Culture Gabfest

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss Mindy Kaling’s new television show Never Have I Ever. Next, they talk about Twitter beefs in the time of COVID-19—from Alison Roman to Lana del Rey. Finally, the panel dives into Steve’s comfort watch for this week: Out of Sight. On the Slate Plus segment this week, Dana and Steve try Sudoku for the first time, as inspired by this recent captivating video.  Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Outro Music: Woke by SINY Endorsements Dana: Anne V. Coates’s interview on Out of Sight. Charlotte Brontë’s Villette, especially as an audiobook. Julia: “The Miracle Sudoku” video, as discussed in our Plus segment. “How to Make Wylie Dufresne’s Incredibly Creamy Scrambled Egg Sandwich,” by Wylie Dufresne, as told to Emma Wartzman in Bon Appétit. Steve: “The Painting Behind the Door,” by Emily Benedek in Tablet magazine. Singer Laura Marling’s breaking down her guitar chords on social media. L

Host Rumaan Alam talks about art curation with Sheena Wagstaff, who leads the Metropolitan Museum's program of modern and contemporary art for the Met Breuer and the Met Fifth Avenue. First they discuss the curator’s role of deciding which works of art are culturally important. Then Wagstaff makes her case for why people should see art in person and why it’s such a tragedy that no one is able to see the Met Brauer’s current exhibition of works from prolific German painter Gerhard Richter.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. And 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 Working. It’s only $35 for the first year, and you can get a free two-week trial now at slate.com/workingplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc

This month, Christina admits to creating a quarantine bubble, and she talks with Bryan and Rumaan about why she felt comfortable joining her friends in this way and why our community seems better-equipped than others to figure out how to make such micro-communities work. Then they discuss two new documentaries on Netflix, A Secret Love and Circus of Books, and unpack how these films tried and failed to reckon with the depths of their subjects while still stirring some warm feelings along the way. This podcast was produced by Daniel Schroeder. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host June Thomas digs into the craft of acting with Alison Wright, who portrayed Martha on The Americans and now plays Ruth on the new TNT adaptation of Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 movie Snowpiercer (which itself was based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige). Wright explains how she developed Ruth’s unique accent in Snowpiercer, how she utilizes the tools of Method acting to tap into emotions on stage, and why she thinks Daniel Day-Lewis and Meryl Streep are such impressive actors.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com.  And 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 Working. It’s only $35 for the first year, and you can get a free two-week trial now at slate.com/workingplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Sam Adams, Matthew Dessem, and Daniel Schroeder spoil Hollywood. Ryan Murphy and co-creator Ian Brennan reimagine a more inclusive golden-age of filmmaking. While the first couple episodes of the Netflix series stay relatively grounded in reality, the series takes a sharp right turn into self-serving fantasy by simplifying the fight for equality and progress within Hollywood.  You can read Sam Adam’s review here.  You can read Matthew Dessem’s Fact Versus Fiction here. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Rosemary Belson. Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss the Hulu adaption of Sally Rooney’s Normal People. Next, they talk about John Krasinski’s Some Good News. Finally, the panel dives into Dana’s comfort watch for this week: In a Lonely Place. On the Slate Plus segment this week, the panel is joined by Jody Rosen to talk about the music and legacy of Little Richard. Sign up for Slate Plus at Slate.com/cultureplus Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Endorsements: Dana: Spike Lee’s short film about New York City. Julia: The Donut Hole in La Puente, Calif., a trip inspired after reading “Drive-throughs and drive-ins were fading. Coronavirus made them a lifeline” by Carolina A. Miranda in the Los Angeles Times. Steve: Nick Lowe performing “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” as part of Rolling Stone’s “In My Room” series. Also, Nick Lowe’s “I Read A Lot.” Plus, check out Madison Cunningham’s “Dry As Sand.” Learn more

