersex kids. The hosts end the show, as always, with some new additions to the Gay Agenda.
Items discussed in the show: Red, White, & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston Red, White & Royal Blue on Amazon Prime Outward’s December 2019 special episode on The Inheritance Nobody Needs to Know: A Memoir, by Pidgeon Pagonis Girl, Interrupted, by Susanna Kaysen Interconnect.support, a support group for intersex people
Gay Agenda
Christina: John Early: Now More Than Ever, on Max Jules: “O’Shae Sibley Was Killed While Voguing at a Brooklyn Gas Station. Last Weekend New Yorkers Rallied to Honor His Memory,” in Vogue Bryan: Miriam and Alan Lost in Scotland on PBS, and “Who’s Afraid of Social Contagion,” by Hugh Ryan, in the Boston Review
This podcast was produced by June Thomas.
Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
On today’s show, Candice Lim is joined by Slate producer Cheyna Roth to dissect the recent troubling events that happened on Below Deck: Down Under. Two crew members were fired after separate filmed incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct, and viewers have been praising several cast members for stepping up and doing the right thing. The underappreciated spinoff is now being heralded as the sea of change this outdated and repeatedly toxic franchise needs. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
This week, the panel begins by dissecting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, a zany piece of intellectual property that’s been taken off the shelf by Jeff Rowe, Seth Rogan, and a slew of animators and turned into a critical darling. Then, the trio reviews The Retrievals, a five-part narrative podcast hosted by Susan Burton for The New York Times and Serial Productions that chronicles the systematic ways American healthcare continually denies, discounts, and ignores women’s pain through a series of events that unfolded at the Yale Fertility Clinic. Finally, they are joined by Wesley Morris, critic at large at The New York Times, to discuss his tour de force essay, “How Hip-Hop Conquered the World,” and how the history of the radical art form is as porous and complex as the nation itself.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel commemorates hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with a lightning round of personal accounts about their first encounters with the form.
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Dana: Since their conversation about Sinéad O’Connor a few weeks ago, Dana has dived even deeper into the late Irish singer/songwriter’s oeuvre. One gem she found was The Year of the Horse, a concert documentary recorded live in 1990 at Forest National, Brussels. It’s a fantastic snapshot of a live performance at a very specific time in O’Connor’s life.
Julia: Taylor Swift fans! Julia recently attended Swift’s concert in Los Angeles and was struck by the overall kind, positive, and good vibes of the crowd. Fans of all ages and body types exchanged bracelets with one another, trading “Hi Barbie!” greetings, which made the concert-going experience feel even more special.
Stephen: It may be difficult to convince a teenage girl in 2023 to listen to Tom Waits’ catalog, but Stephen has done exactly that: he created a playlist for his daughter called “Broken Bicycles,” which highlights Waits’ extraordinary ability to write a pop melody.
Outro music: “Spinning Wheels” by Dusty Decks.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kristina Gaddy, the author of Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo’s Hidden History and Flowers in the Gutter: The True Story of the Edelweiss Pirates, Teenagers Who Resisted the Nazis. Lavery and Gaddy offer advice to a bride who’s adoptive mom is upset that her biological mom was invited to her wedding. Another letter writer is wondering how to talk to his fiancėe about the unscientific nature of social media. Plus, banjo origin stories with a cameo from Slate’s own Ben Richmond! Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… choosin’ cruisin’.
There seem to be two types of people in this world: those who love going on cruise ships, and those who wouldn’t be caught dead on one. Whichever you are, you probably feel pretty strongly about this.
The cruise industry has come roaring back from the brink since the lifting of pandemic restrictions, and there’s never been more to do while you’re at sea. So for the slight majority of you who, statistically, aren’t cruise fans, today’s guest poses a question: why not?
Ezra Dyer, senior editor at Car and Driver, joins us to argue that cruises are the kind of tacky fun that you might just like… in spite of yourself.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
Have you ever wanted to move to a new country? Picking up and starting over internationally can be rewarding, but also nerve-wracking. Our listener Sara has lived overseas for more than a decade, but she recently moved to Switzerland and is struggling to fit in. On this episode of How To!, founding host Charles Duhigg brings in Dr. Nassim Assefi who, amongst all of her interesting professional accomplishments, is a self-identified “global nomad.” She’s lived in over 10 countries and draws on her extensive personal experience to help Sara—and anyone thinking about moving abroad—make a smooth transition.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Uproot Your Life
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Earlier this summer, it looked like Hunter Biden’s legal team had reached a plea deal. But last week, the Justice Department announced a special counsel was being appointed to his case. What happened in between? Is the president's son getting singled out—or special treatment?
Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and a former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department.
With every indictment, Donald Trump’s legal fees grow—but so do his campaign donations. But money is leaving faster than it’s arriving—how long can he keep this up?
Guest: Ben Kamisar, deputy political editor for the NBC political unit.
On this episode: Zak Rosen talks with Phillip Maciak, TV critic with The New Republic, teacher at Washington University in St. Louis, and author of the book, Avidly Reads Screen Time. He explains where the concept of screen time started and how it became this marker of good (or bad) parenting.
Recommendations: Zak: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie + The “Mouse Game” Jamilah: The Barbie movie
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
When conservative writer Richard Hanania’s old posts, originally published under a pseudonym, came to light, people were shocked at just how racist and reactionary they were. Perhaps less shocking were the tech moguls who were revealed to be supporting him.
Guest: Anil Dash, technologist and writer, and the head of Glitch
This week, guest-host Nate Chinen talks to Miguel Cervantes, the actor currently playing Alexander Hamilton on Broadway. In the interview, Miguel explains why he’s not trying to mimic or channel the original performances by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He also shares how a personal tragedy changed his life and continues to impact his art.
After the interview, Nate and co-host June Thomas talk about repetition and ritual as tools for creative work.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Miguel tells the story of an embarrassing mishap on stage.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Felix Salmon and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Cardiff Garcia (host of The New Bazaar) to discuss ESPN’s big new investment in sports betting. They break down the state of a lawsuit over how much UFC fighters get paid. Finally, they talk about the increasing allure of private credit. In the plus segment: WeWork may not be long for this world. Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
On today’s show, Candice is joined by Vivian Yoon, the writer and host of K-Pop Dreaming. They dissect the hype surrounding K-pop viral sensation NewJeans, talk about the musical influences that make them stand out, and share their own experiences growing up with K-pop. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Rachelle Hampton, Candice Lim and Daisy Rosario, with special thanks to Emily Charash.
In Amicus’ summer series of conversations about books that expanded our thinking about justice and the courts, beyond the churn of headlines, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Joshua Prager to discuss his book The Family Roe: An American Story, about the unknown lives at the heart of Roe v Wade. Sign up for Slate Plus now to support our show.
This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem to discuss the Ohio vote not to make it harder to change the state constitution; Republican views on Donald Trump’s offenses; and emergency preparedness or the lack thereof. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jack Goldsmith for The New York Times: “The Prosecution of Trump May Have Terrible Consequences” The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters by Juliette Kayyem Charles M. Blow for The New York Times: “The Montgomery Brawl Was, for Some, a Clarifying Moment” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: WESH 2: “Gov. DeSantis suspends State Attorney Monique H. Worrell, citing neglect of duty” Juliette: Clay Risen for The New York Times: “Charles J. Ogletree Jr., 70, Dies; at Harvard Law, a Voice for Equal Justice” and Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “Why Is Affirmative Action in Peril? One Man’s Decision.” David: City Cast DC 1 Year Anniversary Live Taping, August 28, 2023, and Rachel Pannett for The Washington Post: “She invited four people over for lunch. A week later, three were dead.” Listener chatter from Rob Parsons: Richard Nelson for Encounters North: “Classic Audio Encounters”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Juliette, Emily, and David discuss the Montgomery, Alabama riverfront brawl.
In the most recent edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
Danny Lavery welcomes Dr. Ida Santana, an addiction medicine physician and a writer. She’s on Substack @idasantana where she publishes Osage Orange, Dispatches from the Prairieland. Lavery and Santana offer advice to someone who is worried about possible domestic abuse with a neighbor, and isn’t sure what to do about it. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
A “smart gun” is designed to only work in the hands of the gun’s proper owner. With the first smart gun potentially coming to market later this year, can the tech deliver on its promise?
Guests: Champe Barton, reporter at the Trace Kai Kloepfer, founder and CEO of Biofire
In this episode, Joel Anderson (the host of the latest season of Slate’s Slow Burn) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters about persistent friend requests from colleagues, allegations of white supremacy surrounding graduation attire, and what to do when your biggest relationship issue is cat litter in the bed. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
According to the United Nations, more civilians died in Haiti than died in Ukraine during the first few months of 2023. Institutions have collapsed; violent gangs control the capital, and kidnappers are terrorizing citizens. What’s left of the Haitian government has pleaded for international help, but historically, foreign interventions in Haiti have harmed, exploited, and even killed many Haitians. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Patrick Gaspard, chief of the Center for American Progress think tank, who argues the U.S. has a moral obligation to intervene. Gaspard is also the former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, and a Haitian-American.
Guest: Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah go over their week in triumphs, fails, solo parenting, and solo travel. Then we talk youth sports before hearing an interview between Elizabeth and Kirsten Jones, nationally recognized performance coach, former athlete, and author of Raising Empowered Athletes.
Then, on Slate Plus: what if friendship, not marriage, was the center of our adult social lives?
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
In December of 2010, four bodies were discovered in Gilgo Beach, Long Island. Nearly 13 years later, police now say they’ve identified the killer.
Though the victims’ family members are relieved, they’re also left wondering what took so long.
Guest: Robert Kolker, author of Lost Girls.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, former Buzzfeed reporter and current Scamfluencers host, Scaachi Koul is taking over hosting The Waves for the next few weeks. This week she’s digging deep into the life of First Lady hopeful, Casey DeSantis. Scaachi is joined by Washington Post reporter, Ruby Cramer. Ruby wrote a masterpiece on Casey DeSantis, “Tracing the power of Casey DeSantis.” They get into why Casey DeSantis scares Scaachi, how to properly make fun of Ron’s wife, and why the Ron and Casey two-some is so exclusive.
In Slate Plus: continuing our And Just Like That…recap with episode 9.
If you liked this episode, check out: Your Period Deserves Respect
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Scaachi Koul, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler dive into all the ways creatives should relax and vacation. Whether it’s splashing in the pool, or breezing through some books, a few days of R&R can be just what is needed to replenish the creative juices. The hosts also explore the many conversations among friends and family that can sometimes jostle loose a new creative idea and recharge your relationships. Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Candice Lim and Daisy Rosario give their takes on Doja Cat’s latest controversy: hating her fans. They trace her long-documented and problematic history with the internet, then ask how much a fandom can endure before the unstanning process begins. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Once you start listening for catchphrases in everyday life—you can’t stop hearing them. From the radio era’s “Holy mackerel!” to Fonzie’s “Ayyy!” to Urkel’s multiple go-to lines on Family Matters, we explore the irresistible quotables from sitcoms, movies and social media that have burrowed into our collective lexicon. Oh, just one more thing… bazinga! (Did I do that?)
This episode was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Joel Meyer. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
Thank you to Luke Winkie, Stephen Langford, Doug Dietzold and The Good, the Bad and the Sequel podcast, and Shawn Green for the suggestion and Urkel clips.
If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, you can email us at DecoderRing@slate.com. If you haven’t yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.
What’s behind a recent uptick in kidnappings and gang violence in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and how did Kenya end up being the country stepping up to help?
Guest: Jacqueline Charles, Caribbean correspondent at The Miami Herald.
This week, the panel is joined by pop critic and chart analyst (and host of Slate’s Hit Parade podcast) Chris Molanphy for our annual Summer Strut episode. The four dive into the longest listener-suggested summer playlist to date (this year, it’s a 682 song behemoth that adds up to approximately 42 hours!) and take turns in an electric, strut-ty roundtable discussion of their top picks.
You can find their collective favorites here in the Summer Strut '23 Shortlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Ivpm4HVLsMw3LFwkgp7lw?si=90d2d26d65264157
To view Dana, Steve, Julia, and Chris's personal shortlists, check out the Summer Strut show page at slate.com/culturefest.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel does an additional round of their Strut-iest picks.
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
Danny Lavery welcomes Dr. Ida Santana, an addiction medicine physician and a writer. She’s on Substack @idasantana where she publishes Osage Orange, Dispatches from the Prairieland. Lavery and Santana offer advice to an educator dealing with transphobia at their school. Another letter is burnt out from supporting their friend, but is afraid to stop. Plus, a listener comment for the episode, “Is She Really Going Out with Her?” Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… almost affirmative.
We don’t yet know what the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action is going to do, tangibly, to college admissions — or how long those impacts will last. But, based on past experiments, we have a decent idea. And many advocates say the implications here are urgent and dire.
But affirmative action might not have been the great equalizing force that a lot of people believe it was.
Bertrand Cooper, freelance journalist and policy researcher, joins us to elaborate on his belief that poor Black kids were failed by affirmative action.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
As the massive Caldor fire blazed towards South Lake Tahoe in 2021, Joyce knew she had to get out. “The sky was red. It was like hell on earth,” she remembers. Her family got to safety and her house was miraculously spared. But, even now, it can be jarring to remember the fire. Climate-related extreme weather events are on the rise and another disaster is seemingly right around the corner. Especially with freakish flash floods, a scorching heatwave and wildfire smoke blanketing much of the country. On this episode of How To!, guest-host Cheyna Roth brings on Dr. Britt Wray, author of Generation Dread: Finding Purpose In an Age of Climate Crisis. Dr. Wray explains why we need to treat climate anxiety differently and how we can create resilience both internally and within our communities as we face climate change, together.
Resources Mentioned: Climate Psychology Alliance Climate Psychiatry Alliance Good Grief Network Climate Awakening Gen Dread Substack
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Save the Planet (And Still Use a Plastic Straw)
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Who are the judges presiding over Donald Trump’s trials and what can the prosecution—and defense—expect, based on what’s happened already?
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate Magazine
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk about the U.S. national soccer team’s early exit from the Women’s World Cup. Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley also joins to discuss the huge shakeups in the Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 conferences and ESPN’s Jeff Passan assesses the fallout from the Major League Baseball trade deadline. Finally, Josh interviews Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks. Women’s World Cup (2:06): What went wrong for the U.S. women’s national team. NCAA (24:16): Assessing the most significant week ever in conference realignment. MLB (46:06): Did the Mets and Angels make the right calls at the trade deadline? Chris Eubanks (1:03:56): A conversation with one of the most fascinating men in tennis.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers kick off Slate Money’s series on some of the biggest financial scandals in recent history. This week they are joined by Joe Berlinger, director of “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street”. Berlinger tells the Slate Money crew about Madoff and how his infamous Ponzi scheme ultimately came tumbling down. Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
In July, Florida approved the use of Prager U materials in its classrooms. The organization claims its videos offer an alternative to the prevailing left-wing ideology in the classroom. Its founder told a sympathetic audience that what they offer is indoctrination. What impact could these videos have in public schools? And where could they be heading next?
Guest: John Knefel, senior writer for Media Matters for America.
On this episode: Zak is joined by Lucy Lopez, host of the Mamacita Rica podcast, and Doyin Richards, an author, founder of the Anti-Racism Fight Club, and Care and Feeding contributor. Together, they help a listener who thinks her husband is being too reckless with their toddler. (If you’re looking for an informative, yet entertaining, episode on car seat safety check out: Car Seat Safety, Explained!)
Recommendations: Lucy: Song exploration through sampling. Doyin: Naps! Zak: This Be the Verse by Phillip Larkin
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
This week, host June Thomas talks to writer Madeleine George, who recently adapted the classic Alison Bechdel comic Dykes to Watch Out For into an audio drama that stars Jane Lynch, Carrie Brownstein, Roberta Colindrez, and Roxane Gay. In the interview, Madeleine discusses the challenges of turning a piece of visual art into an audio-only narrative. She also talks about the 1980’s setting of the story and the continued relevance of the characters’ personal and political lives.
After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler explain how to set rules for your creative projects.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Madeleine talks about her work on the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
After a quiet spring, COVID is surging back for the fourth consecutive summer. So, is this just life now?
Guest: Katherine Wu, staff writer at the Atlantic
The mosh pit has a reputation as a violent place where (mostly) white guys vent their aggression. There’s some truth to that, but it’s also a place bound by camaraderie and—believe it or not—etiquette. In this episode, we explore the unwritten rules of this 50-year-old live-music phenomenon with punks, concertgoers, and a heavy-metal physicist. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin with Katie Shepherd. This episode was written by Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Willa Paskin and Andrea Bruce, with help from Joel Meyer. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. Thank you to Vivien Goldman, Paolo Ragusa, and Philip Moriarty, whose insights and research on moshing were crucial to this episode. You can create your own mosh pit using this simulator developed by Jesse Silverberg and his colleagues.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about the recent downgrade of America’s credit rating by one agency. They also cover how Taylor Swift and Beyonce are changing concert tours, and figure out whether or not anyone is judging you during a business lunch. In the plus segment: What Felix is going to do with his credit card points! Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
In this episode, Jasmine Guillory (a New York Times bestselling author) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers who are obsessing about what happens when an affair partner becomes a coworker, girls’ trip drama, and friends with benefits who also have benefits with other friends. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
Danny Lavery welcomes Chelsey Weber-Smith, the host of American Hysteria, a podcast that explores how fantastical thinking has shaped our culture. Lavery and Weber-Smith offer advice to someone who wants to convince her grandmother that city living is relatively safe. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In this episode, Jasmine Guillory (a New York Times bestselling author) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers who are obsessing about what happens when an affair partner becomes a coworker, girls’ trip drama, and friends with benefits who also have benefits with other friends. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
More people are watching women’s sports than ever before, and the U.S. has high hopes for the Women’s World Cup. Still, there’s a lag in media coverage and resources for women athletes, particularly women of color. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Subria Whitaker, the chief of the non-profit organization Grow the Game. They discuss why the growth of women’s sports still isn’t matched by media coverage and economic resources, and how that impacts audiences and athletes of color.
Guest: Subria Whitaker, founder and executive director of the non-profit, Grow the Game
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel
Tesla sold a vision of how electric vehicles would work: just like gas-powered cars, but cleaner, better. But as a scandal about misrepresented battery life and driving range unfolds, and the price of their cars remains high, it increasingly looks like the transition will be anything but seamless—if it happens at all.
Guest: Edward Niedermeyer, author of Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors.
You can check out Reuters reporting on Tesla’s range scandal here.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Devlin Barrett and Josh Dawsey for The Washington Post: “Heart of the Trump Jan. 6 indictment: What’s in Trump’s head” Judd Legum for Popular Information: “The biggest misconception about Trump’s third criminal indictment” Reid J. Epstein for The New York Times: “Quick to Mock MAGA, Biden Stays Silent on Trump Indictments” Reid J. Epstein, Ruth Igielnik, and Camille Baker for The New York Times: “Biden Shores Up Democratic Support, but Faces Tight Race Against Trump” and Nate Cohn: “Can the Race Really Be That Close? Yes, Biden and Trump Are Tied.” David French for The New York Times: “Try Tolerance in a Small Town” and “The Trial America Needs” 18 U.S. Code § 241 – Conspiracy against rights Jill Filipovic for The Guardian: “Musicians like Jason Aldean love to glorify ‘small-town’ America. It’s embarrassing” Aaron Zitner for The Wall Street Journal: “They’re the Happiest People in America. We Called Them to Ask Why.” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Deborah Treisman for The Writer’s Voice: New Fiction from The New Yorker: “Camille Bordas Reads ‘Colorín Colorado’” and How to Behave in a Crowd by Camille Bordas John: Meghan Bartels for Scientific American: “NASA Detects ‘Heartbeat’ from Voyager 2 Spacecraft after Losing Contact” and John Dickerson for The Prime Time Interview, CBS News: “Author Dan Pink on the meaning of regret, how he captures his ideas, more with John Dickerson” David: “Exploring a Secret Fort” with David through airbnb and Emma Marris for Nature: “Could this ancient whale be the heaviest animal ever?” Listener chatter from Alex Callahan: Peter Braul for Maisonneuve: “We’ll Never Be That Drunk Again” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss “The Socio Political Demography of Happiness” by Sam Peltzman. In the most recent edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/
On this episode: Zak is joined by Lucy Lopez, host of the Mamacita Rica podcast, and Doyin Richards, an author, founder of the Anti-Racism Fight Club, and Care and Feeding contributor. Together, they help a listener who’s struggling to mesh her own perfectionism with a kid who’s not excelling in school.
That listener asked her question in our Facebook community and has gotten a ton of great help from listeners like you already. You can join us there, too.
We have a week of summertime activity triumphs and fails to unpack, too. Then, on Slate Plus: the experience of childhood is changing, and so should the experience of a playground.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re talking the Hollywood strikes. Slate senior supervising producer Daisy Rosario is joined by longtime journalist and author of Burn It Down, Maureen Ryan to unpack the systematic oppression that has taken place behind the scenes of your favorite movies and television shows for decades. They dig into the structures in place to keep women and marginalized voices from getting to the top of the ladder, and how none of these stories are examples of one bad apple. They also explore how the ongoing writers and actors strikes are an inevitable result of years of injustice - and what they need to bargain for to make true change in Hollywood.
In Slate Plus: A recap of episode 8 of Max’s And Just Like That...
If you liked this episode, check out: How to Survive in Hollywood Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Additional help from Paige Osburn.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
The temperature is going up, but the number of open, public pools isn’t. It’s not just a summer bummer; it’s turning into a public health crisis.
Guest: Mara Gay, member of the New York Times editorial board, focused on New York State and local affairs.
This week, the panel begins by diving into Theater Camp, a mockumentary-style comedy about gloriously talented misfits. Then, they pay tribute to Sinéad O’Connor, the dearly missed Irish singer, songwriter, and activist whose 1992 performance on Saturday Night Live rocked the world. Then, the trio is joined by screenwriter (and co-host of the Scriptnotes podcast) John August to discuss the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, what’s going on in Hollywood, and how this “double strike” feels different than others past.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel chews over our relationships to our digits, inspired by the delightfully small yet cerebral piece by Charlie Warzel for The Atlantic, “In Praise of Phone Numbers.”
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Dana: While not released on one of her albums, Sinéad O’Connor’s performance of “The Foggy Dew” with The Chieftains at the 1995 IRMA awards in Dublin perfectly captures the singer’s gift for singing live.
Julia: A big fan of lighting candles at dinner, Julia recommends Mole Hollow, a Massachusetts-based company that produces stunning handmade candles in bright, vibrant colors.
John: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone’s novel, This is How You Lose the Time War, is a beautiful and intimate story with science fiction influences, told through the exchanging of letters, epistolary-style. Shout out to Twitter user @maskofbun for the viral recommendation.
Stephen: He doesn’t normally join the bandwagon of clear winners, but Patrick Radden Keefe’s profile of art dealer Larry Gagosian for The New Yorker is so impressive, it left Stephen speechless.
Outro music: “Forbidden Love” by OTE
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
When Slate’s Evan Chung was a kid, he was obsessed with a mysterious advertisement that ran for decades in the scouting magazine Boys’ Life. Under the enticing headline “You Can Float on Air,” the ad assured Evan—and generations of scouts—that a personal hovercraft could be theirs for just a few bucks.
In this episode, the adult version of Evan journeys halfway across the country to wield power tools, summon his latent scouting skills, and conscript his father into a quest three decades in the making.
Will Evan float on air? Scout’s honor: You’ll just have to listen.
This episode was written by Evan Chung, who produced this episode with Decoder Ring’s Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. It was edited by Willa Paskin and Joel Meyer. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
If you haven’t yet, please subscribe and rate our feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.
If you’re a fan of the show and want to support us, consider signing up for Slate Plus. As a member, you’ll get to listen to Decoder Ring without any ads—and your support is crucial to our work. Go to slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.
On today’s episode, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton dive deep into the ethics of AI-generated music. Since the days of Alan Turing, music created by computational models has been inextricably bound up with technological process. But now that tools like Voicify.AI are going viral on TikTok and the Recording Academy has updated their rules to allow music created with AI tools to be eligible for Grammy consideration, is it already too late to consider the musicians whose work will be made obsolete by AI? This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
We’re eight months into the year—and former president Donald Trump has now been indicted three times. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury charged Trump with three counts of conspiracy and one count of obstruction. But what exactly does that mean? And can someone really run for president…while juggling three different trials? Guest: David Graham, staff writer for “The Atlantic” If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
Danny Lavery welcomes Chelsey Weber-Smith, the host of American Hysteria, a podcast that explores how fantastical thinking has shaped our culture. Lavery and Weber-Smith offer advice to a daughter who is trying to hang on to her relationship with her also fighting parents. Another letter is noticing that their partner’s low self-esteem is impacting their relationship. Plus, an update from the letter writer “Lost in Transition”. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… let’s get it on.
Whether you watch porn or not — admit it, or not — adult entertainment shapes the way we think about sex, gender, and power.
Our guest today argues that porn is an industry, but it’s also a genre, and it’s much closer to fantasy than it is to reality. But if we abandoned porn and replaced it with watching real people have real sex, we might not just shake off taboos; we might also become better lovers, and better people, too.
Cindy Gallop, CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn, joins us.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
When Gwendolyn found out her friend was diagnosed with cancer, she knew she wanted to help. She just didn’t know how. Her friend lives hundreds of miles away. How can she help in a way that’s more meaningful than sending a meal and a few encouraging texts? On this episode of How To!, guest-host Courtney Martin brings on Mia Birdsong, author of the book How We Show Up. Mia went through her own cancer journey and figured out structures of support that not only helped her but made supporting easier for her friends.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Solve Your Own Medical Mystery
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
In December, University of California graduate students went on strike for six weeks. It was the largest higher education strike in U.S. history. But even after the new contract was signed and the strikers were back at work, they found the fight didn’t stop.
Guest: Peter Lucas, a writer covering labor and politics.
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Chuck Culpepper to talk about big wins for Colombia and Australia at the Women’s World Cup. Alex Kirshner of Slate and the Split Zone Duo podcast also joins to discuss whether NFL running backs should go on strike and the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown getting the biggest NBA deal ever. Women’s World Cup (2:40): The scene in the stadium when Australia thrashed Canada. NFL running backs (20:27): What can they do to get more respect and more cash? Big-money deals (41:12): Is there any amount of money that’s too much for a pro athlete to make? Afterball (1:00:44): Stefan on the world Scrabble championships in Las Vegas.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Lucy Lopez, host of the Mamacita Rica podcast. They first tackle a third grader who heard a dirty joke and is now repeating it without knowing what it means. Then they have advice for a parent whose preteen has been going through toilet paper at an alarming rate.
Recommendations: Zak: Parenting Advice to Ignore in Art and Life Lucy: Watching films you used to watch as a kid w/ your kids. Jamilah: Upside Down Challenge Game
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
In a recent public hearing, three government officials told Congress that not only are “unidentified anomalous phenomena” real, they’re a major national security concern. But one witness took his testimony even further, claiming the government possesses materials of “non-human origin.” How much do we really know about UAPs – or, as they’re more commonly known, UFOs? And now that Congress is involved, are we about to learn a whole lot more? Guest: Garrett Graff, contributor at WIRED magazine; author of the forthcoming book, “UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government's Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There” If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
It’s 2023 – and less than half of all Americans have returned to the office full time. That means U.S. downtowns from San Francisco to New York are emptier than they’ve been in decades. Offices are actually trending away from policies that mandate returning five days a week. So, how can cities get creative – and develop some new ways to boost the local economy?
Guest: Henry Grabar, Slate staff writer
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about the tentative agreement between UPS and their unionized workers. They discuss how Goldman Sachs’ Apple credit card went bad, and a new study reveals how household income influences Ivy League admission rates. In the plus segment: Getting stock tips as a literal tip. Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Candice reach into the ICYMI mailbag to answer why TikTokers are pretending to be video game characters, how a city girl became an anti-feminist prairie wife, and why snacktime is getting an obnoxious rebrand. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
In Amicus’ summer series of conversations about books that expanded our thinking about justice and the courts, beyond the churn of headlines, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by death penalty lawyer, professor and author Stephen Bright to discuss his new book, The Fear of Too Much Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts.
On this month’s episode of Future Tense Fiction, host Maddie Stone talks to Andrew Silverman about his short story “Furgen.” Tucker, the story’s canine protagonist, is the center of his owner Caro’s world. When Caro buys an A.I.-enabled dog trainer that promises to help both her and Tucker live their best lives, everything starts to fall into place—the A.I. takes care of Tucker when he’s sick, trains him to walk without a leash, and even helps Caro get a girlfriend. But as Tucker’s bond with the A.I. deepens, optimizing for their best lives starts to mean something much different than what Caro originally had in mind. After the story, Maddie asks Andrew about how his own experiences as a dog owner—and a pediatric neurologist—influenced the story. Plus, Maddie talks with canine behavioral scientist Clive Wynne, who wrote a response essay to Andrew’s story, about whether a dog could really fall in love with a robot. Guests: Andrew Silverman is a pediatric neurologist and the author of “Furgen.” Clive Wynne is a professor of psychology and director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. He is also the author of Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You. Story read by Peggy O’Neal Podcast production by Tiara Darnell
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Tom Breihan, senior editor at Stereogum and writer of its popular column The Number Ones, a chronological review of every song that’s ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Mars reveals little about himself in his hits, Tom says, and he may not have recorded an all-out pop classic. But as a 21st-century songwriter and performer, Mars delivers pleasurable hits with efficient hooks and near-mathematical precision.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Allison Raskin, the New York Times bestselling author of the books, I Hate Everyone But You: A Novel, and Overthinking About You: Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, OCD, and/or Depression. Lavery and Raskin offer advice to someone who wants to stop supporting his financially struggling older sister, despite the wishes of the rest of his family. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In this episode, Damon Young (a writer, critic, and a self-proclaimed “professional black person”) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers who are obsessing about their lackluster high school tennis careers, their awkward interaction with their crushes, and whether participation in civil war reenactments is a dating deal breaker. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. This week she answers a question about what to do when a grandparent food-polices a toddler. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
For some, the election of Barack Obama signified hope. For others, it intensified hate. But what role did mainstream political rhetoric play in fueling subsequent violent racially charged incidents? On today’s episode of A Word, guest host Ahyiana Angel is joined by Wesley Lowery, journalist and author of American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress. Lowery details how he used first-hand reporting and historical analysis to explore the role of race in politics and the new wave of racial division in our society. Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel.
At a White House summit late last week, some of the biggest names in tech - including Meta, Google and OpenAI - signed “voluntary” commitments to safeguard artificial intelligence. In Congress, Senate Leader Chuck Schumer recently introduced a “legislative framework” for A.I. law… but as they debate and deliberate, the A.I. train continues to move full steam ahead. It’s clear the government’s paying attention, but can they keep up with the technology?
Guest: Makena Kelly, politics reporter at The Verge Don Beyer, U.S. representative for Virginia's 8th congressional district
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legislative win limiting judicial powers while hundreds of thousands of Israelis protest; Harvard University and other elite colleges’ reconsideration of legacy admissions; and the revise-or-bust status of Hunter Biden’s plea deal. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “How Israel’s Supreme Court Might React to the Challenge to Its Power” Maayan Lubell for Reuters: “Israel’s Netanyahu down in polls over judicial reform” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “Harvard professor discusses admission at elite colleges” Claire Cain Miller and Aatish Bhatia for The New York Times: “How Big Is the Legacy Boost at Elite Colleges?” and Aatish Bhatia, Claire Cain Miller, and Josh Katz: “Study of Elite College Admissions Data Suggests Being Very Rich Is Its Own Qualification” Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “Why You Have to Care About These 12 Colleges” John Dickerson and Catherine Herridge for CBS News Prime Time: “What’s next for Hunter Biden after plea deal unraveling” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: “Barbie” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling John: Wall Street Journal: “Yemen Oil Tanker at Risk: An Operation to Avert a Massive Spill” David: “Jury Duty” on Amazon Prime Listener chatter from Susan Bates: The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David and Emily discuss their personal thoughts on Israel and reference Exodus by Leon Uris and “Exodus” starring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint.
In the July edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Lucy Lopez, host of the Mamacita Rica podcast, to talk about all things Barbie. Whether you played with Barbies as a kid — or are weighing whether to let your kids have them now — the summer blockbuster movie is certainly giving us a lot to talk about. Extra Listening: Why Barbie Lives On
They also discuss their week of triumphs and fails including summer camp blues, confident fashion choices, and finding more family time. On Slate Plus: Can traveling with little kids be easier or should they be left behind?
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, drag queens are under attack and being labeled bad for families and kids. But RuPaul’s Drag Race and Drag Race All Stars contestant Mrs. Kasha Davis is making people rethink the American Dream. She sits down with Slate senior supervising producer, Daisy Rosario to talk about the real life inspiration for the character of Mrs. Kasha Davis, her new music video showcasing the importance of Drag Story Hour, and why more people need to see happy queer families like hers.
In Slate Plus: Recap of episode 7 of HBO’s And Just Like That…
If you liked this episode, check out: Why Barbie Lives On
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler are joined by Lincoln Michel author of The Body Scout, for a deep dive into the legacy of creative work. Books may last forever, but vast amounts of work within the digital realm end up being ephemeral. It can be easy to worry about how a Tweet may be perceived in the future, but even major authors of their day can be lost to the annals of time.
Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
This week, Israel’s far-right coalition government voted to strip the Supreme Court of the power to overturn “unreasonable” government actions and appointments. Protesters and experts alike worry it's the first step in a broader push towards gutting the judiciary altogether. Is Israel on the brink of authoritarianism? Guest: Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of its “Deep Shtetl” newsletter If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
Kissing—the romantic, sexual, steamy kind—is so ingrained in us that it just seems like a fact of life. Like breathing or eating, we just do it. But what if it’s not like that at all?
In this episode, we’re going to look at passionate kissing, well, dispassionately, not as something instinctual and innate but as a cultural practice. We’re going to backtrack through history in search of the origins of the kiss, with some surprises along the way.
This episode was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Andrea Bruce and Joel Meyer. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
Thank you to Marcel Danesi.
If you’re interested in the papers we mentioned, you can read about Justin Garcia and William Jankowiak’s research, Troels Pank Arbøll and Sophie Lund Rasmussen’s essay, Sabrina Imbler’s When Was the First Sexy Kiss? and the herpes study. (Here’s that bronze-age statue, too!)
If you haven’t yet, please subscribe and rate our feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.
If you’re a fan of the show and want to support us, consider signing up for Slate Plus. As a member, you’ll get to listen to Decoder Ring without any ads—and your support is crucial to our work. Go to slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Candice dive deep into the ICYMI mailbag to answer listener questions about Colleen Ballinger’s 10-minute ukulele-backed apology, the renaming of Twitter, and the disappearance of 25-year-old Carlee Russell. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
This week, the panel begins by examining Barbie, Greta Gerwig’s hot pink, record-breaking movie about the iconic Mattel doll. Then, the trio dives into Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which chronicles the life of the “Father of the Atomic Bomb,” and explores whether the film achieves its aims. Finally, they are joined by Slate’s Chris Molanphy to discuss the controversy behind country singer Jason Aldean’s latest song, “Try That In A Small Town.”
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel is once again joined by Chris Molanphy to discuss all things Summer Strut. With the annual show just weeks away, the four pull back the curtain to detail their processes, weird observations, and more. Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Dana: In line with her theme of the week, “Yay movies and go, go, go to the theater,” Dana highly recommends Theater Camp, a delightful film by Ben Platt and Molly Gordon.
Julia: Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe for zucchini pasta with crispy capers and pistachios isn’t the sort of thing Julia would normally endorse (for one, it’s extremely laborious and you will need to fry individual basil leaves), but it’s vegan, a showstopper, and completely worth it.
Stephen: In honor of the late singer, Stephen recommends two Tony Bennett albums: “The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album” (1975) and “Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall” (1962).
Outro music: “Last Sunday” by OTE
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
Danny Lavery welcomes Allison Raskin, the New York Times bestselling author of the books, I Hate Everyone But You: A Novel, and Overthinking About You: Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, OCD, and/or Depression. Lavery and Raskin offer advice to a mom who is suspicious of her daughter’s girlfriend’s motivations. Another letter writer wants to reconnect with her sister after an abusive upbringing that led them to living in separate foster homes. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… safety on.
July sees the most accidental shootings involving children of any month on the calendar — but there’s not really a month where these tragedies don’t happen.
So put aside your feelings on gun control for a moment and consider: how, in the world we live in right now, can we protect children from their own curiosity?
Our guest, author Yehuda Remer, argues that teaching kids what guns can do — and how they can keep themselves safe — is the best solution.
NOTE: Slate reached out to Everytown for comment regarding allegations that they “skew” data. At the time of this publication, we have not received a response — but we’ll update you if and when we do.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
Every year J. and her parents fly thousands of miles, meeting in the middle for their family vacation. A vacation that often leads to shouting and tears. J. and her father have a rocky relationship. Little disagreements often lead to her dad yelling and dredging up the past. It would be easy, in theory, to cut off the relationship before it got even more toxic. But J. wants to make it work. The question is, how? On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace brings on Nibarna Kannathasan, a psychotherapist who has helped people navigate tricky intergenerational conflict, especially when factoring migration and differing cultural expectations. She helps J. parse what she really wants from her father and figure out a way to start down that road while protecting herself along the way.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Walk Away From an Impossible Parent.
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
A recent escalation of Texas’ Operation Lone Star is facing scrutiny. The Justice Department plans to sue the state over a floating barrier in the Rio Grande. It’s also investigating accusations from a state trooper that agents were told to push a group of migrants - including children - back into the water. What is happening at the southern border? And how did it get so dire?
Guest: Ben Wermund, Washington correspondent for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
Josh Levin is joined by the Athletic’s Steph Yang to talk about the opening days of the Women’s World Cup. Author Jonathan Clegg also joins to discuss Lionel Messi’s MLS debut. And the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay assesses the 2023 Tour de France and the Netflix documentary Tour de France: Unchained. Women’s World Cup (2:45): What are the main takeaways from the U.S. win over Vietnam? Messi (19:25): What does success look like for Messi, his club, and Major League Soccer? Tour de France (37:08): How a close race turned into a rout for Jonas Vingegaard. Afterball (56:18): Josh on the Kolbe Conative Index.
Around the United States and around the world, people are suing their governments and governments are suing fossil fuel companies over the changing climate—revealing what they knew and when they knew it. But even if these lawsuits succeed, what difference can they make for a problem with a literal global scale?
Guest: Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at The Guardian.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Leslie Cohen-Rubury — therapist and host of the podcast Is My Child a Monster? They start by talking about lessons from therapy and how Leslie’s show is helping to make therapy advice and resources more accessible. They also help a listener whose kid pulled a disappearing act after a fight during family vacation.
Recommendations: Jamilah: Suits Leslie: All That Breathes, An Immense World by Ed Yong and an ‘awe walk.’ Zak: Hunting seashells and making jewelry.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
When the tech industry started rounds of layoffs this year, almost half of the people let go were women—even though they make up a much smaller percentage of the workforce. What does this say about women in tech, and efforts to diversify the industry overall?
Guest: Emma Goldberg, a reporter who covers the future of work for the New York Times.
This week, guest-host Nate Chinen talks to Maria Schneider, winner of multiple Grammy Awards for her big band jazz compositions, including the song “Sue (Or in a Season of Crime),” which she composed with David Bowie. In the interview, Maria discusses her two mentors Gil Evans and Bob Brookmeyer and the wisdom that helped her find her voice as an artist. She also talks about her tools for composing, what it means to “trust your enthusiasm,” and her unforgettable collaboration with David Bowie.
After the interview, Nate and co-host Isaac Butler explain how to respect the inner logic of your work. They also talk about how artists can borrow wisdom from other art forms.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Maria explains why most of her music isn’t available on streaming services.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Candice meet in person for the first time! They recap the July 10 attack on fanfiction site AO3 — Archive of Our Own — which caused a site outage and a state of panic for many writers, readers and their fandoms. The site was created in 2008 as an online fanfiction archive that soon became a safe haven for women and the queer community. So what happens when that safe haven is threatened by malicious hackers? This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
David Plotz talks with author David Grann about his new book, The Wager. The non-fiction book tells the harrowing story of a shipwreck off the coast of Patagonia in 1742. They discuss how the British Empire twisted fact and fiction, the process of digging through 280-year-old documents, and why you should always have citrus at sea.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by author Jason Del Rey to talk physical retail’s woes. They discuss Jason’s new book, Winner Sells All: Amazon, Walmart and the Battle for Our Wallets. Then they dig into what is going on with physical retail space and how looting can help Amazon and other resalers. And finally, why the IRS is investigating crypto bros in Puerto Rico. In the Plus segment: What happened to Taco Tuesday? If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and an additional segment of our show every week. You’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Slate Money. Sign up now at slate.com/moneyplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Danny Lavery welcomes Tracy Leeds Kaplan, the founder of Small But Mighty Media and the executive producer of The Ten News. Lavery and Kaplan offer advice to someone who wants to respect the semi-open relationship agreement with her boyfriend, but is suffering with a big-time crush. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
To keep places like Phoenix habitable, we need to have air-conditioning. But to have air-conditioning, we need a functional, modern electrical grid. With America’s grid already aging—and more demand coming in the form of electric cars and more A/C for hotter weather—what will it take to keep it going as the weather gets more extreme?
Guest: Dr. Joshua Rhodes, research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin studying energy systems and how they interact with our environment, climate, and life.
Oklahoma’s legendary “Black Wall Street” was destroyed in the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. Hundreds of victims were murdered and dumped in mass graves, and dozens of homes and businesses were burned to the ground. More than a century later, three survivors remain, fighting for justice. But their lawsuit seeking reparations was recently dealt a blow in court. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons to talk about the case, the history and the next steps.
Guest: Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, founder of the Justice 4 Greenwood organization
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
In this episode, Jessica Valenti (a feminist columnist and author) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer readers’ letters about whether it’s okay to ghost friends who don’t respect your reproductive choices, how to deal with a spouse who is a slob, and when to tell your kids you’ve had an abortion. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. This week she answers a question about what to do when a grandparent food-polices a toddler. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Maura Currie.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are together again and talking about Donald Trump’s next indictment and the charges against his “false electors” in Michigan; the struggles of candidates Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, et al.; and Congressional Republicans’ culture war against the U.S. military. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: James Madison: “Impeachment of the Executive, [20 July] 1787” FiveThirtyEight: “Who’s Ahead In Republican Primary Polls?” Fox News Digital: “Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott says Donald Trump is ‘overqualified to be my vice president’” Manu Raju, Rashard Rose, and Lauren Fox for CNN: “Tommy Tuberville now says ‘White nationalists are racists’ after refusing to denounce them” Zoë Richards for NBC News: “Arizona Republican refers to Black Americans as ‘colored people’ in House floor debate” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Elise White, Basaime Spate, Javonte Alexander, and Rachel Swaner for the Center for Justice Innovation: “’Two Battlefields’: Opps, Cops, and NYC Youth Gun Culture” and Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration by Emily Bazelon John: Mona El-Naggar, Johan M. Kessel, and Alexander Stockton for The New York Times: “What Is War to a Grieving Child?”; Jeanna Smialek and Ben Casselman for The New York Times: “The Pandemic’s Labor Market Myths”; and Chris Cameron for The New York Times: “Over 700 Civil War-Era Gold Coins Found Buried on a Kentucky Farm” David: “Exploring a Secret Fort” with David through airbnb; Steve Bohnel for The Frederick News-Post: “$200,000, or the city burns: The story of the Confederacy’s ransom on Frederick”; and Caity Weaver for The New York Times Magazine: “My Impossible Mission to Find Tom Cruise” Listener chatter from Dianne Denton: Harriet McBryde Johnson for The New York Times Magazine: “Unspeakable Conversations” and Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes, artificial intelligence, and the future of work.
In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Leslie Cohen-Rubury — therapist and host of the podcast Is My Child a Monster? Together, they help a listener who’s worried that her daughter’s meltdowns might be a sign of depression.
They also discuss their week of triumphs and fails — and then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, we muse on the awkward institution that is the middle school slow dance.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a code of ethics for the Supreme Court—but Chief Justice John Roberts doesn’t believe they have the right to impose one. But with the Court’s legitimacy in question - and its popularity down the tubes - who should hold the Justices accountable?
Guest: Judge Jeremy Fogel, executive director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, it’s all about Barbie. Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth sits down with M.G. Lord, author of Forever Barbie and co-host of “LA Made: The Barbie Tapes” from LAist and So Cal Public Radio. They discuss the history of the Barbie doll and how she’s managed to endure, how Barbie might actually be feminist, and what the new Greta Gerwig movie gets right about Barbie.
In Slate Plus: Episode 6 of our And Just Like That…recap.
If you liked this episode check out Is The Wedding Dress Dead? Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
The mosh pit has a reputation as a violent place where (mostly) white guys vent their aggression. There’s some truth to that, but it’s also a place bound by camaraderie and—believe it or not—etiquette. In this episode, we explore the unwritten rules of this 50-year-old, live-music phenomenon with punks, concertgoers and a heavy metal physicist.
Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin with Katie Shepherd. This episode was written by Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Willa Paskin and Andrea Bruce, with help from Joel Meyer. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
Thank you to Vivien Goldman, Paolo Ragusa, and Philip Moriarty whose insights and research on moshing were crucial to this episode. You can create your own mosh pit using this simulator developed by Jesse Silverberg and his colleagues.
If you haven’t yet, please subscribe and rate our feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.
This month, taking a cue from the sultry, sensual heat of summer, Outward examines the venerable queer practice of cruising—for sex and sex work—in public space. First, hosts Christina Cauterucci, Jules Gill-Peterson, and Bryan Lowder make eyes at Park Cruising, a new essay collection on cruising in parks, which explores the pleasures, politics, and complexities of that gay pastime. Author Marcus McCann joins the hosts to discuss those themes. Then they head down to Christopher Street with the trans women of The Stroll, a new HBO documentary streaming on Max, as they revisit a time when New York’s now-gentrified Meatpacking District was rich with a unique and affirming form of sisterhood. Co-director Kristen Lovell stops by to discuss the making of the film. The hosts end the show, as always, with some new additions to the Gay Agenda.
Items discussed in the show: “The Real Story of 303 Creative v. Elenis,” by Mark Joseph Stern in Slate Outward’s Times Square billboard A provocative chant at NYC Drag March Park Cruising: What Happens When We Wander Off the Path, by Marcus McCann The Stroll The Lady and the Dale Sylvia’s Place Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, and STAR
Gay Agenda Christina: Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed from HBO Jules: Hari Nef’s interviews about her role in Barbie Bryan: Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music (see also Hugh Ryan on the show’s history)
This podcast was edited by Emily Charash and produced by June Thomas.
Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Candice are joined by sustainable stylist and fashion educator, Lakyn Carlton. The three break down a now-infamous factory tour that the fast fashion giant Shein coordinated for a group of (un)lucky influencers. Since its founding in 2008, Shein has grown to a reported $100 billion valuation that is sustained by alleged labor violations and a cult-like following. In the Information Age, where Shein’s many controversies are well-known, how does the company manage to avoid blowback significant enough to affect its bottom line? This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Even with Congress famously gridlocked, it reliably passes the National Defense Authorization Act. But this year, hardline conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives added amendment after amendment that were less concerned with national defense and more in line with their own culture war grievances.
How can a government function when even the simple things become impossible?
Guest: Melanie Zanona, Capitol Hill reporter at CNN
Danny Lavery welcomes Tracy Leeds Kaplan, the founder of Small But Mighty Media and the executive producer of The Ten News. Lavery and Kaplan offer advice to someone who’s concerned that his friend is getting cut off from the help he needs. Another letter writer is wondering how to let her aunt know the reality of her sibling relationship. Also, a listener update from “Need My Social Sea-Legs”. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… a spoonful of sugar helps the trade protectionism go down.
The Farm Bill is up for renewal this year — and there’s a chorus of voices now, as in years past, saying it’s time we stop favoring domestic sugar.
The U.S. has subsidized American sugar producers for almost as long as we’ve been a republic, but the current system is very complicated… and very costly for the average consumer. Some argue that it’s closer to a cartel than it is a regulatory model.
Colin Grabow, research fellow at the Cato Institute, joins us to argue for the end of the U.S. sugar program.
You can find Celeste’s other podcast, Big Sugar, wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
Caregivers provide an estimated 600 billion dollars in free labor each year, according to the AARP. This week’s listener, Dani is one such caregiver. She and her partner found themselves navigating the confusing world of Medicare and Medicaid, estate planning, powers of attorney, etc. All in the hope of helping their loved ones stay healthy and comfortable until they need an end-of-life plan. This experience has her worried—who is going to look after her when the time comes? On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace brings on Amy Goyer, AARP’s family and caregiving expert and has quite a bit of personal experience. She cuts through the confusion on how to caregive, how to care for caregivers, and how to prepare to be cared for yourself. Because we’re all going to need it, sooner or later.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Fight With Your Parents, which is about parenting your parents.
Resources mentioned: Caregiving Guides Livable Communities Local Resource Connections National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Five Wishes Document Aging Life Care Association
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on How To!. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus to help support our work.
Caregivers provide an estimated 600 billion dollars in free labor each year, according to the AARP. This week’s listener, Dani is one such caregiver. She and her partner found themselves navigating the confusing world of Medicare and Medicaid, estate planning, powers of attorney, etc. All in the hope of helping their loved ones stay healthy and comfortable until they need an end-of-life plan. This experience has her worried—who is going to look after her when the time comes? On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace brings on Amy Goyer, AARP’s family and caregiving expert and has quite a bit of personal experience. She cuts through the confusion on how to caregive, how to care for caregivers, and how to prepare to be cared for yourself. Because we’re all going to need it, sooner or later.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Fight With Your Parents, which is about parenting your parents.
Resources mentioned: Caregiving Guides Livable Communities Local Resource Connections National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Five Wishes Document Aging Life Care Association
Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Actor Lea DeLaria knew Orange is the New Black was a hit. But Netflix made sure their paychecks didn’t reflect it. Fast forward ten years and this business model is the norm for nearly all working American actors.
So now, the actors are joining the writers on strike, something that hasn’t happened in Hollywood since 1960, when television was the new, upstart technology. Today the double strike is about streaming services and artificial intelligence.
Guests: Alissa Wilkinson, Vox senior correspondent covering film and television.
Lea DeLaria, comedian and an actor best known for playing Big Boo on Orange is the New Black.
Josh Levin is joined by Joel Anderson and Ben Mathis-Lilley to talk about Northwestern firing football coach Pat Fitzgerald in the midst of a hazing scandal. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim then comes on to discuss Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Finally, Josh and Stefan Fatsis speak with the Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins about her piece on Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Northwestern (4:44): Why Fitzgerald got axed. Wimbledon (25:47): Is this a changing of the guard in men’s tennis? Evert and Navratilova (46:44): How cancer diagnoses brought the rivals and friends closer together.
You can be forgiven for not thinking of Vermont as a place prone to catastrophic flooding. But as the climate changes, we have update our expectations—and our floodplain maps.
Guest: Anna Weber, senior policy analyst focused on the current and future effects of flooding and sea level rise at the NRDC.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah dish on their favorite podcasts—ones they love to listen to with their kids and shows that binge without kids. They also do a round of normal, podcast-free recommendations and then share some parenting advice from listeners.
Recommendations: Jamilah: I’m a Virgo. Zak: Climb slides! Elizabeth: Learn By Sticker Book
Podcast Recommendations: Summer Camp: The Case of the Phantom Pooper Brains On But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids Wow in the World Story Pirates Podcast The Story Seeds Podcast Who Smarted? Radiolab Field Trip Good Job, Brain! Pale Blue Pod Family Road Trip Trivia Podcast Charm Words: Daily Affirmations For Kids Grown Who shat on the floor at my wedding? Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet Short Wave Celebrity Memoir Book Club Scam Goddess Slow Burn Louder Than A Riot Rumble Strip The Best Advice Show
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Pedestrian deaths in America have been rising for the last decade, while dropping in Europe and Japan. What makes the U.S. so dangerous for pedestrians?
Guest: Jessie Singer, author of There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster―Who Profits and Who Pays the Price.
This week, host June Thomas talks to journalist Maureen Ryan, author of the book Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. In recent years, Ryan has pivoted from TV criticism to writing stories focused on abuses of power in the TV industry. Her new book touches on troubling situations on shows like Lost, Saturday Night Live, The Goldbergs, Sleepy Hollow, and more.
In the interview, Ryan discusses her reporting process and what it's felt like to watch the creators of some of her favorite shows come under fire.
After the interview, Thomas and co-host Nate Chinen discuss why there might be some reason for hope in Hollywood after all.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Ryan talks about how her pivot to this kind of reporting has affected her career.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Zak Rosen.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Candice talk all about the Emmys. This week the TV Academy announced the nominations for the 71st Emmy awards. Just a few days later, SAG-AFTRA announced that negotiations with the Academy had officially broken down and the actors’ guild was joining the writers’ guild on strike. So what does this all mean for the monthslong campaigns that actors have waged online to capture a nomination and, hopefully, a win? This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
In the first of Amicus’ summer series of conversations about books and podcasts that have helped us look at the Supreme Court from a different angle, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Joel Anderson, host of Season 8 of Slate’s Slow Burn podcast: Becoming Justice Thomas. They talk about the experiences and people who helped shape Justice Thomas’ worldview and how deeply his jurisprudence is rooted in a kind of “cruel to be kind” ethos from his childhood. And why he was so blind to the challenges and suffering of so many Black women in his life. Next, Dahlia talks to Heather McGhee, Author The Sum of Us: WHAT RACISM COSTS EVERYONE AND HOW WE CAN PROSPER TOGETHER, about her books and podcast, and what they can teach us about a Supreme Court that is inclined to frame the world as zero-sum.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about Disney’s challenges especially now that writers and actors are both on strike. They discuss the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on student loans. And finally, what to do if your bank suddenly closes your account. In the Plus segment: Giant cruise ship! Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
What do Lenny Kravitz, a hitmaker primarily in the ’90s and ’00s, and Bruno Mars, a 2010s–20s hitmaker, have in common? It turns out, a lot: Each man has a wide-ranging ethnic and musical background, with early exposure to unusual sides of showbiz. Each has scored hits in a variety of styles. They are admirers of each other’s work and have even performed live together.
But the main thing Lenny and Bruno have in common is their skill—some might say habit—of borrowing tropes and styles from hitmakers of the past. Kravitz from the very start of his career emulated the rock stylings of his heroes, like John Lennon and Sly Stone. And Bruno Mars—talk about an Unorthodox Jukebox: His career has been a parade of hits whose sound has spanned from the Police to Rick James to Michael Jackson.
Are they cultural appropriators, or genius style chameleons? Join Chris Molanphy as he chronicles two premier pop stylists of the last 30 years who wore genres like costumes and rebooted oldies into modern hits. Don’t believe them? Just watch.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Leslie Cohen-Rubury, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and host of “Is My Child a Monster?”, A Parenting Therapy Podcast. Lavery and Cohen-Rubury offer advice to someone who wants to support their friend who cannot stop obsessing about healthy eating. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Contract negotiations between the Teamsters and UPS broke down last week and now a strike looms. With time running out, can both sides reach a deal?
Guest: Noam Scheiber, labor reporter for the New York Times.
Barbie is more than a toy. She’s an icon, and now the focus of a blockbuster film. For generations, Barbie has helped define all-American beauty, often leaving girls who weren’t blonde, thin, and white feeling invisible. But that began to change in the 1980’s with the introduction of Black Barbies. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Lagueria Davis, the producer of Black Barbie: A Documentary. The film tells the stories of the African American women who helped bring Black Barbie to life, and the surprising impact that had on the marketplace, and the emotional lives of Black girls.
Guest: Filmmaker Lagueria Davis, producer of Black Barbie: A Documentary
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel
In this episode, Josh Gondleman (author, producer, and stand-up comedian) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer readers’ dilemmas about workplace coffee runs, unwanted birthday gifts, pets who steal food—and husbands who react really strangely when that happens. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. This week she answers a question about what to do when a grandparent food-polices a toddler. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix.
This week, John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by Vox’s Marin Cogan @marincogan to discuss the extreme weather, heat, and floods that are wreaking havoc across the United States and around the world; the social media phenomenon of Threads; and the American love-hate relationship with cars. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Cara Buckley for The New York Times: “To Help Cool a Hot Planet, the Whitest of White Coats” Jonathan Erdman for The Weather Channel: “America’s Top Weather Killer Is Not Tornadoes, Flooding, Lightning Or Hurricanes – It’s Heat” Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar Antonio Pequeño IV for Forbes: “Zuckerberg Vs. Musk: Everything We Know About The Possible Cage Fight” These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore Insider Intelligence: “US Social Network Ad Revenue Growth, 2021-2023” Marin Cogan for Vox: “The impossible paradox of car ownership”; “The deadliest road in America”; and “Cars transformed America. They also made people more vulnerable to the police.” Tracy Chapman: “Fast Car”; Luke Combs: “Fast Car”; and Emily Yahr for The Washington Post: “Tracy Chapman, Luke Combs and the complicated response to ‘Fast Car’” Henry Grabar for Slate: “Why More Americans Are Using Fake License Plates and Getting Away With It” Gersh Kuntzman for Streetsblog NYC: “Paris Mayor Enters Fray Between E-Bikes and Pedestrians – By Fighting Drivers” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Hannah Hartig, Andrew Daniller, Scott Keeter, and Ted Van Green for Pew Research Center: “Republican Gains in 2022 Midterms Driven Mostly by Turnout Advantage” Marin and David: Tour de France on NBC Sports; Tour de France: Unchained on Netflix Listener chatter from Dan Kirkwood: Claire Stremple for The Alaska Beacon: “Angoon students name, launch first dugout canoe since 1882 Bombardment”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Marin discuss traffic enforcement, the need for it, and the harms it causes.
In the latest edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Monica Potts @MonicaBPotts about her book, The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah help a listener decide how to support her skirt-loving eight-year-old-son — and how to get his hesitant grandmother to come around.
We also go over some ‘triumphs and fails’ from the past week — and then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, we explore the history of the comic strip Goofus and Gallant… and what 80 years can tell us about the evolution of parenthood.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re talking about the Women’s World Cup and why you should be watching it (even if sometimes it’s a little tricky to find). Slate senior supervising producer Daisy Rosario is joined by investigative sports journalist Jessica Luther with a Waves guide to the cup. They discuss what players to look for, why nationalism can sometimes trump misogyny, Megan Rapinoe’s retirement, and why the US women’s soccer team is so good.
In Slate Plus: Episode 5 of our And Just Like That…recap.
If you liked this episode, check out: Is the Wedding Dress Dead?
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
Beat it, Barbie; outta the way, Oppenheimer—this summer’s biggest box office surprise is “The Sound of Freedom,” a low-budget search-and-rescue thriller that Hollywood doesn’t want you to see—or so the implication goes.
Guests: Sam Adams, Slate senior editor Will Sommer, media reporter at the Washington Post and author of Trust the Plan The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler peel back the layers of great art. Whether it’s books, movies, essays, or paintings, creative work can be broken apart and used as inspirational ammunition for your own output. Through dog-earing novels, overloading a Notes app, or treating yourself to an ‘Artist Date,’ there are countless ways to consume creativity and store it for your own work.
Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Parmesan is a food—but it’s not just a food. Italy’s beloved cheese is often paired with a deep craving for tradition and identity. But its history also involves intrepid immigrants, lucrative businesses and an American version that’s probably available in your local grocery store.
After a notorious debunker of Italian-cuisine myths claims this Wisconsin-made product is the real deal, we embark on a quest to answer the question: Has an Italian delicacy been right under our noses this whole time?
Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin with Katie Shepherd. This episode was written by Willa Paskin and edited by Andrea Bruce. We had production help from Patrick Fort and editing help from Joel Meyer. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.
Thank you to Giacomo Stefanini for translating. Thank you to Fabio Parasecoli, Ken Kane, Thomas McNamee, Dan Weber, Irene Graziosi, James Norton, and Ian MacAllen, whose knowledge and book Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American were very helpful.
You should also read Marianna Giusti’s article in the Financial Times. If you feel like really nerding out, we also recommend the 1948 academic study Italian Cheese Production in the American Dairy Region.
We also included clips in this episode from David Rocco’s YouTube channel about how Parmigiano-Reggiano is made and from Gennaro Contaldo’s YouTube documentary on the same subject.
If you haven’t yet, please subscribe and rate our feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.
Despite holding only twelve percent of Americans, the state of California is home to nearly one-third of the nation’s people experiencing homelessness. A landmark study from UCSF—the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness— produced an intimate look at who is living on the streets and in their cars in California, how they got there, and what actual aid would look like.
Guests: Claudine Sipili, co-leader of UCSF’s Lived Expertise Advisory Board for the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness.
Ethan Ward, founder of HEATDRAWN Media, and the host of Reputation, a podcast which challenges preconceived notions about the homelessness crisis.
This week, Slate writer and editor Dan Kois fills in for Julia. The panel begins by breaking down Joy Ride, Adele Lim’s raunchy first feature about four Chinese-American friends. Then, the panel dives into the second season of the reality show Claim to Fame. Finally, they examine the commodification of storytelling, inspired by Parul Sehgal’s essay “The Tyranny of the Tale” for The New Yorker.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel discusses pickleball, America’s fastest growing sport.
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Dana: “They Don’t Want Us and We Don’t Need Them” – David Roth on the drama surrounding GQ’s David Zaslav story and the depressing state of media for Defector.
Dan: Patrick deWitt novels – Specifically, the Canadian novelist’s latest, The Librarianist.
Stephen: Diary of a Foreigner in Paris – Curzio Malaparte recounts his return to postwar Europe and his complex relationship with fascism.
Outro music: “Backwards” by Staffan Carlen
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
On today’s episode, Candice Lim is joined by Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe to dive into her piece about Spill, the latest Twitter alternative to hit the streets. But first, they parse out the chaos surrounding Keke Palmer and Jonah Hill, whose respective relationship drama entered public discourse over the past week. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… royal pains.
The British Royals are far from the imperial power they once were. Whether you love the institution, hate it, or simply don’t care, it’s hard to deny that it feels like an artifact of another time.
Which is perhaps why Meghan Markle’s arrival on the scene – and subsequent departure, with Prince Harry at her side – threw so many people for a loop. Meghan continues to receive racist, sexist, and downright fabricated harassment from the public, and particularly the tabloids… and so do the people who defend her.
Kristen Meinzer, culture critic and host of The Daily Fail, joins us again to explain why we need to care about Meghan — and defend her.
If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email the show: hearmeout@slate.com
Podcast production by Maura Currie
You can skip all the ads in Hear Me Out by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/hearmeoutplus for just $15 a month for your first three months.
When Gwen applied for unemployment during the early days of the pandemic, she never thought she’d still be waiting for her benefits years later. Despite hours on the phone, countless emails and even a court appearance, Gwen is haunted by her inability to get the money she was approved for. On this episode of How To!, co-host Amanda Ripley brings in Marina Nitze, author of Hack Your Bureaucracy. Not only does Marina help Gwen find shortcuts in her state’s unemployment system, but she has useful advice for untangling any bureaucratic nightmare.
If you liked this episode, check out: How To Fight Outrageous Medical Bills.
Do you have a problem that’s keeping you up at night? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
The 4th of July was the hottest day yet—not just of the summer but of recorded human history. Between waves of Canadian wildfire smoke, malaria reappearing in the United States, and deaths from heat, this might be the year that we’re forced to reckon with what life will be like on our newly hotter planet.
Guest: Jeff Goodell, contributing writer at Rolling Stone and the author of the upcoming book The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet.
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss Victor Wembanyama’s NBA Summer League debut. The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans also joins to talk about baseball stars Elly de la Cruz, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Shohei Ohtani. Finally, legendary New York Times sports columnist Robert Lipsyte comes on to talk about the demise of the Times sports department. Wembanyama (5:05): What happened with Britney Spears? And what about his iffy debut? MLB (26:53): A look at the game’s most exciting players. New York Times (45:58): A Times legend on what comes next for the paper’s sports section.
On this episode: Elizabeth Newcamp is joined by Jamie Grayson, who you may know as ‘the baby gear guy.’ As we’re in the midst of summer road trip season, it’s time to revisit car seat safety. Luckily, Jamie is here to cut through the confusion while actually making safety fun. He explains how to pick the right seat for you, when to move from a carseat to a booster to the front seat, and even when it’s time to trade in your old seat.
Recommendations: Elizabeth: LOL 101: A Kid's Guide to Writing Jokes Zak: CYB (Choose Your Battles) Jamilah: Dave
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Moms for Liberty call themselves a “parent’s rights group,” but the Southern Poverty Law Center calls them an “anti-government extremist” group. Even if they don’t all have kids, these “moms” do have goals for the future of education in America—and quite a bit of clout.
Guest: Kiera Butler, senior editor at Mother Jones reporting on how purveyors of disinformation target online communities of women.
Andrew Tate’s gross mix of self-help, toxic masculinity and misogyny captured the minds of young boys on the internet. It also led to indictments in Romania on human trafficking and rape charges.
Guest: Lisa Miller, contributing editor at New York magazine.
This week, we're airing an encore presentation of our interview with Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, writers and creators of the HBO series Somebody Somewhere, which just finished airing its second season on HBO. In the interview, Hannah and Paul discuss their close collaborative relationship and share some of the creative practices they developed with their theater company, The Debate Society. Then they talk about the development and writing process behind Somebody Somewhere, which is set in rural Kansas and stars actor and cabaret singer Bridget Everett, who grew up there.
After the interview, hosts Isaac Butler and June Thomas talk about the effectiveness of writing exercises and the difficulty of describing one’s own creative processes.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Hannah and Paul explain why they chose not to include any details about the pandemic in Somebody Somewhere.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Candice Lim is joined by Slate business and tech writer Nitish Pahwa to break down the recent controversy surrounding Reddit CEO Steve Huffman. In May, Huffman announced Reddit would be charging third-party apps, bots and companies for using the site’s Data API. Redditors erupted in protest, with many popular subreddits going dark to signal their opposition to the move. The protest was effective, but where does Reddit go from here? This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about Threads, the new competitor to Twitter. They also discuss Janet Yellen’s trip to China and what it means for American foreign policy. Finally, have tipping and service charges gone too far? In the plus segment: Pregnant workers now have more workplace rights. Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
In our final Opinionpalooza episode of 2023, Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern host the Amicus annual “breakfast table” round-up at the end of the Supreme Court term, and they’re joined by: Jamelle Bouie, former chief political correspondent at Slate and current New York Times Opinion columnist and political analyst for CBS News. Sherrilyn Ifill, former President and Director Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and newly appointed head of Howard University’s inaugural Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Esq. Endowed Chair in Civil Rights. Professor Stephen Vladeck, the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law, author of the New York Times bestselling book, "The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic." In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia and Mark loosen their ties, pour a snifter of brandy and hit the cigar bar of jurisprudence for a final discussion of the term that was; why progressives are still struggling to find an answer to the court’s torque to the right, and resisting the media’s urge to put a moderate bow on each extreme term.
Danny Lavery welcomes Halle Kiefer, a Senior ComedyWriter at Crooked Media, and Alison Leiby, a New York based comedian. Together, Kiefer and Leiby host Crooked Media’s weekly horror film podcast, Ruined. Lavery, Kiefer and Leiby offer advice to someone who is finding that they are missing sex with men in their monogamous lesbian relationship. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
It seems like with each new Musk innovation, a new Twitter replacement appears in response. But Threads is backed by Meta and available in just a few clicks for an Instagram user. Could it be the one?
Guest: Mike Isaac, technology reporter for the New York Times.
It can take years for a water crisis in a predominantly Black city or town to make national news. But the harms of contaminated water often harm communities for generations. Beyond the ongoing health threats, dirty water can stifle business and economic development, driving down educational achievement, property values and investment. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by journalist Adam Mahoney who has reported extensively on how undrinkable water in hurting Black communities across the rural south.
Guest: Reporter Adam Mahoney of Capital B News
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel
In this episode, Meredith Goldstein (advice columnist and features writer for The Boston Globe) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer readers’ dilemmas about commitment, wedding locations, and whether you’re allowed to make demands about your partner’s facial hair. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are on vacation, but Emily taped an extra episode of Gabfest Reads for everyone. She sits down with author Monica Potts to talk about her new memoir The Forgotten Girls. They discuss growing up in rural Arkansas, Monica’s childhood best friend Darci, and more.
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John chatter about what’s making them happy this summer, an article about how bad things really are, and more.
In the June edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
The Biden administration’s plan to forgive federal student loan debt has been stalled, perhaps indefinitely, by the Supreme Court’s decision in Biden v. Nebraska.
Was their plan to help borrowers always doomed, or was there another way? And after the Roberts court delivered such a broad-sweeping decision, what options does Biden have left?
Guest: Jed Shugerman, professor at Boston University School of Law.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah help a listener who’s planning to take the whole family abroad for a year — but their 8-year-old won’t stop raining on the parade.
They also revisit some triumphs and fails from the archives — and then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, we debate whether everyone is secretly co-sleeping with babies, and not sharing stories in fear of getting yelled at.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth does a deep dive on wedding dresses. From the oldest family-run bridal shop in the United States, to a warehouse in New York, she explores what the modern wedding dress looks like. Along with brides-to-be Shannon Palus and Susan Matthews, Cheyna talks with Marteal Mayer, the owner of Loulette Bride in Brooklyn, and mother-daughter duo Shelly Mueller and Alyssa Pung, co-owners of Becker’s Bridal in Fowler, Michigan.
In Slate Plus: Our weekly And Just Like That…recap. This week it’s episode four with Cheyna Roth and Slate culture writer Heather Schwedel.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Special thanks to Shannon Palus and Susan Matthews.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
America’s winner-take-all electoral system casts third-party candidates as spoilers—but what would it take to open the door to not just a third party, but a fourth or more?
Guest: Lee Drutman, senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America, author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop.
This week, the panel begins by examining the final Indiana Jones crusade (probably), Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny. Then, they debate Boots Riley’s daring new television show, I’m a Virgo. Finally, the trio considers Turner Classic Movies and the fate of the beloved TV network.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel dives into the reliably controversial Agnes Callard’s latest piece, “The Case Against Travel.”
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Dana: “The Joy of Traveling Solo” — Inspired by this week’s Slate Plus segment, Dana endorses writer Andre Acimen’s piece in Town & Country about the joys of being in a new place alone.
Julia: Raiders of the Lost Ark Story Conference Transcript — Over five days in January 1978, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Lawrence Kasdan came together to brainstorm what would later become the Raiders of the Lost Ark screenplay. The entire story session transcript has been published in its entirety.
Stephen: “A Sort of Buzzing Inside My Head” — A beautifully written piece by Jessica Riskin for The New York Review that explores ChatGPT’s relationship to the Turing Test and what it tells us about the meaning of “intelligence.”
Outro music: “Spinning the Wheels” by Dusty Decks
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
Danny Lavery welcomes Halle Kiefer, a Senior ComedyWriter at Crooked Media, and Alison Leiby, a New York based comedian. Together, Kiefer and Leiby host Crooked Media’s weekly horror film podcast, Ruined. Lavery, Kiefer and Leiby offer advice to someone who’s rapidly approaching burn-out at work. Another letter writer is wondering what to do about their therapist, which has started to feel unsafe. Plus, a lightning round letter about how to talk about yourself with new friends without giving up the dark details of your past. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by TV producer Mike Schur for a special episode: a debate on which sports have generated the best art and made the greatest contributions to culture. Topics discussed include Schur’s Field of Dreams adaptation, whether basketball or football has a greater canon, and if boxing will lose its cultural footprint.
On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux and Elizabeth Newcamp are joined by comedian Hari Kondabolu. They talk about Hari’s new standup special, Vacation Baby. They also answer a listener question about vacation. The letter writer’s mother requested a trip with her and her kids. No spouses or children. Is it a selfish ask?
Recommendations: Hari: Vacation Baby and I’m a Virgo Elizabeth: Em & Friends: A Box of Friendship and this printable for kids Jamilah: Dave
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Unpopular decisions and multiple scandals involving lavish, undisclosed gifts from conservative megadonors have the Supreme Court handing down decisions under a cloud of public outcry and controversy—but that hasn’t stopped the conservative majority from acting just as hardline as its critics feared.
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, court watcher and senior writer at Slate.
Even if you like the convenience of your phone unlocking after it reads your face, there are reasons to be wary of the TSA bringing facial recognition technology to the airport.
Guest: Geoffrey Fowler, technology columnist for the Washington Post.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to musician Peter One, whose recent album Come Back to Me is his first in more than three decades. In 1985, he and musician Jess Sah Bi released the album Our Garden Needs Its Flowers, which was a big hit in Peter’s home country of the Ivory Coast and bolstered his reputation around the world. In the interview, Peter discusses his songwriting process for Come Back to Me and explains what it’s been like to re-connect with his fanbase and to find new admirers of his work.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host Nate Chinen discuss the role of intuition in creative work.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Peter talks more about the events that led to his career revival.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Rachelle dives into one of Candice’s most treasured subreddits: r/bathandbodyworks. They trace the boom of candle consumption during the pandemic, how sale culture keeps the store in business, and Candice’s definitive rules for curating your haul. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers take on the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action. They also talk about the (very good!) marketing campaign behind the upcoming Barbie movie, and the (less good) influencer campaign for SHEIN. In the Plus segment: Vanna White needs a raise! Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox. As the Supreme Court’s June term wraps up with a slew of awful decisions, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern to analyze 303 Creative LLC v Elenis, a case with startling implications for the dignity and equal treatment of LGBTQ couples and families. They also discuss the new reporting that shines light on the hall of mirrors that brought the case to court. Then, Dahlia and Mark are joined by Dalié Jiménez, Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and Director of the Student Loan Law Initiative at UCI Law to discuss the court’s decision to strike down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program. Finally, Dahlia turns to Michaele Turnage Young of the NAACP LDF to take a closer look at Thursday’s affirmative action decision, which outlawed race-conscious admissions in most higher education contexts. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern to answer a listener question about something that has us all scratching our heads in the wake of Moore v Harper, and look ahead to some gun safety litigation that’s winding its way up to the High Court.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by music journalist and interviewer of vocal legends Christian John Wikane. He says what set apart the Pointer Sisters—including Ruth Pointer, whom Christian has interviewed numerous times—was their across-the-board vocal quality: all three sisters (four in the ’70s, including Bonnie Pointer) were both giften lead vocalists and natural harmony singers.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Alo Johnston, author of Am I Trans Enough, and co-host of the Wondermind podcast, Baggage Drop. Lavery and Johnston offer advice to someone who wants to keep going to their community center, but needs to avoid their former abuser, who is often there. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
A shortage of basic chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer is jeopardizing the care of hundreds of thousands of patients. The drugs aren’t expensive, or patented—so where are they?
Guest: Ed Yong, science journalist at The Atlantic. Host: Lizzie O'Leary
As this year’s LGBTQ Pride Month ends, transgender Americans find themselves under political attack. At the same time, a number of transgender creatives are thriving, building bright careers and awareness of their community. Actress and activist Angelica Ross is one of those artists. She joins journalist Aisha Mills, who is filling in as host, on today’s episode of A Word. Ross talks about her own journey from struggling teen, to military service, to groundbreaking performer and entrepreuer.
Guest: Actress Angelica Ross
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
Host: Journalist Aisha Mills, in for Jason Johnson
In this episode, Candice Lim (co-host of Slate’s ICYMI) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about whether to reject invitations from friends with filthy homes, how to cope when everyone at the office thinks you're a cheater, and what to do when you suspect your ambitious partner is about to burn out…and you’re kind of happy about it. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix and Emily Charash.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live and on stage with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and also discuss the Supreme Court’s legitimacy problem and the not-Trump Republican candidates’ struggle. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: C-SPAN: “Maryland State of the State Address” Jeffrey M. Jones for Gallup: “Trust in Federal Government Branches Continues to Falter” and “Confidence in U.S. Supreme Court Sinks to Historic Low” John Dickerson and Anthony Salvanto for Face The Nation: “CBS News poll: GOP primary voters are more concerned Trump’s indictment is political” Rich Lowry for Politico: “The Trump Divide that Should Have Republicans Terrified” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Donald H. Kent for Pennsylvania History: “The Erie War of the Gauges” Emily: Adam Liptak for The New York Times: “Supreme Court Puts First Amendment Limits on Laws Banning Online Threats” David: Elliot C. Williams for WAMU’s The DCist: “Fans Revel In The Atlantis As Foo Fighters Open Venue With ‘Long, Hot, Loud’ Performance”; Matt Richtel for The New York Times: “The Refries That Bind: A Cavernous Cantina Returns, Cliff Divers and All”; and Amazon Prime’s movie “Air: A Story of Greatness”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John answer audience questions and talk about “Gabfest Reads: The Case for Treating Animals With Dignity”.
In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Monica Potts @MonicaBPotts about her book, The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Patrick Fort Research by Julie Huygen
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. You can sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox. In an emergency episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern to analyze SCOTUS’ decision to wipe out affirmative action in college admissions. They find Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion has some curious carve-outs that will keep lawyers busy, and college admissions tutors and applicants… baffled.
To shore up sagging enrollment, the U.S. military is doing what American industry does—looking to immigrants to fill out their numbers. Once a faster way to citizenship, serving in the armed forces has become another place where being an immigrant can carry harsh penalties—and can instead be a step on the way to deportation.
Guest: Sofya Aptekar, associate professor of urban studies, school of labor and urban studies, CUNY. Author of Green Card Soldier: Between Model Immigrant and Security Threat
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re diving into fairy tales. Slate book critic Laura Miller talks with author Kelly Link about her collection of fairy tale inspired short stories, White Cat, Black Dog. They discuss how fairy tales have influenced Kelly’s work, the allure of the “searching for a beloved” story, finding a community of female writers.
In Slate Plus: Cheyna Roth and Luke Winkie discuss episode three of Max’s And Just Like That…
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux and Elizabeth Newcamp are joined by comedian Hari Kondabolu. They share their parenting triumphs and fails, including a tooth shot out by a Nerf gun, a toddler with very cool music taste, and a pottery painting catastrophe. They also advise a listener who has her heart set on a big family. Her husband wants two kids, max. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, they dish on the the kids books that look a little… different after revisiting as an adult.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler address the dread of slumps and how they can affect any creative career. Whether it’s breaking down your project into tiny parts, treating yourself, or simply moving on to a new career altogether, there are many ways to escape a slump. They also dig into the pangs of professional jealousy and how to let it go.
Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
In the last of our Pride month mini-episodes, host Jules Gill-Peterson is joined by Evan Urquhart, the community manager for Slate's comments section who also covers anti-trans propaganda on assignedmedia.org. They discuss Evan’s piece “Don’t Look Away From Queer Despair,” which was part of Slate’s “Not Quite Pride” package. In a galvanizing conversation, they discuss the need to resist putting on a happy face in these genuinely challenging times; the compulsion to create work that will leave breadcrumbs of hope for the next generation of queer and trans people, and supporting one another. Items discussed in the show: “Don’t Look Away From Queer Despair,” by Evan Urquhart Slate’s “Not Quite Pride” package of stories Assigned Media This podcast was edited by Emily Charash and produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s politics, such as they can be parsed, are a mix of conspiracy theories and vibes. But in a post-Trump landscape, and with RFK polling at 20 percent among Democratic presidential candidates, cranky contrarians have to be taken seriously—right?
Guest: Vera Bergengruen, investigative correspondent at Time magazine.
On today’s special Pride Month episode, Rachelle and Candice hear from their queer listeners about finding love online. Stories come from digital spaces as far flung as Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom boards to Craigslist missed connections, from Minecraft rose gardens to couch surfing websites. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
This week, the panel begins with the question: is The Bear’s second season even better than its first? Then, the trio discusses Jennifer Lawrence’s new “sex” comedy, No Hard Feelings. Finally, they examine an essay by Jonah Weiner of Blackbird Spyplane, “Is Ssense hurting the cool-clothes eco-system?” about the online clothing emporium that’s growing like a weed.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel dives into former New York Times film critic—and current Book Review critic—A.O. Scott’s recent piece, “Everyone Likes Reading. Why Are We So Afraid of It?”
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Dana: Access and Engagement Curator at the Brontë Parsonage Museum — The Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth is hiring! Dana thinks someone out there must be perfect for this wonderful job: a part-time Access and Engagement curator at the former home of the Brontë family and where Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall were written. Applications close on Sunday, July 2nd.
Julia: Cédric Grolet on Instagram — The French pastry chef (who works as executive pastry chef at Le Meurice in Paris) posts beautifully shot baking videos to his Instagram and TikTok. In them, he demonstrates how to make fruity, complex pastries at a huge scale. The result is perfection.
Stephen: “Cancelled” by Amia Srinivasan — Published by the London Review of Books, “Cancelled” is philosopher Amia Srinivasan’s exploration of the role of fee speech on campus. In it, she asks “Who gets to speak?” and details the ways academic freedom is currently being suppressed.
Outro music: “Zero Gravity” by ELFL
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox. In deciding against the bonkers (technical legal term) “Independent State Legislature Theory” in Moore v Harper, the Supreme Court chose not to take a wrecking ball to American democracy. Judge Michael Luttig, a counsel of record in the case, is relieved but not surprised. In this emergency episode of Amicus, Judge Luttig tells Dahlia Lithwick that Tuesday’s decision may have big repercussions at the Department of Justice, in Jack Smith’s investigation of former President Trump’s role in January 6th. Sign up for Slate Plus now to support our show.
Danny Lavery welcomes Alo Johnston, author of Am I Trans Enough, and co-host of the Wondermind podcast, Baggage Drop. Lavery and Johnston offer advice to someone considering how to reveal their crush, and another letter writer who feels disappointment that their college friend decided to detransition. Plus, a listener's response to a recent letter titled “Vacation Friends”. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The last few years have been overwhelming for Tracy. Her career was demanding and she experienced multiple deaths in her family. Recently, she changed jobs and is in a better place with her mental health, but something is still missing from her life. She’s just not sure what. On this episode of How To!, co-host Carvell Wallace brings on Samantha Clarke, happiness consultant, speaker, and author of Love it Or Leave It: How To Be Happy At Work. Samantha will help Tracy (and all of us) design a plan to find fulfillment.
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Style Your Home Like a Pro.”
Do you have a problem that’s keeping you up at night? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to talk about Luis Arraez’s run at a .400 batting average. The Athletic’s Steph Yang also joins to discuss the U.S. women’s national team’s World Cup roster. Finally, college golfers Maycee Kay Aycock and Sarah Marshall come on to explain why they stuck with the sport despite shooting some of the worst scores of all time. .400 (2:19): Why it’s still a magic number in baseball. USWNT (20:08): Will injuries doom them at the World Cup? Bad golfers (40:30): How two women from Meredith College became sports heroes. Afterball (1:00:18): Josh on meat judging.
On this week’s episode of the And Just Like That recap, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth and Slate senior supervisor of audio Daisy Rosario talk about season 2, episodes one and two of the Sex and the City sequel. They dig into what’s missing from the first two episodes (besides Samantha Jones), Tony Danza, and what was going on with Carrie’s pigeon purse.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
For months, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been railing against his own country’s military leadership. It all came to a head this weekend – when the mercenary leader gathered his troops, took over a Russian city, and started to march towards Moscow. Then – as suddenly as it began – it stopped. Russia says Prigozhin has fled to Belarus, and his troops will all be granted amnesty. But an independent Russian journalist in exile doubts the official narrative, and speculates on Vladimir Putin’s future..
Guest: Mikhail Zygar, Russian journalist and author of the upcoming book, “War and Punishment: Putin, Zelensky and the Path to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine”
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen, and Elizabeth Newcamp are joined by award-winning author and journalist, Desiree Cooper. At 62, Desiree started her second round of parenting when she took in her three grandkids. She wrote about her experience for the New York Times in a piece called What if I Hadn’t Been There to Catch Them?.
Recommendations: Elizabeth: Sketch Pals Doodle Board from Boogie Board Des: CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora by Kahran Bethencourt and Regis Bethencourt. Zak: Bring a comfy chair to the park! Jamilah: Ginny & Georgia on Netflix. Bonus: Nothing Special by Desiree Cooper
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson, Maura Currie, and Tori Dominguez.
This week, guest-host Nate Chinen talks to Ayodele Casel, an award-winning tap dancer and one of the choreographers for Funny Girl on broadway. In the interview, Ayodele explains how she progressed quickly in the mid to late 90’s even though she didn’t take up tap dancing until college. She also discusses her award-winning film Chasing Magic and her one-woman show While I Have the Floor, in which she dances to the rhythms of her own spoken word performance.
After the interview, Nate and co-host Isaac Butler talk about the ways artists can honor the history of their discipline.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Ayodele shares her favorite tap dancing clips on YouTube.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Semaglutide, otherwise known as Ozempic, has been making headlines as a weight loss drug – despite only having FDA approval to treat diabetes. Now, some say it doesn’t just quell cravings for food – it helps quiet cravings for alcohol, drugs, and other compulsive behaviors. For years, researchers have been studying Ozempic’s effectiveness as an addiction cure in animals. What have they found? And – does it actually work?
Guest: Sarah Zhang covers health and medicine for The Atlantic
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Evan Campbell.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions, and the other legal happenings in June. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox.
On this one year anniversary of Dobbs, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Anat Shenker Osorio to talk about how the political class still hasn’t found a way to communicate or act toward the court that delivered this suffering. Next, Dahlia is joined by Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern to talk about two important decisions that came down this week, one concerning the rights of criminal defendants and another about the U.S. President’s right to set immigration policy.
In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia and Mark tackle more questions from the Slate Plus listener mail bag about the tension between establishment clause and equal protection claims in suits brought to fight back against Dobbs on religious grounds, and how to impeach terrible awful no-good judges.
Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show.
This month, to celebrate Pride, we’re bringing you some extra episodes of Outward. On Saturdays, we're sharing some great LGBTQ content from around the Slate podcast network. Today, it’s an episode of What Next, Slate’s daily news show. It features a conversation between host Mary Harris and Arkansas pharmacist Gwen Herzig. Gwen is a trans woman who testified before the Arkansas general assembly, sharing her perspective as a medical professional, only to be asked about her genitalia. The What Next team wanted to know what happened after Gwen testified and how the experience felt to her. What Next is produced by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski break down the last two years of the college sports economy. Players can get paid for their name, image, and likeness. Is that a good thing? And how interest rate hikes have put private equity firms at risk. In the plus segment: Why college sports coaches make so much, and how that might be changing. Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
On today’s episode, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim parse out this week in #OceanGate, when a 5-passenger underwater vessel heading for the Titanic went missing. The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed all five passengers are presumed dead following a “catastrophic implosion,” but the internet remains obsessed and desperate for more answers. We take a look at OceanGate the company, why someone would sign up for this voyage, and how four days of unanswered questions turned into millions of tweets, memes and TikToks. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
On this month’s episode of Future Tense Fiction, host Maddie Stone talks to Matt Bell about his short story “Empathy Hour.”
In the story’s climate-change-ravaged future, society’s wealthiest are whisked away to luxurious, self-contained cities. Once there, they entertain themselves with a carefully crafted reality show meant to assuage their guilt about the climate refugees they’ve left behind. But then, someone breaks into their airbrushed world, lifting the lid on what hides underneath it.
After the story, Matt and Maddie discuss the promises and pitfalls of climate fiction–and why we want to feel empathy, but never too much.
Guest: Matt Bell is the author of several books, including the novel Appleseed, a New York Times Notable Book of 2021. He is a professor of creative writing at Arizona State University.
Story read by Josh Bloomberg
Podcast production by Tiara Darnell
Danny Lavery welcomes Sequoia B. Holmes, host and creator of the pop culture podcast Black People Love Paramore. Lavery and Holmes offer advice to someone who doesn’t like her boyfriend’s reason for not sharing in the housework. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In this episode, Alisha Wainwright (actor and host of the new podcast series, When Science Finds A Way) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer your letters from readers about friends who don’t call you when they’re in your town, the pros and cons of dating divorced men, and what to do when you’ve pressured your friend to break up with someone who… ends up being a great husband to someone else. If you want more Dear Prudence, you should join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix.
During this LGBTQ Pride month, many members of the community are reflecting on a year of unprecedented political and legal attacks. One of the biggest battlefields has been in public schools and libraries, where books featuring LGBTQ stories have been the targets of censors. On today’s episode of A Word, guest host journalist Aisha Mills is joined by George M. Johnson, author of one of the most banned books, All Boys Aren’t Blue. They talk about the intersection of race and gender identity, and how Johnson has fought back against critics who call the book dangerous and inappropriate for children.
Guest: George M. Johnson, author of All Boys Aren’t Blue
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon, accusing the online giant of “tricking and trapping people into recurring subscriptions.” The complaint says Amazon “knowingly duped millions of consumers into unknowingly enrolling in Amazon Prime."
With murmurs of a larger antitrust probe against Amazon just around the corner, how serious is this suit for the tech giant?
Guest: Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter at Bloomberg
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Keziah Weir for Vanity Fair: “How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Became the Anti-vaxxer Icon of America’s Nightmares” Matt Viser for The Washington Post: “The complicated relationship between a presidential father and a struggling son” Pam Belluck and Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “New York Passes Bill to Shield Abortion Providers Sending Pills Into States With Bans” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “A Medical Frontier” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Samuel A. Alito Jr. for The Wall Street Journal: “Justice Samuel Alito: ProPublica Misleads Its Readers”; Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica: “Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation With GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court” John: Todd Estes for Teaching American History: “New Hampshire’s Ratification of the Constitution” David: U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Nuts”; Taryn Varricchio and Clancy Morgan for Business Insider: “Cashews don’t come cheap – one pound at retail can cost you $15. Here’s why they’re so expensive.”; Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips Listener chatter from Ruthy Kohorn Rosenberg: Reshma Saujani at Smith College’s 2023 Commencement: Imposter Syndrome is Modern-Day Bicycle Face For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with James Surowiecki of The Atlantic @JamesSurowiecki his article, “The Bitter Truth About the Bud Light Boycott.” In the June edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on Twitter / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/
On this episode: a listener writes in wanting advice for a difficult situation: she was sexually assaulted as a child, and now her daughter is the same age. The PTSD is affecting her ability to parent… so should she tell her children what happened?
The hosts also go over their week in triumphs and fails. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, they dissect the New Dad Canon proposed by the New York Times.
If you or someone you know needs help, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call 1-800-656-4673 to talk to someone — or chat online, and access other resources, at rainn.org.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson, Maura Currie, and Tori Dominguez.
Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the end of Roe – a historic decision that’s led to long lines, clinic closures, and a flood of abortion bans across the country. Planned Parenthood has always been in the political crosshairs… but now, their role is arguably more important than ever. What does America’s largest abortion provider look like in the post-Roe era? We sit down with its CEO to find out.
Guest: Alexis McGill Johnson, CEO of Planned Parenthood
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, one year after the Supreme Court decision that set off a national crisis in reproductive health care, we’re taking a look at what the end of Roe has wrought. Countless lives have been affected: There's the people who've traveled across the country to get their lives back, the people who've been forced against their will into pregnancy and childbirth, and those who've been denied life saving medical care because their doctors are afraid of the law. There's also the people doing what they can to mitigate the damage—with ballot measures, and abortion funds, and the tools and knowledge to help someone manage an abortion on their own.
Slate senior writer Christina Cauterucci talks with Diane Horvath and Morgan Nuzzo, who opened an abortion clinic in Maryland just as Roe fell. She also sits down with Elaina Ramsey, who leads a faith-based pro-abortion group in Ohio that’s been charting new ways to use the specific assets of faith communities to help people get abortions, and Jessica Valenti, a journalist who’s been tracking the warp-speed rollback of abortion access across the country, and telling the stories of people whose lives have been upended because of it.
Some of Christina’s Writing on Abortion: Birth Control Is Next You Will Still Be Able to Get a Medication Abortion—Even if This Barbaric Ruling Stands What Anti-Abortion Advocates Really Think of Women’s Lives If the “Abortion Pill” Gets Banned, There’s Still One Good Move The Religious Left Has Found Its Mission
If you liked this episode, check out: What the F*** Do We Do Now?
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of the final weeks of the Supreme Court’s term. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox. Amicus is coming at you again with an emergency episode. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to process ProPublica’s latest reporting on a growing theme of conservative supreme court justices with a penchant for luxury travel at the expense of billionaires (who also happen to be close friends with Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society). Dahlia and Mark also examine Justice Samuel Alito’s eye-popping pre-buttal of ProPublica’s piece about his Alaskan fishing trip with billionaire GOP donor Paul Singer, which Justice Alito chose to publish in the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal. Sign up for Slate Plus now to support our show. Dahlia’s book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25 percent discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and executive producer for narrative podcasts Derek John talk about Episode 4, discussing the forces at play during Thomas’ confirmation hearing, as well as the sound design of the show. Then, Joel interviews senior editor and host of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick, and senior writer Mark Joseph Stern about Thomas’ jurisprudence, how he has changed the court, and what they think his legacy will be.
Production by Cleo Levin.
Anita Hill’s accusations launched urgent and heated conversations about racism and sexual harassment. They also stoked an anger in Clarence Thomas that’s never stopped raging. Season 8 of Slow Burn is produced by Joel Anderson, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Sofie Kodner. Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor. This episode was edited by Josh Levin, Derek John, Sophie Summergrad, and Joel Meyer. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Candice are joined by Eater senior reporter Bettina Makalintal to discuss the rise of private chef content on TikTok. Specifically, the three discuss the now-yearly spectacle of chefs creating content about their summer sojourns to the Hamptons to cook for their wealthy clients. A form pioneered by Meredith Hayden, a.k.a @wishbonekitchen, Hamptons private chef content is now a phenomenon eagerly awaited by a section of TikTok viewers who call it their Super Bowl. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
This Pride month, many LGBTQ people are grappling with complicated feelings. Anti-gay and anti-trans political attacks are becoming all too common, Pride celebrations are being banned or canceled in some parts of the United States, and many of us are wondering how to put this in perspective. Hosts Christina Cauterucci, Jules Gill-Peterson, and Bryan Lowder wrestle with some of that complexity as they work through their feelings about corporate Pride. If rainbow capitalism never mattered in the first place, why does this year’s backtracking feel bad? Then they are joined by writer Delilah Friedler to discuss her piece “Tennessee Belongs to Trans People, Too,” which is part of Slate’s “Not Quite Pride” package. They end the show, as always, with some new additions to the Gay Agenda. Items discussed in the show: J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell become the first nonbinary acting award winners at the Tony Awards “The Dirty Secret of Corporate Pride,” by Christina Cauterucci “Tennessee Belongs to Trans People, Too,” by Delilah Friedler Slate’s “Not Quite Pride” package of stories
Gay Agenda Bryan: Casa Susana, a documentary airing on PBS’s American Experience Jules: Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary film by Sav Rodgers Christina: Dykette, a novel by Jenny Fran Davis This podcast was edited by Emily Charash and produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
This week, Dana Stevens is joined first by Slate senior editor Sam Adams and ICYMI co-host Candice Lim to examine Wes Anderson’s latest film, Asteroid City. Then, the trio discusses why the sixth season of Black Mirror feels so disjointed. Finally, Dana and Candice explore the ethics of true crime content—and its devout followers—with Slate podcast producer and host Cheyna Roth inspired by a recent piece by The Atlantic, “The Gross Spectacle of Murder Fandom.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dana, Candice, and Cheyna delve into TikTok’s latest trend: “beige flags.” Not quite red or alarming, nor something you absolutely love, beige flags are little quirks a person reveals that makes you go, “Hmm… okay.” Their conversation is inspired by Buzzfeed’s “‘My Boyfriend Always Asks The Waiter What To Order’” and The Cut’s “So What’s Your ‘Beige Flag?’” Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Reality — Based on the real-life FBI interrogation transcript of whistleblower Reality Winner (played wonderfully by Sydney Sweeney), Dana describes HBO Max’s Reality as a surprisingly experimental film that manages to recount the story of a historical event without any dramatic reenactments or fictionalized scenarios. Candice: Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss’s Glossier — Written by Marisa Meltzer, Glossy exposes the history of Glossier, one of America’s hottest and most consequential startups and examines the enigmatic woman responsible for it all. A must read for any Girl Boss obsessives. Cheyna: Below Deck — If you’re looking for fun, “turn your brain off” television, it doesn’t get much better than Below Deck, according to Cheyna. Below Deck (and its many Bravo spin-off series) follows the crews of luxury sailing yachts and all of the mess and drama that comes along with the job. Outro music: “You Know What I Want” by Staffan Carlen. Podcast production by Cameron Drews and Jared Downing. Production assistance by Kat Hong. Hosts Dana Stevens, Candice Lim, Sam Adams, Cheyna Roth
It’s been one year since the Uvalde school shooting – and while Texas hasn’t passed any gun control legislation, it has passed a measure aimed at “hardening schools.” Last week, Governor Greg Abbott signed HB-3 into law, requiring every public school to have an armed officer on campus. The legislation comes even as a former sheriff’s deputy is on trial in Florida for failing to protect students when a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
Do school safety officers stop school shootings? And if they don’t – what do they do instead?
Guest: Anya Kamenetz, education reporter and author of "The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now."
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Joel Anderson talk about whether the Pelicans should trade Zion Williamson. Josh and Stefan are also joined by the Athletic’s Paul Tenorio to discuss the U.S. men’s national soccer team's wins over Mexico and Canada and the rehiring of Gregg Berhalter. Finally, Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal joins for a conversation about how Vegas became America’s No. 1 sports town.
Zion (4:09): The Pelicans are in a very tough spot.
U.S. soccer (26:28): Why Gregg Berhalter got his old job back.
Las Vegas (53:24): How it went from a sports desert to every league’s favorite destination.
Afterball (1:09:36): Stefan on the World Football League’s very colorful pants.
Danny Lavery welcomes Sequoia B. Holmes, host and creator of the pop culture podcast Black People Love Paramore. Lavery and Holmes offer advice to someone who is tired of her friend complaining about her ailments. Another letter writer is starting to wonder why their partner is with them. Plus, the story behind Black People Love Paramore, and a pro tip on how to keep your cereal crunchy. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Most people have something they’re holding on to. For Lesley and Alex, that’s some old baseball and basketball cards that are collecting dust in their attic. For Kathy, that’s a house full of antiques. They’ve all been wanting to pare it down. But the big question is: how much is it worth? On this episode of How To! co-host Carvell Wallace is joined by Leila Dunbar, a veteran appraiser and frequent expert on Antiques Roadshow. Leila knows the stories and the value behind all kinds of collectibles and memorabilia. She’ll break down why we hold on to certain items and let go of others…and how to make money along the way.
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Put Your Town on the Map.”
Do you have a problem that’s keeping you up at night? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Last week, the Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting in New Orleans – and its main order of business was to tighten the reins on what women can, and can’t, do in the church. It’s the result of a years-long push from the SBC’s ultraconservative wing to reverse what it calls a “liberal drift.” As the nation’s largest Protestant denomination prepares to crack down on gender roles, what does that mean for American evangelicals – and for the rest of us?
Guest: Beth Allison Barr is a history professor at Baylor University. She’s also the author of “The Making of Biblical Womanhood.”
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
One son was preparing to take over George Soros’s multi-billion-dollar empire. Then, there was a falling out, and a new heir-apparent was chosen.
Who is Alex Soros? And, as he takes over for one of the most influential figures in American politics, what can we expect from him?
Guest: Gregory Zuckerman, special writer at the Wall Street Journal Host: Emily Peck
This week, host June Thomas talks to Taliah Lempert, an artist who specializes in paintings and prints of bicycles. In the interview, Taliah tells the story of how she first discovered a passion for riding bikes and then painting their likeness. She also explains how she’s been able to turn her artistic practice into a satisfying full-time career.
After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about getting into a creative “flow” and embracing your art as your “life’s work.”
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Taliah discusses art fairs and other community events, and then she tries to list all of the bikes that she owns. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
This month, to celebrate Pride, we’re bringing you some extra episodes of Outward. On Saturdays, we'll be sharing some great LGBTQ content from around the Slate podcast network. Today, it’s an interview from The Waves, Slate’s show about feminism and gender. In October 2022, Slate audience engagement editor Sol Werthan spoke with trans rights activist and author Paisley Currah about his book Sex Is as Sex Does, and why the state cares about gender. The Waves episode was produced by Cheyna Roth.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss what the decline in global economic inequality really means for our future, why you shouldn’t take luxury pictures right after you burn an industry to the ground, and why the Instant Pot couldn’t survive.
In the Plus segment: Felix’s piece on why you shouldn’t stress about commercial real estate. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by environmental appellate lawyer Sean Donahue to discuss the far-reaching consequences of one of the biggest decisions so far this term. In Sackett v EPA, the court decided that as many as 90 million acres of wetlands no longer qualify for environmental protection. Together, they trace the case’s history, its claims, and what tools are left for lawyers fighting to protect the environment.
In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern to answer listener questions, including how to counter dodgy originalism arguments, and whether there’s anything that could stop Donald Trump from running or even assuming office if he’s convicted of a crime.
Emily Bazelon talks with author Peter Singer about his updated and re-released book, Animal Liberation Now. The classic text has been an integral part of the animal rights movement since its publication in 1975. They discuss what we’ve learned about animals in the last several decades, including the intelligence of animals, why people should become vegan to help with climate change, and a passage in the Bible we’ve gotten very, very wrong.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
On today’s episode, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim are joined by Franchesca Ramsey, a television writer and producer, comedian, and former vlogger whose videos have amassed more than 30 million views on YouTube. The trio dive deep into the current controversy engulfing Colleen Ballinger, better known as her alter ego MirandaSings. In recent weeks, Ballinger has come under fire for the allegedly inappropriate communications she’s had with minor fans throughout her years long career. Ramsey, Hampton and Lim discuss how one of her accusers–YouTuber Adam McIntyre–has been sounding the alarm since 2020 when he was largely ignored, if not outright vilified, by the MirandaSings fandom. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
Today, the Pointer Sisters are mostly remembered for their flurry of ’80s hits, especially the “Excited” one about losing control and liking it. But their musical history is far more varied: jazz standards? Civil rights–era funk? Country music? Yacht rock? The Pointers applied their impeccable sibling harmonies to all of it.
Billboard ranks the Pointer Sisters behind only the Supremes, TLC and Destiny’s Child among hitmaking girl groups. Yet their versatility has gone relatively unheralded—from the Grammy they won in a country category, to the Bruce Springsteen demo they turned into a smash, to the kiddie bop they recorded for Sesame Street. How did the Pointers score so many hits in so many idioms? Join Chris Molanphy as he gives the Pointer Sisters their due as harmonizing innovators and genre-defying hitmakers. Here at Hit Parade, we jump (for their love).
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Emma Gray, author of A Girls’ Guide To Joining The Resistance, and Claire Fallon, a culture critic based in New York. Together, Gray and Fallon host the podcast, Love To See It, a snarky but affectionate dissection of dating reality shows Lavery and Gray and Fallon offer advice to someone who’s upset at her travel partner for not getting vaccinated before their trip. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Across Reddit, thousands of forums have gone “private” and effectively disappeared. Users are protesting the site’s plan to capitalize on its data, which has been enjoyed for free by people making third-party apps for Reddit, as well as some of the world’s biggest companies training their A.I.
Guest: Sarah Needleman, reporter for the Wall Street Journal who writes about interactive entertainment and social media Host: Emily Peck
In this episode, Ophira Eisenberg (host of the new comedy podcast Parenting Is A Joke) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer your letters from readers about whether to make your partner pass a test before having kids, how to handle it when you fall for someone else right in front of your boyfriend, and what to do when your friend seems to think she’s adorable and it really bothers you. If you want more Dear Prudence, you should join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Emily Charash and Brandon Nix.
Police killings of Black men have their own grim, but established, rituals in American society. But what happens to those who survive police violence? On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Leon Ford, who survived being shot multiple times by Pittsburgh police more than a decade ago. In his new memoir An Unspeakable Hope, Ford candidly describes his legal, physical, and mental health challenges, and why he eventually dedicated himself to working with police, including reaching out to the man who shot him. He also discusses The Hear Foundation—his non-profit group that builds partnerships between the community and police—and his complicated views of politics, gun violence, and activism.
Guest: Activist Leon Ford, co-founder of The Hear Foundation, and author of An Unspeakable Hope: Brutality, Forgiveness, and Building a Better Future for My Son
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for $15 for your first three months.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox.
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern join forces for this Opinionpalooza extra episode of Amicus where they discuss Haaland v Brackeen, a case that could have upended Indian Law, but didn’t. The case concerned the Indian Child Welfare Act, Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s majority opinion also reveals some tensions among the Supreme Court’s conservative justices. Together, Dahlia and Mark assess what another unexpected win can tell us about the shape of the current court.
Sign up for Slate Plus now to support our show.
Dahlia’s book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25 percent discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the federal case against Donald Trump involving national-security documents, Atlanta’s Cop City training facility, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s decision to delay her next book situated in Soviet-era Russia. Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C., Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I. In-person and virtual tickets on sale now. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage, and Maggie Haberman for The New York Times: “The Radical Strategy Behind Trump’s Promise to ‘Go After’ Biden” Esteban L. Hernandez for Axios: “Denver’s STAR set to expand amid tension over its future” Patrick Quinn for Atlanta News First: “’Stop Cop City’ Sen. Warnock interrupted during commencement address” Eat Pray Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert Mark Healy for GQ: “Women’s Favorite Author to Women: Don’t Get Married!” Elizabeth Gilbert on Twitter: “Important announcement about THE SNOW FOREST.” Mike Dash for Smithsonian Magazine: “For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of World War II” Philip Kennicott for The Washington Post: “Ukraine wants a boycott of Russian culture. It’s already happening.” Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: “Eat, Pray, Pander” Peter Beaumont for The Guardian: “Author resigns from PEN America board amid row over Russian writers panel” Imogen West-Knights for Slate: “The Saga Over Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Russian Novel” Has an Uncomfortable Lesson—and It’s Not for Her” The Enigma of Clarence Thomas by Corey Robin Here are this week’s chatters: John: Simrin Singh for CBS News: “Phosphorus, essential element needed for life, detected in ocean on Saturn’s moon”; William Harwood for CBS News: “New evidence of water plumes on Jupiter’s moon Europa; could it support life?” Emily: The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America by Monica Potts; When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey David: Muster Dogs on The ABC: “Five graziers from across Australia are given five Kelpie puppies from the same litter and set with the challenge of transforming these uniquely Australian dogs into champion muster dogs.” Listener chatter from Phil: Jay Caspian Kang for The New Yorker: “Notes on Losing”; Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison; John Dickerson for Slate: “Risk” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with Joel Anderson @byjoelanderson his podcast, Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas. In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
On this episode: a listener worries that her kids aren’t in enough activities. Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth offer some ideas for finding scheduling harmony and picking out activities that the kids really love.
They also go over their week in triumphs and fails. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, they talk about Rebecca Onion’s piece on Slate: The Case for Leaving Strangers in Your Family Photos.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Red-state resident, religious, and proud of his trans son, a Missouri rabbi has testified more times than he can count in front of the state government over the years, and is both dispirited and confused by the changes he’s seeing in his state lawmakers—from attitudes towards anti-Semitism, to the disappearance of business-focused Republicans who care if anti-trans legislation is going to cost the state millions.
This is the third installment in What Next’s Pride Month series. “After They Testified” is about the Americans who’ve shown up in the last year to speak out against anti-queer legislation, how it felt to do so, and what came next.
Guest: Rabbi Daniel Bogard, from Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis, Missouri.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re talking about menstruation. Period. Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by author and anthropologist Dr. Kate Clancy. Kate recently published her extensive study on menstruation, Period and they dig into why Western culture has constantly looked at menstruating bodies with shame, how this impacts scientific studies and healthcare for women and gender minorities, and how we can overcome the embarrassment.
In Slate Plus: Why language matters in science.
If you liked this episode, check out: The Hustle of Being Beautiful
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler discuss a listener’s query about how much importance one should grant ‘working on oneself.’ They share their different methods of pausing for self reflection, such as a quarterly, personal check-ins, mulling over problems that peers frequently encounter, and envisioning an ideal future.
Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
When Clarence Thomas got nominated to the Supreme Court, his behavior during the 1980s would get put under a microscope. To understand who Thomas was then and who he is today, you need to hear how he treated the women he worked with. You also need to hear from the woman who knew him best during those critical years: his ex-girlfriend Lillian McEwen. Season 8 of Slow Burn is produced by Joel Anderson, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Sofie Kodner. Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor. This episode was edited by Josh Levin, Derek John, Sophie Summergrad, and Joel Meyer. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and editorial director Josh Levin talk about Episode 3, discussing Clarence Thomas’ relationship with Lillian McEwen, and women in general, as he moves into adulthood. Then we’ll hear more from McEwen herself, as she discusses her experience working in Washington, the circumstances under which she got to know Thomas, and the connections they shared.
Production by Cleo Levin.
This week, the panel is first joined by Slate senior editor Sam Adams to review Past Lives, Celine Song’s gentle yet affecting directorial debut. Then, Dana and Stephen dive into The Ultimatum: Queer Love with Slate’s June Thomas. Finally, the trio debate the virtues of closed captioning, based on a recent piece by The Atlantic, “Why Is Everyone Watching TV With the Subtitles On?”
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dana and Stephen are joined by Slate senior editor Rebecca Onion to discuss the ways therapy language has found its way into everyday conversations, inspired by The Rise of Therapy Speak (Katy Waldman, The New Yorker) and “‘Doing the Work’ and the Obsession With Superficial Self-Improvement (Jessica Grose, The New York Times).
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Stephen: A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov — “An expression of Byronism as it reaches Russian shores.” Written in 1939 by one of the great Russian poets, A Hero of Our Time follows a nihilistic anti-hero on his many misadventures.
Dana: Everything Isn’t Terrible by Dr. Kathleen Smith (Audio book) — To go with this week’s Plus segment, Dana recommends this very good self help book. The audio book is partly narrated by the author Dr. Kathleen Smith, who works as a family systems therapist.
June: Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel (Audio series) — Based on the beautifully written comic strip, Dykes to Watch Out For is an Audible series adapted by Pulitzer Prize finalist Madeleine George that features voices from Roxane Gay, Jane Lynch, Carrie Brownstein, and more. Outro music: “What We Didn't Do” by Particle House
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
On today’s episode, Candice Lim and Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe explore the fandom surrounding standup comedian Matt Rife. They take it back to Rife’s breakout on Wild N’ Out and pick apart his rise on TikTok as a crowd work comic. But first, Nadira and Candice share their nominations for song of the summer. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim.
Homeschooling is more popular than ever — and for decades, it’s been seen as a haven by a movement of conservative Christians. But isolating children from the world doesn’t just mean tribalism and fear of “government schools” — the lack of regulation can also lead to abuse. We talk to one former home school student about the conservative Christian world that raised him, and how some of its tenets have now gone mainstream.
Guests: Peter Jamison, enterprise reporter with the Washington Post. Aaron Bealls, former homeschooler and public-school parent in Loudoun County, Virginia
In celebration of Pride month, we’re bringing you some extra episodes of the Outward podcast. This week, host Christina Cauterucci talks to two people who recently visited every lesbian bar in the United States: Krista Burton, author of the newly published book Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in America, and Naomi Gordon-Loebl, a writer and sommelier. They discuss the purpose of lesbian bars, trends in dyke-bar decor, and whether they’re still sexy.
Items discussed in the show: Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in America, by Krista Burton The Lesbian Bar Project’s list of U.S. bars
Gay Agenda Krista: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Naomi: Wear something that makes you feel spicy, like perhaps a leather harness or a Father Figure T-shirt by Tanner Shea
This podcast was edited by Emily Charash and produced by June Thomas.
Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions, and the other legal happenings in June. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox.
An extra episode of Amicus as the former President of the United States, Donald J Trump, is arraigned in federal court in Miami on 37 counts, entering a plea of not guilty. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Ryan Goodman, co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, a distinguished fellow at the National Institute of Military Justice, and former special counsel at the Department of Defense. Together, they step back from the spectacle to examine the challenge of prosecuting a former President over things that were supposed to be state secrets, and whether Trump can use politics to outrun justice this time.
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Danny Lavery welcomes Emma Gray, author of A Girls’ Guide To Joining The Resistance, and Claire Fallon, a culture critic based in New York. Together, Gray and Fallon host the podcast, Love To See It, a snarky but affectionate dissection of dating reality shows Lavery and Gray and Fallon offer advice to someone who is trying to cope with racist coworkers. Another letter writer is concerned about a surgical decision they made when their child was born. Plus, a listener wrote in offering a folksy expression from her Grandmother’s diary from college. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Amy and Sarah are high school English teachers who both want to quit the classroom, but for very different reasons. Amy has over 200 students, and tensions between teachers and parents are on the rise so she’s “beyond burned out.” Whereas Sarah has been teaching for over a decade and is itching for a change. On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series, co-host Amanda Ripley is joined by Daphne Gomez, a former teacher who’s now CEO of Teacher Career Coach. (She also hosts the Teacher Career Coach podcast.) Daphne has some wonderful advice for Sarah and Amy—and anyone else who has no choice but to leave a job they once loved.
If you liked this episode, check out Part 1: “How To Help Teachers Thrive.”
More career change episodes: How To Bounce Back From a Layoff How To Know When to Quit Your Job How To Make the Leap to Your Dream Job How To Bounce Back From Burnout How To Advance Your Career by Quitting Your Job How To Find a New Career Before It’s Too Late
Do you have a problem that’s keeping you up at night? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Donald Trump heads back to court, facing federal charges over the handling of sensitive documents after his presidential term ended. While the indictment looks bad for Trump, and he lost two lawyers from his team on Friday, there are silver linings for the ex-president.
Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Justice Department.
Josh Levin and the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss how the Denver Nuggets took a commanding lead in the NBA Finals. Next, Slate’s Henry Grabar comes on to talk about Novak Djokovic’s record-setting French Open title. Finally, Josh is joined by Slate’s Alex Kirshner and the Fried Egg’s Brendan Porath to sort through the PGA Tour’s new deal with the Saudis. NBA Finals (2:16): What makes Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray a historically great duo? French Open (25:44): How Djokovic keeps winning. Golf (46:57): Why the PGA Tour reversed its big moral stand. Afterball (01:10:16): Josh and Louisa discuss her feature story on how pitcher Daniel Bard lost control, regained it, and lost it again.
On this episode: Dan Kois, former Mom and Dad are Fighting co-host, delivers an essay called Good Enough Friends. The piece explores the evolution of teenage friendship, online connections, and the awkward beauty of not being able to mute yourself IRL.
Recommendations: Elizabeth: SUMMER READING! Pizza Hut Book It , Barns & Nobel , Everyday Reading Summer Reading Chart , Scholastic Online , Half Price Books Jamilah: The Simpsons Zak: Mushroom tacos
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
If the Supreme Court rules against affirmative action for certain racial groups, as expected, how will colleges and other institutions create diverse student bodies and address racial disparities?
Guest: Richard Kahlenberg, senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute and professorial lecturer at George Washington University
As “deep fakes” have demonstrated, it’s getting easier and easier to swap an actor for a digital likeness—something that contributed to the Screen Actors Guild voting to authorize joining the writers on strike.
Guest: Heather Tal Murphy, Slate writer covering tech, business, and A.I. Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, Working producer Cameron Drews gets a masterclass in interviewing from Sam Fragoso, host of the Talk Easy podcast. They discuss in-person vs remote interviews, the importance of follow-up questions, and what it means to capture “an honest snapshot” of the guest.
After the interview, Cameron and co-host June Thomas discuss the role of good taste and anxiety in creative work.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Sam talks about collaborating with his producers and participating in post-interview photo shoots.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On today’s show, Candice and Rachelle are joined by Lindsay Lee Wallace, a culture writer who recently reviewed the second season of Netflix’s reality dating show The Ultimatum for TIME. The three discuss how the show’s unhinged conceit fares when all the contestants are queer and how the season’s reception on the internet. They dive deep into the chaos subsumed The Ultimatum subreddit, where one of the contestant’s name was briefly banned because so many critical threads were being posted about them. And they determine the show achieves of its two aims: to be messy and to show the interior lives of queer couples. This show is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
This month, to celebrate Pride, we’re bringing you some extra episodes of Outward. You’ll still get the biggie on June 21, with Pride and Provocations, the Gay Agenda, and all the usual fun, but we’re going to provide fresh rainbow goodness every Wednesday. On Saturdays, we'll also be sharing some great LGBTQ content from around the Slate podcast network. Today, it’s an interview from Working, Slate’s show about the creative process. Back in November 2022, June Thomas spoke with Harper Bliss, a prolific author of lesbian romance novels. They talked about the secrets of Bliss' productivity and the joys of writing queer love stories. The Working episode was produced by Cameron Drews.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about the SEC lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase. Then they are joined by Slate’s own Henry Grabar for a chat about his new book, Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World. In the plus segment: More conversation with Henry Grabar Podcast production by Patrick Fort.
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox.
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern join forces again for an urgent look at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of former President Donald J Trump. Trump is facing 37 counts in seven charges in the case concerning his mishandling of classified documents, and trying to cover up that mishandling. Then, Dahlia is joined by Amicus’ election law guiding light, Professor Richard L Hasen, for a close look at the big and shocking voting rights case decided at the Supreme Court this week. Professor Hasen takes us through the fascinating backstory of the case and what Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion in Allen v Milligan can tell us about another big elections case Moore v Harper, and what we might be able to expect in the affirmative action decision that will also be coming down in the next couple of weeks.
Finally, Slate Plus members will have a chance to hear Dahlia and Mark answer listener questions, such as…. What is the progressive answer to originalism?
Sign up for Slate Plus now to support our show.
In a Gabfest Special Edition, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Donald Trump’s indictment on charges relating to classified documents and the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision on Alabama racial gerrymandering. Here are some notes and references from today’s show: The Washington Post: “Live Updates: Trump criminal indictment is unsealed, shows he faces 37 charges” Robert Barnes for The Washington Post: “Supreme Court: Alabama’s voting maps unfair to Black residents” Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C., Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are on sale now. Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
Danny Lavery welcomes Laura Cathcart Robbins, the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Stash: My Life In Hiding, and host of the podcast, The Only One In The Room. Lavery and Robbins offer advice to someone who feels bad every time their friend corrects their spelling. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This week, the SEC sued Binance, the largest crypto exchange in the world, and Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the US. Is it a sign that the glory days of crypto are done?
Guest: Stacy-Marie Ishmael, managing editor for crypto at Bloomberg News
In this episode, Shan Boodram (host of Lovers and Friends and Bumble's Sex & Relationship Expert) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer your letters from readers about what to do when your work crush starts ignoring you, when your spouse quietly quits the marriage, and when a partner’s mom seems to control his every move. If you want more Dear Prudence, you should join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix.
Weeks into the Hollywood writers strike, and there’s no sign of a settlement. WGA members say that studio chiefs are using artificial intelligence, streaming, and other methods to undervalue their work. And a wealth of already produced content, along with the misconception that writers are well paid, could minimize sympathy from fans. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Eric Haywood. He’s a board member of the Writers Guild of America, and a creative whose work has been seen on Law & Order, Empire, and Power. Haywood explains what’s at stake for striking writers,
Guest: Screenwriter Eric Haywood, Writers Guild of America negotiator
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the latest three Republicans battling for the presidential nomination; Oklahoma’s approval of a Catholic public-charter school; and Saudi sportswashing in golf and soccer. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Andrew Prokop for Vox: “Trump’s next indictment is looming – and the evidence against him is trickling out” Sean Murphy for AP: “Oklahoma school board approves what would be the 1st taxpayer-funded religious school in US” The Guardian: “Changing their tune: what golf’s powerbrokers said then and now” Lauren Chooljian for New Hampshire Public Radio: “He built New Hampshire’s largest addiction treatment network. Now, he faces accusations of sexual misconduct.” David Enrich for The New York Times: “A Reporter Investigated Sexual Misconduct. Then the Attacks Began.” John Dickerson for Slate: “Where’s My Subpoena?” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Kate Brumback for AP: “Bond granted for 3 activists whose fund bailed out people protesting Atlanta ‘Cop City’ project” John: David Lerman, Laura Weiss, and Avery Roe for Roll Call: “Still steaming over debt deal, conservatives derail House action” David: Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park; Dan Chabanov for Bicycling: “What Is a Randonnée—and Why Should You Sign Up for One?”; Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur Listener chatter from Greg Hoffman: Genghis Blues For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss the attacks and libel suit against a journalist for her reporting. In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed. Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C., Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are on sale now. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen
This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox.
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern join forces for this Opinionpalooza extra episode of Amicus discussing a seismic Supreme Court decision on voting rights. In his majority opinion in Allen v Milligan, Chief Justice John Roberts pushes back against his own long-standing stance on voting rights. Join Dahlia and Mark in this bonus episode to find out why.
On this episode: a listener worries that her house is too chaotic — and not fancy enough — to impress her book club. Zak, Jamilah and Elizabeth offer reassurance… and ideas for snacks.
They also go over their week in triumphs and fails. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, they talk about another Slate show’s episode on what happens when the kids we post online grow up… and want to reclaim their privacy.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.
Deep in the heart of Texas, they performed in drag, for kids and enthusiastic crowds. But as state legislation moved to ban drag performances, they stopped lip syncing and spoke for themself—and the queer people who depend on them at their day job.
This is the second installment in What Next’s Pride Month series. “After They Testified” is about the Americans who’ve shown up in the last year to speak out against anti-queer legislation, how it felt to do so, and what came next.
Guest: Jay Thomas, AKA Bobby Pudrido, an Austin, Texas-based drag king and care coordinator.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we talk about living a life alone, but without loneliness. Slate senior editor Rebecca Onion talks with author Amy Key about her new book, Arrangements in Blue, and how Key has found fulfillment without romantic love.
In Slate Plus: The influence of Joni Mitchell’s album, Blue.
If you like this episode, check out: Why Medical Mysteries Plague Women Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
Clarence Thomas went to Yale Law School because he thought it was a good fit for his left-wing politics. But when he arrived, it seemed like all the white liberals thought he was only there because he was Black. The sting Thomas felt fueled a lifelong resentment of affirmative action. It also drew him to a group of conservatives who helped sharpen his political beliefs. Season 8 of Slow Burn is produced by Joel Anderson, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Sofie Kodner. Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor. This episode was edited by Josh Levin, Derek John, Sophie Summergrad and Joel Meyer. Merritt Jacob is Slate’s senior technical director. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Sofie Kodner discuss Episode 2, explaining how they secured the interviews for this episode, and delving deeper into Thomas’ early relationship with conservatives and Republican politicians. Then we’ll hear more from Joel’s interview with Leah Wright Rigueur, who wrote the book The Loneliness of the Black Republican, which tells the story of Black conservatives in the Republican Party from the New Deal to Ronald Reagan.
Production by Cleo Levin.
This week, the panel begins by unraveling Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Then, the three discuss Platonic, a new Apple TV+ show starring Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen. Finally, they are joined by Slate staff writer Luke Winkie to examine the surprisingly wholesome journalism storyline found in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel reflects on their professional lives with a listener question: What is your relationship to your work after you’ve completed it?
Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements:
Stephen: “Trespassing on Edith Wharton” by Alissa Bennett for The Paris Review — An essential piece and “exemplary specimen” that’s critical to the discussion of what literary criticism looks like in today’s digital media age.
Dana: “The Dress Diary of Mrs. Anne Sykes” by Kate Strasdin for The Paris Review — An excerpt from the fashion historian’s upcoming book The Dress Diary: Secrets from a Victorian Woman’s Wardrobe. A fantastic glimpse into the Victorian period, what people wore then, and what they did in those clothes.
Julia: Holedown — A mindless, addictive iPhone game that Julia describes as “Asteroid, but down instead of up.” This endorsement comes from John August, the host of her favorite podcasts, Scriptnotes. Outro music is "Back to Silence" by OTE
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.
In celebration of Pride month, we’re bringing you some extra episodes of the Outward podcast. This week, host Bryan Lowder talks to Slate contributor John Culhane about his new book More Than Marriage: Forming Families After Marriage Equality. In the book, Culhane explores legal arrangements other than marriage that could protect people’s relationships and finances. While we might once have decried these options as consolation prizes, contracts such as designated beneficiary agreements offer exciting possibilities for queer and other nontraditional families. We'd love to hear about your Pride plans in this challenging year. Please send a voice memo, along with feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com. Items discussed in the show: More Than Marriage: Forming Families After Marriage Equality, by John C. Culhane Gay Agenda John: Support your local drag performers. This podcast was produced by June Thomas.
How Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group became essential to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—and one of Russia’s most vocal critics.
Guest: Brian Taylor, political science professor at Syracuse University, with a focus on Russian politics.
Danny Lavery welcomes Laura Cathcart Robbins, the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Stash: My Life In Hiding, and host of the podcast, The Only One In The Room. Lavery and Robbins offer advice to someone who is wondering if they can handle a bad boss and salvage their dream job. Another letter writer is wondering why she is always confused by family and social etiquette. Also, a deep dive into Robbin’s memoir, Stash, and a listener update from “Conflicted and Demoralized”. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Jack Hamilton to discuss the NBA Finals. The New York Times’ Tariq Panja also comes on for a conversation about Saudi Arabia’s efforts to lure Lionel Messi and conquer global soccer. Finally, the Athletic’s Zach Buchanan discusses his piece on the pioneering mascot the San Diego Chicken. Nuggets-Heat (1:58): How Miami tied up the series.
Saudi soccer (22:08): Can they get Messi? What are they trying to accomplish?
The Chicken (39:27): What Ted Giannoulas created.
Afterball (1:01:13): Josh on Rodney “Crash” McCray.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Ellen Hart, a mystery author who’s been active since the late 80’s and who is most famous for the long-running Jane Lawless series. In the interview, Ellen talks about her early career as a chef and explains why (and how) she pivoted to writing. Then she explains why, after so many years of heavy output, she’s deciding to write less and less, and both she and June reckon with the dreaded “R” word (retirement!).
After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss what happens when work becomes your identity.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks her favorite question to ask writers.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Until recently, Nvidia was a company known for graphics cards—a brand name among gamers but not necessarily the general public. But as part of the A.I. boom, Nvidia’s stock has skyrocketed, putting the company in Silicon Valley’s trillion-dollar valuation class with Apple, Meta, and Alphabet—briefly, at least.
Guest: Don Clark, freelance reporter specializing in chips and enterprise tech. Host: Emily Peck
As the fight for trans rights, including gender-affirming medical care, heads through state legislation, activists and medical providers are stepping up to testify. While explaining her perspective as a medical professional, a Little Rock pharmacist, who is trans, was asked about her genitalia in the middle of the Arkansas general assembly.
This is the first installment in What Next’s Pride Month series. “After They Testified” is about the Americans who’ve shown up in the last year to speak out against anti-queer legislation, how it felt to do so, and what came next.
Guest: Gwen Herzig, owner and pharmacist at Park West Pharmacy in Little Rock, Arkansas, president and executive director of The Prism Foundation.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, it’s all about the beauty industry. Senior writer and editor at New America, Julia Craven is joined by author and NPR host-at-large Elise Hu. They discuss Elise’s new book, Flawless - a remarkable investigation into the Korean beauty world. They also unpack the hustle culture inherent in beauty, how Eurocentric beauty trends are everywhere, and more.
In Slate Plus: Is Shiv Roy from HBO’s Succession misunderstood?
If you liked this episode, check out: Who’s Getting Rich Off Menopause? Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler speak with Jaime Green, author of The Possibility of Life, about her experiences publishing her first book. Whether it's the repetitive promotional interviews, or the countless rounds of revisions, the process of publishing a book can be surreal and exhausting. Luckily, as Green recounts, the support of a creative community and praise from strangers can make it all worthwhile.
Do you have a question about creative work? Leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kaitlynn Bartley, a Higher Education working in Residence Life, and Nicole Fusco, an epidemiologist. Lavery, Bartley and Fusco offer advice to someone who is wondering how to stop having a crush on their boss. Another letter writer is afraid they won’t live up to their new friend’s expectations. Plus, a lighting round letter about getting over a breakup. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Sleep is objectively worse when splitting a bed. Yet that’s the default for most couples. But that doesn’t mean sharing the covers is easy. Especially when one person is having trouble falling or staying asleep. On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series, co-host Carvell Wallace continues the conversation with Dr. Wendy Troxel, author of Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep. Dr. Troxel explains how couples can experiment with sleeping arrangements in a way that makes everyone feel safe, and why sleeping apart might be the key to saving your relationship.
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Stop Snoring (and Breathe Easier).”
Do you have a problem that’s keeping you up at night? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.
Right-wing activists have been waiting for a Supreme Court like this one, willing to hand down unpopular, reactionary opinions on guns, abortion, and voting rights. Meanwhile, the general public’s opinion of the court is cratering, and this year’s docket doesn’t look like it will help.
Guest: Jay Willis, editor-in-chief of Balls and Strikes.
The Biden administration’s Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission are both staffed with accomplished progressives who are proving more aggressive than their predecessors in either the Trump or Obama eras. But can Big Tech be tamed?Guest: Leah Nylen, reporter for Bloomberg News Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, host Karen Han takes a turn in the guest chair and talks to host Isaac Butler about her new book Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema, which is a critical analysis of the work of Korean director Bong Joon Ho. In the interview, Karen tells the story of how she began writing about culture in the first place and then how she was selected to write a book about one of the world’s greatest directors. She also talks about the structure of the book, the artwork that accompanies it, and how she made the tough decision to quit her day job to work on the book full-time. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss big career changes, meeting people on Twitter, and the best ways to cultivate curiosity.In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Karen tells a funny story that she came across while researching Bong Joon Ho. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Rachelle Hampton is joined by one of our favorites, Slate associate culture writer Nadira Goffe, and they’re talking all about the holidays online. They discuss Christmas movies like the Lindsay Lohan vehicle Falling for Christmas, Mariah Carey’s genius business sense, and the importance of family both online and off.This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about the CEO shakeup at Disney, shrinkflation, and Sam Bankman-Fried’s unusual post-scandal media appearances.In the Plus segment: the controversy over Balenciaga’s new ad campaign.Podcast production by Anna Phillips.
When Christian conservatives lost in Masterpiece Cake Shop back in 2018, they regrouped and picked up the trail of breadcrumbs from Justice Clarence Thomas’ dissent that suggested a freedom of speech approach. Next week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in 303 Creative v Elenis - another case that takes aim at Colorado’s anti discrimination laws. This time, arguments about whether a website designer has the right to advertise that she will not design websites for same-sex weddings, will be focused on freedom of speech. But as this week’s guest, Hila Keren, argues, excluding people from the marketplace and humiliating them in the process is not a matter of free speech, and it is a matter progressives have been largely silent about. Together, Dahlia Lithwick and Professor Keren dig deep into a case that hasn’t been given the attention its potential wide-ranging consequences demand. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about another big case - this past week’s arguments in US v Texas, including brazen judge-shopping, nationwide injunction-slapping, and President Biden’s immigration policy. Then Mark explains exactly what is - and isn’t - in the same sex marriage bill that’s making its way to President Biden’s desk. Want a behind-the-scenes look at how we create the show? Check out Slate's Pocket Collections for research and reading lists, as well as additional insights into how we think about the stories behind the episodes. Dahlia’s book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Senior Editor at Xperi, whose database of music information is available at Allmusic.com. In his quarter-century with Allmusic, Tom has written thousands of record reviews and biographies. Chris and Tom expand on the latest full-length episode about the so-called Angry Young Men of punk/new wave. These movements were preceded by smaller scenes and sounds of the early ’70s like Pub Rock and Power Pop, which actually had little in common other than their back-to-basic, no-frills rock ethos.Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives her a chance to turn the tables with a question of her own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Lisa McIntire, a writer living in San Francisco with her dog, Toby.Lavery and McIntire read a letter from someone who is trying to figure out how to get the house chores done while their partner is battling depression. Plus, a listener response to the “Dangerous Liaisons” letter from this past July.Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.Need advice? Send Danny a question here.Email: mood@slate.comProduction by Phil Surkis
For many years, tech professionals dismissed the threat of disinformation. Christopher Bouzy was one of them, until the 2016 election changed his mind. Bouzy founded and leads the organization Bot Sentinel to fight online disinformation. On today’s episode of A Word, he talks with host Jason Johnson about how best to detect lies and false narratives in social media, and how Elon Musk’s ownership of Twitter complicates his mission. Guest: Christopher Bouzy, founder and C.E.O. of Bot SentinelPodcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
Dating back to the Arab Spring, Twitter’s potential for real-time organizing has been a selling point. But trying to find information on China’s “Zero COVID” protests reveals just how vulnerable the now-understaffed platform is to manipulation.Guest: Joseph Menn, cybersecurity reporter for the Washington Post. Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Trump hosting prominent antisemites Ye (f/k/a Kanye West) and Nick Fuentes; Chinese protestors challenging their authoritarian government–with Sheena Chestnut Greitens; and Congress legislating to protect marriage equality through the Respect For Marriage Act. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Sheena Chestnut Greitens for Foreign Affairs: “Xi Jinping’s Quest for Order”Sheena Chestnut Greitens and Julian Gewirt for Foreign Affairs: “China's Troubling Vision For The Future Of Public Health”Here are this week’s chatters:John: Darby Saxbe and Magdalena Martínez García for The Conversation: “Fatherhood Changes Men’s Brains, According To Before-And-After MRI Scans”Emily: A compilation of Gabfest listeners favorite salad dressing recipes. David: City Cast is expanding to new cities; Nicole Eustace for The New York Times: “300 Years Ago, There Was a Brutal Murder. We Could Learn From the Treaty That Followed.”Listener chatter from Richard Medlicott: The Economist:”Shyam Saran Negi Never Failed In His Democratic Duty”; Alex Binley for the BBC: “Shyam Saran Negi: Man Dubbed 'india's First Voter' Dies Aged 105”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the Supreme Court challenge to the Biden administration’s immigration policy in United States v. Texas. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap
On this episode, the hosts give advice to a mom whose daughter is having a hard time processing big emotions, which has been leading to frequent meltdowns. They’ve tried pretty much everything she can think of but the shrieking still persists. She’s worried about her daughter being in these prolonged states and, furthermore, they’re concerned that if the screaming continues, a neighbor will call the authorities. It’s a really tricky situation and Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth have some suggestions. Then on Slate Plus, they discuss setting boundaries with grandparents.Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
In this Slate Plus episode, host Josh Levin and senior producer Evan Chung share behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the fourth season of One Year. Then, Josh is joined by historian Tracy Campbell to talk about his book The Year of Peril: America in 1942.Production by Cleo Levin.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, host Karen Han poses a listener’s question to co-host Isaac Butler about how to be a parent and how to remain a creative person. They ponder the challenges of parenthood, but also the joy and inspiration it can bring. They also share advice for staying creative and finding time for your work. Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate Money host Emily Peck is joined by journalist and author Taffy Brodesser-Akner to talk about Taffy’s new show, Fleishman is in Trouble, based on her bestselling novel. They dig into why men’s magazines are more freeing to write for, how ambition can mess up a marriage, and how midlife crises and divorce are different experiences for women. In Slate Plus, Emily and Taffy talk about Toby’s eating disorder, how empathy can make people mad, and more.Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
For nearly three years, people in China have endured their government’s “Zero COVID” policies to prevent cases from overwhelming their hospital system. But after a fire in Urumqi broke out and videos spread of fire rescue having trouble reaching the building, people have taken to the streets in defiance of orders and even gone as far as demanding President Xi Jinping’s resignation. Guest: Matthew Brazil, co-author of Chinese Communist Espionage: An Intelligence Primer and a fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.
Over the past few weeks, Tumblr has been filled to the brim with content about the Martin Scorsese film Goncharov, but the best part is the film never existed. On today’s episode, Rachelle Hampton and Daisy Rosario explain the wild and weird way Tumblr invented this film, how committed Tumblr users are to this bit, and what Marty thinks about it, too.
This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
With no clear path to advance and winter settling in, what would it take for Russia to negotiate an exit from Ukraine?
Guest: Fred Kaplan. Slate’s war stories correspondent
This week, Sam Adam sits in for Julia as the panel begins by reviewing Steven Spielberg’s new semi-autobiographical film, The Fablemans. Then, a discussion about the Hulu limited series Welcome to Chippendales. Finally, a chat about Ticketmaster.
In Slate Plus, the panel answers a listener question about the songs that make us cry.
Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Inspired by chatting about the new Chippendales series this week, my endorsement is the true, non-fictionalized version of the story told by the podcast Welcome to Your Fantasy. Sam: Endorsing a very specific version of A Christmas Carol. The one-man show version currently on Broadway performed by Jefferson Mays is excellent. Sometimes I find myself wondering if there is any need for another version of A Christmas Carol and this sort of answers that question. Steve: Singer/songwriter Jessica Pratt is very highly regarded and I wanted to get into her music, but I had trouble until I listened to the song, Back, Baby. Also, saxophonist Ike Quebec. I am absolutely digging his album Blue & Sentimental. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama. Outro music is "Stone Cookies" by Dusty Decks.
Danny Lavery welcomes Lisa McIntire, a writer living in San Francisco with her dog, Toby. Lavery and McIntire take on two letters. First, someone who wants to tell her mom that she did protect her enough from her creepy uncle. Another letter writer wants to advocate for their boyfriend’s non-binary child, but doesn’t want to overstep boundaries. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The team who made Slow Burn: Roe v. Wade tells the story that unfolded behind the scenes of Apple Podcasts' Show of the Year, from the original pitch to the leak of the Dobbs decision. We’ll hear how host Susan Matthews first came up with the idea, how the producers dug up rare archival tape and hard-to-find sources that helped bring the story to life, and how the show tried to fairly represent both sides of the issue. Plus, we dive into what changed after the Dobbs opinion was leaked in May, a month before the show launched. Featuring host Susan Matthews, producers Samira Tazari and Sophie Summergrad, editor Josh Levin, and executive producer Derek John. To hear all of our Show of the Year Extras visit: https://apple.co/showoftheyear2022
For this episode, a story from Slate senior producer Evan Chung about how Yanni, John Tesh and a number of other surprising acts made it big in the 1990s. It’s a throwback to a simpler time—when musicians struggled to find their big break, but discovered it could be possible with a telephone, a television, and our undivided attention. This story originally aired in 2019 on Studio 360 from PRX. We hear from George Veras, Pat Callahan, and John Tesh. This Episode was written and produced by Slate’s Evan Chung. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. Derek John is Slate’s Executive Producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. If you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends. If you’re a fan of the show and want to support us, consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring without any ads. Their support is also crucial to our work. So please go to Slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.
With Yale and Harvard law schools withdrawing from U.S. News & World Report’s annual law school rankings, others have followed suit. With the rating system for all colleges taking criticism, being “gamed,” and beset by scandal, is this the beginning of the end of the influential college-ranking system?
Guest: Colin Diver, the Charles A. Heimbold, Jr., Professor of Law and Economics Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, former Dean of Penn Law School and president of Reed College, 2002 through 2012.
Victor’s job—at its core—is to change the world. But he feels like he’s plateaued within his large humanitarian and development organization, and is now on the verge of jumping ship. On this episode of How To!, Annie Duke, author of Quit: The Power Of Knowing When to Walk Away, helps Victor decide if he should recommit to his current job or move on to something else. She explains the cognitive biases that prevent us from quitting and reveals why most of us quit things far too late.
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Uproot Your Life.”
Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Want a behind-the-scenes look at how we create the show? Check out Slate's Pocket Collections for research and reading lists, as well as additional insights into how we think about the stories behind the episodes.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by journalist Meg Swanick to preview the U.S. men’s soccer team’s matchup against Iran. Ben Mathis-Lilley, the author of The Hot Seat, also joins to discuss Michigan’s win over Ohio State. Finally, they talk about the Washington Post’s feature on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. USA-Iran (3:36): The on-field and off-field implications of the USMNT’s big game. Michigan-Ohio State (23:11): How the Wolverines took down the Buckeyes again. Jerry Jones (43:20): How much responsibility does he bear for the NFL’s diversity problems? Afterball (1:03:23): Joel on the resignation of Stanford football coach David Shaw.
Hakeem Jeffries appears set to take over as Nancy Pelosi steps down as the head of the House Democrats. As a member of the Progressive Caucus who has often sided against progressives with party leadership, what will the House Democrats look like with Jefferies at the helm?
Guest: Alex Sammon, politics writer at Slate.
On this episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth advise a mom who is ashamed of her teenager’s behavior. Her son and a friend were using the word ‘gay’ as an insult when talking about her son’s best friend behind his back. She’s already talked with him but she doesn’t know where to go from there.
Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Elizabeth recommends the books Fatty Legs and When I Was Eight. Zak recommends the Arthur podcast.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
The option to “buy now and pay later” over installments exploded over the past two years, thanks to people being flush with stimulus cash and shopping online during the pandemic. But is this new, underregulated industry a useful line of credit or another path into debt?
Guest: Paulina Cachero, personal finance reporter for Bloomberg.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, guest host Zak Rosen from The Best Advice Show and Slate’s Mom and Dad Are Fighting podcast talks to Liza Bielby and Richard Newman of the Detroit-based theater company The Hinterlands. They talk about how The Hinterlands’ latest production, Will You Miss Me? came into being, their influences, their rehearsal process, and the importance of deadlines. After the interview, Zak and co-host June Thomas chat about collaboration, how to kill your darlings, and how Zak implements Julia Cameron’s concept of the “artist’s date.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Liza and Richard offer their perspective on the migration of coastal creatives to Detroit in the last decade or so. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Zak Rosen.
On today’s episode, we’re excited to share an episode from Slate’s Decoder Ring podcast that we think you’re going to love. In the history of viral images, #TheDress has got to be in the top 10. This unassuming photo of a party dress kicked off a global debate when people realized they were seeing it completely differently. Is it black and blue, or white and gold? In today’s episode, we’ll talk to someone who was there when the photo was first taken, and the BuzzFeed writer whose post briefly broke the internet. Then we go down the optical rabbit hole with a neuroscientist who’s been studying the The Dress for years. What does it reveal about the nature of truth? This podcast was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Andrew Adam Newman. Derek John is Slate’s senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is senior technical director. We’ll hear from Paul Jinks, Cates Holderness, Pascal Wallisch, and David McRaney author of the book How Minds Change. Here’s the optical illusion of the strawberries mentioned in the episode and created by Professor Akiyoshi Kitaoka.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by New York Times Magazine writer and Fleishman is in Trouble author Taffy Brodesser-Akner to talk about wealth, class and the media industry, specifically through the lens of the Fleishman is in Trouble book and new limited TV series. In the Plus segment: what is everyone thankful for this Thanksgiving? Podcast production by Anna Phillips.
Danny Lavery welcomes Amanda McLoughlin, the CEO of Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production company. She is also the longtime co-host of the podcast, Spirits. Lavery and McLoughlin read a letter from someone who has a friend who always seems disappointed when she shares positive things. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the future of Twitter, the ghoulish World Cup, and a minister’s allegation that Justice Alito leaked the outcome of the Hobby Lobby case.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jodi Kantor and Jo Becker for The New York Times: “Former Anti-Abortion Leader Alleges Another Supreme Court Breach” Jodi Kantor for The New York Times: “Allegation of Supreme Court Breach Prompts Calls for Inquiry and Ethics Code” Rob Schenck for The New York Times: “I Was an Anti-Abortion Crusader. Now I Support Roe v. Wade” Kara Voght and Tim Dickinson for Rolling Stone: “SCOTUS Justices ‘Prayed With’ Her — Then Cited Her Bosses to End Roe”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: Variety: “Bob Dylan Fans Who Bought $600 ‘Hand-Signed’ Books With Replica Autographs Will Receive Refunds From Publisher” Emily: Rozina Ali for The New York Times Magazine: “‘How Did This Man Think He Had the Right to Adopt This Baby?’” David: Politics and Prose: City Cast DC Live Taping with Michael Schaffer, David Plotz, and Anton Bogomazov - at Union Market; Slate’s One Year, Season 4: 1942 Listener chatter from Laurent Dugois: In Broad Daylight: A Murder in Skidmore, Missouri, by Harry N MacLean; All That's Interesting: “The Story Of Ken McElroy — The Vicious Bully Killed By His Town”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John contemplate the conundrum of what they would like to tell their younger selves but wouldn’t be able to convince them of. Submit your conundrums for the 2022 conundrum episode at slate.com/conundrum. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
As we all prepare to gather around the Thanksgiving table with our friends and families, we thought it was a great time for our second annual Friendsgiving special. On today’s show, Rachelle Hampton is joined by Kelsey McKinney and Alex Sujong Laughlin of Normal Gossip to share in the online riches of 2022. They discuss the first memes they encountered this year, the internet jokes they’re most thankful for, and so much more.
This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Jamelle Bouie sits in for Dana as the panel begins by reviewing She Said, the new film about investigating the Harvey Weinstein story. Then, a discussion about the Hulu limited series Fleishman is in Trouble. Finally, they chat about the auction of Joan Didion’s private items. In Slate Plus, the panel talks to the very online Jamelle Bouie about the recent wild weeks of Twitter. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Jamelle: The Criteron release of Spike Lee’s Malcolm X. Biopics have fallen out of style for the most part. I rewatched it last year and I came away struck not just by the sheer ambition of it, but the extent to which it is such a love letter to classic Hollywood. Julia: My endorsement is episode 10 of Andor. It’s a great episode in a bunch of ways, but also the episode ends with an incredible monologue by Stellan Sarsgaard. It’s an incredible piece of writing and performance. Steve: I like this song. I don’t know much about it, but a friend sent it to me. It’s Super Rich Kids and it’s a cover of a Frank Ocean song. This version is from Trio SR9 featuring Malik Djoudi Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama. Outro music is "Did I Make You Wait" by Staffan Carlen
When the New York Times built on previous reporting in Politico and Rolling Stone about an evangelical christian ministry that sought to sell access to and influence Supreme Court Justices with fancy dinners and donations, the Hobby Lobby leak dominated the headlines. But there is so much more to this story. To discuss how the headlines fit into a larger narrative of dark money and a captured court, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. Senator Whitehouse is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights and co-author of The Scheme: How the Right Wing Used Dark Money to Capture the Supreme Court See also: The Supreme Court Ethics and Recusal Transparency Act. Want a behind-the-scenes look at how we create the show? Check out Slate's Pocket Collections for research and reading lists, as well as additional insights into how we think about the stories behind the episodes. Dahlia’s book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.
When presale tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour effectively broke the internet last week, Ticketmaster emerged as the villain…again. The media behemoth has been reviled since the ‘90s, but it has continued to grow, through a merger with Live Nation. What can a Department of Justice antitrust investigation, buoyed by Swifties, actually do?
Guest: Jason Koebler, editor-in-chief of Motherboard at Vice.
This episode was recorded before the Nov. 19 attack on Club Q. Outward stands with our queer family in Colorado Springs. This month, Christina Cauterucci, Jules Gill-Peterson, and Bryan Lowder discuss two major trans news stories from recent weeks. First, the New York Times’ latest article about trans kids and gender-affirming care, this time about puberty blockers and bone density, and how it plays into the ongoing, manufactured, and weaponized conservative panic about trans existence. Then they are joined by James Roesener of Concord, New Hampshire, who earlier this month became the first out trans man to be elected to a U.S. state legislature. They talk about why he ran and what he hopes to achieve. Finally, the hosts add some new items to the gay agenda. Items discussed in the show: The American Library Association Rainbow Round Table The Lilly Pharmaceutical Twitter impersonation AMC’s new version of Interview With the Vampire World Pride 2025 in D.C. “They Paused Puberty, but Is There a Cost?” by Megan Twohey and Christina Jewett in the New York Times Michael Hobbes’ Twitter thread responding to the NYT story “The NYT’s Big Piece on Puberty Blockers Mucked Up the Most Important Point About Them,” by Evan Urquhart, in Slate
Gay Agenda Brian: Queer for Fear on Shudder Christina: The Secret to Superhuman Strength, by Alison Bechdel Jules: Gossip Girl Fanfic Novella, by Charlie Markbreiter
This podcast was produced by June Thomas.
Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
In 1942, federal officials targeted a group of Black Americans who were allegedly hoping for a Japanese invasion. They uncovered a plot that included stockpiles of weapons and secret passwords—but was any of it true? This week, Joel Anderson tells the story of a shadowy organization in East St. Louis, Illinois, the group’s mysterious leader, and an alleged conspiracy against America during World War II. This episode of One Year was produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Joel Anderson, Sol Werthan, and Josh Levin. Derek John is executive producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.
Danny Lavery welcomes Amanda McLoughlin, the CEO of Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production company. She is also the longtime co-host of the podcast, Spirits. Lavery and McLoughlin take on two letters. First, someone who feels guilty about how they got their boyfriend to start doing house chores. Another letter writer is wondering how to repair a family rift over them coming out as trans. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
During the 2022 midterms, four states voted to ban slavery, which is still legal—and practiced—in the form of forced prison labor. The ballot initiatives are designed to keep people from having to work against their will and could provide prisoners with the opportunity to sue for higher wages, and better working conditions, including medical exemptions for those who are pregnant and postpartum.
Guest: Candace Bond-Theriault Esq., Director of Racial Justice Policy & Strategy at Columbia Law School’s Center for Gender & Sexuality Law.
Lauren already knows the plot of her bestselling novel—the problem is she hasn’t written a word. Paralyzed by self-criticism and an earlier rejection, this former English major has spent years journaling instead of attempting the scary, difficult work of creative writing. On this episode of How To!, we turn to writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner, whose debut novel Fleishman Is in Trouble, was one of the hottest books of the year. Can she help Lauren finally put pen to paper? The first thing Lauren needs to do, Taffy says, is stop journaling, and start writing. And then keep writing: “You can't get to the good sentences if you don't write the bad ones first.” Next, find a trusted reader, not a cheerleader, to give you honest feedback. And when doubt begins to creep in again, look at the writers you admire and simply ask, “Why them and not me?” Do you have a problem that needs a solution? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
For about two decades towards the end of the Victorian era, in the 1870s and 1880s, a large bustle-enhanced bottom was the height of fashion. In this episode we explore how it’s connected to today’s big booty craze. We look at the bustle’s history with a curator fascinated by old undergarments; consider the various theories about its popularity with the author Heather Radke; and then hone in the tragic story of Sarah Baartman. The bustle may be old-fashioned, but it still has a lot to tell us about race, sex, power and how much people know, or let themselves know, about what they put on everyday. We hear from Heather Radke, author of Butts: A Backstory, as well as Kristina Haughland, Janell Hobson, Pamela Scully, and Maria Garcia. This podcast was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Andrea Bruce. Derek John is Slate’s Executive Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. If you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends. If you’re a fan of the show, I’d love for you to sign up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring without any ads. Their support is also crucial to our work. So please go to Slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Eric Betts to discuss the U.S. men’s national team’s 1-1 draw against Wales. They also discuss the controversial opening days of the World Cup. Finally, they assess the Warriors’ and Lakers' early-season woes and Kyrie Irving’s return to the Brooklyn Nets. USA-Wales (3:44): How the USMNT fizzled after a promising start. FIFA (23:50): What’s happening in Qatar, and what the media is (and isn’t) saying about it. NBA (45:00): What’s wrong with the league’s most star-laden teams? Afterball (1:04:06): Josh on the next big star in American tennis.
Fentanyl has been a right-wing boogeyman and ostensible reason for Republicans to rail for more security at the U.S.-Mexico border. As the opioid crisis continues, the danger fentanyl poses has become vividly clear. While stopping overdoses is important, resurfacing nasty drug war tropes isn’t helping.
Guest: Brian Mann, NPR correspondent covering addiction
On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak are joined by author and editor, Travis Nichols. He wrote a wonderful piece for Slate all about his son’s strategic, unique approach to youth baseball. He figured out that if he doesn’t swing at pitches, he’s more likely to get on base. It was incredibly effective… but not in the spirit of the game. What’s a parent to do in that situation?
Recommendations: Travis recommends voting in the Georgia runoff election. Zak recommends finding some long, thermal underwear. Jamilah recommends this chocolate banana cake recipe from Joy of Baking. Elizabeth recommends art from Andrea Nelson on Instagram.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
After decades as America’s booming industry, tens of thousands of tech workers have been laid off in November alone. Is the venture-capital, low-interest-rate wind leaving the sails temporary or is this the end of the hunt for “the next big thing?”
Guest: Timothy B. Lee, reporter for Full Stack Economics covering labor markets, technology, and housing.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, host Karen Han talks to Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi, Robert Kondo, and Sara Sampson, the brilliant minds behind the new Netflix animated series Oni: Thunder God’s Tale. In the interview, Dice and Robert discuss their early careers at Pixar and their decision to start their own animation studio, Tonko House. Then, Dice, Robert, and Sara dig into the many creative decisions that went into the look, feel, and Japanese folklore-inspired story of Oni.
After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss how small scenes can make a big impact in animated films.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dice, Robert, and Sara name their favorite animated movies.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Lizzie O’Leary, the host of Slate’s tech podcast What Next: TBD. The two discuss Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, whether or not Musk has broken any laws and what the future of the platform might look like. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Daisy Rosario, Emily Charash and Rachelle Hampton.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss updates in the collapse of crypto exchange platform FTX and how the situation compares to past business downfalls. They also talk about Joan Didion’s estate sale. In the Plus segment: the death of Twitter. Podcast production by Anna Phillips.
Emily Bazelon talks with author Beverly Gage about her new book, G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, a detailed account of the life of the first FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover. They discuss Hoover’s hostile relationship with Martin Luther King Jr., why he should have quit at the end of the 1950s, and how Hoover’s childhood shaped his time as director.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
On this week’s Amicus, the case that threatens the Indian Child Welfare Act, but also threatens domino effects on tribal sovereignty and land rights. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Rebecca Nagle, a Cherokee writer, advocate & language learner. Nagle is host of This Land podcast. Season 2 of the podcast was a deep and broad investigation into the background of the case at hand. Maggie Blackhawk also lends her expertise to the discussion, Professor Blackhawk (Find du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) is professor of law at NYU and an award-winning interdisciplinary scholar and teacher of constitutional law, federal Indian law, and legislation, Together, they delve through a veritable grab bag of constitutional challenges from the plaintiffs in Brackeen v Haaland. Listen up, you’re about to learn a lot, we did. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about how a Georgia judge overturned that state’s abortion ban, President Biden’s record and prospects for confirming judges, and death penalty cruelty on the shadow docket again. Want a behind-the-scenes look at how we create the show? Check out Slate's Pocket Collections for research and reading lists, as well as additional insights into how we think about the stories behind the episodes. Dahlia’s book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.
Danny Lavery welcomes Rakesh Satyal, the author of the novels Blue Boy and No One Can Pronounce My Name. He is currently an Executive Editor at the HarperOne Group/HarperCollins. Lavery and Satyal read a letter from someone who wants to help a seemingly narcissistic colleague get help without offending them. Plus, an update from the letter writer who was considering leaving his low-paying nonprofit. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
At this year’s annual UN conference on climate change, they are discussing “climate reparations,” wherein the rich countries that grew their wealth burning fossil fuels pay money to poorer and more vulnerable countries. It sounds sensible, but is the UN capable of administering something like this? And how much money are we talking here?
Guest: Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor at The Economist.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
The eagerly awaited World Cup starts on Sunday. While the sport features star athletes from across the African diaspora, many Black people in the U.S. still consider soccer a white sport. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with Jermaine Scott. He’s an African American Studies professor at Florida Atlantic University, a life-long soccer player and fan, and an expert on Black soccer history. They discuss why so few African Americans have historically embraced the sport, what’s being done to turn that around, and whether the U.S. team has a chance of success at this year’s tournament.
Guest: Jermaine Scott, professor of African American studies at Florida Atlantic University.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Trump’s campaign announcement, election denying candidates’ failures in the midterms, and guest Matthew Zeitlin on the impact the implosion of Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto exchange FTX may have on the Effective Altruism movement.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Donie O'Sullivan for CNN: “Facebook Fact-Checkers Will Stop Checking Trump After Presidential Bid Announcement” Matthew Zeitlin for Grid: “Sam Bankman-Fried Gave Millions To Effective Altruism. What Happens Now That The Money Is Gone?” Kelsey Piper for Vox: “Sam Bankman-Fried Tries To Explain Himself” What We Owe the Future, by William MacAskill William MacAskill for Effective Altruism Forum: “EA And The Current Funding Situation” This American Life: “Watching the Watchers”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: Jason P. Frank for Vulture: “Stephen Colbert, Emma Watson, and More Celebs to Relish in Pickleball Tournament”; Isabel Gonzalez for CBS News: “Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield Partner To Create Ear-Shaped, Cannabis-Infused Edibles” Emily: William Melhado for The Texas Tribune: “Federal Judge In Texas Rules That Disarming Those Under Protective Orders Violates Their Second Amendment Rights” David: Politics and Prose: City Cast DC Live Taping with Michael Schaffer, David Plotz, and Anton Bogomazov - at Union Market; Justin Jouvenal for The Washington Post: “D.C.’s Bitcoin King: Yachts, Penthouses, A Python — And Tax Dodging?” Listener chatter from Kelly Mills: The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies, by Jason Fagone
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John contemplate the Thanksgiving traditions they would like to adopt or improve. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a mom who feels like her house is in chaos. She wants to know what rules and expectations she can have of her kids now they’re approaching preschool. Can they help out with chores? Should they be expected to not fight at the dinner table? What, if any, punishments are acceptable?
They talk about Julie Beck’s article, Why Did We All Have the Same Childhood? on Slate Plus.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
State supreme court elections, for a long time, were an afterthought; filler for the ballot’s second page. But with questions of abortion rights on the line, this year both parties started pouring money and attention on the races across the country. Even where the races are explicitly “non-partisan,” the partisan political machine has arrived.
Guest: Erik Ortiz, staff writer for NBC News focusing on racial injustice and social inequality.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by author Gabrielle Blair. Blair’s new book Ejaculate Responsibly presents the radical idea that men should take control of the fertility conversation by better managing their sperm. After all, they're fertile 24-hours a day compared to women’s 24-hours a month. Cheyna and Gabrielle also talk about the problem with not prioritizing women’s pain, Gabrielle’s history as a “Design Mom” and how even Mormons seem to agree with Gabrielle’s book.
In Slate Plus: How the pope got involved in your birth control.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Six months after Pearl Harbor, Japan launched another attack on the United States. This time, Axis forces actually invaded, turning the Aleutian Islands into a battleground. What the country did next, in the name of “protecting” Alaska’s indigenous people, is a shameful chapter of the war. And it’s one the nation has never fully reckoned with. This episode of One Year was produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Sol Werthan, and Josh Levin. Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, host Isaac Butler and co-host Karen Han help a listener who’s trying to reignite her creative spark after a depleting bout of Covid. They also share tips for dealing with any period when motivation is difficult to come by.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews. Hosts: Isaac Butler and Karen Han
On today’s episode, Rachelle is once again joined by Daisy. The pair dive deep into the digital etymology of the phrase “invited to the cookout” which, in the past few years, has been applied to figures from Bill Nye the Science Guy to Justin Timberlake. They discuss the phrase’s roots in African American Vernacular English and the future of The Cookout.
This podcast is produced by Kevin Bendis, Rachelle Hampton, Daisy Rosario and Daniel Schroeder
This week, Nadira Goffe sits in for Julia as the panel begins by reviewing the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever. Then, a discussion about the Selena Gomez documentary, My Mind & Me. Finally, they chat about Gen Z’s impact on the midterms and the election of Maxwell Alejandro Frost. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the art they resisted at first, but came to love. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: I will recommend Spielberg, a 2017 documentary about Steven Spielberg that I happened to watch on HBO because I was reviewing his new movie The Fablemans which is auto-biograohical or semi-autobiographical and has a lot of stuff about his childhood. So naturally I went back to try and what his actual childhood was like. Low and behold, this doc about Spielberg is really good. Available to stream on HBOMax. Nadira: I was inspired by the Selena Gomez documentary to bring something that is a piece of celebrity journalism. The 15K word piece Frank Sinatra has a Cold by Gay Talese is one of my favorite pieces of journalism ever. There’s a really fun version on Neiman Storyboard with annotations both by someone interviewing Gay Talese and then Gat Talese responding to those questions. Also, I don’t know how familiar you are with Moses Sumney but he is a queer Ghananian-American artist from California who makes, I’d describe it as etherial avant-garde jazz rock. He’s so good. The lack of performing during the pandemic pushed him to make a sort of live conceptual concert film called BLACKALACHIA that he released last year. I saw him perform a live version of this concert film arrangement earlier this year in Brooklyn and it was one of the top 10 live shows in my life. Steve: In the forthcoming New York Times Magazine, but it’s already up on the web, there is a longform interview with Brian Eno. The thing about Eno is, talk about someone who deserves the elder statesman label! He’s just stayed so vital and he’s such an intellectual. It’s a great interview. I could go on and on about Eno. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama. Outro music is "Any Other Way" by Particle House.
The Supreme Court case Brackeen v. Haaland concerns how adoption placement currently works under the Indian Child Welfare Act. The law prioritizes placing Native children with Native families. But depending on how the court rules, striking down or changing ICWA could affect not only adoption but Indian tribes’ entire status as sovereign nations.
Guest: Elizabeth Hidalgo Reese, Stanford law professor and scholar of American Indian tribal law, federal Indian law, and constitutional law.
Danny Lavery welcomes Rakesh Satyal, the author of the novels Blue Boy and No One Can Pronounce My Name. He is currently an Executive Editor at the HarperOne Group/HarperCollins. Lavery and Satyal tackle two letters. First, someone who is trying to create distance with their mother who is thinking about moving next door. Another letter writer is wondering how to cultivate a chosen family. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
After bracing themselves for a “red wave,” the Democrats will keep their Senate majority after the midterms. However, the Republicans will likely, narrowly take the House, thanks in part to gains made in deep blue New York State. How did the party bungle this so badly? And why do some Democrats say it’s Andrew Cuomo’s fault?
Guest: Jimmy Vielkind, reporter for the Wall Street Journal covering New York State politics and government.
To move or not to move? That is the question for Tiffani. She is desperate to get out of her hometown in rural Oregon and find a place with affordable housing, better dating prospects, and a ballroom dance studio nearby… or at least a P.F. Chang’s closer than a four hour drive away. The problem? Her preferred destination would mean moving clear across the country. On this episode of How To!, decision coach Nell McShane Wulfhart sits down with Tiffani and helps her make this life-changing decision in under 60 minutes. It’s true! Nell shows us how we can all uncover what we truly want and then write ourselves permission slips to actually pursue it.
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Have Happy Regrets.”
Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
In the history of viral images, #TheDress has got to be in the top 10. This unassuming photo of a party dress kicked off a global debate when people realized they were seeing it completely differently. Is it black and blue, or white and gold? In today’s episode, we’ll talk to someone who was there when the photo was first taken, and the BuzzFeed writer whose post briefly broke the internet. Then we go down the optical rabbit hole with a neuroscientist who’s been studying the The Dress for years. What does it reveal about the nature of truth? This podcast was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Andrew Adam Newman. Derek John is Slate’s senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts. Merritt Jacob is senior technical director. We’ll hear from Paul Jinks, Cates Holderness, Pascal Wallisch, and David McRaney author of the book How Minds Change. Here’s the optical illusion of the strawberries mentioned in the episode and created by Professor Akiyoshi Kitaoka.
If you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.
If you’re a fan of the show, I’d love for you to sign up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring — and every other Slate podcast — ad-free. Their support is also crucial to our work. So please go to Slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Grant Wahl to talk about the World Cup in Qatar. They also discuss the NFL head coaching debut of the Colts’ Jeff Saturday and examine how women athletes are benefitting from the new name, image, and likeness rules in college sports. Qatar (2:43): Bribery, authoritarianism, and soccer. Jeff Saturday (22:42): He has no college or pro coaching experience. He’s running an NFL team now. NIL (41:23): Women athletes are getting paid, but is there a potential problem lurking? Afterball (56:15): Stefan on the pointed commentary about race in A Wife’s Guide to Baseball.
Though just last year he was ousted from office amidst corruption charges, Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to power, leading a coalition of three hard right-wing parties. Palestinians inside Israel are concerned that some of their leaders are now emboldened in their goal of expelling Arabs from the country.
Guest: Peter Beinart, professor of journalism and political science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York and an editor-at-large at Jewish Currents.
On this episode: Zak is joined by Andy J. Pizza, storyteller, illustrator, and host of the show, Creative Pep Talk. They talk about childhood creativity and the big emotions that come from being a part of a creative family. Then they answer a question from a dad with ADHD who is feeling guilty he doesn’t find his kid’s activities enjoyable.
Recommendations: Zak recommends the sketches Ford Focus Group and Brian’s Hat from the show, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Andy recommends the film, About Time.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
This week, host June Thomas talks to the prolific lesbian romance author Harper Bliss, who published nearly 40 novels in the past 10 years. In the interview, Harper describes her writing routine and explains how she’s been able to write and publish so many books. She also discusses the common themes in her books and why she chooses so many different international settings. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about Harper’s decision to self-publish and her ability to delegate certain tasks. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Harper explains why one of her past books featured a politician character and why she mostly avoids overtly political plots and characters these days. She also talks about her admiration for audiobook narrator and former Working guest Abby Craden. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
The (once) second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, collapsed in stunning fashion this week, highlighting why consumers really do want regulation, and why old financial institutions remain wary of crypto.
Guest: Felix Salmon, host of Slate Money, chief financial correspondent for Axios.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and What Next TBD host Lizzie O’Leary discuss the ongoing disaster at crypto exchange platform FTX. They also talk about the slightly smaller meltdowns at Twitter and Meta. In the Plus segment: the sale of Paul Allen’s art collection. Podcast production by Anna Phillips.
On today’s episode Rachelle interviews Vice senior editor Samantha Cole about her forthcoming book How Sex Changed the Internet. The two talk about the role of sex in internet technology like videoconferencing, affiliate links and online credit card transactions. Cole also explains how lifecaster Jennifer Ringley is a predecessor to modern vloggers and livestreamers. This podcast is produced by Kevin Bendis, Daniel Schroeder, Daisy Rosario and Rachelle Hampton.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kat Kinsman, the executive features editor at Food & Wine, author of Hi, Anxiety: Life With a Bad Case of Nerves, and founder of Chefs With Issues, an ever-evolving project that addresses the mental health crisis in the hospitality industry. Lavery and Kinsman read a letter from someone who wants to stop arguing with their girlfriend about wearing deodorant. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Wakanda Forever carries on the story that thrilled fans of the 2018 blockbuster Black Panther. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Evan Narcisse. He’s one of the comic book writers whose work –including the Marvel Black Panther Wakanda Atlas– helped flesh out Wakandan mythology in the years since the original film debuted. Narcisse talks about how the Afro-futuristic utopia inspired him, and how he and other creators hope to build its legacy.
Guest: Writer Evan Narcisse
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, Slate's Dana Stevens and Nadira Goffe spoil Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to Marvel’s Black Panther.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
The second largest investor in Twitter, after Elon Musk, is the Saudis, which raises questions about what kinds of “free speech” Musk is really committed to. But it also raises questions around national security in the U.S.
Guest: Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator from Connecticut
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the midterm results we have so far and the Supreme Court case that could upend family law and more for Native Americans.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Stefan Becket for CBS News: “The Unresolved 2022 House And Senate Races That Will Determine Control Of Congress” Rebecca Nagle for The Atlantic: “The Supreme Court Case That Could Break Native American Sovereignty” Leah Litman and Matthew L.M. Fletcher for The Atlantic: “The Necessity of the Indian Child Welfare Act”
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Sarah McCammon for NPR: “Where Abortion Was On The Ballot, Midterm Voters Largely Signaled Support” David: David chattered about how going on a “Twitter fast” is improving his well-being. Listener chatter from Scott Grant: Sarah Linn for KCET: “The Dunites: Building a Utopia in the Oceano Dunes”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John take the under-the-radar state and local midterm results they find most interesting. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: We’re bringing you part two of ‘Friendship Week!’ We’ve received a lot of questions in the last year or so about finding parenting friends so we brought in the fabulous Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers from The Mom Hour podcast to help us tackle them. Meagan and Sarah share their tips for striking up conversations with potential friends, converting acquaintances to friends, and even how to make friends outside of your kid’s social circle.
Then on Slate Plus: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth take a friendship quiz to figure out what kinds of friends they are.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior supervising producer of audio, Daisy Rosario is joined by actress and director Lake Bell to talk about voices. Bell’s new audio book Inside Voice is all about her obsession with how people sound. They dig into why we should take better care of our voices, how trauma impacts our ability to speak, why candidate voices impact their electability, and more.
In Slate Plus, Lake and Daisy talk about the problem with the sexy baby voice. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
The dust still hasn’t settled from the midterm elections. But some themes have begun emerging: the GOP underperformed; the right to abortion won on state-level votes; Florida has gone red, but Democrats won gubernatorial races across the old “blue wall.” And it may be time for Republicans to consider who they are, apart from the party of Trump.
Guest: Jamelle Bouie, columnist at the New York Times.
In March 1942, a new nightly radio show hit the American airwaves. The stated goal of Station Debunk was to correct all the lies getting tossed around about America’s involvement in the war. But the real story was a whole lot stranger and more devious than it appeared. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Josh Levin. Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.
As Texas laws have become more discriminatory against trans individuals and their families, many wonder if they can even stay in the Lone Star State, especially when parents could be investigated as child abusers for providing healthcare to their children. This family made the difficult decision to move to Colorado.
Guests: Katie Laird, social justice blogger. Noah Laird, high school junior.
On today’s episode, Rachelle is back with Daisy to read your letters and answer all your burning questions. They get into everything from Johnny Depp’s rumored appearance in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty show to why hundreds of people turned out to abandoned Philadelphia dock to watch a man eat a rotisserie chicken. This podcast is produced by Kevin Bendis, Daniel Schroeder, Daisy Rosario and Rachelle Hampton.
This week, the panel begins by reviewing the Weird Al biopic, Weird. Then, a discussion about the entire run of Derry Girls. Finally, Matt Levine joins to explain crypto.
In Slate Plus, the panel takes on a listener question and talks about comfort food.
Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: A movie I saw a couple of weeks ago that is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. If you can see it will depend on where you are but keep your eyes open for this Hindi-language documentary called All That Breathes. Julia: I’d like to recommend an Instagram account and that Instagram account is by the name of Hot Dads of Picture Books and it is what it says. It’s basically somebody curating pictures of smokeshow dads from picture books. I can’t attest to its future longevity but I appreciate its commitment to the bit. Steve: The wonderful Mimi Parker, drummer and vocalist of the band Low, has died. I really truly love their music so I’m endorsing both Low and their music but also very much the remembrance by Slate’s own Sam Adams. Low made this crazy, wonderful, spooky rock and roll music that I adore. Outro music: "Ruins" by Origo Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kat Kinsman, the executive features editor at Food & Wine, author of Hi, Anxiety: Life With a Bad Case of Nerves, and founder of Chefs With Issues, an ever-evolving project that addresses the mental health crisis in the hospitality industry. Lavery and Kinsman take on two letters. First, someone who believes their partner is wasting their time, studying for a career they are not qualified for. Another letter writer is wondering how to talk to her brother about his sexual assault of her when they were children. Support for people recovering from sexual abuse RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) - https://www.rainn.org/ Survivors of Incest Anonymous - https://siawso.org/ Hidden Water - https://hiddenwatercircle.org/
Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Paul Pelosi joined a growing list of Congress members and their families who have been targets of violent political attacks. What can be done about the growing safety risk of being in the public eye? And what does living under threat do to the people charged with running the government?
Guest: Liz Goodwin, Congress reporter at the Washington Post.
As Kate’s teenage son, Sam, approached college she noticed him withdrawing. He wasn’t excited about his future and started to show symptoms of major depression. It came to a crisis point one summer night before Sam was set to leave for school. In the weeks and months that followed, Sam struggled to navigate the mental health system in search of care. And Kate? Kate was left wondering how she could help her son without being overbearing. On this episode of How To!, guest host Carvell Wallace brings on Dr. Christine Moutier, psychiatrist and the chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She advises Kate and all of us on how to be appropriately supportive, especially when things get to a scary place. She also reveals how she coped when her own teenager experienced a mental health crisis.
Resources: If you or anyone you know is in crisis, dial 988 or text TALK to 741741. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention AFSP’s Real Conversation Guides
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Stop Being Anxious”
Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports to talk about the Houston Astros’ World Series triumph. They also discuss LSU’s win over Alabama and the current state of SEC football. Finally, they assess Herschel Walker’s Senate candidacy. World Series (4:36): How Houston won it all. SEC football (24:36): Is Alabama on the way down? And what’s going on with Texas A&M? Herschel Walker (46:25): What’s motivating the former football star’s foray into politics? Afterball (1:05:20): Joel on what he wishes Deion Sanders would say about Jackson State and HBCUs.
Trump won Ohio handily, and it’s been expected that JD Vance would cruise into a Senate seat this fall. But Democratic candidate Tim Ryan seems to have struck a chord with the very demographics that have been drifting away from his party. Does he have what it takes to win in Trump country? And could his success be replicated across the Midwest?
Guest: Alec MacGillis, politics and government reporter at ProPublica.
On this episode: Part one of ‘Friendship Week!’ Zak talks with Dr. Marisa Franco on her book Platonic: How the Science Of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends. She explains why we’re in a friendship crisis and what we can do about it. They also talk about sharing shame and the importance of durable friendships.
Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends going to a great bookstore. Zak recommends Petite Maman by Celine Sciamma Jamilah recommends Girls5eva
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to poet J. Hope Stein, whose latest collection Little Astronaut traces Stein’s journey from pregnancy to motherhood. In the interview, Stein discusses all the creative components that go into her work, from structural elements like line-breaks and word-choice to the decision to share deeply personal details in her poetry. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han discuss the benefits of reading their work out loud. They also talk about the important creative decisions that go into book layouts. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Stein talks about her growing interest in children’s literature. She also offers recommendations to listeners who might be “poetry-curious.” Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
It’s been a rough autumn for parents of little kids, as non-COVID respiratory diseases are taking advantage of the first fall since 2019 where schools and daycares are full again, and America’s strained pediatric health care system is once again put to the test.
Guest: Katherine Wu, science writer for The Atlantic.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
On today’s episode, Daisy is sitting in the host chair and she’s joined by Slate’s own Nitish Pahwa, who covers business and tech for the site, and has written a lot about these upcoming elections. They’ll be talking about which candidates are and aren’t using TikTok well, how easy it is to encounter election misinformation, Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, and the state of right wing social media platforms.
This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Financial Times columnist and editor Rana Foroohar to discuss her new book, Homecoming: The Path to Prosperity in a Post-Global World. In the Plus segment: What’s the deal with workplace surveillance? Podcast production by Anna Phillips.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Professor Cara McClellan, former counsel at NAACP LDF, and founding Director of the Advocacy for Racial and Civil Justice Clinic, at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Professor McClellan takes us through an extensive trial record largely ignored in oral arguments at SCOTUS this past week. Then, Dahlia is joined by David Rothkopf whose book, American Resistance: The inside story of how the deep state saved the nation, details the folks who stuck around and tried to hold the line during the Trump years, and what we can learn from them.
In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about the judges pushing back in gun cases post Bruen, and the lower courts defying Supreme Court precedent as they seek to curtail LGBTQ rights.
Danny Lavery welcomes Danielle Moodie, host of the podcast, Woke AF, where she explores the many facets of what it means to be "woke" in our modern life. Lavery and Moodie read a letter from someone who’s best friend decided to take space right before their wedding. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
One week in as head honcho of Twitter and Elon Musk is in a tight spot: how do you balance the desires of advertisers with your ostensible zeal for free speech? How do you make something for which you’ve already overpaid turn a profit? How do you convince Stephen King to pony up for a blue check?
Guest: Alex Kirshner, contributing writer at Slate.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Southern California’s gang violence has made national headlines for decades. Less well known are allegations of violent gangs within the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by journalist Cerise Castle, host and executive producer of A Tradition of Violence. This new podcast probes charges that the L.A. County Sheriff's Department tolerates violent gangs within its ranks, and has done so since the 1960s.
Guest: Journalist Cerise Castle, host and executive producer of A Tradition of Violence.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson are Live in Atlanta discussing Georgia’s midterm election with NPR-WABE’s Rose Scott, as well as increasing political violencein the U.S.; and affirmative action at the Supreme Court.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Closer Look with Rose Scott John Dickerson for CBS Primetime: “Political Threats And Violence In The U.S.” (Inteview with Robert Pape) Steal This Book, by Abbie Hoffman
Here are this week’s chatters: John: Carrie McBride for The New York Public Library: “100 Years Ago Men and Boys Fought on the Streets of New York Over Wearing Straw Hats Past Summer” Emily: Fleishman Is in Trouble David: The Candy House, by Jennifer Egan; Fall; or, Dodge in Hell, by Neil Stephenson; The Immortal King Rao, by Vauhini Vara; Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr; The Circle, by Dave Eggers Listener chatter from John Campbell McMillian: Atlanta Police Department’s Citizen's Police Academy
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John take listener questions live. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Jamilah share their parenting triumphs and fails. Then Zak talks with journalist and former coach, Linda Flanagan about her book Take Back the Game. They discuss the transformation of youth sports into the ultra competitive, time consuming juggernaut it is today. They also talk about the culture of cruel coaching and what signals parents are sending to their kids when they dedicate a significant number weeknights and weekends to youth sports.
Then on Slate Plus, the hosts discuss controversial figures, like Elon Musk and Kanye West, that have the power to influence young children.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
Democrats have been winning reliably in Nevada, but between the lack of enthusiasm for Joe Biden among Latino voters, and a lackluster voter-turnout effort from Vegas’s hospitality union, it’s very possible that the face of Nevada’s “Stop the Steal” effort may win a Senate seat.
Guest: Jon Ralston, CEO and Editor in Chief of The Nevada Independent.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we dig into why Sarah Palin is still around - and if you should be paying attention. Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by Slate senior writer Christina Cauterucci to talk about Christina’s time spent in Alaska where Palin is trying to make a political comeback in a tight race for Alaska’s lone Congressional seat. Later in the show, Christina explains why it’s necessary to keep talking about Palin after all these years.
In Slate Plus, Cheyna and Christina talk about whether Sheryl Sandberg’s abortion rights donation to the ACLU is feminist.
Recommendations: Christina: Cleanness by Garth Greenwell Cheyna: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
On Aug. 1, 1942, the nation’s recording studios went silent. Musicians were fed up with the new technologies threatening their livelihoods, so they refused to record until they got their fair share. This week, Evan Chung explores one of the most consequential labor actions of the 20th century, and how it coincided with an underground revolution in music led by artists like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Josh Levin. Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, host June Thomas and co-host Karen Han mull over the pros and cons of creative critique. An expert's input could ignite a new spark, but could too many cooks cause a fire?
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews. Hosts: June Thomas and Karen Han
Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer and star of Big Brother in the UK, was deplatformed earlier this year because of his offensive and misogynistic talking points, but that didn’t stop him from spreading his message. On today’s episode, Rachelle speaks with journalist Ikran Dahir who recently wrote, “Andrew Tate’s Hustlers University 2.0 Has Made at Least $11 Million in Just One Month,” in BuzzFeed. Ikran discusses what it was like being on the platform, the quality of the classes being offered, and the vibes of the user base, revealing Tate might be savvier than anybody wants to admit.
This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
Joe Biden won Colorado by 13 points, which is why Jim O’Dea is running for the Senate as a moderate Republican—one who will stand up to Donald Trump. It’s a message that isn’t winning support from Democratic voters, and may well be undermining his appeal to Republicans.
Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.
This week, the panel begins by talking about Elon Musk taking over Twitter. Then, a discussion about the new film Aftersun. Finally, Angelica Jade Bastién joins to talk about her recent article about Brangelina. In Slate Plus, the panel takes on a listener question and talks about swap casting. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: I know I’m constantly endorsing things on the Criterion Channel! They are streaming the noir films of 20th Century Fox all month long. I don’t know why noir has become associated with November. Maybe it goes with the shortening days and the gloomy shadows of November. Julia: A slightly odd endorsement today. People really seem to think they can disrupt underwear. I don’t really know why. But, I have been a skeptic until now. Finally the platonic underwear has been designed. Knickey high-rise briefs. It’s just too good. Steve: The thing that’s given me the most joy is the Richard Wilbur poem Castles and Distances from 1950. I was in the mood for Wilbur and I found one I had never read before. It’s so cool. So sadly apposite to modern experience, especially with Elon Musk in the news and tech barons. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama. Outro music is "Lonely Calling" by Arc De Soleil.
Danny Lavery welcomes Danielle Moodie, host of the podcast, Woke AF, where she explores the many facets of what it means to be "woke" in our modern life. Lavery and Moodie take on three letters. First, from a career counselor who wants to keep their students from exploring particular jobs. Another letter writer was scapegoated by his colleagues, but wants his life back. Finally, a letter writer is looking for advice on how to come out as non-binary to their father. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Big Mood, Little Mood. Sign up now at Slate.com/MoodPlus to help support our work Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Today we’re going to see if one American family can flip the usual, tortured and tedious script for arguing about politics and do something more interesting. Jenn and Todd Brandel sit down with their dad, Bruce, to see if they can come to a better understanding about what has shaped their different political views. Mónica Guzmán, senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels and author of I Never Thought Of It That Way: How To Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, is back to provide some insightful post-game analysis. In this second episode of our special two-part series, she breaks down what went well, what got a little messy, and what we can all apply to our own conversations with loved ones.
Listen to the first part of our series: “How To Talk Politics With Your Dad (Without Yelling) Pt 1”
If you liked this episode, you might also like: “How To Rescue Someone From a Conspiracy Theory.”
Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases challenging race-conscious admissions programs. If the justices decide that affirmative action is unconstitutional—as they seem poised to do—how can universities still create diverse student bodies?
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate covering the Supreme Court.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Kyrie Irving and anti-Semitism. They also talk about the continued rise of Deion Sanders and Jackson State. And Claire Watkins of Just Women’s Sports comes on for a conversation about the championship game of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Kyrie (4:29): Is it finally time for the Brooklyn Nets to get rid of him?
Jackson State (26:22): Will the Prime Effect go away when Coach Prime moves on?
NWSL (44:36): The stardom of Sophia Smith and the future of the league. Afterball (59:35): Stefan on a historic match-up between women soccer coaches.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Fiona Kong, creator of Home Sweet Homes: A Journal & Planner for Co-parents & Child. They answer a question from a parent who doesn’t know what to do. Their child’s entire friend group was invited to a party… save one kid. Apparently everyone finds the left-out kid annoying. But both the letter writer and the letter writer’s child are feeling uneasy with the situation.
Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Bros. Fiona recommends Blokus. Zak recommends forest bathing.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
According to the recently released results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, American students across the country are scoring lower on math and reading. But before we panic, it’s important to put those results in context, and consider what evaluations can actually tell us.
Guest: Jack Schneider, associate professor of education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and co-host of the education policy podcast “Have You Heard.”
This week, host Karen Han talks to musician Cameron Lew, who writes music under the name Ginger Root. In the interview, Cameron breaks down his songwriting process and discusses the elusiveness of inspiration and creative flow. He also talks about his EP Nisemono, which contains a completely fictional premise about a Japanese pop idol. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler discuss how hard it is to schedule creative work. They also talk about the different ways that they measure success. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Cameron explains how he used to balance a day job with his music work. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
There are some 400 million surveillance cameras installed in China, one for every three to four civilians. Built with the help of American tech companies, the surveillance state was pitched to the public as a way to make society safer and more efficient. But after severe lockdowns during COVID, the public has been objecting out of the eye of the camera lens. Protests are being written on bathroom walls.
Guest: Josh Chin, deputy bureau chief, China, for the Wall Street Journal Host: Lizzie O’Leary
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson talk to civil rights journalist and WHYY radio host Cherri Gregg about the Pennsylvania midterm campaigns.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
We all spend so much of our lives online these days, and so we figured we’d start interviewing people about theirs. On today’s show, Rachelle is joined by health and wellness journalist Julia Craven to talk about Julia’s past online, how she would curate her feeds if she could only follow three people, and the best and worst wellness trends she’s currently seeing. And, of course, we continue to wonder, was Jesus hot?
This podcast was produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Matt Levine to talk about his Bloomberg Businessweek article The Crypto Story. They also discuss Elon Musk finally closing his Twitter deal and restructuring at Credit Suisse. In the Plus segment: more crypto! Podcast production by Anna Phillips.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy welcomes Chicago broadcaster and Black music scholar Ayana Contreras, host of the radio show Reclaimed Soul and author of Energy Never Dies: Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago. Contreras says the Great Migration made not only Chicago but all of the Midwest—from Detroit to Dayton—a cradle of R&B styles in the ’70s, particularly soul and funk. And while disco proved a challenge to Windy City acts, they eventually remade dance music through the power of their innovative arrangements, building a foundation for the hip-hop era.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Host Chris Molanphy
Danny Lavery welcomes Margo Donohue, author of Filmed in Brooklyn, and co-host of the podcasts, Book Vs. Movie, Dorking Out, and What a Creep. Lavery and Donohue read a letter from someone who is not ready to forgive her friend for many months of ghosting. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Twitter has been a lot of things—where you posted your lunch, where you met your people, where you were subjected to a harassment campaign. Now, as Elon Musk prepares to take the reins, where is it headed?
Guest: Will Oremus, technology reporter for the Washington Post. Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, Slate's Sam Adams and Rebecca Onion spoil the season finale of HBO’s House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
For every civil rights martyr like Emmett Till, there were many other Black Americans who were brutalized or killed by racist violence in the early 20th century and remain largely unknown. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Professor Margaret Burnham, author of By Hands Now Known: Jim Crow’s Legal Executioners. This new book unravels many of the lesser known stories of racist violence, the perpetrators, victims, and survivors. It’s also offering descendants of victims a platform, and an opportunity to fill in the blanks of their family history.
Guest: Professor Margaret Burnham, author of By Hands Now Known: Jim Crow’s Legal Executioners
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the final midterm sprint; the latest British Prime Minister; and Trump’s legal troubles.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Adrian Wooldridge for Bloomberg: “Rishi Sunak Is a New and Old-Fashioned Tory” Barton Gellman for The Atlantic: “The Impeachment of Joe Biden” The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump Nathaniel Rakich for FiveThirtyEight: “The Most Important Elections Of 2022 Could Be In State Legislatures” Brittany Bernstein for The National Review: “Why Some Trump-Country Pennsylvanians Still Aren't Sold on Dr. Oz” Anna Bower for Lawfare: “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Georgia Special Purpose Grand Juries But Were Afraid to Ask” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “I Write About the Law. But Could I Really Help Free a Prisoner?” The Prison Letters Project
Here are this week’s chatters: John: States United Democracy Center; Third Way Paul Revere Project Emily: Charlie Savage for the New York Times: “Garland Formally Bars Justice Dept. From Seizing Reporters’ Records” David: Dhruv Mehrotra for Wired: “Hot on the Trail of a Mass-School-Shooting Hoaxer”; Ben Collins’ Twitter thread collecting favorite tweets.
Listener chatter from Brian DeGeer: Theresa Vargas for The Washington Post: “Fiona Apple Uses Her Voice To Call Out Prince George’s Justice System”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily discusses The Prison Letters Project with John J. Lennon and Reginald Dwayne Betts. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Fiona Kong, creator of Home Sweet Homes: A Journal & Planner for Co-parents & Child. They answer a question from a mom who is beginning the process of separating from her husband. She wants to know how she can make the transition to living between houses as easy as possible for her son.
Then on Slate Plus, they discuss the adorable Halloween costumes their kids picked for this year.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
An investigation into child welfare agencies around the country uncovered that the vast majority of searches of home environments happen without anything like a warrant, increasing the stress for parents as well as the children whose welfare is supposed to be being protected.
Guest: Eli Hager, ProPublica reporter covering issues affecting children and teens in the Southwest.
There were 1.8 million weddings in 1942, the most that had ever been recorded in a single year in American history. But how many of them would last? 98-year-old Millie Summergrad tells the story of one that did: her own. And a pair of brothers explain what it was like to grow up inside the busiest chapel in Yuma, Arizona—the wedding capital of the United States. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Josh Levin. Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.
One TikTok famous emu was allegedly struggling with avian flu last week, but the story is a bit more complicated when it comes to public health. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined again by Daisy Rosario to talk about Emmanuel the emu, the racist past of his owner Taylor Blake, and the confusing and risky tale she spun online about her bird’s illness.
This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, the panel begins by discussing the new Martin McDonagh dramedy, The Banshees of Inisherin. Then, they look at composer Michael Giacchino's foray into directing with Werewolf by Night on Disney+. Finally, they reflect on the generational divide over emoji use. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, being the new face on a US coin. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Happened upon this endorsement because kept me up late watching. If you are a cult horror fan you are probably already familiar with Carnival of Souls. If you aren’t familiar, it has this feeling of creepy rightness that makes it worth watching. It’s all vibes. Julia: A new work by a little singer-songwriter you may have missed…Taylor Swift’s new release, Midnights is out now. It’s sort of halfway between pop-Taylor and folk-Taylor. Check out the song Anti-Hero. Steve: Everybody knows The Zombies, but you may have missed lead singer Colin Blunstone’s masterpiece of a solo record One Year. Blunstone reissued the album last year. His vocals are so precise and unexpectedly baroque. The album saved my life this Halloween from the poison of poptimism. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama. Outro music is "Haunted Playhouse" by Stationary Sign.
The truth is, no one ever had a workable plan for Brexit. And as Liz Truss becomes the fourth Prime Minister to resign since the referendum and Rishi Sunak steps in as tribute, it’s an important lesson for voters on any side of the Atlantic: You can’t stake your party—or your country’s future—on a lie.
Guest: Felix Salmon, host of Slate Money, chief financial correspondent at Axios.
Danny Lavery welcomes Margo Donohue, author of Filmed in Brooklyn, and co-host of the podcasts, Book Vs. Movie, Dorking Out, and What a Creep. Lavery and Donohue tackle two letters. First, someone who can no longer support her sister through her years long, turbulent breakup from her ex. Another letter writer has a feeling that their boyfriend might be trans, and is wondering how to bring it up. Plus, Donohue takes us on a deep dive through her new book, Filmed In Brooklyn, which is the result of over two years of writing, researching, and photographing over 250 films that take place and/or shot in Brooklyn. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Jenn and Todd Brandel have a close, loving relationship with their father, Bruce. But one thing makes their blood boil: his political chain emails. The messages are often forwarded commentary written in a provocative tone, and are an unwelcome reminder of just how far apart the family is politically. On this episode of How To!, we’re joined by Mónica Guzmán, senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels and author of I Never Thought Of It That Way: How To Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. In the first of a special two-part episode on talking politics with our parents, Mónica teaches Jenn and Todd how to aim for understanding with their dad, not agreement. Next week, Jenn, Todd, and their dad Bruce will put these tips into practice—on mic—around the kitchen table, as Mónica provides post-game analysis. We’ll dive into what worked, what got a little messy, and how to keep making progress.
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Embrace Your Anti-Vax Family This Holiday Season” and “How To Talk Politics Without Wrecking Relationships.”
Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Reporters have questioned whether Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, who had a stroke in May, is competent to serve in the U.S. Senate. The attention on his apparent aphasia – or ability to process conversation and speak clearly – reveals the biases that keep many disabled people from disclosing their conditions or even running for office in the first place.
Guest: Sara Luterman, caregiving reporter for The 19th News.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to talk about the Astros-Phillies World Series. They also discuss the decline of Russell Wilson, and possibly Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. And they assess whether Adam Silver’s NBA promotion and relegation talk is for real. World Series (5:05): How are the Astros so consistently good in the randomness of the postseason? Wilson (26:15): Is Russ cooked? NBA relegation (43:41): Could it ever happen? Afterball (1:00:57): Josh on the key to sports fan happiness.
Ron DeSantis broke with tradition when he rejected the Florida legislature’s redistricting map and presented his own. But by splitting a majority Black district in northern Florida into four other districts, he may have violated both Florida and federal laws against gerrymandering.
Guest: Joshua Kaplan, reporter at ProPublica.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by stand-up comedian Ophira Eisenberg to talk about her new show, Parenting Is a Joke. They also discuss the evolution of comedy about parenting, if it’s appropriate to use your kids as source material, and which comedians are at the mountain top of this type of comedy.
Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Reboot on Hulu. Ophira recommends Paddington 2 Zak recommends Special Time from NPR’s Life Kit
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Brittani Nichols, a writer and producer for ABC’s hit sitcom Abbott Elementary. In the interview, Brittani describes the show’s very collaborative writing process and explains what it means to be both a writer and producer. She also discusses how the show’s writers touch on personal experience to add texture to the world they’re creating. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about balancing behind-the-scenes and more visible work. They also discuss what makes great sitcom writing. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Brittani talks about her experience acting and shares the story behind the movie she wrote and starred in, Suicide Kale. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Alzheimer’s treatment hasn’t changed much in the past two decades, and the way researchers have been thinking about and approaching the disease may be to blame.
Guest: Damian Garde, reporter for Stat covering the biotech industry. Host: Lizzie O’Leary
A lot has been happening around Twitch, a platform that really seems to live in its own world on the internet. On today’s show, Rachelle is joined by Gita Jackson who explains exactly why Twitch can feel so insular even though the audience is enormous. They also talk about the poorly planned TwitchCon, and the horrible things that have led streamer Amouranth to take a break from the site.
This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by design critic Alexandra Lange to talk about her book Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall on the evolution of shopping malls in America. In the Plus segment: How online shopping has affected malls. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
David Plotz talks with with author Tom Perrotta about why Tracy Flick doesn’t have the life she dreamed of in his new novel, Tracy Flick Can’t Win. A sequel to Perrotta’s 1998 novel Election, Tracy Flick Can’t Win meets up with Tracy Flick decades later where she’s a single mother and assistant principal of a New Jersey high school. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Judge Michael Luttig for the definitive conversation on a giant elections case now on the calendar at the Supreme Court. Moore v Harper is a North Carolina redistricting case that is also a vehicle for the Independent State Legislature Theory - a so-called doctrine that could radically re-order democracy in America. Judge Luttig - a stalwart of conservative legal circles for decades - will argue the case as co-counsel alongside former Acting Solicitor General under Obama, Neal Katyal. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about the blossoming of bonkers gun cases in the wake of last term’s SCOTUS decision in Bruen, a big case concerning consumer protections and much more… Dahlia’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.
Danny Lavery welcomes Emi Nietfeld, a writer, software engineer, and author of ACCEPTANCE: A Memoir. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Rumpus, Vice, and other publications. Lavery and Nietfeld read a letter from someone who is worried that if she brings up a particular political issue with her boyfriend, they may have to break up. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In 2020, the Black vote proved critical for Joe Biden in key states, and helped win the Senate for the Democrats. But in the years since, Republican leaders have pushed through laws aimed at discouraging and diluting the power of the Black vote. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with Cliff Albright, executive director of the Black Voters Matter Fund, about why fighting for ballot access remains essential, even in the face of violence.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
One company’s software is helping set prices for apartments across the country. But when does an algorithm telling landlords how much to charge—by drawing on property data—cross the line from “handy tool” to “illegal price-fixing”?
Guest: Heather Vogell, reporter with ProPublica Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson concerning polls for Democrats, women protesting Iran’s regime, and the trial of Arkansas’ law targeting trans kids.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Roya Hakakian for The Atlantic: “The Bonfire of the Headscarves” A Beginner’s Guide to America for the Immigrant and the Curious, by Roya Hakakian Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “Pre-Registering Some Takes On The Midterms: Why I Think Democrats Will Undershoot Their Polling And What It Means” Kelli María Korducki for The Atlantic: “'I Think the Women Are Winning': Roya Hakakian on Iran”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump; Michael Wines and Neil Vigdor for The New York Times: “Videos Show Confusion as Florida Police Arrest People on Voter Fraud Charges” Emily: Emily Heil for The Washington Post: “Olivia Wilde Solves Salad Dressing Mystery With A Nora Ephron Recipe” David: Jeff Maysh for The Atlantic: “The $30 Million Lottery Scam”
Listener chatter from Lara Lowenstein: The Mountain Dogs
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss Ye buying Parler. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Ophira Eisenberg, stand-up comedian and host of the podcast Parenting Is a Joke. They share some funny triumphs and fails spanning from spoiled birthday presents to a dance recital mix up. Then they continue the birthday train and advise a parent who is looking for party alternatives for their son’s first birthday bash with friends. The problem? They live in a small house—too small to host a party—and don’t want to spend a fortune to rent a space.
Then on Slate Plus, they play a trivia game to see how well they know parenting pop-culture.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
You can divide the career of the artist formerly known as Kanye West into chapters using off-script televised moments—announcing “George W. Bush doesn’t care about Black people” during a Hurricane Katrina telethon; interrupting Taylor Swift on stage at the VMAs; calling 400 years of slavery a choice in the TMZ offices. Now his Tucker Carlson appearance and subsequent bans from social media for antisemitic posts have Ye entering the “buying Parler phase” of his career. Fans of the “old Kanye” are missing more than just his choice samples.
Guest: Nitish Pahwa, staff writer and web editor at Slate.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior supervising producer of audio Daisy Rosario is joined by author Elissa Bassist to talk about women’s voices. They discuss Elissa’s new book, Hysterical and unpack why we cringe when we hear vocal fry, and ask why we don’t have similar words to describe male vocal ticks. Later in the show, they dig into how the fear of scrutiny women have over their voices silences them in ways you haven’t imagined.
In Slate Plus, Elissa talks about her involvement in Cheryl Strayed’s famous quote, “Write like a motherfucker.” Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
At the beginning of World War II, the greatest threat to the American war effort wasn’t the Nazis or the Japanese—it was runaway inflation. The man in charge of stopping it was the country’s “price czar,” Leon Henderson. In 1942, he controlled how much coffee ordinary people could drink and how many tires they could buy. Those rules made him a nationwide villain. But would they save the country? One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Josh Levin. Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas help a listener named Alisa who wants to know if it’s possible to move beyond goal-focused work. Alisa works in academia, where the goals and checkpoints are clear, but she feels like she’s gone as far as she can go. Karen and June share their experiences with goal-focused work and try to think of alternative methods for motivation. Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined again by Daisy Rosario to discuss what’s been happening online. First they scrape heaps of butter off their cutting boards, and then Daisy explains all the drama surrounding actor Sara Porkalob’s recent interview in Vulture where they tear into their own production. And then Rachelle gets powered up to tell Daisy exactly what a linewife and a bucket bunny are, and why they’ve taken over TikTok. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
Republican rhetoric paints America’s cities as cesspools of crime, homeless and, uh, out-of-touch elites, and the party has largely given up courting urban voters. The GOP may be able to hold on to power thanks to voting systems that favor rural areas, but legislating as though their responsibilities stop at the city lines is a growing concern for the Americans who actually live there.
Guest: Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate.
This week, the panel begins by discussing Cate Blachett’s new film Tár. Then, they dig into the ways the Star Wars universe is expanded in the series Andor. Finally, Slate’s own Dan Kois joins the panel to discuss his recent feature on forgotten American poet Rod McKuen. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the practice of reading out loud. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Sharing a musical endorsement after coming across a CD on the street by chance. Josquin Desprez’s choral religious work is wonderful thinking music, and this version is performed by La Chapelle Royale. Julia: A character in Tár inspires a revisit to the incredible New York Times obituary of Gilbert E. Kaplan written by Margalit Fox in 2016. Steve: Joining Dana with a music suggestion, enjoy the oddly bewitching charm of jazz pianist McKoy Tyner’s Nights of Ballads & Blues from 1963. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Yesica Balderrama. Outro music is "Break The Line" by Coma Svensson.
Bryan Lowder is still out on book leave, but hosts Christina Cauterucci and Jules Gill-Peterson summon him back to discuss Bros, the gay rom-com of the moment. The film lingers on questions of queer history, shows what happens when a nerdy podcast guy dates a beefy gay bro, and is a fascinating meditation on what it means to be a cis gay man in a time of both progress and prosecution. (This segment lasts around 31 minutes if you want to skip ahead to avoid Bros spoilers.) Then they are joined by Meg Metcalf, an LGBTQ collections specialist at the Library of Congress, to discuss how the world’s biggest library is surfacing the plentiful LGBTQ resources that can be found in its building and in cyberspace. Finally, they add some new items to the gay agenda.
Items discussed in the show: The Problem With Jon Stewart, “The Problem With Gender” “Why Jon Stewart’s Humiliation of an Anti-Trans Official Is So Important,” by Evan Urquhart in Slate A new report from the Human Rights Campaign and Bowling Green State University “Billy Eichner’s Curious Claims About Bros,” by J. Bryan Lowder in Slate “Was Eleanor Roosevelt a Lesbian?” by Heather Schwedel, in Slate The Library of Congress’ Collections Policy Statement for LGBTQIA+ studies If you have a question for Meg, or other Library of Congress librarians, go to ask.loc.gov Chronicling America, the Library of Congress’ database of historic newspapers Gay Agenda Christina: The episode of NPR’s Code Switch in which Kumari Devarajan profiled comedian and playwright D’Lo, who has a role in Bros Jules: Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn’t My Rapist, by Cecilia Gentili This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
Danny Lavery welcomes Emi Nietfeld, a writer, software engineer, and author of ACCEPTANCE: A Memoir. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Rumpus, Vice, and many more publications. Lavery and Nietfeld take on two letters. First, someone trying to cope with a failed gender-affirming surgical procedure. Another letter writer is wondering how to have a conversation with her elderly mom about her mental health. Plus, a chat about Nietfeld’s memoir, Acceptance. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Big Mood, Little Mood. Sign up now at Slate.com/MoodPlus to help support our work Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Dahlia Lithwick is on the road with Amicus and Lady Justice. In this bonus episode, she’s joined by Loyola Law Professor, legal commentator and columnist Jessica Levinson for a conversation about what we can learn from the women lawyers who held the line during the Trump years, and how to respond to the steady drum beat of “Lock Her Up” threatening women around America today. The conversation is available in full for Slate Plus members. Dahlia’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, Lady Justice is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout. :https://books.supportingcast.fm/lady-justice
Becca is 6-feet tall, bold and strong-willed. She’s also easily startled and paralyzed by fear — even a children’s haunted house can reduce her to tears. In this episode of How To!, we bring in sociologist Margee Kerr, author of Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear, to give us the lowdown on surviving scary situations. Can making fear more fun help Becca overcome her startle reflex in time for Halloween? Do you have a problem that needs solving? Have you found the advice on our podcast helpful? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001.
Five years after exposés in the New Yorker and New York Times, Harvey Weinstein is in jail—but a major rallying point of #MeToo was just how widespread this sexual harassment, abuse, and violence really is in workplaces across industries. Looking back, from the top of media to blue- and pink-collar work, how much has the #MeToo movement changed?
Guest: Christina Cauterucci, senior writer at Slate.
Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley to review a crazy weekend in college football. ESPN’s Pablo Torre talks with Joel, Stefan, and Vinson Cunningham of The New Yorker about the new documentary 38 at the Garden on Jeremy Lin’s short but brilliant run with the New York Knicks a decade ago. Finally, Joel, Stefan, and Vinson discuss another new documentary, The Redeem Team, about the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.
College Football (3:25): Alabama vs Tennessee and CFB's explosive offenses.
Linnsanity revisited (25:45): 38 at The Garden. Is Jeremy Lin still underrated?
Redeem Team (45:50): Lebron, Kobe, Wade's quest for gold.
Afterballs (1:04:16): Joel examines which high basketball stars lived up to the hype.
As a Syrian American surgeon living in Chicago, Dr. Samer Attar felt compelled to be of service during the Syrian civil war, when doctors were being driven underground by Syria’s Russia-backed military. When Russian bombs began raining down in Ukraine this year, Dr. Attar once more raised his hand to cross the border and treat the war-wounded.
Guest: Dr. Samer Attar, associate professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Dan debate what to do about a dad who threw a half-eaten bite of burger at his preteen. The fight started because his daughter protested that he took too big of a bite from her burger. But when he was questioned as to why he threw the bite of burger, he said he was justified because he had purchased it for her. Our letter writer is concerned that this spat is just another instance of his anger escalating. Elizabeth, Zak, and Dan share some tips on how to set boundaries within the family and possible next steps.
Recommendations: Dan recommends making holiday decorating easy by leaving the corresponding pictures stacked in the frame all year round. Zak recommends Little Big Boy by Nick Kroll. Elizabeth recommends Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson talk to Craig Mauger of The Detroit News about the major midterm elections in the swing state of Michigan. Then the hosts speak with the Washington Post’s Yvonne Wingett Sanchez about the MAGA diehards and their opponents in Arizona’s midterm election.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
The idea of composting a human body may seem unsettling—or even gross—and it runs counter to the normal American funeral rites of embalming and internment, which preserve the body. But advocates say it’s a greener and more peaceful way to return our bodies to the Earth.
Guest: Eleanor Cummins, science journalist Host: Lizzie O’Leary
This week, host Isaac Butler talks with Patrick Marber about his multi-hyphenate career. Marber started as a stand-up comedian; has written several plays including Dealer’s Choice, Closer, and Howard Katz; and is a celebrated theater director. They discuss how being a writer affects Marber’s directing; his experience working with older men such as Harold Pinter, Mike Nichols, and Tom Stoppard; and his direction of Stoppard’s new play Leopoldstadt, which is currently on Broadway. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas chat about the particular challenges of directing large-cast productions, then they name the genius they would love to have collaborated with. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Marber talks about the casting of the Broadway production of Leopoldstadt and whether Jewish roles should be played by Jewish actors. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Zak Rosen. Check out Remote Works here: https://link.chtbl.com/remoteworks?sid=podcast.WORKING
On the show today, Rachelle is joined by Slate’s Dear Prudence, Jenée Desmond-Harris to talk all about online advice. They discuss what her online life was like before she took over as Dear Prudence, how she decides what sort of advice to give out, and why she really enjoys being on Twitter. And Rachelle continues to wonder, was Jesus hot? This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Emily Peck, Elizabeth Spiers and guest host Ed Lee discuss inflation, the first policymaker to win an economics Nobel Prize, and begrudgingly, updates in the Elon Musk Twitter saga.
In the Plus segment: introducing a new anti-woke bank.
Podcast production by Anna Phillips.
In the ’70s, funk was pop—the cutting edge of Black music and the way listeners got their groove on, before disco and hip-hop. After James Brown taught a generation a new way to hear rhythm, and George Clinton tore the roof off with his P-Funk axis, nothing would be the same.
Rising alongside blaxploitation at the movies, funk took many forms: Curtis Mayfield’s superfly storytelling. War’s low-riding grooves. Kool & the Gang’s jungle boogie. Earth, Wind and Fire’s jazzy crescendos. But when funk began fusing with rock and disco took over the charts, would these acts have to give up the funk?
Join Chris Molanphy as he traces the history of funk’s first big decade. You’ll ride the mighty, mighty love rollercoaster and get down just for the funk of it.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Ginna Green, a strategist-consultant-movement-builder now helping Jewish (and other) organizations change through her new firm, Uprise. She is also the co-host, along with Lynn Harris, of the Jewish advice podcast, A Bintel Brief. Lavery and Green read a letter from someone who accidentally found out that their co-workers started a social media channel to guess their sexual preference. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Following their victory in Staten Island, the Amazon Labor Union is still facing an uphill battle. Both the company and the union are closely watching the organizing vote in a warehouse outside of Albany, NY.
Guest: Noam Scheiber, labor reporter for the New York Times. Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, Slate's Sam Adams and Jeffrey Bloomer spoil the 13th entry in the Halloween franchise, the alleged final showdown between Jamie Lee Curtis's Laurie Strode and Michael Myers. Note: as the title implies, the podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
From Ferguson to Minneapolis, protests against racist policing have been catalyzed by videos of the brutality being spread on social media. On today’s A Word, Jason Johnson sits down with Dr. Ruha Benjamin to talk about her book, Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want, and where social sciences and technology intersect.
Guest: Ruha Benjamin
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson LA’s racism & redistricting scandal, the Andy Warhol copyright case at the Supreme Court, and developments in Putin’s war on Ukraine.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “Putin’s Newest Annexation Is Dire for Russia Too” Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “The Kremlin Must Be in Crisis” They Might Be Giants - Gab On (Theme to the Slate Political Gabfest)
Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Cormac McCarthy Journal Emily: The Fight for Privacy: Protecting Dignity, Identity, and Love in the Digital Age, by Danielle Keats Citron; The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City, by Nicholas Dawidoff David: David chattered about dining outside in Texas.
Listener chatter from Lara Lowenstein: The Mountain Dogs
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John interview John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants about their work and the Gabfest’s new theme song. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Dan answer a question from a dad who is so frustrated with trying to get his squirming, shrieking kids in their car seats that sometimes… the kids win and he drives them unbuckled. Now he’s wondering if he should continue the car seat battle or if there’s a happy medium where the kids are safe and he’s calm enough to pilot the car. Then on Slate Plus, they discuss the latest automated baby gear: strollers! Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate homepage editor Sol Werthan sits down with trans rights activist and author, Paisley Currah. They discuss Paisley’s new book, Sex Is As Sex Does and discuss why “male” and “female” are used as a legal and social classifier. And why, even for cis people who identify with the gender binary, that might not be the right way to go.
In Slate Plus, Sol and Paisley talk about the politicization of trans kids.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
With inflation up and unemployment down, the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates and signaling that they’re willing to risk a lot to stall the rising price of everything. But is Jerome Powell doing too much—or is he already too late to avoid a painful recession?
Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior editor at Slate reporting on economics, politics, and public policy.
This week, the panel begins by going Blonde as they dive into Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe biopic on Netflix. Then, the panel continues by chipping in on the reboot discussion, specifically through the lens of Hulu’s new show (you guessed it) Reboot. Finally, Slate’s music critic, Carl Wilson, joins the panel to explain the legacy of the late country music titan Loretta Lynn.
In Slate Plus, the panel discusses the on-going smear campaigns against cities and urban spaces—inspired by Henry Grabar’s Slate article titled “Fear City.” Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The 2006 movie The TV Set, directed by Jake Kasdan and starring Reboot’s Judy Greer, Sigourney Weaver, and David Duchovny. Julia: A cookbook called Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings: A Baking Book by Yossy Arefi. Steve: Remembering the great French philosopher Bruno Latour who spent his work trying to explain how empirical statements come to be. Podcast production by Yanii Evans. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe.
On today’s show, Rachelle is joined by Kia Miakka Natisse and Yowei Shaw, the hosts of NPR’s Invisibilia podcast. They discuss how they found themselves in the hosting chairs, the ways they spend their own time online, and the places podcasting and influencing intersect. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
Herschel Walker’s campaign for the U.S. Senate has been rocky to say the least, with revelations of heretofore-unmentioned children, accusations of domestic abuse, and multiple abortions paid for by the aggressively pro-life candidate. Yet the race remains close with Reverend Raphael Warnock—and the outcome could determine which party controls the Senate. Guest: Greg Bluestein, political reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
McGruff the Crime Dog arrived on the scene at the dawn of the 1980s, just as a firehose of anti-drug PSAs was inundating the youth of America. These messages didn’t always work as intended—but they did work their way into the long term memories of the kids who heard them. In the second episode of our two-part series on the weird world of PSAs and very special episodes, we look at how the McGruff Smart Kids Album influenced everything from straight-edge hardcore to a couple’s wedding playlist. We’ll hear from Sarah Hubbard, Dan Danger, Joseph Cappella, David Farber, Mike Hawes, Robin Nelson, Daisy Rosario, and Tatiana Peralta. This podcast was written by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. This episode was edited by Jamie York. Derek John is Slate’s Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director. Thank you to Tatiana Peralta, Ari Merkin, Wendy Melillo, Dan McQuade, Dale Mantley, Larissa Zargeris, Dave Bledsoe, Larre Johnson, Duane Poole, Eric Greenberg, Charles and Karen Rosen, and Jennifer Holland, Orla Mejia, Andres Martinez and everyone else at the Rutgers library who helped me listen to some old cassette tapes. A few things that were helpful in working on this piece: How McGruff and the Crying Indian Changed America: A History of Iconic Ad Council Campaigns by Wendy Melillo, Taking a Bite out of Crime: the Impact of the National Citizens Crime Prevention Media Campaign by Garrett J O’keefe and others, and “This McGruff Drug Album Might As Well Be By Weird Al,” by Dan McQuade for Defector Media. You can hear Daniel Danger’s McGruff cover album in it’s entirety or you can purchase it here. And lastly, if you are interested in hearing the full McGruff educational program or any of Puppet Productions productions they are available for purchase at puppetsinc.com, part of a company that Rob Nelson still runs. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com If you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you get ad-free podcasts, bonus episodes, and total access to all of Slate’s journalism.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Warriors’ Draymond Green punching his teammate Jordan Poole. They also discuss 7-foot-4 basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama. Finally, the Athletic’s Steph Yang joins for a conversation about Sally Yates’ report on abuse in the National Women’s Soccer League. Warriors (4:59): How should the team handle Draymond’s punch? Is he done in Golden State? Wembanyama (27:19): Can the 18-year-old Frenchman possibly live up to all this hype? Soccer abuse (46:55): What we learned from the report and what comes next. Afterball (1:09:05): Stefan revisits cheating in chess and Scrabble.
Danny Lavery welcomes Ginna Green, a strategist-consultant-movement-builder now helping Jewish (and other) organizations change through her new firm, Uprise. She is also the co-host, along with Lynn Harris, of the Jewish advice podcast, A Bintel Brief. Lavery and Green tackle two letters. First, someone who is trying to save a friendship with a friend who tends to drive most people away. Another letter writer is trying to hold boundaries with her brother, but is worried that he has no one else to help him. Plus, how A Bintel Brief podcast came to be. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
If you’ve ever vacationed on the beaches of Delaware, chances are you drove right by Smyrna. It’s a small but charming town that’s been bypassed by the main highways. Which is why Mike, a small business owner on the town council, wants to create a spectacular, engaging roadside attraction to tempt tourists into town. The only snag? He doesn’t know what to actually build. On this episode of How To!, we bring on roadside attraction aficionado Erika Nelson. She’s the creator of The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things. She’s also an artist who helps towns like Smyrna develop their own car-stopping attractions. She decodes the magic of the most wondrous roadside attractions and explains why hosting a Guinness world record-holding object is not the only key to success. You also have to tell a good story. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Convince People to Give You Money.” Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
When the January 6 committee reconvenes, one their first orders of business will likely concern longtime GOP operative and Trump ally Roger Stone. What have lawmakers discovered in the raw footage from a Danish documentary team, and Stone’s personal text messages? And what does it reveal about January 6?
Guest: Josh Meyer, USA Today’s domestic security correspondent.
What Next is still enjoying the three-day weekend, so we proudly present this special episode of Amicus. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by two key players from this week’s consequential voting rights cases at the US Supreme Court. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s senior counsel Deuel Ross argued part of Merrill v Milligan at the High Court on Tuesday, and Evan Milligan of Alabama Forward is the named plaintiff in one of a pair of cases that argued that Alabama’s congressional maps are racially gerrymandered in violation of Section II of the Voting Rights Act. They take listeners inside the arguments, and provide vital context for the challenges faced by residents of Alabama’s Black Belt in accessing healthcare, infrastructure and not coincidentally, political representation. Next, Dahlia is joined by Sam Sankar, Senior Vice President of Programs at Earth Justice to discuss what went down in Sackett v EPA, a case argued Monday that could have wide-ranging effects on the waters and wetlands of the United States. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about the new dynamics of arguments with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson taking her seat at the High Court, the conservative reaction to their favorite text and history rubric being applied by the first African American woman on the court (huh, they don’t love it?), and what to expect from a new filing in the Mar A Lago investigation that’s on its way to 1, First Street. Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show. Dahlia’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.
This week, host Karen Han talks to artist Drusilla Adeline, who works primarily as a movie poster and cover designer. Her work includes the poster for Armageddon Time, as well as the one for Bodies, Bodies, Bodies. She also designed the cover and other materials for the Criterion Collection’s edition of David Lynch’s The Elephant Man. In the interview, Drusilla breaks down her creative process and demystifies the art of movie poster and cover design. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss some of Drusilla’s brainstorming techniques when she’s starting a new project. They also share some of their favorite movie posters. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Drusilla talks about the movie posters that are currently hanging on her walls. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Churches are using accountability apps to keep tabs on their members' behavior. But if your pastor wants to monitor your phone, can you truly consent? Guest: Dhruv Mehrotra Host: Lizzie O'Leary
The early years of social media were a wild place where people weren’t really thinking about what they were posting, which is something the teenagers of the Bling Ring took advantage of when they started using celebrity gossip sites, Facebook, MySpace and Google Maps to target their famous victims. On today’s show, Rachelle is joined by Moises Mendez II to talk about the new Netflix documentary The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist, which details this group’s tactics, crimes, and conflicting stories. Rachelle and Moises discuss how the internet played such an important role in these crimes, the chaos in the courtroom, and the desperation for attention these teens had. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by housing market analyst and real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller to answer all their burning real estate questions including what’s going on with mortgage rates, how do new luxury buildings affect prices, and why is rent so damn high? In the Plus segment: Why do people want so much space? Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by two key players from this week’s consequential voting rights cases at the US Supreme Court. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s senior counsel Deuel Ross argued part of Merrill v Milligan at the High Court on Tuesday, and Evan Milligan of Alabama Forward is the named plaintiff in one of a pair of cases that argued that Alabama’s congressional maps are racially gerrymandered in violation of Section II of the Voting Rights Act. They take listeners inside the arguments, and provide vital context for the challenges faced by residents of Alabama’s Black Belt in accessing healthcare, infrastructure and not coincidentally, political representation. Next, Dahlia is joined by Sam Sankar, Senior Vice President of Programs at Earth Justice to discuss what went down in Sackett v EPA, a case argued Monday that could have wide-ranging effects on the waters and wetlands of the United States. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about the new dynamics of arguments with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson taking her seat at the High Court, the conservative reaction to their favorite text and history rubric being applied by the first African American woman on the court (huh, they don’t love it?), and what to expect from a new filing in the Mar A Lago investigation that’s on its way to 1, First Street. Dahlia’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout. https://books.supportingcast.fm/lady-justice
Danny Lavery welcomes Alyssa Knox, a night shift ICU nurse. Lavery and Knox read a letter from someone who is missing their family’s hugs after coming out as a trans man. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Twenty-six words defined the internet as we know it today. What happens if they’re deleted? Guest: Jeff Kosseff Host: Lizzie O'Leary
The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet
The new Interview With the Vampire television series is giving life to a whole new generation of fans who love the human monsters created by the late Anne Rice. On today’s episode of A Word, actor Jacob Anderson talks with Jason Johnson about his role as the reimagined blood sucker, and his career as a singer and sci-fi screen star.
Guest: Jacob Anderson
Podcast production by Yanii Evans
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the new Supreme Court term; Herschel Walker’s abortion lies; and the legal mess Dobbs created for doctors providing abortion via telemedicine.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “The Doctors Risking Everything to Offer Abortions Across State Lines” The New York Times: “Is Elon Musk’s Deal to Buy Twitter Back On? Here’s What We Know.”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: Brian Hutton for The Irish Times: “Irishman Nears Galway After 112 Days of Rowing Across Atlantic From New York”; Damian Browne on Instagram: auld_stock Emily: CNN: “‘We've Got Weights In Fish!': See The Moment Cheaters Are Caught During Fishing Tournament’” David: Adam Dalva, The New Yorker: “Letters to Jeb Bush”
Listener chatter from Jamaica Popejoy: Staged
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the latest in the saga of Elon Musk and Twitter. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth, and Jamilah answer a question about a five year old who is begging her parents to buy her a makeup kit. The letter writer is reluctant as it feels like it’s too early to start caring about beauty standards but… she also doesn’t want to curb her child’s creativity. Then on Slate Plus, Zak, Elizabeth, and Jamilah discuss the high-five debate started by an op-ed in the Omaha World-Herald. Original piece: Living With Children: You shouldn't high-five a child by John Rosemond. Also discussed: Actually, High-Fiving Kids is Totally Fine by Melinda Wenner Moyer. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
In this Slate Plus episode, host Josh Levin and senior producer Evan Chung share behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the third season of One Year.
Production by Cleo Levin.
With the war turning towards Ukraine’s favor, Vladimir Putin is becoming more isolated and more dangerous. Can Ukrainians expel the Russians—or the Russians expel Putin—while avoiding the worst-case scenario?
Guest: Bryan Bender, senior national correspondent for POLITICO.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Rebecca Onion is joined by Slate contributing writer Imogen West-Knights to talk all about queens. From the daily news to Sunday nights on HBO, queens are everywhere right now. Rebecca and Imogen talk about the enduring appeal of shows like The Crown, House of the Dragon, Victoria, and more and what these representations are lacking.
In Slate Plus, is the modern iteration of Hillary Clinton still feminist?
Recommendations: Rebecca: Dirty Dancing abortion fundraisers, like this one. Imogen: Netflix’s Dahmer (in order to grapple with its lack of sensitivity) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario, and Alicia Montgomery.
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and June Thomas reply to a listener who wants some advice on pitching fiction to literary magazines. For help, Isaac and June turn to J. Robert Lennon, a novelist and short story writer who is also the editor of EPOCH, the literary magazine associated with Cornell University. In the interview, Lennon describes the pitching process for EPOCH and explains what he and his colleagues are looking for when they review submissions. He also offers advice to anyone who might be considering pitching their fiction.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
The Miami Boys Choir is currently having a moment on TikTok with videos of their performances going viral on the platform. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Daisy explain who the Miami Boys Choir is, why they’re based in Brooklyn and not Miami, and what’s so appealing about their songs. They also talk about Lena Dunham’s latest wild tweet, and why the revelation of anonymous YouTuber Dream’s face was such a big deal online. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, the panel begins by discussing the moral quandaries surrounding Netflix’s newest hit Dahmer—Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Then, the panel breaks down the successes and failures of Billy Eichner’s gay romcom Bros. And finally, the panel lends their opinions on the trope of the wife guy, spurred on by Ned Fulmer’s (formerly of the Try Guys) recent adultery scandal. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses society’s growing appetite for true crime. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Pulling a Steve with a local endorsement: the new bookstore (offering new and used books) in Park Slope called Troubled Sleep. Julia: The American Military Museum, aka Tankland, in El Monte, California. It has over 150 odd, decommissioned military vehicles jam-packed in a dusty parking lot which they used to provide for various film and entertainment productions. Also, if you make the trip then also stop at Burritos La Palma in El Monte. Steve: From the 2022 Newport Folk Festival: singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile bringing legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell back on stage for her first full set performance in decades. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "If Only I Was a Poet" by Staffan Carlen.
A bipartisan effort to prevent members of Congress from trading stock while in office is wildly popular. But so far, no such bill has gained much traction on Capitol Hill. Why?
Guest: Sam Brodey, congressional reporter for The Daily Beast.
McGruff the Crime Dog arrived on the scene at the dawn of the 1980s, just as a firehose of anti-drug PSAs was inundating the youth of America. These messages didn’t always work as intended—but they did work their way into the long term memories of the kids who heard them. In the first of two episodes, we take a look at PSAs and their strange afterlife through the lens of a trench-coat wearing bloodhound and his bizarre, yet catchy anti-drug songs. We’ll talk to Dan Danger, Sherry Nemmers, Joseph Cappella, David Farber, Mike Hawes and Robin Nelson to discover how the McGruff Smart Kids Album came to exist in the first place. This podcast was written by Willa Paskin. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. We had production help from Sam Kim. Editing by Jamie York and Derek John, Slate’s Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director. Thank you to Wendy Melillo, Dan McQuade, Dale Mantley, Larissa Zargeris, Daisy Rosario, Drew Bledsoe, Larre Johnson, Duane Poole, Ari Merkin, Charles and Karen Rosen and Eric Greenberg. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com If you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you get ad-free podcasts, bonus episodes, and total access to all of Slate’s journalism.
Danny Lavery welcomes Alyssa Knox, a night shift ICU nurse. Lavery and Knox take on two letters. First, someone who’s hurt that their best friend didn’t attend their wedding. Another letter writer can’t get a word in edgewise with their energy vampire roommate. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The drastic shortage of infant formula this spring revealed how flaws in food regulation and the supply chain can threaten this most vulnerable part of our population—and everyone else.
Guest: Helena Bottemiller Evich, founder of Food Fix, a publication about food policy.
After three decades of marriage, Bernadette wasn’t exactly blindsided when Rodney asked for a divorce. Things had been rocky for awhile, but she always assumed they’d live the rest of their lives “unhappily ever after.” Now Bernadette is facing an uncertain future, wondering how she’s going to navigate her new life socially, emotionally, and financially. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, author of Light on the Other Side Of Divorce: Discovering the New You, and host of the podcast The Divorce Doctor. She helps Bernadette formulate a plan for keeping things civil, and handling everything from personal finances to awkward inquiries from well-meaning friends. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Save Your Marriage,” “How To Have a Fight That Actually Helps Your Relationship,” and “How To Reconnect With Your Kid After a Nasty Divorce.” Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the fallout from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussions. They also talk about Aaron Judge’s quest for the American League home run record. Finally, chess champion and poker pro Jennifer Shahade joins for a conversation about cheating allegations in both sports. Tua (2:38): Why was he allowed to play after suffering an obvious head injury? Judge (29:27): Is the Yankees star chasing the “real” home run record? Chess and poker cheating (51:34): What we know, what we don’t, and what comes next. Afterball (1:13:35): Josh on the real home run record of 1884.
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Don’t Worry Darling. Slate’s movie critic, Dana Stevens joins Slate’s associate editor Marissa Martinelli to spoil Olivia Wilde’s latest thriller. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Venezuela has lost about a fifth of its population since its economic collapse in 2014. Roughly 6.8 million people have fled the country, creating one of the largest refugee crises in the world. Why does Venezuela’s free-fall continue? And how is the U.S. government responding to increasing numbers of Venezuelan refugees? Guest: Cindy Arnson, a distinguished fellow at The Wilson Center and former director of its Latin American Program.
On this episode: Carrie James and Emily Weinstein, principal investigators at Harvard’s Project Zero, join to discuss their book, Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (and Adults Are Missing). They’ve been researching teens and screens for over a decade and not only did they collect insights from 3,500 teens, they worked “side-by-side with teens every step of the way.” They learned that teens still want adults’ help with navigating tech and social media—they just need the conversations and support to be a lot more nuanced. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends This Is Major: Notes on Diana Ross, Dark Girls, and Being Dope by Shayla Lawson. Zak recommends Björk: Mother, Daughter, Force of Nature by Jazz Monroe Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
Longtermism, the idea that positively influencing the future is a key moral priority of our time, is hot in Silicon Valley. But does it miss the bigger picture? Guests: William MacAskill, Robert Wright Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host June Thomas talks to Annie Duke, an author and former professional poker player whose latest book is Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away. In the interview, Annie explains why she’s trying to rehabilitate the word “quit.” She also uses examples to illustrate why quitting is sometimes the best option and why people often stick to projects and jobs that aren’t working. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss their own experiences with quitting and saying “no” to things. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Annie talks about balancing individual goals with the goals of your community. She also gives some possible explanations for why there aren’t more women in professional poker. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Dan McCrum of the Financial Times to discuss the economic crisis in the UK, Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard, the Netflix adaptation of his recent book, and the 10-year-old who is selling paintings for six figures. In the Plus segment: Porsche’s IPO Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
The internet has been abuzz with news that the Try Guys have ended their relationship with Ned Fulmer after it was revealed earlier this week that he cheated on his wife with a work colleague. On today’s show, Rachelle is joined by Devin Lytle, a director, producer, and former BuzzFeed colleague of the Try Guys who appeared in BuzzFeed’s Ladylike series. She and Rachelle discuss the heyday of BuzzFeed’s video department, the ways the Try Guys and Ladylike were treated differently, and how BuzzFeed created and trapped these performers in their online personalities. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern and Jay Willis of Balls and Strikes for a preview of the big cases headed our way this Supreme Court term. They tackle cases concerning voting rights, indigenous rights, environmental protection and affirmative action, before turning their attention to the tricky business of covering a court that is radically changed and how the traditionally deferential Supreme Court press corps needs to update its methods and reporting in response. Dahlia’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by going to slate.com/justice and entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy welcomes radio industry analyst and programming consultant Sean Ross, editor of the Ross on Radio newsletter. Sean’s ongoing “Lost Hits” series analyzes how big hits in their day might go unplayed on the radio today—songs like Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” or Buckner & Garcia’s “Pac-Man Fever.” And he and Chris also talk about how “legacy hits”—the opposite of lost hits—wind up becoming radio programmers’ go-to favorites, from “Super Freak” to “Brown Eyed Girl.”
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
A promotional note for listeners in South Carolina! On Thursday, October 20, at 6:30 p.m., Chris will be making a live appearance at the Richland Public Library, sponsored by the University of South Carolina’s School of Information and Communications. It’s free and open to the public. Chris’s talk will be about “Pop Culture, Music, and South Carolina,” and his discussion of a certain Palmetto State musician may make it into a future Hit Parade episode. More details here.
Danny Lavery welcomes Katie Tastrom, a sex worker and writer whose work focuses on disability justice. Her forthcoming book about prison abolition and disability justice is coming out in late 2023. Lavery and Tastrom read a letter from someone whose spouse doesn’t understand the lasting effects of their traumatic childhood. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.
Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
With disaster relief funds from Hurricane Harvey, Houston's Harris County instituted a mandatory buyout program for residents in flood-prone areas. But some residents didn't want to leave. Guest: Amal Ahmed, Dolores Mendoza Host: Mary C. Curtis
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss potential polling inaccuracy, Brett Favre and the larger scandal of states misusing federal welfare funding, and Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s take on Italy’s neo-fascist future Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nate Cohen for The New York Times: “Yes, The Polling Warning Signs Are Flashing Again” Anna Wolfe and Mississippi Today’s coverage of the Mississippi welfare scandal. Annie Lowry for The Atlantic: “The Time Tax” Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Here are this week’s chatters: John: Adrienne LaFrance for The Atlantic: “What It's Like to Fly Into the Eye of a Hurricane” Emily: Roya Hakakian for The Atlantic: “The Bonfire of the Headscarves” David: The Guardian, YouTube: “Michael Sheen Gives Rousing Speech for Wales Football Team on A League of Their Own” Listener chatter from Meredith Francis: Paul Fairie’s Twitter thread of "A List of Things People Blamed on Jazz."
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah and Zak answer a question from a Marine whose son is a freshman at a school for Junior ROTC. The teen loves a lot of aspects of JROTC but loathes uniform day. It causes him anxiety and he’s mentioned quitting the school over the uniform. But most concerningly, the son has mentioned to his parent that he thinks about “unaliving” himself. As a content warning, we do talk about suicide ideation in this episode. If you or anyone you know is in crisis, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org. Then on Slate Plus—per request, Jamilah and Zak will be updating everyone on their cool projects like Jamilah’s book and Zak’s contribution to the We exChange gallery. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus and transgender journalist Evan Urquhart pose the question: Do we really need to separate sports by sex? The pair discusses Maggie Merten’s recent piece in The Atlantic, “Separating Sports By Sex Doesn’s Make Sense” and what role biology does (and doesn’t) play in determining who the top player on the field is. Later in the show, Shannon and Evan talk about why co-ed sports would be great for transgender youth.
In Slate Plus, is the Adam Levine sexting controversy feminist?
Recommendations: Shannon: Adopting a dog. Evan: The Power Wash Simulator game. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Last week, Robert Sarver, the owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, announced he would be selling both teams. The decision came after ESPN revealed nearly two decades of harassing behavior by Sarver, and after the NBA slapped him with a one-year suspension and $10 million fine. How was Sarver’s bullying able to go unchecked for so long? Does his departure signal a positive step forward for professional U.S. basketball, or a continuation of the status quo? Guest: Amira Rose Davis, assistant professor of Black studies at the University of Texas at Austin, and co-host of the feminist sports podcast, Burn It All Down.
After Joe Mauri gets evicted from his New York apartment, he becomes a star in the USSR, the subject of a documentary about the injustices of capitalism. But this Cold War icon was using the Soviets just as much as they used him. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts and Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director.
A lot of stuff has been happening online so we figured it was a perfect time for another mailbag. On today’s episode, Nadira is back with Rachelle to read your letters and answer your burning questions. They get into everything from Jojo Siwa’s lesbian TikTok drama, to why we’re all laughing about Adam Levine’s sexts, and whether or not influencers are allowed to complain about being influencers. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
What began as a revolt in the wake of an overstep by Iran’s morality police has evolved into a mass movement calling for “death to the dictator.” Protests in Iran are nothing new, but these demonstrations strike at the heart of the Islamic Republic’s repressive regime. Could the nascent movement change a sclerotic regime? Guest: Gissou Nia, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Elena Schwartz, Carmel Delshad, and Madeline Ducharme, with help from Anna Phillips and Jared Downing.
This week, Slate writer and editor Dan Kois fills in for Julia as the panel begins by revisiting a familiar character in the Jon Hamm-led reboot Confess, Fletch. Then, the panel is joined by Slate’s book critic, Laura Miller, to remember the legacy of the recently departed British author Hilary Mantel. Finally, the panel is joined by Slate's web editor, Nitish Pahwa, to explain the cheating scandal that has embroiled not only the world of competitive chess, but also the general public. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses what makes the best bathroom book—inspired by Dan Kois’ article on the subject for Slate. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The perfect airplane viewing (whilst embarking on a new chapter of book promo): the one hour BBC documentary Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard. Dan: The intensely close reading of the film Predator titled, Predator: A Memoir, a Movie, an Obsession by Ander Monson. In it, Monson transforms the close reading into a memoir about manhood, guns, politics, juvenile delinquency, and more. Steve: The famous solo by tenor saxophone player Paul Gonsalves during Duke Ellington’s set at the 1956 Newport Jazz festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vnrNWyvI-U Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Bloody Hunter" by Paisley Pink.
Danny Lavery welcomes Katie Tastrom, a sex worker and writer whose work focuses on disability justice. Her forthcoming book about prison abolition and disability justice is coming out in late 2023. Lavery and Tastrom take on two letters. First, someone who received a marriage proposal from her depressed boyfriend. Another letter writer is wondering how to make it up to their friend after accidentally calling them by their deadname, and how to get their own family to start honoring their own chosen name. Plus, a sneak peek at Tastrom’s forthcoming book on abolition and disability justice.
More on transition “traps”: https://www.thechatner.com/p/let-me-save-you-some-time-a-field https://www.thechatner.com/p/let-me-save-you-some-time-on-transitioning https://www.thechatner.com/p/the-stages-of-im-really-trying-to
Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
For decades, the conventional wisdom surrounding the midterm elections has been that the party in the White House will lose the seats in the House, Senate, or both. Earlier this year, skyrocketing gas prices and Biden’s sinking approval rating portended misfortune for Democrats, particularly those in swing districts. But now, the fall of Roe and some snappy social media campaigns have shaken up most politicos’ predictions. Guest: Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Elena Schwartz, Carmel Delshad, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips and Jared Downing.
When Dana and Luke first started dating at the office they kept their relationship a secret. Most of their colleagues didn’t know they were a couple until they got engaged. They didn’t want any undue pressure or outside judgment. That’s because Dana is a proud Black, Ghanaian woman from central Florida and Luke is a white man from Kansas. Dana’s wondering how she can preserve her identity while they absorb each others’ family traditions. On this episode of How To!, guest host Hélène Biandudi Hofer brings on Karyn Langhorne Folan, author of Don't Bring Home a White Boy: And Other Notions that Keep Black Women From Dating Out. All three discuss the struggles and joys in their respective interracial marriages. If you want to learn more about Dana’s work, check out AfroLA. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Beat Your Hidden Biases.” Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on How To!. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus to help support our work.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Boston Celtics’ decision to suspend head coach Ime Udoka. They also talk about Roger Federer’s tearful retirement. Finally, Anna Wolfe of Mississippi Today joins for a conversation about Brett Favre and the state’s enormous welfare scandal. Udoka (3:58): Did the media and the Celtics mishandle the news of his suspension? Federer (19:25): What makes his relationship with Rafael Nadal so special. Favre (39:40): How the ex-quarterback got enmeshed in an escalating welfare controversy. Afterball (58:54): Joel on Mississippi, a segregation academy, and a football field.
Dahlia Lithwick’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, tells the story of the women lawyers who stood up to Trump and stood up for those unseen and unrepresented by a brutal presidency, and the stories of the women who will fight on in the wake of life-altering decisions from a radicalized Supreme Court. Lady Justice is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout. https://books.supportingcast.fm/lady-justice
On this episode: Elizabeth and Jamilah are joined by KC Davis. KC is author of the book How To Keep House While Drowning, host of the podcast Struggle Care, and is well known for her TikTok content. KC shares how to divorce yourself from any shame and pressure you feel about the state of your house. She breaks down the differences between tidy, organized, and clean. Finally, she explains how to make chores not just equal but equitable. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends The Woman King KC recommends Maintenance Phase Elizabeth recommends Science Comics Bonus recommendation: You Don’t Have to Fold Your Laundry by Rebecca Onion. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
The 2022 midterms are about to happen, but many Republicans still cling to the big lie that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, or that Joe Biden only won through massive fraud. How do you hold an election when a large number of voters, officials, and even candidates are convinced the whole thing is rigged? How do you fight misinformation when it rolls into town like a circus?
Guest: Annie Gowen, Midwest correspondent for the Washington Post. Robyn Holmes, county clerk, Otero County, New Mexico
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Shanta Thake, chief artistic officer of New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In the interview, Shanta describes the different branches of Lincoln Center and discusses the institution’s new mission to make all of those branches more welcoming and accessible to more people. She also describes her role as a curator and explains how she and her team are always on the lookout for new talent. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han discuss the business side of live production. They also interrogate Isaac’s claim that “90% of art is bad.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Shanta and Isaac talk about one of their favorite operas, Philip Glass’ Akhnaten. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Nuclear technology has become more important than ever, thanks to a global energy crisis and climate change. But it also has a complicated history. Guest: Joshua Keating Host: Lizzie O'Leary
In 2015, Serial launched the case against Adnan Syed for the murder of Hae Min Lee in to the national conversation, but over the years the mistakes that show made continued to add up. Adnan Syed’s release from prison earlier this week would have been a great chance for the Serial team to admit their wrongs, but that was not the case. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Daisy Rosario to talk about the impact Serial had on the culture, and the case itself. They speak with Rebecca Lavoie, a writer and host of Crime Writers On…, about what's missing from the podcast, the New York Times continuing to ignore its journalistic responsibilities, and how Serial is responsible for the current state of true crime culture. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the sale of Citrix, Barbados’ Blue Bonds, and how fancy food could save airlines.
In the Plus segment: The economics of timeshares.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Mark Joseph Stern for a romp through the jurisprudential headlines. It’s been a week. Highlights include: Donald Trump’s legal woes in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation, and at the hands of New York Attorney General Tish James’ civil suit.
Then, we’re live at Politics and Prose in Washington DC, with a conversation between Dahlia Lithwick and Professor Michele Goodwin about women, the law and the rule of law. They discuss Dahlia’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, the day Dahlia decided to stop covering the Supreme Court from the inside, what the law can do for justice, and what it can’t. Lady Justice is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout. :https://books.supportingcast.fm/lady-justice If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Amicus. Sign up now at slate.com/amicusplus to help support our work. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia and Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern also delve into retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s comments about Dobbs and the court’s legitimacy, and the death penalty decision that came down Thursday and what it tells us about Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s jurisprudence.
Danny Lavery welcomes Celeste Ng, the New York Times bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere. Her third novel, Our Missing Hearts, will be published in October 2022. Lavery and Ng read a letter from someone who is pretty certain they’ve never experienced romantic love. They are wondering what that is, and if it’s okay that they don’t know. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The growing racial diversity in American public schools is often framed as a challenge. In the new documentary Defining US: Children at the Crossroads of Change, veteran educator Paul Forbes focuses on the hard work of understanding how structural racism affects schools. The film spotlights success stories among “at risk” students of color, and the dedicated teachers who are making the system work for them. On today’s episode of A Word, Paul Forbes joins Jason Johnson to talk about Defining US, and the broader fight for racial equity in education.
Guest: Paul Forbes, executive producer of Defining US: Children at the Crossroads of Change
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
Conservative lawmakers in Florida and Texas are taking aim at content moderation on social media, with implications that go far beyond just the platforms. Guest: Mark Joseph Stern Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson New York’s massive fraud case against the Trumps; Ron DeSantis’ treatments of asylum seekers; and Dahlia Lithwick’s Lady Justice.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Trading Barriers: Immigration and the Remaking of Globalization, Margaret E. Peters Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America, by Dahlia Lithwick Ruth Igielnik for The New York Times: “Trump Support Remains Unmoved by Investigations, Poll Finds”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: It was supposed to be...The Philosophy of Modern Song, by Bob Dylan Emily: Somebody Somewhere; Reservation Dogs David: The Space Force Anthem
Listener chatter from Danny Edgel: Frank Vaisvilas and Sarah Volpenhein for The Green Bay Press-Gazette: “Oneida Nation Steps In To Defend Indian Child Welfare Act In Us Supreme Court Case”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the vacation of Adnan Syed’s murder conviction. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth and Jamilah are joined by KC Davis. KC is author of the book How To Keep House While Drowning, host of the podcast Struggle Care, and is well known for her TikTok content. They advise a listener who thinks her niece may be neurodivergent and is specifically showing signs of autism spectrum disorder. The letter writer doesn’t think her brother and sister-in-law have noticed yet and she wants to inform them to make sure her niece is being supported. But she has no idea how to start the conversation. Then on Slate Plus, KC, Jamilah, and Elizabeth share their favorite activities to participate in with their kids. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
When Hurricane Maria hit in 2017, it destroyed Puerto Rico’s power grid, leaving vast swathes of the island in the dark and claiming almost 3,000 lives. $9.5 billion was set aside to rejuvenate the island’s power grid and the government-run utility company was taken over by a private one. But five years later, before Hurricane Fiona even hit, the island lost electricity. How could this happen—again?
Guest: Gloria Gonzalez is the Deputy Energy Editor at POLITICO
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Nicole Lewis, former Slate senior editor and Daisy Rosario, senior supervising producer of audio at Slate, talk about Britney…bitch. Mega-pop star Britney Spears is trying to navigate her life after being released from the court order that gave her father almost total control of her life. But the fans that put her conservatorship in the spotlight still can’t let her go. Nicole and Daisy unpack the toxic relationship between Britney Spears and fame—as well as whether there’s a way to be a fan without contributing to the damage.
In Slate Plus, is the TNFW Nique rap Baby Daddy Free about abortion feminist?
Recommendations: Daisy: Love Is Blind: After the Alter on Netflix. Nicole: House of the Dragon on HBO. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
On May 16, 1986, a man with a bomb held an entire elementary school hostage in the tiny town of Cokeville, Wyoming. Yet instead of becoming victims of unimaginable tragedy, all of the hostages in this predominantly Mormon community survived. But how? This week, Evan Chung explores what—or who—saved the children of Cokeville. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts and Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director.
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler help a lister whose collection of homemade fused glass is getting out of control. The listener, named Todd, has already tried selling his art and giving to away to friend , but his collection keeps growing. June and Isaac offer creative solutions that will allow Todd to keep creating without being overwhelmed by clutter.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call uss and lease a message at 304-933-9675, or email us all working@slate.com
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Check out Remote Works here: https://link.chtbl.com/remoteworks?sid=podcast.WORKING
It was impossible to get anything done the day the Queen died because Twitter was just too lively. All sorts of takes were had including the sympathetic, the critical, and the just plain funny. One specific strain of opinion criticized those who were laughing or rejoicing because they weren’t respecting the grief of the royal family. On today’s show, Nadira is back to talk to Rachelle about exactly what the trouble is with that train of thought. They discuss why people are so quick to jump to the dead’s defense, and how that gets in the way of really remembering the full picture of a person’s life. This podcast is produced by Ahyiana Angel, Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This month, Bryan Lowder is away, so hosts Christina Cauterucci and Jules Gill-Peterson are joined by the podcast’s founding co-host Brandon Tensley to talk about some new representations of LGBTQ people involved in the wide world of sports. First, they debate whether the new Amazon Prime take on A League of Their Own, starring and co-created by Abbi Jacobson, might possibly be too queer. Then they discuss the making of Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story, the new Netflix documentary about a transgender pro skateboarder, with Nicola Marsh, who directed the movie, along with Giovanni Reda, and executive producer Alex Schmider. Finally, they add some new items to the gay agenda.
Items discussed in the show: Race Deconstructed, Brandon’s newsletter at CNN A League of Their Own, on Amazon Prime Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story, on Netflix Slate’s coverage of the Yummers debacle The 2022 NLGJA Convention in Chicago The Transgender Issue, by Shon Faye Gay Agenda Brandon: Listen to Rina Sawayama’s new album Hold the Girl Jules: Follow actor, writer, model Hari Nef on Instagram Christina: Listen to Lauren Ober’s new podcast The Loudest Girl in the World
This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
Public schools have become hotly debated—what’s on the curriculum and what isn’t; which books are allowed and which aren’t. But one voice frequently missing from these debates is that of the people most affected: students.
One high school senior in Idaho decided to speak up by running for school board, and he won by unseating an incumbent who had been endorsed by right-wing extremists.
Guest: Shiva Rajbandari, senior at Boise High School and recently elected member to the Boise School District Board of Trustees.
This week, Julia and Dana invite different guests to temporarily fill in for Steve. First, Julia and Dana are joined by Slate’s technology editor, Jonathan L. Fischer, as they hulk out and lawyer out with She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Then, the panel is joined by Slate’s music critic, Carl Wilson, to take a look at one of music’s larger-than-life figures, David Bowie, with the documentary Moonage Daydream. Finally, the panel is joined by Sam Adams, a senior editor at Slate, to discuss the ethics of documentaries—a discussion inspired by the article “Inside the Documentary Cash Grab,” written by Mia Galuppo and Katie Kilkenny for The Hollywood Reporter. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses unfinished works of art they really wish were, well, finished. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: One of Dana’s favorite Onion articles of all time: “David Bowie Asks Iman If They Should Just Do Lasagna Again.” Sam: Actually reading Robert Caro’s book The Power Broker. Julia: Take an art class! Take. An. Art. Class. Generally, if you’re in LA: checkout Makers Mess. Specifically, if you’re anywhere: check out the online kits and classes from Mercedez Rex. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Stone Cookies" by Dusty Decks.
Danny Lavery welcomes Celeste Ng, the New York Times bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere. Her third novel, Our Missing Hearts, will be published in October 2022. Lavery and Ng tackle two letters. First, someone who is trying to find care for her friend’s paranoid mother. Another letter writer is upset that his friend group has befriended his stalker. Plus, a great deal on Sir Micheal Caine’s desk. Resources for caring for the elderly https://www.eldercaredirectory.org/state-resources.htm https://www.agingcare.com/articles/free-services-for-seniors-or-caregivers-156443.htm Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
College application season is approaching fast—too fast—for 16-yr old Maya and her mother, Melissa. The problem? Maya has no idea where to go or what to study. It doesn’t help that there are thousands of schools to choose from, and little transparency about their true cost. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Ron Lieber, New York Times money columnist and author of The Price You Pay for College. He shows Maya how to narrow down the list of potential colleges by asking insightful questions of the schools and, ultimately, yourself. Then he talks to Melissa about how to pay for it without harming the rest of the family’s finances. Ron’s questions for parents:
What do you remember your parent or parents saying to you the first time they talked about what college would cost and what, if anything, they would pay?
Or if there was silence around the topic of paying for college, what did it speak?
How much was your parent or your parents willing to pay for your education? How did you feel about that?
If your parents paid your way, is it possible that you should not feel obligated to do the same, given how much the world has changed?
And if your parents paid nothing, have you asked yourself whether 15 years of extreme thrift starting now (or going deep into debt 15 years from now to pay for your child’s first-choice college) may not erase whatever pain lingers from that period long ago -- or may create new conflict with your spouse and kids?
How much might you be willing to borrow -- or delay repayment of your own student loans?
How long are you willing to delay retirement to meet this goal?
If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Raise a Future College Athlete.” Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, and Kevin Bendis.
An obsession with Hunter Biden’s laptop has been written off as the byproduct of a right-wing media bubble—but the reality is that what you don’t know can hurt you. It’s past time for Democrats and their supporters to confront some uncomfortable facts.
Guest: Olivia Nuzzi, Washington Correspondent for New York magazine.
Josh Levin, Joel Anderson, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham discuss the NBA’s suspension of Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett’s bizarre decisions. Finally, Josh and Stefan Fatsis speak with Olympic champion Mark Spitz about the new documentary series 72—A Gathering of Champions.
Robert Sarver (4:07): Should Adam Silver have done more?
Nathaniel Hackett (25:55): What is this coach thinking?
Mark Spitz (45:57): One of the greatest Olympians ever remembers the dizzying highs and brutal lows of the 1972 Summer Games.
Afterball (1:10:40): Vinson on the greatness of Manu Ginobili.
On this episode: Lisa Lewis, journalist, and author of The Sleep Deprived Teen joins the show to unpack the myths surrounding teen sleep. Lisa explains why teens actually need more sleep (even if they’re staying up super late), how to get schools to start later, and why you and your teen should still have a wind-down bedtime routine. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Rap Sh!t, a comedy series created by Issa Rae. Zak recommends a narrative podcast series called Mother Country Radicals. Elizabeth recommends cute, fun, and nerdy T-shirts from TeaTurtle Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
For years anti-abortion activists have argued that Roe v. Wade wasn’t just immoral, it was federal overreach, and abortion laws should be written on the state level. Only months after Roe’s overturn, district courts are hearing cases that demonstrate why that won’t work—and Republican senators are proposing a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks.
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate.
John Dickerson talks with author Ada Calhoun about her new memoir, Also a Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father, and Me. What started as Calhoun’s attempt to finish the biography of Frank O’Hara that her father started, turned into a gripping story of Calhoun’s relationship with her father. Calhoun and Dickerson talk about not pulling punches when it comes to how nice family members are, why you can’t pre-plan a happy ending, and what her father thought of the book.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Victims of a new and high tech kind of human trafficking are forced to scam people all around the world. Guest: Cezary Podkul Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Human Trafficking’s Newest Abuse: Forcing Victims Into Cyberscamming
This week, host Karen Han talks to TV and film editor Stacy Moon, whose recent projects include Nathan Fielder’s HBO show The Rehearsal, Tim Robinson’s sketch comedy show I Think You Should Leave, and the new feature film Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. In the interview, Stacy breaks down the process for editing an episode of The Rehearsal, which involves piecing together a narrative from hours of unscripted conversations. She also talks about I Think You Should Leave and explains how she uses editing to play up awkward moments and help jokes land. Finally, she discusses Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. and the differences between editing TV shows and movies. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler talk about Stacy’s collaborative work ethic. They also discuss one of their favorite examples of bad editing. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
What do you call a song that bombed on the charts back in the day, that now booms out of radios and streaming apps nationwide? Chris Molanphy has a name for these songs: legacy hits. Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.” Etta James’s “At Last.” The Romantics’ “What I Like About You.” Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.” Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” Many catalysts can change a song’s trajectory, from movie scenes to stadium singalongs, wedding DJs to evolving tastes. Sometimes the hivemind just collectively decides that this Whitney Houston hit, not that one, is her song for the ages. Join Chris as he explains how the charts sometimes get it wrong, and how legacy hits correct the record—and counts down 10 of his favorite flops-turned-classics. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Merritt Jacob.
Rachelle knows a lot about internet culture, but tech…not so much. On today’s episode, Rachelle asks Lizzie O’Leary (host of What Next, TBD) about the latest developments in art created by artificial intelligence and whether or not TikTok is listening, before helping clear up a question about a popular video trope. Subscribe to Slate Plus at slate.com/icymiplus
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Roberta Kaplan, who along with co-counsel Karen Dunn brought a successful civil suit against twenty-four neo-Nazi and white supremacist leaders responsible for organizing the racial- and religious-based violence in Charlottesville in August 2017. They discuss how the KKK Act of 1871 applied to discord channels and now January 6th defendants. And they explore the complicated relationship women find themselves in with the law in this moment, as defenders of rights but also as constitutional afterthoughts. Dahlia Lithwick’s new book is Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America.
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Orphan: First Kill. Slate senior editor Sam Adams joins features director Jeffrey Bloomer to spoil the prequel to the 2009 psychological thriller, Orphan.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the tax implications of Patagonia’s founder giving the company a climate change nonprofit, the US railroad strike that almost was, and Adobe’s acquisition of Figma.
In the Plus segment: Farm shares
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kate Beaton, author of the new graphic memoir Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, which recounts the time she spent working and living in Canada’s oil industry man camps. Lavery and Beaton read a letter from someone who would like to visit their favorite aunt from childhood, but is afraid the aunt will focus on her weight. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The student body of America’s public schools is more diverse than ever, with a solid majority of children of color. But the teacher corp doesn’t reflect that diversity. Fewer than a quarter of American teachers are non-white, and fewer than 10 percent of teachers are Black. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by former U.S. Secretary of Education John King about what’s driving Black teachers from the classroom, and the efforts to bring more young teachers in.
Guest: John King, former Secretary of Education and current president of The Education Trust
Podcast production by Yanii Evans
A small parish in Louisiana tried to get affordable, fast internet. An incumbent ISP stopped them. Guest: Issie Lapowsky, Wanda Manning Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Ukraine’s advances with Anne Applebaum; Lindsey Graham’s national abortion ban bill; and the controversy over requiring religious schools in New York to meet minimum educational standards.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “It’s Time to Prepare for a Ukrainian Victory” Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “The Other Ukrainian Army” Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine, by Anne Applebaum Shtisel Fill The Void
Here are this week’s chatters: John: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life, by George Saunders Emily: Shaila Dewan for The New York Times: “Philadelphia Prosecutor Is Found in Contempt by State Representatives” David: Mosaic Magazine: “The Royal Mohel and the House of Windsor’s Relationship with the Jews”
Listener chatter from Andrea: NPR’s Planet Money: “Best By, Sell By, Use By”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the Death of Queen Elizabeth II. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth advise a parent who wants to intervene but doesn’t want to break her daughter’s trust. Her middle schooler told her that her friend, who is a frequent visitor to their house, was trying to pressure her into smoking weed with him. Our letter writer isn’t super familiar with the kid’s family. Should she let them know about the smoking? Should she tell her daughter before intervening? Should she talk to the kid herself? Then on Slate Plus, Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth relive the funniest places they’ve been lost and the scary moments where they left their own kids behind. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
One of the many things laid bare by COVID-19 was the importance of public health messaging—and the many ways it can fail. So when monkeypox began spreading in the U.S., the White House found someone who understands just how important it is to know your audience.
Guest: Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, White House National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator and former director of the CDC Division of HIV Prevention.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus sits down with writer and political scientist Virginia Eubanks. They talk about Virginia’s New York Times magazine essay , “His PTSD, and My Struggle to Live With It,” and how the condition is more widespread than most people realize, even as terms like “trauma” and “triggered” are tossed around cavalierly. Later in the show, they talk about why you shouldn’t give unsolicited advice to people living with PTSD—and what kind of support caregivers of people with PTSD really need.
In Slate Plus: Why Virginia wanted to write her New York Times essay, and whether the COVID-19 pandemic is, technically speaking, a traumatic event.
Further Recommended Reading: What to Say When Someone Tells You They’re Chronically Ill by Rachel Meeks Irritable Hearts: A PTSD Love Story by Gabriel Mac
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
In Seattle, a pack of voracious sea lions decimates the local fish population. When fireworks and an underwater air horn don’t scare away the whisker-y mammals, bureaucrats and scientists are faced with a thorny question: Who decides which creatures get to live, and which have to die? One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts and Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director.
Harry Styles has recently been in the news for saying some silly things and allegedly spitting on Chris Pine. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined again by Nadira Goffe to talk through Harry’s wild history as an online character, what led us to recent events surrounding the new film Don’t Worry Darling, and why he might want to just stop talking and get back to work. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
A Ukrainian counteroffensive has pushed Russian forces back to the east surprisingly quickly and effectively. Military experts are now wondering if Ukraine will win the war outright and avoid the stalemate that seemed likely only a few weeks ago. But if Vladamir Putin starts to feel the heat both in the field and from citizens at home, what is he capable of? And lacking a mechanism to remove their leader from office, what can Russians do?
Guest: Fred Kaplan is Slate’s war stories correspondent and author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.
This week, the panel begins by settling into the scenic Irish mystery of Bad Sisters. Then, the panel begrudgingly watches the Breitbart funded uh…indie film…My Son Hunter which may end up being the most interesting text the panel has discussed in a while. Finally, the panel is joined by co-host of Slate’s Working podcast and special friend of the pod, June Thomas, to discuss the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses the 2022 Emmy Awards. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: A really great audiobook, Shirley, A Tale by Charlotte Brontë (the follow up to Jane Eyre) narrated by Georgina Sutton. Julia: Two endorsements: first, possibly the silliest thing ever endorsed, the $17 Scalp Brush from fancy salon-style shampoo company Sachajuan. Second: Dana is coming to Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City, CA to discuss her book, Camera Man, this coming Saturday, September 17th at 5 pm. Steve: An interview with Harvard Philosopher of Science, Steven Shapin, in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Len Gutkin, titled “There’s No Shame in Being a Hack.” Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Any Other Way" by Particle House.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kate Beaton, author of the new graphic memoir Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, which recounts the time she spent working and living in Canada’s oil industry man camps. Lavery and Beaton take on two letters. First, someone who wants to break-up with a partner who spent the entire relationship expecting this to happen. Another letter writer wants to set boundaries with her sister after a long period of estrangement. Plus, a deep dive into Beaton’s new graphic memoir, Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
When Trish first started working in corporate recruiting, she had wonderful co-workers, a supportive manager, opportunities for growth—it was “bliss.” But the bliss evaporated in 2020 when she got laid off during the pandemic. She’s since found a different job in the same field, but also decided to try her hand at teaching pilates part-time. Now, after burning the candle at both ends, Trish is burned out and unsure of the best path forward. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Nathan and Susannah Furr, authors of The Upside of Uncertainty. They have some useful tools to help Trish—and all of us—find our footing in uncertain times. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Bounce Back From Burnout” and “How To Advance Your Career by Quitting Your Job.” Do you have a question without an answer? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
The United Kingdom is saddled with an energy crisis, a pandemic-weary national health service, and continued economic fallout from Brexit. For now, the country is observing an official mourning period, after losing its longest-serving monarch. But soon it will be time for King Charles and newly-installed Prime Minister Liz Truss to show what they’ll do to lead the U.K. through what’s expected to be a grim winter.
Guest: Charlotte Ivers, political correspondent for Times Radio, and columnist for the Sunday Times.
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham discuss the opening weekend of the NFL season and the rise of tennis phenoms Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek. They’re also joined by Josh Levin (same name, different guy) to discuss how he made the final stage of American Ninja Warrior. NFL (2:10): The cognitive dissonance of a new season. Tennis (21:36): Why 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz looks like a legend in the making. Josh the Ninja (44:30): How he conquered his Ninja Warrior demons. Afterball (1:07:05): Josh on notable moments in Knicks message board history.
Unions have won more elections in 2022 than they have in nearly 20 years, and they’re making in-roads in high-turnover, retail and service jobs like Starbucks, Chipotle and Amazon. As corporate leaders close down stores, fire union stalwarts, and stall bargaining, unionized workers fear they may never get a contract.
