303 episodes

Each week a pair of writers and guests talk through one news story we can’t stop thinking about, and unpack what gender has to do with it.

The Waves: Gender, Relationships, Feminism Slate Podcasts

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.2 • 864 Ratings

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Each week a pair of writers and guests talk through one news story we can’t stop thinking about, and unpack what gender has to do with it.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    The Year in Celebrity Memoirs

    The Year in Celebrity Memoirs

    In this episode, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim are joined by writer, comedian and Glamorous Trash host Chelsea Devantez to break down this watershed year of celebrity memoirs. The trio crowns the best and the worst titles, dissect what separates a good memoir from a great one, and reveal the shocking figure who has appeared in way more memoirs than you’d expect.
    This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 47 min
    What is a Feminist, Really?

    What is a Feminist, Really?

    On this week’s episode of The Waves, we say goodbye by contemplating a key word of the podcast - feminism. Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth and original Waves host June Thomas discuss what feminism means, the historical problems with the word, who should get to call themselves feminist, and so much more. 

    Endorsements and Discussed in Episode:
    A Place of Our Own by June Thomas
    Between Two Wars by Cheyna Roth
    In Defense of Lean In Feminism on The Waves
    We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgarian
    What the Hart Family Murders Reveal About Foster Care on The Waves
    The Lady Vanishes

    In Slate Plus: What is the most feminist holiday?
     
    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Vic Whitley Berry with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.

    Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 39 min
    In Defense of Lean In Feminism

    In Defense of Lean In Feminism

    On this week’s episode of The Waves, why can’t the feminists all get along? Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR political correspondent and author of the Substack, This F**king Job. They dig into what went wrong with Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In, why it wasn’t all completely wrong, and how to stop giving anti-feminists the ammo they need to attack.   

    In Slate Plus: We’re talking May December! 

    If you liked this episode, check out: We See Dead Girls
     
    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
    Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.

    Clips Used:
    “Sheryl Sandberg: Women Must Learn to ‘Lean In’” - ABC News
    “I bought the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg” - Sarah Tollemache
    “Girl boss culture gotta go” - Rachel Turner 

    If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on How To!. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus to help support our work.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 30 min
    We See Dead Girls

    We See Dead Girls

    On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re bringing out the dead girls. Everywhere you look in popular culture there seems to be a new movie, TV show or true crime documentary detailing the mystery of yet another woman’s death. At least, that was how author and guest Alice Bolin saw things when she wrote her book Dead Girls in 2018. She sits down with Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth to unpack what has - and hasn’t - changed in dead girl culture (from Twin Peak’s Laura Palmer to our persistent obsession with Elizabeth Short aka The Black Dahlia) and what this fixation says about all of us.
    In Slate Plus: What was really going on inside the Playboy Mansion. 
    If you liked this episode, check out: I Don’t Care If You Like Me
    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
    Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
    Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 35 min
    The Golden Bachelor Recap: We All Turn on Gerry

    The Golden Bachelor Recap: We All Turn on Gerry

    On this final episode of our Golden Bachelor recap episode of The Waves, Gerry’s makes his decision but maybe loses the audience along the way. 

    Podcast production by Brandon Nix and Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.

    Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.

    If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on The Waves. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus to help support our work.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 26 min
    Why Anime is for Women

    Why Anime is for Women

    On this week’s episode of The Waves, with the emergence of streaming more Americans are becoming fans of Japanese anime. Within that media, viewers can see wide ranges of LGBTQ+ representation and gender presentation that often isn’t found in American animation. But like American media, not all of these representations are as nuanced as they should be. Host Vic Whitley-Berry is an avid anime fan, and they sit down with journalist Princess Weekes on femme representation in Japanese anime.

    In Slate Plus the messiness of shipping and fandoms. 

    If you liked this episode, check out: Can Fairy Tales Be Feminist?

    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Vic Whitley-Berry with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.
    Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.
    Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 35 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
864 Ratings

864 Ratings

MaddieB5 ,

Amazing show

The Waves podcast has become an integral part of my journey in understanding feminism, misogyny, sexism, and societal dynamics. An amazing show

e85gal ,

Love it

I’m not into the Golden Bachelor but I love all the other content. Soooo good!

GCulff ,

Love Those GB Recaps!

I’ve never been much of a reality TV person, and I never got into the whole Bachelor franchise, which I find overly calculated and hokey. But thanks to this podcast, I got into “The Golden Bachelor,” and as a woman over 50 I want to say I’m loving the commentary here! I listen after every GB episode, and I think I suddenly understand the pleasures of the post-game show that sports fans so enjoy. It was brilliant of Slate to bring in Laura Stassi to share her insights, and I especially appreciate that, like me, she had never watched the franchise before, which gives her a fresh, outsider perspective, free from expectations. It’s a perfect complement to Cheyna’s experience with the show. I love and appreciate the way they both come from a place of care, especially a desire to debunk the myths associated with aging and dating. What ever will I do when the GB ends and this podcast is complete?

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