Podcast appearances and mentions of daniel hirsch

This week Steve, Dana, and Julia convene once again—this time with some big news. Also, they make a classic Gabfest episode. First up, it's the alienating fluorescent buzz, infinite carpeted sprawl, and liminal horror of Backrooms. The new release from A24 is directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons based on his YouTube series which itself was inspired by deep internet lore and a viral piece of creepypasta. Does the uncanny maze of Backrooms go anywhere? They step into the labyrinth to find out. Next, they're joined by Gabfest fave Leon Neyfakh to get into another parallel dimension: the world of OnlyFans. They discuss Leon's new podcast about the ubiquitous platform OnlyFantasy—produced with comedian and OF creator Gracie Canaan.Finally, it's a conversation that's as lively as… well, that's the question. They take up a recent piece of data journalism in The Pudding analyzing the most common similes.In a bonus episode, Carl Wilson joins the call (as well as a special endorsement segment) to talk taste. Specifically, they get into how discussions of taste have changed since Carl wrote authoritatively on it 18 years ago in his book Let's Talk About Love: Why Other People Have Bad Taste.EndorsementsDana: The recent Zadie Smith essay in The New York Review of Books "Art for Our Sakes." Carl: The live album Happy Today by Jeff Parker and ETA IVtet as well as the anthology of poetry On Occasion: Poems for the People, with a special Canadian shoutout to the poem "Oh Americans" by Gary Barwin.Julia: The tranquil, koi fish-rich, and very SoCal Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine. Also, L.A. listeners should join the folks of L.A Material, Punch List, and New York Review of Architecture on June 7 for the event LACMA Therapy Session to process all their complicated feelings about the new David Geffen Galleries.Steve: The band The Durutti Column as sampled in the Blood Orange song "The Field." Plus, Steve would love to know what listeners make of the author J.M. Coetzee, particularly his novel Disgrace.(Also, make sure to subscribe to Carl's fantastic newsletter Crritic!)--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the OG three Steve, Dana, and Julia dig into the visually stuffed, Marxist smorgasbord that is Boots Riley's latest film I Love Boosters. Starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, the candy-colored agitprop is about exploitation, the fashion world, shoplifting as class warfare, and— as they discuss—perhaps more than one movie can handle. Next they turn from Marx to Freud and analyze the critically adored reality TV phenomenon Couples Therapy, now entering its fifth season. Is the office of Dr. Orna Guralnik a site of transcendent psychological revelation or panoptic exploitation? They unpack.Finally, they talk lingvo itself by way of a recent article in Harpers by Katie Thornton about the unlikely resurgence of interest in the artificial language Esperanto. In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they answer a listener question about what long-running pieces of culture they've stuck with over years.Ĝuu!EndorsementsDana: The book The Artificial Language Movement by Andrew Large about the centuries-long history of utopic language projects.Julia: Lena Dunham's memoir Famesick and Dialed.gg, the internet's latest color perception test.Steve: The music of the indie shoegaze band Slowdive—particularly the album Souvlaki—and the solo efforts of its frontman Neil Halstead—particularly the song “Witless or Wise” and the album Palindrome Hunches; check out Steve's mega playlist for more.---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the OG three Steve, Dana, and Julia dig into the visually stuffed, Marxist smorgasbord that is Boots Riley's latest film I Love Boosters. Starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, the candy-colored agitprop is about exploitation, the fashion world, shoplifting as class warfare, and— as they discuss—perhaps more than one movie can handle. Next they turn from Marx to Freud and analyze the critically adored reality TV phenomenon Couples Therapy, now entering its fifth season. Is the office of Dr. Orna Guralnik a site of transcendent psychological revelation or panoptic exploitation? They unpack.Finally, they talk lingvo itself by way of a recent article in Harpers by Katie Thornton about the unlikely resurgence of interest in the artificial language Esperanto. In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they answer a listener question about what long-running pieces of culture they've stuck with over years.Ĝuu!EndorsementsDana: The book The Artificial Language Movement by Andrew Large about the centuries-long history of utopic language projects.Julia: Lena Dunham's memoir Famesick and Dialed.gg, the internet's latest color perception test.Steve: The music of the indie shoegaze band Slowdive—particularly the album Souvlaki—and the solo efforts of its frontman Neil Halstead—particularly the song “Witless or Wise” and the album Palindrome Hunches; check out Steve's mega playlist for more.---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we've got an all-guest-host panel with Gabfest faves Isaac Butler, Sam Adams, and June Thomas guiding the discourse… straight to hell. In this case, hell is the romantic relationships depicted in the buzzy indie horror Obsession. This rom-com/horror mashup—marking Curry Barker's impressive feature directorial debut—deals with questions of codependency and consent. But the real question: is Obsession worth the online obsession? Next, they turn their gaze to the spooky titular island of Widow's Bay and discuss the new series starring Matthew Rhys in another horror/comedy genre experiment. Finally, they debate whether most kids' books are “crud?” Or really, is the recent online furor over comments in children's book creator Mac Barnett's new book Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children merited?In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the gang gather over the topic of book clubs.EndorsementsJune: Get In: The Inside Story of Labor Under Starmer by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund, a detailed and readable analysis of Keir Starmer's unlikely rise to power.Sam: The latest film of indie, animated short auteur Don Hertzfeldt "Paper Trail." Isaac: The novel The Oppermanns, a family saga by Lion Feuchtwanger written in real time during Hitler's rise. (And, as a bonus peek into Feuchtwanger's post-war milieu, check out Salka Viertel's autobiography The Kindness of Strangers.)--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we've got an all-guest-host panel with Gabfest faves Isaac Butler, Sam Adams, and June Thomas guiding the discourse… straight to hell. In this case, hell is the romantic relationships depicted in the buzzy indie horror Obsession. This rom-com/horror mashup—marking Curry Barker's impressive feature directorial debut—deals with questions of codependency and consent. But the real question: is Obsession worth the online obsession? Next, they turn their gaze to the spooky titular island of Widow's Bay and discuss the new series starring Matthew Rhys in another horror/comedy genre experiment. Finally, they debate whether most kids' books are “crud?” Or really, is the recent online furor over comments in children's book creator Mac Barnett's new book Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children merited?In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the gang gather over the topic of book clubs.EndorsementsJune: Get In: The Inside Story of Labor Under Starmer by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund, a detailed and readable analysis of Keir Starmer's unlikely rise to power.Sam: The latest film of indie, animated short auteur Don Hertzfeldt "Paper Trail." Isaac: The novel The Oppermanns, a family saga by Lion Feuchtwanger written in real time during Hitler's rise. (And, as a bonus peek into Feuchtwanger's post-war milieu, check out Salka Viertel's autobiography The Kindness of Strangers.)--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, our panel of Dana, Steve, and Sam Adams are on the case. The case: is the movie Sheep Detectives a real movie and is it any good? The answer: it's a star-studded cozy murder mystery based on a best-selling book about ungulate sleuths… and yeah, it might just be the surprise word-of-mouth delight of the season. Next, they take up the proverbial conch shell to assess Lord of Flies, the new Netflix limited series adaptation of William Golding's classic novel from the creator of Adolescence.Finally, they're joined by longtime Slate book reviewer Laura Miller who understandably has some thoughts and feelings about the recent piece by New York Times book critic Dwight Garner “Where Have All the Book Reviews Gone?”In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, Laura sticks around to report back from her viewing of the strange mess that is the new Animal Farm adaptation.EndorsementsLaura: The new book by philosopher and polymath C. Thi Nguyen The Score: How To Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game. Steve: The music of the Brazilian recording artist Sessa and the chamber music piece Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen.Sam: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann.Dana: The audiobook Patrick Stewart Performs the Complete Sonnets of William Shakespeare. --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, our panel of Dana, Steve, and Sam Adams are on the case. The case: is the movie Sheep Detectives a real movie and is it any good? The answer: it's a star-studded cozy murder mystery based on a best-selling book about ungulate sleuths… and yeah, it might just be the surprise word-of-mouth delight of the season. Next, they take up the proverbial conch shell to assess Lord of Flies, the new Netflix limited series adaptation of William Golding's classic novel from the creator of Adolescence.Finally, they're joined by longtime Slate book reviewer Laura Miller who understandably has some thoughts and feelings about the recent piece by New York Times book critic Dwight Garner “Where Have All the Book Reviews Gone?”In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, Laura sticks around to report back from her viewing of the strange mess that is the new Animal Farm adaptation.EndorsementsLaura: The new book by philosopher and polymath C. Thi Nguyen The Score: How To Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game. Steve: The music of