Guest: Rani Molla, senior correspondent at Recode covering business, technology, and the future of work.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth answer a question about a little boy who was super excited to start team sports. However, he has been really hard on himself and has slipped into some negative self-talk, including saying that he’s “the worst” and “will never get better.” They have some advice for making sure the kid enjoys his season, if he wants to continue. Recommendations: Zak recommends Everything Naomi Loved by Katie Yamasaki and Ian Lendler. Elizabeth recommends How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis. Jamilah recommends Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
An inside look at the rise of YouTube into a social media behemoth. Guests: Mark Bergen and Claire Stapleton Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host June Thomas talks to reporter Casey Parks, whose new memoir Diary of a Misfit was more than a decade in the making. In the interview, Casey explains how the book started as a documentary project that focused on a person from her hometown. Then she discusses the gradual evolution of the project and her decision to make it more personal. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about Casey’s “need” to write the book and whether they’ve ever felt that same pull. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Casey shares what it was like to narrate the audiobook version of the memoir. She also lists some books and other works that served as inspiration for Diary of a Misfit. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On today’s episode, Rachelle gets into the world of cooking videos. She speaks with Eater’s Bettina Makalintal about how online food content has changed over the years, taking something that we all do for ourselves and turning into a consumable performance. They discuss how this has changed our own approach to food offline and online, the expectations these videos engender in their viewers, and why everything is content. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss England’s late queen and new prime minister, the troubles of DWAC’s SPAC, and the demise of girlboss hangout The Wing. In the Plus segment: Citibank’s victory. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Dahlia is joined by Mary Trump and Norm Ornstein to discuss how a single Trump-appointed judge’s attempt to stick a fork in the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into potential mishandling of classified materials, is part of a systemic story about American justice. And they discuss the kinds of reform needed to protect democracy and repair the judiciary. And how to handle our collective trauma so we can get it all done.
In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about lawlessness at Mar a Lago, whether lawlessness at Mar-a-Lago, the Texas judge whose order this week nominally aims to cut access to HIV preventative medications, but is also setting his sights (again) on cratering the Affordable Care Act, and they probe if the current outbreak of reckless judging can be inoculated or will continue to spread unchecked.
Danny Lavery welcomes Niko Stratis, a freelance culture writer whose work has appeared in outlets like SPIN, Autostraddle and more. Lavery and Stratis read a letter from someone who was surprised that her husband’s plan to bring an outside person into their bedroom has resulted in her falling in love. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Technology is transforming the creative economy and ideas about what "art" even is. Guest: Drew Harwell Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Over the last two decades, suicide among Black youth has surged to crisis levels. And many schools, doctors and parents are unprepared to recognize the signs early enough to stop a tragedy. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Simon to discuss the issue. Dr. Simon is also the Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the city of Boston, and a leading voice in preventing suicides among African American children.
Guest: Dr. Kevin Simon, Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the city of Boston
Podcast production by Yanii Evans
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the inexplicable success of Trump’s special master gambit in the Espionage Act investigation, Biden calling out anti-democratic elements of the electorate; and the roots of the Jackson, MS water crisis.
Here are this week’s chatters:
John: Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius for The Great Courses: Turning Points in Modern History
Emily: Jerusalem Demsas for The Atlantic: “What’s Causing Black Flight?”
David: Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Hearty White Bread
Listener chatter from Cynthia Lerner: Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “I Usually Ignore The Sexism And Ageism Directed at Me. Now I’m Calling It Out.”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily and David interview John about his new streaming nightly news show, CBS News Primetime. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth answer a question from a parent who would love to be more involved with other families in the community but is having a hard time finding playdates for her large, rambunctious family. They also share their triumphs and fails about spilt milk, birthday redemption, and answering a ton of questions about the Donner Party. Then on Slate Plus, they’re discussing Inside the Adolescent Mental Health Crisis. The episode of The Daily covers the rising number of mental health issues in adolescents and what actions are being taken to help meet this crisis. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
Under Governor Ron DeSantis, the Parental Rights in Education Act—what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill—and “curriculum transparency” laws are going into effect in Florida schools. Supporters say the laws are there to protect students and keep them from being “indoctrinated.” But the state now faces a “critical teacher shortage” and teachers are pointing to state intervention as a reason for low morale.
Guest: Bridget Ziegler, Sarasota County school board member and co-founder of Moms for Liberty.
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and Isaac Butler help a married couple who both do creative work but don’t always have the same creative rhythms. Karen and Isaac offer tips on how to navigate situations where one person is in a creative rut and the other is cranking out gold. They also offer general tips about communication and the creative work that goes into being a couple.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, erotic thrillers are making a comeback and The Waves is ready to dig into it. Freelance podcaster and writer, Nichole Perkins is joined by Slate features editor Jeffrey Bloomer to talk about why they love these movies, while also acknowledging the many flaws they contain. Then, Nichole and Jeffrey talk about what they want to see change and evolve as we enter into a new era of erotic thrillers.
In Slate Plus, is taking your partner’s last name feminist? Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Black residents of Indianola, Mississippi, were fed up with decades of separate-and-unequal classrooms. When a white outsider got hired as school superintendent, they decided to take a stand. This week, Joel Anderson tells the story of how their boycott of white businesses transformed the community and captivated the nation. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts and Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director.
The Broadway musical Hamilton did not originally contain much of a Christian message, but then the Door McAllen Church in McAllen, Texas got a hold of it. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined again by Daisy Rosario to talk about the latest TikTok sensation known as “Scamilton,” an unauthorized production of Hamilton staged by the Door McAllen Church and livestreamed on Youtube in early August. They get into copyright law, how the Church lied about its right to perform the musical, and the tragically tone-deaf cast. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
Today’s high schoolers have lived in an America with legally recognized gay marriage for nearly half of their lives, but this fall, Florida students are starting the first school year under the “Parental Rights in Education” law, a.k.a. “Don’t Say Gay,” and LGBTQ students are bracing for a very different classroom experience.
Guest: Will Larkins, a 17-year-old senior at Winter Park High School, Florida and cofounder of the school’s Queer Student Union.
This week, the panel begins by assessing the most expensive television show to date: Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Then, the panel breaks down Breaking, the John Boyega-led hostage crisis film that also includes one of the last performances of late actor Michael K. Williams. Finally, the panel discusses the pros and cons of child acting, a topic choice that was influenced by HBO’s The Rehearsal and Jennette McCurdy’s recent memoir. In Slate Plus, the panel talks with Ultimate Major Super-Human Friend of the Program (and also author and contributing writer for the New York Times) Jody Rosen about his recent piece in NYT Mag about Willie Nelson, titled “Willie Nelson’s Long Encore.” And as a good example of Nelson’s magic: his performance of “Funny How Time Slips Away” at the ‘79 Austin City Limits music festival. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Some Texas music: the most recent album from San Antonio indie band Buttercup, titled Specks, an Autobiographical Record by Buttercup. Julia: Even more Strut afterglow: “Oui ou Non” by Angèle Steve: In memory of Barbara Ehrenreich: reading her excellent work. Podcast production by Anna Rubanova. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "The Brew" by Chris Shards
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis speak with Rennae Stubbs of ESPN and Racquet about coaching Serena Williams at the U.S. Open. Alex Kirshner of Slate and Split Zone Duo joins to discuss the start of college football season and the new 12-team playoff. Finally, the New York Times’ Juliet Macur talks about her story on how the Afghan women’s soccer team escaped the Taliban. Rennae Stubbs (2:44): What she told Serena before and during her grand send-off in New York. College football (22:42): How the game is changing, and how it’s staying the same. Afghan women’s soccer team (47:09): The harrowing story of their escape from Kabul. Afterball (1:09:30): Stefan on American soccer players on rival Scottish teams having the gall to eat dinner together.
Danny Lavery welcomes Niko Stratis, a freelance culture writer whose work has appeared in outlets like SPIN, Autostraddle and more. Lavery and Stratis tackle two letters. First, from someone whose partner’s request for alone time has them feeling single. Another letter asks what is one's parental obligation if your son commits a violent crime. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
A few years ago, host Amanda Ripley started noticing that her normal news diet left her feeling depleted and depressed. In the second of a two-part episode on reimagining the news we continue our conversation with Nicole Lewis, Senior Editor of Jurisprudence at Slate, and a longtime reporter on the criminal justice beat; and David Bornstein, co-founder/CEO of the Solutions Journalism Network, and former contributor to the New York Times’ Fixes column. The discussion picks up where we left off on how journalists can regain the trust of their audience, and how news consumers can find stories that inspire hope, agency and dignity — our democracy may depend on it. Resources: https://trustingnews.org/ https://wearehearken.com/ https://results.org/ https://www.csmonitor.com/ If you liked this episode, check out Part 1: “How To Unbreak the News” Do you have a burning question? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, and Kevin Bendis.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has encouraged a small Christian college to exert an unusual amount of influence over education policy. Hillsdale College is an institution growing in notoriety among conservative luminaries. Now, Hillsdale is using Florida public schools as a laboratory for its plans to reshape public education across the country. Guest: Anita Carson, a former sixth-grade teacher in Florida, and Sommer Brugal, education reporter for the Miami Herald.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Andy Le, Brian Le, and Daniel Mah, fight choreographers for the action comedy film Everything Everywhere All at Once. In the interview, Andy, Brian, and Daniel discuss the origins of their group Martial Club and explain how they learned to recreate fight sequences by watching lots and lots of martial arts movies. Then they talk about their work on Everything Everywhere All at Once and share what they’ve learned about working with big-time action stars like Michelle Yeoh. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss Martial Club’s rise to fame and their ability to learn from the films they admire. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Andy, Brian, and Daniel name some of their favorite martial arts movies. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
LYMErix, the first vaccine against Lyme, was pulled from the market amid poor sales and pressure from the public. Now, over 20 years later, a new vaccine is in late-stage trials. Guest: Cassandra Willyard Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Instagram has seen a recent influx of college “virginity club” accounts featuring sharp, funny memes about remaining chaste. On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle put these accounts under the microscope. Is anything about these accounts real, or are they just a grift for merchandise and music promotion? After some internet sleuthing, they track down the creator of the most popular account, for “Brigham Young Virginity Club,” and put him on the spot. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John. This episode originally aired on July 21, 2021.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the reasons behind the current labor shortage, the concept of “quiet quitting”, and the proposed fast-food labor council in California.
In the Plus segment: Stacy-Marie Ishmael returns to talk about Michael Saylor’s alleged tax evasion.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Danny Lavery welcomes Austin Channing Brown, a media producer and author of the New York Times bestseller I’m Still Here: black dignity in a world made for whiteness. Lavery and Channing Brown read a letter from someone whose decision to not look at news is also causing a conflict with his wife. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on The Sandman. Senior editor, Sam Adams, and Slate’s book critic, Laura Miller spoil the comic book series by Neil Gaiman.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
A father took a photo of his son for their doctor. He wound up being investigated by the police. Guest: Kashmir Hill Host: Lizzie O'Leary
While political conservatives slammed it as wasteful, President Biden’s student debt plan was greeted with relief by many borrowers. But questions remain about whether it goes far enough to help most of the Black students burdened by student loans. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson discusses the issue with Professor Fenaba Addo, co-author of A Dream Defaulted: The Student Loan Crisis Among Black Borrowers.
Guest: UNC Professor Fenaba Addo, co-author of A Dream Defaulted: The Student Loan Crisis Among Black Borrowers
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for just $1 for your first month.
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Trump’s strange legal maneuvering in the obstruction investigation; what Trump’s second term would do to U.S. democracy; and what voters deserve to know about a candidate’s health.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Jonathan Rauch for The Atlantic “Trump’s Second Term Would Look Like This”
Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton
Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
Lord Jim, by Joseph Conrad
Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, by Studs Terkel
This Is Chance!: The Shaking of an All-American City, a Voice That Held It Together, by Jon Mooallem
The Way We Live Now, by Anthony Trollope
Here are this week’s chatters:
John: Ella Koeze, Denise Lu and Charlie Smart for The New York Times: “Can You Gerrymander Your Party to Power?”
Emily: Aaron Byrd, Weiyi Cai, Geoff Macdonald, Emily Rhyne, Noah Throop, Joe Ward and Jeremy White for The New York Times: “The Toss”
David: CityCast DC; Bad Sisters
Listener chatter from Michael Koehler: Christo Grozev for Bellingcat: “Socialite, Widow, Jeweller, Spy: How a GRU Agent Charmed Her Way Into NATO Circles in Italy”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the non-political books that most influenced their understanding of politics. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Lizzie O'Leary host of What Next: TBD is joined by Emily Peck co-host of Slate Money to explain the new Student Debt Relief Plan. They delve into the reason women often carry more debt on average and why they stand to benefit the most from even modest relief. Then, Lizzie and Emily unpack debt-relief criticism itself, what Biden’s plan does well, and where it could improve.
In Slate Plus, some hard-hitting, in-depth analysis on whether or not laundry-folding is feminist.
Recommendations
Lizzie: Crime thriller Girl, Forgotten by author Karin Slaughter
Emily: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law from Marvel and Disney+ Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. With production help from Anna Rubanova.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow went viral in April for striking back at an extreme characterization made by a Republican colleague. The video of McMorrow’s speech—viewed over 14 million times—tells a bigger story about how national political rhetoric is affecting local political debates. But is the senator really demonstrating how to reset the terms of debate? Or is she just one more person who went viral for speaking to her echo chamber?
As summer winds down, we're replaying some of our favorite episodes from this year. This episode originally aired on May 3, 2022.
Guest: Mallory McMorrow, Michigan state senator representing Grand Oak and the suburbs north of Detroit.
Rumors about the legendary gangster Al Capone’s buried treasure transform an abandoned Chicago hotel into the center of the entertainment universe. Will Geraldo Rivera’s excavation on live TV turn up money, skeletons, or nothing at all? One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts and Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director.
On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle have a short discussion of the recent beekeeper drama on TikTok. Then, they’re joined by Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber, hosts of the Who Weekly? podcast, to discuss Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez getting back together. They talk about what it was like when the pair first got together in the early 2000s, and why it feels so exciting to see these two stars indulge again in their past romance, and how Bennifer 3.0 will play in a new era of social media gossip. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John. This episode originally aired on June 5, 2021.
Banning books in schools is on the rise. Around the country, parents are lobbying to banish from libraries and curriculums any work they deem to be “graphic” or “offensive,” often sweeping up books centered on queer or POC experiences in the process. Some authors say that’s no coincidence - nor is it surprising that this is happening just as the publishing industry is remaking itself to tell more diverse stories. The question is, what’s the best way to respond to the outrage?
This week as we wind down the summer, we're replaying some of our favorite episodes of this year. This episode originally aired on February 13, 2022.
Guest: Ashley Hope Pérez, author of three YA novels, including Out of Darkness, and professor of literature at Ohio State University.
This week, Dana and Julia are out but never fear, we’ve brought on two great guest host to join Steve: slate alumnus and NYT columnist Jamelle Bouie and senior editor at Slate, Sam Adams. First, the panel breaks down the moral quandaries of the socially unhinged HBO hit The Rehearsal. Then, the panel dips a toe into the dark side with the Aubrey Plaza-led film Emily the Criminal. Finally, the panel discusses the article “Why Do Rich People Love Quiet?” by Xochitl Gonzalez for The Atlantic. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses the relationship between race and food, based on the article “What We Talk About When We Talk About ‘White People Food’” by Jenny G. Zhang for Bon Appétit. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Sam: The new New York City Center’s “Encore” production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods—now showing at the St. James Theater in New York City. Jamelle: Inspired by his podcast Unclear & Present Danger: the 1992 Bill Duke film Deep Cover starring Laurence Fishburn and Jeff Goldblum, which is a great example of relatively modern neo-noir and a fascinating political artifact of the 1990s. Steve: A previous endorsement update: Steve has finished and approves the 1980 novel The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard. Steve’s real endorsement for the week: the album Crest by Swedish hip-hop artist Bladee, especially the songs: “Desire is a Trap” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "What Do You Want From Me" by OTE.
Danny Lavery welcomes Austin Channing Brown, a media producer and author of the New York Times bestseller I’m Still Here: black dignity in a world made for whiteness. Lavery and Channing Brown take on two letters. First, from someone in college wondering if they should date someone in high school. Another letter writer is wondering how to mend a friendship they didin’t realize they may have been neglecting. Plus, a listener update! Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
About five or six years ago, host Amanda Ripley started noticing that her normal news diet left her feeling depleted and depressed. She tried mixing up her news habits, even avoiding it for awhile, but nothing helped. It felt like a shameful secret. Shouldn’t journalists love consuming the news? She began to wonder, is it me....or is it the news itself? On this episode of How To!, the first of two parts, we’ll hear from several of our listeners who feel the same way. We’ll also talk with Nicole Lewis, Senior Editor of Jurisprudence at Slate, and a longtime reporter on the criminal justice beat; and David Bornstein, co-founder/CEO of the Solutions Journalism Network, and former contributor to the New York Times’ Fixes column. Together they’ll discuss how the news became so broken, and how we can put it back together again. Resources: Solutions Story Tracker® Fear of Rampant Crime Is Derailing New York City’s Recovery by Fola Akinnibi and Raeedah Wahid I stopped reading the news. Is the problem me — or the product? by Amanda Ripley Do you have a burning question? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, and Kevin Bendis.
Until last month, Brian Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and one of only three Black head coaches among the NFL’s 32 teams. That number has since dropped to one.
On Tuesday, Flores announced he was suing the NFL, alleging that the league's hiring practices are racist. His suit comes almost 20 years after the creation of the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for senior positions, and eight years after Colin Kaepernick was black-balled from the sport for kneeling during the national anthem—begging the question of how much has really changed in that time.
This week as we ease out of summer, we are replaying some of our favorite episodes from the last year. This episode originally aired February 7, 2022. Guest: LZ Granderson, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of ABC News’ “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson.”
Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Vinson Cunningham are joined by Ben Mathis-Lilley to discuss his new book on college football, The Hot Seat. They also discuss the hype around American tennis star Coco Gauff and review the soccer documentary Welcome to Wrexham.
The Hot Seat (2:14): Why does college football make so many of us insane? Coco Gauff (23:48): Is the publicity warranted, or is too much for an 18-year-old to handle? Welcome to Wrexham (45:45): Does the story of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying a soccer team make for good TV? Afterball (1:03:18): Josh on drinking beer through a hot dog straw.
On this episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth are joined by Phillip Maciak, TV editor at the Los Angeles Review of Books and teacher at Washington University in St. Louis. Phillip explains why Bluey, a kids show centered around a family of dogs in Australia, is the best depiction of parenthood on TV.
Recommendations: Phillip recommends reading newspaper comics with kids. Elizabeth recommends the games Stack the States and Globle. Jamilah recommends Cheers Hydrate. Zak recommends Joe Reilly’s music.
Check out Phillip’s original piece for Slate: Why TV’s Best Kids Show Is Also Its Best Show About Parents
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is a fervent right-wing activist. She was also a supporter of the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, as evidenced by a batch of texts shared with the congressional committee investigating January 6th. The Ginni Thomas texts create a conflict of interest for Justice Clarence Thomas as he hears cases pertaining to the insurrection. But the Supreme Court is not expected to do much to dispel notions of bias. Why? Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate. This week as we ease out of summer, we are replaying some of our favorite episodes from the last year. This episode originally aired March 30, 2022.
This week, host Karen Han talks to David Seth Moltz and Kavi Moltz, founders of the perfume company D.S. & Durga. In the interview, David and Kavi explain how their interest in perfume started as a hobby and blossomed into a business. They also discuss the trial and error of creating great scents and argue that perfumery should be considered an art form on the level of writing or music composition. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler talk about telling stories through scents and how subjective our sense of smell is. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Shows are disappearing. Staff are getting axed. Is It greed, or necessary for the networks' survival? Guest: Julia Alexander Host: Lizzie O'Leary
While authorities searched for missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito, she was everywhere to be found on TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram. Content creators, some well-intentioned and others simply chasing clout and clicks, turned the story of Gabby’s apparent death into the latest in true crime drama. On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle talk about the murkiness of the true crime internet and the ethics of using tragedy for clicks. They’re joined later in the show by Haley Toumaian, a TikTok creator and novice true crime podcast host who says the rapid pace of the news genre means sometimes getting things wrong in front of an audience of millions and willfully sharing misinformation.* Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John. This episode originally aired on September 22, 2021.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the Biden administration student loan debt forgiveness plan, the cancellation saga of Dan Price, and AMC’s “APE units”. In the Plus segment: More on student loan debt forgiveness. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Law Professor and former journalist Amy Gajda joins Dahlia Lithwick to discuss her latest book, Seek and Hide: The Tangled History of the Right to Privacy. They chart a course through early conceptions of privacy to today’s fraught battles over privacy and dignity in the age of surveillance capitalism.
Danny Lavery welcomes Carey O’Donnell, a writer and comedian, who also co-hosts Sexy Unique Podcast. Lavery and O’Donnell read a letter from someone who is uncomfortable that her family refuses to adopt her aunt’s new name. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Are you ready for some football! After decades of being kept out of the quarterback position, more Black quarterbacks are creating success and finding stardom in the NFL. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by ESPN’s Jason Reid, author of “Rise of the Black Quarterback: What It Means for America.” They discuss how the business and politics of race have changed for football’s most sought after players, and what challenges remain for Black quarterbacks.
Guest: Sports writer Jason Reid, author of “Rise of the Black Quarterback: What It Means for America”
Podcast production by Yanii Evans
Legendary hacker Peiter "Mudge" Zatko’s reputation in the cybersecurity world is unmatched. His allegations against Twitter’s security are all the more damning because of it. Guest: Joseph Menn Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss what the special election results suggest for the midterms, an unprecedented $1.6B donation to a secretive conservative organization; and Biden’s student loan forgiveness and repayment plans.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee The Sum of Us podcast
Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Bullshit Generator; The Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy, 1865-1915 Hardcover, by Jon Grinspan Emily: Igor Derysh for Salon: “‘That’s Not What Our Report Said’: Ex-Mueller Prosecutor Says Barr's Trump Memo Is ‘legally Wrong’”; The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law David: Courtney E. Smith for Ultimate Classic Rock: “35 Years Ago: Los Lobos’ ‘La Bamba’ Returns Ritchie Valens to Spotlight”
Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Sarina E. Miller for the Washington Post: “Thanks To Middle-Schoolers Like Me, There Are At Last No More Salem ‘Witches’”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss Gavin Newsom’s veto of a bill allowing safe injection sites in California. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth help a letter writer who is hurt by the cliquey moms in her parenting group. All the kids get along great. But the moms constantly make her feel like an outsider, despite her initiating conversation and planning hang outs. Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth share some tips for making friends with other parents, knowing your value, and ditching people who aren’t giving you the time of day. Then on Slate Plus, they discuss Angela Garbes’ piece, The Morning Rush: Parenting at its Most Essential. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
After winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles, four Olympic gold medals, and over $100 million in prize money, this month Serena Williams announced the end of her professional tennis career. While her on-court accomplishments and longevity put her in the sporting pantheon, her cultural impact is just as remarkable.
Guest: Amira Rose Davis, assistant professor of Black studies at the University of Texas Austin and co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by culture writer Anna Nordberg to talk all about Jane Austen. The romance novelist may have written her seven books well over a century ago, but as Cheyna and Anna discuss, her work still endures in popular culture. They talk about why Austen’s characters are even more modern than the men and women we see on screen today and why some of the men are kind of meh. Later in the show, they talk about what makes an endearing Jane Austen adaptation, and why Netflix’s Persuasion fails so miserably.
In Slate Plus, are Jane Austen’s proposals feminist?
Recommendations: Anna: The 1995 Sense and Sensibility adaptation starring Emma Thompson. Cheyna: The music of Cosmo Jarvis. Plus a dedication to a beloved professor, Dr. Brent Chesley. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario, and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and Karen Han discuss the many complicated emotions that can sometimes creep up after a big project comes to an end. They also share tips for managing those emotions and finding ways to recharge before the next project starts.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
This week, Evan Chung tells the story of the American teachers who competed for an unprecedented prize: a spot on the January 1986 launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Three of the finalists describe the grueling selection process and the tragedy that killed one of their own. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts and Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director.
The realm of fan fiction is a wild, magical place to be, especially if that fan fiction is set at Hogwarts. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison talk about All the Young Dudes, an extensive Harry Potter fan fiction that has inspired a fandom all its own, and just how that fandom came to be. But first, they chat about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and spend time listening to the first line of some listeners’ NaNoWriMo novels. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis, Daniel Schroeder, and Derek John. This episode originally ran on November 20, 2021.
The Department of Justice announced this month that they were investigating allegations that leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention mishandled sexual abuse accusations for decades. How have abusers exploited the church’s decentralized structure and notions of forgiveness to avoid accountability, and how have church teachings about sexuality and “purity culture” allowed the abuse to continue?
Guest: Robert Downen, reporter at the Houston Chronicle. Jules Woodson, co-Founder & COO of Help;Hear;Heal, a nonprofit providing therapy funding for survivors of sexual abuse.
This week, Dana and Julia hold down the fort in Steve’s absence while Slate’s book critic, Laura Miller, fills in as a third host. First, the panel breaks down the Neil Gaiman adaptation that no one thought would happen, The Sandman. Then, the panel discusses the new installment in the Predator franchise: Prey. Finally, supplemented by Laura’s great piece on the author, the panel attempts to answer: Who is Colleen Hoover? In Slate Plus, the panel discusses pairs of notable people that they’d like to see in conversation with one another. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Pulling a Julia with a food endorsement: Off-Script’s Samin-Nosrat-inspired thyme pistachio pesto. Julia: More Summer Strut afterglow: “I Wish That I Could See You Soon” by Herman Dune. Laura: The New Zealand comedy series, Wellington Paranormal, which is a spin-off of the original What We Do in the Shadows film. Specifically: season 4 episode 3, “The Coolening.” Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Forbidden Love" by OTE.
Danny Lavery welcomes Carey O’Donnell, a writer and comedian, who also co-hosts Sexy Unique Podcast. Lavery and O’Donnell tackle two letters. First, from someone who’s worried that his boyfriend’s family of origin is trying to re-enter his life. Another letter writer is wondering how to be patient with an old friend who keeps crossing the line. Plus, a listener update! Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In this exclusive episode for Slate Plus members, host Willa Paskin discusses the philosophies and logistics that go into the making of the show and gives a sneak preview on a topic to come.
Despite its fraught history of botched executions, the state of Oklahoma is preparing to begin a 29 month execution spree this week. 25 dates have been set for men with severe mental illness, personal histories of childhood abuse, inadequate legal representation, or claims of innocence. Though these inmates have been deemed "the worst of the worst," activist nun Sister Helen Prejean implores the world to look at fuller pictures of their lives, and seek out an alternative to the death penalty.
Guest: Sister Helen Prejean, anti-death penalty activist and author of Dead Man Walking, The Death of Innocents, and River of Fire.
When Clare decided on a resolution for the year, she was looking for a new challenge. Instead of running a marathon like her partner, Clare—who “talks for a living”—decided to go completely silent. She signed up for a silent retreat. But as it approached, she wondered how she could possibly go an entire week without speaking. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Daniel Thorson of the Monastic Academy in Vermont and host of the podcast, Emerge. Daniel has spent over a year of his life in silent meditation, including a 75 day silent retreat at the beginning of the pandemic. He says his first silent retreat was the worst experience of his life — just what Clare wanted to hear — but there’s a reason he kept going back. If you liked this episode, check out: How To Quiet the Chatter in Your Head and How To Sleep with Headspace’s Andy Puddicombe. Do you have a burning question? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Vinson Cunningham are joined by Defector’s Maitreyi Anantharaman to discuss the WNBA playoffs. Dion Wright also joins to explain what it was like to guard LeBron James. Finally, they talk about Isiah Thomas’ “No Crime Day,” the subject of the first episode of Slate’s One Year: 1986 podcast. WNBA (2:18): Can Sue Bird lead the Seattle Storm to a fifth title?
Dion Wright (20:37): How it felt to go viral for going up against one of the greatest of all time.
No Crime Day (42:11): A conversation about basketball and athlete activism in the 1980s.
Afterball (1:01:42): Stefan on the agony and ecstasy of watching Pete Carril’s Princeton teams.
As part of a stunt to protest the Biden administration’s immigration policies, the governors of Texas and Arizona have been sending bus-loads of migrants to DC and New York without any support. Immigrant advocate groups are scrambling to take care of these people, who were vulnerable well before being used as political props.
Guest: Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director at New York Immigration Coalition & NYIC Action
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth jump back into the potty-training trenches to help a parent who is at her wit’s end. Her kid is potty trained—or so she thought—but will not stop peeing in his pants before taking himself to the toilet. They share some tips for making the toilet actually appealing to her son. They also respond to a listener who wrote in following the How to Address Death episode and check in about their plans for the fast-approaching (or already underway) school year. Recommendations: Zak recommends the show, A League of Their Own on Amazon Prime. Elizabeth recommends the books Yo MIllard Fillmore! and Yo Sacramento! Jamiliah recommends Loot on Apple TV. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
This week, host Karen Han talks to Lynon Aksamit, a puzzle designer for the Colorado-based company Liberty Puzzles. In the interview, Lynon explains how he and his colleagues select artwork to turn into puzzles. Then he breaks down his process for designing puzzle pieces (including “whimsy pieces”) and describes how he plays with the themes of the original artwork to create engaging puzzles for customers. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss their own experiences with puzzles. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Lynon explains how he’s able to make time for side projects. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
David Plots talks with author Mat Johnson about his new novel Invisible Things. Johnson’s novel tells the story of a group of They talk about the challenges of writing satire when reality feels fake, how mediocre people rise up by sucking up, and why we need to look at the invisible things in our daily lives.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
There's no way to remove politics from public health. Guest: Tim Requarth Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Last week, Maya Cade, the creator and curator of the Black Film Archive tweeted about how Tumblr, specifically screengrabs and gifsets, has changed the way we watch movies. On today’s show, Daisy Rosario is back with Rachelle and they decided to give Maya a call. They ended up talking about the communal nature of encountering film through social media screenshots, how Maya was inspired to create the Black Film Archive, and why Tumblr might be the best current online archive tool. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Eric Newcomer to discuss his piece on Marc Andreessen’s surprising choice to back Adam Neumann’s new company Flow, the current VC landscape, and Bed, Bath & Beyond’s wild meme-stock moment.
In the Plus segment: Eric’s interview with Uber’s former business chief.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kate Duffy, a New York based licensed clinical social worker who has worked as a therapist and clinical supervisor in a variety of settings, including shelters, residential group homes, and outpatient clinics. Lavery and Duffy read a letter from someone who is anxious because their partner wants a septum piercing. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The U.S. has some of the worst maternal mortality rates in the industrialized world. And African Americans are three times more likely to die in childbirth than whites. The documentary Aftershock focuses on how the healthcare system is failing Black mothers at the most vulnerable time of their lives, and how their families are fighting to change that. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with the film’s co-director and co-producer Tonya Lewis Lee about the history of the crisis and the movement to solve it.
Aftershock is currently streaming on Hulu.
Guest: Tonya Lewis Lee
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
The Inflation Reduction Act is spurring progress towards new climate technology that, at times, sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. Will it make a dent in the fight against climate change? Guest: Pranshu Verma Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Bodies Bodies Bodies. Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens and Slate writer Nadira Goffe spoil A24’s latest murder mystery, directed by Halina Reijn.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Read another Slate review here.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Benjamin Wittes discuss the Trump investigations; Liz Cheney’s defeat; and Dana Goldstein’s reporting on controversies over how to teach kids to read.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jack Goldsmith for Lawfare: “Prosecuting Trump: A Reply to Josh Marshall” Dana Goldstein for The New York Times: “An Old and Contested Solution to Boost Reading Scores: Phonics” Dana Goldstein The New York Times: “In the Fight Over How to Teach Reading, This Guru Makes a Major Retreat” Dana Goldstein The New York Times: “New Reading Curriculum Is Mired in Debate Over Race and Gender” Belinda Luscombe for Time: “Inside the Massive Effort to Change the Way Kids Are Taught to Read” Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “Liz Cheney’s Kamikaze Campaign” Invisible Things by Mat Johnson
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Sam Levine for The Guardian: “Memphis Prosecutor Who Charged Black Woman Over Voting Error Loses Re-Election Bid”; Kim Bellware and Lateshia Beachum for The Washington Post: “Desantis Sued By Prosecutor Suspended Over Stance On Abortion-Related Crime” Ben: The Lawfare Podcast: Allies David: Dwight Garner for The New York Times: “Jared Kushner’s ‘Breaking History’ Is a Soulless and Very Selective Memoir”
Listener chatter from Josh Forsythe: Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Jennifer N. Phillips, Graham E. Derryberry, Michael J. Blum, and David Luther for Science: “Singing In A Silent Spring: Birds Respond To A Half-Century Soundscape Reversion During The Covid-19 Shutdown”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and Ben discuss Ben’s performance art protests at the Russian embassy in D.C. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth dish about a baking disaster, being the non-fun mom while setting up camp, and why cool big kids make summer camp so magical. They then answer a question from an aunt who would love to be more of a presence in her nieces and nephews’ lives and support their kids at games and concerts. The catch? They don’t know how to get invited. Then on Slate Plus, they’re discussing their favorite baby gear—a conversation inspired by Kevin Roose’s column in the New York Times called I Was Skeptical of Baby Gear. Then I Became a Dad. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
State treasurers in red states have been banding together to punish companies that are trying to divest themselves from the fossil fuel industry. But it isn’t clear if, say, BlackRock needs West Virginia more than West Virginia needs BlackRock. And this new front in the culture war may come with a bill that taxpayers have to pay.
Guest: David Gelles, correspondent on the Climate desk at The New York Times, covering the intersection of public policy and the private sector.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, the streaming wars have come for us all. The Daily Beast’s Allegra Frank sits down with Inkoo Kang of The Washington Post to talk about what happened at HBO and where gender fits into it all. HBO Max recently canceled the nearly done Batgirl, and has been quietly removing content from its streaming service as it prepares to merge with Discovery+. Allegra and Inkoo talk about how streaming services reducing their content offering likely spells trouble for non-white, non-male voices.
In Slate Plus, is Batman feminist?
Recommendations: Allegra: Never Have I Ever on Netflix Inkoo: The Harley Quinn series on HBO Max Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Alicia Montgomery and Daisy Rosario. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Basketball star Isiah Thomas had an audacious plan to transform Detroit: asking criminals to stay on the good side of the law for 24 hours. Would “No Crime Day” set the city on a new path, or was it a recipe for failure? One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Slate Plus members get to hear more about the making of One Year. Get access to extra episodes, listen to the show without any ads, and support One Year by signing up for Slate Plus for just $15 for your first three months.
Three lifestyle trends with surprisingly retrograde ideas have been popping up on TikTok. On today’s show, Nadira Goffe is back with Rachelle to discuss what’s going on. They talk about the problems with the “clean girl” aesthetic, people who shouldn’t be trying to imitate the Kennedys and the like, and why being a housewife isn’t the “soft life” TikTokkers might want you to believe it is. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
When Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron investigated the night Breonna Taylor was killed, his office concluded that the two officers who shot Taylor acted in good faith while executing the warrant provided. The Department of Justice’s investigation, however, suggests the warrant itself had false information, without which officers would never have been at Taylor’s home in the first place. Now a candidate for governor, will Cameron pay for his inattention in this high-profile case?
Guest: Tessa Duvall, Frankfort bureau chief for the Lexington Herald-Leader.
This week, Julia and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, June Thomas, steer the ship with a rotating panel of guests as Dana and Steve take a break. First, Julia and June are joined by Slate’s Editorial Assistant and Production Assistant for Gabfest, Nadira Goffe, to discuss A24’s new Gen-Z slasher film Bodies Bodies Bodies. Then, the panel is joined by Slate’s Editor-in-Chief, Hillary Frey, to discuss the new female-led adolescent ‘80s sci-fi series Paper Girls. Finally, the panel is joined by former Slate lawyer (now at many places, including The Cornell Law First Amendment Clinic) Ava Lubell to discuss the current lawsuit between Netflix and The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical and the legalities surrounding fan art. In Slate Plus, Julia interviews June about her upcoming move! Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements June: The soap-operatic lesbian romance novels from the very prolific writer Harper Bliss. Specifically, The Pink Bean and French Kissing series. Julia: With a little Summer Strut afterglow, the listener-recommended song “100 years ago (2020)” by The Rolling Stones. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Pike Place Market" by Rockin' For Decades.
This month, host Christina Cauterucci, Jules Gill-Peterson, and Bryan Lowder start the show with a Thots & Queries segment in which a listener asks about orgy etiquette. In a completely different party setting, they try to figure out what on earth is going on in the U.S. Congress, where legislators are debating marriage equality in the form of the Respect for Marriage Act. Then Northwestern University professor and journalist Steven Thrasher joins them to discuss his new book The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide. Finally, they add some new items to the gay agenda.
Items discussed in the show: Taylor Blake and her emu friend Emmanuel Beyoncé’s Renaissance A shocking tweet from the official Log Cabin Republicans account The June 29 episode of Outward in which Mark Joseph Stern considered how the Dobbs decision might affect LGBTQ rights “Why Is There More Republican Support for Gay Marriage Than for Abortion Rights?” by Moira Donegan, in the Nation The Viral Underclass,, by Steven Thrasher Let the Record Show, by Sarah Schulman “An Uprising Comes From the Viral Underclass,” by Steven Thrasher in Slate, June 12, 2020 Gay Agenda Jules: X, by Davey Davis Bryan: The Sandman, on Netflix Christina: “We Failed,” by Eric Neugeboren, in the Texas Tribune This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kate Duffy, a New York based licensed clinical social worker who has worked as a therapist and clinical supervisor in a variety of settings, including shelters, residential group homes, and outpatient clinics. Lavery and Duffy take on two letters. First, from someone who needs their bestie to stop giving them advice. Another letter writer is wondering how to confront her brother about past childhood sibling abuse. Plus, a listener update! Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
After an FBI search of Mar-a-lago last week, it was revealed that Donald Trump is being investigated for federal crimes including violating the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice, and criminal handling of government records. How can the Justice Department do its job with the former president calling the investigation a hoax and his supporters demonstrating a willingness to respond violently? Who should be worried here?
Guest: Ankush Khardori, contributing writer for New York Magazine's Intelligencer, and contributing editor at POLITICO Magazine.
When Swiss Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud moved to Washington DC, his residence was perfect. Too perfect. The Swiss ambassador’s residence sits on six acres on a hill with an awesome view of the Washington Monument. “I was amazed by the beauty of the whole setting…It looked like a golf course and I don't like golf courses… they are ecological disasters,” Ambassador Pitteloud reflected. Together with his gardening team, the Ambassador has transformed the residence into a native oasis. On this episode of How To!, we’re taking a field trip to the Swiss Ambassador’s residence. Ambassador Pitteloud reveals how he brought back his beloved birds and even gave diplomatic immunity to local colonies of bees. We talked last week with Doug Tallamy, who gave some wonderfully concrete advice on how you can revitalize your local ecosystem with just your yard. Ambassador Pitteloud is a living testament that you can have a meaningful impact with just your yard and he’s impoloring others to follow suit. “Environmental protection has become ideological and politicized. This is not a political question… It's 5 minutes before midnight.” Resources: Homegrown National Park Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard Audubon Native Plants Database National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder SEEK by iNaturalist If you liked this episode, check out part one: “How To Save the Planet, Starting With Your Yard.” Also check out our episode "How to (Really) Help Refugees," as mentioned at the end of the show. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
In the early 1930s, Mae West’s dirty talk and hip swiveling walk made her one of the biggest movie stars in America. But before West hit the big-screen, she was prosecuted for staging not one, but two scandalous plays. In this episode, we look at how West honed her persona when she was under the bright lights of Broadway and the flashbulbs of the tabloids — and briefly behind bars. More than a century later, her career arc offers a blueprint on how to survive a scandal…and maybe even come out ahead. This episode relied heavily on a lot of archival material and innumerable books: When I’m Bad, I’m Better: Mae West, Sex and American Entertainment by Marybeth Hamilton; When Brooklyn was Queer by Hugh Ryan; Lillian Schlissel’s introduction to Three Plays by Mae West, Mae West: a biography by George Eells and Stanley Musgrove; Mae West: An Icon in Black and White by Jill Watts; Becoming May West by Emily Wortis Leider; Gay New York by George Chauncey; Mae West, She Who Laughs Last, by June Sochen: Goodness Has Nothing to Do with It by Mae West; and Linda Ann Losciavo’s play “Courting Mae West” and her blog, which you can find at Maewest.blogspot.com. This episode of Decoder Ring was written by Willa Paskin. It was produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. Thank you to Benjamin Frisch for this topic. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com
Vinson Cunningham and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to discuss the latest on Deshaun Watson’s sexual abuse case and Serena Williams’ impending retirement. Also, Sports Illustrated’s Julie Kliegman joins to talk about athletes and psychedelics. Deshaun Watson (4:16): The new Browns quarterback debuted with the team to boos and jeers. Serena Williams (19:09): The superstar announced in Vogue that she is “evolving away from tennis.” Psychedelics (50:41): Should more athletes be using them to treat mental health and injury?
During his presidency, Donald Trump demonstrated the power that social media can have in politics. Now, influencers are taking money to spread messages from across the spectrum. Unlike political ads in older media, though, influencers don’t have to disclose who is paying them—or even that they’re being paid at all.
Guest: Ben Wofford, writer based at Stanford Law School, contributor to Wired.
On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak are joined by Slate staff writer, Aymann Ismail. Today they lend advice to a parent who is struggling with the death of a close friend. When it comes to overdoses and suicides is it better to go over the topic with your kids or deal with it more delicately?
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola, Zak Rosen, and Kevin Bendis.
The psychedelic renaissance is here. But not everyone’s on board. Guest: John Semley Host: Sonari Glinton
This week, host June Thomas talks to writers Rob Walker and Joshua Glenn, whose Significant Objects project explores how and why physical items can take on meaning and value. In the interview, Rob and Joshua talk about how their partnership was born and explain why they’re such compatible collaborators. They also discuss their proclivity for balancing lots of projects, and Joshua explains something he calls the “virtuous circle of procrastination.” After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han share lessons they’ve learned about collaborating on creative projects. And here’s June’s contribution to Rob and Joshua’s “Project:Object.” https://www.hilobrow.com/2020/05/04/movie-objects-12/ Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Exclusively Black spaces online have faded away as platforms with wider audiences have taken over, but what, if anything, has been lost with those spaces? On today’s show, Rachelle is joined again by Nadira Goffe to discuss their own experiences growing up online as Black women, and they speak with Dr. Meredith D. Clark, a professor at Northeastern University who studies Black online spaces, about Black online history, how and why we interact the way we do, and what it means to know that non-Black people are watching. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Edmund Lee of the New York Times to discuss why it’s so hard to understand what inflation actually is, why Goldman Sach’s Marcus and other digital banks just aren’t working, and the surprising sale of Reorg for a cool $1.3 billion. In the Plus segment: Elon Musk selling tons of his Tesla stock.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
The quality of dignity is not strained. Judge Victoria Pratt presided for years over Municipal Court in Newark, New Jersey. Her experiences form the foundation of her book, The Power of Dignity: How Transforming Justice Can Heal Our Communities. In the third of Amicus’ summer season of big-picture conversations, Dahlia Lithwick and Judge Pratt explore what everyone, up to and including Supreme Court Justices, can learn from procedural justice, also known as procedural fairness. You can watch Judge Pratt’s viral Ted Talk here.
Danny Lavery welcomes Ty Mitchell, a writer and former gay porn performer based in Brooklyn, New York. He has written for The New Inquiry and Buzzfeed, and you can read his current newsletter, the First Openly Gay Book Club, at firstopenlygay.substack.com. Lavery and Mitchell read a letter from someone who is now working with someone who abused her as a teenager. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Crypto mining is booming in Texas. Will the power grid be able to handle it? Guest: Russell Gold Host: Sonari Glinton
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premieres in theaters this November. The franchise has provided a showcase for African Americans across the entertainment industry, including those behind the scenes. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with one of those rising creatives, conceptual artist Phillip Boutte Jr. Boutte left an acting career for film design, working on several sci-fi blockbusters. They discuss how Black Panther has helped change the dynamic for African American film professionals who had struggled to get a foothold in Hollywood.
Guest: Production designer Phillip Boutte Jr., co-founder of 9B Collective, the first Black owned conceptual artist incubator in the industry.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Juliette Kayyem discuss the Mar-a-Lago search; the Inflation Reduction Act; and Caitlin Dickerson’s article investigating how separating families at the border became U.S. policy.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Caitlin Dickerson for The Atlantic: “An American Catastrophe: The Secret History of Family Separation” Juliette Kayyem for The Atlantic: “The Bad and Good News About Trump’s Violent Supporters” Curated Decay: Heritage Beyond Saving, by Caitlin DeSilvey Serena Williams and Rob Haskell for Vogue: “Serena Williams Says Farewell to Tennis On Her Own Terms—And In Her Own Words” Claudia Rankine for The New York Times Magazine: “The Meaning of Serena Williams” King Richard
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: “Downbad” by PJ Frantz Juliette: Jim Farber for The New York Times: “Olivia Newton-John, Pop Singer and ‘Grease’ Star, Dies at 73” David: Jack Fitzpatrick for Bloomberg Government: “Old Capitol Stones to Be Stored Away After Decades Piled in Park”
Listener chatter from Sebastian Cray: The Bingham Cup
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, Juliette, and David discuss Serena Williams’ retirement from tennis.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Aymann, advise a grandparent who really wants her granddaughter and her granddaughter's cousin to get along. Our letter writer’s first attempts haven’t gone too well and she’s even resorted to bribing—to no avail. Should she keep pushing and, if so, how? Or is it time to step back? Then on Slate Plus, they discuss A Toddler Father’s Playbook for Answering Tough Questions by David Ostow. Other mentions: My Favorite Controlled Substance is Daycare by Sarah Suksiri. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson, Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola, and Zak Rosen.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by the managing editor of Future Tense, Mia Armstrong. This week is all about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of drugs commonly used to treat depression and anxiety. Shannon and Mia discuss their own experiences with their mental health and SSRIs. Then they dig into the cultural narrative around using medication for anxiety and depression,a recent study disproving an old adage about depression, and why SSRIs might be overprescribed to women.
Why Has the Misleading “Chemical Imbalance” Theory of Mental Illness Persisted for So Long? by Sahanika Ratnayake
In Slate Plus, is marrying young feminist?
Recommendations: Shannon: Guided meditations from UCLA Health. Mia: Counting backwards from 100 by seven to help calm down while you’re feeling anxious. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Alicia Montgomery and Daisy Rosario. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
New abortion restrictions following the repeal of Roe v. Wade have turned some reproductive care into a criminal liability. After a traumatic ectopic pregnancy, one Texas woman is wondering whether state laws delayed her diagnosis and treatment, ultimately leaving her with a ruptured fallopian tube.
Guest: Fatima Abdelwahab of Houston, Texas.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
On this edition of Working Overtime, co-host June Thomas gets some advice from co-host Karen Han about moving to a new city as a freelance writer. First they talk about how important it is to engage with your new city’s art scene and cultural institutions. Then they discuss ways to build a new supportive community and how to stay in touch with former collaborators.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Everybody loves indulging in thirst online. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Slate’s Nadira Goffe to discuss exactly what makes internet thirst so much fun. They talk about the qualities of a good internet boyfriend, when thirsting can go wrong, and how much these thirst objects really owe us. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, the panel begins by discussing Peacock’s latest mystery series The Resort. Then, the panel takes a more light-hearted turn with Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Finally, the panel is joined by author and Slate editor Dan Kois to discuss his recent Slate piece about “The 50 Greatest Fictional Deaths of All Time.” In Slate Plus, the panel talks about movie and television credits. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: A suggestion from Carl Wilson (and in memory for Olivia Newton-John) a cover of the Olivia Newton-John song, “A Little More Love” by Juliana Hatfield, which is a track on an entire album of Newton-John covers titled Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John. Julia: More from Recipe Julia: the Six Seasons cookbook recipe for peperonata. Steve: The song “Watch the Sunrise” by Big Star. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Bloody Hunter" by Paisley Pink.
After decades of dragging their feet on action to slow climate change, the Senate passed what is modeled to be the most impactful climate policy yet. What’s in the Inflation Reduction Act, and how did Democrats finally get the mercurial Joe Manchin on board?
Guest: Robinson Meyer, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the newsletter The Weekly Planet.
Danny Lavery welcomes Ty Mitchell, a writer and former gay porn performer based in Brooklyn, New York. He has written for The New Inquiry and Buzzfeed, and you can read his current newsletter, the First Openly Gay Book Club, at firstopenlygay.substack.com. Lavery and Mitchell tackle two letters. First, from someone who’s upset that his friends continue to associate with someone who is considered toxic. Another letter writer is wondering if he should ask to open up his relationship, or simply break-up. Finally, someone writes in wondering if there is a way around correcting people about their gender. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Afghan women and LGBTQ+ people immediately felt the impact of the Taliban’s return to power last year. But journalists trying to tell their stories could face intense and even violent backlash from the extremist group—like what happened to Lynne O’Donnell.
Guest: Lynne O’Donnell, columnist at Foreign Policy and former Afghanistan bureau chief for Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press.
When you think of an alien abduction, what do you picture? Humanoid creatures, medical experiments, lost memories retrieved through hypnosis? That narrative was largely unknown until Betty and Barney Hill went public about their own alien abduction in the 1960s. Betty Hill’s niece, Kathleen Marden, recounts how the story went viral and her aunt and uncle became unwitting celebrities. And professors Susan Lepselter, Chris Bader, Joseph O. Baker and Stephanie Kelley-Romano explain how the Hills’ alien abduction changed science fiction forever.
Thanks to Eric Molinsky for bringing us this story that originally aired on his terrific podcast Imaginary Worlds. Eric’s got a lot more stories like this one so subscribe wherever you listen.
Decoder Ring is written by Willa Paskin and produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com
In the last 24 years, Judy has moved approximately 16 times for her husband’s military career. But her family has finally settled down in a lovely house with a yard near Annapolis, Maryland. Now Judy is hoping to transform her outdoor space into something that’s beautiful and environmentally friendly. On this episode of How To!, Doug Tallamy explains why, now more than ever, we need people like Judy to plant native species in order to revive our ecosystem. He has some surprisingly easy tips for replacing your grass (take that, lawn mower!), finding plants that pollinators will love, and even getting rid of those pesky mosquitoes. Resources: Homegrown National Park Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard Audubon Native Plants Database National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder SEEK by iNaturalist The Life and Death of the American Lawn If you liked this episode, check out “How To Squash Your Fear of Bugs (and Other Phobias)” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John and Rosemary Belson with help from Katie Shepherd. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus.
Josh Levin, the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham, and Slate’s Henry Grabar take an audio tour of Vin Scully’s broadcasting career. They also discuss the documentary NYC Point Gods. Finally, Josh interviews tennis players Maxime Cressy and Daria Saville. Vin Scully (2:36): Eight moments from 66 years in the booth. NYC Point Gods (32:48): Is the new basketball documentary worth watching? Tennis (46:04): Conversations with two of the most fascinating players on tour. Afterball (1:13:09): Josh on the Shammgodd—or is it the Pooh Allen?
With an ongoing labor shortage, companies turn to third-party labor brokers to fill jobs. But with little oversight and a surge of immigrants, the line between “ recruiter” and “ trafficker” gets blurred as vulnerable children are sent to work in dangerous conditions.
Guest: Mica Rosenberg, national immigration reporter for Reuters.
On this episode: Jamilah and Elizabeth are joined by Courtney Martin, author of the book Learning in Public. Today they are helping a parent who has been offered a great job opportunity that can take the family to the next level financially. The position would require them to live overseas. The catch? The family can’t go with him. Is there a way to still be present in your child’s life if you are working away from home?
Recommendations: Courtney recommends the Rebel Girls app. Elizabeth recommends Professor Noggin card game. Jamilah recommends The Bear.
Listener Recommendations: Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom The Longest Shortest Time The Principles of Pleasure Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
This week, host Karen Han discusses the basics of great Korean food with chef Hooni Kim. In the interview, Hooni starts by explaining how one of his restaurants developed a meal-kit service at the start of the pandemic. Then he discusses his latest venture, the Little Banchan Shop, which will offer packaged Korean side dishes (called Banchan), marinated meats, and other items that customers can incorporate into their home cooked meals. After the interview Karen and co-host Isaac Butler talk about the importance of trial and error in creative work. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Karen asks Hooni about his cookbook, My Korea: Traditional Flavors, Modern Recipes. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
It makes intuitive sense for companies that develop a technology to hold its intellectual property rights. But in the case of vaccines and medical treatments, IP laws slow down manufacturing and distribution and give private companies the power to make huge decisions that affect public health globally.
Guest: Zain Rizvi, researcher for advocacy group Public Citizen, specializing in pharmaceutical innovation and access to medicine.
On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Daisy Rosario to open up the mailbag for another session of Read Receipts. They get into drama surrounding Nicki Minaj’s alleged former assistant airing the rapper’s alleged dirty laundry, Diane Warren stirring up trouble with Beyoncé, satisfying restocking videos, and an explanation of Ana Mardoll. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the merging of HBOMax and Discovery+, a new study on the effect of abortion restrictions on women’s wages, and people paying to be on podcasts. In the Plus segment: Lobster rolls. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Bullet Train. Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens and senior editor Sam Adams spoil the latest action comedy release from Atomic Blonde director and John Wick co-creator, David Leitch.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Read Dana’s review here.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jules Gill-Peterson, author of Histories of the Transgender Child and a co-host of Outward on Slate. Lavery and Gill-Peterson read a letter from someone who likes who they’re dating, but not the way their home smells. Plus, a listener update from a recent letter writer about coming out as non-binary to their family. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The US has been in a housing shortage for decades. Can it ever be fixed? Guest: Conor Dougherty Host: Emily Peck
NBA star Bill Russell, the first Black American to coach a major-league sports team, died this week. His playing earned him 11 championships. His activism won him respect in the Black community, but the hatred of many white fans, and surveillance from the FBI during the civil rights era. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by sports journalist Howard Bryant to discuss Russell’s legacy, on and off the court.
Guest: Veteran sports journalist Howard Bryant.
Podcast production by Eric Aaron.
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Heather McGhee discuss the primaries and Kansan voters’ defense of abortion; Alex Jones on trial; and Annie Lowrey’s story of surviving pregnancy in the United States.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Sam Adler-Bell for The New York Times: “The Violent Fantasies of Blake Masters” Jason Beeferman for The Texas Tribune: “How Sandy Hook Lies and the Jan. 6 Inquiry Threaten to Undo Alex Jones” Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “American Motherhood” Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “The Most Important Study in the Abortion Debate” The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee The Sum of Us podcast Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration, by Emily Bazelon Black Reconstruction in America, by W. E. B. Du Bois Forbidden City, by Vanessa Hua
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Law & Justice Journalism Project Heather: A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas David: Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke; Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke; Testament of Youth, by Vera Brittain
Listener chatter from Mohamed El-Sheik: Adriana E. Ramírez for The Atlantic: “Everyone Loses on Jeopardy Eventually” Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior writer Christina Cauterucci and Slate books and culture columnist Laura Miller talk all things Liz Cheney. They discuss Laura’s piece on how the Republican Congresswoman is coming across like a disappointed mom during the January 6 hearings—and whether comparing women politicians to mother figures is always sexist. Then they dig into what Cheney’s long-game is as she defies the Republican party and goes against Donald Trump.
In Slate Plus, Christina and Laura discuss the January 6 hearings’ breakout star, Cassidy Hutchinson.
Recommendations: Christina: Caesar salad dressing from Once Upon a Chef Laura: Trailed by Kathryn Miles Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Alicia Montgomery and Daisy Rosario. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
On this episode: Jamilah and Elizabeth are joined by Courtney Martin, author of the book Learning in Public. If you want to hear more about Courtney’s book check out this MADAF episode. Today they’re helping a step-mom who has found herself in the middle of a complicated housing change. Her stepson wants to live with his mom full time, which is a change that has deeply hurt his dad. Now our letter writer finds herself exactly where she doesn’t want to be—in the middle. Then on Slate Plus, they are going to be talking about kids fighting and finding resolutions, inspired by a wonderful piece Courtney wrote for her newsletter. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
In the primaries of purple states like Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, Trump-backed, far-right candidates have been getting a boost from a surprising source: the Democrats. Calculating that it will give their party the edge in general elections, local and national Dems have spent thousands elevating extremists. But will the strategy pay off?
Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer for Slate
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On was a viral sensation when he first popped up on the internet in 2010, and now he’s back in a major motion picture. On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Daisy Rosario to discuss Will Smith’s sneaky news dump, do some High Speed Downloads on the Pink Sauce, and the Little Miss meme, and get into why Netflix is suing the Unofficial Bridgerton Musical. Then, Rachelle speaks to Marcel the Shell With Shoes On director and co-writer Dean Fleischer-Camp to discuss what it’s been like translating an internet character to the big screen, what gets lost when things go viral, and how the internet virality to mainstream success pipeline has changed over the years. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton and Daisy Rosario.
Known as the “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout illegally ferried weapons, diamonds, and even UN peacekeepers around the world. The man who wrote the book on Bout thinks it’s time to send him home, if it can free Brittney Griner.
Guest: Douglas Farah, co-author of Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes and the Man Who Makes War Possible.
This week, the panel begins by trying to tackle Jordan Peele’s most recent sci-fi, western, horror film NOPE. Then, the panel is joined by author and host of Slate’s Working podcast, Isaac Butler, to discuss the new HBO series The Last Movie Stars. Finally, Slate’s editorial assistant and production assistant for Culture Gabfest, Nadira Goffe, joins to discuss Beyoncé’s 7th studio album Renaissance. In Slate Plus, the panel gets into some NOPE spoilers. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The proper name pronunciation of two Irish artists from our Spoiler Special episode: Roisin Murphy and Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (aka CMAT). In that vein, an endorsement for CMAT’s album If My Wife Knew I’d Be Dead. Julia: An endorsement from “Recipe Julia” for Alison Roman’s Mustardy Green Beans with Anchovied Walnuts from her cookbook Nothing Fancy. Steve: From a previous Julia endorsement: the app Merlin. Also, alto saxophonist Sonny Red’s album Out of the Blue. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "What We Didn't Do" by Particle House.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jules Gill-Peterson, author of Histories of the Transgender Child and a co-host of Outward on Slate. Lavery and Gill-Peterson take on two letters. First, from someone who is feeling pressured to commit to a relationship from their entire friend group. Another letter writer is worried that they are going to drive their partner away by relying on them too much. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Rod McKeun sold multiple millions of poetry books in the 60s and 70s. He released dozens of albums, was a regular on late night, and was even nominated for an Oscar. So, how did the most salable poet in American history simply disappear? On today’s episode, Slate writer Dan Kois went searching for Rod McKuen, a famous poet who isn’t so famous anymore. We’ll hear from Stephanie Burt, Mike Chasar and Barry Alfonso, author of Rod’s biography A Voice of the Warm. Along the way, Dan meets Andy Zax, a guy who, like him, was bewildered by this forgotten star—until he became an accidental fan, and then somehow the only person keeping Rod McKuen’s flame alive. This episode of Decoder Ring was written by Dan Kois and edited by Willa Paskin. It was produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com.
Following a 2017 state supreme court decision, the right to an abortion is recognized by Kansas’s state constitution. But with some suspect scheduling and seemingly deliberately confusing language, citizens of Kansas are voting today on whether to return control over reproductive healthcare to the state’s deeply Republican legislature. Guest: Stephen R. McAllister, former U.S. district attorney and University of Kansas law professor.
Elaine picked up watercolor painting during her two year, cross country RV adventure with her family. She quickly fell in love with gorgeous nature scenes and found the creative process meditative and healing. But now she’s wondering if her art could be something more. On this episode of How To!, multitalented artist Aaron Dworkin has tips for Elaine and other aspiring artists on how to live a ‘portfolio life’ by finding your signature style, following your passions and ultimately getting paid. He also shares insights for unlocking your creativity even if you don’t fancy yourself an artist. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Write the Perfect Breakup Song with Ben Folds.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus. Thanks Avast.com!
Josh Levin is joined by Aram Goudsouzian for a conversation about Bill Russell’s life and legacy; by Grant Wahl to talk about England’s historic victory at the women’s European soccer championships; and by Andscape’s Jason Reid to discuss Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, and Reid’s book Rise of the Black Quarterback. Bill Russell (1:43): The basketball legend’s biographer on his impact on and off the court.
England (21: 47): How the Lionesses won, and how that victory will change women’s soccer.
Quarterbacks (41:54): The past, present, and future of Black QBs in the NFL.
Like many families during the Trump years, the Reffitts fought about politics. But not many families had a son calling the FBI on his father. Now Guy Reffitt is facing a 15-year sentence for domestic terrorism for his actions on Jan. 6 while his loved ones pick up the pieces. Guest: Ilya Marritz, senior reporter at WNYC, co-host of the Wondery podcast “Will be Wild”.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Autumn Brown. Autumn is a mother, organizer, theologian, artist, facilitator, and co-host of the podcast, How to Survive the End of the World. They advise a listener wanting to help her kid better understand gender, stereotypes, and their own identity. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Ace of Hates, a card game created by Dan Kois. Autumn recommends Already Free: Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path of Liberation by Bruce Tift Zak recommends Joni Mitchell’s set at Newport Folk Festival Additional Reading: A Kids Book About Gender by Dale Mueller Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love 21 Children's Books About Gender Identity And Gender Expression That Should Be On Every Kid's Bookshelf by Pablo Valdivia Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
Researchers have untangled a world of illicit trade that threatens ecosystems and endangers species. Guest: Dr. Alice Hughes, Richard Stewart Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host June Thomas talks to casting director Angelique Midthunder, who recently worked on the FX series Reservation Dogs. In the interview, Angelique describes the casting and audition processes for the show and shares what it was like to organize an open casting call in Oklahoma. She also talks about the decision to cast Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack, which was originally supposed to be a male role. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss identity and authenticity in casting. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Angelique explains why the letters C.S.A follow the names of some casting directors in the credits of movies and TV shows. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Everybody loves to gossip, especially when it comes to celebrities. On the show today, Rachelle is joined by Normal Gossip host Kelsey McKinney to talk about the state of internet gossip. They discuss the early days of online gossip from Gawker, Perez Hilton, and Reality Steve, how social media changed the gossip landscape, and why those changes have made it so we all have the chance to be the subject of online gossip. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Daisy Rosario.
In the second of Amicus’ Summer Series of interviews that step out of the day to day of jurisprudence to look at justice and the Supreme Court through a wide-angle lens, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by actor and playwright Heidi Shreck. Shreck created and starred in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award - nominated “What the Constitution Means to Me” and is a fierce advocate for abortion rights. Together, they try to locate the spot at the intersection of politics, law, culture, media and art that might provide a space to adequately describe the impacts of the Dobbs decision. And that is where they find the galvanizing forces and creative feats of imagination that have served previous generations in the fight for equal rights, and that will fuel the fight to come.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the merits of the Inflation Reduction Act and Larry Summers’ role in moving it along, the low GDP numbers, and a listener question about corporate landlords. In the Plus segment: This week’s Slate piece on the sham that is college financial aid. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy welcomes Maura Johnston, the eclectic critic and contributor to the Boston Globe and Time magazine. In her study on Latin freestyle dance-pop in the 1980s, Maura pointed out that the music’s themes were surprisingly sad, with an ache that was not unlike goth and synthpop. And freestyle’s penchant for melodramatic ballads meant it was often played alongside hair-metal on the radio, another genre packed with power ballads.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Bridget Todd, the host of the iHeart Radio podcast, There Are No Girls On The Internet, and the founder of Unbossed Creative, a media company that makes podcasts and other digital content to push the needle on social change. Lavery and Todd read a letter from someone who cannot wait to leave home, but isn’t sure how to do it. Plus, a letter writer update from “Motherhood or Transition”. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In buying One Medical, Amazon is primed to be your doctor. Are they disrupting health care, or just collecting more data? Guest: Rebecca Pifer Host: Lizzie O'Leary
People are back in the office; schools are planning full classes in the fall; masks are seen less and less frequently. It’s the third COVID summer, but the latest variant of the virus is causing another surge in infection rates and hospitalizations. What do we need to do to protect ourselves now? And how can we be prepared for monkeypox, and the next pandemic?
Guest: Dr. Ebony Hilton, practicing physician, and a frequent medical analyst for MSNBC.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the surprise deal for climate legislation, new January 6th revelations, and the deadliest road in America.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Carol D. Leonnig, Devlin Barrett, Josh Dawsey and Spencer S. Hsu for The Washington Post: “Justice Dept. Investigating Trump’s Actions In Jan. 6 Criminal Probe” Carol D. Leonnig and Maria Sacchetti for The Washington Post: “Secret Service Watchdog Knew in February That Texts Had Been Purged” Forbidden City, by Vanessa Hua Dan Kaufman for The New Yorker: “Will Wisconsin’s Republicans Make Voting Meaningless, or Just Difficult?” Richard L. Hasen for Slate: “What the Critics Get Incredibly Wrong about the Collins-Manchin Election Bill” Marin Cogan for Vox: “The Deadliest Road In America” Robert James Schneider, Rebecca Sanders, Frank Proulx, Hamideh Moayyed for the Journal of Transport and Land Use: “United States Fatal Pedestrian Crash Hot Spot Locations And Characteristics” Unsafe At Any Speed, by Ralph Nader Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity, by Charles L. Marohn Jr. Allison Russell’s Outside Child John Dickerson for Slate: “Getting Naked Every Night: Girlyman and the Pursuit of Creative Risk.”
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Jonathan Bernstein for Rolling Stone: “‘She Schooled Us All’: Inside Joni Mitchell’s Stunning Return to Newport Folk Festival”; David McCabe and Mike Isaac for The New York Times: “F.T.C. Sues to Block Meta’s Virtual Reality Deal as It Confronts Big Tech” John: Oliver Whang for The New York Times: “‘Parentese’ Is Truly a Lingua Franca, Global Study Finds” David: April Rubin and Jesus Jiménez for The New York Times: “4,000 Mistreated Beagles Need Homes. These Folks Stepped Up.”
Listener chatter from Mark Allender: The Dollop #283: “James Clark McReynolds, the Worst Supreme Court Justice Ever”
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Autumn Brown. Autumn is a mother, organizer, theologian, artist, facilitator, and co-host of the podcast, How to Survive the End of the World. They weigh in on a custody conundrum. Our letter writer is furious that her ex-wife is slacking on bathing their children when they’re in her care. It’s come to a head because they’ve been showing up to summer camp grimy from the previous day’s activities and in the same dirty clothes. Our letter writer wants to know if she should change her custody agreement over the lack of hygiene. On Slate Plus, they brainstorm ideas for breaking the heat without breaking the bank. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by staff writer Molly Olmstead to talk about the much-hyped threat against the Catholic Church in the wake of Roe’s dismantling. They talk about Molly’s piece, “Is the Catholic Church Under Attack” and where the vandalism against churches stacks up against other religious persecution. Then they take a look at “Cafeteria Catholics” - those who follow the religion, but not all the teachings at the top of the male hierarchy.
In Slate Plus, is the “Little Miss” meme feminist?
Recommendations: Cheyna: Apple+ series Stillwater Molly: Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Alicia Montgomery, and Daisy Rosario.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Adoption is often invoked as an alternative to abortion. But looking back at how adoption worked before Roe v. Wade—and looking at how it works now—the option is cold comfort for many people facing unintended pregnancies.
Guest: Ann Fessler, author of The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade.
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas help a listener who works in publishing but wants to exercise their writing skills on the side. Karen and June start by talking about their own creative side projects and hobbies. Then they discuss writing specifically and offer tips for how someone might begin a casual writing practice. And here are some productivity videos that June recommends! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG1tfC7tSYw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2WBHyqRsxA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vvs7CjyS1M
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Link to Atlassian Work Check
The “Respect for Marriage Act” protects same-sex marriages nationwide and already has bipartisan support. If put to a vote in the Senate, it seems likely to pass. So why aren’t Democrats making it a priority?
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate.
This week, the panel is joined by the host of Slate’s Hit Parade podcast, Chris Molanphy, for our annual Summer Strut episode. First, they discuss this year’s chart-topping songs of the summer and their lack of strut-ness. Then, the panel dives into the longest listener-suggested summer playlist to date (42 hours!), and takes turns in a roundtable discussion of their top favorites from the list. You can find the panel’s shortlist of favorite summer strut songs here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2oc68EJC3OyLUi1Honhxlw?si=44ec68203e8d47a9&nd=1 In Slate Plus, the panel gives one more bonus round of strut picks. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Lonely Calling" by Arc De Soleil.
On today’s show: more scams! Rachelle is joined by Daily Beast entertainment editor and former Slatester Allegra Frank; the two discuss the launch and social media rollout of the new multi-level marketing company Elomir. Later in the episode they examine how, despite the abundance of information on MLMs predatory nature, they still manage to pull people in.
This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, Daisy Rosario and Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Bridget Todd, the host of the iHeart Radio podcast, There Are No Girls On The Internet, and the founder of Unbossed Creative, a media company that makes podcasts and other digital content to push the needle on social change. Lavery and Todd tackle two letters. First, from someone who doesn’t know how to live a life beyond working. Another letter writer has a partner who cannot remember when he says hurtful things. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Last week, our expert Arthur Brooks gave us some surefire advice for resetting the parent-child relationship so your kids don’t treat you like an emotional ATM. On this episode of How To!, he’s going to teach our listener, Karen, how to balance the books, so to speak, by taking some withdrawals of her own. He has some surprising tips for how to restrain yourself from swooping in to save the day when it would be better to let them figure it out. Starting with a hilarious story of the time Arthur’s adult son called him—pantsless—from Las Vegas. If you liked this episode, check out part one: “How To Parent Less.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
The American southwest is in a megadrought. Water levels in lakes are dropping, threatening the local environment as well as agriculture, hydroelectric power, and the people living there. As global temperatures rise, it could be a preview of worse things to come.
Guest: Dr. Jason Smerdon, ocean and climate physicist, and Lamont research professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and co-director at the Earth Institute Faculty.
Josh Levin and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham are joined by Tim Layden to discuss the record breakers of the world track and field championships; by Abe Riesman to talk about Vince McMahon’s scandal-laden retirement from WWE; and by Sarah Larson for a conversation about her New Yorker feature on pickleball. Track and field (1:30): What’s next for Sydney McLaughlin, Noah Lyles, and the sport as a whole? Vince McMahon (24:05): Why did he retire now? What’s next for WWE? Pickleball (44:58): Why is it so popular? Is a billionaire ruining it? Afterball (1:02:13): Josh on Carl Lewis’ mythical 30-foot long jump.
Liz Cheney rose through Republican leadership based on her conservative bona fides, but thanks to her prominent role in the Jan 6th committee, she’s gained donors and admirers from across the aisle. Her constituents back in Wyoming aren’t so enthusiastic though, throwing her future in Congress into doubt.
Guest: Bob Beck, news director of Wyoming Public Radio.
On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak are joined by Stephanie Ryan, author, education consultant, and creator of Let’s Learn about Science. Stephanie shows them some kid-friendly science experiments that are fun for the entire family. Elizabeth’s husband, Jeff, also joins to answer a listener question addressed to him! The listener is wondering if they should keep their small four-door car or trade up to a minivan. Zak recommends joining an adult league, club, or class. Stephanie recommends Osmo. Elizabeth recommends Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
Toronto’s Quayside project is a telling example of how smart cities have failed. Could it also show how to make them better? Guest: Ben Green, Jennifer Keesmaat Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to artist Nayland Blake, whose current exhibition “Got an Art Problem?” allows them to help artists move past creative blocks. In the interview, Nayland discusses the reasoning behind the exhibition and their affinity for interactive art. They also talk about capitalism, museums, and the importance of ambiguity in art. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss the concept of “niching down,” i.e. cultivating a narrow brand for yourself instead of following your artistic instincts. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Isaac and Nayland talk about the interactive art of video games. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Emily Bazelon talks with author Vanessa Hua about her new historical fiction book, Forbidden City. The novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old revolutionary Mei who becomes a dancer in Chairman Mao’s inner circle. Emily and Vanessa talk about Vanessa’s inspiration for the novel, the complicated dynamics between Mei and Chairman Mao, and whether we’ll hear more from Mei.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
It’s been a great run, but Madison is leaving ICYMI for new ventures. On today’s show, Rachelle interviews Madison about her time working on ICYMI, her own internet habits, and her first online scams. Plus, they’ve got a round of High Speed Downloads, perhaps the greatest one ever recorded, so get ready to be shocked and astonished in the best way. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, Madison Malone Kircher, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical, the complications of start-ups offering loans to employees against their stock options, and Evan Osnos’ New Yorker article on the rise of the superyacht.
In the Plus segment: Why are Facebook and Instagram so bad now?
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Nope, the latest from horror auteur Jordan Peele.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Read Dana’s review here.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
Danny Lavery welcomes Helen Rosner, a staff writer at the New Yorker, where she covers all things culture, though most of it is about food. Lavery and Rosner read a letter from someone who is wondering to talk about her ex among friends without sounding like a horrible, vengeful person. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
The continent's deadly heat wave is only the tip of the melting iceberg. Guest: Henry Grabar Host: Lizzie O'Leary
In Georgia, award-winning hip hop artist Young Thug and rapper Gunna are awaiting trial on multiple charges, and prosecutors used some of their lyrics in their indictment. Is that fair game, or an attack on free speech? On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by ACLU attorney Stephanie Willis to talk about the broader implications of the case, and ways that artists are learning to protect themselves.
Guest: Attorney Stephanie Willis
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola
This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Josie Duffy Rice discuss Europe’s deadly heat wave, Joe Manchin’s balk at climate legislation, and the inevitable tragedies already happening post-Roe.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Lindsay Whitehurst, Camille Fassett, and Jasen Lo for the Associated Press: “Social Programs Weak in Many States With Tough Abortion Laws” The Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness, by Meghan O'Rourke Forbidden City, by Vanessa Hua Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, by Michael Thompson John Dickerson for Slate: “My Daughter Went Away to Camp and Changed”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: Carol D. Leonnig and Maria Sacchetti for The Washington Post: “Secret Service Watchdog Knew in February That Texts Had Been Purged” Josie: Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: “Larry Wilmore Knows No Bounds”; David: Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps; Elias Esquivel for World Athletics: “Patterson Takes Surprise High Jump Gold In Oregon”
Listener chatter from Mark Wegener: Gamaliel Bradford for the January 1930 issue of The Atlantic: “The Genius of the Average: Calvin Coolidge” Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak are joined by Stephanie Ryan, author, education consultant, and creator of Let’s Learn about Science. They help a mom whose kid is pretty introverted and has some anxiety when in new, busy places. The letter writer doesn’t want her daughter to think there’s anything wrong with being a homebody. But she does need to be able to leave the house sometimes. What can be done to help the daughter feel secure and comfortable? On Slate Plus, they discuss How to Raise Kids Who Are Good at Getting Angry by Catherine Pearson. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor of Jurisprudence, Nicole Lewis is joined by Susan Matthews, Slate’s executive editor and host of Slow Burn: Roe v. Wade. Earlier this month, a story about a 10-year-old girl seeking an abortion after she was raped went viral, and Nicole and Susan dive into how themedia’s handedthe story, before questioning how news outlets should handle the influx of first-person abortion narratives in a post-Roe world.
In Slate Plus, is asking Vice President Kamala Harris to not be so public-facing, feminist? Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Daisy Rosario, and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Is there any climate-saving legislation that could win the vote of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin? Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.
On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle open up the mailbag to answer some more listener questions. They’ve got people wondering about a giant frog army on TikTok, Christy Carlson Romano doing sponcon cameos, dubious hygienic practices, and more. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, Madison Malone Kircher, and Daisy Rosario.
This month, Christina Cauterucci, Jules Gill-Peterson, and Bryan Lowder talk about two very different health stories. First, in the Thots & Queries segment, they respond to a listener who has questions about the ethics of moving to another country in an age of Supreme uncertainty. Then they talk with Harun Tulunay, a London-based sexual-health advocate, about his experience with monkeypox. He has been sharing his experiences with the disease, including the challenges of receiving a correct diagnosis. In New York City, the rollout of the monkeypox vaccine program was a disaster. Then they are joined by journalist Io Dodds to discuss her recent piece for the Independent: “ ‘Never Ask Permission’: How Two Trans Women Ran a Legendary Underground Surgical Clinic in a Rural Tractor Barn.” (Note, Jules was interviewed for the piece.) Items discussed in the show: Conjuring Kesha, on Discovery + “ ‘Never Ask Permission’: How Two Trans Women Ran a Legendary Underground Surgical Clinic in a Rural Tractor Barn,” by Io Dodds, in the Independent
Gay Agenda Bryan: “What Should a Queer Children’s Book Do?” by Jessica Winter in the New Yorker Christina: The Other Two, on HBO Max Jules: P-Valley, on Starz
This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
Animals navigate the world using echolocation, ultraviolet vision, and a sensitivity to sounds and scents that humans can only imagine. That means things like light pollution or the noise of a highway can impact them in ways we might not readily consider. But with an empathic ear—and eye, and nose—we can make small changes to be much better neighbors to our fellow species.
Guest: Ed Yong, science writer at the Atlantic and author of An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.
This week, author, poet, and host of the podcast This Is Good for You, Nichole Perkins, fills in for Julia as the panel begins by digging into Apple TV+’s new series Loot. Then, the panel explores sex and sexuality in the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. Finally, the panel is joined by science writer and editor, Jaime Green, to break down the meaning of NASA’s new Webb Telescope images—her new book The Possibility of Life title comes out in April. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses their relationship to plot. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: A supplement to the segment on the Webb Telescope: a simple website that takes the images and places them in context to each other for scale. Nichole: The 2012 romance novel A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant, which centers a recent widow who needs to provide an heir to keep her wealth. Steve: Kris Kristofferson’s song “Help Me Make It Through the Night”: including the covers by John Doe and The Sadies and Sammi Smith. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "What Do You Want From Me" by OTE.
Danny Lavery welcomes Helen Rosner, a staff writer at the New Yorker, where she covers all things culture, though most of it is about food. Lavery and Rosner take on two letters. First, from someone who’s upset that their friend is going to college with the goal of finding a husband. Another letter writer is struggling with a new perspective on how her husband courted her. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Every time Karen gets a phone call from her adult children her heart sinks. Even at age 23 and 21, they’re usually calling with a problem. She’s received calls for everything from flat tires to mental health emergencies. While she loves her kids and wants to always be a safe place for them to land, she really wants them to gain more independence. On this episode of How To!, we bring in Arthur Brooks, a Harvard University professor who studies the science of happiness and writes a column for the Atlantic called How to Build a Life. He also is the father to three adult children. He has some surprising tips and tough love for Karen to help her rebalance her relationship with her kids. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Get Your Kid to Finally Grow Up” and “How To Fill an Empty Nest.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Abortion is now illegal in eight states, and more trigger laws banning the procedure are expected. The new state policies usher in an era of criminalized abortion. In Missouri, one liberal prosecutor is still struggling to predict how strictly these laws will be enforced.
Guest: Jean Peters Baker, elected prosecutor of Jackson County, Missouri.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the opening weekend of the world track and field championships. They also talk about why the Angels are so bad in spite of Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout and the Nationals’ Juan Soto dilemma. Finally, Puck’s Julia Ioffe joins for a conversation about Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia. Track (3:28): Why an American hurdler got a raw deal. Baseball (23:30): Is Juan Soto crazy to turn down $440 million? Griner (42:02): Should we be more pessimistic about her fate? Afterball (1:01:23): Stefan on the Amarillo Sod Poodles.
Joe Biden broke through the Democratic primaries as the safe choice, the one to beat Trump and get stuff done by reaching across the aisle. But two years into his presidency, his approval rating has plunged, his own party has stymied most of his agenda, and the most effective political body in Washington is the conservative-majority Supreme Court. What’s Biden’s plan here?
Guest: Perry Bacon Jr., columnist for the Washington Post.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth answer a question from a listener who lost his libido after his partner gave birth. He feels guilty and doesn’t know what to do. Should she talk to her about it and, if so, how? Recommendations: Zak recommends My Name is Yoon Elizabeth recommends the Webb telescope activities and photos from NASA + Comet K2 Virtual Telescope. Jamiliah recommends Patriarchy Blues Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
Thenmozhi Soundararajan was scheduled to give a talk at Google for Dalit History Month. It led to vicious attacks against her from some of its employees. Guest: Thenmozhi Soundararajan Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host June Thomas talks to Sarah Clifford, an animal trainer who worked on the new FX series The Old Man, starring Jeff Bridges and some very talented rottweilers. In the interview, Sarah explains why rottweilers–instead of pit bulls or malinois–were chosen to be Jeff Bridges’ co-stars on the show. Then she gets specific about how she trained the dogs to display a range of behaviors and emotions. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han compare the on-set treatment of animal performers to the on-set treatment of human actors. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Sarah if there are any animals that can’t be trained. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Recently, it seems like our phones won’t stop buzzing with texts and phone calls about our expired car warranties or supposed IRS delinquency. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison discuss their own recent brushes with scams, a recent piece in the Washington Post about how scams take more than an economic toll on us, and why none of us should feel bad if we get taken in by them. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, Madison Malone Kircher, and Daisy Rosario.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by former Attorney General Eric Holder as Amicus begins its summer season while the Supreme Court is in recess. General Holder describes his feelings when, as President Barack Obama’s Attorney General, he realized he could not in good conscience take part in the long-held tradition of the AG arguing an “easy case” before the Supreme Court. The issue? That same court had just eviscerated the Voting Rights Act in a case that will forever bear his name: Shelby County v Holder. General Holder wants us to take the steps beyond anger at the assault on voting rights, and move forward with joy toward action. His book, Our Unfinished March, is both a history of how voting rights became broken, and an action plan for delivering the promise of democracy: that the people pick their leaders.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss Elon Musk vs Twitter, the big banks getting big texting fines, and the ethically questionable academic study funded by Uber. In the Plus segment: The Gates Foundation Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
After the so-called-but-not-really “death” of disco, dance music in the 1980s moved to its own beat. There was synthpop, electro, hi-NRG and house. But the scrappy genre that seemed to pull it all together was called freestyle—a breakbeat-tempo, Latin-flavored genre fortified with dizzying, proudly synthetic beats. Freestyle grew out of the clubs and streets of New York and Miami and briefly dominated ’80s dance-pop.
Freestyle’s flagship artists were only medium-level stars: Shannon. Exposé. Lisa Lisa. Stevie B. Nu Shooz. Sweet Sensation. But these acts—most especially their yearning, floridly romantic, rhythmically hectic songs—punched above their weight on the charts and even affected the hits of superstars from Madonna to Duran Duran, Whitney Houston to Pet Shop Boys.
Join Chris Molanphy as he defines the byways of this bespoke dance genre and traces how it bridged the disco era into the hiphop era.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Luisa Beck, a writer, reporter, and producer based out of Berlin, Germany. She’s the creator and host of the Audible Original Dear Poetry. Lavery and Beck read a letter from someone who is wondering what to do now that the wife of their workplace fling is showing up at the office. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Dysfunction is nothing new to Twitter. But Elon Musk pulling his offer to buy the company adds a new layer of chaos. Guest: Alex Kantrowitz Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week’s January 6th congressional hearings offered an in-depth look at the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and other violent extremist groups that organized the insurrection. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson discusses the issues with counter terrorism expert Malcolm Nance, who has spent years chronicling the rise of white supremacist and other American political extremist movements. His new book is “They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency.”
Guest: Analyst Malcolm Nance
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Mark Leibovich discuss Biden’s 2024 plans, the establishment Republicans who stand by Trump, and Herschel Walker’s alarming Senate campaign.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thank You for Your Servitude: Donald Trump's Washington and the Price of Submission, by Mark Leibovich Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “History Will Judge The Complicit” Mark Leibovich for the New York Times Magazine: “Donald Trump Is Not Going Anywhere” Mark Leibovich for the New York Times: “Kevin McCarthy, Four Months After Jan. 6, Still on Defensive Over Trump”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: The New York Times: “168 Writing Prompts to Spark Discussion and Reflection” Mark: Mark shared his thoughts on whether life was better before cell phones. David: City Cast DC’s July 12, 2022 newsletter.
Listener chatter from Josie Beyer: Julia Medina for Sleepopolis: “Sleeping While Rowing in the Great Pacific Race”; Lat 35 Racing Team on Instagram Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth share their triumphs and fails, including how Talking Heads came to the rescue—at least temporarily. Then they tackle a question from a listener who is feeling guilt about bringing a second child into their family. They obviously love the child but they feel bad that their eldest child is struggling with the change. On Slate Plus, they discuss 'Nacho parenting’ is how some blended families keep the peace by Genevieve Brown. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
For this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and Karen Han hear from a poet in rural Montana who wants to feel more connected to poetry communities in big cities. Isaac and Karen offer tips for how to make connections with people online, and they also discuss some of the benefits of being a rural writer living outside of the urban literary bubble.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
The Proud Boys started as a loose coalition of men who filtered misogyny and racism through an ironic, “just joking” veneer. But once Donald Trump told them to “stand back and stand by” from the debate stage, it became clear that something more serious was happening. After taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection, the Proud Boys have become even more active in GOP politics, choosing candidates, and even running candidates from their own ranks.
Guest: Andy Campbell, Senior Editor at HuffPost and author of upcoming book We Are Proud Boys.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by Amira Rose Davis, professor, historian, and co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down to talk about Brittney Griner. The WNBA superstar has been detained by the Russians for months. Cheyna and Amira talk about how Russia treats its women athletes like superstars (until they don’t), while in America it takes weeks for people to really notice when a star WNBA player is missing. Later in the show, they discuss the impact of having Brittney Griner out of the league and Amira recommends WNBA players to watch.
In Slate Plus, the fascinating (and feminist!) history of cheerleaders.
Recommendations: Amira: Formula 1 racing, including Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive and F1 romance novels like the Fast and Hard series. Cheyna: Jana Schmieding for her roles on Hulu’s Reservation Dogs and Peacock’s Rutherford Falls. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
This past week Doja Cat started fighting with Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, and Cardi B beefed with the gossip blog the Shade Room. On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle break down what’s really going on in these two fights, and how the Shade Room became a toxic behemoth of internet gossip. Plus, they talk about Beanie Feldstein bowing out of Funny Girl on Broadway, and what it means now that Lea Michele is taking the stage. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, Madison Malone Kircher, and Daisy Rosario.
This week, New York Times columnist and Slate graduate Jamelle Bouie fills in for Julia as the panel begins by taking on Thor: Love and Thunder with staff writer at The Atlantic and co-host of the podcast Blank Check, David Sims. Then, the panel feels the heat with the new documentary Fire of Love. Finally, the panel ranks their favorite content streaming services. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses movie cliches they’d rather do without. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the new-ish series on Paramount+. Jamelle: A re-watch of Universal Soldier, and then: Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning. Steve: “Opus 40,” an art installation built out of the earth in the Catskills. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Death Dance" by Luftmensch"Death Dance" by Luftmensch.
Doctors feel confident they can deal with the ongoing monkeypox outbreak. But, once again, our public health agencies have been stumbling to get a hold of this virus before it spreads widely.
Guests: Matt Ford and Shannon Palus, Slate senior editor.
Danny Lavery welcomes Luisa Beck, a writer, reporter, and producer based out of Berlin, Germany. She’s the creator and host of the Audible Original Dear Poetry. Lavery and Beck tackle two letters. First, from someone who’s attracted to someone, except when they tell stories. Another letter writer is wondering how to become estranged from one single relative. Plus, behind the scenes of Beck’s podcast, Dear Poetry. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Persistent Russian missile strikes since February and an ongoing blockade have silenced Odesa’s normally busy port—but not its 19th century opera house. Performances now end with a singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.
Guest: Ekaterina Tsymbalyuk, a soloist at the Odesa Opera.
For a lot of would-be parents, adoption isn’t the first path that comes to mind. But that’s how Victoria, a PhD student, is leaning right now. Even though she’s not planning to have a family for a few more years, it’s never too early to start preparing for what can be a long, arduous process. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Marcia Chatelain, Pulitzer Prize winning author, professor of history and African-American studies at Georgetown, and former co-host of The Waves. Marcia spent five years jumping through hoops before she and her husband finally adopted their son last year. Now Marcia is looking back on that journey and sharing what she learned to help Victoria smoothly navigate the process. If you liked this episode, check out “The Single Most Important Thing to Know Before Becoming a Single Parent.” Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Ben Mathis-Lilley discuss their proposals for fixing college football. Josh then speaks with Ben Rothenberg about Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon win over Nick Kyrgios. Finally, Joel, Josh, and Ben assess the rising stars of NBA Summer League. College football (3:26): How will the sport reshape itself in the next five years? Tennis (25:57): Wimbledon got the final it deserved. Summer League (50:55): What to make of the Chet Holmgren experience. Afterball (65:48): Josh on the Summer League record for most points in a single game.
As anti-gay and anti-trans politics become more mainstream, the Trevor Project has a unique perspective. They run a hotline where queer kids are talking about how Republican rhetoric is meeting reality. Bullying once thought to be confined to high schools has made its way to mainstream politics.
Guest: Sam Ames, civil rights lawyer and director of advocacy and governmental affairs at The Trevor Project.
On this episode: Zak talks to filmmaker, author, and actor Sarah Polley about her book Run Towards the Danger. They talk about how losing a parent early influences how she parents now. How to handle guilt and why finding your parenting community is so valuable. They also discuss her boundaryless childhood and why she won’t let her kids be child actors. Finally, Sarah talks about navigating parenting while healing from a years-long injury. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Lemon Perfect Lemon Water Elizabeth recommends Pinna Podcasts Zak recommends Sarah Polley’s films, specifically Stories We Tell. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola and Rosemary Belson.
There's still a lot unknown about COVID's new wonder drug. Guest: Rachel Gutman-Wei Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host June Thomas talks to Eliot Laurence, creator of the witchy supernatural series Motherland: Fort Salem. In the interview, Eliot discusses Motherland’s unique premise, its queer characters, and his decision to include tons of storylines and plot details. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han discuss supernatural premises, the “kill your gays” trope, and being an introverted boss. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Eliot about a specific piece of magic in Motherland. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Last weekend, Minions: The Rise of Gru premiered and a bunch of teens showed up to see it dressed up in suits, launching the #Gentleminions trend across TikTok. On the show today, Madison and Rachelle talk about why teens are putting on suits to go to the movies, and how the minions became such a dominant cultural and capitalistic force. Then, they’re joined by Vox’s Rebecca Jennings to discuss her latest piece on what the minions reveal about labor exploitation. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Madison Malone Kircher.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss this week’s good jobs report versus the bad economic vibes, Boris Johnson’s ousting as Prime Minister, and the stark decline in the quality of air travel. In the Plus segment: What are the odds that two former FBI directors would be audited? Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Dahlia Lithwick hosts Amicus’ annual term-ending breakfast table conversation, featuring Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern, Professor Katherine Franke and Professor Nikolas Bowie. They dig into the biggest decisions of the term, and step back to survey where the court is headed, and where it’s already been.
Danny Lavery welcomes R.O. Kwon, the nationally bestselling author of The Incendiaries and the co-editor of Kink. Lavery and Kwon read a letter from someone who is realizing that they are not asexual, but they don’t know how to tell their boyfriend. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Thor: Love and Thunder. Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens and senior editor Sam Adams spoil the newest release from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Read Dana’s review here.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
While the vast majority of African American students attend predominantly white institutions –or PWIs– for college, many Black scholars are giving historically Black colleges and universities a second look. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson discusses the issue with Michelle Purdy, an associate professor of education at Washington University at St. Louis. She has studied the intersection of race and education, and is also the author of “Transforming the Elite: Black Students and the Desegregation of Private Schools.”
Guest: Professor Michelle Purdy
Podcast production by Eric Aaron.
Climate change is causing unprecedented severe weather. Is the agency prepared for it to get worse? Guest: Craig Fugate and Ashley Nerbovig Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court’s gutting of administrative authority in West Virginia v. EPA, the case coming next term that could upend U.S. elections, and the Highland Park shooting.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Julian Davis Mortenson and Nicholas Bagley for The Atlantic: “The Nondelegation Doctrine Is A Fable” Julian Davis Mortenson and Nicholas Bagley for The Columbia Law Review: "Delegation at the Founding"
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Susan Elizabeth Shepard for Willamette Week: “A Student at an Oregon Community College Says Instructors Flunked Her for Being a Porn Actress. She’s Suing.” John: How Normal Am I? David: Twitter thread about: Jaroszewicz, et al: “How Effective Is (More) Money? Randomizing Unconditional Cash Transfer Amounts in the US” Listener chatter from Jocelyn Frank: “Humanity’s First Cosmic Gallery of Children’s Art: What the Youngest Members of Our Young Species Most Cherish About Life on Earth”
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Research by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth share ‘Triumphs and Fails’ and answer a question from a listener whose husband and three year old compete for her attention and she’s incredibly frustrated. Then, a number of you sent in additional questions about the ripple effects of abortion bans and how to talk to children about abortion, so we’re continuing the conversation. Jamilah brings your questions to Dr. Alison Block, a family physician, abortion provider, executive producer of the podcast The Nocturnists, and mother of three. On Plus, Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth share their favorite easy summer arts and crafts to keep kids entertained. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson, Jasmine Ellis, and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
Last month, inflation hit a new 40-year high. Americans are feeling it in their grocery bills, at the gas pump, in airline tickets, electrical bills, and rental costs. What can be done to combat rising prices in the current economy – and at what price?
Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior editor and writer at Slate focused on economics, politics, and public policy.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time and director of the Better Life Lab, is joined by author Angela Garbes. They unpack the modern challenges of motherhood, further illustrated and then exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. They talk about Angela’s new book, Essential Labor, how caregiving is seen as sacred, yet we make it so hard in the United States, and why we pay caregivers—a key part of our society—poverty wages.
In Slate Plus, Angela and Brigid talk about the subtitle of Angela’s book: Mothering As Social Change. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
The Instagram account No White Saviors presented itself as an organization that exposed missionaries, aide workers, and influencers who were actively harming the communities they were in, but the story is much darker and more confusing than that. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison are joined once again by journalist Jessica Lucas to talk about her latest piece for Input magazine on the dubious nature and recent implosion of No White Saviors. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Madison Malone Kircher.
The Supreme Court treated its most recent term like the opening salvo in a conservative revolution, approving prayer in schools, establishing a constitutional right to conceal and carry a firearm, and eliminating the constitutional right to abortion. What options do President Biden and Congress have to check the power of this co-equal branch of government?
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer.
This week, New York Times columnist and Slate graduate Jamelle Bouie fills in for Julia as the panel begins by answering the call of The Black Phone. Then, the panel digs into FX’s newest hit TV show The Bear. Finally, they discuss the perplexing and popular world of gross food trends on TikTok. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses culture’s relationship to politics and affecting an audience. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Peter Brook the legendary theater director passed away last week, in memoriam of him: going on a Peter Brook deep dive. Specifically: a 2001 documentary titled Brook by Brook: An Intimate Portrait directed by his son, Simon Brook, and a YouTube video of a complete production of Hamlet Brook directed starring Adrian Lester as the titular prince. Jamelle: The Criterion Channel’s new collection, titled In the Ring: Boxing On-Screen, comprising 16 boxing-related films. Specifically: the 1942 film Gentleman Jim directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Errol Flynn. Steve: An involving read from Yale historian Timothy Snyder, titled “Germans have been involved in the war, chiefly on the wrong side:” a long, extensive, beautifully calm, excellently argued rejoinder to Jürgen Habermas, the German Philosopher widely regarded as the only remaining living embodiment of European Enlightenment. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Pike Place Market" by Rockin' for Decades.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trade drama. They also talk about UCLA and USC moving to the Big Ten and assess the verbal sparring between Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon. Nets (1:41): Could they still keep KD and Kyrie? Big Ten (22:58): What the latest big move means for the future of college football and every other sport. Kyrgios and Tsitsipas (43:36): The story behind the ugly tennis squabble. Afterball (1:07:07): Joel on the latest feats of pole vault prodigy Mondo Duplantis.
Danny Lavery welcomes R.O. Kwon, the nationally bestselling author of The Incendiaries and the co-editor of Kink. Lavery and Kwon take on three letters. First, from someone who’s missing a former bestie. Another letter writer is wondering if they should bring her ailing mother Buddist swastika symbols for comfort. Finally, a letter from someone who is wondering if they should stop doing particular thing they do to make cis people more comfortable. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the question of abortion rights became a state issue. Although Arizona was one of 26 states with so-called “zombie laws” that banned abortion when Roe was struck down, it’s also one of three states that lets its citizens write l amend the state’s constitution. Now, abortion rights activists are racing to collect more than 350,000 signatures by July 7 to put the question of abortion rights in the hands of Arizona voters.
Guest: Shasta McManus, activist and treasurer of Arizonans For Reproductive Freedom.
In 2019, Brenda took a year off from their PhD program to try to feel pleasure again…with anything. Brenda has come a long way since then but there’s one thing that’s still elusive—they’ve never experienced an orgasm. Whenever they try, anxiety kicks in and they’re left feeling frustrated and, in their words “broken.” On this episode of How To!, we bring in Ev’Yan Whitney, sex educator, author, and host of the podcast Sensual Self. Ev’Yan has some wonderful wisdom for learning about your body and reconnecting with pleasure, both sexual and non-sexual, in a way that feels safe. Additional Reading: The Tyranny Of the Female-Orgasm Industrial Complex by Katharine Smyth Ace by Angela Chen Sensual Self by Ev’Yan Whitney Understanding Asexuality by The Trevor Project If you liked this episode, check out “How To Have the Best Sex of Your Life” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Harry Blackmun wasn’t Richard Nixon’s first choice to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. But after Blackmun was confirmed, he got the assignment of a lifetime: writing the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. His approach to that case would have consequences he never imagined. Season 7 of Slow Burn is produced by Susan Matthews, Samira Tazari, Sophie Summergrad, and Sol Werthan. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John, and Johanna Zorn. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Derreck Johnson based on a photo provided by Robert Wheeler. The season’s reporting was supported by a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, creators and showrunners of the comedy series The Other Two. In the interview, Sarah and Chris talk about what it’s like to run a writer’s room, how to work exposition into TV dialogue, and what they look for in the writers they hire. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han discuss how difficult it is to write good exposition. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Chris and Sarah talk about a unique challenge they faced while making season two of The Other Two. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
According to the Justice Department, there’s a right way — and a wrong way — to be a hacker. Guest: Josephine Wolff Host: Lizzie O'Leary
In the past month, customers of the meal delivery service Daily Harvest have been suffering from gastrointestinal distress after eating the company’s French Lentil + Leek Crumbles, and some have even required surgery. The company is currently investigating the cause of these medical issues but has yet to find anything conclusive. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison speak to Luke Pearson, an influencer who received the product in a PR package from Daily Harvest and has since had to have his gallbladder removed. They discuss his medical journey, what it was like finding a community online that was also suffering from these problems, and how it’s affected his future plans for brand partnerships. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Madison Malone Kircher.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the repercussions of states banning abortions, Lydia DePillis’ piece in The New York Times about the decline of coupons, and the artworld scandal over some fake some Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings.
In the Plus segment: Stores have too much stuff and no one is buying it.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
The term is over, and the ground upon which all Americans stood, has fundamentally shifted. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Professor Dorothy Roberts to discuss the reality of forced birth and family separation upon marginalized peoples in America. Dorothy is the author of Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World, and of Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty.
Then, Dahlia talks to Amy Westervelt of Drilled podcast to find out what West Virginia v EPA means for climate action, and the places the Biden Administration could still make progress.
For a behind the scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
Slate plus listeners will also have access to Dahlia’s conversation with Mark Joseph Stern, where they dig into some of the cases we couldn’t reach in the main show, including the Remain in Mexico decision and the alarming implications of the court taking up Moore v. Harper, which is all about the Independent State Legislature theory.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy welcomes Mara Kuge, President of Superior Music Corporation, who has placed hundreds of songs in various media—including the High Strung’s “The Luck You Got” as the theme to Showtime’s Shameless and shows like Killing Eve and Succession. Mara says that, in the era of peak TV, there are more opportunities than ever to place her clients’ music. But the job means “running a gauntlet” of music supervisors, showrunners, producers and networks—and a song isn’t guaranteed to make the final cut until the show airs. When it works, the rewards are great: After Shameless, the songwriter for the High Strung gained the financial freedom to pursue his passion as an author.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia and gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own. Plus, this month, Chris explains why the latest full-length Hit Parade topic changed at the last minute (thanks to a name that rhymes with “late mush”). Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Noah Zazanis, an epidemiologist, writer, and prison abolitionist living in Queens, NY. His writing can be found in The New Inquiry, Pluto Press' Transgender Marxism anthology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology ("The Green Journal"). Lavery and Zazanis read a letter from someone who’s dad refuses to use their new name and pronouns. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Social media makes mental health information accessible. But it's not a perfect solution. Guest: Lindsay Lee Wallace Host: Mary C. Curtis
Activists and abortion rights supporters are trying building a movement in the post-Roe v. Wade era. An empowered conservative court, a potential digital dragnet, and an unfocused Democratic response is making that complicated. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by legal analyst Imani Gandy, who explains why –despite the setback– she feels energized and hopeful about this moment.
Guest: Legal analyst Imani Gandy, co-host of the Boom! Lawyered podcast
Podcast production by Eric Aaron
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are live at Sixth & I in Washington, DC discussing the new insurrection revelations; the overturning of Roe; and the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David French for The Dispatch: “The Case for Prosecuting Donald Trump Just Got Much Stronger” Kirsten M. J. Thompson, Hugh J. W. Sturrock, Diana Greene Foster, et al for JAMA Network Open: “Association of Travel Distance to Nearest Abortion Facility With Rates of Abortion” Sacred Hunger, by Barry Unsworth Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, by Karl Marlantes Meridith McGraw and Matt Dixon for Politico: “Trump Fatigue Sets In: ‘Some Donors Are Getting Sick Of The Sh--Show'”
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Christopher Clarey for The New York Times: “Tennis Tours Penalize Wimbledon Over Ban on Russian Players” David: Emily Temple for LitHub: “Famous Authors Who Died on the Exact Same Day” John: Terri Jo Ryan for Waco History: “Crash at Crush”
Don’t miss Emily’s conversation with author Keri Blakinger on her new book, Corrections in Ink, for the June 26, 2022 episode of Gabfest Reads.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth share some parenting triumphs and fails. Then Elizabeth and Dr. Joseph Currin continue to answer teen questions. (Part one of ‘teen talk’ aired on Monday.) Today the questions are all about sex education and navigating potentially uncomfortable conversations. On Slate Plus, they take turns telling each other their best dad jokes. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate staff writer Heather Schwedel and Slate senior editor Rebecca Onion sit down to talk about New York magazine cover story “Canceled at 17,” which features a boy who was ostracized by his peers after he showed a nude of his girlfriend. The talk about whether the article is a display of “himpathy,” and the fact that the writer had a personal connection to the school that she did not initially disclose. (New York magazine’s statement on that matter is available here.)
In Slate Plus, Rebecca and Heather talk about what they regret from high school.
Recommendations: Rebecca: Apple+’s series For All Mankind. Heather: Netflix’s series, The Summer I Turned Pretty. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
A surprise session of the House’s Jan. 6 committee featured testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, the former executive assistant to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Hutchinson was inside the White House as the Jan. 6 riot happened, and she testified that Trump knew an armed crowd was chanting “hang Mike Pence”—the thing that upset him most was not being able to join them.
Hutchinson’s testimony was the bombshell the committee had been waiting for. Is it enough to actually hold Donald Trump accountable?
Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, senior writer at Slate.
For this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and Isaac Butler explain how to pitch a story to an editor of a newspaper, magazine, or blog. They discuss the basic components of a good pitch and offer some DOs and DON’Ts about interacting with editors.
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On this week’s episode, Rachelle and Madison decided that, because of the recent Supreme Court news, it was time to take respite in some good online fun. They talk about the Olsen twins making pizza, Adam Lambert’s stellar vocals, plastic bags, musicals, and plenty more. Make sure to check out our Twitter for a thread with all the things mentioned in today’s episode. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Madison Malone Kircher and Rachelle Hampton.
In the final Pride month special episode, Bryan and Christina talk with Slate senior writer Mark Joseph Stern. They assess what the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the case that swept away Roe v. Wade, might mean for LGBTQ rights. Should we really be worried about marriage equality? Given Americans’ purported love of privacy, is there any way that the right to same-sex intimacy, protected in Lawrence v. Texas, might now come under attack? Mark helps the hosts find hope, slim though it might be, amid the cruelty of the Dobbs decision. Items discussed in the show: The episode of Amicus in which Dahlia Lithwick and guests discussed the fallout from Dobbs. Season 7 of Slow Burn, about Roe v. Wade and the history of abortion rights in America. A special post-Dobbs episode of The Waves, with Christina and Cheyna Roth. “The Supreme Court’s Next Target Is Marriage Equality. It Won’t Be the Last,” by Mark Joseph Stern “The Lawlessness of the Dobbs Decision,” by Dahlia Lithwick and Neil S. Siegel. This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
One tragedy replaces another in the headlines—that’s just how things go.
The Texas state legislature isn’t scheduled to convene until January 2023, when the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde will no longer be fresh in people’s minds, and the momentum for changing Texas’s gun laws will be long gone. One state senator, however, won’t accept that.
Guest: Roland Gutierrez, Democratic Texas State Senator for District 19, which includes Uvalde.
This week, the panel begins by experiencing Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic Elvis with Slate’s pop critic, author, and media professor, Jack Hamilton. Then, the panel goes on the run with the new FX series The Old Man. Finally, the panel discusses the viral article on cancel culture from New York Magazine’s website The Cut, titled “Canceled at 17.” In Slate Plus, the panel divulges what they’re actually excited about. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: A movie Dana just reviewed for Slate, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Julia: A fortified endorsement of a previous Gabfest segment, Abbott Elementary. Steve: An essay by Hannah Zeavin for n+1 Magazine titled, “Unfree Associations.” Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Forbidden Love" by OTE.
Danny Lavery welcomes Noah Zazanis, an epidemiologist, writer, and prison abolitionist living in Queens, NY. His writing can be found in The New Inquiry, Pluto Press' Transgender Marxism anthology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology ("The Green Journal"). Lavery and Zazanis tackle two letters. First, from someone hesitating on coming out for fear of never being called the correct pronouns. Another letter writer is wondering if they should walk away from a relationship that they can sense is slipping away. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
How did Mississippi go from resoundingly voting down a “fetal personhood” amendment in 2011 to being the state that brought down Roe v. Wade? Outsiders have long viewed the state as a potential fulcrum to overturn abortion laws in America, to the point where three different legislators introduced three identical bills to ban abortion 15 weeks after fertilization in 2018.
Guest: Ashton Pittman, senior reporter for the Mississippi Free Press.
Erin thinks her dog Chief has the most embarrassing habit—he keeps eating her daughters’ underwear. This has happened several times, resulting in multiple costly surgeries. If she doesn’t put a stop to it, it could eventually kill Chief. How can she get her dog to behave and, more importantly, get her teenage daughters to put their underwear in the hamper? On this episode of How To!, Jenny Slate, comedian, actress, author of Little Weirds and voice of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, opens up about the time her dog ate something he shouldn't have—and let’s just say it’s worse than underwear. But Jenny adores dogs and believes they have something important to teach us. You have to accept your loved ones’ limitations, Jenny says, and when problems arise, tailor your solution to what suits them best—advice that applies to both dogs and teenagers. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Confront a Crazy Neighbor with Tig Notaro.” Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern on Kennedy v Bremerton School District: a referendum on the status of truth at the high court, and another nail in the coffin of the establishment clause. Slate Plus members have access to the whole interview.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Olympic gold medalist Crissy Perham to discuss what Roe v. Wade getting overturned means for women athletes. They also discuss Arch Manning’s decision to play football at the University of Texas and Ohio State getting a trademark on the word “the.” Crissy Perham (2:18): A champion swimmer on why she’s speaking out about her abortion. Arch Manning (21:29): America’s leading legacy athlete will be a Longhorn. The Ohio State University (41:00): Is the school’s love affair with the definite article endearing or annoying? Afterball (58:12): Josh on Billie Jean King’s abortion story.
For years the conservative justices slow rolled abortion restrictions, limiting how the procedure is done and who can perform an abortion, making accessing reproductive health care harder and harder. Now, with a majority of justices agreeing to completely overturn Roe v. Wade, the slow roll is over.
Guest: Susan Matthews, Slate’s news director and host of Slow Burn Season 7: Roe v. Wade.
On this episode: Elizabeth is joined by Slate’s Rebecca Onion to process the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v. Wade. Then, Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Joseph Currin. He is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor who specializes in identity development and sex education. They tackle questions listeners had specifically geared towards teens. This is part one of the teen questions. Be sure to tune into Thursday’s episode for part two. Roe Coverage Recommendations: Roe Is Overturned. What Happens Now? by Slate Staff Slow Burn: Roe v. Wade This Is a Blood Issue by Susan Matthews Just Doing The Job They Were Put On The Court To Do by Dahlia Lithwick What The F*** Do We Do Now? by Cheyna Roth and Christina Cauterucci My Mother’s Abortion Saved My Life by Jenn Lyons The Evolution of Pro-Choice Messaging by Mary Harris Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
This week Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by author and architect, Stefan Al to talk all about skyscrapers and his new book, Supertall. They talk about the human desire to build tall buildings (and the backlash to them), why parts of New York don’t work, but Hong Kong does, and why people keep paying premiums for apartments that sway.
In Slate Plus: All about glass.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Fidelity made headlines when they announced you could invest your retirement savings in Bitcoin. Then the crypto market crashed. Guest: Anthony Lee Zhang Host: Sonari Glinton
This week, host Karen Han talks to foley artist Joanna Fang, who uses everyday objects to create sound effects for movies, TV shows, and video games. In the interview, Joanna explains what a foley artist does and describes some of her tools and techniques. Then she demonstrates how pasta shells can sound like breaking bones and how a wet cloth can be used to make a whole range of (mostly gross) sounds. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler discuss Joanna’s unique passion for her work. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Joanna talks about her work on the movie musical In the Heights. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Emily Bazelon talks with author Keri Blakinger about her new memoir, Corrections in Ink which recounts Blakinger’s path from Olympic ambitions, to heroin addiction, to prison, and ultimately a return to life on the outside.
Blakinger launched a program to deliver her memoir to currently incarcerated readers. You can learn more here: https://800ceoread.com/coupons/redeem/donationcorrectionsinink Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Log onto any social app and you’ll quickly find content that’s been ported over from another platform. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison talk about the homogenization of internet humor and how every platform is trying to copy its competition. Then they discuss the return of anonymous online spaces with the new app NGL, an app that allows people to solicit anonymous comments and questions from Instagram, and why these anonymous spaces always tend toward toxicity. Make sure to check out our episode on period trackers, and the newest season of Slow Burn. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Madison Malone Kircher.
Well it happened, Roe v Wade has been swept away and Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, and the author of “Dollars for Life: The Anti-Abortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment.” And then we turn to the other blockbuster decision this week, in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen. Dahlia talks to the Duke Center for Firearms Law, Joseph Blocher. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia and Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern process more of the fallout from Dobbs and Bruen, and also examine the other blockbuster-in-normal-times case that almost escaped notice.
On this emergency episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth and Slate senior staff writer Christina Cauterucci respond to the decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and get real about how they’re handling this devastating blow.
Read Christina’s piece on medication abortions here. Find all of Slate’s coverage of Roe v Wade here, and a guide to basic questions about what happens next here.
Recommendations: Cheyna: Getting your kid the COVID vaccine and JellyCat stuffed animals. Christina: Fire Island on Hulu. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Danny Lavery welcomes Kashana Cauley, writer for The Great North and the author of the forthcoming novel, The Survivalists. Lavery and Cauley read a letter from someone who feels guilty for having a secret stash of drugs in their house, knowing that their girlfriend is sober. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
With the Golden State Warriors wrapping up another championship, NBA players are settling in for the off-season when many will be working on physical fitness and strength. But more teams are recognizing that mental fitness –especially for a league full of young Black men– is just as important. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Corey Yeager, a life coach and psychotherapist for NBA’s Detroit Pistons. They discuss how Black athletes are dealing with the mental challenges of the pandemic, the racial reckoning, and other political issues, on top of the pressure to perform on the court.
Guest: Corey Yeager, psychotherapist, life coach and author of the forthcoming book “How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself.”
Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Lightyear. Slate’s movie critic, Dana Stevens, and senior editor, Sam Adams spoil the new animated film from Disney.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Read Dana’s review here and Sam’s review here.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis and Kevin Bendis.
The openness of the internet is its greatest strength. Or a glaring weakness, depending on who you ask. Does something need to change? Guest: Jared Schroeder Host: Sonari Glinton
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court decision requiring that government funding for private schools include religious ones, the January 6th hearings, and dissension at progressive organizations.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jack Goldsmith for The New York Times: “Prosecute Trump? Put Yourself in Merrick Garland’s Shoes.” John Dickerson for Slate: Whistlestop podcast: “The Mulligan Letters” Ryan Grim for The Intercept: “Elephant in the Zoom”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: “Watergate Trial Records Digitized For 50th Anniversary of Watergate” Emily: Agnes Callard for The Boston Review: “Against Persuasion” David: Hustle
Listener chatter from Cyrus Farivar: Tim Folger for Scientific American: “Record-Breaking Voyager Spacecraft Begin to Power Down”
Be sure to tune into Emily’s conversation with author Keri Blakinger on her new book, Corrections in Ink, on Gabfest Reads on June 26, 2022.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth tackle a question from a listener who is caught in a carpool conundrum. Splitting the 30 minute drive to school has been a significant help. However, the kid they carpool with is downright rude to our listener’s daughter. What should she do? On Slate Plus, the best way to entertain your kids during road trips. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola, Rosemary Belson, and Jasmine Ellis.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate staff writer Heather Schwedel is joined by Slate books and culture columnist Laura Miller on the ten year anniversary of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. They talk about the initial reaction to Gone Girl, why the twists packed such a punch, and the enduring impact of the famous “cool girl” speech. Then they explore why, despite many books proclaiming to be so, there has never really been another Gone Girl.
In Slate Plus, Laura takes Heather behind the scenes of book blurbs.
Recommendations: Heather: The Palace Papers by Tina Brow Laura: TV series Redemption, available on BritBox Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
The third week of the House of Representatives investigation into the Jan. 6 riot is focusing on the weeks-long pressure campaign waged by Trump and his allies. Individuals around the country were harassed by Trump loyalists in order to change the election outcome. Trump’s “stochastic terrorism” campaign set the stage for what would happen at the capitol come January.
Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate senior writer
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern react to the Supreme Court’s decision in Carson v Makin, a blockbuster religious liberty case that sees the court traveling a long way in a short time, and trampling the establishment clause along the way, Slate Plus members have access to the whole interview.
Harry Blackmun wasn’t Richard Nixon’s first choice to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. But after Blackmun was confirmed, he got the assignment of a lifetime: writing the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. His approach to that case would have consequences he never imagined. Season 7 of Slow Burn is produced by Susan Matthews, Samira Tazari, Sophie Summergrad, and Sol Werthan. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John, and Johanna Zorn. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Derreck Johnson based on a photo provided by Robert Wheeler. The season’s reporting was supported by a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s Susan Matthews and Derek John discuss making this season of Slow Burn and talk about how breaking news surrounding Dobbs affected the process. Then, Matthews interviews Slate senior editor Dahlia Lithwick about the way Roe v. Wade was decided. They discuss the various theories about how it could have been decided differently, and talk through whether that would have affected where we are today.
Further reading: Neglected Stories: The Constitution and Family Values by Peggy Cooper Davis January 1973: Watergate, Roe v. Wade, Vietnam, and the Month That Changed America Forever by James Robenalt
Production by Cleo Levin and Chau Tu.
Lesbians on dating and hookup apps aren’t looking for men, but that’s what platforms like Bumble and Tinder are serving them. On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle speak to some queer women who’ve had this problem and what sorts of issues it creates. Then they discuss the women-focused apps that’ve tried to fill that space, and why it’s so difficult to find safe queer dates online. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Madison Malone Kircher, and Rachelle Hampton.
This week, the panel begins by trying out the new Adam Sandler film on Netflix, Hustle. Then, they discuss the new hit Indian film RRR. Finally, the panel is joined by host of Slate's Hit Parade podcast, Chris Molanphy, to discuss musician Kate Bush's recent rise in the charts. In Slate Plus, the panel debates which SNL stars became the best film actors. Email us at culturefest@slate.com Endorsements Dana: A crown of sonnets, For My Father: A Sonnet Redouble, by Alexis Sears in Literary Matters. Julia: Cheap hack to kitchen luxury: buy yourself 4 or 5 complete sets of measuring spoons. Steve: Elvis Costello and Chet Baker performing together. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music: "Bring My Friends" by Tigerblood Jewel.
On the campaign trail, Joe Biden called Saudi Arabia a “pariah” and said its ruling regime should be held accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But now, rising oil prices have caused President Biden to soften his tone and plan a visit to Saudi Arabia next month. How much can the U.S. really demand of its allies?
Guest: Gregory Gause, head of the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
It’s story time, fam! This month, Bryan, Christina, and Jules talk about whether—and why—we still need Pride. Every Pride is someone’s first, and to get that fresh perspective, the hosts spoke with Sammie Bennett, who just celebrated for the first time in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They then talk about their own memories and feelings about the annual queer gathering. Thanks to Alicia DeMaio for our first "Thots & Queries" segment. Here’s the them.us piece she referenced. Items discussed in the show: “The Battle Over Gender Therapy,” by Emily Bazelon in the New York Times Magazine Jules’ Twitter thread Jules’ Substack response Postmates’ “Eat With Pride” ad campaign Leo Herrera’s Instagram story about this campaign Christina’s Slate story about a U-Haul truck full of Nazis who headed to a Pride celebration in Idaho. New York City Drag March Gay Agenda Bryan: Buzzfeed’s roundup of “This Pride Month” memes Christina: Kaftko Jules: Read a banned LGBTQ book
This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski to discuss the Stanley Cup Finals. They also talk about Dream On, the ESPN documentary on the 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team. Finally, they assess Nike upon its 50th anniversary. Stanley Cup (2:10): Inside the match-up between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning. Dream On (25:11): Looking back at a landmark moment for women’s sports. Nike (48:04): How it became a cultural behemoth. Afterball (1:09:00): Stefan on his daughter, Scrabble, and Steph Curry.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kashana Cauley, writer for The Great North and the author of the forthcoming novel, The Survivalists. Lavery and Cauley take on two letters. First, from someone who is witnessing their coworkers play a potentially dangerous prank on their supervisor. Another letter writer is uncomfortable with the subject matter of their friend’s novel. Plus, a sneak peek at Cauley’s forthcoming novel, The Survivalists. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
A school with armed teachers and every door locked sounds a lot more like a prison than a nourishing educational environment. How does the discussion around school shootings change when you change your starting point from “how can we stop this?” to “what kind of world do we want to live in?”
Guest: Ron Avi Astor, professor of public affairs, social work, and education at UCLA.
Coming out of the worst of the pandemic, we’re relearning some basic things like making small talk and even how to dress ourselves. Our listener, Kristen, is headed back to the office and wants to feel like a boss. The only problem? She looks at her wardrobe and doesn’t know where to even begin. On this episode of How To!, we bring in celebrity stylist Leesa Evans to give her a crash course in clothing. Leesa has some famous clients (i.e. Amy Schumer) who have found a fashion that is both functional and flattering. The key? Finding pieces that make you feel confident. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Look Like a Superhero” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Barbara Wilson, author of multiple mystery novels and co-founder of the feminist publishing house Seal Press, which launched in 1976. In the interview, Barbara starts by discussing her mystery novels and her decision to revive the character Cassandra Reilly. Then she talks about her experience co-founding Seal Press and the challenges that she and her colleagues faced as indie publishers. After the interview, June and co-hose Isaac Butler chat about the use of formulas in fiction. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Barbara explains why she changed her name to Barbara Sjoholm and started publishing certain books under that name. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
This episode originally aired in July 2021.
Last year, North Americans saw record-breaking heat, droughts, wildfires, and floods. The science is clear: we are living through the effects of climate change. Now scientists are trying to answer: is this the new normal?
Guest: Daniel Swain, climate scientist at UCLA
Earlier this month, the American Girl Doll Instagram account announced the return of the classic Molly doll, and because it was announced during Pride month everybody started wondering, “Is Molly gay?” On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison discuss the recent gay panic of the conservative American Doll Instagram community, the online life of American Girl memes, and their own histories with these beloved childhood treasures. Plus, they discuss the drama around Lizzo’s “GRRRLS” and why she’s one of the few celebrities to nail the Notes app apology. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Madison Malone Kircher, and Rachelle Hampton.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the Fed raising interest rates by 75 basis points, the crypto crash, and Revlon filing for bankruptcy.
In the Plus segment: Kraken
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by CNN legal analyst Joan Biskupic and election law Professor Richard Hasen for what could be called “Amicus: Wheels Coming Off Edition”. We’re still waiting for a bevy of blockbuster decisions, and despite Chief Justice John Roberts’ solemn wish to steady the ship, events at the January 6th select committee seem destined to scupper it. Joan, Rick and Dahlia talk about what’s to come in the most unusual last two weeks of June at the court that any of them can remember. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia and Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern on why everybody needs to stop saying “today is the day we get Dobbs” (and why that day is likely to be the last possible day this term), on how this court overturns precedent without overturning precedent, plus Justices Barrett and Gorsuch go at it - some of the time. Find the What Next episode Mark mentions with Leah Litman here.
For decades, British alt-pop goddess Kate Bush had never had a Top 10 hit in America. Now, in 2022, she finds herself in the Hot 100’s Top Five—and television got her there. Her classic “Running Up That Hill” is featured prominently in the latest season of Netflix’s hit ’80s horror fantasy show Stranger Things.
This puts Bush in a long lineage of hits spawned or made bigger by TV, dating all the way back to Davy Crockett and Peter Gunn, through Hawaii Five-O and Happy Days, and peaking in the ’80s with Miami Vice and Family Ties. Join host Chris Molanphy as he walks through more than six decades of hits from the so-called boob tube and reveals why—thanks to our streaming age—Kate Bush’s hit might be the biggest TV tune of all.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Sasha Geffen, author of the book Glitter Up the Dark: How Pop Music Broke the Binary. Lavery and Geffen read a letter from someone who is considering hiring his boyfriend to deep clean his apartment, but is wondering if that will change their relationship. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This will be a frank discussion about homophobia, and our guest will talk about his experience being called an anti-gay slur.
This LGBTQ Pride Month has been marred by a rash of anti-gay and anti-trans laws, and some groups plotting physical attacks at Pride events. For Black members of the community, racism has added even more tension to this year’s Pride. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Clay Cane, author of Live Through This: Surviving the Intersections of Sexuality, God, and Race. They discuss how anti-Black and anti-gay violence is affecting Pride this year, as well as concerns about ongoing homophobia among African Americans, and racism within the LGBTQ movement.
Guest: Clay Cane, host of SiriusXM’s The Clay Cane Show
Podcast production by Eric Aaron
One state wants to stop people from buying one. But can electric vehicles be stopped? Guest: Ryan Cornell Host: Sonari Glinton
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the January 6th hearings, Jason Furman on the economy, and debates among providers of gender-affirming medical care.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Michael Dorf for Dorf on Law: “House Select Committee Hearing 2: Scoundrels, Patriots, and Collaborators” Mona Charen for The Bulwark: “Of Course Trump Is Responsible for His Lies” David Brooks for The New York Times: “The Jan. 6 Committee Has Already Blown It” Derek Thompson for The New York Times: “The Crypto Crash Is Just the Start” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “The Battle Over Gender Therapy”
Here are this week’s chatters: John: Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland for The New York Times: “F.D.A. Panel Recommends Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines for Youngest Children” Emily: Joan Walsh for The Nation: “The Backlash Against Sex Ed” David: Explore a Civil War fort with David; The New York Times: “Anthony Mancinelli, World's Oldest Working Barber, Dies at 108”; Kate Springer for CNN: “Philippines' Oldest Tattoo Artist -- Meet Whang Od Oggay”; Teller Report: “‘Working For 77 Years’ The Secret of The Long Run of a 100-Year-Old Civil Servant”
Listener chatter from Andy Scarpelli: The Biodesign Challenge
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what they are looking forward to reading and watching this summer. Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr The Immortal King Rao, by Vauhini Vara Swann's Way, by Marcel Proust Physical Season Two Loving Day, by Mat Johnson Invisible Things, by Mat Johnson Manhattan Beach, by Jennifer Egan A Visit From The Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan The Americans
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth, and Jamilah reminisce on some of their parents’ triumphs and fails. Then they tackle a question from a listener who just wants her daughter to stop grabbing her breasts. The daughter is looking for comfort but the constant touching is making the listener uncomfortable. On Slate Plus, Zak and Jamilah talk with Elizabeth’s dad about all things fatherhood and grandfatherhood. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis. Production help from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate science writer and editor Shannon Palus is joined by Popular Science executive editor and author Rachel Feltman to talk about sex, baby. Rachel’s new book, “Been There, Done That” explores the quirky, wild, and often queer side of the history of sex. Shannon and Rachel talk about why animal sex is so relevant to human sex, the “loop-de-loop” of sexual evolution, and they ponder the age old question, “Why are even men?”
In Slate Plus, Rachel talks about why Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) may in some cases not be as terrible as you think.
Recommendations: Shannon: Spindrift seltzer Rachel: The horror anthology, Your Body is Not Your Body Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
The January 6th hearings have an unusual amount of spectacle for Capitol Hill, but they’re designed to do more than entertain.
Guest: Jeremy Stahl, Slate senior editor.
On this week’s addition of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler evaluate some writing advice that June received from Slate book critic Laura Miller, who got the idea from the writer Graham Greene. The advice is to write 500 words per day, and once you’re done with that quota, you can do whatever you want. But what happens when your schedule doesn’t allow such a rigid ritual? Is there something magic about the number 500? June and Isaac weigh in on these and other questions, and then they discuss a concept called “modular writing.”
Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s Susan Matthews and Sol Werthan discuss the making of Episode 3. Then, Matthews interviews Slate senior writers Christina Cauterucci and Mark Joseph Stern about how abortion rights are already changing state by state, and what can be done if Roe v. Wade is overturned this year.
Further reading: Before Roe v. Wade by Linda Greenhouse and Reva Siegel “The Most Unexpected Consequence of the Texas Abortion Ban” by Christina Cauterucci, April 24 “The Most Radical, Ominous Aspect of Alito’s Draft Opinion Overruling Roe” by Mark Joseph Stern, May 3
Production by Cleo Levin and Chau Tu.
Throughout the 2010s, the One Direction fandom was inescapable online. On today’s show, Atlantic writer Kaitlyn Tiffany is here to discuss her new book all about that subject, Everything I Need I Get From You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It. Rachelle and Madison talk to Kaitlyn about why she chose One Direction, how fan theories get out of hand, and why neither she nor Rachelle would ever want to meet Harry Styles. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Madison Malone Kircher.
This month, in honor of Pride, we’re bringing you extra episodes of Outward. This week, hosts Christina Cauterucci, Jules Gill-Peterson, and Bryan Lowder dig into the big gay movie of summer 2022: Fire Island. Directed by Andrew Ahn and written by Joel Kim Booster, who also stars in the film, Fire Island explores the magic of queer spaces like the titular enclave—along with the class and race disparities that so often beset them. The film, which also stars Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, and Conrad Ricamora, is a gay resetting of Pride and Prejudice. Does it succeed? The hosts discuss this, and much more, in spoiler-filled detail. This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
Soon after Ann Hill arrived at Yale Law School in 1968, she realized she was pregnant. Her options were limited: she could give birth—or get an illegal abortion. The decision she faced inspired her to take on Connecticut’s abortion ban. The legal battle that followed would set the stage for Roe v. Wade. Season 7 of Slow Burn is produced by Susan Matthews, Samira Tazari, Sophie Summergrad, and Sol Werthan. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John, and Johanna Zorn. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Derreck Johnson based on a photo provided by Robert Wheeler. The season’s reporting was supported by a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.
San Francisco is all but short-hand for “liberal American city,” but their progressive district attorney Chesa Boudin just got booted from office in a not-so-close recall. Elected as part of a wave of progressive prosecutors, why is Boudin now out, while his reformer-minded peers remain popular? And what does it mean for criminal justice reform in America?
Guest: Jessica Brand, founder and co-director of the Wren Collective, a consulting service focused on transforming the criminal justice system.
This week, the panel begins by fraternizing with the dinosaurs of Jurassic World: Dominion. Then, they’re joined by senior writer for New York Magazine E. Alex Jung to discuss the movie that changed the Bechdel Test, Fire Island. Finally, the panel discusses a New York Times opinion piece from Tish Harrison, titled “I Married the Wrong Person, and I’m So Glad I Did.” In Slate Plus, the panel discusses the Bechdel Test. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: In honor of the recently late actor Phillip Baker Hall, the 1984 Robert Altman film Secret Honor, based on the one-man show. Julia: Generally: micro journaling. Specifically: The Five Minute Journal and One Line A Day: A Five-Year Memory Book. Steve: With love for the musical cover: Leo Nocentelli’s (of The Meters) cover of Elton John’s “Your Song.” Also: the band The Apartments (per Steve: the most underrated indie rock band of all time) and their song “Everything is Given to Be Taken Away” from their live album Live at L’Ubu. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Bloody Hunter" by Paisley Pink.
Danny Lavery welcomes Sasha Geffen, author of the book Glitter Up the Dark: How Pop Music Broke the Binary. Lavery and Geffen tackle two letters. First, from someone who is tired of being the only person holding that her friend came out to in their friend group. Another letter writer is trying to make sense of a hurtful breakup. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Last month, Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while reporting on an Israeli military raid of a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Multiple media investigations say the evidence suggests Abu Akleh was killed by targeted Israeli fire, not stray bullets from a chaotic skirmish. Meanwhile, the U.S. has called for an impartial investigation into Abu Akleh’s death, but has stopped short of leading such a probe.
