Slate Conversations
468 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 hours ago - ★★★★ - 179 ratingsA feed of the up close and the personal, drawn from Working and across the Slate podcast network. Let’s talk.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
How To!: Plan Your Next Adventure
February 03, 2024 08:00 - 34 minutesTravel can be thrilling, relaxing, even life-changing. But planning for your big trip? Not so much. There are so many unknowns: Where to go? When is the best time? How much do you want to spend? In this special episode of How To!, founding host Charles Duhigg brings in Brady Binstadt, owner and CEO of the adventure travel company Geographic Expeditions. Brady explains how to pick the right destination, when to splurge, and how to make sure everyone will have an amazing time. If you liked th...
A Word: Revolutionary Recharge
February 02, 2024 08:00 - 32 minutesA generation of activists –and well-meaning citizens– was pulled into intense social justice work by the murder of George Floyd in 2020. And the horrific crime, the fight for progess, and the backlash has taken a toll on their mental health. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by writer and activist Ijeoma Oluo about her new book, Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World--And How You Can, Too. It’s the collected wisdom of activists ...
Dear Prudence: Am I a Bigot If I Don’t Want to Date Foreigners? Help!
February 02, 2024 08:00 - 29 minutesIn this episode, Michael Hobbes (If Books Could Kill and Maintenance Phase) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about how to tell a friend they’re a horrible boss, whether a husband who won’t open the bathroom shades to give the plants light is a problem, and what to do when your friends setting you up on dates makes you think you might be a bigot. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every ...
Care & Feeding: My Son Doesn’t “Play Like A Boy”
February 01, 2024 19:00 - 31 minutesOn this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah help a member of our Facebook group who’s worried that her son isn’t making friends… because the kids at school separate into gender cliques, and he’s not into roughhousing “boy stuff.” We’ll discuss how to help this kid feel more comfortable joining games — and whether the teacher needs to be looped in. We’ll also debrief on our week in parenting with a round of triumphs and fails, and then revisit a conversation we had about a toddler with separa...
Well, Now: How ER Taught Thousands Of Viewers About Cervical Cancer
January 31, 2024 08:00 - 28 minutesIt’s award season in Hollywood, and it’s got the Well, Now team thinking about wellness and the entertainment industry. Can a medical drama really teach us accurate health information? Or is it all just high-stakes surgeries with beautiful actors? Maya and Kavita talk this out with physician, showrunner and Harvard lecturer Neal Baer. He brought powerful, data-supported stories on HIV, emergency contraception, cervical cancer and more to hit cable shows like ER and Law and Order: SVU. If you ...
Hear Me Out: Actually, Trump Supporters Are Delusional
January 30, 2024 08:03 - 38 minutesOn today’s episode of Hear Me Out… folie à deux (again). A few weeks ago, Frank Buckley joined us to argue that Trump voters aren’t delusional. And a lot of you disagreed. One of you, though, turned out to be an expert in the nature of delusion. So who better to join us, and make the case that we got it wrong? Barry Mauer, a Hear Me Out listener and associate professor at the University of Central Florida, joins us to argue that the pro-Trump movement isn’t just delusional — it’s dangerous...
How To!: Be Free of Body Shame
January 30, 2024 08:00 - 47 minutesWe’re constantly getting bombarded with messages about our bodies: They’re too big. They’re too small. They’re not muscular enough, not curvy enough, and so on and so on. Rebecca has lived in a bigger body all her life and she wants the messaging to stop. She’s done all the things—followed plus-size influencers, deemphasized weight from her health goals, tried to rewire how she thinks about weight. But it’s just not working. In this episode, Carvell Wallace brings in Ronald Young Jr., host of...
Working: How Children’s Book Ideas Begin
January 28, 2024 08:00 - 53 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to children’s book author and illustrator Mika Song, whose work includes the Norma and Bellie series about two squirrels with big appetites. In the interview, Mika explains how she collects ideas just by moving around her neighborhood and jotting down notes and drawings. She also talks about her materials, her audience, and her experiences giving book presentations to her young readers. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss how to find ...
Dear Prudence: My Husband Stopped Using Soap and He Stinks. Help!
January 26, 2024 08:00 - 39 minutesIn this episode, Cheryl Strayed (Dear Sugar and Tiny Beautiful Things) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about whether it’s a good idea to offer to be your platonic best friend’s housewife, how to handle a husband’s disturbing body odors, and what an overachieving eldest millennial daughter can do to find happiness. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to ...
Care & Feeding: I Think I Smelled Weed On My 13-Year-Old
January 25, 2024 19:00 - 40 minutesOn this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Lucy help a listener who’s pretty sure they smelled marijuana when their young teen and a friend got in the car. The parent is wondering if they should have said something… but if so, what? And when is really too young? We’ll also go over our week in parenting triumphs and fails — including an update on Henry’s solo trip in Tokyo — and share some listener mail we got about teenage tattoos. Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to...
Well, Now: Breaking Up With Diet Culture
January 24, 2024 08:00 - 32 minutesOn this week’s episode of Well, Now, Maya and Kavita talk about practical ways to break up with diet culture with fitness instructor, speaker and educator Chrissy King. She’s the author of The Body Liberation Project: How Understanding Racism and Diet Culture Helps Cultivate Joy and Build Collective Freedom. Chrissy also ties in how breaking up with diet culture is a piece of a larger conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion in the wellness industry. If you liked this episode, chec...
Hear Me Out: Feminism Is Dying (But It Can Be Saved)
January 23, 2024 08:03 - 35 minutesOn today’s episode of Hear Me Out… which wave is this, anyway? There’s no denying that the feminist movement looks different now than it did 50 years ago — and in some ways, that’s a good thing. But there’s an argument to be made that the modern movement skews politically progressive… so much so that it’s leaving some women, and some issues, behind. Phyllis Chesler, author and second-wave feminist, joins us. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, ...
How To!: Stop Snoring and Breathe Easier (Encore)
January 23, 2024 08:00 - 30 minutesAndrew snores so badly that his cats won’t sleep in the same room as him. He’s desperate to sleep better at night, and breathe more easily during the day. On this episode of How To!, we bring on James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, to share the history of why we breathe the way we do. Turns out being a “mouth-breather” is more than just an insult, it’s harmful to our health. James gives Andrew some nasal breathing exercises to improve his snoring, anxiety, and overal...
Working: The Sounds That Make a Movie
January 21, 2024 08:00 - 50 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to the very in-demand sound designer Johnnie Burn, who has worked on multiple great and sonically rich films like Nope, Poor Things, and the dark historical drama The Zone of Interest, which tells the story of a Nazi commandant and his family who live right outside the walls of Auschwitz. In the interview, Johnnie discusses the crucial role that audio plays in the film and his close attention to historical accuracy. He also discusses the difference between h...
Dear Prudence: I Spend Hours a Day Having Intense Romantic Daydreams. Help!
January 19, 2024 08:00 - 42 minutesIn this episode, our first-ever married couple, Liz Neely and Ed Yong, join Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when you discover your birthday gift and hate it, how to avoid losing respect for a partner who procrastinates, and whether it’s a problem if romantic daydreams are starting to stifle real-life relationships. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for memb...
Care & Feeding: Mourning Parental Leave Before It’s Even Over
January 18, 2024 19:00 - 35 minutesOn this episode: Zak Rosen and Elizabeth Newcamp welcome Lucy Lopez to the team as our fourth regular host. The three of them tackle a letter from a listener who’s dreading the return to work after a year off with their newborn. We’ll offer some advice for how to soften the emotional blow and smooth out the logistical snarls — and, how to find new moments to cherish. We’ll also dive into our week in triumphs and fails, as usual — and then, we’ll share a quick piece of listener mail. Which ...
