Culture Gabfest

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Amazon's pilot TV show I Love Dick, bad songs, and what a dismal summer at the box office means for the movie industry.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture.And by Boll and Branch. For luxury bedding at a low price, go to BollandBranch.com and use promo code culture for 50 dollars off your first set of sheets.And by Blue Apron. Blue Apron’s meal kits are delivered right to your door, and make cooking at home easy. Get your first THREE meals FREE by going to BlueApron.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and guests discuss Werner Herzog's documentary Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World; how Michelangelo's David could crumble at any moment; and what it takes to make a great children's book.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits that are working together to move their communities forward. Download and subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts. And by Audible. Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial today by signing up at Audible.com/culture. And by Green Chef. Their organic meal kits make it easy to cook healthy and feel great about where your food comes from. Get four free meals with your first order when you sign up at GreenChef.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dana Stevens, Dan Kois, and Jessica Winter discuss the end of Gawker, the animated film Kubo and the Two Strings, and their favorite cultural depiction of vacations.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Boll and Branch. For luxury bedding at a low price, go to BollandBranch.com and use promo code culture for free shipping and 20 percent off your entire order.And by Audible. Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial today by signing up at Audible.com/culture.And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens are live from Steve's porch this week and answer listeners' calls.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits that are working together to move their communities forward. Download and Subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts.And by Audible, with an unmatched selection of audiobooks, original audio shows, news, comedy, and more. Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial at Audible.com/story.And by Green Chef. Their organic meal kits make it easy to cook healthy and feel great about where your food comes from. Get four free meals with your first order when you sign up at GreenChef.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens are live from Edith Wharton's estate The Mount in the Berkshires this week to discuss the film Idiocracy and its relevancy to this year's presidential race, why people take pilgrimages to authors homes, and how technology is trying so hard to infantilize us.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Netflix series Stranger Things, the Harry Potter play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," and the case against the media by the media.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Boll and Branch. For luxury bedding at a low price, go to BollandBranch.com and use promo code culture for free shipping and 20 percent off your entire order.And by Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits that are working together to move their communities forward. Download and Subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens talk about their Summer Strut picks for 2016 with Slate music writer Chris Molanphy.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Open Account, a podcast that gets personal about making, losing, and living with money. Created by Umpqua Bank and hosted by SuChin Pak, download and subscribe to Open Account wherever you get your podcasts.And by Green Chef. Their organic meal kits make it easy to cook healthy and feel great about where your food comes from. Get four meals free with your first order when you go to GreenChef.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Ghostbusters reboot, Pokemon Go, and Chuck Close.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W. Get $20 off your first order of wine now by going to ClubW.com/culture.And by Boll and Branch. For luxury bedding at a low price, go to BollandBranch.com and use promo code culture for free shipping and 20 percent off your entire order.And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and guests discuss HBO's series Night Of, the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, and the flap over actresses and plastic surgery.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Audible, with an unmatched selection of audiobooks, original audio shows, news, comedy, and more.And by Open Account, a podcast that gets personal about making, losing, and living with money. Created by Umpqua Bank and hosted by SuChin Pak, download and subscribe to Open Account wherever you get your podcasts.And by Green Chef, a new food delivery service that makes cooking easy—with consciously sourced healthy recipes and organic ingredients. Get four free meals with your first order when you go to GreenChef.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and guests discuss the film The BFG, the beefcake noir television show Animal Kingdom, and Facebook's new algorithm.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W. Get $20 off your first order of wine now by going to ClubW.com/culture. And by eero, the world’s first whole-home wifi system. Get FREE overnight shipping by going to eero.com/culture and at checkout enter promo code culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss Independence Day: Resurgence, Angels in America, and Judith Butler.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE.And by the new podcast Dog Smarts. Each episode features leading researchers and academics that tackle questions of language, memory, intelligence, and even love as they pertain to our dogs. Subscribe to Dog Smarts on iTunes now.And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage’s completely online process lets you get a custom mortgage solution wherever and whenever you want. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Laura Bennett discuss the latest Pixar film Finding Dory James Corden's Carpool Karaoke, and UnReal Season 2.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by the new podcast Dog Smarts. Each episode features leading researchers and academics that tackle questions of language, memory, intelligence, and even love as they pertain to our dogs. Subscribe to Dog Smarts on iTunes now.And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage takes the frustrations out of getting a mortgage by letting you safely share your financial information with the touch of a button. Get approved online in minutes at QuickenLoans.com/culture.And by Tictail, a social shopping marketplace. Go to tictail.com/culture to create your profile and discover independent brands around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Stephen Metcalf, and Dana Stevens discuss the ESPN's documentary "OJ: Made in America", men's fashion with Simon Doonan, and Dana weighs in on the topics she missed.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE.And by Audible, with an unmatched selection of audiobooks, original audio shows, news, comedy, and more. Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial at Audible.com/culture. And by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code CULTURE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Stephen Metcalf, and Dana Stevens discuss Maria Bamford's Netflix series Lady Dynamite, the film Popstar, and Paul Simon's latest album and his career.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by the new podcast Dog Smarts. Each episode features leading researchers and academics that tackle questions of language, memory, intelligence, and even love as they pertain to our dogs. Subscribe to Dog Smarts on iTunes now.And by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code CULTURE.And by Open Account, a podcast that gets personal about making, losing, and living with money. Created by Umpqua Bank and hosted by SuChin Pak, download and subscribe to Open Account wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and The New York Times' Wesley Morris discuss the buddy cop romp film The Nice Guys, television's classless void, and Slate's list of the 50 greatest films by black film directors.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Casper, an online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. All Casper mattresses come with free delivery and returns within a 100-day period. Right now, get 50 dollars toward any mattress purchase by visiting Casper.com/culture and using the promo code CULTURE.And by the new podcast Dog Smarts. Each episode features leading researchers and academics that tackle questions of language, memory, intelligence, and even love as they pertain to our dogs. Subscribe to Dog Smarts on iTunes now.And by Open Account, a podcast that gets personal about making, losing, and living with money. Created by Umpqua Bank and hosted by SuChin Pak, download and subscribe to Open Account wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Laura Miller discuss the film Neighbors 2, AMC's bloodlusty show Preacher, and debate whether adverbs are the enemy of good writing.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE.And by TrackR, a coin-sized device that locates misplaced keys, wallets, bags, computers—anything in seconds. Make losing things, a thing of the past. Get 30 percent off your first TrackR device by going to TheTracker.com and using the promo code CULTURE.And by Open Account, a podcast that gets personal about making, losing, and living with money. Created by Umpqua Bank and hosted by SuChin Pak, download and subscribe to Open Account wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Laura Miller discuss Whit Stillman's film "Love & Friendship," Radiohead's latest album, and the British TV show "Scott And Bailey" and comfort food television.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Audible.com, with more than 250,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free 30-day trial and a free audiobook at Audible.com/culture. And by Tictail, a social shopping marketplace. Go to tictail.com/culture to create your profile and to see a selection of our favorite products. And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with a fast, easy, and completely online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Laura Miller discuss the film Key and Peele's first feature film Keanu, whether iTunes is a dinosaur that deserves extinction and men's book clubs.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. And by Tracker, a coin-sized device that locates misplaced keys, wallets, bags, computers—anything in seconds. Make losing things, a thing of the past. Get 40 percent off your first Tracker device by going to TheTracker.com and using the promo code CULTURE. And by Tictail, a social shopping marketplace. Go to tictail.com/culture to create your profile and to see a selection of our favorite products. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dan Kois, and June Thomas discuss the film The Meddler, the AMC television show The Night Manager, and why Trump is best understood as a terrifying product of his generation.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine delivered directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For $20 off your first order--with free shipping on orders of 4 bottles or more--go to ClubW.com/culture. And by ScoreBig. Did you know that 40 percent of all live event tickets go unsold? ScoreBig works directly with your favorite teams and artists to get those unsold seats at huge savings. Go to ScoreBig.com right now, click on the microphone and enter the promo code CULTURE. You’ll save an extra 20 dollars off your first ticket purchase. And by Tictail, a social shopping marketplace. Go to tictail.com/culture to create your profile and to see a selection of our favorite products. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and June Thomas discuss Prince, Beyoncé's Lemonade, and the television show The Girlfriend Experience.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE.And by Tracker, a coin-sized device that locates misplaced keys, wallets, bags, computers—anything in seconds. Make losing things, a thing of the past. Get 40 percent off your first Tracker device by going to TheTracker.com and using the promo code CULTURE.And by Care.com, the world’s largest digital marketplace for finding and managing family care. Right now you can save 30 percent off a Care.com Premium membership AND receive a 15 dollar credit when you subscribe at Care.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dan Kois discuss the latest incarnation of The Jungle Book, the HBO movie Confirmation, and the future of NPR.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by FUN HOME, winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical. The Associated Press calls this groundbreaking production, “The best of what Broadway can do.” Get tickets at FunHomeBroadway.com. And by The Haters, the hilarious road-trip novel about music and friendship, by Jesse Andrews—New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter of the Sundance award–winner Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Find The Haters at AbramsBooks.com/thehaters. And by Green Chef, a new food delivery service that makes cooking easy—with consciously sourced healthy recipes and organic ingredients. Get four free meals with your first order when you go to GreenChef.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens talk with Rob Delaney the co-creator and co-star of the Amazon show Catastrophe and then discuss Gay Talese and the legendary Merle Haggard.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Audible.com, with more than 180,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free 30-day trial and a free audiobook at Audible.com/culture.And by ScoreBig. Did you know that 40 percent of all live event tickets go unsold? ScoreBig works directly with your favorite teams and artists to get those unsold seats at huge savings. Go to ScoreBig.com right now, click on the microphone and enter the promo code CULTURE. You’ll save an extra 20 dollars off your first ticket purchase. That’s ScoreBig.com, promo code CULTURE.And by The Haters, the hilarious road-trip novel about music and friendship, by Jesse Andrews—New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter of the Sundance award–winner Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Find The Haters at AbramsBooks.com/thehaters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens are live at the SVA Theater in New York City and discuss Richard Linklater's latest film "Everybody Wants Some!!", Amazon's Echo device, and what four figures they would carve into a cultural Mt. Rushmore. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20% off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. And by The Haters, the hilarious road-trip novel about music and friendship, by Jesse Andrews—New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter of the Sundance award–winner Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Find The Haters at AbramsBooks.com/thehaters. And by Green Chef, a new food delivery service that makes cooking easy—with consciously sourced healthy recipes and organic ingredients. Get four free meals with your first order when you go to GreenChef.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Culture Gabfest is going to be late this week because of its awesome live show in New York City. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Batman v Superman with Slate's Jamelle Bouie, TBS' Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and bro out with The New York Times' writer Wesley Morris.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE.And by Roku and HBO NOW. Roku players offer the biggest selection of streaming channels, like HBO NOW. Learn more and try HBO NOW free for one month by going to roku.com/gab.And by ScoreBig. Did you know that 40 percent of all live event tickets go unsold? ScoreBig works directly with your favorite teams and artists to get those unsold seats at huge savings. Go to ScoreBig.com right now, click on the microphone and enter the promo code CULTURE. You’ll save an extra 20 dollars off your first ticket purchase. That’s ScoreBig.com, promo code CULTURE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Stephen Metcalf, and Laura Miller discuss the animated film about police brutality Zootopia, WGN America's Underground, and our obsession with revealing the identities of artists who want to maintain their privacy. Is our curiosity justified or predatory?The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus, a new video service with more than 5,000 lectures. As a member, you can watch as many lectures as you want, anytime, on any device. For a limited time, Culture Gabfest listeners can watch The Fundamentals of Photography—for free—by visiting TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/culture.And by Roku and HBO NOW. Roku players offer the biggest selection of streaming channels, like HBO NOW. Learn more and try HBO NOW free for one month by going to roku.com/gab. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the horror sequel 10 Cloverfield Lane, Fred Kaplan's latest book "Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War," and the significance of names with The New York Times' Jody Rosen.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE.And by Roku and HBO NOW. Roku players offer the biggest selection of streaming channels, like HBO NOW. Learn more and try HBO NOW free for one month by going to roku.com/gab.And by Tracker. Make losing things a thing of the past. Get 40 percent off your first Tracker device by going to TheTracker.com and using the promo code CULTURE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Kendrick Lamar's untitled unmastered, work-life balance, and the story of the eradication of the original Ku Klux Klan.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus, a new video service with more than 5,000 lectures. As a member, you can watch as many lectures as you want, anytime, on any device. And for a limited time, Culture Gabfest listeners can watch The Fundamentals of Photography—for free—by visiting TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/culture.And by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine delivered directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture.And by Amazon. Detective Harry Bosch is back on the new season of Amazon’s Original Series Bosch, based on the best selling novels by Michael Connelly. Stream the new season on March 11th on Amazon Prime Video. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss The Oscars, small talk, and interview photographer Gregory Crewdson about his work and latest show "Cathedral of the Pines."The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Carbonite. Keep your digital files safe this year—protect your photos, music, and documents with automatic cloud backup from Carbonite. Try it free without a credit card at Carbonite.com, and use the offer code CULTURE to get two free bonus months if you decide to buy. And by Warby Parker, a new concept in eyewear. Warby Parker makes buying glasses online easy, risk-free and most of all, enjoyable. Visit warbyparker.com/cultural to begin your free home try-on experience today. And by Audible.com, with more than 180,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free 30-day trial and a free audiobook at Audible.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and Stephen Metcalf discuss the Netflix series Love, the Oscar nominated documentary Amy, and cultural criticism.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus, a new video service with more than 5,000 lectures. For a limited time, listeners of the Culture Gabfest can watch one of the most popular courses—The Everyday Gourmet: Rediscovering the Lost Art of Cooking—for free. Just visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/culture. And by BollandBranch.com, the company that makes luxury bedding affordable. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. And by A&E’s hit series Bates Motel. Catch the new season when it returns Monday March 7th at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on A&E. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Forrest Wickman discuss the new HBO series Vinyl about New York City's 70s music scene, the gentle indie feature Brooklyn, and Kanye's latest album the Life of Pablo.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Carbonite. Keep your digital files safe this year—protect your photos, music, and documents with automatic cloud backup from Carbonite. Try it free without a credit card at Carbonite.com, and use the offer code CULTURE to get two free bonus months if you decide to buy.And by Audible.com, with more than 180,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free 30-day trial and a free audiobook at Audible.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Coen brothers latest movie Hail Caesar!, Beyonce's Formation video with New York Times' Wesley Morris and the 2016 Superbowl ads with Slate's Seth Stevenson.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus, a new video service with more than 5,000 lectures. As a member, you can watch as many lectures as you want on any device. And for a limited time, listeners of the Culture Gabfest can watch one of the most popular courses—The Everyday Gourmet: Rediscovering the Lost Art of Cooking—for free. Just visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/culture. And by Casper, an online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Casper mattresses come with free delivery and returns within a 100-day period. And get 50 dollars toward any mattress purchase by visiting Casper.com/culture and using the promo code CULTURE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and New York Times' Wesley Morris discuss the biographical drama American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson, the film Room, and Rihanna's new album.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus, a new video learning service with more than 5,000 lectures. For a limited time only, listeners of the Culture Gabfest can stream one of the most popular courses—The Everyday Gourmet: Rediscovering the Lost Art of Cooking—for free. Just visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/culture. And by BollandBranch.com, the company that makes luxury bedding affordable. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. And by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine delivered directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and Laura Miller discuss The Oscars diversity problem, Trevor Noah's vesrion of The Daily Show, and the Oscar-nominated film Carol. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Carbonite. Keep your digital files safe this year—protect your photos, music, and documents with automatic cloud backup from Carbonite. Try it free without a credit card at Carbonite.com, and use the offer code CULTURE to get two free bonus months if you decide to buy. And by BollandBranch.com, the company that makes luxury bedding affordable. Get the nicest sheets you've ever owned for about half the price of what stores are charging. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. Go to BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. And by Audible.com, with more than 180,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free 30-day trial and a free audiobook at Audible.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and June Thomas discuss the film 45 Years, the BBC America TV series London Spy, and "The Trials of Alice Goffman" with Slate's Leon Neyfakh. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, the company that makes luxury bedding affordable. Get the nicest sheets you've ever owned for about half the price of what stores are charging. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. Go to BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. And by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dana Stevens, Julia Turner, and Aisha Harris discuss David Bowie's legacy, Quentin Tarantino's latest film Hateful Eight, and the true crime documentary Making A Murderer. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards. Tune in live January 17th at 8pm EasternTime/5pm Pacific to see who in film and TV takes the top prizes. Only on A&E. And by Carbonite. Keep your digital files safe this year—protect your photos, music, and documents with automatic cloud backup from Carbonite. Try it free without a credit card at Carbonite.com, and use the offer code CULTURE to get two free bonus months if you decide to buy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dana Stevens, Laura Miller, and Mike Pesca discuss the film The Revenant, Marie Kondo's latest book for wannabe neat freaks, and whether profanity exposes a worldview. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, the company that makes luxury bedding affordable. Get the nicest sheets you've ever owned for about half the price of what stores and boutiques are charging. Order right now and they'll give you $50 off a set of sheets, plus free shipping. Go to BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. And by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. And by the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards. Tune in live January 17th at 8pm Eastern Time/5pm Pacific to see who in film and TV takes the top prizes. Only on A&E. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens and answer listener questions. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Prudential's 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life - and the future - looks like to today's 40-somethings. Hear what inspires real people, the hopes they have for tomorrow, and much more. See yourself in their stories at slate.com/4040vision/family. And by Making A Murderer, an unprecedented new documentary that takes viewers inside a high-stakes criminal case where reputation is everything and things are never as they appear. All episodes are now streaming, only on Netflix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Laura Miller discuss the best TV, books, and movies of 2015. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Prudential’s 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life—and the future—looks like to today’s 40-somethings. Hear what inspires real people, the hopes they have for tomorrow, and much more. See yourself in their stories at slate.com/4040vision/family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the movie The Big Short, the hit musical Hamilton, and whether scholarly work be less and not more accessible. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 20 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. And by BollandBranch.com, the company that makes luxury bedding affordable. Get the nicest sheets you've ever owned for about half the price of what stores and boutiques are charging. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off your entire order plus free shipping. Go to BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the latest cinematic adaptation of Macbeth, Bill Murray's Netflix Christmas special "A Very Murray Christmas," and Katy Waldman’s recent Slate exploring the cultural narratives that underscore (and misinterpret) anorexia. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Shari's Berries. Fresh berries dipped in chocolate—starting at just $19.99—are a great holiday gift. Go to berries.com and use the promo code CULTURE and double your berries for just 10 dollars more. And by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. And by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code CULTURE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Rocky reboot Creed, the atypical Marvel TV series Jessica Jones, and whether we should regulate our internet addiction. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code CULTURE. And by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we’ll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee­free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/culture. And by The Message, an original science fiction podcast from Panoply and GE Podcast Theater. All of Season 1 is available now, so listen and find out why a 70-year-old alien recording seems to be killing people. Search for The Message on iTunes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dan Kois discuss the film Spotlight, the Philip K. Dick novel-turned-TV show The Man in the High Castle, and a Westboro Baptist woman's Twitter conversion with author Adrian Chen. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Prudential’s 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life—and the future—looks like to today’s 40-somethings. Hear what inspires real people, the hopes they have for tomorrow, and much more. See yourself in their stories at slate.com/4040vision/family. And by The Message, an original science fiction podcast from Panoply and GE Podcast Theater. All of Season 1 is available now, so listen and find out why a 70-year-old alien recording seems to be killing people. Search for The Message on iTunes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Town Hall in New York City, Slate's Culture Gabfest is joined by the Political Gabfest and Hang Up and Listen to discuss the growing threat of ISIS, Aziz Ansari's Master of None, and the Russian doping scandal. Plus, an interview with Hamilton cast members Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. And by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateCultFest Facebook: facebook.com/culturefest Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the latest Steve Jobs biopic, virtual reality and Facebook's Oculus Rift technology, and whether subtlety in art sucks. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. And by the American Heart Association, which is urging lawmakers to save physical education. The average school gets just $764 every year for phys ed. Go to heart.org/LetThemPlay to learn more and take action. And by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf and Dana Stevens discuss the career of Elvis Costello on the heels of his recent memoir, "Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink" with Slate's Carl Wilson, Drake's viral Hotline Bling video with Slate's Leon Neyfakh, and Adele's anticipated album 25 with Slate's Chris Molanphy. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code CULTURE. And by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we’ll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee­free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/culture. And by the American Heart Association, which is urging lawmakers to save physical education. The average school gets just $764 every year for Physical Education. Go to heart.org/LetThemPlay to learn more and take action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss CW's musical comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, whether NASA has discussed a super alien race with Slate's Bad Astronomer Phil Plait, and the digitally annotated Bartleby the Scrivener with Slate's Andrew Kahn. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Prudential’s 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life—and the future—looks like to today’s 40-somethings. Hear what inspires real people, the hopes they have for tomorrow, and much more. See yourself in their stories at slate.com/4040vision/family. And by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. And by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater. Subscribe to "The Message" here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Laura Miller discuss Spielberg's Cold War Movie "Bridge of Spies," Kathryn Schultz’s recent New Yorker takedown of Henry David Thoreau, and whether the lecture still has a place in the college classroom. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W, leading the "grape to glass" wine revolution. Answer just six simple questions at ClubW.com and their algorithm will create a Palate Profile just for you. Get wine directly to your door, perfectly customized to match your taste. For 50 percent off your first order, go to ClubW.com/culture. And by the Great Courses, offering a series of lectures about food, including Essential Secrets of Spices in Cooking, Making Healthy Food Taste Great, Baking Pastries and Desserts, and Making Great Meals in Less Time. Order any one of these Everyday Gourmet courses for only $9.95 for a limited time at TheGreatCourses.com/culture. And by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater. Subscribe to "The Message" here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Rahmin Bahrani's latest film 99 Homes, our identity obsession with Wesley Morris, and Dana Stevens's travelogue meditation about her recent trip to Japan. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Whispersync for Voice, an Amazon and Audible innovation. Add narration to more than 60,000 Kindle bestsellers and popular titles. Read on your tablet and when it's time to go, pick up where you left off by switching to audio and listening on your phone. Learn more about Whispersync for Voice by visiting amazon.com/culturefest. And by Beech Nut Organics. At Beech Nut, homemade is their inspiration. It’s not baby food. It’s real food for babies—real organic fruits and vegetables, and nothing more. Nobody else makes food for babies this way! Beech Nut Organics are now available at Target. Go to BeechNutGabFest.com and enter to win a year's worth of food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the blockbuster science movie The Martian, Fox's standout fall TV show The Grinder, and whether Hamlet is fat. The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we’ll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee­ free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/culture. And by Beech Nut Organics. At Beech Nut, homemade is their inspiration. It’s not baby food. It’s real food for babies—real organic fruits and vegetables, and nothing more. Nobody else makes food for babies this way. Beech Nut Organics are now available at Target. Go to BeechNutGabFest.com and enter to win a year’s worth of food. And by the Great Courses, offering a series of lectures about food, including Essential Secrets of Spices in Cooking, Making Healthy Food Taste Great, Baking Pastries and Desserts, and Making Great Meals in Less Time. Order any one of these Everyday Gourmet courses for only $9.95 for a limited time at TheGreatCourses.com/culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.