Guest: Dalia Hatuqa, a journalist specializing in Israeli/Palestinian affairs and regional Middle East issues.
We all know the country is deeply fractured right now, and that’s especially true in our politics. There is vitriol, bitter partisanship and an expectation that in order to succeed you need to beat up on your opponent. So is it possible to fight for your beliefs, remain civil and still win elections? On this episode of How To!, we brought together two politicians from either side of the aisle who are living proof that we can practice politics with humanity. Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Vermont State Senator Becca Balint share how they resist negativity, meaningfully work with the other side, and stick to their values even when they are forced to stand up to their own party. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Get Things Done in a Divided Nation with Samantha Power” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham to discuss Steph Curry and the NBA Finals. Then, they review the Adam Sandler basketball movie Hustle. Finally, ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenburg joins Joel and Josh to talk about the debut weekend of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. Steph and the NBA (3:00): The Warriors got back into the Finals with some Curry magic. Can Jayson Tatum summon some of his own? Hustle (22:15): It’s not just a bunch of NBA cameos. LIV Golf (42:43): Will the Saudis’ money take down the PGA Tour? Afterball (1:05:02): Joel on Rickey Henderson and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
To the people who deal with the reality of bullet wounds, the aftermath of shootings aren’t so abstract. If politicians and the public had to see what military weaponry actually does to the body, would that change the conversation around gun control?
Guest: Dr. Amy Goldberg, interim dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and surgeon-in-chief at the Temple University Health System.
On this episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak answer a question from a dad who is fed up with his four-year-old not listening. For the first time, he lost his temper and swatted her butt. He feels terrible and wants to know how to apologize. But he also wants to know how to get her to listen if a situation arises where something serious is going on and she needs to follow directions. Recommendations Zak: Letting your little ones pour their own syrup. Elizabeth: Beast Academy Math Jamilah: America, Goddam: Violence, Black Women, and the Struggle for Justice by Treva B. Lindsey Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola, Jasmine Ellis, and Rosemary Belson.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to music supervisors Bruce Gilbert and Lauren Mikus, whose most recent projects include the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building and the the multidimensional action movie Everything Everywhere All at Once. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas talk about music choices in film and TV and discuss whether it’s better to pick well-known hits or more obscure deep cuts. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Bruce and Lauren talk about the taste-making aspect of their job. Then they explain their process for creating a uniquely New York sound for Only Murders in the Building. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
She wanted to be an icon for working women. What went wrong? Guest: Sheera Frenkel Host: Lizzie O'Leary
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison dabble in some TikTok approved ASMR. Later they’re joined by Vice Senior Staff Writer, Anna Merlan, for an interview about political ads and the left leaning campaigns that pay influencers to produce policy based content - despite TikTok’s stringent rules.
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Madison Malone Kircher, Rachelle Hampton, and Kevin Bendis
Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss everyone’s premature bad vibes about the economy right now, financial literacy programs in high schools, and Larry Ellison’s Hawaiian island.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Ryan Goodman, professor of Law at NYU and co-editor-in-chief of Just Security. While we wait for the High Court to release opinions in a heaving pile of cases, the main constitutional action of the week was in Congress. Ryan Goodman has been piecing together the events of January 6th, and what led to it, for the past year and a half with colleagues at Just Security and Protect Democracy. Goodman leads Dahlia through what we heard from the January 6th select committee on Thursday night: what was new, what was big, and the emerging roadmap for Attorney General Merrick Garland. In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia and Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern run down the SCOTUS decisions we got this week - including a stunning decision this week allowing border agents almost limitless protection from lawsuits for bad behavior.
Danny Lavery welcomes Miles Klee, a senior staff writer for MEL magazine, and the author of the novel Ivyland. Lavery and Klee read a letter from someone who wants their throuple partners to stop saying negative things about each other. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Elon Musk isn't wrong that Twitter has a bot problem. But he's kind of missing the point. Guest: Samuel Woolley Host: Lizzie O'Leary
The market for cryptocurrency crashed in May, losing billions of investor dollars. That’s a special concern for African Americans, who are twice as likely as white people to invest in crypto. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by economist Darrick Hamilton to discuss the unique appeal of cryptocurrency among Black Americans, and whether the potential rewards outweigh the risks.
Guest: Darrick Hamilton, the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School.
Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis and Eric Aaron.
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Jurassic World: Dominion. Sam Adams, a senior editor at Slate, is joined by Slate’s features editor, Jeffrey Bloomer, to spoil the latest evolutionary stage of the Jurassic World series. True to the spirit of bringing something back from the past, the stars of Jurassic Park—Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill—join the dinos and their JW counterparts Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. The cast is big, the predators are bigger, but the villains and plot lines raised more eyebrows than heart rates among our critics.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Tuesday’s primaries, the economy (is it as bad as we all think it is?), and are joined by Susan Matthews to talk Slow Burn: Roe v. Wade.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nellie Bowles for the Atlantic: “How San Francisco Became a Failed City” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “America Almost Took a Different Path Toward Abortion Rights” Derek Thompson for the Atlantic: “Everything Is Terrible, but I’m Fine” Patricia Cohen for the New York Times: “Global Growth Will Be Choked Amid Inflation and War, World Bank Says”
Here’s this week’s chatter: David: Jack Hitt for the New York Times: “Want to Do Less Time? A Prison Consultant Might Be Able to Help.” John: The Economist, “The coming food catastrophe”; The Paris Review, “Henry Miller, The Art of Fiction No. 28” Emily: Moore v. Harper
Listener chatter from Daniel Reich: “The Path to Power” by Robert Caro For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John talk about the 20th anniversary of The Wire.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Grace Woodruff.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Jamilah have some relatable parenting triumphs and fails. Then Elizabeth is joined by Dr. Rebecca Spencer, principal investigator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Somneurolab. Dr. Spencer shares some wonderful insight for creating a good sleep environment, navigating napping, and what your kids should (or shouldn’t) be doing right before bed. On Slate Plus, they discuss how even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge can’t avoid the “f*ck you fours.” Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis. Production help from Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate science editor and writer Shannon Palus is joined by freelance science journalist Eleanor Cummins to talk about plastics. Surgery that is. And all the physical and mental concerns that come with altering your body. They start out by talking about Eleanor’s recent piece on the health concerns of breast implants. Then they talk about VIP Syndrome, and how it’s coming for all of us.
In Slate Plus, is breast reduction surgery feminist?
Recommendations: Shannon: Perfect Bars Eleanor: Cotopaxi gear. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
The House hearings to examine the events of Jan. 6, 2021, begin this week and the party lines are drawn. Republicans are calling the hearings a distraction from issues that voters care about—inflation, rising prices of gas and food. Democrats are trying to remind voters which party tried to override American democracy. Will it be enough to stem the “red tide” projected for fall midterms?
Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Susan Matthews and associate producer Sophie Summergrad discuss researching the pro-life movement for Episode 2. Then, Matthews interviews Jennifer L. Holland, an assistant professor of U.S. history at the University of Oklahoma, about what happened the anti-abortion movement since Roe v. Wade was decided, and how it became so intense and, at times, violent. Mentioned in the episode: Tiny You: A Western History of the Anti-Abortion Movement by Jennifer L. Holland Production by Cleo Levin and Chau Tu.
Over the past few months, musicians have been posting on TikTok about how their record labels are forcing them to make TikTok videos to promote their new music. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison look at what all these famous musicians like Charli XCX, Florence Welch, and Ed Sheeran are posting, why the music industry is so desperate for viral hits, and who we should feel sorry for in all of this. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Madison Malone Kircher.
Jack and Barbara Willke got their start on the Catholic speaking circuit talking about the pleasure of sex within marriage. Their daughter would convince them to shift their focus to another hot-button issue. The Willkes’ Handbook on Abortion, and the photographs they distributed along with it, would help kickstart the right-to-life movement. To see the cover of the Handbook on Abortion, some of the photos the Willkes used, and the brochure “Life or Death,” go to slate.com/handbook Season 7 of Slow Burn is produced by Susan Matthews, Samira Tazari, Sophie Summergrad, and Sol Werthan. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John and Johanna Zorn. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Derreck Johnson based on a photo provided by Robert Wheeler. The season’s reporting was supported by a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.
This month, in honor of Pride, we’re going to be bringing you an Outward episode every week. Today, it’s a segment from a 2021 episode of Working, Slate's podcast about the creative process, in which June Thomas spoke with photographer Joan E. Biren, also known as JEB. In the interview, JEB discusses the creation, funding, and printing of her groundbreaking 1979 photobook Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians, which was reissued by Anthology Editions in 2021. The Working episode was produced by Cameron Drews.
In the early 2000s, following a civil lawsuit with over 100 plaintiffs against a group of Oakland police officers known as “the Riders,” the Oakland PD was put under federal oversight. Now after nearly two decades of reforms, backslides into scandals, and close watch from activists and the feds, Oakland can enter a probationary period. But has the culture of the department really changed? Guest: Darwin BondGraham, News Editor of the Oaklandside and co-author of a forthcoming book about the Oakland police department. He and his partner Ali Winston have been covering the OPD for almost two decades.
This week, the panel begins by diving into the animated world of Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Then, they reflect on Norm Macdonald’s career and influence with his posthumous special Nothing Special. Finally, the panel enters Harry’s House as they are joined by Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson to discuss Harry Styles’ most recent album. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses their ideal cultural mix. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: In celebration of the late-great Prince’s birthday: his 1987 concert film Sign o’ the Times, which is finally available on streaming. Julia: Two things: one, the famous Hollywood Bowl venue; two: in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Bowl, the LA Times has put together a guide to the history of the Hollywood Bowl. Steve: An extraordinary memoir published posthumously in 1939 and written by Sebastian Haffner, a German man who witnessed the 1930s and the rise of Hitler, titled Defying Hitler: A Memoir. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. "Stone Cookies" by Dusty Decks.
Danny Lavery welcomes Miles Klee, a senior staff writer for MEL magazine, and the author of the novel Ivyland. Lavery and Klee take on three letters. First, from someone who wants to tell her friend to stop paying for everything when they hang out. Another letter writer has upset their partner due to her tendency to offer unsolicited pet advice. Finally, Lavery responds to a letter writer who is wondering if they are a trans man. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Republicans who still haven’t accepted that Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in 2020 are recruiting “a volunteer army” of poll watchers and poll workers for upcoming elections. For those who want transparent and fair elections, an influx of enthusiasm is theoretically a good thing. But if new poll workers and poll watchers have an agenda— chasing after fraud that didn’t happen—can they hurt more than they help?
Guest: Alexandra Berzon, investigative reporter for the New York Times.
Guest hosted by Mary C. Curtis, columnist at Roll Call and host of its Equal Time podcast.
Karin always thought of herself as the mom of two boys—that is, until last year when her oldest child told her they were nonbinary, meaning they don’t identify as either male or female. Karin loves her kid deeply, but she’s struggling to get used to their new name and pronouns, especially because her town—and husband—aren’t very accepting. On this episode of How To!, we bring in Lisa DelCol, a fellow mom of a nonbinary child and former president of PFLAG Oklahoma City, to help Karin come to terms with her child’s gender identity. Parents are going to make mistakes along the way, Lisa says, but it’s important to share what you learn with others. The more you advocate for them, the more accepting the world becomes. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the back-and-forth NBA Finals between the Warriors and Celtics. The New York Times’ Andrew Das also joins to talk about Ukraine’s loss to Wales in a World Cup playoff match. Finally, they discuss the Oklahoma softball juggernaut. NBA Finals (2:41): How the Celtics took Game 1, and how the Warriors struck back. Ukraine-Wales (23:31): An epic sporting event with global consequences. Oklahoma softball (44:31): A deep dive on a remarkable dynasty. Afterball (1:05:38): Josh on Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Rafael Nadal, and tennis inevitability.
The Sixth Amendment is supposed to guarantee the right to a fair trial—including a lawyer, even if the defendant can’t afford one. But Indigent Defense is woefully underfunded and, sometimes, state-appointed lawyers are nowhere near as competent as federal attorneys. A new Supreme Court ruling makes it more difficult to use exonerating evidence discovered on a federal level to prove innocence, even if state counsel didn’t look for it.
Guest: Leah Litman, law professor at University of Michigan, specializing in constitutional law and federal courts, and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny.
On this episode: Zak and Jamilah are joined by Cheyna Roth, Slate senior producer and occasional host of The Waves. They speak with Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans about all things sleep for parents and kids. She worked in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital for over 10 years and she’s the co-founder of Baby Sleep Science. Dr. Flynn-Evans is here to answer some questions that will hopefully help you and your kids sleep better. Recommendations Jamilah: NYT article Cheyna: Keeping with the sleep theme, The Happiest Baby on the Block Zak: White Noise app for adults to drown out their kids crying during the night + The Nap Ministry Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
This week, Working producer Cameron Drews talks to Alex Sujong Laughlin, producer of the hit podcast Normal Gossip. In the interview, Alex explains what a producer does and talks about how important it is for producers to have creative input. Then she digs into the process behind Normal Gossip and shares how she and host Kelsey McKinney anonymize the gossip stories and make decisions about which details to tweak and which ones to keep. After the interview, Cameron and co-host June Thomas talk more about what it’s like to be a podcast producer. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Alex shares her favorite and least favorite production tasks. She also tells a story about a listener email that she and Kelsey received. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Some call him revolutionary. Others call him a hack. Is his success warranted? Guest: Ashlee Vance Host: Lizzie O'Leary
The Mormon moms on TikTok are accused of “soft swinging,” or engaging in sexual acts with people other than their spouses while their spouses are in the room, and people cannot stop asking about it. On the show today, Madison and Rachelle talk about Liam Payne’s recent comments about his former One Direction bandmates, and then they’re back with High Speed Downloads about the Early American Youtube channel, and the drama surrounding the Mormon moms of TikTok. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss Sheryl Sandberg’s exit from Meta, how the war in Ukraine is affecting the international food supply, and Queen Elizabeth’s Platy Jubes.
In the Plus segment: Emily nerds out on the CPI
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to tee up the final weeks of the Supreme Court term. Several blockbusters are still to come, from abortion to gun rights to religious liberty to climate action—and then there’s the shadow docket. Mark and Dahlia break it all down with insights into what to expect and what to watch for. Dahlia also spoke with former Attorney General Eric Holder this week, and he made the clear and urgent case that if you want gun reform, you need to work on democracy reform. Attorney General Holder will be back on Amicus in July to talk about his book for our summer reading series.
In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, as the Supreme Court investigates clerks over the Dobbs leak, and in the wake of the revelations of Ginni Thomas’ involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Dahlia is in conversation with Noah Bookbinder of CREW about how to fix judicial ethics.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy welcomes Jason King, Chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, who has advised producer Timbaland on music litigation and has had a front-row seat for Pharrell Williams’s mentoring of artists. Jason credits the Virginia Beach superstars with clairaudience, or clairvoyance of sound—the ability to hear into the future. And he says Missy Elliott, Pharrell’s and Tim’s peer from Virginia, still isn’t given enough credit for her David Bowie–like ability to shape-shift in a pop context and fuse the visual with musical genius.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of her own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jackie Keliiaa, a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor based in Oakland, California. She currently produces Good Medicine, a live comedy show featuring all Native comedians. Lavery and Keliiaa read a letter from someone who wants the comfort of her mom, but her mom is preoccupied with her own problems. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Schools have spent millions to detect threats online. It mostly doesn’t work.
Guest: Arijit Sen
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Like so much of pop culture, online culture is largely rooted in the work of Black and other marginalized people. Writer and activist Bridget Todd celebrates their stories on her podcast There Are No Girls on the Internet. On today’s episode of A Word, she joins Jason Johnson to talk about the challenge of preserving that history, and building communities for women, LGBTQ people, and Black folks in an increasingly hostile online world. Guest: Bridget Todd, host of the “There Are No Girls on the Internet” podcast. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the response to the Uvalde shooting, Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness, and a bunch of ignored subpoenas.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jillian Peterson and James Densley, interviewed by Melanie Warner for Politico: “Two Professors Found What Creates a Mass Shooter. Will Politicians Pay Attention?”
Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Heidi Przybyla for Politico: “‘It’s going to be an army’: Tapes reveal GOP plan to contest elections” David: Ezra Klein for the New York Times: “What America Needs Is a Liberalism That Builds” John: AP: “Over 37K voters crossed over in Georgia GOP primary in effort to block Trump-based nominees”; LiveScience: “Male mice are terrified of bananas. Here's why.”
Listener chatter from Barbara Tanzler: The 11th World Potato Congress in Dublin, Ireland
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss Elon Musk’s ultimatum for a full return to work.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Grace Woodruff.
On this episode: Zak and Elizabeth are joined by Scott Hershovitz, author of the book Nasty, Brutish and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids and the director of the Law and Ethics Program and professor of law and philosophy at the University of Michigan. They discuss why you shouldn’t shy away from big questions, how to foster open mindedness in teens, and perhaps the biggest question of all—what’s a “floofer doofer.” On Slate Plus, they have a round of graduation-themed Triumphs and Fails. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends the Sipsey Wilder hip pack Scott recommends Teaching Children Philosophy Zak recommends Julie’s Library. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and June Thomas hear from a listener who’s having trouble prioritizing his non-urgent tasks. With the help of some productivity metaphors and strategies, Isaac and June suggest ways to structure unstructured time and to break long-term projects down into bite-sized pieces. Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
After a mass shooting, gun manufacturers follow a set playbook—they offer “thoughts and prayers,” go quiet, and wait for the bump in sales driven by fear of new gun restrictions. The company Daniel Defense’s products were used in Uvalde and in the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. Do they have a responsibility for how they market their rifles—or how their weapons are used?
Guest: Todd C. Frankel is an enterprise reporter on the Washington Post's Financial desk, covering people and policy.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by Slate senior writer Mark Joseph Stern to talk about Michigan’s ballot initiative to save abortion rights in the state. They dig into the positives and negatives of going to the ballot, what we can learn from Ireland, and why, at the end of the day, you really need the courts. Mark also explains the one big thing that citizens can and should be doing to help secure abortion access.
In Slate Plus, is Ginny Thomas maintaining a career that directly conflicts with her Supreme Court Justice husband’s work feminist?
Mentioned in the Show: “The Ironic, Unintended Consequence of SCOTUS’s Plan to Overturn Roe” by Mark Joseph Stern
Recommendations: Mark: The album Two Ribbons by Let’s Eat Grandma Cheyna: Everything by the band HAIM. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery . Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Susan Matthews and producer Samira Tazari discuss what to expect this season, and what it was like to interview people in Shirley Wheeler’s life for Episode 1. Then, Matthews interviews TV historian Stephen Bowie about the TV drama The Defenders, which aired a surprisingly progressive take on abortion rights in 1962 that scared off the show’s regular advertisers and some network stations. Mentioned in the episode: “Benefactors” by Stephen Bowie, The Classic TV History Blog Production by Chau Tu
Since it started over six weeks ago, the court battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has been impossible to escape online. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison look at the troubling ways people are discussing the trial, the cottage industry of lawyers reacting to the trial, and the stakes that have been lost in the breathless coverage and endless meme-ing of Heard and Depp. This podcast is produced by Daniel Schroeder, Rachelle Hampton, and Madison Malone Kircher.
In 1970, 22-year-old Shirley Wheeler got an illegal abortion in Florida. When she refused to tell the police who performed the procedure, she was arrested and charged with manslaughter. In the months that followed, she’d be prosecuted and publicly condemned. She’d also become the unlikely face of the fight for reproductive rights. Season 7 of Slow Burn is produced by Susan Matthews, Samira Tazari, Sophie Summergrad, and Sol Werthan. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John and Johanna Zorn. Mixing by Merritt Jacob and Kevin Bendis. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Derreck Johnson based on a photo provided by Robert Wheeler. The season’s reporting was supported by a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.
This month, in honor of Pride, we’re going to be bringing you an Outward episode every week. You’ll still get the biggie on June 22, with Pride and Provocations, the Gay Agenda, and all the usual fun, but we’re also going to supply some shorter snacks of gay goodness every Wednesday. We’ve got some great things lined up--interviews, coverage of the big queer summer movie, and of course reflections on Pride--but we also want to share some great LGBTQ content from around the Slate podcast network. Today, it’s a segment from a recent episode of Mom and Dad Are Fighting, Slate’s parenting podcast. In light of the attacks on trans youth around the country, hosts Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen, and Elizabeth Newcamp invited Outward’s own Jules Gill-Peterson onto the show to provide some historical context and offer advise on what people can do to support trans kids and their parents. The Mom and Dad Are Fighting episode was produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
This week, the panel begins by re-visiting 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 trail 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, titled “Private Notebooks 1914–1916 by Ludwig Wittgenstein review—sex and logic,” about the first translation of famous philosopher’s notebooks in English. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Any Other Way" by Particle House.
If you want to understand the way inequality is baked into the systems and structures all around us, examining the pay equity issue in U.S. soccer is a pretty good place to start. But after a six-year battle, the U.S. Women’s National Team struck an agreement with U.S. Soccer, ensuring equal pay for equal work for the men’s and women’s teams — another victory for a team that doesn’t take no for an answer.
Guest: Christina Cauterucci, senior writer at Slate and a former middle school soccer star.
Josh Levin and Joel Anderson are joined by Jack Hamilton to discuss the Warriors-Celtics NBA Finals matchup. Bradford William Davis then joins to talk about Josh Donaldson’s suspension for calling Tim Anderson “Jackie” and Tommy Pham slapping Joc Pederson for allegedly cheating in fantasy football. NBA (2:10): What the rise of the Warriors and the Celtics says about pro basketball team-building. Donaldson vs. Anderson (21:20): The deeper meaning behind a public war of words. Pham vs. Pederson (42:26): How a fantasy football dispute spilled over to the baseball diamond. Afterball (1:02:10): Josh on the “rebuilding year” as a (possibly) dying concept.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jackie Keliiaa, a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor based in Oakland, California. She currently produces Good Medicine, a live comedy show featuring all Native comedians. Lavery and Keliiaa tackle two letters. First, from someone wondering about polyamorous etiquette, relative to his partner’s partner’s partner. Another letter writer is wondering if he should cut his losses with his employer, or stick with them through a potentially profitable transition. Plus, an update on the letter, “Which Friends? What Benefits?” Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis.
Following the shooting in Uvalde, we talked to a Texas reporter who has covered mass shootings for five years. The Lone Star state remains a GOP strong-hold, which means Texas Republicans tailor their messaging and legislation to avoid being primaried from the right. This impacts how gun laws are written and how mental health is instead elevated, leaving both underserved.
Guest: Lauren McGaughy, investigative reporter, the Dallas Morning News.
Elizabeth’s son Lucas is a talented athlete who wants to compete in track and field at an NCAA Division One school. But so far he’s been running away from doing any research or planning. His mother, Elizabeth, wants to help him be recruited and maybe even get a scholarship. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Steve Magness, performance expert, former track coach for the University of Houston, and author of Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness. He’s navigated both sides of the recruitment process and has some hard-earned wisdom about what it takes to be noticed by college recruiters and why the system itself needs to be reformed. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Coach Squirrelly Kids (and Screaming Parents).” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
John Dickerson talks with author Elif Batuman about coming of age as a college student in the 1990’s, and the similarities between herself and her main character in Either/Or, the sequel to The Idiot.
Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
This week, host June Thomas talks to Jessamyn West, a librarian in rural Vermont who’s working to improve computer literacy and access to library services in her community. In the interview, Jessamyn explains her process for helping people to learn basic computer skills, like building a resume, setting up an online dating profile, or learning how to use a mouse. She also talks about her broader mission to make sure technology is intuitive and accessible to everyone who needs it. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss mantras and understanding your strengths and weaknesses. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jessamyn talks about her experience editing Wikipedia pages. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Earlier this month, Bobbi Brown’s new foundation line blew up on TikTok thanks to some rather ungenerous videos from beauty influencers. In an effort to defend her new Jones Road line, Brown took to TikTok and filmed her own response, rocketing the drama into the TikTok mainstream. On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle dig through the drama to explain why this isn’t just a story about one makeup company, and what it reveals about the state of the influencer industry. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
In light of the Uvalde school shooting, we’re rebroadcasting a special audio presentation from Amicus that originally aired in 2018. Dahlia Lithwick spoke to three educators who survived gun violence at their schools. Heather Martin was a student at Columbine during the 1999 mass shooting; Mary Ann Jacob was library clerk at Sandy Hook at the time of the 2012 shooting; and Ken Yuers was a teacher at Rancho Tehama Elementary School when it suffered a school shooting in 2017. They discussed what they experienced, what it was like going back to the classroom, and what they want changed.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk to David Gelles of the New York Times about his new book The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America—and How to Undo His Legacy. They discuss the infamous former CEO of GE and his lasting negative effect on the American corporate landscape.
In the Plus segment: More with David Gelles. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. David Gelles is an author and a correspondent on the Climate desk at the New York Times.
Danny Lavery welcomes Lindsay Kyle and Robyn O’Donnell, hosts of the podcast, Maladapted, in which they discuss books that have been adapted into movies. Lavery, Kyle, and O’Donnell read a letter from someone who’s boyfriend wants to open up the relationship, but he’s rejecting all of her potential partners. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
With Americans owing more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, Black and other marginalized students are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Braxton Brewington, the spokesperson for The Debt Collective. That organization, dedicated to ending what it considers unjust debt, closed out more than a million dollars owed by students at Bennett College. They talk about what went into making this happen, and the myths about student borrowing that are standing in the way of solutions. Guest: Braxton Brewington, spokesperson for The Debt Collective Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Top Gun: Maverick. Film critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate editor and writer Dan Kois to spoil the long awaited sequel, starring Tom Cruise and directed by Joseph Kosinski. Maverick is pressed into service, training a group of young pilots to carry out a dangerous strike in a rogue nation. But it soon becomes clear that only Maverick has the right stuff to lead the mission. Does Maverick fly high, or get grounded? Is Top Gun: Maverick better than the 1986 original? Read Dana’s thoughts on the movie here. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
Is El Salvador heading for default after going all in on crypto?
Guest: Anna-Cat Brigida
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough for The Texas Tribune: “Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws” Bruce Leshan for WUSA9: “Other countries have been hit by school shootings – and done something” Carl Hulse for The New York Times: “How Congress Passed an Assault Weapons Ban in 1994” Rebecca Kern for Politico: “Tech companies removed the Buffalo shooting manifesto. A Texas law could make that illegal” Emily Woodbury for St. Louis Public Radio: “Sheena Chestnut Greitens analyzes China’s tightrope walk amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” Lara Seligman for Politico: “‘Deadly serious’: U.S. quietly urging Taiwan to follow Ukraine playbook for countering China”
Here are this week’s chatters: David: The Congressional Naming Commission planning to rename forts originally named for Confederate leaders Emily: The women in her New York Times piece “America Almost Took a Different Path Toward Abortion Rights” John: Trump’s losses in the Georgia Republican primary and Jason Willick’s Washington Post piece, “Why Trump’s 2024 chances are even worse than Georgia suggests”
Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Marisa lati for The Washington Post: “In a massive Chinese sinkhole, scientists find a secret forest”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David talk to Jody Rosen about bicycles and his new book, Two Wheels Good: The History & Mystery of the Bicycle.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
The school shooting in Uvalde, Texas was the deadliest since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut nearly a decade ago. Today, we’re re-airing an interview with a parent who lost her child at Sandy Hook and went on to channel her grief into activism. In February, she and a group of other Sandy Hook families announced a $73 million settlement with Remington Arms, forcing the gunmaker to accept responsibility for marketing its weapons to disaffected young men. Guest: Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor for Jurisprudence Nicole Lewis is joined by Slate Money co-host, and correspondent for Axios, Emily Peck to talk about the economic implications of overturning Roe v. Wade. A leaked Supreme Court draft opinion shows the court has the votes to abolish the constitutional right to abortion, which Roe established in 1973. Our hosts dig into all the ways ending abortion will undermine women’s economic gains and participation in the workforce, including gains that conservatives champion - like low rates of teenage motherhood, stable homes and being able to work and provide for yourself. And finally, they look at how eliminating the right to an abortion would disproportionately impact poor women and women of color.
Mentioned in the Episode: “Overturning Roe Could Reverse Economic Gains” by Emily Peck “The Horrifying Implications of Alito’s Most Alarming Footnote” by Dahlia Lithwick National Network of Abortion Funds
In Slate Plus: Are Brazillian Butt Lifts feminist?
Recommendations: Nicole: The Netflix series Bonding. Emily: All kinds of gummy candy, from bears to sour worms. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
On this episode: Zak and Elizabeth are joined by Scott Hershovitz, author of the book Nasty, Brutish and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids and the director of the Law and Ethics Program and professor of law and philosophy at the University of Michigan. They answer a question from a father who doesn’t know how to answer his curious daughter’s constant questions about everything from the meaning of life to if ants feel pain. How can he foster her curiosity while also helping her maintain a sense of mental peace? On Slate Plus, Zak, Elizabeth, and Scott share some of the funniest things their kids have said. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
This week, the panel begins by discussing A24’s newest horror/thriller film from Alex Garland Men. Then, the panel jumps back in time with the reboot of Canadian comedy troupe Kids in the Hall. Finally, the panel is joined by contributing writer for the New York Times, Jody Rosen, to discuss his newest book Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle. In Slate Plus, the panel spoils Men to get to the bottom of the horror mystery. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: This 10 year-old article from Jimmy Stamp for Smithsonian Magazine titled “The Long History of the Espresso Machine.” Julia: From Jody’s early recommendation via Twitter: the Boston food-chain Tatte, which is expanding into DC. Jody: New York Times Critic Jason Farago’s series Close Read, in which he does close analyses of works of art. In particular: his pieces on Berthe Morisot, Jasper Johns, and Chitarman’s “Shah Jahan on a Terrace.” Steve: A deep-cut YouTube video of The Replacements’ “Friday Night is Killing Me” (Live). Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Did I Make You Wait" by Staffan Carlen.
On today’s episode, it’s mailbag time! Rachelle and Madison answer listener questions on a very important Haley Kiyoko relationship status update, if the Apple Health app is also selling your biological data, and – shudder – whether there is a new Couch Guy. Plus, Madison herself has a very important question about resizing your jeans. Mentioned in the Show: “I’m the TikTok Couch Guy. Here’s What It Was Like Being Investigated on the Internet” by Robert McCoy Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Cheyna Roth and Derek John.
More than a million people have died of COVID in America, and infection rates across the country are climbing again. But public officials seem reluctant to enact mask mandates or lockdowns this time around.
Doctors and scientists who work in public health are hoping that “harm reduction” techniques, which were developed to treat addiction and chronic illnesses, can tamp down this latest wave.
Guest: Dr. Deepika Slawek, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Division of General Internal Medicine & an attending physician at Montefiore Comprehensive Family Care.
Danny Lavery welcomes Lindsay Kyle and Robyn O’Donnell, hosts of the podcast, Maladapted, in which they discuss books that have been adapted into movies. Lavery, Kyle, and O’Donnell tackle two letters. First, from a letter writer being asked to delay their transition because their wife wants to have a baby. Another letter writer wants her mom to stop insulting her ailing dad. Plus, behind the scenes of the podcast, Maladapted. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis.
This season of Better Life Lab, we’ve been taking a close look at work stress and the future of work and wellbeing. Parts of the American economy are looking tough for many workers — even “dystopian. People are quitting their jobs at record rates. We know what many of the problems are. Yet the fixes are not so simple. So on this closing episode of our fourth season, we ask: Are bad jobs an inherent part of the workplace — or can we actually do what it takes to make the jobs of the future good jobs, big enough to support real human life for all of us? Guests
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Ct, chair of the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth
Zeynep Ton, founder, Good Jobs Institute
Warren Valdmanis, private equity investor and partner with Two Sigma Impact, who will only invest in companies that provide good jobs
Resources
What if Progress meant Wellbeing for All?, The Metropolitan Group
Making wellbeing a policy priority. Lessons from the 2021 World Happiness Report, Carol Graham, Brookings, 2021
The Business Roundtable Redefines the Purpose of a Corporation to Promote an Economy that Serves All, 2019
Hearing Recap: Our Changing Economy: The Effects of Technological Innovation, Automation and the Future of Work, House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, Nov. 2021
Economists pin more blame on tech for inequality, New York Times, January 2022
In this exclusive episode for Slate Plus members, host Willa Paskin discusses how she came up with the topics covered in this most recent Decoder Ring season. Then we’ll also hear more from her conversation on storytelling with Damon Lindelof, writer, producer, and creator of shows like Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen.
An effort to counterweight GOP-friendly maps in Ohio and Florida in New York state has backfired on the Democrats.
How did Democratic state politicians bungle their redistricting process? Will the error cost the party nationally? Guest: Dave Wasserman, U.S. House editor of the nonpartisan @CookPolitical Report.
Daniel seems to be the whole package. He’s smart, social, and has lots of friends. He even organizes a beach volleyball league in Berlin. But he can’t seem to land a date despite his best efforts. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Andrea Silenzi, dating aficionado and host of the acclaimed dating podcast Why Oh Why. She knows what it’s like to put a ton of effort into dating and not land the relationship she wants. Now married, she shares how she broke through a decade of bad dates and has some hard-earned wisdom to help Daniel, and all of us, make a move that actually works. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Talk to Strangers” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Jack Hamilton to discuss the NBA playoffs and Patrick Beverley’s chaotic media appearances; by Alex Kirshner to talk about the war of words between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher; and by the Washington Post’s Molly Hensley-Clancy to assess U.S. Soccer’s landmark equal pay deal. NBA (2:07): Will the conference finals get any better? And is Patrick Beverley telling the truth or spinning his own narrative? Saban-Fisher (26:21): Where did this fight come from, and what’s it really about? U.S. Soccer (46:32): The anatomy of a historic collective bargaining agreement. Afterball (1:04:06): Stefan on the death of Roger Angell at age 101.
On this episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak answer a question from a listener who is in her second trimester and throughout her pregnancy she’s been sick and tired. This is her first pregnancy, and she and her husband agreed that they should try to stay in shape during it in order to help them be active parents. But despite her tiredness, her husband has been relentlessly pushing her to workout. She swears that he has good intentions. But is there a way to get him to back off? Recommendations Jamilah recommends Hacks on HBO. Elizabeth recommends the Every Kid Outdoors program. Zak recommends checking out Stephen Root’s acting. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
President Biden ran on a promise to forgive $10,000 in student loans back in 2020—but so far, there hasn’t been much movement on that front. Between the pros, the cons, and the politics, one thing is clear: fixing higher education will take more than an executive order.
Guest: Jordan Weissmann, writer and editor focused on economics, public policy, and politics at Slate.
They’ve stolen billions of dollars. Is the U.S. ready to crack down?
Guest: Jason Bartlett, research associate in the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Steph Paynes, founder and guitarist of Lez Zeppelin, an all-female group dedicated to the musical and performative stylings of Led Zeppelin. In the interview Steph explains why she doesn’t consider Lez Zeppelin to be a “tribute band.” Then she describes the challenge of mimicking some aspects of the legendary rock band while still being unique and expressive. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss Steph’s attention to detail and the raw sexuality of both Lez and Led Zeppelin. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Steph tells the story of the time Jimmy Page showed up at one of Lez Zeppelin’s shows. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
While TikTok’s “For You” page is designed to get inside users’ heads—and only show them videos about their niche interests—certain trends and sounds on the app can become too big to avoid. On this week’s episode, Madison and guest host Moises Mendes II break down the disturbing ubiquity of TikToks making fun of the Depp v. Heard defamation trial. Then, they offer insight into the app’s newest dance craze and our strongest contender for 2022 song of the summer, Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.” Finally, they trace the origins of TikTok’s strangest earworm, the “Jiggle Jiggle” rap. Podcast production by Madeline Ducharme and Derek John.
Dahlia is joined by Ambassador Norm Eisen to discuss The Big Picture: democracy, the Rule of Law and the new volume he has co-written and edited, Overcoming Trumpery: How to Restore Ethics, the Rule of Law, and Democracy. Norm and Dahlia look back to January 6th 2021, and ahead to the coming hearings and the midterms.
In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about Ted Cruz’s victory at the Supreme Court, and what it means for what’s left of campaign finance law, the stunning decision out of the 5th circuit that questions the constitutionality of, well, pretty much the whole of the civil service… And Oklahoma’s new abortion ban law that picks up Texas’ vigilante reproductive regulation and runs with it. We'll be back with another episode of Amicus on June 4th, when we’ll start coming to you weekly as the Supreme Court’s term hurtles to its conclusion and we are deluged with consequential decisions. Hoping you can join us to try to navigate the last few weeks of the term, and its fallout.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about Tesla dropping out of the ESG index, Grubhub’s disastrous promo, and Tiktok’s terrible worker conditions.
In the Plus segment: The going rate of a lost tooth.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
What was in the water in Virginia Beach? Starting in the ’90s and peaking in the ’00s, Pharrell Williams, Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley and Missy Elliott—friends and family from the Tidewater Region—made nerdy pop normal on the charts. Their productions whirred, gurgled, pinged and rumbled—the handiwork of studio geeks—while their lyrics embraced the freaky: Missy demanding that you work it…Pharrell declaring he’s a hustler, baby…Timbaland bringing sexy back.
Join host Chris Molanphy as he explains how these three supa-dupa fly Virginia Beach geniuses helped us get our freak on. For over two decades, they never left you without a dope beat to step to.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jane Rice, a civil servant, and Edward Szekely, a radiographer, who live in Edinburgh, Scotland with their 3 year old daughter and 6 year old cat. Lavery, Rice and Szekely read a letter from someone worried that the meds that he and his girlfriend are taking are driving them apart. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis.
The recent massacre targeting the Black community in Buffalo has led to strong words from President Biden and other leaders, denouncing white supremacist violence. But for the remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and their descendants, those words ring hollow. On this week’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Damario Solomon-Simmons, a civil rights lawyer who is leading an effort to win reparations for Tulsa Race Massacre survivors. He won a historic legal victory this month, but argues that the president has failed to follow through on promises to do everything he could to pursue justice for Tulsa. Guest: Damario Solomon-Simmons is a civil rights attorney, and is leading efforts to win reparations for Tulsa Race Massacre victims and their descendants. He’s the Managing Partner of SolomonSimmonsLaw. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
The shooting in Buffalo raises questions about the effectiveness of content moderation. Is the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism the answer to how social media can moderate extremist content?
Guest: Emma Llansó, director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology
Host: Ray Suarez
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “Status Anxiety Is Blowing Wind Into Trump’s Sails” Karn Yourish and Nicholas Confessore for The New York Times: “A Fringe Conspiracy Theory, Fostered Online, Is Refashioned by the G.O.P.” Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “The Slaughter in Buffalo Hasn’t Quieted the Great Replacement Caucus” Nathaniel Rakich for FiveThirtyEight: “What Went Down During the May 17 Primary Elections” David A. Graham for The Atlantic: “John Fetterman Wins on Vibes” Greg Sargent for The Washington Post: “Say it Clearly: Republicans Just Nominated a Pro-Trump Insurrectionist” Lauren Debter for Forbes: “A Startup Wanted To Make A Better Baby Formula. It Took Five Long Years.” Mary McNamara for Los Angeles Times: “Worried About The Declining Birthrate? How About Giving Mothers a Break” Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “For Justice Thomas, The Roberts Court is More Feud Than Family” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Steven Goff and Molly Hensley-Clancy for The Washington Post: “U.S. Women’s And Men’s National Soccer Teams Close Pay Gap With ‘Game-Changing’ Deal” Emily: Patricia Campos Mello for Poynter: “An Unholy Coalition Torpedoes Social Media Reform Legislation in Brazil” David: “The Final Dance in Dirty Dancing, But They’re Dancing To The Muppet Show Theme Tune” by @Pandamoanimum
Listener chatter from Dylan Bindman: Christophe Haubursin for Vox: “Who Made These Circles in The Sahara?”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss Justice Clarence Thomas’ recent comments and the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak talk about the baby formula shortage. Then they are joined by Dr. Christine Stephenson, pediatric physical therapist and author of The Constipation Game Plan, to help a four year old who refuses to use the restroom when he’s not at home. On Slate Plus, Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak talk about the highly annoying time gap between school pickup and work ending. Recommendations: The Constipation Game Plan The Poo in You Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Karen Han hear from a listener who can’t decide which creative project to move forward with. First, they discuss how to evaluate a project’s potential for success. Then they imagine what it would be like to choose between projects if money weren’t a factor. Do you have a question about creative work? Call and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, historian and original Waves host, Marcia Chatelain is joined by sociologist Danielle Lindemann to talk all things reality TV. They discuss Danielle’s new book, True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us and why we don’t take reality television as seriously as we should. Later in the show they talk about why women are more successful at monetizing their reality TV brand and how the genre takes us on a tour of the class system.
In Slate Plus: Is The Bachelorette feminist?
Recommendations:
Marcia: The True Crime Obsessed podcast, Let the Women Do the Work Danielle: The Netflix series Selling Sunset Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
When China first instituted its zero-COVID policy, it was a success: as other countries struggled with soaring infection rates and overburdened hospitals, life for many Chinese citizens began to look normal again within months—so long as they weren’t infected. But the omicron variant changed the game. Now, people are speaking out against draconian lockdown measures they say are inappropriate to face the current level of threat.
How did zero-COVID evolve from being the most effective virus prevention strategy in the world to a disproportionate and punitive system? And how has that evolution expanded state control?
Guest: Dake Kang, journalist in the Beijing bureau of the Associated Press.
This month Bryan, Christina, and Jules explore the intersection of queer life and incarceration. How has America’s prison-loving penal system shaped our history and present, and how does that experience get channeled—or not—into the culture we make and consume? The hosts are joined by Hugh Ryan, author of the new book The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison, which uses one infamous mid-century institution in New York’s Greenwich Village to return the overlooked lives of incarcerated women and transmasculine folks to our collective story, and to make a stirring case for prison abolition as a queer issue. Then they discuss how prison shows up in pop culture—and whether they’re entirely comfortable with those fantasies. Items discussed in the show: Selling Sunset Two recent articles on phalloplasty: “How Ben Got His Penis,” by Jamie Lauren Keiles in the New York Times, and “My Penis Myself,” by Gabriel Mac in New York Original Plumbing “Madison Cawthorn Thrusting His Naked Body on Another Man’s Face Doesn’t Tell Us Much About His ‘Gayness,’ ” by Bryan in Slate Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men, by Jane Ward The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison, by Hugh Ryan When Brooklyn Was Queer, by Hugh Ryan Huey P. Newton’s 1970 speech on the women’s liberation and gay liberation movements Chained Heat 2 Orange Is the New Black Gay Agenda Christina: Great Freedom Jules: The Vice series Transnational Bryan: From Gay to Z: A Queer Compendium, by Justin Elizabeth Sayres
This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
This week, the panel begins by discussing the new true crime series Under the Banner of Heaven. Then, the panel time travels with the film Petite Maman. Finally, the panel debates “The Future of Public Parks,” inspired by a New Yorker piece from Alexandra Lange. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses their experiences having their work edited. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dan: The novel, Howards End by E.M. Forster. Julia: A listener response to her former request of snorkeling’s relationship to birdwatching. Steve: A book review in The New Statesman from Scotland’s National Poet, Kathleen Jamie, titled “What rocks teach us about the human condition,” which reviews Hugh Raffles’ book The Book of Unconformities: Speculations on Lost Time. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Last Sunday" by OTE.
In this episode, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher speak with Dion Beary, a writer and online community builder who founded the Tumblr blog This Is White Privilege. They talk with Beary about where that blog began, its impact on online discourse, and why he stepped away.
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
A shooting Saturday at a supermarket in a predominantly-Black neighborhood in Buffalo left at least 10 people dead and three more injured. The suspected shooter left a manifesto riddled with racist ideology, laying out plans to specifically target Black people and citing the so-called “great replacement theory” as his motivation.
How much will white supremacist violence be a part of the everyday lives of Americans — and what’s being done to stop it?
Guest: Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist covering race in America.
When did everyone become a storyteller? Decades after George Lucas and Steve Jobs made storytelling a big business, every company now wants to tell “Our Story.” Instagram and TikTok let everyone else tell their “stories,” and the number of people calling themselves storytellers on LinkedIn is now more than half a million. Something we have done for the entirety of our existence as a species has become just another fad. In this episode of Decoder Ring, we’re going to look at where this trend came from and where it’s going. What Willa discovered changed the way she now thinks about stories—and it might do the same for you. Some of the voices you’ll hear in this episode include Margaret O’Mara, historian and author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America; Michael Simon, director and producer; Francesca Polletta, sociologist at University of California, Irvine; Steve Clayton, Chief Storyteller at Microsoft; Seth Godin, entrepreneur and author of All Marketers Tell Stories; Everett Cook, Associate Editor at Axios Local; and David Paskin, Willa’s father. Decoder Ring is written and produced by Willa Paskin. This episode was edited by Dan Kois and produced by Elizabeth Nakano. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jane Rice, a civil servant, and Edward Szekely, a radiographer, who live in Edinburgh, Scotland with their 3 year old daughter and 6 year old cat. Lavery, Rice, and Szekely take on two letters. First, from a young adult who wants to know why he can’t help lying to his parents. Another letter writer is trying to break their habit of using their dead name at work. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis.
Michael Tubbs grew up in poverty. And when, at 26, he was elected mayor of his hometown, he decided to do something about it. And what he did in Stockton, California, no American mayor had done before. He started giving poor people cash. No strings attached. Stockton’s pilot program in Guaranteed Basic Income started lifting people out of poverty. It gave parents more time with their kids. And it was actually cost-effective. So as we look to the Future of Work and Wellbeing, could Guaranteed Basic Income programs play a central role in lifting all of us up — and boosting the standard of life for all Americans? Guests
Michael Tubbs, elected mayor of Stockton, California in 2016 at the age of 26 — the youngest mayor in the country. He is known nationally for establishing the first city-led Guaranteed Basic Income program in America, which has inspired dozens of other cities across the country to try similar programs. Having lost his re-election bid in 2020, Tubbs recently founded the nonprofit End Poverty in California.
Natalie Foster, co-founder, co-director Economic Security Project, which worked closely with Tubbs on Stockton’s Guaranteed Basic Income program
John Summers, participant in pilot guaranteed basic income program Cambridge RISE in Massachusetts.
Resources
Stockton’s Basic Income Experiment Paid Off, Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic
The Potential for a Guaranteed Income: A Conversation with Four Mayors, New America California, 2021.
The Future of Leisure, Stuart Whatley, Democracy Journal, 2012
The Evolving Concept of Time for Work, Leisure, Pew Research, 2008
Less Work and More Leisure: Utopian Visions and the Future of Work, CBC Radio, 2018
Consumers are paying higher prices almost everywhere as inflation continues to rise. But corporate earnings calls have revealed that many companies are using inflation as a cover to jack up prices and increase profits — all on the backs of customers.
Guest: Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative
After experiencing multiple instances of sexual assault, Julia often feels sexually disconnected from her own body. She wants to be aware of her boundaries and find pleasure in new relationships going forward. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Jamila Dawson, licensed marriage and family therapist, and August McLaughlin, health and sexuality journalist and host of Girl Boner Radio. Together they wrote With Pleasure: Managing Trauma Triggers for More Vibrant Sex and Relationships. They share candid, tangible advice about navigating consent and how to turn awkward conversations into something empowering — even sexy. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Talk to Your Son About Sex”. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Vinson Cunningham, Josh Levin, and Ben Mathis-Lilley talk about the Mavs’ shocking win over the Suns, the Celtics’ romp over the Bucks, the 76ers’ flameout, and other NBA playoff happenings. They also discuss Tom Brady’s megabucks contract to call NFL games for Fox. Mavs-Suns (2:36): How Luka Doncic and Dallas embarrassed Phoenix. More NBA (23:15): With the Bucks and Suns gone, who’s the favorite to win the title? Brady (44;53): Why does he want to be an announcer? Will he be any good? Afterball (1:05:01): Ben on Greg Norman, Joe Biden, and what it’s OK to say about Saudi Arabia.
The likely end of Roe v. Wade marks a bitter setback for the pro-choice movement. But the success of abortion legalization campaigns in Ireland and Argentina may be models for a way forward.
What are the ingredients for effective public messaging? What can American activists learn from the examples of international movements?
Guest: Anat Shenker-Osorio, communications researcher and campaign advisor, host of the podcast “Words To Win By.”
On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak are joined by Amber O’Neal Johnston. She’s the author of A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond and has a blog called Heritage Mom. They talk about how families can celebrate their own identities while learning about and appreciating other people’s races and cultural differences. What does it mean to teach kids about “hard history,” but also celebrate cultural heritage? And, why do so many parents find it difficult to talk about culture and race? Recommendations Elizabeth recommends: Read Aloud Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly Zak recommends: Make your own pesto Amber recommends: Get a good knife Resources A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond by Amber O’Neal Johnston Amber’s blog: Heritage Mom Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
This week, host Karen Han talks to voice actor and performer Erika Ishii, whose very long resume includes video games, animated series, and live action projects. In the interview, Erika explains their process of bringing video game characters to life–characters like Valkyrie in the game Apex Legends. Then Erika discusses diversity among both characters and performers in the gaming industry and the ability to say no to projects that aren’t the right fit. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler talk about diversity in entertainment and the progress that has yet to be made. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Erika lists some of the voice acting that has inspired them over the years. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Trump's Truth Social network was supposed to be the right's answer to Twitter. What happens to the company if Elon takes over?
Guest: Drew Harwell, reporter for the Washington Post
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers talk about the latest big meltdown in the cryptomarket, the ongoing baby formula shortage, and the economics of hiring Tom Brady. In the Plus segment: The recent sale of one of Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe paintings. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
The “troubled teen” industry, which refers to a network of private wilderness youth programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and residential treatment centers has recently come under scrutiny thanks to TikTok. Survivors of this industry have taken to the app to post stories of their traumatic experiences. On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle talk to Kendee and Daniel, two TikTokkers who’ve become voices of the “troubled teen” industry survivor movement. They take us through what they refer to as “legal kidnapping”, the harsh conditions and manual labor they were subjected to, what life’s been like since they got out, and how TikTok has helped them heal. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
Danny Lavery welcomes writer, comedian Dani Faith Leonard, who recently produced the film, Coast. Lavery and Faith Leonard read a letter from someone who is upset that her friend doesn’t wash their hands. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Film critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate senior editor Sam Adams to spoil the Marvel film that stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Directed by Sam Raimi, the first action scene takes place at the wedding of Doctor Stephen Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) ex (Rachel McAdams) being interrupted by a one-eyed octopus creature from space that’s chasing after America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). It’s an explosive start to a film that has some of the best –and the worst– of what Marvel movies are famous for. Read Sam’s review of the movie. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
In light of the threat to Roe v. Wade, abortion rights advocates are asking many companies –including in the tech industry– to take a stand. But many industry leaders are silent, and could be poised to profit from data that tracks abortion providers, advocates, and patients. On this week’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Bärí Williams, an expert on diversity in tech and artificial intelligence. They talk about the political, financial, and social priorities that may be keeping tech leaders quiet about the abortion issue. Guest: Bärí Williams, an expert on diversity in tech and AI. She’s also the COO of Bandwagon Fan Club, Inc., a data and identity analytics tech company focused on sports and entertainment. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Companies are developing and selling A.I. products intended to tell your boss or your teacher how you're feeling.
Guest: Kate Kaye, reporter for Protocol
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: “In a Post-Roe World, Can States Prevent Women From Seeking Abortions Out-of-State?” Ruth Graham for The New York Times: “A Pastor and His Congregation Part Ways” Ruth Graham and Elizabeth Dias for The New York Times: “The Growing Religious Fervor in the American Right: ‘This Is a Jesus Movement’” The Great Evangelical Recession: 6 Factors That Will Crash the American Church...and How to Prepare by John Dickerson
Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Forbidden City, by Vanessa Hua; A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua; Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids, by Scott Hershovitz John: Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City, by Andrea Elliott; Jon Ward for Christianity Today: “Being a Political Journalist Made Me a Better Christian”; The Bob Dylan Center; John Dickerson for CBS This Morning: “Bob Dylan Center: A Window Into the Voice of a Generation” David: Mother Jones: “How Private Equity Looted America”; Our Earth: “Cool Airplane Camera Views on Lufthansa” Listener chatter from Nicholas Gaffney: Alex Hanson for The Valley News: “Croydon Reverses Slashing Of School Budget After Voters Turn Out For Special Meeting”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the things they do today that would horrify their 25-year-old selves.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak are joined by Amber O’Neal Johnston, author of A Place to Belong and she blogs at heritagemom.com. Together they tackle a question from a nanny who is fed up with preteen attitude. The boy she looks after takes his bad moods out on everyone around him, including her. She’s wondering if she can help him change his behavior or if she should find another place to work. On Slate Plus, Elizabeth, Zak, and Amber start strategizing their summer plans. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
As the country awaits a final decision on whether the Supreme Court will overturn Roe. v Wade, fertility doctors are sounding the alarm about what that could mean for the future procedures like IVF.
Guests: Dr. Natalie Crawford, OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas.
Emily, an IVF patient in West Virginia. Emily asked Slate to withhold her last name so she could speak freely about her fertility treatments.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re reflecting on the impact of Bitch Media, which started as a zine in the 90s, and grew into a print publication and website . Slate staff writer Heather Schwedel is joined by Bitch co-founder Andi Zeisler to talk about the history of Bitch. Then, they explore why feminist media is struggling, despite maybe being more necessary than ever.
In Slate Plus: Is asking if things are feminist, feminist?
Recommendations: Heather: Ghosts by Dolly Alderton Andi: Time Zone J by Julie Doucet
Mentioned in the Show: “Bitch and the End of Independent Feminist Media” by Jude Ellison S. Doyle
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
“Am I the asshole?” The provocative question lies at the heart of a wildly popular subreddit whose reach has spread far beyond the platform. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison dig into the history and legacy of the 4-million-subscriber-strong advice forum that is the “Am I the Asshole” subreddit. They speak with Mallola Khalidi, a TikTokker who’s blown up on the platform after she started filming herself reading AITA posts. They discuss how she got started, how her videos have been received, and some of the wildest stories she’s ever read aloud. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
Curious explosions in a Russian stronghold of Moldova have the world wondering if Putin is making his next play. Why is a tiny country on Ukraine’s western border of such strategic importance? Guest: Monika Pronczuk, Brussels-based reporter for the New York Times.
This week, Steve is joined by author and Slate editor and writer, Dan Kois, and Slate staff writer, Heather Schwedel. The panel begins by discussing the French film Happening with Susan Matthews, Slate’s news director and the host of Slow Burn Season 7, which will focus on Roe v. Wade. Then, the panel sails the high seas with HBO’s Our Flag Means Death. Finally, Julia pops in for a surprise guest segment as the panel discusses Kim Kardashian’s Marilyn Monroe-inspired Met Gala appearance. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses culture that shaped their ideas of 40s and 50s adulthood. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dan: A contemporary novel about a very bad art friend that was somewhat overlooked in January, Last Resort by Andrew Lipstein. Heather: Hersey’s Colliders—a two-part refrigerated dessert. Steve: The 2002 Brazilian epic crime film City of God. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Self Made Woman" by Katharine Appleton.
Danny Lavery welcomes writer, comedian Dani Faith Leonard, who recently produced the film, Coast. Lavery and Faith Leonard tackle two letters. First, from a letter writer whose name change is ruffling feathers in her family. Another letter writer is worried about making small talk at their brother's wedding. Faith Leonard shares about producing the films Coast, Lez Bomb, and her live comedy show, Adult Sex Ed. Plus, a listener update! Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis.
It’s not unusual for the U.S. to lend intelligence to another country. It’s a little more unusual for the U.S. to talk about it.
Why is the American military confirming reports that it’s helping Ukraine vanquish Russian targets? Could that candidness lead to an expansion of the war? Or will it be the deciding factor in finishing the conflict?
Guest: Shane Harris, reporter covering intelligence and national security for the Washington Post.
Being unemployed in the United States is bad for you. It’s bad for your mental, physical and emotional health. Bad for your family stability. Bad for your ability to survive. It’s just bad news, period. The research shows that 83 percent of laid-off workers develop a serious stress-related condition. And as we look at the future of work, that’s a problem for the American economy. Because one of the big questions about the American workplace is:What if, in the a future, we actually have less work … and more unemployment? Guests
Kiarica Shields, hospice nurse in Georgia who lost her job early in the pandemic, and eventually lost her home and her car. Her unemployment insurance stopped inexplicably, and after she her appeal, she was told she was ineligible for coverage because she worked a single day on another job.
Mark Attico - furloughed at the start of the pandemic in his job planning business travel. Was on unemployment for months, and with the pandemic supplement his income was actually enough to pay his bills, and gave him time to reconnect with his teenage son - and hold out for a better job that fit his skills and paid well.
Dorian Warren, co-president of Community Change.
Sarah Damaske, author of The Tolls of Uncertainty: How Privilege and the Guilt Gap Shape Unemployment in America.
Resources
Reforming Unemployment Insurance: Stabilizing a system in crisis and laying the foundation for equity, A joint project of Center for American Progress, Center for Popular Democracy, Economic Policy Institute, Groundwork Collaborative, National Employment Law Project, National Women’s Law Center, and Washington Center for Equitable Growth, June, 2021
A Playbook for Improving Unemployment Insurance Delivery, New America New Practice Lab, 2021
A Plan to Reform the Unemployment Insurance System in the United States, Arindrajit Dube, The Hamilton Project, April 2021
How Does Employment, or Unemployment, Affect Health, RWJF, 2013
Single transitions and persistence of unemployment are associated with poor health outcomes, Herber et al, 2019
The Toll of job loss, Stephanie Pappas, American Psychological Association, 2020
In the 1970s, a song about protesting truckers topped the music charts in multiple countries, and kicked off a pop culture craze for CB radios. In early 2022, that same song became an anthem for a new trucker-led protest movement in Canada and the US. How did C.W. McCall’s “Convoy” come to exist, and what had it been trying to say? For this episode, which was inspired by a listener’s question, we’ve updated a story that originally aired in 2017, but that could not be more relevant today. Slate producer Evan Chung is going to take us through the history of this bizarre number-one smash, an artifact from a time when truckers were also at the center of the culture. It touches on advertising, hamburger buns, and speed limits but also global conflict, sky-rocketing gas prices, and aggrieved, protesting truck drivers. Some of the voices you’ll hear in this episode include Bill Fries, advertising executive; Chip Davis, singer and songwriter; and Meg Jacobs, historian and author of Panic at the Pump. This episode of Decoder Ring was written and produced by Evan Chung and Willa Paskin with help from Elizabeth Nakano. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com.
When Samantha and her husband moved from a condo to a fairly large house, they knew they’d have a lot of updating and upkeep to do. But they had no idea how much time their new chores would gobble up. Or even what chores to do. (If only there was a guide to adulting!) Even when they weren’t holding themselves to picture-perfect standards, it still felt like they were barely keeping their heads above water. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Kendra Adachi, she’s a best-selling author, podcaster, and professional permission giver. She has tangible, easy steps that you can do right now to help you prioritize and organize your mess—and ultimately, your life. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Stop “Having It All” (Before You End Up With Nothing)” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the New York Times‘ Joe Drape to talk about Rich Strike’s shocking Kentucky Derby win. They also discuss Brittney Griner’s continued detention in Russia. Finally, Shane Ryan joins for a conversation about the Ryder Cup and sports trivia. Kentucky Derby (1:57): Inside one of the biggest upsets in horse racing history. Brittney Griner (23:01): What comes next in the diplomatic crisis? Ryder Cup and trivia (42:52): The evolution of golf’s showcase event, and the theory and practice of sports trivia. Afterball (1:06:56): Vinson on Draymond Green, NBA ombudsman.
In the wake of a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion indicating that Roe v. Wade will soon be a thing of the past, some states are rushing to fortify the right to an abortion within their borders. Nowhere has gone as far as Connecticut, though, which has expanded the field of people permitted to perform abortions and created legal protections for anyone who aids in the procedure. But will it make a difference when abortion will likely soon be outlawed in half the country?
Guest: Matt Blumenthal, State Representative for Connecticut’s 147th District.
On this episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak talk about the wave of anti-trans legislation, the role of misinformation in this movement, and how to protect trans kids. They are joined by Jules Gill-Peterson. She is a trans historian and author of Histories of the Transgender Child, and co-host of Slate’s very own Outward podcast. Recommendations Jamilah recommends: NYT Spelling Bee Elizabeth recommends: PILOT FriXion Clicker Erasable, Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Pens Zak recommends: This tweet Resources Histories of the Transgender Child by Jules Gill-Peterson Slate’s Outward podcast Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to theater director Awoye Timpo and dramaturg Arminda Thomas. In the interview, Awoye and Arminda start by defining the roles of director and dramaturg and explaining why they work so well together. They also discuss their group CLASSIX, which aims to revive the work of Black playwrights and to “explode” the classical canon. Then Awoye and Arminda talk about their latest play Wedding Band, written by the mid-twentieth-century playwright Alice Childress. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss the pleasures of archival research and the challenges of directing a play that was written during an earlier time period. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Awoye explains what it’s like to direct child actors, especially in a play that contains very adult subject matter. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
A conversation with one of the smartest First Amendment lawyers in the country.
Guest: Jameel Jaffer
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
After the Supreme Court opinion dismantling Roe v. Wade was leaked earlier this week, social media has been flooded with people telling you to delete your period tracker apps. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison talk about their own experiences using period tracking apps, the ways your personal data can be purchased and used against you, and why data privacy in this country is nothing but a joke. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers talk about the Fed’s half point interest rate hike, big business’s dance around future abortion ban implications, and the wild west of newly, unregulated art auctions.
In the Plus segment: More overseas investors jump on board with Elon Musk.
Danny Lavery welcomes Dylan Marron, author of the book Conversations with People Who Hate Me, and the host and creator of the critically acclaimed podcast by the same name. Marron recently joined the writing staff of the Emmy-winning hit television series Ted Lasso. Lavery and Marron read a letter from someone who is in love with their ex, and is afraid of not being with them for the rest of their life. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
With one million dead from COVID, many Americans are suffering through profound grief. And for Black Americans, the pandemic combined with the racial reckoning has made the mourning feel endless. On this week’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson talks with writer Marisa Renee Lee about her new book Grief Is Love: Living With Loss, and about making space for joy in the midst of grief. Guest: Marisa Renee Lee, a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur. Her new book is Grief Is Love: Living With Loss. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
The pandemic changed the way abortion care could be provided online. So what happens now?
Guest: Dr. Mai Fleming, family medicine physician and Fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health.
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “The Leaked Draft Roe Opinion Is A Disaster For The Supreme” Edwin Meese III for The Washington Post: “Did The Conservative Legal Movement Succeed? That All Depends On Whether The Supreme Court Overrules Roe V. Wade.” Reginald Dwayne Betts for The New York Times Magazine: “Could an Ex-Convict Become an Attorney? I Intended to Find Out”
Here are this week’s chatters: Ruth: Julia Clancy for Eating Well: “What Is an Air Fryer and Should You Buy One?” James: The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City, by Nicholas Dawidoff Emily: She’s getting a puppy! Send your advice. Listener chatter from Joe Stracci: Kevin Kelly for The Techium: “103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily and Ruth interview James about his innovative programs at Yale’s Center for Law and Racial Justice.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth help a listener who feels like she’s constantly walking through a maze of toys and the piles of stuff just keep growing. Both her and her partner work a ton, which leaves little time to actually clean the house. But she’s the only one pitching in… Her partner and her two kids are “incapable of cleaning up after themselves.” She’s at her wits end and seriously contemplating pitching everything. On Slate Plus, Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth discuss the Netflix show, Old Enough! Other recommendations: Sister Song Emily Ley’s Simplified Ruthless Declutter Challenge Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we start with a conversation with upcoming Slow Burn: Roe v Wade host, Susan Matthews and Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth about the implications of the recently leaked Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe.
In the main show, we shift focus to gender violence as the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial continues. Cheyna sits down with Dr. Nicole Bedera about what happens when fans try to play detective and how we should actually be talking to victims of violence. Later in the show they talk about Men’s Rights Activists and the broader implications of suing people who accuse someone of assault.
In Slate Plus, is Mother’s Day feminist?
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas reply to a listener named Jamey, who thinks it might be time to abandon a novel-writing project. Karen and June first discuss projects they’ve abandoned and share what drove them to that decision. Then they discuss ways to salvage the best parts of a failed project to use on the next one. Do you have a question about creative work? Call and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
In a special live panel discussion in partnership with the Crosscut Festival, this week’s Amicus tackles the post-leak landscape and potential post-Roe fallout from Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion in Dobbs. An all-star panel, featuring law professor and podcast host Melissa Murray, journalist and bestselling author Jessica Bruder, and Slate’s news director Susan Matthews—host of the upcoming Season 7 of Slow Burn focusing on the road to Roe v Wade—get together to discuss the past, present, and future of reproductive liberty.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Johnny Depp’s defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard is making headlines—not just for the spectacle taking place within the courtroom, but for its implications for victims of domestic violence.
In a case of domestic ugliness, is it possible to know the truth? And does trying to uncover it through legal action serve anyone’s best interests?
Guest: John Culhane, professor at the Delaware Law School.
In the early 1970s, the future of abortion in America was far from settled. Roe v. Wade would change everything, though few knew it at the time. For the seventh season of Slate’s Slow Burn, host Susan Matthews explores the path to Roe—a time when more Republicans than Democrats supported abortion rights. You’ll hear the forgotten story of the first woman ever to be convicted of manslaughter for having an abortion, the unlikely Catholic power couple who helped ignite the pro-life movement, and a rookie Supreme Court justice who got assigned the opinion of a lifetime. First episode drops Wednesday, June 1st, 2022. Subscribe now!
The ICYMI mailbag is full once again so Rachelle and Madison decided to read some listener letters for today’s episode. On the show, they answer questions about a recent theory that Wes Anderson’s films have the trappings of fascist art, bad resurfaced tweets from online influencer Tinx, people over on TikTok talking about cussing, and more. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
In a special episode for Slate Plus members, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern for in-depth analysis of the stunning leaked draft opinion from Justice Samuel Alito in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization, the abortion case that is poised to overturn 50 years of jurisprudence and Roe v Wade.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week, Isaac Butler, author and co-host of Slate’s podcast Working, fills in for Steve as the panel begins by seeking Valhalla with The Northman. Then, the panel takes a time-traveling ride with Season 2 of Russian Doll. Finally, the panel is joined by Slate senior editor Rebecca Onion to discuss the new social media app BeReal. In Slate Plus, the panel—plus guest producer Jessamine Molli—share their experiences watching content while under the influence. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The Hans Holbein exhibit Holbein: Capturing Character at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City. Their website has a great online version of the exhibit with audio and artistic reproductions. Julia: Still looking for RFP on snorkeling; also: an old-school internet delight: Grunge Frasier. Isaac: Two novels! First: The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson from the mid-20th century. Second: the new novel Happy For You by Claire Stanford.
Buy Dana’s book and Isaac’s book!
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is The King by Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough from The Northman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
This week, Politico published a shocking leak from within the Supreme Court, indicating that a majority of the judges have voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Beyond who leaked the draft opinion, questions remain about what the rollback of the landmark constitutional law will mean for abortion rights in America.
Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, Slate courts and law writer and host of the podcast Amicus.
Danny Lavery welcomes Dylan Marron, author of the book Conversations with People Who Hate Me, and the host and creator of the critically acclaimed podcast by the same name. Marron recently joined the writing staff of the Emmy-winning hit television series Ted Lasso. Lavery and Marron take on two letters. First, from a letter writer who doesn’t want to give up on his once supportive dad. Another letter writer wants to stop bickering with her husband over house chores. Plus, the story behind Marron’s book and podcast, Conversations with People Who Hate Me. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
PTSD. Burnout. Depression. That’s what you get from a too stressful workplace. And — employers take note — you also get reduced commitment to work, and much higher costs. As workplaces have navigated the COVID pandemic, new technologies have amped those stresses to 11. Bossware. Tattleware. After-hours nastiness on Slack. Now there’s a whole different kind of “technostress” wearing on warehouse and retail workers, whose every movement is tracked and rated by algorithms. Researchers are only beginning to study the impact “technostress” has on workers, from toxic interpersonal relationships to “email apnea” Tech is here to stay — but how can we foster healthier, less “technostress”-inducing work cultures? Guests
Roxanne Felig, doctoral student at the University of South Florida, who was cyber bullied online after publishing her first major research paper — and publicizing it on TikTok.
Adrian Ugalde, retail worker at a big box store in LA
Maddie Swenson, who quit her remote job as a creative director because of the stress of being monitored with Bossware.
Ashley Nixon, Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior at Willamette University.
Resources
Workplace Monitoring and Surveillance, Data and Society, 2019
Technostress Dark Side of Technology in the Workplace: A Scientometric Analysis, Bondanini et al, 2020.
Technostress: Implications for Adults in the Workplace, Atanasoff & Venable, 2017
Workplace bullying jeopardizes employees’ life satisfaction: the roles of job anxiety and insomnia, Nauman, Malik & Jalil, 2019
The Workplace-Surveillance Technology Boom, Natalie Chyi, New America Weekly, 2020
Are you Breathing? Do you have email apnea? Linda Stone, 2014
In 2004, the indie flick Sideways was released in just four theaters, but it had a big impact, earning five Oscar nominations and $110 million worldwide. “I thought it was just going to be a nice little comedy,” filmmaker Alexander Payne tells us. Instead, the movie became known for something else so notable that it has a name: The Sideways Effect. In this episode, we explore all the outsized effects of this one little movie on the huge wine industry. Did a single line of dialogue really tank merlot sales for decades? Did an ode to pinot noir jumpstart demand for this expensive grape? Did Paul Giamatti’s sad sack character change our relationship to yet another wine, one that was barely mentioned in the film? Today on Decoder Ring, all of these questions and this one: Is it long past time to start drinking merlot? Some of the voices in this episode include Laura Lippmann, crime novelist; Tim Farrell, wine buyer for Brooklyn Wine Exchange; Rex Pickett, novelist and author of ‘Sideways,’ Alexander Payne, director, screenwriter, and producer; Jeff Bundschu, owner of Gundlach Bundschu; Steve Cuellar, professor of economics at Sonoma State University; and Kathy Joseph, owner of Fiddlehead Cellars. We also mention Travis Lybbert’s paper corroborating the “Sideways Effect,” which you can find here. Decoder Ring is written and produced by Willa Paskin. This episode was produced by Elizabeth Nakano. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com.
When Betsy joined her last workplace, she thought it was a perfect fit. It was on a list of Best Places to Work and she got to be creative while helping people. But as the startup rapidly grew, the company culture changed and Betsy started to lose herself amid the stress. Then she got laid off. Honestly, Betsy was relieved, but now she’s gotta figure out what’s next. On this episode of How To!, we bring on James Altucher, author, podcaster, and all-around interesting person. He’s both created successful companies and failed a number of times. He has some funny, frank advice for taking the sting out of rejection, reviving your passions, and making sure your next move is right for you. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Advance Your Career by Quitting Your Job.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow went viral in April for striking back at an extreme characterization made by a Republican colleague. The video of McMorrow’s speech—viewed over 14 million times—tells a bigger story about how national political rhetoric is affecting local political debates. But is the senator really demonstrating how to reset the terms of debate? Or is she just one more person who went viral for speaking to her echo chamber? Guest: Mallory McMorrow, Michigan state senator representing Grand Oak and the suburbs north of Detroit.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
Taffy Brodesser-Akner, journalist and author of the novel turned soon-to-be television show, Fleishman Is in Troublejoins Felix and Emily to talk about the 1990 dark comedy The Bonfire of the Vanities. They get into why Emily hated this movie, the differences between the movie and the book, and all the racism. Plus, there’s some behind-the-scenes industry talk.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Vinson Cunningham and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Slate’s Jack Hamilton to talk about the NBA playoffs and the dawn of de facto free agency in college sports. Also, Kalyn Kahler of Defector discusses the NFL draft and her reporting on a rape allegation against an NFL lineman.
NBA playoffs (1:36): Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to an easy win over the Celtics. Can Boston turn it around? College sports (23:32): Name, image, and likeness rights have quickly ushered in a new era.
NFL draft (40:00): Edge rushers and wide receivers, not quarterbacks, were the hot commodities in Vegas.
Afterball (1:02:46): Stefan on the rise of the “edge”—or it is “EDGE”?—in the NFL.
On this episode: Zak and Elizabeth debate what to do about a bedtime battle. Our listener’s toddler is generally a great sleeper, but now her bedtime routine isn’t working anymore. If a kid is going to sleep early, does it mean they’ll be early to rise? How early is too early to put your toddler to bed? Recommendations Elizabeth: Metaphor Dice Zak: Takeya Cold Brew Maker Bonus Recommendations: Summer Brain Quest Books Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory by Sarah Polley Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
The body of 18-year-old Debanhi Escobar was discovered in late April, inside a water tank in a motel on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico—weeks after she went missing. The identity of her killer is still unknown.
The case has prompted a national outcry over the Mexican government’s consistent failure to deliver justice for missing women. But femicide in Mexico isn’t new, and past protests haven’t yielded meaningful change. Will this time be any different?
Guest: Oscar Lopez, reporter for the New York Times based in Mexico City.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Hannah Kirshner, author of Water, Wood, and Wild Things: Learning Craft and Cultivation in a Japanese Mountain Town. In the interview, Hannah explains how her original plan to write a cookbook turned into an immersive reporting experience, where she practiced and documented multiple artisanal disciplines, like sake brewing and wood turning. She also discusses what it was like to be an outsider navigating the norms of rural Japan. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about the difference between appreciation and appropriation when reporting on a culture different from one’s own. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Hannah talks in greater detail about working at a sake brewery. Then she explains the care and discipline that goes into growing rice. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Today on the show: Can Starlink ever fulfill its promise of connecting the world, especially places left behind by traditional internet? Or will it be just another toy for the rich?
Guest: Meaghan Tobin, reporter at Rest of World
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Lea Michele is in the news again because of some rather personal details she reveals about her relationship with her Spring Awakening co-star, Jonathan Groff, in a new documentary about the musical. At the same time, the internet conspiracy theory that the former Glee star is illiterate has resurfaced. On the show today, Rachelle and Allegra enumerate the reasons Lea’s trending once again, the details about her ability to read, and why the internet loves to hate her. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers talk about what’s happening with Disney and the Reedy Creek improvement district, Elon Musk’s alignment with the far right, and the criminal charges filed against Archegos founder, Bill Hwang.
In the Plus segment: All about tipping.
Mentioned In the Show: “Let’s Be Clear About What It’s Like to Be Harassed on Twitter” by Elizabeth Spiers “Disney Strategy Is to Stay Silent to Soften Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s Blow” by Robbie Whelan “Elon Musk Might Break Twitter. Maybe That’s a Good Thing” by The Ezra Klein Show Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy reunited with Steve Lickteig, cofounder of podcast developer Small Good Thing and the man who greenlit Hit Parade when he was at Slate five years ago. Steve talks about the radio sensibility he brought to the show as our first producer and why the combination of music and stories makes the show compelling for listeners. Plus, he counts down his own top five favorite Hit Parade episodes—his list is heavy on country music, unusual takes, albums for road trips…and songs both he and Chris Molanphy hate.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives her a chance to turn the tables with a question of her own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Maud Newton, the author of Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation. Lavery and Newton read a letter from someone who doesn’t want to accept money for watching her friend’s cat. Plus, a listener update! Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
This week’s Spoiler Specials takes on The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Film critic Dana Stevens is joined by Keith Phipps to spoil this action-packed comedy, starring Nicolas Cage as a struggling actor who is desperate to get back on the A list. Nicolas Cage plays Nick Cage, with Tiffany Haddish, Pedro Pascal, and Neil Patrick Harris co-starring. Dana and Keith tell listeners if this self-referential romp went deep enough. Read Dana’s review of the movie. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
Twitter is the platform of choice for politicians, journalists, academics, and many other agenda-setters. Twitter influences conversations that take place in newsrooms and statehouses. What happens if the company’s placed in the hands of a pugnacious, provocative plutocrat like Elon Musk?
Guest: Will Oremus, tech reporter for the Washington Post
Host: Seth Stevenson
Black Twitter has grown into a community where jokes, memes, and activism flourish. But with Elon Musk taking over, many users fear the most vital conversations will be silenced. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Omar Wasow, a pioneer in online culture, and the co-founder of the BlackPlanet social network. They discuss what Musk’s definition of free speech and his record on race could mean for the future of Black Twitter, and whether it’s time to leave the platform. Guest: Omar Wasow, assistant professor of politics at Pomona College Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, Title 42, and the current prayer in school debate.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Daphne Keller for The Center for Internet and Society: “What Does The DSA Say?”
John Dickerson for Slate: “Born Identity”
Here are this week’s chatters:
David: Ed Kilgore for New York Magazine: “Utah Democrats Endorse Independent Evan McMullin in Challenge to Mike Lee”; CityCast.fm/jobs
John: Reddit thread: “This is a 3200-year old attendance sheet found in Deir el-Medina, Egypt. Reasons for worker absence include ‘embalming brother’, ‘brewing beer’ and ‘bitten by scorpion’”; The British Museum: Ostracon
Emily: Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “Why California Wants to Recall Its Most Progressive Prosecutors”; Vanessa Romo for NPR: “The LA Sheriff Now Says No Charges For The Reporter Who Wrote About A Cover-Up”
Listener chatter from J.T. Horn: Mary Pols for Downeast Magazine "Why Maine Owes Its Most Breathtaking Public Lands to One 1972 Newspaper Story"
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss John’s prescient 2011 piece about Trump’s birtherism.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak tackle a tricky question about a kid who has recently harnessed the power of swear words. He is weaponizing his words with an intent to hurt those around him and our listener has no idea what to do. Elizabeth and Zak offer up some practical advice for dealing with the in-the-moment anger, curbing the foul language, and ultimately making amends. On Slate Plus, Elizabeth and Zak discuss hobbies that help them relax and rejuvenate. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
People may want to throw their masks in the trash, but in communities with the highest COVID-19 mortality rates, the pandemic is not over.
Guest: Dr. Don Garcia, medical director at Clínica Romero in Los Angeles.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior writer, Christina Cauterucci and Slate science editor Shannon Palus, talk pineapples on sticks. Christina’s new piece, “What’s Eating Edible Arrangements” on the changes at Edible Arrangements sparked a conversation about gender roles that likely led do the creation of the company that now goes by Edible. Then they unpack the company’s pivot to CBD and what its attempt at “wellness culture” really means.
In Slate Plus, are workout selfies feminist?
Recommendations: Shannon: Harry & David fruit boxes. Christina: Season 2 of HBO’s The Flight Attendant. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
TikTok star William White has a large and devoted fanbase of middle-aged women lusting after him as he lip-syncs to ‘80s songs. But things have taken a darker turn recently, as his fans have started turning on each other. On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle talk with journalist Jessica Lucas, who reported on White’s fanbase in a recent piece for Input. They discuss why these women are so obsessed with him, the alarming culture that has sprung up around him, and how he’s used his following for monetary gain. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, the panel begins by assessing Nicolas Cage’s satirical cinematic metaverse in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Then, the panel is joined by co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, Isaac Butler, to discuss the final season of Better Call Saul. Finally, the panel is joined by Washington Post columnist Will Oremus to break down Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter. In Slate Plus, Steve corrects a mistake and the panel discusses their relationships to imaginary places. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Cousin endorsements involving the Mankiewicz family. First: Nick Davis’ book Competing With Idiots: Herman and Joe Mankiewicz, A Dual Portrait. Second: This video of Ben Mankiewicz interviewing Bruce Dern. Julia: Snorkeling! Steve: A 2015 edition of local radio program Alternative Radio: Audio Energy for Democracy in which Timothy Snyder (author of On Tyranny) discusses the Holocaust. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Back to Silence" by OTE
Federal law guarantees that students with disabilities have access to special educators. But widespread teacher shortages mean that these students are often being taught by people without the mandated qualifications – or by no one at all. Guest: Dylan Peers McCoy is an investigative reporter on WFYI’s education team.
Danny Lavery welcomes Maud Newton, author of Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation. Lavery and Newton tackle two letters. First, from a letter writer who doesn’t want to tell her new boyfriend about her cancer diagnosis. Another letter writer is worried that her favorite aunt can’t stop talking about her political organization. Plus, a deep dive into Newton’s new book, Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The Civil Rights movement opened up new work opportunities for Black workers. But, decades later, African-Americans work disproportionately in low-wage jobs and are overrepresented in the jobs at highest risk of vanishing because of workplace automation. White workers, meanwhile, are 50 percent more likely to hold “future proof” jobs. These are the kind of jobs that build often on education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. And for those Black workers who do find a path to “future proof” jobs in health care or tech, the reward often includes a hostile work environment. And that’s bad news for every American. One study found that eliminating racial inequality could boost the U.S. economy by as much as $2.3 trillion a year. What are we waiting for? Guests
LeRon Barton, tech worker, author of two books, and essayist who has written “What It’s Like to be a Black man in Tech” and other pieces for the Harvard Business Review.
Nahsis Davis, a nurse and union member in Chicago.
Adia Harvey Wingfield, author of Flatlining: Race, Work and Healthcare in the New Economy, and professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis.
Resources
What it’s Like to be a Black Man in Tech, LeRon Barton, Harvard Business Review, 2021
Flatlining: Race, Work and Healthcare in the New Economy, Adia Harvey Wingfield.
No More Invisible Man, Adia Harvey Wingfield.
Race and the Work of the Future: Advancing Workforce Equity in the United States, PolicyLink, USC Dornsife, burning glass, National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Why are Employment Rates so Low among Black men? Holzer, 2021
Digitalization, Automation & Older Black Women: Ensuring Equity in the Future of Work - Chandra Childers, IWPR, 2019
When we think of method acting, we tend to think of actors going a little over the top for a role – like Jared Leto, who allegedly sent his colleagues dead rats when he was preparing to be The Joker, or Robert De Niro refusing to break character on the set of the movie Raging Bull. But that’s not how method acting began. On this episode of Decoder Ring: we look at how “The Method” came to be so well-known and yet so widely misunderstood. It’s a saga that spans three centuries and involves scores of famous actors, directors and teachers. And it altered how we think about realism, authenticity, and a good performance. Our guest today is Isaac Butler, who wrote The Method: How The 20th Century Learned to Act. Decoder Ring is written and produced by Willa Paskin. This episode was produced by Elizabeth Nakano. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August, the Female Tactical Platoon, a unit of elite Afghan soldiers, knew they had to evacuate. “If they were captured, they would be killed,” according to a Green Beret who worked alongside them because they were “an affront to everything the Taliban stood for.” Ellie, a U.S. Army Captain, moved earth and heaven to get them to America. But navigating the U.S. refugee resettlement system proved much more difficult than they expected. On this episode of How To!, we introduce Ellie to Luma Mufleh, founder and CEO of Fugee Families, to discuss how the system can and should be improved. They share practical tips for how all of us can help in the most useful way possible. To read more about the Female Tactical Platoon check out The Untold Story of the Afghan Women Who Hunted the Taliban. Here is Ellie’s organization: Sisters of Service. Here is Luma’s organization: Fugee Families. Check out Luma’s new book, Learning America. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Beat Your Hidden Biases” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
How one spokesperson with an itchy Twitter-finger is sparking a moral panic. Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, a senior writer at Slate.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
Cardiff Garcia, co-founder of Bazaar Audio, joins Felix and Emily to talk about the 1999 cult classic, Office Space. They get into how office life has changed since the movie’s premier, whether Peter would actually make a good manager, and poor, poor Milton.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the decline of the Brooklyn Nets and the rise of the New Orleans Pelicans. They also discuss Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes, and they review the HBO series Winning Time, on the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers. NBA playoffs (3:25): What’s gone wrong for Brooklyn? What’s going right for New Orleans? Wimbledon (23:13): Is there any logic to banning individual Russian athletes? Winning Time (45:41): What the show gets right and what it gets wrong. Afterball (1:05:22): Josh on hiding in sports.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak expose the mini-monsters that parents accidentally create. They have some very fun—very scary—listener submissions. But honestly, who doesn’t need a snack for every car ride? Then Zak interviews comedian, dad, and podcaster Chris Garcia about his new show Finding Raffi. They talk about how Raffi captured kids’ ears and hearts, his lasting legacy, and how he’s changing parenting philosophies. Recommendations Zak recommends finding little moments of joy like making a game out of chucking garbage into the can. Jamilah recommends The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. Elizabeth recommends the Ologies podcast And, a bonus recommendation from Zak: His conversation with Rebecca Lavoie on The Best Advice Show podcast about knowing and communicating your weaknesses at work Resources Finding Raffi by Chris Garcia Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
Carolyn Foote was furious when Republican lawmakers in Texas singled out hundreds of books about race or sexuality for removal from school libraries. So she and a group of other librarians stepped into the fray to push back against what they see as harmful censorship.
Guest: Carolyn Foote, former librarian for schools outside Austin, Texas.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is uncovering new wartime applications for facial recognition technology.
Guest: Aric Toler, director of research and training at Bellingcat Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host Karen Han talks to Christina Chang, creative director for the animated series We Baby Bears on Cartoon Network. In the interview, Christina explains what a creative director does and describes the common challenges that animators and storyboard artists face. She also discusses her career journey and the challenges of assuming a leadership role. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas talk about how production budgets can affect animated series. Then they discuss the benefits of studying other people’s work to improve your own. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Karen and Christina chat about burnout and taking breaks. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
In the past few years, trend pieces have flooded the internet telling us that Gen Z is a bunch of “puriteens” and not having as much sex as the rest of us. Looks like we’ve got a new moral panic on our hands. On today’s show, You’re Wrong About’s Sarah Marshall joins Rachelle to talk about the hand-wringing reasons people think the youth aren’t engaging in sex, why our society is so obsessed with the sex lives of teenagers, and how Gen Z might just have the healthiest relationship with sex yet, even if they aren’t having any. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers talk about the shakeup in the streaming world with Netflix considering ads and CNN+ folding, the end of the public transportation mask mandate, and inflation.
In the Plus segment: Elon Musk, one more time.
Mentioned In the Show: “Netflix, Facing Reality Check, Vows to Curb Its Profligate Ways” by Joe Flint “Inattention and Prices Over Time: Experimental Evidence from ‘The Price Is Right’ (1972-2019)” by Jonathan Hartley “Musk’s Twitter funding is secured” by Issie Lapowsky Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
On this episode of Amicus – in studio edition! – host Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Professor Lawrence O. Gostin, professor of global health law, at Georgetown University, among many other things. They talk about the federal district court in Florida’s decision to lift the mask mandate for public transportation. While it may seem like a small deal given that the mandate was set to expire in a few weeks anyway, the decision was built on a very labored and tortured interpretation of the word “sanitation.” Professor Gostin explains that this case could have a chilling effect on government agencies. They also discuss why the decision by the Biden administration to appeal involved a lot of political calculous.
In our Slate Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about a death penalty decision at the Supreme Court and an upcoming case about school prayer.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jessica Nordell, a science journalist and the author of the book The End of Bias: A Beginning. Lavery and Nordell read a letter from someone who wants to calm her partner’s nerves over meeting her parents. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Are we facing down yet another COVID wave right now? Does it matter?
Guest: Katherine Wu, staff writer for The Atlantic
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
The Black Lives Matter movement has emerged as a major political force. Now, questionable spending by the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has sparked questions about whether key movement leaders have lost their way. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Sean Campbell, an investigative journalist whose report on the foundation was published in New York Magazine. He addresses what he uncovered about the foundation’s finances, including the purchase of a $6 million dollar home in Malibu under the guidance of its former leader, Patrisse Cullors. Guest: Sean Campbell, writer, and investigative journalist. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the ways that the war in Ukraine may be influencing China's future plans with guest Malcolm Turnbull; the mask mandate ruling; whether it matters that the RNC has rejected presidential debates; and Gabfest producer Jocelyn Frank signs off after many years of producing the show.
Here are this week’s chatters:
David: Mark Emem for CCN: “Jeff Bezos Missed 20,000% Gains After $250K Google Stake in 1998”
John: Kathryn Olivarius: “Necropolis: Yellow Fever, Immunity, And Capitalism In The Deep South, 1800-1860”
Emily: Rachel M. Cohen for the Intercept: “At a Pivotal Moment, Democrats Failed to Modernize Elections”
Listener chatter from Randy Switt: Christopher P. Hammon and Victoria L. Vish for National Law Review: “Eleventh Circuit: Service Charges Are Wages, Not Tips, Under FLSA”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment long-time Gabfest producer Jocelyn Frank shares her experiences making the show with Emily, David, and John.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak take on a really difficult question from a mother who realized she has a favorite child. She loves her baby but doesn’t actually like her that much and she’s worried that her feelings toward her child are calcifying. What can she do to bond with her baby? On Slate Plus, how to deal with picky eaters. Is it okay to eat the same meal day after day? What can you do to make new scary foods more palatable? What are your favorite ‘Trojan horse’ meals that allow you to sneak in nutrients without your kid knowing? Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and June Thomas answer a question from a physics teacher named Anya, who thinks we should all view teaching as the creative practice that it is. Building a creative atmosphere for students can provide some truly inspired ways of teaching, but it can just as easily wind up going a little overboard… What did a teacher do that you found really creative? Or are there some creative teaching habits that should really be avoided? Share them with us at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by freelance science writer Eleanor Cummins to talk about the possible resurgence of Ecofeminism. Eleanor recently published “Is Ecofeminism Due for a Comeback?” in The New Republic. They discuss how the term came to be “passe,” what places are embracing the concept of combining feminism and the environment (and trying to save the Amazon in the process), and why the time is right for feminists to embrace the planet.
In Slate Plus, the waves of Ecofeminism, and where the term “tree-hugger” came from.
Recommendations: Cheyna: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman Eleanor: Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Bill Browder has been sounding the alarm about Vladimir Putin for decades. Formerly one of Russia’s largest foreign investors, Browder has made it his life's work to expose corruption in the country. Unsurprisingly, he’s one of Putin's personal targets. Browder believes that money is what's really driving the war in Ukraine.
Guest: Bill Browder, founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management. Browder ran the largest foreign investment firm in Russia until 2005, when he was kicked out of the country. His new book is Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath.
Three people involved with Club Penguin Rewritten, a fan-made remake of a popular Disney game, were arrested last week by the City of London police because they were infringing on Disney’s copyright. On the show today, Rachelle and Allegra talk about the history of Club Penguin, growing up on browser games, and what this news could mean for other fan-created remakes of now-defunct games. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
Pro-immigration advocates had high hopes when the Biden administration came to office that some of the harsher policies imposed by Trump would ease. Instead, immigration policy has been a mess inside the White House. The move to rescind Title 42 – a health policy that the Trump administration used to restrict migration at the U.S.-Mexico border is now further dividing Democrats. Guest: Tyler Moran, former deputy assistant to President Biden and senior advisor for migration. Moran co-founded the Immigration Hub and has 20 years of experience developing and implementing immigration policy. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
This month Bryan, Christina, and Jules take a break from talking about the hostile legislation queer and trans people are fighting against to talk about what they’re fighting for. Brooklyn kindergarten teacher Eliza Cutler joins the hosts to share what it looks like when teachers are free to speak about LGBTQ lives in the classroom. Then they discuss the queer family drama at the heart of the new genre-bending, multiverse-hopping film Everything Everywhere All at Once. (NOTE: If you don't want to hear spoilers for Everything Everywhere All at Once, you can jump from the 33-minute mark to the 59-minute point, but come back after you've seen the movie. You don't want to miss this conversation.) Items discussed in the show: Robbie Pierce’s Twitter thread about the homophobic harassment his family endured while riding Amtrak Queers responding to homophobic legislation with … merch The long life and sad demise of Bitch Media. They She He Me: Free to Be, by Maya Christina Gonzalez and Matthew SG Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, by Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant Jacob’s New Dress, by Sarah and Ian Hoffman and Chris Cage Introducing Teddy, by Jessica Walton and Dougal MacPherson Pugdog, by Andrea U’Ren “Everything Everywhere All at Once Is a Queer Masterpiece of Colossa Sincerity,” by Drew Gregory, in Autostraddle “Everything Everywhere All at Once Is an Emotional Gut Punch About Queer Erasure, Acceptance,” by Patrick Ryan, in USA Today “This One Stale Joke Won’t Let Everything Everywhere All at Once Be Great,” by Kyle Turner, in W “On Being Trans and Watching Everything Everywhere All at Once,” by Linda Codega, in Gizmodo
Gay Agenda Christina: “Sex, Love, and Art in the Suburbs,” by Garth Greenwell, in Esquire Bryan: “This Beach in Mexico Is an L.G.B.T.Q. Haven. But Can It Last?” by Oscar Lopez and Lisette Poole, in the New York Times Jules: Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin
This podcast was produced by June Thomas. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
This week, the panel begins by entering the multiverse of Everything Everywhere All At Once. Then, the panel dives into Apple TV+’s newest spy drama Slow Horses (based on books that were reviewed by Slate’s own Laura Miller). Finally, the panel talks about music’s next big thing: British indie-rock duo Wet Leg’s newest self-titled album. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses a Gawker article from Rachel Connolly, titled “The ‘Pity Me!’ Personal Essay.” Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Dana reads Herman Melville’s sonnet titled “Art” about…art! Also, this video of Dana’s recent book event in Philadelphia! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyODZSE6w_o Julia: L.A. Times’ Festival of Books—where both Julia and Dana are doing panels!—which takes place April 23–24th. In addition: L.A. Times’ “Lit City” package which includes a list of “The 65 best bookstores in L.A.” Notably from that list is Julia’s listener-inspired selection: Children’s Book World. Steve: An essay in the NYRoB by M.W. Feldman and Jessica Riskin, titled “Why Biology Is Not Destiny,” in which they review The Genetic Lottery by Kathryn Harden. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Lonely Calling" by Arc De Soleil
Danny Lavery welcomes Jessica Nordell, a science journalist and the author of the book The End of Bias: A Beginning. Lavery and Nordell take on two letters. First, from a letter writer who’s at her wits end with her friend’s racist comments. Another letter writer has caught her friend faking the symptoms of autism. Plus a deep dive into Nordell’s book, The End of Bias: A Beginning. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
With the advent of the New Deal, employers were expected to guarantee workers a measure of security — a fair wage, a reasonable number of hours, benefits like retirement and health insurance. Recent years have seen a rise in “non-standard” work arrangements — independent contractors and gig workers who work without benefits or job protections. Gig-work platforms offer workers the tantalizing promise of flexibility and freedom. Gig-work platforms make the tantalizing promise of flexibility and freedom. But that can come at a deceptively steep price for many gig workers: low and variable wages, unpredictable schedules, and paltry benefits. Trying to make a living this way is also enormously stressful —one study of gig workers found that the more employment insecurity they experienced during the day, the more their nights became fitful, sleepless and anxiety-ridden. Guests
Cherri Murphy, a pastor and former ride-share driver, now trying to organize workers with Gig Workers Rising.
Quan D. Mai, an assistant professor of sociology at Rutgers University who has published several articles on the new normal of gig work.
Resources
After the Gig: How the Sharing Economy got Hijacked, Bergguen Institute’s Future of Capitalism & the Platform Cooperativism Consortium
A Brief History of the Gig, Veena Dubal, 2020
The battle for the future of “gig” work, Sarah Jaffe, Vox
Rideshare Drivers United
Why Precarious Work Is Bad for Health: Social Marginality as Key Mechanisms in a Multi-National Context, Macmillan, Shanahan, 2021
Gig Economy in the U.S. – Statistics and Facts
In the early 2000s, an arms race broke out in the world of men’s shaving. After decades with razors that had only one blade and then decades with razors that had only two, the number of blades rapidly spiraled up and up and up. It’s a skirmish sometimes referred to as The Razor Blade Wars, and it was a face-off about innovation, competition, capitalism, masculinity, and most of all, how strange things can become after you’ve created something that’s the best a consumer can get — and then you have to keep going. Some of the voices you’ll hear in this episode include Rebecca Herzig, author of Plucked: A History of Hair Removal; Tim Dowling, Guardian columnist and author of Inventor of the Disposable Culture: King Camp Gillette 1855-1932; Dan Koeppel, razor blade zelig; and Kaitlyn Tiffany, writer for the Atlantic. If you want to read more about razor blades, check out:
Cutting edge : Gillette's journey to global leadership
King C. Gillette, the man and his wonderful shaving device
Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Making of the American Mass Market
Decoder Ring is written and produced by Willa Paskin. This episode was produced by Elizabeth Nakano. Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com.
The town of Dartmouth, Massachusetts is in the middle of a mascot debate that’s rapidly escalated into an extremely divisive local issue. Our listener Keith grew up in Dartmouth and his kids attend the high school in question. He’s been vocal about his support for changing the school’s Indian warrior logo but is wondering if there’s a better way to solve this issue than trading barbs with the opposition. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Maulian Dana, Penobscot Nation tribal ambassador, one of the four federally recognized indigenous tribes in Maine. Maulian helped lead a decades-long effort that resulted in Maine banning all state schools and colleges from using Native American mascots in 2019. She has some practical tips to help Keith, and all of us, fight for what we believe in — without tearing our community apart. If you liked this episode, check out “How to Stop a Fight Before It Starts” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
Former Slate editor Jared Hohlt joins Felix and Emily to talk about the 1999 thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley…along with another movie! They get into the sexual politics of the movie and the furniture in it, how the movie stacks up against the Patricia Highsmith novel it’s based on, and get into the 1975 grift movie, Fox and His Friends.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Morgan Davis saw his job as an investigator in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as a calling. As a transgender man, he joined the child welfare agency to be the advocate he never had while growing up. But Davis eventually quit, following Governor Greg Abbott’s order to investigate the families of transgender children. While Abbott’s order is currently paused due to an injunction, many families are still left in limbo due to open cases – and other child welfare workers are handing in their notices.
Guest: Morgan Davis, investigator at the Travis County office of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the epic Game 1 of the Nets-Celtics series. They also talk about the Minnesota Timberwolves, young playoff stars, and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai. Finally, the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh joins for a conversation about near-perfection at the start of the baseball season.
Nets-Celtics (2:35): Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and a whole lot more. NBA playoffs (25:03): What we’re watching this postseason.
Baseball (46:36): The sadness of two perfect games that almost were.
Afterball (1:06:39): Vinson on the Timberwolves’ spotty playoff history.
On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak tackle a question from a listener who is stretched thin between work and her kids. She’d love to be a full-time parent but she’s worried she’ll not be as interesting if she does transition. What should she do? They also have some fun listener updates, including one who had a very unexpected and very funny confrontation about porn. The hosts give recommendations that will help your kids have a memorable summer. But they’re not the only ones who deserve some fun. Grab your headphones because the podcast that Zak recommends will take you on an adventure. Recommendations Elizabeth recommends the Best Summer Ever Camp Journal Zak recommends the article, Finding Raffi by Sheila Heti, and the podcast, Finding Raffi by Chris Garcia. Resources My First Book of Feminism (for Boys) by Julie Merberg Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
The Biden Administration recently announced a new policy aimed at cracking down on ghost guns—homemade weapons without serial numbers, making them harder to trace. But with gun violence on the rise, will this particular move make a meaningful difference?
Guest: David Chipman, senior policy advisor at Giffords, a gun violence prevention organization.
This week, host June Thomas talks to sisters Natalia and Lauren O’Hara, who work as an author/illustrator team to create children’s books like Hortense and the Shadow and Frindleswylde. In the interview, Natalia and Lauren discuss their collaborative relationship, their early exposure to fairy tales, and misconceptions about gender in children’s book publishing. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about sibling relationships and what it’s like to collaborate with a close friend or family member. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Natalia and Lauren if they ever include Easter eggs for parents in their books. Then the three of them discuss Northern English accents and rhyming words. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
How did Intuit build its TurboTax empire?
Guest: Justin Elliott, reporter for ProPublica
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
David Plotz talks with author Amy Bloom about her journey to support the death, by suicide, of her husband, chronicled in her new book In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
This is a reprise of the first episode of our season on 1977. Miami, 1977: Pop singer and orange juice spokeswoman Anita Bryant takes a stand against a local ordinance—and becomes the leader of a national anti-gay movement. Her campaign against gay rights, and the gay community's fight against her, would change America. One Year is produced by Josh Levin, Evan Chung, and Madeline Ducharme. Mixing by Merritt Jacob.
The Black Menaces are a group at Brigham Young University who have recently gained popularity on TikTok for their videos in which they ask their fellow students about political and social issues. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison talk to Rachel Weaver and Nate Byrd, two members of the Black Menaces, about what it’s like to film these interviews, how they’ve been received on campus and online, and what it’s like to be a Black student at BYU. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers talk about whether or not Elon Musk will really take over Twitter, how AriZona Iced Tea holds inflation at bay, and why office perks are basically carnival prizes minus the fun.
Five years ago this month, Hit Parade launched on the Slate podcast network. What have we learned in that half-decade? And what episodes did you love the most? We asked you to vote—and the results may surprise you. Sure, you enjoyed our shows about Madonna, Nirvana, Whitney, Mariah, Bruce, Stevie and Janet. But even more than that, you loved our nerdy deep dives about the producers behind “Le Freak”…the rules for One-Hit Wonders…the college-rockers from Athens, Ga.…the man behind Meat Loaf…the smooth players behind Yacht Rock…and that explainer about why you had to pay top dollar for CDs in the ’90s with only one good song.
Join host Chris Molanphy as he shares his founding principles for Hit Parade, and counts down your 20 favorite shows. Happy fifth birthday to us! We’re finally old enough for kindergarten.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
On this week’s Spoiler Specials, Slate’s Marissa Martinelli and Rebecca Onion spoil season 2 of the Netflix hit Bridgerton. It’s wedding season again, and this time, it’s Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) turn to marry. But for the Viscount, finding a wife is more about one’s duty to the family line than love. And Lord Bridgerton thinks he’s found the perfect match in Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran). But will her sister Kate (Simone Ashley) approve? With all the drama that unfolds, how will Lady Whistledown keep up with this season’s shenanigans? Read Rebecca’s review of the second season. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
Although church and state are supposed to be separate, white evangelical power is a potent force in American politics. And it has historically been used to battle against racial equity. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Professor Anthea Butler, the author of White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America. They discuss the resurgence of white evangelical influence in politics, and why so much of that movement has been focused on thwarting civil rights for African Americans. Guest: Anthea Butler, chair of the Religious Studies Department at the University of Pennsylvania Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis and Sam Kim
Is Musk's bid to take Twitter private a genuine attempt to mold the social network in his image? Or is he just going to have some fun, make some money, and walk away?
Guest: Felix Salmon, host of Slate Money and chief financial correspondent for Axios
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the approaching midterms, inflation, and whether social media is imperiling U.S. democracy—with guest Simon Bazelon.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Simon Bazelon for Slow Boring: “Democrats Are Sleepwalking Into A Senate Disaster”
Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “Trump Poses a Test Democracy Is Failing”
Matthew H. Graham and Milan W. Svolik for The American Political Science Review: “Democracy in America? Partisanship, Polarization, and the Robustness of Support for Democracy in the United States”
Jonathan Haidt for The Atlantic: “Why The Last Ten Years of American Life Have Been So Stupid”
Paul Krugman for The New York Times: “Inflation Is About to Come Down — but Don't Get Too Excited”
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again, by Johann Hari
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, by Jonathan Haidt
Here are this week’s chatters:
David: Little Dorrit, by Charles Dickens
John: Macbeth on Broadway
Emily: Christine Charnosky for Law.com: “A University of Arizona Law Grad on How the GRE Changed Her Life”; University of Arizona Law’s Innovation for Justice work
Listener chatter from Nick Gaffney: Alex Hanson for the Valley News: “Croydon School Budget Cut Sets Up High-Stakes Battle Over Future of Town's Education System”; Alex Hanson for the Valley News: “Budget Cut Looks Bleak For Schools After Croydon Meeting”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what constitutes time well spent.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: If you’ve noticed high school seniors stressing a little more lately, it may be because college decision deadlines are just around the corner. Zak and Elizabeth are joined by Slate’s Heidi Strom Moon to discuss how to support teens in their decision without overstepping. They answer a question from a dad who is currently trying to walk that line as his son is caught between his dream school and the school he can actually afford. Resources: Debt Nation: The faces and lives behind America’s student loan crisis by Rachelle Hampton. The Price You Pay for College by Ron Lieber. Paying for College by The Princeton Review and Kalman Chany. On Slate Plus, Zak and Elizabeth dive into their Passover and Easter plans and discuss how to make religious-based holidays fun for kids. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by science journalist, Rachel E. Gross to talk all about female anatomy. They discuss Rachel’s new book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and how much science has to learn when it comes to diagnosing female maladies. Then they get into ovaries and all the misconceptions about these “egg baskets.”
In Slate Plus, is the term “pussy” feminist?
Articles discussed in this episode: The Word for Anatomy That Shouldn’t Be “Vulgar” by Zoe Mendelson Seventeen Years of Bad Sex by Allyson Rudolph Ovaries Are Prone to ‘Exhaustion’ and ‘Fatigue.’ Or Are They? By Rachel Gross
Recommendations: Shannon: Wearing wide-legged jeans. Rachel: Showing yourself some, ah-hem, love. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
In the French presidential election five years ago, Marine Le Pen lost badly to Emmanuel Macron. Now, Le Pen is back for a rematch—and this time, polls are pretty tight. Guest: Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate.
Another day on the internet, another online challenge to laugh at. Even the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary is getting in on it. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison talk about the Abbott Elementary episode that so perfectly skewers all the adults posting their challenges online, the reemergence of the water cup challenge, and what’s really at the root of online challenge culture. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by June Thomas, co-host of Working (Slate’s podcast on the creative process). They begin by digesting HBO’s Julia Child series, Julia, starring one of June’s favorites: Sarah Lancashire. Then, the panel dives into the world of AI with After Yang. Finally, the panel answers Dana’s very important question: is Chris Pine the Robert Redford of our time? In Slate Plus, the panel discusses their favorite Canadian cultural products. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: An audiobook which revolutionized the way Dana thinks about Virginia Woolf: Mrs. Dalloway read by Juliet Stevenson (of Truly, Madly, Deeply fame). June: The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War by Louis Menand about a wide range of ideas from World War 2 to The Cold War. Steve: An essay by general interest writer and professor Justin E. H. Smith, titled “The Punk-Prophet Philosophy of Michel Houellebecq,” for Foreign Policy, in which he writes an uninhibitedly intelligent assessment of the famed French novelist and essayist. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "I Want a Change" by The Big Let Down.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company are at odds over a controversial Florida law dubbed “don’t say gay,” which would limit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. While DeSantis is a big supporter of the legislation, Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek eventually came out against it, vowing to work to repeal the law and setting up a showdown between the governor and the entertainment giant.
Guest: Mary Ellen Klas, Capitol bureau chief for the Miami Herald in Tallahassee, Florida.
Recently there’s been a dramatic shift in the American workforce: The “Great Resignation.” “The Big Quit.” In one year, more than 47 millions of people left their jobs. The majority were women. “It is horrible for our economy when millions of women exit the labor force,” says economist Michelle Holder, CEO of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. While men have regained nearly all the jobs they lost since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re still missing 2 million women. So where have all the women gone? So where have all the women gone? We’ll hear Holder’s insights, as well as the stories of two working women whose thriving careers were turned upside down by the rigidity — and sexism — built into the American workplace.
Guests
Kari McCracken, a mother from Lexington, Kentucky. She had a job she loved, and managed close to a hundred employees. Then the pandemic hit.
Kiarica Shields single mother of four in Georgia, lost her job as a hospice nurse in the early days of the pandemic, then with schools and child care closed, has struggled to find the care she needs in order to find work.
Michelle Holder, economist, CEO Center for Equitable Growth who has been named one of 19 Black economists to watch by Fortune. Author of two books, she recently published an important paper on the impact of COVID-19 on job losses among Black women in America.
Resources for Show notes
Handling work-family conflicts: future agenda, International Journal of Manpower, 2017
Work-Family conflict and mental health among female employees, Frontiers in Psychology, 2018
Measuring work-life conflict among low-wage workers, Nichols & Swanberg, 2018
The jingle jangle of work-nonwork balance: a comprehensive and meta-analytic review of its meaning and measurement, Casper et al, 2018
Lower-wage workers and flexible work arrangements, Danziger & Waters Boots, 2008
When work and families are allies: a theory of work-family enrichment, Greenhaus & Powell, 2006
Work-family enrichment and satisfaction: the mediating role of self-efficacy and work-life balance, Chan et al, 2015
“The Early Impact of COVID-19 on Job Losses Among Black Women in the U.S.” Holder 2021
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
Author and algorithmic auditor Cathy O’Neil joins Felix and Emily to talk about the 1946 Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. They talk about whether Jimmy Stewart is too entitled to be this upset, the banks of the 1940s, and the finances of heaven.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
When Mike was wracked with a series of unexplained headaches in 2017, he initially chalked it up to being a stressed out grad student. But the pain became debilitating and his symptoms only multiplied from there. His doctors are stumped and Mike doesn't know where to turn next. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Meghan O’Rourke, author of The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness. Meghan has been on her own medical journey for years and has some extremely helpful advice for finding the right doctors, regaining a sense of normalcy, and supporting those who are currently searching for answers. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Fight Outrageous Medical Bills.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Pennsylvania’s got a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs, and the primary is shaping up to be a showdown between moderate, establishment candidates and those on the fringes of each party. Guest: Jonathan Tamari, national political writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the death of quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Slate’s Jim Newell also joins to discuss Tiger Woods’ dramatic return at the Masters. Finally, they assess the Los Angeles Lakers’ terrible season. Dwayne Haskins (1:29): How should we talk about athletes who die young? Tiger Woods (22:35): What comes after his miraculous comeback? Lakers (44:29): What went so horribly wrong? Afterball (1:03:38): Stefan on major leaguers who went for 7-for-7 in a single game.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak tackle a question from a listener whose child was recently diagnosed with ADHD. The letter writer’s husband, who also has ADHD, lacked support in school and it had a lasting impact on his education. They want to avoid history repeating itself for their daughter. How can they ensure she is properly supported and that she feels empowered by all the strengths that come along with ADHD. The hosts also set intentions for the week and give recommendations that will make everyone happy. Who knew that a little water and soap could bring so much joy? Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Cheez-It Puff’d. Elizabeth recommends the car wash. Zak recommends C’mon C’mon. Resources: What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew by Dr. Sharon Saline. ADHD 2.0 by Edward M. Hallowell M.D. and John J. Ratey M.D. Completely Matt: An ADHD Story by Justine Green. My Whirling, Twirling Motor by Merriam Sarcia Saunders. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
How the experience of living in his car years ago helped reporter Ethan Ward focus his coverage of homelessness and housing in Los Angeles. Guest: Ethan Ward, unhoused communities reporter for KPCC and LAist.
The rideshare company's founder once called taxis “evil.” Now, Uber might need them to survive.
Guest: Preetika Rana Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to artist and writer Lauren Redniss, whose latest piece of visual nonfiction is Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land in the American West. In the interview, Lauren first explains why she uses both art and text together in her work. Then she shares her reporting process for Oak Flat and describes how she landed on the book’s narrative structure. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss Lauren’s fluid artistic style and the importance of structure in nonfiction. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Lauren talks about trying her hand at children’s books. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
In February, Etsy emailed its sellers to announce that it would be taking a larger cut of their money, even while announcing in the same email that the company’s profits were up. A group of sellers reacted to this increase by starting a movement for sellers to strike on April 11-April 18, 2022. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison explain how we got to this standoff and what the strikers’ demands are, and then speak with an Etsy seller about the news, the experience of banding together with other sellers, and whether or not she’ll even be returning to the site once the strike is finished. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers talk about Elon Musk taking a board seat on Twitter, a Staten Island Amazon warehouse’s successful unionization, and whether individuals sending money to Ukraine is helpful.
In the Plus segment: Felix is bad at hotdesking.
Mentioned In the Show: “Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace” by Jodi Kantor and David Streitfeld “Worker-to-Worker Organizing May Finally Have Its Moment” by Steven Greenhouse “Jamie Dimon to Work-From-Homers: You Win” by Holden Walter-Warner “Amazon Workers’ Union Victory is Turbocharging a New Labor Movement” by Emily Peck “How Governments Are Multiplying Aid to Ukraine” by Felix Salmon
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
On the great legal history episode of Amicus, host Dahlia Lithwick is joined first by David Gans, director of the Human Rights, Civil Rights, and Citizenship Program at the Constitutional Accountability Center. While GOP Senators used the Ketanji Brown Jackson hearings to take potshots at important ideas like unenumerated rights and substantive due process to score points with their base, the talking points became entrenched in political discourse. Does it matter? Of course it does.
Later in the show, Dahlia is joined by Rund Abdelfatah co-host and producer of NPR’s podcast Throughline. The podcast explores the history behind current events. Dahlia and Rund talk about Throughline’s episode Pirates of the Senate to take a closer look at the history behind the filibuster, and explore why so many of our ideas about the filibuster are just plain wrong.
In our Slate Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern on the Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation, a case creating a new constitutional bar against malicious prosecution, and more shadow docket shenanigans.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham and Cheyna Roth.
Danny Lavery welcomes Marissa Gouverne, a documentary and commercial editor living in New York City. Lavery and Gouverne read a letter from someone who can’t seem to function while grieving about the town they just moved from. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
It’s tax season, a stressful time for millions of Americans. But for many Black Americans, financial issues are complicated year-round by the “Black Tax;” that’s the complex web of structural bias in finance, banking, and housing policy that can make it harder for African Americans to build wealth. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by financial advice author Lynnette Khalfani-Cox to discuss the biggest tax and financial hurdles for African Americans, and how to overcome them. Guest: Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, a personal finance expert and author of several books on financial planning and strategy. Podcast production by Sam Kim and Jasmine Ellis
With 9.1% ownership of Twitter—and a board seat—Elon Musk is the new master of Twitter's future. Why did the wealthiest man in the world just take over the world's most influential platform?
Guest: Ranjan Roy, writer of the Margins newsletter Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Emily, John and David discuss Russia’s war crimes; Disney’s reaction to “don’t say gay”; and Amazon’s first union.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Andrew Exum for The Atlantic: “The Russian Military Has Descended Into Inhumanity”
Noam Scheiber for The New York Times: “Amazon Workers Who Won a Union Their Way Open Labor Leaders’ Eyes”
Microsoft: “The Rise of the Triple Peak Day”
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, by Daniel H. Pink
Here are this week’s chatters:
David: Jessica Contrera for The Washington Post: “The Remarkable Brain of a Carpet Cleaner Who Speaks 24 Languages”; The Wedding Party; Smithsonian National Museum of African Art: “Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits”
John: Jill Lawless for The Associated Press: “Darwin Notebooks Missing For 20 Years Returned to Cambridge”; Darwin Correspondence Project: “Fanny Owen”
Emily: Twitter thread by Manvir Singh @mnvrsngh on time spent “doing nothing” in small-scale, non-industrial societies.
Listener chatter from Kate Conquest: “The Avian Soap Opera Unfolding Atop This Berkeley Bell Tower Has Humans Riveted”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the trend of working a “third shift.”
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth tackle body boundaries. Our listener has two little kids who are pretty comfortable doing things like sharing a bath or getting changed in the same vicinity. But something happened the other morning that has her worried. How can she teach consent and autonomy without creating any body shame? On Slate Plus, they debate if parenting actually makes them happy. The article they discussed is called What Becoming a Parent Really Does to Your Happiness by Paul Bloom. Resources: HealthyChildren.org Sex Positive Families SexEdTalk’s Vaginas and Periods 101 Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Jasmine Ellis.
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, host Isaac Butler helps co-host June Thomas adjust to life as a freelancer. With boundless free time comes the need for new routines to maintain creative muscles and stay on task. Then the hosts examine routines more broadly. Can lighting a candle set the perfect writing mood? Can a fresh drink and an hour of solitary reflection summon your muse? Joan Didion thought so. Do you have any creative routines or rituals? Do you find them hard to develop? Share your thoughts with us at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
In a speech before the United Nations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of the worst war crimes since World War II. But whether there will be accountability on the international stage is a separate question—especially with Russia sitting permanently on the UN Security Council.
How difficult would it be to prove war crimes have in fact been committed in Ukraine? And even if they were, would Putin ever actually be punished?
Guest: Stephen Rapp, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice under President Obama.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate staff writers Rebecca Onion and Lili Loofbourow are talking about the prepper community. Is it all toxic masculinity? Is there already a space for women in the community, or do they have to carve their own space? They dig into Lili’s piece on the schism in the prepper reddit community and explore the gender dynamics of a culture that ranges from coupon clipping to hoarding guns. They also discuss Rebecca Onion’s 2016 piece on what prepper fiction reveals about American virtues.
In Slate Plus: Martha Stewart was in the news for an Instagram post about her dead cat. Is her empire feminist?
Recommendations: Rebecca: The PBS series Sanditon. Lili: Wearing men’s sweatpants. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
This Sunday, the Unofficial Bridgerton Musical took home a Grammy. But how was it allowed to compete in the first place? On the show today, Rachelle is joined by our producer, Daniel, to discuss why the Grammys have become so internet-focused, and how the Bridgerton musical sprang from TikTok. Then, Rachelle speaks with University of Colorado law professor Kristelia Garcia about the legal issues that the musical’s creators might need to resolve after their win, and if Netflix can now call Bridgerton a Grammy-award-winning series. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
Few were betting that a group of workers on Staten Island could win union recognition at their Amazon warehouse. Now that they’ve done it, can they replicate this win at other shops across the country? And what will the nation’s largest unions do to help Amazon workers join the labor movement?
Guest: Steven Greenhouse, senior fellow at the Century Foundation and author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor.
This week, the panel begins by revisiting the iconic film The Godfather in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Then, the panel answers the question Is It Cake? as they cut into Netflix’s newest hit. Finally, the panel is joined by Associate Professor of Music Theory at the University of Memphis, Jeremy Orosz, to discuss forensic musicology and what counts as musical plagiarism—which he wrote about for Slate, using Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” lawsuit as a case study. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses reverse thematic aversions, or “thematic kinks.” Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: For all the videophiles out there, The Coppola Restoration of The Godfather from 2008, which includes all three parts of the trilogy. Allegra: New sad girl indie rocker, Leanna Firestone, and her album Forward / Slash which speaks to your inner teen. More specifically, the song “Google Translate / poppies.” Steve: Julius Aglinskas’ album Daydreamer, which he did with avant-garde experimental music collective, Apartment House. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "You Know What I Want" by Staffan Carlen
Danny Lavery welcomes Marissa Gouverne, a documentary and commercial editor living in New York City. Lavery and Gouverne tackle two letters. First, from a letter writer who’s wondering how to avoid the same mistakes when dating. Another letter writer is asking how to maintain extended family relationships after cutting off their parents. Plus, Lavery and Gouverne talk about Steve Allen, Fred Astaire, and low grade ailments. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Kansas’ win over North Carolina’s in the men’s basketball title game, and the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins to talk about South Carolina’s win over UConn for the women’s title. Finally, they talk about Eric Church, and when it’s OK for sports to trump social and professional obligations. NCAA men (1:42): How the Jayhawks turned it around against the Tar Heels. NCAA women (21:10): How the Gamecocks steamrolled the Huskies. Eric Church (45:28): Was he wrong to cancel a concert to go to the Final Four? Afterball (1:05:42): Josh on a crazy two months in pro tennis.
In the future, robots may take over tasks such as doling out medications. But no machine can raise a child or truly care for a disabled, ill or aging loved one. And home care jobs are projected to be among the fastest-growing jobs in America. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects care jobs will grow 33 percent by 2029. By some estimates, 70 percent of people over 65 soon will require long-term care. But care jobs are also, for the most part, poverty-wage jobs. They are low-paying, stressful, emotionally taxing, unpredictable and precarious. Half of all care workers in America earn so little that they qualify for public benefits. Nine out of 10 home health workers are women, 62 percent are people of color and one-third are immigrants. In what many scholars say was an overt act of white supremacy and patriarchy, care workers were excluded from the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. They were denied the federal right to organize and collectively bargain, demand a minimum wage or overtime pay. What would the future of care work look like if they could? Guests
Brittany Williams, home care worker living in Washington state, and a member of a union representing caregivers.
Danielle Williams, Brittany’s mother, a home care worker in Arkansas. She earns about half of what Brittany does, and few benefits.
Ai-Jen Poo, Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and a MacArthur “Genius” award winner named among the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” by Fortune.
Resources
Working while Caring: A National Survey of Caregiver Stress in the U.S. Workforce, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers
Mother and Daughter do the same job. Why does one make $9 more an hour?, Brigid Schulte & Cassandra Robertson
Professional Caregiving men find meaning and price in their work, but still face stigma, Brigid Schulte, Emily Hallgren, Roselyn Miller
You’ve probably heard about the importance of journaling, putting thoughts on paper to help process the daily vicissitudes of life. But it’s easy to stall once you see a blank page or get self conscious about what exactly you’re writing. On this episode of How To!, we bring together Anna Quindlen, bestselling novelist and author of the new book Write For Your Life, and John Dickerson, co-host of Slate’s Political Gabfest, CBS News reporter, author and veteran journaler. They share their wit and wisdom on how to start writing about your personal life — and how to keep it going amid all the distractions. (And stay tuned after the credits for an exclusive sneak peek of Anna Quindlen’s next novel). If you liked this episode, check out “How To Write a Bestseller” and “How To Get Your Book Published.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
Shazna Nessa of The Wall Street Journal joins Felix and Emily to talk about the 1963 Bengali film, The Big City. They talk about how the feminist themes resonate today, what makes it an “art house” film, and why the ending seems like a low point, but doesn’t feel like one.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
At the beginning of the pandemic, Congress loosened the rules around school lunch programs, and approved additional funding to help schools provide more meals to more kids. But those allowances are set to expire on June 30th, leaving schools desperate for help as they anticipate a future of less funding and less flexibility. Guest: Helena Bottemiller Evich, senior food and agriculture reporter at POLITICO.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Jamilah answer a question from a listener who is feeling left behind by her friends who are parents. She says she’s really tried to be supportive and isn’t receiving support in return, especially when she’s celebrating accomplishments like earning a PhD and publishing her first album. All of this has left her feeling that she’s worth less if she doesn’t have a kid. Is there a way to rekindle the relationships? Recommendations: Zak recommends watching The Lost Daughter. Jamilah recommends picking up The Emergency: A Year of Healing and Heartbreak in a Chicago ER by Thomas Fisher. Elizabeth recommends planting a window box with Back to the Roots or Kiwico. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has become an avatar of the Republican far-right. But that has its downsides. It makes you a target. But Greene isn’t running scared. Guest: Charles Bethea, staff writer at the New Yorker.
For nearly a decade, Margrethe Vestager has led Europe's efforts to rein in big tech. One newspaper article described Vestager as putting the fear of God into Silicon Valley. How is she thinking about fairness in tech in 2022?
Guest: Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Europe fit for the Digital Age
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host Karen Han talks to artist and designer Dan-ah Kim, whose work includes the picture book The Grandmasters Daughter and multiple graphic design projects for film and television. In the interview, Dan-ah discusses her traditional style of working and explains how she adapted her work to the picture book form. Then she talks about her graphic design work for the HBO series The Gilded Age.
After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler discuss martial arts and the difficult work of balancing personal projects with a day job.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dan-ah talks about dabbling in the world of fashion design.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
April Fool’s Day is every brand’s favorite holiday. Social media and PR teams get to make all the jokes their marketing department can come up with and face few repercussions. But it’s not all fun and games. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison talk about what nonsense the brands are up to this year, why we’re so easily taken in by internet hoaxes, and how skepticism can harden into something darker. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Slate Pay Dirt columnist, Elizabeth Spiers. They talk about how women (mostly college educated) might be doing okay in the workforce, and what happened when Barclays didn’t check the right box and Axie Infinity didn’t notice it didn’t have an SEC shelf registration.
In the Plus segment: The inflation and war nexus with gas prices.
Mentioned In the Show: “Young women earn more than men in 16 U.S. cities” by Emily Peck “Research: College-educated women did not leave labor force during pandemic” by Emily Peck “Understanding the economic impact of COVID-19 on women” by Claudia Goldin “Mississippi passes equal pay law with loopholes” by Emily Peck “Credit Suisse faces US probe after telling investors to ‘destroy documents’ linked to oligarch yacht loans” by Matt Egan
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Danyel Smith, longtime music journalist and editor, and author of the new book Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. Smith explains how her passion for music was fueled by seeing a pint-size Janet Jackson onstage in the ’70s and playing records by everyone from Nancy Wilson to Chaka Khan. How she saw Dionne Warwick forge an egalitarian partnership with white songwriters and eventually become a pop auteur. How Roberta Flack sang songs with stories, but Lauryn Hill expressed story with the tone of her voice. And how Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle rebelled against the Motown model and forged personae that Smith calls “the epitome of free.”
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
Host Chris Molanphy
On this week’s Spoiler Specials, Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate’s Jeffrey Bloomer and Dan Kois to spoil Deep Water.
The film opens with marital unease between Vic Van Allen (Ben Affleck) and his wife Melinda (Ana de Armas). Melinda has constant flirtations that Vic moodily tolerates … until he doesn’t.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Cleo Levin.
Danny Lavery welcomes Daniel Shannon, a senior software engineer and technical lead at Vox Media, where he works on digital editorial content.
Lavery and Shannon read a letter from someone who is afraid his bestie’s new girlfriend is changing their personality for the worse.
Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Why did Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt spend over a decade building relationships with the most powerful Democrats in America?
Guest: Alex Thompson, reporter at Politico
Chris Rock is back on tour, days after Will Smith struck him and won his first Oscar in the same night. While the Academy strongly condemned Smith, several Black stars and writers have publicly defended him, or even applauded him for standing up for his wife. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson talks with entertainment journalist Chris Witherspoon about how race is playing out in the debate over what happened, and what should happen next. Guest: Chris Witherspoon, entertainment journalist and founder/CEO of @PopViewers. Podcast production by Sam Kim
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden's gaffe in speaking too honestly about Russia; Trump’s missing phone logs; and Ginni Thomas’s efforts to subvert the election.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Bob Woodward and Robert Costa for The Washington Post: “Jan. 6 White House Logs Given To House Show 7-Hour Gap In Trump Calls”
Hugo Lowell for The Guardian: “Trump Used White House Phone For Call On January 6 That Was Not On Official Log”
Bob Woodward and Robert Costa for The Washington Post: “Virginia Thomas Urged White House Chief to Pursue Unrelenting Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election, Texts Show”
Benjamin Wittes for Lawfare: “Donald Trump, John Eastman and the Silence of the Justice Department”
Karl Rove for The Wall Street Journal: “Republicans’ Jan. 6 Responsibility”
Here are this week’s chatters:
David: Beforeigners; City Cast
John: Anna P. Kambhampaty for The New York Times: “Want to See the Weirdest of Wikipedia? Look No Further.”; Morning Brew newsletter; Elden Ring video game
Emily: “The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Refutation”; Anne Frank House
Listener chatter from Andre Walker: All The Sex I've Ever Had at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what they would do if they needed to disappear.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak tackle a classic dilemma. Should you pay your kids to help around the house? What chores are age appropriate and how can you tailor your expectations to different children? They also do a round of Triumphs and Fails and announce that Mom and Dad are Fighting is moving to a twice a week schedule. Episodes will come out on Mondays and Thursdays. On Slate Plus, they discuss whether or not you should pull elementary school students out of state-wide testing. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is having a moment. The alliance dates back to the early years of the Cold War, and ever since, it has seesawed in and out of favor with Western leaders. But now, as Russia continues to wage its attack on Ukraine, NATO has assumed some of its old relevance. Guest: Mary Elise Sarotte, professor of Historical Studies at the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University. She’s also a research associate at Harvard University's Center for European Studies. Her most recent book is Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, the co-host of Slate’s internet culture podcast ICYMI, Rachelle Hampton sits down with Slate associate editor and romance author, Marissa Martinelli to talk about romance novels and, of course, the television show Bridgerton. In the first half, they dig into the longstanding race and gender politics at play within the romance writing community and gatekeeping, why we need more Short Kings and Fat Women in romance, and of course…Fabio. Then they get into the Netflix phenomenon, Bridgerton and talk about the problematic dynamics the show didn’t sort out when it “solved” racism, why making Daphne pretty ruined season one for Rachelle, and how season two kinda, sorta, almost cured some of the problems of season one.
In Slate Plus, are corsets feminist?
Recommendations: Marissa: The romance novel book club podcast, Hot and Bothered. Rachelle: Season one of Netflix’s Virgin River. Further Reading: Dangerous Books for Girls by Maya Rodale “Inside the List” by Gregory Cowels “How Bridgerton Touches on Colonialism in India” by Desiree Ibekwe “The Biggest Changes Between Bridgerton Season 2, and The Steamy, Ridiculous Book It’s Based On” by Marissa Martinelli “Under the Covers” by Anne Wallentine “One Romance Novelist’s Fight for Diverse Love Stories” by Rachelle Hampton
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
On Sunday night, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars live broadcast after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. As soon as the internet figured out the slap wasn’t a bit, Twitter was deluged with takes. On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle discourse about the discourse, discussing the neverending online take machine, how media narratives are shaped, and why we were all wondering if the slap was even real. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is a fervent right-wing activist. She was also a supporter of the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, as evidenced by a batch of texts shared with the congressional committee investigating January 6th. The Ginni Thomas texts create a conflict of interest for Justice Clarence Thomas as he hears cases pertaining to the insurrection. But the Supreme Court is not expected to do much to dispel notions of bias. Why? Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate.
This week, the panel begins by breaking down everything that went down during the weirdest Oscars ever. Then, the panel is joined by author, professor, and Slate’s pop critic, Jack Hamilton, to discuss Adam McKay’s over-stylized docudrama about the 1980s Lakers, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Finally, the panel is joined by Slate senior writer Mark Joseph Stern to discuss Disney CEO Bob Chapek and his response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses Oscars fashion. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Bill McGlaughlin’s syndicated five-week-long series on WFMT public radio, Latin Carnival. McGlaughlin sits at the piano while he DJs, guiding us through a journey of Latin carnival music from the Middle Ages to current day. Listen before it expires! Julia: Two pieces of great Oscars coverage from the LA Times. FIrst: Greg Braxton’s commentary, “With the slap, Smith tarnished a night of pride for Black Hollywood—and his legacy.” Second: Mary McNamara’s column, “Will Smith’s slap overshadows a historic night for women at the 2022 Oscars.” Steve: The Cure! But more specifically, three different covers of their song “Just Like Heaven.” One by the Scottish synth-pop group CHVRCHES alongside English musician, Robert Smith. Another by the rock band Dinosaur Jr.. And a third by American singer-songwriters Christian Lee Hutson and Shamir and (also check out his song “Lose This Number”). Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is “Backwards" by Staffan Carlen.
Danny Lavery welcomes Daniel Shannon, a senior software engineer and technical lead at Vox Media, where he works on digital editorial content. Lavery and Shannon take on two letters. First, from a letter writer who’s wondering if her cousin is “love bombing” their girlfriend, and if she should say something about it. Another letter writer is asking what to do now that they realize they don’t respect a friend that they’ve been supporting for years. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
In Japan, generations of workers have given their all to the code of Karoshi. It’s a word that literally means, “Work til you die." Few Americans know the word “Karoshi.” We don’t think it happens here. But the workplace now actually ranks as the fifth leading cause of death in America. To help us understand work stress better, we’re joined by the co-directors of the Healthy Work Campaign. Marnie Dobson and Peter Schnall. How do we shift from work being something that can make your life miserable, to something that can enhance the quality of your life? It comes down to how much power, control and autonomy you have at work. Guests:
Cate Lindemann, a lawyer in Illinois who suffered a stress-induced heart attack
Cherri Murphy, a pastor and former Lyft driver in California
Marnie Dobson and Peter Schnall, co-directors of the Healthy Work Campaign
Resources:
The Relationship Between Workplace Stressors and Mortality and Health Costs in the United States, Joel Goh, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Stefanos A. Zenios
Global, regional, and national burdens of ischemic heart disease and stroke attributable to exposure to long working hours for 194 countries, 2000–2016: A systematic analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury, Pega et al, May 2021
Bad Jobs, Bad Health? How Work and Working Conditions Contribute to Health Disparities Burgard & Yin 2013
Psychosocial Factors at Work: Recognition and Control, a report of the Joint International Labour Office and World Health Organization Committee on Occupational Health (1985)
Employee Control and Occupational Stress, Paul Spector, 2002 “Evidence is growing that enhanced control at work can be an important element in employees' health and well–being.”
Healthy Work Campaign fact sheet
Work, Stress and Health and Socio-Economic Status, American Psychological Association
Workplace Stress, ILO, 2016
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
Author and businessman, Ben Horowitz joins Felix and Emily to talk about the quietest Quentin Tarantino movie, Jackie Brown. They get into Ordell Robbie’s bad retirement plan, the romance of Jackie Brown and Max Cherry, and why you need to re-watch it when you’re old.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben take a trip down memory lane and put their knowledge of past guests to the test. They also interview the founder and CEO of Planet Word, Ann Friedman. And finally, we’re taking our final virtual trip, this time to Northern Ireland, for some cinematic wordplay. Thanks for listening and playing along with us! Produced by Jasmine Ellis. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Planet Word Information on Planet Word’s new wordplay adventure, Lexicon Lane Ann Friedman, “From the Founder: Disputes on the Language Front”
After more than 70 weeks on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100, Dua Lipa and her song “Levitating” have run into trouble: two separate copyright complaints claiming the pop star ripped off other artists in writing her hit. These aren’t the first lawsuits to test the boundaries of what counts as plagiarism in the musical realm; and if either suit succeeds, it will have far-reaching consequences for creativity in the industry.
Guest: Jeremy Orosz, associate professor of music theory at the University of Memphis.
If you were to pop by Mary Ann’s PhD discussion group, you’d most likely find her quietly, but intently, listening to the debate going on around her. But when it comes time to actually throw in her two cents, she comes up short. She feels nervous. Her mind goes blank. And she leaves the session feeling frustrated that she didn’t voice her thoughts. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Amy Cuddy, author of Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenge. Amy has done a great deal of research on how to carve out your own space — physically and mentally — and has some practical tips to help Mary Ann, and all of us, speak with more confidence. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Give a Killer Speech.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Slate’s sports podcast on the NCAA basketball tournaments and U.S. soccer. Plus, an interview with Bomani Jones.
NCAA basketball (2:57): After two weeks of upsets, it’s Duke, UNC, Kansas, and Villanova. World Cup (22:35): The U.S. men’s national soccer team is on the brink of qualifying after a 5-1 win over Panama.
Bomani Jones (45:07): Joel interviews ESPN personality Bomani Jones about his new HBO show, “Game Theory With Bomani Jones.”
Afterball (1:00:22): Stefan on watching last week’s U.S.-Mexico soccer game in Estadio Azteca.
In February, WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested at an airport near Moscow for allegedly possessing hash oil in her carry-on luggage. She’s been held in a Russian prison ever since — and a court recently extended her detention until May 19.
Why is Russia pursuing charges so vigorously against an American basketball player with a large Russian fanbase? And how long could it be until Griner gets to go home?
Guest: Meredith Cash, sports reporter for Insider.
Going off-grid can seem appealing in lots of ways. But are there consequences if everyone unplugs from the system? Are there costs we haven’t considered?
Guest: Ivan Penn, renewable energy correspondent for the New York Times
Host: Seth Stevenson
This week, host June Thomas talks to Julia Cameron, author of the classic book The Artist's Way and dozens of other books about creativity, including her most recent, Seeking Wisdom: A Spiritual Path to Creative Connection. In the interview, Julia discusses the role of spirituality in creativity and argues that her methods are helpful for believers and atheists alike. Then she digs into the benefits of morning pages and helps June overcome her inner perfectionist. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han discuss their strategies for overcoming creative blocks. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Julia reads two poems. You can find more of her work at juliacameronlive.com. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
This week, Instagram announced the return of chronological feeds to the platform, allowing users to toggle between the standard algorithmic feed and two separate chronological ones. On the show today, Madison and Rachelle talk about these new changes, whether we really want newsfeeds with such a strict structure, and why, regardless of which way we go, we’re still at the will of the algorithm. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
It was a week: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings, Justice Clarence Thomas in the hospital, Ginni Thomas’ tweets in the hands of the Jan. 6 committee, and an out-of-the-blue redistricting decision on the shadow docket.
First, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Angela Onwuachi-Willig, dean of Boston University Law School, to discuss why the Senate Judiciary Committee is a terrible venue for a job interview and the ways in which Judge Jackson rose above it.
Next, Dahlia talks to Nate Persily of Stanford Law School about how the hearing interacts with the bigger picture of disinformation ecosystems, Ginni Thomas’ texts, and fills us in on the Wisconsin redistricting case. Finally, they discuss Prof. Persily’s almost 40-year friendship with Ketanji Brown Jackson.
In our Slate Plus segment, Dahlia and Mark Joseph Stern dig into judicial ethics and what shocked them this week.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham. .
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Mary Childs, host of NPR’s Planet Money to talk about her upcoming book, The Bond King, the exodus of Midtown’s working population, and Grimes’s confession to DDoS-ing the music blog “Hipster Runoff.”
In the Plus segment: Behind the scenes of Mary’s publication journey.
Mentioned In the Show: “Midtown Manhattan With Fewer Office Workers: Imagining the Unthinkable” by Kate King, Roque Ruiz, and Konrad Putzier “’I actually go canceled for this’ Grimes Reflects on 10 Moments from Her Life” by Vanity Fair
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
The early ’70s was a great time for R&B queens on the charts: Roberta Flack. Dionne Warwick. Patti LaBelle. Chaka Khan. They had come through the ’60s—Dionne as a smooth pop-and-B star, Patti as a girl-group frontwoman, Roberta as a cabaret pianist—and found themselves in a new decade with limitless possibilities. Flack turned folk songs into chart-topping, Grammy-winning R&B. Warwick shifted from Brill Building pop to Philly soul. LaBelle threw her insane voice at rock, funk, and glam. And a relative newcomer, Rufus frontwoman Chaka Khan, followed in their footsteps, commanding the band and converting to disco, then electro. By the ’80s, all four women were ready for a major chart victory lap.
Join host Chris Molanphy as he traces four parallel careers that expanded the definition of soul from the ’60s through the ’80s and beyond. These soul sisters, flow sisters, bold sisters…killed us softly, walked on by and were, finally, every woman.
Danny Lavery welcomes Esther Jaffee, a marine microbiologist who specializes in algal biochemistry. Lavery and Jaffee read a letter from someone who is afraid that admitting a crush on their friend will offend their gender identity. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The FBI warned that Russia would use deepfakes to support its invasion of Ukraine. Are they missing the real threat?
Guest: Noah Giansiracusa, professor of math and data science at Bentley University.
Host: Seth Stevenson
White Ukrainians have been praised for defending their homeland, and embraced when they’re forced to leave. It’s a sharp contrast to what has faced Black Ukrainians, Syrians, Afghans, and others who have fled war zones. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Patrick Gaspard, who served in the Obama administration, and currently leads the Center for American Progress. He addresses how race and ethnicity play out in the Ukrainian crisis, the U.S. response, and what’s at stake. Guest: Patrick Gaspard, former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, and the president and CEO of the Center for American Progress Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
David Plotz and John Dickerson are joined by Ruth Marcus to discuss Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing; Ukraine keeps fighting through atrocity; and more allegations of Republican candidates committing domestic abuse.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Dana Milbank for The Washington Post: “Cruz Attacks Jackson For ‘Critical Race Theory’ — But Sends His Own Daughters To Learn It”
Henry Olsen for The Washington Post: “Republicans Are Right to Oppose Ketanji Brown Jackson”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
David: BioHacked: Family Secrets: “The Genius Experiment: Part 1”; The Genius Factory, by David Plotz; The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World, by Riley Black
John: Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century, by Dana Stevens
Ruth: Christine Emba for The Washington Post: “Consent Is Not Enough. We Need A New Sexual Ethic.”; Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, by Christine Emba
Listener chatter from Eric Jason Martin: Nick Paumgarten for The New Yorker: “Retirement the Margaritaville Way."
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Ruth, John, and David discuss their strangest behaviors.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah and Zak are joined by Julie Kohler, a writer, gender justice advocate, and host of the podcast, White Picket Fence. First they tackle a question from a listener who is trying to figure out how to connect with her partner’s kid. Then they talk with Julie about the childcare crisis, which she focused on for the latest season of her show. She explains why the US is still so far behind in terms of implementing care economy policies and what supports should be in place to make parenting more manageable. On Slate Plus, they discuss the viral “husbands in training” TikTok. Recommendations: Julie recommends Turning Red. Zak recommends Chili Onion Crunch. Jamilah recommends SpoiledChild’s S24 Rapid Recovery Hair Mask Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re saddling up and taking the reins to talk Westerns. Film critic and host of the podcast Watch With Jen, Jen Johans is joined by Washington Post TV critic and host of the All About Almodóvar & All About Campion podcasts, Inkoo Kang.
First they dive into the history of the genre: What makes something a Western, and how the genre has challenged stereotypes when it comes to the sexes. Then they explore Jane Campion’s Oscar-nominated film, and the latest big Western, Power of the Dog.
In Slate Plus, Jen and Inkoo talk about whether pianos are feminist.
Recommendations: Jen: The films of Terrence Malick and Wim Wenders Inkoo: Jane Campion’s 1999 film, Holy Smoke Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and Karen Han answer a question from a listener named Anna, who wants to enliven her nonfiction work. Breaking through creative roadblocks can be challenging, but Isaac and Karen trade tricks, such as diagramming passages of your favorite writing and inventing weird rules to find a voice that fits your work. Have you struggled to find your voice or encountered other creative barricades? Share them with us at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Russia’s indiscriminate shelling of civilian targets in Ukraine is eerily reminiscent of its involvement in the war in Syria, where the goal was to crush civilian morale amid an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. How did top global powers allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to be successful in Syria? Are there signs that he’ll enjoy similar success now, in Ukraine? Guest: William Wechsler, senior director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council.
Bryan, Christina, and Jules respond to the anti-trans attacks coming out of state legislatures across the country, particularly in Texas, where the governor and attorney general have tried to make caring for trans kids into a form of child abuse. Jules sketches out what a trans child’s life would look and feel like over the coming years as a result of these draconian bills and administrative attacks. Then they are joined by Michael Waters to discuss his recent piece for Slate about trans pioneer Barbara Ann Richards, who went to court in 1941 to legally change her name—and succeeded. Items discussed in the show: Lauren Groff discusses the writing of her novel Matrix on the podcast Women Who Travel “The GOP’s All-Out Assault on Trans People,” The Waves, March 3, 2022, featuring Jules Gill-Peterson and Evan Urquhart “Barbara Ann Richards Designed—and Then Demanded—the Life She Deserved,” by Michael Waters True Sex: The Lives of Trans Men at the Turn of the Twentieth Century, by Emily Skidmore Gay Agenda Christina: Start your own Dyke Night! Bryan: QueerSpace, a podcast from the National Air and Space Museum Jules: The 2022 Lambda Literary Award nominations
This podcast was produced by Myron. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This past weekend, Rachel Zegler, known for playing Maria in the new remake of West Side Story, told a fan on Instagram that Disney wasn’t sending her to the Oscars. Her plan to watch the ceremony from home quickly changed, however, once the internet heard about it. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison break down the Oscars scandal’s online origins, and then they open up the mailbag. They answer questions about stuck boats, peeling eggs live on TikTok, a woman with 22 babies, drama in the knitting world, and more. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, New York Times columnist and Slate graduate, Jamelle Bouie, fills in for Steve as the panel begins by entering the Gotham of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Then, for our final pre-Oscars round-up, the panel digs into Best Picture nominee Drive My Car. Finally, the panel discusses the trend of ever-elongating movie runtimes. In Slate Plus, the panel questions Jamelle about his recent deep dive into the work of Martin Scorcese. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Pedro Almodóvar’s addition to the Director’s Issue series of W Magazine, in which he interviews and photographs Penélope Cruz. Jamelle: The 4K UHD version of the 1993 Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle Hard Target. Directed by Hong Kong director, John Woo, Hard Target is the first major Hollywood film made by a Chinese director. But, it’s Jamelle’s pick because it’s one of the best restorations of a movie he’s ever seen. Julia: The Batman ‘66 series, which is a Batman that is different than the dark opus of Batman today. It’s good for adults but also great for kids. Then an addendum from Jamelle: the kid-friendly, highly funny Batman animated series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "What Do You Want From Me" by OTE
The White House and Senate Republicans are at an impasse when it comes to passing a $15 billion pandemic relief package. And there are growing concerns about money running out for COVID-19 response essentials like tests, therapeutic treatments and vaccines.
This week, some of those pandemic relief federal funds will start drying up. What does that mean for America's state of pandemic readiness – especially if another wave is on the horizon?
Guest: Dan Diamond, national health and policy reporter at The Washington Post.
Danny Lavery welcomes Esther Jaffee, a marine microbiologist who specializes in algal biochemistry. Lavery and Jaffee tackle two letters. First, from a letter writer who caught her boyfriend lying about his plans to move away with her. Another letter writer is wondering if it’s time to tell off their boss. Plus, Jaffee shares the latest and greatest from the world of algae. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
As much as the media has been inundated with future of work stories that read like a Sci-Fi-like robot apocalypse, the future of work, in a very real sense, is already here. And what’s really at stake is inequality. The real question for the future of work is not whether automation, robots and AI will replace jobs - they will. And, if history is any guide, as-yet unimaginable jobs will be created. Over 60 percent of the jobs today didn’t exist in 1940, according to MIT researchers. The real question is - will the jobs that are created be “big enough” for workers and families to thrive, much less survive. And, given the current trajectory we’re on, the answer is no. Since the 1980s, automation, globalization, the financialization of the U.S. economy and policies that rewarded capital instead of labor have led to a sharp polarization of the U.S. workforce. Middle class jobs lost have been replaced by increasingly unstable, precarious jobs - involuntary part-time, low-wages, with scant access to benefits like health care, and unpredictable schedules. But, as economist David Autor and his colleagues at MIT argue, that polarization is a choice. And we could come together as a society and make a different choice for the future. If we don’t, he warns, we are building toward a stratified society of “the servers and the served.”
Guests
Joe Liebman, warehouse picker in St. Louis making $17.50/ hour. Lost his white collar job in the 2008 Great Recession - and his house, his family, his sense of wellbeing.
David Autor, economist, MIT, co-chair of the MIT Task Force on the Work of the Future.
Resources:
MIT Future of Work Task Force
Future of Work Initiative, Aspen Institute
Extending the Race Between Education and Technology, Autor, Goldin, Katz, 2020
The Future of Warehouse Work, UC Berkeley Labor Center
Worker Voices: Technology and the Future for Workers, Molly Kinder, Amanda Lenhart, New America, 2019
The Future of work and its impact on Health, Blue Shield of California Foundation and the Institute for the Future, 2020
The Future of Jobs Report 2020, World Economic Forum (Automation projected to eliminate about 85 million jobs in the next five years—potentially displacing up to half of the United States workforce with no clear path for them to connect to the new jobs likely to be created by these technological changes)
BLS fastest growing occupations 2020-2030
It’s been more than three weeks since Russia declared war on Ukraine. Here’s how each country is preparing for the next brutal stage of this conflict.
Guest: Fred Kaplan covers national security for Slate and is the author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.
When a fellow employee started bullying Christy at her workplace she took the situation to her supervisor, Human Resources, and even filed grievances with her union. But the situation never improved. In fact, it got worse to the point where Christy had no choice but to walk away from her job of over 30 years. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Megan Hunter – co-founder and CEO of High Conflict Institute and author of BIFF at Work: Your Guide to Difficult Workplace Communication. She offers insight into the bullying Christy experienced and shares advice for anyone who might be in a similar situation. “We just have to know the rules and then we can manage that relationship instead of having that person and their fear-driven operating system manage us,” Megan says. With input from Christy, Megan sheds light on how to handle a toxic work environment. If you liked this episode, check out: How To Fire a Bad Employee Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
The Wall Street Journal’s Vipal Monga joins Felix and Emily to talk about the Jamaican crime film, The Harder They Come. They discuss the mix between crime and music, what makes the movie good (and bad), and the film’s treatment of women.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the top storylines from the men’s NCAA tournament, and they’re joined by the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings for a conversation about the women’s tournament. Finally, they talk about the Cleveland Browns’ trade for Deshaun Watson. NCAA men (2:39): TCU’s heartbreaking loss, Cinderella Saint Peter’s, and more. NCAA women (22:47): Why are there more upsets all of a sudden? And has the NCAA really made its tourneys more equitable? Deshaun Watson (45:24): What should we make of the robust market for a quarterback who’s been accused of sexual misconduct? Afterball (1:01:08): Josh on Wordle variants for sports fans.
A very strange bankruptcy case is coming to a close. Its settlement hinges not on payments rendered or bills neglected, but on the pain of millions of American families who slid into the jaws of the opioid crisis. Now, the people who set off the crisis are about to settle their debts. Guest: Brian Mann, reporter on addiction for NPR.
This week, host Karen Han talks to Jeeyon Shim, who designs immersive games that allow players to craft objects and tell stories. In the interview, Jeeyon discusses her career as an outdoor educator and explains how that work prompted her pivot to game design. She also explains what a “keepsake game” is and describes her latest game, called The Snow Queen, which repurposes chess pieces and allows players to craft narratives about them. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss the appeal of solo games. Then they reflect on Jeeyon’s comments about making a living as an artist and treating creative work as work. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jeeyon lists some of her favorite games to play. Jeeyon’s games can be found at jeeyonshim.games. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
In just two years, the mental-health startup Cerebral has grown to operate in 50 states, registered more than 200,000 patients, and reached a $4.8 billion valuation. Has it prioritized growth over patient care?
Guest: Caleb Melby
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Emily Bazelom talks with author Meghan O’Rourke about germ theory, biomarkers, medical mysteries, long COVID and the quest to return to health as chronicled in her new book The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
The internet has birthed so many wild moments of hilarity over the years. During the second half of their South by Southwest show, Rachelle and Madison play a game to find out which piece of internet history is the greatest. With contestants like the man singing a gospel remix of the Golden Girls theme song, “Thank You For Being a Friend,” the Beto O’Rourke sex tweet, Julia Fox saying “uncut gems,” and the infamous DashCon, it’s quite the tough field. Tune in to find out which piece of internet ephemera comes out victorious. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
In a Slate Plus-exclusive episode, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern look ahead to next week’s hearings and lend their expert opinions on what’s likely to come up, what really matters, and who’s got the whole thing upside down. Podcast production by Sara Burningham. .
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Elizabeth Spiers, co-author of the Slate Pay Dirt column. They talk about whether the fed hike is a big deal, the American dollar and why it might not be around forever, and Citigroup providing red state employees travel benefits to access abortion clinics.
In the Plus segment: Sarah Bloom Raskin withdrawing her nomination for Fed vice chair.
Mentioned In the Show: “Axios Markets” by Emily Peck and Matt Phillips “Poll: Just 24% of workers think their employer cares about their well-being” by Emily Peck Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Danny Lavery welcomes author Heather Havrilesky, who recently published the book, Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage. She also writes the Ask Polly advice column. Lavery and Havrilesky read a letter from someone who was ghosted by a longtime friend, and now is wondering how secure their other relationships are. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
On this week’s Spoiler Specials, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens and former Slate staff writer Karen Han spoil Turning Red, directed by Domee Shi. When 13-year-old Meilin (Rosalie Chiang) starts to experience puberty, she turns into a giant red panda. Little does she know that the matriarchal side of her family has a connection to this mythical creature. Her mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), also has a story about turning into a giant bear when she experiences intense emotions. Will this new revelation bring Meilin and Ming closer? And what will the teenager’s friends think when they find out about her new gift? Read Dana’s review of the movie. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
This year, several Black artists have been nominated for Oscars, including Ariana DeBose, Aunjanue Ellis, Will Smith, and Denzel Washington. But there’s concern that diversity –in front of and behind the camera– hasn’t been fully embraced in Hollywood. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by April Reign, whose 2015 hashtag #OscarsSoWhite sparked a vigorous debate over inclusion in the film business. She addresses the state of her effort, and the work that still needs to be done to make entertainment better reflect the reality of Americans’ lives. Guest: April Reign, media strategist, and creator of the movement #OscarsSoWhite Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Hong Kong's zero-COVID policy got enviable results, but inadvertently set the stage for disaster. What will it take to change course?
Guest: Dr. Karen Grépin, Associate Professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by guest host Juliette Kayyem to discuss the arming of Ukraine, how to prepare for the next pandemic or catastrophe, and daylight savings time debates.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Megan Garber for The Atlantic: “The Grim Stagecraft of Zelensky’s Selfie Videos”
Atul Gawande for The New Yorker: “Costa Ricans Live Longer Than We Do. What's the Secret?”
The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters, by Juliette Kayyem
Here’s this week’s chatter:
David: Nina Siegal for The New York Times: “She Discovered What Happened to 400 Dutch Jews Who Disappeared”
Emily: Paul Blest for Vice: “Josh Hawley Accused Biden’s SCOTUS Pick of Being Soft on Child Porn”; Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “The Price of a Stolen Childhood”
Juliette: Maria Cramer for The New York Times: “A Year After Suez Blockage, Another Evergreen Ship Is Mired in the Chesapeake”
Listener chatter from Jonas Barciauskas: This Land podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Juliette, Emily and David talk about what they think about when they want to increase their happiness.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a tricky question from a parent who doesn’t have a relationship with her father for a good reason. But now that his health is failing, she’s wondering if she should introduce him to her daughter. Then, they tackle how to make school drop-off smoother. On Slate Plus, they discuss Jessica Grose’s piece, I’ll Say It Again: There’s More Than One Way to Raise Kids Who Thrive, and dish on what philosophies they use in their own parenting. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Making a Great Exhibition by Doro Globus Jamilah recommends filling out your manufacturer’s warranty. Zak recommends Life on Earth by Hurray for the Riff Raff. Bonus recommendation: Pregnant Pause. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, it’s all about getting paid. Slate Money co-host Emily Peck is joined by Phoebe Gavin, a career coach and executive director of talent and development for Vox.com. In the first part of the show they unpack Emily’s New York Times article, “What Do You Think You Should Be Paid” and the trap of that question. In the second half, Phoebe gives her advice on how to make sure you are paid what you’re worth.
You can find Phoebe’s career coaching information here.
In Slate Plus, is International Women’s Day feminist?
Recommendations: Emily: These Precious Days: Essays, by Ann Patchett Phoebe: Watching Gardeners’ World while wearing Nuit de Feu perfume. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Last week, the Texas Supreme Court handed down a decision: Abortion providers can no longer sue state medical licensing offiicials to challenge Texas’ six-week abortion ban. Senate Bill 8, as it’s known, went into effect six months ago with ongoing legal battles in local, state and federal courtrooms. As abortion access is further restricted in the state, abortion rights advocates are doing everything they can to continue their work – including flying women out of state to get care – while navigating geographic constraints at the southern border.
Guest: Cathy Torres, organizing manager for Frontera Fund, an abortion fund for the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas.
ICYMI went to Austin this week and recorded a live show at South by Southwest. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison are joined by Bridget Todd, host of the podcast There Are No Girls on the Internet, to discuss the recent “womblands” drama, their favorite scams on the internet, and what it’s like covering the internet beat. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, senior editor at Slate, Allegra Frank, fills in for Steve as the panel begins by debating the enjoyability of Apple TV+’s new star-studded thriller Severance. Then, the panel digs into Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest Oscar contender Licorice Pizza. Finally, the panel discusses longform YouTube videos and the rise and fall of attention spans, inspired by Terry Nguyen’s article “The video essay boom” for Vox. Referenced video essays include: Mike’s Mic on Pretty Little Liars, Jenny Nicholson on Dear Evan Hansen, and Quinton Reviews on Victorious. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses thematic aversions they have in films. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Julia: Endorsing Six Seasons: a New Way With Vegetables by Joshua McFadden and Martha Holmberg, which has lots of delicious recipes that are designed for your farmer’s market finds. Allegra: The podcast Dead Eyes from comedian Connor Ratliff about people in the entertainment industry and their long forgotten, lost, and/or canceled projects—inspired by how he was fired from Band of Brothers by Tom Hanks himself because he had “dead eyes.” Dana: Speaking of video essays, filmmaker Kogonada’s (After Yang, Columbus) video essays which are extremely visual and beautifully edited. They’re all on his website, but Dana specifically shouted out: Breaking Bad // POV, Mirrors of Bergman, Hands of Bresson, and Linklater // On Cinema & Time. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "If Only I Was a Poet" by Staffan Carlen.
Russian state propaganda has kicked into overdrive as its war on Ukraine continues. State news depicts Ukrainians as the aggressors and the Kremlin’s military as a heroic force. In times like these, how can Russians get accurate information?
Guest: Kevin Rothrock, managing editor of the English side of Meduza and host of the podcast “The Russia Guy.”
Danny Lavery welcomes author Heather Havrilesky, who recently published the book, Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage. She also writes the Ask Polly advice column. Lavery and Havrilesky take on two letters. First, from someone who feels resentment over a former lover’s new relationship. Another letter writer is wondering whether sharing an old family memory will be helpful or harmful. Plus, a deep dive into Havrilesky’s new book. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
After Zach heard our “How to Make Friends as an Adult” episode, which coincidentally featured all women, he and a few other male listeners wrote in questioning how useful it was for men. He wondered if we could address the unique challenges men face when it comes to making new friends. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Slate staff writers Dan Kois, author of How to Be a Family, and Aymann Ismail, former host of the podcast Man Up, to coach Zach through a few easy tips. “You just gotta be shameless about it,” says Dan. Whether it’s balancing parenthood or playing the numbers game, Dan and Aymann share practical ways to put yourself out there, even if it means being a little bit vulnerable. If you liked this episode, check out How To Put Your Wife's Career First. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, and Katie Shepherd.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies. Author of several books, Kurt Andersen joins Felix and Emily to talk about the 2015 Adam McKay film, The Big Short. They dig into the merits of the Margot Robbie in a bathtub scene, what the movie gets wrong, and who the real heroes are.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
While the U.S. ban on Russian oil correlates with rising prices in the U.S., it’s still subject to a global market that was on the upswing anyway. In the long run, could the rising prices, whether the result of the ban or not, actually help accelerate decarbonization efforts and move the U.S. to more sustainable forms of energy?
Guest: Robinson Meyer, staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of the newsletter The Weekly Planet, and a co-founder of the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic.
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben talk about the difference between a dialect and a language as they revisit a prior conversation about Ukraine. They also interview Will Shortz, crossword puzzle editor at the New York Times, about how he got into the world of puzzles. And finally, our hosts are in the hot seat for a wordplay quiz set by the puzzle master himself. You don’t want to miss this! You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Cambridge Language Surveys, “The Slavic Languages” (including Russian, Ukrainian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian) Phillip M. Carter, “Long before shots were fired, a linguistic power struggle was playing out in Ukraine” Information on the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (April 1-3) Register here for the ACPT’s non-competitive virtual event Ben’s article on how Stephen Sondheim popularized cryptic crosswords in the U.S. Ben, Nicole, and Will compete in Webster’s War of the Words, a fundraiser for the Noah Webster House
Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Bryan Curtis to discuss Tom Brady’s unretirement and other huge quarterback news. Alex Kirshner also joins to discuss March Madness storylines and Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s suspension for betting on NFL games. Quarterbacks (3:36): Brady back to Tampa, Russell Wilson to Denver, Deshaun Watson to … somewhere. March Madness (23;43): What to watch out for in the men’s and women’s tournaments. NFL and gambling (44:57): Football, betting, and “the integrity of the game.” Afterball (1:06:40): Joel on the history of conference basketball tournaments.
In early 2020, reports of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders began to go up. More alarming is that two years later, the attacks don’t seem to be going anywhere. Why, after so much time passed, hasn’t the story changed?
Guest: Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of the Asian American Federation.
This week, Stoya and Rich advise a letter writer whose partner isn’t saying the right things, and they discuss a letter from a woman who can’t bear to touch herself. Mentioned in this episode: My New Gender Workbook by Kate Bornstein
Continue following Rich and Stoya and their How to Do It column on Slate here. Production by Chau Tu.
When Minnesota's Operation Safety Net, a coordinated effort among nine Minnesota law enforcement agencies, was announced in February 2021, its mission was to ensure the trial of Derek Chauvin would proceed peacefully. It also promised to protect people's right to gather and demonstrate peacefully. Did Operation Safety Net keep its promise?
Guest: Tate Ryan-Mosley, reporter for MIT Tech review Host: Lizzie O'Leary
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, writers and creators of the HBO series Somebody, Somewhere. In the interview, Hannah and Paul discuss their close collaborative relationship and share some of the creative practices they developed with their theater company, The Debate Society. Then they talk about the development and writing process behind Somebody, Somewhere, which is set in rural Kansas and stars actor and cabaret singer Bridget Everett, who grew up there. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas talk about the effectiveness of writing exercises and the difficulty of describing one’s own creative processes. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Hannah and Paul explain why they chose not to include any details about the pandemic in Somebody, Somewhere. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
The term “womblands” blew up on TikTok this past week, and the drama surrounding its origin is dense and confusing. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison venture deep into TikTok to explain why the story behind this funny term is darker than you may realize. It involves racism, sexism, and sexual assault allegations, and it yet another case of interpersonal drama taken too far by the TikTok community. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Stanford student and Palladium writer, Ginevra Davis, to talk about who is really hurt by businesses pulling out of Russia, what is going on with nickel and Russia, and the current state of being Gen-Z.
In the Plus segment: Emily starts a generational war.
Mentioned In the Show: “When the Stagnation Goes Virtual” by Ginevra Davis “The Moral Hazard Lessons From Nickel Market Disaster” by James Mackintosh Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Professor Anita Hill to discuss confirmation hearings past and future, the unfinished work of equality, and whether the current Supreme Court can be part of that work. In our Slate Plus segment, Slate’s senior jurisprudence editor Nicole Lewis and senior writer Mark Joseph Stern discuss the worrying news buried in a shadow docket “win” for redistricting, a unanimous decision Monday, and the judges who seem intent on threatening national security by meddling with the military. Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kyle Turner, a queer freelance writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Turner is a contributor to Paste Magazine, and his writing on film and culture has been featured in The Village Voice, GQ, Slate, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times. Lavery and Turner read a letter from someone who is tired of withholding the truth from her kids about why their dad left. Plus, a listener update! Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This week, Congress passed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act to make lynching a federal crime. It’s named for Emmett Till, a Chicago teenager who was brutally killed in Mississippi in 1955. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by historian Lopez Matthews, Jr. to discuss the harmful myths about lynching, and how its specter haunts African Americans to this day. Guest: Lopez Matthews, Jr. is an executive council member for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Vladimir Putin has always regarded the internet with suspicion. Now, with western tech companies pulling out of Russia and control of the war narrative slipping, he sees an opening. Will Putin wall off Russia from the rest of the digital world?
Guests: Yana Pashaeva, Moscow-based journalist Justin Sherman, fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's fighting spirit, rising gas prices, and conformity on campus.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
The Science of Politics podcast: “Does the Public Respond to Threats to Democracy?”
The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill: On Liberty, the Subjection of Women and Utilitarianism
The Guns of August, by Barbara W. Tuchman
Emma Camp for the New York Times: “I Came to College Eager to Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead.”
David A. Plotz for the Harvard Crimson: “‘Politically Correct’ Thought Control”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
David: Kayla Stewart for The New York Times: “One Huge Hog, One Long Day and a Nourishing Southern Tradition”
Emily: Pam & Tommy
John: Henry Fountain for The New York Times: “At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History’s Great Wrecks Is Found”
Listener chatter from Carol Walker: BBC podcast 1914: Day by Day For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David discuss the people they carry with them. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's fighting spirit, rising gas prices, and conformity on campus.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
The Science of Politics podcast: “Does the Public Respond to Threats to Democracy?”
The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill: On Liberty, the Subjection of Women and Utilitarianism
The Guns of August, by Barbara W. Tuchman
Emma Camp for the New York Times: “I Came to College Eager to Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead.”
David A. Plotz for the Harvard Crimson: “‘Politically Correct’ Thought Control”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
David: Kayla Stewart for The New York Times: “One Huge Hog, One Long Day and a Nourishing Southern Tradition”
Emily: Pam & Tommy
John: Henry Fountain for The New York Times: “At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History’s Great Wrecks Is Found”
Listener chatter from Carol Walker: BBC podcast 1914: Day by Day For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David discuss the people they carry with them. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a complicated question about a listener with family ties to Russia who is seeking advice on how to explain to her young children the invasion of Ukraine and how to help them handle the schoolyard teasing. Then, how to keep your toddler entertained in the stroller on the way to school. This family is looking to up their game on the 25 min walk to school. And on Slate Plus, what's one silly, or serious thing that we should implement to make parents' lives better. The hosts weigh in with our ideas. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Melon’s House Party Jamilah recommends The new Saved By The Bell Zak recommends Better Things Listener-recommended Resources: How To Hug a Porcupine Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Zak Rosen.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re talking about infertility treatments–and what happens when they don’t work. The Waves producer Cheyna Roth shares her personal struggles and talks about going through IVF with Slate’s Dear Prudence columnist, Jenée Desmond Harris. They talk about what they wished they had known before starting IVF, how to be a good friend of someone experiencing infertility, and Jenée offers advice on how to cope with IVF. Later in the show, Cheyna talks to author Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos about the ethics of the infertility industry, what to say to a loved one who is going through treatments, and what it means to be an “IVF survivor,”
In Slate Plus, Cheyna and Jenée talk about the slippery slope to IVF and its high price tag. And Slate’s Lili Loofbourow shares what happened when she tried to get insurance to cover IVF.
Additional Reading: “An IVF Survivor Unravels ‘Fertility’ Industry Narratives,” by Pamela Tsigdinos “Would You Tell Someone You Were Infertile?” by Pamela Tsigdinos “As The Dark Side of IVF Slowly Comes Into Focus, EvenMore Transparency Is Needed,” by Pamela Tsigdinos
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
What it’s been like for one Ukrainian-American journalist to cover the Russian attack on his homeland: “The first couple of days of the war, I threw myself into work, and then after that, I couldn't function for a day or two. And I quickly figured out that if I keep working, then I have to abstract it on some level.” Guest: Romeo Kokriatski, managing editor of The New Voice of Ukraine and co-host of the podcast Ukraine Without Hype.
For this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and Karen Han reply to an email from a listener named Jeffrey, who points out how rare it is to see an accurate depiction of creativity in movies and on TV. One reason for this, Jeffrey asserts, is that creative work requires a lot of boring drudgery. Isaac and Karen weigh in on this idea and list some examples of accurate depictions of the creative process. Is there a question about creativity or inspiration that you’d like to ask the hosts of Working? Give us a call and leave a message at (304) 933-9675, or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Brian Johnson, aka the Liver King, has amassed millions of followers with his bizarre yet addictive workout and raw-meat-diet videos. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison comb through the king’s core tenets, his obsession with explosives, and of course his taste for liver with a side of maple syrup. Later in the show, science communicator Johnathan Jarry joins for a discussion of why we look to people like the Liver King, and why we can’t look away. If you’ve listened to the episode, here’s the Google Form that Rachelle and Madison mention. Send them your internet faves and nightmares. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, Jasmine Ellis, and Kevin Bendis.
The congressional committee investigating January 6th has outlined potential criminal charges against former President Trump. Why did the Department of Justice let someone else beat them to it?
Guest: Ankush Khardori is a DC-based lawyer and a former federal prosecutor who specialized in financial fraud and white-collar crime. He’s a contributing writer for Intelligencer and a contributing editor at Politico.
This week, the panel begins by hashing out Hulu’s new Silicon Valley miniseries The Dropout. Then, the panel breaks down Pedro Almodóvar’s recent film Parallel Mothers. Finally, the panel is joined by author and Slate writer Dan Kois to rant about the growing dangers of pickup trucks. In Slate Plus, the panel answers the classic celebrity hall pass question. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The website Timemaps.com, where you can view maps of the world over time and focus on specific places to get historical summaries. Julia: The instagram account @TheSussmans, which posts consistently funny hospitality industry memes. Steve: The most recent long read from Oliver Bullough for The Guardian, “Gas-powered kingmaker: how the UK welcomed Putin’s man in Ukraine,” which provides insight into the deeper motivations behind the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Ruins" by Origo
Danny Lavery welcomes Kyle Turner, a queer freelance writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Turner is a contributor to Paste Magazine, and his writing on film and culture has been featured in The Village Voice, GQ, Slate, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times. Lavery and Turner tackle two letters. First, from someone who's not sure if they should identify as a lesbian give their history. Another letter writer is wondering how to support a close friend who is moving far, and also not get in her way. Plus, Turner shares about his Stephen Sondheim’s Follies themed birthday extravaganza. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Courtenay has more than a few regrets, starting with her career. Despite her accomplishments as an opera singer, she wishes she’d prioritized her professional goals, become more proficient on the piano and with foreign languages. Then there are the personal regrets, like the elderly friend Courteney lost touch with — who then passed away. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, to coach Courtenay through reclaiming her regrets. “We haven't taught people how to properly deal with negative emotions,” Pink reminds us. We’ll learn about the four core regrets that most of us share and how to turn them into wisdom. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Uproot Your Life.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson and Katie Shepherd.
How Volodymyr Zelensky went from being one of Ukraine’s most successful entertainment moguls to its much-heralded wartime president. Guest: Franklin Foer, staff writer at the Atlantic.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Yahoo’s Hannah Keyser to discuss the Major League Baseball lockout. They also talk about WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia and assess the spectacle of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game. Baseball (2:49): When will the lockout end? What’s at stake? Griner (21:29): Why was she in Russia in the first place, and what comes next for her and women’s basketball? Coach K (43:39): Was this the perfect regular-season ending to his illustrious career? Afterball (1:04:32): Stefan on Sports Illustrated’s profile of Lia Thomas and the anti-trans, anti-Thomas backlash.
The Biden administration’s new pandemic rules and countermeasures intend to bring us into a “new phase of the pandemic.” The CDC also released new guidelines for masking, and now about 70% of Americans can go mask free. What do these new guidelines actually say about what stage of the pandemic we’re in?
Guest: Megan Ranney, emergency room doctor at Brown Emergency Medicine.
This week, Stoya and Rich advise a letter writer who is overwhelmed by her partner’s daily sexual needs, and they discuss a letter from a man who wonders if his post-sex feelings are normal.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to author, ghostwriter, and YouTuber Michelle Schusterman, who’s written more than a dozen novels. In the interview, Michelle differentiates between her various writing jobs and explains how she juggles so many projects. She also gives a step-by-step description of her ghostwriting process for fiction and offers advice on how to manage clients. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss strategies for managing multiple jobs at once and learning through trial-and-error. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Michelle talks about her time as a marching band teacher and explains how it led to one of her first big writing jobs. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Second Sight restored partial vision to hundreds of patients around the world through retinal implants. Then, on the verge of bankruptcy, they abandoned the project. Now, over 300 patients with Second Sight technology in their bodies are asking: what will happen to us?
Guest: Eliza Strickland, senior editor at IEEE Spectrum
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Nepotism is everywhere, and it’s always funny when a new generation realizes that. On today’s show, Madison is joined by Nichole Perkins to talk about the recent online conversation about nepotism babies that got started when people realized Lexi from Euphoria, played by Maude Apatow, is the daughter of two famous people. Madison and Nichole discuss the unending list of entertainment nepotism babies, why nepotism is a fact of daily life, and how privilege factors into it all. Plus, they share a few tips about being online during a global crisis. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
Election denialism and disinformation threaten the integrity of U.S. elections, but what can we do about this growing crisis? In this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick talks to election-law professor Rick Hasen about his new book Cheap Speech: How Disinformation Poisons Our Politics–and How to Cure It. Slate Plus members have access to an extended version of this interview. Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by the New York Times’ “On Tech” columnist Shira Ovide for an all-tech deep dive. Starting with the war in Ukraine, they explore the tech giants’ grappling with Russian restrictions, Amazon’s inflated image as the omnipotent retailer, and the United States’ flagging broadband access.
In the Plus segment: The bill banning forced arbitration
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Kevin Bendis
Danny Lavery welcomes Laura Leigh Abby, a writer and star and subject of a new documentary podcast series from Paradiso Media called Seventeen: Conversations with My Teenage Self. Lavery and Abby read a letter from someone whose girlfriend is insistent that they join in the use of mindfulness apps and mediation. Plus, a listener update! Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Up against one of the world's most effective propaganda operations, Ukraine has taken control of the online narrative. With Russian troops closing in, how important is winning the information war?
Guest: Casey Newton, writer at Platformer
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
On this week’s Spoiler Specials, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens and senior editor Sam Adams spoil The Batman. After a high-ranking Gotham City politician is murdered in his apartment by a masked figure, Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) investigates the crime alongside police detective James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright). It turns out that the murderer is the Riddler (Paul Dano), who is determined to expose the corruption in Gotham’s government by any means necessary. Will the Riddler succeed, or will his plan fall apart? How does Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne compare to the others? And was it necessary for this movie to be three hours long? Read Dana’s review of the movie. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
President Joe Biden’s nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court made history. But according to MSNBC legal analyst Elie Mystal, it will take a lot more than her confirmation to break the conservative hold on the nation’s judiciary. On today’s episode of A Word, he talks with Jason Johnson about the confirmation battle ahead, and about his new book Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution. Guest: Elie Mystal, MSNBC political analyst and the justice correspondent for The Nation. His new book Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution is out now. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Michaelangelo Matos, the author of The Underground Is Massive: How Electronic Dance Music Conquered America. He contributes regularly to Mix-mag and the New Yorker, and joins us to follow up on our previous episode about the history of the remix, digging into remix culture in hip hop, 80's pop, and more. Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's resistance, the State of the Union, and an increasing backlash against reformer prosecutors.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Thomas L. Friedman for The New York Times: “I See Three Scenarios for How This War Ends”
Anne Appelbaum for the Atlantic: “The Bad Guys Are Winning”
Gal Beckerman for The Atlantic: “How Zelensky Gave the World a Jewish Hero”
Rebecca Davis O’Brien for The New York Times: “How This ‘Progressive Prosecutor’ Balances Politics and Public Safety”
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration, by Emily Bazelon
Here’s this week’s chatter:
David: The Postman, by David Brin
Emily: In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss, by Amy Bloom; Away, by Amy Bloom
John: New York Times, Feb. 22, 1862: “The Execution of Nathaniel Gordon”
Listener chatter from Leslie Camp: Phil Davison for The Washington Post: “Monique Hanotte, Belgian resistance member who rescued 135 downed Allied airmen in World War II, dies at 101”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David discuss what they do to find and boost their courage. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Dan is back from book leave and has an announcement. Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a wild question about a teen asking if her mom has “vanilla sex.” How should the parent respond to an intensely personal question like that? Then Elizabeth and Jamilah pepper Dan with questions about his time on the show, including his biggest regret. On Slate Plus, if you could swap bodies w/ your kid for a day—Freaky Friday style—would you? Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends When Stars are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson. Dan recommends Turning Red. Jamilah recommends season two of Love Is Blind. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
As hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flee to safety in neighboring countries and beyond, the UN says this may become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. But it’s hard not to notice the stark difference between how the EU is welcoming Ukrainian refugees versus the non-European refugees who came before them.
Guest: Serena Parekh, professor at Northeastern University in Boston and the director of its politics, philosophy and economics program.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re talking Texas. Slate community manager Evan Urquhart and author and co-host of Slate’s Outward podcast Jules Gill-Peterson dig into the Texas governor’s directive to treat gender-affirming health care for transgender youth as child abuse. In the first half of the show, they explore what’s going on in Texas and the harm it’s already causing. Later they talk about how the problem in Texas is symptomatic of a much bigger trans obsession by the GOP.
In Slate Plus: Is Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism feminist?
Recommendations: Evan: Do your research “What does the scholarly research say about the effect of gender transition on transgender well-being?” “U.S. Transgender Survey” “Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youths Receiving Gender-Affirming Care”
Jules: Support on the ground organizations in Texas and contacting lawmakers to demand they support trans kids. Donate to TENT Equality Texas Campaign For Southern Equality Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
The metaverse wants to convince us it’s the future of retail, even for buying marijuana. On the show today, Madison is joined by Slate’s Shannon Palus to talk about Shannon’s recent journey into the metaverse to buy weed gummies. They discuss what it’s like to enter the metaverse, the mediocre graphics on display there, and if it really is the future of retail—or just a misguided lark from Big Tech. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
No one knows what’s going on in Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s head – and while that’s a worrisome idea during the best of times, it’s an especially grim one during a war of his own creation. Putin is increasingly isolated, away from his inner circle and the oligarchs who once had some influence with him.
Guest: Ben Judah is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the author of This Is London and Fragile Empire: How Russia Fell In and Out of Love With Vladimir Putin.
This week, the panel begins by discussing the Norwegian Oscar contenderThe Worst Person in the World. Then, they're joined by Slate’s TV critic and host of the Decoder Ring podcast, Willa Paskin, to digest the New York Time’s latest hit podcast The Trojan Horse Affair. Finally, the panel is joined by screenwriter, director, and journalist Michael Idov to discuss Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s pivot from the entertainment industry to president of Ukraine. In Slate Plus, the panel answers a question from a listener about their most divisive feelings about certain directors and writers. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The band She Wants Revenge from the early 2000s, especially their self-titled album from 2006—even more specifically, the single “These Things.” Julia: A late endorsement for the 2000s show Veronica Mars which is currently on Hulu. Steve: The original version of the Swedish/Danish show The Bridge, which also had an American remake. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Back to Silence" by OTE
Danny Lavery welcomes Laura Leigh Abby, a writer and star and subject of a new documentary podcast series from Paradiso Media called Seventeen: Conversations with My Teenage Self. Lavery and Abby take on two letters. First, from someone who's worried that her wife will discover her bullying past. Another letter writer is wondering how to get her husband to stop suggesting that she tries polyamory. Plus a look into what inspired Abby’s new documentary podcast. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben talk about the new Siri voices. They also interview Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne, hosts of Lingthusiasm, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics. And finally, they put a listener’s anagram skills to the test. You don’t want to miss this! You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis and June Thomas. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Consumer Reports, “Hey Siri, Is That You? Apple’s New Voices Resonate With Some Black iPhone Users” Spectacular Vernacular interview with VocalID founder Rupal Patel on “choosing your voice” Axios, “Apple gives Siri a less gendered voice” Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne’s podcast, Lingthusiasm Lingthusiasm on Patreon
Texas’s Republican governor and attorney general are pursuing a new crackdown on trans kids and their families. Their directive compelling Child Protective Services to treat gender-affirming care as child abuse is raising alarms among trans rights advocates, who say the order, if enforced, will prove dangerous for a vulnerable population.
Why did Republican leaders pick this moment to trumpet an anti-trans effort? How does it fit into a wider culture war—or perhaps a larger effort to drive trans people from public life?
Guest: Katelyn Burns, columnist at MSNBC and co-host of the podcast Cancel Me, Daddy.
Janey is the very definition of a woman trying to “have it all.” She’s an occupational therapist by day, a ghost writer for influencers by night and in between co-hosts a podcast. On top of that, she has two sons who play travel sports and a husband who works long hours. It’s left Janey wondering if she’ll ever catch her breath. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Amy Westervelt, who’s no slouch herself. She’s a journalist, host of the award-winning podcast Drilled, a busy mom and author of the book Forget “Having It All”: How America Messed Up Motherhood, and How to Fix It. She shares with Janey how trying to “have it all” almost left her with nothing. It’s advice that all of us can use to rebalance our lives and reprioritize what’s important. Check out Amy’s invisible labor calculator. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Advance Your Career By Quitting Your Job.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham discuss the sports world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They also talk about LeBron James’ plan to play alongside his son Bronny. And ESPN’s Katie Barnes joins Stefan and Josh for a conversation about trans swimmer Lia Thomas. Russia (2:06): What’s happened so far and what should come next. Bronny (21:48): Is LeBron putting too much pressure on his son? How good is Bronny anyway? Lia Thomas (46:04): The UPenn swimmer is setting records amid controversy over whether she should be eligible to compete against other women. Afterball (1:10:48): Josh on yet another basketball problem that the Elam Ending fixes.
President Biden has nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill Justice Breyer’s seat on the Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to hold a seat on the court. What does her backstory say about her as a jurist?
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer for Slate.
Russia went all in last week, sending troops across the border with Ukraine and raining shells on the country. Experts are saying Putin’s brash invasion of his neighbor is shifting the world order in significant ways. In the face of this aggression, how should NATO respond? Can history serve as a guide?
Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories correspondent.
This week, Stoya and Rich advise a letter writer who wonders what they can do to have a better experience giving oral sex, and they discuss a letter from a woman looking for advice on how to explain her specific dating needs. Mentioned in this episode: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Peter Thiel spent the better part of two decades molding the tech industry in his image. Now, he's leaving Facebook behind and turning his attention to politics. Is Thiel the next kingmaker for the populist right?
Max Chafkin, writer for Bloomberg and is the author of The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to composer and band leader Fabian Almazan. In the interview, Fabian explains how he uses physical places, like the Everglades or a region in Cuba, as a jumping-off point to compose music. He also discusses Biophilia Records, a label he started as a way to gather like-minded musicians. His latest album, This Land Abounds With Life, was released as a “Biopholio,” which is Fabian’s green alternative to traditional physical media. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han talk about Fabian’s approach to inspiration and their own relationships to classical music. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Isaac asks Fabian about his experience working with composer and Spike Lee collaborator Terence Blanchard. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Millie Bobby Brown turned 18 last week, so of course those creepy “legal age” countdown clocks popped up as that day approached. On the show today, Madison is joined by Nichole Perkins to talk about the phenomenon of counting down to a celebrity’s 18th birthday, the history of their online and offline ickiness, and why girls of color always seem to be left out of this discussion. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Wall Street Journal reporter, Nick Timiraos. They discuss the evolving crisis in the Ukraine and what impact (if any) sanctions would have on Russia, all the problems with inflation and how the fed deals with inflation, and Timiraos’s upcoming book, Trillion Dollar Triage.
In the Plus segment: Money markets and the feds as firefighters
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
As President Joe Biden announces his pick to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Olivia Warren, a former clerk of nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern to discuss Judge Jackson’s character, her qualifications, and the qualities she’ll bring to the highest court in the land if confirmed.
In our Slate Plus segment, members will hear more from Mark and Dahlia on the other big news of the week: the Supreme Court’s decision to take up a First Amendment case next term that could have sweeping implications for LGBTQ people—and for a lot of other folks besides. They also dig into Florida’s deeply disturbing “don’t say gay” legislation and Texas’ new vigilante directive targeting trans youth and their loved ones.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Stanford Law professor Nathaniel Persily joins David and Emily to discuss President Biden’s nomination for associate justice of the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
Danny Lavery welcomes comedian, author and host of the Emmy® Award-winning docu-series United Shades of America, W. Kamau Bell. Bell is also the director of the new Showtime docu-series called We Need To Talk About Cosby, which wrestles with the conversations of the #MeToo movement. Lavery and Bell read a letter from someone who fears that their mother-in-law has only started treating them nicely because of a serious medical diagnosis. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
For seven years, Ukraine has served as a virtual testing ground for a generation of cyber weaponry capable of taking down power grids, networks, and supply chains. With an invasion of Ukraine underway, will these weapons come into play?
Guest: Andy Greenberg, senior writer at WIRED and the author of the book Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Philadelphia may be the cradle of American democracy. But the city has a difficult history with race. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s new project, “A More Perfect Union,” is seeking to shed light on the city’s historic racism. It started with itself, acknowledging a history of its role in perpetuating racism in the opening story “Black City. White Paper.” On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by veteran political journalist Errin Haines. She’s leading the Inquirer’s year-long project to expose the bias at the foundation of Philadelphia’s institutions. They talk about what the city –and the country– could learn from the effort. Guest: Errin Haines, veteran political journalist and a founder of The 19th*, a news non-profit focused on gender, politics, and policy. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Emily and David are joined by guest host Jane Coaston. The three discuss Putin's war with guest Julia Ioffe and also the GOP attacks on transgender children, and Democrats’ “hack gap.”
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Julia Ioffe for Puck News: “Will Putin Get His World War III?”
Anne Appelbaum for The Atlantic: “The Reason Putin Would Risk War”
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
Here’s this week’s chatter:
David: Work at City Cast; David’s “Exploring a Secret Fort” tour for Atlas Obscura; Florida’s Mount Trashmore
Emily: Danny Hakim and Jo Becker for The New York Times Magazine: “The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas”; Jane Mayer for The New Yorker: “Is Ginni Thomas a Threat to The Supreme Court?”
Jane: Sports Twitter
Listener chatter from Charlie Hunt: Christopher Ingraham for the Washington Post “The Owl Pellet Economy: Meet The Entrepreneurs Who’ve Devoted Their Lives to Bird Vomit.” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, following the death of public health hero Paul Farmer, Emily and David discuss the concept of heroes and the roles they can play in contemporary life. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
Earlier this month in Northern California, a militia-backed anti-government group won a recall vote that will effectively give it control over a county’s local government. The recall ousted a Republican politician from his supervisor seat and was preceded by two years of threats and contentious county meetings stemming from pandemic precautions. Could this style of government takeover become a blueprint for other far-right groups nationwide?
Guest: Guest: Doni Chamberlain is a former newspaper reporter and the founder of A News Cafe, a website covering Shasta County in Northern California.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by freelance beauty reporter, and author of The Unpublishable, Jessica DeFino to talk about why you probably don’t need all the lotions and potions in your cupboards. They start out by discussing Jessica’s recent Slate piece, “Why Your Skin Doesn’t Need Skin Care” and why other outlets turned the piece down. They then go behind the scenes of the beauty industry and talk about the toxicity of celebrity skin-care brands, what it’s like being fake Internet Khloe Kardashian, and why the industry keeps targeting women.
In Slate Plus, is the upcoming bar-soap trend feminist?
Recommendations: Shannon: Using the Peloton app for exercise (but not buying the equipment) Jessica: The Angela Caglia vibrating rose quartz facial roller Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
For this episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Karen Han discuss their experiences with writer’s block. Then they analyze how the Apple TV+ series about Emily Dickinson, aptly named Dickinson, addresses writer’s block. Have you experienced writer’s block or other creative hurdles? Share them with us at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Jamilah tackle a question from a parent worried that tense homework sessions are fracturing her relationship with her daughter. When should you keep pushing your kid so they succeed and when should you back off? Then, they’re advising a parent who is simply burned out. It’s something a lot of parents are feeling and they’ve got some tips to make life a little more manageable. On Slate Plus, they’re juggling stressful sports schedules. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Abbott Elementary. Zak recommends making your own everything seasoning. Elizabeth recommends a visual timer. Extra Credit!: Boom Goes the Dynamite Prodigy Education Game Math Rush Waldock Way's best math games Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison open up the mailbag to answer all of the latest listener questions. They respond to inquiries about evil animatronics on TikTok, the latest food fetish content, why Tumblr is obsessed with Horse Plinko, and more. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
President Vladimir Putin has begun sending Russian soldiers into Ukraine after spending months massing troops on the country’s borders. Why is Putin risking so much to take the Donbas region? And does this latest incursion signal a failure of the west’s foreign policy approach to Russia? Guest: Josh Keating, global security reporter at Grid.
This week, the panel begins by pondering the longevity of the Jackass franchise, focusing on the latest addition, Jackass Forever, with Slate staff writer Sam Adams. Then, the panel watches the surprise Oscar Best Picture contender Nightmare Alley. Finally, the panel discusses the conversation-starter article from The Cut’s Allison P. Davis, “A Vibe Shift Is Coming. Will Any of Us Survive It?” In Slate Plus, Sam joins the panel again to answer a listener's question about how knowing the ways in which people interact with their content (via the internet and SEO development) changes the way they write. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Criterion subscribers (and if you don’t already, you should subscribe!) get a treat: a small program they’re running called “Three Starring Laura Dern,” where they show three movies starring Laura Dern from the early days of her career including: Smooth Talk, Rambling Rose, and Citizen Ruth. Julia: A counter endorsement, or maybe supplemental endorsement?, for fans of The Last Bookstore in LA: Hennessey + Ingalls in LA, which is an art, architecture, and design bookstore. Steve: Josh Turner’s cover of Lucienne Boyer’s hit “Parlez-Moi D’Amour.” Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Bloody Hunter" by Paisley Pink
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Justin Peters for an Olympics wrap-up. They also discuss the Wisconsin-Michigan handshake line scuffle. Finally, Slate’s Alex Kirshner joins to talk about Saudi Arabia’s efforts to start a new golf tour. Olympics (2:30): Were there any bright spots during these dark Winter Games? Handshake fight (22:46): Why did things escalate? Should Juwan Howard have been suspended? Saudi golf (44:57): How a plan to disrupt pro golf fell apart. Afterball (1:06:52): Josh revisits his thoughts on Ben Simmons and mental health.
Danny Lavery welcomes comedian, author and host of the Emmy® Award-winning docu-series United Shades of America, W. Kamau Bell. Bell is also the director of the new Showtime docu-series called We Need To Talk About Cosby, which wrestles with the conversations of the #MeToo movement. Lavery and Bell tackle two letters. First, from someone who was taken aback to find out that their team considers them a “toxic boss”. Another letter writer is wondering if they should make more of an effort to connect to a trans community. Plus, a deep dive into Bell’s w Showtime docu-series, We Need To Talk About Cosby. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Last week, the Remington Arms Company reached a $73 million dollar settlement with the families of nine victims killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre—the largest payout by a gun manufacturer in a mass shooting case.
Federal law protects manufacturers from a broad swath of liability in civilian shootings, so the families’ legal team took an interesting tack: they sued under Connecticut’s consumer protection laws and exposed the reckless way Remington marketed their weapons.
Guest: @NicoleHockley is co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.
Winning the Olympics is everything Steve Mesler ever wanted. So when he and his U.S. bobsled teammates stood atop the podium at the 2010 Vancouver Games, his life seemed golden in every way. But soon after his triumph, Steve began to experience a period of extended mourning. Even though he won a gold medal, he lost his identity and sense of purpose. And he wasn't the only one. On this episode of How To!, the former Olympian, co-founder of Classroom Champions, and current United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee board member talks about the complicated aftermath of achieving an all-consuming pursuit. He discusses his struggles with depression, losing teammates to suicide and what the USOPC is doing to destigmatize mental health treatment. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Be a Badass On and Off the Court.” Do you have an Olympic-sized problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a man who wonders how to talk to his girlfriend about a possible change in his sexuality.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, Stoya and Rich advise a woman whose partner complains that she orgasms too quickly, and they discuss a letter from a woman who’s puzzled by why her boyfriend doesn’t want to have sex very often. Mentioned in this episode: So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex by Ian Kerner
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Over two years into the pandemic, much of the world remains either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or lacking access to mRNA vaccines entirely. How did the leading effort to vaccinate the world go so wrong?
Guest: Achal Prabhala, coordinator of the AccessIBSA project and a fellow of the Shuttleworth Foundation, in Bangalore.
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Gabfest reads is a new monthly series from the hosts of the Political Gabfest. This month David Plotz talks with author Florence Williams about divorce, affection, good friendships, and her new book Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Kanye West recently got into an online feud with his daughter, North West, his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, and her new boyfriend, Pete Davidson. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison run through Kanye’s long history of fighting online, our changing understanding of him as his mental health struggles came to light, and how we should talk about celebrities whose private dramas play out so publicly. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Alexandra Roberts, professor at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, for an all trademark episode of Slate Money. They talk about everything from social media to rights of publicity to counterfeits and parodies.
In the Plus segment: Can Felix continue to use Felix the Cat as his Twitter avatar?
Mentioned In the show: “MSCHF’s New Drop is Illegal (On Purpose This Time)” by Alexandra Pauly “Bad Spaniels Make Bad Law: Ninth Circuit Says Dog Toy is an Expressive Work Entitled to First Amendment Protection” by Jared Kagan “Inside the Cottage Industry Trying to Revive Aunt Jemima and Other Brands with Racist Roots” by Beth Kowitt Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
This week, host Karen Han talks to Isaac Butler about the writing of his new book The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act. They discuss how Isaac’s background as a child professional actor informed his understanding of his subject, how he researched a wide-ranging topic that spanned geography and generations, and how he conceived of the book’s structure and managed its narrative tension. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas talk about learning from the questions that arise during a book’s research phase, coming to terms with having to make cuts to a manuscript, and how to find trusted outside readers. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Karen asks Isaac to recommend some great Method performances. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Today on Hit Parade, we trace the multifarious history of the remix: a musical term with a universe of meanings. Rethinks. Reboots. Reinventions. Rerecordings. Even instances where the so-called remix came before the supposed original. (How is that even possible?) In a way, the most pivotal “remix” in chart history was the one so transformative, it compelled a change in our understanding of what a remix even is.
Danny Lavery welcomes Sarah Marshall, and a writer, media critic, and host of the modern history podcast, You’re Wrong About. She is also the co-host of the “feelings podcast about movies” You Are Good with Alex Steed. Lavery and Marshall read a letter from someone wondering how to break it to their parents that they’re engaged to someone who lives abroad. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On this week’s Spoiler Specials, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens and staff writer Heather Schwedel spoil the new rom-com Marry Me. Superstar Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) decides to marry her fiancé Bastian (Maluma) in front of a live audience after their successful song “Marry Me” becomes a hit. Before they can say “I do,” things are turned upside down and Kat learns that Bastian isn’t as faithful as he seems. In a plot twist, Kat decides to marry concert attendee Charlie (Owen Wilson) after spotting him in the crowd. Is this marriage real, and could it possibly last? You can read Dana’s review of the movie here. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
Pornography is more than a dirty secret. It’s a profitable one, making billions from American consumers each year. And like much of entertainment, it trafficks in damaging racial stereotypes. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Dr. Carolyn West. She’s a psychology professor at the University of Washington who produced the documentary “Let Me Tell Ya’ll Bout Black Chicks: Images of Black Women in Pornography.” They discuss the often violent racism within the porn industry, and how that impacts the way society views African American sexuality. Guest: Dr. Carolyn West, Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Last week, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Tesla. It accuses the electric vehicle maker of fostering a workplace rife with racism and discrimination.
What's happening inside Tesla's Fremont plant?
Guest: Dana Hull, reporter for Bloomberg
Host: Lizzie O'Leary
Josie Duffy Rice, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss America's radicalized parents; what the midterms may bring; and the Sandy Hook families’ victory.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Clara Jeffrey for Mother Jones: “What Pundits Don’t Understand About the San Francisco Recall”
Jasper Scherer and Benjamin Wermund for The Houston Chronicle: “We Asked All 143 Texas GOP Congressional Candidates About Biden's Win. Only 13 Call it Legitimate.”
John Dickerson for the Atlantic: “The GOP Has No Standards Now”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
John: Rosalind S. Helderman for the Washington Post: “All The Ways Trump Tried to Overturn The Election — And How it Could Happen Again.”
Josie: The School for Good Mothers, by Jessamine Chan
David: Watch some Olympic curling.
Listener chatter from Paul Hiebing: Annie Rauwerda for Input Magazine: “The Adorable Love Story Behind Wikipedia’s ‘High Five’ Photos” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Josie, John, and David discuss their hiding places as children and adults. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a complicated question about navigating unwanted attention—especially if the attention may be chalked up to a child’s appearance. Then they are joined by Deborah Farmer Kris, parent educator, education journalist, children’s book author, and founder of Parenthood365. They talk about how to help kids identify and manage their emotions—and what parents can learn themselves in the process. Check out Deborah’s new book I Love You All the Time. On Slate Plus, they discuss Just How Helpful Is Childhood Therapy? by Melinda Wenner Moyer. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Night Zookeeper. Jamilah recommends Hey Girl! empowerment journal. Zak recommends Teen Lives, Interrupted by COVID. Listener-recommended Resources: Judi's House resources When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death When Someone Very Special Dies Help Me Say Goodbye Love is Forever Lifetimes The Invisible String Finding the Words If you want to listen to the original question, here’s the episode: The “Taking a Toddler to a Funeral” Edition. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior writer and host of the Outward podcast Christina Cauterucci is joined by Slate senior writer Seth Stevenson to talk about Sarah Palin and her recent trial against the New York Times. In the first half of the show, they unpack what happened at Palin’s trial and dig into why Palin’s clothes are a major part of her personality. Later on, Seth and Christina discuss how Palin’s time in court mirrored her 2008 run for vice president.
In Slate Plus, our hosts discuss a piece by Jessica M Goldstein in the Washingtonian titled, “More and More Women Are Paying Alimony to Failure-to-Launch Ex-Husbands. And They’re Really, Really Not Happy About It,” and whether or not the title issue is feminist.
Read Seth’s coverage of the trial in Slate here.
Recommendations: Christina: Studio portraits of pets. Seth: Hate-watching Apple TV+’s The Morning Show. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Olympic athletes and commentators were stunned this week to learn that 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva will be allowed to compete in Beijing’s Winter Games, despite testing positive in December for a banned substance. The controversy has kicked up raw feelings about Russia’s history of doping and the fecklessness of Olympics officials to apply rules evenly across countries.
Guest: Justin Peters, Slate correspondent and the author of The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet.
Christina, Bryan, and Jules discuss a proposed Florida bill that would ban all discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state, and the 4K-restored re-release of John Cameron Mitchell’s senimal 2007 film Shortbus. The Gay Agenda includes an East Williamsburg trans enclave.
Danny Lavery welcomes Sarah Marshall, and a writer, media critic, and host of the modern history podcast, You’re Wrong About. She is also the co-host of the “feelings podcast about movies” You Are Good with Alex Steed. Lavery and Marshall take on two letters. First, from someone wanting to approach their neighbor about their barking dogs. Another letter writer is concerned about scaring off a romantic relationship because of their non-traditional chosen family. Plus, Marshall takes us behind the scenes of her two podcasts.. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s show, Rachelle Hampton is joined by Allegra Frank to talk about two new pieces of scammer-tainment from Netflix: the documentary The Tinder Swindler, which chronicles a con man’s exploitation of the popular dating app, and the series Inventing Anna, starring Julia Garner as faux-heiress Anna Delvey. Rachelle and Allegra discuss how the internet was essential to both these stories and why we’re all on the hunt to uncover the next online scam. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, the panel begins by discussing Hulu’s new biopic Pam & Tommy. Then, they dive into the Academy Award-record breaking animated Danish film Flee. Finally, the panel discusses Jennifer Senior’s popular article for The Atlantic, “It’s Your Friends Who Break Your Heart” about friendships as you age. In Slate Plus, the panel takes inspiration from the Scriptnotes podcast and ponders what aspects of other languages they would want to borrow for English. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Charter Books in Rhode Island. Julia: An update on her preferred digital clock, per Twitter request. Steve: Thomas Nagel’s article—“What is rude?”—for the London Review of Books which is a review of Benjamin J. B. Lipscomb’s novel The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "If Only I Was a Poet" by Staffan Carlen
Florida governor, Ron DeSantis has been on a tear promoting hyper-conservative policies – from his “Stop Woke Act” to gerrymandering, he’s shocking even fellow Republicans. Is this his way of preparing for a 2024 presidential run?
Guest: Mary Ellen Klas is the Miami Herald Capitol Bureau Chief.
It’s been two decades since Maggie’s mom has gone to the doctor and her health is incredibly….shaky. Maggie’s mom has severe asthma and allergies which has basically isolated her from the world. With isolation has come anger and bitterness. Maggie is at a loss. She’s tried everything she can think of yet her mother refuses to get help. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Elizabeth Berg, a nurse-turned-bestselling novelist who has penned some 30 books, many focusing on family drama. Her latest is a touching memoir called I’ll Be Seeing You, which follows her perfectly imperfect parents as they’ve gotten older. Elizabeth has some hard-earned wisdom for Maggie, and all of us, about navigating a contentious relationship with our aging parents. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Embrace Your Anti-Vax Family This Holiday Season” and “How To Get a Stubborn Parent to Listen.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben talk about the connection between football chants and language. They also interview Everdeen Mason, editorial director for games at the New York Times about her exciting role. And finally, our hosts are in the hot seat for this week’s wordplay. You don’t want to miss this! You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis and Asha Saluja.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ben’s Wall Street Journal column, “’Who Dey?’: A Chant With Roots in Black History” New York Times profile of Everdeen Mason How to apply to the New York Times Diverse Crossword Constructor Fellowship Washington Post article on “the latest reckoning over language in the puzzle world” New York Times article on the acquisition of Wordle Peter Gordon’s Fireball Crosswords
For decades, the press has enjoyed a wide latitude when writing about public figures. But the high legal standard for defamation may be coming in for some scrutiny in the libel suit of Sarah Palin versus the New York Times. Guest: Slate contributor Seth Stevenson. Read his latest coverage of the trial of Sarah Palin v. New York Times.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Rams’ Super Bowl win over the Bengals. They’re also joined by David Epstein to discuss the decision to allow Kamila Valieva to skate in the Olympics. Finally, they assess the mega-trade between the Nets and 76ers. Super Bowl (3:06): How Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp led the Rams to victory. Valieva (22:08): Why is the 15-year-old competing after testing positive for a banned substance? NBA (43:00): Who won the James Harden for Ben Simmons swap? Afterball (1:01:06): Joel on Sherman Lewis, who never got the chance to be an NFL head coach.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a man who got caught in a compromising position by his girlfriend.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing!
Production by Chau Tu.
Old wounds are open again in Minneapolis. The city is struggling to investigate a police shooting from earlier this month, when officers carried out a “no-knock” search warrant and fatally shot a 22-year-old Black man in bed. The victim, Amir Locke, was not a suspect in the crime police were investigating. The shooting comes months after city voters rejected a plan to defund the police, and some city officials are struggling to figure out a path forward with a police force that’s been difficult to reform and an electorate that has little appetite for radical change. Guest: Jeremiah Ellison, member of the Minneapolis City Council.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter for Valentine’s Day from a man who’s looking for tips on how to spice up his sex life with his wife, and they discuss a letter from a man who’s wondering how to involve himself with his wife’s other relationship.
Mentioned in this episode: Curious Pleasures by The Reverend Dr Eramus St Jude Croom DD
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing!
Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to New Yorker writer Rebecca Mead about her new memoir Home/Land, which traces her experience moving back to Britain after making a home for herself in New York and becoming a U.S. citizen. In the interview, Rebecca discusses the feelings she wanted to capture in the book and describes her impulse to document an important moment in her life. She also explains why Home/Land was more difficult to write than her previous books. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about the challenges Rebecca faced while writing her book and what we can learn from them. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Rebecca for some moving tips. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
TikTok doesn’t know you better than you know yourself, even if you think it does. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison talk about two different ways the app leads people down dangerous paths. First, they discuss the recent uptick in posts and advertisements focused on diagnosing mental and physical health issues, and how it’s so easy to convince yourself that you’re suffering from whatever malady TikTok has presented. Then, they discuss the tragic death of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst, who died by suicide last week, and the alarming development of TikTokkers convincing themselves that there was some nefarious conspiracy behind it. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
Dahlia Lithwick interviews Rep. Adam Schiff about his work on the Jan. 6 select committee and his fears for our democracy. Next, Dahlia is joined by pre-eminent election-law scholar Professor Franita Tolson, who clears up any confusion about what happened in the shadow-docket order concerning Merrill v Milligan, which appears to have kicked away the remaining protections of the Voting Rights Act’s Section II.
Slate Plus members will have access to Dahlia’s conversation with Mark Joseph Stern about shadow-docket shenanigans and Mark’s new beat: Madison Cawthorne, “everybody’s favorite insurrectionist-adjacent representative.”
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Kevin Roose of The New York Times to talk about the crypto money launder scheme Heather Morgan and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein are accused of taking part in; the possible usefulness of crypto; and what’s going on with Forbes.
In the Plus segment: The Sotheby’s auction of CryptoPunks.
Mentioned In the show: “How The Crypto Couple Went From Wannabe Tech Luminaries To Targets In The Biggest Financial Seizure In Justice Department History” by David Jeans and Cyrus Farivar “Maybe There’s a Use for Crypto After All” by Kevin Roose “Joe Rogan Wrapped: A Year of COVID-19 Misinformation, Right-Wing Myths, and Anti-Trans Rhetoric” by Alex Paterson “Podcasts Are No Longer Private Conversations” by Kaitlyn Tiffany “Binance’s Unusual Forbes Deal Comes Amid SPAC Drama” by Sara Fischer Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
In our final episode on monsters, we investigate why people who eat people are the funkiest people in the afterlife. We talk to a man who has actually eaten parts of other people, many times, about why he thinks consuming human flesh should be normalized. We then consider the age-old question of how God is supposed to resurrect a cannibal and all of his victims when most of the flesh of the victims would also be a part of the cannibal. Some of the best minds in Western philosophy and Christian theology thought about this question, including Leibniz, Aquinas, and Augustine. Co-hosted by Christina van Dyke, featuring artist and cannibal Rick Gibson and philosopher Dean Zimmerman.
Danny Lavery welcomes Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, author of the forthcoming book: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends In An Unapologetic World. Lavery and Ruttenberg read a letter from someone wondering how to screen for an autism-competent therapist. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The NFL claims that Black coaches are treated fairly in the league. But former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores is suing, saying he can’t get a job because of racial bias. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Joel Anderson, co-host of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, to talk about the controversy, and the limits of the “Rooney Rule” in ending racism in hiring for NFL coaches. Guest: Joel Anderson, co-host of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, and host of Slow Burn: The LA Riots Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Facebook’s first crack at the metaverse has a problem: kids. Underage users seem to be flooding Horizon Worlds, potentially putting themselves at risk.
Is Meta doomed to repeat Facebook’s mistakes?
Guest: Will Oremus, technology news analysis writer for the Washington Post.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Emily, John and David dig into SCOTUS's failure to enforce the Voting Rights Act, the GOP embrace of January 6th rioters, and protests in Canada.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
John Dickerson for The Atlantic: “The GOP Has No Standards Now”
Adela Suliman for The Washington Post: “Marjorie Taylor Greene says Nancy Pelosi leads ‘gazpacho police,’ causing collective spit take”
Brett Samuels for The Hill: “Pence breaks with Trump: 'I had no right to overturn the election'”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Sam Levine for The Guardian: “The Black Woman Sentenced To Six Years In Prison Over A Voting Error”
John: “John Grisham Reads Soggy Sweat's Whiskey Speech”
David: Oliver Holmes for The Guardian: “Putin’s Massive Table: Powerplay or Paranoia?”
Listener chatter from Cason Reily: BBC: “Who Is Sue Gray?”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David ponder what makes something qualify as a sport or a game. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth dive into the complicated world of cotillions. A listener is wondering if she should enroll her biracial daughter if all of her friends are participating. Kristen Richardson, author of The Season: A Social History of the Debutante, joins to give some wonderful context and advice. They then tackle a question about sending a toddler to summer camp. On Slate Plus, they’re daydreaming about family vacations. Recommendations: Zak recommends one piece SORRY! Elizabeth recommends the L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube. Jamilah recommends Tinder Swindler. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, co-host of Slate’s podcast, Working, June Thomas is joined by Amira Rose Davis, history professor and co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down. They dig into the “bog standard” sexism we keep seeing in the Games, the lack of diversity in the Winter Games (despite the International Olympic Committee constantly saying the Games are more diverse than ever), and why they still can’t stop watching the Olympics. (Spoiler: One reason is insomnia.)
In Slate Plus, is the IOC method of increasing female participation in the Games by introducing more mixed-gender events feminist?
Recommendations: June: Amazon Prime’s The Expanse Amira: HBO’s The Fallout and Season 3 of Blue Wire’s podcast American Prodigies out Feb. 21. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
For this episode of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas dissect some creative advice from the director Bong Joon-ho, who claimed during his 2020 Oscars acceptance speech that “the most personal is the most creative,” a phrase he attributed to director Martin Scorsese. In their conversation, Karen and June examine the advice and discuss the upsides and downsides of making their work personal. Is there a piece of creative advice that you’d like to share with us? Call and leave us a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews and Kevin Bendis.
As the Winter Olympics unfold in Beijing, a darker reality remains: China’s abuses against the Uyghurs, an ethnic minority in the country’s Xinjiang region. While much of the world remains glued to the sports coverage, Uyghurs in the diaspora are calling on people to pay attention to China's treatment of their family members back home.
Guest: Gulchehra Hoja, a Uyghur journalist with Radio Free Asia.
Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers might not be the most expected pairing, until you look at their willingness to embrace conspiracy nonsense. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison and joined by Vulture’s Rachel Handler to discuss her recent piece, “What Do Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley ‘Agree to Disagree’ About?” They talk about the history of weird beliefs these two celebrities have, how it’s no longer fun to believe in conspiracy theories, and why these two should just log off. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder.
This week, Culture Gabfest is coming to you live from The Strand Bookstore in NYC for a special event! In this live taping, Steve interviews Dana about her new book (Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century) and Isaac Butler about his new book (The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act). In Slate Plus, Dana and Isaac answer some questions from the audience. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Thanks to Jason Stack for this great photo! Outro music is "Spinning the Wheels" by Dusty Decks
The Ottawa truckers protest is neither exclusive to Ottawa nor strictly composed of truckers. And its supporters are hoping to head to a city near you.
Guest: Jesse Brown, editor-in-chief of Canadaland.
Danny Lavery welcomes Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, author of the forthcoming book: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends In An Unapologetic World. Lavery and Ruttenberg tackle two letters. First, from someone wondering if she should let her fiancée know that she doesn’t like her friends. Another letter is contemplating returning to a religious cult after experiencing the outside world. Plus, a behind the scenes preview of Rabbi Ruttenberg’s forthcoming book, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends In An Unapologetic World. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Susan was concerned when she first learned that someone was impersonating her on Facebook, but that soon turned to anger when she realized the imposter had sent inappropriate photos to her real life friends. Susan tried and failed to get the account taken down. Then came the extortion letter...and now she’s freaking out a bit. On this episode of How To!, Jack Rhysider, host of Darknet Diaries and cybersecurity veteran, talks about the time he was stalked on the internet. Jack no longer shares much online — he won’t even show his face. You don't have to go that far, but there are things you can do to protect your online data and your emotions in real life. If you’re worried about being exposed, Jack has some great resources for battling stalkers and online harassment. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Steal Back Your Identity.” Do you have a hacker horror story with a happy ending? Or some other problem we can help solve? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001.
With Roe v. Wade on the chopping block, abortion access is under fire in states around the country. At Planned Parenthood’s Knoxville location, the clinic faced that literally when an arson attack burned the building to the ground. How will providers rebuild when the things they stand for are so threatened?
Guest: Tory Mills, director of community engagement for Planned Parenthood’s Knoxville Health Center.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the New York Times’ John Branch to discuss Chinese-American skier Eileen Gu. They also talk about Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL and ponder the 76ers’ Ben Simmons problem and the Nets’ various conundrums. Eileen Gu (3:38): What to make of her decision to represent China at the Beijing Games. Flores (20:12): Can anything change the NFL’s hiring practices? NBA (40:27): Should we sympathize with Ben Simmons? Can the Nets turn it around? Afterball (1:00:45): Joel on Jim Brown, Syracuse basketball player.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from someone who wonders if he should tell the neighbor he’s newly dating about what he already knew about her. Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Until last month, Brian Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and one of only three Black head coaches among the NFL’s 32 teams. That number has since dropped to one.
On Tuesday, Flores announced he was suing the NFL, alleging that the league's hiring practices are racist. His suit comes almost 20 years after the creation of the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for senior positions, and eight years after Colin Kaepernick was black-balled from the sport for kneeling during the national anthem—begging the question of how much has really changed in that time.
Guest: LZ Granderson, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of ABC News’ “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson.”
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who’s worried about her husband’s secret habit, and offer suggestions for oral sex to a letter writer who has a unique problem.
Mentioned in the episode: Sex, God, and the Conservative Church by Tina Schermer Sellers Is Porn Addiction a Real Thing? Moody Bitches by Julie Holland “TMJ and Intimacy” by S. Michael Plaut
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing!
Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to playwright Aleshea Harris and director Whitney White, whose new play On Sugarland is currently in preview performances at the New York Theatre Workshop. In the interview, Aleshea and Whitney explain the crucial relationship between playwrights and directors and discuss the ways they work together, solve problems, and ultimately put on the best production possible. After the interview, co-host June Thomas asks Isaac about his experience working as a director and collaborating with writers. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Aleshea and Whitney explain how COVID protocols have affected their rehearsal process. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews
Banks, healthcare providers, and retailers around the world still rely on COBOL, a programming language originally developed in the 1960s. By all accounts the code is powerful, practical, and very rarely problematic. But the small group of people who still know the language are aging out of the workforce.
What happens when there are no more COBOL coders left?
Guest: Clive Thompson, journalist and author of "Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World."
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Last month, a Tennessee school board voted to ban Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel about the Holocaust, Maus, from their eighth grade curriculum. This caused Maus to experience the the Streisand effect. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison explain the origins of the Streisand effect as an online phenomenon, how it helped Maus’ recent sales skyrocket, and why this short-term publicity isn’t really the solution to bans like these. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by management consultant and sports fan Robin Timothy of to talk about Facebook’s sudden loss of users and revenue, why the Olympics are both problematic and boring, and the Brian Flores NFL lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in coach hiring.
In the Plus segment: A big gold cube.
Mentioned In the show: “Brian Flores’ NFL Lawsuit: Can He Prove Systemic Racism? What We Know About Claims of ‘Sham Interviews’ and Incentivizing Tanking, Plus What’s Next” by Kevin Seifert “An Artist Placed a Cube Made From $11.7 Million Worth of Gold in Central Park – Protected By Its Own Security Detail” by Dorian Batycka Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Danny Lavery welcomes Michael Gerber, the editor and publisher of The American Bystander, an all-star print humor quarterly. Lavery and Gerber read a letter from someone who is trying to process being cut out by friends they thought they were close to. Plus, a listener update! Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
For Spotify, the last month has seen a cascade of controversies around its exclusive podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. Is it time for the streaming service to rethink its role as a podcast publisher? And is it even possible to moderate podcast misinformation?
Guest: Evelyn Douek, lecturer at Harvard Law School, and Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Searching for truthful versions of Black history can be tough, especially as honest lessons about racism are caught up in the controversy over Critical Race Theory. In his new book Who Are Your People?, political commentator Bakari Sellers delivers Black history to a generation of kids, something inspired by his own experience as a father. Bakari Sellers joined Jason Johnson on today’s episode of A Word to talk about the importance of being truthful about Black history with kids in a way that they can understand. Guest: Bakari Sellers, political commentator, attorney, and author of the book Who Are Your People? Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
On this week’s Spoiler Specials, Slate staffers Jeffrey Bloomer, Sam Adams, and Josh Levin spoil the latest Scream movie. After high-schooler Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) is attacked and hospitalized by Ghostface, her estranged sister Sam (Melissa Barrera) comes back to town with her boyfriend Ritchie (Jack Quaid). The reunion causes a surprising family secret to be revealed. More mayhem ensues as old characters return to the Scream fold. Who is the new Ghostface—and is this franchise dead? CORRECTION: After this episode was taped, Jeffrey Bloomer realized that he had misspoken about the familial connections of a key character in Scream 4: That person was Sidney’s cousin, not her niece. You can read Bloomer’s review of the movie here. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
Emily, John and David discuss Donald Trump’s attempts to seize voting machines, the racist attacks on the yet-to-be-named SCOTUS nominee, and they are joined by Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard University's T. H. Chan School of Public Health, to discuss ways we might update U.S. COVID norms.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Joseph G. Allen for The Washington Post: “Our Playbook to Fight Covid-19 Is Outdated. Here Are 10 Updates for 2022.”
Joseph G. Allen and Celine R. Gounder for The Hill: “We Have a Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Fix Our Crumbling Schools”
Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity, by Joseph G. Allen and John D. Macomber
Adam Serwer for The Atlantic: “Republicans Seem to Think Putting a Black Woman on the Supreme Court Is the Real Racism”
Meltdown: What Plane Crashes, Oil Spills, and Dumb Business Decisions Can Teach Us About How to Succeed at Work and at Home, by Chris Clearfield and András Tilcsik
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Kristin Toussaint for Fast Company: “How Do Workers Take on a National Chain Like Starbucks? One Store at a Time”; Noam Scheiber for The New York Times: “Taking On Starbucks, Inspired by Bernie Sanders”
John: Adam Gopnik for The New Yorker: “Molière to the Panthéon!”; History, Art and Archives: United States House of Representatives: Representative Clement Vallandigham of Ohio
David: Neil Vigdor for the New York Times: “A Teenager Tracked Elon Musk’s Jet on Twitter. Then Came the Direct Message.”
Listener chatter from Erin Arizzi-Shores: The Double Shift: “The Check's Not In The Mail”
More listener chatter from Larry Williams: Barbara J. King for NPR: “Watch The Moment A Dying Chimpanzee Recognizes An Old Friend”; Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves, by Frans De Waal.
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David offer advice about how to establish a work/life balance. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and Aymann aren’t shying away from the difficult conversations. First, they answer a listener question about how to handle death with a toddler. Should you take a toddler to their grandparent’s funeral? Should you explain death? Should you let them see you cry? Then, Zak is talking with comedian Chris Gethard about his new essay Dad on Pills. They get candid about parenting, mental health, and a rather upsetting joke. On Slate Plus, Elizabeth is panicking about school valentines. Are you too? Luckily, Zak and Aymann give us a reality check. Recommendations: Zak recommends finding bridge songs to sneakily swap out kid music. Aymann recommends Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz and A Moon for Moe and Mo by Jane Breskin Zalben. Elizabeth recommends Don’t Forget to Write. If you, or anyone you know, are in crisis, having thoughts of suicide, or need help immediately, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, anytime, at 1-800-273-8255, or you can find help at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate culture writer LIli Loofbourow is joined by Nichole Perkins, pop culture writer, author, and co-host of This Is Good for You. They talk about the history of the romantic comedy—and what makes it such an enjoyable, but sometimes insidious, genre. Then they unpack the return of the rom-com, why bromantic comedies are sometimes good for you, and shout to the heavens for more sex in rom-coms.
In Slate Plus, are the cartoon makeovers of M&M’s and Minnie Mouse feminist?
Recommendations: Lili: One in Me I Never Loved, by Carla Guelfenbein Nichole: The Worst Best Man, by Mia Sosa. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
A popular, outgoing liberal mayor in Silicon Valley is taking on gun rights groups with a splashy municipal ordinance fashioned to curb gun violence—and be the first of its kind. Gun rights groups are foretelling doom for the new law, and the NRA called it a “ridiculous publicity stunt.”
Does this city’s initiative have the hallmarks of a breakthrough on gun violence prevention? Will lawsuits tank it before anyone has the chance to find out?
Guest: Sam Liccardo, mayor of San Jose, California.
Rihanna is having a baby, and Romance Twitter is furious. On today’s show, High Speed Downloads are back! Madison and Rachelle will zoom through all the important news about Rihanna’s baby bump reveal and Romance Twitter’s toxic reaction to an innocuous tweet. Then, they explain exactly what’s going on with podcast host Joe Rogan over at Spotify, and why it’s so difficult for platforms to part ways with their big personalities. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Cobalt is the most important mineral of the future. It’s a key part of lithium-ion batteries, which power cell phones and laptops, not to mention electric cars. That demand is giving rise to a mining industry in Idaho, which sits atop a giant cobalt deposit. But the environmental costs of extraction raise questions about what “clean energy” really means.
Guest: Michael Holtz, freelance journalist and author of “Idaho Is Sitting on One of the Most Important Elements on Earth.”
This week, the panel is first joined by author and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, Isaac Butler, to discuss the new Joel Coen rendition of The Tragedy of Macbeth. (Buy Isaac’s new book!) Then, the panel is joined by author and Slate correspondent, Justin Peters, to explain the phenomena of Joe Rogan and the recent Spotify controversy. Finally, the panel discusses the decision to rebrand the famous advertising characters of the Mars candy M&M’s. In Slate Plus, the panel answers listener questions about culture’s relationship to climate change. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: An episode of the public radio show On the Media from WNYC called “Humans, Being.” Julia: The endorsement: the Chez Panisse Vegetables cookbook from Alice Waters, owner of the famous California restaurant Chez Panisse. And a request for listeners to send in their favorite salad dressing recipes. Steve: The song “Sweet Baby” by Prince and The New Power Generation. Buy Dana’s book, Isaac’s book, and a ticket to Dana and Isaac’s book event at The Strand (hosted by our very own Stephen Metcalf)! Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Blue Nights and Yellow Days" by Matt Large.
Danny Lavery welcomes Michael Gerber, the editor and publisher of The American Bystander, an all-star print humor quarterly. Lavery and Gerber take on two letters. First, from someone trying to stop her girlfriend’s mom from insulting her daughter as being “too butch”. Another letter writer is concerned about a one caring neighbor who has now turned creepy. Plus, Lavery asks Gerber about his favorite zines. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Last week we learned about using the four different styles of humor to your advantage, and who makes a good target for a joke. But what if you read the room wrong and absolutely bomb? On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series, we resume our conversation with Naomi Bagdonas, co-author of Humor, Seriously!, and Michael Terry, the most hilarious hedge fund guy we’ve ever met. They swap stories about office jokes that fell flat, how to navigate a suddenly tense situation and what to do if your humor accidentally offends someone (especially your boss). If you liked this episode, check out “How To Be Funny” with comedian Gary Gulman. If you want to discover your own humor style, take the test on Naomi and Jennifer’s website. Do you have a joke that killed at the office, or totally bombed? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001.
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben talk about how the capital of Ukraine has become a linguistic hot take. They also interview Jessi Grieser, a professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville about her new book, The Black Side of the River: Race, Language, and Belonging in Washington D.C. And finally, we bring on a listener for some wordplay. We hope you’re good at figuring out analogies. You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis and Asha Saluja
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: New York Times: “How Do You Say Kyiv? It Can Be Hard for English Speakers” NPR “Kyiv or Kiev? Why people disagree about how to pronounce the Ukrainian capital’s name” Jessi Grieser: The Black Side of the River: Race, Language, and Belonging in Washington, D.C. “Bad Analogies” on Twitter
The expanded Child Tax Credit slashed childhood poverty in the U.S. by an estimated 30%. Why won’t congress revive it?
Guest: Jordan Weissmann, writer and editor at Slate focused on economics, politics, and public policy.
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and special guest Louisa Thomas of the New Yorker discuss the NFL’s conference championship games and Tom Brady’s (probable) retirement. Then, they talk about Rafael Nadal’s record-setting Australian Open victory. Finally, Grant Wahl joins Josh and Stefan to assess the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s frigid loss to Canada.
NFL (2:02): How did the Chiefs blow it? Is Joe Burrow as charismatic as he thinks he is? Tennis (25:25): How Nadal staged the best comeback of his career.
U.S. men’s soccer (43:31): Why can’t the U.S. score? Could they miss the World Cup?
Afterball (1:03:44): Josh and Stefan celebrate the winner of Hang Up’s goofy sports idea contest.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who wonders what to do about her husband, who claims to have a porn addiction. Guest: David J. Ley Mentioned in this episode: Ethical Porn for Dicks by David J. Ley The Myth of Sex Addiction by David J. Ley Sex, God, and the Conservative Church by Tina Schermer Sellers
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
No one is happy with the way this year’s Winter Olympics are unfolding. Athletes are frustrated with China’s excessive pandemic precautions. Diplomatic tensions are rising. Are the second COVID games on thin ice?
Guest: Henry Bushnell, features writer for Yahoo Sports.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a man who’s just made a new sexual discovery about himself. Then they hear from a woman who’s feeling judged for her boundaries. Guest: Ryan Scoats Mentioned in the episode: ‘I don’t mind watching him cum’: Heterosexual men, threesomes, and the erosion of the one-time rule of homosexuality. Understanding Threesomes by Ryan Scoats
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Karen Han talks to comedy writer Karen Chee, who works as a writer and performer for Late Night With Seth Meyers. In the interview, Chee discusses her early work writing humor pieces for the New Yorker before landing a job writing for the Golden Globes. Then she breaks down her joke-writing process for Late Night, which involves generating dozens of setups and punchlines every day. After the interview, Karen Han and co-host June Thomas discuss the challenges of producing a large volume of work under a tight deadline. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Chee talks about her taste in movies. Then she shares more secrets from the Late Night writers' room. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
In the past few weeks, Britney Spears has been posting all sorts of Notes App screenshots about how hurt she is by what her sister is saying on her press tour while promoting her new book Things I Should Have Said, by Jamie Lynn Spears. On the show today, Madison and Rachelle read the tweets, and the whole book, so you don’t have to. They talk about the origins of this fight, what’s caused it to resurface, and why a lot of this really has to do with their childhoods. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
As Justice Stephen Breyer announces his intention to step down from the Supreme Court, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Judge Nancy Gertner to discuss why now, what now, and who now. Judge Gertner is a former federal judge, member of the White House’s Supreme Court Reform Commission, Harvard Law professor … and she’s known Justice Breyer for decades. They discuss what’s changed on the court and wax nostalgic about Justice Breyer and Justice Scalia’s Muppet stadium tour.
In our Slate Plus segment, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern to dig into some of the nastier commentary around possible nominees for Justice Breyer’s seat, and to figure out what the rest of the term might look like in light of this week’s news.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Vipal Monga. They discuss the implications of the continued pumping of oil at one of the world’s dirtiest oil patches, how Canada’s housing situation compares with the U.S. and why ‘old’ music is suddenly so popular now.
In the Plus segment: The latest on Fintech.
Mentioned In the show: “One of the World’s Dirtiest Oil Patches Is Pumping More Than Ever” by Vipal Monga “Big Hot Sauce Wants More Hot Sauce” by Austin Carr
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Senior Editor at Xperi, whose database of music information is available at Allmusic.com. In his quarter-century with Allmusic, Tom has written thousands of record reviews and biographies. Chris and Tom expand on the latest full-length episode about Daryl Hall and John Oates, tracing their chart successes and failures through the ’70s, a decade when Tom says the duo tried a little of everything—from gentle folk, to psychedelia and glam rock, even proto–New Wave—before they could arrive at their Imperial ’80s sound. The cross-genre appeal they generated attracted teenage MTV fans and adult soul aficionados alike. Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives her a chance to turn the tables with a question of her own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here. Plus, Hit Parade says goodbye to a longtime producer and friend of the show. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kyle Lukoff, a pre-tipping point transsexual who used to be a school librarian but now writes children's books full-time. Lavery and Lukoff read a letter from someone who is worried that their intense crushes my end their current relationship. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Ten years ago, IBM made a gamble. Through a monumental advertising and PR campaign, it promised that its AI technology–Watson–would transform the health care industry as we know it. A decade and billions of dollars later, Watson Health is being sold for parts.
What went wrong with IBM’s “moonshot?” And what does Watson’s failure tell us about the promise of AI for health care?
Guest: Casey Ross, national technology correspondent for STAT
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
For decades, it has a running joke that Black characters were the first to die in horror movies. But movies like Nia DaCosta’s Candyman and Jordan Peele’s Get Out are rewriting the script, and creating horror villains and heroes who represent the real Black experience. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Tananarive Due, an award-winning author and producer who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA, to discuss the past and future of Black horror. Guest: Tananarive Due, award-winning author, and producer who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA
Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
John, Emily and David discuss Justice Breyer’s retirement. They are joined by Anne Applebaum to talk about what global moves may be coming to address threats to Ukraine, and The Gist’s Mike Pesca covers a round robin of the week's news.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
The Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics, by Stephen Breyer
Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “The Bad Guys Are Winning”
The Gist
Slow Burn: Watergate
Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven series on HBO Max
The Way We Live Now, by Anthony Trollope
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Vauhini Vara for Believer Magazine: “Ghosts”; This American Life: “The Ghost in The Machine”
John: Dylan Matthews for Vox: “Can Giving Parents Cash Help With Babies’ Brain Development?”
David: Tiffany Lukk for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: “Where to Go Dog Sledding in Minnesota”; Nicole Wetsman for The Verge: “CDC Emails Show That Vaccine Cards Are Supposed To Fit In Your Wallet: The Covid-19 Cards Do Not Fit In Wallets”
Listener chatter from Tom McIlroy: Michael Zhang for PetaPixel: “Photographer Finds Polar Bears That Took Over Abandoned Buildings”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the screen adaptation of Station Eleven. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth debate if there's proper etiquette when asking if a kid is vaccinated. Plus, they have some ideas for how to smoothly handle the interaction if the answer is no. Then, they take on the case of the annoying neighbor. Should you tell the kid to buzz off if he can’t play nice? On Slate Plus, secrets, secrets are no fun… but are they outright bad? Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Budsies. Elizabeth recommends the Buddha Board. Zak recommends creating photo albums. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
For this edition of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Karen Han discuss the pomodoro technique, which involves breaking work into timed intervals and taking breaks in between those intervals. In their conversation, they talk about the benefits of taking breaks and using timers, but they also underscore the importance of creative momentum. Could the pomodoro technique actually disrupt the flow of certain tasks? If you have creative techniques or strategies to share, or if you’d like some advice from June, Isaac, and Karen, send us an email at working@slate.com or leave a message at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
This week, Justice Stephen G. Breyer is expected to announce his plan to retire from the Supreme Court at the end of its term this summer. Breyer’s signal comes after a year-long pressure campaign from the political left and others anxious to ensure that Democrats control who replaces the court’s most senior liberal justice.
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, who covers courts and the law for Slate.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate podcast producer Cheyna Roth is joined by author Danielle Friedman. Friedman’s new book Let’s Get Physical explores the history of women’s exercise, and how some old attitudes still linger. They talk about the double bind women have faced when it comes to exercising, the “uterus myth,” and where we’re at with anti-fatness and inclusivity in exercise.
In the Slate Plus segment: Are yoga pants feminist?
Recommendations:
Cheyna: YouTube yogi Yoga With Adriene. Danielle: Watching movies from the 1930s. Especially Jewel Robbery. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” the hit song from Disney’s Encanto, is sitting at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, and that’s all thanks to TikTok. On the show today, Madison and Rachelle talk about the songs from Encanto currently dominating the platform, and why people online seem to love to hate Lin-Manuel Miranda. If you'd like to read more about the structure of "We Don't Talk About Bruno," check out Chris White's piece about it in Slate. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John. Correction: This podcast incorrectly stated that TikTok is included in the Billboard Hot 100 chart calculations, misnamed the song “Surface Pressure,” and misstated that it is sung by the oldest daughter (it's sung by the middle daughter).
The odds of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are increasing, with thousands of Russian troops stationed near the two countries' border. Vladimir Putin is set on ensuring Ukraine gives up its ambitions to join NATO and the European Union, and it’s unclear how much he’s willing to risk to meet that objective.
How far will the Russian leader go to get what he wants? Is there any way to end the standoff without violence?
Guest: Amy Mackinnon, national security and intelligence reporter at Foreign Policy.
This week, Slate’s TV critic and host of the podcast Decoder Ring, Willa Paskin, and poet, essayist, podcast host, and author, Nichole Perkins, fill in for Dana and Julia. The panel begins by taking a spin with Julian Fellowes’ (creator of Downton Abbey) new show The Gilded Age. Then, the panel debates about Kenny G and the installment of the docuseries Music Box: Listening to Kenny G. Finally, the panel ponders Ted Gioia’s question: is old music killing new music? In Slate Plus, the panel discusses culture that they’ve changed their mind about over time—whether they’ve grown to like it or dislike it. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Willa: The podcast Once Upon a Time… at Bennington College. Nichole: The collection of stories Vampires in the Lemon Grove: And Other Stories by Karen Russell. Steve: Ian MacDonald’s essay “Exiled From Heaven: The Unheard Message of Nick Drake.” Pre-order Dana’s book and buy a ticket to Dana and Isaac’s book event at The Strand (hosted by our very own Stephen Metcalf)! Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Pike Place Market" by Rockin' For Decades.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kyle Lukoff, a pre-tipping point transsexual who used to be a school librarian but now writes children's books full-time. Lavery and Lukoff tackle two two letters. First, from someone who’s close friend is shaming them for having a long distance relationship. Another letter writer is overwhelmed with the choices at a sperm bank. Plus, Lukoff talks about publishing his first board book. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.
Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Over the last few years, a sleepy southern town has seen its arrest rate grow more than 1100%. It’s not because of a spike in crime in Brookside, Alabama; instead, the town’s law enforcement has adopted a policing-for-profit model that treats citizens as revenue generators and cracks down on them accordingly. In turn, some residents enter debt spirals as the town’s police force rakes in more cash, with no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Guest: John Archibald, columnist for AL.com and the Birmingham News.
Did you know that we, as a society, have fallen off a comedy cliff? No joke. Studies have shown that we largely stop laughing when we enter our mid-twenties, which is a shame because delighting in humor has a ton of health benefits. Plus, being perceived as funny can actually make people think you’re more intelligent, more competent, and even better looking! So on this episode of How To!, the first in a two-part series, we bring on Naomi Bagdonas, co-author of Humor, Seriously!, and Michael Terry, an amateur comedian who is working in the funniest of places: high finance. Combined, they have decades of experience harnessing the power humor and applying it to the workplace. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Confront a Crazy Neighbor” with Tig Notaro. If you want to discover your own humor style, take the test on Naomi and Jennifer’s website. Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Lindsay Jones to discuss the NFL playoffs. Then, Ben Proudfoot joins for a conversation about Lusia Harris, the subject of his documentary short “The Queen of Basketball.” Finally, they speak with Oliver Roeder about his book Seven Games.
NFL (1:42): How did the Chiefs-Bills magic happen? Are Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers done? Lusia Harris (28:27): The life and legacy of a basketball pioneer.
Seven Games (47:06): How machines have changed our favorite games.
Afterball (1:06:48): Josh and Stefan on Hang Up listeners’ goofy ideas to fix sports.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a man who’s troubled by what he’s seeing on dating apps.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Stuart Frisch gave security training to the members of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, less than six months before they found themselves under siege and held hostage—a training the rabbi cited when explaining how they managed to escape.
How does Frisch approach protecting spaces that aren’t meant to be fortresses? Can faith and security coexist?
Guest: Stuart Frisch, advisor for the Secure Community Network.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who has a tricky question about herpes and a new man she’s seeing. Then they hear from a man who didn’t like the surprise he got in bed. Mentioned in this episode: “How Herpes Became a Sexual Boogeyman,” by L.V. Anderson, Slate, Dec. 2, 2019.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to author Malinda Lo, whose book Last Night at the Telegraph Club won the National Book Award. In the interview, Malinda explains that she never intended to write books under the young adult label. She also digs into her writing process, which involves many drafts and inspirational mood music. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss Malinda’s research process and her willingness to go down rabbit holes. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Malinda talks about her use of Chinese languages in Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
The name on every TikTokker’s lips is “West Elm Caleb,” a New York City twenty-something whose dating practices and history have come under major scrutiny, after women started posting videos about their negative experiences with him. Things quickly got out of control as more and more people got swept up in the gossipy drama. On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle talk to some of the women who shared their own stories about dating Caleb online. Then, they discuss how this is a moment both about the power of women coming together to protect each other and the way that this collective’s motives can quickly turn south. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by economics journalist and author, Peter Goodman. They discuss Goodman’s new book “Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World” Microsoft’s biggest deal ever, and what’s going on with 5G networks and airplanes.
In the Plus segment: Peloton is down, will it survive?
Further Reading: “Microsoft Buys Scandal-Tainted Activision in Bet on Metaverse” by Dina Bass and Nate Lanxon “Xbox CEO Phil Spencer on Reviving Old Activision Games as Microsoft Positions Itself as Tech’s Gaming Company” by Gene Park “Why Airlines Are Worried About 5G” by Andrew Ross Sorkin, Jason Karaian, Sarah Kessler, Stephen Gandel, Michael J. de la Merced, Lauren Hirsch, and Ephrat Livni “Peloton Stock Plunges Following Report It Will Halt Production” by Aaron Gregg “Peloton to Halt Production of its Bikes, Treadmills as Demand Wanes” by Lauren Thomas
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
The second in a three-part series on monsters in philosophy. We trace the cultural history of zombies from voodoo folklore, George Romero films, and the zombies used in philosophical thought experiments about the nature of human consciousness. Folklore, film and philosophy seem to converge on the idea that consciousness above all else is what a creature needs to have to be worthy of moral concern. But we have no idea when something crosses over from being a zombie to being conscious, particularly current AI systems. What happens then? Guest speakers are Christina van Dyke (Columbia), David Chalmers (NYU), and John Edgar Browning (Savannah College of Art and Design), and Eric Schwitzgebel (UC Riverside).
On this week’s Spoiler Specials, Slate staffers Allegra Frank and Rebecca Onion spoil The Lost Daughter. Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman) is a college professor on a sunny holiday in Greece. When she meets Nina (Dakota Johnson) and her young daughter on the beach, her observations prompt dark memories of her own early motherhood. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Produced by Asha Saluja and Jasmine Ellis.
Danny Lavery welcomes Colette Arrand, a transsexual poet from Athens, Georgia. She is the author of the poetry collection Hold Me Gorilla Monsoon, and is the editor of FanFyte, the wrestling section of Fanbyte Media. Lavery and Arrand read a letter from someone who is worried they are sending the wrong messages to their 5 year-old at storytime. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.
A recent advertisement for crypto.com, featuring Matt Damon, was met with widespread mockery online. But Damon’s ad is only the most visible example of a much broader—and more insidious—trend of celebrity cryptocurrency endorsements. Is the partnership between crypto and Hollywood really dangerous? And what separates the trend from run-of-the-mill spokesmanship?
Guests: Jacob Silverman, staff writer for the New Republic and Ben McKenzie, actor, writer, and director.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
In theory, the Fair Housing Act of 1968 outlawed all forms of real estate discrimination. In reality, Black home sellers often see their homes valued much lower than similar homes owned by whites. Andre Perry of the Brookings Instititution joins the show today to talk about the how real estate discrimination has robbed Black Americans billions of dollars in generational wealth, and what can be done to change it.
Guest: Andre Perry, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities
Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis and Asha Saluja
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden’s first year, SCOTUS's block of OSHA’s vax-or-test rule, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s busy start.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
John Dickerson for CBS Sunday Morning: “President Joe Biden: The First Year”
Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven series on HBO Max
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Deep Cover, Season 2: Mob Land
John: Take Note Podcast; Adam Webb for Take Note: “How to Keep a Notebook”
David: Paul Schwartzman for The Washington Post: “Missing Jewels And Art: A Lawsuit Against a Retired Professor Is Ruffling The Well-To-Do From Georgetown to Newport, R.I.”
Listener chatter from Alissa Surges: Allison Robicelli for The Washington Post: “I Spent The Night in an Empty Airport. it Was a Dream Come True”; Work at City Cast
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David talk about why to keep a journal. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Zak, and guest co-host Jaime Green attempt to fix a communication disaster. Our listener received some long-awaited genetic testing results and she was crushed when her partner seemingly couldn’t care less. Can she make him care? Then Elizabeth talks with Larissa Maloney of Active Kids 2.0 about how parents and kids can stay active at home. On Slate Plus, Jaime’s extremely relatable article about how hard it is to be a parent of a kid under five inspired a cathartic round of screaming into the void.
Recommendations: Zak recommends Le Petit Chef by Opinel. Jaime recommends Mommastrong. Elizabeth recommends A Year of Wonder: Classical Music For Everyday by Clemency Burton-Hill.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
In this Slate Plus episode for One Year, host Josh Levin and producer Evan Chung share behind-the-scenes stories of the making of the second season. Mentioned in this episode: 1995: The Year the Future Began by W. Joseph Campbell Production by Chau Tu.
President Biden, unlike his predecessor, was able to spend some time planning his COVID-19 response. One year in, is the plan working? Guest: Dan Diamond, national health reporter for the Washington Post.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior writer Christina Cauterucci looks back to the first Women’s March that took place on Jan. 21, 2017. She talks to New York Magazine’s Rebecca Traister about what the march accomplished for progressive organizing and the role protests can have going forward. Then she sits down with Angela Peoples, an activist and organizer who went to the march with a sign saying “White Women Voted for Trump”—and went viral.
In Slate Plus, Christina and Angela continue their conversation and talk about the connection between the Women’s March and the Black Lives Matter protests during the summer of 2020. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Christina Cauterucci and Bryan Lowder welcome our new third co-host, Jules Gill-Peterson, and talk to author Dr. Kevin Guyan about his new book Queer Data. The crew then explores the trans storylines and general weirdness of And Just Like That, the “next chapter” in the Sex and the City universe, before adding more items to the Gay Agenda.
AOL Instant Messenger launched 25 years ago, but at the time nobody understood exactly how important it would be in shaping the way we all interact online. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison talk to AIM expert Caroline Moss about the early years of the platform, the playful shenanigans people got up to on there as teens, and how it led us to the world of always being online. Caroline hosts the podcast Gee Thanks, Just Bought It! Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, the panel begins by pondering Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, The Lost Daughter. Then, the panel gushes about the fresh workplace comedy Abbott Elementary. Finally, the panel discusses everyone's latest obsession: the word game Wordle. In Slate Plus, the panel enters spoiler territory as they continue to puzzle out The Lost Daughter. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: An LA related endorsement: The Academy Museum (run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) which is mostly okay, but has a stellar show called The Path to Cinema: Highlights from the Richard Balzer Collection. Julia: Potentially the first worthy piece of pandemic art: the Gary Shteyngart novel Our Country Friends, set in an upstate NY country home as friends gather to wait out the pandemic. Steve: Israeli-born, Paris-based singer Keren Ann’s cover of “Hallelujah.” Also: a no longer on-the-fence, solid endorsement for HBO’s Succession. Pre-order Dana’s book and buy a ticket to Dana and Isaac’s book event at The Strand (hosted by our very own Stephen Metcalf)! Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Self Made Woman" by Katharine Appleton
The Supreme Court heard two challenges to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccination mandates this month. It blocked one mandate and upheld another, giving some observers whiplash.
How did the court come to such different rulings on similar workplace mandates, and what do the rulings say about how the court views the federal government as a whole?
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, staff writer covering courts and the law for Slate.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend. Then they talk about the rise of the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant. Finally, Defector’s Kalyn Kahler joins for a conversation about nepotism in NFL coaching. NFL (3:50): Do expanded playoffs mean worse games? Ja Morant (23:36): Was his block the best ever? Is he the NBA’s next superstar? Nepotism (42:46): How big of a problem is it, and can anything be done to fix it? Afterball (65:43): Josh, Joel, and Stefan on goofy ideas to fix sports.
Danny Lavery welcomes Colette Arrand, a transsexual poet from Athens, Georgia. She is the author of the poetry collection Hold Me Gorilla Monsoon, and is the editor of FanFyte, the wrestling section of Fanbyte Media. Lavery and Arrand take on two letters. First, from someone who can’t stop thinking about their partner’s dating history. Another letter writer identifies as a lesbian, but is getting push-back from her friends. Plus, Lavery asks Arrand about her lifelong passion for poetry and wrestling. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben interview Brooklyn-based software engineer Josh Wardle, the creator of the viral online word game Wordle. They also recap their participation in the American Dialect Society’s annual Word of the Year vote, over which Ben presided. And Nicole’s shares some on-the-ground interviews from the Linguistic Society of America conference, at which she presented some of her own research. And finally, we bring on a listener for some wordplay. Can you solve our final wordplay clue? You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus.
Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com.
Produced by Jasmine Ellis and Kevin Bendis
Conservative talk radio host Dan Bongino sits atop a media ecosystem that is fueling the fervor behind Trump and his big lie.
Guest: Evan Osnos is staff writer at The New Yorker and a fellow at the Brookings Institute. He’s also the author of Wildland: The Making of America’s Fury.
Have you ever had to make an impossible decision? One that doesn’t have an obvious “right” answer. One that someone will inevitably hate. John knows this feeling all too well. He’s the superintendent for a mid-size school district in California. To say the last school year was difficult is a major understatement… John tried to ensure the safety of his students, teachers, and faculty while balancing the reality of students struggling in their virtual classes. Throughout the school year, John’s relationship with his teachers and the teachers union deteriorated. Now, classes are back in session and he’s hoping to find common ground as soon as possible. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Gary Friedman, a world-renowned conflict mediator. He has some tips on how all of us can mend a fraught relationship before it’s too late. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Stand Up to Your Terrible Manager—Without Getting Fired.” Do you have a problem you can’t get out of your head? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. This episode originally ran on August 31, 2021.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who may have lost a friend over a one-night stand.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a man who’s concerned he’s cheating on his girlfriend—with his wife. Then they hear from a woman who wonders how bad it is that she kept a secret from her first lover.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Fionnuala Murphy, an actor and linguist who invented multiple alien languages for Apple TV Plus’s series Foundation. In the interview, Fionnuala explains how she landed the job, which was her first ever foray into language creation. Then she breaks down the process of designing the languages based on information she could gather from the scripts and conversations with the Foundation team. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han talk about their own relationships to language and discuss how patterns and structures, like those found in language, are crucial to their creative work. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Isaac asks Fionnuala about her translation work. Then Fionnuala offers advice for people who are trying to better understand their own language. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews
Yellowjackets is a new series on Showtime about a team of high school girls who, while on a flight to a soccer game, crash in the Canadian wilderness. It follows their struggle for survival and how that experience shaped those who made it out of the woods alive. On today’s show, Madison and Rachelle sing their own personal Yellowjackets praises, explain why it’s the latest addition to the Puzzle Box TV canon, and discuss how Reddit is the best place for fandom communities—like the one that’s quickly formed around the show. Plus, people think the Queen of England is dead? Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Ranjan Roy of Margins talk about the death of ZIRP (a zero-interest rate policy) and what that means for the future; Felix’s glee about the sale of Citi Bank’s Mexican unit, Banamex; and the puzzle game sweeping the Internet.
In the Plus segment: Ken Griffin’s Citadel Securities gets big investment from crypto.
Mentioned In the Episode: Axios Markets Newsletter “America’s labor shortage is bigger than the pandemic” by Emily Peck “Buy ‘Floki’: A cryptocurrency inspired by Elon Musk’s dog is making an ad push in London” by Carla Mozee Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
In the wake of two major vaccine-mandate decisions at the high court this week, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Andy Slavitt, former senior adviser to Biden’s White House pandemic response team. Slavitt was also the acting administrator of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services from 2015 to 2017. He hosts the In the Bubble podcast, and is the author of Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response.
In our Slate Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern for more analysis of the vaccine cases, plus a look at state efforts to bar participants in the Jan. 6 insurrection from office, several vitally important state Supreme ourt decisions and what they suggest, and the refusal of Neil Gorsuch to mask up at the high court.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Daryl Hall and John Oates: Their songs were earworms, their videos cheap and goofy. John Oates’s mustache and Daryl Hall’s mullet are relics of their time. And…for about five years, their crazy streak on the pop charts was comparable to Elvis, the Beatles and the Bee Gees. They were also more cutting-edge than you may realize, essentially inventing their own form of cross-racial new wave after spending the ’70s trying everything: rock, R&B, folk, funk, even disco. At their Imperial peak in the early ’80s, Hall and Oates commanded the pop, soul and dance charts while still getting played on rock stations. And decades later, when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ignored them, it was Black artists—rappers and soul fans—who pushed them in. Join Chris Molanphy for a dissection of the Philly duo who invented “rock ’n soul” and made their dreams come true.
Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Danny Lavery welcomes Wendy Lee, an associate professor in the English Department at New York University. She studies and writes about the history of the novel and philosophies of emotions and is currently working on a new book called Jane Austen & the End of Life. Lavery and Lee read a letter from someone who moved back in with their parents, but now spends a lot of energy keeping the peace between them. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
President Biden and Vice President Harris made impassioned speeches in Georgia this week, calling voting rights a top political priority. But the grassroots organizers who helped turn Georgia in 2020 want more than words, and many refused to attend the president’s event. One of those people is Nsé Ufot, the CEO of the New Georgia Project voting rights group. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson talks with Ufot about dangers to voting rights, frustrations with Biden, and the dire consequences for people of color should voting protection efforts fail. Guest: Nsé Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Today on What Next TBD: What is going on with little kids' vaccines? Why don’t they seem to be a priority for the government or the pharmaceutical companies, while parents are stressed to a breaking point? We discuss with Meg Tirrell, health and science correspondent for CNBC, and co-host of the Readout Loud podcast.
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss voting rights, Russia's recent moves, with guest Nina Jankowicz; and the increasing politicization of cable news.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute: Electoral Count Act of 1887
David Becker on Face the Nation: “Elections Expert David Becker Denounces ‘Efforts to Sow Confusion and Chaos’ ”
Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “Democracy Worked This Year. but It Is Under Threat.”
Christina A. Cassidy for AP News: “Far Too Little Vote Fraud to Tip Election to Trump, AP Finds”
How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict, by Nina Jankowicz
Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “The Science of Making Americans Hurt Their Own Country”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Jan Ransom for the New York Times: “A Look Inside Rikers: ‘Fight Night’ and Gang Rule, Captured on Video”
David: Nathanael Johnson thread on Twitter and We Are Lady Parts TV show
John: The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker and “On Keeping a Notebook,” by Joan Didion
Listener chatter from Bea Scott: The History of Democracy Has Yet to Be Written by Thomas Geoghegan
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss rule-breaking and Novak Djokovic’s moves in Australia.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Shayna Elliot.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak open up their cookbooks and share their favorite kid-friendly vegetarian recipes. They also debate how to help kids form sibling bonds that will last long after childhood. Then, we are joined by Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher, hosts of ICYMI, Slate’s podcast about internet culture. They explain Elmo’s viral feud with a pet rock. If you want to hear even more, check out their episode. Elmo also joined our show if you want to take a listen. In Slate Plus, the hosts are revealing what games and books they can’t live without right now. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends writing and submitting poetry. There are additional resources on Poetry Teatime. Zak recommends using musicals to transition your kids to more grown-up music. Jamilah recommends checking out her Instagram or Twitter to read her big story that’s being published today! Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
For the past year, Democrats have been touting the importance of passing two huge federal voting protections bills. If those plans can’t pass, should the party tackle straight-up election subversion? Guest: Rick Hasen, professor of law and political science at the University of California–Irvine School of Law and author of Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy.
The first true online diarist got famous for blurring the lines between private and public life. She also paid a price for her radical transparency. This episode of One Year was produced by Evan Chung, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Additional production help from Cheyna Roth. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
Welcome to the debut episode of Working Overtime! In these bi-weekly episodes, June, Isaac, and Karen dissect creative advice—and sometimes offer it to listeners and each other. This week, they discuss a piece of advice from cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who argues that avoiding the Internet every once in a while can lead to more focus and productivity. In the discussion, the hosts assess whether the internet helps or hurts their creative work and share some strategies for logging off when necessary. Do you have a piece of creative advice to share? Or maybe you could use some advice from the Working crew. Either way, get in touch at working@slate.com or leave a message at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by author Emily Willingham. Emily’s new book The Tailored Brain: Feeling Better and Thinking Smarter is all about how our brains work and whether gender plays a role in brain enhancement. They talk about how to be more empathetic and the ways empathy can boost your brain, the importance of using a feminist lens in brain science, and the old theory that brains are made of sperm.
In the Slate Plus segment, Emily and Shannon talk about Emily’s other book, Phallacy: Life Lessons From the Animal Penis and explore why the duck vagina is like a gated community.
Recommendations: Shannon: Wearing perfume to turn your mood around. Emily: Lightly meditating by beholding a tree. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus, Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
In this exclusive episode for Slate Plus members, Willa Paskin and Benjamin Frisch discuss what it’s like to make Decoder Ring, and share stories of making the episodes in this season.
Empaths and the great book exchange pyramid scheme are filling up our feeds again. On the show today, Rachelle and Madison explain why every few months, posts circulate about a book exchange that sounds too good to be true, and why empaths aren’t really a thing—unless you’re in a science fiction story. Plus, they play Wordle! Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Back in March, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a couple hundred members of the Texas National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border to counteract what he called President Biden’s “open border policies.” Almost a year later, around 10,000 troops are stationed there at Abbott’s command. Many guardsmen have had to upend their lives for a mission that seems to have little purpose.
Guest: Davis Winkie, staff reporter for Army Times.
This week, author and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, Isaac Butler fills in for Steve (pre-order Isaac's book!). First, the panel debates the merits of Adam McKay’s star-studded cautionary tale Don’t Look Up. Then, the panel is joined by film historian and journalist Mark Harris to outline the debt we owe to the late Sidney Poitier—a legend whom he speaks about in his book Pictures at a Revolution. Finally, the panel is joined by author and staff writer for the New Yorker, Kathryn Schulz, to discuss her new memoir Lost & Found. In Slate Plus, the panel lists some reboots and remakes that they actually would like to see. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: David Ehrlich’s, chief film critic for Indiewire, video montage countdown of the best films of 2021, an annual tradition he’s been doing for several years. Julia: The LEGO set “Flower Bouquet” (set #10280) which ingeniously replicates a bouquet using some creative LEGO pieces. Isaac: The novel I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett. Pre-order Dana’s book and buy a ticket to Dana and Isaac’s book event at The Strand (hosted by our very own Stephen Metcalf)! Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music "I Want a Change" by The Big Let Down
Danny Lavery welcomes Wendy Lee, an associate professor in the English Department at New York University. She studies and writes about the history of the novel and philosophies of emotions and is currently working on a new book called Jane Austen & the End of Life. Lavery and Lee tackle two letters. First, from someone who wants to have a third child, despite her husband’s concern about passing along a rare genetic condition. Another letter writer is depressed about getting cut off by her close friend, and is wondering how much she can push for answers. Plus Lavery and Lee discuss Jane Austen and her devoted fans, or “Janeites”. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Georgia’s win over Alabama in the college football title game. Then they break down the wild ride that was the Chargers-Raiders NFL regular-season finale. And tennis writer Ben Rothenberg helps unpack the saga of unvaccinated Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.
College football (2:44): How the Bulldogs took down the Tide. Chargers-Raiders (22:53): The game theory behind the crazy almost-tie. Djokovic (42:55): Why did an Australian court allow him to stay in the country? What’s next? Afterball (1:05:46): Stefan on the Sports Word of the Year.
Every year, around the same time, Peter’s apartment comes alive. The shadows begin to scuttle and the pipes creak with creepy crawlies. At least that’s how it feels. Peter is freaked out by Israel’s large flying cockroaches. Logically, he knows they don’t pose a threat. But he can’t control his visceral disgust at encountering one and his panicked vigilance in the days that follow. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Dr. Elizabeth McMahon, a clinical psychologist who has been treating phobias like these for the last 30 years. She has some very practical advice for Peter, and anyone else with an irrational fear they’d like to overcome. Elizabeth often uses virtual reality therapy with her clients, most recently to treat needle phobias. She’s made this needle phobia training available for licensed therapists or supervised trainees. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Not Be Scared.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Chicago Public Schools canceled classes for three consecutive days this year, following a vote by the teachers union to defy in-person teaching orders amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. The union wants additional safety measures in place as teachers and students return to school. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the union’s actions are “illegal,” and the public schools system said the refusal to teach in-person amounted to a strike.
How will the showdown end? And when will students get back into the classroom?
Guest: Sarah Karp, education reporter at WBEZ in Chicago.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a man whose attractiveness is getting in the way of his life and work.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
J.D. Vance became a sought-after cultural translator when he published Hillbilly Elegy. Now, he’s a rhetorical bomb-thrower running for the Republican nomination for Senate in Ohio. But underneath Vance’s transformation is a relatively consistent appreciation for a new strain of conservatism still in the process of defining itself. Could Vance’s candidacy advance this intellectual movement on the political right? Guest: Simon van Zuylen-Wood, who wrote about J.D. Vance for the Washington Post Magazine.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a letter writer who wonders what he can do about “COVID dick.” Then they hear from a letter writer who doesn’t know if she’s capable of having casual sex—even though she wants it. Guests this episode: Charles Welliver and Ashley G. Winter. Mentioned in this episode: RestoreX
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Karen Han talks to fashion designer Jasmine Chong whom you might know from the reality show Making the Cut. Before founding her own label, Jasmine worked for some of the most influential names in fashion. In the interview, Jasmine explains the profound influence her fashion designer mother has had on her life, creative outlook, and career. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler discuss the challenges of unraveling how people develop their aesthetic and what their aspirational garments are. (Isaac is big into Brian Cox’s Succession cardigans..) In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Karen asks Jasmine about “straight-sizing” and how the fashion industry remains centered around a small sub-section of sizes and body types. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Zak Rosen.
Elmo has been filling up the TikTok and Twitter feeds these past few weeks with his unique pronunciations and feud with a pet rock. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison try to chart the arc of this recent virality, and explain why Elmo is a member of the Black community. They also watched Hype House on Netflix so you don’t have to. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about the split verdict in the trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, the short supply (and high prices) of COVID rapid tests, and whether restaurants should be allowed to sell cocktails to-go. Plus, we say goodbye to Stacy during her last episode of Slate Money.
In the Plus segment: The New York Times’ purchase of The Athletic
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Danny Lavery welcomes Ali Vingiano is a filmmaker and actor, whose work includes writing and producing for the Emmy-winning series The Morning Show, and starring in her first feature film, The End Of Us. Lavery and Vingiano read a letter from someone who can’t stand that her partner’s kids are constantly being disappointed by their deadbeat dad. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This week, we’re bringing you an episode from another show we think you’ll like. Slate's history podcast One Year introduces you to people and ideas that changed American history, one year at a time. The new season of One Year covers 1995, a year when homegrown terrorists attacked Oklahoma City, America went online, and the Macarena took over nightclubs. When a serial rapist struck Ann Arbor, Michigan, the police turned to drastic measures, based on the promise and power of DNA. For law enforcement, genetic testing seemed like a can’t-miss idea. But DNA didn’t fix anything in Ann Arbor. Instead, it ripped the community apart. One Year is produced by Josh Levin, Evan Chung, and Madeline Ducharme. Additional production help from Cheyna Roth. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Slate Plus members get to hear more about the making of One Year. Get access to extra episodes, listen to the show without any ads, and support One Year by signing up for Slate Plus for just $1 right now. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate staffers Allegra Frank and Sam Adams spoil Spider-Man: No Way Home. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is grappling with being identified as Spider-Man. This not only has consequences for him, but also his girlfriend, Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson (Zendaya), and his best friend Edward “Ned” Leeds (Jacob Batalon) who are rejected from MIT. This inspires Peter to approach Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help. But what happens when it all goes sideways? You can read Allegra Frank and Sam Adams’s guide to the movie here. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis.
Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty of defrauding investors this week in federal court. The former CEO, wunderkind, and blood mogul has been the subject of intense legal interest and public fascination ever since her company, Theranos, was beset by scandal in 2015. Today on What Next: TBD we follow-up with Rebecca Jarvis, host of “The Dropout” podcast and ABC News Chief Business, Technology & Economics Correspondent. We dig into the verdict and ask if Silicon Valley will finally confront the elements of its culture that allowed Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos to run wild with investor’s money, and patient’s health. You can listen to “The Dropout: Elizabeth Holmes on Trial” now wherever you get your podcasts.
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Jan. 6, with guest Jamelle Bouie and what to make of omicron's impact on schools, and the Theranos case.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Matt Levine for Bloomberg: “Slaying the Blood Unicorn”
Wall Street Journal: Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes: History of the WSJ Investigation
Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “I Write About the Law. But Could I Really Help Free a Prisoner?”
