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Critics at Large | The New Yorker

Critics at Large is a weekly culture podcast from The New Yorker. Every Thursday, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss current obsessions, classic texts they’re revisiting with fresh eyes, and trends that are emerging across books, television, film, and more. The show runs the gamut of the arts and pop culture, with lively, surprising conversations about everything from Salman Rushdie to “The Real Housewives.” Through rigorous analysis and behind-the-scenes insights into The New Yorker’s reporting, the magazine’s critics help listeners make sense of our moment—and how we got here.

Episodes

In this episode of Critics at Large, Naomi Fry, Vinson Cunningham, and Alex Schwartz delve into the role of art in processing grief, focusing on Yiyun Li's new memoir, "Things in Nature Merely Grow," dedicated to her son who died by suicide. They discuss Li's philosophical approach to grief, her revolt against the conv...

Our Romance with Jane Austen

12 Jun 2025

46m

“Mountainhead” and the Age of the Pathetic Billionaire

05 Jun 2025

45m

Lessons from “Sesame Street”

29 May 2025

50m

The Season for Obsessions

22 May 2025

47m

The Grand Spectacle of Pope Week

15 May 2025

44m

I Need a Critic: May 2025 Edition

08 May 2025

51m

How “Sinners” Revives the Vampire

01 May 2025

43m

War Movies: What Are They Good For?

17 Apr 2025

45m

“The Studio” Pokes Fun at Hollywood’s Existential Struggle

10 Apr 2025

49m

Gossip, Then and Now

03 Apr 2025

43m

AI processed

In this episode of Critics at Large, Alex Schwartz, Vinson Cunningham, and Naomi Fry delve into the universal phenomenon of gossip, exploring its presence in culture, literature, and everyday life. They discuss personal experiences with gossip, examining its moral complexities and societal implications. The conversatio...