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Culture Gabfest

Slate Podcasts
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Emma Stone
Yorgos Lanthimos
Timothée Chalamet
Anyone But You
Oscar Nominations
Jennifer Lopez
Barbie
All In the Family
Norman Lear
True Detective
Publishing Industry
Tracy Ellis Ross
Jeffrey Wright
The Zone Of Interest
Dune
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
Beyoncé
The Jeffersons

New York Times critic Dwight Garner says “The Slate Culture Gabfest is one of the highlights of my week.” The award-winning Culturefest features critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner debating the week in culture, from highbrow to pop. For more of Slate’s culture podcasts, check out the Slate Culture feed.Want more Culture Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus ep... more

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Latest Episodes

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 directe... more

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 w... more

Welcome to a very special Money On Film miniseries!

Over three episodes, Slate Money’s Felix Salmon and Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe revisit three films at the intersection of culture and finance. On this episode, Nadira and Felix take a trip t... more

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 d... more

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Recent Guests

Imogen West-Knights
Slate writer and native Brit
Episode: Ryan Gosling’s Pet Rock Edition
Christina Cauterucci
Slate senior writer
Slate
Episode: The Creator of Derry Girls Is Back Edition
Joshua Rivera
Culture critic, author of a piece on Bad Bunny's performance
Slate
Episode: Bad Bunny Spikes the Football Edition
Clare Malone
New Yorker writer who wrote a profile on Bari Weiss
The New Yorker
Episode: Is Hamnet this Year’s Oscar Villain? Edition
Michael Schulman
New Yorker writer and author of Oscar Wars
The New Yorker
Episode: The Timothée Chalamet vs. the Blue Aliens Edition
Mark Harris
Writer and critic, author of Pictures of the Revolution and a biography of Mike Nichols
Episode: "Is the Warner Bros. Deal the End Of Cinema?" Edition
Jad Abumrad
Co-creator of Radiolab
Radiolab
Episode: Slate Plus Preview: Jad Abumrad Inquires How We Make the Gabfest
Stefan Fatsis
Author and journalist, co-host of Slate's sports podcast
Episode: Guillermo del Toro Can Take Frankenstein Off His Bucket List Edition
Isaac Butler
Author of The Method, How the 20th Century Learned to Act
Episode: Austin Butler Is Caught Cat Sitting Edition

Hosts

Stephen Metcalf
Host of the Culture Gabfest
Dana Stevens
Host of the Culture Gabfest
Julia Turner
Co-host of Culture Gabfest

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 850 ratings
  • Fun but pretentious

    I’ve listened to the Gabfest for a few years now and generally enjoy it even though I often disagree with their opinions. Metcalf is consistently annoying, but Isaac Butler (a frequent guest) is like nails on a chalkboard. Enjoy Stevens and Turner. They need to broaden their cultural range.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Minnesotan Independent
    United States25 days ago
  • Simply the best

    Slate’s Culture Gabfest is so well conceived, curated

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    QuiteStewed
    United States2 months ago
  • Why do smart people provoke hatred?

    The show is the best of its kind, nobody else comes close. The vitriol against Stephen Metcalf is irrational, completely unsupported, and typical of people who get freaked out when someone truly smart expresses themselves. Stephen is one of the best public intellectuals around these days, and I am grateful I get to hear him each week. There is nothing even slightly snobbish about him. Quite the opposite. He is self-critical, perhaps to a fault. Keep on keeping on Steve!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Thursby Allendon
    United States4 months ago
  • Best culture review podcast for me

    Everyone has an opinion and mine is I really enjoy this podcast, perhaps because it’s hosted by people of my generation. They cover things that normally would not fall into my lap. I love it best when the 3 hosts are together and when they don’t agree unanimously. If they are what some claim too highbrow or pretentious, then lay some of that highbrowiness on me! That’s what I’m here for, a little cultural enlightenment by people who feel like friends if my friends had cultural awareness.🤣

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1993F150
    United States5 months ago
  • Are weekly episodes behind the paywall now?

    I’ve listened to both Gabfest podcasts for years. This week the Culture Gabfest seems to be posted behind the Slate Plus Paywall. Has the release schedule changed? Or is this the end of an era?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    smcnall
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive feedback often highlights consistent quality and guest diversity, though a few reviews note moments of perceived elitism or snappiness.
Broad praise for high-level cultural analysis and engaging host chemistry.
Some critics feel the show can be highbrow or insular, with occasional sharp disagreements.
Listeners appreciate depth, wit, and the mix of topics across film, books, and TV.

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 Creator of Derry Girls Is Back Edition
Q: What did you make of this unusual movie?
Dana felt it was original but criticized it for being jumbled and unfocused, particularly in its ending.
Bad Bunny Spikes the Football Edition
Q: What is the main theme of the film 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'?
It tells the story of a mother facing overwhelming challenges while caring for her daughter, highlighting the difficulty of balancing parenting and personal struggles.
Bad Bunny Spikes the Football Edition
Q: What was striking about Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance?
It was technically impressive, blended cultural pride with a critique of political issues, and featured artistic details that resonated deeply with viewers.
The Timothée Chalamet vs. the Blue Aliens Edition
Q: Why does Avatar lack cultural impact compared to franchises like Star Wars?
The characters in Avatar are not very interesting or memorable, leading to a lack of cultural engagement.
The Timothée Chalamet vs. the Blue Aliens Edition
Q: What did you make of the latest installment of Avatar?
I really liked this movie, with a new villain who steals the show and complex character interactions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Culture Gabfest

What is Culture Gabfest about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Culture-focused critical panel featuring long-running discussions on film, books, television, and wider culture, anchored by three seasoned hosts. Episodes span highbrow and pop culture, with guests from major outlets (Slate, The New Yorker) providing expert takes on current releases, performances, and cultural trends, along with thoughtful debates about journalism, media, and the industry landscape. The show is known for rigorous analysis, lively disagreement, and a willingness to treat both prestige projects and mainstream entertainment with equal scrutiny. A notable strength is the balance between sharp, well-spoken hosts and high-profile guests, which often yields nuanced perspectives across a broad cultural spectrum. This mix, along wi... more

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How many subscribers and views does Culture Gabfest have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Culture Gabfest 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 Culture Gabfest?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Culture Gabfest:

1. Slate Culture Feed
2. Political Gabfest
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
5. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

How many episodes of Culture Gabfest are there?

Culture Gabfest launched 7 years ago and published 963 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Culture Gabfest?

Recent guests on Culture Gabfest include:

1. Imogen West-Knights
2. Christina Cauterucci
3. Joshua Rivera
4. Clare Malone
5. Michael Schulman
6. Mark Harris
7. Jad Abumrad
8. Stefan Fatsis

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.

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