Ruddy Roye Photography
Walker Evans
Anastasia Taylor-Lind
Sally Mann
Larry Fink Photography
Edward Hopper: Night Shadows, 1921
Alexander Calder: Finny Fish
Wolfgang Laib: Wax Room
Caravaggio: The Conversion of Saint Paul
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Crossroads, by Jonathan Franzen; Parul Sehgal for the New Yorker: “The Case Against the Trauma Plot”
John: Window-Swap.com
David: Fight Club; Free Guy; City Cast
Listener chatter from Cynthia Weiner: Corryn Wetzel for Smithsonian Magazine: “Ten Hilarious Winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, David, and Jamelle discuss the famous works of art they would most like to possess.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth help a mom understand her new step-daughter’s personal boundaries and love language. Then they have some wonderful tips for a mom of twins who has quite the conundrum. One of her daughters has needed a lot of medical care and procedures, including brain surgery. Now her other daughter, who is non-medically complex, is jealous of all the attention her sister is receiving and asking to go to the doctor daily. How can she make sure the needs of both of her daughters are met? In Slate Plus, the hosts are spiraling about the future—and those summer camp applications that are starting to pop up certainly aren’t helping. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Trader Joe’s Southern Greens Blend and Fermented Garlic. Elizabeth recommends the podcasts How to Be an Earthling and Who, When, Wow! Zak recommends taking yourself on a solo date! Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
In the mid-1990s, a bilingual pop song brought a huge amount of joy to a huge number of people. And then, very quickly, the Macarena became a cultural pariah. This episode of One Year was produced by Evan Chung, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Additional production help from Cheyna Roth. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
Back in March of 2020, a scientist working at MIT developed a rapid test for the novel coronavirus. It wasn’t quite as accurate as a PCR, but would have gone a long way in detecting infectious cases during the emerging pandemic. But her test was never approved—and today, the U.S. is still behind other developed countries in our mass testing scheme.
Guest: Lydia Depillis, reporter for ProPublica.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate managing producer Asha Saluja and Slate senior editor Shannon Palus discuss women and aging on television. Through two seemingly unrelated shows—HBO Max’s And Just Like That and Showtime’s Yellowjackets—they dig into how these shows portray their protagonists for better and worse, and what makes the relationships between women compelling in both shows.
In Slate Plus: Was it feminist that Carrie was an anti-hero in the original series of Sex and the City?
Recommendations: Asha: The album Urban Driftwoods by Yasmin Williams. Shannon: Swabbing your throat for COVID and this Lululemon yoga mat. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews, Shannon Palus, and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Huge Ma, founder of the website TurboVax, a.k.a. “Vax Daddy,” is running for office, and Taylor Swift has claimed 2022 as her own. On the show today, Madison and Allegra talk about how branding queen Taylor Swift is feeling 2022, and then Madison interviews Huge about creating TurboVax, how his online experiences have informed his campaign, and which Taylor Swift track is the theme of his campaign. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
It's easy to look at the latest pandemic-related disruptions and assume we're careening into another full-blown COVID crisis. But in many ways, we’re getting better at combating this coronavirus. Guest: Dan Diamond, national health reporter for the Washington Post.
This week, the panel begins by breaking down just what makes HBO’s pandemic series Station Eleven so successful with Slate’s senior managing producer of podcasts and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, June Thomas. Next, the panel appreciates the legacy that writer Joan Didion left behind. Finally, the panel rehashes the 2021 edition of Slate’s Movie Club (including Dana’s list of the year’s best films) while discussing the future of film. In Slate Plus, the panel responds to Parul Sehgal’s article “The Case Against the Trauma Plot” in the New Yorker. Email us at culturefest@slate.com.
Endorsements Dana: The magical work of Swedish stop-motion animator Niki Lindroth von Bahr. Four of her animated shorts can be found on the Criterion Channel, but you can find one—The Burden—on Amazon Prime. Julia: A recipe for Italian rainbow cookies adapted by Bon Appétit from Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone (of popular eateries Carbone and Torrisi Italian Specialties). Steve: First, his monster music playlist of mellow deep cuts, which includes work from Rickie Lee Jones’ great ‘81 album Pirates, particularly the song “Living It Up.” Second: Susan Tallman’s criticism for the New York Review of Books as a whole, but particularly her recent review of Jasper Johns titled “The House That Johns Built,” inspired by a Johns catalog titled Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror.
Podcast production by Asha Saluja. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is Freak Out! by Zorro.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the College Football Playoff and bowl game opt-outs. ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel also joins for a conversation about Becky Hammon, who chose to leave the NBA to become the head coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces. Finally, they talk about the life and legacy of John Madden. College football (3:23): What are the sport’s real issues and what problems are imaginary? Hammon (23:58): Why didn’t she get a shot to run an NBA team? Is going to the WNBA the right move? Madden (46:24): How should the coach and announcer be remembered? Afterball (1:10:38): Joel on Marcus Williamson and what college football takes from Black athletes.
Danny Lavery welcomes Ali Vingiano is a filmmaker and actor, whose work includes writing and producing for the Emmy-winning series The Morning Show, and starring in her first feature film, The End Of Us. Lavery and Vingiano take on two letters. First, from someone who is exhausted by people trying to guess why she is ill. Another letter writer is mortified that a neighbor has started angrily knocking on their door while they’re having sex. Plus, a deep dive into Vingiano’s first feature film, The End Of Us. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Months before the attack on the Capitol, Bart Gellman predicted that the 2020 election would usher in a make-or-break year for American democracy. He was correct. Now, he’s trying to sound the alarm again. This time he says American democratic institutions and systems are being broken before our eyes, and the people in power aren’t doing enough to stop it.
Guest: Barton Gellman, staff writer at The Atlantic.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben pay tribute to the late pioneer in linguistics and cognitive science, Lila Gleitman. They also interview Peter Sokolowski of Merriam-Webster and Fiona McPherson of the Oxford English Dictionary about the keywords of 2021. And finally, we bring on a listener for some wordplay. We hope you’re familiar with the diversity of English dialects. You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis and Asha Saluja. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Lila Gleitman’s obituary in the New York Times Lila Gleitman’s interview at the 2017 Association for Psychological Science conference Oxford Languages Word of the Year Merriam-Webster Word of the Year American Dialect Society Word of the Year American Dialect Society’s 2021 Word of the Year livestream — register to join the virtual voting session!
Every January nearly 75 percent of Americans resolve to make their lives better by losing weight. But this year we’re breaking free from the cycle of restrictive eating and spiraling shame. Journalist Virginia Sole-Smith, host and author of Burnt Toast and The Eating Instinct, has some eye-opening tips for our listener Tori that will help her ditch the scale, become more comfortable with her body, and even learn to control sugar cravings—by eating as many sweets as she wants. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Lose 155 Pounds Happily” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who can’t tell if she’s doing something very bad to her boyfriend.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing!
Production by Chau Tu.
The Justice Department’s criminal investigation into the January 6th insurrection is unprecedented. More than 700 rioters face charges, and federal prosecutors are still adding names to the pile. As cases work their way through the courts, judges are sparring over the proper approach to sentencing rioters. How do you hold an individual responsible for a collective event? Guest: Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter with BuzzFeed News.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a letter writer who’s been traumatized by her husband’s new “look.” Then they hear from a letter writer who wants to bring spanking outside of the bedroom. Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Karen Han share their creative New Year’s Resolutions for 2022. Then they look back at their goals for 2021 and discuss what they accomplished and where they had trouble. They also check in with former host Rumaan Alam, who shares an update on his 2021 resolutions. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
From “woke bae” to “woke-a-cola,” the word woke has taken the internet and mainstream media by storm. But how many people who use the word actually know what it means? On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison (but, really, mostly Rachelle) explain the decades-old origins of the word, and how its meaning has evolved as it’s gone from being sung as a call to “stay woke” by the likes of Erykah Badu and Childish Gambino to being wielded as a slur by the likes of Mike Huckabee. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, and Jasmine Ellis. This episode was originally published on June 19, 2021.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, to reflect on the past year and her time at the head of the legendary civil rights organization as she prepares to step down in spring 2022. In our Slate Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern for the “Amicus Plus 2021 Hangover Edition,” in which they run down their biggest headaches from 2021 and look for signs of hope in the courts and the legal system for 2022.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael are joined by Joe Weisentahl of the Bloombergpodcast Odd Lots. They discuss this past very long year in markets – from labor to crypto to supply chains; what’s up and what’s making them go ‘huh?’ and how we should maybe be grateful to Steve Mnuchin.
In the Plus segment: How the lumber supply chain issue had very little to do with lumber.
Mentioned In the show: “This is the Booming Movement to Abolish Work as We Know It” by Odd Lots podcast “The Effect of Earned Versus House Money on Price Bubble Formation in Experimental Asset Markets” by Brice Corgnet, Roberto Hernan-Gonzalez, Praveen Kujal, and David Porter “Gambling With the House Money and Trying to Break Even: The Effects of Prior Outcomes on Risky Choice” by Richard H. Thaler and Eric J. Johnson Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by producer Asha Saluja to look back on the latest full-length episode and the year in Hit Parade. Chris shares his favorite episodes of the year, answers some questions from the listener mailbag, and issues corrections for 2021. Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Danny Lavery welcomes Kyle Lukoff, a pre-tipping point transsexual who used to be a school librarian but now writes children's books full-time. Lavery and Lukoff read a letter from someone who is seeking clarity on a recent Big Mood, Little Mood episode about a non-bianary lesbian. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Should journalists work to end American racism, not just report on it? That’s what the Boston Globe’s new project, The Emancipator, is making its mission. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by its co-editor-in-chief, Amber Payne. They discuss The Emancipator’s history, and its vision for an anti-racist American future. Guest: Amber Payne, co-editor in chief of The Emancipator at the Boston Globe Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
On this week’s episode: Our favorite Plus segments of 2021. We revisit one of the funniest—yet most horrifying—bathroom discoveries. We uncover the soundtracks to our parenting and brainstorm the School House Rock songs we need right now. We also gripe about Yes Day and hide from our kids. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Gift now at slate.com/momanddadplus. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in August 2021.
Last week, the northern California mountain town of Greenville was wiped out by the Dixie Fire, which lasted for two months and is now the second largest wildfire in California history. As Greenville residents assess the damage to their homes and businesses, is it safe to rebuild? Is it even ethical, when wildfires are expected to only get worse?
Guest: Margaret Garcia, also known as Meg Upton, reporter at Plumas News.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, former hosts Christina Cauterucci, Nichole Perkins and Marcia Chatelain return for a special reunion. They haven't been on the microphones together since the pandemic started, and they have a lot to discuss. They cover the nighttime doula Twitter fight, thoughts on the generational battles that are raging, how race plays a role in nostalgia, and the horrors of dating during the pandemic.
In Slate Plus: Is gift giving sexist?
Recommendations: Christina: Sheertex tights Nichole: Candles, especially from Brooklyn Candle Studio and Posh Candle Company. Marcia: Checking out interesting children’s books like Julián Is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Every year the Political Gabfest dives into the most pressing questions of our time (sent in by you our listeners!). Questions this year include: if you could eliminate one word from the English language what would it be? If you transport the characters of one book into the time and place of another which would you choose? If you had to brush your teeth ONLY in the day or the night- which would be optimal? Is an authoritarian regime our only hope for solving climate change? Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by special guest Dwayne Betts.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producers Jayson De Leon, Ethan Brooks, and Sophie Summergrad discuss Episode 8, on what happened in L.A. after the riots, and about what they wished they could have covered more on Season 6. Then we’ll hear an extended interview with Karen Bass, currently the U.S. representative for California's 37th congressional district, but who was a community organizer in L.A. at the time of the riots.
Mentioned in the episode: Slow Burn 6’s Spotify playlist
Production by Chau Tu.
It’s the final episode of the year, and a chance to look back at all the ways the internet has gone wrong in 2021. On today’s show, Rachelle and Madison invite Tracy Clayton and Josh Gwynn, hosts of the podcast Back Issue, to join them as they discuss all the trends, memes, and moments of 2021 internet that have no place cropping back up in 2022. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Steve, Dana, and Julia tackle some listener questions in our annual call-in show. Topics include: favorite pieces of art, culture their children introduced them to, and previous years’ endorsements that have become staples in the panel’s lives. In Slate Plus, the panel continues to field some stellar listener questions. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Click here to start giving the gift of Plus. There are no endorsements this week, but here are links to some of the things mentioned in the episode: Here’s Julia’s former (Dana approved) Cooks Illustrated blueberry muffin recipe endorsement that’s sourced from The New Best Recipe. Here’s her current favorite blueberry muffin recipe. Dana’s suggestions for content that might help with grief features Francois Couperin’s Leçons de Ténèbres. Some songs Steve would like played at his funeral include: Everything but the Girl’s cover of Captain Beefheart’s “My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains;” Nina Simone’s version of “Who Knows Where the Time Goes;” Charles Mingus’s “Myself When I Am Real;” and The Go-Between’s “Cattle and Cane.” Julia’s picks include: Felix Mendelssohn’s “Op. 62 No.3” and Superchunk’s “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo.” Here’s Dana’s Spotify playlist of her picks. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Lonely Calling" by Arc De Soleil.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in June 2021.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end, Carl Nassib, came out in an Instagram post back in June, making him the first openly gay active player in NFL histroy. The league immediately posted in celebration of Nassib’s announcement. But given the NFL’s sorry history of standing by players on the vanguard, will the league really put its money where its mouth is this time?
Guest: LZ Granderson, LA Times opinion columnist and host of ABC News’ “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson.”
Danny Lavery welcomes Olivia Charmaine Morris, Founder & CEO of Black Monarch Entertainment. Her new IG Live lifestyle series, "The Tea," invites celebrity guests to participate in intimate conversations. Lavery and Charmaine Morris tackle three letters. First, from someone wondering if the grief they feel for a teacher from their distant past is out of proportion. Another letter writer is trying not to get discouraged in finding a musical mentor. Our final letter is from someone whose close friends always start dating each other. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in October 2021.
Colin Powell, known as a “trailblazer” and “pathbreaker” in his military career, leaves behind a complicated legacy. The four-star general became a household name during the first Gulf War as the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later the first Black secretary of state.
Thirty years after his rise to national prominence, Powell’s death has prompted reflections on the Iraq War and his role in using false intelligence to justify the U.S. invasion.
Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories columnist.
James is head over heels in love with his wife. But there’s one thing that keeps getting in between them … the glow of her smartphone. His wife is constantly scrolling social media or staging photo ops with James and their kids to create a picture perfect life online. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Dr. David Greenfield, the founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, to help James understand why it’s so hard for his wife to log off. He has some fascinating advice for how to wean yourself off social media and reconnect IRL without creating a bigger rift in the relationship. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Put Down Your Phone.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Gift now at slate.com/howtoplus.
Josh Levin and Joel Anderson are joined by ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz to talk about Christmas Day in the NBA. Washington Post health reporter Dan Diamond also joins to discuss the past, present, and future of COVID in sports. Finally, Josh, Joel, and Stefan Fatsis interview Mitchell S. Jackson about his award-winning story on Ahmaud Arbery and running while Black. NBA (3:07): How did the Warriors and Suns leap to the top of the West? And how are teams dealing with all the positive tests? COVID (24:17): What should leagues be doing, and what will they do in 2022? Arbery (45:23): A discussion about the Pulitzer-winning story “Twelve Minutes and a Life.” Afterball (1:04:28): Josh on the Washington Post’s coverage of Daniel Snyder.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who wonders if she should reconnect with a hookup who said some things she did not like.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in September 2021.
Who are the people seeking a religious exemption to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate? What are their religious claims? And how do workplaces decide who has a real claim to belief versus a convenient letter from a pastor-for-hire?
Guest: Ruth Graham, reporter for The New York Times.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a letter writer who’s keeping a neighborly secret. Then they hear from a letter writer who wonders how to bring up a touchy subject with her boyfriend.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Karen Han help each other to overcome creative roadblocks and discuss some of their favorite pieces of creative wisdom. But first, they make a big announcement about future episodes of Working. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Martha Stewart loves to tell people on Instagram about the products she likes, but these posts look suspiciously like ads. On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle scroll through Martha’s feed to look at all the things she raves about, talk about why she might be breaking the rules, and discuss how the social media advertising guidelines are much more flexible than we realize. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk all about retirement with Teresa Ghilarducci, retirement expert and professor at the New School for Social Research. They dig into what’s wrong with the retirement system and who is currently benefiting from its brokenness, how people can get the most out of retirement investments and the role gender plays in retirement planning.
In the Plus segment: Succession’s Logan Roy’s retirement plan. Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
On the Spoiler Specials podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Vox editor-at-large and co-creator of the podcast Arden, Emily VanDerWerff.
Twenty years after the events of The Matrix Revolutions, Thomas Anderson, also known as Neo (Keanu Reeves) is once again confronted with a decision to forgo his ordinary life and open his mind to The Matrix.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Asha Saluja with help from June Thomas
Danny Lavery welcomes Edgar Gomez, the author of the forthcoming memoir High-Risk Homosexual, about coming-of-age as a queer, Latinx person in a culture of machismo. Lavery and Gomez read a letter from someone who’s new friend group likes to talk openly about sex, while she’s rather not. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
It’s the holiday season, which means it’s time to press play on your favorite Christmas movies. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by essayist and pop culture critic Rebecca Theodore-Vachon to talk about what really makes a Black Christmas movie, and which classics they recommend. Guest: Rebecca Theodore-Vachon, essayist, pop culture critic, and host of The Spectrum Lounge podcast. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
On this week’s episode of The Waves, it’s a very special reunion episode. Original hosts of The Waves, June Thomas, Noreen Malone, and Hanna Rosin gather together to catch up on everything that’s happened since their last episode in July 2019. They talk about topics they wish they could have covered, how the workforce has changed for women, bits of culture they’ve loved over the last couple of years, and how hosting The Waves made them more interesting people.
In Slate Plus: Are the holidays sexist?
Recommendations: June: Showtime’s Yellowjackets Noreen: Hulu’s series Only Murders in the Building Hanna: The Electricity of Every Living Thing, by Katherine May, and The Great British Baking Show
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in July 2021.
Brittany Hogan worked in diversity and inclusion for the Rockwood School District for eight years. As public debate intensified over the way race is discussed in schools and threats were made against her, Hogan eventually was pushed to resign.
Guest: Brittany Hogan, former director of educational equity and diversity for the Rockwood School District in St. Louis County.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak advise a mom who is feeling hurt that her mother-in-law has swooped in and taken over traditional “mom moments” behind her back. Is there a way to politely tell her that she needs to stay in her own lane? Then the hosts share the most useful piece of advice they received this year. In Slate Plus, they play a round of holiday hot takes which includes the classic conundrum: should you just tell your kids Santa’s a myth?
Recommendations: Naima recommends Roc, which you can watch on Pluto. Henry recommends Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube. Oliver recommends the app hoopla. Teddy recommends Story Time Chess. Noa recommends peeling grapes to make them juicer.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Gift now at slate.com/momanddadplus.
Custer's Revenge is widely considered one of the worst video games ever made. Originally released as part of a series of Swedish Erotica-branded adult games for the Atari 2600, Custer's Revenge involves moving a pixelated General Custer across the screen to rape an Indigenous woman tied to a post. It's unfathomably racist, sexist, and un-fun to play. Today on Decoder Ring we tell the story of how Custer's Revenge came to be, the people who protested it, and the even stranger story of how the whole thing became a considered trolling operation. This is the final episode of our current season, but we'll be back in 2022!
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the future of the Democratic party's agenda, Omicron's spread across the United States and they're joined by investigative journalist Azmat Khan to talk about the deaths of civilians overseas and the lack of accuracy from the U.S. military.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “$1.75 Trillion Is Plenty of Money to Write a Good Build Back Better Bill Here Are Some Solid Options”
Simon Bazelon and David Shor for Slow Boring: “A Permanent CTC Expansion With a Sharper Means-Test Would Protect Poor Kids Better And Be More Popular”
Jonathan Chait for New York Magazine: “Biden Should Take Manchin's Deal Right Now”
David Wallace-Wells for New York Magazine: “Gauteng’s Omicron Wave Is Already Peaking. Why?”
Derek Thompson for the Atlantic:”Is Omicron Milder?”
Azmat Khan for The New York Times: “Hidden Pentagon Records Reveal Patterns of Failure in Deadly Airstrikes”
Azmat Khan for The New York Times Magazine: “The Human Toll of America’s Air Wars”
Azmat Khan for The New York Times Magazine: “The Uncounted”
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Katie Benner, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Charlie Savage for the New York Times: “Some Inmates Can Stay Confined at Home After Covid Emergency, Justice Dept. Says”
John: The Power of Meaning, by Emily Esfahani Smith, Mozhan Marno, and On the Meaning of Life, by Will Durant
David: Hard Knocks In Season: The Indianapolis Colts
Listener chatter from Mo Trent: stuffin.space
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss their most and least useful years of formal education. Special thanks to listener Sean McPherson for the suggestion.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
Christina and Bryan discuss the finer points of new queer Christmas movies—like, how realistic is Netflix’s Single All The Way?—and why that harness joke in Lifetime’s Under The Christmas Tree was so jarring. We’re also joined by some special guests who share Prides and Provocations from the past year and explore Premonitions for 2022. We close the year with bell hooks and trans triumphs in the Gay Agenda.
Neopets, a kid-friendly site from the early 2000s that let users raise digital pets and play games with them, has fallen far from its peak popularity. The nostalgic luster of it also seems to be fading, following the site’s recent failed attempt at Neopet NFTs—not to mention its years-old, mostly broken user interface. On today’s show, Madison and Allegra look back at the happier times of Neopia past, discussing their early experiences on the site and exactly how it’s grown, or not, with the times. Then they interview concept artist Claire Hummel about her teenage years interning at the site, the creative freedom the staff used to have, and why nobody could ever get enough Neopoints to buy all those cool items. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Jayson De Leon discuss Episode 7, on the riots after day 1. Then we’ll hear extended interviews with Hector Tobar of the Los Angeles Times and Jin Ho Lee from Radio Korea about their experiences witnessing the riots on the ground as reporters.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Production by Chau Tu.
This week, the panel discusses Aaron Sorkin’s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz biopic, Being the Ricardos. Next, the panel is joined by contributing writer for the New York Times, Jody Rosen, to make sense of Bruce Springsteen’s latest deal and the confusing world of music rights today. Finally, the panel is joined by Slate’s book critic Laura Miller to discuss her list of the best books (and audiobooks!) of 2021. In Slate Plus, the panel continues the discussion of music rights and how Taylor Swift changed the game with her re-recordings. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Click here to start giving the gift of Plus. Endorsements Dana: A video of a series of pianist Bill Evans’s live performances over 11 years titled, Bill Evans Live ‘64 ‘75. Julia: The 2004 film Cellular which stars Chris Evans, Kim Bassinger, Jason Statham, William H. Macy, Jessica Biel, and more. Steve: A follow-up to the 8 hours of Get Back, one of the greatest works of cultural criticism: Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties by Ian MacDonald. Also: Sufjan Stevens’s Christmas catalog, Songs for Christmas. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "What Do You Want From Me" by OTE.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in May 2021.
A year after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, residents near the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue—now dubbed George Floyd Square—continue to keep the area closed off. The city wants to reopen the intersection, but activists say they aren’t giving in until the community’s demands for justice are met.
Guest: Marcia Howard, security volunteer and organizer in George Floyd Square.
Danny Lavery welcomes Edgar Gomez, the author of the forthcoming memoir High-Risk Homosexual, about coming-of-age as a queer, Latinx person in a culture of machismo. Lavery and Gomez take on two letters. First, from someone wondering how to confront their subtly transphobic boss. Another letter writer is wondering what the rules are for dating when you are a pre-T trans guy. Gomez takes us “behind the scenes” into the making of his memoir. Plus, a listener update from “Sad in the Southwest”. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley talk about COVID running rampant through every sports league, again. Next, they discuss the end of Urban Meyer’s very brief career as an NFL coach. Finally, Joshua Neuman joins Stefan and Josh for a conversation about Kenny Washington, who broke the NFL’s color barrier a year before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s. COVID (2:43): How should leagues and teams respond to the next wave of the pandemic? Urban Meyer (21:11): Why did the successful college coach flame out of the pros? Kenny Washington (39:46): Why isn’t the pioneering Black football player an American icon? Afterball (59:20): Stefan on the state of Scorigami.
One night a few months ago Elaine got a phone call out of the blue from a co-worker. She and her 12-year old daughter had checked herself into a hotel after she was beaten by husband. Elaine took her co-worker to the hospital and encouraged her to leave her husband, but a couple weeks later she was back at home. Now Elaine can’t stop worrying about her friend and wondering if (and how) she should help. On this episode of How To!, we’re joined by Suzanne Dubus, advocate, survivor and CEO of the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. Suzanne says one in five women (and one in seven men) will be the victims of severe physical violence during their lifetime. She understands all too well why it takes so long for victims of domestic violence to leave their abusers, and gives us some practical advice for what to do if we ever find ourselves in Elaine’s shoes. If you or someone you love is struggling with intimate partner violence, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s website or call 1-800-799-SAFE. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Say the Right Thing at the Worst Time.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. This episode is supported by Work Check, an original podcast from Atlassian. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Gift now at slate.com/howtoplus.
In the last few years, New York City’s delivery workers have become a key part of the food industry’s infrastructure, allowing restaurants to do business with customers who are too stressed to leave their desks, or too cautious to leave their homes. But a spate of violent attacks and bike thefts has shown that the people delivering your Grubhub and Seamless orders are deeply vulnerable. Why are these essential workers being exploited by apps and abandoned by the police, forced to band together just to get by? Guest: Josh Dzieza, an investigations editor and feature writer at The Verge covering technology, business, and climate change. We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in September of 2021.
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben discuss Creole languages. They also interview Rupal Patel, professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Computer Science at Northeastern University and the founder of VocaliD. And finally, Josh Levin and Joel Anderson, co-hosts of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen join us for some wordplay. We hope you’re good at playing the basketball game of Horse. You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis and Asha Saluja. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: BBC Pidgin ThoughtCo., “What You Should Know About Creole Language” Jamaican Creole at York College, “An Introduction to Jamaican Creole (also called Patwa or Patois)” Omniglot, “Haitian Creole (Kreyòl ayisyen)” Rupal Patel’s 2013 TED Talk, “Synthetic Voices, as Unique as Fingerprints” VocaliD, the company founded by Rupal Patel VocaliD’s Parrot Studio “One Year: 1995,” hosted by Josh Levin “Slow Burn: The L.A. Riots,” hoted by Joel Anderson “Hang Up and Listen,” hosted by Josh Levin, Joel Anderson, and Stefan Fatsis Josh’s Slate piece on the history of the “air ball” chant Joel Anderson’s special episode of “Hang Up and Listen” on Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a person who’s gotten pretty attached to something sexually. Mentioned in this episode: “Love among the objectum sexuals” by Amy Marsh
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
What does a massing of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border mean? And could this conflict be defused yet by diplomacy? Guest: Slate’s Fred Kaplan, author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a letter writer who feels left out of her partners’ escapades. Then they hear from a letter writer who’s bothered that they don’t know why they didn’t get another date. Mentioned in the episode: Out of the Shadows by Walt Odets
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Debra Schmidt Bach, a curator of the New-York Historical Society’s new exhibition, " ‘Turn Every Page’: Inside the Robert A. Caro Archive.” They discuss the art of selecting objects that visitors will respond to; how objects like notebooks and a typewriter showcase Caro’s idiosyncratic writing process, and the particular challenges of maintaining an exhibition that features lots of pieces of paper, a material that needs to rest so that it can be preserved.
After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han discuss what kind of museum visitors they are, the art of winnowing, and how they find projects that will sustain their interest.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Schmidt Bach reveals her strategy for overcoming “curator’s block” and shares what she learned from working on the Caro exhibition.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
This past week, Nancy Reagan trended for her alleged oral talents, and an orange cat named Jorts kept locking himself in a closet. On today’s episode, High Speed Downloads are back. Rachelle and Madison each deliver some rapid-fire information about Nancy Reagan’s blow job skills and why everyone is obsessed with Jorts the cat—and the woman who keeps slathering him in margarine. Then they speak to Kate Lindsay of the Embedded newsletter about how she got started with that project and her advice for healthy online living. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Almost a year later, are we seeing signs of some sort of accountability for the Jan. 6 insurrection? And why is that accountability so important and yet so hard to achieve? Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, Shaub currently leads the Project on Government Oversight’s ethics initiative. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about the psychic weight of another COVID wave and what it means for the economy, the environmental and employee problems with fast fashion, and what to expect now that Reddit is going public.
In the Plus segment: The Block vs Block fight.
Mentioned In the show: “’I Was Wrong’: Omicron Wrecks CEOs’ Plans for Office Return” by Jennifer Surane and Angelica LaVito “The End of a Return-to-Office Date” by Emma Goldberg “How Shein beat Amazon at its own game – and reinvented fast fashion” by Louise Meaghan Tobin and Wency Chen
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.
Bing. Nat. Dean. John and Paul. Darlene. Mariah. Ariana. Musicians so famous, with so many classic hits, you don’t even need their last names. Now here are a few more, with fewer hits: Vince Guaraldi. José Feliciano. Donny Hathaway. The Waitresses. What do all of these acts have in common? Years from now, each of them may be known primarily for a single holiday chestnut. In fact, in the streaming era, some of them already are consumed largely in December.
In this holiday episode of Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy dives deep into radio, streaming and Billboard chart data to compare these acts’ long hitmaking histories to the majority-merry ways they are consumed today. And none has been more condensed by Christmas than another artist who was once famous enough to go by her first name: Brenda. A ’60s chart dominator and double–Hall of Famer, Brenda Lee is now mostly known for that tune about Christmas tree rockin’. How did the legendary “Little Miss Dynamite” become Santa’s little helper? And will she ever pass Mariah and go back to No. 1? Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jo Livingstone, the culture staff writer for The New Republic, and the most recent recipient of the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing from the National Book Critics' Circle. Lavery and Livingstone read a letter from someone who is wondering how to handle being misgendered all the time. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Using experimental technology to pull gigatons of carbon out of the air and bury it deep beneath the Earth sounds like a bad sci-fi plot point. If things don’t change soon, it also might be one of our only options.
Guest: Clive Thompson, journalist and author of Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
It’s already a devastating situation when a loved one goes missing. And if you’re Black, you’ll likely have fewer resources and help to find your family member. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Derrica Wilson. She’s the co-founder and CEO of the Black and Missing Foundation, the group that inspired the HBO documentary Black and Missing. They talk about the disparities in the way the media and police treat missing people of color, how that impacts the chances that people are found, and what the Black and Missing Foundation is doing to change the dynamics. Guest: Derrica Wilson, Co-Founder, and CEO of the Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Emily, John and David discuss the recent January 6th revelations, Build Back Better and voting rights, and they are joined by Joel Anderson, the host of Slow Burn to talk about Season 6: The L.A. Riots.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David A. Graham for The Atlantic: “The Paperwork Coup”
Barton Gellman for The Atlantic: “Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun”
Charles Homans for the New York Times: “In Bid for Control of Elections, Trump Loyalists Face Few Obstacles”
Slow Burn Season 6: The L.A. Riots
Slow Burn Season 3: Biggie and Tupac
Emily Bazelon for Slate: “The Nazi Anatomists”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism, by bell hooks; We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity, by bell hooks
John: Sharyn Alfonsi for 60 Minutes: “Negotiating With The Taliban To Save Lives In Afghanistan”; The Daily: “Economic Catastrophe in Afghanistan”; Christina Goldbaum for The New York Times: “Facing Economic Collapse, Afghanistan Is Gripped by Starvation”
David: Julian Mark for The Washington Post: “Rapper Logic Wrote The Song ‘1-800-273-8255’ To Save Lives. He May Have Saved Hundreds, Study Finds.”
Listener chatter from Adrian Monthony: Geraldine DeRuiter for The Everywhereist: “Bros., Lecce: We Eat at The Worst Michelin Starred Restaurant, Ever”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David share their best holiday gift ideas. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a parent who feels conflicted about traveling to see family during the holidays. They love their relatives and rarely see them, but they are exhausted and not so excited to make the trek this year. Should they still go? Then, a listener’s toddler is afraid of everything. How can they validate their child’s experience while helping them navigate a sometimes scary world? On Slate Plus, the hosts talk about Zak’s quarantine ennui. He’s been marooned at home for days and days. Will this pandemic ever end? Commiseration ensues. Recommendations: Zak recommends playing catch with balloons (rather than heavier balls) with your littles Jamilah recommends buying a synthetic Christmas tree Elizabeth recommends Tiny Schoolhouse Calendars Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Zak Rosen.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, senior managing producer of Slate podcasts June Thomas is joined by Slate senior writer Seth Stevenson to talk about the ongoing trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, which Seth has been covering since it started at the end of November. Maxwell is accused of helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse minors by recruiting and grooming underage girls. First, Seth and June catch up on what has been happening in the courtroom now that the prosecution has rested its case. In the second half of the show, they unpack some of Maxwell’s history of benefiting from shady men and Seth predicts what’s to come. Looming over the trial, and our discussion: Is it fair to hold a woman accountable for aiding in a man's wrongdoings?
Also mentioned in the episode: Seth’s 2019 account of his experience being a member of the jury in a murder trial.
In Slate Plus, Seth and June discuss TV shows that focus on young women trying to make it in New York media, like Younger and The Bold Type.
Recommendations: June: The British TV show Antiques Road Trip Seth: The Peter Jackson documentary The Beatles: Get Back. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
After initially cooperating with the select committee investigating the events of January 6, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows reversed course, deciding instead to assert executive privilege. But Meadows had already handed over documents and text messages relating to that day—painting a picture of how Trump’s inner circle reacted as the Capitol was under siege.
What happens to Meadows now that he’s been held in contempt of Congress? And could possible criminal charges for defying the committee spur other witnesses to speak?
Guest: Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter for Politico.
When a serial rapist struck Ann Arbor, Michigan, the police turned to drastic measures, based on the promise and power of DNA. For law enforcement, genetic testing seemed like a can’t-miss idea. But DNA didn’t fix anything in Ann Arbor. Instead, it ripped the community apart. This episode of One Year was produced by Evan Chung, Cheyna Roth, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison are excited to share an episode from One Year: 1995, a Slate podcast focused on telling a series of stories from 1995, ones which we may have forgotten or that merit reexamination. In “The Spot,” producer Evan Chung tells the story of what can be best described as the first internet soap opera. “The Spot” follows a small group of creators who, through a series of interconnected blog posts, inspired one of the earliest instances of online fandom. It’s a story about online creativity, parasocial relationships, and how not everything on the internet lasts forever—the exact sort of story that we’d feature on ICYMI if we’d been making this podcast in 1995. Find One Year: 1995 wherever you get you podcasts. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Jayson De Leon discuss Episode 6, on the first day of the riots. Then we’ll hear an extended interview with Zoey Tur, a journalist and helicopter pilot who captured video footage of the riots from above.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Production by Chau Tu.
Maryland Democrats had a shot at an 8-0 gerrymander this redistricting cycle. To the frustration of the national Democratic party, they stopped just shy of that number. Should Maryland Democrats have just taken the total low road on partisan gerrymandering?
Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics reporter for Slate. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, The Surge.
Dana Stevens and Stephen Metcalf are joined by Isaac Butler to discuss Steven Spielberg’s new adaptation of West Side Story. Then Slate staff writer Heather Schwedel stops by to talk about And Just Like That, the “next chapter” in the lives of the characters from Sex and the City. And finally, they debate Vulture’s list of the “101 Best New York Movies Set in the Greatest City in the World” and add their own. Dana’s list: After Hours The Cameraman The Crowd Do the Right Thing Hester Street Metropolitan The Naked City Rosemary's Baby Shadows The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 Steve’s list: The Apartment Annie Hall Desperately Seeking Susan Dog Day Afternoon Do the Right Thing King of Comedy Saturday Night Fever Sweet Smell of Success Wild Style In the Slate Plus segment, Steve and Dana answer a question from listener Colin, via his friend Ezra: Which city block would you take to a desert island, and why? Endorsements: Dana: Two books about New York City and the movies: Fun City Cinema, by Jason Bailey, and Celluloid Skyline, by James Sanders. Steve: The song “Watercolors,” from Between the Lines, by Janis Ian; and “Digging for Utopia,” Kwame Anthony Appiah’s review of David Graebner and David Wengrow’s recently published book The Dawn of Everything, in the New York Review of Books. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is “Bloody Hunter” by Paisley Pink. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Click here to start giving the gift of Plus.
Danny Lavery welcomes Jo Livingstone, the culture staff writer for The New Republic, and the most recent recipient of the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing from the National Book Critics' Circle. Lavery and Livingstone take on two letters. First, from an office manager who wants to make sure everyone feels free to use their preferred pronouns. Another letter writer is overwhelmed by her friend’s requests to “pray for them”. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
When Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced his intent to run for reelection, he knew he was facing down a rematch with voting rights activist and former state lawmaker Stacey Abrams. What he likely didn’t expect was a challenge from the right in the form of David Perdue, a local businessman, former senator, and good friend who was encouraged to run against him by Donald Trump. Now, the question is whether Trumpism can be a winning argument in Georgia—or whether Democrats might be able to exploit Republicans’ division to score a win in the deeply purple state.
Guest: Greg Bluestein, reporter covering state politics for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Here at How To! headquarters, we give and receive a lot of good advice. This year we ran faster, kept cool in a crisis, had the best sex of our lives, stopped snoring, and even won the Olympics. The How To! team, including former host David Epstein, gathers ‘round the mic to round up our favorite advice of the year. We talk about how we applied that advice to our own lives, share some surprising updates from folks who were on the show, and give a behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast is made each week. Did we forget to mention your favorite advice of the year? Let us know with a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Gift now at slate.com/howtoplus.
Today on Decoder Ring: Three stories about fame, and one about monkeys. Are primates susceptible to celebrity endorsements? What does fame do to the mind of a famous person? Who were the famous tattooed ladies of the 1880s? And what's it like to be in a rising rock band, only to see everything fall apart over a beer commercial?
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Alex Kirshner talk about the controversial ending to the Formula 1 season. Next, they examine the opening months of college sports’ name, image, and likeness era. Finally, Stefan and Josh are joined by author and chess champion Jennifer Shahade to assess Magnus Carlsen’s latest world title. Formula 1 (2:16): Who should’ve won the duel between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen? NIL (22:55): How college athletes are capitalizing, and how it’s changing the game. Chess (40:39): How Carlsen won, and what’s next for him and for the game. Afterball (1:00:18): Josh on basketball on the Marshall Islands.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 8, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined bySlate’s Lizzie O’Leary to talk about the Jeremy Strong New Yorker profile, the botched coup, and Tom’s big move.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a person who’s wondering if everyone is facing the same disappointing dating experience he is.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Banning books in schools is on the rise. Around the country, parents are lobbying to banish from libraries and curriculums any work they deem to be “graphic” or “offensive,” often sweeping up books centered on queer or POC experiences in the process. Some authors say that’s no coincidence - nor is it surprising that this is happening just as the publishing industry is remaking itself to tell more diverse stories. The question is, what’s the best way to respond to the outrage?
Guest: Ashley Hope Pérez, author of three YA novels, including Out of Darkness, and professor of literature at Ohio State University.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a letter writer who wonders if what she just did counts as cheating. Then they hear from a man who wonders how to get his husband to agree to indulge his new desire in bed.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Ai-Ling Lee, a movie sound editor whose long résumé includes the critically acclaimed films First Man, La La Land, and Jojo Rabbit. In the interview, Lee explains what a sound editor does and how it’s different from the work of a sound mixer. Then she delves into the many creative decisions that go into crafting an immersive soundscape for movies. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han discuss Lee’s early career strategy of cold-calling people in the movie business. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Lee explains how technological advancements have changed the way she works. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. To gift a Slate Plus membership, click here: slate.com/giveplus?utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=plus_gift&utm_content=Working&utm_source=show_notes
The ICYMI mailbag has started to get full so it’s time for another round of Read Receipts. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison answer some listener questions about why people are emptying out tubes of toothpaste on TikTok, whether there’s any similarity between Taylor Swift’s clue dropping and QAnon, and why there are so many possum memes on Instagram. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about Better.com’s CEO firing tons of employees via Zoom, DoorDash’s dark stores and increased hiring, and New York City Council passing a measure to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections.
In the Plus segment: What’s going on with inflation now.
Mentioned In the show: Better.com CEO Firings “Better CEO ‘Taking Time Off Effective Immediately’: Email” by Maxwell Strachan “The Dark Side of 15-Minute Grocery Delivery” by Lev Kushner and Greg Lindsay “Closed Movie Theaters Leave Void From Small Towns to Big Cities” by Brian Eckhouse and Dave Merrill "Cream Cheese Is the Latest Casualty of Cyberattacks” by Elizabeth Elkin and Deena Shanker “How a Cream Cheese Shortage is Affecting N.Y.C. Bagel Shops” by Ashley Wong
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Mark Joseph Stern for an emergency reading of the jurisprudential tea leaves in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions regarding Texas’ abortion ban, under SB8. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
On the Spoiler Specials podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate features editor Jeffrey Bloomer to spoil the latest Jane Campion movie, Power of the Dog.
When domineering rancher Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) meets his brother’s new wife Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), he takes an instant dislike to them. Phil tirelessly mocks his new family members until Peter makes an unexpected discovery.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Consider giving the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Cleo Levin.
Hosts Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. You can read her review here. Jeffrey Bloomer is Slate’s features editor.
Danny Lavery welcomes Tori Bedford, a writer and journalist based in Boston. Lavery and Bedford read a letter from someone who is wondering how to find that special someone outside of dating apps. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The U.S. civil court system doesn’t get as much attention as the criminal courts, but it would be hard to overstate its importance. In 2018, for example, 47 percent of respondents to a Pew survey said they had dealt with the system in one way or another; from eviction proceedings, to debt collection, to child-support modifications.
What happened when the pandemic upended such an important pillar of the justice system? Did new technologies fix existing problems—or just create new ones?
Guest: Qudsiya Naqui, officer at the Pew Charitable Trust
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
How do you make a struggling public school --with outdated textbooks, a shady principal, and broken everything-- funny? Ask comedian Quinta Brunson, star and creator of the new ABC show Abbott Elementary. Brunson joins Jason Johnson on today’s episode of A Word to discuss the sitcom, her work on HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, and her unconventional path to comedy stardom. Guest: Quinta Brunson, writer, producer, comedian, and actress. She’s the author of the memoir “She Memes Well.” Brunson’s new show Abbott Elementary on ABC is out now. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Emily and David are joined by guest host David Leonhardt to discuss the pandemic economy; a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, and the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John J. Mearsheimer for Foreign Affairs: “The Inevitable Rivalry: America, China, and the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics”
Corey Robin for The New York Times: “Why the Biden Presidency Feels Like Such a Disappointment”
The Enigma of Clarence Thomas, by Corey Robin
Mike Baker for The New York Times: “The Sisters Who First Tried to Take Down Jeffrey Epstein”t
Andrew Anthony for The Guardian: “Meet Julie K Brown, The Woman Who Brought Down Jeffrey Epstein”
Jill Filipvoc’s newsletter
Matthew Yglesias’ Slow Boring newsletter
Joe Sheehan’s baseball newsletter
Matt Levine’s Money Stuff newsletter
Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American newsletter
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Leah Litman for NBC News: “The Death Penalty Cases Before The Supreme Court That Could Keep Innocent People In Prison”: Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “Conservative Justices Scoff at Maine’s Exclusion of Religious Schools From Tuition-Assistance Program”
David Leonhardt: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite
David Plotz:: Work at City Cast; Sex Lives of College Girls
Listener chatter from Andrew Lacko: “Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and David talk about newsletters and what they do well. Give the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Here's how!
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a parent who has been monitoring their teenage daughter’s text messages. Have they crossed a line, or are they doing their due diligence to ensure their child is safe? Then they answer a question from a parent whose 2 year-old daughter wants her ears pierced. How early is too early, and who should be making this kind of decision? On Slate Plus, the hosts talk about how one Black mother’s video about her night doula went viral, sparking a debate about privilege, luxury, and the expectation that mothers, particularly Black mothers, must be suffering to succeed at motherhood. Recommendations: Zak recommends calling your kids creative hobbies an art practice. Jamilah recommends Passing on Netflix Elizabeth recommends the book Letters From Father Christmas Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Zak Rosen.
Michigan state Senator Rosemary Bayer has been fighting for years to get safe storage laws on the books in her home state. In the wake of the shooting at Oxford High School, a school that sits in her district, her mission has become that much more urgent.
Guest: Rosemary Bayer is a state senator in Michigan. She represents the northern suburbs of Detroit.
In 1995, aspiring filmmakers created the first ever soap opera on the Web. Hollywood saw it as the future of entertainment. But a fan-led revolt showed that interactivity sometimes has a price. This week, Evan Chung explains the rise and fall of The Spot. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Josh Levin, and Madeline Ducharme. Additional production help from Cheyna Roth. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate’s news director Susan Matthews interviews the Nation’s abortion-access correspondent, Amy Littlefield about her reporting for her recent New York Times piece, “Where the Pro-Choice Movement Went Wrong.” They start by talking about how America got to the precipice of overturning Roe v. Wade, and whether reproductive rights advocates are prepared for the fight to come. Later in the show, they discuss how women will continue to access abortion without Roe, and why organizing needs to become more local.
In Slate Plus Susan is joined by What Next senior producer Danielle Hewitt and The Waves producer Cheyna Roth to talk about the upcoming Sex and the City TV sequel, And Just Like That... Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Sign up here.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Ethan Brooks discuss Episode 5, on the trial of the L.A. police officers who beat Rodney King. Then we’ll hear an extended interview with Russell Cole, who was on the defense team for one of the police officers involved.
Mentioned in this episode: Stacey Koon speaking to reporters at the National Press Club, Oct. 26, 1992 Slow Burn 6’s Spotify playlist
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Production by Chau Tu.
On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle examine two strange new phenomena taking over TikTok. First, Madison explains why Chanel’s advent calendars have become the subject of an internet furor. Then, Rachelle explores Hinge’s new voice notes feature, discusses the voice notes that have gone viral on other platforms, and explains why this not have been the dating app’s brightest idea. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Julia is back! First, the panel discusses Jane Campion’s big comeback, The Power of the Dog. Next, the panel wades through Peter Jackson’s eight hour-long Beatles docuseries Get Back. Finally, the panel discusses the rise of the gift guide and gift giving. In Slate Plus, Steve and Dana catch up with Julia and chat about how relationships with culture consumption can change. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Click here to start giving the gift of Plus. Endorsements Dana: The last movie Dana reviewed for Slate, Steven Spielberg’s and Tony Kushner’s remake (or re-invention) of West Side Story. It’s only in theaters currently, but (if you feel comfortable making the trip) it’s a great theatrical experience. Julia: Isabel Wilkerson’s historical study The Warmth of Other Suns. Winner of the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award, it’s one of the most incredibly well-crafted narratives of the Great Migration. Steve: Among the pieces of culture Steve’s recently consumed, the one that meant the most after viewing the Beatles docuseries is a song: Taylor Swift’s re-recording of “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” is a masterpiece. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Pike Place Market" by Rockin' for Decades
When Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai accused a former Chinese Vice Premier of rape, what came next was darkly predictable: the athlete disappeared from public view while the government scrubbed all mentions of her allegations and censored searches for her name. But few expected the Women’s Tennis Association to strike back, suspending all future tournaments in China and Hong Kong.
As the WTA stands up to China - leaving millions of dollars on the table - will other sports organizations follow suit and hold the government to account over its human rights abuses?
Guest: Ben Rothenberg, senior editor of Racquet Magazine and host of the tennis podcast No Challenges Remaining.
Danny Lavery welcomes Tori Bedford, a writer and journalist based in Boston. Lavery and Bedford take on two letters. First, from a letter writer who isn’t sure how to let her new social circle know that they are not transfem. Then, another letter writer is wondering how to create better boundaries with her new, overbearing mother-in-law. Plus Bedford discusses her recent work on the “Mass and Cass” area of Boston. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
All signs point to rough congressional elections next year. What are House Democrats doing to hold their majority? Guest: Rep. Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.), chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben discuss the pronunciation of the name of the latest COVID variant. They also interview Alex Bellos, puzzle columnist for The Guardian and author of The Language Lover’s Puzzle Book. And finally, Amanda Ripley, host of Slate’s podcast How To! joins us for some wordplay. We hope you’re ready to take your investigation skills to the next level. You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ben’s Wall Street Journal column on “Omicron” as the name of the new Covid variant Ben’s 2020 Atlantic piece on how geographic labels for diseases can encourage xenophobia Ben’s Slate piece on the puzzling legacy of Stephen Sondheim New US edition of The Language Lover’s Puzzle Book by Alex Bellos Amanda Ripley’s podcast, “How To!”
Deciding to give up your dog is not something we talk about much, especially now when our pets are more like family members. But what do you do when your dog has behavioral problems that threaten the safety of others? On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series on difficult dogs, we hear more from renowned trainer Denise Fenzi and inventor and YouTuber Simone Giertz. They open up about their traumatic experiences with previous dogs and how they eventually had to give them up despite trying everything. And they share advice for how to regain trust in dogs and yourself as a dog owner. If you liked this episode, check out Part One: “How To Get Your Dog to Stop Barking (Without Barking Back)” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Gift now at slate.com/howtoplus.
Note: This episode is about offensive material, and so contains explicit and offensive language. Truly Tasteless Jokes were a series of joke books that dominated the bestsellers list during the 1980s. An equal opportunity joke book: Truly Tasteless Jokes were collections of jokes ranging from Helen Keller, to dead babies, to sexist and racist jokes that from the vantage of 2021, seem entirely abject. For readers in the 1980’s though, these books were ubiquitous. On this episode we dig into the history of these books and their author Ashton Applewhite. It’s a story that involves the tangled history of 1960’s free speech politics, conservative backlash, and the strange moment in the 1980’s when left and right wing speech politics converged to help make these books mainstream.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin break down college football’s playoff match-ups and Brian Kelly’s move to LSU. Insider’s Bradford William Davis joins to discuss the baseball lockout and his piece on the sport using two different balls. Finally, a conversation about sports blowouts.
College football (4:49): Does outsider Cincinnati have a chance against Alabama, Michigan, and Georgia? Baseball (25:39): Will the sport cancel games? And why did MLB have two different balls in circulation? Blowouts (44:46): What makes some lopsided victories great and others unwatchable? Afterball (61:26): Stefan with more sports musicals.
If you enjoy Hang Up and Listen, consider giving the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more: Give Slate Plus
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman whose experiment with “ethical non-monogamy” isn’t going the way she expected.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 8, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Rachel Syme of The New Yorker to talk about the terrible parents of Succession, the fabulous – and not quite working – fashion choices, and Roman’s…ahem…picture.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Sign up here.
After oral arguments last week, the Supreme Court looks ready to overturn Roe v. Wade. How did conservatives get to this moment when the majority of Americans favor legalized abortion? And do liberals have the patience to keep the fight alive?
Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, staff writer at Slate covering the Supreme Court.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a man who just found out something about his girlfriend that disgusts him. Then they hear from a letter writer who’s wondering what to do about his in-laws’ peculiar pre-wedding tradition.
Mentioned in the episode: Shameless by Nadia Bolz-Weber
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Karen Han talks to Andrew Ortiz, founder of the movie merchandise company Super Yaki, which designs T-shirts, pins, hats, and more. In the interview, Andrew discusses the origins of the company and their first product, which was an enamel pin with legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki’s face on it. After that, Andrew talks about quitting his day job, staffing the company, and building a customer base of people who adore cinema. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss Andrew’s ability to create a vibe and a clear mission for his company. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Andrew offers some tips for avoiding burnout. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. To gift a Slate Plus membership, click here: slate.com/giveplus?utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=plus_gift&utm_content=Working&utm_source=show_notes
Actors Anthony Ramos and Jasmine Cephas Jones, who became a beloved couple online after meeting during rehearsals for Hamilton, have reportedly ended their engagement. The reports of the breakup came soon after a TikToker posted a video about Ramos allegedly going into a strip club with a woman who was not his fiancée. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison get into the drama, unpack exactly what a wife guy is, and explain why people on social media seem so obsessed with uncovering infidelity—especially if you’re the type of dude who never stops bragging about your girl. Plus, they unwrap all the embarrassing data within their Spotify Wrapped. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about the problems facing Buzzfeed as it goes public, understanding the latest jobs report amidst the new COVID-19 variant, and the transition of the company Square to Block.
In the Plus segment: Debating whether Twitter should become a paid for subscription service.
Mentioned In the show: Block Heads on BLOCK’s new website Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Julie Rikelman, senior director of litigation at the Center for Reproductive Rights, who argued for reproductive rights and liberty on behalf of Jackson Women’s Health in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health at the Supreme Court this week. Together, they unpack the arguments and discuss the women missing from the narratives in the courtroom that day. Then, Dahlia’s joined by Professor Katherine Franke, director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law at Columbia University and the founder and faculty director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project at Columbia Law School. Professor Franke helps us examine how the Supreme Court’s conservative majority’s views on religious liberty undergirded Wednesday’s arguments, are set to influence the court’s jurisprudence, and will likely alter your constitutional rights. In our Slate Plus segment, Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia for a frank discussion of the liberal justices’ performances in this week’s monumental abortion case, the gaslighting that maybe got us here, and then they look ahead to a big religious-liberty case coming up next week. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Rachel Brodsky, writer and editor at Stereogum, to expand on the latest full-length episode—on the careers of Cyndi Lauper, Aimee Mann and The Bangles. Rachel recently interviewed Bangles member Susanna Hoffs, and she tells Chris about Hoffs’s ongoing career pursuits, her friendship with Aimee Mann, and her reflections on her time with The Bangles. Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a stumper question of his own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Danny Lavery welcomes Grace Bonney, author of Collective Wisdom: Lessons, Inspiration, and Advice from Women over 50. Lavery and Bonney read a letter from someone who is wondering if they should apologize to a former housemate for being a “burdensome teenager”. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
With a growing number of Americans vaccinated, many are contemplating traveling for the holidays, despite concerns about a new COVID variant. For Black travelers, navigating an unfamiliar society’s ideas about race adds another complication. On this episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by veteran lifestyle journalist and travel expert Dayvee Sutton to talk about her experience while traveling as a Black woman during the pandemic. Guest: Dayvee Sutton, veteran lifestyle journalist and travel expert Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
On Monday, Jack Dorsey stepped down as CEO of Twitter. It’s not the first time he’s left the job.
Is this really the end for the man who guided Twitter through the Trump era? And how will the platform change without him at the helm?
Guest: Nick Bilton, special correspondent at Vanity Fair
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Emily, John and David discuss the Supreme Court's consideration of Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization with guest Ross Douthat. The Political Gabfest hosts also talk about how best to approach the news of the Omicron variant, and why the Cuomo brothers’ scandals matter.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Diana Greene Foster for The New York Times: “What Happens When It’s Too Late to Get an Abortion”
University of California, San Francisco, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), The Turnaway Study
Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “The Case Against Abortion”
Will Saletan for Slate: “Republicans Will Be Sorry if the Supreme Court Overturns Roe”
Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: On The Media: “A Different Hanukkah Story”
John: Garret Keizer for Harper's Magazine: “The Third Force”
David: Hannah Towey for Insider: “Check Out Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes' Handwritten 4 A.M. Schedule That Was Submitted as She Testified That Her Ex-Boyfriend Was Abusive”
Listener chatter from Chuck Piehl: Mankato Free Press: “Making Havoc Not the Point of Public Records”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David share their best holiday gift ideas.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a parent who is sick of their generous neighbors constantly sending over hand-me-down toys. The letter writer is already running out of space in their house. Is it OK to simply refuse? Can they donate the toys? Would tossing the toys crush the neighbors’ generous spirit? Then they answer a question from a dad whose daughter needs surgery. How can he explain the procedure without frightening her? On Slate Plus, the hosts talk about how this time of year forces families to really figure out how they’re celebrating the holidays and, in turn, how religion operates within their family.
Recommendations: Zak recommends @MenWithThePot on Instagram Jamilah recommends Love Life on HBO Elizabeth recommends a printable Christmas reading calendar.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Gift now at slate.com/momanddadplus.
In 1995, an enormous scandal rocked the burgeoning field of reproductive medicine. This week, Christina Cauterucci tells the story of how one of the biggest ethical breaches in American medical history became one woman’s personal nightmare. One Year is produced by Josh Levin, Evan Chung, and Madeline Ducharme. Additional production help from Cheyna Roth. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was recently placed on indefinite leave by the network for his involvement in the damage control operations of his brother, former NY governor Andrew Cuomo, over the last year. A trove of documents revealed that Chris had overstepped ethical lines to help protect Andrew while he was under fire for allegations of sexual harassment.
Why did the younger Cuomo wade into the political muck, putting his job at risk? And will CNN hold him accountable?
Guest: Erik Wemple, media critic for the Washington Post.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate editor-at-large Noreen Malone and executive producer of Slate podcasts Alicia Montgomery talk about Vice President Kamala Harris. They unpack what she’s done (and hasn’t done) and how the White House may be using her as a shield for unpopular policies. Then they dig into whether it’s possible to turn Harris’ abysmal approval ratings around.
In the Slate Plus “Is This Feminist?” segment, Noreen and Alicia discuss whether the move toward more casual clothing at work is feminist.
Recommendations: Noreen: Happy Hour, by Marlowe Granados Alicia: HBO’s Succession and Insecure. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
The subreddit r/TumblrInAction started out in the early 2010s as a place to mock the sorts of oversimplified social justice posts all over Tumblr, but it quickly became a breeding ground for online hate. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Allegra discuss their own history as Tumblr teens, the simplified and misguided ways Tumblr posts tried to share progressive ideology, and how the culture of one subset of Reddit forums that made fun of those posts eventually led to GamerGate and all sorts of online harassment tactics. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.
In November, South Africa alerted the world to Omicron, a new strain of COVID-19. Then, as cases began to pop up worldwide, the World Health Organization labeled it a “variant of concern.” What do we know about Omicron, and just how worried should we be?
Guest: Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, assistant professor with the School of Public Health at UTHealth and author of Your Local Epidemiologist on Substack.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by senior managing producer of Slate podcasts and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, June Thomas. First, the panel discusses the Princess Diana biopic Spencer. Dana tracked Kristen Stewart’s career up to this Oscar vehicle film. Next, the panel gets a taste of the new "meet stew" of a show, Yellowjackets. Finally, the panel is joined by author and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast Isaac Butler to remember the late, great Stephen Sondheim. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses their processes for writing a book. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Susan Orlean reading her own audiobook of her non-fiction novel Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend about the famous Hollywood star...who also happens to be a German Shepherd. June: The exhibit at the New York Historical Society titled “‘Turn Every Page’: Inside the Robert A. Caro Archive.” Steve: Continuing his Rachel Cusk endorsement with his most recently read novel of hers, Transit. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Any Other Way" by Particle House
Danny Lavery welcomes Grace Bonney, author of Collective Wisdom: Lessons, Inspiration, and Advice from Women over 50. Lavery and Bonney take on two letters. First, from a letter writer who’s scared to let his family know that his passion is poetry. Another letter writer is trying to figure out how to stop solving everyone’s crises, and have a life of their own. Plus, a deep dive into Bonney’s Collective Wisdom. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Child care has long been a “textbook example of a broken market,” as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said this fall. How have government efforts so thoroughly failed to fix this industry? And does Biden’s infrastructure bill threaten to hamper child care businesses even more? Guest: Claire Suddath, writer for Bloomberg Businessweek.
Approximately 23 million families in the US got a pet during the pandemic, many of them puppies. At their best, dogs truly are “man’s best friend,” providing real comfort and companionship. But it can be tough when your new dog isn’t adapting as well as you’d hoped. Whether it’s excessive barking, aggression towards strangers or just not getting along with family members—a difficult dog can rock your confidence and make you feel resentful. On this episode of How To!, the first in a two-part series on difficult dogs, we meet famous inventor and YouTuber, Simone Giertz, and her yap-happy pup, Scraps. Simone shares her triumphs and failures with renowned dog trainer Denise Fenzi and they commiserate on the best way to teach a dog some much-needed new tricks. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Get Your Dog to Stop Eating Your Daughters’ Underwear With Jenny Slate.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
In literature, the choice to become a vampire is a metaphor for transformative experiences. On this episode, we bring you a story from Slate's Hi-Phi Nation podcast, which explores problems in contemporary philosophy through story. From real-life blood suckers, to Lord Byron, to Twilight, vampires are a tool for philosophers to think about otherness, sexuality, and the transformative experiences we all go through in life. To listen to more Hi-Phi Nation, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk with Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley about the Michigan football team’s big win over Ohio State. They also discuss Oklahoma head football coach Lincoln Riley’s surprising departure for USC and the state of LeBron James and the Lakers.
Michigan (2:11): How Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines exorcised their demons against the Buckeyes. Lincoln Riley (23:06): Explaining an unprecedented college football move.
Lakers (43:25): Are LeBron and his team off to a slow start, or are they just bad?
Afterball (1:00:00): Stefan on Stephen Sondheim and the dearth of sports musicals.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from man who thinks everyone gets one thing wrong about sex.
Mentioned in this episode: So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex by Ian Kerner
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 7, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined bytheir fellow Slate Money co-host, Stacy-Marie Ishmael to talk about Kendall’s crazy birthday party, asking for receipts for He-Man lunchboxes, and why Roman keeps making deals in bathrooms.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
If you had to take the SAT for your college admissions process, you largely have the University of California System to thank for that. When the university adopted the test in 1968, hundreds of other colleges followed suit. But now, U.C. has decided not to use standardized tests in admissions anymore. Could the decision spur a retooling of the college admissions process more broadly? Guest: Teresa Watanabe, education reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who can’t quit men. Then they hear from a man who is about to have sex for the first time since he lost his wife. Mentioned in the episode: She Comes First by Ian Kerner
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Zak Rosen, host of The Best Advice Show podcast. First, they discuss the premise of Zak’s podcast, which features very short pieces of advice, then Zak shares some clips of his favorite words of wisdom. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Zak offers advice about interviewing. If you have advice that you’d like to share with Zak, you can leave a message at (844) 935-BEST. If you want to get in touch with us at Working—whether you have creative advice or a problem you’d like us to help us solve—leave a message at (304) 933-WORK or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Zak Rosen.
YouTube recently announced that it’s doing away with publicly displaying the dislike count on videos. The buttons will still be there, but the numbers will be made private for creators. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison discuss why YouTube has decided to make this change, how dislikes are a tool for harassment, and why our brains have all been broken by the like economy. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael are joined by Gene Park of The Washington Post for a very special all-gaming episode. They get into the massive economy behind video games, the complexities of the multiverse, what games make you a “gamer” and discuss how gaming can actually be really social. In the Plus segment: What makes a great gaming chair.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Barry invites Willa Paskin of Slate's Decoder Ring podcast to talk about their recent episode, The Alberta Rat War, as a set up to next week's Hi-Phi Nation episode on genetic engineering. We then proceed to that episode. Rats live wherever people live, with one exception: the Canadian province of Alberta. A rat sighting in Alberta is a major event that mobilizes the local government to identify and eliminate any hint of infestation. Rat sightings makes the local news. Alberta prides itself on being the world’s sole rat-free territory, but in order to achieve this feat, it had to go to war with the rat. On this episode of Decoder Ring, we recount the story of how Alberta won this war, through accidents of history and geography, advances in poison technology, interventionist government policy, mass education programs, rat patrols, killing zones, and more. The explanation tells us a lot about rats and a lot about humans, two species that are more alike than we like to think. Some of the voices you’ll hear in this episode include Karen Wickerson, rat and pest program specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry; Robert Sullivan, author of Rats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants; Phil Merrill, former rat and pest specialist; George Colpitts, historian at the University of Calgary; and John Bourne, former manager of Alberta’s rat control program. Decoder Ring is a podcast about cracking cultural mysteries. Every episode, host Willa Paskin takes on a cultural question, object, idea, or habit and speaks with experts, historians, and obsessives to try and figure out where it comes from, what it means, and why it matters.
On the Spoiler Specials podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate staff writer Heather Schwedel and New Yorker staff writer Rachel Syme to spoil the latest movie from Ridley Scott, House of Gucci. When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), a woman whose glamor belies her working-class lifestyle, meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) at a party, she senses an opportunity for something more. The film follows their romance as it grows, and then morphs into something more sinister. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Cleo Levin.
Hosts Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. You can read her review here. Heather Schwedel is a Slate staff writer. Rachel Syme is a New Yorker staff writer.
Danny Lavery welcomes Folu Akinkuotu, the creator of Unsnackable, a newsletter about rare and inaccessible snacks around the world. Lavery and Akinkuoto discuss a letter writer who fell for someone right after admitting feelings for another person, and is wondering what to tell both people. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
The holidays bring out the chef in many of us. For Vallery Lomas, stress-baking through her final year of law school laid the foundation for a career as a chef, and a victory in the Great American Baking Show. This week, she joins host Jason Johnson this week to talk about her unlikely path to celebrity chef status, and her new book Life is What You Bake It.
Guest: Vallery Lomas, cookbook author, recipe developer, and creator at @foodieinnewyork on Instagram
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
On this week’s episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Amber Smith advise a listener who wants to provide their preschooler with a less whitewashed history of Thanksgiving. They have some helpful tips for explaining the real thanksgiving in a more realistic, age-appropriate manner. Zak then sits down with Jenny Rosenstrach, bestselling author and creator of Dinner: A Love Story, to strategize how to include your child in holiday cooking and avoid Empty Celebration Syndrome. If you want to hear more of Zak’s conversation with Jenny, check out The Best Advice Show. On Slate Plus, Zak, Jamilah, and Amber recount some Turkey nightmares and share their attempts at tricky new dishes.
Recommendations: Jamilah recommends taking time to pause and play with your child this holiday season. Amber recommends baby sock-shoes, Grookz. Zak recommends bringing your child to the bookstore and supporting your local book sellers.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Kevin Bendis and Rosemary Belson.
Don't miss the member-exclusive segment on MADAF every week. Sign up for Slate Plus now at slate.com/momanddadplus and you'll also get to skip the ads, read everything on Slate.com, and support this show.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate staff writer Rebecca Onion is joined by leftovers expert and cookbook author Tamar Adler, author of An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace, to talk about what to do with all your excess food. They start out by discussing why dealing with leftovers has historically fallen on women and the division of labor in their own homes. Then they shift gears and give ideas for new dishes to transform your leftovers into—from the gravy to the cranberry sauce.
In Slate Plus, Rebecca and Tamar talk about whether cooking for a date and “engagement chicken” is feminist.
Recommendations: Rebecca: Mowing, instead of raking, your leaves. Tamar: Making cleaning part of your work schedule and watching videos during your home exercise class. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Jayson De Leon discuss Episode 4, about Rodney King. Then we’ll hear extended interviews with Johnnie Kelly, King’s best friend and bodyguard, and Steve Lerman, King’s lawyer after the beating.
Slow Burn 6’s Spotify playlist
Production by Chau Tu.
So much has happened on the internet in 2021, from Bernie in his mittens to the big boat stuck in the Panama Canal. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison are joined at the Friendsgiving table by Buzzfeed’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud and Autostraddle’s Christina Grace Tucker to discuss the funniest, craziest, and horniest things to come across their feeds this year. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by New York Times columnist and Slate graduate Jamelle Bouie. First, the panel discusses the Richard Williams—father of tennis phenoms Venus and Serena Williams—biopic, starring Will Smith, King Richard. Next, the panel is joined by Slate music critic Carl Wilson as they break down Adele’s latest emotional rollercoaster, 30. Finally, the panel dives into a new comic book, The Department of Truth. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses their Thanksgiving culinary festivities. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: An Adele related endorsement, a clip that went viral from the British TV series An Audience With... on ITV, where famous people perform for an audience of other famous people who then ask the performer questions. In this clip, Adele reunited with her former English Teacher, Ms. McDonald. Jamelle: The Apple TV+ adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy. Steve: The all-time greatest/worst endorsement was in 2014 when John Swansburg endorsed the TV show Cheers. To do John one better, Steve endorses The Beatles, more specifically the slant way to get at their greatness, an infamous bootleg that’s been circulating for decades, The Esher Demos. Also: Rachel Cusk, a genius novelist. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Did I Make You Wait" by Staffan Carlen.
The Supreme Court is considering a case that may strike down New York state’s strict restrictions on carrying a gun in public. Some public defenders think that might be a win for criminal justice reform.
Guest: Sharone Mitchell Jr., Chief Defender for the Cook County Public Defenders.
Emily, John and David talk about whether President Biden ought to run in 2024, the Rittenhouse verdict and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins the Gabfest to talk about international relations with China. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Edward-Isaac Dovere and Jasmine Wright for CNN: “Exasperation and Dysfunction: Inside Kamala Harris' Frustrating Start as Vice President.”
Jonathan Chait for New York magazine: “Joe Biden’s Big Squeeze”
High Conflict, by Amanda Ripley
David French for the Atlantic: “Kyle Rittenhouse’s Acquittal Does Not Make Him a Hero”
A Bigger Picture, by Malcolm Turnbull
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr
David: Conversation topic generator thanxiety.com
John: Jonathan Edwards for the Washington Post: “A Michigan Woman Tried to Hire an Assassin Online at RentAHitman.com. Now, She’s Going to Prison.”
Listener chatter from Keith Watabayashi @KeithWatabayash: Hieronymus Burps @hieronymus_burps about Long Boom Wired Cover
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David ask Malcolm Turnbull about the mundane details of life as the leader of a nation.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Shayna Elliot.
Danny Lavery welcomes Folu Akinkuotu, the creator of Unsnackable, a newsletter about rare and inaccessible snacks around the world. Lavery and Akinkuoto tackle two letters: First, from a letter writer who thinks her boyfriend should save his life and quit his job. Another letter writer is wondering how to talk about weight loss without offending anyone at work. Plus, the story behind Unsnackable. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben discuss Ben’s case against an accusation of anachronistic language use in the new version of her song “All Too Well.” They also interview Michael Adams, Provost Professor and Chair of the English Department at Indiana University about the late Madeline Kripke. And finally, Stefan Fatsis, co-host of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen joins us for some wordplay. We hope you’re up-to-date on your sports and dictionary knowledge. You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus.
Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com.
Produced by Jasmine Ellis.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Could Taylor Swift Have Written “F— the Patriarchy” a Decade Ago? By Ben Zimmer for Slate Lyric video for Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” Gawker, “Taylor Swift is Lying About ’All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)’” Narratively, “The Dame of Dictionaries” New York Times obituary of Madeline Kripke Announcement of Indiana University’s acquisition of the Kripke Collection “Hang Up and Listen,” co-hosted by Stefan Fatsis Stefan’s 2014 piece, “These Sports Terms Should Be Playable in Scrabble” Episode of “Hang Up and Listen” where Stefan discusses defining “posterize”
In 1995, a group of American teenagers crossed the Atlantic Ocean to attend one of the world's most prestigious universities. When they got to England, they found something totally unexpected. One Year is produced by Josh Levin, Evan Chung, and Madeline Ducharme. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Additional production help by Cheyna Roth. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
Jackie is newly engaged, but thoughts about her big day fill her with dread, not excitement. Jackie and her fiance want to have only vaccinated people at their wedding to protect some vulnerable family members from COVID-19. However, requiring vaccination means Jackie’s parents and sister likely won’t attend, which would break Jackie’s heart. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Nwandi Lawson, a former journalist who now runs a communications firm specializing in difficult conversations. She’s had her own challenging family discussions during the pandemic, and has some surprising tips for how to speak truth to power while keeping your relationships intact, and maybe even change a few minds. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Talk Politics Without Wrecking Relationships.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Last August, then-17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse crossed state lines with a semi-automatic rifle, and fatally shot two people and wounded another during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse’s lawyers leaned heavily on the teenager's right to defend himself. In Wisconsin, that means the prosecution had to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. Was it inevitable that Rittenhouse would walk free? And how did the community react when he did?
Guest: Stacy St. Clair, reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
When you think about the game, you lose the game. When you lose the game you must declare that you have lost the game, causing all others in your vicinity to also lose the game. That’s it, that’s the game. The game is mind game that trades on a quirk of human psychology, and is so intensely viral that it went from a college science fiction club in-joke to an endemic mind virus in only a few decades. If you’re a bit older and already know about the game, you likely learned about it in the aughts, but the game continues to spread through social media, most recently on TikTok, where the game became a meme over lockdown. On this episode, we examine the game to figure out how it works, where it came from, and the curious psychology that powers its viral nature. Note: A version of this episode was originally released as a secret bonus to our 2018 episode “The Incunabula Papers”, but this is its official public release. The episode has been updated with new voice over, sound design, and minor story changes to bring it up to date in 2021.
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham to talk about Peng Shuai and the future of sports in China. Next, they discuss the resurgent Golden State Warriors. Finally, they review the movie King Richard.
Peng Shuai (1:49): Will the Peng case lead the WTA to pull out of China? Warriors (22:38): How Steph Curry’s squad got its mojo back.
King Richard (39:07): Is the new movie about the Williams sisters’ upbringing any good?
Afterball (58:02): Josh on watching (or not watching) the 1980 Summer Olympics on American TV.
Enjoy this special excerpt of Charged : The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration by Emily Bazelon. You can find the full audiobook at Slate.com/GabfestBooks
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who thinks she has the perfect solution to fix her and husband’s mismatched libidos. Mentioned in the episode: Ace by Angela Chen Gay Bar by Jeremy Atherton Lin
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
How many times a day do you hear the word “inflation” now? Many items are getting more expensive, but what’s actually driving those price increases? And are we heading towards a repeat of the 1970s wage-price spiral, or is this a temporary blip? Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior editor at Slate.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 6, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined byjournalist, author and Godmother of Slate Money Succession, Taffy Brodesser-Akner to talk about Soy Boys, the fascists, and Tom’s diner regiment in preparation for prison.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a man who’s getting highly aroused at an inopportune time with his girlfriend. Then they hear from a letter writer who wonders what to do about her husband’s strange penis. Mentioned in the episode: “Sexual interest as performance, intellect and pathology: A critical discursive case study of dacryphilia” The Little Death (2014)
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Oliver Burkeman, author of the book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. In the interview, Oliver shares his philosophy of time management, which hinges on the finite nature of life. He also discusses his previous experience as a “productivity geek” and explains some of the dangers of obsessive time management. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss their own approaches to organization and productivity. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Oliver talks about the benefits (and drawbacks) of group activities. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Thirty-five years ago, in the fall of 1986, women with rock foundations and pop sensibilities were doing quite well on the charts. Three acts in particular were drawing sizable attention—and they were all singing on the same album: Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors, which featured backing vocals by the Bangles and ’Til Tuesday’s Aimee Mann. It turns out these women had more than that brief coincidence in common. Lauper, Mann and the Bangles came up at the same postpunk, new-wave moment in ’80s pop. And they fought many of the same battles: record-label machinations…a media that stoked rivalries, whether or not they existed…and a sexist music industry that repeatedly underestimated their skills. In this Hit Parade episode, Chris Molanphy recounts how these women emerged from distinctive rock scenes––from punk-era New York and Boston, to L.A.’s Paisley Underground—then outgrew them. They found critical and commercial acclaim and remain influential decades later, in a variety of media, from Hollywood to Broadway. What forces were they up against, and how did they fight to define themselves? Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
The realm of fan fiction is a wild, magical place to be, especially if that fan fiction is set at Hogwarts. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison talk about All the Young Dudes, an extensive Harry Potter fan fiction that has inspired a fandom all its own, and just how that fandom came to be. But first, they chat about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and spend time listening to the first line of some listeners’ NaNoWriMo novels. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis, Daniel Schroeder, and Derek John.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by leading environmental lawyer and Harvard professor Richard Lazarus , author of The Rule of Five: Climate History at the Supreme Court, to discuss cases currently flying under many court-watchers’ radar, which could have a huge impact on our ability to respond to climate change.
In our Slate Plus segment, Slate’s senior jurisprudence editor Nicole Lewis joins Dahlia to discuss the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, the criminal trial of Gregory and Travis McMichael and William Bryan in Georgia for the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, and the federal civil trial in Charlottesville of white supremacist groups, and what all three cases tell us about whiteness and justice in America.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael are joined by author Christopher Mims to talk about his new book, Arriving Today, what’s really going on with the supply chain crisis, the logistics of how Amazon works, and the crazy story of a crypto group trying to get a copy of the U.S. Constitution at auction.
In the Plus segment: The people you don’t think about in the supply chain. Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Danny Lavery welcomes adrienne maree brown, an author and the writer in residence at the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute. brown recently published Grievers, the first in her novella series with Black Dawn Imprint. She’s also the co-host of the podcasts, How To Survive The End Of The World, and Octavia’s Parables. Lavery and brown read a letter from someone who isn’t comfortable sharing that they met their partner at an orgy. Plus a lighting round question about receiving unwanted gifts from your family. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Zeba Blay popularized the hashtag #carefreeblackgirls, a celebration of positive online representation of Black women and girls. In her book Carefree Black Girls, she reckons with why––even in a pop culture led by people of color––so many critics are white men. Blay joins the show this week to discuss The Harder They Fall, Passing, Dave Chappelle, and where today’s artists are, and aren’t, hitting the mark on race.
Guest: Zeba Blay, culture and film critic and author of the book Carefree Black Girls
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
Episode Blurb:
Over the weekend, Russia tested a new weapon—a type of missile that can fly into space and destroy a satellite in orbit.
The test created thousands of pieces of debris, which will hurtle around the Earth’s orbit for years to come. What’s the real risk of the rapid increase in space junk? And is there anything to be done about it?
Guest: Laura Grego, Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at MIT
Host: Seth Stevenson
John, Emily and David discuss Biden’s approval numbers, authoritarianism on the rise, and they are joined by author Jay Caspian Kang to talk about his new book, The Loneliest Americans.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: FiveThirtyEight, Latest Polls
Isaac Chotiner for the New Yorker: “Can Biden’s Agenda Survive Inflation?”
Jason Furman for the Wall Street Journal: “Biden Can Whip Inflation and Build Back Better”
The Loneliest Americans, by Jay Caspian Kang
Pew Research Center: “Where Do You Fit In The Political Typology?”
Christopher Borrelli for the Chicago Tribune: “What We’re Reading: 4 Korean American Memoirs, From Personal Stories To An Unsettling Confrontation on Identity and Assimilation”
Anne Appelbaum for the Atlantic: “The Bad Guys Are Winning”
Freedom House: “Freedom in the World 2021: Democracy Under Siege”
The Dictator's Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy, by William J. Dobson
Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest, by Zeynep Tufekci
Zeynep Tufekci for the Atlantic: “How the Coronavirus Revealed Authoritarianism’s Fatal Flaw”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Ashley Southall and Jonah E. Bromwich for the New York Times: “2 Men Convicted of Killing Malcolm X Will Be Exonerated After Decades”
John: The Faber Book of Reportage, by John Carey; The Way We Live Now, by Anthony Trollope audiobook
David: Geoffrey Leavenworth for the New York Times: “One Chaste Marriage, Four Kids, and the Catholic Church”; Spencer Buell for Boston magazine: “New England Hidden Gems You’ll Find on the New Atlas Obscura App”; City Cast Houston
Listener chatter from Melissa Ocepek: A fox listens to the banjo
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the most useful friend to have.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a parent who is in over her head when it comes to bath time. Her little one used to love taking baths but has since changed her mind. Now bath time is a nightmare for both of them. Then they’re joined by Dr. Syra Madad, an infectious disease epidemiologist with New York City Health + Hospitals and Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. She shares how parents can keep their family, especially kids who are still too young to be vaccinated, safe during the holiday season. On Slate Plus, the hosts talk about how they’re approaching the holidays this year.
Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Root Magic by Eden Royce. Zak recommends unsubscribing to EVERYTHING! Elizabeth recommends the Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Beto O’Rourke is running to replace Greg Abbott as governor of Texas. Though it’s his first time in this particular race, you’d be forgiven for thinking, “again?”
Where does this habitually-losing smooth-talking Irish-guy-with-a-bordertown-nickname fit into a state with changing demographics and an incumbent governor under assault from both the right and left? Is Beto building a coalition, or heading for a third and final defeat?
Guest: Patrick Svitek, political correspondent for the Texas Tribune.
White supremacist, anti-government terrorists attacked Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. A Muslim American came under immediate suspicion. How did a man who had nothing to do with the bombing get connected to one of the most horrific crimes in U.S. history? One Year is produced by Josh Levin, Evan Chung, and Madeline Ducharme, with additional production help from Cheyna Roth. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, managing producer of Slate Podcasts Asha Saluja and senior editor Shannon Palus dive into new releases from superstars Adele and Taylor Swift. In the first half, they talk about how Taylor Swift shaped their views of romance and being 22, and whether her move to take back her song catalogue is actually feminist. Then, Asha and Shannon explore the conversation around Adele’s weight loss and the patriarchal expectations put on female pop stars.
In our Slate Plus segment, Asha and Shannon talk about whether it’s feminist when female pop stars don’t dance in their music videos.
Recommendations: Asha: Jao Refresher hand sanitizer and singing in the shower. Shannon: Getting a latte and going for a walk with said latte. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Christina and Bryan welcome guest host Carolyn Bergier, co-host of the podcast Dyking Out. The crew explore the ups and downs of the Amazon lesbian reality TV show Tampa Baes. They then talk about Billy Porter’s fashion beef with Harry Styles, what queer fashion and signifiers actually mean, and whether they matter anymore. And finally, queer burlesque, queer DJ sets, and butch dykes for our Gay Agenda.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Ethan Brooks discuss Episode 3, on Daryl Gates and the calls for his ouster after Rodney King’s beating. Then we’ll hear an extended interview with Jim Newton, who covered law enforcement for the L.A. Times.
Mentioned in this episode: “Cops on My Tail,” Slow Burn S3, Ep.2 Slow Burn 6’s Spotify playlist
Production by Chau Tu.
You might have seen a bot on Twitter tweeting out facetuned versions of anybody you could think of, like Robert Pattinson or Mrs. Doubtfire, and wondered where they’re all coming from. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison explain this weird trend, known as yassification, and why it might already be over. Plus, the the return of High Speed Downloads on Shailene Woodley defending her boyfriend Aaron Rodgers, and a neverending feud between Vin Diesel and the Rock. If you’d like to see some yassified photos, head to @ICYMI_pod on Twitter. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
After dragging its feet on reopening schools this winter, the San Francisco Unified School District school board is under fire. Their every decision is being scrutinized by angry parents and three of its members are facing recall elections. What happens when the school board debate comes to the Bay?
Guest: Jill Tucker, education writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by writer extraordinaire Karen Han. First, the panel discusses Rebecca Hall’s adaptation of Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing. Next, the panel dives into The Shrink Next Door. Finally, the panel talks about People’s 2021 Sexiest Man Alive, Paul Rudd. In Slate Plus, the panel answers a classic time travel question. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Rebecca Hall’s amazing performance in the 2016 film Christine, about news reporter Christine Chubbuck. Karen: Swedish artist Agnes’s new album Magic Still Exists. Specifically her song “Here Comes the Night.” Steve: First, the entire discography of Devonté Hynes aka Blood Orange—more recently, his work on the soundtrack for Passing. Second, Nick Lowe and Daryl Hall doing a marvelous acoustic version of Lowe’s hit from the ‘70s “Cruel to Be Kind.” Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is “Edge of Life” by OTE.
Danny Lavery welcomes adrienne maree brown, an author and the writer in residence at the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute. brown recently published Grievers, the first in her novella series with Black Dawn Imprint. She’s also the co-host of the podcasts, How To Survive The End Of The World, and Octavia’s Parables. Lavery and brown tackle two letters: First, from a letter writer can’t help her spouse to help out while she’s pregnant. Another letter writer is afraid they might have ruined a friendship after saying too much while drunk. Plus, a deep dive into brown’s Grievers. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
For nearly a decade, Jono devoted all his time and energy to creating and running a customized shoe company. But, unfortunately, his start-up didn’t survive the pandemic. Now Jono is in the tricky position of transitioning from CEO to working for someone else. He’s wondering how to brand his non-linear career path and transform himself into an ideal job candidate. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Joseph Liu, a consultant who has made a career out of changing careers, and host of the podcast Career Relaunch. Joseph has some practical tips for finding the right job opportunities, rewriting your resume, and creating a compelling cover letter that will land you an interview in no time. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Find a New Career Before It’s Too Late”. Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Members of an Orange County mosque noticed a new convert was asking some strange questions. He turned out to be an FBI informant. Will the Supreme Court allow the bureau to be held accountable? Guest: Rowaida Abdelaziz, national reporter covering Islamophobia & immigration for HuffPost.
Rats live wherever people live, with one exception: the Canadian province of Alberta. A rat sighting in Alberta is a major local event that mobilizes the local government to identify and eliminate any hint of infestation. Rat sightings makes the local news. Alberta prides itself on being the sole rat-free territory in the world, but in order to achieve this feat, it had to go to war with the rat. On this episode of Decoder Ring we recount the story of how Alberta won this war, through accidents of history and geography, advances in poison technology, interventionist government policy, mass education programs, rat patrols, killing zones and more. The explanation tells us a lot about rats and a lot about humans, two species that are more alike than we like to think.
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Grant Wahl to talk about the U.S. men’s national team’s dominant win over Mexico. Stefan, Josh, and Joel Anderson then discuss how ESPN’s Adam Schefter covered a domestic abuse allegation against Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. Finally, they look into the war of words between the NBA’s Morris twins and Jokic brothers. USA-Mexico (2:30): Is the USMNT’s big win a sign that the rivalry has shifted? Schefter (20:28): The journalistic sins of ESPN’s lead NFL insider. Morris vs. Jokic (43:49): What makes a good sibling Twitter basketball beef? Afterball (1:01:19): The groundbreaking 1960 documentary on NFL linebacker Sam Huff.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 5, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Edmund Lee, longtime media industry reporter for The New York Times to talk about the real-life influences behind Sandy and Sandy, the big board meeting, and invisible cats.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
You’ve likely heard about the great resignation -- this moment when millions of workers across the country have handed in their notice. Sometimes, people left because they were overworked. Sometimes, it’s because they wanted to change paths, or make more money elsewhere. But for every employee quitting, there’s an employer being quit on. These are stories from the great resignation: Who’s quitting, who’s hiring, and how long this moment is likely to last.
Guests: Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan. Rachel, a recently resigned employee from Massachusetts. Julia James, co-owner of Radish and Rye Food Hub in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who’s getting pleasure—but at the weirdest time. Mentioned in the episode: Rich’s How to Do It column on nocturnal dreams The Explorer’s Guide to Planet Orgasm by Annie Sprinkle
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, whose latest film, ATTICA, covers the 1971 uprising at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York. In the interview, Stanley explains how he decides which stories to tell and how he earns the trust of his subjects. He also discusses the finer points of structure, editing, and his use of sound effects and music. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han talk about the challenges of creating a structure for nonfiction projects and the difficult task of cutting interviews down. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Stanley looks back at the time he worked with legendary documentary filmmaker William Greaves. Then Isaac asks him if he ever gets nostalgic for the pre-digital era of filmmaking. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who wonders if she got duped by her boyfriend—including feedback from listeners like you. Then they hear from a letter writer who wonders if it’s weird that they hate the most basic form of intimacy there is. Mentioned in the episode: “The reasons humans started kissing,” BBC Future, Aug. 15, 2021 Stoya’s How to Do It column on kissing
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about the deconglomeration of Johnson & Johnson and General Electric, the impact worker revenge has on inflation, and Elon Musk’s big Twitter poll costing him ten percent of his stocks.
In the Plus segment: Talking on background.
Mentioned in the show: “’It’s a walkout!’ Inside the fast-food workers’ season of rebellion” by Greg Jaffe “Updating The Verge’s background policy” by Nilay Patel
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Taylor Swift just released her version of the 2012 album Red, but if you’d asked her fandom what was coming the answers would’ve included all sorts of red-string conspiracy theories. On today’s episode, resident Swiftie Madison takes Rachelle down Taylor’s rabbit hole, explaining her origins as a MySpace teen, the easter eggs she has and hasn’t hidden, and how her savvy engagement with fans demonstrates just how much she’s mastered the online medium. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
On the Spoiler Specials podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate senior editor Sam Adams and Slate editorial assistant Nadira Goffe to spoil the newest Marvel film, Eternals.
The Eternals, a group of immortal beings with superpowers, reunite following an unexpected tragedy to fight the evil Deviants.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Cleo Levin.
Hosts Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. You can read her review here. Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor. Nadira Goffe is Slate’s editorial assistant.
Sam and Nadira both contributed to “The Casual Marvel Fan’s Guide to Eternals”
Decades before Moonlight, Black Panther, or anything from Spike Lee, Black film artists worked through and around the studio system to bring their visions to the big screen. Now the Black Film Archive has brought together classics from 1915 to 1979. Its creator Maya Cade joins Jason Johnson on A Word to talk about the importance of African Americans connecting with movies from the past. Guest: Maya Cade, creator of Black Film Archive and audience development specialist for the Criterion Collection Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Danny Lavery welcomes Daniel Cohen, a PhD chemical biologist working at a small biotech startup that is developing a new generation of antibiotics and anticancer drugs. Lavery and Cohen read a letter from someone who doesn’t like sleeping over after sex due to their insomnia. Plus, a discussion on ghosting as a legitimate form of communication. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
A recent poll showed that about a third of parents of younger children would get their kids vaccinated, a third would not, and the final third said they wanted to wait and see how the vaccines worked.
Public health officials are asking: what will it take to convince that third group that now is the time to vaccinate?
Guests: Julie Hamill Dr. Aaron Carroll, pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
John and David are joined by guest host Ruth Marcus to discuss Biden’s infrastructure win, Trump’s January 6 obstruction, and the Rittenhouse trial.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Adie Tomer, Joseph W. Kane, Caroline George, and Andrew Bourne, for The Brookings Institution: “America Has An Infrastructure Bill. What Happens Next?”
Ruth Marcus for the Washington Post: “At Yale Law School, a Party Invitation Ignites a Firestorm”
Josh Dawsey, Isaac Stanley-Becker, and Michael Scherer for The Washington Post: “Donors Threatened to Shun the Gop After Jan. 6. Now, Republicans Are Outraising Democrats.”
Sandy West for Kaiser Health News: “‘Drinking Through a Lead Straw’ — $15B Approved to Fix Dangerous Water Pipes”
The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, by Jonathan Rauch
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Ruth: Julian Mark for The Washington Post: “A Fertility Center Mixed Up Two Couples’ Embryos, Lawsuit Says. When They Found Out, They Had To Trade Babies.”
David: David is leading an “Exploring a Secret Fort” tour of Fort DeRussy in Washington, D.C. for Atlas Obscura and Airbnb; Jonathan D. Karl for The Atlantic: “The Man Who Made January 6th Possible”
John: Pew Research Center: “Where Do You Fit In The Political Typology?”
Listener chatter from Tsur Somerville: Reuters: “Wandering Dog is Istanbul Commuters' Best Friend”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Ruth, John, and David discuss the controversy over the founding of the University of Austin.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Zak, Elizabeth, and Greg Lavallee advise a listener whose rambunctious little one is on his third visit to the emergency room. How can our listener teach him that he can get hurt if he keeps up with the daredevil antics? They also debate how to talk to kids about screen time and how to set up healthy boundaries with devices. On Slate Plus, they lament the impending winter clothes chaos. Recommendations: Greg recommends asking your cool adult friends to give your kids compliments. Elizabeth recommends Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty. Zak recommends taking yourself to the movies. The new Wes Anderson film, The French Dispatch, is a great pick-me-up.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate’s news director Susan Matthews talks with Slate writer and community manager Evan Urquhart about the phrase, “pregnant person.” What started as an effort to be inclusive of transgender men has devolved into an argument that at times has become transphobic. Susan and Evan unpack what’s going on with this “debate,” and, later in the show, get into more productive ways to be a trans ally, the perils of the health care system, and how to better include trans and nonbinary people in coversations about them.
In Slate Plus, Evan and Susan talk about the Torrey Peters novel, Detransition Baby.
Additional Reading: “Words for Every Body” by Ray Briggs and B R George “Should feminists talk about ‘pregnant people’?” by Jennie Kermode “You Can Still Say ‘Woman’ But You Shouldn’t Stop There” by Irin Carmon “BIPOC or POC? Equity or Equality? The Debate Over Language on the Left” by Amy Harmon “Healthcare avoidance due to anticipated discrimination among transgender people: A call to create trans-affirmative environments” by Luisa Kcomt, Kevin M. Gorey, Betty Jo Barrett, Sean Esteban McCabe
Recommendations: Susan: Kiese Laymon’s book Heavy and Laymon’s The Ezra Klein Show interview with Tressie McMillan Cotton. Evan: The “best game of 2021” Inscription and Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Last Friday, a surging crowd killed at least eight people and left hundreds injured at Travis Scott’s music festival Astroworld in Houston. Public uproar over the needless deaths has placed responsibility at the rapper’s feet - and at those of police officers who failed to intervene and shut the show down.
How did Scott’s signature “raging” spill over into a mass casualty event? And how do we tease out blame between Scott himself, and the way music festivals are run?
Guest: Tom Breihan, senior editor at Stereogum.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Jayson De Leon discuss Episode 2, on Latasha Harlins’ killing. Then we’ll hear extended interviews with L.A. Times journalist Itabari Njeri and professor of ethnic studies Edward Chang about the cultural tensions that were already building in Los Angeles by the time of Harlins’ death in 1991.
Mentioned in this episode: A Love Song for Latasha (2019) The Last Plantation by Itabari Njeri Slow Burn 6’s Spotify playlist
Production by Sophie Summergrad and Chau Tu.
The Los Angeles City Council has passed a new policy giving Council members the power to target specific encampments for cleanup. While the effort might eventually result in less visible homelessness in some parts of the city, critics say it might be more in service of political gain than anything else.
Guest: Benjamin Oreskes, Metro reporter at the LA Times.
Companies don’t want you to know this, but there are lots of helpful tips hidden in plain sight, you just have to be willing to read the fine print. On the show today, Madison and Rachelle talk about all the terms of service secrets TikToker Erika Kullberg has been sharing with her followers, whether these tricks actually work, and exactly who might have to deal with our return and exchange demands. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by New York Times columnist and Slate graduate Jamelle Bouie. First, the panel discusses Marvel’s most recent big picture, Eternals—which Dana reviewed for Slate. Next, the panel gives an update on their feelings about HBO’s hit TV show Succession, which is currently in its third season. Finally, the panel explores the controversy involving Critical Race Theory. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses Jamelle’s new podcast Unclear and Present Danger. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Something small, but in hopes to find the entire thing: this 2 minute clip of Welsh actor Michael Sheen performing a segment of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’s drama Under Milk Wood. Jamelle: Norman Jewison’s classic 1987 film Moonstruck, starring Cher and Nicolas Cage, which is currently in the Criterion Collection. Steve: A slightly odd endorsement of a book review. Peter Salmon’s article for Prospect Magazine, titled “Boo to the Boo-Hurrahs: how four Oxford women transformed philosophy,” is a review of Benjamin J. B. Lipscomb’s novel The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics. The book and review discuss the female-led movement to take on the male consensus in philosophy during the 1930s and ‘40s which saw the world as value free. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is “Self Made Woman” by Katharine Appleton.
Danny Lavery welcomes Daniel Cohen, a Ph.D. chemical biologist working at a small biotech startup that is developing a new generation of antibiotics and anticancer drugs. Lavery and Cohen take on three letters: First, from a letter writer whose laid-up roommate is barking demands. Another letter writer is wondering how to get started in getting involved in community issues. Plus, a check-in into the world of chemical biology. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, hosts Nicole Holliday and Ben Zimmer recap the recent New Ways of Analyzing Variation conference for sociolinguistics. They also interview Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University and best-selling author about conversational style. And finally, Barry Lam, host of Slate’s philosophy podcast Hi-Phi Nation stops by for some wordplay. We hope you paid attention in your philosophy classes for this next quiz! You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: NWAV 49 (the 49th annual meeting of New Ways of Analyzing Variation) Tweet by Cindy Noir (@Ebonie_QT) that inspired people to record Memojis code-switching between “home voices” and “work voices” Ben’s 2011 New York Times essay, “Twitterology: A New Science?” Twitter’s new Academic Research track Deborah Tannen’s recent New York Times essay on cooperative overlapping, “In Real Life, Not All Interruptions Are Rude” Sari Rachel discussing cooperative overlapping on TikTok Deborah Tannen’s 2005 book, Conversational Style Barry Lam’s philosophy podcast, Hi-Phi Nation
Shanimarie has a story in her heart, one she believes the world needs to hear. It’s a story of immigration, sacrifice and a mother’s love that this first-grade teacher wishes she had read as a young girl who moved from Jamaica to the U.S. Shanimarie has been working on the idea for a couple of years now. She’s submitted a manuscript to several publishers, but is making the rookie mistakes that most aspiring authors make. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Denene Millner, a New York Times best selling author of over 30 books who runs a children’s book imprint at Simon & Schuster. Denene focuses on stories about the humanity of Black children and shares some insider knowledge with Shanimarie about telling your story in a way that publishers, and children, can’t ignore. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Write a Bestseller” with author Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Minneapolis voters have rejected a referendum to dissolve and replace their police department by a dramatic 12-point margin. The election result reflects a different mood from what the city saw a year ago, when protesters booed the mayor for resisting the movement to defund the police.
Why were the planned police reforms so unpopular in the city where George Floyd’s murder sparked an international movement for justice? And what lessons should activists for and against the measure take from this moment?
Guest: Jon Collins, senior reporter for MPR News.
In the summer of 1986, both Time Magazine and Newsweek ran blockbuster cover stories on the same subject: a secret cache of provocative, intimate paintings by Andrew Wyeth, one of America's most famous artists. These paintings were completed over fifteen years and all featured the same, often-nude model named Helga, and had been hidden from his wife and the public for 15 years. The implication was obvious: Wyeth had been having an affair with this woman. But just as the story was breaking in Time and Newsweek, it began to unravel, and something even stranger and more complex emerged. On this episode we examine the story of these secret paintings, the backlash to that story, and question if, maybe, that backlash was itself overdrawn. This is the first episode of our winter season.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Aaron Rodgers’ claims about vaccination and how the Packers and the NFL should deal with him. They also talk about ESPN’s investigation into Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver. Finally, the Washington Post’s Candace Buckner joins for a conversation about the fashion choices of NBA coaches. Rodgers (2:14): What his interview about COVID and vaccines revealed about the Packers quarterback. Sarver (24:02): How will the NBA handle allegations of racism and misogyny against one of its owners? NBA coach fashion (44:09): Should we lament the rise of the quarter-zip and the demise of the suit? Afterball (1:02:52): Josh on Jameis Winston, Drew Brees, and the athletes we support, tolerate, and disdain.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who doesn’t know what to do after her boyfriend gave her an ultimatum.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 4, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined byMichael Mechanic, author of Jackpot: How the Super-Rich Really Live – and How Their Wealth Harms Us All to talk about the arrival of Adrian Brody, trying to kill your father with the sun, and how true to life Succession really is.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
In mid-October, Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced that New York City municipal workers would have just nine days to get the COVID vaccine or risk being put on unpaid leave. Thousands of workers showed up the next week to protest the mandate. A week after the hammer came down, did Mayor DeBlasio correctly call their bluff?
Guest: Eric Lach, staff writer for The New Yorker.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who wonders if she can do more to accommodate her partner’s, uh, large needs. Then they hear from a man whose wife has an alarming sex drive.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, in her first episode as co-host of Working, Karen Han interviews cartoonist Dami Lee. In the interview, Dami talks about her resistance to art school and her early strategy of pursuing art “on the side.” Then she discusses her current career as a freelance cartoonist, her webcomic As Per Usual, and her book Be Everything at Once: Tales of a Cartoonist Lady Person. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler discuss the difficulties of pitching work as a freelancer. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dami talks about her work translating comics from Korean to English. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
John Dickerson talks with Kirsten Powers about her new book Saving Grace: speak your truth, stay centered and learn to coexist with people who drive you nuts. Powers offers advice about on how to navigate the toxic divisions within our culture without compromising personal convictions and emotional well-being. Kirsten Powers is a New York Times bestselling author, USA Today columnist, and senior political analyst for CNN, where she appears regularly on Anderson Cooper 360, CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, and The Lead with Jake Tapper. Her writing has been published in The Washington Post, Elle, The Daily Beast, The Wall Street Journal, The Dallas Morning News, The New York Observer, Salon, the New York Post, and The American Prospect online. Raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Powers lives in Washington, D.C, with her fiancé, Robert Draper, and their two fur children, Lucy and Bill. Gabfest Reads is an occasional author interview series with the hosts of Slate's Political Gabfest. Join John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz in one on one conversations with thought-provoking authors discussing books that range from the overtly political to the politically adjacent.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Elizabeth Wydra, President of the Constitutional Accountability Center, a think tank, law firm, and action center dedicated to the project of using the original text, purpose and history of the Constitution to achieve progressive outcomes. Together, they take us inside the chamber for the big cases at the Supreme Court this week, concerning guns and abortion. In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to discuss some significant orders concerning religious exemption and capital punishment, the cert grant that’s bad news for the climate, and whether some of the justices might be having a shadow docket hangover. Podcast production by Sara Burningham
Earlier this month, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook was rebranding to become Meta, shifting the company’s focus away from the single social media platform to some sort of amorphous, “embodied internet” concept. Khabane Lame, TikTok’s second biggest star right now, got tapped to do some spon-con for the rebrand, appearing in a video alongside Zuckerberg on Instagram. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison discuss who Lame’s rise to TikTok fame, why Facebook grabbed him for their publicity campaign, and how this might all just be a distraction from some rather unsavory news inside the Facebook Papers. If you would like to learn more about the Facebook Papers, check out: ”The Nationalism of Facebook,” by Siva Vaidhyanathan in Slate The What Next TBD episode, “Will the Facebook Whistleblower Make a Difference?” The What Next episode, “How Long Can Mark Zuckerberg Be King?” Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about a recent CNN segment claiming milk has gone from $1.99 per gallon to $2.79 per gallon, the United Nations climate summit in Scotland, and the conflict surrounding the Penguin Random House merger attempt with Simon & Schuster.
In the Plus segment: Holding a tungsten cube. Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
In schools across the country, tighter digital controls were put in place to keep kids on task during the pandemic. Are they here to stay?
Guests: Priya Anand, reporter at Bloomberg
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
It’s been almost 30 years since the Los Angeles riots rocked the nation. Even now, many Americans remember where they were when they heard that four L.A.P.D. officers were acquitted for beating Rodney King. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Joel Anderson, host of Slate’s Slow Burn Season 6: The L.A. Riots. They talk about the roots of the 1992 crisis, and whether it’s better understood as a riot or an uprising. Guest: Joel Anderson, Slate writer and host of Slow Burn: The L.A. Riots Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Danny Lavery welcomes Melissa Hughs, an R&D Scientist who designs medical tests. Lavery and Hughs read a letter about a woman who is tired of living in fear about her abusive, stalking ex coming back into her life. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
NYTimes columnist Ross Douthat joins the show to help untangle the implications of the off-year elections and John, Emily and David discuss Supreme Court arguments on abortion in Texas and guns in New York.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery, by Ross Douthat
Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “It’s Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court Now”
Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Associated Press: “University Of Florida Faces Investigation After Blocking Professors From Voting Case”
David: Scott MacFarlane, Rick Yarborough, and Steve Jones for NBC 4 Washington: “DC Tunnel History Site Flagged Suspicious Activity Before Capitol Insurrection”
John: Jeff Stein for The Washington Post: “Financial Firms Announce $130 Trillion In Commitments For Climate Transition, But Practical Questions Loom”
Listener chatter from JD Cameron @J_D_Cameron: John Muller for FiveThirtyEight: “Soccer Looks Different When You Can’t See Who’s Playing”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David talk to Ross about his new book, The Deep Places.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Zak help a listener whose kid just will not get out the door in the mornings. Next, they dive into a debate about the purpose of homework and who gets to decide how much homework a child is required to do. On Slate Plus, they discuss an interesting package from Romper called Parenting at the End Of the World.
Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends the card game Boom Goes the Dynamite. Zak recommends the musician Caspar Babypants. Jamilah recommends the show Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
Additional reading: The History Of Homework: Why Was It Invented and Who Was Behind It? Never Mind the Students; Homework Divides Parents Ask a Teacher: Slacker or Genius? Ask a Teacher: Homework: Who Needs It? Ask a Teacher: Homework Is a Constant Battle in Our House Care and Feeding
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate Money Succession podcast host Emily Peck and Slate staff writer Lili Loofbourow talk about the men versus the women of HBO’s Succession. They start out by talking about the power struggles and anxieties facing the female characters, and debate whether Shiv Roy just sucks. Then they talk about men in this bro-y show, including all that toxic masculinity and the relationship between Greg and Tom.
In Slate Plus, this week’s “Is This Feminist” discussion is all about Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes.
Recommendations: Lili: Using vintage gold nibbed fountain pens Emily: The podcast “The Just Enough Family”
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Democrats suffered major losses in local and state elections this week. Are the results a harbinger for the party’s fate heading into the 2022 midterms? Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.
In this member-exclusive episode, Slow Burn’s host Joel Anderson and producer Jayson De Leon discuss Episode 1 of the new season, how they’re going to be covering the Los Angeles riots, and some of their favorite books and documentaries they used for research. Then we’ll hear more from their interview with George Holliday, the man who filmed Rodney King’s beating in 1991.
Mentioned in this episode: Slow Burn 6’s Spotify playlist Official Negligence by Lou Cannon The Riot Within by Rodney King LA 92 (2017) Let It Fall (2017) L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later (2017) “Witnesses Depict Relentless Beating,” L.A. Times, March 7, 1991
Production by Chau Tu.
It’s been over four years since white supremacists gathered in a violent and deadly demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia. Now, nine people are suing the organizers and groups involved with the Unite the Right rally as they try to prove the protest was a conspiracy to commit racially-motivated violence. This isn’t the first time white supremacists have been taken to court -- but could this trial spell real consequences?
Guest: Kathleen Belew, a historian at the University of Chicago, and the author of Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America and A Field Guide to White Supremacy.
As the Real Housewives of Potomac wraps its latest season, it’s clear how essential the cast’s social media presences are when trying to understand the dynamics at play on the show. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison talk to culture writer and critic Shamira Ibrahim about how the series has grown increasingly dependent on online drama, and how social media can be a useful tool for following the intricacies of race and class on display. They also explain the meme, “Let’s Go, Brandon.” Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson. First, the panel reviews Edgar Wright’s newest psychological horror film Last Night in Soho—which Dana reviewed for Slate. Next, the panel discusses the newest album in over 40 years from the legendary Swedish music group ABBA, titled Voyage. Finally, the panel is joined by host of Slate’s Hit Parade podcast (and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voter!) Chris Molanphy to discuss this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and the institution at large. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses music they like to listen to while working. You can find Dana’s playlist of music to work and write to here, Steve’s here, and Carl’s here. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The LA Times has been doing an incredible job of covering the ever-developing story of the tragic shooting on the set of the Alec Baldwin film, Rust. The story, which points to many bigger problems, including issues with labor relations in the entertainment industry at large. “The Day Alec Baldwin Shot Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza” chronologically accounts the events of the entire day, written by three different reporters: Meg James, Amy Kaufman, and Julia Wick. Carl: First, the great late-80s rock musician Billy Bragg’s newest album The Million Things That Never Happened in which he reflects on aging, isolation, change, and being challenged ideologically by younger generations. This is specifically true of the track, “Mid-Century Modern.” Second, the new music historiography novel from Kelefa Sanneh (who, in the 2000s, wrote the great central piece on rockism for the New York Times), Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres, which is a celebration of what happens when you stay within a tradition. Steve: First, the ‘80s singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw’s live cover of ABBA’s song “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” Second, yet another Swedish indie band: The Amazing. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is “Lonely Calling” by Arc De Soleil.
Danny Lavery welcomes Melissa Hughs, an R&D Scientist who designs medical tests. Lavery and Hughs take on three letters: First, from a letter writer who wants to cut off their parents, but not the rest of their family. Another letter writer is wondering how to establish online friendships. Finally, a lightning round question about how to introduce your trans teenager. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
This episode is supported by Work Check, an original podcast from Atlassian. Bethany was ecstatic when her husband Travis got a promotion. They’ve been co-workers for over a decade and Bethany really valued being on equal footing. But that power balance has since gone topsy turvy. Travis is now her boss (technically her boss’s boss) and things are suddenly not equal at home or at work. Her coworkers are treating her differently, and she feels like her career identity is being overshadowed. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Carley Roney, co-founder of the wedding and lifestyle company, The Knot. Carley worked with, and for, her husband for years. She has some hard-won advice for maintaining your independence while keeping the marriage intact. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Fire Your Daughter.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
India Walton won the Democratic primary for Mayor of Buffalo, New York, in June. Her victory put her on track to become the first socialist mayor in the city’s history, and the first nationwide in more than half a century. The only problem is, her opponent - current mayor Byron Brown - refuses to bow out, and is waging a well-funded write-in campaign in the hopes of keeping his post.
How has a self-styled socialist gotten so close to running Buffalo? And why are some Democrats standing in her way?
Guest: Ross Barkan, a contributing writer to The Nation and the author of The Prince: Andrew Cuomo, Coronavirus, and the Fall of New York.
Joel, Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the ouster of Joel’s old football coach, TCU’s Gary Patterson. They also talk about how the NBA’s new rules are changing pro basketball. Finally, the New York Times’ Kevin Draper joins for a conversation about the Chicago Blackhawks’ cover-up of an alleged sexual assault.
TCU (2:15): Why was it time for Gary Patterson to go? Who does Joel want to see replace him? NBA rules (26:39): Draymond Green is delighted. Trae Young and James Harden aren’t.
Blackhawks (39:57): What the team’s investigation revealed about the culture of hockey and sexual assault.
Afterball (59:14): Stefan on the surprising origins of the “tomahawk chop” music.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who is wondering why her well-endowed hookup partner has … changed. Mentioned in this episode: Jessica Drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 3, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Matt Haber, Newsletter Editor for the Alta Journal, to armchair psychoanalyze Kendall, talk about the daddy issues of the Roy children, and debate whether Tom will actually go to prison. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
The public scrutiny applied to Facebook has been building for years, as the company grows its user base faster than its ability to regulate its content. But distrust among Facebook employees is also building, as evidenced by the remarkable disclosure of internal Facebook documents by whistleblower Frances Haugen. A crisis of trust could be what undoes Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to dominate the internet of the future. Guest: Steven Levy is editor-at-large at WIRED and author of numerous books, including, most recently, Facebook: The Inside Story.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter about a woman who has noticed her husband’s peculiar secret habit on his computer. Then they advise a woman who wants to know when is the right time to disclose her sexual history and preferences. Mentioned in this episode: “Why Do People Watch Porn When They’re Not Masturbating,” Mel Magazine.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to makeup artist Leslie Ann Sebert about her long career in film and her latest project, the Netflix movie Nightbooks, starring Krysten Ritter. Leslie talks about how she fits into the collaborative process of creating the visuals that shape a film and it’s characters … and just how hard it is to find the exact right formula for candy vomit.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss people who choose sole career path at a young age, versus people whose career changes over time, And Isaac explains his biggest piece of writing advice—buy a laser printer.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Host Isaac Butler
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about Facebook’s transformation to Metaverse, how the billionaire income tax would work (and why it won’t happen), and Hertz’s new deal with Tesla.
In the Plus segment: How a butt dial blundered a coup.
Mentioned In the show: “Why Hertz’s big Tesla deal is such a blockbuster” by Rebecca Heilweil “Democrats’ billionaire tax would heavily target 10 wealthiest Americans, but alternative plan is emerging” by Jeff Stein, Andrew Van Dam and Tony Romm “How the Billionaires Income Tax Would Work” by Richard Rubin “What the Metaverse Is, Who’s in It and Why It Matters” by Nate Lanxon “Facebook’s Doppelganger ETF Rakes in Cash on Mistaken Identity” by Vildana Hajric and Claire Ballentine “Facebook just revealed its new name: Meta” by Kim Lyons “Rogers Chairman Fires Board for Firing Him for Firing CEO” by Matt Levine Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
For this special Halloween episode, you’re in for a handful of treats. Rachelle and Madison reveal their Halloween costumes and talk about what scares and bugs them on the internet this spooky season. They’ll discuss listener-submitted Vines, tweets, and Tumblr posts that are iconic Halloween internet staples, including the viral song “Spooky Scary Skeletons”’ We’ll dive deep into the origins of the song with Victoria Gold, whose father Andrew Gold wrote the celebrated bop. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, and Samira Tazari.
On the Spoiler Specials podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate senior editor Sam Adams to spoil the new adaptation of the 1965 sci-fi novel Dune.
In the year 10,191, Paul Atreides, along with his family and people, must travel to a dangerous planet at the behest of the emperor of the universe. Once there, violence explodes and Paul must test his training and power to survive.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Cleo Levin.
Hosts Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. You can read her review here. Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor. You can read his breakdown of the ways to see the movie here.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by podcaster, screenwriter, and author Andy Greenwald to dissect the latest full-length episode of Hit Parade on pop-punk and emo. When Andy wrote his book Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo in 2003, he thought the music had gotten pretty big. He hadn’t seen anything yet. Andy and Chris discuss how a scattered movement of DIY-scene bands gave way to a wave of commercial emo on the pop charts, from the soul-baring Dashboard Confessional to the goth-clad My Chemical Romance—even the vexing, genreless Weezer. Emo never really had one sound—and while it reached its apex with Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco, the emo sensibility never really went away. It lives on everywhere from pop’s biggest megastars to indie-rock and even rap. Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives her a chance to turn the tables with a stumper question of her own, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
The bots aren’t just buying cool sneakers. They’re buying concert tickets. Tickets to basketball games and Broadway shows. At the beginning of the pandemic, they were buying hand sanitizer and face masks. And later, they were booking vaccine reservation spots.
Why are bots taking over certain markets? And is there anything we can do to slow them down?
Guests: Derreck Johnson, designer at Slate Eric Budish, economics professor at the University of Chicago
Host: Seth Stevenson
Danny Lavery welcomes Lux Alptraum, the creator and co-host of Audible’s Say You’re Sorry, a podcast about public apologies — the ones that worked, the ones that failed, and, most of all, the ones that we can all learn from. Lavery and Alptraum tackle two letters. First from a letter writer who’s former boss is calling her for personal advice. Then, a lightning round question from someone who’s neighbor left a note about their lovemaking being too loud.
Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
School is supposed to be a safe environment for students to thrive. But too many school policies put non-white and disabled students on the path to prison. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with professor and author Lori Martin, about fighting the school-to-prison pipeline, and how parents can protect their children from falling into the criminal justice system. Guest: Lori Martin, sociology professor at Louisiana State University and author of Big Box Schools: Race, Education, and the Danger of the Wal-Martization of Public Schools in America Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Emily, John and David talk about the Facebook Papers; Building Back (somewhat) Better, and are joined by author Pamela Paul to talk about the trivial and serious sides of her new book: 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Casey Newton for Platformer on Substack: “How The American Internet Is Turning European”
Farhad Manjoo for The New York Times: “Facebook Is Bad. Fixing It Rashly Could Make It Much Worse.”
Adrienne LaFrance for The Atlantic: “‘History Will Not Judge Us Kindly’”
Nitish Pahwa for Slate: “The Facebook Crisis in India Might Be the Worst Facebook Crisis of All”
Alan Rappeport and Jim Tankersley for The New York Times: “Hunting for Money, Democrats Rush to Rewrite Tax Code”
100 Things We've Lost to the Internet, by Pamela Paul
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Alix Wall for Berkeleyside: “This Couple Loves Berkeley Bowl So Much, They Took Their Engagement Photos There” (hat tip: Cyrus Farivar @cfarivar)
David: Andrea Salcedo for The Washington Post: “A Hiker Got Lost In Colorado, Then Ignored Rescuers’ Calls Because They Came From An Unknown Number”
John: Bailey Vogt for Washington City Paper: “Iconic D.C. Barber Diego D’Ambrosio Died At 87”; The Lost Daughter
Listener chatter from Kerry Donovan @KerryDonovanCO: Bill Chappell for NPR: “A Mysterious 'A Team' Just Rescued Dogs From a Volcano's Lava Zone in La Palma”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss the best things the internet has given them.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak debate if a distracted toddler deserves to be pulled out of their gymnastics class. Next, they advise a mother who is nervous about a long flight with her toddler. From getting a toddler to wear a mask to entertaining snacks, the hosts have tips for all aspects of the flight. We’re playing a round of hot takes in Slate Plus. So stick around for some spicy parenting opinions. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Popeyes’ hottie sauce collab with Megan Thee Stallion. Zak recommends making or buying a fire pit to polong the outdoor season. Elizabeth recommends the DragonBox Elements: Geometry App
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Allegra Frank and Waves producer Cheyna Roth embrace the Halloween season and talk about horror movies. They get into the mainstays of horror and slasher movies that continue to haunt the genre to this day, ask whether the “final girl” trope is feminist, and question whether it’s possible to remake a classic without all its original (often sexist) baggage.
In Slate Plus, Allegra and Cheyna keep the Halloween theme going and discuss whether sexy Halloween costumes are feminist.
Recommendations: Allegra: A very specific TikTok sound. Cheyna: Hulu’s series Only Murders in the Building. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Last week, five members of Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s Veterans Advisory Council publicly stepped down. In their resignation letter, they claimed that they were just “window dressing for her image” and called her “one of the principal obstacles to progress.” One of those veterans explains why she finally said enough. Guest: Sylvia González Andersh, former member of Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s Veterans Advisory Council.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by Slate senior editor Allegra Frank. First, senior producer of Slate’s Decoder Ring podcast, Benjamin Frisch, chimes in to review the sci-fi megafilm Dune. Next, the panel discusses Netflix’s Maid. Finally, the panel dives into the IATSE strike, and the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust, involving the actor Alec Baldwin. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses Halloween as an adult. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Lauren Michele Jackson’s piece for The New Yorker about corporate social media and the way Netflix’s social media teams have responded to the Dave Chappelle controversy, titled “Dave Chappelle, Netflix, and the Illusions of Corporate Identity Politics.” Allegra: Lately, the videogame Super Smash Bros. Ultimate—which she has been playing on Nintendo Switch. Recently, the lead character of another video game franchise, Sora from Kingdom Hearts, has been added as an avatar you can play as in the game. Steve: First, the song “Precious Memories” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Then, British political scientist David Runciman discussed Peter Thiel, silicon valley investor, for the London Review of Books’ podcast, in an episode titled, “The Peter Thiel Paradox.” Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is “Precious Memories” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
We’re debuting our new segment, “Wormhole,” with this fascinating look into the phenomenon of the viral mukbang YouTuber and drama magnet, Nikocado Avocado. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison invite their internet obsessive colleague and senior producer of Slate’s Decoder Ring, Benjamin Frisch, to discuss who this infamous extreme eating content creator is, and why the internet is convinced Nikocado Avocado is eating himself to death. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, and Samira Tazari.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funds many, if not most, of the world’s global health initiatives, so much so that the Foundation has become one of the most influential deciders of global health policy. With the distribution of vaccines to developing countries all but completely failing, how do we assess the Gates’ culpability? And is it time to imagine another model for global health cooperation? Guest: Tim Schwab, investigative reporter. If you've just signed up for Slate Plus because of What Next, fill out this form and you may get some What Next swag!
Danny Lavery welcomes Lux Alptraum, the creator and co-host of Audible’s Say You’re Sorry, a podcast about public apologies — the ones that worked, the ones that failed, and, most of all, the ones that we can all learn from. Lavery and Alptraum read two letters: First, from a letter writer who is wondering how to get her friends to back off from flirting with her girlfriend. Another writer wants to overcome her guilt for mocking her date on social media. Plus, reframing apologies as good things. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, hosts Nicole Holliday and Ben Zimmer talk about Anthony Fauci’s old-school Brooklyn accent. They also interview Sylvia Sierra about her new book Millennials Talking Media: Creating Intertextual Identities in Everyday Conversation. And finally, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher, the hosts of ICYMI, Slate’s podcast on internet culture, stop by for some world wide web wordplay. We hope you’re ready! You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Anthony Fauci on ABC’s This Week Trailer for the National Geographic documentary Fauci Nautilus, “Why Working-Class New Yorkers Drop Their ‘Rs’ ” Sylvia Sierra’s new book Millennials Talking Media: Creating Intertextual Identities in Everyday Conversation The ICYMI back catalog
For a behind the scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate. Every day around 2:00 p.m. Rob hits a brick wall. A busy job and two young children have zapped all of his energy, and he’s desperate to do something—anything—to make it through the rest of the workday. Enter the elusive and often guilt-ridden midday nap. But there too Rob struggles to really rest and then wake up without making things worse. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Dr. Sara Mednick, author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life and the forthcoming book The Hidden Power of the Downstate. Sara draws on years of research at her sleep lab to advise Rob, and all of us, how to stay energized during a long day (Hint: It might not involve napping at all). If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Sleep” with Andy Puddicombe, co-founder of Headspace. Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Sharifa Abbasi knows exactly what it’s like to board a plane to a new country. She immigrated from Afghanistan to the U.S. with her family in 1993. Now, she’s helping other Afghans navigate the complicated red tape of American immigration law after the Taliban takeover. For these immigrants, coming to America wasn’t easy -- being able to stay here might prove even harder.
Guest: Sharifa Abbasi, immigration lawyer at The HMA Law Firm.
If you've just signed up for Slate Plus because of What Next, fill out this form and you may get some What Next swag!
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Defector’s Drew Magary talk about the seeming decline of the Kansas City Chiefs. They also discuss who to root for in the World Series, the Houston Astros or the Atlanta Braves. Finally, they speak with Drew about his book The Night the Lights Went Out: A Memoir of Life After Brain Damage. Chiefs (2:02): What’s wrong with Patrick Mahomes and the former champs? World Series (20:48): Is the case against the Astros stronger than the case against the Braves? The Night the Lights Went Out (41:08): Drew on his traumatic brain injury and what came after. Afterball (1:06:43): Stefan on the history of the Atlanta Braves’ nickname.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman whose new boyfriend has an, uh, very troubling past.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Last weekend, 17 foreign missionaries living in Haiti were taken hostage by a criminal gang demanding million-dollar ransom payments. Kidnappings have become routine in Haiti over the past two years, as the national government has weakened in the wake of years of foreign influence, corruption, persistent poverty, natural disasters, and political upheaval. But the latest mass abduction of so many Americans is a provocation that could prompt an international intervention, in spite of the long history of botched foreign meddling in Haiti. Guest: Jacqueline Charles, Caribbean correspondent for the Miami Herald.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 2, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by author and rich people expert Kurt Anderson, to talk about and whether Logan is in a decline, Kendal’s big speech, and those doughnuts. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who feels guilty for what she thinks about during sex with her husband. Then they advise a letter writer who doesn’t want to screw up the new sexual opportunity he’s been given by his wife.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to Rebecca Lavoie, who oversees podcasts at New Hampshire Public Radio and who has a “side” hustle as host and producer of Crime Writers On..., These Are Their Stories, and several other podcasts. Rebecca explains why her supposed side-gig has expanded into a much bigger enterprise, and how she makes that work.
After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about how Rebecca gets it all done and the “grass is always greener” issue of being on staff versus being a freelancer in creative fields.
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Why have so many young women developed tic disorders during the course of the pandemic? Well, apart from the obvious pandemic-related stressors, TikTok could be a big part of it. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison talk to science journalist Maddie Bender about her report for Vice unpacking this medical mystery. They discuss the correlation between exposure to Tic Tok, a subculture on TikTok where influencers share videos of their tic-related symptoms, and the rise of young women who have developed tic-like behaviors. Though social media could be a trigger for this phenomenon, they’ll discuss if TikTok could also be a part of the solution. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, and Samira Tazari.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about ad tracking and big changes at Apple, what’s going on with tuna bonds, and big businesses buying up real estate.
In the Plus segment: Legacy admissions.
Mentioned In the show: “Snap’s Stock Plummets as It Blames Apple’s Privacy Changes for Hurting Its Ad Business” by Sarah E. Needleman “Zillow pauses homebuying as tech-powered flipping hits snag” by Patrick Clark “Credit Suisse agrees to pay $475 million in fines over the ‘tuna bond’ affair in Mozambique” by Matthew Goldstein “Amherst College drops admissions edge for children of alumni” by The Associated Press
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
Between April and June of this year, Zillow bought nearly 4,000 homes. And they had no intention of holding onto them. The plan was to flip houses, often and at scale, joining the ranks of companies like Opendoor and Offerpad, also known as iBuyers.
So, why did Zillow put their plans on pause last weekend? Can online middlemen really change the way we buy and sell houses?
Guests: Tony Santos, homeowner Patrick Clark, reporter at Bloomberg
Host: Henry Grabar
Whether the issue is Covid policy or police violence, Black athletes can’t run, jump, or score their way out of the racial power dynamics of major sports. On today’s episode of A Word, veteran sportswriter and author Howard Bryant joins Jason Johnson to talk about the intersection of sports and race. They discuss the controversy over basketball star Kyrie Irving’s vaccine resistance, former NFL coach Jon Gruden’s offensive emails, and Colin Kaepernick’s endless campaign to return to the football field. Guest: Howard Bryant, veteran sportswriter, commentator, and author of several books including The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis
Danny Lavery welcomes Uli Beutter Cohen, a New York City–based documentarian, artist, and the creator of Subway Book Review. Her first book, Between the Lines: Stories from the Underground, will be published on October 26th. Lavery and Beutter Cohen tackle two letters. First from a letter writer who can’t forgive her grandfather for her mom’s bad childhood. Another letter writer is wondering how to be sensitive to her new boyfriend’s insecure feelings about his appearance. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Emily, John and David discuss Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress, supply chain woes, and Americans pro-actively leaving their jobs.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Jordan Weissmann for Slate: “The Absolute Simplest Explanation for America’s Supply Chain Woes”
David J. Lynch for The Washington Post: “Inside America’s Broken Supply Chain”
Derek Thompson for The Atlantic: “The Great Resignation Is Accelerating”
Matt Bruenig for The People’s Policy Project: “Democratic Child Care Plan Will Spike Prices for the Middle Class by $13,000”
The Unknowns, by Gabriel Roth
Tonja Jacobi and Dylan Schweers for The Harvard Business Review: “Female Supreme Court Justices Are Interrupted More by Male Justices and Advocates”
Kate Murphy for The New York Times: “You’re Not Listening. Here’s Why”
Deborah Tannen for The New York Times: “In Real Life, Not All Interruptions Are Rude”
Elan Morgan for Medium: “99% Invisible Podcast’s Brilliant Response to Criticism of Women’s Voices”
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Paul Shechtman for The New York Law Journal: “Understanding the Significance of Supreme Court Cert in ‘Shinn v. Jones’”
David: Hetty McKinnon for the New York Times: “Sook Mei Faan (Cantonese Creamed Corn With Tofu and Rice)”
John: “One Hour to Think,” in On Democracy, by E.B. White; Vera
Listener chatter from Adrian Monthony: Twitter thread on the strange story of an abandoned airplane by Chris Croy @ChrisCroy; Harish Pullanoor for Quartz: “The Crazy Story Behind a Rickety Boeing 720 Parked at an Indian Airport For 24 Years”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss data provided by listener Lindsay Lee about which host does the most interrupting on the Political Gabfest. You can read Lee's blog post here.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Aymann hotly debate a question about a kid who is vegan but decides to eat meat at their friend’s house. Is 13 mature enough to make their own dietary decisions or should the kid’s parents be told? Then, Jamilah talks with Lauren Linder, mom and attorney for a cannabis company, about how they incorporate cannabis into their parenting. In Slate Plus: Aymann talks about the effect of toxic masculinity on paternity leave. If you want to hear more from Aymann on masculinity, check out his podcast Man Up. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Simple Modern insulated cups with straws. Aymann recommends starting a garden. Jamilah recommends the Instant Pot Duo.
Additional Links: Check out Elizabeth's great tips for finding (and keeping friends) on Slate’s How To! podcast: How To Make Friends as an Adult. It's Just a Plant: A Children's Story about Marijuana by Ricardo Cortés.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Once an obscure legal doctrine, the practice of qualified immunity for police has drawn widespread public scrutiny in the past year. But as mainstream support for ending qualified immunity grows, police unions are amping up their opposition. Guest: Kimberly Kindy, national investigative reporter for The Washington Post.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate news director Susan Matthews and Waves producer Cheyna Roth talk about one of the most popular reality TV shows: Below Deck. First, they share why they love it even though it is...a bit problematic, and then they bring on Rachel Hargrove, the chef from Seasons 8 and 9. Hargrove dishes on what it’s really like to be behind the camera, the backlash she received after her first season, working in the male-dominated yachting industry, and how yachts and their kitchen are making more room for women.
In Slate Plus: More from Susan and Cheyna’s chat with Rachel. They talk about what you don’t see on television and get Rachel’s thoughts on the upcoming season of Below Deck.
Recommendations Susan: The HBO and BBC series I May Destroy You. Cheyna: Setting your parents up with Spotify. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
Christina and Bryan take us into Queer History Month with thoughts on Reba McEntire and queer inclusion in historically misogynistic places. They welcome Adam Zmith, author of Deep Sniff, a book on the queer history of poppers, and writer Jude Doyle, who talks about what we missed in the recent documentary about transmasculine Black feminist icon Pauli Murray. Finally, our guests add supersmart, compelling items to this month’s Gay Agenda.
Virginia’s gubernatorial election is just weeks away, with former Virginia governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, vying against newcomer Republican Glenn Youngkin. Many polls show a slim margin between the two candidates, as they spar over issues like critical race theory and Trump’s legacy in an election seen as a bellwether for the upcoming midterm elections.
