Slate Culture Feed

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by ESPN’s Sam Miller to discuss Boston’s fourth World Series title in 15 years. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin also joins to talk about LeBron and the Lakers, and the Ringer’s Kevin Clark explains why NFL coaches are finally getting aggressive on fourth down.World Series (3:31): How the Red Sox won a championship, how David Price got vindication, and how Dodgers manager Dave Roberts got criticized for removing Rich Hill from Game 4.Lakers (21:07): The Lakers are off to a 2-4 start. How is LeBron’s team looking, and what’s the nature of the media scrum around basketball’s biggest star? Plus, why did LeBron’s old team fire its head coach Tyronn Lue?Aggressive NFL coaches (35:37): How coaches stopped worrying and starting going for it on fourth down and going for two-point conversions with increasing abandon.Afterballs (54:57): Stefan on the historical significance of Arizona’s Warren Ballpark and Josh on kicker Morten Andersen’s single “Take It to the Top.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Ong's Hat, or The Incunabula Papers, is a conspiracy theory that arose on the early internet. Combining cutting edge science, mysticism, and obvious hokum, it intrigued thousands of people who tried to find out what it all meant. Today we uncover the secrets of Ong's Hat, the man behind it, and the new art form it inadvertently birthed. Check out our showpage at slate.com/culture/decoder-ringThis episode is brought to you by the following advertisers:Aleph Mattresses, a handmade mattress experience: TrustAleph.com② Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Hit Parade’s “Def Jams Edition,” we told you about rap’s first wave in the ’80s. But in this sequel (don’t believe the hype!) we enter the ’90s with still no No. 1 rap hits on the Hot 100—even though the music was starting to dominate both streets and stores: from conscious rappers like Public Enemy, to gangstas like N.W.A, to left-field innovators like De La Soul. It would take Billboard rebooting its charts in 1991 tallyingrecord sales more accurately than ever with SoundScan data—for rap to get a fair shake on the charts. That boosted a new wave of crossover acts, from P.M. Dawn to Arrested Development to Sir Mix-a-Lot. But rap’s elders were not entirely thrilled at these new chart-toppers…and some rappers literally bum-rushed the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the new movie First Man, the Netflix streamer Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, and Slate's New American Songbook with culture editor Forrest Wickman, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis is joined by Ben Lindbergh of the Ringer and Emma Baccellieri of Sports Illustrated to discuss the baseball playoffs; by author Michael Sokolove and Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports to talk about college basketball’s corruption trial; and by writer Liam Boylan-Pett and history professor Louis Moore to discuss Bob Beamon’s record-shattering long jump and his underreported civil-rights protest at the 1968 Olympics.Baseball (1:01): The Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers are meeting in the World Series as the two hottest, and probably the two best, teams in baseball.Basketball trial (23:55): The federal government’s case against three bit players in the business of college basketball player recruiting masks the actual problem with the sport: the NCAA.Bob Beamon (47:43): Sports fans are familiar with Bob Beamon’s record long jump at the Olympics in Mexico City 50 years ago. But his medal-stand protest was overshadowed by that of Tommie Smith and John Carlos.Afterballs (1:05:38): Stefan talks about whether boys should be allowed to play on girls’ field-hockey teams—and a gripping game in which one was.This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: Simplisafe. Start protecting your home today at Simplisafe.com/HANGUP.Bombas, the most comfortable socks in the history of feet. For 20% off your first order, go to bombas.com/hangup and use code hangup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two stories of recovery after loss. The Death, Sex & Money eye mask is here! Sign on to become a sustaining member of the show at $8 a month, and we'll send you your very own DSM gel eye mask...perfect for popping on when you're ready to listen to a podcast, and tell the world you're in do-not-disturb mode. Go to deathsexmoney.org/donate to see it.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter! Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

