Best Gabfest Podcasts (2025)

1
Political Gabfest: One Thing Even Trump Won’t Do 1:08:19

1h ago1:08:19

1:08:19

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Henry Blodget to discuss the financial and political fallout from the President’s threats to fire Fed Chair Powell and subsequent retreat; a Supreme Court case over free exercise of religion that could have broad implications; and why Trump stands by Hegseth after Signalgate Part 2. For this we…

1
Culture Gabfest | Is Sinners Hollywood’s Salvation? 1:10:35

1d ago1:10:35

1:10:35

On this week’s show, Julia, Stephen, and Dana are together and talk about Sinners with Slate Culture Writer Nadira Goffe. Then, they talk about a new animated series from Ramy Youssef called #1 Happy Family USA. Finally, they take a listener's suggestion and listen to a few episodes of the new podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler. In the exclusive S…

1
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis on Launching the Sports Gabfest, the Benefit of Mutually Reinforcing Weirdo Tendencies, and Why They Hate the Hall of Fame 1:33:52

23d ago1:33:52

1:33:52

Hello, media consumers! Bryan is still out on vacation, but Joel is here with two former colleagues, Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis. They kick off the show by discussing the first time Joel joined them on a podcast (0:44). Then they discuss the following: ‘Hang Up and Listen,’ a sports show that was produced by a non-sports publication (14:00) The re…

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

24d 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
Slate Money | Say Goodbye to Hollywood 51:46

2h 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
Slate Money | Say Goodbye to Hollywood 51:46

3h 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

4h 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
ICYMI: J.D. Vance, the Pope, and Internet Inside Jokes 27:56

3h 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
ICYMI: J.D. Vance, the Pope, and Internet Inside Jokes 27:56

5m 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

5m 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
Amicus | The Anti-Trump Cases That Have Changed The Game 1:15:19

5m 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

4h 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
Dear Prudence | We All Hate My Sister’s Husband. Help! 58:45

2h 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

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

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

23m 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

1d 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…

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

23h 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…

1
How the Shannon Sharpe Lawsuit Is Being Covered. Plus, the NFL Draft Media Economy. 1:06:24

2d ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Hello, media consumers! On this Press Box Thursday, Bryan and Joel discuss the Shannon Sharpe lawsuit, Stephen A. Smith’s role in negotiating ESPN’s public response to it, and how the rest of the media world has reacted to this news (10:00). Then, they assess new entries in the “worst question asked at the White House” genre (32:00) and talk about …

1
Political Gabfest: One Thing Even Trump Won’t Do 1:08:19

2d ago1:08:19

1:08:19

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Henry Blodget to discuss the financial and political fallout from the President’s threats to fire Fed Chair Powell and subsequent retreat; a Supreme Court case over free exercise of religion that could have broad implications; and why Trump stands by Hegseth after Signalgate Part 2. For this we…

1
Care & Feeding | My Son’s Girlfriend’s Mom Is Toxic 54:28

3h ago54:28

54:28

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy answer a letter about parenting a kid through a toxic relationship… and more specifically, a girlfriend’s toxic mom. Our letter-writer is trying to balance respecting her son’s first serious relationship with wanting to protect him from some really nasty behavior. And after that, of course, we’ll circle up f…

1
Care & Feeding | My Son’s Girlfriend’s Mom Is Toxic 54:28

3h ago54:28

54:28

On this episode: Zak, Elizabeth and Lucy answer a letter about parenting a kid through a toxic relationship… and more specifically, a girlfriend’s toxic mom. Our letter-writer is trying to balance respecting her son’s first serious relationship with wanting to protect him from some really nasty behavior. And after that, of course, we’ll circle up f…

1
What Next | The Flight Attendant Who Wants You to Go on Strike 30:34

2d ago30:34

30:34

The Trump administration’s actions on immigration and firing the federal workforce have drawn condemnation from all sorts of unions—from building trades to graduate students. What happens when labor speaks as one? Guest: Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL–CIO. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus t…

1
What Next | The Flight Attendant Who Wants You to Go on Strike 30:34

8h ago30:34

30:34

The Trump administration’s actions on immigration and firing the federal workforce have drawn condemnation from all sorts of unions—from building trades to graduate students. What happens when labor speaks as one? Guest: Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL–CIO. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus t…

1
What Next | Fed Up! 30:47

3d ago30:47

30:47

Why Trump wants to ouster his own appointee, Jerome Powell, from the Fed chair—and why the rest of the world is rooting for Powell to stay put. Guest: Liz Hoffman, Semafor’s business and finance editor, host of Semafor’s World Economy Summit, and author of Crash Landing: The Inside Story of How the World’s Biggest Companies Survived an Economy on t…

1
What Next | Fed Up! 30:47

1d ago30:47

30:47

Why Trump wants to ouster his own appointee, Jerome Powell, from the Fed chair—and why the rest of the world is rooting for Powell to stay put. Guest: Liz Hoffman, Semafor’s business and finance editor, host of Semafor’s World Economy Summit, and author of Crash Landing: The Inside Story of How the World’s Biggest Companies Survived an Economy on t…

1
ICYMI: The $50M Revolve Lawsuit and Sponcon Literacy 29:54

1d ago29:54

29:54

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay run through the lows of Coachella, before breaking down a lawsuit against one of the festival’s most visible e-commerce brands, Revolve. Earlier this month, Revolve was hit with a $50 million class-action lawsuit accusing them of deceiving more than 1 million customers using social media marketing tactics. The lead plai…

1
ICYMI: The $50M Revolve Lawsuit and Sponcon Literacy 29:54

1d ago29:54

29:54

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay run through the lows of Coachella, before breaking down a lawsuit against one of the festival’s most visible e-commerce brands, Revolve. Earlier this month, Revolve was hit with a $50 million class-action lawsuit accusing them of deceiving more than 1 million customers using social media marketing tactics. The lead plai…

1
ICYMI: The $50M Revolve Lawsuit and Sponcon Literacy 29:54

3d ago29:54

29:54

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay run through the lows of Coachella, before breaking down a lawsuit against one of the festival’s most visible e-commerce brands, Revolve. Earlier this month, Revolve was hit with a $50 million class-action lawsuit accusing them of deceiving more than 1 million customers using social media marketing tactics. The lead plai…

1
ICYMI: The $50M Revolve Lawsuit and Sponcon Literacy 29:54

1d ago29:54

29:54

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay run through the lows of Coachella, before breaking down a lawsuit against one of the festival’s most visible e-commerce brands, Revolve. Earlier this month, Revolve was hit with a $50 million class-action lawsuit accusing them of deceiving more than 1 million customers using social media marketing tactics. The lead plai…

1
Culture Gabfest | Is Sinners Hollywood’s Salvation? 1:10:35

1d ago1:10:35

1:10:35

On this week’s show, Julia, Stephen, and Dana are together and talk about Sinners with Slate Culture Writer Nadira Goffe. Then, they talk about a new animated series from Ramy Youssef called #1 Happy Family USA. Finally, they take a listener's suggestion and listen to a few episodes of the new podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler. In the exclusive S…

1
Decoder Ring | How “Chicken Soup” Sold Its Soul 50:49

1d ago50:49

50:49

Chicken Soup for the Soul was the brainchild of two motivational speakers who preach the New Thought belief system known as the Law of Attraction. For more than 30 years, the self-help series has compiled reader-submitted stories about kindness, courage, and perseverance into easily digestible books aimed at almost every conceivable demographic: Ch…

1
Decoder Ring | How “Chicken Soup” Sold Its Soul 50:49

1d ago50:49

50:49

Chicken Soup for the Soul was the brainchild of two motivational speakers who preach the New Thought belief system known as the Law of Attraction. For more than 30 years, the self-help series has compiled reader-submitted stories about kindness, courage, and perseverance into easily digestible books aimed at almost every conceivable demographic: Ch…

1
Get out the popcorn, it's Paxton vs. Cornyn 36:06

4d ago36:06

36:06

It’s the insurgents versus the incumbents in the biggest Senate showdown in years. We dig into the details.By The Texas Tribune

1
What Next | Ciao Papa 30:08

4d ago30:08

30:08

Preaching for empathy and compassion, Pope Francis was at times seen as an agent of dramatic change in the Catholic Church. Did he succeed? Is that even an answerable question before the world knows his successor? Guest: David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock…

1
What Next | Ciao Papa 30:08

2d ago30:08

30:08

Preaching for empathy and compassion, Pope Francis at times felt like a dramatic change in the Catholic Church. Did he succeed? Can you even answer that question before you know who his successor will be? Guest: David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Gabfest Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen