Decoder Ring
Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. In each episode, host Willa Paskin takes a cultural question, object, or habit; examines its history; and tries to figure out what it means and why it matters.
51
Who Owns the Tooth Fairy?
The Tooth Fairy’s freak flag is still flying.
34 min
52
Why You Can’t Find a Damn Parking Spot
Parking is a mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. We can get ourselves out of it.
33 min
53
The Artist Who Was Both Loved and Disdained
The painter LeRoy Neiman was adored by many Americans—but not the art critics.
33 min
54
The Curious Case of Columbo's Message to Romani...
Why does no one remember the T.V. detective’s Cold War missive?
36 min
55
The Curious Case of Columbo's Message to Romani...
Was the cigar-chomping detective also a Cold War diplomat?
39 min
56
Spring 2023 Teaser
Decoder Ring's upcoming season.
1 min
57
Slate Plus Exclusive: The Making of This Season
1 min
58
The Mailbag Episode
From kids menus to succulents to the chicken that crossed the road, we answer your questions.
34 min
59
Encore: ‘You’ve Got Mail’ Got It Wrong
Who's afraid of... Barnes & Noble? The now quaint conflict that inspired the 1998 romantic comedy.
36 min
60
Cellino & Barnes, Injury Attorneys, 800-888-8888
Cellino and Barnes became the literal poster-men for personal injury advertising.
35 min
61
How Preppy Became Streetwear
Ralph Lauren’s modern Ivy style was remixed by ’Lo-Heads.
32 min
62
The New Age Hit Machine
How a PBS pledge drive turned Yanni and John Tesh into rock stars.
24 min
63
The Butt and the Bustle
It may be old-fashioned, but the bustle still has a lot to tell us about race, sex and power.
41 min
64
The Truth About #TheDress
An unassuming photo of a party dress showed how seeing is believing.
32 min
65
Fall 2022 Teaser
Decoder Ring's upcoming season.
1 min
66
McGruff Takes a Bite Out of Crime Pt. 2
Did a trench-coat wearing dog’s catchy anti-drug anthems actually work?
42 min
67
McGruff Takes a Bite Out of Crime Pt. 1
The unlikely origins of the trench-coat wearing bloodhound who tackled personal safety, guns and drugs.
32 min
68
Slate Plus Exclusive: The Making of This Season
1 min
69
The “Sex” Scandal That Made Mae West
Before she hit the big-screen, the sultry actress starred in a 1927 tabloid trial.
41 min
70
The First Alien Abductees
The alien abduction narrative started right here on Earth.
36 min
71
The Most Famous Poet No One Remembers
Searching for Rod McKuen.
43 min
72
The Mall is Dead (Long Live the Mall)
For a supposedly dying place, the mall keeps hanging around.
40 min
73
Summer 2022 Teaser
Decoder Ring's upcoming season.
1 min
74
The Storytelling Craze
How storytelling became a product.
35 min
75
“We Got Ourselves a Convoy”
How a fake country star gave voice to frustrated truckers across America.
29 min