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Still Processing

Author: The New York Times

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Wesley Morris and J Wortham are working it out in this weekly show about culture in the broadest sense. That means television, film, books, music — but also the culture of work, dating, the internet and how those all fit together.

Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp
154 Episodes
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America Has a Problem

America Has a Problem

2022-12-0640:322

Today: The undoing of Kanye West. “We’re in deeply vile territory, and I can’t make intellectual sense of that,” Wesley Morris says about West, who now goes by Ye.In 2004, when Ye released “College Dropout," he seemed to be challenging Black orthodoxy in ways that felt exciting and risky. But over the years, his expression of “freedom” has felt anything but free. His embrace of anti-Black, antisemitic and white supremacist language “comes at the expense of other people’s safety,” their humanity and their dignity, J Wortham says.Wesley and J discuss what it means to divest from someone whose art, for two decades, had awed, challenged and excited you.
Plastic Off the Sofa

Plastic Off the Sofa

2022-11-2931:162

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” came into theaters with a huge responsibility: It had to address the death of Chadwick Boseman, the star of the first “Black Panther” movie, who died of cancer in August 2020.Wesley and J discuss how the film offers the audience an experience of collective grief and mourning — something that never happened in the United States in response to the losses of 2020. They interrogate what it means that this gesture of healing came from Marvel and Disney, a corporate empire that is in control of huge swaths of our entertainment, and not from another type of leadership.Additional resources:To hear what Wesley and J had to say about the first “Black Panther” movie, listen to this episode of “Still Processing” from 2018. Ryan Coogler, the director of “Wakanda Forever,” spoke to the author Ta-Nehisi Coates about the making of movie, and how it captured the real-life grief that people experienced after Chadwick Boseman’s death. Listen to their conversation here.
I'm That Girl

I'm That Girl

2022-11-2228:503

Beyoncé’s latest album, “Renaissance,” showcases a pop star letting go of all expectations. Wesley and J go deep into the album and this new era of Beyoncé. It’s an era of play, freedom, comedy and queerness — unlike anything we’ve ever heard from Beyoncé Knowles-Carter before.
New Foundation

New Foundation

2022-11-1532:52

Wesley and J discuss the push to “return to office” — and what it means for their lives, as well as American culture as a whole. What have 50 years of workplace sitcoms, from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to “Abbott Elementary,” taught us about our romance with the office? And what do TikTok parodies and the TV show “Severance” get right about the history of labor in America? In this period of returning to so-called normalcy, Wesley and J reflect on how we can ensure that the lessons of the early pandemic aren’t forgotten.
Summer Renaissance

Summer Renaissance

2022-11-0827:351

Donna Summer’s 1977 hit “I Feel Love” is the inspiration for the final track on Beyoncé’s new album, “Renaissance.” Summer became the queen of disco in the ’70s, but her catalog goes much further than that. You can hear her legacy in decades of electronic and R&B. “She is an architect of the pop culture we experience today,” J says.In this episode, J and Wesley revisit her 1982 album, “Donna Summer” — and explore why, out of all of her music, this self-titled album is the most distinctly Donna.
Alien Superstar

Alien Superstar

2022-11-0132:05

J Wortham and Wesley Morris are back, just in time for Scorpio season. Ever since they watched Jordan Peele’s latest film, “Nope,” together over the summer, they haven’t been able to stop talking about it. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as siblings whose family horse ranch is threatened by an otherworldly creature. But instead of escaping or destroying the monster, they are determined to take a picture of it. Why is proof so important? And what does it mean to be believed? Today: The unresolved questions of “Nope” (some of them, anyway) and what the film says about the grimmer aspects of living in America. (Beware: Spoilers ahead!)“Still Processing” is back for a mini-season. New episodes on Tuesdays. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
We Belong Together