Guest: Ben Paviour, state politics reporter at VPM.
Is it a bones day or a no bones day? That’s the question that’s swept across TikTok, thanks to Noodle the pug. Each morning, owner Jonathan Graziano wakes up and checks if his geriatric pug has bones or not, a helpful way of predicting what sort of day we’re all going to have. On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle interview Jonathan (and Noodle) about his sudden viral fame, how Noodle is handling such celebrity, and exactly what it means to have a no bones day. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by Karen Han. First, Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson chimes in to discuss Todd Haynes’s new The Velvet Underground documentary, which he wrote beautifully about for Slate. Next, the panel (minus Dana) is joined by Slate staff writer Rebecca Onion to review Mike Flanagan’s newest Netflix horror series, Midnight Mass—which she also wrote lovingly about. Finally, the panel (minus Dana) is joined by Vulture senior editor and host of the Good One podcast, Jesse David Fox, to discuss the Dave Chappelle controversy. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses media they loved when they were younger that they have since outgrown. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The book equivalent of Todd Haynes’s documentary, the first oral history Dana ever read and still one of the best she’s ever read to this day: Edie: American Girl by Jean Stein and George Plimpton. The oral history tells the story of actress and model Edie Sedgwick completely through testimony from people that were there, without any interstitial material. Karen: New World, the Korean crime drama film from Park Hoon-jung that stars Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae. The film features Lee as an undercover cop who is tasked with infiltrating the mob, but ends up caught between two worlds. It also stars a slew of great Korean actors including Hwang Jung-min and Song Ji-hyo. Steve: First, Netflix’s series The Chestnut Man, a dark, taught crime drama which takes place in Copenhagen. Then, a whole genre of YouTube videos taking you from raw audio of rehearsal to mastertape of Elvis’s songs, including “And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind”—though, Neil Diamond’s version of that one is better. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is “I’ll Be Your Mirror” by The Velvet Underground.
Danny Lavery welcomes Uli Beutter Cohen, a New York City–based documentarian, artist, and the creator of Subway Book Review. Her first book, Between the Lines: Stories from the Underground, will be published on October 26th. Lavery and Beutter Cohen tackle two letters: First, from a letter writer who is wondering how to trust a once close friend who hurt her. Another writer wants to overcome her jealousy to experiment with an open marriage. Plus a deep dive in Beutter Cohen’s new book, Between the Lines. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Grace and Nikki both need more friends. Grace is an ICU nurse whose best friends have moved away. Nikki is an electrical engineer who worked remotely for the last year and is now moving to a new city. Making friends as an adult is hard, but not impossible. You just have to do things differently than when you were in 6th grade. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Elizabeth Newcamp, co-host of Slate’s Mom and Dad are Fighting and the author of Dutch, Dutch, Goose, a parenting and travel blog. Elizabeth’s husband is in the military so they’re constantly moving to new places. She’s figured out a playbook for transforming casual acquaintances into close friends, even if you’re an introvert. If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Talk to Strangers” with expert Susan Cain. Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Colin Powell, known as a “trailblazer” and “pathbreaker” in his military career, leaves behind a complicated legacy. The four-star general became a household name during the first Gulf War as the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later the first Black secretary of state. Thirty years after his rise to national prominence, Powell’s death has prompted reflections on the Iraq War and his role in using false intelligence to justify the U.S. invasion. Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories columnist.
Joel Anderson and Josh Levin talk with Slate’s Alex Kirshner about the split between LSU and its coach Ed Orgeron. They’re also joined by Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports for a preview of the 2021-22 NBA season. Finally, Stefan Fatsis speaks with Dave Zirin about his book The Kaepernick Effect. Orgeron (2:17): Why did LSU part ways with a championship-winning coach? NBA (24:40): What to expect from the Kyrie-less Nets and the LeBron/AD/Russ Lakers. The Kaepernick Effect (44:30): Looking back on five years’ worth of athlete protests. Afterball (65:57): Josh on erasing Derrius Guice’s records.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a man who thinks his wife is overreacting over what she just found on his computer.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For the series premier, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Janine Gibson, assistant editor of Financial Times to talk about Geri's glass cliff promotion, who might be going to jail, and all the best one liners. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Democrats spent months fretting last year about the Postal Service and the fate of democracy. Now the Democrats are in charge. So why is the mail slowing down? And could planned changes fix what ails the Postal Service? Guest: Jacob Bogage, business reporter for the Washington Post.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who feels terrible about what turns her on the most. Then they advise another woman who’s suffering from a problem that people usually think only men have.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to actor Alessandro Nivola, who recently starred in the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark. In the interview, Alessandro discusses his early career as a theater actor and shares a piece of wisdom he got from Robert De Niro about memorizing lines. Then he digs into the process of becoming a believable 1970’s tough guy in Many Saints. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss line memorization and the joys of being part of a “scene.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Alessandro shares how he’s able to tap into powerful emotions in scenes that call for it. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael talk about spoiled customers acting out, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and the scandal plaguing her job position, and a new poll finding that a third of households making less than $50,000 in the U.S. lost or spent their savings during the pandemic.
In the Plus segment: The Coinbase proposal for an entirely new regulation system for cryptocurrency.
Mentioned In the show: “Almost 20% of U.S. Households Lost Entire Savings During Covid” by Simone Silvan “Unruly customers threaten economic recovery” by Hope King “IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva survives China scandal: What you need to know” by Bjarke Smith-Meyer “Policy goals for crypto market regulation” by FTX Research “Operational Framework of the Digital Asset Policy Proposal” by GitHub
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Emily Mariko’s salmon rice bowl video has taken TikTok by storm, with fans praising its deliciousness and even claiming that her video helped heal their relationship with food. On this episode of ICYMI, Rachelle and Madison figure out where this story fits into the diet culture conversation and explain how the reaction to Mariko’s dish is about much more than just the ingredients she’s using. Of course, they weren’t about to talk about a viral recipe without trying it, so the hosts took to the kitchen to find out whether it really lives up to the hype. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
“Punk happened, past tense.” That’s what Boomer-era critics and true-believer punks told the younger generations. Punk’s whole reason for being was rejecting the mainstream. But punk wasn’t just a movement—it was also a genre. And 20 years after it first emerged, punk went from underground to overground, dominating the radio for the first time. In this episode of Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy traces how punk traveled from Sid Vicious to strip mall, through the lineage of ’90s bands Green Day, Offspring and Blink‑182, and ’00s emo artisans Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco and their skinny-jeans-wearing, smarty-pants contemporaries. From the CBGB era to the current Billboard Hot 100, punk is no historical artifact—it’s still morphing and adapting. And for all its supposed opposition to convention, the dirty little secret is: Punk has always been catchy. Podcast production by Asha Saluja with help from Rosemary Belson.
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate senior editor Sam Adams is joined by Laura Miller, a books and culture columnist for Slate, to spoil the new Mike Flanagan miniseries Midnight Mass.
Riley Flynn returns to his home on an offshore fishing village to find that the local priest has been replaced by a newcomer. The arrival of the magnetic Father Paul Hill brings religious fervor to the town, along with mystery and monstrosity.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Cleo Levin and Asha Saluja
Hosts Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor. You can read his review here. Laura Miller is a books and culture columnist for Slate.
California’s Governor Newsom recently signed legislation to return Bruce’s Beach, beachfront property that had been seized from a Black family after a campaign of racist violence and intimidation. But it’s only one of thousands of cases where African American families lost property to everything from extra legal land seizures, to systematic lending discrimination. Professor Thomas Mitchell, a law professor at Texas A&M University and MacArthur Genius Grant winner, joins the show this week to talk about protecting and reclaiming African-American land.
Podcast production by Samira Tazari, Jasmine Ellis, and Asha Saluja
Danny Lavery takes on two letters: First, from a letter writer who is still using their ex’s streaming login. Then, another writer who wants to know how to get their dad to start using their preferred pronouns. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis.
Over the last month, the domain company Epik and the streaming service Twitch have fallen prey to massive-scale hacks. The hackers revealed not just email addresses, but detailed personal information too. For Twitch, it was the entire source code for their site.
But the attackers aren’t holding this data for ransom. In fact, they don’t seem to want much of anything. What’s motivating this new wave of activist hacks? And who suffers?
Guest: Drew Harwell, tech reporter at the Washington Post
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Emily, John and David discuss the ways that U.S. democracy is in peril, the Democrats‘ strategy woes, and they are joined by author Andrea Elliott to talk about her new book Invisible Child.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Ezra Klein for The New York Times: “David Shor Is Telling Democrats What They Don’t Want to Hear”
Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “Bill Clinton, Race and the Politics of the 1990s”
The Ezra Klein Show. “Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews Heather McGhee About the Cost of Racism”
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee
Simon Bazelon and David Shor for Slow Boring: “A Permanent CTC Expansion With a Sharper Means-Test Would Protect Poor Kids Better and be More Popular”
Matt Yglesias for Slow Boring: “If You Want To Talk About Racism, Talk About Racism”
Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City, by Andrea Elliott
Andrea Elliot for The New York Times Magazine: “When Dasani Left Home”
Andrea Elliot for The New York Times: 2013 Invisible Child series
Here’s this week’s chatter:
David: Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide, by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras
John: John’s donation page for the Covenant House Sleep Out; Gurwinder @G_S_Bhogal’s Twitter thread about the 40 powerful concepts for understanding the world.
Emily: Jan Ransom, Jonah E. Bromwich and Rebecca Davis O’Brien for The New York Times: “Inside Rikers: Dysfunction, Lawlessness and Detainees in Control”
Listener chatter from Nettie Hendricks: The Fetler Family Band on YouTube
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss what they’d do with their days if they didn’t need to work.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Aymann, Jamilah, and Elizabeth tackle a desperate dispatch from a parent who just wants their kid to go to bed. Instead he is pooping in the closet. Then they take on the case of the threenage temper tantrums. How can you calm a kid who is being completely irrational? In Slate Plus: They’re talkin’ tech. Specifically, the gadgets that have transformed their parenting. If you love recommendations, you’ll definitely want to stick around for that discussion. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Sharice’s Big Voice by Sharice Davids and Nancy K. Mays. Plus, check out Erika McLemore’s Instagram for more great book recommendations. Jamilah recommends Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence by Anita Hill. Aymann recommends Elif by G. Willow Wilson and buying a new case for your old phone, especially if you’re itching to get your hands on a new phone. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate staff writer Rebecca Onion is joined by Grace Lynch, host of As She Rises, a podcast that centers the poems of artists around the world to explore the climate crisis. The pair talk about the dangerous impact climate change has on the lives of women—emotionally, physically, and, in some cases, as mothers. Is there hope? Depends on how you look at it.
In our Slate Plus “Is This Feminist” segment, Rebecca and Grace debate if “Bond girls” are feminist.
Recommendations: Rebecca: The Trouble With White Women, by Kyla Schuller and the Netflix show Midnight Mass. Grace: The podcasts Encyclopedia Womanica and Fall of Civilizations. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
As a child, Christy Carlson Romano starred in Disney Channel’s Even Stevens and voiced the character Kim Possible on the eponymous cartoon. Then she faded from the spotlight—until recently, when she reemerged as a chaotic YouTube genius. On this episode of ICYMI, Rachelle and Madison talk to Vanity Fair’s Chris Murphy about his recent profile of Romano and unpack why her candid, low-lift YouTube videos actually have quite the keen understanding of what drives clicks. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by author and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, Isaac Butler. First, the panel reviews Sally Rooney’s most recent novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You?. Next, the panel discusses the new poignant and hilarious television series Reservation Dogs. Finally, the panel dissects the viral NYT Mag article “Who Is the Bad Art Friend?” in a larger discussion about literary responsibility. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses the choice to give up on media you just don’t like and, alternatively, why some people don’t. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: Devery Jacobs’s—the actress who plays Elora Danan on Reservation Dogs—beautifully written article “How Reservation Dogs Is Opening Up a Crucial Conversation About Suicide in Indigenous Communities.” Isaac: The 1996 romantic comedy and comedy of friendship from Nicole Holofcener, Walking and Talking, which is a perfect time capsule of ‘90s New York. Dana has written insightfully about the film, which has also been discussed on a previous episode of Gabfest. Steve: An essay from The New York Review of Books that blew Steve away from Jessica Riskin, titled “Nature’s Evolving Tastes” which talks about the misconstrued reactions to Darwin’s most politicized work Descent of Man. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "200 Dont's" by Conditional
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin talk with Slate’s Alex Kirshner about the racist, sexist, and homophobic emails written by now-former NFL head coach Jon Gruden. Writer Roberto José Andrade Franco joins to discuss Mexican-American soccer star Ricardo Pepi. Finally, Chantel Jennings of the Athletic breaks down the WNBA playoffs.
Gruden (1:27): What his emails reveal about the culture of the NFL? Pepi (24:05): The on-field and off-field significance of the USMNT’s new star. WNBA (45:13): What you need to know about the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury. Afterball (1:06:15): Josh on a women’s sports equivalent for “the Jimmys and the Joes.”
Danny Lavery welcomes Margaret Josephs, author of the memoir, Caviar Dreams, Tuna Fish Budget: How To Survive In Business and Life. Josephs also hosts a podcast with the same Lavery and Josephs tackle three letters: First, from a letter writer who discovered some alarming issues after becoming her grandmother's bookkeeper. Another writer doesn’t know whether to share or destroy her box of letters written during a tough time. The final letter is from someone questioning the “rules” of ghosting. Plus, a deep dive into Joseph’s new book. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, hosts Nicole Holliday and Ben Zimmer chat about Netflix’s latest hit, Squid Game. They also interview award-winning staff writer at The New Yorker, John Colapinto, about his book This is the Voice. And finally, we bring on chart analyst, pop critic, and host of the Slate podcast “Hit Parade,” Chris Molanphy for a fun music quiz. We hope you’re ready! You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus.
Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com. Produced by Jasmine Ellis.
Subscribe to Slate Plus. It’s only $1 for the first month. To learn more, go to slate.com/spectacularplus.
Last week we learned how to stop a public fight before it starts. But despite our best intentions, ugly confrontations still happen—sometimes with tragic consequences. On this episode of How To!, the second in a two part-series, Dan Christensen, a bus driver in Portland, Oregon, and Matt Smith, a crisis intervention trainer and the co-founder of Aegis Training Solutions, are back to teach you what to do when a fight is already underway. Dan talks about his experience with the 2017 Portland train attack that left two people dead. How do you stay safe? What is your responsibility to those around you? In short, how can you be a better bystander? If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Have a Fight That Actually Helps Your Relationship.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John and Rosemary Belson.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a woman who just found out about her husband’s long-held sexual secret and doesn’t know what to do about the revelation.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO’s wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday we’ll be discussing the previous night’s episode with spoiler-filled glee. To kick us off after a long wait for season 3, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by The New Yorker's Rebecca Mead to talk about her piece, "The Real C.E.O of 'Succession'", how sorry we should feel for the Roy "children," and the mic drop ending of season 2.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Slate Plus members get another episode of the How to Do It podcast every Monday. Sign up for Slate Plus now and get $25 off your first year. This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a woman who wonders if she was wrong for asking a certain question on a dating app. They also advise a letter writer who’s caught her husband cheating online.
Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to actor Tom Mison, who discusses some of his favorite roles, from Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow to Mr. Phillips in Watchmen. Tom also discusses various approaches to acting and his process for learning how to convincingly portray a blind character in the Apple TV+ series, SEE. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss Tom’s description of different acting traditions in the UK and the US. Then, June turns to Isaac for some creative advice. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Tom about "posh" parts and "common" parts, a dichotomy that seems to exist all too often in the UK. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
How many details must a writer change before real life turns into fiction? That’s a central question of “Who Is the Bad Art Friend?” the seismic New York Times Magazine article about a kidney donation, a Facebook post, and the subsequent fallout that has consumed social media this week. On today’s episode, Madison tries to summarize the story using only what she learned about it from reactions online. Then, Rachelle catches her up on the real story and all its bizarre details. Finally, they discuss whether anybody comes out of this situation looking like a hero, what writers owe to the people they know IRL, and the best practices for making sure your group chats aren’t the subject of the next big New York Times story. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael are joined by Robin Wigglesworth to talk about his new book Trillions. They get into active investing, what’s going on with Tether, and the art company Masterworks.
In the Plus segment: Snacks.
Mentioned In the show: “Why Masterworks is worth $1 billion” by Felix Salmon “Anyone Seen Tether’s Billions?” by Zeke Faux “Former Pepsi C.E.O. Indra Nooyi on the Truth of Corporate Responsibility” by David Marchese “You’re snacking more when working from home, too right ?” by Emily Peck
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth
The Supreme Court is back in session and its public support is in free fall. But the unpopular court seems poised to radically alter the lives of millions of Americans. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by political analyst Elie Mystal to discuss what’s on the docket, and why so many Americans are braced for the Court to shred their rights. Guest: Elie Mystal, MSNBC political analyst and the justice correspondent for The Nation Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
Danny Lavery takes on two letters: First, from a letter writer who’s anger towards a phone scammer scared his partner. Then, another writer is wondering how to talk honestly with her partner about the third person in their throuple. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis.
The last month has seen a steady drip of leaked documents from inside Facebook, each seemingly more damning than the next. This week, the whistleblower behind the leaks revealed her identity.
What motivates Frances Haugen? And can she do real damage to the social media giant?
Guest: Jeff Horwitz, tech reporter at the Wall Street Journal.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Emily and John are joined by guest host Mary Harris to talk about the dangerous debt ceiling games; blowing the whistle on Facebook; and new revelations about January 6th and the plan to overturn the election.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Wall Street Journal: The Facebook Files
Wall Street Journal: The Facebook Files, A Podcast Series
Nathaniel Persily for the Washington Post: “Facebook Hides Data Showing It Harms Users. Outside Scholars Need Access.”
Charlie Warzel’s Substack, Galaxy Brain: “The Algorithm Tweaks Won't Save Us”
Katie Benner for The New York Times: “Report Cites New Details of Trump Pressure on Justice Dept. Over Election”
Mike Stobbe for The Associated Press: “More Than 120,000 Us Kids Had Caregivers Die During Pandemic”
YouTube video: “Richard Feynman Magnets”
Slate’s What Next With Mary Harris
Here’s this week’s chatter: John: The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth, by Matthew Algeo
Mary: Gary Shteyngart for The New Yorker: “A Botched Circumcision and Its Aftermath”; Robert Kolker for The New York Times Magazine: “Who Is the Bad Art Friend?”
Emily: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: Annual Awards Virtual Event–Championing Disability Rights for 49 Years; Sabrina Tavernise and Katie Benne for The New York Times: “Federal Judge Pauses Strict Texas Law Banning Most Abortions”
Listener chatter from Kyle Amann: Matthew Fox for Insider: “A Hamster Has Been Trading Cryptocurrencies In A Cage Rigged To Automatically Buy And Sell Tokens Since June - And It's Currently Outperforming The S&P 500”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John and Emily talk to Mary about work as a daily podcaster.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Aymann, Elizabeth, and Jamilah discuss their triumphs and fails for the week. Then they answer a question from a listener whose 5 year old has been acting out at school recently. How can she encourage her child to change his behavior?
Later, they share some advice with a listener whose 16 year old has not taken kindly to her mother’s boyfriend of 3 years. What can she do to bridge the divide between her partner and her daughter?
In Slate Plus: We’re discussing movies and TV shows we’ve been enjoying with our families lately.
Recommendations:
Elizabeth recommends finding a race series through your local track club for your kids to run a race! Some races even have baby races. So cute and fun!
Aymann recommends potato chip bags for babies -- wash it out first and you get an amazing toy for a baby!
Jamilah recommends Blazy Susan Pre Rolled Cones for the cannabis-enthusiastic parents out there. They’re slow-burning, vegan, GMO-free and PINK!
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts
Elizabeth Newcamp is a co-host of Mom and Dad Are Fighting. She's a traveling mother of three boys who chronicles her misadventures at Dutch, Dutch, Goose.
Aymann Ismail is an award winning staff writer at Slate whose work focuses on identity and religion.
Jamilah Lemieux is a writer, cultural critic, and communications strategist based in Brooklyn, New York.
Social
@dutchdutchgoose on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dutchdutchgoose/
@aymanndotcom on Twitter https://twitter.com/aymanndotcom
@JamilahLemieux on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamilahLemieux
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate’s news director, Susan Matthews sits down with former colleague and host of the Why Oh Why relationship podcast, Andrea Silenzi to talk about all things weddings. They get into the weirdness of weddings, the sexist nature of some of the traditions, and how to reckon with all that while still having a good time on the dance floor.
In Slate Plus: Is The New York Times Vows column feminist?
Recommendations: Susan: The new album, An Overview on Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins. Andrea: A brand new pasta shape called Cascatelli. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
It can feel nice to form bonds with people we don’t know by following their lives online! It can also be invasive. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison look at an instance of parasocial relationships gone wrong as one long-distance college couple’s reunion turned TikTok users into amateur investigators looking for signs of infidelity. Why did TikTok give these teens the true-crime treatment? Did they invite the scrutiny for even posting in the first place? To read more about parasocial relationships online, check out Madison’s piece, “John Mulaney Doesn’t Owe You Squat.” Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by author and co-host of Slate’s Working podcast, Isaac Butler. First, the panel discusses the social implications of Netflix’s biggest hit to date, Squid Game. Next, the panel reviews the incredibly divisive (and gory) Cannes Palme d’Or winning Titane. Finally, the panel is joined by writer, researcher, and host of the Talking Scared podcast, Neil McRobert, to dissect the horror genre trope of the Final Girl. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses representations of parenthood in art. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements The panel revisits their previous discussion on eBooks and endorses more media. Dana: Scottish actor Alan Cumming’s harrowing, yet deeply moving book—particularly the audiobook version—Not My Father’s Son: A Family Memoir. Isaac: Two books consumed in eBook format! The first, a tome composed of every novella from author Ursula K. Le Guin titled, The Found and the Lost. The second, in this episode’s shadow theme of Halloween, Jason Zinoman’s book Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror. Which is, not clearly, a history steeped in love of 1970s horror cinema auteurs. Steve: Keeping it simple this week with three songs. First, the indie rock band from Leeds, The Wedding Present and their 1992 song “Blue Eyes.” Second (friend of a friend of the podcast) Courtney Barnett’s cover of The Velvet Underground’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror” from the recent Velvet Underground & Nico tribute album. Finally, Willow Smith’s (yes, as in Jada Pinkett and Will Smith) song with artist Tyler Cole “Meet Me At Our Spot,” which was released under their alias THE ANXIETY. (The live version has been blowing up on TikTok.) Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Meet Me At Our Spot" by THE ANXIETY, WILLOW, and Tyler Cole
Danny Lavery welcomes Catherine Baab-Muguira, author Poe for Your Problems: Uncommon Advice from History’s Least Likely Self-Help Guru. Lavery and Baab-Muguira tackle three letters: First, from a letter writer who’s feeling overwhelmed in her polyamorous relationship. Another writer is wondering if she should tell the people who live in her childhood home about a secret room. The final letter is from someone wondering if they should rethink giving away part of their inheritance. Plus, a deep dive into Baab-Muguira’s new book. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Things are a little more tense than usual these days. Stress and anxiety levels are up and so are fights in public. We’ve all heard stories of bad behavior in restaurants, airports, hospitals, school board meetings, etc. So on this episode of How To!, the first in a two-part series, we bring on Dan Christensen, a bus driver in Portland, Oregon, and Matt Smith, a crisis intervention trainer and the co-founder of Aegis Training Solutions. They both have years of experience defusing ugly confrontations, and a bevy of surprising tips to keep yourself safe while calming down those around you. If you liked this episode, check out: “After a Year of Survival, How to Start Living Again.” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John and Rosemary Belson.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Tom Brady’s win over the Patriots. Meg Rowley of FanGraphs also joins to discuss the end of baseball’s regular season and the start of the playoffs. Finally, the Athletic’s Steph Yang helps assess the present and future of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Brady vs. the Pats (2:51): Did the game live up to the hype? Was there too much hype? Baseball (25:17): Should we be sad about the lack of chaos or happy about the possibility of chaos to come?
NWSL (46:06): What are the allegations, and what happens next?
Afterball (1:04:00): Stefan on the oldest players in NFL history.
On this week’s second episode, exclusively for Slate Plus members, Stoya and Rich discuss a letter from a man writing from an ER waiting room. Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a man who just found out what his wife secretly thinks of their sex life. Then they respond to an 18-year-old heading off to college with a big question about his first time having sex. Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at (347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Dana Covarrubias, costume designer for the popular Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. In the interview, Dana explains how her early work as an actor influences her decision-making as a costume designer. She also breaks down some of the creative thinking that went into the wardrobes for each of the main characters in Only Murders in the Building. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss Dana’s technique of establishing backstories for every character, even the minor ones. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dana talks about designing the wardrobes for some of the supporting characters. Then she talks about how to deal with the costume design equivalent of writer’s block. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Scams are everywhere. From the Fyre Festival to Anna Delvy to LuLaRoe, fraudsters just seem to be getting more and more popular these days. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison welcome Laci Mosley, host of the podcast Scam Goddess, to talk about her love of scams and scammers, how she’s been scammed herself, and why she thinks we are all so obsessed with these audacious grifters. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Stacy-Marie Ishmael are joined by Max Chafkin to talk about his new book The Contrarian. They get into the life and drama of Peter Thiel, insider trading, and the Ozy Media scandal.
In the Plus segment: What will Peter Thiel do with all his money?
Mentioned in the show: “Goldman Sachs, Ozy Media and a $40 Million Conference Call Gone Wrong” by Ben Smith “Most Americans Today Believe the Stock Market is Rigged, and They’re Right” by Liam Vaughan
Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Danny Lavery welcomes Angelica Jade Bastién, essayist for New York Magazine’s site, Vulture. Lavery and Bastién discuss a letter writer who is wondering how to get over that her spouse didn’t support her book writing process. Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis.
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Rolling Stone’s chief TV critic and host of the popular podcast Too Long, Didn’t Watch, Alan Sepinwall to spoil the new Sopranos prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark.
The film follows a young Anthony Soprano, growing up in a very tumultuous era in Newark, N.J. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss: Tony Soprano.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. You can read her review here. Alan Sepinwall is Rolling Stone’s chief TV critic and host of the popular podcast Too Long, Didn’t Watch. You can read his review here.
The 2020 Census revealed that a growing number of Latino Americans are acknowledging their Black heritage. But that choice has never been simple. Professor Tanya Hernández of Fordham University School of Law joins Jason Johnson to talk about the bias Afro-Latinos have faced across the Americas, from their governments and even their own families. They also explore how Afro-Latinos pressing for greater representation in entertainment, media, and politics.
Guest: Professor Tanya Hernández, Fordham University School of Law
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel, Jasmine Ellis, and Asha Saluja
Since 2018, internal research teams at Facebook have been studying the effect on Instagram on mental health. Their results couldn’t be more clear: Instagram is causing problems, especially for teen girls.
Why has it taken so long for their research to surface? And what can be done to improve the relationship between kids and the platform?
Guest: Georgia Wells, tech reporter at the Wall Street Journal.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
Since 2018, internal research teams at Facebook have been studying the effect on Instagram on mental health. Their results couldn’t be more clear: Instagram is causing problems, especially for teen girls.
Why has it taken so long for their research to surface? And what can be done to improve the relationship between kids and the platform?
Guest: Georgia Wells, tech reporter at the Wall Street Journal.
Host: Lizzie O’Leary
The 2021-2022 NBA season will be underway in less than a month. The league has set strict testing and distancing rules for unvaccinated players. Largely, that strategy has worked but there are some vocal holdouts.
Guest: Bomani Jones is an ESPN commentator and the host of the Right Time with Bomani Jones podcast.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Even as conservative critics call for her to be ousted from the Olympic squad, track and field athlete Gwen Berry won’t back down after protesting the American flag and national anthem during the Olympic trials. Amira Rose Davis joins the show to contextualize Berry in a long history of Black and female athlete activists. She also explains the personal risks these athletes take in peacefully protesting, even as institutions began paying lip service to the Black Lives Matter cause.
Guest: Dr. Amira Rose Davis, Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies at Penn State University and co-host of the feminist sports podcast, Burn it All Down
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for just $1 for your first month.
John McWhorter teases his new book about off-color English expressions, starting with c!#k. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
When Shellye Archambeau walked into her first meeting as a board member of Verizon, she felt a moment of panic. “Do I actually belong at this table?” she remembers thinking. Shellye, one of the first Black women to work as the CEO of a tech company in Silicon Valley, has struggled over the years with what’s commonly known as “imposter syndrome”—the feeling that you are a phony, despite all evidence to the contrary. On this episode of How To!, Shellye, the author of Unapologetically Ambitious, gives advice to Hannah, a medical student who is struggling with the same feelings of self-doubt, particularly as she’s about to treat patients for the first time. Can Shellye help Hannah tame her imposter syndrome so she can be an effective physician? “I can’t tell people how to get over it,” Shellye says. “But I can tell you how to deal with it.” If you liked this episode, check out “How To Be a Badass On and Off the Court.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Tariq Panja of the New York Times to discuss European soccer’s Super League fiasco. Stefan, Josh, and Joel Anderson then talk about Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry’s absurd month. Plus, an interview with researcher Joanna Harper about transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. Super League (2:11): Why did it implode? What comes next? Stephen Curry (25:44): Assessing one of the most incredible months in the history of the NBA. Joanna Harper (43:25): An interview with the transgender runner and researcher about the science, politics, and culture war around trans girls and women in sports. Afterball (63:13): Josh on the many grudges of new LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey.
Bonus (72:54): Part two with Joanna Harper.
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley
Masks are crucial to stopping the spread of COVID-19, especially indoors and during prolonged close contact. But after a year of the pandemic, evidence is growing that it’s time to rethink rules on wearing masks outdoors. Guest: Shannon Palus, senior editor at Slate.
In the wake of the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, journalism professor Allissa Richardson joins Dahlia Lithwick to discuss what it is to bear witness while Black in America, and why the media needs to stop airing the videos. This is the interview with Vanita Gupta that Dahlia mentions. In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern and Dahlia probe the duplicity at the high court in this week's shocking juvenile life without parole decision, why justices insisting they're best friends really isn't the answer to calls for court reform, and a look ahead to the biggest case so far this term that you probably haven't heard much about. Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Peter Thal Larsen of Breakingviews joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to talk about the mess with soccer’s Super League, what happened with Greensill, and the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. In the Plus segment: Immersive Vincent Van Gogh exhibits.
Mentioned in the show: “They Hacked McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines—and Started a Cold War,” by Andy Greenberg for Wired. “Dueling Van Gogh Exhibits Cause Confusion Across America,” by Selene San Felice for Axios.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
On this episode, Madison and Rachelle discuss how the phrase “body positivity” has lost all meaning. They talk about how the body-positivity movement started as a way to advocate for fat acceptance, including with respect to such tangible issues as healthcare and employment, but how the phrase has been co-opted into memeable soundbites on TikTok and Instagram that serve no real purpose beyond gaining likes and follows. (At least Lizzo gets it.) They also share how an excessive focus on body-consciousness has followed them their whole lives, and examine why the recent focus on “body positivity” on social media has distracted from actual issues. Plus, they run down what happened with Demi Lovato and that frozen yogurt shop. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Advocates of police reform, including President Biden, say Derek Chauvin’s conviction is a crucial step in ending racist police practices. But abolitionists say it’s too little, too late. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with Professor James D. Ward, the author of Policing and Race in America: Economic, Political and Social Dynamics. Ward explains why he thinks abolishing police can’t work politically, but jailing or even executing killer cops could bring real change. Guest: Professor James D. Ward is the author of Policing and Race in America: Economic, Political and Social Dynamics, and the interim director of the Master of Public Policy program and Visiting Professor at Cal Poly. Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Charlie Jane Anders, the author of Victories Greater Than Death, the first book in a new young-adult trilogy coming in April 2021, along with the forthcoming short story collection Even Greater Mistakes. She’s also the co-host of the podcast, Our Opinions Are Correct, along with Annalee Newitz. Prudie and Anders discuss letters about how to handle a boyfriend who says he’s not attracted to you now that you’ve gained weight, what to do when your husband only plays the music of one particular band every single day. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Last week, a Tesla Model S crashed into a tree in a neighborhood north of Houston. Both men inside the car were killed. But according to police, neither of them was in the driver’s seat.
This is not the first crash in which Tesla’s “autopilot” feature has likely played a role. Should we really be trusting this technology?
Guest: Missy Cummings, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke University
Host Lizzie O’Leary
Emily, John and David discuss the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial with guest Dwayne Betts; Andrew Yang’s campaign for Mayor of New York City; and why the U.S. invaded Iraq with guest Noreen Malone (host of the Slow Burn podcast). Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Netflix Is A Joke: “Richard Pryor's 1979 Joke About Police Still Applies” “When I Think of Tamir Rice While Driving” by Reginald Dwayne Betts Jack Shafer for Politico: “How Substack Revealed the Real Value of Writers’ Unfiltered Thoughts” The Million Book Project Felon by Reginald Dwayne Betts A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison by Reginald Dwayne Betts Slow Burn Season 5: The Road to Iraq
Here’s this week’s cocktail chatter: John: The Ezra Klein Show: “That Anxiety You’re Feeling? It’s a Habit You Can Break”; Bob Yirka for Phys.org: “Teaching Children to Play Chess Found to Decrease Risk Aversion”; Joe Trippi’s Twitter thread about Walter Mondale Emily: PBS’s Philly D.A. David: Michael E. Ruane for the Washington Post: “Harriet Tubman’s Lost Maryland Home Found, Archaeologists Say”; Peter Jamison for The Washington Post: “An ‘Insane’ Covid Lockdown Two Miles From the Capitol, With No End in Sight” Listener chatter from Adam Siegel: The Economist: “How spooks are turning to superforecasting in the Cosmic Bazaar”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Dwayne Betts recites his poem, “When I Think of Tamir Rice While Driving.”
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Dan and Elizabeth talk with Alex Chen, founding director of the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic at Harvard Law, about bills that prohibit transgender youth from playing sports and accessing gender-affirming health care. Check out his piece here. The hosts also tackle a question about a father in a blended family who seems to be prioritizing his daughter with his previous wife over his son. Then, the hilarious hosts of ICYMI, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher, pop by to translate internet slang that has parents scratching their heads. In Slate Plus: Is it OK to read your kid’s texts?
Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends making DIY sun hats. Dan recommends reading more Ursula Le Guin, especially Four Ways to Forgiveness. Jamilah recommends Cali'flour Foods’ Enchilada Bake.
Resources: LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic Trans Youth Handbook ACLU GLSEN PFLAG Gender Spectrum Gender Odyssey
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
The country remains divided over the January 6th Capitol riot. The division is reflected in voter surveys, news coverage, and millions of social media posts. But the tension is also on display in small, idiosyncratic communities who realized some of their own were at the Capitol attack and may have cheered it on. Guest: Matthew Rosenberg, reporter for the New York Times.
This month, Christina, Bryan, and Rumaan are first joined by Diana Souhami, whose new book, No Modernism Without Lesbians, tells the story of Sylvia Beach, Bryher, Natalie Barney, Gertrude Stein, and the artistic community they built in Paris between the wars. Then June Thomas joins them for a discussion of the recent spate of period dramas featuring women in love. Why can’t the women in these films get a little electricity or running water? Items discussed on the show: Dan D’Addario on Colton Underwood’s coming out, in Variety Daniel Schroeder on what Underwood’s coming out revealed about the Bachelor franchise, in Slate “Transgender Childhood Is Not a ‘Trend’,“ by Jules Gill-Peterson in the New York Times No Modernism Without Lesbians, by Diana Souhami Saturday Night Live’s take on lesbian period dramas Ammonite Carol Portrait of a Lady on Fire (and Slate Spoiler Special episode) The World to Come
Gay Agenda Bryan: The Lady and the Dale on HBOMax Rumaan: Julie Mehretu’s exhibit at the Whitney Museum, and the New York Times T Magazine conversation between Mehretu and her former partner Jessica Rankin June: The audiobook Hoosier Daddy, by Ann McMan and Salem West, and Not the Real Jupiter, by Barbara Wilson Christina: Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians, by JEB, and June’s interview with JEB on Slate’s Working podcast about the making of the book
This podcast was produced by Margaret Kelley. Please send feedback, topic ideas, and advice questions to outwardpodcast@slate.com.
In this bonus episode, Slow Burn’s host Noreen Malone and producer Jayson de Leon discuss Season 5. Then we’ll hear more about Ahmad Chalabi, the head of the Iraqi National Congress, through various interview clips that didn’t make it into the main episode, with journalists Janine Di Giovanni, Asli Aydintasbas, and Jim Hoagland, and INC member Rend al-Rahim.
Mentioned in this episode: Arrows of the Night: Ahmad Chalabi and the Selling of the Iraq War, by Richard Bonin “The Enemy of Our Enemy,” by Janine Di Giovanni, New York Times, Feb. 20, 2000
Production by Chau Tu and Sophie Summergrad.
Eighteen years have passed since the United States invaded Iraq. It’s a war that killed hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed America’s credibility on the world stage. How much can that war be traced to one Iraqi exile’s longstanding quest to return to Baghdad? Season 5 of Slow Burn is produced by Noreen Malone, Jayson De Leon, and Sophie Summergrad. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Production help from Margaret Kelley.
After just 10 hours of deliberation, jurors found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the murder of George Floyd. This is what happened inside the courtroom and out on the streets.
Guests: Jon Collins, criminal justice reporter at MPR News. Aymann Ismail, staff writer at Slate.
This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss the Oscar-nominated documentary Collective. Next, the group is joined by June Thomas, senior managing producer of Slate podcasts, to discuss Law & Order: Organized Crime. Finally, the panel dives into Substack, the newsletter platform journalists are flocking to. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about the Oscars. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com Endorsements Dana: The Narcotic Farm Julia: Party Down Steve: Anne Briggs, particularly this song Further Reading Charlie Warzel’s recent Twitter thread on Galaxy Brain Outro Music "What Do You Want From Me" by OTE
On this episode, Madison and Rachelle talk to Rolling Stone senior writer EJ Dickson about PissTok, a new TikTok trend in which people are making jokes about urination kinks. She recently reported on the videos, which have attracted tens of millions of views, for her magazine. They discuss how kink has become memified, what this says about the rise of sex positivity in mainstream discourse, and whether or not it’s a step in the right direction. Also, Madison places a call to Apple support. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Prudence is joined this week by Charlie Jane Anders, the author of Victories Greater Than Death, the first book in a new young-adult trilogy coming in April 2021, along with the forthcoming short story collection Even Greater Mistakes. She’s also the co-host of the podcast, Our Opinions Are Correct, along with Annalee Newitz. Prudie and Anders tackle letters about how to support your brother in his new relationship when you’re uncomfortable with their age gap, what actions to take when you’re living with family who neglect the needs of their toddler, what to consider when your teenager prefers the pronoun “it”. Slate Plus members get an additional mini-episode of Dear Prudence every Friday. Sign up now to listen.
Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
We're all have to give a presentation at some point in our lives — on a stage, in a conference room, and, these days, on Zoom. So what makes a good speech? On this episode of How To!, we bring on Chris Anderson, the head of TED Talks and author of TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking. Chris gives us the inside scoop on the famous speaking series and breaks down some of the greatest speeches of all time. Then we present Chris with an unusual challenge from a 6th-grader named Lucy. She wrote in asking for help with a speech she is planning to give to her school board about improving her school. Can the head of TED help our 6th-grade listener with the biggest speech of her young life? If you liked this episode, check out our episode featuring Guy Raz, the former host of TED Radio Hour: “How To Become Your Own Boss With Guy Raz.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
The Biden administration is under no illusions that Russia President Vladimir Putin can be a willing partner of the U.S. But what tools remain to check Putin’s ambitions? Guest: Josh Keating, senior editor at Slate and the author of Invisible Countries.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Ken Early of the Irish Times to talk about European soccer’s proposed Super League. They also discuss the NFL’s top quarterback prospects and they debate whether Triller Fight Club is the future of boxing. Super League (2:10): What is this new soccer proposal? Why is it making everyone so mad? Is there any way to stop it? Quarterbacks (21:13): What we know about Trevor Lawrence and crew, and why so many QBs will likely get picked at the top of the first round. Boxing (38:25): Are Jake Paul, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Evander Holyfield the salvation for a dying sport? Afterball (51:52): Stefan on the San Diego Sockers music video “One for the Thumb.”
Bonus (60:30)
What makes a police officer shoot when a suspect’s hands are up? To understand this, it helps to examine police training, and the predominant lesson that many young officers receive: Any encounter could be your last. Guest: Michael Sierra-Arévalo, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin.
This week host June Thomas talks to TV writer Jed Mercurio, who created the hugely popular UK police procedural Line of Duty and recently executive produced the drama series Bloodlands. In the interview, Jed explains what an executive producer does and discusses some of the signature qualities of his work. He also tells the story of how he became a practicing doctor before trying his hand at writing for television. After the interview June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about Jed’s career pivot. Then they get some creative wisdom from writer Roxane Gay. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jed talks about why British TV writers rarely work in U.S. writers rooms. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
In this episode, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher discuss the latest development in the world of The Bachelor and how it all plays into the show’s relationship with social media. First they dig into the news that former Bachelor Colton Underwood has come out as gay on Good Morning America. Then they get into the show’s love-hate relationship with Instagram, examining how the series has become a launchpad for influencers and explaining how social media has become its public editor, leading to everything from this year’s casting of the first Black Bachelor to to host Chris Harrison’s ouster. If you would like to read more about Underwood and his season of the show, check out our producer Daniel Schroeder’s piece on the subject. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
This week, legendary graphic designer Michael Bierut joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to discuss the late Bernie Madoff and his relation to the Coinbase direct listing, the concept of vaccine passports, and print media versus digital media.
In the Plus segment: Logos.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
Taylor Swift’s new album is a reboot of an old album: Fearless, her 2008 chart-topping juggernaut that made her the biggest star on the Billboard charts. But Fearless (Taylor’s Version)—filled with banjos, steel guitars and fiddles—is also a reminder for those who forgot: Swift was once the top act in country music, too. From Dolly Parton to Shania Twain, the Chicks to Faith Hill, no country artist has ever crossed over to pop the way Taylor did, utterly dominating one genre before she took over another. In this episode, Chris Molanphy focuses on Taylor: the country years, dissecting how she gradually, step by step, became the new queen of pop one irresistible song at a time. She went from interviewing bigger stars on MTV’s red carpet one year, to being the talk of the Video Music Awards the next—even before Kanye took that microphone away from her. He told Taylor he would let her finish, but the game was already over. Swift had the most played song in the USA. Podcast production by Asha Saluja, with help from Rosemary Belson.
Minnesota police killed another unarmed Black man, less than a year after George Floyd’s death. On Sunday, twenty-year-old Daunte Wright was fatally shot by then-officer Kim Potter during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Johnathon McClellan, president of the civil rights advocacy group Minnesota Justice Coalition. They talk about Wright's death, the Derek Chauvin trial, and the ongoing battle for police reform in Minnesota. Guest: Johnathon McClellan, president of the Minnesota Justice Coalition Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis Editor’s Note: The guest misstated that Daunte Wright has a daughter. He has a son.
Like countless venture-funded start-ups before it, Substack is “disrupting” the media industry. The newsletter service is siphoning off high-profile talent with a promise of independence and bigger paychecks. But the platform’s influence might reach far beyond the media. Will Substack change the way we think about online creators and their audiences? Can it create a new kind of relationship between them?
Guest:
Charlie Warzel, writer of Galaxy Brain
Host Lizzie O’Leary
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s senior editor Allegra Frank is joined by Brow Beat nights and weekends editor at Slate, Matthew Dessem, to spoil Godzilla vs. Kong, the new action-packed sci-fi movie from director Adam Wingard. Kong and his protectors go on a perilous journey to find his true home but soon find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla as he cuts a swath of destruction across the globe. But the initial confrontation between the two titans is only the beginning of the deeper mystery that lies within the center of the earth.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts Allegra Frank is a Senior Editor at Slate. Matthew Dessem is Slate’s Brow Beat’s nights and weekends editor
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Leigh Bardugo, the New York Times-bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (coming soon to Netflix). Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Prudie and Bardugo discuss letters about what actions to take when your step dad and his new family refuse to move out of the house you own, and what to do when your wife hates your career shift from an executive to a job with more manual labor. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Emily, John and David discuss the vaccine “pause,” the death of Daunte Wright, and Biden’s commission on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “The Decision That Will Define Democrats for a Decade”
Ryan D. Doerfler and Samuel Moyn for The Atlantic: “Reform the Court, but Don’t Pack It”
Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “How To Fix the Supreme Court: How We Got Here”
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Tom Whyman for The New York Times: “Why, Despite Everything, You Should Have Kids (if You Want Them)”
This week’s chatter: John: Call My Agent; The Irregulars
Emily: Daniele Selby for The Innocence Project “8 Things You Need to Know About Pervis Payne Who Is Facing Execution”
David: Janelle Bitker for The San Francisco Chronicle: “Boba Shortage: Bay Area and the Rest of the U.S. May Soon Have No Bubbles for Tea”
Listener chatter from Gabe Jacobs: 99% Invisible: “Freedom House Ambulance Service”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, David, and Emily talk about the decision to have children in the face of climate change and other catastrophes which could make the future more painful than today.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
Emily, John and David discuss the vaccine “pause,” the death of Daunte Wright, and Biden’s commission on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “The Decision That Will Define Democrats for a Decade”
Ryan D. Doerfler and Samuel Moyn for The Atlantic: “Reform the Court, but Don’t Pack It”
Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “How To Fix the Supreme Court: How We Got Here”
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Tom Whyman for The New York Times: “Why, Despite Everything, You Should Have Kids (if You Want Them)”
This week’s chatter:
John: Call My Agent; The Irregulars
Emily: Daniele Selby for The Innocence Project “8 Things You Need to Know About Pervis Payne Who Is Facing Execution”
David: Janelle Bitker for The San Francisco Chronicle: “Boba Shortage: Bay Area and the Rest of the U.S. May Soon Have No Bubbles for Tea”
Listener chatter from Gabe Jacobs: 99% Invisible: “Freedom House Ambulance Service”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, David, and Emily talk about the decision to have children in the face of climate change and other catastrophes which could make the future more painful than today.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth argue whether or not a toddler is obligated to join a sticker ponzi scheme if the invitation came from his cousin. Then, Jamilah talks to Rose Aka-James, National Membership Director of Black Mamas Matter Alliance, about the work being done to address the systemic racial disparities when it comes to Black maternal health. Check out BMMA’s Black Maternal Health Week Virtual Conference.
In Slate Plus: We’re pitching modern issues that just simply need to be explained via Schoolhouse Rock song.
Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species by Ana Pêgo. Jamilah recommends Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat. Dan recommends Cookie Chronicles by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Federal officials have recommended halting distribution of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, citing rare but potentially severe blood clots. Now, health officials are trying to find out whether or not the clots are connected to the vaccine, creating confusion and sometimes panic for recipients. While the process may seem backwards for some, others say it’s science working the way it’s supposed to.
Guest: Tara Haelle, science journalist and author.
Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz and Carmel Delshad
On this episode, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher look at the way the COVID vaccines have seemed to develop online personalities. They discuss how the memes and merch inspired by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson can actually encourage vaccine hesitancy—which is all the more disappointing since there are actually some pretty informative TikToks out there about COVID-19. Next, they speak to a few Slatesters who might not have purchased vaxx merch but definitely made their own reckless online purchases, by buying things through targeted Instagram ads. Do these impulse buys ever bring us the joy we think they will? Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Republicans are smart to lean in on “cancel culture” as a campaign issue to unite voters. Dan Pfeiffer of Pod Save America says Democrats have the power to make that a losing strategy for the GOP.
Guest: Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Pod Save America.
This week Steve is joined by Slate senior editor Allegra Frank and writer/editor Dan Kois. The group first dives into the What Lies Below, the wild No. 1 movie on Netflix. Next, they discuss the Netflix series Worn Stories. Finally, the panel is joined by Slate music critic Carl Wilson to talk about Prince’s vault of unreleased music, as covered in Sunday's episode of 60 Minutes. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about how their parents influenced their music taste. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com Endorsements Dan: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Allegra: serpentwithfeet’s DEACON Steve: “Averted Intimacies” by Elaine Blair in the New York Review
Prudence is joined this week by Leigh Bardugo, the New York Times-bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (coming soon to Netflix). Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Prudie and Bardugo dig into letters about how to support your non-binary child while avoiding their abusive father, how to handle your boss’s wife who’s always sharing hateful gossip with you, what to consider when you miss a relative that may not like you, what to consider when intellectual debates with your husband always turn into arguments. Slate Plus members get an additional mini-episode of Dear Prudence every Friday. Sign up now to listen. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
A single word—take "self," for example—reveals the thorny nature of literary translation. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
For the season finale, Jolie Hunt, CEO of Hunt & Gather, joins Felix Salmon and Anna Szymanski to talk about the 80s classic Working Girl. They discuss the class dynamics at play, the actual business taking place in the film, and what makes it such an enjoyable fairytale.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
How one theory about COVID-19’s origins went from the fringes to the mainstream -- and why it just might be plausible. Guest: Alina Chan, postdoctoral fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the sports world’s pandemic purgatory. They also ponder what sports feats have still yet to be achieved. Finally, Luke Epplin joins to discuss his book Our Team and the story of Larry Doby, the second player to break baseball’s modern color barrier. Pandemic purgatory (3:11): What to make of the Texas Rangers’ full stadium and the Vancouver Canucks’ 20-plus positive COVID tests. Rare sports feats (19:58): The Padres have, at last, thrown a no-hitter. What achievement can we cross of the list next? Larry Doby (35:05): The first Black player in the American League was a pioneer in his own right. Afterball (53:58): Joel on North Carolina’s JV men’s basketball team. Bonus (65:52)
As Derek Chauvin stands trial for the murder of George Floyd, prosecutors are determined to show the justice system is going to work in this case. Beyond the courtroom, the future of Minneapolis’s relationship with its police department is an open question. Guest: Jon Collins, class and criminal justice reporter at Minnesota Public Radio. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week host Isaac Butler talks to Anthony Fortenberry, chief nursing officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, which has been serving the LGBTQ community in New York City for decades. In the interview, Anthony talks about all the creative challenges he and his staff have faced over the past year, from converting a hotel into a quarantine facility to making sure vulnerable people have access to vaccines. He also talks about the importance of flexibility and explains why managers need to model the behavior they advocate. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas reflect on some of Anthony’s creative wisdom. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anthony talks about his cultural interests and some of the high points of his job. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a Brennan Center fellow and professor at Stetson University, to discuss how, when it comes to corporate influence over politics, money talks - but should it actually speak? From Georgia boycotts to campaign finance, and Mitch McConnell’s apparent new take on Citizens United.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to discuss Justice Clarence Thomas’ anti-big-tech energy, why progressives need to stop pressuring Justice Stephen Breyer to retire, the rising tide of anti-trans bills around the country, and Joe Biden’s Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
In this episode, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher start with a couple of High Speed Downloads: Madison summarizes the latest online drama surrounding self-help guru Rachel Hollis (featuring Harriet Tubman), and Rachelle chronicles the Kardashian fury that was unleashed after somebody posted an untouched-up photo of Khloe. Then, for their main segment, they speak with Dion Beary, a writer and online community builder who founded the Tumblr blog This Is White Privilege. They talk with Beary about where that blog began, its impact on online discourse, and why he stepped away. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Yinka Adegoke of Rest of World joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to talk about President Joe Biden’s plan to raise corporate taxes, the U.S. housing bubble, and the rise of fintech in emerging markets.
In the Plus segment: Is child care infrastructure?
Don’t pick up! The Rise and Fall of a Massive Industry Based on Missed Calls by By Atul Bhattarai for Rest of World
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Sarah Jaffe, the author of Work Won’t Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone, and Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt, both from Bold Type Books. She’s also the co-host, with Michelle Chen, of Dissent magazine’s Belabored podcast. Prudie and Jaffe discuss a letter from a landlord whose tenant won’t move out, and another letter writer who’s wondering what to do about a friend who inexplicably stopped contact. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Since the start of the pandemic, usage of apps like BetterHelp and Talkspace has skyrocketed. These apps might make mental health care more accessible, but are the products they sell really the same as therapy?
Guest: Molly Fischer, features writer for the Cut at New York Magazine
Host Lizzie O’Leary
Black farmers scored a major victory in the Covid relief package, winning billions of dollars in aid. The farmers call it fairness. Some Republicans call it reparations. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by John Boyd Jr. to talk about what this relief means for Black farmers across the country. Boyd is the founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, and says the time is now for the Biden administration to make up for decades of government discrimination. Guest: John Boyd Jr., founder, and president of the National Black Farmers Association Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis Editor's Note: This episode misstated former US Rep. John Conyers' role in Congress. He was a member of the US House of Representatives, not a Senator.
Emily, John and David discuss the corporate backlash to Georgia’s voting restrictions, Matt Gaetz and shamelessness in government, and they are joined by Amanda Ripley to talk about her new book High Conflict.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jonathan Rauch for the Atlantic: “How American Politics Went Insane”
Insecure Majorities: Congress and the Perpetual Campaign by Frances E. Lee
High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley
The Gottman Institute’s “Love Lab”
Emotions in Conflict: Inhibitors and Facilitators of Peace Making by Eran Halperin
L. M. Hartling, E. Lindner, U. Spalthoff and M. Britton for Psicología Política: “Humiliation: A Nuclear Bomb of Emotions?”
Stephen Hawkins, Daniel Yudkin, Míriam Juan-Torres, Tim Dixon for More In Common: “Hidden Tribes: A Study of America’s Polarized Landscape”
The Irregulars
Here’s this week’s chatter:
John: Dan Zak for the Washington Post: “Goodbye to Gate 35x, Cursed Portal to the Rest of America”
Emily: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
David: City Cast Denver
Listener chatter from Paul John Rudoi: Passing English of the Victorian era, a Dictionary of Heterodox English, Slang and Phrase available at The Public Domain Review; Karen Strike for Flashbak: “Not Up To Dick: 100 Wonderful Victorian Slang Words You Should Be Using”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, David, and Emily contemplate whether vaccinated people have a moral obligation to go out and spend.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth and Jamilah are joined by Isaac Butler, co-host of Slate's Working podcast. They answer a question from a mother wondering when and how to tell her daughter that she had an older sister who died prior to birth. Then they dive into sleepover politics. Should the guest list be altered to accommodate cousins who really want an invite? In Slate Plus: We’ve got tips for helping your kid be more creative. Recommendations: Isaac recommends Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts on Netflix. Jamilah recommends Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso from Starbucks. Elizabeth recommends Let's Make Art subscription box.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
In February 2020, Karlin Chan began a group called the Chinatown Block Watch to patrol his New York City neighborhood and act as a “visual deterrent” to anti-Asian attacks. One year and one pandemic later, Chan’s Block Watch is still patrolling the streets, and taking an expansive view of what it means to keep the community safe. Guest: Karlin Chan, founder of the Chinatown Block Watch.
Michigan is currently home to 13 of the worst performing metro areas when it comes to the coronavirus. They recently surpassed 10,000 new cases and their curve has “gone vertical”. With vaccine distribution ramping up across the country, is the Michigan surge a warning for the rest of the country? Guest: Abdul El-Sayed, host of America Dissected.
This week Steve and Dana are joined by Slate senior editor Allegra Frank. First the hosts discuss the Oscar contender Judas and the Black Messiah and the performances of its two stars, Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield. Then pop critic and UVA professor Jack Hamilton joins the show to offer his thoughts on Tina, the new documentary about the life of rock n' roll icon Tina Turner. After that, the hosts talk to Slate writer Rebecca Onion about her re-examination of The Beauty Myth, a modern feminist classic with an increasingly controversial author. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Steve, Dana, and Allegra talk about being evangelists for the art they like and discuss whether pushing your cultural taste on other people is a good or bad practice. Outro music: "Death Dance" by Luftmensch Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com
On this episode, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher report from the latest front in the battle between millennials and Gen Z: the use of reaction GIFs. First, they trace this conflict back to its origins in skirmishes over middle parts and skinny jeans. Then they speak to culture writer Jenny G. Zhang, who recently encountered the fury of thirtysomethings scorned when she tweeted about what using reaction GIFs says about your age. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the men’s and women’s NCAA finals and Jalen Suggs’ Final Four buzzer beater. They also discuss Major League Baseball’s decision to move this year’s All-Star Game in response to Georgia’s new voting law, and Arizona State professor Victoria Jackson joins to assess the athlete compensation case Alston v. NCAA. NCAA (2:57): How Baylor and Stanford won it all, and assessing Jalen Suggs’ remarkable shot. MLB and voting rights (26:25): What went into baseball’s boycott decision. Alston v. NCAA (47:49): What we learned in Supreme Court oral arguments, and what comes next for the NCAA and college athletes. Afterball (67:50): Josh on the transfer portal. Bonus (78:11)
Prudence is joined this week by Sarah Jaffe, the author of Work Won’t Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone, and Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt, both from Bold Type Books. She’s also the co-host, with Michelle Chen, of Dissent magazine’s Belabored podcast. Prudie and Jaffe tackle letters about how to support your undocumented partner through their job search, what to consider when your partner stays in touch with her past abusive partners, what to do when your childhood fib about having hearing loss follows you into adulthood. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Have you ever wondered how you’d fare in the wild? What you’d do when facing off against a rattlesnake or staring down a polar bear? On this episode of How To!, the first in a two-part series, we dive into two extreme scenarios worthy of their own action movies. First, Kyle Dickman, author of On the Burning Edge and a former hotshot firefighter, opens up about the time he truly feared for his life—not when fighting wildfires, but when crossing paths with a rattlesnake on a family hike. Next, we’ll bring on Jill Fredston, author of Snow Sense and Rowing to Latitude who has fought avalanches for decades only to realize the mountain doesn’t care about our sense of self-confidence. Though their experiences may seem remote, they can teach all of us something about risk, luck, and how to coexist with nature. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Withstand Pain.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Last week, President Biden rolled out an ambitious infrastructure plan that relies on increased taxes on corporations to fund big changes to America’s infrastructure. His plan goes beyond putting pavement on the ground, and lays out a different vision for what "infrastructure" really means.
Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
Lizzie O'Leary, host of Slate’s What Next TBD, joins to talk about Margin Call, the 2011 drama about the financial crisis. They’ll talk about how realistic the film is, the nuanced depiction of the people behind the crisis, and Lizzie’s experience as a political reporter covering the real thing.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
Last week, The New York Times reported that Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz was under investigation by the Justice Department over his relationships with women recruited online for sex, and whether he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz gained national attention for his trollish, Trumpian antics and fiery loyalty to the then-president. What happens if the Trump playbook doesn’t work for the 38-year-old congressman?
Guest: Jeff Weiner, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Editor for the Orlando Sentinel
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week host June Thomas talks to the activist photographer Joan E. Biren, also known as JEB. In the interview, JEB discusses the creation, funding, and printing of her 1979 photobook Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians, which was recently reissued by Anthology Editions. She also talks about the enduring legacy of the book and what it meant for lesbians to see themselves accurately represented in her work. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler reflect on JEB’s ability to create the art she wanted to see in the world. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, JEB explains why she doesn’t like words like capture and shoot to describe photography. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
On the latest episode, hosts Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher talk to the teens. Mya Johnson and Chris Cotter are two teen TikTok stars who created a dance challenge set to Cardi B’s No. 1 hit “Up.” Fellow TikTok creator Addison Rae appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to perform their dance, along with seven other popular TikTok dances, without giving credit to any of the creators. A Twitter user tweeted a side-by-side video of Chris and Mya’s original choreography and Addison’s tepid Tonight Show performance, demonstrating just how watered down the moves had become. Chris and Mya are here to discuss how the two first linked up, what they thought about Addison Rae’s performance, and the experience of watching their moves go viral without them. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Writer and former host of Studio 360, Kurt Andersen, joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to talk about Biden’s long awaited and much needed infrastructure plan, the Archegos dustup on Wall Street and the union vote at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama.
In the Plus segment: Post-pandemic Broadway.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by New Yorker staff writer Rachel Syme to spoil Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, the new adventure-filled comedy by real life best friends and the writers who brought us Bridesmaids, Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo. When lifelong best friends and roommates Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristin Wiig) leave their Midwestern hometown for the first time ever, they embark on a vacation to Vista Del Mar, Florida. What starts out as a bit of harmless fun in the sun, quickly becomes the most unexpected, bizarre and even dangerous adventure of a lifetime for the pair. Will they ever be the same?
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts Dana Stevens is a movie critic at Slate. Rachel Syme is a staff writer at The New Yorker and you can read her review here.
There are at least 17 different “vaccine passport” initiatives underway in the United States. And leaked documents reveal that the Biden administration fears that “a chaotic and ineffective vaccine credential approach could hamper our pandemic response by undercutting health safety measures, slowing economic recovery, and undermining public trust and confidence.”
Without coordination, a chaotic and ineffective approach seems likely. So, what can, and what should, the Biden administration do to avoid this outcome? And what are the risks and rewards of coordinating an effort that divides Americans along the lines of vaccination status?
Guest: Dan Diamond, health policy and politics reporter for the Washington Post
Host Lizzie O’Leary
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Claire Cox, a writer and high school teacher and author of the forthcoming novel Silver Beach. Prudie and Cox discuss a letter writer who’s wondering if she should share her views American Liberalism with her colleagues or just keep them within her online community, and another letter writer who’s afraid that her dad may develop Alzheimer’s, just like his dad. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
After historic Black turnout flipped Georgia, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a new law that could hit Black and other voters of color hard. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by LaTosha Brown. She is the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, one of the groups that helped Democrats win Georgia at the Senate and presidential level. They discuss how activists are fighting back against this new controversial law. Guest: LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
In this special episode of Hit Parade’s “The Bridge,” it’s like you’re sitting at the end of the bar for the ultimate pop-music pub quiz: On Tuesday night, March 30, host Chris Molanphy quizzed eight different Slate Plus listeners on trivia questions taken from specific episodes in the last year of Hit Parade. Chris’s stumpers range widely, from Latin Pop to Yacht Rock, OutKast to Billy Joel. Hear how his brave contestants did—and quiz yourself, too!
After the trivia, Chris takes questions from the crowd. Listen to the Q&A to hear him preview the next episode of Hit Parade, dish on his favorite music documentary, and settle an age-old bet between a husband and wife about which is the best year of the ’80s in Billboard chart history. Plus, one listener offers perhaps the cleverest Turning the Tables trivia question in “Bridge” history.
Live event production by Faith Smith and Britt Pullie. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Emily, David and guest host Andrea Valdez discuss the fourth wave of the virus, Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, and fixing the U.S.’s caregiving infrastructure. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: How to Be a Texan: The Manual, by Andrea Valdez Ko Bragg for the 19th: “Four Girls Testified in the Derek Chauvin Trial. Here’s What They Told the Jury.” The University Will Require All Students to Be Vaccinated Before Arriving on Campus in the Fall, Rutgers University March 21, 2021 Bill Chappell for NPR, ”I Believe I Witnessed A Murder,' Witness Says Of 911 Call In Chauvin Case
Here’s this week’s chatter: Andrea: Skip Hollandsworth for Texas Monthly: “The Larry McMurtry I Knew”; Paula Mejía for Texas Monthly: “Selena at 50: Celebrating the Life, Art, and Influence of a Tejano Legend”
Emily: Elie Mystal for the Nation: “The Supreme Court May Be About to Blast Another Hole in Gun Control”
David: City Cast Chicago podcast, hosted by Jacoby Cochran.
Listener chatter from Wally Vinovskis: Theresa Machemer for Smithsonian Magazine: “This High Schooler Invented Color-Changing Sutures to Detect Infection"
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Andrea, David, and Emily discuss running a media startup.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth and Dan debate if you should tell a teen that what they are wearing isn’t appropriate in certain situations. Then, they advise a woman who is pregnant with her family’s second child. Their first child is white and the second child is biracial. The letter writer is concerned that her mother-in-law will treat their second child differently because of the baby’s race.
In Slate Plus: What’s the best way to get rid of kid art?
Recommendations: Dan recommends Water, Wood, and Wild Things: Learning Craft and Cultivation in a Japanese Mountain Town by Hannah Kirshner. Elizabeth recommends Grasshopper by Tatiana Ukhova. Jamilah recommends Mean Girls.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Los Angeles’s Echo Park Lake is home to swan boats, running trails and space for members of it’s rapidly gentrifying community to gather during the pandemic. Up until last week, it was also home to over 100 people living in tents on the west side of the park. The encampment became the focal point of LA’s housing affordability crisis when the housed members of the Echo Park neighborhood called for it to be cleared.
Guest: Benjamin Oreskes, metro report for the Los Angeles Times.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss the film The Father, starring Anthony Hopkins. Next, the group is joined by Slate television critic Willa Paskin to talk about The Real World Homecoming: New York. Finally, the panel dive into the new secrets revealed by a Philip Roth biography. In Slate Plus, Steve and Julia chat with Willa about the books, movies, or shows they've changed their minds about. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com Endorsements Dana: Bertrand Tavernier’s My Journey Through French Cinema Julia: Her recent roadrunner sighting, the Atlantic podcast Floodlines, and I Capture the Castle Steve: The Simpletons and Call My Agent!
Most kids in the country aren’t back to school in any way we’d recognize as normal. Republicans have noticed. Now, they’re launching a few trial balloons this year to see if “reopen the schools” can become their next winning campaign slogan. Guest: Edward-Isaac Dovere, staff writer at the Atlantic. Read his story, “Democrats Are Failing the Schools Test.” Dovere is the author of the forthcoming book, Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats’ Campaigns to Defeat Trump.
On this episode of ICYMI, Slate’s new podcast about internet culture, hosts Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher get lewd. (Sorry, Mrs. Hampton.) First, they read some erotica about the big, unstuck boat. Then, they explain why Lil Nas X’s supposedly shocking turn—stripping for the devil in his new video for “Montero” and selling “Satan Shoes” with blood in them—is really just the logical next step for the “Old Town Road” rapper. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Prudence is joined this week by Claire Cox, a writer and high school teacher and author of the forthcoming novel Silver Beach. Prudie and Cox dig into letters about what to do when your wife wants you to review all her work emails before she hits send, how to steer clear of your abusive mom so you can see your siblings, what to do when your boyfriend gets defensive when you make suggestions that could help him at work, how to handle a cool reaction from colleagues at your decision to leave teaching in public school for private school. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Don't be fooled into thinking that English is a typical language. It's not. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Laura’s dad lived an unusual life. He raised 12 children on a farm without running water in the Texas countryside while also programming his own website that connected families, for free, with help when they were going through difficult times. Ever since he passed away this January, Laura has been searching for a way to tell his story, hoping to ultimately post what she writes about her father on Facebook. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Glenn Rifkin, author of Future Forward and veteran obituary writer at the New York Times, to help Laura craft the perfect remembrance. A good place for Laura to start, Glenn says, is to interview the many members of her family, acting as a reporter to gather as many stories about her dad as she can. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Say the Right Thing at the Worst Time.” Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Houston residents and elected officials are trying to stop the largest urban highway project of their lifetimes -- one that would clear out more than 1,000 homes in primarily Black and Latin neighborhoods and, they say, introduce additional flooding and health risks. Now, residents have a powerful new ally in Washington: the Biden administration. The fate of I-45 may tell us something about what 21st-century infrastructure will look like. Guests: Tomaro Bell, Houston resident and community leader, and Oni Blair, executive director of LINK Houston.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Edmund Lee of The New York Times to talk about The Devil Wears Prada. They discuss the film’s dated depiction of the magazine and fashion industries, Andy’s judgey friends, and of course, the IRL Miranda Priestly, Anna Wintour.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Gonzaga’s greatness and the Sweet 16 match-up between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. Stefan and Josh then try to convince Joel to become a fan of the U.S. men’s national soccer team. Finally, Defector’s Dave McKenna joins for a conversation about basketball legend Elgin Baylor, who died last week at 86. NCAA tournaments (2:18): What’s the secret to Gonzaga’s success? What stood out in UConn’s win over Iowa? U.S. soccer (22:22): What’s not to love about this generation of American men’s soccer talent? Elgin Baylor (44:28): What you need to know about the Washington D.C., College Idaho, Seattle University, and Los Angeles Lakers icon. Afterball (64:52) Bonus (78:23) Podcast production by Margaret Kelley.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has become a Republican celebrity for his notably lax coronavirus policies, keeping the state mostly open during the pandemic. But in Miami Beach, tourists are using the lack of restrictions to their advantage, exposing the difficulty of managing a world that isn’t quite done with COVID-19, but desperately wants to be. Guest: Verónica Zaragovia, healthcare reporter at WLRN. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Rumaan Alam co-host a special episode about staying creative during a difficult year. First they talk about their own experiences in quarantine and how they managed to continue getting work done. Then they hear from other professional creative people like Zoe Kazan, Emma Straub, Jessica Winter, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Alison Bechdel, Emily Gould, Roxane Gay, Chris Eigeman, Alex Winter, and Michael R. Jackson, who discuss the obstacles they faced over the past year and how they dealt with them. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Max Cho, a product manager at Google, joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to talk about that cargo ship stuck in the Suez Canal and its effect on supply chains, the bloodbath at Medium and the media in general, and what the post-pandemic return to the office will look like.
In the Plus segment: The price of Bitcoin.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Adam Cohen to talk about Supreme Inequality: The Supreme Court’s Fifty-Year Battle for a More Unjust America, and whether Merrick Garland should heed calls to reinvestigate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern on Cedar Point Nursery v Hassid, the big union case before the court this week, guns at the 9th Circuit, and Georgia’s vote-suppression legislation push.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
On the second episode of ICYMI, Slate’s new podcast about internet culture, hosts Madison Malone Kircher and Rachelle Hampton take listeners on an all-access tour of Clubhouse, the invite-only audio app that already has millions of users, including everyone from Elon Musk and Drake to Oprah and Joe Rogan. Madison somehow ends up taking a shower with hundreds of other users? The app also doesn’t allow people to record and publish audio, so this episode will probably get us banned. Then, they try a new segment that we’re calling High Speed Download, in which each of them must try to summarize all of the drama of a recent internet story in 60 seconds or less. This time: the sagas of relationship guru Derrick Jaxn and Jensen Karp, aka Cinnamon Toast Shrimp Guy. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
Peloton thought it was selling boutique at-home fitness to busy parents. Instead, it created an entire community. But it also hit a few bumps on the road to success. Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Jaya Saxena, a staff writer at Eater. Her latest book, Crystal Clear, an essay collection about how humans assign meaning and power to objects, was published in December with Quirk Books. Prudie and Saxena discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to reignite her attraction to her husband, and another letter writer who wants to know how to get out of attending her family’s weekly, pandemic focused, video chats. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the latest example of Black characters taking on the mantle of comic book superheroes. On this week’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by professor and award-winning comic book artist John Jennings. They discuss the importance of Black characters winning more power in comic books, and why Black superheroes still have to deal with microaggressions and overt racism. Guest: John Jennings, a professor of Media and Culture Studies at the University of California Riverside and an award-winning comic book artist. Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
Back in April 2020, AstraZeneca was hailed as a frontrunner in the race to get an effective vaccine to market. A year later, after a series of trial pauses, communication blunders, and PR problems, the vaccine is on the cusp of FDA approval.
By all accounts, the company succeeded in making a safe, effective vaccine. So why has there been so much confusion about its rollout?
Guest: Peter Aldhous, science reporter at Buzzfeed News
Host Lizzie O’Leary
Emily, John and David discuss immigration, violence against Asian Americans and how Amazon is shaping the American economic landscape. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for Slate: “Stop Telling Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Retire: It's Counterproductive”
David Leonhardt for The New York Times: “The Democrats’ Immigration Problem”
Nicole Narea for Vox: “Migrants Are Heading North Because Central America Never Recovered From Last Year’s Hurricanes”
One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matthew Yglesias
Slate’s Political Gabfest, “The “Rage” Edition” (with Matthew Yglesias)
Claire Jean Kim for Politics and Society: “The Racial Triangulation Of Asian Americans”
How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev
Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America by Alec MacGillis
Michael Corkery and Karen Weise for The New York Times: “Amazon Workers’ Union Drive Reaches Far Beyond Alabama”
Lina M. Kahn for The Yale Law Journal: “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox”
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency by John Dickerson
John Dickerson for 60 Minutes: “Studying Coronavirus Spread in One Georgia School System”
Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily chattered abou ther forthcoming article about the exoneration of Yutico Briley. Matt Sledge for The New Orleans Advocate: “A Man Serving 60 Years For Armed Robbery Is Free After Jason Williams Clears The Way For Release”
John: Howard Schneider for Reuters: “U.S. Covid Response Could Have Avoided Hundreds of Thousands of Deaths - Research”
David: Janelle Shane for Substack: “GPT-3 Tries Pickup Lines”
Listener chatter from Mathew Dicks: Philip Hoare for The Guardian: "Sperm Whales in 19th Century Shared Ship Attack Information"
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss a wrong but unappealable call by high school basketball referees.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Dan, and Jamilah counsel a parent whose kid felt hurt and slighted when her Zoom playdate abruptly ended. Then they tackle a close quarters situation: a little kid is asking for privacy in the mornings. But the family has two other kids to dress and a limited amount of space in their apartment. What should they do now that her morning routine is making it hard for their entire family to get out the door?
In Slate Plus: Gabe Roth, Slate's editorial director for audio and former Mom and Dad are Fighting co-host, joins to vent about the Netflix movie, Yes Day.
Recommendations:
Jamilah recommends Coca-Cola With Coffee’s Dark Blend flavor.
Dan recommends Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz.
Elizabeth recommends Welly bandages.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Colorado Rep. Tom Sullivan counts the number of Fridays since his son was killed in the Aurora theater shooting in 2012. The latest mass shooting in Boulder, which left 10 people dead, was yet another reason Sullivan says he’s continuing his quest to curb gun violence in the state.
Guest: Colorado State Rep. Tom Sullivan.
On the first episode of ICYMI, Slate's new podcast about internet culture, hosts Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher make sense of two recent controversies about online celebrities. First, they recap the recent drama around Kylie Jenner’s call for her followers to donate to a makeup artist’s GoFundMe—and explain how it connects to a whole year of influencers failing to read the room during the pandemic. Next, they dig into the reckoning currently roiling YouTube, recounting the rise and fall of David Dobrik, and analyzing why an allegation in a recent Insider report has put “Gen Z’s Jimmy Fallon” in hot water. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.
After four years of President Trump’s harsh immigration policies, many advocates for Central American migrants welcomed a change in administration. But after two months in office, President Biden has given a clear message to people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border: “don’t come.” Still, thousands of people, including an increasing number of unaccompanied children, are making the trek and forcing Biden to face his first big immigration test.
Guest: Adolfo Flores, national security correspondent for immigration at Buzzfeed.
This week Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss the Oscar-nominated Danish film Another Round. Next, the group is joined by Dan Pashman, host of the Sporkful podcast, to discuss his journey to invent a brand-new pasta shape. Finally, the panel is joined by Carolina Miranda of the LA Times to discuss museums “deaccessioning” art. In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss what favorite works for children they discovered as grown-ups. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com Endorsements Dana: The Flashback archive Julia: “A guide to hiking in L.A.” in the LA Times Steve: “With You” by Teenage Fanclub
Prudence is joined this week by Jaya Saxena, a staff writer at Eater. Her latest book, Crystal Clear, an essay collection about how humans assign meaning and power to objects, was published in December with Quirk Books. Prudie and Saxena tackle letters about how to handle a sister who’s adamant that you change to a vegan diet, how to tell your husband that you will file for divorce if he gets a pet, what actions to take when your sister-in-law is neglecting her baby, how to handle a family that is prematurely planning your wedding just because you’re dating someone nice. Slate Plus members get an additional mini-episode of Dear Prudence every Friday. Sign up now to listen. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
For years, Stella helped raise twin girls whom she loved deeply. She potty trained them, read bedtime stories and made sure they ate their veggies. But then, one day with little warning, she was asked to leave them. Stella isn’t a parent—she’s a nanny. And though it’s been years, she’s still heartbroken over being let go from her old job, especially the way it ended. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Tasha Blaine, author of Just Like Family and a former nanny, to help Stella process her loss. When you’re getting paid to raise someone else’s kids, how do you navigate that messy work-life divide? And for couples, how can you establish a better, more professional relationship with this “third parent”? Listen in for the secrets of a real-life Mary Poppins. If you liked this episode, check out our “Cheat Sheet” series on raising children in an unusual year. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
The Oscar-nominated film One Night in Miami… imagines the conversation between Sam Cooke, Malcolm X, Cassius Clay and Jim Brown the night in 1964 they gathered to celebrate the soon-to-be Muhammad Ali’s heavyweight victory. Malcolm X challenges Sam Cooke to use his amazing voice to help “the struggle.” Little did he know Cooke had already recorded his civil‑rights masterpiece, “A Change Is Gonna Come.” In this episode, Chris Molanphy sets the record straight on the man now called the King of Soul. In his too-brief career—seven years as a gospel star, then seven more as a chart-conquering superstar—Sam Cooke took a remarkable journey: from the pathbreaking pop of “You Send Me,” to the wistful R&B of “(What a) Wonderful World,” to the yearning romance of “Bring It on Home to Me,” to—of course—the now-legendary “Change Is Gonna Come.” Meet the man who defined what soul music was and could be. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Residents of Jackson, Mississippi, were left without water for weeks after a deep freeze hit the south, bursting pipes and forcing people to rely on bottled or collected rain water. But even though the water is back on, Jackson’s next water crisis might not be so far off. Guest: Nick Judin is a reporter at the Mississippi Free Press. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Niala Boodhoo of Axios to discuss the Paul Thomas Anderson oil epic, There Will Be Blood. They’ll delve into the religious symbolism in the film, analyze Daniel Plainview’s family values and get into some of the history behind the story.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the opening weekend of March Madness. They also discuss the inequalities between the men’s and women’s tournaments, and author Jessica Luther joins for a conversation about the assault lawsuits against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. NCAA Tournament (3:03): A bunch of fun games or just a whole lot of bad basketball? March Madness inequality (20:14): How a viral TikTok video brought attention to NCAA disparities. Deshaun Watson (36:50): How to think about the allegations, and what comes next. Afterball (53:53): Josh on “you don’t need a 3 here.” Bonus (63:35) Podcast production by Margaret Kelley.
On March 16, a white gunman killed eight people - six of them Asian-American women - during shootings at three different spas in Georgia. The shooter claims he was driven by a “sex addiction,” but his actions fall into a complicated legacy where race, sex, and the fetishization of Asian women all intersect. That legacy is now in full view as the nation grapples with this latest tragedy and a rise in anti-Asian violence. .
Guest: Lisa Hagen is a reporter for WABE in Atlanta and the co-host of No Compromise, a podcast about a grassroots movement for gun rights.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the comedy The Apartment (1960), directed by Billy Wilder. Other titles mentioned in the episode: Sunset Boulevard (1950) Butterfield 8 (1960) Conversations with Wilder Some Like It Hot (1959) Ace in the Hole (1951) Stalag 17 (1953) The Lost Weekend (1945) Double Indemnity (1944) Ball of Fire (1941) Ninotchka (1939) Nobody’s Perfect Brief Encounter (1946) Fast Times on Ridgemont High (1982) Dragnet Bonanza Columbo The Crowd (1928) Gaslight (1944) Children of Paradise (1946) Ikiru (1956) When Harry Met Sally (1989) Frances Ha (2013) Manhattan (1979) Billy Wilder Tapes Eve’s Bayou (1997) Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood Wanda (1970) Alexandria…Why? (1979) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Within Our Gates (1920) One From the Heart (1982)
Email us at flashback@slate.com Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to musician Julien Baker about her new album Little Oblivions. In the interview, Julien discusses the process of writing the song “Favor” and how she combined pieces that were originally intended to be separate songs. She also describes her revision process and explains why Little Oblivions features more dissonant and abrasive sounds than her previous albums. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam help a teacher who wants to bring more creativity into the classroom. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Julien talks about some of the music that has inspired her recently. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon to discuss voting rights, democratic reform, and what it will take to get the For the People Act through Congress. This conversation was recorded as part of this year’s SXSW. Slate Plus members have access to the whole interview.
Economics professor Lisa D. Cook stops by to discuss her New York Times article on the wide-ranging economic impact of discrimination, the racist history of patents and innovation, and vaccine IP questions.
In the Plus Segment: Mobile money.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
On today’s episode of A Word, host Jason Johnson discusses how the recent water crisis that struck Jackson, Mississippi has become an everyday consequence of inequality in many rural Black communities. His guest is MacArthur “Genius” Catherine Coleman Flowers. She is the author of “Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret.” They talk about environmental justice and how access to safe drinking water is an issue throughout the nation.
Guest: Catherine Coleman Flowers, author of “Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret,” and a winner of a 2020 MacArthur Genius Grant. She’s currently helping to lead a project to survey problems with the nation’s water system.
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week Slate staff writer Karen Han is joined by Slate’s senior editor Sam Adams to spoil Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the new four hour artistic cut to its original counterpart. When Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) enlists newfound ally Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to face a greater threat than ever before, they have to work quickly to recruit a team to stand against their new enemy. Can the world be saved by this unprecedented league of heroes? Or is it too late?
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts Karen Han is a staff writer at Slate and you can read her review here. Sam Adams is Slate’s senior editor and you can read his review here.
Can a once-revered brick-and-mortar music chain be brought back to life in the era of Amazon and Spotify? Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Rax King, the James Beard award-nominated writer of Tacky (forthcoming from Vintage Books in 2021) as well as the host of the podcast Low Culture Boil. Prudie and King discuss a letter writer who’s wondering if her happily married life is too boring for her single friends, and another letter writer who is wondering what to do after finding out that her sister with mental health issues is pregnant. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Facebook’s failure to contain the spread of dangerous misinformation is no secret. For years, the company has pledged publicly to fix the problem. But in the wake of the Capitol riots, it’s clear that there’s more work to be done. So, why isn’t the social media giant using its powerful AI to contain hate and lies?
Guest: Karen Hao, senior AI reporter at MIT Technology Review
Host Lizzie O’Leary
David, John and Josie discuss the politics of vaccine acceptance, the changed conversation on policing, and how Texas, undeterred by failing to find voter fraud, continues its assault on voting rights.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Dan Diamond for The Washington Post: “‘We Want To Be Educated, Not Indoctrinated,’ Say Trump Voters Wary of Covid Shots”
Charles Duhigg for The New Yorker: Seattle’s Leaders Let Scientists Take the Lead. New York’s Did Not”
The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why by Amanda Ripley
Washington Post Editorial Board: “Reimagining Safety”
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman Jr.
Josie Duffy Rice for Vanity Fair: “Abolition’s Promise”
Vann R. Newkirk II for The Atlantic: “American Democracy Is Only 55 Years Old—And Hanging by a Thread”
Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “Can Anything End the Voting Wars?”
This American Life: “Squirrel Cop”
“Irish Family vs Bat”
Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: “Ahmaud Arbery's Death and the Politics of Black Joy”
Here’s this week’s chatter: Josie: We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice (Abolitionist Papers) Paperback by Mariame Kaba
John: “Ian McKellen Explains the Difference Between Acting on Stage and in Movies | The Dick Cavett Show”
David: The Atlas Obscura Podcast
Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Andrew Chamings for SF Gate: “The Bizarre Tale of the World's Last Lost Tourist, Who Thought Maine Was San Francisco”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Josie, David, and John discuss the art and literature they wish they could experience for the first time again.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces calls to resign over accusations of sexual harassment and allowing a toxic workplace culture to persist. But to the people who know him best, it’s unlikely the governor will ever bow to those demands. Guests: Jimmy Vielkind, Wall Street Journal reporter covering New York politics & government. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On this week’s episode: Dan talks with Emily Oster, professor at Brown University and data-driven parenting author. She also writes ParentData, an evidence-based newsletter that has been a vital resource for many parents navigating the pandemic. Emily and Dan talk about how families should act now that more families are falling into the ‘mixed-vaxxed’ category and what to expect for the upcoming spring and summer. Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth also tackle a question from a listener who has fallen out of love with professional sports. Now his little girls are starting soccer. Should he jump back into the sports fandom or is it okay to stay out of the fray? (Overtime: We chatted with soccer legend Abby Wambach last year about raising competitive athletes, especially when the parents aren’t sporty. Check it out.) In Slate Plus: The hosts share the soundtracks to their parenting.
Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends the card game Blink. Jamilah recommends Matchabar’s Hustle Matcha Tea Lemonade Dan recommends e-bikes.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
This month, Christina, Bryan, and Rumaan discuss a New York magazine piece about fashion designer Alexander Wang, the dynamics of power and consent, and the swiftly changing norms of gay spaces. Then they’re joined by science writer Riley Black to discuss her recent Slate piece about how science might not be the best tool to argue with those who oppose trans rights. This podcast was produced by Daniel Schroeder.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed crucial gaps in the public health system, including the government’s inability to gather data quickly and accurately. After a year of lockdowns and isolation, a return to life resembling normalcy is in sight, but how will we know when we get there?
Guests: Alexis Madrigal, co-founder of The COVID Tracking Project, and staff writer at The Atlantic.
This week Steve and Dana are joined by Slate editor Allegra Frank. First, they discuss Coming 2 America, the sequel to the 1988 film Coming to America starring Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall Next, they chat about the Pedro Almodóvar short The Human Voice and discuss how it compares to other Almodóvar works. Finally, they’re joined by Slate staff writer Aaron Mak to talk about NFT's (non-fungible tokens), the new digital certificates of "ownership" that are changing the way people buy art. In Slate Plus, the panel talks about their feelings on re-entering society post-pandemic. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com Outro Music: "Break The Line" by Coma Svensson
Further reading: “Coming 2 America’s Disastrous Return to Africa” by Allegra Frank in Slate “What the Heck Are NFTs, and Why Are Grimes, Lindsay Lohan, and the Guy Who Made Nyan Cat Selling Them?” by Aaron Mak in Slate
Endorsements Dana: “Repeat After Me” by June Thomas in Slate “Talk To Her, All About My Mother, Broken Embraces …” by June Thomas in Slate This radish recipe Allegra: The Real World Homecoming: New York and the original. “i drive me mad” by renforshort, as heard on Generation Steve: “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” by Saint Etienne "Cherry Wine" by Hozier "Shrike" by Hozier
Prudence is joined this week by Rax King, the James Beard award-nominated writer of Tacky (forthcoming from Vintage Books in 2021) as well as the host of the podcast Low Culture Boil. Prudie and King dig into letters about whether you should hire someone who shares a last name with the most prominent Nazi who ever lived, what to consider when your wife tells the same stories over and over again, what actions to take with a partner who asks you questions with irritation about every thing you do, how to express to your therapist that it may be time to take a break, how to be less judgmental of your friends on social media. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
For many languages, the idea that the subject belongs up front is plain backwards. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
When it comes to the past year, we’ve all lost something -- or someone. Time with friends and family. A job. A loved one. But when we think about the 530,000 people in the U.S. who died because of COVID-19, the magnitude makes it hard to see the individuals. Today, we remember one loss, out of many. Guests: Alicia Montgomery, executive producer of podcasts at Slate, and her cousin, Yvonne Tilghman. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
Andrew snores so badly that his cats won’t sleep in the same room as him. He’s desperate to sleep better at night, and breathe more easily during the day. As a trans man, Andrew spent most of his life training to be a soprano opera singer only to become a baritone when he transitioned in his early 20s. On this episode of How To!, we bring on James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, to share the history of why we breathe the way we do. Turns out being a “mouth-breather” is more than just an insult, it’s harmful to our health. James gives Andrew some nasal breathing exercises to improve his snoring, anxiety, and overall wellness. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Sleep.” Do you have a problem you can’t get out of your head? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John, Rachael Allen, and Rosemary Belson.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Paul Ford, podcaster and CEO of Postlight, to discuss the 2010 David Fincher movie The Social Network and let’s just say...he does not recommend it. They’ll discuss what the movie gets wrong in retrospect, what makes the writing of the female characters so terrible and other reasons The Facebook Movie just does not hold up.
“Discussing Skateboarding with Director Werner Herzog” by Ian Michna & Rob Fraebel for Jenkem Magazine
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the lead-up to March Madness. They also talk about the controversy surrounding “The Eyes of Texas,” the song the University of Texas plays before and after football games. Finally, they assess the life and career of Marvelous Marvin Hagler. March Madness (01:09): Should the NCAA Tournament be played? “The Eyes of Texas” (21:12): What we know about the song and what the conversation about it leaves out. Hagler (40:37): What made him and his fights so memorable. Afterballs (60:02): Stefan on the etymology of packed and stuffed. Bonus (70:19) Podcast production and edit by Margaret Kelley. You can email us at hangup@slate.com.
When the coronavirus pandemic shut down cities across the U.S. and forced many people to work from home, others deemed “essential” still had to show up for their jobs. A year later, the gap between the need for essential workers and the way they’re treated is all too apparent. Guests: Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week host Rumaan Alam talks to cookbook author Julia Turshen about her career as a professional home cook and her new book Simply Julia: 110 Easy Recipes for Healthy Comfort Food. In the interview, Julia explains why she was drawn to cookbooks from a young age and how she later managed to combine her love of writing and her love of cooking into one career. She also talks about the deeply personal details in Simply Julia and discusses why she’s trying to get readers in and out of the kitchen “as easily and as efficiently as possible.” After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas dig into Julia’s advice to “only write the book that only you can write.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Julia helps Rumaan out of his cooking rut. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Jessica Ring Amunson, who argued Brnovich v DNC at the Supreme Court this month, to take us inside the arguments and the key questions, and also to look at the wider landscape for voting rights. Then Dahlia’s joined by Jamal Greene who says Americans’ thinking about rights is all wrong, as they discuss his new book How Rights Went Wrong: Why Our Obsession With Rights Is Tearing America Apart.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to thrash out the major issues of the week we couldn’t get to in the main show, including racism at Georgetown University Law Center, Chief Justice John Roberts’ lone dissent, and the last of the kraken election cases batted away from the high court.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Economist, journalist, and podcaster Tim Harford returns to the show to discuss his new book The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics with Felix Salmon and Emily Peck. They also chew over President Joe Biden’s new stimulus bill and the Beeple NFT.
In the Plus Segment: Florence Nightingale.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
Emily, John and David discuss the unprecedented American Rescue Plan. Author Heather McGhee joins the Gabfest to talk about her new book outlining how racism hurts all Americans and Dr. Michael Mina answers questions about how to improve the nation's pandemic-fighting strategies.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Pew Research Center: “Broad Public Support for Coronavirus Aid Package; Just a Third Say It Spends Too Much”
The Debrief with Major Garrett: “$2 Trillion For What?”
The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans--And How We Can Fix It by Dorothy A. Brown
John: “‘The Secret Apartment’ Is The Story Of A Vietnam Vet Who Claims To Have Lived In Veterans Stadium For Years”; The Secret Apartment: Vet Stadium, a surreal memoir by Tom Garvey; Jeremy Irons Reads the Psalms
David: The Fourth Child by Jessica Winter
Listener chatter from Seth Milhoan: Sarah Brookbank for the Cincinnati Enquirer: “Del Hall, The Cincinnati Man Who Lives on a Beer-only Diet for Lent, Is Doing It Again and Raising Money”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss how they decide whether to rescue or abandon a failing project.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
Back in 2014, Google released in-depth diversity data for its workforce for the first time. 1.1 percent of its tech team identified as Black. Six years later, after millions of dollars spent and a much-hyped partnership program with historically Black colleges and universities across the country, that number is up to 2.4 percent.
How did such a promising effort yield such incremental change?
Guest: Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter at the Washington Post
Host Lizzie O’Leary
Marvel has stumbled as a company many times throughout its history, even going bankrupt in the 1990s. But not unlike many of its characters, it’s re-emerged stronger than before. Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.
On today’s episode of A Word, host Jason Johnson discusses the death of Breonna Taylor, one year later, with Kentucky State Representative Attica Scott. She’s the author of Breonna’s Law, which would ban no-knock warrants, like the one used by the police who killed Taylor.
Guest: Representative Attica Scott, a state lawmaker for Kentucky’s 41st District and author of Breonna’s law.
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Grace Lavery, a professor of English at UC Berkeley, who’s new memoir, Please Miss, will be published by Seal Press in 2022. Prudie and Lavery discuss a letter writer who’s wondering if she can ever trust her husband again after he had an emotional affair with one of his students, and another letter writer who is polyamorous, but is experiencing panic attacks while her partner is having sex with other people. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On this week’s episode: Jamilah and Dan are joined by longtime friend of the pod, Jessica Winter. Jessica just released her next novel, The Fourth Child. They answer a question from a mom of a little boy whose current friend group is all girls. She’s worried that he’s going to be ditched and without a group of friends as they all age. Then they tackle a question from a mom who has had it with her kids’ shouting a rather annoying nonsense word. In Slate Plus: Inspired by Jessica’s little deconstructor, they’ll be commiserating over the worst things their kids have destroyed. Recommendations: Jessica recommends picture books by Melissa Iwai. Dan recommends The Fourth Child by Jessica Winter. Jamilah recommends So Delicious’ Dairy Free Oatmilk Peanut Butter and Raspberry frozen dessert. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Why did schools stay closed for so long in Memphis? And why weren’t parents clamoring for them to reopen? To answer those questions, you have to tell a longer story about the relationship between a majority-Black, Democratically-controlled city and a largely white, Republican-controlled state. Guest: Laura Faith Kebede, reporter for Chalkbeat Tennessee.
Nearly a third of republican voters say they’re not interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine. What does that mean for the spread of the virus? Guest: Dan Diamond, national health reporter for the Washington Post. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week Steve, Dana, and Julia are joined by Slate’s executive producer of podcasts Alicia Montgomery for a segment about Oprah’s widely viewed interview with Meghan and Harry. Then the hosts discuss the ever-growing popularity of Stanley Tucci, from his viral cocktail videos to his CNN show Searching for Italy to his new movie Supernova. Finally, the group talks about the discontinuation of six Dr. Seuss books. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com Outro Music: "Bring My Friends" by Tigerblood Jewel
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and Wall Street superfan, to talk about Oliver Stone’s 1987 ode to yuppie culture. They’ll discuss the corporate raider culture of the 80s, the era of “smiling and dialing” and the wonky legality of insider trading.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
Prudence is joined this week by Karen K. Ho, a business and economics reporter for Quartz based in New York City. She has been published in Time, GQ, Glamour, Vox, Toronto Life, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Columbia Journalism Review and the new, critically-acclaimed true crime anthology Unspeakable Acts. Prudie and Ho tackle letters about how to decide if you will pay for your son’s girlfriend’s abortion, should you wait to break up with your boyfriend until his leaves the job that you both share, what to consider when you wife doesn’t like your tendency to be calm when she is upset, how to reconcile your feelings with a mom who will never understand the pain she caused you growing up, should you let your now estranged husband see you after he so abruptly and painfully left your life, how to handle the heartbreak when your boyfriend of three years breaks up with you. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Emilia can’t stop thinking about a long-ago love affair with Ivan, a man she met in Mexico in her early 20s and dated for several years. Now, a decade later, Emilia is newly married, but thoughts of her time with Ivan pop into her mind daily, a fact she’s never shared with her husband. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Ethan Kross, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan and the author of Chatter: The Voice In Our Head, Why It Matters, and How To Harness It. Whether thinking about a past experience or worrying about the present, we all get stuck in negative cycles of thought, and Ethan has the tools to help us form a better relationship with our thoughts. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Fall Out of Love.” Do you have a problem you can’t get out of your head? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
The 117th U.S. Congress is the most diverse ever. But that distinction does not extend to senior staff on the Hill. How does the makeup of Congressional staff influence legislation? Guest: Maya King, author of Politico’s Recast newsletter on how race and identity shape politics, policy, and power.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the NBA All-Star Game and the state of the league a year after it suspended play due to COVID-19. They also talk about a new report on LSU’s failures to deal with sexual assault claims and allegations about the school’s ex-football coach Les Miles. Finally, Andrew Maraniss joins for a conversation about his book Singled Out, on the plight of the gay baseball player Glenn Burke. NBA (1:55): What has the NBA learned, if anything, during our year-long pandemic? LSU (18:25): How should the school respond to a report laying out its Title IX failures? Singled Out (38:20): What Glenn Burke went through, and what his legacy means today. Afterballs (57:55): Stefan on Muhammad Ali’s activities before his first fight with Joe Frazier and Josh on listeners’ favorite free throws. Bonus (76:50) Podcast production and edit by Margaret Kelley. You can email us at hangup@slate.com.
George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police last year sparked an international protest movement and amplified calls for police accountability. Now, as the former police officer Derek Chauvin goes on trial, Minneapolis is preparing for another public reckoning. Guest: Jon Collins, senior reporter for Minnesota Public Radio.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the drama Lola Montès (1955), directed by Max Ophuls. Other titles mentioned in the episode: Phantom of the Paradise (1974) La Ronde (1965) The Earrings of Madame De… (1953) Letter From an Unknown Woman (1948) Caught (1949) Summer With Monika (1953) “Have One on Me” Dickinson Vertigo (1958) The Life Aquatic (2004) The Naked Kiss (1964) In the Bedroom (2002) Jules and Jim (1962) Fahrenheit 451 (1966) The Red Shoes (1948) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) On the next episode: Billy Wilder’s The Apartment (1960). Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host June Thomas talks to audiobook narrator Abby Craden about voicing multiple characters, narrating fiction and nonfiction, and finding a niche in the world of lesbian romances. (The books June referenced are Radclyffe’s “Honor” series.) Abby also discusses her home recording setup and her surprising workload. Learn more about Abby and her work at abbycraden.com. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler help a listener who feels too stressed out to write. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Abby talks about one of her side gigs, where she helps create background audio for film and TV. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Charles Kenny, senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to talk about his new book The Plague Cycle: The Unending War Between Humanity and Infectious Disease, vaccine distribution, and how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the global economy long term.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s senior editor Allegra Frank is joined by Slate staff writer Rachelle Hampton to spoil Coming 2 America, the sequel to the 1988 hit comedy, Coming to America. Set in the royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York - where it all began.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery. Hosts Allegra Frank is Slate’s senior editor. Rachelle Hampton is a staff writer at Slate.
In 2018, the company once known as Weight Watchers changed its name to “WW.” Is its best chance at survival to convince people that it’s not that interested in dieting after all? Podcast production by Asha Saluja and Cleo Levin.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Julia Turshen, the author of the critically acclaimed cookbooks, Now & Again, Feed the Resistance, and Small Victories. Her new cookbook was released this month, and it’s titled, Simply Julia. She’s also the host of the podcast, Keep Calm and Cook On. Prudie and Turshen discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to handle a friend who’s angry that you asked her handyman boyfriend for help, and another letter writer who wants to know if her husband’s post nuptial agreement is fair. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson discusses cancel culture with Loretta Ross, visiting associate professor at Smith College. Professor Ross teaches a course titled White Supremacy, Human Rights and Calling In the Calling Out Culture as a visiting associate professor at Smith College. They talk about the role cancel culture plays in society and politics, and if there’s a better way to hold powerful people accountable.
Guest: Loretta Ross, associate visiting professor at Smith College.
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
The federal Lifeline program was intended to bridge the gap between Americans who could comfortably pay for phone and internet service, and those who couldn’t. But in the midst of the pandemic, Lifeline is falling woefully short. How did a program meant to help connect low-income Americans with phone and internet service ended up making them second-class digital citizens at the worst possible moment?
Guest: Tony Romm, senior tech policy reporter at the Washington Post, author of
“How the Federal Lifeline Program Failed Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic”
Host Lizzie O’Leary
Emily, John and David discuss the state of the stimulus bill, sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo, and escalating voter suppression efforts.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Dahlia Lithwick for Slate: “Maybe It’s a Good Thing Andrew Cuomo Is Still Governor”
Charlotte Klein for Vanity Fair: “Pence Can’t Quit The Big Election Lie That Nearly Got Him Killed”
The Brennan Center’s State Voting Bills Tracker 2021
Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Elizabeth Nolan Brown for Reason: “Science-Based Policy Means Decriminalizing Sex Work, Say Hundreds of Researchers”; Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
John: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Civics Test
David: David chattered in Seussian rhyme about the controversy over Dr. Seuss Enterprises’s decision to take six books with racist imagery out of print.
Listener chatter from Lily Shield: Amy Littlefield for the Nation: “As the Pandemic Raged, Abortion Access Nearly Flickered Out”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss when they first realized the coronavirus would be life-changing.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth argue about if teenage drivers should chip in for the privilege of driving, especially when the teen in question is not making a ton of money. Then they jump into a couple’s argument over swearing in front of the kids. In Slate Plus: It’s the classic debate. Oatmeal raisin v. chocolate chip cookies. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Prodigies online music lessons. Jamilah recommends Sabai Design. Dan recommends If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss. More Jamilah!: Slate Live’s Wild and Wise Doing the Most Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
After Joe Biden’s surprising win in Georgia, Republicans in the state started in on legislation to limit voting access in the state. Their efforts mirror what’s happening in state houses across the country. Is there any way to slow down these efforts to limit access to the ballot?
Guest: Ari Berman, writer for Mother Jones and the author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
As legislative sessions begin across the country, a rash of anti-trans bills have been brought to the floor by Republican legislators. Many of the proposals target trans youth -- both in sports, and access to medical care. If any of these bills become law, what will it mean for trans rights across the country?
Guest: Kate Sosin, Reporter for the 19th
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week Steve and Dana talk to Slate senior editor Sam Adams about the HBO documentary Allen v. Farrow, which examines the legal battle between Woody Allen and Mia Farrow in the early 90's and the sexual assault allegations at the heart of it. Then Steve, Dana, and Julia talk about the Golden Globes and a report by the LA Times that revealed dubious spending practices by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the group behind the Globes) and a lack of diversity in its ranks. After that, University of Pennsylvania English professor Alan Filreis joins the show to talk about the poet, activist, and bookstore owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who recently passed away. In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss the new gender-neutral rebranding of Mr. Potato Head and the reaction from right-wing pundits. Send us your questions and topic suggestions at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Outro Music: "Mother" by The Big Let Down
Prudence is joined this week by Julia Turshen, the author of the critically acclaimed cookbooks, Now & Again, Feed the Resistance, and Small Victories. Her new cookbook was released this month, and it’s titled, Simply Julia. She’s also the host of the podcast, Keep Calm and Cook On. Prudie and Turshen dig into letters about what to consider with a daughter who you fear smokes and eats too much, how to handle an ailing mom who makes you feel bad about your weight, how to get colleagues to stop addressing you as “dear”, what to consider when you find it distasteful that your sister is giving non-professional advice on the internet. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
How did a word meaning "with bread" come to sprout its corporate connotation? Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Michael grew up terrified that the world was going to end. This wasn’t your typical childhood anxiety, but something he was taught while being raised in the Children of God cult. Michael left the cult years ago, but now in his 30s he’s struggling to heal the scars it left on his parents and 11 siblings. How do you go on living when the world doesn’t actually come to an end? On this episode of How To!, we bring on Rebecca Stott, author of In the Days of Rain, a memoir about her childhood in a cult called the Exclusive Brethren. “Whenever I have an interview like this, I can feel the frog in my throat,” Rebecca tells us. “It’s like there’s something still censoring me...in my own head.” Rebecca knows what it’s like to feel ashamed of her childhood, but she’s also learned to find what was useful in her experience and apply it to her life today. She says Michael can do the same thing by opening himself up to his loved ones and in future relationships. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Forgive the Unforgivable.” Do you have an unusual problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Louise Roug, International executive Editor at HuffPost, to talk about the hit 1980 comedy 9 to 5. They discuss how the film’s original, darker tone was abandoned, why its themes are, sadly, still so relevant today and, of course, the wonderful Dolly Parton.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
President Joe Biden has said he wants to focus his foreign policy on rebuilding international alliances and standing up to China and Russia. But just five weeks into the new administration, the Middle East has already started to demand Biden’s attention. Guest: Josh Keating, senior editor at Slate.
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by FanGraphs’ Meg Rowley to talk about Seattle Mariners president Kevin Mather’s resignation and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s new contract. Alex Kirshner also joins to discuss NBA Top Shot. Finally, they interview Nick Greene about his book How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius. Baseball (2:28): What Mather’s comments reveal about the Mariners and MLB, and what Tatis’ deal says about the Padres and major-league economics. NBA Top Shot (23:16): A collecting craze + an internet-fueled bubble = investment mania How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius (43:15): What game designers, economists, and ballet choreographers can teach us about the sport. Afterballs (61:37): Stefan on Jack Inglis and Josh on a Luka Doncic rookie card. Bonus (73:08): Tiger Woods. Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Asha Saluja. You can email us at hangup@slate.com.
The power’s back on in Texas, but many residents are still struggling to clean up after a disastrous winter storm. The cold snap knocked out electricity for several days and froze water lines. Some Texans are still without water; others are bailing out flooded homes. But this storm was just the latest in a series of catastrophes to hit Texas in the past several years, leaving the state’s most vulnerable residents in ever more precarious positions. Guest: Amal Ahmed, reporter at the Texas Observer. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to cartoonist and now showrunner Noelle Stevenson about the process of rebooting the ‘80s TV show She-Ra: Princess of Power. In the interview, Noelle talks about developing a fresh vision for the show and ultimately creating one of the most diverse kids shows in history. She also discusses her webcomic, Nimona, which was adapted into a graphic novel and earned her a National Book Award nomination at the age of 23. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas offer advice to a listener who wonders if focusing on their art, rather than working with vulnerable people, is too privileged a life choice. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Noelle talks about The Weight of Them, a webcomic she created about her decision to get top surgery. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, to try to unpack how the First Amendment has become the answer to everything and yet actually applies to so few of the speech issues we face.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern takes a look at Justice Clarence Thomas’ dissent this week that sounded a lot like an endorsement of the Big Lie of 2020: Just because there’s no evidence of voter fraud, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Author and science journalist, Annalee Newitz joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to talk about their new book Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, electric vehicles and why the internet may be doomed. In the Slate Plus segment: The payments infrastructure in the US.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by U.Va. professor and Slate pop critic Jack Hamilton, author of Just Around Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination, to discuss his recent article on the portrayal of soul legend Sam Cooke in the acclaimed film One Night in Miami. Jack explains how the film, for all its merits, elides Cooke’s legacy between his 1957 pop breakthrough and his final major hit, “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Then, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables on him, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Grace Lavery, a professor of English at UC Berkeley, who’s new memoir, Please Miss, will be published by Seal Press in 2022. Prudie and Lavery discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how long they should stay in a job that isn’t fulfilling, and another letter writer who no longer finds his wife physically attractive. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Over the last year, the Australian government has been waging a quiet war against Facebook and Google. Through a new law, it plans to force the big tech companies to pay news outlets in exchange for linking to their sites.
Will this new law have the intended effect? Or will it set a dangerous precedent that cedes even more power over to the tech giants?
Guest:
JR Hennessy, editor at Business Insider Australia
Host Lizzie O’Leary
On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by national security analyst Malcolm Nance to discuss how the Capitol insurrection illuminated ties between violent white nationalists and US law enforcement. They address why white supremacists groups find some willing recruits in the military service and the police, and what officials are doing to stop it.
Guest: Malcolm Nance, national security and counterterrorism analyst for MSNBC and the author of The Plot to Betray America: How Team Trump Embraced Our Enemies, Compromised Our Security, and How We Can Fix It.
Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel and Jasmine Ellis
Color is a beautiful thing that just exists in the world. But when color intersects with capitalism, somebody has to set some standards, make some decisions, and make some money. Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.
Emily, John and David discuss the Tanden take down, Merrick Garland‘s DOJ, and how to stop police killings of Black people with guest Jason Johnson.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Isaac Chotiner on Twitter @IChotiner
Mitch Daniels for the Washington Post: “Senate Republicans Could Restore a Bit of Civility by Confirming Neera Tanden”
Jacob Jarvis for Newsweek: “Neera Tanden Once Criticized Joe Manchin's Pharma CEO Daughter”
Wesley Lowery for GQ: “The Most Ambitious Effort Yet to Reform Policing May Be Happening in Ithaca, New York”
Slate’s A Word … With Jason Johnson
Here’s this week’s chatter:
Emily: Yes In My Backyard’s Mapping Inequality: Digitizing Our Redlining History
John: Isabella Kwai for the New York Times: “Von Trapped: The Family Is Stuck Inside, So Why Not Sing Parodies?”
David: Children get off a school bus in Mongolia
Listener chatter from @Yayadesigns1: “Watch an Archaeologist Play the “Lithophone,” a Prehistoric Instrument That Let Ancient Musicians Play Real Classic Rock”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss our cultural predispositions when it comes to risk and how to better deal with, ignore or address risks.
Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Dan, and Carvell commiserate with a parent whose teen is taking every little correction to heart. Then Elizabeth sits down with Erika McLemore (@sitbymyfire on Instagram) to discuss how parents should incorporate lessons on Indigenous peoples, cultures, and land acknowledgements into play. She also shares a bunch of wonderful resources for parents and kids to continue educating themselves on language, history, and current issues central to the Indigenous experience. In Slate Plus: Slate’s Holly Allen stops by to talk about her powerful new bathroom cleaning tool. A blacklight! Let's just say she can't unsee what she saw...
Recommendations: Dan recommends East: 120 Vegetarian and Vegan recipes from Bangalore to Beijing by Meera Sodha. Carvell recommends breaking out the Mario Kart games with the family. Not only is the Nintendo Switch great, but he also recommends throwing it back with a Nintendo Wii. Elizabeth recommends taking time this week to reach out to one person and say something nice.
Erika’s Recommendations: Native-land.ca Native Appropriations Warrior Kids podcast All My Relations podcast Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace by Traci Sorell
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
After years of policy work in Washington, Neera Tanden is more than qualified to serve as Biden’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget. But her open scorn for conservatives and progressives alike, often expressed through aggressive Twitter barbs, has made her confirmation the most tenuous of the new president’s picks.
Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.
The U.S. military has long had a sexual assault problem. And the Marine Corps - the final service branch to gender-integrate - is no exception. Though multiple scandals have rocked the Marines, continued abuses make it clear that deeper changes are needed to make all service people safe.
Guest: Erin Kirk-Cuomo, founder of #NotInMyMarineCorps.
This week Steve, Dana, and Julia talk about Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland. Next, they dig into their obsession with the New York Times’s Spelling Bee puzzle and interview its editor, 24-year-old Sam Ezersky. Finally, they discuss group chats in light of Heidi Cruz’s recent troubles with the forum. In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss a piece of culture that they used to love and are now done with? Thanks to listener James Callan. Send us your questions and topic suggestions at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Outro Music: "Back to Silence" by OTE
Prudence is joined this week by Uma Kondabolu, the mother of comedian and prior Prudie guest, Hari Kondabolu. Prudie and Kondabolu tackle letters about how to hold boundaries with a daughter who keeps begging for money, how to handle parents who won’t eat at your home because you allow cats in the kitchen, what to do when you’re put off by your family’s love of owning firearms, what to consider when your husband’s will leaves everything to his elderly parents and not your own children, what to consider when your boyfriend gets his ex-wife pregnant at the same time time you’re carrying his baby, what actions to take when you discover that your wife is a functioning alcoholic. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Democrats are divided over student debt forgiveness. President Joe Biden is trying to get $10,000-per-borrower canceled, while more progressive members of the party want $50,000 wiped out. So whom would these proposals help? And what can be done to keep the student debt crisis from happening all over again? Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate's senior business and economics correspondent.
Several months ago, Sarah told her best friend John she’s in love with him—but he doesn’t love her back. Now Sarah can’t get John out of her head, especially because they still talk all the time. How can Sarah move on from John? On this episode of How To!, we bring on Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and the author of Anatomy of Love, to help Sarah train her heart—and her brain—to fall out of love. The first thing Sarah needs to do, Helen says, is cut off contact with John. Every time she sees him, it reactivates her brain circuitry for romantic love. And as beautiful as their friendship may be, it’s holding Sarah back from finding her true love. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Propose (to a Man).” Do you have a problem in your love life? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Peter Kafka, a senior correspondent at Recode and host of the Recode Media podcast, to talk about the 2007 Oscar-winning film Michael Clayton. They break down some of the plot issues, get into what makes it a good New York film, and Anna will explain why she really hates this movie.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to talk about the Australian Open. They also discuss the NBA’s new G League player development model. Finally, they assess Anthony Edwards’ huge dunk and name their favorite dunks of all time. Australian Open (3:35): How Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic won and what the future holds for Serena Williams. G League Ignite (24:21): Jalen Green’s path to the pros could change the NBA and college basketball. Dunks (42:30): Will Anthony Edwards’ slam stand the test of time? Which dunks will we never forget? Afterball (59:30): Josh on posterization, the word and the concept.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has attracted national praise for his buck-stops-here leadership throughout the pandemic. But he's made some major missteps in his coronavirus response - the lack of transparency around COVID-related deaths in nursing homes is only the latest example. And his efforts to evade scrutiny have drawn fire from critics and constituents.
Guest: Jimmy Vielkind, reporter for the Wall Street Journal covering New York politics and government.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the rock opera Phantom of the Paradise (1974), directed by Brian De Palma. Other titles mentioned in the episode: Nosferatu (1922) Bride of Frankenstein (1935) The Phantom of the Opera The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) Femme Fatale (2002) Dressed to Kill (1980) Body Double (1984) Casualties of War (1989) The Black Dahlia (2006) One From the Heart (1982) New York, New York (1977) Sisters (1973) Carrie (1976) Obsession (1976) Dionysus in '69 (1970) Scarface (1983) Blow Out (1981) The Fury (1978) The Untouchables (1987) The Wedding Party (1969) Hi Mom! (1970) Suspiria (1977) Faust Apocalypse Now (1979) The Cask of Amontillado Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) Everybody Loves Raymond Young Frankenstein (1974) Psycho (1960) Frankenstein The Day of the Locust (1975) Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987) Finnegans Wake Gimme Shelter (1970) The Earrings of Madame De… (1953) Letter From an Unknown Woman (1948)
The Swan Archives Pauline Kael’s review On the next episode: Max Ophuls’ Lola Montès (1955). Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Rumaan Alam taps into the well of creativity that is Austin Kleon, author of books like Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work! In the interview, Austin talks about his distaste for the “guru” label and the uncertainty it takes to be a teacher and student of creativity. He also weighs in on whether creativity is teachable and sprinkles the whole conversation with quotes and other nuggets of wisdom from his favorite writers and thinkers. After the interview, Rumaan and co-host Isaac Butler hear from a listener who’s trying to find a good writing group. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Austin talks about his email newsletter and what he plans to work on next. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
It’s Anna Szymanski’s final (regular) episode as a host of Slate Money. So, in true Anna fashion, she, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck get wonky on the Texas power grid and Citibank’s $500 million error. Plus, Anna answers your questions for her!
Don’t worry, there is more Anna coming in our Slate Money Goes to the Movies miniseries! Next up: Michael Clayton. In the Slate Plus segment: Anna argues her biggest contrarian take--liking Tom Brady.
Bloomberg Odd Lots Bloomberg Surveillance BBC Global News Banking with Interest
Citibank legal docs.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate features editor Jeffrey Bloomer and New York Times correspondent Ruth Graham to spoil Saint Maud, the feature film debut from writer and director Rose Glass. In this extremely eerie horror film, we meet Maud, (played by Morfydd Clark) a reclusive young nurse charged with the hospice care of Amanda, (Jennifer Ehle) a former dancer who has been diagnosed with cancer. At first, they find commonality in their religious beliefs. But will Maud’s newfound faith guide her and Amanda toward a path of healing? Or is something more sinister at play? Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts Dana Stevens is a movie critic at Slate. Jeffrey Bloomer is Slate’s features editor. Ruth Graham is a New York Times correspondent.
You can read Jeffrey Bloomer’s review here You can reach Dana Stevens review here
Over the last week, millions of Texans have been forced to live without power or heat. At least 16 have died since Monday. In a state that’s no stranger to extreme weather and high power demand, how did it all go so wrong?
Guest:
Josh Rhodes, research associate at the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas at Austin
Host Lizzie O’Leary
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Alexis Coe, a historian and the New York Times bestselling author of You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington. She was a producer on Doris Kearns Goodwin's Washington series on the History Channel, and is also a producer on the film adaptation of her first book, Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis. Prudie and Coe discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to avoid talking politics at the office, and another letter writer who’s wondering how to convince his wife to step away from her intense social media based job. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
How do you sex up the world of B2B “customer relationship management” software? For Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, it’s been a combination of ambitious acquisitions, skyscrapers, monks, and Metallica. Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.
On the Gist, #TedFled. In the Interview, his new documentary has been called “jaw-dropping,” “incendiary,” “riveting,” and “engrossing.” Sam Pollard’s new film MLK/FBI is about the bureau’s surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The film delves into new and declassified documents as well as restored footage to reveal the government’s long past of targeting Black activists. Pollard tells Mike, “I was just trying to tell a good story. About two men on the same trajectory one with a goal to take his people to the Promised Land, and the other one with a goal to stop that man from doing that.” Sam Pollard is an award winning director, editor and producer. He was nominated for an Oscar for his 1997 documentary 4 Little Girls, and has won two Emmys for his documentary editing. In the Spiel, we’re worried about the cows in Texas. Hat tip, Moo Muffs! Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Emily, John and David discuss Republican allegiance to Trump, schools during COVID-19, and they're joined by guest Jonathan Cohn to look back on Obamacare and to explore the current state of COVID-19 vaccinations. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Susan Dominus for the New York Times Magazine: “Rhode Island Kept Its Schools Open. This Is What Happened.”
Shawn Hubler for The New York Times: “Vaccinating Oregon’s Teachers Might Not Be Enough to Reopen its Schools.”
The Ten Year War by Jonathan Cohn
Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Anna Holmes for the Atlantic: “The Magazine That Helped 1920s Kids Navigate Racism” John: Radio Garden David: Pick of The Litter Listener chatter from Ming Richie: Cathy Free for the Washington Post: “This Man Mistakenly Left his Wallet in Antarctica. Some 53 Years Later, He Got it Back.”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss the legacy of Rush Limbaugh.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah and Elizabeth are joined by Zenovia Stephens, founder and CEO of Black Kids Adventures. They strategize ways a mom can help her tween power through her Sunday night blues. Then they debate if large age gaps between kids really leads to emotional distance and weak bonds between siblings.
In Slate Plus: Zenovia talks about the importance of getting yourself and your kids outside.
Recommendations:
Elizabeth recommends a wireless pocket microscope for outdoor adventures.
Zenovia recommends Vanicream Moisturizing Cream.
Jamilah recommends cooking with flavored butters, specifically truffle butter.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Rush Limbaugh’s radio show provided a roadmap that the Republican Party has been following, more or less faithfully, for decades. Guest: Nicole Hemmer, author of Messengers of the Right and co-host of This Day in Esoteric Political History.
On the Gist, we rush to Limbaugh’s judgment. In the Interview, political and media historian, Brian Rosenwald, joins Mike to talk about Rush Limbaugh’s rise to popularity in conservative media, his power as a voice and entertainer in talk radio, the influence he had on the Republican party, and who is primed to carry his torch over the AM dial or in podcasting. As a national broadcaster, Limbaugh developed a political perspective over his career that to the left perpetuated harmful ideas, and to the right, uplifted and championed their values. Limbaugh was awarded the presidential medal of freedom February 4, 2020, and died February 17, 2021 of complications from lung cancer at 70 years old. Rosenwald is editor of Washington Post’s Made By History blog, scholar in residence at the Partnership for Effective Public Administration and Leadership Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States. And we give up the spiel to keep talking to Rosenwald about the aftermath of Limbaugh. Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
This month, Christina, Bryan, and Rumaan are first joined by June Thomas to discuss Jeremy Atherton Lin’s new book Gay Bar, their own personal histories with gay bars, and if such queer spaces have a future. Then they’re joined by Autostraddle’s Shelli Nicole to talk about the Lex app, a text-based dating app aimed at queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming people. They discuss how the app got its start, the ways it’s changed in just one year, and if queer women will ever have an app that’s just for sex. This podcast was produced by Daniel Schroeder.
In the year since the pandemic began, the number of attacks against Asian Americans has skyrocketed. The most recent wave of assaults left a number of victims injured and one man dead. Many Asian American activists say the attacks reflect a pattern of violence “as old as America itself.”
Guest: Kim Tran, an anti-oppression consultant and the author of the forthcoming book, The End of Allyship: A New Era of Solidarity.
This week Steve and Dana are joined by Jessica Winter, editor at the New Yorker and author of the upcoming novel, The Fourth Child. They kick off the show by discussing Saint Maud, the critically acclaimed horror film by Rose Glass. Then they dig into the #FreeBritney movement and dissect a televised documentary by the New York Times that covers Britney Spears' legal battle with her father. After that, Slate's pop music expert Chris Molanphy joins the show to discuss Olivia Rodriguo's hit song Drivers License, which shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Chris is the host of the Hit Parade podcast. In Slate Plus, Julia joins Steve and Dana to talk about the Gina Carano controversy and weigh in on whether her firing from The Mandalorian was justified. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Email the hosts at culturefest@slate.com
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the debate over whether to play the national anthem at sporting events. They also discuss what the pandemic taught us about the mysteries of home-field advantage. Finally, ESPN’s Ryan Smith joins to talk about a lawsuit alleging that the NFL’s concussion settlement discriminates against Black players. Anthem (3:11): Why the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing it, why they resumed, and what happens next. Home-field advantage (20:48): How home teams fare in a world without crowd noise. Concussion settlement (36:17): Inside a lawsuit brought by pro football retirees. Afterball (57:20): Stefan on “Star-Spangled Banner” debates of the past.
On the Gist, Southern cold snap! In the Interview, Sonari Glinton is back! Which means we’re talking cars. Glinton and Pesca discuss GM's recent proclamation to go electric by 2025. Glinton says that it's not that car makers aren't making profits off of going electric, it's that General Motors' commitment is a sign that the state of things are grave. He projects that automotive companies will be entering into partnerships in an effort to solve environmental problems, and that the new Biden administration in conjunction with the depart of transportation will lead efforts to push the U.S. out of the recession. Glinton is a well-known host in the public radio and podcast realm, and is a former NPR business reporter covering the auto industry and economics. In the spiel, trying to predict the history books. Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Prudence is joined this week by Alexis Coe, a historian and the New York Times bestselling author of You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington. She was a producer on Doris Kearns Goodwin's Washington series on the History Channel, and is also a producer on the film adaptation of her first book, Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis. Prudie and Coe dig into letters about what to consider when your developmentally delayed daughter now shows interest in sex, should you let your girlfriend’s child know that their mom is a survivor of sexual abuse, what to do when your 35 year old best friend is having an inappropriate friendship with a 17 year old, how to be a support to your partner when you feel you have no bandwidth to be supportive. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
From the evolution of ain't to double negatives, simply saying no is wonderfully complex. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Age may just be a number but turning 60 is a big deal—at least, according to three listeners who recently wrote us about the challenges they’re facing in their later years. Joy can’t decide whether to retire from her job as a high school Spanish teacher. Doug is trying to figure out where to channel his energy after a career in the military. And Kim needs to find a way to support herself for the first time in her life after a devastating divorce. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Herminia Ibarra, a professor at the London Business School and author of Working Identity. Herminia has studied life transitions extensively, discovering that we make changes by running small experiments rather than taking one flying leap into the unknown. And since our identities are so closely linked to our professional life, Herminia says, it’s important to surround yourself with new people as you conduct these experiments, testing out different possible selves and imagining what new identities may be out there for you, at any age. If you liked this episode, check out “How To Find a New Career Before It’s Too Late.” Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Taffy Brodesser-Akner to discuss the 1993 film Indecent Proposal starring Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson and Robert Redford. They get into topics like whether there can possibly be a feminist read of this film, the moral value of money and why Taffy quotes this movie all the time in her professional life.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
Taffy Brodesser-Akner is an author and a journalist for New York Times Magazine.
Gustavo Arellano’s father is what he would call a ‘pandejo’ - someone who doesn't take COVID safety seriously. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Gustavo has been fighting the uphill battle to dissuade him of his skepticism. And two weeks ago, his father finally got vaccinated. We all know a ‘pandejo.’ What can we learn from Gustavo’s relationship with his father? Guest: Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the LA Times Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week host June Thomas discusses the art of set decoration with Beth Kushnick. Beth has worked on dozens of film and TV projects including The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and the new EPIX series Bridge and Tunnel. In the interview she talks about how she sources items and finds authentic furniture and accessories for period pieces. She also explains how physical items can add complexity and biographical details to the characters we see in movies and on television. After the interview, June and co-host Rumaan Alam talk about Beth’s experience working during the pandemic. Then June talks to Slate writer and editor Dan Kois about a book deal he just landed. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. You can follow Beth on Instagram @bakhomedecor where you can see photos from Bridge and Tunnel and other shows. Her podcast is called Decorating the Set: From Hollywood to Your Home with Beth Kushnick. Podcast production by Cameron Drews
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by renowned communications researcher and campaign adviser Anat Shenker-Osorio to talk about the messaging of impeachment outside the lens of the law. Then, Bob Bauer, former White House counsel under President Barack Obama and senior adviser to the 2020 Biden campaign, joins Dahlia to discuss the significance of this impeachment as a legal matter, and the next steps needed when the trial ends (in acquittal). In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern on the guessing-game that is the law of Covid and death-penalty protocols in late-night SCOTUS orders.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski talk about Tesla’s $1.5 million Bitcoin investment, the recent growth of fast fashion and Bumble’s IPO. In the Slate Plus segment: Birkinstocks. (Not to be confused with Birkenstocks.) ‘Ultra-fast Fashion Is Eating the World’ by Rachel Monroe for the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/03/ultra-fast-fashion-is-eating-the-world/617794/
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
Quick, what was the only No. 1 album by Jimi Hendrix? How about the first No. 1 by Billy Joel? Jackson Browne? Pat Benatar? Pearl Jam? Lady Gaga? In all cases, the answer isn’t obvious—it’s not the album you know best, the one with the most hits on it. It’s the album after that classic that goes to No. 1. And there’s no better example than AC/DC, the Australian-by-way-of-Scotland hard rock band that’s sold more than 20 million copies of Back in Black. But it was their next album (can you name it?) that topped the Billboard album chart. Chris Molanphy has coined a term for this weird chart phenomenon: He calls it The AC/DC Rule. Just as less-good movie sequels open better at the box office than classic first installments, follow-up albums often chart higher than their slow-growing but hit-packed predecessors. Some of the rock and pop legends who fell prey to this chart phenomenon might surprise you…might just leave you shook all night long. Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
On the Gist, Mike lives for the arguments Trump’s lawyers are making because, well, they’re really bad. In the Interview, “She loves America. For her, she was there showing support for the American political process.” SUNY Geneseo political science professor and author Karleen West talks to Mike about her mother’s participation in the January 6th insurrection. West has spent years studying insurrections in Latin America, but on January 6th, her personal and professional collided. Mike and West talk about how West’s mother is a strong woman, but doesn’t consider herself a feminist, the radicalization of her mother, and how her mother is still proud of her...despite not really knowing what her career is. In the spiel, assailing democrats, and two words: Swiss cheese. Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
For most of the last year, Clubhouse—the audio-only social media app—has been dominated by conversations about business, branding, and Elon Musk. But as users picked up the app around the globe, something extraordinary happened.
Censors in mainland China overlooked it. And for two weeks in February, it hosted a series of unusual, unfiltered conversations. Han Chinese, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese, and Uighurs all flooded to the app to speak freely about authoritarianism, democracy, and propaganda.
Here’s what happened when the censors looked the other way.
Guest:
Melissa Chan, journalist with the Global Reporting Centre
Host Lizzie O’Leary
For more than a century, Hallmark has been a tightly-held, Midwestern business that’s mastered the art of turning feelings into revenue. But recently, it has run into trouble when it’s tried so hard to be inoffensive, it ends up offending. Can Hallmark succeed in an era when emotions might be getting too big to fit in an envelope? Podcast production by Jess Miller and Cleo Levin.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Chau Tu, a writer, podcast producer, and the editor of Slate Plus. Prudie and Tu discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to address a brother who apologized for groping her as children, but she has no memory of it, and another letter writer who’s wondering how to support her step-sisters, even though they’re always making cruel jokes about her husband and his family. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
On the Gist, exploring the complexities of the personal stakes of the Senators in the Trump Impeachment trial. In the Interview, it’s the second half of our conversation with Jonah Blank, an anthropologist, writer, author, and former policy director for South and Southeast Asia on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Blank joins Mike to talk about the Myanmar coup, the default of cheering on populism, conflicts and communal violence, and the threat to democracy. Blank is author of Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God, and Mullahs on the Mainframe, and currently based in Singapore. He’ll be back on the show next week. In the spiel, picking apart Lindsey Graham. Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
David, Emily and John discuss Trump’s impeachment trial; lawsuits about election lies; and the execution of a possibly innocent man. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States by Brian Rosenwald
“New US Capitol Riot Video Shows Mob Rifling Through Senators' Desks” The Telegraph
Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “Did Tennessee Execute an Innocent Man?”
Slate Culture Gabfest: “‘Magic or Manipulation’ Edition”
Slate’s The Gist: “Illusions, Delusions, and Flat Out Lies”
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
Emily: Christopher Z. Mooney for the Chicago Tribune: “How the Census Delay Could Hand Control of Illinois Redistricting to the GOP”
John: A letter from George Washington that ended with the sign-off: “Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant" may reveal, or remind us, what our contemporary sign-offs mean.
David: The New York Times Presents: “Framing Britney Spears”
Listener chatter from James Dillard: Amanda Ripley for Comment: “The Mystery of Trust”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Dan, Elizabeth, and Jamilah debate how to negotiate a ceasefire in the backseat of the minivan. They also counsel a mom whose daughter will not quit it with the fake cough.