the Brazilian recording artist Sessa and the chamber music piece Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen.Sam: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann.Dana: The audiobook Patrick Stewart Performs the Complete Sonnets of William Shakespeare. --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens are joined by Slate's own Rebecca Onion to discuss The Devil Wears Prada 2, BEEF season 2, and the NYT's best living songwriters package with Slate's music critic Carl Wilson. Twenty years on, we return to the world of The Devil Wears Prada. In the sequel, Andy, Anne Hathaway's character, must save Runway Magazine from the forces of capital, who are selling the Vogue-analogue for parts, as Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly struggles to hang on to her own power. The movie has a lot to say about the state of journalism and media with plot lines seemingly ripped from the gossip pages, but does it all come together in the edit? We discuss. Then, the second season of A24's anthology series BEEF stars Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan as a volatile millennial couple who enter into a feud with a younger couple, played by Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton. Set at a rich Californian golf resort and its environs, the show satirizes class and generational resentments as the characters scramble to claim the scraps of their betters at the expense of everyone else. The characters are mostly unlikeable, and the premise might be a little less original than the first season, but given BEEF's stacked cast and pedigree, does the show sizzle? Finally we're joined by Carl Wilson, Slate's music critic and author of the newsletter “Crritic!” to discuss the New York Times package: The 30 Greatest Living Songwriters. Carl submitted a ballot for the list, and the polished version isn't too far from his submission. He gets into his picks and discusses what the list is saying about the field of songwriting and the idea of a songwriter as it's been expanded to include non-traditional instrumentation and digital composition. But like all lists it has sparked debate about the inclusions (Carole King, Stevie Wonder) the exclusions (Randy Newman, Liz Phair, David Byrne) and whether Taylor Swift's inclusion was solely to get an interview. Together with Carl, we try and make sense of the list and talk about our favorites. As promised, here is Carl's full ballot (The asterisks indicate people who Carl voted for but who have since died):Willie NelsonSmokey Robinson Bobby Braddock *Brian WilsonBob DylanCarole KingRandy NewmanDolly PartonStevie Wonder*Sly StoneThe Flatlanders (Butch Hancock/Jimmie Dale Gilmore/*Joe Ely)Tom Waits & Kathleen BrennanNile RodgersDavid ByrneMark EitzelChuck D & the Bomb SquadJimmy Jam & Terry LewisStephin MerrittLiz PhairJohn Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)Missy Elliott & TimbalandThe Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose)Outkast (Big Boi/Andre 3000)Josh Osborne/Brandy Clark/Shane McAnallyPhoebe BridgersEndorsements: Julia: The SNL sketch featuring Teana Taylor, Grandpa At The Wedding.Rebecca: The new Lord Of The Flies adaptation on Netflix. Dana: The article in Vogue: Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour on Power, Fashion, and Acting the Part by Chloe Malle.Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Julia Turner and Dana Stevens are joined by Slate's own Rebecca Onion to discuss The Devil Wears Prada 2, BEEF season 2, and the NYT's best living songwriters package with Slate's music critic Carl Wilson. Twenty years on, we return to the world of The Devil Wears Prada. In the sequel, Andy, Anne Hathaway's character, must save Runway Magazine from the forces of capital, who are selling the Vogue-analogue for parts, as Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly struggles to hang on to her own power. The movie has a lot to say about the state of journalism and media with plot lines seemingly ripped from the gossip pages, but does it all come together in the edit? We discuss. Then, the second season of A24's anthology series BEEF stars Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan as a volatile millennial couple who enter into a feud with a younger couple, played by Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton. Set at a rich Californian golf resort and its environs, the show satirizes class and generational resentments as the characters scramble to claim the scraps of their betters at the expense of everyone else. The characters are mostly unlikeable, and the premise might be a little less original than the first season, but given BEEF's stacked cast and pedigree, does the show sizzle? Finally we're joined by Carl Wilson, Slate's music critic and author of the newsletter “Crritic!” to discuss the New York Times package: The 30 Greatest Living Songwriters. Carl submitted a ballot for the list, and the polished version isn't too far from his submission. He gets into his picks and discusses what the list is saying about the field of songwriting and the idea of a songwriter as it's been expanded to include non-traditional instrumentation and digital composition. But like all lists it has sparked debate about the inclusions (Carole King, Stevie Wonder) the exclusions (Randy Newman, Liz Phair, David Byrne) and whether Taylor Swift's inclusion was solely to get an interview. Together with Carl, we try and make sense of the list and talk about our favorites. As promised, here is Carl's full ballot (The asterisks indicate people who Carl voted for but who have since died):Willie NelsonSmokey Robinson Bobby Braddock *Brian WilsonBob DylanCarole KingRandy NewmanDolly PartonStevie Wonder*Sly StoneThe Flatlanders (Butch Hancock/Jimmie Dale Gilmore/*Joe Ely)Tom Waits & Kathleen BrennanNile RodgersDavid ByrneMark EitzelChuck D & the Bomb SquadJimmy Jam & Terry LewisStephin MerrittLiz PhairJohn Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)Missy Elliott & TimbalandThe Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose)Outkast (Big Boi/Andre 3000)Josh Osborne/Brandy Clark/Shane McAnallyPhoebe BridgersEndorsements: Julia: The SNL sketch featuring Teana Taylor, Grandpa At The Wedding.Rebecca: The new Lord Of The Flies adaptation on Netflix. Dana: The article in Vogue: Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour on Power, Fashion, and Acting the Part by Chloe Malle.Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Dana, Steve, and Nadira Goffe assess if we as a culture can ever really escape Neverland— namely, the gigantic and fraught legacy of Michael Jackson. They unpack the biopic Michael. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, starring Jackson's own nephew Jaafar Jackson, and produced by much of the Jackson family, the film is chock full of musical numbers and light on the troubling aspects of the singer's life. Does it ever rise above King of Pop hagiography? They discuss.Next, they take up Half Man, the new limited series from Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd. It's a brutal look at a toxic male relationship. Is its unflinching eye too unflinching? Perhaps.Finally, how can one become cultured? What does that even mean!? Such are the questions raised by T Magazine's recent special issue “How to Be Cultured.” Our panel debates the package's various high brow listicles, takes their quiz, and Nadira even makes her own culture list as rebuttal! (See below.)In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, our hosts share which cultural figures they think would make for good biopic subjects.EndorsementsNadira: The new EP NAIL from Yves, particularly the title track, and Curtis Live! the live album by Curtis Mayfield, especially the song "The Makings of You."Steve: The poem "Like the Train's Beat" by Philip Larkin.Dana: The book On Michael Jackson by Margo Jefferson about Michael Jackson's complicated cultural place.Nadira's Culture List:(Editor's Note: Nadira added two things since our discussion — we're all still staying curious and expanding our cultural horizons!)“Throw Some Ds on It” — Rich Boy (Song; 2007)“Jealous Guy” — Donny Hathaway covering John Lennon live (Song; 1972)Any vlogger on YouTube, but particularly the work of Casey NeistatHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Show; 1995)Fleabag (TV Show; 2016-2019)Monster (Anime Series, currently avail. on Netflix; 2004)Stop Making Sense (Movie; 1984)The Devil Wears Prada (Movie; 2006)Step Up 2: The Streets (Movie; 2008)Tampopo (Movie; 1985)Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Movie; 2018)Original Cast Album Company (Movie; 1970)Quo Vadis, Aida? (Movie; 2004)Playing in the Dark — Toni Morrison (Book; 1992)Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — Gabrielle Zevin (Book; 2022)Any painting by Kerry James Marshall, but particularly “School of Beauty, School of Culture” and “Portrait of the artist as a shadow of his former self”Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright (Architecture; 1964)--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Dana, Steve, and Nadira Goffe assess if we as a culture can ever really escape Neverland— namely, the gigantic and fraught legacy of Michael Jackson. They unpack the biopic Michael. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, starring Jackson's own nephew Jaafar Jackson, and produced by much of the Jackson family, the film is chock full of musical numbers and light on the troubling aspects of the singer's life. Does it ever rise above King of Pop hagiography? They discuss.Next, they take up Half Man, the new limited series from Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd. It's a brutal look at a toxic male relationship. Is its unflinching eye too unflinching? Perhaps.Finally, how can one become cultured? What does that even mean!? Such are the questions raised by T Magazine's recent special issue “How to Be Cultured.” Our panel debates the package's various high brow listicles, takes their quiz, and Nadira even makes her own culture list as rebuttal! (See below.)In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, our hosts share which cultural figures they think would make for good biopic subjects.EndorsementsNadira: The new EP NAIL from Yves, particularly the title track, and Curtis Live! the live album by Curtis Mayfield, especially the song "The Makings of You."Steve: The poem "Like the Train's Beat" by Philip Larkin.Dana: The book On Michael Jackson by Margo Jefferson about Michael Jackson's complicated cultural place.Nadira's Culture List:(Editor's Note: Nadira added two things since our discussion — we're all still staying curious and expanding our cultural horizons!)