A eulogistic weepfest? A “valediction forbidding mourning”? A conscious unthroupling? All of the above?

Believe it or not, the time has come for Steve, Dana, and Julia to convene the Culture Gabfest panel for the very last time.

Before saying goodbye, they look back at the very first piece of culture they ever gabbed about on their inaugural episode in February 2008: the film Juno. Does the indie darling written by Diablo Cody, directed by Jason Reitman, and starring Elliot Page as a sardonic, pregnant teenager hold up after 18 years? And, what does rewatching it in 2026 reveal about how culture has changed? They discuss.

Next, the panel welcomes on the grand poobah of SFOPs June Thomas to counsel them through the inevitable change in one’s cultural habits that comes after a big life transition. They get into why June stopped watching TV and the truly wild mix of things in her YouTube algorithm.

Finally, we hear from you our dear, dear listeners. Steve, Dana, and Julia respond to some of your many beautiful emails and voice memos.

In our bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, past Gabfest producers spill the beans on what it was like to make this show over the years.

And, as always, thank you so much for being a listener.

Endorsements

Dana: The forthcoming book about translating ancient texts by beloved past Gabfest guest Emily Wilson, Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature.

June: The podcast Drafting the Past hosted by Kate Carpenter about the craft of writing history.

Julia: Manhattan Beach's indie bookstore Pages and On the Calculation of Volume (Book 1) by Solvej Balle (definitely the first 30 pages and maybe the whole five book series).

Steve: In addition to the music of Red Garland, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, and the poem “The Writer” by Richard Wilbur, Sparrowbush Bakery, a tiny, rustic bakery in Livingston, New York that is only open Fridays and Saturdays and serves the best bread made from fresh stoneground flour from locally grown grains you’ll ever taste.

Where in the World to Find the Culture Gabfest

Dana: Writing film reviews on Slate.com and kicking around a book idea that is still in the early stages. You can find updates and commentary on Bluesky.

Steve: In the wind, to the sands... and also working on a new book about, among many other things, the 1980s.

Julia: Editing L.A. Material and soon appearing weekly on L.A. Material's about-to-launch podcast L.A. World. Also, on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Bluesky.

June: At her newsletter Where Are All the Emails?

For the time being, listeners can also still reach the panel by emailing culturefest@slate.com. And to keep tabs on the Gabfesters, subscribe to their brand-new newsletter, the Culture Gabletter, to receive occasional updates, endorsements and more.

Podcast production by the immensely talented Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by the brilliant Daniel Hirsch.

Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.

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