Rephonic
Artwork for Critics at Large

Critics at Large | The New Yorker

The New Yorker
Netflix
Social Media
The New Yorker
Harry and Meghan
Criticism
Romantasy
Sesame Street
Gambling
Technology
Colson Whitehead
Hollywood
True Crime
Academy Awards
David Lynch
Sports Betting
Jane Austen
American Culture
Hayao Miyazaki
Oscar Politics
Dubai

Critics at Large is a weekly culture podcast from The New Yorker. Every Thursday, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss current obsessions, classic texts they’re revisiting with fresh eyes, and trends that are emerging across books, television, film, and more. The show runs the gamut of the arts and pop culture, with lively, surprising conversations about e... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes143Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Critics at Large

Latest Episodes

In May, two low-budget movies from début filmmakers opened in theatres and quickly made box-office history. “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” which together have grossed nearly a billion dollars, defied conventional industry wisdom and inaugurated the bur... more

During her tenure as The New Yorker’s television critic, Emily Nussbaum famously railed against ranking the year’s best shows; she once wrote a piece entitled “I Hate Top Ten Lists.” But naming her favorite series of all time is an easier proposition... more

In the second in a series of Critics at Large interview episodes devoted to the topic of cult classics, Naomi Fry talks with the New Yorker staff writer Hannah Goldfield about how that designation applies in the culinary realm. The two discuss specia... more

When it dropped in January of 1997, Camp Lo’s “Uptown Saturday Night” thrilled some listeners and confounded others. On the first in a series of Critics at Large interview episodes devoted to resurfacing beloved cult classics, Vinson Cunningham talks... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Emily Nussbaum
TV critic and author
The New Yorker
Episode: Critics’ Cult Classics: Emily Nussbaum on “Slings & Arrows”
Hannah Goldfield
Food writer for The New Yorker, specializes in food culture and culinary journalism
The New Yorker
Episode: Critics’ Cult Classics: Hannah Goldfield on the Food World’s Secret Tastemakers
Hanif Abdurraqib
Poet and writer focusing on music, art, and culture
Independent/The New Yorker contributor
Episode: Critics’ Cult Classics: Hanif Abdurraqib on Camp Lo’s “Uptown Saturday Night”
Julian Lucas
New Yorker staff writer, profiling Colson Whitehead
The New Yorker
Episode: The Irony and the Ecstasy of Colson Whitehead
Vinson Cunningham
Staff writer for The New Yorker and Critics at Large co-host
The New Yorker
Episode: From The Political Scene: The Politics of the Big Game
Naomi Fry
Staff writer for The New Yorker and Critics at Large co-host
The New Yorker
Episode: From The Political Scene: The Politics of the Big Game
Jason Adam Katzenstein
New Yorker cartoonist
The New Yorker
Episode: Why Earnestness is Everywhere
Louisa Thomas
The New Yorker sports critic
The New Yorker
Episode: Why Football Matters
Padma Lakshmi
Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and New York Times bestselling author
Host of Top Chef and America's Culinary Cup
Episode: Critics at Large Live: Padma Lakshmi’s Expansive Taste

Hosts

Vinson Cunningham
Host of Critics at Large; staff writer for The New Yorker; co-host of the program.
Alexandra Schwartz
Co-host and staff writer on Critics at Large; contributor to The New Yorker.
Naomi Fry
Co-host of Critics at Large; staff writer for The New Yorker.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • The Odyssey

    I love the podcast. Regarding “Who Owns the Odyssey” I felt that Nolan included too many and too long battle scenes, and he left out Odysseus’ reunion with Penelope, his reunion with his father, Laertes, and the final scene in the poem where Telemachus commits a manly act of war, only to have Athena end the war. Regarding Wilson’s excellent translation, it sings and excels when read aloud.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jbowers
    United States20 days ago
  • I dig this podcast but am unable to log in

    I am a regular listener and subscriber but now that you are behind a paywall, every time I try to log in I just get a message that reads “connecting” and then nothing happens. 10/10 on the podcast; 1/10 for the tech.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Miranda1811
    United States22 days ago
  • Losing me

    The chemistry of this group is wonderful—and there is, more often than not, a lot to like about this podcast. As a critic myself, I’m glad it exists as a humanizing and democratizing force for the humanities. But the subjects/topics this show features—and the ways they choose to dissect them—are truly hit and miss. Shockingly 50/50. Odyssey episode? Genuinely interesting. The one that followed about “stupidity” in media? I could not finish it. Baffling waste of time. I want to rate this higher b... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Purpletaco55
    United Statesa month ago
  • Hey Critics!

    I love this podcast so much always entertaining

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PaulSEldn
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Erudite, informed & entertaining

    New favorite Pod - period. If you like the idea of a Salon discussion between 3 erudite & informed friends on a zeitgeist topic that then uses this as a nexus point to Culturally explore then slip into this Pod that will stimulate, cleanse & relax your mind like an aural warm bath. Listen & learn…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LordOfNewYork
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the thoughtful critiques and breadth across media.
Some criticisms cite tense interruptions or tonal preferences during discussions.
Shows deep, nuanced cultural analysis with lively host chemistry.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Irony and the Ecstasy of Colson Whitehead
Q: How does Whitehead balance historical critique with narrative pleasure?
By prioritizing fiction and storytelling while embedding deep historical and social concerns, allowing readers to engage with heavy themes without losing the momentum and enjoyment of the read.
The Irony and the Ecstasy of Colson Whitehead
Q: What makes Colson Whitehead an especially interesting writer today?
The hosts emphasize his rare ability to fuse humor with moral seriousness, his kinetic storytelling that remains highly readable, and his knack for crossing genres while maintaining a rigorous engagement with history and race.
I Need a Critic: One-Hundredth-Episode Edition
Q: How should one choose a baby name?
Choose a name that you love and has a nice sound to it, without worrying about family pressure.
I Need a Critic: One-Hundredth-Episode Edition
Q: How do you manage reading in the age of distraction?
Put your phone in another room to avoid distractions while reading.
I Need a Critic: One-Hundredth-Episode Edition
Q: What book would you recommend for someone who doesn't read at all?
Many memoirs work well; I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally is a great choice.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Critics at Large

What is Critics at Large about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly culture conversation featuring three The New Yorker staff writers who dissect current obsessions, revisit classics with fresh lenses, and connect pop culture to larger social and political themes. Episodes span books, film, television, music, and visual culture, often weaving literary analysis with current events to illuminate how culture shapes and reflects our moment. Notable strengths include rigorous, context-rich discussions, behind-the-scenes reporting insights, and a knack for pairing deep dives with broad cultural contexts. A recurring edge is the blend of scholarly insight with accessible banter, making it useful for listeners who want thoughtful critique across mediums and a sense of how cultural institutions influence pu... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Critics at Large?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Critics at Large. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Critics at Large and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Critics at Large get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Critics at Large, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Critics at Large?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Critics at Large, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Critics at Large have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Critics at Large has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Critics at Large?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Critics at Large:

1. The New Yorker Radio Hour
2. The Book Review
3. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
4. The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
5. The New Yorker: Fiction

How many episodes of Critics at Large are there?

Critics at Large launched 3 years ago and published 143 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Critics at Large?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Critics at Large?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Critics at Large from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Critics at Large?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Critics at Large. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Critics at Large?

Recent guests on Critics at Large include:

1. Emily Nussbaum
2. Hannah Goldfield
3. Hanif Abdurraqib
4. Julian Lucas
5. Vinson Cunningham
6. Naomi Fry
7. Jason Adam Katzenstein
8. Louisa Thomas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days