Well, Now: What “Wellness” Is and Isn’t
January 17, 2024 08:00 - 30 minutesOn this week’s episode of Well, Now we get to the heart of what “wellness” actually means. Depending on who you ask, you get a lot of different answers. So Maya and Kavita sit down with veteran journalist Isabel Burton to define the term. Burton was the executive editor of renowned health-and-wellness magazines Shape and Self. If you liked this episode, check out: A Toast to Dry January Podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments ...
Hear Me Out: George Santos and Gypsy-Rose Aren’t Your Icons
January 16, 2024 08:03 - 43 minutesOn today’s episode of Hear Me Out… yas, queen? It’s been hard to avoid an onslaught of memes about bad people lately. People like Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and George Santos have been punished for their misdeeds in one way… but now, it seems, they’re being rewarded by the attention economy. The question is: is it our fault? Rachel Greenspan, writer and social strategist, joins us once again to argue for discretion in memeing. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we sho...
How To!: Make Small Talk Feel Big
January 16, 2024 08:00 - 38 minutesSmall talk has a bad reputation. It’s boring, shallow, and awkward. Who really wants to talk about the weather, again? But, when done right, it can be a cornerstone of connection. In this episode, Carvell Wallace is joined by Susan McPherson, the author of The Lost Art of Connecting. Susan is going to help our listener, Bee, navigate the uncomfortable small talk that she endures everyday at school pickup. Along the way, we’ll learn what questions to have in our back pocket, how to turn small ...
Working: How to Portray a Hollywood Legend
January 14, 2024 08:00 - 50 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to Jason Isaacs, an actor known for roles like Lucien Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series and Georgy Zhukov in The Death of Stalin. In the interview, Jason discusses the extensive research that went into his portrayal of Cary Grant in the Britbox series Archie, including the work of capturing Grant’s accent, which changed over time. He also talks about his impressively long IMDB page and his life-changing experience working on the play Angels in America. ...
Dear Prudence: A DNA Test Revealed a Secret Sibling. Help!
January 12, 2024 08:00 - 37 minutesIn this episode, Jamelle Bouie (New York Times opinion columnist) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about how to turn down gifts that make you cringe, what to do when you discover a sibling was given up for adoption before you were born, and when it’s too late to chase your dreams If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s...
Care & Feeding: Avoiding The Toxic Comparison Spiral
January 11, 2024 19:00 - 36 minutesOn this episode: Zak Rosen, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Jamilah Lemieux help a listener who’s thrilled that she and her siblings all had kids in 2022 — but, as those babies become toddlers, the temptation to compare the cousins is strong. How can this no-drama mama prevent herself and her siblings from falling into this trap… not to mention grandparents and partners? We’ll also dive into our week in triumphs and fails, as usual. We’re off this coming Monday for MLK Day, but we’ll see you back in t...
Well, Now: A Toast to Dry January
January 10, 2024 08:00 - 31 minutesOn the first episode of Well, Now – Slate’s new podcast on health and wellness – hosts Dr. Kavita Patel and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Maya Feller tackle resolutions. A popular one? Sobriety. Or at least Dry January. With more people becoming “sober curious” Kavita and Maya visit a sober speakeasy in Brooklyn, hosted by the zero-proof cocktail maker Curious Elixirs. They sit down with the company’s founder and CEO JW Wiseman over some drinks and talk about the rise of the “sober curi...
Hear Me Out: Trump Voters Are Not Delusional
January 09, 2024 08:03 - 41 minutesOn today’s episode of Hear Me Out… delusion is not the solution. Welcome to a presidential election year, where everyone will surely be cool and normal. We know, we know — the prospect of dealing with electoral discourse is one that most of us aren’t looking forward to. But we’re here to prove that it’s possible to talk. For Democrats, and liberals writ large, it’s hard to understand why anyone would want another Trump presidency; and it’s tempting to chalk that desire up to delusion, idio...
How To!: Keep Caring Amid Endless Crises
January 09, 2024 08:00 - 40 minutesSometimes reading our news feeds can feel like getting hit by a semi-truck of devastating information, without really knowing how to respond. We can’t always tune the world out, which means we need to figure out how to be an empathetic person within the chaos. In this episode, Courtney Martin is joined by public theologian and best-selling author, Nadia Bolz-Weber, as well as artist and activist, Jen Bloomer. Together they explore what it means to actually respond to tragedy and injustice. ...
Working: Drawing Strangers to Build Empathy
January 07, 2024 08:00 - 47 minutesThis week, guest-host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Wendy MacNaughton, an artist whose work can be found in many places, including the bestselling cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. In the interview, Wendy discusses her unique artistic style, which stems from her practice of interacting closely with her subjects. She also talks about her educational project DrawTogether and its sister project DrawTogether Strangers, which encourages people to draw portraits of complete strangers in public places aro...
Dear Prudence: I Don’t Want to Cancel My Retirement Plans to Babysit. Help!
January 05, 2024 08:00 - 47 minutesIn this episode, Nicole Chung (author of A Living Remedy and All You Can Ever Know) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers dilemmas about a husband who wants to give up travel for grandpa duty, a partner who’s becoming really pushy about issues around adoption, and an engagement ring that could use a little work. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.co...
Care & Feeding: Can I Stop My Adult Kid From Getting a Tattoo?
January 04, 2024 19:00 - 29 minutesOn this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah ring in the new year with a name change. We’re now Care & Feeding! For our first advice of 2024, the hosts help a listener who funds their 18-year-old’s life — but the prospect of a tattoo has the listener second-guessing. Should they try to stop their kid from doing something they might regret (with their parents’ money)... or has that train already left the station? We’ll also dive into our holiday triumphs and fails. For our Slate Plus listene...
Introducing: Well, Now
January 04, 2024 08:00 - 1 minuteWe all want wellness, but what does that mean exactly? Is it achieving diet and exercise goals, or finally reaching a place where you’re happy with your body as it is? Is wellness the thing that will keep you out of the doctor’s office, or give you information you need to advocate for yourself when you get there? No matter what you define as living a life of wellness, our expert hosts want to help you get there. Every week, Dr. Kavita Patel and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Maya Feller t...
Hear Me Out: Yes, You Can Self Improve Right Now
January 02, 2024 08:03 - 47 minutesOn today’s episode of Hear Me Out… new year, new you? If you’ve resolved to make 2024 your happiest, healthiest, most organized, most peaceful, etc. year yet? You’re not alone. And if you’re pretty sure the people who have made resolutions are doomed to abandon ship before January is over… you’re not alone, either. Nor are you wrong, exactly. In the season of giving, getting, and evaluating self-improvement advice, there’s a line between over-optimism and self-limiting skepticism. And our ...
How To!: Age Like an Elite Athlete
January 02, 2024 08:00 - 42 minutesWhen he’s not working on How To! or coaching his daughter’s basketball team, our producer Derek John loves to play in pickup games with friends. But a serious on-court injury has kept him on the sidelines for months. Now, as he prepares to return to the sport he loves, Derek is seeking tips on how to prolong his playing days while avoiding another injury. In this episode, author Jeff Bercovici joins Carvell Wallace and Derek to share insights from his book, Play On: The New Science of Elite P...
What Next: The Murder of Wadee Alfayoumi
January 02, 2024 08:00 - 26 minutesOn Oct. 14, 2023, Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old Arab-American boy, was stabbed to death by his landlord, Joseph Czuba. Months later, his parents are struggling to make sense of it. Guest: Aymann Ismail, Slate staff writer. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slat...
Working: Our New Year's Resolutions for 2024
December 31, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutesThis week, working hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler share their goals for the year ahead and devise strategies to help each other accomplish them. They also reflect on their resolutions from last year and share how well they stuck to them. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad...
Dear Prudence: Outward: We’re Here, We’re Queer, Here’s Some Advice!
December 29, 2023 08:00 - 39 minutesOn today’s episode brought to us Slate’s Outward, hosts Jules Gill-Peterson and Bryan Lowder, are joined by advice expert Danny Lavery to talk through some relationship issues. They share their thoughts on expectations around divorce as queer people, low self-esteem, and why shaming someone over hygiene might not be a bad idea. If you have a question or need some advice, email us: [email protected] Podcast production by Palace Shaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
The Waves: The Year in Celebrity Memoirs
December 28, 2023 08:00 - 47 minutesIn this episode, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim are joined by writer, comedian and Glamorous Trash host Chelsea Devantez to break down this watershed year of celebrity memoirs. The trio crowns the best and the worst titles, dissect what separates a good memoir from a great one, and reveal the shocking figure who has appeared in way more memoirs than you’d expect. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton. Learn more about your ad choi...
Working: The Flawless Indie Pop of The Beths
December 24, 2023 08:00 - 49 minutesThis week, we revisit host Isaac Butler's conversation with Liz Stokes and Jon Pearce, who make up half of the New Zealand indie rock band The Beths. In the interview, Liz and Jon walk through their songwriting process step-by-step, from initial riffs and lyrics to their complex vocal harmonies and guitar solos. They also explain why the bridge is often the hardest part of a song to write. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss why songwriting sometimes feels like magic. ...
Dear Prudence: My Mother-In-Law Doesn’t Wash Her Hands After Using The Bathroom. Help!
December 22, 2023 08:00 - 43 minutesIn this episode, Josie Duffy Rice (host of Crooked Media’s What a Day) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers discussing racially charged Next Door drama, a man who asks his girlfriend to butter his dinner rolls, and how to nicely ask a loved one to wash their hands after using the bathroom. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign u...
The Waves: What is a Feminist, Really?
December 21, 2023 08:00 - 39 minutesOn this week’s episode of The Waves, we say goodbye by contemplating a key word of the podcast - feminism. Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth and original Waves host June Thomas discuss what feminism means, the historical problems with the word, who should get to call themselves feminist, and so much more. Endorsements and Discussed in Episode: A Place of Our Own by June Thomas Between Two Wars by Cheyna Roth In Defense of Lean In Feminism on The Waves We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgari...
Hear Me Out: The Holidays Are Tacky. Embrace It
December 19, 2023 08:03 - 37 minutesOn today’s episode of Hear Me Out… ‘tis the damn season. Break out the glitter and the ugly sweaters. If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen a lot of minimalist holiday décor this year — from celebrities, influencers, and DIY-ers alike. It seems trendy to try “class up” the holidays and eschew the bright and gaudy for the monotone, the understated, or the expensive-looking… but does living in fear of committing a faux pas maybe miss the point? Kristen Meinzer, culture critic and c...
How To! Our Favorite Advice of 2023
December 19, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutesHere at How To! headquarters, we give and receive a lot of good advice. This year we learned to love our faces, started reading again, aced an interview, dealt with difficult parents, said goodbye to our pets, cooked chaotically, moved to a new country, navigated adult autism, and breathed like Navy SEALs. On this episode, co-hosts Carvell Wallace and Courtney Martin are joined by former host Amanda Ripley. They break down their favorite advice of the year and share some surprising updates fr...
Dear Prudence: I Rejected A Friend’s Sexual Advance—Now He’s Being Weird. Help!
December 15, 2023 08:00 - 39 minutesIn this episode, Brittany Luse (host of NPR’s’ It’s Been a Minute) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers who are dealing with friends who hold grudges when their sexual advances are rejected, unsupportive coffee shop bosses, and people who keep tracking fleas into their homes. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $...
Mom & Dad: Helping a 5-Year-Old Night Owl Rest His Wings
December 14, 2023 19:00 - 36 minutesOn this episode: a longtime listener writes in hoping for some bedtime guidance. Their kindergartener is a night owl, and a big reader — but now that sleepless nights are impacting his daytime hours, our listener needs help getting him to sleep. We also go over our week in triumphs and fails, and then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus: cooking recommendations for a listener, and their newly-un-allergic-to-wheat daughter. Elizabeth recommends: The Complete Cookbooks for Young Chefs f...
The Waves: In Defense of Lean In Feminism
December 14, 2023 08:00 - 30 minutesOn this week’s episode of The Waves, why can’t the feminists all get along? Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR political correspondent and author of the Substack, This F**king Job. They dig into what went wrong with Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In, why it wasn’t all completely wrong, and how to stop giving anti-feminists the ammo they need to attack. In Slate Plus: We’re talking May December! If you liked this episode, check out: We See Dead Girls P...
What Next: Some Israeli Hostages Came Home. His Son Didn't.
December 13, 2023 08:00 - 29 minutesOver 100 hostages being held by Hamas were released during the temporary ceasefire last month. But Sagui Dekel-Chen, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was not among them. With Gaza under bombardment again, all his father can do is plead with the Israeli government, and wait. Guest: Jonathan Dekel-Chen, professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, who is presumed to be one of the hostages held by Hamas. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate ...
Hear Me Out: Race Isn’t Real. The Census Should Reflect That.
December 12, 2023 08:03 - 42 minutesOn today’s episode of Hear Me Out… cen-suspicions. We’re a little over six years away from the next national census. It’s understandable that this might not be at the top of your mind, but for a small group of academics and activists, it absolutely is. Race isn’t a real thing, scientifically speaking. But we still live in a heavily racialized society, and the Census sets the stage for many, many policy decisions that impact race equity. So, if race isn’t real, why does the Census act like ...
How To!: Transition From Soldier to Civilian
December 12, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutesDan enlisted in the Army in 2003 during the early phase of the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He just retired after 20 years of service—and is adjusting to myriad challenges of civilian life while also managing PTSD, ADHD and new sobriety. On this episode of How To!, Bob Beard of Arizona State University’s Center for Science and the Imagination joins us to talk about a new program that’s helping veterans like Dan plan for the distant future using science fiction, conceptual art, and strat...
Working: Where a Crime Writer’s Ideas Come From
December 10, 2023 08:00 - 46 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to Val McDermid, a prolific crime novelist whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide. Val has even been dubbed the “Quine of Crime,” a Scottish alternative to the title “Queen of Crime,” which the Agatha Christie estate objected to. In the interview, Val explains where her ideas come from and how she decides which of her on-going series to pick up next. She also talks about incorporating Scottish slang into her books, including her latest one, Past L...
Dear Prudence: My Friend Won’t Stop Buying Me Gifts. Help!
December 08, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutesIn this episode, the co-hosts of Forever 35, Kate Spencer and Doree Shafrir, join Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about whether it’s okay to reject holiday gifts, how to cope when participating in a charity turkey giveaway pisses you off, and what to do when your best friend won’t read your book. If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to ...
Mom & Dad: Parents Have Taken Over My Kid’s Sport. Yikes.
December 07, 2023 19:00 - 30 minutesOn this episode: a listener writes in from the bench. Their kid is in a sports class that’s been overrun by grown-ups and siblings — on the court, doing the drills, and taking up equipment. What’s going on in this class for 3-6 year olds, and is it time to give up? We also go over our week in triumphs and fails, and then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus: how can we purge the stuffie plague, and what other toys are collecting dust? Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate...
The Waves: We See Dead Girls
December 07, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutesOn this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re bringing out the dead girls. Everywhere you look in popular culture there seems to be a new movie, TV show or true crime documentary detailing the mystery of yet another woman’s death. At least, that was how author and guest Alice Bolin saw things when she wrote her book Dead Girls in 2018. She sits down with Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth to unpack what has - and hasn’t - changed in dead girl culture (from Twin Peak’s Laura Palmer to our persiste...