③ Dana Stevens, Julia Turner, and Stephen Metcalf discuss the new film Private Life, then are joined by Slate's Gabriel Roth to discuss the legacy of Doctor Who and its new season starring Jodie Whitaker, and finally a reading of Kanye West at the White House. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers:Everlane, premium clothing essentials made with the finest materials, without the traditional markups. To get a special offer exclusive to our listeners, visit everlane.com/culture.Slack, a workplace communication hub. Find out more at slack.com.I Travel For, a new podcast that explores what inspires us to travel. Listen and subscribe today at https://apple.co/2DPEWJE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Yahoo’s Jeff Passan to discuss Red Sox pitcher David Price’s October awfulness. ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle talks about why Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew are staying in Ohio, and Deadspin’s Dvora Meyers assesses gymnast Simone Biles. Baseball playoffs (3:20): Why have David Price and Clayton Kershaw been so much worse in the playoffs than in the regular season? And will the Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen-first strategy come back to haunt them? Columbus Crew (21:22): The Major League Soccer franchise was supposed to move to Austin. How did Columbus manage to keep its team? Simone Biles (38:48): The reigning Olympic gold medalist is still taking gymnastics to new heights. She’s also getting more comfortable speaking out in public. Afterballs(58:42): Stefan on the UEFA Nations League and Josh on an obituary cliché. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you know music? Hit Parade is back with a new episode of The Bridge. This month, Chris Molanphy is joined by Slate's Mike Pesca. Together, they reflect on the last full-length Hit Parade episode, which was about The BeeGees, and look ahead to next month, which is all about ‘90s hip-hop. If you’d like to be a contestant on an upcoming show, sign up for a Slate Plus membership here, and enter as a contestant here. You can also enter to play if you’re already a Slate Plus member. Want your question featured in an upcoming show? Email a voice memo to [email protected]. Podcast production by Danielle Hewitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and Stephen Metcalf discuss the film A Star is Born, the TV documentary America to Me, and bring critic Wesley Morris into the studio to discuss his New York Times Magazine piece "The Morality Wars" about the state of art criticism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin, Ben Mathis-Lilley, and Slate’s Joel Anderson discuss Drew Brees becoming the NFL’s all-time passing yardage leader, the UFC fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, and college football at the season’s halfway point.Drew Brees (1:49): What does the New Orleans Saints quarterback’s success say about the NFL? And is his persona winning or grating?UFC (18:32): Was anyone seriously outraged by the melee after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s victory? And why weren’t more people outraged by McGregor’s actions before the fight?College football (32:02): Alabama is great again. Is Notre Dame any good? And will UCF ever get a shot at a championship?Afterballs(45:28): Ben on college football and TV commercials, Joel on ESPN’s Junior Seau documentary, and Josh on Alan Page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawrence Bartley was released on parole this spring. Now, he and his wife Ronnine are building an everyday life for their family on the outside.Listen to my past interviews with Lawrence and Ronnine here and here.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter! Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Deadspin’s Laura Wagner are joined by Ben Lindbergh of the Ringer to discuss the baseball playoffs, and by Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post to discuss New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Plus, a conversation with Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal about Gritty. Baseball (1:44): Can “bullpenning” carry the Oakland Athletics past the New York Yankees in the playoffs? And why were the Baltimore Orioles historically bad? Belichick (17:02): Bill Belichick talked to Sally Jenkins about the changing state of football and his obsessive approach to the game—but not his relationship with Tom Brady. Gritty (34:54): The Philadelphia Flyers’ new mascot, Gritty, is simultaneously terrifying and beloved. How did he become an overnight media darling? Afterballs (48:02): Laura on Johnny Manziel’s “letter” to Baker Mayfield and Stefan on the etymology of “bullpen.