Slate Culture Feed

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Louisa Thomas discuss the end of the NBA’s bubble season, quarterback Alex Smith’s return from a gruesome 2018 leg injury, and the French Open victories of Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek.NBA finals (02:42): LeBron James won his fourth NBA title, this one with the Los Angeles Lakers.NFL (20:29): Is Alex Smith’s return to the NFL an inspiring comeback or a moral dilemma?French Open (37:32): Rafael Nadal won his 20th major and Iga Swiatek won her very first tournament. Afterballs (52:44): Louisa on the mysterious life of tennis great Alice Marble and Stefan on when athlete deaths start to hit home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We kick off our first ever Audio We Love Festival with a brand new show about loss, love and moving forward.Subscribe to Goodbye To All This from the BBC World Service wherever you get your podcasts. Then tune in on Friday, October 16th, as we end the festival week with a live Zoom show with Tracy Clayton and Josh Gwynn, hosts of one of our favorite new podcasts, Back Issue. Josh and Tracy are going to tell me about some of the things they're turning to for joy in a year when that's hard to come by—it's going to be a really good time. More info here.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.

When Jane Fonda granted us an interview to talk about her famous workout tape, things didn't go as planned.On part one of a special two-part Decoder Ring, we explore the decades-long friendship of Jane Fonda and Leni Cazden, the relationship that birthed the workout that changed the world. It's a story of creation, regret, fame, forgiveness, trauma, survival, politics, and exercise. In two weeks, we return with part two: the story of the bestselling VHS tape of all time.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.

I don’t think that as a culture, we talk enough about getting older, and when we do, we don’t often do it well. It's time to have better conversations about aging—and we're going to do it with the help of veteran public radio anchor Jo Ann Allen.Jo Ann is the host of the podcast Been There Done that, a show about and for the Baby Boom generation. As she tells me, "I am 67 years old, and I am really into older people! [...] I love, without a doubt, up and down, over and under, in and out, being an older person and getting older." Over the next few weeks, Jo Ann is going to be stepping into the host chair and recording some interviews with older listeners in our audience about what it's like to be aging, and what questions are coming up for you—especially in this moment. I can't wait for you to meet her.Are you over 60? We want to hear from you! What's your life look like right now? How are you feeling your age differently this year compared to last year? You can send an email to us, at [email protected]. You can call us and leave a message, at (917) 740-6549. Or you can record a voice memo on your phone, and email it as an attachment to [email protected]. And if you're not over 60, you can still help us by spreading the word, and sending this episode to someone in your life who is.And make sure to check out Jo Ann's podcast, Been There Done That. We particularly like the episode "Betty," in which she talks to her older sister about surviving coronavirus.Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram at @deathsexmoney and Facebook at facebook.com/deathsexmoney. Sign up for the Death, Sex & Money newsletter at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf and Julia Turner are joined by Slate book critic Laura Miller for a full episode. First, the panel takes on The Glorias, the new film based on Gloria Steinem’s life. Next, they are joined by New Yorker staff writer Lauren Collins to talk about the Netflix comedy-drama Emily in Paris. Finally, the panel discusses the narrative drama of Donald Trump’s having COVID-19.The Slate Plus segment this week features Laura’s book recommendations for fall. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Pike Place Market by Rockin' For DecadesEndorsementsLaura: The Good Lord Bird, starring Ethan HawkeJulia: A recipe for State Fair LemonadeSteve: Rod Stewart’s cover of “Handbags and Gladrags” (as well as the many videos of rockstars’ impromptu performances)Slate 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 Jimmy Butler’s masterful performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. They also discuss the NFL’s first big coronavirus outbreak and the opening week of the baseball playoffs. Finally, they’re joined by Chantel Jennings of the Athletic for a conversation about the WNBA Finals.NBA (02:47): What makes Jimmy Butler tick? Will he lead the Heat back against the Lakers?NFL (13:03): How has the league responded to its first big COVID challenge?MLB (25:19): Assessing the weird, unprecedented pandemic postseason.WNBA (37:01): Why are the Seattle Storm so dominant?Afterball (54:11): Josh on the strange endurance of Norm Van Brocklin’s single-game NFL passing yardage record. 