Still Processing

''Still Processing'' is a ''New York Times'' culture podcast hosted by J Wortham, a writer for ''The New York Times Magazine'', and Wesley Morris, the paper's critic at large. The show debuted on September 8, 2016. ''Still Processin''g won a 2017 Webby Award in the Podcast & Digital Audio category, and was nominated for a 2019 Shorty Award.

History

Morris joined ''The New York Times'' from ''The Boston Globe'' in 2015 with a podcast as part of his new contract and approached Wortham about serving as co-host. Developed under the working title ''Feelings'', the show launched as ''Still Processing'' on September 8, 2016, part of a collaboration between ''The New York Times'' and Pineapple Street Media to expand ''Times'' podcasts offerings.

The first season ran from September 26, 2016, to March 2, 2017.

Production

Morris and Wortham host the podcast. The production team includes Pineapple Street's Jenna Weiss-Berman, Neena Pathak, Sasha Weiss, Wendy Dorr, and members of the ''Times'' audio department, Lisa Tobin and Samantha Henig.

Format

The format typically includes discussion between Morris and Wortham as well as one or more interviews, sometimes in studio but often in outside locations: the first episode ("First Date") followed Wortham and Morris on a walk through Central Park. They have also visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), interviewing curator Joanne Hyppolite, among other places. Laura Jane Standley and Eric McQuade of ''The Atlantic'' described the show as "at base, a set of discussions about the big cultural events of the day. But ''Still Processing'' is sharp and intellectual, goofy and raw: The two hosts talk to each other and to guests (including RuPaul) about anyone from Colin Kaepernick to Kerry James Marshall; about society and art; about dating and work."

Episodes are usually between half an hour and an hour in length, and released weekly on Thursdays.

Reception

Reviewing the podcast's launch, Tim Barnes at ''The A.V. Club'' said the "inaugural episode of ''The New York Times ''Still Processing'' podcast is an incredible mix of personality, pop culture, and education. Writers Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris bring a jolt of energy to the show, which feels like old media finally embracing the new." Of the first episode, Taylor Bryant said at ''Nylon'' that Wortham and Morris's "natural banter and strong viewpoints will leave you wanting so, so much more."

''The Atlantic'' named ''Still Processing'' among the 50 best podcasts of 2016, citing the November 10, 2016 post-election episode "The Reckoning" as a "banner episode". ''The Huffington Post'' likewise cited the post-election episode in naming ''Still Processing'' to its list of 15 notable podcasts of 2016. '' IndieWire'' named the "Journey to the 'Blacksonian'" episode, about Wortham and Morris's trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to its list of 2016 50 best podcast episodes.

Awards

Episodes

Season 1

Season 2

See also

* List of LGBT podcasts

References

External links

Official website

{{The New York Times

Audio podcasts
Journalism in the United States
2016 podcast debuts
The New York Times podcasts