This week, Dana, Julia (fresh from the launch of her new media venture <a href="https://lamaterial.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">L.A. Material</a>), and guest host Dan Kois set their gaze to the heavens with a discussion of the lost-in-space adventure yarn Project Hail Mary. Based on the book by Andy Weir and directed by genre movie savants Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the sci-fi blockbuster stars Ryan Gosling and a big rock creature puppet.Next, they hop across the pond for the launch of SNL UK, the British revamp of the venerable American comedy institution. Slate UK contributor and author of <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/deep-down-the-intimate-emotional-and-witty-2023-debut-you-don-t-want-to-miss-imogen-west-knights/ecfdde4e4a08dc27?ean=9780349727097&next=t&" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deep Down</a>, Imogen West-Knights joins to share her two pence on the show’s local reception.Finally, the panel turns to Dan Kois’s epic, 8,500 word Slate essay on… <a href="https://slate.com/life/2026/02/bathroom-soap-bar-cleaning-health-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bar soap</a>. His opus—or “soapus," if you will— makes a persuasive case for why bar soap is a superior form of foam.In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus segment, the gang gets into a listener question about analog media.EndorsementsJulia: In addition to subscribing to <a href="https://lamaterial.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">L.A. Material</a>, the great American junk food that is the corndog—the vibes and graphic design of <a href="https://hotdogonastick.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hot Dog on a Stick</a> at the Santa Monica Pier are swell but seeking listener recommendations for the very best place to get a corndog.Dan: For some '"higher gossip " and a bit of 1800s history, the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/parallel-lives-five-victorian-marriages-phyllis-rose/9a523f5a6a2a3fe1?ean=9780394725802&next=t" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages</a> by Phyllis Rose.Dana: The work of voice actor Ray Porter in the <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Project-Hail-Mary-Audiobook/B08G9PRS1K?srsltid=AfmBOoooJFJjFr9fC7oqObtuT7TXzmLjsUygw-FS7lBHGx90ZjDlUCLF" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">audiobook of Project Hail Mary</a> and the interview Porter gives on the book podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/38-how-ray-porter-created-the-voices-of-project-hail-mary/id1800771701?i=1000754828349" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Off the Shelf</a>.--Email us your thoughts at <a href="mailto:culturefest@slate.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">culturefest@slate.com</a>.&nbsp;Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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