Best Just Isabel Things Podcasts (2025)

1
What Next: TBD | Online and Pregnant 37:09

8m ago37:09

37:09

The intimate and extremely personal experience of bringing a child into this world? There’s an app for that…and forums…and so much advice…that contradicts other advice…and a surprising amount of eugenics. Guest: Amanda Hess, critic at the New York Times and author of the book “Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age.” Want more What Next TBD…

1
Slate Money | Tariff Stockholm Syndrome 57:30

8m ago57:30

57:30

This week: The UK and the US agreed to the framework for a trade deal. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the details of the agreement and what it means that it includes keeping the 10% baseline tariffs staying in place. Then, Bill Gates has announced that he’s winding down the Gates Foundation and doubling the money he’s giving…

1
ICYMI | The Battle Over Tattle 35:13

6m ago35:13

35:13

While snark pages are universal, the UK website Tattle.Life has gained a reputation for being particularly cruel and relentless against influencers. Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay give a full breakdown of the website, which was founded in 2018 by a woman whose identity has never been revealed. She, along with other diehard users, reject the dramatic …

1
Amicus | SCOTUS, Meet The Broligarchs 1:08:22

23m ago1:08:22

1:08:22

After Silicon Valley’s yeet to the right after Donald Trump was elected in 2016, and the DOGE-ification of the federal government (read: chaos and abuse as the driving ethos of HR), it felt like high time to delve into the evolving relationship between tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel and the U.S. government. Their influence has mas…

1
Dear Prudence | I Look Just Like My Boyfriend’s Dead Wife. Help! 52:24

38m ago52:24

52:24

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Brittany Luse — the host of NPR’s It’s Been a Minute. Together, they answer questions from a reader distraught that their fiance won’t stop publishing smutty fiction about real-life historical figures, another unsure what to do after her husband stole a $500 bottle of wine from their friends’ dinner party, a spoo…

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What Next: TBD | Chatbots All The Way Down 29:07

21m ago29:07

29:07

Why artificial intelligence isn’t waiting for consumer demand. Guest: Gerrit De Vynck, tech reporter for The Washington Post. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show…

1
Political Gabfest: Trump Backlash, Australian-Style 1:05:28

13m ago1:05:28

1:05:28

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss anti-Trump sentiment in foreign elections with former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, why the Trump administration has done relatively little about medication abortion so far and whether it will last, and how looming Medicaid cuts will hurt millions of Americans. For this…

1
Care & Feeding | Should We Have a Fourth Baby? 59:14

7m ago59:14

59:14

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy help a listener decide whether she’s done having kids. No pressure, right? But seriously: this listener has three little boys and is weighing the possibility of a fourth kid. There’s more love for her and her husband to give… but they’re also feeling burnt out. So how do you decide what to do? After that, of…

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What Next | Yes, Shelves Will Be Empty 32:31

29m ago32:31

32:31

The consequences of Donald Trump’s new tariffs are working their way through the supply chain and soon will start showing up for consumers in the form of empty shelves, higher prices, and potentially even layoffs and a recession. Guest: Christopher Mims, Wall Street Journal tech reporter and the author of Arriving Today: From Factory to Front Door-…

1
LGR 270: Win the Little Things with Syracuse Goalie Danny Guyette 47:33

1d ago47:33

47:33

Send us a text Daniella (Danny) Guyette is an emerging talent in collegiate lacrosse, recognized for her agility, composure, and leadership as a goalkeeper for Syracuse University. Originally from Newbury Park, California, Guyette’s lacrosse journey began at Newbury Park High School, where she was a standout player. She earned multiple accolades, i…

1
What Next | The Arts of the Deal 32:42

1d ago32:42

32:42

How Donald Trump is attempting to shape the arts to his own liking, from installing himself as head of the Kennedy Center to canceling grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, throwing organizations and projects of all sizes into uncertainty and chaos. Guests: Alisa Solomon, director of the Arts & Culture concentration at the Columbia Journ…

1
ICYMI: Kate Mackz Can’t Outrun Politics 30:57

1d ago30:57

30:57

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim check in with the “Caveman Skincare” method and they pour one out for Skype. Then, they dive into the internet controversy surrounding a TikTok running influencer and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Kate Mackz is the host of a TikTok series called The Running Interview Show where she jogs with celebrities.…

1
Decoder Ring | Off-the-Wall Stories of Off-Label Use 54:01

1d ago54:01

54:01

Products often tell you exactly how they’re intended to be used. But why leave it at that? As a culture, we have long had a knack for finding ingenious, off-label uses for things. In this episode, we take a close look at a few examples of products that are ostensibly meant for one thing, but are better known for something else entirely. We explore …

1
Culture Gabfest | Refeed: Annual Call-In Show 2024 1:08:59

1d ago1:08:59

1:08:59

On this week’s show, it’s one of the Gabfest’s most cherished traditions: the yearly call-in show. Dana, Julia, and Stephen answer listen-submitted questions that run the gamut – can cooking for one be a joy? Should philosophy be studied more? And how did you make your most recent friend? In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel gets into Len…

1
Outward | Queer Travel Writing with Alden Jones 41:28

1d ago41:28

41:28

Outward’s Bryan Lowder and Christina Cauterucci talk to Alden Jones, editor of the new anthology, Edge of the World. With essays from Alexander Chee, Daisy Hernández, Edmund White, and more, the collection makes clear that queer travel writing isn’t just overdue—it’s transformative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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What Next | A Marco Rubio for All Seasons 32:43

2d ago32:43

32:43

Marco Rubio has been collecting titles. In addition to Secretary of State, he’s now also the acting administrator of USAID, the acting archivist for the National Archives and Records Administration—and he just became a National Security Advisor. It fits his career trajectory, wherein Rubio has proven time and time again to be whatever he needs to b…

1
How To! | Parent With a Disability 50:21

2d ago50:21

50:21

At least 10 percent of parents in the U.S. are disabled, but Andrea can’t seem to find parenting advice on disability and accessibility. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings on Jessica Slice, author of the new book Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World, to help Andrea reimagine parenthood. If you liked this …

1
Death, Sex & Money | Isabel Allende on Grief, Ayahuasca, and Dating After 70 53:01

2d ago53:01

53:01

Isabel Allende didn’t publish her first book until she was 39, after losing nearly everything in the wake of the Chilean military coup. More than four decades later, she’s become one of the most beloved Spanish-language authors, with over 80 million copies of her books sold worldwide. After political exile, writing books became Allende’s way of mak…

1
Grief Rewired: Healing Without the Rulebook 🧠💔🔓 - TTST Interview with Author Vicki Paris Goodman 41:58

2d ago41:58

41:58

Show Notes Vicki Paris Goodman is the author of To Sam, With Love: A Surviving Spouse’s Story of Inspired Grief. Having lived most of her life in the Los Angeles area, Ms. Goodman now resides in the mountains of central Arizona. She is a retired mechanical engineer. She sings and plays violin semi-professionally. And for over twenty years she serve…

1
Hang Up | Bill Belichick Doesn’t Want to Talk About It 57:58

2d ago57:58

57:58

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh talk about the NBA playoffs, where the Minnesota Timberwolves did a number on the Lakers. They explain why Bill Belichick and his girlfriend have become such a problem for the University of North Carolina. Finally, the Kentucky Derby and the return of the controversial trainer Bob Baffert. On th…

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Care & Feeding | Why Won’t My Childless Friends Plan Stuff? 29:55

3d ago29:55

29:55

On this episode: Zak, Jamilah and producer Maura talk about how to navigate friendships with people who have more, or fewer, kids than you do. A member of the Slate Parenting Facebook group is wondering how it’s on her and her husband to plan everything… even though they have three kids, and a lot of their friends don’t have any. And then, we’ll ci…

1
What Next | Trump v. the Judiciary 30:56

3d ago30:56

30:56

Is the arrest of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan the start of Trump’s open war on judges? Guest: Jeremy Fogel, retired federal judge and executive director for the Berkeley Judicial Institute. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly f…

1
What Next: TBD | How Elon Wields Power 37:24

4d ago37:24

37:24

What is it about the way that Elon Musk wields power that led 65 percent of Americans to agree he has too much influence on the federal government? Guest: Faiz Siddiqui, Washington Post tech reporter and author of “Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk.” Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole…

1
Slate Money | Everyone Cares About Power Grids This Week 54:01

5d ago54:01

54:01

This week: The entire Iberian peninsula lost power for 18 hours. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by energy expert John Kemp to talk about why that might have happened and nerd out on power grids. Then, the GDP is down by 0.3%. But is that really the right metric to care about? Finally, the tech world is bringing back the b…

1
ICYMI: The Harry Potter Fandom Faces Its Biggest Test 55:47

5d ago55:47

55:47

While J.K. Rowling celebrates a new UK ruling that classifies “women” as biologically female, casting for the upcoming HBO Max adaptation is underway. Which fans have stuck by the series despite the author’s views, and will others be able to resist the siren call of a brand new TV series? Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay welcome ICYMI’s new producer Vi…

1
Amicus | The Un-American Project 1:20:54

5d ago1:20:54

1:20:54

Whether it’s attempting to overturn birthright citizenship, effectively stripping citizenship from American children, or claiming Alien Enemy Act war powers under an imaginary invasion, Trump’s anti-immigrant moves are outlandishly unconstitutional. They are also being met with significant pushback from judges, even conservative ones. On this week’…