We Belong Together

2022-06-1623:341

Reunited at last, J Wortham joins Wesley Morris in the studio for the last episode of the season. They reflect on the challenges of being apart for almost a year while J was on book leave.How did J deal with the inevitable stretches of loneliness? How do you re-enter your home and your relationships after so much time away?J and Wesley discuss how they managed to stay connected over the past year, and the role of community and intimacy in moments of tragedy.
Today, Wesley leaves the studio – and goes home. He embarks on a journey that involves a car named Khad'ija, a tireless 92-year-old activist and one Chinatown. Last year, President Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law. One part of the initiative especially struck Wesley: the federal government’s acknowledgment that its mid-century push to build a massive highway system had caused suffering. Wesley started thinking about a highway that he sometimes crossed as a kid in Philadelphia: the Vine Street Expressway. When it was built in 1991, he never realized how deeply it had divided and altered the Chinatown neighborhood. What happened to all the people who were living there? How did their lives — and their communities — transform? On today’s show, Wesley returns to his hometown to try to find out. Click here for photos of Wesley's journey and more info about the episode.     
"This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan is an unforgettable hip-hop relic, a jam whose opening six words alone make you want to party. Wesley has heard this 1995 hit countless times since he was a teenager, but it wasn’t until hearing it recently at the gym that he had an epiphany: It’s a country song. It belongs to a long tradition of country music that expresses love and respect for one's hometown. Wesley explores other songs that have changed in meaning for him over the years (like “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M.), and he considers what happens to music’s meaning when the culture around it changes — the way it did with Britney Spears and her hits, in the aftermath of her yearslong struggle to end her court-sanctioned conservatorship.
Sweat Equity

Sweat Equity

2022-05-2632:21

When Wesley was 11, he wanted to be just like Sandra from the sitcom “227,” played by Jackée Harry. Sandra was sassy, boisterous and always got what she wanted. But it took reading Margo Jefferson’s latest book, “Constructing a Nervous System: A Memoir,” for Wesley understand the complexity of this memory. On today's episode, Wesley and Margo Jefferson sift through their most deep-rooted, and sometimes difficult-to-explain cultural influences. Why did Margo adore the scatting of Ella Fitzgerald, but squirm at the sight of her sweating onstage? Why was Margo drawn to Ike Turner as a teen, but not Tina Turner? Together, Wesley and Margo unpack their cultural memories — and what they reveal about who they are now.
What happens when athletes decide to act? And what doesn’t happen? Wesley Morris and Bill Simmons, sportswriter and founder of The Ringer, break down the history of athletes in movies. They start with Jackie Robinson playing himself in 1950, discuss the Blaxpoitation-era stars and make their way to the ’90s, from “He Got Game” (where Ray Allen turns in a solid performance opposite Denzel Washington, directed by Spike Lee) to “Space Jam” (the less said, the better). They trace this phenomenon all the way to Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, arguably the most successful athlete-turned-actor of all time — who seems to be playing the long game. Then, they imagine a new kind of renaissance for the sports movie.
Keanu

Keanu

2022-05-1226:531

Wesley wants to get to the bottom of Keanu Reeves — and to understand “why we get so much out of a movie star who appears to give us so little.” He’s joined by Alex Pappademas, the author of “Keanu Reeves: Most Triumphant: The Movies and Meaning of an Irrepressible Icon,” to solve this mystery. They discuss Keanu’s three-decade acting career, how he became the internet’s adorably tragic boyfriend and why we are seeing ourselves when we look at the actor.Click here for more information about today's episode, and check out Alex's book on Keanu. 
Sex, Death & Bunnies

Sex, Death & Bunnies

2022-05-0532:292

"Fatal Attraction" came out in 1987 when Wesley was 11, and it made a permanent impression on the way he thinks about certain aspects of lust and suspense. With Jenna away on book leave, he welcomed Parul Sehgal, a staff writer at The New Yorker, to the show. Both Wesley and Parul watched “Fatal Attraction” over and over as preteens, and they’ve rewatched it multiple times in the years since. As they break down the most powerful scenes, they are reminded of the loss of high-stakes sex onscreen today. They discuss why the erotic thriller genre disappeared — and what they could gain from seeing more genuine, grown-up sex in movies.
In the 20th century, method acting was everywhere. Actors went to extreme lengths to inhabit the complicated psyche of a character, sometimes making audiences deeply uncomfortable. Think Robert De Niro in “Raging Bull” or Marlon Brando in “Apocalypse Now.” But in 2022, in our heyday of superhero blockbusters and bingeable story lines, the Method seems to be fading away. Wesley invites Isaac Butler — critic, historian and author of “The Method: How the 20th Century Learned to Act” — to dissect the Method. They discuss where it came from, its most legendary practitioners, and whether Hollywood has a place for it today.
Skip Intro

Skip Intro

2022-04-2122:532

Wesley worries the “skip intro” button is killing the TV theme song. He takes his concern to his friend Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet, music critic and MacArthur “genius grant” winner. Together, they explore their childhood memories of “Good Times,” “The Wonder Years” and “The Jeffersons.” Then, producer Hans Buetow unearths a rendition of a theme song that blows their minds — and they vow never to hit “skip intro” on it.We have a special request: Can you identify the choir that is singing the “Good Times” theme song in this video? We’d love to find out who they are and get in touch with them. Email us at stillprocessing@nytimes.com if you have a lead. Click here for more details. Special prizes! Endless appreciation!
American Top 40

American Top 40

2022-04-1437:262

Wesley has been obsessed with lists since he was a child — think Casey Kasem’s American Top 40, the Academy Awards and Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time. Now, he wants to think more seriously about expanding what we call the canon, making sure more people have a say in which works of art are considered great, enduring and important.For guidance, Wesley sits down with Daphne A. Brooks, an academic, critic and music lover, to ask whether expanding the canon is even the right way to think about this. Her thoughts surprise him: We can do better than lists!Check out Daphne A. Brooks's reading recommendations at this link or at nytimes.com/stillprocessing.
We’re back with a new season on April 14! Jenna Wortham is on book leave, so Wesley Morris will be taking on solo hosting duties for much of this spring. He will be joined by a stellar cast of guests, including Daphne Brooks to talk pop culture hierarchies, Hanif Abdurraqib to examine television theme songs (and that polarizing “skip intro” button) and Bill Simmons on what happens when athletes try to act. We can’t kick off this season, however, without first hearing about what Jenna has been up to. Spoiler alert: black holes.Tune in Thursdays for new episodes.
'Before I Let Go'

'Before I Let Go'

2021-05-2043:314

When the three opening notes of the song hit, there’s only one thing to do: Find your people and dance. Today, we’re talking about “Before I Let Go,” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and the song’s unique ability to gather and galvanize. It wasn’t a huge hit when it came out in 1981, but it has become a unifying Black anthem and an unfailing source of joy. We dissect Beyoncé’s cover, and we hear from friends, listeners and the Philadelphia DJ Patty Jackson about their memories of the classic song.You can find more info on today's episode here. 
A powerful — and revealing — aspect of the Derek Chauvin trial was the community it created out of strangers. Week later, we’re still thinking about the witnesses, and the way they were connected in telling the story of how George Floyd lost his life. This phenomenon is reflected in works of art, like Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” which explores the conflict inherent in a community.You can find more info on today's episode here. 
We, Tina

We, Tina

2021-05-0642:16

She’s simply the best. A new documentary on HBO (called, simply, “Tina”) explores Tina Turner’s tremendous triumphs, but we wanted to go deeper. We talk about how her entire career was an act of repossession: Taking back her name, her voice, her image, her vitality and her spirituality made her one of the biggest rock stars in the world, even in her 50s. You can find more info about today's episode here, and follow Wesley’s playlist of his top Tina Turner songs. Also, Jenna and Wesley want your help in settling a bet! Do you know the song “Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly and Maze? Did you play it at a party or dance to it at a wedding? Do you jump to your feet every time it comes on? Grab your phone and record yourself telling a story about what the song has meant to you. Send it to us at stillprocessing@nytimes.com 
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Comments (90)

Paulo Lavigne

The American anthem is indeed very beautiful, but there are serious competitors out there: La Marseillaise, the Brazilian national anthem...😉

Apr 5th
Reply

Daniel Rodriguez

Absolutely...this is not just art. These movies have without a doubt influenced the world view of each of their respective generations.

