Culture Gabfest: The SNL 50th Anniversary Industrial Complex
12 February - 1 hour 17 minsOn this week’s show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove’s new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times.
Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where we follow the adventures of an unlikely group of animals led by a curious black cat.
Finally, Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe joins to talk about Kendrick Lamar’s “double whammy” of a Super Bowl halftime show. Read her article reflecting on the performance here.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel invites Jason Zinoman back to dis...
Series Episodes
Culture Gabfest: Netflix’s Incel Tragedy Adolescence
On this week’s show, Slate’s Rebecca Onion sits in for Julia. The team discusses Netflix’s current number 1 program Adolescence and what it says about how the descent into incel culture starts young. They then invite Chris Molanphy to talk about Lady Gaga’s new album, MAYHEM. They close out with a discussion on Trump's continued assault against DEI, this time holding funding over the heads of public universities if they don’t end programs that they say advance "racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities." Endorsements: Steve: Lauren Theisen’s review of A Streetcar Named Desire Dana: “That’s Life” on the Lady Gaga album Harlequin Rebecca: The Fall Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Email us at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hour 13 mins
26 March Finished
Culture Gabfest: Cate Blanchett Is a Sexy Super Spy
On this week’s show, Slate’s Dan Kois sits in for Stephen Metcaff. The hosts discuss the new Mr. & Mrs. Smith-like film Black Bag, starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. Then they dive into the “inconvenient” Hulu show Deli Boys. They end by discussing the legacy of Dave Eggers’ phenomenal memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Endorsements: Dana: The television show A French Village Dan: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood Julia: LATimes article “I'm a martini purist. Here's what is — and isn't — in the perfect classic cocktail.” by Bill Addison Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Email us at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hour 11 mins
19 March Finished
Culture Gabfest: Meghan Markle Sprinkles Potpourri on You
On this week’s show, we throw a flower-sprinkled dinner party for a space clone (personal beehive not included). Slate culture staff writer Nadira Goffe sits in for Dana, and the hosts discuss the new Bong Joon Ho film Mickey 17, followed by Meghan Markle's uncanny homemaking show With Love, Meghan on Netflix. Finally, we invite Slate writer Dan Kois to discuss his new cover story “How Giant White Houses Took Over America.” Endorsements: Julia: The Slate article “Cracking the Code” by Henry Grabar Steve: The New York Review essay “Angles of Approach” by Sally Rooney Nadira: Kelela’s album In The Blue Light Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Email us at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hour 14 mins
12 March Finished
Culture Gabfest: Zero Day Makes Robert De Niro a Befuddled President
On this week’s show, no amount of star power can save a “screamingly stupid show.” (Sorry, Robert De Niro et al.) With Sam Adams—Slate Senior Editor and Staff Writer—sitting in for Dana, the team talks about the Netflix political thriller series Zero Day. Then they remember the career of Gene Hackman and end with their thoughts about this Atlantic article on navigating optimism during times of crisis. Endorsements: Julia: Moist Peanut Butter Cake Recipe from Cakes By MK Steve: The savage suburbia of Helen Garner: ‘I wanted to dong Martin Amis with a bat’ by Sophie Elmhirst for The Guardian Sam: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein (Again! After Julia endorsed it last week.) Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Email us at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hour 10 mins
5 March Finished
Culture Gabfest: The Oscars Go Streaming
On this week’s show, we preview the Oscars and Trump’s demolition throughout renowned institutions of art. Isaac Butler — author of The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act and host of the new Criterion Channel series, The Craft of Acting — sits in for Stephen Metcalf. First, the hosts discuss I’m Still Here and the continued addition of non-English speaking films getting some of the biggest Oscar buzz. Then we tackle the latest Trump shakeups at the National Endowment for the Arts and The Kennedy Center. Finally, Dana and Julia sit down with the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Bill Kramer. Endorsements: Dana: The documentary Pictures of Ghosts (2023) Julia: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein, also discussed on Culture Gabfest in September 2023 Isaac: The film Z (1969), available on streaming Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Email us at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hour 12 mins
26 February Finished
Culture Gabfest: Congratulations! You Finally Got Your Severance.
On this week’s show, Slate Business and Tech reporter Nitish Pahwa sits in for Julia. The panel discusses Severance season 2 from Apple TV+. They then talk about the Oscar-nominated film No Other Land – a Palestinian documentary following a young activist fighting his community's mass expulsion by Israeli occupation. They end by discussing Nitish’s recent reporting on Buzzfeed’s upcoming AI-infused social media platform, BF Island. Endorsements: Dana: The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott Steve: The Children’s Bach by Helen Garner Nitish: Work by the late author Tom Robbins, particularly Jitterbug Perfume, who recently died at 92 Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Email us at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hour 2 mins
19 February Finished
