Best Slate Magazine Podcasts (2024)

1
Introducing: Magic in the United States 43:31

2h 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

14m 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

33m 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

37m 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

2h 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

8h 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

10h 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

2d 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
ICYMI: Finding Queer Friendship Online 30:42

2d 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
Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs - Ep 6: The Murders at City Hall 56:13

2d 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
Gays Against Briggs | 6. The Murders at City Hall 56:13

2d 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
What Next: The OB-GYN Behind the Fight to Ban Mifepristone 31:30

2d 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
Well, Now: Psychedelics' Long Strange Trip to the Doctor's Office 42:24

2d 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

2d 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

3d 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

4d 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

6d 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

7d 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…

1
What Next: Homelessness Before the Supreme Court 32:39

8d ago32:39

32:39

The Supreme Court is soon expected to decide Grants Pass v. Johnson, a case where a town’s efforts to remove unhoused people from its parks became “cruel and unusual,” according to lower courts. Guest: Dr. Bruce Murray, chief medical officer for the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) in Josephine County, Oregon. Want more What Next? Subscrib…

1
What Next: Homelessness Before the Supreme Court 32:39

10d ago32:39

32:39

The Supreme Court is soon expected to decide Grants Pass v. Johnson, a case where a town’s efforts to remove unhoused people from its parks became “cruel and unusual,” according to lower courts. Guest: Dr. Bruce Murray, chief medical officer for the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) in Josephine County, Oregon. Want more What Next? Subscrib…

1
Gays Against Briggs | 5. Strange Bedfellows 55:25

9d ago55:25

55:25

As Election Day approached, the campaign to defeat Proposition 6 faced formidable odds. John Briggs’ fundraising juggernaut was churning out cash, and public opinion polls were solidly in his favor. To turn the tide, gay rights activists unveiled a powerful symbol and gambled on the support of an improbable ally: Ronald Reagan. (If you—or anyone yo…

51
Sex, Lies, and Hockey Pucks 37:55

9d ago37:55

37:55

30 years ago, the Stanley Cup playoffs ignited a rumor that has been messing with Jane Macdougall’s life ever since. In 1994, the Vancouver Canucks had made it all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Rangers. When they barely lost, fans expected the team to come back blazing the next year. Instead, 1995 was a total letd…

1
Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs - Ep. 5: Strange Bedfellows 55:25

10d ago55:25

55:25

As Election Day approached, the campaign to defeat Proposition 6 faced formidable odds. John Briggs’ fundraising juggernaut was churning out cash, and public opinion polls were solidly in his favor. To turn the tide, gay rights activists unveiled a powerful symbol and gambled on the support of an improbable ally: Ronald Reagan. (If you—or anyone yo…

1
Well, Now: Meet Gwyneth Paltrow’s Mold Guy 47:31

11d ago47:31

47:31

Everyone knows the quality of the air we breathe directly affects our health. As the summer rolls along and more people seek reprieve from the heat indoors, it’s important to be sure our indoor air is clean and toxin-free. One pollutant to keep an eye out for is mold. Mold inside a home could hurt your health both immediately and in the long term. …

1
What Next; How IVF Became the GOP's Next Battle 28:17

12d ago28:17

28:17

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, the Christian right seems to be setting its sights on banning in-vitro fertilization. But even though the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution against IVF, it’s a very popular and widely accepted procedure, which is why Senate Republicans signed a statement in favor of access to IVF, the same day…

1
Hear Me Out: Pride Is For Everyone (Except Cops and Politicians) 39:14

11d ago39:14

39:14

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: all aren’t welcome. Pride Month festivities have a complicated legacy. On the one hand, being out, proud and supportive in public has been a game-changing force for the LGBTQ+ community; on the other hand, pride began as a protest, and the movement has been, and is, at odds with the status quo and acceptability po…

1
How To Start Strength Training 44:00

10d ago44:00

44:00

Meg once was a terror in the world of roller derby. But these days, her sedentary lifestyle is making everyday physical activities a tad daunting. (We’re looking at you, groceries that need to be carried up four flights of stairs!). She wants to start lifting weights, but she’s unsure where to start—and whether she can avoid the bro-culture of many…

1
How To!: Start Strength Training 44:00

12d ago44:00

44:00

Meg once was a terror in the world of roller derby. But these days, her sedentary lifestyle is making everyday physical activities a tad daunting. (We’re looking at you, groceries that need to be carried up four flights of stairs!). She wants to start lifting weights, but she’s unsure where to start—and whether she can avoid the bro-culture of many…

1
Death, Sex & Money: Mark Duplass on Making Money, Mental Health and Midlife 53:43

12d ago53:43

53:43

Mark Duplass’s first big dream came true when he was 28: a movie he wrote and directed with his brother, Jay, got into The Sundance Film Festival. It was a major accomplishment, but Mark was miserable. “The week after Sundance was probably one of the worst weeks of my life because I realized I hit the top of the mountain. The top of the mountain di…

1
What Next; How IVF Became the GOP's Next Battle 28:17

11d ago28:17

28:17

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, the Christian right seems to be setting its sights on banning in-vitro fertilization. But even though the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution against IVF, it’s a very popular and widely accepted procedure, which is why Senate Republicans signed a statement in favor of access to IVF, the same day…

1
What Next TBD: The FBI Made a Phone Network. It Was A Trap. 33:00

14d ago33:00

33:00

In 2021, one of the largest global law enforcement operations took place. It was all thanks to an encrypted phone service known as Anom, which was secretly run by the FBI. The program was a wild success. But did the agency take it too far? Guest: Joseph Cox, investigative reporter for 404 media and author of “Dark Wire, the Incredible True Story of…

1
Gabfest Reads: When a Sex Robot Catches Feelings 21:14

14d ago21:14

21:14

David Plotz talks with author Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot. They discuss how much discomfort Annie (a “Cuddle Bunny” type of robot) can feel, how the story of a robot is really about the right to control a body, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless t…

1
Amicus Opinionpalooza: SCOTUS Says Yes to Bump Stocks, No to Gun Safety Regulation 50:38

15d ago50:38

50:38

A bump stock is an attachment that converts a semi automatic rifle into a weapon that can fire as many as 800 rounds per minute - an intensity of gunfire matched by machine guns. The deadliest mass shooting carried out by a single shooter in US history - the October 2017 Las Vegas massacre - was enabled by a bump stock. On Friday, the US Supreme Co…

1
Care & Feeding: Dads Can Suffer From Postpartum Depression, Too 40:27

16d ago40:27

40:27

On this episode: Lucy sits down with researcher and friend of the show Tova Walsh to talk about her work on dads who experience postpartum depression. Paternal mental health is a topic we don’t talk about nearly enough, so we wanted to give you some advice — and some resources to learn more and get help. Tova wants to share the following: A convers…

1
Care & Feeding: Dads Can Suffer From Postpartum Depression, Too 40:27

16d ago40:27

40:27

On this episode: Lucy sits down with researcher and friend of the show Tova Walsh to talk about her work on dads who experience postpartum depression. Paternal mental health is a topic we don’t talk about nearly enough, so we wanted to give you some advice — and some resources to learn more and get help. Tova wants to share the following: A convers…

1
Gays Against Briggs | 4. You Must Come Out 57:48

16d ago57:48

57:48

In the early days of the anti-Briggs campaign, a Richard Pryor comedy set turned into a public fiasco and laid bare longstanding divisions in the gay community. With the movement low on cash and running out of time, thousands of gay Californians decided their only option was to tell the world who they really were. (If you—or anyone you know—are in …

1
Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs - Ep. 4: You Must Come Out 57:48

18d ago57:48

57:48

In the early days of the anti-Briggs campaign, a Richard Pryor comedy set turned into a public fiasco and laid bare longstanding divisions in the gay community. With the movement low on cash and running out of time, thousands of gay Californians decided their only option was to tell the world who they really were. (If you—or anyone you know—are in …

1
Well, Now: Doctors Agree: Obesity is a Disease. The Public Needs to Catch Up. 52:12

18d ago52:12

52:12

Ever since it showed up on the Body Mass Index, the label “obese” has been used to judge and often shame people with larger bodies. Medical providers, family and friends, even strangers make assumptions about fat people’s health solely based on their size. At the same time, excess quantities of fat can lead to poor health outcomes such as high bloo…

1
What Next: Wait, Is JUUL Banned or Not? 25:45

18d ago25:45

25:45

Two years ago, the FDA announced it was banning JUUL nicotine vapes from sale in the U.S.—and then quickly announced it was holding off on the ban to allow for review. How did regulating ecigarettes end up playing catch-up? Guest: Jamie Ducharme, health correspondent at Time, author of Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul. Want more What Next? Sub…

1
Death, Sex & Money: My Shy Bladder 44:01

19d ago44:01

44:01

Christopher Zara didn’t finish high school, and can sometimes feel like an outsider working in a field where it’s more common to have a college degree. Sometimes he’s able to push through his social anxiety, to put on a tough face. But other times his body won’t give him a chance to feel at ease – it seizes up, and in Christopher’s case that means …

1
What Next: Hunter Biden’s Judgment Day 23:19

19d ago23:19

23:19

Is Hunter Biden’s trial proof that the justice system doesn’t care about your last name? Or is the president’s son being targeted? Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and a former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your f…

1
How To Move Past Your Toxic Ex 44:59

19d ago44:59

44:59

After Lin met Dave, their lives quickly became entangled. Lin joined Dave’s small business, made much-needed improvements, and charmed Dave’s family. The two also began a romantic relationship that lasted years. When it fizzled, Lin continued working at the company—and eventually uncovered Dave’s lies, deceit, and infidelity. On this episode of How…

1
Working: A Master Class in Queer Character Description 49:42

21d ago49:42

49:42

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to writer Emma Copley Eisenberg about her new novel Housemates, which features a burgeoning friendship between two artists who decide to road trip across Pennsylvania together. In the interview, Emma explains how her nonfiction writing and her interest in history influenced this new work of fiction. She also t…

1
Amicus: The Supreme Court’s Appeal to Heaven 57:14

22d ago57:14

57:14

Over the past 15 years, the journalist and author Katherine Stewart has been charting the rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States. On this week’s Amicus, Stewart joins Dahlia Lithwick and Rachel Laser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State to discuss the worrying signs of the growing power of extremist christian ideologie…

1
A Word: The WNBA’s Great White Hype 34:57

23d ago34:57

34:57

“Petty.” “Jealous.” That’s what many male sportscasters are saying about the women competing against WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark. The former Iowa star is bringing a new level of attention to women’s basketball, but many men who ignored the league for years are now leading the coverage. So how is sexism and racism fueling the way they’re talking about…

1
Political Gabfest: Will Trump’s Conviction Help Biden? 57:38

23d ago57:38

57:38

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the fallout from Donald Trump’s felony conviction; the spin-up for Hunter Biden’s trial; and the upshot for college speech from campus protests with Charles Homans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nathaniel Rakich for 538: Trump’s conviction may be hurting h…

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