Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. In each episode, host Willa Paskin takes a cultural question, object, or habit;... more
In 1992, a Minnesota-based software company known for its educational hit The Oregon Trail released another simulation-style game to school... more
From the moment it was released in 1995, The Rules was controversial. Some people loved it—and swore that the dating... more
We receive a lot of fantastic show ideas from our listeners—and we’re grateful for each and every one. For our... more
In the mid-1990s, the prime time drama Melrose Place became a home to hundreds of pieces of contemporary art—and no... more
Judging from teen dramas on Netflix, the slow dance seems to be alive and well. But when you talk to... more
We’re back with a new batch of cultural mysteries! This season, Decoder Ring explores the decline of an awkward yet... more
Once you start listening for catchphrases in everyday life—you can’t stop hearing them. From the radio era’s “Holy mackerel!” to... more
When Slate’s Evan Chung was a kid, he was obsessed with a mysterious advertisement that ran for decades in the... more
Kissing—the romantic, sexual, steamy kind—is so ingrained in us that it just seems like a fact of life. Like breathing... more
The mosh pit has a reputation as a violent place where (mostly) white guys vent their aggression. There’s some truth... more