<p>This week, Dana, Julia (fresh from the launch of her new media venture <a href="https://lamaterial.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">L.A. Material</a>), and guest host Dan Kois set their gaze to the heavens with a discussion of the lost-in-space adventure yarn <em>Project Hail Mary. </em>Based on the book by Andy Weir and directed by genre movie savants Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the sci-fi blockbuster stars Ryan Gosling and a big rock creature puppet.</p><br><p>Next, they hop across the pond for the launch of <em>SNL UK</em>, the British revamp of the venerable American comedy institution. Slate UK contributor and author of <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/deep-down-the-intimate-emotional-and-witty-2023-debut-you-don-t-want-to-miss-imogen-west-knights/ecfdde4e4a08dc27?ean=9780349727097&amp;next=t&amp;" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Deep Down</em></a><em>, </em>Imogen West-Knights joins to share her two pence on the show’s local reception.</p><br><p>Finally, the panel turns to Dan Kois’s epic, 8,500 word Slate essay on… <a href="https://slate.com/life/2026/02/bathroom-soap-bar-cleaning-health-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bar soap</a>. His opus—or “soapus," if you will— makes a persuasive case for why bar soap is a superior form of foam.</p><br><p>In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus segment, the gang gets into a listener question about analog media.</p><br><p><strong>Endorsements</strong></p><br><p><strong>Julia: </strong>In addition to subscribing to <a href="https://lamaterial.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">L.A. Material</a>, the great American junk food that is the corndog—the vibes and graphic design of <a href="https://hotdogonastick.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hot Dog on a Stick</a> at the Santa Monica Pier are swell but seeking listener recommendations for the very best place to get a corndog.</p><br><p><strong>Dan: </strong>For some '"higher gossip " and a bit of 1800s history, the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/parallel-lives-five-victorian-marriages-phyllis-rose/9a523f5a6a2a3fe1?ean=9780394725802&amp;next=t" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages</em></a> by Phyllis Rose.</p><br><p><strong>Dana</strong>: The work of voice actor Ray Porter in the <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Project-Hail-Mary-Audiobook/B08G9PRS1K?srsltid=AfmBOoooJFJjFr9fC7oqObtuT7TXzmLjsUygw-FS7lBHGx90ZjDlUCLF" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">audiobook of <em>Project Hail Mary</em></a><em> </em>and the interview Porter gives on the book podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/38-how-ray-porter-created-the-voices-of-project-hail-mary/id1800771701?i=1000754828349" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Off the Shelf</a>.</p><br><p>--</p><br><p>Email us your thoughts at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch.</p><br><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> 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.</p>