In Slate Plus: They send platonic Valentines to friends who have made these trying times a little easier.
Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Tea Time Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth. Jamilah recommends supporting small, local pharmacies. Dan recommends Whirley Pop, Amish Country Blue Popcorn, and Trader Joe’s Everything But Elote for the perfect popcorn experience.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On Tuesday, workers in an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama started voting on whether or not to form a union. Amazon has been fighting the vote on multiple fronts. A “yes” vote could possibly spark unionization drives in warehouses all across the country.
Guests: Jay Greene, tech reporter for the Washington Post
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, the prosecution in Trump’s Impeachment is firing on all cylinders. In the Interview, we take a look inside the FBI’s fight against white supremacy and domestic terrorism. Frank Figliuzzi is a 25-year veteran of the FBI. He joins Mike to talk about why the country needs a domestic terrorism law, the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol, and how the FBI is battling the threat from within the United States. Figliuzzi is the author of The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Ethics. In the spiel, like Gaston and the guys who went after Frankenstein’s monster before him, no matter what his defense says, Trump did incite an angry, pole-bearing mob. Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Steve, Dana, and Julia kick things off by discussing Minari, the semi-autobiographical movie by the filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung that focuses on a Korean family trying to build a life for themselves in rural Arkansas. After that, New York Magazine writer Mark Harris joins the show to to talk about his new biography of the director Mike Nichols. Then the hosts pick apart the latest Chrissy Teigan controversy and offer opinions about wealth, celebrity, and privilege during the pandemic. In Slate Plus, the hosts remember the brilliant and charming actor Christopher Plummer who passed away last week at age 91. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
As soon as the Democrats won a slim 50-50 majority in the senate, the jokes about President Joe Manchin started flying. The Senate's self described “conservative Democrat” from West Virginia is in a key position to influence legislation during the Biden administration. How will he wield that power?
Guests: Jim Newell, senior politics reporter for Slate
Ken Ward Jr., co-founder of Mountain State Spotlight and distinguished reporting fellow for Pro-Publica
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, the Belknap case is clear precedent. In the Interview, it’s round two of vaccine talk. Mike and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and epidemiologist, talk about equity and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. They also discuss why we shouldn’t heroicize the pharmaceutical industry, using the issue of the sixth dose as a compelling example. El-Sayed’s new book Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide is out now. He’s also the host of America Dissected from Crooked Media, among many other projects. In the spiel, Trump’s defense tested a few losing arguments. Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Prudence is joined this week by Chau Tu, a writer, podcast producer, and the editor of Slate Plus. Prudie and Tu tackle letters about what to do when when your husband wants the two of you to move abroad to care for his mother and you don’t want to go, what to consider when you suspect your sister doesn’t really need the wheelchair she uses, how to meet people after an extended period of social isolation, what to do when you’re estranged from your sister but want to maintain connections to her children. Email: prudence@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis
Chris’s childhood was defined by the Pentecostal church, where his father is a minister and his siblings are following the same path. But when Chris went to college, his views on the church changed, and now at age 23, he no longer identifies as religious. That’s caused a major rift with his parents, and Chris can’t stand the tension anymore. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Patricia Lockwood, a poet and writer who chronicled her own experience leaving the church in her memoir Priestdaddy. Raised in a strict Catholic family with a father for a priest (thanks to a rare loophole), Patricia thought she was done with religion by the time she was in her early 30s. But when an unexpected financial crisis prompted her and her husband to move back in with her parents, Patricia learned a new way to bridge the gap between them. Reflecting on your shared values, Patricia says, is key to connecting with your parents, even if you’re still leaving their religion behind.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Talk Politics Without Wrecking Relationships.”
Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
After the insurrection at the nation's capitol on January 6th, the House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump for a second time. The only article charges him with high crimes and misdemeanors for inciting a riot. There's no shortage of evidence backing up that claim, but the politics make it an open question if the senate will convict.
Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, host of Slate’s Amicus podcast
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, ads for “The Big Game” are given the Pesca treatment.
In the Interview, it’s vaccine talk. Mike sits down remotely with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and epidemiologist about the COVID-19 vaccine. They talk about how social media has spread both information and misinformation, how the response to the coronavirus is eerily similar to climate change, and how Canadians have managed to get things right. Plus, when politics and health collide: El-Sayed’s new book Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide is out now. He’s also the host of America Dissected from Crooked Media, among many other projects.
In the spiel, George Shultz’ legacy as a public servant.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Bucs’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. Among the topics discussed: Tom Brady’s latest triumph, the Bucs’ defense, and Patrick Mahomes’ valiant effort in defeat. They also assess the rising conflict between NBA players and the league.
Super Bowl (4:09):How Tampa won, why Kansas City lost, and why we were so wrong about Tom Brady.
NBA (35:18):Why the league’s best players are so upset about the All-Star Game.
Afterballs (52:06):Josh with more on Jackie Robinson’s letter to Bill Keefe and Stefan on Muhammad Ali and One Night in Miami.
The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out has been a mess across the country, but the failure has been particularly egregious in Philadelphia. The city entrusted a large part of its vaccine distribution to a start-up company run by a 22-year-old with zero medical experience. It wound up with a shuttered clinic and stolen vaccine doses.
Guest: Nina Feldman, health reporter for WHYY.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the silent horror film Nosferatu(1922), directed by F.W. Murnau.
Other titles mentioned in the episode:
Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Dracula
Cat People (1942)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Near Dark(1987)
Twilight
Interview With the Vampire
Interview With the Vampire(1994)
Dracula (1958)
Dracula (1931)
True Blood
Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)
The Head of Janus (1920)
The Last Laugh(1924)
Sunrise(1927)
Faust(1926)
The Hunchback and the Dancer (1920)
Street Angel(1928)
Seventh Heaven(1927)
Wings(1927)
Tabu: A Story of the South Seas(1931)
Peeping Tom(1960)
From Caligari to Hitler
M(1931)
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse(1933)
Diary of a Lost Girl(1929)
The Haunted Screen
Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Beauty and the Beast(1946)
The Addiction(1995)
Ganja and Hess(1973)
Carrie(1976)
Scarface(1983)
On the next episode: Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise (1974).
Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com
Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks about movement, music, and space with choreographer Annie-B Parson. In the interview, Annie-B discusses her long-time collaborative relationship with musician David Byrne and her work on his live show American Utopia, which was filmed and can now be streamed on HBO Max. Annie-B also talks about Big Dance Theater, a company she founded, which combines multiple disciplines to produce innovative stage performances.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss Annie-B’s openness to inspiration and the way she looks closely at the world around her.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Annie-B tells the story of how she met her husband and frequent collaborator Paul Lazar. She also previews her upcoming book.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Lionel Barber, former editor of the Financial Times, joins Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski to discuss his book The Powerful and the Damned: Private Diaries in Turbulent Times, the “devil's bargain” involved with being a journalist who has direct access to some of the most powerful people in the world, and what it’s like to run a newspaper like the Financial Times.
In the Slate Plus segment: Nick Clegg.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Gist, cost of living and minimum wage around the U.S.
In the Interview, journalist David Gilbert from Vice News joins Mike to talk about QAnon, the cult of disinformation, it's propulsion into 2021, and how people from all walks of life are susceptible to believing. Plus, Gilbert translates Marjorie Taylor Greene's floor speech, and explains why it wasn't a disavowing of Q or the conspiracy theories she still believes in.
In the spiel, it’s the first lobstar of the antentwig of 2021!
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Annalee Newitz, a science journalist, science fiction writer, and contributor to the New York Times opinion section. They are the author of the book Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, and the novels The Future of Another Timeline, and Autonomous, which won the Lambda Literary Award.
Prudie and Newitz discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to respect her father who is now dating a woman that is antithetical to everything she believes in, and another letter writer who is wondering how to handle a sister whose life is consumed with animal rescue.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Last week, in response to protests by farmers outside New Delhi, India, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi restricted access to the mobile web in areas where the protests were unfolding. The move is the latest in the Indian government’s long history of throttling internet access and censoring speech online.
Why is the Modi government increasingly shutting down the internet and stifling digital dissent? And what does the party’s history of internet shutdowns tell us about India’s future?
Guest:
Pranav Dixit, correspondent for Buzzfeed News
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s TV critic Willa Paskin is joined by Slate writer and podcast host Nichole Perkins to spoil Bridgerton, the new period drama series on Netflix, produced by Shonda Rhimes.
In this re-imagined adaptation of the romance novels by Julia Quinn, eight close-knit siblings of the powerful Bridgerton family attempt to find love. But the age-old question remains: will they? Or won’t they?
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts
Willa Paskin is a Slate TV critic.
Nichole Perkins is the writer and host of Slate’s new podcast This is Good for You.
On the Gist, stripping Majorie Taylor Greene of her committee membership, but Republicans still want to keep her around.
In the Interview, it’s coup talk. It’s part one of an interview with Jonah Blank, an anthropologist, writer, author, and former policy director for South and Southeast Asia on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Blank joins Mike to talk about the Myanmar coup, the default of cheering on populism, conflicts and communal violence, and the threat to democracy. Blank is author of Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God, and Mullahs on the Mainframe, and currently based in Singapore. He’ll be back on the show next week.
In the spiel, Representatives Nancy Mace and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are fighting.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Emily, John and David discuss the stimulus bill, racial inequities in vaccine distribution, the return to in-person learning, and Majorie Taylor Greene’s GOP.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Ezra Klein for the New York Times: “The Senate Has Become a Dadaist Nightmare”
Uché Blackstock and Oni Blackstock for the Washington Post: “White Americans Are Being Vaccinated at Higher Rates Than Black Americans. Such Inequity Cannot Stand.”
Shreya Kangovi and Uché Blackstock for the Washington Post: “Community Health Workers Are Essential in This Crisis. We Need More of Them.”
Thomas B. Edsall for the New York Times: “The QAnon Delusion Has Not Loosened Its Grip”
David Blight’s Open Yale Course: “HIST 119: The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877”
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World, by Liaquat Ahamed
Monica Potts for The New York Times: “In the Land of Self-Defeat”
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
Emily: Moe Tkacik for Slate: “The Lousy Tippers of the Trump Administration”
John: Vala Afshar’s tweet of a clip from DisruptTV, Episode 91.
David: Stefanos Chen for the New York Times: “The Downside to Life in a Supertall Tower: Leaks, Creaks, Breaks”
Listener chatter from Phillip Cleveland @pwcleveland: a Twitter thread by Mark R. Miller
@4T9NER about a meaningful family photograph
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, listener Norman Townsend asks John, Emily, and David to discuss David’s new startup, CityCast.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Dan answer a question from a mom with an ongoing head injury. She wants to be there for her energetic 3-year-old. But the commotion sometimes hurts. How can she get her little one to play quietly?
Then the hosts answer a question about being a fun adult figure for her friends’ kids.
In Slate Plus: Get ready to refresh your shelves because the hosts have a lightning round of book recommendations.
Recommendations:
Dan recommends Artistic Stamp.
Jamilah recommends giving press on nails a try.
Elizabeth recommends Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
The pandemic has hit many of us in different ways. But women in particular find themselves at the intersection of multiple crises. Across the economy, jobs in female-dominated industries are disappearing. Inside the home, moms are often shouldering the brunt of the extra childcare burden that comes with school closures.
How are women getting by right now? And will the setbacks they’re experiencing be permanent?
Guest: Jess Calarco, professor of sociology at Indiana University.
On the Gist, importing walkie-talkies into Myanmar.
In the Interview, we’re coming into a new constitutional cycle, and it means Democrats could take quite a bit of power. Well, if they don’t blow it. We’ve been in the same Republican-dominated cycle for decades, according to Jack Balkin, author of The Constitutional Cycles of Time. Balkin and Mike talk about the extreme political polarization not seen since the Civil War, constitutional rot, and, just for fun, delve into conservative complaints about de-platforming and free speech. Balkin is a Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment and Director for The Information Society Project at Yale Law School.
In the spiel, delving into the Trump files ahead of the Impeachment trial.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
This week, Senate Republicans offered President Biden a stimulus deal one third the size of the administration’s plan. With a compromise looking less likely, Democrats might have to resort to reconciliation to get it passed - a process fraught with headaches.
Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent
Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz
Stephen, Dana, and Julia begin this week's show by talking about Locked Down, the rom-com heist movie starring Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor that's set during the early days of the pandemic. Then they discuss Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself, a Frank Oz directed stage performance that's part magic show and part meditation on personal identity. The filmed version is now available to stream on Hulu. For their third segment the hosts weigh in on a controversy in the film criticism world about a review of the movie Promising Young Woman, which they talked about in last week's show.
In Slate Plus, the hosts chat about the pandemic's affect on casual friendships. Their inspiration was Amanda Mull's article in The Atlantic, titled The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
On the Gist, Alexei Navalny’s sentence.
In the Interview, it’s part two of a conversation with historian Jill Lepore about her latest book: If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future. Jill discusses that with data mining and analysis there is greater potential for the demeaning of democratic processes, and why in 2021, accepting social media and twitter as a proxy for public opinion and polling could be risky. Lepore is an author, a New Yorker writer, and historian. She is also host of a podcast called The Last Archive from Pushkin.
In the spiel, looking for relief?
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Prudence is joined this week by Annalee Newitz, a science journalist, science fiction writer, and contributor to the New York Times opinion section. They are the author of the book Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, and the novels The Future of Another Timeline, and Autonomous, which won the Lambda Literary Award.
Prudie and Newitz dig into letters about what to do when you suspect your daughter’s sudden interest in civil rights issues is only to show off for her new boyfriend, what actions to take when your partner doesn’t respect your safe-word during sex, how to handle feeling “not relevant” and “too old” at the age of 26, what to consider when you are only attracted to your partner on days they present masculine.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Dubbed “the QAnon candidate,” Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has her Republican colleagues doing some major handwringing. But does her presence on Capitol Hill actually represent a war within the GOP or more of a polite disagreement?
Guest: Greg Bluestein, political reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz
Ever since Casey’s husband had his identity stolen, Casey hasn’t been able to relax. She spends late nights and weekends obsessively checking their family bank accounts and scouring the web for information on the thieves who live just 15 minutes from her house. The police told Casey that an arrest is unlikely, so how can she find closure and move on with her life? On this episode of How To!, we bring on Abby Ellin, journalist and the author of Duped, who experienced a personal betrayal of her own—almost marrying a con man. Abby shares what she learned about getting over a breach of trust when there's no resolution in sight. The bottom line: You have to create your own kind of closure. Don’t let the thief steal any more of your time.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Get Away With Murder.”
Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Our language contains a trove of buried clues, petrified remnants of its past. But you have to know where to dig.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the latest NFL hiring cycle, where just one Black coach got hired to run a team. They also assess Australia’s tennis quarantine and discuss whether Curt Schilling will break the baseball Hall of Fame.
NFL coaches (01:52):What if anything can be done to get Black coaches more opportunities?
COVID (20:52):Sports in Australia vs. sports in the pandemic-ravaged United States.
Curt Schilling (35:56):Should writers consider his “character” when casting their Hall of Fame ballots?
Afterballs (54:14):Josh on Jackie Robinson vs. sportswriter Bill Keefe and Melissa Kaplan on the Phillie Phanatic.
On the Gist, once a Nobel Peace Prize winner, now a war criminal.
In the Interview, writer Jill Lepore joins Mike for part one of their conversation on her latest book: If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future, a precursor to data and polling companies. If Then is an account on the mid-century boom in the advertising industry and its overlap with political marketing. Lepore articulates the deep prejudice in polling at the time, the rise of awareness of computers, and how Simulmatics' people machine's duplicity was made legible.
In the spiel, the GameStop/Wall Street debacle starring the usual suspects.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
In California, thousands of people - Republicans and Democrats - are signing on to a petition to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. Praised for his response to the coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic, Newsom has started to lose his constituents’ trust. Now, it could take just one big endorsement to end his term.
Guest: Angela Hart, correspondent at California Healthline.
Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz
This week host Rumaan Alam talks to writer Damion Searls, who translates literature from German, French, Dutch, and Norwegian into English. In the interview, Damion argues that the work of translating is more creative than technical, and he breaks down what it means to preserve the best qualities of foreign works.
After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas talk about their own experiences with literary translations.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Damion lists some of the works he’d like to translate in the near future.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Daniel Goldman, who spearheaded the first round of impeachment hearings in the House in December 2019 as the senior adviser and director of investigations for the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. They examine what impeachment last time can teach us about impeachment this time, and why we’ve got to stop thinking like lawyers when it comes to the Senate trial.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to discuss the attempted sub-coup at the Justice Department, the first Biden-era sightings of the long tail of Trump’s judicial appointments, and the conservative legal establishment’s choice to embrace Trumpists after Jan. 6.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
You asked for it! Slate Money devotes the whole episode to explaining the crazy GameStop story that has taken over everything this week. Hope King (formerly of Cheddar, CNN, Business Insider) joins Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski to help untangle the situation.
In the Slate Plus segment: What does AMC have to do with all of this?
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
For our series finale, Virginia Heffernan kicks off the show with Jay Rosen, a professor of journalism at NYU, who talks about why and how journalists came to normalize the extreme wrongs of the Trump presidency. Trumpcast producer Melissa Kaplan then joins Virginia for a series wrap, or Trumpcast cast, remembering some of our best shows and lessons learned.
On the Gist, an Arizona Representative has a plan to win - throw out votes.
In the interview, it’s all about the voice; John Colapinto’s new book, This is the Voice, that is. From sexy baby voice to deep baritones, Colapinto talks about his linguistic journey in writing his new book about the importance of the sounds and the musicality of voice that come out of our mouths, and how a good bedside manner can save you from lawsuits. Colapinto is a staff writer at the New Yorker.
In the spiel, crackpot as croackpots.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by culture critic, podcast host and author, Kristen Meinzer. Meinzer currently hosts the podcasts Movie Therapy with Rafer & Kristen, and the podcast By The Book. Her books include So You Want to Start a Podcast, How to Be Fine (co-written with Jolenta Greenberg), and Return to Intercourse: An Amish Romance. She was named a 2020 Woman of the Year by The Women's Center in Washington DC.
Prudie and Meinzer discuss a letter writer who’s wondering if she should tell her step-son’s fiancé about the incestuous relationship he had as a teenager, and how to support your boyfriend through a grieving process without trying to “fix his life”.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is first joined by “The Bridge” producer Asha Saluja to answer some listener mail. Find out the connection between Chic, Diana Ross and Star Wars!
Next, Chris is joined by hip-hop journalist Mosi Reeves to discuss one particular storyline from the latest episode of Hit Parade: the immortal bassline from Chic’s “Good Times,” which was sampled in hip-hop’s first smash hit “Rapper’s Delight.” Mosi provides a brief history of sampling in rap, from the early interpolation of disco recordings to the legal disputes that eventually changed the rules of the game.
Finally, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives her a chance to turn the tables on him, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
The story of how GameStop went from the verge of a bankruptcy to a $15 billion market value isn’t an easy one to wrap your head around. But it helps to go back to the beginning; almost three years ago, in a subreddit called r/wallstreetbets.
Guests:
Brandon Kochkodin, reporter at Bloomberg
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
On the Gist, what happens when a conservative pundit and a famous quarterback make a podcast: Bolling with Favre.
In the interview, it’s been a lonely year, and an especially difficult 10 months to try and find love. But Logan Ury’s new book, How to Not Die Alone just may hold the key. Putting psychology first, Uryseeks to give readers a guide to finding and keeping relationships. Spoiler alert: Stop focusing on the spark! Ury explains an approach to dating that is more psychology than yenta, the non-fluffiness of behavioral science, and what goes on in a “Love Lab.” Ury is the co-founder of the Irrational Lab at Google, and was the Director of Relationship Science for the dating app Hinge.
In the spiel, three horrible truths and a half terrible truth about Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Emily, John and David discuss the Senate obstruction that may be ahead; delegating deplatforming; and GameStop.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Jamelle Bouie for the New York Times: “Democrats Should Act as if They Won the Election”
Tom Wilson and Kate Starbird for The Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review: “Cross-Platform Disinformation Campaigns: Lessons Learned and Next Steps”
Matt Levine for Bloomberg: “GameStop is Just a Game”
David Leonhardt for the New York Times: “Underselling the Vaccine”
Andy Rose for CNN: “Health Workers, Stuck in the Snow, Administer Coronavirus Vaccine to Stranded Drivers”
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
Emily: A Children’s Bibleby Lydia Millet; Matt Stieb for New York Magazine: “The Fyre Festival of Vaccine Rollouts”
John: Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself
David: David Blight’s Open Yale Course: “HIST 119: The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877”; Dessa’s “Who’s Yellen Now?”
Listener chatter from Ghael Fobes @GhaelFobes: a Twitter thread of animals interrupting wildlife photographers by @JoaquimCampa
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment a listener asks John, Emily, and David to discuss how they organize their work, lives, and minds.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth talk with New York Times columnist Ron Lieber about his new book, The Price You Pay for College. He’ll explain why college costs so much, what parents and students should be asking when picking a school, and how to deal with not being able to afford your kid’s dream school.
Then the hosts answer a question from a mom who is struggling with resentment and regret over having a kid at all.
In Slate Plus: Slate’s Rebecca Onion joins to discuss the politicization of kids’ safety and helicopter parenting in the Trump era.
Recommendations:
Elizabeth recommends LuminAID Solar Lanterns.
Jamilah recommends Highlights Magazine.
Dan recommends actually filling out a One Line a Day journal. You can also text one line a day to Qeepsake.
Also Mentioned:
I Used to Worry About Being an Overprotective Parent. Then Came the Trump Eraby Rebecca Onion, which is from Slate’s package: What We Learned.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Back in March, nobody knew how long kids would be learning from home and isolating from their peers. Now, with some kids returning to schools after 10 months away, one school counselor says getting kids back into physical classrooms is just the start to healing from the massive toll the pandemic has had on their mental health.
Guest: Jan Desmarais-Morse, school counselor in Goshen, Indiana.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, you can’t trouble us with your labels.
In the interview, what is In & Of Itself? The new Hulu special by Frank Oz and Derek DelGaudio is so much more than just a made-for-TV version of DelGaudio’s live show. As creators, Oz and DelGaudio discuss the stigma of illusion, an art form which relies on sleight of hand and audience participation, and talk about how they were able to bring to life their special for people sitting at home. Both Oz and DelGaudio elucidate the assumptions around their respective careers, professions which have historically been viewed as sitting lower on the performing arts totem pole, and urge viewers to refrain from taking things simply on face value. In & Of Itself is available now on Hulu.
In the spiel, understanding the difference between lies and delusions.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Republicans used to lead the way on environmental legislation. Are they about to come back around on the urgency of climate change?
Guest: Carlos Curbelo, former Republican congressman from Florida.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week Stephen, Dana, and Julia start by discussing Promising Young Woman, the revenge thriller starring Carey Mulligan and written and directed by Emerald Fennell. Then Slate culture writer Karen Han joins the show to talk about the French heist series Lupin, which has been firmly situated on Netflix's top 10 list since it premiered. After that, the hosts reflect on a recent article in the New York Times Magazine by Justin Metz titled, How Nothingness Became Everything We Wanted.
In Slate Plus, the hosts wonder whether the end of the Trump presidency has really hit them yet.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
On the Gist, Impeachment logic games.
In the interview, it’s part two of a conversation with Oscar award winning documentarian and director Bryan Fogel about his latest film The Dissident. The film centers around Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal murder, and its broader human rights implications. The Dissidentis available in theaters, and now via premium video-on-demand. Today, Fogel and Mike focus on Fogel’s experiences putting the documentary together, and how he got unlikely sources to sit down for interviews.
In the spiel, use code RUDY today!
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Prudence is joined this week by culture critic, podcast host and author, Kristen Meinzer. Meinzer currently hosts the podcasts Movie Therapy with Rafer & Kristen, and the podcast By The Book. Her books include So You Want to Start a Podcast, How to Be Fine (co-written with Jolenta Greenberg), and Return to Intercourse: An Amish Romance. She was named a 2020 Woman of the Year by The Women's Center in Washington DC.
Prudie and Meinzer tackle letters about what to do when your best friend is engaged to an abusive partner, how to handle it when your dad is out in the open about cheating on your mom, what to do when even an apology isn’t helping you recover from a friend argument, what actions to take when a boss calls you on zoom at inappropriate hours, how to address your concern with a friend who has moved towards nightly drinking.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Juliet knows she’s one of the best tennis players in her community league, but whenever she gets on the court, she’s paralyzed by self-consciousness. Did the crowd notice how bad that shot was? With all eyes on her, Juliet keeps bungling big points and losing matches she should win.On this episode of How To!, new host David Epstein brings on Sian Beilock, president of Barnard College and the author of Choke, to walk us through the science of why sometimes we play our worst when it matters the most. For Juliet to ace her game, Sian says, she needs to practice being self-conscious and then learn to push past it. It’s all too common for women to shy away from natural competition for fear of “not being nice,” but playing to win doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk—advice that applies to Juliet’s life off the court as well.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Perform Under Pressure.”
Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
There’s a lot riding on the working relationship of President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. They are bonded by their service in the U.S. Senate, their ideological flexibility, and their respect for norms -- unless those norms stand in the way of their ambitions.
Guest: Alex Thompson, White House reporter for Politico.
On the Gist, Larry King, ‘Hello!’
In the interview, it’s part one of a conversation with Oscar award winning documentarian and director Bryan Fogel about his latest film The Dissent. The film centers around Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal murder, and its broader human rights implications. Fogel discusses how he seeks to right wrongs through his investigative filmmaking, and details how he put his own life on the line to tell Khashoggi’s story. The Dissentis available in theaters, and now via premium video-on-demand. Part two of Fogel’s conversation is tomorrow.
In the spiel, Rand Paul versus reality.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Packers’ mystifying field goal attempt and the Chiefs’ run for a second straight title. They also discuss the life and legacy of baseball legend Henry Aaron, who died last week at the age of 86.
NFL (01:35):What was Packers coach Matt LaFleur thinking? What’s the secret to the Chiefs’ success?
Henry Aaron (21:55):Remembering Aaron’s upbringing, his career, his chase of baseball’s home run record, and everything he needed to overcome to be great.
Afterball (01:02:24):Stefan on the sad and courageous story of Black baseball players Leander and Jim Turgeson.
Back in 2015, Farai Chideya was a senior writer covering politics at FiveThirtyEight. Her time there was instructive in understanding how the media failed to take Trump’s presidential candidacy seriously. Now that she has her own show, she’s speaking up about how journalists -- and the news outlets that employ them -- could better serve the public.
Guest: Farai Chideya, host of Our Body Politic.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the ensemble drama Between the Lines(1977), directed by Joan Micklin Silver.
Other titles mentioned in the episode:
Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976)
Hester Street(1975)
Easy Rider(1969)
Jaws(1975)
Star Wars: A New Hope(1977)
Chilly Scenes of Winter(1979)
Nashville(1975)
California Split (1974)
Crossing Delancey(1988)
Invisible Child(1999)
Godfather Part II(1974)
MASH*
Catch-22(1970)
Taxi
The Brother From Another Planet(1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day(1991)
Home Alone(1990)
When Harry Met Sally(1989)
L.A. Law
The Fly (1986)
7th Heaven
Dawson’s Creek
Hannah and Her Sisters(1986)
Angels in America (2003)
Bonnie and Clyde(1967)
Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980)
The Big Chill(1983)
House of Games(1987)
The Power Broker
Amadeus(1984)
Working Girl(1988)
Sneakers (1992)
Silkwood(1983)
A Chorus Line(1985)
Girlfriends(1978)
Shaft(2000)
Goodfellas(1990)
Boogie Nights(1997)
Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
Mark Harris’ essay on Silver in Vulture
Matt Zoller Seitz’s obituary of Silver on rogerebert.com
On the next episode: F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu(1922).
Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com
Production by Chau Tu.
This week host June Thomas talks to musician, conductor, and singing coach Kathleen Kelly. In the interview, Kathleen describes her daily musical practices and explains the tricky work of accompanying singers on piano. She also describes the qualities every great conductor needs.
After the interview, June and co-host Rumaan Alam talk about what happens when countries adequately fund the arts.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Kathleen plays one of her favorite piano pieces, and then June and Kathleen try to define “talent.”
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Ron Lieber of The New York Times joins Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski to talk about his book The Price You Pay for College on the economics of higher education, and how to work within the (terrible) system to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
In the Slate Plus segment: Pardons.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Gist, Trump is deserving of a trial, and a lot more.
In the interview, what are the consequences of putting Trump through a Senate trial? Mike does some game theory with Joe Lockhart about the possible implications for Republicans and Democrats when it comes to voting for, and possibly convicting the former president. Lockhart is former press secretary for President Clinton, partner at strategic comms group Rational360, and a CNN political analyst.
In the spiel, mask on, mask off. But seriously keep your mask on.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s movie critic Dana Stevens is joined by Slate staff writer Karen Han to spoil Promising Young Woman, the feature film debut from writer and director Emerald Fennell.
In this visually captivating world, we meet Cassie, (played by Carey Mulligan) a wickedly smart and tantalizingly cunning young woman, living a secret double life by night. But is she a hero? Or a morally corrupt villain?
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts
Karen Han is staff writer at Slate.
Dana Stevens is a movie critic at Slate.
Most people thought developing the vaccine in record time would be the hard part. That, or shipping millions of doses at subzero temperatures to every corner of the country. But nobody--or, almost nobody--guessed that the biggest barrier between U.S. citizens and vaccination would be … online scheduling.
What went wrong with the vaccine websites? And what will it take to get them right?
Guests:
Raphael Lee, director of USDR’s Health Program
Hana Schank, director of Strategy for Public Interest Technology at New America
Jessica Allen
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Noah Kulwin, the co-host of Blowback, a political history podcast. He's also an associate editor at The Drift and a contributing editor at Jewish Currents.
Prudie and Kulwin discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to dispel that he’s a huge fan of strip clubs, what to do with a tenant who lets her young daughter smoke pot, what to do when your extended family blames you for leaving your parents financially challenged.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
On the Gist, before he jetted off to the sunshine state, Trump had a last bit of business to attend to.
In the interview, Mike talks to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean of leadership programs, and the Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management for the Yale School of Management. He is also founder and president of the Chief Executive Leadership Institute. Mike and Sonnenfeld discuss C.E.L.I., a nonprofit educational and research institute focused on CEO leadership and corporate governance, and Trump’s influence on their decision making.
In the spiel, oh the people he pardoned.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Emily, John and David discuss the unusual but uplifting inauguration, Joe Biden’s priorities, and the Trump aftermath.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Joe Biden’s inauguration speech
Inauguration video from former Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton
Kevin Quealy for the New York Times: “The Complete List of Trump’s Twitter Insults (2015-2021)”
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
John: The books of P.G. Wodehouse read by Jonathan Cecil
Emily: Beth LeBlanc and Craig Mauger for the Detroit News: “Michigan Republicans Seek to Replace GOP Canvasser Who Certified Election”
David: Jules Suzdaltsev’s Twitter thread of photos of weird things Trump did in office.
Listener chatter from Clay Jeffries @clayjeffries: Sam Kean for the Atlantic: “22 Orphans Gave Up Everything to Distribute the World’s First Vaccine”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John imagine some classes they would like to teach.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGbfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Dan, and Elizabeth debate how to teach a kid about dinosaurs when the parents differ ideologically about evolution and creationism. They also answer a question about prepping a teen for her first concert by herself, whenever it’s safe to see live music again.
In Slate Plus: The hosts discuss the best hand-me-downs they’ve received and what they are most excited to pass along to their kids.
Recommendations:
Dan recommends Wingspan.
Elizabeth recommends Warmies.
Jamilah recommends Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins.
Also Mentioned:
Evolution Education in the U.S. Is Getting Better by Glenn Branch and Ann Reid.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
At his inauguration, President Joe Biden argued that “unity is the path forward.” But it’s still an open question whether he’ll be able to get anything done.
Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.
For the penultimate episode of Trumpcast, Virginia Heffernan welcomes back Dr. Ibram Kendi, director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, to talk about his anti-racist work, the Biden era ahead, and a question that’s been on Virginia’s mind since Dr. Kendi came on the show four years ago.
On the Gist, a decent man gives a speech.
In the interview, Mike talks to Sarada Peri about now President Joe Biden’s inaugural speech. The former President Barack Obama speechwriter says Biden, “knocked it out of the park.” They talk about the most effective moments and the importance of speaking directly about racism and white supremacy. Peri also discusses why Biden addressing the American people as “folks” is not only a favorite colloquialism of his, but a necessary way to relate.
In the spiel, Republicans will likely continue to republican.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
This month, Christina, Bryan, and Rumaan discuss the New Year’s drama in Puerta Vallarta, the Instagram account that popped up to shame gay people for traveling during COVID, and if shaming ever works as a health and safety tactic. Then they interview Torrey Peters about her new book Detransition, Baby. They talk with her about writing for a trans audience and expecting cisgender readers to keep up, why so much adult queer fiction resembles YA, and how elephants fit into it all.
This podcast was produced by Daniel Schroeder.
A new presidential administration begins today. In pivotal moments like this, it’s hard to know what to say. But eight years ago, Richard Blanco was called upon to say something anyway - in front of a million people at Barack Obama’s second inauguration. And eight years later, he has some thoughts about the crossroads we’re at now.
Guest: Richard Blanco, author of How to Love a Country and the Inaugural Poet for Barack Obama’s 2012 Inauguration.
This week Stephen, Dana, and Julia take a look at Sound of Metal, the debut movie from writer/director Darius Marder, about a heavy metal drummer who loses his hearing. Then they discuss WandaVision, the new Marvel TV show that's loaded with references to classic TV sitcoms. After that they dive into the world of TikTok sea shanties and theorize about why the craze caught on.
In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about vice president Kamala Harris' recent Vogue cover and the debate surrounding it.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
On the Gist, Trump is getting traded.
In the interview, we bring in Chris Molanphy to discuss the music hits of 2020. They talk about how All I Want For Christmas is You keeps coming back to the top of the charts and the unexpected timeliness of Rockstar by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch. Molanphy is a pop-chart analyst, the writer of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, and host of the podcast Hit Parade. Come for the deep dive on an unusual year in music, stay for Mike explaining what W.A.P. stands for.
In the spiel, we remember Trump for the last time.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.
Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and special guest Damon Young talk about the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They also discuss the Brooklyn Nets’ trade for James Harden and Kyrie Irving’s absence. Finally, they review the HBO documentary Tiger.
NFL (01:49):Drew Brees, the concussion protocol, and the Chiefs’ gutsy fourth-down call.
Nets (21:51):Is Kyrie Irving just misunderstood?
Tiger (40:48):Whatthe two-part doc reveals about Tiger Woods’ life and career.
Afterball (58:45):Joel on the time Hakeem Olajuwon wanted out of Houston.
Prudence is joined this week by Noah Kulwin, the co-host of Blowback, a political history podcast. He's also an associate editor at The Drift and a contributing editor at Jewish Currents.
Prudie and Kulwin dig into letters about what actions to take with a niece who has been stealing from family and neighbors for years, how to handle a stubborn dad who prioritizes his side hustles over seeing his grandkids, what to do when your husband refuses to stop wearing sacred underclothes despite having left the Mormon church years ago, should you continue to see a guy that your family disapproves of.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Lots of languages divide words into categories, like male and female. How does that happen?
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Samantha Power knows what it’s like to arrive in Washington, D.C. and feel a little lost—literally. She once couldn't find the oval office. But more than that, as a Pulitzer Prize-winning human rights activist and former UN Ambassador under President Barack Obama, Samantha had to learn to balance her beliefs with actually getting things done. On this episode of How To!, Samantha, the author of The Education of an Idealistand President Joe Biden’s pick for a post on the National Security Council, gives advice to new Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat from Washington. Marilyn has big plans for her first term in Washington, but isn’t sure how to navigate this fraught period of American politics. In this conversation, the two women discuss how to stay true to your ideals and still make a difference, while sharing lessons in leadership that all of us can use.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Survive a Public Shaming with Katie Hill.”
Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Almost two weeks after the siege on the Capitol, Rep. Tim Ryan still has questions about why Congress was left with such meager defenses. How is Congress dealing with the fallout from the attack? And with one day left before Joe Biden’s inauguration, is the nation’s capital safe?
Guest: Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH 13).
How can you tell disco didn’t really die at the start of the 1980s? Because half of ’80s pop owed its sound to one of disco’s most seminal acts. Chic—cofounded by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards—would be legendary if all they’d done was record the’70s disco smashes “Le Freak,” “I Want Your Love” and “Good Times.” Indeed, the “Good Times” bassline spawned a slew of copycats, from “Rapper’s Delight” to “Another One Bites the Dust” to “Rapture.”
As if that wasn’t enough, over the next decade, the Chic masterminds became the secret sauce for a range of cutting-edge pop acts, producing and writing for everyone from Diana Ross and David Bowie to Madonna, Duran Duran and the B-52’s. Nile Rodgers even scored a hit in the 2010s with a pair of French robots who “got lucky” with another take on the Chic groove.
Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Juliette Kayyem, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama, currently serving as the faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, to look at the violent extremist elements of the MAGA movement and how counterterrorism tools can inform the response to the attack on the Capitol and President Trump’s “stochastic terrorism.”
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to discuss developments in the judiciary in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, the high court’s decision to greenlight more federal executions in the last days of the Trump administration, and the first abortion case of the Amy Coney Barrett era.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to novelist Jonathan Lethem about daily writing rituals, teaching writing, and the process behind Jonathan’s latest novel, The Arrest, which imagines a world where most advanced technology stops working.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss the improvisational way that Jonathan plots out his novels.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jonathan talks about how he managed to find time to write when he was a young aspiring novelist working full-time jobs that didn’t involve writing. He also talks about a recent piece of Zoom theater that he loved.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Cathy O‘Neil returns to Slate Money to talk with Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski about Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic package, social media platforms banning Trump, and hackers attacking Parler...and male chastity belts.
In the Slate Plus segment: The near future of COVID.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Gist, the QAnon Shaman’s lawyer.
In the interview, John Fetterman, also known as Lieutenant Governor Stone Cold, talks to Mike about his potential Senate run. The Pennsylvania native talks about his origin story from son of teenagers to Harvard graduate, his thoughts on gun control and incarceration, and the woes of being six-foot-nine. (Not enough suits.)
In Remembrances of Things Trump: so many Seans, so little time.
In the spiel, supposed contradictions of pro-free speech.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Colby Gordon, an English professor at Bryn Mawr College, where he teaches weird gay poems.
Prudie and Gordon discuss a letter writer who’s wondering if she should bring up that her cousin’s new boyfriend looks and sounds exactly like her dad, and how to tell your husband that you’re transitioning.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
After Facebook and Twitter banned thousands of accounts in the wake of the Capitol riots, fringe groups are flocking to platforms like Signal and Telegram. With the inauguration just days away, and government officials warning of violence, QAnon believers and Stop the Steal protesters are now communicating in encrypted spaces. What, if anything, is being planned?
Guest:
Will Sommer, politics reporter at the Daily Beast
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
Virginia Heffernan talks to former Trump troll David Weissman about his experiences overcoming trauma as a war veteran, his relationship with white supremacist personality Baked Alaska, the right-wing calls for civil war, the different factions of MAGA, and what’s going on in the minds of the insurgents.
On the Gist, Republicans use their voices to complain about not having a voice.
In the interview, Melissa Murray joins Mike to discuss what the articles of impeachment can teach us about constitutional law as we review the events of last week at the Capitol Building. Murray is a professor at NYU Law, co-host of Strict Scrutiny podcast, and a contributor on MSNBC.
In Remembrances of Things Trump: Goofy, Sleepy, Crazy...no those aren’t Snow White’s friends. They are Trump’s favorite nicknames.
In the spiel, the Trump push for Lisa Montgomery’s execution in the final week of his tarnished presidency.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
Emily, David and John talk about impeachment, whether Americans can be deradicalized, and guest Juliette Kayyem joins in to discuss vaccine distribution.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “People Are Dying. Whom Do We Save First With the Vaccine?
Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America by John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavrek
Amarnath Amarasingam’s Twitter thread on de-platforming extremists.
Amarnath Amarasingam, Shiraz Maher, and Charlie Winter for the Centre for Research and
Evidence on Security Threats: “How Telegram Disruption Impacts Jihadist Platform Migration”
The music of Ludovico Einaudi
The music of Joan Armatrading
The music of John Prine
The music of M.I.A.
The music of Joan Jett
The music of Maren Morris
The music of Joni Mitchell
The music of Bob Mould and Husker Du
The music of Nick Thompson
Nicholas Thompson for Wired: “To Run My Best Marathon at Age 44, I Had to Outrun My Past”
“Iko Iko” performed by the Grateful Dead
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” performed by Gerry and the Pacemakers
Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
Desire by Bob Dylan
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
John: Nathaniel Popper for The New York Times: “Lost Passwords Lock Millionaires Out of Their Bitcoin Fortunes”
Emily: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
David: The Dancing Bird of Paradise Scene from “Our Planet”
Listener chatter from Richard Medlicott: Steven Levy for Wired: “A 25-Year-Old Bet Comes Due: Has Tech Destroyed Society?”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John talk about the music they turn to in order to clear their heads.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Dan debate if it’s OK to teach your child to use gendered titles of respect, like sir and ma’am. Then they answer a mother who seems to do the lionshare of housework. Now her husband wants to seize an opportunity to be a stay-at-home father and she’s worried she will no longer be as valuable to the family.
In Slate Plus: What to do if you’re the rebel and your kid is the one who loves rules.
Recommendations:
Dan recommends going to a different city—sans kids—and taking a walk with a friend.
Jamilah recommends Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown.
Elizabeth recommends Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Olga Mecking.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
After the storming of the Capitol, Democrats’ victories in Georgia’s runoff Senate races sort of got lost in the shuffle. But Georgia going blue for the first time in nearly two decades is a big deal. And the state's Democratic activists say the moment is still worth recognizing.
Guest: Tiffany Roberts, civil rights attorney at the Southern Center for Human Rights, Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, and Renee Montgomery, activist and player on the Atlanta Dream.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, the gavel was quick and sure during the impeachment hearing.
In the interview, what risks lie ahead for 2021? Mike sits down with political scientist Ian Bremmer. They talk about what went wrong in 2020 (hint COVID-19 managed to make a lot of Bremmer’s predictions come true). And for 2021 - China, oil and Biden, oh my! Bremmer is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, a firm that helps investors and businesses understand the impact of politics on their investments.
In Remembrances of Things Trump, Trump attacks a dead man because Trump has a problem with women.
In the spiel, bearing the stain of being impeached twice.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
The coronavirus crisis has risen to new levels in California. Even as vaccines get distributed, hospitals are maxing out their ICU capacity, and sick people in ambulances wait outside for a bed to open up. Amidst the nightmare, one first responder explains how he’s making it through.
Guest: Dr. Clayton Kazan, an emergency physician in Torrance, CA, and the medical director at the L.A. County Fire Department.
This week Stephen, Dana, and Julia talk about the National Geographic miniseries, City So Real, about the 2019 mayoral race in Chicago and the social and political issues that fueled it. Then New York Times writer Charlie Warzel joins the show to discuss conservative media outlets like Newsmax and OANN and the alternate reality of news that Trump supporters reside in. After that, the hosts talk about New Yorker writer Lawrence Wright's comprehensive article, The Plague Year, about the way U.S. officials have reacted to the pandemic.
In Slate Plus, the hosts reply to a lister who wants to know how they distinguish between works of art that are "entertaining" and ones that are "good" and whether making that distinction makes them snobs.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
On the Gist, this is actually who we are because we wouldn’t have let it happen.
In the interview, Katie Meyer, political reporter at WHYY in Philadelphia joins Mike to talk about the Pennsylvania state legislature, and today’s federal ruling on the contested state senate race.
In Remembrances of Things Trump, back to the days when Trump was able to tweet, and retweet.
In the spiel, defining incitement.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Alabama’s win over Ohio State in the college football title game. They also assess how athletes and leagues reacted to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Finally, they discuss the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend.
College football (01:39):What will we remember about this season, and what should we make of the Alabama dynasty?
Insurrection (21:29):Why did the NBA and NFL powers that be stay silent?
NFL (38:02):The Cleveland Browns won and Nickelodeon made its playoff broadcasting debut.
Afterball (52:38):Stefan on Marine AFC.
Prudence is joined this week by Colby Gordon, an English professor at Bryn Mawr College, where he teaches weird gay poems.
Prudie and Gordon tackle letters about what to do when you fear that transitioning would hurt your career, what to consider when your partner leaves you feeling vulnerable about your finances, how to talk to a close friend about her transphobic comments, how to handle regret over not supporting your trans and non-binary friends prior to you coming out as trans, what to consider when you stumble upon your friend’s fanfic Tumblr page.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
With just over a week left in the Trump presidency, Congressional Democrats are asking Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and strip President Trump of his power. Is that the right way to hold the president accountable?
Guest: Brian Kalt, law professor at Michigan State University. His latest book is Unable: The Law, Politics, and Limits of Section 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
On the Gist, several Republicans predicted years ago Trump’s actions would lead to violence, but they’re sticking with him anyway. One of them is Ted Cruz.
In Remembrances of Things Trump, Trump denounces a Swedish terrorism attack that never happened.
In the interview, Mike is joined by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. They talk about insurrection at the Capitol building in D.C., and in Michigan, and how rallies and big talk got them there. Nessel also explains her decision to seek sanctions against attorneys who filed lawsuits claiming debunked election fraud in the state.
In the spiel, Trump may be off Twitter, but his supporters don’t have to go far to get their message out. It’s called podcasting. Ever heard of it?
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
In 2009, Department of Homeland Security official, Daryl Johnson, warned the government that right-wing extremists were building power. After his report leaked to conservative media outlets, the agency sidelined Johnson and his investigations. In the meantime, right-wing extremists have only grown their ranks.
Guest: Daryl Johnson, former senior analyst for domestic terrorism at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the drama The Bigamist (1953), directed by Ida Lupino.
Other titles mentioned in the episode:
Not Wanted(1949)
Outrage (1950)
On Dangerous Ground (1951)
The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
Never Fear(1949)
The Trouble With Angels(1966)
Gilligan’s Island
The Twilight Zone
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Johnny Guitar (1954)
The Grapes of Wrath(1940)
Miracle on 34th Street(1947)
Singin’ in the Rain(1952)
Mikey and Nicky(1976)
Hester Street(1975)
Crossing Delancey(1988)
The Fly(1986)
The Hurt Locker(2009)
Wanda(1970)
Kam’s review of Kino Lorber’s new Lupino box set, now streaming on Kino Now
Martin Scorsese on Lupino in the New York Times
On the next episode: Joan Micklin Silver’s Between the Lines(1977).
Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com
Production by Chau Tu.
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to author Heather Cark about her massive new biography Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath. Heather speaks about what separates her biography from the ones that came before it, and how an academic changes her writing style for a book aimed at a general audience. She also describes what it was like to track down and get permission to view materials she needed for the book.
After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas talk more about the length of Heather’s book and the tremendous amount of research that went into it.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Heather describes what it felt like to finally finish Red Comet, and she previews her next book.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Joshua Geltzer, a former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council under President Barack Obama and the founding executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law. He also wrote this piece in February of 2019.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Slate Money talks about the insurrection at the Capitol, those $2,000 stimulus checks, and Roblox’s plan to go public through a direct listing.
In the Slate Plus segment: The Google union.
‘Trump’s $2,000 Stimulus Checks Are a Big Mistake’ By Lawrence H. Summers for Bloomberg
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter:
Felix Salmon on Twitter / https://twitter.com/felixsalmon
Emily Peck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyRPeck
Anna Szymanski on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Three_Guineas
On the Gist, how do 39% of registered voters “approve” of Trump’s performance? 39%; really?
In the interview, Mike is joined by Stan Barnes to talk all things Arizona. Arizona just gave its two Senate seats to Democrats in a shocking upset for the long-time red state. Barnes is a former Republican state senator turned party consultant for the Copper State. He talks to Mike about the impact of Wednesday’s Capitol chaos on the Republican party and how there’s no “putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.”
And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump, the people who left the Trump administration before it became en vogue.
In the spiel, a slew of resignations following the chaos.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
This week, in the wake of violent protests at the Capitol, the social media platforms took unprecedented steps to rein in the president. Facebook banned his account at least through Inauguration Day. Twitter removed tweets and locked his account for 12 hours. Will these measures really make a difference? And how is it that two CEOs came to have so much power over the president’s reach?
Guest:
Danielle Citron, professor at UVA Law School and vice president of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s Karen Han is joined by Slate writer and editor Dan Kois to spoil Soul, the new animated film from Pixar. After landing himself in the realm of the “great beyond”, middle school band teacher Joe Gardner tries desperately to make it back to Earth in time for his Jazz gig. But his journey takes a turn when he tries to help a new friend find their passion. Will Joe make it back to Earth and get to his gig on time? Or is he doomed to remain in the great beyond forever?
You can read Dan Kois review here.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts
Karen Han is staff writer at Slate.
Dan Kois is an editor and writer at Slate.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Bijan Stephen, a reporter at The Verge, a music critic at The Nation, and a video game columnist at The Believer. He plays T.K. on the actual play podcast Fun City, hosts a couple shows on Twitch, and his writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Esquire, and elsewhere.
Prudie and Stephen discuss a letter writer who’s put off by his newly divorced dad dating much younger men, and how to handle a co-worker who recently changed name rhymes with a reproductive organ.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
On the Gist, the assault on the Capitol through extremist corners of the internet.
In the interview, Mike is joined by U.S Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan’s 5th Congressional District, and Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Kildee was on the House floor when violent pro-Trump extremists overtook the Capitol, causing a lockdown. Kildee shares his experience of what it was like inside the chambers before and after the electoral vote count had been certified, and what he’s hearing from his constituents in Michigan.
In the spiel, we continue our walk through the insurrectionist rampage at the Capitol.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
Emily, John and David discuss the invasion of the U.S. Capitol and Democrats’ historic win in Georgia.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Yuval Levin for the National Review: “Failures of Leadership in a Populist Age”
Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “History Will Judge the Complicit”
Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “The Pandemic Election”
Emily Bazelon for Slate in 2013: “Voting Rights 2.0”
Steven Lance for Atavist: “The Secret Formula: Could Shrunken Heads From the Amazon Hold the Key to Curing Cancer? One Man Thought So—and Spent a Lifetime Trying to Prove It.”
A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812,by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
John: Agence France-Presse, “Exceptionally Well-Preserved Snack Bar Unearthed in Pompeii”
David: David Segal for the New York Times: “It’s Mother vs. Son in Britain’s Priciest Divorce War”
Emily: Tweet by Kyle Machulis @qDo of the most important competitive dog dancing video
Listener chatter from Cyrus Farivar @cfarivar: Jason Kottke for Kottke.org: “The Last Documented Widow of a Civil War Veteran Has Died at the Age of 101”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John consider in what time period they would first go to see a doctor, given what we know now about the history of medicine.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Dan answer a question from a family where one parent feels that giving the sex talk to a tween violates the child’s privacy. Then they’ll debate what to do about a husband who regresses into a surly teenager when his parents are around.
In Slate Plus: The parenting story of the weekend: Bean Dad.
Recommendations:
Elizabeth recommends the 1000 Hours Outside printable. There is also a daily tracker available.
Dan recommends World of Snacks.
Jamilah recommends Healthy Roots Dolls.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
On Wednesday, as Democrats celebrated wins in Georgia that gave them control of the Senate and as U.S. lawmakers convened to certify Joe Biden’s election win, President Trump addressed supporters gathered outside the White House. He told them to walk to the Capitol and tell Republicans to “take back our country.”
Two Slate correspondents were there -- one walking with the violent mob as it stormed the Capitol, and another in the building as it went on lockdown.
Guests: Aymann Ismail, staff writer for Slate, and Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.
For this emergency episode reviewing today’s violence against Congress, we reached out to historian Joanne Freeman, author of The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress & the Road to Civil War. Dr. Freeman and Virginia Heffernan review the history of political violence in Congress and why these events had a different implication.
On the Gist, the Capitol is breached by pro-Trump extremists.
In the interview, Mike is joined by Slate’s senior politics writer, Jim Newell, from Washington, D.C. While sequestered from inside the Capitol Building, Newell discussed the safety measures put in place to protect those remaining in the House chambers and its locked corridors, while police made desperate attempts at corralling the violence.
In the spiel, the Georgia runoff and what this means for American politics.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
Steve, Dana, and Julia start by talking about Wonder Woman 1984 with LA Times film critic Justin Chang. Then they discuss Bridgerton, the new Netflix show produced by Shonda Rhimes and based on a series of novels by Julia Quinn. After that, Justin Chang rejoins the show to talk about Movie Club, Slate's annual end-of-year movie coverage.
In Slate Plus, the hosts expand on their Wonder Woman conversation in spoiler-filled detail.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
Today, Congress will meet in a joint session to confirm Joe Biden’s election as the 46th president of the United States. Even though the process is ceremonial, some Republicans are using it as a last-ditch effort to vindicate President Trump and burnish their own Trumpist bona fides.
Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics reporter.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, we return to the infamous Bean Dad.
And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: All the president’s less than capable men.
In the interview, it’s part two of a conversation with David Shor, a researcher and consultant for democratic politicians. Dubbed a political data analyst prodigy, Shor developed a voter registration system as a teenager, then at age 20 subsequently moved on to work for the Obama campaign where he oversaw forecasting. Shor shares more of his experiences collaborating with more seasoned colleagues and explains how humbling it was in the process.
In the spiel, needling the needle truthers ahead of the Georgia runoff.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
Prudence is joined this week by Bijan Stephen, a reporter at The Verge, a music critic at The Nation, and a video game columnist at The Believer. He plays T.K. on the actual play podcast Fun City, hosts a couple shows on Twitch, and his writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Esquire, and elsewhere.
Prudie and Stephen dig into letters about How to come to terms with a long ago relationship you now realize was inappropriate, what to do when your always negative sister-in-law decides to move to your town, how to decide when or if you’ll tell your parents that you’re legally changing your name, what to consider when you feel like you’re competing for your boyfriend’s attention with his female bestie.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Words have a way of rebelling against their etymological parents, acquiring meanings of their own.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
So far, the vaccine roll out in the United States has been underwhelming. States are scrambling to get doses out to patients before they expire. We won’t be behind schedule on vaccine distribution forever, but to make matters worse a more infectious variant of COVID-19 has increased the urgency.
Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli is a health and science reporter with the New York Times.
On the Gist, President Trump made a phone call and blew apart the life of a private citizen.
And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: teleprompter stumble.
In the interview, it’s part one of a conversation with David Shor, a researcher and consultant for democratic politicians. Shor discusses the value trade-offs parties have to make in order to win an election. From his analysis, he explains that when a political party’s values are out of sync with what a median voter believes, issues inevitably arise at the polls. He stresses that it’s not just the messaging, it’s about how it is disseminated and used to persuade.
In the spiel, the answer is: This former Jeopardy! contestant is facing Twitter backlash.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Washington’s win over Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football. They also discuss Alabama and Ohio State’s victories in the College Football Playoff and ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel joins for a conversation about the Duke women’s basketball team opting out of the season.
NFL (01:28):Did the Eagles commit fraud in their loss to Washington or was it all just a big laugh?
College Football Playoff (19:27):On Justin Fields, Ryan Day, Dabo Swinney, Nick Saban, DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris, Brian Kelly and the other heroes and villains of the CFP.
Duke women’s basketball (37:14):Why did the players opt out?What happens next?
Afterball (55:58):Stefan remembers Penn Quaker Kevin Warren.
On Tuesday, Georgia voters will decide which party holds the majority in the United States senate. Activists like Nse Ufot have been criss crossing the state trying to rally new voters to the polls. Will this flurry of activity flip Georgia blue again?
Guest: Nse Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project
Cleve Wootson, National Political Reporter for the Washington Post
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
To kick off 2021, June, Rumaan, and Isaac share their creative goals for 2021 and offer each other advice on how to see them through. They talk about reading habits, social media consumption, time management, and much more.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews
The incarceration of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans in the 1940s is one of the most shameful acts in American history. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Judge Edward M Chen and Don Tamaki, members of the legal team that worked to clear Fred Korematsu’s name almost 40 years after his conviction, to discuss the overlooked context, corruption, and cover-up that enabled the policy, and to examine how the Supreme Court has yet to fully contend with the legacy of Korematsu v United States. They also unpack the lessons the case offers for the present moment.
The documentary discussed is Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Jacob Goldstein of Planet Money joins Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski to talk about his book Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing and explain the varied history of this thing we call “money”.
In the Slate Plus segment: A deeper dive into Jacob’s wonky Numbers Round number.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
Prudence takes a look at a couple of the many memorable letters of 2020 that were addressed with the help of Avery Trufelman and Christina Grace Tucker
Prudie and company discuss a letter writer who’s wondering if she should feel guilty for drunkenly kissing straight women in college now that she’s come out as a lesbian, and how to shut down your mother’s plans to throw you a Disney-themed wedding.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Virginia Heffernan talks to cyberwarfare expert Molly McKew, author of the Great Power newsletter, about the Russian SolarWinds attacks, digital spies, 5G, lizard people, and other conspiracy theories.
On this week’s episode: Our favorite Plus segments of 2020. We’ve got some funny stories about odes to neighborhood racoons and barfing kids. We’ve got therapeutic screams into the void. We also have important segments on colorism, racism, and equity and how the pandemic is impacting the adoption system.
If you like what you hear on the show, sign up for Slate Plus.
In Slate Plus: We have a bonus behind-the-scenes clip of Jamilah trying to determine how devastated Dan will be about Eddie Van Halen passing.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Tune in to The Kids Are Asleep, the hilarious Slate Live show hosted by Jamilah. Watch it on Slate’s Facebook or YouTube on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is first joined by “The Bridge” producer Asha Saluja to digest the latest episode of Hit Parade about how Nirvana launched the post-Christmas music sales phenomenon. Chris recalls his most memorable (and sultriest) post-Christmas CD purchase from his college years. And Asha shares her Hot 100 chart-topper from the week she was born, a banger that handily beats Chris’s schlocky birth-week song. (You’ll want to hear this one—it’s a doozy!)
Next, Chris is joined by Geoff Mayfield, a veteran music industry analyst and journalist who managed Billboard’s charts department in the 1990s as the magazine adopted SoundScan technology for point-of-sale tracking—fundamentally changing the way its charts were tabulated, and telling music-biz honchos some news they didn’t always want to hear.
Finally, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives him a chance to turn the tables on him, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
Larry Kramer always made sure you heard him, loud and clear. He was a playwright and a novelist, but he was perhaps best known for his work as an AIDS activist. In the 1980s and 1990s, Kramer sought to alert the world to a plague that was killing millions of people. He woke up the world -- through provocative demonstrations, fiery essays, and righteous anger. Kramer died in May.
Guest: Mark Harris, a journalist and writer at New York Magazine.
For a closer look at the history of ACT UP, check out United in Anger: A History of ACT UP.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in June, 2020.
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz reminisce about 15 years of podcasting together. They look back on past mistakes and deliver fresh kindnesses. This live show was recorded on Dec 9, 2020.
You can watch a special tribute video here and a video of the entire 15th Anniversary Show is here.
Here are some references from this week’s show:
Jonathan Rauch for the Atlantic: “How American Politics Went Insane”
Conor Friedersdorf for the Atlantic: “Working Mom Arrested for Letting Her 9-Year-Old Play Alone at Park”
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
John: The Washington Post: “Sept. 8 in History: Evel Knievel’s Canyon Jump, Nixon Pardon”
Emily: Catrin Einhorn and Christopher Flavelle for The New York Times: “A Race Against Time to Rescue a Reef From Climate Change”
David: Washington Post: “Plastic Surgeons Say Business Is Up, Partly Because Clients Don’t Like How They Look On Zoom”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John share politically-themed cocktail recipes from listeners and of their own.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On the Gist, Fauci guess-timates. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: dead ducks and poisoned undies.
In the interview, Harvard professor Michael McCormick is here to tell Mike about the worst year in recorded history. According to him, it’s 536 A.D., a year when a volcanic eruption blocked out the sun, a bubonic plague that recurred every few decades began, and Ireland was without bread for four years. He and Mike discuss how we’re able to pinpoint so precisely the date of these events, how it affected humanity, and that sometimes the history lesson is things can always get worse. McCormick is the Frances Goelet Professor of Medieval History at Harvard University.
In the spiel, if our ancestors got through, so can we.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.
This week, Stephen, Dana, and Julia present the Culture Gabfest’s annual listener call-in show, originally recorded live and streamed on Facebook and YouTube. They answer questions like, “Would you live in a muder house?” and “Are there any ways in which you are a snob about the culture you partake in?”
In Slate Plus, the hosts field more questions from their live audience via Facebook and YouTube.
Click here for the video version of the show.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Live show production by Faith Smith and Britt Pullie.
Outro Music: "200 Dont's" by Conditional
On Friday, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87. Her work as a lawyer and a judge forever changed how women are viewed under United States law. As the nation mourns, her absence sparks a fight in the senate about who is going to choose the next Supreme Court Justice.
Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, host of Slate’s Amicus podcast.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally September 2020.
On the Gist, sorting out how undemocratic of our democracy is.
In the interview, the Atlantic’s James Fallows contends that while 2020 has been bad, 1968 was actually quite worse. The Vietnam War was raging, young men were being drafted, and in 1968 the North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces launched their Tet Offensive. Not to mention, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were both assassinated. Fallows and Mike discuss how the assassinations compounded on the stress of the war, how shooting targets have shifted from politicians to schools, and compare the civil unrest of 1968 with 2020. Fallows’ piece in the Atlantic is “Is This the Worst Year in Modern American History?”
In the spiel, we’re not getting those $2,000 checks...which leads to a Remembrances of Things Trump where the president likes a certain phrase about talking and action.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.
Editor’s note: This episode mistakenly identifies Martin Luther King Jr. as having been assassinated “when he was in his early 40s.” King died at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Prudence takes a look at some of the many memorable letters of 2020 with Grace Lavery, Calvin Kasulke, Toni Golan-Vilella, Lizzy Marmon, Justine D’Souza, and Jack Doyle.
Prudie and company tackle letters about how to decide if you should you let your best friend raise your troubled daughter, what to consider about rewarding weight loss by getting a breast lift, how to handle a husband who gets upset when you mention missing the food from a restaurant that conflicts with your politics, what to do with a mother who only became proud of your job in a grocery in light of the pandemic, and should you report a childhood friend who’s now lying about her upbringing to solicit donations.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Over the summer, comedian Laurie Kilmartin took to Twitter to joke about something that wasn’t funny: Her mom was dying. JoAnn Kilmartin, Laurie’s mother, had contracted the coronavirus in her nursing home and was on her deathbed only a few miles from Laurie’s home in southern California.
Guest: Laurie Kilmartin, comedian and author of Dead People Suck: A Guide for Survivors of the Newly Departed.
We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in June, 2020.
Here at How To! headquarters, we give and receive a lot of good advice. This year we learned how to talk politics without wrecking relationships, lose weight and keep it off, confront a crazy neighbor, and even survive a shark attack. As 2020 draws to a close and we look ahead to the New Year, the How To! team comes together to round up our favorite advice of the year. We talk about how we applied that advice to our own lives, share some surprising updates from folks who were on the show, and give a behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast is made each week.
Did we forget to mention your favorite advice of the year? Let us know with a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001
Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover the Season 2 finale, “Æsahættr”, in which Will finally meets his father, Lee Scoresby visits the Alamo, and Mrs. Coulter puts a kid in a trunk. Plus: an interview with Jack Thorne, the adaptor-in-chief of Philip Pullman’s books.
Email: asktheauthority@slate.com
Podcast production by Phil Surkis.
Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois
Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin field listener questions about how sports changed the national response to COVID, whether the pandemic sowed mistrust between owners and players, their personal players of the year, and a whole lot more.
On the Gist, we’re experiencing some loner white terrorist burnout.
In the interview, we’re talking rural Republicans. Ross Benes gives us insight to Nebraska’s Republican party, and how they can help to understand Republicans everywhere. He talks about where Democrats are going wrong outside the cities, the difference between an old fashioned Republican and a Trump Toadie, and what makes rural voters tick—sometimes despite their own best interests. Benes is a journalist and analyst at eMarketer, and the author of Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold.
In the spiel, remembering what Trump said he’d do for the Carrier plant.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.
Hybrid learning is a massive educational experiment playing out in schools across the country. No two classrooms are alike. We took a look at one teacher’s experience.
Guest: Christopher Pinto, a high school math and statistics teacher outside Houston, Texas.
This episode originally aired in September, 2020.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the romantic comedy The Holiday(2006), directed by Nancy Meyers.
Other titles mentioned in the episode:
Private Benjamin(1980)
The Parent Trap(1998)
Baby Boom(1987)
Father of the Bride(1991)
Jumpin’ Jack Flash(1986)
What Women Want(2000)
Something’s Gotta Give(2003)
It’s Complicated(2009)
The Intern(2015)
Blood Diamond (2006)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!(1966)
A Christmas Story(1983)
You’ve Got Mail(1998)
His Girl Friday(1940)
Bridget Jones’s Diary(2001)
Bridget Jones’s Diary: Edge of Reason (2004)
Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016)
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Titanic(1997)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
The Reader (2008)
Little Children (2006)
Heavenly Creatures(2004)
Emma
King Kong(2005)
School of Rock(2003)
High Fidelity(2000)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle(2017)
Mank(2020)
Bernie(2011)
The Mask(1994)
There’s Something About Mary(1998)
My Best Friend’s Wedding(1997)
Being John Malkovich(1999)
Any Given Sunday(1999)
Charlie’s Angels(2000)
Shrek(2001)
Gangs of New York (2002)
Stella Got Her Groove Back(1998)
Talented Mr. Ripley(1999)
Closer(2004)
Cold Mountain(2003)
Road to Perdition(2002)
Wilde(1998)
Marriage Story (2019)
Inception (2010)
Home Again(2017)
The Philadelphia Story(1941)
Lost in Translation(2003)
Marie Antoinette(2006)
The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
Outrage (1950)
Dana’s 2006 review of The Holiday
Vulture’s Nancy Meyers Week
On the next episode: Ida Lupino’s The Bigamist (1953).
Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com
Production by Chau Tu.
For this very special episode, June, Isaac, and Rumaan answer listener questions about creative work. A video producer wants to get better at reacting to negative feedback. A musician wants to know how to avoid ripping off her heroes. Plus, Rumaan answers a question he’s frankly tired of hearing from aspiring writers.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Zach Carter joins Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski to talk about his book The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes and discuss the life and philosophy of the man whose ideas built the foundation for modern economics.
In the Slate Plus segment: Best books of 2020.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Harron Walker, an award-winning freelance journalist who lives in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in GQ, Esquire, and Out, and she is a longtime Jezebel contributor.
Prudie and Walker discuss a letter writer who is wondering how to approach her boyfriend about his lack of hygiene, and should you try to connect with your estranged daughter who only asks you for money when she’s in trouble.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Virginia Heffernan talks to comedian Kathy Griffin about the beheading performance art piece seen round the world, which spiraled into a nightmare scenario of harassment, the cancellation of her comedy tour, subsequent Hollywood blacklisting, and frequent check-ins with the FBI.
On this week’s episode: We gathered all of the Mom and Dad are Fighting hosts, kids, and partners around the mic for a holiday party extravaganza. It’s an abundance of chaos and cheer to make up for all of the canceled holiday parties this year. Up first is Triumphs and Fails with a twist. Then the kids and partners answer listener questions about them. Followed by a super silly round of everyone’s favorite—Would You Rather.
In Slate Plus: Everyone is revealing the holiday traditions that they can’t live without.
Recommendations:
Alia recommends an adult paint by numbers kit.
Lyra recommends playing Broken Picturephone.
Harper recommends Hello Curls Curl Definer Spray and an Erin Condren academic planner.
Naima recommends watching Speechless, which aired from 2016-2019 and is now streaming on Hulu.
Jeff recommends a Quadrilla Marble Run.
Henry recommends Purrble. A stuffed animal that teaches kids how to calm down.
Oliver recommends tote-a-fort.
Teddy recommends the Radish cooking box for kids.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Tune in to The Kids Are Asleep, the hilarious Slate Live show hosted by Jamilah. Watch it on Slate’s Facebook or YouTube on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
The images are familiar now. The police in their face shields, armed with batons and cans of pepper spray. The protestors, sporting bruises, pouring milk on each others’ faces. What happened in the spring might make you feel uncomfortable and angry. Kellie Carter-Jackson says: that’s the point. And she says that a nice, peaceful protest may not accomplish the structural change America needs.
Guest: Kellie Carter-Jackson, PhD, a professor at Wellesley College and the author of Force & Freedom: Black Abolitionists the Politics of Violence.
This episode originally aired in June, 2020.
Emily, John, and David end 2020 considering listeners’ most perplexing conundrums—with special guest Alexandra Petri!
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
The Life of George Washington: With Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honourable to Himself, and Exemplary to His Young Countrymenby Mason Locke Weems
Marching Bands Are Just Homeless Orchestras, Half-Empty Thoughts Vol. 1 by Tim Siedell
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
David G. Savage for The Los Angeles Times: “Clarence Thomas is His Own Man
The Glory and The Dream by William Manchester
The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey
The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson
FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, Netflix
Fyre Fraud, Hulu
Black Mirror: “Nosedive,” Netflix
Black Mirror: “Arkangel,” Netflix
Here are some of the conundrums tackled on the show:
- To save the world from eventual destruction, you have to live and work in one of two locations that you cannot leave for three years: one on the ocean floor, the other on the moon. Which do you choose and why?
- What pre-1900 social custom (especially one related to how people interact with each other in public) that has fallen out of fashion should be revived in 2021 and beyond?
- Would you rather have read War and Peace but not be able to talk about it, or to have read Atlas Shrugged and have to talk about it?
- A pair of 80s style magical leg warmers must be visibly worn all day to activate superhuman cheetah speed. Do you wear them?
- For the rest of quarantine, you must share your home with a fictional character. Who is your new roommate?
- You can have your portrait painted by any artist from any period of history, or your biography written by any author. Whom would you pick?
- If you could banish any widely accepted canard from people’s minds, what would it be?
- If you, and only you, could see one statistic hovering over every person’s head, what would you want it to be?
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, John, and Alexandra explore some bonus conundrums.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On the Gist, Republican Grinches are scratching their heads while Santa Trump calls for more stimulus money.
And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: This president. He hasn’t talked so good.
In the interview, we have Georgia on our mind yet again with Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Bill Nigut. He talks about the upcoming Georgia runoff including the impact of Republicans crying foul after the 2020 election, the (slim) chance that Republicans could blow an election that’s theirs to lose, and a deep cut involving a political jingle. Nigut is the host and executive producer of the Georgia politics podcast, Political Rewind. He’s also a program host and producer at Georgia Public Broadcasting.
In the spiel, that rare feeling of togetherness that now comes with waiting on line for a COVID-19 test.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.
Prudence is joined this week by Harron Walker, an award-winning freelance journalist who lives in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in GQ, Esquire, and Out, and she is a longtime Jezebel contributor.
Prudie and Walker tackle letters about how to handle a mother-in-law who wants to refer to you as an “aunt” rather than admitting your baby has two moms, what to consider when you suspect your partner is transitioning and is reluctant to talk about it, should you let your parents know before you legally change your name.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
This week Stephen and Dana are joined by Slate editor and writer Dan Kois. First, they discuss the new Steven Soderbergh movie Let Them All Talk, starring Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, and Candice Bergen. Then they talk to Slate TV critic Willa Paskin about the trends in TV this year and why "popular" TV isn't always "good" TV. After that, the hosts talk about a new project in the UK that aims to revive smells from the past.
In Slate Plus, the hosts debate whether the labels "movie" and "TV show" have lost some of their meaning in the age of streaming.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
Outro Music: "If Only I Was a Poet" by Staffan Carlen
The coronavirus that gave rise to our present pandemic started in China as a bat virus that eventually made contact with humans. Researchers say this leap between species was highly predictable – so why were communities and governments caught flat-footed?
Guest: Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance.
This episode originally aired in March, 2020.
On the Gist, who wants the vaccine?
And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Did Trump really want a moat with alligators and snakes?
In the interview, it’s the second half of Mike’s conversation with author Michael Scott Alexander about his book, Making Peace with the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual Healing. Alexander talks about his connection to finding a religious path and identity, the differences between religious institutions and personal enlightenment, and why the concept of spirituality desperately needs rebranding. Alexander is associate professor of religious studies and Maimonides Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Riverside.
In the spiel, cleansing America of Trump.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.
Dahlia Lithwick talks to Justice Stephen Breyer of the US Supreme Court for a Slate Plus exclusive, as part of Slate’s 80 over 80 coverage.
That language changes is certain. How quickly or slowly is another matter.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Are you sick of sourdough? Stress-baking the same chocolate chip cookies every week? Our listener Daniel understands—he’s been baking like crazy during this pandemic, but is feeling tired and uninspired lately. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Claire Saffitz, pastry chef, beloved host of Bon Appétit’s “Gourmet Makes” series, and author of the new cookbook Dessert Person, to hack Daniel’s kitchen pantry and find new ways to use familiar ingredients. As Claire and Daniel make miso buttermilk biscuits together over Zoom, Claire not only shares tips for all the amateur chefs out there, but also opens up about how baking helped her learn to manage her anxiety and adapt to difficult situations. These days, we need the biscuits and the lessons. Check out the full recipe.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Cook One Perfect Meal.”
Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Congress has agreed on another stimulus package, but to do so both Republicans and Democrats had to give up on high-priority demands. Why did this bill take so long, and why isn’t anyone all that excited about it?
Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate's senior business and economics correspondent
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.
In this special holiday preview episode, Felix and Anna are joined by Yinka Adegoke, the Africa editor for Quartz, to discuss the classic Christmas/commodities-trading comedy Trading Places. They talk about the rampant 1980s-ness of it all, what is actually happening with the frozen concentrated orange juice, and how the film stacks up as a finance movie overall.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas,
Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 6 of Season 2, “Malice,” in which Mrs. Coulter controls Spectres, Lee loses control over his balloon, and Mary Malone spends a nice afternoon reading Let’s Go Cittàgazze. Plus: Actual daemons respond to HBO’s My Daemon app.
Email: asktheauthority@slate.com
Podcast production by Phil Surkis. My Daemon segment written by Marissa Martinelli.
Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois
Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook
On the Gist, medical innovation.
And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: charitable contributions.
In the interview, it’s part one of Mike’s discussion with author, Michael Scott Alexander about his book, Making Peace with the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual Healing. Alexander details how he searched for insight during an existential crisis, and retroactively explored how other great thinkers, philosophers, psychologists, and musicians found help in healing the mind. Alexander is associate professor of religious studies and Maimonides Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Riverside.
In the spiel, dubious arguments against dubious death sentences.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the end of college football’s regular season and the College Football Playoff matchups. They also discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to re-sign with the Bucks. Finally, they ponder what pandemic-era changes will become permanent and which will be forgotten.
College football (01:58):Did the committee get it right? Is it possible to make the sport more equitable?
Giannis (21:20):Why did he decide to run it back with the Bucks? Is his decision good for the NBA?
Pandemic-era changes (39:55):How will players, leagues, and fans shift to a post-pandemic age?
Afterball (58:13):Josh on how Michael Jordan could’ve been a Dallas Maverick.
The United States is contending with a computer hack unprecedented in scope, and it could take months or even years to understand exactly what happened. But the hack has roots in vulnerabilities understood since the beginning of the internet, so why and how did this happen?
Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s "War Stories" columnist
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
What took blue food so long to catch on? Today it’s all over the freezer aisle, in candies for kids, in tortilla chips, and novelty foods, but it wasn’t very long ago that food experts agreed: blue food was an impossible sell. Their best evidence was a study from the 1970’s in which subjects were served blue steaks to sickening effect. On this episode, we uncover the strange, misinformation-stuffed history of blue food, the rise of blue raspberry, and what to make of the blue food experiment that made those people sick. It may have something to do with Alfred Hitchcock. This episode was produced in collaboration with Proof, from America's Test Kitchen. Proof is a podcast that investigates the food we love. Subscribe to Proof on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.
Special programming note: Decoder Ring is going seasonal! That means you won’t hear from us for a while, but we’ll be back in 2021 with a bunch of new stories released week-by-week. Thanks for sticking with us, we’re excited to try something new, and we’ll see you soon.
This week, Rumaan Alam talks with George C. Wolfe. Wolfe is a playwright, film director, and two-time Tony winner. His latest project, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, takes place in a single day of 1927, when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago, and tensions begin to rise. The film is out now, playing in select theaters and streaming on Netflix.
They talk about how Wolfe wanted to approach this project from the ground up, reimagining how the story would be told to fit its new form. He also explains how his own experience as an actor in college has informed the way he collaborates with professional actors today.
Afterward, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas discuss what they found most surprising about the interview and discuss how they implement George C. Wolfe’s tactics into their own creative collaborations.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Host
Rumaan Alam
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to talk about lessons learned from this election cycle, and what it’s like to be in the eye of the “unleash the kraken” storm.
Next, Dahlia talks with Professor Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas School of Law about Bill Barr’s departure from the Justice Department, and they try to shed some light on the latest signals emerging from the Supreme Court’s shadow docket.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia for all the Supreme Court news we couldn’t cram into the main show, including analysis of the Covid closure cases and Mitch McConnell’s unprecedented lame-duck judicial appointment spree.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss Massachusetts regulators’ complaint against the Robinhood app, how MacKenzie Scott is giving away billions, and all the One Percenters leaving big cities.
In the Slate Plus segment: Currency manipulation.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Gist, the shrinking list of Democrats in Congress. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump trying to surprise the parents of British teenager Harry Dunn with their son’s killer.
In the interview, the Gist’s favorite guest, Maria Konnikova, is back for another round of “Is That Bullshit?” She and Mike talk about long shot political wins and describe what it meant for Donald Trump to draw an inside straight in 2016. It’s a great hand to bluff with, but oftentimes it can be a bad strategy in poker and in life. Maria’s book The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win is a New York Times bestseller and listed as one of their 100 Notable Books for 2020.
In the spiel, it’s the final lobster of the antentwig of 2020!
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Since the presidential election, local Republicans in states that Biden flipped blue have been arguing about what went wrong. The difference in Georgia is, the election isn’t totally over - and the upcoming runoff election will decide which party controls the Senate.
So with all eyes on Georgia, why do the state's Republicans seem just as intent on tearing into each other as holding onto their seats?
Guest: Rusty Paul, Mayor of Sandy Springs, Georgia.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Max Jacobs, a radio and podcast producer based in New York. Long ago, he helped produce this show.
Prudie and Jacobs discuss a letter writer whose siblings are upset that she doesn't call her elderly relatives, and how to have a conversation with your sister about her kid’s problematic Halloween costumes.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
How did an immigrant rabbi use modern technology to dominate the millenia-old market for matzoh? And how did an almost undrinkably sweet wine manage to become the taste of Judaism?
Podcast production by Jess Miller with help from Cleo Levin.
On the Gist, gale-force winds from winter storm Gail. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Jim Acosta was scolded and his credentials revoked.
In the interview, Mike talks with Scottish sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter how his dogs Olive and Mabel became online celebrities. Earlier this year, Cotter began publishing short videos of his dogs featuring funny commentaries from his perspective. One is a sports-style chew toy play-by-play, and another is a work call with his pups over Zoom. These videos went majorly viral, and now he’s out with a memoir recounting the real stories of his life with his dogs. Cotter’s book is Olive, Mabel, & Me: Life and Adventures With Two Very Good Dogs.
In the spiel, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stresses that there is no plan in place for new leadership.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Emily, John and David discuss the massive Russian hack-- with guest Alex Stamos, Bill Barr’s resignation, and Joe Biden’s cabinet.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Alex Stamos for The Washington Post: “Enough Is Enough. Here’s What We Should Do to Defend Against the Next Russian Cyberattacks.”
John Dickerson for 60 Minutes: “Excited Delirium: The Controversial Syndrome That Can Be Used to Protect Police From Misconduct Charges”
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
John: Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “America, We Have a Problem”; The New Yorker Documentary, Episode 30: “The Man Who Invented More Than Eight Hundred Iconic Toys”
Emily: Daniel Nichanian for The Appeal: “Newly Elected Prosecutors Are Challenging The Death Penalty”; Rob Hayes for KABC: “LA County Da George Gascon's Plan To Reduce Sentences Sparks Concern From His Own Prosecutors”; Daniel Nichanian’s Twitter feed, @taniel
David: Azam Ahmed for The New York Times: “She Stalked Her Daughter’s Killers Across Mexico, One by One”
Listener chatter from @greenneck: Eric Simons for Bay News: “With Fewer than 2,000 Butterflies Counted So Far, Western Monarch Takes an Astonishing Step Closer to Extinction”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss John’s reporting on “excited delirium,” the dubious medical justification for an increasing number of deaths of young Black men in police custody.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Dan answer a question about a little girl who wishes her Memaw and Pepaw would be better grandparents. They also debate what to do when a beloved stuffed animal gets lost and your kid is heartbroken.
In Slate Plus: Slate’s Sam Adams joins to talk about kids texting, emailing and finding their written voice.
Recommendations:
Dan recommends installing a wireless mesh network.
Jamilah recommends Trader Joe's Sipping Chocolate.
Elizabeth recommends the December Following Directions printable from Peanut Butter Fish Lessons.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Tune in to The Kids Are Asleep, the hilarious Slate Live show hosted by Jamilah. Watch it on Slate’s Facebook or YouTube on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Virginia Heffernan welcomes back Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) to talk about how Trump champions cheating and has a sour response to empathy, and why Schiff’s colleagues are so afraid to speak out against Trump’s misdeeds and behavior.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement played an outsized role in manifesting Trump’s hard-line immigration policies. How might ICE change under Biden?
Guest: Hamed Aleaziz, immigration reporter at BuzzFeed News.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, GOP going after themselves. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Peter Navarro’s alter ego.
In the interview, Mike talks with Jane McManus about the conclusions of her poll on why Americans have been spending less time watching sports in 2020. What she found has a lot to do with not just the pandemic and aging viewers, but identity politics, too. In their conversation, McManus underscores that the health of a community is oftentimes based on playing games, and that sports are the ultimate reflection of a healthy democracy. She also discusses why sports leagues choosing to avoid getting involved in disseminating a public health message was contrary to putting community and teamwork first. McManus is director of Marist College’s Center for Sports Communication, a columnist for Deadspin sports and an ESPN contributor.
In the spiel, Joe Rogan doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
In this bonus episode, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss “The Last Last Dance,” Joel’s special podcast on Michael Jordan’s tenure with the Washington Wizards. Topics discussed include why Jordan chose to go to D.C., how he treated Kwame Brown, and whether Jordan’s time in Washington makes him a more or less sympathetic figure.
This month, Christina, Bryan, and Rumaan speak with Ruth Coker Burks, author of the new book All the Young Men: A Memoir of Love, AIDS, and Chosen Family in the American South, about her work in the 1980s, helping Arkansans with AIDS. Then they discuss three of 2020’s bumper selection of LGBTQ holiday movies: The Christmas Setup, Happiest Season, and A New York Christmas Wedding. Should we be grateful for the gift of representation, or should we be searching for the receipt?
All year, we’ve seen how COVID-19 surges can persuade state officials to take the pandemic seriously. But the resistance in Florida is something special: There, Governor Ron DeSantis has been particularly opposed to sharing case data or imposing measures to minimize viral spread.
Guest: Mary Ellen Klas, reporter for the Miami Herald.
This week Steve and Dana are joined by guest host Nichole Perkins, writer, poet, and host of the Thirst Aid Kit podcast. First they discuss the new film adaptation of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, which stars Viola Davis and features Chadwick Boseman in his final role. Then they weigh in on the HBO Max mystery thriller The Flight Attendant. After that, Vulture writer Mark Harris joins the show to talk about Disney's rapid growth and what it means for the movie industry.
In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about which historical performances they wish they could witness.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
Outro Music: "Go slow" by Daniel Fridell
On the Gist, Pete Buttigieg named Biden’s secretary of transport. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Ryan Zinke, Trump’s first secretary of the interior.
In the interview, it’s the final half of Mike’s discussion with writer Matthew Yglesias. After touching on Yglesias’ argument from his Vox piece, “Trump’s Gains With Hispanic Voters Should Prompt Some Progressive Rethinking,” he and Mike go deeper on the divide between white Democrats and Democrats of color, and why some social issues in the progressive mainstream don’t necessarily work for the larger Democratic base. Yglesias’ Substack newsletter is Slow Boring.
In the spiel, Biden-esque buddyism.
And, a short tribute to the late Catie Lazarus, comedy writer, and former host of the Slate talk show Employee of the Month.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Prudence is joined this week by Max Jacobs, a radio and podcast producer based in New York. Long ago, he helped produce this show.
Prudie and Jacobs dig into letters about what to do when a neighbor’s cigarette smoke creeps into your apartment, how to cope with your mom’s passive aggressive behavior, what to do when your privileged partner complains about his job, should your wife be more careful about hiding her pot smoking from the kids.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Recently, one of the world’s leading AI ethics researchers, Timnit Gebru, left Google. Google says she resigned. Timnit says she was fired. In the days since, Timnit’s departure has turned into a public relations crisis for the search giant, prompting its CEO to issue a public apology.
What happened behind the scenes at Google that led to Timnit’s dismissal?
Guest: Timnit Gebru, AI ethics researcher, and the co-founder of Black in AI.
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
Erin thinks her dog Chief has the most embarrassing habit—he keeps eating her daughters’ underwear. This has happened several times, resulting in multiple costly surgeries. If she doesn’t put a stop to it, it could eventually kill Chief. How can she get her dog to behave and, more importantly, get her teenage daughters to put their underwear in the hamper? On this episode of How To!, Jenny Slate, comedian, actress, and author of Little Weirds, opens up about the time her dog ate something he shouldn't have—and let’s just say it’s worse than underwear. But Jenny adores dogs and believes they have something important to teach us. You have to accept your loved ones’ limitations, Jenny says, and when problems arise, tailor your solution to what suits them best—advice that applies to both dogs and teenagers.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Confront a Crazy Neighbor with Tig Notaro.”
Do you have a seemingly impossible problem? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 5 of Season 2, “The Scholar,” in which Will and Lyra steal back the alethiometer, Mary Malone makes a big decision, and a monkey wears a seat belt.
Email: asktheauthority@slate.com
Further reading: Archive of Our Own: Temptress - Chapter 1
Podcast production by Phil Surkis.
Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois
Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook
On the Gist, deciphering the Zodiac Killer’s last message. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump trying to make Andrew Puzder his Labor Secretary.
In the interview, the first part of Mike’s discussion with writer Matthew Yglesias. They talk about how the world of online media has changed since Yglesias founded Vox, and begin to get into his argument about certain parts of the Democratic platform that alienated Hispanic voters and pushed them towards Trump. Tomorrow, they’ll go deeper on the complex analysis of voters of color, and why it seems harder to disagree with progressive thought than it used to be. Yglesias’ Substack newsletter is Slow Boring.
In the spiel, competent judges kept the U.S. in check.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
When Nirvana’s Nevermind ousted Michael Jackson’s Dangerous from the top of the Billboard album chart, it made headlines in early 1992. Only, it didn’t really happen in ’92. What gave Nirvana the win happened right after Christmas ’91. Teenagers who were home for the holidays voted with their gift cards, and they gave Kurt Cobain’s band the win over the King of Pop.
This month, Chris Molanphy examines the chart dynamics that not only ushered in the grunge era but also invented a new music sales strategy, the post-Christmas album: the CD your parents would never give you, that you’d buy for yourself. Before the ’90s were over, a new generation of hip-hop stars, led by barking rapper DMX, were using the post-Christmas gambit to defeat the Celine Dions of the world. And the charts were never the same.
Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the epic Lawrence of Arabia (1962), directed by David Lean.
Other titles mentioned in the episode:
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
2001: A Space Odyssey(1968)
Saving Private Ryan(1998)
Ben Hur(1959)
The Ten Commandments(1956)
Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
The Bridge on the River Kwai(1957)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Doctor Zhivago(1965)
Brief Encounter(1946)
Ryan’s Daughter(1970)
Dedicated Maniac
Passage to India(1984)
The Elephant Man(1980)
Out of Sight(1998)
A Man for All Seasons(1966)
Nicholas and Alexandra(1971)
Birth of a Nation(1915)
The Searchers(1956)
Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
Citizen Kane(1941)
Prometheus(2012)
There Will Be Blood(2008)
Funny Girl(1968)
Macbeth
Casablanca(1943)
The Parent Trap(1998)
On the next episode: Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday(2006).
Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com
Production by Chau Tu.
After months of anticipation, the first FDA-authorized coronavirus vaccine has begun distribution. But even with an effective vaccine in hand, big questions remain. How are vaccines being distributed? And with so many lives on the line, who gets it first?
Guest: Sarah Owermohle, reporter for Politico and the Prescription Pulse newsletter.
In this special episode of Hang Up and Listen, Joel Anderson tells the story of Michael Jordan's second comeback. How did Jordan end up in Washington, D.C.? Why couldn’t he make the Washington Wizards into winners? And what does the final chapter of Jordan’s career reveal about him as a player and a person?
This week, host June Thomas talks to Suzzy Roche, the youngest member of the harmonious folk group The Roches, and Suzzy’s daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche. The duo recently released an album called I Can Still Hear You that was inspired by the pandemic, the Trump presidency, and the #metoo movement. In the interview, Suzzy and Lucy discuss their songwriting process and explain what it’s like to collaborate with a family member. Suzzy also reflects on her time writing songs with her sisters in The Roches.
After the interview June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss their mutual love of The Roches.
In the exclusive Slate Plus section, Suzzy and Lucy talk about how the pandemic has affected the music industry. Then June asks Suzzy about The Roches’ Christmas album, We Three Kings.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss the DoorDash and Airbnb IPOs, the massive antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, and vaccine ethics.
In the Slate Plus segment: Should we just take away Zuck’s special shares?
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Gist, don’t trust the polls. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump loves the Great Lake.
In the interview, Mike helps Slate celebrate a milestone. Fifteen years ago this week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz recorded their first podcast together, and the Political Gabfest was born. Since 2005, the trio has roundtabled weekly about politicians, scandals, and countless court cases with millions of listeners joining them along the way. It’s a podcast series that Stephen Colbert says “everybody should listen to.” One of the first-published podcasts to date, Slate’s Political Gabfest set the stage for news, culture, and politics shows everywhere to come over the years.
In the spiel, proof through accusation.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Slate’s Dana Stevens is joined by Slate’s Brow Beat’s nights and weekends editor Matthew Dessem to spoil Mank, the new film about the making of another film, Citizen Kane. Will Herman Mankiewicz, a troubled alcoholic (played by Gary Oldman), finish his script in time for his deadline? Will anyone like the film? And how does a California Governor's race fit into it all?
You can read Dana Stevens here.
You can read Matthew Dessem’s review here.
Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast production by Morgan Flannery.
Hosts
Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic.
Matthew Dessem is Slate’s Brow Beat’s night and weekends editor.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Diana Stegall, the creator of the popular French history podcast, The Land of Desire.
Prudie and Stegall discuss a letter writer who wants to stop secretly hoping that her best friend fails at dating, what to consider when your kids have been passed over for in-person learning at their school.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Pinterest is an online destination frequented by crafty moms and brides-to-be. But former employees allege that its internal culture is far from woman-friendly.
Podcast production by Jess Miller and Asha Saluja, with help from Cleo Levin and Seth Stevenson.
This week, the FTC and more than 40 state attorneys general brought antitrust lawsuits against Facebook. And they’re not pulling their punches. They are calling for Facebook to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp into independent companies. In other words, breakup.
The lawsuits represent some of the most significant antitrust action in the United States in the last 40 years. Will they get results?
Guest:
Tony Romm, tech policy reporter at the Washington Post
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
Irina and her husband are more than $100,000 in debt. They’re working to pay it off, but between monthly credit card bills, student loan payments, 401k contributions and spending on their new baby, their money is spread too thin. In this episode of How To!, we bring on Rachel Cruze, a personal finance expert and author of Know Yourself, Know Your Money, to help Irina create a budget that she can actually follow. It will seem hard at first, Rachel says, but if you cut up your credit cards and pause your retirement investments, you can get out of debt much sooner.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Get That Promotion You Deserve.”
Do you have a conundrum? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
As his presidential term draws to a close, Virginia Heffernan does an overview of Donald Trump’s impact on U.S. foreign policy with Mieke Eoyang, senior vice president for Third Way’s National Security Program.
On the Gist, unasked for resignation advice. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: toilets for well-endowed men.
In the interview, it’s part two of Mike’s conversation with Jim Tankersley, author and New York Times economics reporter. Tankersley provides solutions to productivity gains, explains how access to education in America is not enough of a tool for progress and that extending opportunities, like V.C. to women and BIPOC, will create more opportunities leading to a virtuous cycle promoting a new thriving middle class. Tankersley’s book is The Riches of This Land: The Untold, True Story of America's Middle Class.
In the spiel, Georgia senators buying stocks.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Emily, John and David talk about the coup attempt, Facebook’s legal troubles, and which presidential norms to restore or discard, with guest Tim Wu.
It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum. Our annual Conundrum show is coming soon.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Tim Wu for the New York Times: “What Really Saved the Republic From Trump?”
Zeynep Tufekci for the Atlantic: “ ‘This Must Be Your First’ ”
They Might Be Giants
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
John: Dalya Alberge for the Guardian: “ ‘Sistine Chapel of the Ancients' Rock Art Discovered in Remote Amazon Forest”
David: Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield
Emily: Esmé E. Deprez for Bloomberg Businessweek: “How Medela Lost Moms”
Listener chatter from Charlotte Hope, @charlottehope: Elizabeth Yuko for Architectural Digest: “How Previous Epidemics Impacted Home Design”
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John consider a question from listener Daniela Koontz about ideal road trips.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Dan weigh in on whether you are a jerk for uninviting a family from your pod’s holiday plans. Should you follow invitation etiquette during a pandemic? Then they debate how to handle a parent giving a kid a book that might be too mature. Is it too late to take the book back? Or should you prepare to explain the mature content?
In Slate Plus: The hosts reveal the worst gifts they’ve ever given and received.
Recommendations:
Dan recommends A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong.
Elizabeth recommends USPS Operation Santa.
Jamilah recommends Black Kids Adventures and Black Adventure Crew, which you should also follow on Instagram.
Games Galore:
Sommify
Pandemic
Root
Rummikub
The Floor is Lava
Yogarrr!
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Tune in to The Kids Are Asleep, the hilarious Slate Live show hosted by Jamilah. Watch it on Slate’s Facebook or YouTube on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
As Joe Biden assembles his cabinet, he has an opportunity to remake America’s image on the global stage. What if the US was seen as a cooperative partner rather than a big-footed global leader?
Guest: Peter Beinart, contributing opinion writer to the New York Times and editor-at-large for Jewish Currents.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
On the Gist, the skeletons in Hunter Biden’s closet. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: A natural rust color on the border wall.
In the interview, it’s part one of Mike’s conversation with author and economics reporter Jim Tankersley about his new book, The Riches of This Land: The Untold, True Story of America's Middle Class. Tankersley defines the middle class by economic security, and underscores how legislations and the Civil Rights act negatively impacted economic policy. Mike and Jim also discuss how the U.S. seemed to luck into having a middle class post-World War II, and why chasing jobs of the past could be an ineffective method of rebuilding future opportunities. Stay tuned for part two in tomorrow’s episode.
In the spiel, the Black community and the coronavirus vaccine.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Teachers unions are catching flack for obstructing a return to in-person school. The president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, says teachers want to be in school. The question still is, can it be done safely?
Guest: Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
This week Steve and Dana are joined by co-host Laura Miller, books and culture columnist for Slate. First, the three of them talk to Slate's own Mattew Dessem about what's real and what's made up in the new David Fincher movie, Mank. Then Julia Turner joins the show for a discussion about Spotify's end-of-year "wrapped" feature. For the third segment, Laura talks about the best books of 2020.
In Slate Plus, Laura talks about a debate that keeps cropping up in literary circles about whether kids should be taught more contemporary literature.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
Outro music: "Ruins" by Origo
On the Gist, Ultimate Concrete. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: Harley riders for Trump.
In the interview, Mike talks with Cal Matters reporter Laurel Rosenhall about her coverage of Proposition 22, an unprecedented measure pushed by app-based rideshare and livery companies to keep their workers within the gig-economy and preserve exemptions around having to pay employee job protections and benefits. Rosenhall discusses the strategies companies like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and Doordash used to pressure voters as well as drivers during the campaign, and what happened when the now former president of NAACP’s California-Hawaii chapter was paid to endorse the ballot measure. Rosenhall is host of Force of Law, a podcast exploring the ways California lawmakers are attempting to reduce police shootings across the golden state.
In the spiel, who deserves the vaccine?
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Prudence is joined this week by Diana Stegall, the creator of the popular French history podcast, The Land of Desire.
Prudie and Stegall tackle letters about what to consider when bad experiences with therapists leave you wondering if you even know how to “do therapy”, what to do when you realize that your husband is a secret daily smoker, how to handle family who aren’t comfortable that you have the same first name as your partner, should you tell your brother-in-law that your sister is cheating on him.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
The story of how one little verb developed a seemingly endless capacity to absorb new meanings.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Katie is terrified of dying. As the youngest in a big family, she can’t stop thinking about the fact that all her loved ones may die before she does. Katie is a comedy writer who knows how to get laughs, but her obsession with death is real, and getting in the way of living. In this episode of How To!, we bring on Rachel Menzies, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Sydney and author of Tales from the Valley of Death, to share what she’s learned about death anxiety. Exposure therapy is often the most effective way to overcome your fears, but how do you expose yourself to death? Rachel has some unusual ideas to help Katie—and all of us—take control of these intrusive thoughts, starting with lying in a body bag. Focusing deliberately on death, Rachel says, can actually help us appreciate life.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Not Be Scared.”
Are you afraid of something? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
As COVID ravages the American plains, the Cherokee nation stands alone – an example of how government might work to contain the virus. The tribe long ago gave up waiting for the federal government to come through on its promise of fully-funded health care, and invested in state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure, just in time. But as winter sets in, Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. worries his community can’t remain an island forever.
Guest: Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 4 of Season 2, “The Tower of the Angels,” in which Will meets the subtle knife, Lee meets the Hot Priest, and Mary Malone meets Dust. Plus: a deep dive into the Guild of Philosophers and the mysteries of the subtle knife.
Email: asktheauthority@slate.com
Podcast production by Phil Surkis.
Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois
Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook
On the Gist, Trump still wants attention. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump meeting Emmanuel Macron.
In the interview, theater artist and rat about town Jonothon Lyons is here to talk with Mike about his year performing in the streets and subways of New York City. They discuss the origins of Lyons’ work in movement and mask making, the shapes and shadows that help build a mask face, and how Buddy the Rat helped Mike with his own recent engagement.
In the spiel, pay in the Senate and the NBA.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the latest humiliation of the winless New York Jets. They also discuss the Russell Westbrook-John Wall trade, and Russell Dinkins joins for a conversation about his quest to save college track programs.
Jets (03:55):Are they trying to lose on purpose? Should Trevor Lawrence stay away?
Westbrook and Wall (23:57):The thin line between NBA superstardom and basketball sadness.
Track (39:32):Why are men’s track programs disappearing, and what does race have to do with it?
Afterball (58:21):Joel on the end of the Southwest Conference and the decline of the Houston Cougars.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the NFL has asserted that they would continue with their regular season this fall. They’ve kept their word. They’ve also had significant outbreaks -- and the virus keeps interrupting the season. What explains the NFL’s determination to white-knuckle it through the year?
Guest: Bomani Jones, host of The Right Time with Bomani Jones podcast, from ESPN.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to playwright Ayad Akhtar about dream journals, beginning the workday by reading Shakespeare, and other creative rituals and techniques. Then Ayad discusses the origins of his new novel, Homeland Elegies, and explains how he was able to blend autobiographical elements with fictional ones.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas talk about one of Ayad’s mentors, legendary theater director Jerzy Grotowski.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Ayad recommends two books that transformed the way he thinks about writing.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Jack Goldsmith, Harvard Law professor, senior Hoover Institution fellow, co-founder of the Lawfare blog, and co-author (with Bob Bauer) of After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency. They unpack the presidential pardon power and try to figure out what Attorney General Bill Barr is up to with John Durham’s investigation of the investigation into the 2016 election.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to analyse what’s been happening at the Supreme Court in the last 14 days, including last week’s religious freedom decision weighing public worship in the pandemic, the latest Census case, and Justice Samuel Alito’s eagerness to hear from Pennsylvania.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss Salesforce’s $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack, Nasdaq’s proposed plan to require more diverse boards, and Amazon’s big hiring spree.
In the Slate Plus segment: Will we go back to the movies?
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Gist, Corey Lewandowski has caught the virus. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: criticizing Chucks.
In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for another “Is That Bullshit?” She and Mike dissect where the stipulations around the socially distanced fifteen-minute time limit. While in close proximity to another person, how long does it actually take to get exposed and what are the variables? Turns out, the time frame depends on a variety of factors like weather, mask fabric, location and even air quality. Maria’s latest book The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win is a New York Times bestseller and listed as one of their 100 Notable Books for 2020.
In the spiel, the detriments of downplaying Covid-19.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Avery Trufelman, the host of the podcast The Cut, from New York Magazine, as well as Nice Try! a podcast from Curbed about utopian experiments.
Prudie and Trufelman discuss a letter writer who’s wondering what to do when your nearly destitute daughter refuses to move back home with you, what to consider when you hear a neighboring couple be abusive to their dog and each other.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
GoFundMe turned charitable giving into another form of social media. Should we be concerned that Silicon Valley is profiting off of our most selfless intentions?
Podcast production by Jess Miller, with help from Cleo Levin.
Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Dear Prudence and Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work.
Ransomware attacks--when hackers break into digital systems, encrypt files, and demand payment to unlock them, isn’t new. But 2020 has seen an explosion in the frequency of these hacks, which are often targeted at schools and hospitals. Who is behind this recent spate of attacks? And is there anything schools and hospitals can do to protect themselves?
Guests:
Jessica Beyer, teacher at Baltimore County Public Schools
Dave Uberti, cyber security reporter at the Wall Street Journal
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
Virginia Heffernan talks to former FBI special agent and CNN analyst Asha Rangappa about the case for Federalism and why even with pardons, Trump won’t get off completely scot-free.
On the Gist, will Trump have a platform once he’s stripped of power? And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: hoping things will work out with North Korea.
In the interview, lawyer Fred Golder is here to discuss mediation and his new bookReaching Common Ground: A Comprehensive Guide to Conflict Resolution. He and Mike discuss Golder’s long career fighting for the rights of workers starting in the ’60s, and how his experience led him to believe mediation was the best tool to resolve employment conflict for both sides of the table, and how long court battles really only ever turned out to be good for the lawyers.
In the spiel, Sen. Perdue’s securities fraud.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum. Our annual Conundrum holiday show is coming soon.
Emily, John and Jamelle discuss presidential pardons; coronavirus exemptions for houses of worship; and David joins in for a conversation with Australia's former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about disinformation.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “It Started With ‘Birtherism’”
Greg Nunziata for The Atlantic: “Republicans With Any Love of Country Must Acknowledge That Trump Has Lost”
Spencer S. Hsu for The Washington Post: “Court-Appointed Adviser in Michael Flynn Case Says Justice Dept. Yielded to Corrupt ‘Pressure Campaign’ Led by Trump”
Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “Christian School in Kentucky Asks Justices to Intervene in Dispute Over In-Person Classes at Religious Schools”
Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “The Problem of Free Speech in an Age of Disinformation”
A Bigger Picture, by Malcolm Turnbull
To celebrate our 15th anniversary we'd love to know about your clever, politically themed, original cocktail! Please send us the details here: www.slate.com/cocktail
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
Jamelle: Jamelle chatted about the superior experience of watching films on a Blu-Ray player, as opposed to streaming.
John: Caroline Lange for Food52: “A History of The American Milkman”; Matt Novak for Smithsonian Magazine: “The Milkman’s Robot Helper”; Atticpaper.com’s prints from the Mid-century advertising campaign “Beer Belongs”
Emily: The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John learn about navigating water sports in shark-infested waters from Former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a question about a kid who was told Santa wasn’t real. Now she is basing her continued belief on whether or not she gets a horse for Christmas. They also answer a question from a sister who is worried about her younger brother’s slacking in school.
In Slate Plus: How are Santas adapting? Is it time to retire the tradition of sitting on Santa’s lap?
Recommendations:
Jamilah recommends Eczema Honey products.
Elizabeth recommends Mail Order Mystery.
Dan recommends “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses and “Christmas on Riverside Drive” by August Darnell.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Tune in to The Kids Are Asleep, the hilarious Slate Live show hosted by Jamilah. Catch it via Slate’s Facebook or YouTube on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
In the last month, multiple drug companies have announced highly effective vaccines for the coronavirus. But getting everyone vaccinated will be a challenge - not just logistically, but also from a PR standpoint. With distribution on the horizon, how can we build vaccine trust?
Guest: Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project and author of Stuck: How Vaccine Rumors Start -- and Why They Don't Go Away.
On the Gist, unraveling of election results. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: a graveyard full of birds.
In the interview, Mike is joined by Fred Kaplan, War Stories columnist at Slate, and author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War. Kaplan discusses the implications of the assassination of the head of the Iranian nuclear program, Trump’s stance on U.S. involvement on foreign wars, and some projections on Biden’s cabinet picks for secretary of defense.
In the spiel, the devil went down to Georgia’s polls.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
The assasination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has made a difficult situation even harder for the incoming Biden administration. Re-entering the Iran nuclear agreement was already going to be an uphill battle. Now, as tensions mount, only a big swing might save the day.
Guest: Trita Parsi, co-founder and Executive Vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and author of Losing an Enemy & Treacherous Alliance.
This week Steve and Dana are joined by writer, poet, and co-host of the Thirst Aid Kit podcast, Nichole Perkins. First, the they weigh in on Happiest Season, the new holiday rom-com starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis. Then they chat with Culture Gabfest producer Cameron Drews about why he loves the HBO show How To with John Wilson. And finally, the hosts a talk about a big mistake made recently by the publisher Fireside Fiction, where a white voice-over artist put on a fake accent to read an audio essay written by a Black woman. The essay, written by Dr. Regina N. Bradley, is called Da Art of Speculatin’ .
In Slate Plus, the Steve, Dana, and Nichole discuss their pop culture blindspots.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
Outro Music: "What Do You Want From Me" by OTE
On the Gist, potential mass fraud. Plus, the latest installment of Remembrances of Things Trump, as we pause to recall when the president claimed his father was born in Germany.
In the interview, it's part two of Mike's conversation with voice actor Jess Harnell, who is reprising his role as Wakko Warner on the reboot of the beloved ‘90s cartoon The Animaniacs, now streaming on Hulu. Separate from the show, Harnell discusses his success in vocal matching and imitation, and how he successfully adapted it for his band Rock Sugar—their music comedically mashes up 80's heavy metal and pop music. Harnell also discusses his thoughts on one of his first voice acting gigs for Disney’s Splash Mountain, and the 2020 controversy around the attraction.
In the spiel, women are capable of playing American football, just only when men aren’t available.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Lori Galarreta.
Prudence is joined this week by Avery Trufelman, the host of the podcast The Cut, from New York Magazine, as well as Nice Try! a podcast from Curbed about utopian experiments.
Prudie and Trufelman dig into letters about what to do when you find out that your coworker is engaged to your controlling ex-fiancé, how to handle working in the same industry as a triggering ex-boyfriend, should you feel guilty for drunkenly kissing straight women in college now that you’ve come out as a lesbian, what to consider when you don’t want to spend free time with your husband.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
Janet Yellen’s is a name most Americans will recognize, even if they’re not quite sure why. She’s the former chair of the Federal Reserve and the former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and now, she’s been nominated to serve as Joe Biden’s Treasury Secretary.
If confirmed, Yellen will assume her new role during one of the greatest economic crises in a century. How would she guide Biden through the storm?
Guest: Jordan Weissman, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
Lauren and Carlos are afraid their marriage is at a breaking point. With Carlos out of work, an active toddler to care for, and another child on the way, Lauren and Carlos are feeling pressures familiar to many newlyweds—and the pandemic has only made it worse. Can we help this couple find their way back to each other? On this episode of How To!, we bring on John and Julie Gottman, who are not only co-founders of The Gottman Institute and co-authors of Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, but also have been married to each other for more than three decades. They help Lauren and Carlos begin to heal their relationship with tips that can apply to all couples. For starters, you are not your partner’s therapist, Julie says. Looking for patterns in their behavior will only drive you further away from understanding each other.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Tame a Chaotic Household.”
Could you use some relationship advice? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 3 of Season 2, “Theft” in which Will loses Lyra, Lyra loses the alethiometer, and Mrs. Coulter has a meeting of the minds with Lee Scoresby. Plus: a deep dive into the character of Lee and the series’ attempt to give this cowboy aeronaut a tragic backstory.
Email: asktheauthority@slate.com
Podcast production by Phil Surkis.
Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois
Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook
On the Gist, voter certifications in Arizona and Wisconsin.
In the interview, Mike talks with Jess Harnell, the Emmy-nominated voice artist with over 300 voice credits to his name, including Wakko Warner from The Animaniacs. The animated show executive produced by Steven Spielberg, known for bringing irreverent comedy and satire to kids in the 90’s, is back. In the first part of this two part interview, Harnell explains the inspiration behind Wakko's voice, what elements made Animaniacs an iconic cartoon series two decades ago and how they plan to update it for a new generation. All-new episodes of Animaniacs are now streaming only on Hulu.
In the spiel, the Left’s argument against the private sector. And today on Remembrances of Things Trump, do you believe in Santa Claus?
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta.
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Broncos playing without a quarterback and other NFL COVID chaos. They also discuss the life and death of soccer legend Diego Maradona. Finally, they assess the debut of kicker Sarah Fuller, the first woman to play in a Power 5 football game.
NFL (02:03):Should the Broncos have been forced to play? Will the NFL make it to the playoffs?
Maradona (22:14):Could there ever be another player like him?
Sarah Fuller (40:51):What should we make of her historic achievement and her performance on the field?
Afterball (57:28):Stefan on the “Greek Maradona,” Vasilis Hatzipanagis.
North Dakota has the highest COVID-19 case rate in the country. As infections spiked, contact tracers struggled to keep up. Eventually, their bosses told them to stop trying.
Guest: Kailee Leingang, a nursing student and contact tracer in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
In the new episode of Flashback, movie critics Dana Stevens and K. Austin Collins discuss the horror film Deathdream (1974), directed by Bob Clark.
Other titles mentioned in the episode:
The Vanishing(1988)
Black Christmas (1974)
A Christmas Story(1983)
Dead of Night(1945)
Porky’s (1981)
Baby Geniuses(1999)
Forrest Gump(1994)
Apocalypse Now(1979)
Faces(1968)
Love Story (1970)
The Godfather (1972)
Halloween(1978)
Friday the 13th(1980)
Night of the Living Dead(1968)
Le Samouraï(1967)
To Be or Not to Be(1942)
Cat People(1942)
“The Cask of Amontillado”
The Deer Hunter(1978)
Casualties of War(1989)
Psycho(1960)
Ryan’s Daughter(1970)
On the next episode: David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
Comments or suggestions? Email us at flashback@slate.com
Production by Chau Tu.
This week host June Thomas talks with cookbook author Klancy Miller, whose book Cooking Solo celebrates the joy of making delicious food for yourself. In the interview, Klancy talks about the trial and error of her career journey and how she came to focus on recipe development after studying at the Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She also discusses her process for designing recipes and why she decided to write a cookbook specifically for single people. Klancy’s latest project is For the Culture, a food magazine that celebrates Black women in food and wine.
After the interview, June and co-host Rumaan Alam talk about their own relationships to food and cooking.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Klancy talks about her sources of inspiration and how she deals with creative blocks.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss Janet Yellen’s historic appointment to Treasury Secretary, Penguin Random House buying Simon & Schuster for more than $2 billion and why you might want to think twice before giving to United Way Worldwide on Giving Tuesday.
In the Slate Plus segment: A Brexit check in.
United Way Accused Of Retaliation Against Women Employees by Emily Peck for HuffPost
Is Dunkin’s $500 Tandem Bike Real? An Investigation. byJillian Capewell for HuffPost
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Melinda Newman, West Coast and Nashville Executive Editor at Billboard Magazine. They talk about the most recent episode of Hit Parade on the history of country music crossover to the pop charts, and the career and legacy of Garth Brooks. Melinda shares the story of how she met Brooks—she barely knew who he was that first night, and she went on to become his most frequent interviewer. She tells Chris about Garth’s skillful bridging of the mainstream to country music, and how he made the mainstream come to country—as well as his vision for pop-and-B alter ego Chris Gaines and his reasons for avoiding music streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube.
Next, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives her a chance to turn the tables on him, and previews next month’s full-length episode. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Asha Saluja.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Sarah Hagi, a writer based in Toronto, Canada
Prudie and Hagi discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to make friends during the pandemic, what to consider when your 5 year-old refuses to fold her clothes.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies, the occasional TV show, and, once in a blue moon, another podcast, in full spoiler-filled detail. This week, Christina Cauterucci and June Thomas discuss Happiest Season, a charming new Christmas rom-com from writer-director Clea DuVall that premiered on Hulu on Nov. 25. Harper Caldwell (Mackenzie Davis) invites her girlfriend, Abby (Kristen Stewart) home for Christmas. Right before they arrive, Harper shares that the people in her hometown, or even in her family, don’t know that she’s gay. And since her father is running for mayor, the couple has to keep their relationship a secret. How will Abby navigate the holiday season while hiding her authentic self? What impact will the holiday weekend have on the lovebirds and their relationship?
Read Christina Cauterucci’s review.
You can also check out past Spoiler Specials, and you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Note: As the title indicates, spoilers galore.
Email us at spoilers@slate.com.
Podcast Production by Jasmine Ellis.
Hosts
Christina Cauterucci is a Slate staff writer and co-host of the Outward podcast.
June Thomas is senior managing producer of the Slate Podcast network and co-host of the Working podcast.
Virginia Heffernan talks to Princeton University professor Eddie Glaude Jr. about why she thinks Trumpism will fizzle out after Trump leaves office—and why he thinks he won’t, and why it’s also dangerous to call it “Trumpism.”
On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth gather around the virtual Thanksgiving table to share the major and minor things that got them through this wild year. They also answer a listener question from a mom nervous about changes to her kids’ education as they move across the country.
In Slate Plus: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth duke it out over the best and worst Thanksgiving foods.
Recommendations:
Elizabeth recommends using Native-Land.ca to learn about Indigenous lands. If you’d like to learn about land you are on, you can also text your city and state *City, state” 1-907-312-5085 or to LandAcknowledgement on Facebook Messenger. Elizabeth also recommends following sitbymyfire on Instagram. She has a wonderful list of picture books for Native American Heritage Month.
Jamilah recommends peanut butter cups from Emerald Sky Edibles, if you are in a location where cannabis is legal.
Dan recommends watching Slings & Arrows.
Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.
Tune in to The Kids Are Asleep, the hilarious Slate Live show hosted by Jamilah. Catch it via Slate’s Facebook or YouTube on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson.
Please send us your conundrum ideas for our annual conundrum show: www.slate.com/conundrum
This week, Emily, David and John discuss the Trump Administration's efforts to hobble the Biden transition; ethical problems in vaccine distribution; and how to deal with the damage of the election fraud lie.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Alex Kalman for the Atlantic: “The Letters That Outgoing Presidents Wrote to Their Successors”
John Dickerson for The Atlantic: “Why You Don’t Mess Around With Presidential Transitions”
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: “A Framework for Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus”
Kathryn Olivarius for The New York Times: “The Dangerous History of Immunoprivilege”
Jeanna Smialek and Alan Rappeport for The New York Times: “Mnuchin Cites Principles in Clawing Back Fed Money. Democrats See Politics.”
Kevin Roose, Mike Isaac, and Sheera Frenkel for The New York Times: “Roiled by Election, Facebook Struggles to Balance Civility and Growth”
Colin Dickey for Medium: “How to Talk to a Conspiracy Theorist”
To celebrate our 15th anniversary please share an original recipe for a clever, politically themed, cocktail! Send us the details here: www.slate.com/cocktail
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
John: W.E.B. Du Bois: Writings; The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry
David: Death, Sex & Money: “51 Years Loving A Man Named Sissy”; David’s twitter thread pitch for remaking Love Actually every year.
Emily and listener Barbara Torrey Workman @thethirdbarbara: Twitter thread by United Farm Workers @UFWupdates featuring farm workers at work harvesting the ingredients in favorite Thanksgiving recipes.
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss the elements of pre-pandemic Thanksgiving that they won’t miss this year and won't plan to reinstate next year.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
On the Gist, today on Remembrances of Things Trump, we look back on Trump’s 2017 visit to the annual Boy Scout Jamboree.
In the interview, Mike talks with Reeves Weideman, contributing editor at New York magazine and author of Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork. Weideman explains the internal drama inside Neumann’s fast-scaling, overly hyped WeWork, an office space leasing company billed as an in-person social network, as well as the lessons entrepreneurs can learn from disruptors attempting to grow quickly and remain profitable.
In the spiel, the lobstar of the antentwig.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta.
On this week’s episode, Steve and Dana kick off the show by talking about season 4 of The Crown with June Thomas, Slate's managing producer and co-host of the Working podcast. Then they're joined by Asha Saluja, operations manager for Slate Podcasts, to discuss one of the internet's latest creations: a TikTok musical based on the Pixar movie Ratatouille. For their third segment, Slate senior editor Sam Adams argues that our new streaming world is a poor replacement for traditional movie-going.
In Slate Plus, Dana, Steve, and June discuss their Thanksgiving plans.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
Outro Music: "Backwards" by Staffan Carlen
A Hyde Park store owner supported his neighborhood through a pandemic this spring. The favor was returned during a summer of protests. But this winter will be tough.
Guest: Eric Williams, owner of The Silver Room.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz, with help from Frannie Kelley.
Virginia Heffernan talks to Andy Slavitt, former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about public health and how Joe Biden will handle the pandemic once he’s in office.
On the Gist, remember when there was “the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you’ve ever seen,” and an attack on Syria.
In the interview, Yuval Levin, author of A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream and American Enterprise Institute scholar talks to Mike about what conservatism looks like in a post-Trump world. As the Republican party grapples with their identity at the start of a new era, they may find themselves asking, “What do we have to offer? And what do we want in return?” Levin advises frank discussions amongst the party, purposeful policies, and consequential legislation.
In the spiel, playing Russian roulette for Thanksgiving 2020.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta.
Prudence is joined this week by Sarah Hagi, a writer based in Toronto, Canada
Prudie and Hagi tackle letters about what to do when your wife gets really upset when you waste any food, what actions to take when you find out that your abusive ex may be harming his new and possibly underage girlfriend, how to connect with a friend who has joined a cult, what to do when an injury ends your sports career, how to stand up to your good friend when they say racist things.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
A controversial theory holds that English, along with other Germanic languages, was profoundly influenced early on by Phoenician. The evidence is intriguing.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
The 2020 election has a lot of Democrats asking: What happened? As it turns out, it’s a question one outgoing member of Congress has been asking herself, too.
Guest: U.S. Representative Donna Shalala, Democrat from Florida.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
Matt’s dad believes some crazy conspiracy theories—that the moon landing was faked, that JFK’s assassination was an inside job, and that QAnon is real. Matt can’t stand talking about politics—or really anything—with his dad these days, but he’s desperate to preserve their relationship. In this episode of How To!, we bring on Colin Dickey, cultural historian and author of The Unidentified, to explain why conspiracy theories are more popular than ever. To get through to a loved one, Colin says, don’t dismiss the conspiracy theory outright. If you want any hope of changing someone’s mind you have to first understand the void that it may be filling in their life.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Confront a Crazy Neighbor With Tig Notaro.”
Do you have a struggling relationship with a family member? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
On the Gist, Michigan meets to certify the results of the 2020 election.
In the interview, documentarian John Wilson talks to Mike about steering clear of staid tropes and taking on moments of serendipity for his new HBO docuseries. How To with John Wilson is a poetic and comedic look on life, art, and philosophy in and around New York City. How To, as Wilson describes, was his experimentation with realism. As writer, cameraman, producer and narrator, Wilson creates a weirdly and beautifully raw representation of the city on the brink of the pandemic. How To is executive-produced by Nathan Fielder and streams Fridays on HBO Max.
In the spiel, long live the climate czar.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta.
Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Yahoo’s Seerat Sohi to talk about the latest NBA deals. Jessica Luther then joins Joel, Josh, and Stefan Fatsis to discuss LSU’s mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations. Finally, Grant Wahl comes on to talk about American Prodigy, his new podcast on soccer phenom Freddy Adu.
NBA (03:17):What moves will make the biggest impact on the coming season? And is Giannis going to stay in Milwaukee?
LSU (21:57):What Yahoo’s investigation revealed, and what should come next.
Freddy Adu (44:54):Why was he so hyped? Was his career a failure?
Afterball (01:06:43):Joel on Utah high school football amid the coronavirus.
Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 2 of Season 2, “The Cave,” in which Lyra meets Mary Malone, a theoretical physicist in our world. She, and we, make some major discoveries about Dust.
Email: asktheauthority@slate.com
Podcast production by Phil Surkis.
Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois
Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook
The last bout of the fight for the U.S. Senate runs through Georgia. And this time, no one has any reason to pull punches.
Guest: Greg Bluestein, reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
In 1983, the Cabbage Patch Kids were released, causing widespread pandemonium in toy stores and in the media. How did a children'a toy inspire such bad adult behavior? On this episode of Decoder Ring we explore the strange world of the Cabbage Patch Kids to figure out why they hit it so big. The answer involves butt tattoos, slightly grotesque faces, industrial innovations, an origin story in a cabbage patch, and serious accusations of copyright theft.
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to cinematographer Michael Watson about what it was like to work on the HBO sci-fi series Lovecraft Country. In the interview, Michael talks about the unique challenges of shooting a period drama that features gigantic monsters. He also discusses how he was able to guide the viewer’s attention during crucial moments and bring his own unique style to the scenes he shot.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam offer advice to a listener who’s curious about the role random chance can play in creativity.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Isaac and Rumaan talk about the camera techniques they love to see in movies and on TV.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675.
Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Joshua Matz to talk election lawsuits, Trump’s lawyers, Big Law, and whether the Biden administration will put “healing” ahead of justice in the post-Trump era.
In our Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to try to calibrate alarm about Michigan officials talking to the White House about certifying and uncertifying results. Plus, Amy Coney Barrett’s first SCOTUS vote on the death penalty and the State Supreme Court race in North Carolina that you might have missed, but has much to say about racism and the state of state of the judiciary.
Podcast production by Sara Burningham.
Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Anna Szymanski talk Steve Mnuchin’s move to cut off the Fed’s emergency funding programs, and Affirm, Airbnb and Doordash all filing to go public.
In the Slate Plus segment: The holidays and COVID-19.
Email: slatemoney@slate.com
Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.
Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck
On the Gist, the election cannot be reversed in Trump’s favor.
In the interview, comedian, actor, author, and activist Sarah Silverman joins Mike to talk about career, her characters, and how she is still learning from some controversial missteps taken along the way. Silverman candidly discusses her views on why Americans are so politically divided and why she thinks we ought to work together towards implementing progressive legislation. Her newest project, a podcast where she responds no-holds-barred to listener voicemails, is called The Sarah Silverman Show.
In the spiel, stopping disinformation at the source.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
On this week’s episode: Elizabeth and Jamilah debate how to have conversations with kids about body types. How do you model a healthy body image with your child? They also give advice on what to do when your child has a deep emotional attachment to a fruit. This might be a good time to talk about the life cycle of produce.
In Slate Plus: Elizabeth and Jamilah talk about two new released studies showing how the pandemic is making mothers more frustrated with their partners and kids. They even talk about some of the challenges they’ve faced while trying to balance working from home and taking care of their children.
Recommendations:
Jamilah recommends getting your car wrapped at an auto body shop.
Elizabeth recommends Fun-Schooling Journals from Thinking Tree Books.
Bonus Links:
There were two new studies released showing how the pandemic is making mothers more frustrated with their kids and partners: “Let’s Not Pretend It’s Fun”: How COVID-19-Related School and Childcare Closures are Damaging Mothers’ Well-Being.
Podcast produced by Jasmine Ellis.
This week’s mini episode finds Prudence visited by Alicia Harris, a self-described public health nerd based in Oakland, CA. Harris works as a foundation program officer, directing resources to reproductive health, rights and justice organizations.
Prudie and Harris discuss a letter writer who’s wondering how to keep her job when bigotry against physically different people in her industry is pervasive, what to do when your ex-wife wants you to take-on her new girlfriend’s daughter full-time, or else she’ll take your own daughter out of state.
Email: prudence@slate.com
Production by Phil Surkis
The name Wells Fargo conjures up images of old western stagecoaches and pioneers.But when scandal hit, was this feel-good history enough to deflect attention away from the bank’s present-day troubles?
Podcast production by Jess Miller, with help from Cleo Levin and Asha Saluja.
When Joe Biden takes office in two months, the federal government will take on a new stance in its fight to contain the coronavirus. The broad strokes of that strategy have been outlined in debates and on campaign websites, but now the real work begins.
Two weeks ago, the president-elect appointed a team of 13 advisers to answer some key questions. How can the new government win the trust of the 73 million Americans who voted for Donald Trump? What would a national mask mandate look like? How will the different vaccines be distributed?
A member of President-elect Biden’s COVID-19 council takes us behind the scenes.
Guest: Celine Gounder, member of the Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board, and host of the American Diagnosis and Epidemic podcasts.
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
Virginia Heffernan talks to Jonathan Mahler, staff writer at the New York Times Magazine, about the possibilities for prosecuting Trump and the concept of “moving on” or healing from his crimes.
On the Gist, Rudy Giuliani keeps trying.
In the interview, Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith are here to talk about their new book After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency. Goldsmith, former White House counsel for the George W. Bush administration, and Bauer, former Obama counsel, discuss what work needs to be done to move past the Trump presidency. They share their differing views on the efficacy of prosecuting Trump’s actions in office after Biden steps into the role, and the two explain how this isn’t the first time the office of the presidency has needed to be repaired.
In the spiel, Kyle Rittenhouse and the Proud Boys.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
As part of our 15th anniversary celebration please share an original political cocktail recipe with us. Visit www.slate.com/cocktail to submit your recipe!
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “The Pandemic Election”
Isaac Chotiner for The New Yorker: “How We Can Contain the Second Wave of the Coronavirus”
Mike Pence for The Wall Street Journal: “There Isn’t a Coronavirus ‘Second Wave’”
Between the World and Meby Ta-Nehisi Coates
Between the World and Me on HBO
Ta-Nehisi Coates for The Atlantic: “The Case for Reparations”
The Water Dancerby Ta-Nehisi Coates
Josie Duffy Rice for Vanity Fair: “The Abolition Movement”
Barack Obama for The Atlantic: “I’m Not Yet Ready to Abandon the Possibility of America”
Jed Sugerman for The Washington Post: “Trump’s Legal Challenges to the Election Will Help Democrats”
Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:
Emily: Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America by Mark A. Bradley
John: John’s fundraising page for Covenant House's Virtual Sleep Out; Charlotte Regan’s short documentary, “No Ball Games: Life and Play Through the Eyes of Children Across the UK”
David: Washington Post: “Fort Hood is named for a Confederate traitor. Is it time for ‘Fort Benavidez’?”
Listener chatter from Mike @rifenbury: Kanazawa Kenichi video
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David and John discuss the holiday movies they’d like to see made.
You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.
Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.
There are two basic camps of thought when it comes to upholding the norms and laws that the Trump administration has broken. On the one hand: How will these norms and laws ever be respected again, if President Trump and the people around him are not investigated, and possibly charged, for any abuses? One the other hand: Could additional investigations into Trump tear the country apart?
Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, host of the Amicus podcast.
On the Gist, how Governors Cuomo and Newsom are responding to the second wave.
In the interview, it’s part two of Mike’s conversation with The Dispatch’s senior editor David French about his new book Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. French discusses the principles of pluralism, how some choose to decry tribalism and then default to using pluralism as a tactic. French also details some examples of it actually working as well as when it has led to friction.
In the spiel, performatively exercising your second amendment rights.
Email us at thegist@slate.com
Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.
Joe Biden and his chief of staff have negotiated a massive fiscal stimulus package before. How should the incoming administration regard the 2009 Recovery Act -- as a blueprint, or a cautionary tale?
Guest: Mike Grunwald, senior writer for Politico Magazine and author of The New New Deal: The Hidden Story of Change in the Obama Era.
On this week’s episode, Steve and Dana talk to Slate’s television critic Willa Paskin about the unprecedented current season of The Bachelorette. Then Slate's Brow Beat editor, Matthew Dessem, comes on board for the rest of the show to talk about Saturday Night Live and two recent articles about societal collapse, one titled The Next Decade Could Be Even Worse and one titled How Do You Know When Society Is About to Fall Apart?
In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss which TV universes they'd like to be dropped into.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.
Outro Music: "Break The Line" by Coma Svensson
This month, Christina, Bryan, and Rumaan speak with Ria Tabacco Mar, the ACLU’s director of the Women’s Rights Project, about what the future for LGBTQ people looks like with president-elect Biden and an even more conservative Supreme Court. Then they discuss Uncle Frank, a film from Alan Ball about a gay man and his partner on a road trip with his niece from Manhattan to South Carolina in the 1970’s. They talk about how this differs from last month’s Boys In the Band, and the importance of remembering past queer struggles.
Virginia Heffernan talks to Emily Jane Fox, writer at Vanity Fair and co-host of Inside the Hive, about what will happen to Ivanka after her father’s presidency ends, her art collection and tackiness, who will stay in her social circle and who will snub her, and insights from covering her over the last five years.