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Hotel Art used to be one of the ultimate symbols of bad taste, it was often ugly, kitschy, and strange. Today, the art you find in a hotel is far less likely to be the result of one individual's poor taste, and much more likely to have passed through an entire industry designed to help place art into hotels. Hotel art is now almost universally pleasant, if anodyne. How did this happen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Those falsettos, those white suits, those toothy smiles: You think you know the Bee Gees. But their story goes back much further than the ’70s, and it’s full of twists. From their roots as an eclectic harmony band in Australia and their first wave of Beatlesque fame, through their domination of the disco revolution and their years as an punchline, the Bee Gees stayed alive because of the Gibb brothers’ harmonies and especially their impeccable songs. This month, Hit Parade traces the influence of the brothers Gibb on virtually every popular genre, from pop to R&B, rock to easy-listening, country to…yes, even hip-hop. Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and Gabriel Roth discuss the new season of the podcast Serial, the recent spate of post-#metoo essays by disgraced men, and the Amazon show Forever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Jim Newell to talk about Tiger Woods’ first win in five years. Plus, Lee Jenkins explains why he left Sports Illustrated to take a job with the Los Angeles Clippers’, and Jonathan Hock discusses his documentary 14 Back.Tiger Woods (1:19): It had been 1,876 days since Woods won a golf tournament. Why did it mean so much to see him back on top of the game he’s dominated for decades?Lee Jenkins (22:10): SI’s longtime lead NBA writer decided to leave that gig to become the Clippers’ executive director of research and identity. Why’d he make the move? Also, what’s an executive director of research and identity?14 Back (42:15): Jonathan Hock’s latest film is about the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and the classic one-game playoff in 1978 in which Bucky Bleeping Dent played a starring role.Afterballs(1:03:00): Stefan on Bucky Dent’s bat and Josh on an American star in Australian Rules Football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For one of our earliest episodes, I spoke with Jane Fonda about living her life in the public eye. This week, we're bringing you that conversation again. Get your tickets for our live event in New York City on October 1st with poet Nikki Giovanni: https://bit.ly/2xlV2VPSubscribe to our weekly email newsletter! Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss Vontae Davis’ mid-game retirement and Le’Veon Bell’s holdout, Outside Magazine’s Alex Hutchinson talks about Eliud Kipchoge’s new marathon world record, and Aaron Gordon assesses The Athletic as a business and editorial venture.Vontae Davis and Le’Veon Bell (1:25): Davis’ sudden exit from the league and Bell’s refusal to suit up without getting a long-term contract show the limits of player solidarity in the NFL.Eliud Kipchoge (21:27): The 33-year-old Kenyan has won 10 of the 11 marathons he’s entered. Alex Hutchinson explains what makes him so great and how he destroyed the world record.The Athletic (39:31): Will the new media outlet save sports journalism or destroy it? Aaron Gordon’s non-hot take: The answer is somewhere in between.Afterballs(59:47): Stefan on live retweets of high school football carnage and Josh on the pleasures of airplane mode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin and guest host Vann Newkirk of the Atlantic are joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to discuss Serena Williams and the 2018 U.S. Open final. They’re also joined by Slate’s Derreck Johnson to assess LeBron James’ HBO series The Shop.Serena Williams (1:02): What happened in the 2018 U.S. Open final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, and how we should think about the confrontation between Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos.The Shop (44:50): LeBron’s new show debuted with an episode featuring Snoop Dogg, Draymond Green, and Jon Stewart. Is it any good?Afterballs(1:04:05): Vann on men’s doubles and Josh on eight-peats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've been following eight listeners as they've dated this summer—this week, we do a final check-in as the warm weather winds down.Go back and listen to the entire series at deathsexmoney.org/hotdates. And we know that sometimes, being single can be more fun than it seems! Head on over to our interactive Google spreadsheet where you can share the ways you treat yourself well when you're on your own, and see how other listeners do.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter! Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Deadspin’s Laura Wagner to discuss Colin Kaepernick and Nike. Mark Leibovich also joins to talk about his new book on the NFL, Big Game. Finally, they interview the Washington Post’s Dave Sheinin about his piece on a baseball player who came agonizingly close to making the majors.Kaepernick and Nike (1:21): How cynical should we about this alliance between athlete and corporation? And how surprising is it that Nike struck a deal with the leader of the NFL’s social justice protests?Big Game (16:15): Mark Leibovich spent years chatting with NFL owners and chasing commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Here’s what he learned.Brian Mazone (38:14): What goes through a baseball player’s mind when he comes up just short of his lifelong dream?Afterballs (51:46): Stefan on his baller mom and Josh on turnover props. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you know music? Hit Parade is back with a new episode of The Bridge. This month, we honor Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who died on August 16th. If you’d like to be a contestant on an upcoming show, sign up for a Slate Plus membership here, and enter as a contestant here. You can also enter to play if you’re already a Slate Plus member. Want your question featured in an upcoming show? Email a voice memo to [email protected]. Podcast production by Danielle Hewitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Jessica Luther to discuss Ohio State’s decision not to fire its football coach Urban Meyer; Stefan talks to John Branch about competitive Rubik’s cube solving; and the hosts play two of their favorite Slate Plus segments from 2018, on the perils of co-ed sports and Chinese NBA nicknames.Ohio State (2:53): What does it say about college football that Ohio State chose to suspend, but not fire, Urban Meyer for his failure to do much of anything about domestic abuse allegations against an assistant coach?Speedcubing (21:35): John Branch talks about the subculture of speedcubing, his son’s fascination with the Rubik’s cube, and the autistic teenager who can twirl a cube faster than anyone in the world.Co-ed sports (40:10): Slate’s Christina Cauterucci joins to discuss the lessons she learned as a 9-year-old girl on a co-ed soccer team.Chinese NBA nicknames (56:10):Stefan and Mike Pesca discuss their favorites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Paper dolls were a ubiquitous part of children’s lives for decades, and then mostly disappeared. David Wolfe was a boy growing up in the 1950’s, with paper dolls as his primary means of accessing a world of glamour and beauty that he didn’t see at home in Ohio. He’d go on to a career in fashion, guided by his paper dolls, just as paper dolls were falling out of fashion themselves, replaced by Barbies and other plastic dolls. This episode is about paper dolls, and their surprising connections to fashion, nostalgia, queerness, and David’s extraordinary career. Producer Benjamin Frisch co-hosts the show to explore the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Offerman is famous for playing the most macho man on TV, but in real life, he says he has "all the colors inside."This week, we're also asking for your stories about sexually transmitted infections. Send us a voice memo or email, to [email protected] to our weekly email newsletter! Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by The Root’s Damon Young to discuss Jalen Ramsey, Jarvis Landry, and the state of NFL trash talk. They also talk about major rule changes in college basketball, and the Athletic’s Dana O’Neil joins to assess the future of UMBC basketball. NFL trash talk (1:52): Jalen Ramsey gave his honest opinion about a handful of NFL quarterbacks. Should more players adopt his approach? And is Jarvis Landry’s rant what the Cleveland Browns needed? College basketball (24:04): Are the NCAA’s moves to allow players to sign with agents and to test the waters of the NBA draft a step in the right direction? UMBC (38:08): The No. 16 seed made history by beating No. 1 Virginia in the NCAA tournamentT Where can the Retrievers go from here? Afterballs (56:25): Stefan on plaques in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Josh on Marge Schott, and Damon on Zion Williamson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1998, Madonna was at a career crossroads. After dominating the ’80s with hits like “Like a Virgin” and “Open Your Heart,” she spent the first half of the ’90s wavering between roles as a provocateur (Erotica, Sex) and adult-contemporary balladeer (“I’ll Remember,” “Take a Bow”). That’s when she took a sharp left turn, working with producers and deejays in the burgeoning electronica scene. If it even was a scene: The very term “electronica” was a music-business confection, and by 1997 it was more hype than hit. But the result of Madonna’s experiment—her acclaimed ’98 album Ray of Light—was not only one of her biggest smashes ever. It also helped turn electronic music into viable pop. Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Jim Newell to discuss Tiger Woods’ near-win at the PGA Championship, SB Nation’s Spencer Hall talks about toxic college football cultures, and ESPN’s Sam Miller assesses the effectiveness of shifts in baseball. PGA (2:15): Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship, but all eyes were on runner-up Tiger Woods. Is Tiger really back? And will Koepka finally get his time in the spotlight? College football (20:25): Has DJ Durkin coached his last game at Maryland? And why are we only hearing about the program’s abusive culture now? Defensive shifts (42:25): Shifts have been around for decades, but their use has skyrocketed in recent years. How effective are they? And do they suppress offense or boost it? Afterballs (58:19): Stefan on a recent Scrabble triumph and Josh on a teenage pole-vaulting prodigy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Chris Garcia lost his dad to Alzheimer's last year. Now, he's turning his grief into conversations with other comedians for a new project from WNYC studios—and we're bringing you an early listen.WNYC Studios wants to know what you think about this pilot—go to deathsexmoney.org/pilot to tell us!Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter! Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin is joined by Deadspin’s Laura Wagner and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham to talk about Urban Meyer’s possible ouster at Ohio State, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Terrell Owens and Ray Lewis, and the NFL’s new helmet rule.Urban Meyer (1:40): Ohio State has placed its head coach on administrative leave. Does that signal a societal shift in how institutions handle domestic violence?Pro Football Hall of Fame (23:36): Terrell Owens’ solo ceremony was a strange spectacle. So was Ray Lewis’ long speech in Canton, Ohio. What should we make of both players’ performances on stage and in their careers?Helmet rule (40:10): Will the NFL’s new ban on leading with the head change the game or will the league forget about enforcing it once the regular season begins?Afterballs (49:39): Laura stumps for the demise of five-set tennis matches, Vinson revels in watching NBA players destroy small children, and Josh describes the joys of the 2016 Classic Tetris World Championship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the airwaves of WRNT, the 50,000 watt scorching (yet fictitious) voice of Boston sports radio….it’s The Dougie and The Donk Show. On today’s episode we take a trip to a fantastical football universe. A new TV special about a notorious 2001 Patriots game asks a lot of crazy questions. Like what if quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the hero of Pats Nation, had been pulled and replaced by benchwarmer Tom Brady? And what if Bill Belichick took over for the Big Tuna? It’s a bunch of malarkey but we’ll give our guest Steve Kornacki a chance to explain before The Donk destroys him. And as always, we’ll take your calls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ceci and Miracle talk about what's happened since Miracle ran into one of her Bumble matches making out with her middle school teacher, and Ceci shares a big update.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter! Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Dallas Wings star Liz Cambage to discuss the state of the WNBA. VeloNews’ Frederick Dreier talks about the Tour de France. Finally, Keith Barnes of the Mamie Johnson Little League talks his history-making team.Liz Cambage (1:42): The All-Star center has spoken out against basketball's gender wage gap and WNBA officiating. Will the league listen?Tour de France (19:25): What do we know about Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas? Is it good for cycling that the Chris Froome era is winding down? And what should we make of Lance Armstrong’s latest apology?Little League (38:04): A squad representing the Mamie "Peanut" Johnson Little League just became the first all-black team to win the Washington D.C. city championship. The league president explains how they got there. Afterballs(51:15): Stefan on a beloved Boston journalist who wrote about the ravages of the NFL and Josh on what LeBron James Jr. can learn from Michael Jordan’s kids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.What are the real reasons people go on reality TV? This episode follows the story of Ann Hirsch and Cathy Nardone, two women cast on VH1’s “Frank the Entertainer...In a Basement Affair”, a show about an adult man looking for love—while living in his parent’s basement. How did one performance artist and one accidental performance artist make it onto the show? And how did they behave once they made it there? Their story highlights the ways that reality television distorts narratives, obscures intentions and stereotypes women, yet is still irresistible to audiences and performers alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest performers have existed since, literally, the beginning of the pop charts—the first Billboard No. 1 hit had a featured vocal by Frank Sinatra. Throughout the rock era, some very starry guests have helped out with hits by everyone from the Beatles to Carly Simon to Chaka Khan. But for a long time, those guests received no credit at all. Today, their names are all over the pop charts. On this episode, we trace the evolution of the guest performer, from Mick Jagger to Bobby Brown to Cardi B. Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the six years since Tig Notaro's famous comedy set about her cancer diagnosis and her mother's death, a lot has changed.Find the playlist of listener-generated episodes we love here. Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, if you haven't already. Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by ESPN’s Howard Bryant to discuss the militarization of sports, Slate’s Christina Cauterucci talks about Jaelene Hinkle, and Deadspin’s Dom Cosentino assesses the future of flag football.Sports and the military (1:56): From flags the size of football fields to veterans throwing out the first pitch, sports and the military have become so closely tied since 9/11 that some forget it wasn’t always this way. What do veterans think of these patriotic pre-game displays?Jaelene Hinkle (19:08): Last year, the pro soccer player turned down a spot on the women’s national team because she didn’t want to wear a rainbow jersey during LGBTQ Pride Month. What should we make of U.S. Soccer’s decision to extend her another invitation?Flag football (36:39): The American Flag Football League just concluded its first complete season. As more and more kids are choosing not to play tackle football, is the flag version the future of the sport? Afterballs(56:12): Stefan on the Icelandic club Vikingur Reykjavik F.C. and Josh on Mississippi State’s search for a “ball coach.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since we first talked, Jessie emailed to confess something about her dating life that she didn't tell me before. Plus, June's off Tinder!All summer, we're following a group of listeners as they date in real time around the country. We're calling this series Hot Dates—if you missed the introductory episode, go back and listen to it first.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, if you haven't already. Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Grabar and Josh Levin are joined by Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett to discuss the World Cup. Racquet Magazine’s Caitlin Thompson talks about Wimbledon. And Sports Illustrated’s Emma Baccellieri assesses the terrible Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals. World Cup (2:33): France won the World Cup with an average age of 25 years and 10 months. Is this the beginning of a French soccer dynasty? Wimbledon (20:12): Is Serena Williams’ remarkable comeback truly unprecedented: Also, Kevin Anderson and John Isner’s semifinal match lasted 6 hours and 36 minutes. Is it time to bring fifth-set tiebreakers to Wimbledon? Should men play three sets instead of five? Baseball (39:40): The Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals are on pace to be some of the worst teams of all time. Is that a problem the major leagues needs to try to solve? Afterballs(55:18): Henry on horse racing tracks and Josh on the bizarre shooting of Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of our two-part episode about the B-52’s and R.E.M.—the bands that put Athens, Georgia on the map, and helped define new-wave rock in the early ’80s—we trace how they transformed themselves from hipsters to hitmakers. One band waited years to graduate from an indie label to the majors. The other almost quit after an AIDS-related tragedy, before their pop breakthrough. By the end of the ’80s, their hits—from “Orange Crush” to “Stand,” “Channel Z” to “Love Shack”—brought them squarely into the mainstream, just as “alternative rock” was coming to define a new sound for the ’90s. Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we continued our conversation about being a man today with a live national special, featuring CNN's W. Kamau Bell and your calls.For more of our stories about manhood today, including a list of books, articles and podcasts that have helped our listeners think about masculinity, visit deathsexmoney.org/men.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, if you haven't already. Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, we got a voice memo in our inbox, from a husband and wife inspired to talk about masculinity together. So we asked them if we could share it with you.This conversation is part of our look at masculinity today. Find all of our coverage, including our live national call-in featuring CNN's W. Kamau Bell, at deathsexmoney.org/menSubscribe to our weekly email newsletter, if you haven't already. Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Greene and Josh Levin are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl to discuss the World Cup. The New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham also joins to discuss Stephen A. Smith. Plus, an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. World Cup (1:25): How will a young French team fare against Belgium’s front three? Will England’s reliance on a set piece–heavy offense end its tournament run? And is Croatia headed to penalties for the third straight game? Stephen A. Smith (18:20): How did the talking head go from being one of the most hated people in sports media to becoming the face of ESPN? And what’s he really like in person? Federer-Nadal (38:04): Ten years ago, the pair went head to head in the greatest match ever played. The new documentary Strokes of Genius looks back at the 2008 Wimbledon final and their 15-year rivalry. Afterballs(55:22): Nick on a Chilean soccer scandal and Josh on flipping the order of penalty kicks and extra time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first time we talked to Dan, he was wrestling with how to navigate consent in the #MeToo era. This week, he and I dig a little deeper. All summer, we're following a group of listeners as they date in real time around the country. We're calling this series Hot Dates—if you missed the introductory episode, go back and listen to it first. Tune into public radio stations around the country on July 11 for our call-in special about manhood today. Details at deathsexmoney.org. To get a reminder when we're going live, text the word "man" to 70101.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, if you haven't already. Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We revisit our episode with the Grammy-winning songwriter and singer on his 80th birthday, for a conversation about a life lived with intention and the beauty of the perfect rhyme.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, if you haven't already. Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley to discuss LeBron to the Lakers, Sports Illustrated’s Luis Miguel Echegaray talks about the World Cup, and the Political Gabfest’s Emily Bazelon assesses the controversy over Luke Heimlich. LeBron (1:16): How will the NBA’s balance of power shift now that the league’s best player is on the West Coast? What does LeBron’s departure mean for Cleveland? And will the Lakers be able to compete with the Warriors? World Cup (27:26): How disappointed should Mexico be after yet another Round of 16 departure? Also, does Russia have a chance to win it all? Luke Heimlich (44:43): The Oregon State baseball star went undrafted after it came out that he’d pled guilty to a sex crime as a juvenile. Should he get a chance to play in the major leagues? Afterballs(1:11:58): Stefan on Pele in America and Josh on a new perspective for the penalty shootout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The B-52’s and R.E.M. don’t sound all that much like each other. One group were avatars of kitsch, fusing punk, girl-group and garage rock—even Yoko Ono—into a retro-nuevo style all their own. The other group were mysterious, elliptical, often indecipherable, but they reinvented jangly guitar and classic-rock influences to make a new kind of New Wave. Together, this pair of distinctive bands helped make Athens, Georgia the epicenter of alternative cool in the ’80s and ’90s. In part one of this two-part episode of Hit Parade, we present the story of how the B-52’s and R.E.M. created a scene out of a college town—and became the most prominent queer-friendly, gender-fluid bands of their era. Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miracle decided to try a dating app, and got a blast from the past.Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, if you haven't already. Every Wednesday we send out podcast listening recommendations, fascinating letters from our inbox and updates from the show. Sign up at deathsexmoney.org/newsletter.And follow the show on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Got a story to share? Email us any time at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the World Cup with Ken Early of the Irish Times, the fate of the DH and Major League Baseball expansion with Ben Lindbergh of the Ringer, and killing the NBA draft with Jay Caspian Kang of Vice News. World Cup (2:00): Ken Early joins for a conversation about Argentina’s fall from grace, England’s impressive play, and Neymar’s meltdowns.Baseball (20:20): Ben Lindbergh explains why likely expansion and realignment in MLB will lead to the welcome death of pitchers hitting. NBA draft (38:27): Jay Caspian Kang talks about how replacing the NBA player draft with an open auction would end tanking and empower players. Afterballs (58:05): Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.