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Culture Gabfest

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Say Nothing
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Kendrick Lamar

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.

Get more Culture Gabfest with Slate Plus! Join to unlock weekly bonus episo... more

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Latest Episodes

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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Recent Guests

Laura Miller
Slate's book critic
Slate
Episode: Lord of the Sheep Edition
Nadira Goff
Slate Culture writer
Slate
Episode: Michael Jackson Moonwalks the Box Office Edition
Sam Adams
Slate reviewer, contributed on the Michael Jackson discussion
Slate
Episode: Michael Jackson Moonwalks the Box Office Edition
Kristoffer Borgli
Writer-director of Dream Scenario and The Drama
Episode: The Drama Surrounding The Drama Edition
Richard Lawson
Film critic, co-host of Critical Darlings, guest on the episode
Premier Party / Critical Darlings
Episode: James Bond’s Sexistential Retreat Edition
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

Hosts

Stephen Metcalf
Host; critic with long-running involvement in culture discussion across Slate properties
Dana Stevens
Host; film critic and culture writer with deep involvement in media critique
Julia Turner
Co-host; founder/editor of LA Material; culture critic

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 855 ratings
  • The kind of conversations I miss

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    canadianpublicradionerd
    Canada6 days ago
  • Justice for Lindy

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Horsefan101ggggg
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States3 months ago
  • Simply the best

    Slate’s Culture Gabfest is so well conceived, curated

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    QuiteStewed
    United States4 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners often highlight the show's mix of highbrow critique with engaging banter and breadth of topics.
Listeners praise the show for thoughtful, well-argued culture analysis and strong host chemistry.
Some critics wish for broader topic coverage and more diversity among guests and perspectives.

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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Listeners per Episode
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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 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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Culture Gabfest?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Culture Gabfest. 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 Culture Gabfest and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Culture Gabfest get?

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What are the audience demographics for Culture Gabfest?

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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. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
4. Pop Culture Happy Hour
5. Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair

How many episodes of Culture Gabfest are there?

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.

How do I contact Culture Gabfest?

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 Culture Gabfest?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Culture Gabfest from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Culture Gabfest?

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

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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