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 full episodes on the day of release, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our trivia show and deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus.In part two of our one-hit wonders show, we propose three rules to identify a one-hit wonder, which is not as easy as it sounds: Dexys Midnight Runners? They’re a one-hit wonder. Men Without Hats? Nope, not fair. Lou Reed? Yes. Marky Mark? No. In this episode, Chris breaks it all down, explaining why “Take on Me” is a pop classic but A-ha are still only one-hitters in America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea Wolfe has dedicated the last four years to becoming one of the first BMX freestyle riders at the Olympics. The games' postponement has made her reevaluate everything.Want to see Chelsea in action? Watch her competing at the BMX Freestyle Park World Cup in Japan last year. This episode is part of our Game Changer series, about how the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives and livelihoods of athletes. Make sure to check out the previous two episodes, about a high-risk NFL player's decision to participate in this year's season, and a Minor League Baseball player who's dealing with the fallout of a cancelled season and contract. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. 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 on the Culture Gabfest, Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss the Netflix film My Octopus Teacher. Next, they chat about the legacy and ending of Keeping Up With the Kardashians (check out the Gabfest’s 2011 conversation about the Kardashians here). Finally, the panel is joined by Slate staff writer Aaron Mak to analyze the latest episode of Reply All on QAnon.On Slate Plus, the hosts discuss how they try to balance work and family.Slate 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.Outro Music: The Red Light Special by Matt LargePodcast 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 NBA Finals matchup between the Heat and the Lakers. They also discuss why they’re watching college football and life inside the NHL bubble. Finally, they’re joined by Father Edwin Leahy to discuss the documentary series Benedict Men.NBA (02:11): How did the Heat rebuild after LeBron left? And do they have a chance against LeBron now?College football and the NHL (16:22): Why we can’t shake an immoral sport, and what we’ve learned about the pro hockey postseason.Benedict Men (33:44): Why does a critic of big-time high school basketball preside over one of the nation’s top basketball programs?Afterball (47:54): Stefan on Brian’s Song, which has not aged well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Once you're done with football, you're done with football."Look out for more in our Game Changer series, about the ways athletes' lives and livelihoods have been upended by COVID-19, next week. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. 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, Dana, and Julia are live from … Zoom! First, the panel talks about Cuties, the Netflix film that has stirred up controversey. Next, the panel discusses the Emmys—how successful (and necessary) was the virtual awards show? Finally, the panel takes on the future of fashion. Get your closets ready: Sweatpants will not be around forever.In Slate Plus, the hosts answer listeners’ questions about philosophy, comfort watches, and so much more. (Per a listener’s question, here is our previous episode on pumpkin spice.)Slate 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.Endorsements:Dana: The McMansion Hell blogJulia: Con Todo El Mundo by KhruangbinSteve: The television show Reno 911!Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen. Special thanks to Faith Smith and Britt Pullie for organizing the live show.Outro Music: Self Made Woman by Katharine Appleton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2020 was supposed to be the year Mitch Horacek made his Major League Baseball debut. Instead, he ended up throwing baseballs into a net by himself, and learning to code.Look out for more in our Game Changer series, about the ways athletes' lives and livelihoods have been upended by COVID-19, on Friday. Follow our show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @deathsexmoney. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. 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.

Dana reminds listeners about tonight's virtual live show! It's at 8pm ET on Slate's Facebook and YouTube pages. For links and more info, visit Slate.com/liveIf you can't make it, that's okay! The audio version of the live show will be dropped in your feed on Thursday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Lakers’ win over the Nuggets and the Seahawks’ win over the Patriots. They also discuss the Big Ten’s decision to play football this fall. Finally, Slate’s Jim Newell joins to assess U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.Sunday in sports (02:24): Four good teams, two great finishes. Are sports normal again? Big Ten (20:36): Is it surprising that the conference uncancelled the fall football season?DeChambeau (37:47): What you need to know about golf’s weirdo tinkerer.Afterball (57:01): Joel on Deion Sanders, a bad coaching hire. 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 deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus.“One-hit wonder” is a popular term in our culture—and not just in music: sportscasters, Wall Street analysts and news anchors all use it. But what does “one-hit wonder” actually mean on the pop charts? Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy has thought a lot about this—and he has rules to determine who’s really a one-hit wonder. They might surprise you: Dexys Midnight Runners? They’re a one-hit wonder. Men Without Hats? Nope, not fair. Lou Reed? Yes. Marky Mark? No. In this episode, Chris breaks it all down, explaining why “Take on Me” is a pop classic but A-ha are still only one-hitters in America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The journalist talks about building up her confidence in the world of media, and reaching a breaking point in her marriage that led her to reevaluate her priorities.This episode includes a description of a rape.Want to check out or add to our Pandemic Tool Kit? Visit deathsexmoney.org/pandemictoolkit.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, Dana, and Julia are joined by Slate’s Aymann Ismail to discuss the Emmy-nominated series Ramy (check out Aymann’s story for Slate on Ramy Youssef here). Next, the panel talks with Glenn Whipp, an entertainment columnist for the LA Times, about the new inclusion requirements the Oscars recently announced. Finally, the panel dives in HBO Max’s movie Unpregnant. In Slate Plus, the hosts open up about the first thing they’ll want to do in a post-pandemic world and what things, to their surprise, they will not want to return to doing. Slate 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.Endorsements:Dana: “Aquarium” from “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns (as heard in Days of Heaven)Julia: Rösle Stainless Steel Mincing Garlic PressSteve: Hilltown Hot Pies (“Feast your eyes!”)Phoebe Bridgers’ cover of “Teenage Dirtbag” by WheatusPodcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Last Sunday by OTE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the NFL’s opening weekend. They also discuss Naomi Osaka’s victory and her outspokenness at the U.S. Open. Finally, they survey happenings in college football, the NBA, and the Premier League. NFL (02:56): The protests, Tom Brady’s interceptions, and everything else that happened on and off the field.U.S. Open (20:56): How Naomi Osaka found her voice.Sports mania (40:32): What we watched and thought about on one of the biggest sports weekends ever.Afterball (01:00:21): Josh on the worst punts in football history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our listener Bill Army was acting on Broadway until March 12. Since then, he's been taking care of his two daughters—and bringing the world indoors to them—while his wife works in a Queens emergency room. Check out photos of Bill's amazing indoor scenes on our Instagram page. And make sure you follow us while you're there!And if you're not already subscribed to our newsletter, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Longtime Sesame Street actor Sonia Manzano and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor talk about leaving their childhood homes in the Bronx, facing their insecurities, and coming to understand the power of the written word. This episode is part of our 2016 Great Guest Takeover series, when several past Death, Sex & Money guests took a turn in the host chair during Anna's maternity leave. Check out Sonia Manzano's 2015 interview with Anna on Death, Sex & Money here. To listen to our 2016 "Other Americans" call-in special, click here. And to add to and browse our Pandemic Tool Kit, click here. Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Follow the show on Twitter @deathsexmoney and Facebook at facebook.com/deathsexmoney. Sign up for the Death, Sex & Money newsletter at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode, Steve is joined by guests hosts Laura Miller, a books and culture columnist for Slate, and Jamelle Bouie, a columnist for the New York Times and Slate’s former chief political correspondent. The panel takes on Lovecraft Country, HBO’s new horror series. Next, they talk about Charlie Kaufman’s enigmatic I’m Thinking of Ending Things. And finally, the panel dives into the “is NYC over?” debate.In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about a George Washington University professor’s recent confession that she falsely claimed a Black identity.Slate 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.Endorsements:Laura: The Silver Arrow by Lev GrossmanJamelle: The Way Back, a sports film starring Ben AffleckSteve: “What Ails America” by Timothy Snyder in the New York Review of Books, adapted from his new book, Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital DiaryAnd finally, please check out Jamelle’s cereal reviews for Serious Eats.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Bloody Hunter by Paisley Pink Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to talk about the NBA playoffs. Tennis player Noah Rubin also joins to discuss Novak Djokovic’s disqualification and life in the U.S. Open bubble. And finally, Dom Cosentino of theScore comes on for a conversation about the start of the NFL season.NBA playoffs (01:52): What’s gone wrong for the Bucks? Are the Clippers still title favorites? Should the Rockets build a statue of P.J. Tucker?U.S. Open (22:38): Did Djokovic deserve to get tossed out? What’s going on behind the scenes in pro tennis during the pandemic?NFL (47:56): What will the league’s social justice protests look like, and what will the Patriots and Bucs do on the field?Afterball (01:05:10): Stefan on Stefanos Tsitsipas tweeting his feelings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I have to keep coming until we've exhausted everything, and we definitely have to shut the door."Are you a new listener? Welcome! Check out our starter kit, which includes some of our favorite episodes of the show. It includes profiles of people like Bill Withers and Ellen Burstyn, stories about how race and class come up in our relationships, and some of our past series — like In New Orleans, which profiled five people who lived in the city during and after Hurricane Katrina. 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, Dana, and Julia discuss Bill & Ted Face the Music, the decades-later sequel to the 1989 and 1991 originals. (This was also Dana’s first movie review for Slate after the pandemic’s monthslong disruption! Check it out here.) Next, the panel talks about Chadwick Boseman’s legacy with Wesley Morris, a critic-at-large for the New York Times who wrote about the late actor’s powerful approach to biographical moviemaking. Finally, they dive into Dana’s comfort pick—Days of Heaven.In Slate Plus, the hosts talk about moviegoing with Sam Adams, Slate’s very own writer who ventured into a newly opened theater to review Tenet.Slate 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.Endorsements:Dana:Alex Winter’s Showbiz Kids, an HBO documentary about child stars.Julia:Plus One, starring Maya Erskine and Jack Quaid.https://www.amazon.com/Plus-One-Maya-Erskine/dp/B07RYT666RStephen:“American Fascism: It Has Happened Here,” by Sarah Churchwell in the New York Review of Books.“Ur-Fascism,” by Umberto Eco in the New York Review of Books in 1995.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro music: Spinning the Wheels by Dusty Decks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and special guest Vinson Cunningham of the New Yorker discuss the aftermath of last week’s NBA strike. They also talk about the life and legacy of Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson. Finally, the Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins to assess the latest reporting on the toxic culture of the Washington football team.NBA strike (01:40): Why did the players decide to come back? What did they gain?John Thompson (21:51): How he changed college basketball.Washington Football Team (41:38): What will it take for the NFL to have a #MeToo reckoning?Afterball (01:04:30): Joel on Cliff Robinson and the 1990-1991 Portland Trail Blazers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First, we have a few announcements about the future of Hit Parade—and it’s good news for both Slate Plus members and non-Plus listeners. While the economic challenges of COVID-19 certainly haven’t abated, Hit Parade has attracted enough new Plus members to allow us to take some episodes out from behind Slate’s paywall starting in September.Starting next month, full-length Hit Parade episodes will debut in the middle of the month, not the end (our next full-length episode drops on Friday, September 18). If you are a Plus member, you’ll hear the whole show all at once, the day it drops. If you are not a Plus member, you will receive the first half of the episode mid-month, with ads, and you’ll have to wait a couple of weeks to hear the second half of the show, at month’s end. Finally, Hit Parade—“The Bridge” episodes will remain Plus-only.IAgain, thanks to many of you who signed up for Slate Plus just to hear Hit Parade, and of course the thousands of longtime Plus members. We plan to keep giving you the bonus content you expect. And a hearty welcome back to non-Plus listeners—we hope you’ll consider joining Slate Plus in the future, but you can also support Hit Parade by spreading the word about our episodes. And to sign up for Slate Plus to support the show, head over to slate.com/hitparadeplus.In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by J.D. Ryznar, “Hollywood” Steve Huey, and Dave Lyons, creators of the web series Yacht Rock and follow-up podcast Beyond Yacht Rock. Not only did they invent the very term that inspired the latest episode of Hit Parade, they have kept the fire alive by refining what the genre means.The Yacht Rockers and Chris discuss the enduring legacy of the term they created—from why the name stuck, to how it was perceived by the various artists whose music it defined. (Boz Scaggs is reportedly not happy.) They also reveal songs they’d re-rate against their signature Yachtski scale, songs commonly tagged Yacht that are actually “Nyacht,” and how they curate the boundaries of the genre. They even offer a Hit Parade–exclusive announcement about what’s next for their smooth creation.Finally, Chris quizzes a Slate Plus listener with some music trivia, gives her a chance to turn the tables on him, and previews next month’s full-length episode.Podcast production by Asha Saluja. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin get together for a special podcast on NBA players’ decision to boycott playoff games after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. They discuss how the strike spread throughout the sports world, whether the NBA season will be cancelled, and how the pandemic might have factored into this unprecedented protest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and artist Akwaeke Emezi talks with me about their childhood in Nigeria, their brief stint in veterinary school, and how, these days, they've deemed themself "worthy of extravagance."Watch the video of this live conversation here, thanks to our friends at The Greene Space. For the first two conversations in this series, you can watch or listen to Michael Arceneaux here, and watch or listen to Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman here. And be sure to check out Akwaeke's home on Instagram. To find out about the next conversation in our series, and to get more recommendations from the Death, Sex & Money team, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis discuss Luka Doncic’s spectacular performance for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA playoffs. They are joined by David Ubben of the Athletic to talk about the return of high-school football across the country. And Josh interviews Ethan Strauss of the Athletic about declining television ratings in the NBA.Luka Doncic (01:51): The 21-year-old Slovenian is already one of the best players in the NBA.High-school football (18:35): While colleges debate what to do, high schools are plowing ahead with football.NBA ratings (32:35): Are declining TV ratings a sign of big trouble for the NBA? Afterballs (51:41) Joel Anderson on rape allegations against football player Derrius Giuce. Stefan Fatsis on former NBA benchwarmer and youth-sports advocate Bob Bigelow, who died last week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the USPS finds itself at the center of a political divide, we check in with a mail carrier who wrote to us earlier this year about being an essential worker at the height of the pandemic. Are you a new listener? Welcome! Check out our starter kit, which includes some of our favorite episodes of the show.Follow us 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, Dana, and Julia discuss a recent video of twins’ listening to Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight” that went viral. Then, the panelists talk about John M. Barry’s The Great Influenza. Finally, they take on this week’s comfort watch—Network.In Slate Plus, the hosts break down The Daily’s recent two-part series on cancel culture.Endorsements:Dana: The accurate lime cordial recipe!Julia: Rodham by Curtis SittenfeldSteve: “Dickens in Brooklyn” by Jay Neugeboren in the New York Review of BooksPodcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate 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 discuss the 100th anniversary of baseball’s Negro Leagues. They’re also joined by the New York Times’ Rory Smith to talk about the Champions League. Finally, Louisa Thomas comes on for a conversation about the book Losers: Dispatches from the Other Side of the Scoreboard.Negro Leagues (03:35): How can MLB truly grapple with its segregationist past?Champions League (22:28): The storylines, the upsets, the excellent moments for North Americans.Losers (43:28): What makes a loser? What’s the difference between losing and failing?Afterballs (01:03:15): Joel on the Phoenix Suns and Stefan on the term “student-athlete.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mullet, the love-to-hate-it hairstyle is as associated with the 1980's as Ronald Reagan, junk bonds, and break dancing. But in at least one major way, we are suffering from a collective case of false memory syndrome. In this episode we track the rise and fall of the mullet, and also the lexical quandary at its heart: who named the mullet?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.

Hey, Hit Parade listeners—we’ve got an unusual schedule for August. Today’s show is a recording of last week’s installment of Slate’s Wednesday Night Live, which was a live Hit Parade trivia edition. I was the host, and I got to quiz several Slate luminaries on Billboard chart brainteasers. We had a blast. Then, later this month, in the place where we would normally bring you a full-length story, we’ll instead be doing a super-sized edition of our regular Hit Parade—“The Bridge” show. We’ll be following up last month’s Yacht Rock episode with some very special guests. You won’t want to miss it.Like many media organizations at the moment, Slate is getting hit pretty hard by what's going on with the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to continue doing our work, providing you with all our great podcasts, news and reporting, and we simply cannot do that without your support. So we're asking you to sign up for Slate Plus, our membership program. It's just $35 for the first year, and it goes a long way to supporting us in this crucial moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A story about what Alan Simpson, an expert on the federal deficit, taught me about love—and how it changed everything.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.

In this Plus preview, Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley talk about the battle over the 2020 college football season.To help support Hang Up and Listen and listen to every episode in full, sign up now for Slate Plus. Members get to skip the ads and get bonus segments and episodes on many Slate podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While spending the pandemic with his 95-year-old father in New Orleans, the actor is thinking hard about family and parenthood. Are you a new listener? Welcome! Check out our starter kit, which includes some of our favorite episodes of the show. It includes profiles of people like Bill Withers and Ellen Burstyn, stories about how race and class come up in our relationships, and some of our past series — like In New Orleans, which profiled five people who lived in the city during and after Hurricane Katrina. 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, Dana, and Julia are joined by Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson to take on Taylor Swift’s Folklore. Then, the panelists discusses school reopenings, riffing off of Dana’s recent op-ed for the Washington Post. Finally, they break down this week’s comfort watch—the 1936 screwball comedy, My Man Godfrey.In Slate Plus, the hosts are joined by Slate staff writer Lili Loofbourow to discuss her recent pieces on cancel culture and online debate.Slate 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.Other items discussed in this show:“Taylor Swift’s New Album Reveals That Social Distancing Has Served Her Well” by Carl Wilson in Slate“Held back: As parents realize how badly the U.S. botched the next school year, we’re furious” by Dana Stevens in the Washington Post“The Cancel Culture Trap” by Lili Loofbourow in Slate“Illiberalism Isn’t to Blame for the Death of Good-Faith Debate” by Lili Loofbourow in SlateEndorsements:Dana: Dana’s original drink “This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison,” inspired by a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem. To make the cordial, boil a 2:1 ratio of lime juice to water on stove until reduced to half. Sweeten to taste. Mix with bourbon or rye whiskey. Throw in basil or mint leaf as garnish.Julia: Strand by the Spinanes, especially “Winter on Ice.”Steve: “Publish and Perish” by Agnes Callard in the Point.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Outro Music: Back to Silence by OTE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the NBA’s strong restart and Major League Baseball’s disastrous season. They’re also joined by UCLA’s Otito Ogbonnia and Elisha Guidry for a conversation about the #WeAreUnited movement. Finally, they discuss Joel’s piece about Liberty University’s attempt to become a sports powerhouse—and why Black athletes have started leaving the school.NBA and MLB (02:42): What the NBA is doing right and what baseball is doing wrong.#WeAreUnited (22:46): How Pac-12 football players came together, and what reforms they want to see in college sports.Liberty (45:34): Can Jerry Falwell Jr.’s school overcome its racist past and present to become a college sports juggernaut?Afterball (01:05:07): Stefan on the Seattle Sockeyes’ romance novel roots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is July 31st—which means that for many people, rent is due tomorrow. But we know from watching recent data that a lot of people won't be able to pay by that deadline. According to a recent survey, nearly a third of Americans were late on their housing payments in July—or missed them altogether. And other research suggests that as many as 23 million renting families are at risk of losing their housing by October. That's 20% of all renters in the U.S. So if you’re worrying about how and if you're going to be able to stay in your place, we want to hear from you. If you’re managing to make rent, but it’s tight, what tradeoffs are you making to be able to pay? And if you think you might need to leave your place because of money, where do you think you might go? Tell us what’s going on for you by the end of the weekend. Record a voice memo and send it to us by Sunday night, at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many media organizations at the moment, Slate is getting hit pretty hard by what's going on with the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to continue doing our work, providing you with all our great podcasts, news and reporting, and we simply cannot do that without your support. So we're asking you to sign up for Slate Plus, our membership program. It's just $35 for the first year, and it goes a long way to supporting us in this crucial moment.In the late ’70s and early ’80s, a scene and a sound cropped up on the West Coast: polished, perfectionist studio musicians who generated sleek, jazzy, R&B-flavored music. About a quarter-century later, this sound was given a name: Yacht Rock. The inventors of the genre name weren’t thinking about boats…well, unless the song was Christopher Cross’s “Sailing.” Yacht Rock was meant to signify deluxe, yuppified, “smooth” music suitable for playing on luxury nautical craft.Whatever you call it, this music really did command the charts at the turn of the ’80s: from Steely Dan to George Benson, Michael McDonald to Kenny Loggins, Toto to…Michael Jackson?! Believe it: even Thriller is partially a Yacht Rock album. This month, Hit Parade breaks down what Yacht Rock was and how it took over the charts four decades ago—from the perfectionism of “Peg,” to the bounce of “What a Fool Believes,” to the epic smoothness of “Africa.