Slate's Spoiler Specials

Producing director Chris Long joins June Thomas and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to discuss his unique process for getting the best performances out of actors. Plus, Costa Ronin (Oleg) stops by to talk about his big scene with Stan Beeman from last night's episode. Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spy craft consultant (and author) H. Keith Melton joins June Thomas and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to discuss his collection of authentic KGB spy gear, and how he advises the show on everything from lock picking techniques, to what type of camera the characters should be using. Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Composer Nathan Barr joins June Thomas and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to discuss his process for composing the show's score.  In addition to performing some of his unique custom-made instruments like the sympathetic drone cello, Barr breaks down the Emmy-nominated main title theme. Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CEO of FX Networks, John Landgraf, and the VP of Current Series at FX Networks, Colette Wilson, join June Thomas and showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields to talk about the process of creating The Americans, the importance of storytellers, and the significance of the movie, The Day After. Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Rhys (Philip/Clark) joins June Thomas and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to talk about his Americans directorial debut, which also happened to be one of his character's most intense episodes. Plus, Allison Wright (Martha) stops by to share some parting words for Martha. Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a free preview of Slate’s Game of Thrones podcast, a TV Club series that’s just for Slate Plus members. If you are not yet a member and would like to listen along as we recap each episode of the show’s sixth season, learn more at Slate.com/GameofThrones. In this edition of the podcast, Dan Kois, Willa Paskin, and Mac Rogers recap Episode 2 of Season 6. Previously: Episode 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alison Wright (Martha) joins joins June Thomas and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to talk about poor Martha, and what it feels like to finally face the truth. Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Masha Gessen is responsible Russian translation on The Americans. She joins June Thomas and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to talk about the beauty of authentic subtitles, the difficulties that Phillip and Elizabeth would have faced when perfecting their Americans accents, and the honesty in The Americans' portrayal of the Communist sexual revolution.  Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noah Emmerich (Stan Beeman) joins June Thomas and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to talk about the awkwardness of directing a steamy sex scene between co-stars (and real life couple) Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, plus the story of how he got a David Bowie song onto the show two days before Bowie passed away. Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Costa Robin (Oleg) joins June and show runners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg to discuss last night's episode, plus what it's like auditioning for a bilingual role, and which language he prefers to act in.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabe and Katy, who were as surprised as you were that this turned out to be the finale of Serial's second season, reflect on the Bowe Bergdahl story and its implications, before turning their attention to the exciting possibilities for Season 3. Thanks to all of you for tuning in to our second season of the Spoiler Special! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former FBI counter intelligence agent Richard Kollmar joins June and the J's to talk about what it's really like to try and turn KGB spies. Plus, line producer Mary Rae Thewlis and Sr. VP of Productions for Fox 21 Bob Lemchen stop by to discuss their roles in episode 403.   Note: This podcast contains spoilers and is meant to be enjoyed after you watch the episode.  New episodes air Wednesdays at 10pm on FX.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former KGB secret agent Jack Barsky stops by to compare his own experiences as a spy with those of Phillip and Elizabeth, from recruitment and training, to having two different families while living next door to the FBI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 10 of "Serial" finds the Bowe Bergdahl story zoomed out to its furthest point yet, and Gabe and Katy explain why they think that makes it the strongest part of Season 2 so far.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys stop by for a quick conversation with June about the beginning of the season. Writers and executive producers Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg share tricks for disguising Russell's baby bump on camera, the themes they hope to hit in season four, and the unique challenges of writing a season premiere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabe and Katy struggle with the ever-shifting frame of season 2’s narrative. What is the real story Koenig and company are driving at? Is there any other way to approach a situation as complicated as Bowe Bergdahl’s? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabe and Katy dive into this week's two-part episode of "Serial," in which a clearer - and somewhat depressing - picture of Bowe Bergdahl begins to emerge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabe and Katy discuss the successes and failures of Serial's recent series of mini-episodes updating us on Adnan Syed's hearing in Baltimore. What, if anything, does the series add to our understanding of Season 1, and where does it leave us emotionally? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabe and Katy are once again joined by former Army officer Adrian Bonenberger to discuss the realities of life on base in Afghanistan, and whether Bowe’s concerns were realistic or idealistic. Plus: fond memories of Season 1, as awakened by today’s surprise release of a mini-episode updating us on Adnan’s retrial hearings in Baltimore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabe and Katy talk about the many appealing new characters introduced in this week's episode, and try to suss out the major themes of the season thus far. Plus: listener emails! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices