Best Slate Magazine Podcasts (2025)

1
Lessons of Rapid Response for 2026 24:36

12h ago24:36

24:36

This year delivered whiplash: geopolitics, tariffs, and technology all shifting at once. And heading into 2026, the disruption isn’t easing up. In this special episode, host Bob Safian distills five hard-won lessons from Rapid Response this year on how to lead when the ground won’t stop moving. You’ll hear standout moments from Brian Chesky, Clara …

1
How To Stop Fawning 42:09

19h ago42:09

42:09

When clinical psychologist, trauma therapist, and complex trauma survivor Dr. Ingrid Clayton learned about fawning — the fourth “F” after fight, flight, and freeze — she felt like this was the missing piece that explained her whole life. On this episode of How To!, Ingrid talks to Courtney Martin about what can happen when you find yourself in a ch…

1
Hang Up | Michigan is a Mess 52:18

2h ago52:18

52:18

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh discuss the shocking circumstances around the firing and arrest of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore and how his misconduct speaks to a systemic issue within Michigan Athletics. Next, the team is joined by The Ringer’s David Shoemaker to pay tribute to the pro wrestling career of John Cena following…

1
Amicus | One Amendment Explains It All 1:07:17

3h ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Trump decided this past week that there was no downside to fully embracing the racist “shithole countries” rhetoric he denied seven years ago; but this mask coming fully off is just the latest chapter in a decades-long campaign to gut a very specific part of the constitution: the reconstruction amendments. On this week’s Amicus episode, Dahlia Lith…

1
Make the office a destination, not just an obligation 36:19

6d ago36:19

36:19

With over two billion in annual revenue and nearly 7,000 employees, Gensler has cemented itself as a global icon in architecture and design. Host Jeff Berman talks with co-CEO Elizabeth Brink and global co-chair Andy Cohen about why the company has doubled down on a collaborative leadership model, the ways AI is disrupting their industry, and how t…

1
10: AIDS Isn’t Over | When We All Get to Heaven 52:48

6d ago52:48

52:48

In the final episode of When We All Get to Heaven, we catch up on what’s happened in the many years between the emergence of effective treatment for AIDS in the late ‘90s and the fall of 2025, when we recorded this episode. We linger on a moment back in June 1999, when Jim was still pastor and called on the church to remember that AIDS wasn’t over.…

1
10: AIDS Isn’t Over | When We All Get to Heaven 52:48

3h ago52:48

52:48

In the final episode of When We All Get to Heaven, we catch up on what’s happened in the many years between the emergence of effective treatment for AIDS in the late ‘90s and the fall of 2025, when we recorded this episode. We linger on a moment back in June 1999, when Jim was still pastor and called on the church to remember that AIDS wasn’t over.…

1
Kara Swisher takes on big tech, from Apple to Nvidia 36:05

8d ago36:05

36:05

Can ChatGPT dethrone Gemini? Is Tim Cook capable of leading Apple into the next wave of AI? As 2025 winds down, journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher joins Rapid Response to cut through the noise and decode what’s really happening across OpenAI, Meta, Google, and more. Swisher also sizes up the state of Disney, Netflix, and the escalating biddin…

1
How To Sing in Front of Other People 37:56

8d ago37:56

37:56

Slate staff writer Rebecca Onion wants to improve her singing voice, but she’s unsure about belting it out in public. On this episode, How To!’s Carvell Wallace introduces her to G. Phillip Shoultz III, associate director of VocalEssence, for advice on strengthening her voice, performing with confidence, and (gasp!) auditioning for a vocal group. I…

1
What Next: Healthcare Is Expensive. It’s About To Get Worse. 29:41

8d ago29:41

29:41

This week, Senate Democrats will hold a vote on extending expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits to try to prevent health insurance premiums from skyrocketing for millions of Americans. That vote is basically guaranteed to fail. Where did these credits come from, and what’s likely to happen when they (almost) inevitably lapse? Guest: Julie Rovner…

1
A warning for business leaders: Aspiring autocrats tank economies 21:50

11d ago21:50

21:50

How does a country sliding toward autocracy affect its economy? Political scientist and author Barbara F Walter offers data-driven insights about why the murky middle ground between democracy and autocracy is bad for business. She talked with host Jeff Berman live on stage at the 2025 Masters of Scale Summit. Walter’s book: https://bookshop.org/p/b…

1
ICYMI | Okay. Let’s Talk About "Everyone" Getting Skinny 59:14

11d ago59:14

59:14

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by culture writer Mikala Jamison to talk about the rise in online concern about celebrities’ bodies. Mikala writes the newsletter Body Type, and her forthcoming book The Forever Project details her recovery from an eating disorder. Following the premiere of movies like Wicked: For Good, fan concern an…

1
Amicus | SCOTUS Greenlights Trump, Gaslights America 1:07:05

10d ago1:07:05

1:07:05

While the Secretary of Defense pursues lawless boat strikes with a laser focus on maximum trolling, the Supreme Court is working to undermine voting rights with a laser focus on maximum support for Republicans. In this week’s episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and co-host Mark Joseph Stern discuss the news that Trump’s extra-constitutional attempt …

1
What Next | The Year of Vaccine Backsliding 30:24

9d ago30:24

30:24

Today, the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee will be meeting to vote on recommendations for childhood vaccinations. But under RFK Jr.’s leadership, this committee looks much different now than it did a year ago.How is the impact from the HHS secretary being seen across America today? Guest: Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center an…

1
The business behind OnlyFans, with CEO Keily Blair 29:37

13d ago29:37

29:37

In less than a decade, OnlyFans says it has grown into a business earning $7 billion a year. The digital platform is known for letting its 4 million creators share exclusive – often NSFW – content with more than 400 million paying users. So far, creators have earned $25 billion using OnlyFans. CEO Keily Blair revealed what’s next for the brand with…

1
What Next | Pardon Me, Mr. President 30:38

8d ago30:38

30:38

Some presidents use their pardons for large groups of people. Some presidents use them for personal reasons. If you were to sum up Donald Trump’s use of the power of the pardon, the only word for it is “brazen.” Guest: Benjamin Wallace-Wells is a staff writer at The New Yorker. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listenin…

1
9: AIDS Energy | When We All Get to Heaven 53:15

8d ago53:15

53:15

In 1996 everything changed. With the introduction of antiretroviral medications called the “AIDS cocktail,” people started getting better – some dramatically – and surviving AIDS became a real possibility. In the wake of these changes, MCC found itself taking stock of what they lost to AIDS and using what they learned to address larger social issue…

1
9: AIDS Energy | When We All Get to Heaven 53:15

14d ago53:15

53:15

In 1996 everything changed. With the introduction of antiretroviral medications called the “AIDS cocktail,” people started getting better – some dramatically – and surviving AIDS became a real possibility. In the wake of these changes, MCC found itself taking stock of what they lost to AIDS and using what they learned to address larger social issue…

1
9: AIDS Energy | When We All Get to Heaven 53:15

14d ago53:15

53:15

In 1996 everything changed. With the introduction of antiretroviral medications called the “AIDS cocktail,” people started getting better – some dramatically – and surviving AIDS became a real possibility. In the wake of these changes, MCC found itself taking stock of what they lost to AIDS and using what they learned to address larger social issue…

1
ICYMI | “Danish Deception” or Danish Delusion? 50:39

14d ago50:39

50:39

On today’s episode host Kate Lindsay is joined by senior supervising producer Daisy Rosario to unpack the 25-part TikTok saga titled the “Danish Deception.” After a former Bachelor contestant came forward with a story about her scamming ex, TikTok turned on her instead. Why didn’t Onyeka get the Reesa Teesa treatment? And who is the real villain of…

1
“Videomate: Men” (Encore) 39:03

14d ago39:03

39:03

Videomate: Men was a VHS tape released in 1987 featuring 60 single men pitching themselves as dates to women on the other side of the TV screen: “The love of your life could be on your TV tonight!” the box reads. In retrospect, Videomate: Men is a bizarre and hilarious time capsule, but at the time it was one of many manifestations of what was know…

1
What Next | A Textbook Example of an Unlawful Order 28:28

9d ago28:28

28:28

Just after the Trump administration threw a fit over a video reminding the military that they have an obligation to refuse unlawful orders, the Washington Post published reporting alleging the orders to blow up a boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2 were in fact patently unlawful. Guest: Steven J. Lepper, retired Air Force major general and former depu…

1
Embrace the multihyphenate career, with Chief’s Alison Moore 27:07

15d ago27:07

27:07

A recent New York Times headline — “Did Women Ruin the Workplace?” sparked a firestorm across social media. Bob Safian welcomes a leader pushing back on this notion with data and nuance: Alison Moore, CEO of Chief, the prestigious network for senior women executives. Drawing from an exclusive nationwide survey of women leaders, Moore unpacks how ev…

1
How To Give to a Good Cause—and Make It Count 37:16

15d ago37:16

37:16

With the year-end giving season underway, you might be wondering how much to donate and where you can make the biggest impact. On this Giving Tuesday, How To!’s Courtney Martin brings on Grace Chiang Nicolette of the Center for Effective Philanthropy to explain how to pick the right organizations and ensure your dollar goes as far as possible—regar…

1
Amicus | The Three Faces Of Trumpism 54:50

12d ago54:50

54:50

By design – and also by dint of unbridled, undisciplined extremist exuberance – Donald Trump’s second stint in the White House is thus far a tricky thing to characterize. While many of the administration’s moves seem copy/pasted from a manual for authoritarian takeover, they’re also deeply rooted in longstanding structural democratic deficits in Am…

1
Replay: Dinner table wisdom with Danny Meyer 36:16

20d ago36:16

36:16

Danny Meyer is best known as the founder of Shake Shack and the legendary restaurants of his Union Square Hospitality Group in New York City. He joined host Jeff Berman in 2024 for the first Masters of Scale Live, presented by Capital One Business. Later in the conversation, Danny’s daughter, Hallie Meyer, joined them on stage. Hallie is busy scali…

1
8: Conversion | When We All Get to Heaven 1:00:23

17d ago1:00:23

1:00:23

In 1995 Rev. Jim Mitulski became HIV positive -- what's known as seroconversion. It was 14 years into the epidemic and people knew what HIV/AIDS was, how you got it, and how you could prevent it. And when Jim got sick, he got very sick. What was it like to become ill so publicly? How would the church and the community respond? And what could Jim po…

1
8: Conversion | When We All Get to Heaven 1:00:23

10d ago1:00:23

1:00:23

In 1995 Rev. Jim Mitulski became HIV positive -- what's known as seroconversion. It was 14 years into the epidemic and people knew what HIV/AIDS was, how you got it, and how you could prevent it. And when Jim got sick, he got very sick. What was it like to become ill so publicly? How would the church and the community respond? And what could Jim po…

1
Beyond the Parade: Macy’s navigates tariffs, turbulence and retail evolution 23:18

22d ago23:18

23:18

This Thursday marks the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Macy’s Inc. chairman and CEO Tony Spring joins Rapid Response with a behind-the-scenes preview of what to expect. It’s been a tumultuous year for the legacy retailer, shaped by new tariffs, shifting consumer habits, and the constant flip between “wartime” and “peacetime” leader…

1
Death, Sex & Money | “The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay” 55:14

22d ago55:14

55:14

When the Metropolitan Community Church was founded in the late sixties, it was one of the first gay positive churches in America. When AIDS hit, it became a refuge for people who were sick and those who were mourning them. In this episode, Anna talks to researcher Lynne Gerber, about finding boxes of cassettes under the church floor in an MCC churc…

1
Death, Sex & Money | “The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay” 55:14

22d ago55:14

55:14

When the Metropolitan Community Church was founded in the late sixties, it was one of the first gay positive churches in America. When AIDS hit, it became a refuge for people who were sick and those who were mourning them. In this episode, Anna talks to researcher Lynne Gerber, about finding boxes of cassettes under the church floor in an MCC churc…

1
How To Learn to Love Your City 30:27

22d ago30:27

30:27

It wasn’t long after Melody Warnick moved to Blacksburg, Va., that she realized its nickname—“Bleaksburg”—wasn’t a joke. Feeling stuck, she devised a research-based experiment to acclimate to her new city. On this episode: Melody explains how she went from hating Blacksburg to loving it (and how you can deepen your connection to the place where you…

1
What Next | How Planned Parenthood Got Defunded 32:33

19d ago32:33

32:33

Between the drastic budget cuts and provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill, the Trump administration has found a way to drain Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health centers and cut off access to abortion services—as well as any other health care those clinics provided. Guests: Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter at The 19th, author…

1
What Next | How Planned Parenthood Got Defunded 32:33

12d ago32:33

32:33

Between the drastic budget cuts and provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill, the Trump administration has found a way to drain Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health centers and cut off access to abortion services—as well as any other health care those clinics provided. Guests: Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter at The 19th, author…

1
Possible: Steve Kerr and Kris Brown on leadership and purpose in sports 1:00:49

25d ago1:00:49

1:00:49

What does it take to turn tragedy into advocacy, and advocacy into lasting change? This week, Reid and Aria are talking to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Kris Brown, president of Brady, the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization. Together, they explore how sports, storytelling, and civic engagement can move the needle on one of Am…

1
ICYMI | AI Is Changing How We Have Sex 48:54

22d ago48:54

48:54

On today’s episode host Kate Lindsay is joined by porn historian Noelle Perdue, author of the Porn World newsletter. OpenAI announced that they’d allow adult users to have erotic conversations with ChatGPT, just one more way AI and porn are becoming intertwined. As sex becomes more online, not only does it become more solitary, but also more survei…

1
Amicus | The DOJ's Prosecutorial Malpractice Keeps Spilling Out in Court 59:50

25d ago59:50

59:50

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah, who brings her extensive experience trying and supervising federal criminal cases to a discussion of what the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse can teach us about justice. She suggests that the Trump administration’s eleventh-hour switchback tactic of calling for investiga…

1
How to be 'fearless' in the AI age, with Fei-Fei Li and Reid Hoffman 24:26

27d ago24:26

24:26

The brilliant computer scientist Fei-Fei Li is often called the Godmother of AI. She talks with host Reid Hoffman about why scientists and entrepreneurs need to be fearless in the face of an uncertain future. Li was a founding director of the Human-Centered AI Institute at Stanford and is now an innovator in the area of spatial intelligence as co-f…

1
Care & Feeding | How To Navigate Strained Relationships Around the Holidays 56:56

27d ago56:56

56:56

On this episode: Lucy Lopez, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen are joined by mother-daughter writing team Leslie and Lindsey Glass. They share their estrangement and reconnection that led to their book The Mother Daughter Relationship Makeover. They give advice for how to deal with toxic personalities around the dinner table and at parties, talk abo…

1
7: Dress Rehearsals | When We All Get to Heaven 49:12

18d ago49:12

49:12

Scott and Bruce were the hottest couple in church. Scott, a hula dancer, seemed destined for Bruce, the hunky “lumbersexual,” and the church delighted when they got together. Their brief love affair sparkled before Bruce got sick and died. Their story is one of multiple “dress rehearsals”– when friends, family and lovers went through AIDS with thei…

1
7: Dress Rehearsals | When We All Get to Heaven 49:12

28d ago49:12

49:12

Scott and Bruce were the hottest couple in church. Scott, a hula dancer, seemed destined for Bruce, the hunky “lumbersexual,” and the church delighted when they got together. Their brief love affair sparkled before Bruce got sick and died. Their story is one of multiple “dress rehearsals”– when friends, family and lovers went through AIDS with thei…

1
How Protein Muscled Its Way to the Top 44:50

28d ago44:50

44:50

Americans are currently besotted with protein. It’s touted as being good for muscle growth, weight loss, skincare, mental acuity, longevity, and much else besides. It’s sold to men, women, children, the elderly— you can even buy protein for your pets. The protein supplement market alone is worth $21 billion and growing—and extra protein is being ad…

1
AI: The new frontier for mental health support? 29:36

29d ago29:36

29:36

In recent weeks, OpenAI faced seven lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT contributed to suicides or mental health breakdowns. To spotlight the controversial relationship between AI and mental health, host Bob Safian is joined on stage at Innovation@Brown Showcase by Brown University's Ellie Pavlick, director of a new institute dedicated to exploring AI a…

1
Death, Sex & Money | Tig Notaro's Documentary About Her Friend's Death Is Also Really Funny 56:19

29d ago56:19

56:19

Even though the documentary Tig Notaro produced won the Festival Favorite Award at Sundance, she did not spend the festival hobnobbing with industry types. Instead she stayed holed up at the Airbnb she rented with friends and the film's crew. "We were calling it Snuggle Down because we were all sitting around the fire and having tea and just laughi…

1
How To Move to a New City 39:58

29d ago39:58

39:58

Kerry is ready to leave rural Virginia and move to a walkable, vibrant city. The only problem? She can’t decide which walkable, vibrant city is right for her. On this episode, How To!’s Courtney Martin brings on Melody Warnick, author of This Is Where You Belong and If You Could Live Anywhere. Melody asks Kerry what she’s really seeking in a new pl…

1
Care & Feeding | How to Get Through (Or Help Someone With) Postpartum Depression 45:41

26d ago45:41

45:41

On this episode: Lucy Lopez, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen share their experiences with postpartum depression. Then, Elizabeth is joined by Danielle Learner to talk about Danielle’s experience with postpartum depression, her activism to raise awareness on the issue, and a lot of tips and advice for people who struggle with postpartum depression …

1
Interlude: Tired of Dying | When We All Get to Heaven 30:40

1M ago30:40

30:40

The Sunday after Magic Johnson announced his HIV-status, Jim Mitulski preached a sermon on being tired of people dying. We’re sharing it as an interlude, a pause, and an immersion into one moment in AIDS’ bleak midwinter. For images and links about this episode visit https://www.heavenpodcast.org/interlude. In the sermon Rev. Mitulski refers to ARC…

1
Interlude: Tired of Dying | When We All Get to Heaven 30:40

27d ago30:40

30:40

The Sunday after Magic Johnson announced his HIV-status, Jim Mitulski preached a sermon on being tired of people dying. We’re sharing it as an interlude, a pause, and an immersion into one moment in AIDS’ bleak midwinter. For images and links about this episode visit https://www.heavenpodcast.org/interlude. In the sermon Rev. Mitulski refers to ARC…

1
What Next: TBD | How Meta Profits Off Fraud 32:09

1M ago32:09

32:09

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Meta, doesn’t (just) have a scam problem—with 10 percent of its revenue coming from scam ads, and a third of all successful scams in America using a Meta platform at some point, it’s more an interdependence with scammers. Guest: Jeff Horwitz, tech reporter for Reuters. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe…

1
ICYMI | Yes, Having a Boyfriend Is Embarrassing 49:21

28d ago49:21

49:21

On today’s episode host Kate Lindsay is joined by writer and content creator Josh Lora, who also goes by TellTheBees. Josh’s Substack essay, Boyfriendland, was cited in the viral Vogue article written by Chanté Joseph, “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” Many women are hiding their boyfriends online, or losing followers if they hard-launch. S…

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