Best Slate V Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 404: 2025 Honda Odyssey Black Edition, 2025 Cadillac CT5, Slate EV Pickup 55:57

4d ago55:57

55:57

Why isn't a minivan considered a "long roof"? Why don't we name all cars based on their roofs? What's the right plural of roof? These questions and more are answered this week on the Unnamed Automotive Podcast! The show starts off with a review of the 2025 Honda Odyssey minivan, as Sami wonders why this Japanese van lacks the fun features many of i…

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

8d 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
Episode 403: 2025 Aston Martin DBX 707, 2025 Acura MDX A-Spec 45:54

11d ago45:54

45:54

First the show starts off with a review of the 2025 Aston Martin DBX 707, a ultra-high-performance exotic from one of the top British automakers. Faced with all kinds of inclement weather during his testing, Benjamin has a thorough take on this hyper SUV, and comes to a decisive conclusion about it, especially in comparison to some other high-hp SU…

1
Episode 402: 2025 Mini Countryman SE ALL4 EV, 2025 Honda HR-V, Listener Question 51:19

18d ago51:19

51:19

The show starts off with Benjamin's review of the 2025 Mini Cooper Countryman SE All4, an all wheel drive, electric 'ute that manages to stay small, affordable and impressive to drive. What's the downside? Try the weird user interface and get back to us; or don't and listen to Benjamins gripes of the infotainment system, and his overall take on thi…

1
Decoder Ring | Spring Break Forever 50:08

22d ago50:08

50:08

The infamous annual ritual of spring break—where thousands of college students head to the same warm location and go crazy—can seem like it’s always been here. But it hasn’t. The spring break phenomenon is a holdover from midcentury teen culture that has endured by changing, just enough, to be passed from one generation to the next. In this episode…

1
Episode 401: 2025 Acura RDX, 2024 Ford Ranger XLT 54:42

25d ago54:42

54:42

The Unnamed Automotive Podcast breaks into the big 4-0-0, but this week's episode lacks much fanfare or frills. After a brief discussion about the 399+ episodes that came before today, the guys dive right into talking about the new cars they've been testing. Sami delivers his verdict of the 2025 Acura RDX, a luxury SUV that goes against some very i…

1
Episode 400: Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, 2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige, Listener Question, Dog and Cat Shows 55:26

1M ago55:26

55:26

First up, Sami has a Ford Mustang Mach-E to talk about, but gasp! Its from last year? It still features a cool new upgrade that adds extra power, prompting our hosts to talk about these downloadable mods. What would they reasonably add to a car via a download button? Butterflies, weird algorithms and maybe some growing and fading vines are all on t…

1
Decoder Ring | How Books About Things That Changed the World… Changed the World 58:24

1M ago58:24

58:24

Look in the nonfiction section of any bookstore and you’ll find dozens of history books making the same bold claim: that their narrow, unexpected subject somehow changed the world. Potatoes, kudzu, soccer, coffee, Iceland, bees, oak trees, sand, chickens—there are books about all of them, and many more besides, with the phrase “changed the world” o…

1
Episode 399: 2025 BMW 550e xDrive, Strange Automotive Merch, Listener Questions 49:24

1M ago49:24

49:24

The Unnamed Automotive Podcast tackles a plug-in hybrid luxury sedan sporting a similar name to an old V8 powered favorite. Benjamin has put the 2025 BMW 550e through its paces to see what the German automaker has done with electrifying its new-generation 5 Series. The result is nothing short of impressive, as the 550e seems to deliver on efficienc…

1
Episode 398: 2025 Toyota Crown, 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport, Fisker Ocean Rivian Connection 49:32

2M ago49:32

49:32

The Unnamed Automotive Podcast gets some second opinions this week. Today's show starts with Sami's review of the 2025 Toyota Crown, a car than Benjamin drove a few years ago. However, Sami's experience with the Crown has been changed by recent tests of the Camry and Accord, both of which were spacious, well equipped, efficient and responsive. Does…

1
Supercommunicators | 3. How to Have the Hardest Conversations 30:40

2M ago30:40

30:40

The final installment of our series explores the conversations that most of us dread, like frank discussions of our differences or a negative performance review at work. We often anticipate that these chats will go badly—and end in hurt feelings or embarrassment—but there are proven ways to make them easier to navigate. Host Charles Duhigg talks wi…

1
Decoder Ring | Truck Nutz (Encore) 41:29

2M ago41:29

41:29

Truck Nutz is a brand name for the dangling plastic testicles some people affix to the bumpers or hitches of their vehicles. Also sold as Bulls Balls, Your Nutz, and other brand names, these plastic novelties have a powerful symbolic charge and are often associated with a crass, macho, red state audience. But truck nuts are a surprisingly complicat…

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Episode 397: 2025 Volvo EX30, 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel 54:38

2M ago54:38

54:38

Todays episode starts with a review of the 2025 Volvo EX30 that struggles to get a recommendation from both Benjamin and Sami. Benjamin explains the many reasons for his lack of endorsement with this small and affordable EV, but they all seem to revolve around its underbaked software. Then Sami reviews the 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel, which gets a whole ne…

1
Episode 396: 2025 Subaru Forester Limited, 2025 Lincoln Aviator 44:07

2M ago44:07

44:07

The show starts with Benjamin's take on the 2025 Subaru Forester, a car we haven't talked about for nearly three years! With a new generation and new lineup, Benjamin goes down memory lane to talk about what the Forester represented, and uses the new model to explain how Subaru has moved away from STI towards a more successful marketing strategy an…

1
Supercommunicators | 2. How to Communicate Without Words 28:37

2M ago28:37

28:37

Why is it that we can tell someone “I’m totally fine!” and they instantly know we’re not? Gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and other subtle nonverbal cues play a huge role in how we connect with one another. In this episode, host Charles Duhigg explores how we communicate without words, including a deep dive into the visual and tonal cu…

1
Decoder Ring | Jerry Lewis’ Lost Holocaust Clown Movie 58:52

2M ago58:52

58:52

In 1972, Jerry Lewis—the actor and filmmaker known for slapstick comedies like The Nutty Professor—took the biggest risk of his career when he decided to make a drama called The Day The Clown Cried, about a circus clown who ends up in Auschwitz. This could have been a landmark as one of the first portrayals of the Holocaust in American cinema. Inst…

1
Episode 395: 2025 Subaru Outback XT, 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 56:15

2M ago56:15

56:15

Are they off-road ready or just rugged? This week the Unnamed Automotive Podcast tackles two rough and tumble SUVs starting with Benjamin's review of the 2025 Subaru Outback XT, especially in light of an upcoming redesign which may ditch the classic wagon styling of the Subaru halo vehicle. While our hosts rag on the Outback's mainstreamification, …

1
Supercommunicators | 1. How to Talk to Anyone 32:22

2M ago32:22

32:22

Why are some people able to talk with just about anyone—about almost anything? One answer may lie in the questions we ask—and how deeply we ask them. Stick with us here… In this episode, host Charles Duhigg examines why deep questions are so powerful and how to ask them in everyday life. He talks to Nick Epley, psychology professor at the Universit…

1
Introducing Supercommunicators 1:15

2M ago1:15

1:15

In a new miniseries inspired by Charles Duhigg’s bestseller, the former host of Slate’s How To! podcast sits down with psychologists, social scientists, and even a Hollywood writer to explore how to ask the right questions, communicate without words, and find meaningful connections in our lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/…

1
Episode 394: 2025 Toyota Crown Signia, 2025 BMW 330i xDrive 52:55

2M ago52:55

52:55

What's in a name? Listen along as Benjamin and Sami crack into the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia, an SUV that's related to the Toyota Crown, but has Sami comparing it more to the well recieved Camry. Also is this a SUV or a wagon? And where are all the wagons again? And what about the old Toyota Venza!? This description has too many questions, but they …

1
Decoder Ring | The Scratch-Off Ticket’s Instant Win 40:18

3M ago40:18

40:18

You may never have thought very hard about scratch-off tickets, but that’s part of their power. They’re a form of gambling that’s simply a pedestrian part of American life. But not so long ago, they were risky and innovative, the killer app of their time and the must-play game of the state lottery. In this episode, Ian Coss, host of the new podcast…

1
Episode 393: 2025 BMW X3, 2025 Genesis GV80, 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Road Trip 44:33

3M ago44:33

44:33

This weeks show starts with a fun review of the 2025 BMW X3. Now entering its fourth generation, the X3 does a lot of things really well, but Sami is suggesting that the German crossover is getting a bit too tech-heavy for its own good. Our hosts also ask, what are the alternatives these days and how do they stack up? Then Benjamin gives us a revie…

1
Outward | Creating A Home for Trans Surgery Recovery 45:45

3M ago45:45

45:45

This week, Jules Gill-Peterson sits down with Owen Dempsey, the founder of Quest Healing House, a post-op recovery home providing safe, affordable lodging and wraparound support for transmasculine people. They discuss how Quest House, began, the urgent need for trans-led recovery spaces, and how the project has grown to meet community needs. Dempse…

1
Decoder Ring | Jump, Jive and Fail: The ’90s Swing Craze 1:06:01

3M ago1:06:01

1:06:01

When we recently got a couple of listener emails asking about the swing revival of the late 1990s, host Willa Paskin’s first, knee jerk reaction was just: no. She lived through it, and remembers it as being so incredibly corny and uncool. Insofar as the swing revival persists in the cultural memory, it’s usually as a punchline or as head-scratcher,…

1
Episode 392: 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor, 2026 Lexus GX 550 54:25

3M ago54:25

54:25

This week the Unnamed Automotive Podcast ditches its unibody for a body on frame setup as our hosts tackle a pair of off-road oriented trucks. Benjamin tests out the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor, a performance-oriented version of the midsize pickup that has dune bashing and baja racing on its ECU. Benjamin discusses where the new Ranger improves upon th…

1
Episode 391: 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, 2025 Cadillac XT6 38:52

3M ago38:52

38:52

This week, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast tackles a pair of crossovers that may have slipped past your radars. The show starts with Sami's review of the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, an attractive compact crossover that gets mixed up with a hybrid powertrain from Toyota. Sami suggests things haven't been meshed so nicely with the addition of Toyota's DN…

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