The following podcast contains explicit language.

I'm Dana Stevens and this is the Slate Culture Gabfest Smoke and Chill Novelties

edition.

It's Wednesday, May 16, 2018 and on today's show, The Writer is the second feature film from the director

Chloe Jo. It follows a rodeo champion named Brady Blackburn who's played by Brady

Jandro in a role mirroring his own life whose injuries lead him to search for a

new purpose outside the rodeo

ring. It's been called one of the best films of the years so far. We will discuss it

with Ingu Kang who reviewed the film for Slate. Then last week at the same time

he was appearing as host on the Saturday

Night Live Donald Glover whose musical alias is Childish Gambino released a new

song and video for the single This is America. This video is disquieting, ambiguous, and deeply

political. Is it satire, horror, or both? We'll discuss with Slates Aisha Harris, who's written

on the video for Slate. And finally, we were inspired by Gia Tolantino's recent piece

in the New Yorker to discuss the rise of the jewel

and the culture of vaping.

We will be joined by Slate's browbeat intern

and occasional jeweler, Lena Wilson, we may even blow a little

fat cotton for you, dear listener. Can I just say that our producer wrote that phrase

for me and I have no idea what he's talking about. But we'll do it, possibly in Slade Plus.

Stephen Metcalf is unfortunately off this week and Julia Turner is feeling under

the weather. So I'm joined by Slate's browbeat editor Sam Adams.

...