Why did the mullet become a thing? Why did everybody go crazy over Cabbage Patch dolls? And why would anybody ever go on a reality TV show? These are the typical questions you'd find asked in Slate's Decoder Ring, one for the smartest podcasts out there and one that more people should be checking out. In each episode, host Willa Paskin, usually the TV critic for Slate, picks up a different cultural object — a word, a phenomenon, a moment, a device — and subjects it to a simple question: why? This week, Nick talks to Willa about how she and her producer go about choosing the topics of their deep-dives, what makes her so interested in cultural histories and how they pulled together their epic two-part series on Jane Fonda.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Why did the mullet become a thing? Why did everybody go crazy over Cabbage Patch dolls? And why would anybody ever go on a reality TV show? These are the typical questions you'd find asked in Slate's <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring">Decoder Ring</a>, one for the smartest podcasts out there and one that more people should be checking out. In each episode, host <a href="https://twitter.com/willapaskin?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Willa Paskin</a>, usually the TV critic for Slate, picks up a different cultural object &mdash; a word, a phenomenon, a moment, a device &mdash; and subjects it to a simple question: why? This week, Nick talks to Willa about how she and her producer go about choosing the topics of their deep-dives, what makes her so interested in cultural histories and how they pulled together their epic <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring/2020/10/jane-fonda-leni-cazden">two-part series on Jane Fonda</a>.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In the world of podcasts, anyone can tell their story. From major media institutions to mom and pop shops starting from scratch. Let Nick Quah guide you through this ever-changing world, as he speaks with the producers, hosts, and executives that are shaping the culture of podcasting.

In the world of podcasts, anyone can tell their story. From major media institutions to mom and pop shops starting from scratch. Let Nick Quah guide you through this ever-changing world, as he speaks with the producers, hosts, and executives that are shaping the culture of podcasting.

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