“Throw Some Ds on It” — Rich Boy (Song; 2007)“Jealous Guy” — Donny Hathaway covering John Lennon live (Song; 1972)Any vlogger on YouTube, but particularly the work of Casey NeistatHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Show; 1995)Fleabag (TV Show; 2016-2019)Monster (Anime Series, currently avail. on Netflix; 2004)Stop Making Sense (Movie; 1984)The Devil Wears Prada (Movie; 2006)Step Up 2: The Streets (Movie; 2008)Tampopo (Movie; 1985)Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Movie; 2018)Original Cast Album Company (Movie; 1970)Quo Vadis, Aida? (Movie; 2004)Playing in the Dark — Toni Morrison (Book; 1992)Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — Gabrielle Zevin (Book; 2022)Any painting by Kerry James Marshall, but particularly “School of Beauty, School of Culture” and “Portrait of the artist as a shadow of his former self”Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright (Architecture; 1964)--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve, Dana, and Julia convene once more for a rousing Gabfest. First up, it's Mother Mary. David Lowery's strange psychodrama centers on a pop star, played by Anne Hathaway, reuniting with her estranged friend and costume designer, played by Michaela Coel, and the menacing piece of red chiffon that haunts them both. Next, they turn to another pair of mothers in Margo's Got Money Troubles. The new series stars Elle Fanning as a new single mom— and Michelle Pfeiffer as her mom— who turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet. Finally they welcome back Gabfest favorite Caity Weaver to dish on her epic quest to find the best free restaurant bread in America— as chronicled in her hilarious and insightful piece in The Atlantic.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, Julia shares a behind-the-scenes peek into the founding of her new local media startup L.A. Material. EndorsementsDana: The completely unscripted shows of The Improvised Shakespeare Company—on tour now.Caity: The live album Sam Cooke at the Copa, especially the song "The Best Things in Life Are Free"—the best bread certainly is.Julia: The sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins which really hits its stride after a few episodes.Steve: The novel The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley as well as Paul Buchanan, of the band The Blue Nile, covering David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes."--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve, Dana, and Julia convene once more for a rousing Gabfest. First up, it's Mother Mary. David Lowery's strange psychodrama centers on a pop star, played by Anne Hathaway, reuniting with her estranged friend and costume designer, played by Michaela Coel, and the menacing piece of red chiffon that haunts them both. Next, they turn to another pair of mothers in Margo's Got Money Troubles. The new series stars Elle Fanning as a new single mom— and Michelle Pfeiffer as her mom— who turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet. Finally they welcome back Gabfest favorite Caity Weaver to dish on her epic quest to find the best free restaurant bread in America— as chronicled in her hilarious and insightful piece in The Atlantic.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, Julia shares a behind-the-scenes peek into the founding of her new local media startup L.A. Material. EndorsementsDana: The completely unscripted shows of The Improvised Shakespeare Company—on tour now.Caity: The live album Sam Cooke at the Copa, especially the song "The Best Things in Life Are Free"—the best bread certainly is.Julia: The sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins which really hits its stride after a few episodes.Steve: The novel The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley as well as Paul Buchanan, of the band The Blue Nile, covering David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes."--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Dana, Steve, and Dan Kois get into cultural topics of various scales. First, they examine The Christophers, the latest film from Steven Soderbergh. The small scale two-hander starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel about an aging artist and an upstart forger is intentionally intimate, but is it too slight? They discuss.Next, they pick up their cultural magnifying glasses to peep at The Miniature Wife, the new marital comedy series starring Matthew Macfadyen and Elizabeth Banks about a scientist who accidentally aims his shrink ray on his wife. Is this diminutive premise too small for its multiple episode execution? They discuss. Finally, they take up the small but mighty objects apparently floating at the bottom of many an it girl's purse: cigarettes. They respond to a recent piece in the Ankler “Cigarettes Get a Sequel: Hollywood's ‘Cool' Bad Habit Is Back.”In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel gazes at the vast expanse of space and talks about Artemis II's mission to the far side of the moon. EndorsementsDan: The novel Possession by A.S. Byatt.Steve: The essay in New York Review of Books “From the Rooftops of Tehran,” an anonymous first person account of life under fire from American and Israeli bombs.Dana: The radio show Shocking Blue on New York's WFUV from the DJ Delphine Blue— if you miss it on Saturday nights 8pm-11pm when it airs, check out at WFUV's archives to listen to episodes after broadcast.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Dana, Steve, and Dan Kois get into cultural topics of various scales. First, they examine The Christophers, the latest film from Steven Soderbergh. The small scale two-hander starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel about an aging artist and an upstart forger is intentionally intimate, but is it too slight? They discuss.Next, they pick up their cultural magnifying glasses to peep at The Miniature Wife, the new marital comedy series starring Matthew Macfadyen and Elizabeth Banks about a scientist who accidentally aims his shrink ray on his wife. Is this diminutive premise too small for its multiple episode execution? They discuss. Finally, they take up the small but mighty objects apparently floating at the bottom of many an it girl's purse: cigarettes. They respond to a recent piece in the Ankler “Cigarettes Get a Sequel: Hollywood's ‘Cool' Bad Habit Is Back.”In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel gazes at the vast expanse of space and talks about Artemis II's mission to the far side of the moon. EndorsementsDan: The novel Possession by A.S. Byatt.Steve: The essay in New York Review of Books “From the Rooftops of Tehran,” an anonymous first person account of life under fire from American and Israeli bombs.Dana: The radio show Shocking Blue on New York's WFUV from the DJ Delphine Blue— if you miss it on Saturday nights 8pm-11pm when it airs, check out at WFUV's archives to listen to episodes after broadcast.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the worst thing Steve, Dana, and Julia have ever done? And would you still love them if you knew the answer to that question? That's not a subject for today's episode, but these three do get into The Drama, the dark, polarizing rom-com directed by Kristoffer Borgli starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson which is animated by such disquieting inquiries.Next, it's time for elk meat, Montana golden hour, and feckless city slickers as our hosts take on Taylor Sheridan's latest The Madison. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, our hosts agree it's an effective Western soap opera but is its Red State agitprop worth the price of admission?Finally… there's good boy. With their curly mop tops and wet eyes, doodle dog hybrids have nuzzled their way into Americans' hearts. What does that say about us? The hosts discuss these questions and more raised in a recent New Yorker piece by John Seabrook, How Doodles Became the Dog du Jour.In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they have a spoiler-rich conversation divulging all of The Drama's dirty secrets.EndorsementsDana: The latest from children's book author (and Dana's partner) Rowboat Watkins, Mousestache, Mooosestache about a riotous world overrun with mustaches. Julia: The memoir The Wanderers by immigration journalist Daniela Gerson detailing her unlikely family history.Steve: Book three of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay and the work of singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, including his cover of Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection to My Heart" and his self-titled debut album. --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the worst thing Steve, Dana, and Julia have ever done? And would you still love them if you knew the answer to that question? That's not a subject for today's episode, but these three do get into The Drama, the dark, polarizing rom-com directed by Kristoffer Borgli starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson which is animated by such disquieting inquiries.Next, it's time for elk meat, Montana golden hour, and feckless city slickers as our hosts take on Taylor Sheridan's latest The Madison. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, our hosts agree it's an effective Western soap opera but is its Red State agitprop worth the price of admission?Finally… there's good boy. With their curly mop tops and wet eyes, doodle dog hybrids have nuzzled their way into Americans' hearts. What does that say about us? The hosts discuss these questions and more raised in a recent New Yorker piece by John Seabrook, How Doodles Became the Dog du Jour.In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they have a spoiler-rich conversation divulging all of The Drama's dirty secrets.EndorsementsDana: The latest from children's book author (and Dana's partner) Rowboat Watkins, Mousestache, Mooosestache about a riotous world overrun with mustaches. Julia: The memoir The Wanderers by immigration journalist Daniela Gerson detailing her unlikely family history.Steve: Book three of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay and the work of singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, including his cover of Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection to My Heart" and his self-titled debut album. --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Dana is joined by Slate's own Nadira Goffe and Richard Lawson, of the Critical Darlings podcast. Their first agenda item is Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, the second installment of the workplace comedy/reality show hybrid which places an unknowing everyman in a made-up scenario populated entirely by actors. Does the second season deliver a heart-warming moral test in the form of comedy or a manipulative prank? They discuss.Next for more funhouse mirror television, they take up Bait, the Riz Ahmed-starring and created show about a Riz Ahmed-like actor vying for the role of James Bond. The show is stuffed with ideas and Ahmed's charm, but they debate whether its conceptual martini sufficiently shaken or stirred.Finally, it's time to go out, wear something nice, and push as they take a listen to Sexistential, the new album by Swedish dance pop queen Robyn. Though the “Dancing On My Own” singer has a new partner on the dancefloor in her young son, motherhood and midlife make for some real club classics.On a bonus episode for Plus subscribers, they take up the question, as posed in a recent New Yorker article, of whether “plagiarism is that bad?”EndorsementsRichard: The compulsively watchable time travel family drama The Way Home, a Hallmark Channel Original. (And subscribing to Critical Darlings)Nadira: The ten minute disco cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Linda Clifford and the album WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA by Slayyyter. Dana: The new book by Mason Currey Making Art and Making a Living as well as his newsletter Subtle Maneuvers.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Dana is joined by Slate's own Nadira Goffe and Richard Lawson, of the Critical Darlings podcast. Their first agenda item is Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, the second installment of the workplace comedy/reality show hybrid which places an unknowing everyman in a made-up scenario populated entirely by actors. Does the second season deliver a heart-warming moral test in the form of comedy or a manipulative prank? They discuss.Next for more funhouse mirror television, they take up Bait, the Riz Ahmed-starring and created show about a Riz Ahmed-like actor vying for the role of James Bond. The show is stuffed with ideas and Ahmed's charm, but they debate whether its conceptual martini sufficiently shaken or stirred.Finally, it's time to go out, wear something nice, and push as they take a listen to Sexistential, the new album by Swedish dance pop queen Robyn. Though the “Dancing On My Own” singer has a new partner on the dancefloor in her young son, motherhood and midlife make for some real club classics.On a bonus episode for Plus subscribers, they take up the question, as posed in a recent New Yorker article, of whether “plagiarism is that bad?”EndorsementsRichard: The compulsively watchable time travel family drama The Way Home, a Hallmark Channel Original. (And subscribing to Critical Darlings)Nadira: The ten minute disco cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Linda Clifford and the album WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA by Slayyyter. Dana: The new book by Mason Currey Making Art and Making a Living as well as his newsletter Subtle Maneuvers.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most therapists are already experimenting with AI. But very few understand the compliance risks that come with it.In this episode of the Private Practice Owners Podcast, host Adam Robin sits down with compliance expert Daniel Hirsch of Risk and Compliance Analytics to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in healthcare right now: AI. From documentation automation to billing analysis and scheduling optimization, AI tools are rapidly entering clinical practices. But while these tools can dramatically improve efficiency, they also introduce serious compliance risks if used incorrectly. Daniel breaks down what private practice owners and clinicians need to understand before integrating AI into their workflows.This conversation is not about hype — it's about using AI responsibly, ethically, and within regulatory boundaries. If you're curious how AI will impact documentation, compliance, audits, and patient care in the coming years, this episode will give you a practical framework for thinking about it.In this episode, you'll learn:Why AI is becoming one of the biggest operational shifts in healthcareThe difference between using AI as a tool vs. letting AI replace clinical judgmentThe compliance risks many therapists overlook when using AI documentation toolsWhy HIPAA, security standards, and vendor agreements still apply to AI platformsWhat a BAA (Business Associate Agreement) is — and why every AI vendor must have oneWhy Medicare doesn't care if AI wrote your note — they care if it's medically necessaryThe dangers of repetitive AI-generated documentation and why auditors flag it immediatelyHow AI can actually improve compliance by identifying patterns, billing mistakes, and underbillingWhy AI analytics can help clinic owners detect operational risk earlierWhat a scheduling automation and communication tools improve patient adherenceWhy therapists must still review and verify everything AI generatesThe leadership responsibility owners have when implementing AI tools in their clinicWhy governance, training, and internal auditing are essential when adopting new technologyAI is not replacing therapists. But therapists who understand how to use AI responsibly will outperform those who ignore it. This episode explains how to adopt AI without putting your practice, license, or compliance at risk.

This week, Dana, Julia (fresh from the launch of her new media venture L.A. Material), and guest host Dan Kois set their gaze to the heavens with a discussion of the lost-in-space adventure yarn Project Hail Mary. Based on the book by Andy Weir and directed by genre movie savants Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the sci-fi blockbuster stars Ryan Gosling and a big rock creature puppet.Next, they hop across the pond for the launch of SNL UK, the British revamp of the venerable American comedy institution. Slate UK contributor and author of Deep Down, Imogen West-Knights joins to share her two pence on the show's local reception.Finally, the panel turns to Dan Kois's epic, 8,500 word Slate essay on… bar soap. His opus—or “soapus," if you will— makes a persuasive case for why bar soap is a superior form of foam.In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus segment, the gang gets into a listener question about analog media.EndorsementsJulia: In addition to subscribing to L.A. Material, the great American junk food that is the corndog—the vibes and graphic design of Hot Dog on a Stick at the Santa Monica Pier are swell but seeking listener recommendations for the very best place to get a corndog.Dan: For some '"higher gossip " and a bit of 1800s history, the book Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages by Phyllis Rose.Dana: The work of voice actor Ray Porter in the audiobook of Project Hail Mary and the interview Porter gives on the book podcast Off the Shelf.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Dana, Julia (fresh from the launch of her new media venture L.A. Material), and guest host Dan Kois set their gaze to the heavens with a discussion of the lost-in-space adventure yarn Project Hail Mary. Based on the book by Andy Weir and directed by genre movie savants Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the sci-fi blockbuster stars Ryan Gosling and a big rock creature puppet.Next, they hop across the pond for the launch of SNL UK, the British revamp of the venerable American comedy institution. Slate UK contributor and author of Deep Down, Imogen West-Knights joins to share her two pence on the show's local reception.Finally, the panel turns to Dan Kois's epic, 8,500 word Slate essay on… bar soap. His opus—or “soapus," if you will— makes a persuasive case for why bar soap is a superior form of foam.In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus segment, the gang gets into a listener question about analog media.EndorsementsJulia: In addition to subscribing to L.A. Material, the great American junk food that is the corndog—the vibes and graphic design of Hot Dog on a Stick at the Santa Monica Pier are swell but seeking listener recommendations for the very best place to get a corndog.Dan: For some '"higher gossip " and a bit of 1800s history, the book Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages by Phyllis Rose.Dana: The work of voice actor Ray Porter in the audiobook of Project Hail Mary and the interview Porter gives on the book podcast Off the Shelf.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is no longer “the next big thing” — it's here, it's evolving fast, and in 2026, it's becoming one of the most powerful levers for revenue growth, patient engagement, and long-term practice sustainability.But with opportunity comes responsibility.In this episode of the Private Practice Owners Podcast, host Adam Robin sits down with Daniel Hirsch, CEO of Risk & Compliance Analytics and one of the most trusted voices in compliance, to break down what RTM actually looks like in 2026 — and what compliance will demand from practice owners who want to do it right and keep the money they earn.Daniel pulls back the curtain on why RTM struggled early on, how recent rule changes have made it far more flexible (and forgiving), and why the practices winning with RTM are the ones that treat it as a system — not a billing hack. Together, they reframe RTM as a tool for controlling time, improving outcomes, and increasing touchpoints with patients, not just another CPT code to chase.They dive into:Why RTM adoption stalled early — and what changed heading into 2026How new payment rules reduce risk and reward consistency over perfectionWhat compliance actually requires when billing RTM (and where practices slip up)Why documentation, timing, and patient communication still matterHow RTM fits into an active plan of care — and where owners get in troubleThe real financial upside of RTM when enrollment reaches scaleHow to think about staffing, vendors, and workflows without burning out your teamWhy Medicare's continued investment in RTM signals where the industry is headedThis is a practical, no-hype conversation for practice owners who want to grow smarter — not riskier. If you've been sitting on the sidelines with RTM, worried about complexity, compliance, or whether it's “worth it,” this episode delivers clarity, confidence, and a roadmap forward.

On this week's show, Dana and Steve are joined by long-time FOP Isaac Butler (and author of the forthcoming book The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars.) They step into this week's cultural trenches by way of an animatronic beaver den in Pixar's Hoppers. Does the kooky eco-romp revive Pixar from its much-discussed slump? They discuss.Next, they step to the frontlines of middle-age malaise in the new HBO limited series DTF St. Louis, a sex comedy and meditation on male friendship mashed up with a murder mystery starring Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini.Finally, they debrief on the various battles for golden men in a recap and analysis of the 98th Academy Awards. Are the Oscars a real measure of artistic value? What do this year's ceremony and winners say about the state of cinema? Why are they so long? Your questions answered here.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel takes up a recent excerpt from Michael Pollan's new book A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness.EndorsementsIsaac: An earlier instance of Jason Bateman playing sinister, the 2015 thriller The Gift, directed by Joel Edgerton. (Also, don't forget to pre-order The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars)Steve: The work of the recently deceased philosopher Jürgen Habermas. As a starting off point, read the Wikipedia page of his early work The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. Dana: For more beaver-related slapstick, the exceedingly low-budget 2022 debut—produced for just $150,000— of director Mike Cheslik Hundreds of Beavers. ---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Dana and Steve are joined by long-time FOP Isaac Butler (and author of the forthcoming book The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars.) They step into this week's cultural trenches by way of an animatronic beaver den in Pixar's Hoppers. Does the kooky eco-romp revive Pixar from its much-discussed slump? They discuss.Next, they step to the frontlines of middle-age malaise in the new HBO limited series DTF St. Louis, a sex comedy and meditation on male friendship mashed up with a murder mystery starring Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini.Finally, they debrief on the various battles for golden men in a recap and analysis of the 98th Academy Awards. Are the Oscars a real measure of artistic value? What do this year's ceremony and winners say about the state of cinema? Why are they so long? Your questions answered here.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel takes up a recent excerpt from Michael Pollan's new book A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness.EndorsementsIsaac: An earlier instance of Jason Bateman playing sinister, the 2015 thriller The Gift, directed by Joel Edgerton. (Also, don't forget to pre-order The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars)Steve: The work of the recently deceased philosopher Jürgen Habermas. As a starting off point, read the Wikipedia page of his early work The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. Dana: For more beaver-related slapstick, the exceedingly low-budget 2022 debut—produced for just $150,000— of director Mike Cheslik Hundreds of Beavers. ---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CPT coding isn't what therapists went to school for. But it is one of the most common — and costly — areas of compliance risk in private practice.In this episode of the Compliance Series, Adam Robin sits down with compliance expert Daniel Hirsch from Risk & Compliance Analytics to break down how CPT codes should actually be used — and why most audit problems aren't caused by fraud… but by bad habits, unclear documentation, and misunderstood workflows.This is a fast-paced, practical conversation about how to stay audit-ready without drowning your therapists in unnecessary documentation.They unpack:Why CPT coding is one of the highest-risk audit triggersThe three questions auditors always askWhy “medically necessary” and “skilled” must be clearly documentedhy total treatment time doesn't automatically equal billable timeThe biggest mistakes with time-based CPT codesHow lumping treatment together creates audit exposureWhy cloning notes and identical documentation raise red flagsThe power of one strong assessment sentenceWhy therapists often underbill — not overbillHow AI tools may improve justification clarityWhy chasing higher-paying codes can backfireThe single most important rule when billing time-based codesDaniel also explains why auditors aren't trying to “catch” you — they're simply looking for consistency, progression, and clinical reasoning that supports skilled care.If you want to protect your clinic, defend your billing, and build documentation that survives scrutiny — without overwhelming your team — this episode is essential listening.

On this week's monster mash, Steve, Dana, and Julia gather around the proverbial reanimation laboratory to take on the nutty, goth, and unbridled The Bride! Maggie Gyllenhaal's feminist—or not, it's up for debate—retelling of Frankenstein features a truly committed performance from Jessie Buckley. Do the disjointed pieces add to a coherent whole? They discuss.Next, they take a look at Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, the Morgan Neville documentary about the moment when the legendary songwriter and rockstar stopped being a Beatle and had to become something else.Finally, they wade through the morass of titles like How to Tame a Silver Fox and Ms. CEO's Baby Daddy Is the Merchant of Death to explore the exceedingly cheap and increasingly popular world of vertical micro-dramas via the app ReelShort. In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they tackle the question of when, in fact, one becomes an adult—inspired by a recent piece in The New Yorker by Shayla Love. And if you're watching the Oscars this week, don't miss a chance for a special live pre-show with your fave Gabfest critics. Dana joins Isaac Butler, Nadira Goffe, and Sam Adams on Thursday, March 12, for an Oscars preview unlike any other. They'll weigh in on the sinners and saints of this year's award season.EndorsementsDana: The compilation of Kris Kristofferson songs The Essential Kris Kristofferson, especially the first disc.Julia: The novels of Helen Garner, particularly The Spare Room.Steve: Jean Guéhenno's account of life in Occupied France Diary of the Dark Years, 1940-1944.---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's monster mash, Steve, Dana, and Julia gather around the proverbial reanimation laboratory to take on the nutty, goth, and unbridled The Bride! Maggie Gyllenhaal's feminist—or not, it's up for debate—retelling of Frankenstein features a truly committed performance from Jessie Buckley. Do the disjointed pieces add to a coherent whole? They discuss.Next, they take a look at Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, the Morgan Neville documentary about the moment when the legendary songwriter and rockstar stopped being a Beatle and had to become something else.Finally, they wade through the morass of titles like How to Tame a Silver Fox and Ms. CEO's Baby Daddy Is the Merchant of Death to explore the exceedingly cheap and increasingly popular world of vertical micro-dramas via the app ReelShort. In a bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they tackle the question of when, in fact, one becomes an adult—inspired by a recent piece in The New Yorker by Shayla Love. And if you're watching the Oscars this week, don't miss a chance for a special live pre-show with your fave Gabfest critics. Dana joins Isaac Butler, Nadira Goffe, and Sam Adams on Thursday, March 12, for an Oscars preview unlike any other. They'll weigh in on the sinners and saints of this year's award season.EndorsementsDana: The compilation of Kris Kristofferson songs The Essential Kris Kristofferson, especially the first disc.Julia: The Helen Garner novel The Spare Room. Also her new LA-based news outlet, L.A. Material, launching next week.Steve: Jean Guéhenno's account of life in Occupied France Diary of the Dark Years, 1940-1944.---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Steve is joined by June Thomas, author of A Place of Our Own, and Michael Schulman, author of Her Again and Oscar Wars, for some rollicking Gabfest discourse. First up, they get all shook up by EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, the concert documentary directed by Baz Luhrmann from archival Elvis performance footage. Does the master of cinematic spectacle bring the King back to life?Next, they turn to The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, the new sitcom from 30 Rock co-creator Robert Carlock starring Tracy Morgan. Finally, they examine the uncanny and profound phenomena of posthumously-published celebrity interviews—including Eric Dane and Jane Goodall—of Netflix's Famous Last Words specials. Existential bravery or exploitative trash? They discuss.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel weighs in on the best casting Oscar race.EndorsementsMichael: The audiobook of the memoir I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally as narrated by the incomparable Richard E. Grant.June: Two niche podcasts featuring conversations with authors of biography including Bio, the official podcast of the Biographers International Organization, and Biographers in Conversation. Also, jumping on the Richard E. Grant train, the BBC parody cooking series Posh Nosh starring Grant and Arabella Weir.Steve: The recent essay “The Stony Dark Within” by Joy Williams about Rainer Maria Rilke in the New York Review of Books.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Steve is joined by June Thomas, author of A Place of Our Own, and Michael Schulman, author of Her Again and Oscar Wars, for some rollicking Gabfest discourse. First up, they get all shook up by EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, the concert documentary directed by Baz Luhrmann from archival Elvis performance footage. Does the master of cinematic spectacle bring the King back to life?Next, they turn to The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, the new sitcom from 30 Rock co-creator Robert Carlock starring Tracy Morgan. Finally, they examine the uncanny and profound phenomena of posthumously-published celebrity interviews—including Eric Dane and Jane Goodall—of Netflix's Famous Last Words specials. Existential bravery or exploitative trash? They discuss.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel weighs in on the best casting Oscar race.EndorsementsMichael: The audiobook of the memoir I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally as narrated by the incomparable Richard E. Grant.June: Two niche podcasts featuring conversations with authors of biography including Bio, the official podcast of the Biographers International Organization, and Biographers in Conversation. Also, jumping on the Richard E. Grant train, the BBC parody cooking series Posh Nosh starring Grant and Arabella Weir.Steve: The recent essay “The Stony Dark Within” by Joy Williams about Rainer Maria Rilke in the New York Review of Books.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The original trio Steve, Dana, and Julia convene for a right cracker of a Gabfest as they discuss How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, the new comedic mystery from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee. In the Netflix series, three longtime Belfast friends must revisit their childhood trauma to unravel the mystery of a fourth friend's disappearance— raucous Northern Irish hijinks ensue.Next, they step into the unhinged dystopian Los Angeles of Gore Verbinski's new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. In it a beleaguered time traveler played by Sam Rockwell must visit the same Norm's diner 117 times to save the world from the menace of A.I..Finally, they welcome Slate senior writer Christina Cauterucci to unpack her recent piece “My Gun and Me” about her unlikely journey towards gun ownership during Trump 2.0—and how she's not alone in doing so in her left-leaning, queer community.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they determine if there are indeed no comfortable reading positions, as a recent Slate essay by Luke Winkie attests. EndorsementsDana: The latest Today in Tabs entry from Rusty Foster "A.I. Isn't People."Julia: In lieu of an endorsement, a gripe: the much-hyped New York Times two-player word game Crossplay is just Scrabble! (If only there were a German word for this specific form of disappointment...)Steve: Rereading J.D. Salinger with some distance from one's own adolescence— particularly Franny and Zooey and the short story "For Esmé—with Love and Squalor." And for a good critical reassessment, read Janet Malcolm's New York Review of Books essay "Justice to J.D. Salinger." --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The original trio Steve, Dana, and Julia convene for a right cracker of a Gabfest as they discuss How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, the new comedic mystery from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee. In the Netflix series, three longtime Belfast friends must revisit their childhood trauma to unravel the mystery of a fourth friend's disappearance— raucous Northern Irish hijinks ensue.Next, they step into the unhinged dystopian Los Angeles of Gore Verbinski's new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. In it a beleaguered time traveler played by Sam Rockwell must visit the same Norm's diner 117 times to save the world from the menace of A.I..Finally, they welcome Slate senior writer Christina Cauterucci to unpack her recent piece “My Gun and Me” about her unlikely journey towards gun ownership during Trump 2.0—and how she's not alone in doing so in her left-leaning, queer community.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, they determine if there are indeed no comfortable reading positions, as a recent Slate essay by Luke Winkie attests. EndorsementsDana: The latest Today in Tabs entry from Rusty Foster "A.I. Isn't People."Julia: In lieu of an endorsement, a gripe: the much-hyped New York Times two-player word game Crossplay is just Scrabble! (If only there were a German word for this specific form of disappointment...)Steve: Rereading J.D. Salinger with some distance from one's own adolescence— particularly Franny and Zooey and the short story "For Esmé—with Love and Squalor." And for a good critical reassessment, read Janet Malcolm's New York Review of Books essay "Justice to J.D. Salinger." --Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building new cash-pay services can be one of the fastest ways to grow a private practice — or one of the fastest ways to create legal, compliance, and licensing risk if it's done wrong.In this episode of the Private Practice Owners Podcast, host Adam Robin sits down with Daniel Hirsch, CEO and Founder of Risk & Compliance Analytics, for an action-packed installment of the Compliance Marathon — a series designed to help owners stop fearing compliance and start using it strategically.Daniel breaks down what most practice owners misunderstand about cash-pay services — including the dangerous assumption that “cash means no rules.” From Medicare landmines to pricing consistency, documentation requirements, and licensing exposure, this conversation gives owners a clear framework for expanding cash services without putting their practice, revenue, or license at risk. Together, they unpack:Why cash-pay services are not “rule-free” — and where risk actually increasesThe biggest Medicare mistake owners make when offering cash servicesHow inconsistent pricing, discounts, and “buddy deals” create legal exposureWhy documentation requirements still apply — even when insurance isn't involvedHow to clearly separate cash services from covered therapy to avoid compliance overlapWhat must be transparent: pricing, good-faith estimates, refunds, and consentWhy protecting your license should always come before chasing new revenueCommon gray areas where practices get burned — including “free” screeningsThe simple steps every owner should take before launching wellness, performance, or specialty cash programsHow to build cash services that are compliant, defensible, and scalable This is not a lecture on rules — it's a practical roadmap for owners who want to grow aggressively and responsibly. If you're thinking about adding wellness programs, memberships, dry needling, laser therapy, women's health services, or any cash-pay offering, this episode will save you time, money, and future headaches.

This week, Dana is joined by Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times film critic and host of the podcast Unspooled, as well as Jamelle Bouie, New York Times columnist and host of the podcast Unclear and Present Danger. They discuss love affairs, lustful, glamorous, and interspecies.First up, it's the lustful as they take up Emerald Fennell's bodice-ripping adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.” Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the doomed duo Cathy and Heathcliff, the adaptation promises an over-the-top, camp spin on the Gothic tale but does it offer enough depravity to really deliver?Next, it's on to the glamorous with the Ryan Murphy-produced, CK One-scented limited series Love Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette about the tragic love story of the political scion and New York fashion It Girl.Finally, they discuss all the interspecies hijinks and backstage chaos in the delightful revival of The Muppet Show.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the trio of cinephiles celebrate recent reporting that movie theaters are cool again.EndorsementsJamelle: William Wyler's 1939 version of Wuthering Heights starring Laurence Olivier— and while you're visiting the Criterion Channel, check out their collection Mervyn LeRoy's Pre-Code Films.Amy: Gore Verbinski's new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, in theaters now.Dana: The patient, observant documentaries of the recently deceased filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, several of which are available to stream on Kanopy. ----Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Dana is joined by Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times film critic and host of the podcast Unspooled, as well as Jamelle Bouie, New York Times columnist and host of the podcast Unclear and Present Danger. They discuss love affairs, lustful, glamorous, and interspecies.First up, it's the lustful as they take up Emerald Fennell's bodice-ripping adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.” Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the doomed duo Cathy and Heathcliff, the adaptation promises an over-the-top, camp spin on the Gothic tale but does it offer enough depravity to really deliver?Next, it's on to the glamorous with the Ryan Murphy-produced, CK One-scented limited series Love Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette about the tragic love story of the political scion and New York fashion It Girl.Finally, they discuss all the interspecies hijinks and backstage chaos in the delightful revival of The Muppet Show.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the trio of cinephiles celebrate recent reporting that movie theaters are cool again.EndorsementsJamelle: William Wyler's 1939 version of Wuthering Heights starring Laurence Olivier— and while you're visiting the Criterion Channel, check out their collection Mervyn LeRoy's Pre-Code Films.Amy: Gore Verbinski's new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, in theaters now.Dana: The patient, observant documentaries of the recently deceased filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, several of which are available to stream on Kanopy. ----Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sugarcane fields! La casita! Piraguas! Lady Gaga! Ricky Martin! An actual wedding! Bad Bunny's immense and boisterous Super Bowl Halftime show brought a whole Puerto Rican universe to Levi's Stadium and into American viewers' homes. Julia and guest hosts Nadira Goffe and Rebecca Onion revel in the joyful spectacle and are joined by Slate writer Joshua Rivera to decode the inclusive politics of this party. Next, the panel examines the bracing, anxiety-inducing film If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. Starring a ferocious and funny Rose Byrne and directed by Mary Bronstein, it's a jittery, intense portrait of motherhood.Finally, they discuss the hugely popular podcast The Rest Is History and ponder how two British dudes—Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook—talking about things like the Battle of Carthage captured so much attention and admiration.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, it's time for some Wednesday morning quarterbacking to size up the big game's real players: the commercials.EndorsementsNadira: The new album of footwork music OVERTIME by the underground hip hop outfit usertime and Marsh crane as well as the new album URGH by the English–French noise rock band Mandy, Indiana.Rebecca: The novel The Director by Daniel Kehlmann and the 2011 appropriately moody Bronte adaptation Wuthering Heights directed by Andrea Arnold.Julia: The new cookbook by Joshua McFadden Six Seasons of Pasta — try all the absurd little steps at least once, the cheese gravel is good!---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sugarcane fields! La casita! Piraguas! Lady Gaga! Ricky Martin! An actual wedding! Bad Bunny's immense and boisterous Super Bowl Halftime show brought a whole Puerto Rican universe to Levi's Stadium and into American viewers' homes. Julia and guest hosts Nadira Goffe and Rebecca Onion revel in the joyful spectacle and are joined by Slate writer Joshua Rivera to decode the inclusive politics of this party. Next, the panel examines the bracing, anxiety-inducing film If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. Starring a ferocious and funny Rose Byrne and directed by Mary Bronstein, it's a jittery, intense portrait of motherhood.Finally, they discuss the hugely popular podcast The Rest Is History and ponder how two British dudes—Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook—talking about things like the Battle of Carthage captured so much attention and admiration.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, it's time for some Wednesday morning quarterbacking to size up the big game's real players: the commercials.EndorsementsNadira: The new album of footwork music OVERTIME by the underground hip hop outfit usertime and Marsh crane as well as the new album URGH by the English–French noise rock band Mandy, Indiana.Rebecca: The novel The Director by Daniel Kehlmann and the 2011 appropriately moody Bronte adaptation Wuthering Heights directed by Andrea Arnold.Julia: The new cookbook by Joshua McFadden Six Seasons of Pasta — try all the absurd little steps at least once, the cheese gravel is good!---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most practice owners think valuation starts with revenue and EBITDA. But when buyers step in, they look somewhere else first — risk. And more often than not, compliance is the silent deal-killer owners never see coming.In this episode of the Private Practice Owners Club, host Adam Robin sits down with Daniel Hirsch, compliance and risk analytics expert, to unpack what buyers actually evaluate before they write a check — and why strong compliance can increase leverage, speed up deals, and protect your exit value.Daniel breaks down why compliance isn't about being “perfect,” avoiding audits, or living in fear — it's about control, predictability, and trust. When compliance is weak or unclear, buyers don't just lower the price — they change the entire deal structure… or walk away altogether.Together, they dig into:Why buyers assess risk before growth — and how compliance sets the baselineHow compliance issues can stop a deal before financials even matterWhy two practices with identical EBITDA can receive very different valuationsHow weak compliance triggers deeper diligence, longer timelines, and higher deal costsThe real impact of compliance on deal terms: cash vs. escrow, earnouts, reps & warrantiesWhat buyers look for beyond policies — and how they test real-world executionCommon red flags: documentation gaps, supervision issues, credentialing, and unlicensed staffWhy “unknown risk” scares buyers more than managed riskWhen to start preparing (hint: don't wait until you're ready to sell)How simple, practical compliance systems can be integrated into daily operationsWhy compliance should add value, not just create overheadIf you're a practice owner thinking about selling in the next five years — or even just building a business that's truly durable — this conversation will change how you think about compliance, valuation, and leverage.

Shuffling under the mortal coil this week (aka hosting the Gabfest), it's our OG players Steve, Dana, and Julia. Like a morose Danish prince contemplating a human skull, they gaze upon the Oscar nominated Hamnet, based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell inspired by William Shakespeare's life. Directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, Hamnet has brought some critics to tears and left others cold. Our hosts share where they landed.Next, they boot up the Netflix content machine to view The Rip, a new cop caper reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Do the boys from Boston (illogically playing Miami cops) make good again? Finally, they welcome New Yorker writer Clare Malone to discuss her recent profile of the deeply polarizing, newly-appointed head of CBS News Bari Weiss. In a special add-on, Isaac Butler leaves a voice memo to share his vituperative take on Hamnet—as outlined in a recent Slate piece. The Hamnet discourse continues in a bonus episode exclusively for Slate Plus subscribers wherein the gang unpacks the film's ending. Is the play indeed the thing?EndorsementsDana: The book Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell especially the audiobook version read by Jessie Buckley.Julia: The hilarious video of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck with Jimmy Fallon naming all the towns in Massachusetts on The Tonight Show, the sober, intelligent New York Times opinion round table between Lydia Polgreen, David French, and Michelle Goldberg about ICE raids in Minneapolis and the killing of Alex Pretti, and the still deeply timely film I'm Still Here.Steve: The film Sentimental Value and the double album Sing the Children Over & Sand In My Shoe by the singer/songwriter Kath Bloom as well as the Kath Bloom cover “Come Here” by the band The Concretes.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shuffling under the mortal coil this week (aka hosting the Gabfest), it's our OG players Steve, Dana, and Julia. Like a morose Danish prince contemplating a human skull, they gaze upon the Oscar nominated Hamnet, based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell inspired by William Shakespeare's life. Directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, Hamnet has brought some critics to tears and left others cold. Our hosts share where they landed.Next, they boot up the Netflix content machine to view The Rip, a new cop caper reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Do the boys from Boston (illogically playing Miami cops) make good again? Finally, they welcome New Yorker writer Clare Malone to discuss her recent profile of the deeply polarizing, newly-appointed head of CBS News Bari Weiss. In a special add-on, Isaac Butler leaves a voice memo to share his vituperative take on Hamnet—as outlined in a recent Slate piece. The Hamnet discourse continues in a bonus episode exclusively for Slate Plus subscribers wherein the gang unpacks the film's ending. Is the play indeed the thing?EndorsementsDana: The book Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell especially the audiobook version read by Jessie Buckley.Julia: The hilarious video of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck with Jimmy Fallon naming all the towns in Massachusetts on The Tonight Show, the sober, intelligent New York Times opinion round table between Lydia Polgreen, David French, and Michelle Goldberg about ICE raids in Minneapolis and the killing of Alex Pretti, and the still deeply timely film I'm Still Here.Steve: The film Sentimental Value and the double album Sing the Children Over & Sand In My Shoe by the singer/songwriter Kath Bloom as well as the Kath Bloom cover “Come Here” by the band The Concretes.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, our Gabfest panel includes Steve and guest hosts Nadira Goffe and Laura Miller with a typically eclectic collection of topics. First up, Dana hops on the call to decode the unspoken truths and dream imagery of Kleber Mendonça Filho's film The Secret Agent. Set in 1970s Recife, Brazil and starring a very charming Wagner Moura, the film is a heterodox brew of political thriller, magical realism, and attentive character study about the everyday surreality of life under dictatorship.Next, it's back to Westeros with a discussion of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones prequel set 100 years before the original show based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy epic. Grounded and surprisingly funny, don't expect dragons in this knight's tale.Finally, they turn to “Gluttons for Punishment,” a recent Vulture article by Lila Shapiro about UPenn religious studies professor Justin McDaniel using some extreme, unorthodox measures to get his students to finish books.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel talks to Laura about the secret pleasures of wood stacking as discussed in her recent piece “The Art of the Holzhausen.”EndorsementsNadira: Some melancholy shoegaze pop from Scandinavia, specifically the albums Goodbyehouse by Snuggle and Big City Life by Smerz.Laura: The novels of Robert Jackson Bennett in his Shadow of the Leviathan series including Hugo-winning The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption.Steve: The Substack essay “The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls Down” by Adam Bonica about the cost of American exceptionalism.And a bonus one from Dana: Pictures of Ghosts, the documentary by The Secret Agent director Kleber Mendonça Filho about Recife, Brazil in the 1970s.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, our Gabfest panel includes Steve and guest hosts Nadira Goffe and Laura Miller with a typically eclectic collection of topics. First up, Dana hops on the call to decode the unspoken truths and dream imagery of Kleber Mendonça Filho's film The Secret Agent. Set in 1970s Recife, Brazil and starring a very charming Wagner Moura, the film is a heterodox brew of political thriller, magical realism, and attentive character study about the everyday surreality of life under dictatorship.Next, it's back to Westeros with a discussion of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones prequel set 100 years before the original show based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy epic. Grounded and surprisingly funny, don't expect dragons in this knight's tale.Finally, they turn to “Gluttons for Punishment,” a recent Vulture article by Lila Shapiro about UPenn religious studies professor Justin McDaniel using some extreme, unorthodox measures to get his students to finish books.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel talks to Laura about the secret pleasures of wood stacking as discussed in her recent piece “The Art of the Holzhausen.”EndorsementsNadira: Some melancholy shoegaze pop from Scandinavia, specifically the albums Goodbyehouse by Snuggle and Big City Life by Smerz.Laura: The novels of Robert Jackson Bennett in his Shadow of the Leviathan series including Hugo-winning The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption.Steve: The Substack essay “The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls Down” by Adam Bonica about the cost of American exceptionalism.And a bonus one from Dana: Pictures of Ghosts, the documentary by The Secret Agent director Kleber Mendonça Filho about Recife, Brazil in the 1970s.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcasting is a privilege as Steve is joined by Dan Kois and Rebecca Onion to unpack and cackle at the domestic thriller schlockfest The Housemaid. Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried star in the Paul Fieg-directed tale of two women facing off to rule the McMansion roost.Next, Seyfried proves she's got the range as the panel joins the chorus appraising her performance in The Testament of Ann Lee, the epic tone poem and musical biopic about the founder of the Shakers directed by Mona Fastvold. Finally, Julia hops on the call to join a conversation with Alia Hanna Habib, the influential book agent who is divulging hard-won publishing world insights in a new book Take It from Me and in the Substack Delivery & Acceptance.In a Slate Plus bonus episode, the panel addresses a listener questioner from a U.S. history teacher about syllabus-worthy pop culture.EndorsementsDan: The Ruth Asawa retrospective at MoMA which illuminates the work and life of the prolific artist.Rebecca: A bunch of books including Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards, The Ax by Donald E. Westlake, and True Grit by Charles Portis.Steve: The essay "East Side Story" about Marty Supreme by Nawal Arjini in the New York Review of Books.---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcasting is a privilege as Steve is joined by Dan Kois and Rebecca Onion to unpack and cackle at the domestic thriller schlockfest The Housemaid. Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried star in the Paul Fieg-directed tale of two women facing off to rule the McMansion roost.Next, Seyfried proves she's got the range as the panel joins the chorus appraising her performance in The Testament of Ann Lee, the epic tone poem and musical biopic about the founder of the Shakers directed by Mona Fastvold. Finally, Julia hops on the call to join a conversation with Alia Hanna Habib, the influential book agent who is divulging hard-won publishing world insights in a new book Take It from Me and in the Substack Delivery & Acceptance.In a Slate Plus bonus episode, the panel addresses a listener questioner from a U.S. history teacher about syllabus-worthy pop culture.EndorsementsDan: The Ruth Asawa retrospective at MoMA which illuminates the work and life of the prolific artist.Rebecca: A bunch of books including Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards, The Ax by Donald E. Westlake, and True Grit by Charles Portis.Steve: The essay "East Side Story" about Marty Supreme by Nawal Arjini in the New York Review of Books.---Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Julia and Steve welcome guest host Sam Adams to deconstruct the aggravating, yet strangely charming, table tennis phenom on the make that is Marty Supreme. Played with “BDE off-the-charts” (Steve's words) by Timothée Chalamet, the unceasingly shameless hustler may just be an avatar for our age. Speaking of avatars, we can't avoid discussing Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest installment of James Cameron's immersive mega-franchise. Once again, the big blue folks peopling Pandora drew boku bucks at the box office… but do the Avatar films have any “cultural impact”? And what does “cultural impact” even mean? New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman steps into the cultural cage match to debate this long-simmering internet argument. On this week's bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the hosts take up a listener question about “cultural bran muffins,” the bits of culture you know would be good for you if only you could get them down. The hosts confess their bran secrets. Endorsements Steve: The essay "Two Pins and a Lollipop" about Judy Garland by Bee Wilson in the London Review of Books. Sam: The album Penthouse by the band Luna, particularly the song  "Chinatown." Julia: Slate's beloved annual tradition Movie Club which for its 2025 edition gathers film critics Bilge Ebiri, Alison Wilmore, Justin Chang, and our very own Dana Stevens for a rollicking exchange about the year in film. --- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Julia and Steve welcome guest host Sam Adams to deconstruct the aggravating, yet strangely charming, table tennis phenom on the make that is Marty Supreme. Played with “BDE off-the-charts” (Steve's words) by Timothée Chalamet, the unceasingly shameless hustler may just be an avatar for our age. Speaking of avatars, we can't avoid discussing Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest installment of James Cameron's immersive mega-franchise. Once again, the big blue folks peopling Pandora drew boku bucks at the box office… but do the Avatar films have any “cultural impact”? And what does “cultural impact” even mean? New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman steps into the cultural cage match to debate this long-simmering internet argument. On this week's bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the hosts take up a listener question about “cultural bran muffins,” the bits of culture you know would be good for you if only you could get them down. The hosts confess their bran secrets. Endorsements Steve: The essay "Two Pins and a Lollipop" about Judy Garland by Bee Wilson in the London Review of Books. Sam: The album Penthouse by the band Luna, particularly the song  "Chinatown." Julia: Slate's beloved annual tradition Movie Club which for its 2025 edition gathers film critics Bilge Ebiri, Alison Wilmore, Justin Chang, and our very own Dana Stevens for a rollicking exchange about the year in film. --- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the waning moments of 2025, Julia, Dana, and Steve say goodbye to the year that was with a beloved annual end-of-year tradition… our listener call-in show! And you delivered some great queries, dear listeners.  The hosts tackle questions about everything ranging from under-dramatized historical eras to Wuthering Heights to wedding registry etiquette. They also zoom out to grapple with a fundamental philosophical question underlying this whole show's existence and take a cue from Las Culturistas Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers for some Schimpfen und Toben. No endorsements this week. But for listeners in the New York area, don't miss Steve when he joins Booker Prize-finalist Ben Markovitz for a conversation about his new novel The Rest of Our Lives on January 5, 2026 at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble. For Slate Plus subscribers, the hosts delight in answering an additional listener question in an exclusive bonus episode. They share their ideal cultural outings with their co-hosts. --- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the waning moments of 2025, Julia, Dana, and Steve say goodbye to the year that was with a beloved annual end-of-year tradition… our listener call-in show! And you delivered some great queries, dear listeners.  The hosts tackle questions about everything ranging from under-dramatized historical eras to Wuthering Heights to wedding registry etiquette. They also zoom out to grapple with a fundamental philosophical question underlying this whole show's existence and take a cue from Las Culturistas Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers for some Schimpfen und Toben. No endorsements this week. But for listeners in the New York area, don't miss Steve when he joins Booker Prize-finalist Ben Markovitz for a conversation about his new novel The Rest of Our Lives on January 5, 2026 at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble. For Slate Plus subscribers, the hosts delight in answering an additional listener question in an exclusive bonus episode. They share their ideal cultural outings with their co-hosts. --- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's show, Julia and Steve are joined by guest host Jamelle Bouie to crack mysteries corporeal and divine in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The latest entrant in Rian Johnson's whodunnit franchise sees Daniel Craig return as detective Benoit Blanc to team up with an earnest—and earnestly handsome—priest played by Josh O'Connor. Next, they take on the hefty new Ken Burns documentary series The American Revolution, a sprawling, complicated, fife music-scored examination of this nation's founding.  Finally, are we experiencing a Great Stupidening? In a conversation about New York Magazine's “Stupid Issue” and The Atlantic piece ‘A Recipe for Idiocracy,' our smarty pants contemplate American idiocy.  In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus episode, the gang (with Dana!) recap Pluribus episode 6 “HDP.” Don't forget: we want your cultural queries! We're gathering your most pressing questions for our annual call-in show. If you've got a burning one, email us at culturefest@slate.com or give us a call and leave a message at: 347-201-2397. Endorsements: Jamelle: The sequels of the early '90s martial arts B-movie Best of the Best, specifically Best of the Best II and Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back. Steve: The Wong Kar Wai film In The Mood for Love.  Julia:  Joyride the new memoir by Susan Orlean. ----- Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something Wicked this way comes as Dana, Steve, and guest host Dan Kois gather round their proverbial cauldrons for an all-movie edition of the Gabfest. First up, of course, is Wicked: For Good the green/pink-hued conclusion to the alternative history of Oz. This sequel, which reunites Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as witch besties/mortal enemies, goes to surprisingly dark places. Next, they discuss Train Dreams, the contemplative and grandeur-filled adaptation of Denis Johnson's novella directed by Clint Bentley. Finally, they sit down for a long, rich conversation between friends in Peter Hujar's Day, a chamber piece by Ira Sachs about art, friendship, and how much can happen in a single day. In our bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, Julia hops on the call to continue our recap series of Pluribus. The hosts get into all the details of Pluribus episode 5 “Got Milk.” We're still taking submissions for our call-in show. If you've got a burning cultural question or topic you'd like our hosts to tackle, call and leave us a message at:  347-201-2397 Endorsements: Dan: Matching Minds with Sondheim by Barry Joseph, a whole book about Stephen Sondheim's love of puzzles. Steve: The jazz album Mal/4 by Mal Waldron Trio and Tim (Let it Bleed Edition) by the Replacements. Dana: The Broadway production of Waiting for Godot that reunites none other than Bill and Ted with stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices