Slate Culture Feed

This week Steve, Dana, and Julia talk about Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland. Next, they dig into their obsession with the New York Times’s Spelling Bee puzzle and interview its creator, 24-year-old Sam Ezersky. Finally, they discuss group chats in light of Heidi Cruz’s recent troubles with the forum.In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss a piece of culture that they used to love and are now done with? Thanks to listener James Callan. Send us your questions and topic suggestions at [email protected] production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: "Back to Silence" by OTESlate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to talk about the Australian Open. They also discuss the NBA’s new G League player development model. Finally, they assess Anthony Edwards’ huge dunk and name their favorite dunks of all time. Australian Open (04:06): How Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic won and what the future holds for Serena Williams. G League Ignite (24:50): Jalen Green’s path to the pros could change the NBA and college basketball. Dunks (44:50): Will Anthony Edwards’ slam stand the test of time? Which dunks will we never forget? Afterball (01:02:32): Josh on posterization, the word and the concept. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're celebrating the very short-term romance: the one night stand. Those moments in life when someone appeared in a flash, you connected, and then you went your separate ways. Looking for more Death, Sex & Money episodes about sex and relationships? Here are just a few: Real Love: A Valentine's Special from Death, Sex & MoneyMargaret Cho's Sex EducationCheating HappensThe Sex Worker Next DoorWhy You're Not Having SexDanielle Brooks Is Ready To Talk About SexDating Was So Hard, Until It Wasn'tCut Loose: Your Breakup StoriesSexually Transmitted SecretsI Wanted To Be A "Good Girl"Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox, and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Steve and Dana are joined by Jessica Winter, editor at the New Yorker and author of the upcoming novel, The Fourth Child. They kick off the show by discussing Saint Maud, the critically acclaimed horror film by Rose Glass. Then they dig into the #FreeBritney movement and dissect a televised documentary by the New York Times that covers Britney Spears' legal battle with her father. After that, Slate's pop music expert Chris Molanphy joins the show to discuss Olivia Rodrigo's hit song Drivers License, which shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Chris is the host of the Hit Parade podcast.In Slate Plus, Julia joins Steve and Dana to talk about the Gina Carano controversy and weigh in on whether her firing from The Mandalorian was justified.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Email the hosts at [email protected] Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the debate over whether to play the national anthem at sporting events. They also discuss what the pandemic taught us about the mysteries of home-field advantage. Finally, ESPN’s Ryan Smith joins to talk about a lawsuit alleging that the NFL’s concussion settlement discriminates against Black players. Anthem (3:11): Why the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing it, why they resumed, and what happens next. Home-field advantage (21:49): How home teams fare in a world without crowd noise. Concussion settlement (38:22): Inside a lawsuit brought by pro football retirees. Afterball (60:07): Stefan on “Star-Spangled Banner” debates of the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quick, what was the only No. 1 album by Jimi Hendrix? How about the first No. 1 by Billy Joel? Jackson Browne? Pat Benatar? Pearl Jam? Lady Gaga? In all cases, the answer isn’t obvious—it’s not the album you know best, the one with the most hits on it. It’s the album after that classic that goes to No. 1. And there’s no better example than AC/DC, the Australian-by-way-of-Scotland hard rock band that’s sold more than 20 million copies of Back in Black. But it was their next album (can you name it?) that topped the Billboard album chart. Chris Molanphy has coined a term for this weird chart phenomenon: He calls it The AC/DC Rule. Just as less-good movie sequels open better at the box office than classic first installments, follow-up albums often chart higher than their slow-growing but hit-packed predecessors. Some of the rock and pop legends who fell prey to this chart phenomenon might surprise you…might just leave you shook all night long. Podcast production by Asha Saluja. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We opened the phones for a national radio call-in, to hear from you about life after 60 right now. We've been sharing stories from listeners and guests over 60 all month long. Check out our previous episodes featuring Marlo Thomas, Beverly Glenn Copeland, Norma Elia Cantú, and guest host Jo Ann Allen in conversation with older listeners at deathsexmoney.org/aging. You'll also find some of our favorite reading and listening about people over 60 and a playlist of some of our favorite past Death, Sex & Money episodes with older guests. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox, and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve, Dana, and Julia kick things off by discussing Minari, the semi-autobiographical movie by the filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung that focuses on a Korean family trying to build a life for themselves in rural Arkansas. After that, New York Magazine writer Mark Harris joins the show to to talk about his new biography of the director Mike Nichols. Then the hosts pick apart the latest Chrissy Teigan controversy and offer opinions about wealth, celebrity, and privilege during the pandemic.In Slate Plus, the hosts remember the actor Christopher Plummer who passed away last week at age 91.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Bucs’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. Among the topics discussed: Tom Brady’s latest triumph, the Bucs’ defense, and Patrick Mahomes’ valiant effort in defeat. They also assess the rising conflict between NBA players and the league. Super Bowl (4:39): How Tampa won, why Kansas City lost, and why we were so wrong about Tom Brady. NBA (38:03): Why the league’s best players are so upset about the All-Star Game. Afterballs (56:36): Josh with more on Jackie Robinson’s letter to Bill Keefe and Stefan on Muhammad Ali and One Night in Miami. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 74-year-old writer on growing up in Laredo, Texas, and the three family deaths that changed her. Our national live call-in show, Getting Real About Getting Older, is tonight! (Wednesday, February 3, at 8 pm Eastern) Anna and co-host Jo Ann Allen will be be taking calls from listeners over 60 about getting older right now—if that's you, call in, and listen on your local public radio station or via The Greene Space. We've been sharing stories from listeners and guests over 60 all month long. Check out our previous episodes featuring Marlo Thomas, and guest host Jo Ann Allen in conversation with older listeners about unexpected health challenges and financial instability; feelings of isolation, invisibility and freedom; and shifting relationships with friends and loved ones at deathsexmoney.org/aging. You'll also find some of our favorite reading and listening about people over 60 and a playlist of some of our favorite past Death, Sex & Money episodes with older guests. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox, and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen, Dana, and Julia begin this week's show by talking about Locked Down, the rom-com heist movie starring Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor that's set during the early days of the pandemic. Then they discuss Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself, a Frank Oz directed stage performance that's part magic show and part meditation on personal identity. The filmed version is now available to stream on Hulu. For their third segment the hosts weigh in on a controversy in the film criticism world about a review of the movie Promising Young Woman, which they talked about in last week's show.In Slate Plus, the hosts chat about the pandemic's affect on casual friendships. Their inspiration was Amanda Mull's article in The Atlantic, titled The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the latest NFL hiring cycle, where just one Black coach got hired to run a team. They also assess Australia’s tennis quarantine and discuss whether Curt Schilling will break the baseball Hall of Fame.NFL coaches (01:52): What if anything can be done to get Black coaches more opportunities?COVID (20:52): Sports in Australia vs. sports in the pandemic-ravaged United States.Curt Schilling (35:56): Should writers consider his “character” when casting their Hall of Fame ballots?Afterballs (54:14): Josh on Jackie Robinson vs. sportswriter Bill Keefe and Melissa Kaplan on the Phillie Phanatic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hit Parade is back for non-Slate Plus listeners! Upcoming episodes will be split into two parts, released two weeks apart. For the full episode right now, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our Trivia show and bonus deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus.In Part 2 of this episode of Hit Parade, we continue the story of how Chic—cofounded by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards—gave life to disco through the 1980s and beyond. Their “Good Times” bassline spawned a slew of copycats, from “Rapper’s Delight” to “Another One Bites the Dust” to “Rapture.” And as if that wasn’t enough, over the next decade, the Chic masterminds became the secret sauce for a range of cutting-edge pop acts, producing and writing for everyone from Diana Ross and David Bowie to Madonna, Duran Duran and the B-52’s. Nile Rodgers even scored a hit in the 2010s with a pair of French robots who “got lucky” with another take on the Chic groove.Podcast production by Asha Saluja. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 76-year-old musician reflects on his complex relationship with his parents growing up, finding new audiences late in life, and why he loves "being cared for" by his younger bandmates. Listen to his latest album, "Transmissions," here.Mark your calendars for our upcoming national live call-in show, Getting Real About Getting Older, on Wednesday, February 3, at 8 pm Eastern! Anna and co-host Jo Ann Allen will be be taking calls from listeners over 60 about getting older right now—if that's you, call in, and listen on your local public radio station or via The Greene Space. We've been sharing stories from listeners and guests over 60 all month long. Check out our previous episodes featuring Marlo Thomas, and guest host Jo Ann Allen in conversation with older listeners about unexpected health challenges and financial instability; feelings of isolation, invisibility and freedom; and shifting relationships with friends and loved ones at deathsexmoney.org/aging. You'll also find some of our favorite reading and listening about people over 60 and a playlist of some of our favorite past Death, Sex & Money episodes with older guests. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox, and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Stephen, Dana, and Julia start by discussing Promising Young Woman, the revenge thriller starring Carey Mulligan and written and directed by Emerald Fennell. Then Slate culture writer Karen Han joins the show to talk about the French heist series Lupin, which has been firmly situated on Netflix's top 10 list since it premiered. After that, the hosts reflect on a recent article in the New York Times Magazine by Kyle Chayka titled, How Nothingness Became Everything We Wanted.In Slate Plus, the hosts wonder whether the end of the Trump presidency has really hit them yet.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Packers’ mystifying field goal attempt and the Chiefs’ run for a second straight title. They also discuss the life and legacy of baseball legend Henry Aaron, who died last week at the age of 86.NFL (01:35): What was Packers coach Matt LaFleur thinking? What’s the secret to the Chiefs’ success?Henry Aaron (21:55): Remembering Aaron’s upbringing, his career, his chase of baseball’s home run record, and everything he needed to overcome to be great.Afterball (01:02:24): Stefan on the sad and courageous story of Black baseball players Leander and Jim Turgeson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marlo Thomas thought marriage was "nothing that I wanted to be a part of" after watching her mother give up her singing career for her father's acting dreams. But then, at 42 years old, she changed her mind.All this month, we're sharing stories from listeners and guests over 60. If you missed it, check out our last episode, featuring guest host Jo Ann Allen in conversation with older listeners about unexpected health challenges and financial instability; feelings of isolation, invisibility and freedom; and shifting relationships with friends and loved ones. Find it at deathsexmoney.org/aging, as well as some of our favorite reading and listening about people over 60 and a playlist of some of our favorite past Death, Sex & Money episodes featuring older guests. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Stephen, Dana, and Julia take a look at Sound of Metal, the debut movie from writer/director Darius Marder, about a heavy metal drummer who loses his hearing. Then they discuss WandaVision, the new Marvel TV show that's loaded with references to classic TV sitcoms. After that they dive into the world of TikTok sea shanties and theorize about why the craze caught on.In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about vice president Kamala Harris' recent Vogue cover and the debate surrounding it.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and special guest Damon Young talk about the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They also discuss the Brooklyn Nets’ trade for James Harden and Kyrie Irving’s absence. Finally, they review the HBO documentary Tiger.NFL (01:49): Drew Brees, the concussion protocol, and the Chiefs’ gutsy fourth-down call. Nets (21:51): Is Kyrie Irving just misunderstood?Tiger (41:15): What the two-part doc reveals about Tiger Woods’ life and career.Afterball (59:29): Joel on the time Hakeem Olajuwon wanted out of Houston. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hit Parade is back for non-Slate Plus listeners! Upcoming episodes will be split into two parts, released two weeks apart. For the full episode right now, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our Trivia show and bonus deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus.How can you tell disco didn’t really die at the start of the 1980s? Because half of ’80s pop owed its sound to one of disco’s most seminal acts. Chic—cofounded by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards—would be legendary if all they’d done was record the’70s disco smashes “Le Freak,” “I Want Your Love” and “Good Times.” Indeed, the “Good Times” bassline spawned a slew of copycats, from “Rapper’s Delight” to “Another One Bites the Dust” to “Rapture.”As if that wasn’t enough, over the next decade, the Chic masterminds became the secret sauce for a range of cutting-edge pop acts, producing and writing for everyone from Diana Ross and David Bowie to Madonna, Duran Duran and the B-52’s. Nile Rodgers even scored a hit in the 2010s with a pair of French robots who “got lucky” with another take on the Chic groove.Podcast production by Asha Saluja. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Stephen, Dana, and Julia talk about the National Geographic miniseries, City So Real, about the 2019 mayoral race in Chicago and the social and political issues that fueled it. Then New York Times writer Charlie Warzel joins the show to discuss conservative media outlets like Newsmax and OANN and the alternate reality of news that Trump supporters reside in. After that, the hosts talk about New Yorker writer Lawrence Wright's comprehensive article, The Plague Year, about the way U.S. officials have reacted to the pandemic.In Slate Plus, the hosts reply to a listener who wants to know how they distinguish between works of art that are "entertaining" and ones that are "good" and whether making that distinction makes them snobs.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Alabama’s win over Ohio State in the college football title game. They also assess how athletes and leagues reacted to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Finally, they discuss the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend.College football (01:39): What will we remember about this season, and what should we make of the Alabama dynasty?Insurrection (21:29): Why did the NBA and NFL powers that be stay silent?NFL (38:02): The Cleveland Browns won and Nickelodeon made its playoff broadcasting debut.Afterball (52:38): Stefan on Marine AFC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We asked our listeners to get real about getting older. This is what you told us. Tune in and call in to our live show about aging next Wednesday, January 13, from 8-10 pm Eastern. Check your local public radio listings, or RSVP here to stream it live on the web. Text "aging" to 70101 to get a reminder about the show!Go to deathsexmoney.org/aging to send this episode to someone in your life, find some of our favorite reading and listening about people over 60, and listen to a playlist of some of our favorite past Death, Sex & Money episodes featuring older guests. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve, Dana, and Julia start by talking about Wonder Woman 1984 with LA Times film critic Justin Chang. Then they discuss Bridgerton, the new Netflix show produced by Shonda Rhimes and based on a series of novels by Julia Quinn. After that, Justin Chang rejoins the show to talk about Movie Club, Slate's annual end-of-year movie coverage.In Slate Plus, the hosts expand on their Wonder Woman conversation in spoiler-filled detail.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Washington’s win over Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football. They also discuss Alabama and Ohio State’s victories in the College Football Playoff and ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel joins for a conversation about the Duke women’s basketball team opting out of the season.NFL (01:28): Did the Eagles commit fraud in their loss to Washington or was it all just a big laugh?College Football Playoff (19:27): On Justin Fields, Ryan Day, Dabo Swinney, Nick Saban, DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris, Brian Kelly and the other heroes and villains of the CFP.Duke women’s basketball (37:14): Why did the players opt out? What happens next?Afterball (55:58): Stefan remembers Penn Quaker Kevin Warren. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hit Parade is back for non-Slate Plus listeners! Upcoming episodes will be split into two parts, released two weeks apart. For the full episode right now, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our Trivia show and bonus deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus.In Part 2 of this episode of Hit Parade, we continue the story of how Nirvana’s Nevermind ousted Michael Jackson’s Dangerous from the top of the Billboard album chart, Chris Molanphy examines the chart dynamics that not only ushered in the grunge era but also invented a new music sales strategy, the post-Christmas album, and how that trend has been shaped and changed by the rise of rap, and the surprise album drop.Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Stephen, Dana, and Julia present the Culture Gabfest’s annual listener call-in show, originally recorded live and streamed on Facebook and YouTube. They answer questions like, “Would you live in a muder house?” and “Are there any ways in which you are a snob about the culture you partake in?”In Slate Plus, the hosts field more questions from their live audience via Facebook and YouTube. Click here for the video version of the show. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Live show production by Faith Smith and Britt Pullie.Outro Music: "200 Dont's" by ConditionalSlate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin field listener questions about how sports changed the national response to COVID, whether the pandemic sowed mistrust between owners and players, their personal players of the year, and a whole lot more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Death, Sex & Money team looks back on a year none of us expected.Want to revisit some of our favorite episodes this year? Check out our essential workers episode, our Financial Therapy conversation with Frenchie, the live conversations with Back Issue hosts Tracy Clayton and Josh Gwynn and author Akwaeke Emezi, our episode on conversations in immigrant families, part one of our Skin Hunger collaboration, our update with Sharron, and our Game Changer episode featuring Shelby Harris. Find our Pandemic Tool Kit here. If you're thinking about year-end giving, please consider donating to Death, Sex & Money. You'll be supporting the work we do here at the show, and the community we're building together. Donate now at deathsexmoney.org/donate.Sign up for our newsletter at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter, and every Wednesday we'll send you podcast listening recommendations, listener letters from our inbox and updates from the show.Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Stephen and Dana are joined by Slate editor and writer Dan Kois. First, they discuss the new Steven Soderbergh movie Let Them All Talk, starring Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, and Candice Bergen. Then they talk to Slate TV critic Willa Paskin about the trends in TV this year and why "popular" TV isn't always "good" TV. After that, the hosts talk about a new project in the UK that aims to revive smells from the past.In Slate Plus, the hosts debate whether the labels "movie" and "TV show" have lost some of their meaning in the age of streaming.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: "If Only I Was a Poet" by Staffan CarlenSlate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the end of college football’s regular season and the College Football Playoff matchups. They also discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to re-sign with the Bucks. Finally, they ponder what pandemic-era changes will become permanent and which will be forgotten.College football (2:23) Did the committee get it right? Is it possible to make the sport more equitable?Giannis (22:18): Why did he decide to run it back with the Bucks? Is his decision good for the NBA? Pandemic-era changes (41:44): How will players, leagues, and fans shift to a post-pandemic age?Afterball (1:00:32): Josh on how Michael Jordan could’ve been a Dallas Maverick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What took blue food so long to catch on? Today it’s all over the freezer aisle, in candies for kids, in tortilla chips, and novelty foods, but it wasn’t very long ago that food experts agreed: blue food was an impossible sell. Their best evidence was a study from the 1970’s in which subjects were served blue steaks to sickening effect. On this episode, we uncover the strange, misinformation-stuffed history of blue food, the rise of blue raspberry, and what to make of the blue food experiment that made those people sick. It may have something to do with Alfred Hitchcock. This episode was produced in collaboration with Proof, from America's Test Kitchen. Proof is a podcast that investigates the food we love. Subscribe to Proof on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.Special programming note: Decoder Ring is going seasonal! That means you won’t hear from us for a while, but we’ll be back in 2021 with a bunch of new stories released week-by-week. Thanks for sticking with us, we’re excited to try something new, and we’ll see you soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I guess 2020 just cost me hope."Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode preview, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss “The Last Last Dance,” Joel’s special podcast on Michael Jordan’s tenure with the Washington Wizards. Topics discussed include why Jordan chose to go to D.C., how he treated Kwame Brown, and whether Jordan’s time in Washington makes him a more or less sympathetic figure.Sign up for Slate Plus here to hear this bonus episode in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Steve and Dana are joined by guest host Nichole Perkins, writer, poet, and host of the Thirst Aid Kit podcast. First they discuss the new film adaptation of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, which stars Viola Davis and features Chadwick Boseman in his final role. Then they weigh in on the HBO Max mystery thriller The Flight Attendant. After that, Vulture writer Mark Harris joins the show to talk about Disney's rapid growth and what it means for the movie industry.In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about which historical performances they wish they could witness.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: "Go slow" by Daniel FridellSlate Plus members get a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hit Parade is back for non-Slate Plus listeners! Upcoming episodes will be split into two parts, released two weeks apart. For the full episode right now, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our Trivia show and bonus deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus.When Nirvana’s Nevermind ousted Michael Jackson’s Dangerous from the top of the Billboard album chart, it made headlines in early 1992. Only, it didn’t really happen in ’92. What gave Nirvana the win happened right after Christmas ’91. Teenagers who were home for the holidays voted with their gift cards, and they gave Kurt Cobain’s band the win over the King of Pop. This month, Chris Molanphy examines the chart dynamics that not only ushered in the grunge era but also invented a new music sales strategy, the post-Christmas album.Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of Hang Up and Listen, Joel Anderson tells the story of Michael Jordan's second comeback. How did Jordan end up in Washington, D.C.? Why couldn’t he make the Washington Wizards into winners? And what does the final chapter of Jordan’s career reveal about him as a player and a person? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Steve and Dana are joined by co-host Laura Miller, books and culture columnist for Slate. First, the three of them talk to Slate's own Matthew Dessem about what's real and what's made up in the new David Fincher movie, Mank. Then Julia Turner joins the show for a discussion about Spotify's end-of-year "wrapped" feature. For the third segment, Laura talks about the best books of 2020.In Slate Plus, Laura talks about a debate that keeps cropping up in literary circles about whether kids should be taught more contemporary literature.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro music: "Ruins" by OrigoSlate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

51 years after they went to prom together, a couple reconnects and falls in love during the pandemic. But despite being 15 minutes apart, they're waiting to see each other in person.Thanks to our friends at NPR's It's Been A Minute With Sam Sanders for collaborating with us on this week's episode. Check out their episode, about being stuck together during the pandemic, by finding them wherever you get your podcasts. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the latest humiliation of the winless New York Jets. They also discuss the Russell Westbrook-John Wall trade, and Russell Dinkins joins for a conversation about his quest to save college track programs.Jets (03:55): Are they trying to lose on purpose? Should Trevor Lawrence stay away?Westbrook and Wall (23:57): The thin line between NBA superstardom and basketball sadness.Track (39:32): Why are men’s track programs disappearing, and what does race have to do with it?Afterball (58:21): Joel on the end of the Southwest Conference and the decline of the Houston Cougars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During a time when a lot of us are feeling isolated, we revisit your stories about living alone—with all its perks and drawbacks. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Steve and Dana are joined by writer, poet, and co-host of the Thirst Aid Kit podcast, Nichole Perkins. First, the they weigh in on Happiest Season, the new holiday rom-com starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis. Then they chat with Culture Gabfest producer Cameron Drews about why he loves the HBO show How To with John Wilson. And finally, the hosts a talk about a big mistake made recently by the publisher Fireside Fiction, where a white voice-over artist put on a fake accent to read an audio essay written by a Black woman. The essay, written by Dr. Regina N. Bradley, is called Da Art of Speculatin’ .In Slate Plus, the Steve, Dana, and Nichole discuss their pop culture blindspots.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: "What Do You Want From Me" by OTESlate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Broncos playing without a quarterback and other NFL COVID chaos. They also discuss the life and death of soccer legend Diego Maradona. Finally, they assess the debut of kicker Sarah Fuller, the first woman to play in a Power 5 football game.NFL (02:03): Should the Broncos have been forced to play? Will the NFL make it to the playoffs?Maradona (22:14): Could there ever be another player like him?Sarah Fuller (40:51): What should we make of her historic achievement and her performance on the field? Afterball (57:28): Stefan on the “Greek Maradona,” Vasilis Hatzipanagis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hit Parade is back for non-Slate Plus listeners! Upcoming episodes will be split into two parts, released two weeks apart. For the full episode right now, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our Trivia show and bonus deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus.Hit Parade continues the story of Garth Brooks. In the ’90s, he was country-authentic, ignored pop radio, and still utterly dominated the charts as the decade’s biggest multiplatinum megastar. Brooks took on chart competitors from Guns n’ Roses to Madonna to Mariah Carey and bested them all … until he tried taking on the Beatles. (And we’re still scratching our heads over that Chris Gaines thing.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The choreographer talks about losing income during the pandemic, the precarity of the performing arts field in general, and how getting sober helped him get out of debt.Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve and Dana kick off the show by talking about season 4 of The Crown with June Thomas, Slate's managing producer and co-host of the Working podcast. Then they're joined by Asha Saluja, operations manager for Slate Podcasts, to discuss one of the internet's latest creations: a TikTok musical based on the Pixar movie Ratatouille. For their third segment, Slate senior editor Sam Adams argues that our new streaming world is a poor replacement for traditional movie-going.In Slate Plus, Dana, Steve, and June discuss their Thanksgiving plans.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: "Backwards" by Staffan CarlenSlate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Yahoo’s Seerat Sohi to talk about the latest NBA deals. Jessica Luther then joins Joel, Josh, and Stefan Fatsis to discuss LSU’s mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations. Finally, Grant Wahl comes on to talk about American Prodigy, his new podcast on soccer phenom Freddy Adu.NBA (03:17): What moves will make the biggest impact on the coming season? And is Giannis going to stay in Milwaukee?LSU (21:57): What Yahoo’s investigation revealed, and what should come next.Freddy Adu (44:54): Why was he so hyped? Was his career a failure?Afterball (01:06:43): Joel on Utah high school football amid the coronavirus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1983, the Cabbage Patch Kids were released, causing widespread pandemonium in toy stores and in the media. How did a children'a toy inspire such bad adult behavior? On this episode of Decoder Ring we explore the strange world of the Cabbage Patch Kids to figure out why they hit it so big. The answer involves butt tattoos, slightly grotesque faces, industrial innovations, an origin story in a cabbage patch, and serious accusations of copyright theft.Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Dear Prudence and Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former police officer talks about shooting someone, and how it led him to study why and how often police killings happen.Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. And support our work at deathsexmoney.org/donate.And stay in touch with us! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date about what's happening behind the scenes at Death, Sex & Money. Plus, we'll send you audio recommendations, letters from our inbox and a note from Anna. Join the Death, Sex & Money community and subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve and Dana talk to Slate’s television critic Willa Paskin about the unprecedented current season of The Bachelorette. Then Slate's Brow Beat editor, Matthew Dessem, comes on board for the rest of the show to talk about Saturday Night Live and two recent articles about societal collapse, one titled The Next Decade Could Be Even Worse and one titled How Do You Know When Society Is About to Fall Apart? In Slate Plus, the hosts discuss which TV universes they'd like to be dropped into.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: "Break The Line" by Coma SvenssonSlate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Culture Gabfest each episode, and access to exclusive shows like Dana Stevens’ classic movies podcast Flashback. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.