
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.
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| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 983 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsEntertainment NewsNews | |||

As you may have heard in last week’s episode, the Culture Gabfest is hanging up its microphones after 18 years of cultural commentary. But before our final episode, we’ve still got much to discuss!
On this special guest-packed show, Steve, Dana, and... more
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 ... more
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 wo... more
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-... more
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I will miss the perspectives you bring together as culture gabfest comes to an end. Loved hanging out with you. All the best in your projects - I hope I can encounter your work in other places
slate is now obsessed with dragging Lindy West as much as possible to cling to relevance and it’s really sad. I didn’t even like her book that much but I don’t think that it’s a good look for slate to be treating her like she’s evil because they don’t think she’s okay with her polyamorous situation. They might be right but I don’t think she deserves what they are doing to her. And slate hasn’t been good since Danny Lavery left anyway.
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.
Slate’s Culture Gabfest is so well conceived, curated
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!
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Culture-focused panel discussions feature critics debating a wide range of culture news, from film, TV, books, and music to broader media and society topics. Episodes mix sharp analyses, playful banter, and guest perspectives, often circling back to questions of aesthetics, industry dynamics, and cultural critique in the modern era. Noteworthy elements include the hosts' distinctive voices, a steady slate of expert guests, and a balance between highbrow theory and accessible pop culture, making it appealing to listeners who want thoughtful commentary without sacrificing wit or variety.
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Culture Gabfest launched 7 years ago and published 983 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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Recent guests on Culture Gabfest include:
1. Laura Miller
2. Nadira Goff
3. Sam Adams
4. Kristoffer Borgli
5. Richard Lawson
6. Imogen West-Knights
7. Christina Cauterucci
8. Joshua Rivera
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