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On this week\u2019s show, the hosts revisit Beetlejuice (1988), the seminal film that marked Tim Burton\u2019s arrival onto the scene as a sort of grim fairy tale teller. 36 years later, the director and much of the original cast return for its sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a surprisingly sincere tale about the nature of death and grieving. Or, is it a total mess?\u200c\u200c The hosts discuss. Then, the three dive into English Teacher,\u200c\u200c a hilarious new FX\u200c series in which Brian Jordan Alvarez (previously known for online comedies like The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo)\u200c plays Evan Marquez, a high school English teacher in Austin, Texas. Finally, chat podcasts (like the one you\u2019re listening to right now)\u200c are like dating and improv \u2013 to work, they necessitate a certain level of chemistry, intimacy, and vulnerability. The hosts are joined by New York Times culture critic Reggie Ugwu to discuss his recent piece, \u201cWhat Makes Good Chemistry?\u200c For Chat Podcasts, It\u2019s Fundamental,\u201d\u200c as well as the Gabfest\u2019s early days, the hosts first impressions of one another, and how they went about building their own unique rapport.\xa0\nIn the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Julia joins last week\u2019s productivity discourse and widens its scope, and the hosts discuss the nature of \u201chacking life\u201d and how our relationship to productivity reflects current American ideals.\xa0\nEmail us at culturefest@slate.com.\xa0\nEndorsements:\nDana:\u200c A\u200c spice shop that\u2019s been in the news:\u200c Penzeys Spices, in Pittsburgh. Check out Helen Rosner\u2019s 2018 piece on the shop for The New Yorker, as well as Penzey\u2019s sweet and spicy Cake Spice.\nSteve: Howard\u2019s End, a novel by E.M. Forster.\nJulia: A\u200c two-parter:\u200c (1) The single best piece of criticism about Avatar:\u200c The Way of Water, performed by English Teacher cast member Jordan\xa0Firstman (it\u2019s the second slide in the Instagram reel).\n(2)\u200c Season 8, episode 5 of Frasier entitled \u200c\u201cTaking Liberties.\u201d\u200c Victor Garber is a hilarious guest star \u2013 this is Frasier at his best.\nPodcast production by Jared Downing. Production assistance by Kat Hong.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices