Alex Schwartz is really on her British accent this week. I just can’t deal. Thanks for the TV rec.

A wonderful listen

Not only can I not listen to Joe Rogan, turns out I can’t even hear you speak on the matter. Love the pod but need to skip this one.

If you too live in an ivory tower and have no common ground with 90% of average Americans then this is the show for you. Personally, I can’t do it. It gave me a rash. Yuk.

Between the occasional vocal fry and the persistent habit of Ms. Fry’s, to land on and stretch the end consonants of words as if they are Coney Island taffy, it’s difficult concentrate on content. All told, the conversations take on the effect of the bright kids speaking over each other to make the most impactful comment.

The critics make interesting and prescient comments while keeping the conversation entertaining. It’s the perfect commuting podcast.

Been enjoying this pod for awhile now, and while They are 3 erudite and articulate reviewers, their history of cinema is woefully lacking when it comes to early Hollywood. In the current episode (Feb 27, 2025) there’s an ill-informed assertion that Oscars aren’t given to young people on their first major film—Katharine Hepburn “Bill of Divorcement,” Audrey Hepburn “Roman Holiday,” Joan Fontaine “Rebecca,” Vivien Leigh “Gone With the Wind,” Adrian Brody “The Pianist.” I could actually go on but my thumbs are tired. But really, this is their only failing, & the only thing they need do is a little research.

Lynch episode was a healing balm. Knew I could count on y’all.

I adore this show, but I had to stop listening as the vast majority of episodes are either old reruns or skipped over entirely. I respect that the three hosts are busy, but I hate that it’s advertised as a weekly podcast when I can’t remember the last time two or more new episodes were actually released in succession. I hate getting excited over a new episode, only to realize it’s just another rerun. I’d prefer if it was a biweekly podcast.

Great podcast, with all three hosts bringing a lot to the table.

Finally found a podcast to fill the void left by Dinner Party Download. Smart, funny, insightful, lighthearted. A delight.

I love the New Yorker, and find Vinson Cunningham’s work especially insightful. But Naomi Frye’s voice is awful. “She has this really, like, froggy way of talking-guh?” It’s insufferable.

Having read in the New York Times that this is one of the 10 best podcasts of 2024, I am enjoying the subject matter and content of various discussions and episodes. However, the verbal and audio presentation by the hosts came across more in the manner of 3 grown-up teenagers chatting about their ideas. By far, the most used words in the episodes I heard were, (in order of repetitive frequency) "like," "right?" and ""um." The (outstanding) content by these learned hosts would be much more listenable and less irritating if presented without the unnecessary "gap words." Otherwise, thanks for the great show!

This is the podcast I’ve been searching for in a world of presumed doom and politics overload.

I love this podcast so much. I save it for Saturday mornings. It’s my favorite way to recharge and start the weekend. The hosts are so knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. I always leave having learned something knew or with a new book recommendation.

If yall posted a 24/7 livestream just chatting off the dome, I would be tuned in morning till night like it was my destiny and my full time job. Keep it up, I love your brains and the thoughts inside them!!!

I absolutely love (ahem - loved) Critics at Large. It was a smart, fun, culture podcast that felt like sitting with the smart kids in English class. Until, they tried unveiling “Help, I need a critic.” What a disaster! Wittiness turned to banality. I found the episode extremely cringeworthy. Please - please drop this new concept and stick with what works. Smart repartee on a pre-planned topic!

Too much? Probably. Since it’s always good to start with the good things, I do love this combination of critical voices. While they sing individually in their own range, they harmonise well together. I enjoy their thoughts and analyses of contemporary culture. My complaint is actually about this feedback survey they are promoting at the head of each show. I tried to complete the survey, not because I wanted the opportunity to win a thousand dollar gift, but because I honestly wanted to share my good experience of the show with the makers. Sadly, I filled out five or six pages of answers and was abruptly removed from the survey with a curt ‘thank you and goodbye.’ I can only assume that I either did not give the correct answers or the site is faulty. Whichever, it was a thoroughly unsatisfactory conclusion to this transaction. I hope this was just a mistake. Best Sean

I like the topics, I like the cross referencing across media. Well researched. I like the levity. But the voice of one of the critics… no names, is the height of performative millennial pretension. And all it exudes is insecurity. It’s ok to be a nerd. Lean in. Listen to the critics on the FT culture chat for reference. Own your smarts and stop performing. You sound odious

Okay podcast is overall interesting, great topics and worthy takes on big buzzy issues. But please PLEASE stop talking over Vinson, ladies. You constantly cut him off and we, the people, want to hear his takes on these issues without your incessant interruptions. He always has the most interesting takes, which never get fully flushed out before he’s interrupted or you take a kernel of his take and colonize for your own rant. Ladies, please sit on your hands and let’s pass the mic equitably. I badly want to be a loyal listener but your lack of awareness is grating.

Always curious to hear their takes! Only complaint is that it could be longer!

I love history, so I was pleased to find this podcast. They aren’t pedantic, they discuss important subjects in a way that is entertaining, but still informative and thought provoking. I left a 5-star rating.

it’s great fun and i want to be in that room👏 but because i need to rewind in order to catch all the comments 🙂 it’s better to be here.☺️ Try not to talk over each other. Thank you.

This podcast encourages me to ask new questions with open-mindedness and compassion!!! The hosts are whip smart but also funny, inviting, and clearly friends with one another, which makes it such a fun listen. As someone in media who is inundated with “hard news” every day, Critics at Large always introduces me to ideas, people, themes, etc. that I’ve noticed but haven’t been able to articulate — in turn, that enables me to understand “hard news” better. In short, this show is amazing and has something for everyone

The communists at the New Yorker take their schtick to the airwaves

I don’t mind my daily commute on Thursdays because of this show. I’m a long time reader of the magazine and I think they did a great job pulling these three really smart, really articulate critics together to talk about fun stuff. Thanks for this.

That is the beauty of radio- you don’t have to look particularly appealing. But you must have a pleasant voice. I will stop right there in my review about actual sound of the some of the hosts’ voices. They may be well-rounded mature adults but they speak like giddy adolescents. I have tried so many times to get through a full episode but I just can’t. This last one about tarot was awful. The guest was cut from the same cloth, speech pattern-wise, and also, she seemed to take tarot seriously. Or maybe she did; once again, I had to turn it off.

When I listen to these three I have the involuntary sensation of my eyes rolling so hard that they threaten to fall out of my head. Is there anything more embarrassing than fully grown people affecting an affinity for ‘girlie summer’? Guys, it’s a general rule of culture that trying so hard to flourish outside of your age cohort is the definition of unclool. I’ve given up expecting adult content from this show. You know, it’s, like, the cringe of it all. This is really bringing down the reputation of the NYer.

Very engaging and informative. However, one of the female hosts pronounces the final g’s in words in a hard manner. Instead of ‘dancing’ she says ‘dancinGGG’. She also pronounces S and Z interchangeably and incorrectly. Is this an affectation that she has cultivated or is she unaware? In a medium that is all voice and no visuals, this is very glaring! Please fix it.

This is my new favorite podcast. I love hearing Alexandra, Vinson, and Naomi drop their critic's perspective or interpretation of things in the culture and hearing the others react live to it. There is definitely a feeling of "Let's try to think critically and puzzle this out together," which I love in real life and now on this podcast too.

Interesting topics, although I often don’t agree with their takes. But the two women talking over Vinson is beyond annoying. Hearing two white women over talking a Black man is enough to make me turn this off partway through many episodes. Let this man speak, and lower the Caucasity level a few notches, New Yorker.

Currently my favorite podcast. The dynamic between these three is pure delight. I just listened to the Alice Munro episode and wow. It’s rare that a podcast conversation reaches a point of actual wisdom, but I think this one did (esp toward the end). It’s thanks to all three hosts’ willingness to genuinely wrestle with ideas as a collaborative exercise. Also delighted to hear that Vinson is going to have a baby! Congrats!!

Our acute discomfort and confusion with recent revelations have nothing to do with Munro’s art form nor the “class” of her work. She differs from Diddy, Cosby, and others in the painful insight she displays in her writing about the abuse and its lingering injury. How, we ask ourselves, can someone who sees the truth so clearly do nothing? But this gulf between insight and action is familiar to any clinical psychologist. We can see the truth, we know what it requires of us, but we can’t move our feet. We are too weak, afraid, lonely, ashamed. The spirit is willing, but the flesh doesn’t execute. We see now that Munro must have lived in this purgatory, preferring to knowingly sacrifice her daughter to leaving her admitted child abuser of a husband. Sit in a criminal court if you think parents don’t do this. They do—just not people as famously insightful and articulate as Munro.

