Best Slate Magazine Podcasts (2024)

1
The Secret Life of Lawn Ornaments 51:06

9m ago51:06

51:06

Lawn ornaments are everywhere—but for something so ubiquitous, they’re also mysterious. What’s the person with the flamingo or the gargoyle in their yard trying to say—and why do they want to say it so publicly? From the garden-variety to the not so common, the adorable to the odious—lawn ornaments speak volumes, without saying a word. In this epis…

1
Well, Now: How Nick Cannon Got Celebrities to Open Up About Their Mental Health 57:39

1h ago57:39

57:39

We all know about the mental health crisis wreaking havoc throughout the nation and world. On this week’s episode of Well, Now we’re continuing our ongoing discussions of mental health, and this time we’re tackling men’s mental health as a whole. Prime’s new show Counsel Culture, hosted by Nick Cannon and medical professionals across the spectrum, …

1
Well, Now: How Nick Cannon Got Celebrities to Open Up About Their Mental Health 57:39

17m ago57:39

57:39

We all know about the mental health crisis wreaking havoc throughout the nation and world. On this week’s episode of Well, Now we’re continuing our ongoing discussions of mental health, and this time we’re tackling men’s mental health as a whole. Prime’s new show Counsel Culture, hosted by Nick Cannon and medical professionals across the spectrum, …

1
How To Be a Mindful Grandparent 43:51

1h ago43:51

43:51

Shirley Showalter and Marilyn McEntyre know that grandparenting is more than just cookies and Play-Doh. Don’t get us wrong, those things are fun! But the art of contemporary grandparenting requires mindfulness, intentionality, and navigating boundaries. On today’s episode, Courtney Martin talks with Marilyn and Shirley about their book, The Mindful…

1
What Next: After the Trump Assassination Attempt 32:58

6h ago32:58

32:58

Former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt Saturday during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. While the gunman has been identified, law enforcement have not offered a potential motivation for the attack. The incident comes at a time of heightened political violence, when more Americans think such acts are justifiable. Guests: Is…

1
What Next TBD: The New World of DIY Medical Tests 25:54

4h ago25:54

25:54

“Home diagnostics” are a $5 billion industry—and growing. Spurred by social media, people are buying into at-home health tests, without input from their doctors, and often, not even the FDA. Guest: Elizabeth Dwoskin, reporter for the Washington Post Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next …

1
Amicus Opinionpalooza: This SCOTUS Decision Is Actually Even More Devastating Than We First Thought 53:22

8h ago53:22

53:22

Administrative law may not sound sexy. And maybe that’s because it truly isn’t sexy. But it is at the very center of the biggest decisions this past Supreme Court term, and also widely misunderstood. In this week’s show, we asked Georgetown Law School’s Professor Lisa Heinzerling to come back to help hack through the thorny thicket of administrativ…

1
What Next TBD: Boeing Pleads Guilty 28:28

5d ago28:28

28:28

Boeing just pled guilty to felony charges of defrauding the federal government, leading to millions of dollars in fines, and new, external oversight. Is this how the company finally turns it around? Guest: Oriana Pawlyk, POLITICO’s aviation reporter. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next…

1
What Next: How to Survive This Heat 25:29

2d ago25:29

25:29

Air-conditioning can feel like the only way to get through increasingly hot summers, but it’s an expensive, power-hungry way to keep cool. How necessary is it? And how necessary is it to raise our thermostats up from 72 degrees? Guest: Adam Clark Estes, senior technology correspondent at Vox. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access a…

1
Outward: What's A Gender Doula? 42:12

6d ago42:12

42:12

In this episode, Jules talks to Gender Doula Eli Lawliet. They break down what it means to offer non-medical support to people during transition, the long history of trans support networks, and the value of ritual and spirituality during transition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Well, Now: The Full Truth About Ozempic 49:39

3d ago49:39

49:39

Few drugs in the last century have changed the landscape of healthcare and weight management like GLP-1 agonist drugs — drugs like Ozempic and WeGovy. On this week’s episode of Well, Now we talk with Harvard professor and clinician Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford. Her research revolutionized obesity medicine and helped pave the way to get a diabetes drug …

1
Outward: What's A Gender Doula? 42:12

6d ago42:12

42:12

In this episode, Jules talks to Gender Doula Eli Lawliet. They break down what it means to offer non-medical support to people during transition, the long history of trans support networks, and the value of ritual and spirituality during transition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Death, Sex & Money: Sex Parties and Shakespeare With Carvell Wallace 52:12

4d ago52:12

52:12

Carvell Wallace’s brilliant new memoir Another Word for Love has been rightfully praised for its passages about childhood trauma, about apologies and forgiveness, and about the healing power of love. But the book also features some important lessons about sex, consent, and the ways popular culture can send the wrong messages about both of those thi…

1
Money Talks: What Does “Making It” Really Mean? 33:22

4d ago33:22

33:22

For this Money Talks, former Teen Vogue executive editor Samhita Mukhopadhyay speaks with host Emily Peck about the false promise of the “girl boss” myth. In her book “The Myth of Making It,” Samhita recounts her own grueling climb to the top — a road paved with double standards and toxicity for women — and why she left it all behind. In her conver…

1
How To Take a Sabbatical 39:53

4d ago39:53

39:53

Trisha is craving a break from her job, but she doesn’t want to drain her bank account. On today’s episode, Courtney Martin connects Trisha to DJ DiDonna, founder of The Sabbatical Project, who’s on a quest to make extended breaks accessible to all. DJ explains how to plan for a sabbatical that is both meaningful and manageable. If you liked this e…

1
What Next: Why Gay Rights Are Under Attack – Again 30:42

5d ago30:42

30:42

What the fight against the “Briggs Initiative” in 1970s California tells us about the fight for gay rights—and the fight to keep those victories in place. Guest: Christina Cauterucci, senior writer at Slate and host of Slow Burn Season 9: Gays Against Briggs. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What…

1
Amicus Opinionpalooza: The Supreme Court End-of-Term Breakfast Table 1:01:55

7d ago1:01:55

1:01:55

What just happened??? Despite going into June clear-eyed and well informed about the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority, the number of huge cases before it, and the alarming stakes in so many of those cases…we are, nonetheless, shocked. The October 2023 term came to a shuddering end on Monday July 1st and Dahlia Lithwick, Mark Joseph Stern,…

1
A Word: No Justice. No Peace. No Way Back? 30:46

8d ago30:46

30:46

This year’s Supreme Court session loosened laws on official bribery, overturned decades of precedent on regulation, and granted immunity to the president for official actions. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by legal analyst Elie Mystal of The Nation. They review the Court’s most important decisions, and talk about the politic…

1
Political Gabfest: Trump Is So Immune 1:05:41

9d ago1:05:41

1:05:41

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court decisions on presidential immunity in Trump v. United States and the administrative state in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo as well as the future of Joe Biden’s nomination to be re-elected president. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Su…

1
What Next: A Mom's Fight for a Fair Opioid Settlement 32:42

9d ago32:42

32:42

Last week the Supreme Court ruled a $6 billion settlement between Purdue Pharma and victims of the opioid crisis could not move forward, because it granted immunity to the Sackler family, the principal owners of Purdue. For one of the litigants, a mother who has lost two sons to overdoses, the decision felt like “a sucker punch.” Guest: Cheryl Juai…

1
What Next: A Mom's Fight for a Fair Opioid Settlement 32:42

10d ago32:42

32:42

Last week the Supreme Court ruled a $6 billion settlement between Purdue Pharma and victims of the opioid crisis could not move forward, because it granted immunity to the Sackler family, the principal owners of Purdue. For one of the litigants, a mother who has lost two sons to overdoses, the decision felt like “a sucker punch.” Guest: Cheryl Juai…

1
Stuffed Animals Gone Wild 40:23

10d ago40:23

40:23

Axolotls. Narwhals. Llamas. Sloths. Every few years, it seems like American kids and parents collectively decide they cannot get enough of a creature that makes teddy bears seem impossibly quaint. In today’s episode we’re going to swim after the axolotl, as it takes us to some far-flung and unexpected places, to understand how it came to rule the s…

1
Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs - Ep 7: Turn Around. Fight Back. 51:56

10d ago51:56

51:56

For the two years leading up to May 21, 1979, gay activists followed the rules. They engaged in civil debates. They sought justice at the ballot box. They peacefully mourned the assassination of Harvey Milk. But the verdict in Dan White’s murder trial changed everything. (If you—or anyone you know—are in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevent…

1
Outward: Can Animals Be Queer? 49:45

11d ago49:45

49:45

This week Bryan, Christina, and Jules reunite for a classic Outward episode! They share their prides and provocations, set the gay agenda for July, and take on the recent spate of queer animal documentaries that beg the question: Can animals really be queer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Well, Now: Michelle Obama Gets Health Advice from This Gyno. Now You Can, Too. 54:40

10d ago54:40

54:40

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world’s population. Yet, many of them say they don’t feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor’s office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On th…

1
What Next: The Supreme Court’s Abortion Punt 28:21

10d ago28:21

28:21

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, a near-total abortion ban was triggered in Idaho, allowing for health exceptions only when “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” But a case that found the ban in conflict with a federal law known as “EMTALA” went all the way to the Supreme Court, before being sent back to lower courts—neither overt…

1
Well, Now: Michelle Obama Gets Health Advice from This Gyno. Now You Can, Too. 54:40

11d ago54:40

54:40

Women, girls, and people assigned female at birth make up more than half of the world’s population. Yet, many of them say they don’t feel supported, heard, or cared for in the doctor’s office — even in spaces designed specifically for their care like obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sharon Malone, veteran OB/GYN, is on a mission to change that. On th…

1
What Next: The Supreme Court’s Abortion Punt 28:21

11d ago28:21

28:21

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, a near-total abortion ban was triggered in Idaho, allowing for health exceptions only when “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” But a case that found the ban in conflict with a federal law known as “EMTALA” went all the way to the Supreme Court, before being sent back to lower courts—neither overt…

1
How To Survive a Shark Attack (Encore) 31:52

12d ago31:52

31:52

David was in the ocean in Hawaii when the unthinkable happened—a shark attacked him and bit off his leg. “I don’t think you’re gonna make it,” a medic told the 25-year-old on the helicopter ride to the hospital. But David did make it, and soon he learned that surviving the shark wasn’t the hardest part—it was what came after. On this episode of How…

1
What Next: How Bad is the Trump Immunity Ruling? 27:35

12d ago27:35

27:35

The Supreme Court has ruled that presidents enjoy “substantial immunity” from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, which includes absolute immunity for “core constitutional duties” and “presumptive immunity” for “official acts.” All good news for one Donald J. Trump. How bad is it for the rest of us? Guest: Richard Hasen, law professor…

1
Care & Feeding: Does My Toddler Need Shorts Under Her Dress? 41:30

12d ago41:30

41:30

On this episode: Zak, Lucy and Elizabeth help a listener whose daycare has requested that her toddler daughter wear shorts underneath skirts and dresses. The listener’s knee-jerk reaction is that it’s unnecessary… but we’ll offer some suggestions about what she could be missing, and why how we dress our kids is important. We also dole out a round o…

1
Introducing: Magic in the United States 43:31

13d ago43:31

43:31

Join host Heather Freeman as she explores the secrets of America's rich magical tapestry. Each episode uncovers the fascinating magical practices, beliefs, and personal stories of America’s diverse cultural communities, both past and present. Discover the hidden realms of the United States, from religious remixing to enchanted beliefs and sorcerous…

1
What Next TBD: Why Are IUDs Still a Mystery? 25:52

16d ago25:52

25:52

The story of IUDs is a story of technology, reproductive rights, shortcomings in communication about women’s health, and politics. Guest: Mia Armstrong-Lopez, managing editor at ASU Media Enterprise and author of a recent piece on IUDs for Slate. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next fam…

1
What Next TBD: Why Are IUDs Still a Mystery? 25:52

14d ago25:52

25:52

The story of IUDs is a story of technology, reproductive rights, shortcomings in communication about women’s health, and politics. Guest: Mia Armstrong-Lopez, managing editor at ASU Media Enterprise and author of a recent piece on IUDs for Slate. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next fam…

1
Amicus Opinionpalooza: The Day SCOTUS Became President 53:37

15d ago53:37

53:37

While most everyone was reacting to Thursday’s Presidential debate, we had our eyes trained on the Supreme Court. It was again (surprise!) bad. SCOTUS determined that sleeping outside was illegal in Grants Pass v Johnson. They limited the scope by which insurrectionists could be charged for their actions on January 6, 2021 in Fischer v United State…

1
What Next TBD: Why Extreme Weather Keeps Surprising You 30:31

16d ago30:31

30:31

Saying any one storm or heat wave or weather in general was “caused by climate change” is tricky—summer is, after all, usually pretty hot, and storms happen. But researchers are working on a model that brings “climate change” from abstract into the particular. Guest: Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Susta…

