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.
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1
The Timothée Chalamet vs. the Blue Aliens Edition
On this week’s show, the hosts volley over Marty Supreme, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and the persistent question of Avatar's cultural impact.
64 min
2
The 2025 Call-In Spectacular Edition
This week, you asked, we answered. It’s our annual call-in show.
70 min
3
We Found Our Archives: The Abstract Noun Edition
A beloved Gabfest from the lost archives gets into the elements of language.
48 min
4
The Biggest Show on Paramount Is Big Oil Propag...
On this week’s show, the hosts drill down on Landman, puck up with Heated Rivalry, and remember the late, great Rob Reiner.
62 min
5
"Is the Warner Bros. Deal the End Of Cinema?" E...
On this week’s show, the panel talks about the film Jay Kelly, the filmed stage show Merrily We Roll Along, and the story of the Warner Brothers acquisition.
65 min
6
Knives Out Is Back with a New Hot Priest Edition
On this week’s show, the gang is on the case with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the Ken Burns documentary series The American Revolution, and New York Magazine’s “Stupid Issue.”
63 min
7
Wicked Triple Feature Edition
On this week’s show, a discussion of three wildly different movies make for weird sisters: Wicked: For Good, Train Dreams, and Peter Hujar’s Day.
56 min
8
Glen Powell Does The Running Man Edition
On this week’s show, the gang gets into The Running Man, the limited series Death by Lightning, and Rosalía’s new album LUX.
59 min
9
The Slate Culture Gift Guide
Hark! A holiday gift guide from Slate’s culture cadre
48 min
10
The Creator of Breaking Bad is Back—with Polite...
On this week’s show, the gang takes up Pluribus, Sentimental Value, and the status of female directors after #MeToo.
59 min
11
Lily Allen’s Revenge Tour Edition
This week, the panel convenes for a conversation on the film Blue Moon, the series Down Cemetery Road, and Lily Allen’s album West End Girl.
53 min
12
Netflix Goes Nuclear with A House of Dynamite E...
In this week’s all-movie show, the panel gabs about A House of Dynamite, Hedda, and the documentary The Perfect Neighbor.
58 min
13
Slate Plus Preview: Jad Abumrad Inquires How We...
When you have Jad Abumrad in the studio, you don’t let him leave without squeezing as much quality audio from him as possible.
6 min
14
Guillermo del Toro Can Take Frankenstein Off Hi...
On this week’s show, the panel delves into the gothic world of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, the fate of dictionaries, and Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, a new podcast about the musical icon and activist.
67 min
15
Channing Tatum on the Lam Edition
On this week’s show, conversations about Channing Tatum as Roofman, Tim Robinson spinning out in The Chair Company, and historical reenactors doing their thing.
59 min
16
The Rock Goes for the Oscar Edition
On this week’s show, the panel steps into the octagon with The Smashing Machine, the Tulsa noir The Lowdown, and Hollywood’s A.I. freakout about Tilly Norwood.
54 min
17
One Banger After Another Edition
This week, the panel report to duty for One Battle After Another, Long Story Short, and a discussion of the troubled economics of Broadway.
59 min
18
Jimmy Kimmel Is Back—Sort Of— Edition
On this week’s show, the panel takes up HBO’s Task, the indie birding doc Listers, and the cancelling and subsequent uncancelling of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
57 min
19
Can Spinal Tap Still Go to 11 Edition
On this week’s show, the panel talks Spinal Tap II, the soapy new series The Girlfriend, and the legacy of Robert Redford.
65 min
20
Is the Office Spinoff Good Cringe or Bad Cringe...
On this week’s show, the creators of The Office deliver us The Paper, heterosexual hijinks ensue in Splitsville, and, in her new album, Sabrina Carpenter is Man’s Best Friend.
61 min
21
Austin Butler Is Caught Cat Sitting Edition
This week, the gabbers gab on Darren Aronofsky’s new film Caught Stealing, Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club, and the ascendancy of the film studio A24.
56 min
22
Denzel and Spike Remix a Classic Edition
On this week’s show, the panel holds court on Weapons, the new Spike Lee joint Highest 2 Lowest, and what exactly a “Performative Male” is.
59 min
23
Alien is Back Now With More Aliens Edition
This week, the panel takes on Alien: Earth, the reboot series of the sci-fi horror classic, King of the Hill’s return, and the Hollywood Reporter’s issue all about cosmetic surgery.
57 min
24
The Naked Gun And The Nearly Naked Momoa Edition
This week’s show: The Naked Gun reboot, Jason Momoa’s Hawaiian epic Chief of War, and the ten-year anniversary of Hamilton.
63 min
25
Summer Strut 2025 Edition
On this week’s show, it’s finally time to reveal the rollicking, warm-weather playlist of pure bops generated by you, our listeners. It’s Summer Strut 2025!
77 min