1
Dear Prudence | My Best Friends Hate Each Other. Help! 51:50

6d ago51:50

51:50

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Daria Burke – an award winning business leader, board director, and author. Together, they answer questions from a listener unsure whether to invite their feuding friends to a party next month, a CPA figuring out how to climb the corporate ladder without a defined job title, a daughter contemplating hosting a sob…

1
What Next: TBD | Marc Andreessen’s New Deal 28:42

6d ago28:42

28:42

What drove Marc Andreessen’s transformation into a political actor, and what is he looking for from having Washington in his thrall? Guest: Zoe Schiffer, WIRED journalist covering business and Silicon Valley. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcas…

1
Political Gabfest | Only 100 Days 1:10:47

7d ago1:10:47

1:10:47

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump administration’s first 100 days and recent polls, the state of American health policy and underlying DOGE cuts with reporter Dan Diamond, and a potential radical shift in American life if the Supreme Court allows a religious charter school in Oklahoma. For this week’s Slate…

1
Care & Feeding | The Birthday Party Show 44:15

7d ago44:15

44:15

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Jamilah answer a question about how to throw a birthday party for older kids. This member of the Slate Parenting Facebook community knows how to throw a good party for little kids… but teens are a whole different thing. So, we’ll offer up some suggestions for how to celebrate a quiet, nerdy 15-year-old. And after…

1
What Next | Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ 31:15

7d ago31:15

31:15

Many of the policy changes in Trump’s first 100 days have come from the White House—but now, it’s Congress’s turn. Republicans have roughly a month to pass a multi-trillion-dollar bill to advance the president’s domestic agenda. But will the bill’s combination of tax cuts and increases in spending on defense and border security render it unpassable…

1
LGR 269: Betty Nelson: Building Confidence in the Crease 55:06

8d ago55:06

55:06

Send us a text Podcast interview with Carolina Tar Heels goalie Betty Nelson. At UNC, Nelson quickly made her mark. In her first collegiate start, she recorded seven saves, contributing to a dominant 14-2 victory over James Madison. Throughout the 2025 season, she has maintained a save percentage over 50% and played a pivotal role in UNC's top-rank…

1
What Next | Inside the ICE Prison Holding Student Detainees 31:43

8d ago31:43

31:43

After Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk was abducted off the streets of her district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley is not mincing words when it comes to the Trump administration: “These are the actions of a dictator.” Last week, Rep. Pressley traveled to Louisiana with a Congressional delegation to visit Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil in the ICE detention facilities…

1
ICYMI: This Book Drama Gets Hotter in the DMs 34:13

8d ago34:13

34:13

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay break down the drama surrounding an influencer’s new book that has kicked off a whole controversy before it’s even been released. Christina Najjar, better known as Tinx, has made a successful career as a TikTok influencer who doles out dating advice to her more than 1.5 million followers. Her new book is a summer beach …

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Culture Gabfest | Andor is a Star Wars Series That Actually Feels Real Edition 1:08:40

8d ago1:08:40

1:08:40

On this week’s show, Julia Turner is joined by Slate’s own Dan Kois and Sam Adams. They start by talking about the second season of Andor, the Star Wars series that might have more in common with The Wire than The Mandalorian. Then, they talk about The Wedding Banquet, a remake of the Ang Lee classic. Finally, they get into the story of the discove…

1
What Next | Will HHS Survive RFK Jr? 28:40

9d ago28:40

28:40

At his first press conference as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr. gave a glimpse of what the department will look like under his leadership: a smaller overall budget, relitigating settled scientific questions. Guest: Kiera Butler, senior editor and reporter at Mother Jones and author of Raise: What 4-H Teaches Seven Mill…

1
Money Talks: The Family Squabble That Could Change Right-Wing News 47:54

9d ago47:54

47:54

In this Money Talks: Succession may be over but the drama continues for the Roy family’s real world counterparts. Felix Salmon is joined by McKay Coppins to discuss his experience getting up close and personal with the Murdoch family and break down the dynamics behind the battle over the family empire. Want to hear that discussion and hear more Sla…

1
Living at Odds | 4. A Quiet Fight for LGBTQ Rights 57:15

9d ago57:15

57:15

Our series Living at Odds concludes with a special episode of Slate’s Death, Sex & Money. Host Anna Sale returns to her native West Virginia to talk with the state’s only full-time lobbyist for LGBTQ rights. Andrew Schneider of Fairness West Virginia has spent years cultivating working relationships with conservative allies in state and local gover…

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Death, Sex & Money | The Patient and Cunning Work of Defending LGBTQ Rights with a Republican Supermajority 56:14

13d ago56:14

56:14

In West Virginia, Republicans hold one of the largest supermajorities in the country, and it’s growing. Just 11 Democrats — down from 14 last year — are in the 134-member Legislature. It's a political reality that isn't necessarily conducive to advancing LGBTQ rights. But that's Andrew Schneider's job. As head of Fairness West Virginia, Andrew has …

1
Own Your Smile 😊: How Choosing Joy Through Chaos Creates Real Power - TTST Interview with Founder of JAMAH Handbags and Ambition ‘dot’ Org Nancy Gale 42:10

13d ago42:10

42:10

Show Notes Nancy Gale is the founder and designer of luxury leather handbag brand JAMAH. She also founded AMBITION, a nonprofit entrepreneurial program for disadvantaged youth. QUOTE: "It’s not about getting over. It’s about marching through. That’s when the solutions stick." 🚶‍♀️🔥 - Nancy Gale Fergie’s Top 5+ Knowledge Nuggets and Take-Aways: Own …

1
Hang Up | Shedeur: The Hype vs. Reality 1:14:43

9d ago1:14:43

1:14:43

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh talk about the NFL Draft and the media’s response leading up to its most shocking picks. Ben provides his April baseball rundown, and later, the panel is joined by The Entertainment Strategy Guy for an interview about major media buyers’ feelings about F1. On the bonus episode available exclusiv…

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What Next | Are Public Schools the Supreme Court's Next Target? 33:49

10d ago33:49

33:49

The Supreme Court is hearing two cases this month regarding religion in public schools that seem to contradict each other—a public school in Maryland where parents claim books with LGBTQ characters or themes are indoctrination, and a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma arguing it has the right to state funding. Can the court’s religion-friendly maj…

1
Care & Feeding | Should I Let My Kid Waste His Money? 43:18

10d ago43:18

43:18

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy take a question about how to handle birthday money. This parent’s son wants to buy some stuff in a video game, and while it feels like a waste… it IS also his money. So we’ll talk about whether this parent really needs to intervene. And then, we’ll circle up for a round of checkins… and on Slate Plus, we’ll …

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What Next: TBD | Death of the Weather Forecast? 29:41

13d ago29:41

29:41

The Trump administration has already begun cutting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the U.S. National Weather Service. What’s the advantage to understanding the weather less? Guest: Daniel Swain, weather and climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Want more What Next …

1
Slate Money | Say Goodbye to Hollywood 51:46

16d ago51:46

51:46

This week: Trump has reversed his stance on Jay Powell and his extreme tariffs on China. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss Trump’s backtrack on his threat to fire the Fed chair as well as his recent concession that his 145% tariffs on China aren’t sustainable. Then, the hosts weigh in on the growing trend of film and television…

1
ICYMI: J.D. Vance, the Pope, and Internet Inside Jokes 27:56

16d ago27:56

27:56

J.D. Vance killed the Pope. Demi Lovato keeps their twin Poot locked in the basement. Lea Michele still can’t read. These things, unfortunately, aren’t true, and are instead just some of the inside jokes the internet has decided to collectively agree on over the years. In this episode, Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay break these internet lies down, an…

1
Amicus | The Anti-Trump Cases That Have Changed The Game 1:15:19

16d ago1:15:19

1:15:19

As we approach President Trump’s 100th day in office (this time around) this Wednesday, Dahlia Lithwick checks in with one of the key architects of the litigation strategy that is successfully confounding the administration’s most exorbitant executive overreach. After almost 140 executive orders and scores of associated lawsuits, it’s hard to keep …

1
Dear Prudence | We All Hate My Sister’s Husband. Help! 58:45

17d ago58:45

58:45

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Willa Paskin, the host of Slate’s podcast Decoder Ring. Together, they answer questions from a listener hoping their sister will “gain sanity” to leave her husband soon, another from a self proclaimed girls’ girl who can’t stop getting into disagreements with other women at work, a step-mother wondering if it’s t…

1
Hit Parade | Only Girl in the World Edition Part 2 58:10

17d ago58:10

58:10

It’s been nearly a decade since Rihanna released a studio album—and fans and critics alike have wondered when, if ever, a follow-up to 2016’s Anti might arrive. Which is ironic, because in her heyday, Rihanna was the most productive hitmaker on the charts. Churning out at least one album a year in the late aughts and early ‘10s, Rihanna’s approach …

1
What Next: TBD | The Immigration Data Dragnet 31:47

13d ago31:47

31:47

One of DOGE’s goals is to get government data out of “silos” and make it more easily shared across departments. But there are good reasons for some data to be kept apart. Guest: Vittoria Elliot, WIRED reporter covering platforms and power. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Just Isabel Things Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen