
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 971 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Entertainment NewsNewsArts | |||

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 ... more
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 Michael... more
Richard Pryor redefined comedy by telling the truth, even when it scorched him.Today, we’re sharing a preview of a new podcast, Big Lives, and a special episode about Pryor.
Every week, hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive t... more
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... more
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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!
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.🤣
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?
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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with Culture Gabfest:
1. Slate Culture Feed
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4. Pop Culture Happy Hour
5. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Culture Gabfest launched 7 years ago and published 971 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. Caity Weaver
2. Kristoffer Borgli
3. Richard Lawson
4. Imogen West-Knights
5. Christina Cauterucci
6. Joshua Rivera
7. Clare Malone
8. Isaac Butler
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