Rebecca Black's music video for Friday was Youtube's most watched video of 2011, thrusting the thirteen-year-old Rebecca into a very harsh spotlight. Dubbed "The Worst Music Video Ever Made" Friday was an almost universal object of derision. This is the story of how Friday came to be, and how nearly a decade after it went viral, it sounds so different than it did back then. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to crime novelist and TV writer Megan Abbott, who describes her creative-writing rituals, her go-to story structure, and the challenges of adapting one of her novels for television.   After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam talk about the surprising origins of the terms story beat and character beat.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com. Podcast production by Cameron Drews And 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 Working. It’s only $35 for the first year, and you can get a free two-week trial now at slate.com/workingplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to TV and movie director DeMane Davis about what a working director really does. According to Davis, it requires a huge amount of collaborative problem-solving. Davis traces her journey from advertising copywriter to filmmaker and explains the importance of making art with a purpose.  After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas discuss their takeaways from the interview, including the importance of being nice to your collaborators.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com  Podcast production by Cameron Drews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special Hit Parade announcement: Like many media organizations at the moment, Slate is getting hit pretty hard by what's going on with the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to continue doing our work, providing you with all our great podcasts, news and reporting, and we simply cannot do that without your support. So we're asking you to sign up for Slate Plus, our membership program. It's just $35 for the first year, and it goes a long way to supporting us in this crucial moment. As part of this effort, we're going to be making Full Hit Parade episodes available to Slate Plus members only. To listen to the episode in full, and episodes in future months, you'll need to become a Slate Plus member. This is the best way to support our show and our work, and we hope you will pitch in if you can. Your membership will also give access to everything on Slate.com, you'll get ad-free versions of this and other shows, and you'll get bonus segments and bonus episodes of other Slate podcasts. Plus, on

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner break down the Netflix miniseries Unorthodox. Next, they bring on Jesse David Fox, Vulture writer and host of the Good One podcast, to talk about the state of comedy today. Finally, the panel dives into Julia’s comfort watch pick for this week: the iconic and hilarious Airplane! On the Slate Plus segment this week, the panel discusses how their fitness routines have changed in quarantine. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, June Thomas talks with opera singer Jamie Barton. Barton is a critically acclaimed American mezzosoprano who performs at major opera houses all around the world and maintains an active social media presence that serves as a hub for conversations about body positivity, diet culture, social justice issues, and LGBTQ rights, You can hear her on Studio 360 and watch her on YouTube. They talk about what it really means to travel as an opera singer. Barton explains the challenges of being responsible for providing your own tools for the work you do, and how she’s collaborating online with other artists during the current pandemic. Afterward, June and Isaac Butler discuss what they found most surprising about the interview and answer their very first listener question, about working with an editor.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com. Podcast production by Morgan Flannery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re going on hiatus! But before we go…we spend a little time with our favorite TV couples from our quarantine binge rewatches… you know, the ones that make us blush or sigh or yearn. So shoutout to Leslie and Ben from Parks & Rec, the original nerdy love match as well as Ruby and Stan from Good Girls, the couple that makes major sacrifices for their family. And from New Girl, a twofer: Nick & Jess, of course, but also Schmidt and Cece, whose love affair was perfectly breadcrumbed across seasons. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Thirst Aid Kit each week. Sign up now to listen and support our show. In this week’s Slate Plus, it’s the TRIUMPHANT return of dear friend of the show, Gena-mour Barrett (@smilegena). She’s filthy and hilarious and so we brought her back to talk a little more about the animated characters she thinks are hot: Thanos (WHY, GENA!), and Guy, the “dark-skinned bison” from BoJack Horseman. Plus, we give her a new toon-boo to lust after too. Follow us on Twitter @ThirstAidKit. Our

