Culture Gabfest

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, Dana Stevens and Sam Adams discuss Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. Charlie and Nicole have decided to end their marriage. Now they need to figure out how to get a divorce. Can they keep the proceedings civil or will it escalate to a fraught situation as divorce lawyers pit them against each other? Will Charlie have to uproot his life to maintain custody? What will happen to the kid? At the end of the divorce, will they even be able to remember why they fell in love in the first place?  You can read Dana Stevens’ review here.  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 Rosemary Belson.  Hosts Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor and the editor o

This episode is brought to you by Everlane. Check out your personalized collection today at everlane.com/momanddad.  On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and guest host Katherine Goldstein answer listener questions from a parent looking for ways to enjoy family visits and a neighbor who is worried for the kids next door who were left behind. For Slate Plus, what should you NOT say to someone expecting twins. Sign up for Slate Plus here. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends matching outfits with your kid. Katherine recommends Shrinky Dinks as a creative way to pass a few hours. Dan recommends That Was Awkward: The Art and Etiquette of the Awkward Hug from Emily Flake. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to tell us what you thought of today’s show and give us ideas for what we should talk about in future episodes. Got questions that you’d like us to answer? Call and leave us a message at 424-255-7833. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson. Hosts Jamilah Lemieux is a writer, cultural critic,

Wyatt Cenac knows funny. You may have heard him in everything from Bojack Horseman to Archer and Bob’s Burgers. He was a writer for King of the Hill, a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and starred in Barry Jenkins’ first full-length feature film Medicine for Melancholy. He’s also starred in his own stand-up specials, one of which, Wyatt Cenac: Brooklyn, was nominated in 2015 for Best Comedy Album (Grammy’s). Like we said, this man knows his funny.  Follow us on Twitter @ThirstAidKit. Bim is @bimadew and Nichole is @tnwhiskeywoman. Our music is by Tanya Morgan. You can find show notes, gifs and so much more on our Tumblr at thirstaidkitpodcast.tumblr.com. You can make use of our Thirst Sommelier service by calling and leaving a BRIEF message at (510) 984 4778. That’s (510) 9-THIRST. We also love fanfic — send us your drabbles (along with your pronouns) and we might read them out on the show! We’re at thirstaidkit@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss Knives Out, speak with New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie about Watchmen, and remember Clive James with Adam Gopnik. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing episode 5, “The Lost Boy,” which cuts back and forth between Lyra’s adventures with the Gyptians, and the introduction of the character of Will Parry. Plus: a closer look at the alethiometer. Recommended reading: His Dark Materials Illuminated You can also read Laura’s Slate piece on Francis Yates here. Join the conversation: Email: asktheauthority@slate.com Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Rosemary Belson. 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, Dana Stevens and Forrest Wickman discuss Knives Out, the whodunnit from Rian Johnson. Renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey’s death following his 85th birthday party sparks a twisted hunt for the murderer. The suspects: his own family. Can celebrity detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) pin down Thrombey’s eccentric family intent on avoiding suspicion. What happens when they find out Harlan’s personal nurse, Marta, will receive his fortune? And what role does ICE have in a potential motive?  You can read Dana Stevens’ review here.  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 Rosemary Belson.  Hosts Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. Forrest Wickman is Slate’s culture editor.

On this week’s episode: Dan and Jamilah are live from the Miami Book Fair where they are joined by Pamela Paul, author of How to Raise a Reader and Adam Mansbach, author of Fuck, Now There Are Two of You. This week the hosts discuss scaring their kids with inappropriate books and making the most out of children with different schedules. For Slate Plus, the hosts discuss if parenting really is harder nowadays—or do we just hear more about the trials and tribulations in books, blogs or even, ahem, podcasts… Sign up for Slate Plus here.  Recommendations: Jamilah recommends non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  Dan recommends game-ifying Christmas stockings.  Pamela recommends Lucy Knisley’s book You Are New.  Adam recommends the book Laugh Lines: Forty Years Trying to Make Funny People Funnier. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to tell us what you thought of today’s show and give us ideas for what we should talk about in future episodes. Got questions that you’d like us to answer? Call an

The thing about Jake Johnson is: so. many. people. fancy. him! Is it because he legitimately looks like a guy you might bump into at your neighbourhood bar? Or is it because he serves up a specifically appealing mix of gruff, grumpy heat (with truly *superb* onscreen kiss abilities!) that just makes you want to join him on the sofa and rail at modern life? We discuss his many forms and charms, from New Girl, to Into the Spider-Verse via Easy etc. We also have a couple of original drabbles that might make you sweat a little. Follow us on Twitter @ThirstAidKit. Nichole is @tnwhiskeywoman, and Bim is @bimadew. Our music is by Tanya Morgan. You can find show notes, gifs and so much more on our Tumblr at thirstaidkitpodcast.tumblr.com. Send us your own short drabbles! We’re at thirstaidkit@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All decades of pop music swing between trends and fads—but the 2010s was swingier than most. From the maximalist EDM of the early ’10s to the downbeat hip-hop of the late ’10s, the pop pendulum oscillated more widely than you may remember. The same decade that gave us Adele’s stately balladry, Katy Perry’s electro-froth and Taylor Swift’s country-to-pop crossover also gave us the Weeknd’s bleary indie-R&B and Drake’s moody rap. And Bieber—so. Much. Bieber. With just weeks to go before the end of 2019, Hit Parade walks through the last decade of the Hot 100, year by year, and asks: What was that? Arguably, what drove pop in the ’10s wasn’t just the production sounds of dance music or hip-hop but the technologies we used to consume music, as the shift from downloads to streams changed the contours of chart success. And in the end, one multigenre queen navigated these shifts better than most, finding pop love in a hopeless place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Turner and Stephen Metcalf talk with guests about Gogglebox, a show that lets you watch Brits watch TV, Bon Appetit's "Gourmet Makes" on YouTube, and the best nonfiction books of the past 25 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing Episode 4, “Armour,” in which Lyra meets Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison. Plus a deep dive into the mysteries of the Magisterium, with a little Milton and Blake thrown in for good measure.  You can also read Dan’s piece about Lee and Iorek here. Join the conversation: Email: asktheauthority@slate.com Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Rosemary Belson. 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. Sam Adams and Marissa Martinelli spoil Frozen 2. Weird things keep happening in the kingdom of Arendelle resulting from a generations long standoff. Elsa and Anna figure out what is happening by retracing family history. Meanwhile, Elsa keeps hearing a call that may help her understand not only her powers, but the root of the fued. Can Elsa make it north on her own? Plus, a nihilistic Olaf, magic wardrobe changes and poor proposal planning.  You can read Sam Adams’ review here. 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 Rosemary Belson.  Hosts Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor and the editor of Slate’s culture blog, Brow Beat. Marissa Martinelli is a Slate assistant editor. Learn more abou

On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and guest host Elizabeth Newcamp answer listener questions from a mom who is contemplating telling her son he was unplanned before his father tells him. And a guide to making friends with other parents. How can you make the leap from school yard acquaintances to actual friends? For Slate Plus, the hosts reminisce about amusement parks memories. Can parents actually have fun? Or is it all about the kids? Sign up for Slate Plus here. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends the U.S National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Program. And in a stunning moment of unplanned host telepathy - Jamilah and Dan recommend the same thing: creating special handshakes with your kiddos. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to tell us what you thought of today’s show and give us ideas for what we should talk about in future episodes. Got questions that you’d like us to answer? Call and leave us a message at 424-255-7833. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson. Hosts Dan Kois is

It’s difficult to separate ‘Joshua Jackson the actor’ from ‘Pacey Witter the character’ but we managed it in this episode! He may have captured our teen hearts but we’re also interested in what he’s been up to since then, on TV and on stage: Fringe, The Affair, When They See Us, Children of a Lesser God… Joshua brings a preternaturally mature persona that makes our eyes shine and our [REDACTED} tingle.  Follow us on Twitter @ThirstAidKit. Bim is @bimadew and Nichole is @tnwhiskeywoman. Our music is by Tanya Morgan. You can find show notes, gifs and so much more on our Tumblr at thirstaidkitpodcast.tumblr.com. If the spirit moves you, send us your own drabbles by emailing thirstaidkit@slate.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana Stevens, Julia Turner, and Stephen Metcalf are live in at the Granville Island Stage in Vancouver to discuss The Irishman, Schitt's Creek, and creepy ads that follow you around. In Slate Plus: Questions from the live audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing Episode 3, “The Spies,” with a closer look at the relationship between Lyra and the Gyptians. Join the conversation: Email: asktheauthority@slate.com Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Melissa Kaplan. 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, Sam Adams and Matthew Dessem spoil Doctor Sleep. Dan Torrance is now an adult. But he’s still majorly affected by what happened in Overlook Hotel. He unites with a girl who has a strong shining, which makes them both a target of a cult looking to feed on their steam. Can Dan and Abra fend off Rose The Hat? And will another round with the ghosts at the Overlook Hotel make Dan a dull boy?  You can read Sam Adams’ review here. Note: As the title indicates, this podcast contains spoilers galore. Email us at spoilers@slate.com. Podcast production by Rosemary Belson.  Hosts Sam Adams is a Slate senior editor and the editor of Slate’s culture blog, Brow Beat. Matthew Dessem is Brow Beat’s nights and weekends editor and the author of a biography of screenwriter and director Clyde Bruckman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi

On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and guest host Greg Lavallee answer listener questions from a parent whose daughter is afraid of the water and a mom who needs a response strategy for a disrespectful kiddo. For Slate Plus, the hosts strategize date night. Are microdates the solution to a busy schedule? Or is it worth the effort of hiring a babysitter to go out? Sign up for Slate Plus here. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends a newfangled entertainment destination… a place where you could spend hours without spending any money…. The MALL. Greg recommends Shashibo, a mesmerizing magnetic puzzle. Dan recommends Boom Blast Stix for little kids and Telestrations for bigger ones. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to tell us what you thought of today’s show and give us ideas for what we should talk about in future episodes. Got questions that you’d like us to answer? Call and leave us a message at 424-255-7833. Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson. Hosts Dan Kois is an editor and writer

Dana Stevens, Julia Turner, and Stephen Metcalf are live in Los Angeles to discuss Parasite with the LA Times critic Justin Chang, happiness in the modern world, and Dickinson from Apple TV+, with showrunner Alena Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know it, you see it: there’s something about Lakeith. It’s there in Atlanta, in Get Out, in Someone Great… the list goes on. It’s actually many things — ace acting ability, a bucketload of confident, quirky charm, and a presence that belies his slight and lovely frame, all in a relatively short career so far. We wade through all these thirst-inducing attributes, as well as what it means to fancy a Thirst Object when they’ve messed up… We also have a reader drabble about an old TAK fave, as well as our own new Lakeith-centric fanfic. It’s a good day to be thirsty, pals. Follow us on Twitter @ThirstAidKit. Bim is @bimadew and Nichole is @tnwhiskeywoman. Our music is by Tanya Morgan. You can find show notes, gifs and so much more on our Tumblr at thirstaidkitpodcast.tumblr.com. Send us your own drabbles! We’re at thirstaidkit@slate.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices