Culture Gabfest
New York Times critic Dwight Garner says “The Slate Culture Gabfest is one of the highlights of my week.” The award-winning Culturefest features critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner debating the week in culture, from highbrow to pop. For more of Slate’s culture podcasts, check out the Slate Culture feed.
Want more Culture Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Culture Gabfest show page. Or, visit slate.com/cultureplus to get access wherever you listen.
601
The Culture Gabfest: First Time, Long Time Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner respond to questions from listeners on a wide range of topics, including the Psy hit "Gangnam Style," what defines a great acting performance, and their favorite high school coming-of-age movies.
50 min
602
The Culture Gabfest: Trapped in a Glass Box wit...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, Julia Turner and Dan Engber discuss Peter Jackson's new film adaptation of The Hobbit, the hit reality show Duck Dynasty, and the 50th anniversary of the Myers-Briggs personality test.
47 min
603
The Culture Gabfest: I Normally Have To Be Drun...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, David Haglund, Simon Doonan and Jody Rosen discuss the indie film "Beasts of the Southern Wild," the awful state of the art world, and Beck's new collection of sheet music, "Song Reader."
50 min
604
The Culture Gabfest: Uniball Vision Elite Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss the end of handwriting and Philip Hensher's book "The Missing Ink," Nassim Nicholas Taleb's book "Antifragile" and the idea of "neomania," and Slate's June Thomas stops by to explain why she neither wants a wife, nor wants to be one.
46 min
605
The Culture Gabfest: Slut on a Hot Tin Roof Edi...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime film "Liz and Dick," and the photo sharing app Snapchat. Plus Slate's Seth Stevenson joins them to talk about his piece on supercut video montages.
41 min
606
The Culture Gabfest: Drooping and Slumping Towa...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss Pete Wells' epic New York Times review/takedown of Guy Fieri's restaurant, Philip Roth's retirement and the Rolling Stones' lack thereof, and the culture of Amtrak's quiet car.
42 min
607
The Culture Gabfest: What Is Stuffed Inside of ...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss the new James Bond film "Skyfall" and a list of the ten best American essays since 1950, plus Dan Pashman from The Sporkful podcast and blog joins them to discuss his new Thanksgiving creation, the Veggieducken.
43 min
608
The Culture Gabfest: On Tenterhooks Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner and John Swansburg discuss the new Denzel Washington film "Flight," George Lucas selling Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise to Disney, and Twitter hashtags as poetry.
43 min
609
The Culture Gabfest: Frankenfest Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, Jody Rosen and David Haglund discuss Twitter's role in Hurricane Sandy, the new ABC drama "Nashville," and Haglund's piece on Mormon intellectuals.
40 min
610
The Culture Gabfest: Why Did You Give Me That B...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss the 40th anniversary of "Free to Be You and Me" with Slate's Dan Kois, Saturday Night Live's presidential debate parodies, and the website HeTexted.com.
49 min
611
The Culture Gabfest: I Did it for the Lulz Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss the new Ben Affleck film "Argo" and the foodie institution "Cooks Illustrated," plus Gawker's Adrian Chen comes in to discuss his controversial piece on the social news site Reddit.
48 min
612
The Culture Gabfest: Ya Big MOOC Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss the new film "Pitch Perfect," Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane and his selection as Oscars host, and the growth of online university courses.
40 min
613
The Culture Gabfest: Stow Your Blunderbuss Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss the new sci-fi thriller "Looper" and the 30th anniversary of the sitcom "Cheers," plus the economics of indie rock stardom with New York Magazine music critic Nitsuh Abebe.
49 min
614
The Culture Gabfest: Long Shoots of Goldenrod E...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner discuss the documentary "The Queen of Versailles," the new NBC show "Revolution," and the question of how best to appreciate the art of the past.
42 min
615
The Culture Gabfest: Get Thee Behind Me Satan E...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss P.T. Anderson's The Master, Hanna Rosin's new book The End of Men, and New York City's pending large soda ban.
42 min
616
The Culture Gabfest: Bringing a Gun to a Puppy ...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, John Dickerson, John Swansburg, and Farhad Manjoo discuss Bob Dylan's new album "Tempest," the 20th anniversary of the film "Sneakers", and a cheating scandal at Harvard.
40 min
617
The Culture Gabfest: Bengal Tiger Giving Birth ...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, Julia Turner, and June Thomas discuss early previews of the fall TV lineup, including The New Normal, The Mindy Project, and Animal Practice, plus Jonathan Chait's piece on Hollywood liberalism and the 50th anniversary of the Norton Anthology of English Literature.
38 min
618
The Culture Gabfest: "There Are Some Broke Down...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens discuss the TLC show "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo", the Mike Birbiglia / This American Life film "Sleepwalk with Me", and the phenomenon of viral video marriage proposals.
38 min
619
The Culture Gabfest: Tasty Medieval Cockentrice...
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens discuss the re-release of Singin' in the Rain and its place in film history, Time Machine Chefs and food-centric reality TV, and the debate over whether critics should be more critical.
32 min
620
The Culture Gabfest: 25 Sex Moves He Secretly W...
Slate critics Julia Turner, Dana Stevens and John Swansburg discuss the death of Cosmo editor Helen Gurley Brown, the new film The Campaign starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, and the merits of swimming in all its forms and venues.
43 min
621
The Culture Gabfest: Don't Look Down Edition
Slate critics Julia Turner, Dana Stevens and June Thomas discuss the 2012 Sight and Sound list of the top 50 films of all time, the dance drama Bunheads, and Jerry Seinfeld's new web series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."
37 min
622
Slate, The Culture Gabfest: Scary Mascot Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens discuss the rise and fall of journalist Jonah Lehrer. Next the gang is joined by Slate's own Seth Stevenson to talk Olympic mascots. And they round out the show with the new documentary about the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.
47 min
623
The Culture Gabfest: Batman and Robins Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens discuss "The Dark Knight Rises" and the shooting in Colorado, as well as Christian Marclay's art installation "The Clock." Plus Slate editor Laura Helmuth joins them to talk about birding, Jonathan Franzen, and the new HBO documentary "Birders: The Central Park Effect."
43 min
624
The Culture Gabfest: Utter Tosh Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens discuss the new USA series "Political Animals" starring Sigourney Weaver, the Daniel Tosh rape joke controversy, and Dana's lack of interest in all forms of games.
40 min
625
The Culture Gabfest: Summer Strut Edition
Slate critics Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens discuss the new Charlie Sheen sitcom "Anger Management," Tim Kreider's New York Times op-ed on "The Busy Trap," and the listener-selected summer strut music playlist.
41 min