Slate Debates
A feed from the Slate podcast network featuring episodes with enlightening conversations, opposing views, and plenty of healthy disputes. You'll get a curated selection of episodes from programs like What Next, The Waves, and the Political Gabfest, with deep discussions that go beyond point-counterpoint and shed light on the issues that matter most.
The Oppressed Still Have Moral Duties
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… atrocities beget atrocities.The war in Gaza is ongoing, and brutal – and on this show we’ve discussed whether you, as an observer, have a responsibility to speak out about it… or to even choose a side between Israelis and Palestinians. This week, we take a different angle: who has a responsibility, in war, to do what? And not do what? And to whom? Michael Walzer, author and professor emeritus at the Institute for …
Psychiatry Alone Can’t Heal You Completely
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… great, but not enough.Mental health is on a lot of minds as we enter the holiday season — a time when we know many people struggle.So this week, we talk candidly about what it means to treat mental illness… and what it should mean, if we want that treatment to be effective, long-lasting, and sensitive. Spoiler: psychiatry and psychology are not the panaceas you might think.Erin Grimm, author and mental health advocate, joins …
Hear Me Out: Be The Holiday A--hole
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… thanks, but no thanks.Americans are anxiously awaiting their Thanksgiving celebrations this week – for many, with some trepidation. Polls suggest we all know we don’t want to talk about politics around the table… but that most of us will anyway. With keeping the peace at the front of many minds — and civility always at the front of ours — our guest this week proposes an alternative: be a little bit of a …
Hear Me Out: It’s Time To Sunset Social Security
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… solving the insolvent.With the threat of a government shutdown looming (again), there are a lot of key programs and initiatives proving contentious for lawmakers. But nobody seems to ever flirt with the idea of cutting – or ending altogether – social security, And maybe it’s time to do just that. Eric Boehm of Reason Magazine joins us to argue for the end… even the beginning of the end… for social security.If you have …
What Next: How the Israel-Gaza War Rages in America
A Jewish writer and Muslim journalist sit down to discuss the power dynamics, tribalism, and role of empathy in a far-away conflict that hits close to home in America. Guests:Aymann Ismail, Slate staff writerEmily Tamkin, writer and author of The Influence of Soros and Bad Jews.If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll …
Hear Me Out: Nerds are a Menace to Society
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… lovable underdogs?For a long time, we’ve been sold — and we’ve bought — the idea of the nerd hero; usually a man, usually brilliant, and usually a social outcast who, inevitably, gets the girl. That was the happy ending.But now, we’re surrounded by powerful, self-styled nerds who have it all and still want more. And, to some, it’s increasingly hard to root for these guys.Ian Bogost, a writer and video game designer, joins …
How To!: Build a Marriage That Lasts
To celebrate their third wedding anniversary, Anjali and Rahul are each selecting a surprise activity to do together. This happy couple loves spontaneity, so they’re concerned about someday growing bored in their relationship. They’re also feeling pressure to mark the traditional milestones of marriage, including having kids. On this episode of How To!, authors Caryl and Jay Casbon join us to share the wisdom they gained from interviewing other married couples for their book Side by Side. The Casbons draw …
On Halloween, Death Should Be Celebrated
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… the veil is thin.It’s easy to forget, between the plastic skeletons and cheap chocolate, that Halloween was — and is, for many cultures — very much about the reality of death. As the Northern Hemisphere goes dormant for the winter, it’s worth remembering that the circle of life includes death. And instead of a punchline or a thing to be feared, we might actually celebrate death, when we can. And who better to …
How To!: Hit “Reset” on Your Career
Our listener Abdullah has reached a plateau. A mid-career manager at a large electronics engineering corporation, he feels intellectually unstimulated. Even though Abdullah has a stable job with seniority, he dreams of going back to school, and pursuing his true passion: economics. But with a family to support, should Abdullah make a risky leap? On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace is joined by Freakonomics co-author and University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt. Well-known for out-of-the-box thinking, Levitt …
Hear Me Out: You Don’t Need to Post About Israel and Palestine
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… when silence is violence. The war in Israel and Palestine is a rapidly-evolving situation – and one that’s bringing up a lot of emotions for a lot of people. Couple that with the flood of mis-and-disinformation on social media, and “to post or not to post” becomes an extremely loaded question. Are you ever required to speak up on social media? Even if you don’t know the whole story? And if you elect …