1
Amicus Opinionpalooza: SCOTUS and MAGA’s Shared Vision For Government Comes Into View 50:23

16d ago50:23

50:23

What’s this? A bonus Opinionpalooza episode for one and all? That’s right! The hits just keep coming from SCOTUS this week, and two big decisions landed Thursday that might easily get lost in the mix: Ohio v EPA and SEC v Jarkesy. Both cases shine a light on the conservative legal movement (and their billionaire funders’) long game against administ…

1
Political Gabfest: A Law Trapped In Amber 58:46

16d ago58:46

58:46

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss the recent Supreme Court rulings on emergency abortions and guns with Yale Law School’s Linda Greenhouse and Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s loss in a New York Democratic primary. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Supreme Court of the United States: Moyle v. United States; United …

1
Outward: A History of Lesbian Fashion with Eleanor Medhurst 35:53

18d ago35:53

35:53

This week Christina chats with Eleanor Medhurst, author of “Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion,” and the blog ‘Dressing Dykes’ to chat about lesbian style from around the world and across time. They dig into the gender-bending styles of the Harlem Renaissance, monocles, and how queer women used their fashions to find each other. Click HERE to…

1
What Next: The OB-GYN Behind the Fight to Ban Mifepristone 31:30

18d ago31:30

31:30

The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to uphold access to mifepristone left the door open for another case to be brought to ban the abortion pill. This physician is eager for another chance. Guest: Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozie…

1
Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs - Ep 6: The Murders at City Hall 56:13

18d ago56:13

56:13

On election night in 1978, gays and lesbians in California braced themselves for the statewide vote on Proposition 6. Less than a month after the results came in, a pair of killings shocked San Francisco and the nation. Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock all episodes of Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs. Your subscription also gets you ad-f…

1
ICYMI: Finding Queer Friendship Online 30:42

18d ago30:42

30:42

On today’s special Pride Month episode, Rachelle and Candice hear from two listeners about finding queer friendship and community online. From a group for late bloomers to an Instagram account for personal ads, their online life rafts became offline friendships that played a big part in their identities and internet histories today. This podcast is…

1
Well, Now: Psychedelics' Long Strange Trip to the Doctor's Office 42:24

18d ago42:24

42:24

For years, psychiatrists have been researching new methods to help people with treatment-resistant mental illness. These include severe cases of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other debilitating diagnoses. One type of drug has seen some positive results in clinical trials: psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and LSD. In p…

1
What Next: The OB-GYN Behind the Fight to Ban Mifepristone 31:30

18d ago31:30

31:30

The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to uphold access to mifepristone left the door open for another case to be brought to ban the abortion pill. This physician is eager for another chance. Guest: Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozie…

1
How To Make Bank at a Yard Sale 38:42

19d ago38:42

38:42

How To!’s senior editor Joel Meyer recently experienced a yard sale fail and wants to know what went wrong. He spent hours planning and organizing the items on his lawn, but when it was all said and done he barely made enough to cover the cost of lunch. Enter this week’s expert, Ava Seavey, a self-described master of garage-sale-ology and author of…

1
What Next: Lauren Boebert Will Not Go Away 27:23

20d ago27:23

27:23

Lauren Boebert barely won re-election to the House in 2022. Now the gun-loving Freedom Caucus firebrand is running for Congress in a new Colorado district.. Even after a lewd theater scandal threatened to tank her career, how is Boebert still leading in the polls? Guest: Paul Karolyi, Senior Executive Producer of City Cast Denver Want more What Nex…

1
Amicus: Rahimi and The Roberts Court’s All New, Also Old, Second Amendment Doctrine 56:14

22d ago56:14

56:14

Another major case for the “not a loss/not exactly a win” pile this term at SCOTUS. A majority of the Supreme Court’s conservative majority said what we knew all along - adjudicated domestic abusers shouldn’t hold onto second amendment rights and the guns that they are statistically, horrifyingly, apt to use to harm their intimate partners. In an 8…

1
Dear Prudence: Revisiting Advice from Dr. Orna Guralnik 42:01

23d ago42:01

42:01

Today, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from September 2023 with Dr. Orna Guralnik (host of Showtime’s Couples Therapy). In this episode, Dr. Orna Guralnik joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when a friend is obsessed with misogynistic love and relationship podcasts, when your husband jus…

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