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Authors, podcasters and longtime friends Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow on friendship therapists, awkward spa weekends and why the word "bestie" just doesn't cut it. You can watch the video of this live conversation here, thanks to our friends at The Greene Space. And don't miss the first conversation in this series, featuring writer Michael Arceneaux. You can watch it here or listen to it here.To find out about the next conversation in our "Books We Love" series, and to get more recommendations from the Death, Sex & Money team, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Plus Preview, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the spread of COVID in Major League Baseball. What should the Miami Marlins and Major League Baseball do in response to the team’s coronavirus outbreak?To help support Hang Up and Listen and listen to every episode in full, sign up now for Slate Plus. Members get to skip the ads and get bonus segments and episodes on many Slate podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hang Up listeners, we thought you'd enjoy this episode of Slate's daily news show What Next.The NBA has announced an ambitious plan to restart the season more than four months after it was abruptly halted due to the coronavirus. Twenty-two teams have entered the COVID-free “bubble” at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida—a state with some of the highest cases of coronavirus in the country. As long as players and staff remain in the bubble, they will undergo regular coronavirus tests and face strict campus rules. So what’s life like inside the NBA bubble? And what does this experiment say about who gets access to coronavirus testing and results?Guest: Ben Golliver covers the NBA for the Washington Post. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I failed a lot, you know, I made a lot of wrong decisions. I just, I never let my failures end it." 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, Dana, and Julia are joined by Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy to take on contenders for song of the summer, an unusual competition this year that has been heavily influenced by TikTok. Then, the team dives into 20 hours of listener-nominated songs to determine the “struttiest,” giving you new music to listen to as you strut around your house this summer or when venturing out on an exciting adventure to the grocery store.In Slate Plus, the hosts zip through a lightning round of their Summer Strut recommendations.Summer Strut 2020 Short List on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0P17fljddUDgdDHJx7Sa27?si=MrLdELutSJSdcw5WyW-ekQPast “Summer Strut” Gabfests are available here: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Rachael Allen.Slate 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 Power Plays’ Lindsay Gibbs discuss the Washington NFL team’s sexist workplace culture. They also examine the WNBA’s rocky preseason. Finally, Joel, Stefan, and Josh Levin discuss anti-Semitic remarks by the Philadelphia Eagles’ DeSean Jackson.Washington and sexual harassment (02:08): Will the NFL force Daniel Snyder to sell? Is that even the point? WNBA (20:12): The league is facing off-court stories about the shabby treatment of Elena Delle Donne and a revolt against the Atlanta Dream’s co-owner, Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler.Anti-Semitism (40:58): What to make of DeSean Jackson’s comments and the response (or lack thereof) that followed.Afterballs (01:00:06): Joel on Mike Konrad and Stefan on Leeds United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Jessica Hopper, acclaimed critic for publications like Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, GQ, The Guardian, Elle and Bookforum, and author of the books The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic and Night Moves. Her deeply researched September 2019 piece for Vanity Fair, “Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair,” informed and helped inspire the latest episode of Hit Parade. Jessica and Chris discuss the reasons for the festival’s success against the odds, the legacy of its acts big and small, and what a future evolution of a Lilith Fair could look like.Next, Chris quizzes a very special Slate Plus listener with some music trivia: TJ Raphael, founding co-host and producer of “The Bridge.” TJ originally conceived of the Lilith Fair episode as she departed “The Bridge”—so Chris has invited her back to talk about her earliest memories of woman-fronted alt-rock. Then Chris finally puts TJ in the trivia hot seat. Podcast production by Asha Saluja. A special Hit Parade announcement: Like many media organizations at the moment, Slate is getting hit pretty hard by what's going on with the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to continue doing our work, providing you with all our great podcasts, news and reporting, and we simply cannot do that without your support. So we're asking you to sign up for Slate Plus, our membership program. It's just $35 for the first year, and it goes a long way to supporting us in this crucial moment. As part of this effort, as of April 2020, Hit Parade episodes are available to Slate Plus members only. To listen to future episodes in full, you'll need to become a Slate Plus member. This is the best way to support our show and our work, and we hope you will pitch in if you can. Your membership will also give access to everything on Slate.com, you'll get ad-free versions of this and other shows, and you'll get bonus segments and bonus episodes of other Slate podcasts. Plus, once you become a member, you can sign up to do trivia with Chris Molanphy on Hit Parade—“The Bridge” episodes. Please sign up today at slate.com/hitparadeplus. We thank you for your support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"My therapist told me that it was okay to be mad at him for dying, whether or not it's rational. Because nothing about this is logical or makes sense." Looking for more Death, Sex & Money conversations about grief and loss? Check out our playlist here. 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.