It's Been a Minute

By NPR

What's It's Been a Minute about?

Has it been a minute since you heard a thought-provoking conversation about culture? Brittany Luse wants to help. Each week, she takes the things everyone's talking about and, in conversation with her favorite creators, tastemakers, and experts, gives you new ways to think about them. Beyond the obvious takes. Because culture doesn't happen by accident.

If you can't get enough, try It's Been a Minute Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/itsbeenaminute

4.8

7,786 ratings

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

The year concert etiquette ...

09.19.2023

Every couple of weeks there's a new story of a fan at a concert misbehaving. One fan threw ashes at Pink, another hit Drake with a cellphone, Miranda Lambert stopped her show when fans took selfies with flash photography. Extreme ...

It's Been a Minute episodes:

09.19.2023 The year concert etiquette went to trash and why Every couple of weeks there's a new story of a fan at a concert misbehaving. One fan threw ashes at Pink, another hit Drake with a cellphone, Miranda Lambert stopped her show when fans took selfies with flash photography. Extreme ...
09.15.2023 Is capitalism in its flop era? In 2017, Today, Explained co-host Noel King says she started getting a vibe: young people were discussing and dissecting capitalism. She began noticing the word in pop culture and cultural reporting — but found her own tribe of economics reporters ...
09.12.2023 Rock and roll's pioneer is a queer, Southern Black man When you think of rockstar royalty, a queer, Southern Black man normally doesn't come to mind. But director Lisa Cortés wants us all to reconsider that thought. Her documentary, Little Richard: I Am Everything, takes viewers through the life and ...
09.08.2023 The Photo of the Year; plus, whose RICO is it anyway? When former President Donald Trump's mugshot was released, pundits immediately searched for meaning. Was it defiant? Was it embarrassing? Turns out what we see in that image could change over time. Brittany Luse is joined by Vanessa Friedman, senior fashion ...
09.05.2023 20 years of pumpkin spice power It's been 20 years since Starbucks debuted the first pumpkin spice latte in 2003. Since then, it's become a cultural phenomenon greater than itself: it's shorthand for fall, for basicness, for femininity, and even for white culture. Why did the ...
09.02.2023 Luther Vandross and Samara Joy sing across generations Music is all about pushing the envelope, and no one knew that more than Luther Vandross. His rendition of "A House is Not a Home" is so beloved, many fans don't even know it's a cover. His sound also laid ...
08.29.2023 'All The Things She Said': queer anthem or problematic queerbait? In September 2002, the Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. released their smash single "All The Things She Said." The song is a grungy euro-dance track, and the video features the lead singers Lena Katina and Julia Volkova dressed in schoolgirl uniforms ...
08.25.2023 Skincare is dewy diet culture; plus, how to have the "Fat Talk" In this conversation from November 2022, host Brittany Luse chats with beauty reporter Jessica Defino about the increase in celebrity skincare lines and why the the way we talk about skin is regressive. Plus, Brittany revisits her chat with "Fat ...
08.22.2023 Why we don't trust the 'vanilla girl' This week is all about beauty and diet trends. In this first interview from March, host Brittany Luse chats with Forbes staff writer Steffi Cao to discuss her essay, "white women want their power back: on bbls and balletcore, and ...
08.19.2023 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Succession' take on love and grief This week, we're looking at some of the best TV of the year. Brittany Luse revisits her November 2022 conversation with Abbott Elementary writers Brittani Nichols and Joya McCrory. They talk about creating a world that feels both authentic and ...
08.15.2023 Why aren't there more union stories onscreen? In this conversation from March, Brittany Luse is joined by Chicago Tribune TV and film critic Nina Metz to chat about why there are so many shows and movies about rich jerks — Succession, White Lotus and Billions, to name ...
08.11.2023 Getting lit for hip-hop's 50th birthday On August 11, 1973, hip-hop was born at a house party in the Bronx. 50 years later the genre has been reshaped in the image of cities and regions around the world. Brittany Luse and NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce take ...
08.08.2023 How pop culture framed the crack epidemic The crack epidemic has had seismic impact on American culture, from music to TV and film. This week, Brittany Luse talks to Donovan X. Ramsey, author of When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, about why ...
08.04.2023 The tension behind tipping; plus, the anger over box braids Over the past few years, tipping expectations have changed: we're asked to tip in restaurants and coffee shops, yes, but also at bodegas, farm stands, even unmanned grab-and-go kiosks. And while the pandemic increased tips, inflation and a return to ...
08.01.2023 How racism became a marketing tool for country music The top three songs in America right now are country tracks, and the top two hits are by artists facing allegations of racism. At the top of the charts is Jason Aldean: he shot to number one after releasing his ...
07.28.2023 Viral dating screenshots and the absurdity of 'And Just Like That' Screenshots of dating apps are making the rounds online and what feels like mundane exchanges are generating lots of ire and discourse. As these screenshots become more common in our feeds, how does it impact the search for love? And ...
07.25.2023 Lil' Kim's fashion legacy is undeniable Think of the top women rappers of our time: Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj. They all showcase signature styles that include multicolored wigs, skyscraping heels and designer logos on everything. But that blend of high fashion, femininity and ...
07.21.2023 The spectacular femininity of bimbos and 'Barbie' The Barbie movie has arrived and we seem to be reaching peak Barbie-mania. But, Barbie's brand of hyperfeminine fun has been on the rise for years — especially online among left leaning femmes who call themselves bimbos and have been ...
07.19.2023 Twitter vs. Threads, and why influencers could be the ultimate winners In the wake of user dissatisfaction with Twitter, a crop of hungry new apps have sprung up to replace it. This week on It's Been A Minute, host Brittany Luse is joined by Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz to unravel ...
07.14.2023 Where's the song of the summer? Plus, the making of Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love' It's been 20 years since Beyoncé's single Crazy in Love poured out of every radio, car speaker and club for a whole summer — setting her up to be the solo star she is today. Host Brittany Luse revisits that ...
07.11.2023 Ashley Park on Joy Ride, getting raunchy, and a letter to Cardi B Joy Ride, the ensemble R-rated comedy of the summer, has burst onto the scene with raunchiness, heart, and an unapologetic attitude. The film follows Audrey, played by Ashley Park, who goes to China for a work trip and, along with ...
07.07.2023 A rare battle at the Supreme Court; plus, Asian Americans and affirmative action Years before their appointments to the highest court in the land, Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas both walked the hallowed halls of Yale Law School as beneficiaries of affirmative action policies. After handing down the ruling on ...
07.04.2023 Pop Culture Happy Hour: why is 'Scandoval' such a big deal for 'Vanderpump Rules'? Bravo's hit reality show Vanderpump Rules has become infamous due to a much-discussed affair between two members of its cast. The whole thing has been nicknamed "Scandoval" and has led to record-breaking ratings, countless memes, and even a joke at ...
07.01.2023 You can't even hate watch 'The Idol'; Plus, LIVE with Aubrey Gordon HBO's 'The Idol' has been riddled with controversy, and with the show coming to an end, host Brittany Luse and NPR's Hazel Cills had a lot to say about the series portrayal of female pop stars, along with the more ...
06.27.2023 'Never Have I Ever' is over, but Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is just getting started Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has big dreams. The 21-year-old gained full celebrity status with her breakout role as Devi Vishwakumar in the Mindy Kaling-produced hit Never Have I Ever. The final season just dropped on Netflix so we're revisiting our 2022 conversation ...
06.23.2023 Why we all need a himbo with 'The Other Two's Josh Segarra Today, we consider the himbo — sweet hotties who are maybe a little naive about the world, but are always having a good time. One of the greatest himbos of our age is Lance Arroyo on Max's comedy The Other ...
06.20.2023 Dominique Fishback is the actress with a thousand faces Dominique Fishback is starring in one of the biggest summer movies, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, but her star has long been on the rise through roles in Judas and the Black Messiah, Swarm, and The Deuce. This week, Dominique ...
06.16.2023 Are children a marginalized group? There's been a common theme swirling throughout the culture wars: from gun policy, to drag bans, to talking about race - the innocence of children is always at the center of discussion. This week, we're exploring the ideas and systems ...
06.13.2023 It's time to have the 'Fat Talk' with our kids — and ourselves Virginia Sole-Smith is an author, writer and host of the podcast Burnt Toast — and her work focuses on our relationship to food and fat. Her latest book, Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture is based on ...
06.09.2023 Emily King's heartbreak on 'Special Occasion' Grammy-nominated singer Emily King is a master architect of love songs: her dreamy pop-infused music has provided the soundtrack to many romances. This week, she's opening up about how she baked a fresh heartbreak into the sound of her latest ...
06.06.2023 Eric André on pulling a prank in late stage capitalism The prince of pranks, Eric André, changed the comedy landscape with his long running series on Adult Swim, The Eric Andre Show. After a 3-year hiatus, the show is back. Brittany Luse sits down with André to talk about the ...
06.02.2023 Authors Emily Henry and Bolu Babalola give their hottest summer reading recs It's finally summer! And what better way to celebrate than to pick up a juicy book on a nice day? Romance authors Bolu Babalola and Emily Henry join host Brittany Luse to give their recommendations for great summer reads. Plus, ...
05.30.2023 Brandon Taylor on art, loving across class and why he writes sex scenes This week, host Brittany Luse chats with author and culture critic Brandon Taylor about his latest novel, The Late Americans. The book is set in Iowa City and follows several characters pursuing love, art and the promise of prosperity. They ...
05.27.2023 Tina Turner's happy ending This week, the world went into mourning after losing the Goddess of Rock n' Roll: Tina Turner. Veteran music journalist and Shine Bright author, Danyel Smith, joins Brittany Luse to unpack Tina's powerful performances and her role as an architect ...
05.26.2023 Formula 1's new fandom; plus, Christian Horner is always on the offense We're in a motorsports moment: Fast X just dropped, Rosalía is popularizing the motomami aesthetic and now it's time for the Monaco Grand Prix. This is the biggest weekend in Formula 1 racing, a sport that's seen an explosion of ...
05.23.2023 Beauty culture in South Korea reveals a grim future in 'Flawless' Author and one of NPR's beloved hosts, Elise Hu, joins Brittany Luse to talk about her new book: Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. For Elise, what started as a professional move to Seoul turned into ...
05.19.2023 Psychedelic freedom with Tonya Mosley; plus, 'Monica' and ambiguous apologies The U.S. Food and Drug Administration could approve certain psychedelic drugs for treatment of PTSD within the next few years, but what does this mean for Black people who suffer from Racial Trauma? Host Brittany Luse talks with the host ...
05.16.2023 It's been one year since the Buffalo shooting. How has it changed the community? It has been one year since a white supremacist drove to a predominantly Black neighborhood with an AR-15 style rifle and murdered 10 people and injured 3 others. NPR's Embedded podcast has followed a cheerleading troop over the past year ...
05.12.2023 A Black, trans journey through TV and film; plus, inside Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' tour Since releasing one of the most critically acclaimed albums in 2022, pop titan Beyoncé has withheld the visuals for almost a year. NPR Senior Culture editor Bilal Qureshi went to the first stop on the Renaissance World Tour and joins ...
05.09.2023 Beyoncé's Renaissance tour begins; revisiting house music history with DJ Honey Dijon Host Brittany Luse revisits her 2022 conversation with the legendary DJ Honey Dijon. As one of the only Black trans DJs playing the biggest venues in the world, she's not only become an icon of the scene, but an arbiter ...
05.05.2023 Padma Lakshmi's Trojan Horse; Plus, is Michael Jackson un-cancellable? Brittany Luse talks to Padma Lakshmi about the second season of her series Taste The Nation. They get into what is "American food" from apple pies (spoiler: nothing in an apple pie is from here) to daal and pancakes. Then ...
05.03.2023 The best Met Gala looks and the messy legacy of Karl Lagerfeld Yesterday was the first Monday in May, which meant we were inundated with pics of the Met Gala. The theme this year: Karl Lagerfeld, the late controversial fashion designer who led the house of Chanel for years. In this episode, ...
04.28.2023 Brittany goes to 'Couples Therapy;' Plus, why Hollywood might strike A big strike might be coming to Hollywood. That's because the Writer's Guild of America - the union that protects screenwriters - is pushing back against what they see as unfair wages. NPR's Linda Holmes explains why we as viewers ...
04.25.2023 George Santos and the great American tradition of "self-making" New York Congressman George Santos has been embroiled in controversy since the day he stepped into office in November. The New York Times and other publications have reported that much of the Republican lawmaker's alleged resume – from where he ...
04.21.2023 The new conservative bent of rap media; plus, the sweetness of 'Somebody Somewhere' While hip hop has a history of anti-establishment and progressive politics, hip hop media is taking an increasingly conservative turn. Host Brittany Luse is joined by Rolling Stone staff writer Andre Gee to discuss one of the most influential current ...
04.18.2023 Trina and her larger-than-life persona in hip-hop From our friends at Louder Than a Riot, a look back at the origins of Miami's wildest rap icon, Trina Rockstar. Her vivacious vibes and ruthless bars helped flip the script on the double standard that women in the industry ...
04.14.2023 Death and grief in 'Succession'; plus, privacy and the abortion pill This week, host Brittany Luse is joined by UC Berkeley Law professor Khiara Bridges to connect the dots between the recent legal battles over the abortion pill mifepristone and our constitutional right to privacy. Then, Linda Holmes of NPR's 'Pop ...
04.11.2023 Tracee Ellis Ross is an icon – and our favorite rich auntie Tracee Ellis Ross is an icon. From playing the premiere Black bachelorette, Joan Carol Clayton, on Girlfriends to becoming America's mom as Bow Johnson on Black-ish, she's spent the past two decades portraying a paragon of Black womanhood on screen. ...
04.07.2023 Serving up villains and vengeance in 'Love Is Blind' and Steven Yeun's 'Beef' In reality TV, bringing the drama used to mean making it big. But these days, it doesn't seem to pay to be the mean girl. B.A. Parker, co-host of NPR's 'Code Switch,' joins Brittany Luse to explore the end of ...
04.04.2023 The surprising case for AI boyfriends The AI revolution has come for our love lives. Millions around the world are now in relationships with chatbots who can text, sext and – for a fee – talk to you on the phone and have 'in-person' interactions via ...

Older episodes

It's Been a Minute

What's It's Been a Minute about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

It's Been a Minute episodes:

The year concert etiquette went to trash and why

Is capitalism in its flop era?

Rock and roll's pioneer is a queer, Southern Black man

The Photo of the Year; plus, whose RICO is it anyway?

20 years of pumpkin spice power

Luther Vandross and Samara Joy sing across generations

'All The Things She Said': queer anthem or problematic queerbait?

Skincare is dewy diet culture; plus, how to have the "Fat Talk"

Why we don't trust the 'vanilla girl'

'Abbott Elementary' and 'Succession' take on love and grief

Why aren't there more union stories onscreen?

Getting lit for hip-hop's 50th birthday

How pop culture framed the crack epidemic

The tension behind tipping; plus, the anger over box braids

How racism became a marketing tool for country music

Viral dating screenshots and the absurdity of 'And Just Like That'

Lil' Kim's fashion legacy is undeniable

The spectacular femininity of bimbos and 'Barbie'

Twitter vs. Threads, and why influencers could be the ultimate winners

Where's the song of the summer? Plus, the making of Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love'

Ashley Park on Joy Ride, getting raunchy, and a letter to Cardi B

A rare battle at the Supreme Court; plus, Asian Americans and affirmative action

Pop Culture Happy Hour: why is 'Scandoval' such a big deal for 'Vanderpump Rules'?

You can't even hate watch 'The Idol'; Plus, LIVE with Aubrey Gordon

'Never Have I Ever' is over, but Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is just getting started

Why we all need a himbo with 'The Other Two's Josh Segarra

Dominique Fishback is the actress with a thousand faces

Are children a marginalized group?

It's time to have the 'Fat Talk' with our kids — and ourselves

Emily King's heartbreak on 'Special Occasion'

Eric André on pulling a prank in late stage capitalism

Authors Emily Henry and Bolu Babalola give their hottest summer reading recs

Brandon Taylor on art, loving across class and why he writes sex scenes

Tina Turner's happy ending

Formula 1's new fandom; plus, Christian Horner is always on the offense

Beauty culture in South Korea reveals a grim future in 'Flawless'

Psychedelic freedom with Tonya Mosley; plus, 'Monica' and ambiguous apologies

It's been one year since the Buffalo shooting. How has it changed the community?

A Black, trans journey through TV and film; plus, inside Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' tour

Beyoncé's Renaissance tour begins; revisiting house music history with DJ Honey Dijon

Padma Lakshmi's Trojan Horse; Plus, is Michael Jackson un-cancellable?

The best Met Gala looks and the messy legacy of Karl Lagerfeld

Brittany goes to 'Couples Therapy;' Plus, why Hollywood might strike

George Santos and the great American tradition of "self-making"

The new conservative bent of rap media; plus, the sweetness of 'Somebody Somewhere'

Trina and her larger-than-life persona in hip-hop

Death and grief in 'Succession'; plus, privacy and the abortion pill

Tracee Ellis Ross is an icon – and our favorite rich auntie

Serving up villains and vengeance in 'Love Is Blind' and Steven Yeun's 'Beef'

The surprising case for AI boyfriends

Other shows like It's Been a Minute: