logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2022
34m 16s

The Mailbag Episode

Slate Podcasts
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Mar 25
The Johnlock Conspiracy (Encore)
For over a century, fans of Sherlock Holmes have been analyzing, debating, and creating new texts with Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters. But when a fan theory emerged about the BBC TV show Sherlock that posited the inevitability of a gay romance between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Joh ... Show More
53m 12s
Mar 11
Was "Eyes Wide Shut" a Warning?
When Eyes Wide Shut opened in the summer of 1999, it was widely considered a disappointment. This final film from legendary director Stanley Kubrick had been sold as an erotic thriller, and potentially even a peek into the real sex lives of its then-married stars, Tom Cruise and ... Show More
47m 21s
Feb 25
A Prune by Any Other Name
The delicious, healthful prune has long had a cross to bear: It’s best known for making people poop. In the late 1990s, the California Prune Board set out on a quixotic mission to amend this sales-flattening reputation. It would attempt to rechristen this ancient fruit in the hop ... Show More
44m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
Decoder Ring: Mailbag - The Recorder, Limos, and “Baby on Board” Signs
We receive a lot of fantastic show ideas from our listeners—and we’re grateful for each and every one. For our latest mailbag episode, we’re tackling five of your questions, including “Why the hell do we teach kids to play the recorder?” (We’re paraphrasing a bit.) Also: We’ll ex ... Show More
36m 50s
Aug 2023
Decoder Ring: Think Catchphrases Are Dead? Eat My Shorts.
Once you start listening for catchphrases in everyday life—you can’t stop hearing them. From the radio era’s “Holy mackerel!” to Fonzie’s “Ayyy!” to Urkel’s multiple go-to lines on Family Matters, we explore the irresistible quotables from sitcoms, movies and social media that ha ... Show More
36m 23s
Jun 2022
How Normal Gossip Producer Alex Sujong Laughlin Helps Shape the Podcast
This week, Working producer Cameron Drews talks to Alex Sujong Laughlin, producer of the hit podcast Normal Gossip. In the interview, Alex explains what a producer does and talks about how important it is for producers to have creative input. Then she digs into the process behind ... Show More
52m 44s
Feb 2024
Decoder Ring: Why Do So Many Coffee Shops Look the Same?
The eerie similarity of coffee shops all over the world was so confounding to Kyle Chayka that it led him to write the new book Filterworld: How Algorithms Are Flattening Culture. In today’s episode, Kyle’s going to walk us through the recent history of the cafe, to help us see h ... Show More
29m 59s
Oct 2023
Decoder Ring: When Art Pranksters Invaded Melrose Place
In the mid-1990s, the prime time drama Melrose Place became a home to hundreds of pieces of contemporary art—and no one noticed. In this episode, Isaac Butler tells the story of the artist collective that smuggled subversive quilts, sperm-shaped pool floats, and dozens of other p ... Show More
37m 34s
Dec 2023
HAPPY HIGH BETTER FAIL: The Ultimate Podcast Mash-Up with Fearne Cotton, Rangan Chatterjee, Jake Humphrey & Damian Hughes
Surprise! Here’s a little Christmas present for you… For this very special episode, a group of my favourite podcasters and I got together to share the microphone and spread the love we feel for each other - and for our listeners. What a joy to chat with legit podcasting royalty - ... Show More
1h 1m
Jan 2024
Ep485 - Kids & Family Podcasts
This week the competition is on after Lucy’s runaway victory from last week. We’re checking out podcasts from the kids and family category. Lucy found a show that teaches children about feminism… kind of. Andy brought the most annoying family to ever be celebrated on the internet ... Show More
2h 10m
Jul 2023
Ep431 - Just Trish Podcast
Trisha Paytus has started up another podcast. Well, it's a podcast for now but she's going to manifest it into a TV show. And what network wouldn't want to pick up a show hosted by a spaz who is incapable of making a point? Tookie joins us to try to determine who is dumber, Trish ... Show More
2h 43m
Jan 2024
Ep482 - Hobbies Podcasts
It’s another competitive episode with Andy, Lucy, and I sharing the worst podcasts we could find in the Hobbies category. Last week’s winner Lucy presents a woman who “collects” reborn babies. Nothing creepy AF about this. I present a show about live action role playing (LARP) an ... Show More
3h 9m