May 14th
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Andi-Roo Libecap

What a fantastic, and deeply nuanced conversation about race and Disney. I so appreciate this insight -- I can say diversity matters, but without that actual diversity's existence, I'm still blind to the inequities that Black and brown people endure. Thank you to this show for helping me see more clearly.

May 13th
Reply

Andi-Roo Libecap

I've been waiting to listen to this episode till I saw the movie Promising Young Woman, which left me with a mixed salad bag of feelings. The discussion here really helped me identify and place some of the righteous not versus horror versus personal discomfort, so I really appreciated that the hosts choose to parse such a complex film. However, I'm extremely surprised there was no mention of Redemption -- not as an intangible and vague concept; nor as an ideal virtue to try to capture; not even as the specific character who represented it in the form of shame. That's a bit disappointing, since I felt one of the biggest themes of the movie was personality responsibility, consequences, and ultimately, forgiveness (or the lack thereof). Cassie went into the final confrontation fully aware she would likely die -- maybe even seeking death. Going out as a martyr allowed her to feel heroic, as though she finally had a way to "save" Nina and simultaneously redeem her inability to help her all

May 10th
Reply

Andi-Roo Libecap

So glad this show returned -- and wow what a strong episode right out the gate! Interesting discussion for all people regardless of skin color. I appreciate them sharing this insightful conversation with us.

Mar 26th
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Judie Patel

Thank you so much for sharing your processing and keeping us grounded💕

Nov 29th
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ID18470784

Never seen people complain so much about bullshit and bring up the past and use rare cases of police brutality to say “look America hates blacks, give us money and jobs for shit that happened two hundred years ago!”

Aug 8th
Reply

Authentictalks 2.0

I recently found this podcast and I have enjoyed listening to a few episodes already. Thanks for sharing your views.

Jul 15th
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dwanadoc@msn.com

Omg please dont leave us now. My goodness. Will you be back?

Jun 18th
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Diana Bermudez

listening to this on June 14. The irony of what protest has become right now! Can't wait to hear from Still Processing and their most current podcast, gotta catch up!

Jun 14th
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Sofia Pereira

I understood vegetable cutters.. so until the song came up, I was in a totally different page... lol

May 5th
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daisy

so fun

Apr 25th
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Vanessa Vartabedian

I love you guys! I loved this episode. I finished watching the "Joe Exotic" series and always dig your insights and perspective on pop culture, and its and historical and social relevance and implications. I understand you're mixed feelings about the series being posed as entertainment. As a documentary filmmaker myself, a main draw for me is the fact that life is often stranger than fiction. and the importance of making the characters humans, is to understand why they made the choices they mafe in life that God sent them to the place where we meet them on the screen. It's always a challenge and a fine line between exoticizing a person and exposing the underlined compelling truth - deeper insight into the rationale of their life. Of course, bias always plays a role, both for the filmmaker and the audience. That's what allows it to live as a form of art through storytelling. I think the upside of this is, as you mentioned, is that we, the viewers of this series, will never think about

Apr 11th
Reply

Andi-Roo Libecap

I'm catching up on eps I missed thru year, so I'm listening in Dec. What an unexpected, beautiful message to hear this holiday season! TY for this gift.

Dec 28th
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Sophie Darjeeling

In relation to the “Straws” episode I was 1000% expecting Wesley to say “so the obvious solution is to all join a union” which is the correct answer. Yes - institutions need to change. But who’s going to force them to change by withdrawing their labour until they do? Unionised workers.

Nov 4th
Reply (1)

daisy

I love jlo's resurgence

Oct 21st
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dwanadoc@msn.com

I absolutely love you guys thank you both for the laughter and the knowledge

Oct 18th
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Madeinspace

This is seriously the best podcast in my life right now.

Oct 10th
Reply

Deborah Hinds

Another fantastic podcast! P.S. Still Processing needs a Twitter handle so evangelists like myself can tweet & retweet links to every episode.

Sep 19th
Reply

Mary-Katherine Fleming

I swear, I listen to this episode at least once per week. It's amazing.

Jul 22nd
Reply (1)
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