Culture Gabfest

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, and guests discuss Werner Herzog's documentary Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World; how Michelangelo's David could crumble at any moment; and what it takes to make a great children's book.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits that are working together to move their communities forward. Download and subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts. And by Audible. Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial today by signing up at Audible.com/culture. And by Green Chef. Their organic meal kits make it easy to cook healthy and feel great about where your food comes from. Get four free meals with your first order when you sign up at GreenChef.com/culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana Stevens, Dan Kois, and Jessica Winter discuss the end of Gawker, the animated film Kubo and the Two Strings, and their favorite cultural depiction of vacations.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Boll and Branch. For luxury bedding at a low price, go to BollandBranch.com and use promo code culture for free shipping and 20 percent off your entire order.And by Audible. Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial today by signing up at Audible.com/culture.And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens are live from Steve's porch this week and answer listeners' calls.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits that are working together to move their communities forward. Download and Subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts.And by Audible, with an unmatched selection of audiobooks, original audio shows, news, comedy, and more. Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial at Audible.com/story.And by Green Chef. Their organic meal kits make it easy to cook healthy and feel great about where your food comes from. Get four free meals with your first order when you sign up at GreenChef.com/culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens are live from Edith Wharton's estate The Mount in the Berkshires this week to discuss the film Idiocracy and its relevancy to this year's presidential race, why people take pilgrimages to authors homes, and how technology is trying so hard to infantilize us.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Netflix series Stranger Things, the Harry Potter play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," and the case against the media by the media.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Boll and Branch. For luxury bedding at a low price, go to BollandBranch.com and use promo code culture for free shipping and 20 percent off your entire order.And by Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits that are working together to move their communities forward. Download and Subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens talk about their Summer Strut picks for 2016 with Slate music writer Chris Molanphy.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Open Account, a podcast that gets personal about making, losing, and living with money. Created by Umpqua Bank and hosted by SuChin Pak, download and subscribe to Open Account wherever you get your podcasts.And by Green Chef. Their organic meal kits make it easy to cook healthy and feel great about where your food comes from. Get four meals free with your first order when you go to GreenChef.com/culture.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Ghostbusters reboot, Pokemon Go, and Chuck Close.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W. Get $20 off your first order of wine now by going to ClubW.com/culture.And by Boll and Branch. For luxury bedding at a low price, go to BollandBranch.com and use promo code culture for free shipping and 20 percent off your entire order.And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the twenty-first century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and guests discuss HBO's series Night Of, the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, and the flap over actresses and plastic surgery.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Audible, with an unmatched selection of audiobooks, original audio shows, news, comedy, and more.And by Open Account, a podcast that gets personal about making, losing, and living with money. Created by Umpqua Bank and hosted by SuChin Pak, download and subscribe to Open Account wherever you get your podcasts.And by Green Chef, a new food delivery service that makes cooking easy—with consciously sourced healthy recipes and organic ingredients. Get four free meals with your first order when you go to GreenChef.com/culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and guests discuss the film The BFG, the beefcake noir television show Animal Kingdom, and Facebook's new algorithm.Culture Gabfest is brought to you by Club W. Get $20 off your first order of wine now by going to ClubW.com/culture. And by eero, the world’s first whole-home wifi system. Get FREE overnight shipping by going to eero.com/culture and at checkout enter promo code culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner discuss Independence Day: Resurgence, Angels in America, and Judith Butler.The Slate Culture Gabfest is brought to you by BollandBranch.com, offering luxury bedding at affordable prices. Order right now and they'll give you 20 percent off, plus free shipping. Get sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, and more at BollAndBranch.com and use the promo code CULTURE.And by the new podcast Dog Smarts. Each episode features leading researchers and academics that tackle questions of language, memory, intelligence, and even love as they pertain to our dogs. Subscribe to Dog Smarts on iTunes now.And by Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage’s completely online process lets you get a custom mortgage solution wherever and whenever you want. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices