Rephonic
Artwork for Slow Burn
Fox News
LGBTQ+ Rights
John Briggs
California
Proposition 6
Briggs Initiative
HIV/AIDS
British Teeth
Neil Gorsuch
San Francisco
Kimberly Bergalis
Truck Nutz
Spring Break
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Harvey Milk
Generation X
Stereophonic
David Acer
Henry Brown
Communication

Slow Burn illuminates America’s most consequential moments, making sense of the past to better understand the present. Through archival tape and first-person interviews, the series uncovers the surprising events and little-known characters lurking within the biggest stories of our time.

Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to Slow Burn and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subs... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes335Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryDocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Slow Burn

Latest Episodes

McGruff the Crime Dog arrived on the scene at the dawn of the 1980s, just as a firehose of anti-drug PSAs was inundating the youth of America. These messages didn’t always work as intended—but they did work their way into the long term memories of th... more

The sun has always been a hot topic. For centuries, we’ve flip-flopped over whether our health depends on soaking up its rays—or shielding ourselves from them. The current conventional wisdom is clear: Avoid sunburns at all costs, using shade, hats, ... more

Most of us use GPS—the Global Positioning System—on a daily basis: to find our location when we’re driving, running, shopping, dating, and so much more. But GPS is even more important, and more vulnerable, than you think.

In the last few years, GPS ... more

Here at Slow Burn, we explore the events and people who shaped America as we know it today. As the country marks its 250th birthday this summer, we want to introduce you to the first installment of First America, a great podcast series that explores ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dahlia Lithwick
Senior legal correspondent
Slate / Amicus
Episode: Becoming Justice Gorsuch | 3. A Lunch Room for Life
Mark Joseph Stern
Columbia- and Slate-based Supreme Court expert, guest on the episode
Slate
Episode: Becoming Justice Gorsuch | 2. The Stolen Seat
Al Franken
Former Minnesota Senator who participated in the confirmation hearing exchange
U.S. Senate
Episode: Becoming Justice Gorsuch | 1. Man With a Plan
Dazzling Dave Schulte
National yo-yo master and inductee into the Yo-Yo Hall of Fame
Episode: Decoder Ring | Mailbag: Yo-Yos, Sandboxes, and Encores
Alexandra Lange
Critic and author of The Design of Childhood
Episode: Decoder Ring | Mailbag: Yo-Yos, Sandboxes, and Encores
Steve Dworman
Creator and president of Videomate
Episode: Decoder Ring | “Videomate: Men” (Encore)
Julie Furman
Former employee of Great Expectations, dating service
Episode: Decoder Ring | “Videomate: Men” (Encore)
Dawoon Kang
Co-founder and co-CEO of Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee Meets Bagel
Episode: Decoder Ring | “Videomate: Men” (Encore)
Andrea Silenzi
Host of Longest Shortest Time
Longest Shortest Time
Episode: Decoder Ring | “Videomate: Men” (Encore)

Hosts

Willa Paskin
Host of Decoder Ring (and frequent contributor/host across Slate culture podcasts)
Slate Editors
Editorial hosts for Slow Burn series

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 30.2k ratings
  • Gorsuch

    Yes, this is not like the other Slow Burn seasons, but it’s excellent journalism and a fascinating look at the court. I learned a lot.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Suerayfla
    United States24 days ago
  • Mind blowing, telling a hidden truth

    Podcast Addict
    5
    BruceHallman
    2 months ago
  • Garbage

    I wanted to learn more about Gorsuch. The main thing to know, according to the hosts, is that he’s principled, and that makes him bad.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JewelE214
    United States2 months ago
  • More gripes on Gorsuch season from a long-time fan!

    I thought I was being nit-picky, but looking at the other reviews, I see I’m not in the minority in feeling that Season 11 isn’t up to par for Slow Burn, which has historically been thoroughly researched and compelling. My two biggest gripes are: 1) How can you justify not contacting Gorsuch for comment when that is the most basic rule of journalistic ethics? 2) Must you talk down to your listeners? Several times when discussing Gorsuch’s jurisprudence, the host (Susan?) said something to the ef... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    newgirlintown1
    United States3 months ago
  • Season 11

    I couldn’t make it through episode two. This is not a work of journalism.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Paul D 5-7
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Conversations with experts add credibility and depth to complex legal and political topics.
Professional, well-sourced journalism with deep historical context.
Audio quality and production occasionally receive feedback for improvement.
Some listeners perceive strong bias and wish for broader viewpoints.
Guest diversity favors journalists and academics familiar with policy and law.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#65
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#91
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#121
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#149
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#160
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#75
Poland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Becoming Justice Gorsuch | 1. Man With a Plan
Q: What was the key issue in the Frozen Trucker case that defined Gorsuch's stance?
The core issue was whether the Department of Labor's interpretation of safety protections for truckers applied when a driver faced obvious danger and still chose to drive; Gorsuch argued that the judiciary should determine the meaning of the statute, not the administrative agency.
Decoder Ring | Mailbag: Yo-Yos, Sandboxes, and Encores
Q: How did the encore evolve from when it first was started as a norm a long time ago to now where it feels like just a charade that everyone is kind of doing for no reason?
The encore evolved from being spontaneous demands from audiences in opera performances to pre-planned rituals in concerts due to marketing needs and audience expectations, making it feel less authentic over time.
Decoder Ring | “Videomate: Men” (Encore)
Q: What happened to video dating?
It struggled with the balance between vulnerability and control, ultimately falling out of favor despite being a theoretically great idea for connecting people.
Decoder Ring | Mailbag: Drug Names, Cow Abductions, and the “Ass-Intensifier”
Q: Why are prescription drug names so bonkers?
The naming of pharmaceuticals is complex due to the need for names to be pronounceable, distinct, and legally available as trademarks.
Decoder Ring | Spring Break Forever
Q: What is Spring Break like now compared to in the past?
According to Kaylee, the Spring Break experience feels smaller and more manageable today, with multiple destinations rather than one centralized location.

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 Slow Burn

What is Slow Burn about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deeply reported history podcast that unpacks America's defining moments through archival tape and first‑person interviews. Across recent seasons, it examines political power, jurisprudence, media influence, and social movements, tracing how individuals and institutions shaped outcomes in law, politics, and culture. The show frequently features legal analysts, journalists, and academics who provide historical context, moral nuance, and a clear-eyed critique of how power operates in public life. It's notable for rigorous storytelling, rigorous sourcing, and a calm, thoughtful pace that invites listeners to reassess well‑worn narratives while keeping a strong focus on the consequences for everyday life.

Where can I find podcast stats for Slow Burn?

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

How many listeners does Slow Burn get?

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What are the audience demographics for Slow Burn?

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How many subscribers and views does Slow Burn have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Slow Burn 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 Slow Burn?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Slow Burn:

1. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
2. Reveal
3. Throughline
4. Decoder Ring
5. Strict Scrutiny

How many episodes of Slow Burn are there?

Slow Burn launched 9 years ago and published 335 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 Slow Burn?

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 Slow Burn?

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

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What guests have appeared on Slow Burn?

Recent guests on Slow Burn include:

1. Dahlia Lithwick
2. Mark Joseph Stern
3. Al Franken
4. Dazzling Dave Schulte
5. Alexandra Lange
6. Steve Dworman
7. Julie Furman
8. Dawoon Kang

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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