Best Plötz Podcasts (2024)

1
Who Is Responsible For Political Violence? 1:04:58

32m ago1:04:58

1:04:58

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss political violence and its consequences; the state of the presidential race; and The Rise of Fox News with Slow Burn’s Josh Levin. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed sec…

1
134* Etherized: Anne Enright in a Novel Dialogue Conversation (Paige Reynolds, JP) 44:46

6h ago44:46

44:46

Anne Enright, writer, critic, Booker winner, kindly made time back in 2023 for Irish literature maven Paige Reynolds and for John Plotz in his role as host for our sister podcast, Novel Dialogue. In this conversation, she reads from The Wren, The Wren and says we don’t yet know if the web has become a space of exposure or of authority. We can be su…

1
Donald Trump Takes The Bait 1:08:18

11h ago1:08:18

1:08:18

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Kamala Harris’ win against Donald Trump in the presidential debate; the Harris endorsements by Taylor Swift and Dick and Liz Cheney; and election integrity with Professor Nathaniel Persily of Stanford Law School. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Willa Paskin and Cheyna Roth for …

1
A Working Farewell and What We’ve Learned 48:09

5d ago48:09

48:09

This week, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Ronald Young Jr. reflect on the best tips, tools, and words of wisdom from the past four years of Working. They bid farewell to the show, to the listeners, and discuss the lessons that stuck with them and changed the way they work. They also save time at the end to reply to some heartwarming listener …

1
Why Isn’t Harris Doing Better? 1:01:30

8d ago1:01:30

1:01:30

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the state of the presidential race; the possibility of a hostages-for-Gaza-ceasefire deal with Ruth Margalit of The New Yorker; and foreign interference in U.S. politics. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Joshua Leifer about his book, Tablets Shattered. Email your chatter…

1
133 Beri Marusic on Grief and other Expiring Emotions (Katie Elliott, JP) 1:05:30

8d ago1:05:30

1:05:30

Why is that when a loved one dies, grief seems inescapable--and then diminishes? The brilliant Edinburgh philosopher Berislav Marusic's "Do Reasons Expire? An Essay on Grief" begins with his grief for the unexpected and early loss of his mother: "I stopped grieving or at least the grief diminished, yet the reason didn't really change. It's not like…

1
Working Overtime: Saying Goodbye 21:35

8d ago21:35

21:35

On this, the final episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas share some last bits of advice on how best to leave a job! Ronald has been let go, quit jobs, and switched gears in every possible way. June has moved across countries and allowed turning points in her life to be catalysts for moving on from certain work. Both of…

1
An Artist’s Guide to ADHD and Getting Stuff Done 51:36

12d ago51:36

51:36

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Andy J. Pizza, an illustrator and creator of children’s books who’s also the host of the Creative Pep Talk podcast. In the interview, Andy explains what it’s like to be a working artist with ADHD, and he shares some strategies that have helped him channel his attention, accomplish tasks, and evolve in his c…

1
Will Harris and Trump Actually Debate? 1:08:59

23d ago1:08:59

1:08:59

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump debate and other campaign goings-on; the January 6th and classified documents cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith; and the national housing shortage with Conor Dougherty of The New York Times. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Wayne Homes: T…

1
How a Big Band Leader and Composer Wrangles All the Moving Parts 54:02

19d ago54:02

54:02

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue, who fronts the 18-piece big band jazz group Secret Society. In the interview, Darcy talks about the thought processes that go into his compositions, like how his interest in mathematician Alan Turning inspired a track on the group’s most recent album Dynamic Maximum Te…

1
The Democrats ‘Do Something’ Convention 1:04:26

21d ago1:04:26

1:04:26

This week, John Dickerson returns and joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the Democratic National Convention; presidential polls; and overtourism. Here are this week’s chatters: John: @jdickerson on Threads: Background Sounds on iPhone Emily: Tablets Shattered by Joshua Leifer; Gabfest Reads: Where Does the American Jewish Experience Go …

1
Working Overtime: Transitioning From One Project to the Next 25:22

22d ago25:22

25:22

On this week's episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas get into the weeds on in-between time and pivoting from one job to the next. June is at the tail end of the promotional tour of her book, while Ronald is gearing up for a new season of his podcast Weight For It. How do you take the final steps of wrapping up one proj…

1
The Founder of a Life-Changing Writers’ Retreat 42:49

27d ago42:49

42:49

This week, host June Thomas talks to author and poet Judith Barrington about her knack for memoir writing and about a retreat called Flight of the Mind that she ran with her partner for 17 years. In the interview, they discuss what makes good memoir writing, what Flight of the Mind meant to women writers, and how to get the most out of writing retr…

1
Gabfest Reads: Where Does the American Jewish Experience Go from Here? 59:13

28d ago59:13

59:13

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazalon talks with author Joshua Leifer about his new book, Tablets Shattered: The End of An American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life. They discuss Leifer’s experience growing up Jewish in America, the conflict in Gaza, how what it means to be Jewish has evolved, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabf…

1
Are We Really Still Talking About Crowd Size? 1:01:33

30d ago1:01:33

1:01:33

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Marin Cogan of Vox to discuss how the media is reporting on election disinformation and misinformation and Donald Trump’s lies; Vice President Kamala Harris defining Candidate Kamala Harris; and more guns, less violent crime. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Marin Cogan…

1
132* Policing and White Power with Daniel Kryder and David Cunningham (JP, EF) 39:35

29d ago39:35

39:35

This June 2020 episode, originally part of a Global Policing series, was Recall this Book's first exploration of police brutality, systemic and personal racism and Black Lives Matter. Elizabeth and John were lucky to be joined by Daniel Kryder and David Cunningham, two scholars who have worked on these questions for decades. Many of the mechanisms …

1
Smart Money Podcast: How to Navigate Income Swings in a Creative Career 31:05

29d ago31:05

31:05

It's an off-week for Working Overtime, so we're presenting a special bonus episode from the Smart Money podcast! Smart Money features real-world advice to help people make better decisions about their money. In today's episode, a jazz saxophonist talks about navigating the financial ups and downs of a career in the arts. If you like this episode, a…

1
How a TV Writer Keeps the Ideas Coming 48:07

1M ago48:07

48:07

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Mike Gauyo, a TV writer and creator whose credits include the beloved series Insecure and Ginny and Georgia. In the interview, Mike shares his process for thinking of new ideas for shows, refining those ideas over time, and pitching them to industry gatekeepers. He also talks about being from an immigrant f…

1
These Walz Could Talk 53:00

1M ago53:00

53:00

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government to discuss the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; Google’s search monopoly and antitrust trial loss; and the guilty-plea deals in three 9/11 cases undone by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austi…

1
Working Overtime: Surviving the Book Release Process 33:40

1M ago33:40

33:40

June Thomas recently published her book A Place of Our Own: Six Places That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture, and on this episode of Working Overtime co-host Isaac Butler asks her what went into the release and its promo-campaign. The weeks leading up to a release can be long and exhaustive, with questionnaires, blurb requests, and audiobook recordings…

1
How a Stand Up Comedian’s Sense of Humor Evolves 52:41

1M ago52:41

52:41

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Dina Hashem, a stand-up comedian and writer for The Daily Show whose recent special is called Dark Little Whispers. In the interview, Dina discusses her reliance on inspiration rather than a formal writing process, her experiences in comedy roast battles, and the fact that her standards for good comedy keep get…

1
These [Republicans] Are Weird 1:05:02

2M ago1:05:02

1:05:02

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the new Democratic line against JD Vance and Donald Trump; the Kamala Harris Veepstakes; and President Biden’s attempt to reform the Supreme Court.Here are this week’s chatters: John: The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship Emily: Social Security and Trends in Wealth Inequality and The …

1
131 Shaul Magid on the Jewish Radicalism of Meir Kahane (JP, Eugene Sheppard) 55:10

1M ago55:10

55:10

For Kahane, the greatest enemy of the Jews was not the black nationalist, the greatest enemy of the Jews was not the Arabs. The greatest enemy of the Jews was liberalism. Shaul Magid, Distinguished Fellow in Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College and Rabbi of the Fire Island Synagogue, is a celebrated and brilliant scholar of radical and dissident Jud…

1
Writing the Two-Author Novel 52:27

2M ago52:27

52:27

Host June Thomas speaks with authors Rachel Dodes and Lauren Mechling about their new novel, The Memo and their collaborative writing process. The pandemic took its toll on everyone, but for Mechling and Dodes, it became a time to collaborate via a Google Doc. They spewed ideas and paragraphs onto the same page, editing each other’s output in real …

1
The Coronation of Kamala Harris 1:00:54

2M ago1:00:54

1:00:54

This week, hosts Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Washington Post associate editor and columnist Ruth Marcus. They President Joe Biden’s big step down, how the race is evolving with Kamala Harris stepping in as the presumptive nominee, and the fallout of the Secret Service. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate…

1
Working Overtime: Revisiting Your Resolutions 28:05

2M ago28:05

28:05

It's halfway through the year, and hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler are putting themselves back under the microscope to see which of their New Year's resolutions they’ve stuck with and which they’ve let peter out. June still wants to work more sustainably, and Isaac comes clean about his lapsed French studies. They get into routines that have tru…

1
A Newspaper Comic That Shows a Changing America 52:29

2M ago52:29

52:29

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Darrin Bell, creator of the syndicated newspaper comic strip Candorville. In the interview, Darrin explains how hard it was to get Candorville picked up for syndication and how all newspaper comics artists face an up-hill battle to get published. He also talks about his routine for creating new strips every…

1
Gabfest Reads: Understanding the World Through Notebooks 41:33

2M ago41:33

41:33

John Dickerson talks with author Roland Allen about his new book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper. They discuss the historical origins of notebooks, how to keep a notebook and their own personal journeys documenting their lives. If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll love an exploration into John Dickerson’s notebooks with his podcas…

1
“Fight, Fight, Fight” 49:44

2M ago49:44

49:44

This week, John Dickerson is joined by What Next host Mary Harris to discuss Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, the excitement at the Republican National Convention (and why they’re talking about a victory), and the aftermath of the Trump assassination attempt. Here are this week’s chatters: John: The television series, Shetland on BritBox Mar…

1
An Author’s Mission to Make Her Readers Belly Laugh 54:33

2M ago54:33

54:33

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Sally Franson, the author of two novels: A Lady’s Guide to Selling Out and the brand new release Big in Sweden, which was inspired by her real-life experience as a contestant on a Swedish reality competition show. In the interview, Sally digs into the challenges of writing her second novel and the realizations …

1
Even George Clooney Has Abandoned Biden 1:01:46

2M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz continue to debate if Joe Biden should stay in the presidential race and who might replace him if he goes; discuss Project 2025; and ponder if Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett deserves a strange, new respect. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: George Clooney in …

1
Working Overtime: How to Ease Back into Work After Losing a Loved One 22:21

2M ago22:21

22:21

Hosts Ronald Young Jr. and Isaac Butler delve into coping with emotional trauma and the challenge of returning to work afterward. Following a death in his family, Ronald grapples with his grief while feeling overwhelmed by the backlog of work. Isaac, having faced his own unexpected personal struggles, explains that part of the return process is acc…

1
How to Photograph a Hardcore Punk Show 48:31

2M ago48:31

48:31

This week, host June Thomas talks to Jim Saah, a photographer who documented D.C.’s legendary hardcore punk scene in the 1980’s and 90’s. In the interview, Jim explains how he fell in love with punk music in high school and soon started photographing bands like Minor Threat and Fugazi. He also discusses the chaotic environments he had to work in, a…

1
Trump Is So Immune 1:05:41

3M 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
130* Racism as Power Relation: A Discussion with Adaner Usmani (EF, JP) 33:59

2M ago33:59

33:59

Do we understand racism as the primary driving engine of American inequality? Or do we focus instead on the indirect ways that frequently hard-to-discern class inequality and inegalitarian power relations can produce racially differentiated outcomes? Adaner Usmani, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Social Studies at Harvard and on the editorial …

1
How One of the Best Podcast Sound Designers Executes a Vision 50:16

3M ago50:16

50:16

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to John DeLore, a podcast editor and sound designer who’s been in the industry since its heyday. He’s produced hugely popular shows for companies like Gimlet and Stitcher, and now he runs his own production company, Starlight Diner Studio. In the interview, John breaks down his sound design process, shares tip…

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