I would listen to every episode the nanosecond it dropped if it was only Naomi and Vinson sharing their witty, thoughtful and empathetic take on all things pop culture. Alex consistently exudes white girl privilege energy, comes across self-important, less open to asking questions and willing to learn like the other two, and just kinda shrill in her speaking tone.

Only. One. Book. A Short Walk In the Hindu Kush Eric Newby

This is one of the most pretentious and BORING podcasts on offer. The panel includes bright, thoughtful people who hide their talents behind insipid subjects. I will not take it any longer! I tried 10 episodes and I incurred deeper and deeper wounds

It’s a New Yorker culture podcast—of course the critics are going to rejoice in hearing themselves talk about all sorts of pretentious topics. But it’s delightful, it feels like gossip! Plus they make a great trio; they’re smart, fun and funny, the type of crew you want at your tipsy, 10-people dinner party.

they really are good together. It's a fun, interesting show

Love this show. One thing-guh, during the editing-guh of the show, would you entertain the thought of considering-guh trimming-guh off the extra g-guh syllable that Noami keeps pronouncing-guh? Thanking-guh you in advance!

Sometimes there is something interesting here. However, I get the sense that they are enamored with themselves and each other and that overshadows whatever real cultural criticism they have. Additionally, for people who are professionals at this, you’d think they’d figure out a way to get rid of saying “like” in every other sentence. It drives me crazy! I teach high school, and you expect high schoolers to use “like” all the time. Do these three ever listen to themselves? Hire a coach and get rid of that verbal tic. It would make this much easier to listen to. I am looking at you, Vinson and Naomi…

the therapy episode was bad! some people need therapy for a long time, you can tell the writers don’t like therapy and would it kill these people to learn anything about disability rights and how it connects to therapy. or, the ableist history of therapy. Like, how it has hurt disabled patients but also has helped them a lot too. Nothing new here. Also, you’re supposed to take therapy out of the room and into your life, it’s not supposed to stay in the room. You can tell none of these people have like OCD, PTSD, or other intense diagnosis, therapy is not just for introspection but for people to actually live there lives and not suffer everyday.

The Podcasters on the show are so well read intelligent and Informed and sensitive Thoughtful. I get so much out of listening to this podcast it’s absolutely wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful!!!!! thank you so much for creating this podcast.

One of my favorite shows! I love how they put “high” and “low” culture in conversation with each other. Like listening to a conversation between the three most fun and well read people at the dinner party. I look forward to it every week

Idk, perhaps a spoiler alert before playing dialogue from the subject.

Everytime I listen to this I realize it is a complete waste of time.

The episode on The New Midlife Crisis just made my morning, which happens to be my 47th birthday! I woke up to my kids and spouse singing me happy birthday with a candle in a cupcake while I was still in bed. After feeding the kids yogurt with honey and bananas, getting them dressed for their final days of school, my wife loaded them in our new minivan and sped away. I was left with the rest of the morning to myself and was delighted to spend part of it listening to Naomi, Vinson, and Alexandra critique middle age. I’ve never known whether I’m a younger gen Xer or an older Millennial. But my midlife thoughts include regrets of not having more people in my life who converse about art and culture like the “critics.” I am jealous of the work they do and the relationships they appear to share with each other. But this show, and this episode in particular, helps fill that gap. What a gift, thank you!

These folks seem to genuinely like and respect each other. Lots of humor! It’s a treat.

So biased towards Drake, didn't mention that Kendrick gave multiple warnings in Euphoria and 6:16 in LA to not make personal attacks. Drake mentioned Kendrick's fiancé in Push Ups and Familty Matters, which prompted Kendrick to also make a personal attack. So much Drake bias.

The intro with the story of how Vincent was “Ripley-ed” was insufferable. And it took forever. The constant noisy interference of his adoring female cohosts was pathetic. When he says “the lights go down” and you hear a moan slash gasp from one of them, you’d think it were the Twilight Zone. And then the interminable “like” “basically” etc. These are writers? This is culture? I’ve been reading the New Yorker for decades. I think I’ll go back to books and films without the dubious benefit of these “critics’” perspective.

“Why the sports movie always wins” ? C’mon guys..