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Decoder Ring podcast

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Decoder Ring

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  Slate Podcasts  

Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. 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.Get more of Decoder Ring with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of Decoder Ring and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Decoder Ring show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus for access wherever you listen. 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.

Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. 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.Get more of Decoder Ring with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of Decoder Ring and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Decoder Ring show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus for access wherever you listen. 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.

 

All

Progress

Duration

Release Date

#143

Decoder Rings Back | Why the Mona Lisa?

We are really lucky to get lots of listener suggestions for the show, more good questions ... more

14 Jan 2026

25 MINS

25:05

14 Jan 2026

#142

A New Year’s Message from Willa

We can’t make this show without you, our listeners. Today, you can help support Decoder Ri... more

31 Dec 2025

02 MINS

02:08

31 Dec 2025

#141

Mailbag: Yo-Yos, Sandboxes, and Encores

Decoder Ring listeners write in with some excellent mysteries, and for our last episode of... more

17 Dec 2025

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:11

17 Dec 2025

#140

“Videomate: Men” (Encore)

Videomate: Men was a VHS tape released in 1987 featuring 60 single men pitching themselves... more

03 Dec 2025

34 MINS

34:33

03 Dec 2025

#139

How Protein Muscled Its Way to the Top

Americans are currently besotted with protein. It’s touted as being good for muscle growth... more

19 Nov 2025

40 MINS

40:20

19 Nov 2025

#138

The Slate Culture Gift Guide

Hark, the holiday season is upon us—and with it the most solemn of festive traditions: a g... more

12 Nov 2025

48 MINS

48:14

12 Nov 2025

#137

Cozy Autumn Mysteries

Autumn may have more cozy signifiers than any other season—though we all have our own favo... more

05 Nov 2025

50 MINS

50:31

05 Nov 2025

#136

The Red String Board Conspiracy

There’s a ubiquitous prop in just about every police procedural and conspiracy thriller: a... more

22 Oct 2025

46 MINS

46:51

22 Oct 2025

#135

What the Cuck?!

Earlier this year, a tweet went out from the official account of the Democratic Party, tag... more

08 Oct 2025

51 MINS

51:43

08 Oct 2025

#134

Why Do Actors Act Like They Can Sing?

When an actor opens their mouth to sing in a movie, chances are high that the voice you he... more

24 Sep 2025

57 MINS

57:02

24 Sep 2025

#133

Jane Fonda’s Workout, Part 2: Hanoi Jane’s VHS Revolution (Encore)

In part two of our special two-part episode, we return to the 1982 VHS tape that created t... more

10 Sep 2025

48 MINS

48:29

10 Sep 2025

#132

Jane Fonda’s Workout, Part 1: Jane and Leni (Encore)

In 1982, the Jane Fonda Workout became the best-selling home video of all time. Over decad... more

27 Aug 2025

54 MINS

54:01

27 Aug 2025

#131

How to Hunt a Mammoth, and Other Experiments in Archaeology

Experimental archeology is, simply put, archeology that involves running experiments. Wher... more

13 Aug 2025

52 MINS

52:33

13 Aug 2025

#130

The Bad-Mouthing of British Teeth

From The Simpsons’ Big Book of British Smiles to Austin Powers’ ochre-tinged grin, America... more

30 Jul 2025

46 MINS

46:31

30 Jul 2025

#129

Mailbag: Drug Names, Cow Abductions, and the “Ass-Intensifier”

In this episode we’re opening our mailbag to answer three fascinating questions from our l... more

16 Jul 2025

43 MINS

43:31

16 Jul 2025

#128

Introducing The Sporkful | Is Your Recipe Lying To You?

If you look at any list of best-selling cookbooks, certain words come up over and over aga... more

09 Jul 2025

29 MINS

29:04

09 Jul 2025

#127

The White Noise Boom

White noise has a very precise technical definition, but people use the term loosely, to d... more

02 Jul 2025

48 MINS

48:28

02 Jul 2025

#126

The Boston Cinematic Universe

This episode is a first for Decoder Ring: a live show, recorded at the WBUR Festival in Bo... more

18 Jun 2025

43 MINS

43:07

18 Jun 2025

#125

The Laff Box (Encore)

Decoder Ring is marking its 100th episode this year. To celebrate, we’re revisiting our ve... more

04 Jun 2025

31 MINS

31:47

04 Jun 2025

#124

The Glaring Problem with Headlights

Something seems to have happened to car headlights. In the last few years, many people hav... more

21 May 2025

39 MINS

39:47

21 May 2025

#123

Off-the-Wall Stories of Off-Label Use

Products often tell you exactly how they’re intended to be used. But why leave it at that?... more

07 May 2025

47 MINS

47:31

07 May 2025

#122

How “Chicken Soup” Sold Its Soul

Chicken Soup for the Soul was the brainchild of two motivational speakers who preach the N... more

23 Apr 2025

44 MINS

44:19

23 Apr 2025

#121

Spring Break Forever

The infamous annual ritual of spring break—where thousands of college students head to the... more

09 Apr 2025

43 MINS

43:38

09 Apr 2025