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss Hulu’s historical drama Mrs. America. Next, they bring on Slate music critic Carl Wilson to break down Fiona Apple’s latest album “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” Finally, the panel discusses Steve’s favorite movie of all time: Local Hero.  On the Slate Plus segment this week, the panel takes on quarantine cookery.  Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host Isaac Butler talks with the jazz composer, arranger, and orchestrator Miho Hazama. Hazama’s latest album Dancer in Nowhere was nominated for a Grammy award. Miho talks to Isaac about how her grandfather presented her with a Wikipedia article about cyclic numbers and how that became one of the biggest influences for her new album.   Afterward, Isaac and June Thomas talk about what they found most striking about the interview, what they miss about regular day-to-day life, and how having a sense of community informs their own creativity.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com. Podcast production by Morgan Flannery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special Hit Parade announcement: Like many media organizations at the moment, Slate is getting hit pretty hard by what's going on with the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to continue doing our work, providing you with all our great podcasts, news and reporting, and we simply cannot do that without your support. So we're asking you to sign up for Slate Plus, our membership program. It's just $35 for the first year, and it goes a long way to supporting us in this crucial moment. As part of this effort, we're going to be making Hit Parade episodes available to Slate Plus members only. This will begin with the full-length episode coming on April 30. To listen to that episode in full, and episodes in future months, you'll need to become a Slate Plus member. This is the best way to support our show and our work, and we hope you will pitch in if you can. Your membership will also give access to everything on Slate.com, you'll get ad-free versions of this and other shows, and you'll get bonus

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 podcast producer Daniel Schroeder and Slate staff writer Rachelle Hampton discuss Netflix’s new reality dating show: Too Hot to Handle. Ten attractive contestants are thrown together on an island to compete over a $100,000 prize. To win the money, they need to form bonds that are more than skin deep. The catch is they can’t have any sexual contact - even with themselves - for the remainder of “the retreat.” For every sexual encounter, the group loses money out of the prize pot. Can the sexy singles restrain themselves, even when workshops and drama challenges their resolve?  You can read Rachelle Hampton’s review here. Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contain

For a long time, it’s felt like superpowers only went to lantern-jawed white men… but if we urge you to consider two up-and-coming Thirst Objects: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — who started his comic book adaptation career as a villain in Aquaman before donning the blue paint of Watchmen’s Dr Manhattan — and Simu Liu, who went from Toronto car rental outfit in Kim’s Convenience to “master of kung fu” Shang-Chi in the upcoming Marvel movie. Sure, representation matters etc but it’s important to note that these two are tall drinks of water and we want several sips. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Thirst Aid Kit each week. Sign up now to listen and support our show. In this week’s Slate Plus, we’re joined by multi-hyphenate award-winning author and editor Roxane Gay, tackling Channing Tatum in ‘Explain Yourself’... Roxane is working on a couple projects with Channing, and the thing is, we’re already kinda onboard, so it’s more of a ‘tell us more” than “tell us why.” It’s a good time. Follow us on Twitter @Thi

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner analyze the latest way to watch television: Quibi. Next, they bring on Slate music critic Carl Wilson to talk about the legacy of the late songwriter John Prine. Finally, the panel dives into The Talented Mr. Ripley, Dana’s comfort watch pick for this week. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each week, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. On the Slate Plus segment this week, the panel discusses Saturday Night Live’s recent “at home” show. Outro Music: 'Apocalypse' by Cigarettes After Sex  Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.  Endorsements Dana: John Dickerson’s interview with John Prine from February 2019. Julia: Jim Dale’s audiobook narration of the Harry Potter series—except for his voice of Hermione. Steve: The Lucksmiths. Again. The music of Cigarettes After Sex. Learn

This week, host Rumaan Alam talks with the multitalented artist Maira Kalman. Kalman is an illustrator, writer, artist, and designer known for her playful and witty illustrations in children's books like Fireboat and Why We Broke Up as well as her work for the New York Times and the New Yorker. They talk about what the perfect day of work looks like for the artist, how to stay creative in times of crisis, and her latest project: an illustrated edition of The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas.  Afterward, Rumaan and Isaac Butler talk about the ways in which they’re trying to remain creative. Rumaan has been watching the Met’s release of “Nightly Met Opera Streams,” a free series of encore Live in HD presentations streamed on the company website, and Isaac recommends picking up a copy of the book And Then You Act: Making Art in an Unpredictable World, by theater director Anne Bogart to combat creative roadblocks during this time of great uncertainty.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback