Decoder Ring

Cracking cultural mysteries.

About the Show

In each episode, host Willa Paskin takes a cultural question, object, or habit; examines its history; and tries to figure out what it means and why it matters. New episodes come out every two weeks.

Host

Can the “Bookazine” Save Magazines?

Why is there a magazine all about Robert Redford in the CVS checkout lane?

Andrew Wyeth’s Secret Nudes

Why did America’s favorite artist hide 240 pieces of artwork from his wife?

Why Stylists Rule the Red Carpet

Avery Trufelman and Melissa Rivers on what the fashion police hath wrought.

The Gen X Soda That Was Just “OK”

Thirty years ago, OK Soda arrived in select stores and offered up a fizzy irony.

Why Do So Many Coffee Shops Look the Same?

Algorithms are shaping our world, even down to latte art.

The Forgotten Video Game About Slavery

In 1992, the company behind The Oregon Trail tried to simulate Black history. It did not go well.

The Dating Manual Unlike Any Other

The Rules became a controversial bestseller and sparked instant debate. But was the advice any good?

Mailbag: The Recorder, Limos, and “Baby on Board” Signs

We answer your questions about the ubiquitous musical instrument, ‘80s automotive luxury, and more.

When Art Pranksters Invaded Melrose Place

In the mid-1990s, an artist collective smuggled its provocative work onto the set of the hit TV show.

The Fast Decline of the Slow Dance

The rise and fall of an awkward rite of passage.
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How Decoder Ring Made This Season

Plus, an unreleased interview

Think Catchphrases Are Dead? Eat My Shorts.

Bless up: It’s a whole episode about “Doh!”, “Dealbreaker!” and “Did I do that?”

The Quest for a Homemade Hovercraft

With his scouting days long over, a Slate producer enlists his dad for one last merit badge.

A Brief History of Making Out

Is deep kissing a universal human behavior?

What’s Really Going On Inside a Mosh Pit?

The etiquette, science, and enduring appeal of a concertgoing ritual.

The Great Parmesan Cheese Debate

Is a Wisconsin version more authentic than its beloved Italian counterpart?

Who Owns the Tooth Fairy?

The Tooth Fairy’s freak flag is still flying.

Why You Can’t Find a Damn Parking Spot

Parking is a mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. We can get ourselves out of it.

The Artist Who Was Both Loved and Disdained

The painter LeRoy Neiman was adored by many Americans—but not the art critics.

The Curious Case of Columbo’s Message to Romania Part 2

Why does no one remember the T.V. detective’s Cold War missive?