Best Point Counterpoints Podcasts (2025)

1
Culture Gabfest | Seth Rogen’s Love/Hate Letter to Hollywood 1:13:44

29d ago1:13:44

1:13:44

On this week’s show, the hosts discuss Apple TV’s latest ode (tragic comedy?) to the movie industry with The Studio. Then, they step up to the plate and take a swing at the baseball film Eephus. Finally, they invite Slate’s Rebecca Onion to discuss the new edition to Panem’s dystopia: Suzanne Collin’s Sunrise on the Reaping. Endorsements: Dana: A F…

1
Culture Gabfest: Netflix’s Incel Tragedy Adolescence 1:13:02

1M ago1:13:02

1:13:02

On this week’s show, Slate’s Rebecca Onion sits in for Julia. The team discusses Netflix’s current number 1 program Adolescence and what it says about how the descent into incel culture starts young. They then invite Chris Molanphy to talk about Lady Gaga’s new album, MAYHEM. They close out with a discussion on Trump's continued assault against DEI…

1
Culture Gabfest: Cate Blanchett Is a Sexy Super Spy 1:11:18

1M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

On this week’s show, Slate’s Dan Kois sits in for Stephen Metcaff. The hosts discuss the new Mr. & Mrs. Smith-like film Black Bag, starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. Then they dive into the “inconvenient” Hulu show Deli Boys. They end by discussing the legacy of Dave Eggers’ phenomenal memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. …

1
Culture Gabfest: Meghan Markle Sprinkles Potpourri on You 1:14:07

2M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

On this week’s show, we throw a flower-sprinkled dinner party for a space clone (personal beehive not included). Slate culture staff writer Nadira Goffe sits in for Dana, and the hosts discuss the new Bong Joon Ho film Mickey 17, followed by Meghan Markle's uncanny homemaking show With Love, Meghan on Netflix. Finally, we invite Slate writer Dan Ko…

1
Culture Gabfest: Zero Day Makes Robert De Niro a Befuddled President 1:10:19

2M ago1:10:19

1:10:19

On this week’s show, no amount of star power can save a “screamingly stupid show.” (Sorry, Robert De Niro et al.) With Sam Adams—Slate Senior Editor and Staff Writer—sitting in for Dana, the team talks about the Netflix political thriller series Zero Day. Then they remember the career of Gene Hackman and end with their thoughts about this Atlantic …

1
Culture Gabfest: The Oscars Go Streaming 1:12:39

2M ago1:12:39

1:12:39

On this week’s show, we preview the Oscars and Trump’s demolition throughout renowned institutions of art. Isaac Butler — author of The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act and host of the new Criterion Channel series, The Craft of Acting — sits in for Stephen Metcalf. First, the hosts discuss I’m Still Here and the continued addition o…

1
Culture Gabfest: Congratulations! You Finally Got Your Severance. 1:02:19

2M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

On this week’s show, Slate Business and Tech reporter Nitish Pahwa sits in for Julia. The panel discusses Severance season 2 from Apple TV+. They then talk about the Oscar-nominated film No Other Land – a Palestinian documentary following a young activist fighting his community's mass expulsion by Israeli occupation. They end by discussing Nitish’s…

1
Culture Gabfest: The SNL 50th Anniversary Industrial Complex 1:17:06

3M ago1:17:06

1:17:06

On this week’s show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove’s new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where…

1
Culture Gabfest: Noah Wyle Lures Us Into The Pitt 1:07:52

3M ago1:07:52

1:07:52

On this week’s show, the hosts discuss Max’s new medical drama The Pitt – a show that we legally can’t call an ER reboot but does have Noah Wyle donning scrubs and handling the next bodily emergency yet again. Our regular hosts also discuss an article from the Intelligencer, The Cruel Kids’ Table about how young Republicans now feel empowered to br…

1
Culture Gabfest: One of Them Movies About Women That Stuns Hollywood by Being a Hit 1:07:20

3M ago1:07:20

1:07:20

On this week’s show, Dan Kois sits in for Dana Stevens. First, the hosts discuss One of Them Days, a new buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA that’s quickly becoming a critical darling — and a box office success. Then, they dive into Asura, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Netflix show that’s about the dynamics between three sisters and i…

1
Culture Gabfest: Chalamet Goes Electric 1:20:47

3M ago1:20:47

1:20:47

On this week’s show, the hosts dive into A Complete Unknown, director James Mangold’s surprisingly charming Bob Dylan biopic that’s all about fame and what it looks like to be adjacent to it. Then, the three explore Dick Wolf’s latest project: On Call, a half-hour cop procedural set in Long Beach, California that’s streaming on Prime Video. Finally…

1
Culture Gabfest: Babygirls and Nickel Boys 1:17:54

4M ago1:17:54

1:17:54

On this week’s show, Slate staff writer Nadira Goffe sits in for Stephen. First, the panel explores Babygirl and its kinks. The latest feature from Dutch writer-director Halina Reijn stars Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson, and is fascinated by sex (mostly, as a concept.) Then, the three puzzle over Nickel Boys and the film’s audacious use of firs…

1
Well, Now: The Future of Wellness 42:41

4M ago42:41

42:41

After a year of nuanced conversations on wellness, we say goodbye by reflecting on how these discussions expanded what it means to live a full, well-balanced life. We’re also joined again by longevity expert Dr. Darshan Shah to discuss what needs to change to make wellness more accessible for everyone. Well, Now is hosted by registered dietitian nu…

1
Well, Now: Is Longer Life Really Possible? 37:05

5M ago37:05

37:05

For eons, humans have been trying to find ways to live longer. It’s a quest that’s inspired legends and myths across cultures and continues to fuel controversy in the health and wellness industry today. On this week’s episode of Well, Now we speak with Dr. Darshan Shah to better understand longevity science and hear about his journey from performin…

1
Well, Now: Staying Sober This Holiday Season 49:03

5M ago49:03

49:03

For many, the holiday season is both a joyful time with friends and family and a period of high stress with dangerous ways to cope. This can be especially challenging for people with substance use disorder. On this week’s episode of Well, Now Maya and Kavita discuss addiction and recovery with Zac Clark. Reality TV fans may remember him as a contes…

1
Well, Now: Getting to the Heart of Hormonal Health 50:06

6M ago50:06

50:06

Hormones influence everything from mood and energy levels to fertility and long-term health. Yet for many, hormonal health remains shrouded in mystery. When women do seek guidance from their OBGYNs, they’re often told birth control is the only option for treating hormone-related issues like PCOS and endometriosis. But that wasn’t going to cut it fo…

1
Well, Now: Weed’s Growing (and Alarming) Side Effects 38:34

6M ago38:34

38:34

Nearly half of states – 24 and Washington, D.C – have legalized recreational marijuana. As more people report regularly using it, physicians are seeing patients with alarming side effects related to their cannabis use. On this week’s episode of Well, Now Kavita and Maya sit down with internist and pediatrician Dr. Brittany Tayler to better understa…

1
Well, Now: Can Kids Be Healthy at Any Size? 49:17

7M ago49:17

49:17

We live in a weight-obsessed world, and children are not immune. From the moment a child is born, their weight and height are tracked and recorded. Then throughout their development, these metrics are used as one of the main factors to determine their health. But as the Health at Every Size (HAES) philosophy continues to gain traction for some adul…

1
Well, Now: What It’s Really Like to Take Ozempic 55:49

7M ago55:49

55:49

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, WeGovy, Mounjaro and others revolutionized weight loss and chronic weight management. But what does it feel like for the patients who take them? On this week’s episode of Well, Now Kavita and Maya talk with journalist and author Johann Hari. Over the course of a year, Johann dived into the research and history behind GLP-1…

1
Care & Feeding: My Mom’s Obsessed With My Baby 48:50

7M ago48:50

48:50

On this episode: Elizabeth, Lucy and Zak help a member of the Slate Parenting Facebook group who’s struggling with wrangling her new baby… and the baby’s very clingy new grandma. Grandma’s struggled with loneliness and is-over-the-moon about the baby. But is it time to set some boundaries? And how many photos is too many? We also check in on what’s…

1
Hear Me Out: Podcasting Is Dead 46:12

8M ago46:12

46:12

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: a fond farewell. This is the last episode of Hear Me Out. And it comes at a volatile, strange time in the world of podcasting. Networks’ priorities have shifted, the money has shifted, and “success” means different things to different people. Nick Hilton of Podot and Future Proof joins us for a discussion about th…

1
What Next | Should Parents Face Charges for Kids’ Crimes? 31:40

8M ago31:40

31:40

After the school shooting in Georgia last week, charges were brought against the 14-year-old alleged gunman—and also against his father. Who’s really responsible? Guest: Josie Duffy Rice, journalist focused on prosecutors, prisons, and other criminal justice issues and host of What A Day. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-fr…

1
Hear Me Out: Presidential Pardons Need Reform 39:03

8M ago39:03

39:03

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: pardon interruption. What’s the purpose of the presidential pardon? Well, depends on who you ask — hypothetically, it’s meant for course-correction and honoring restorative justice. But presidents on both ends of the spectrum have used it for purposes that are distinctly not that. So do we need the pardon or do we…

1
Hear Me Out: There’s No Lesser-Evil Candidate 54:12

8M ago54:12

54:12

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: PSL (not the drink). Claudia de la Cruz cannot, mathematically, win the presidency. But she’s running anyway… because the two-party system doesn’t lend itself to real representation or the public interest. Claudia joins us to make the case for voting socialist, because the parties with all the power aren’t as diff…

1
Hear Me Out: Schools Do Too Much (Often Badly) 45:43

8M ago45:43

45:43

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: sharpen up. Public schooling in this country has had a lot of champions — including some that you might not expect. But did we ever actually agree on what we wanted schools to do for society? Elizabeth Newcamp of Slate’s Care & Feeding joins us to argue for a reappraisal of the whole system… and what it means to e…

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Point Counterpoints Podcasts

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1
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1
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1
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1
Culture Gabfest | Seth Rogen’s Love/Hate Letter to Hollywood 1:13:44

1
Culture Gabfest: Netflix’s Incel Tragedy Adolescence 1:13:02

1
Culture Gabfest: Cate Blanchett Is a Sexy Super Spy 1:11:18

1
Culture Gabfest: Meghan Markle Sprinkles Potpourri on You 1:14:07

1
Culture Gabfest: Zero Day Makes Robert De Niro a Befuddled President 1:10:19

1
Culture Gabfest: The Oscars Go Streaming 1:12:39

1
Culture Gabfest: Congratulations! You Finally Got Your Severance. 1:02:19

1
Culture Gabfest: The SNL 50th Anniversary Industrial Complex 1:17:06

1
Culture Gabfest: Noah Wyle Lures Us Into The Pitt 1:07:52

1
Culture Gabfest: One of Them Movies About Women That Stuns Hollywood by Being a Hit 1:07:20

1
Culture Gabfest: Chalamet Goes Electric 1:20:47

1
Culture Gabfest: Babygirls and Nickel Boys 1:17:54

1
Well, Now: The Future of Wellness 42:41

1
Well, Now: Is Longer Life Really Possible? 37:05

1
Well, Now: Staying Sober This Holiday Season 49:03

1
Well, Now: Getting to the Heart of Hormonal Health 50:06

1
Well, Now: Weed’s Growing (and Alarming) Side Effects 38:34

1
Well, Now: Can Kids Be Healthy at Any Size? 49:17

1
Well, Now: What It’s Really Like to Take Ozempic 55:49

1
Care & Feeding: My Mom’s Obsessed With My Baby 48:50

1
Hear Me Out: Podcasting Is Dead 46:12

1
What Next | Should Parents Face Charges for Kids’ Crimes? 31:40

1
Hear Me Out: Presidential Pardons Need Reform 39:03

1
Hear Me Out: There’s No Lesser-Evil Candidate 54:12

1
Hear Me Out: Schools Do Too Much (Often Badly) 45:43