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

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LAST EPISODE

Tina Turner's happy ending

05.27.2023

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 ...

It's Been a Minute episodes:

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 ...
03.31.2023 Fighting back against spams, scams and schemes It's not just you – the constant texts, calls, emails and DMs from scammers are invading so many of our lives. And when the scams are successful, there's often no recourse at all. So how do we protect ourselves from ...
03.28.2023 The 'vanilla girl' trend shows that beauty is power If you're more than a casual observer on the interwebs, you've probably heard the term, "chronically online" – someone who knows the ins and outs of viral trends, memes and memorable moments. But sometimes you can get too deep in ...
03.24.2023 Breaking down the Jennifer Lopez Wedding Industrial Complex Canon It's basically spring - which means wedding season is starting to rev up. And no one does weddings quite like Jennifer Lopez - both on-screen and off. Host Brittany Luse is joined by New York Magazine features writer Rachel Handler ...
03.21.2023 Surviving long COVID three years into the pandemic It's been three years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. And according to the CDC, out of all the American adults who have had COVID — and that's a lot of us — one in five ...
03.17.2023 Silicon Valley Bank and the sordid history of 'Palo Alto' Even after Silicon Valley Bank crumbled and tech workers have been laid off in the thousands, Silicon Valley is still surrounded by a mythos of progress and futurity. Host Brittany Luse talks to author Malcolm Harris about his new book, ...
03.14.2023 The key to EGOT-ing with John Legend John Legend has permeated the culture for over two decades. His music has racked up billions of plays and he and his wife regularly make headlines when they bring us into some of their happiest and most vulnerable moments as ...
03.10.2023 How Hollywood squeezed out women directors; plus, what's with the rich jerks on TV? In nearly 100 years, the Oscar award for Best Director has only gone to three women. The film industry as a whole has been heavily dominated by men, but it wasn't always this way. Ahead of Academy Awards, Brittany chops ...
03.08.2023 Marilyn Monroe was more than just 'Blonde' In the six decades since Marilyn Monroe passed away, Hollywood has not let her go. Actresses have portrayed her in countless films and there have been more than 15 biopics dedicated to the late icon. Ahead of the Academy Awards, ...
03.03.2023 What's real about The Real Housewives? What makes The Real Housewives peak culture – as in the #1 topic in the group chat – for so many people? Host Brittany Luse and producer Liam McBain descend into the depths of Bravocon – the Bravo convention – ...
02.28.2023 Keyla Monterroso Mejia embraces cringe as comedy's newest star Keyla Monterroso Mejia is a dramedy star on the rise. She made audiences cringe with laughter in Curb Your Enthusiasm playing Maria Sofia Estrada and then passed the vibe check as the chaotic teacher's aide Ashley Garcia on Abbott Elementary. ...
02.24.2023 Fear, Florida, and The 1619 Project How should U.S history be told, and who gets to tell it? Debate over these questions has raged for years – but nowhere is it more pronounced right now than in Florida. This week, Brittany Luse chats with NPR's Giulia ...
02.21.2023 Ross Gay on inciting joy while dining with sorrow Looking for joy? Then it might be worth exploring your sorrow, complications and mess. In his latest collection of essays, Inciting Joy, poet Ross Gay reconsiders the breadth of joy, arguing that it can be found – and even strengthened ...
02.17.2023 Kelela's guide for breaking up with men If you haven't stepped into an underground club in the last decade, you might be forgiven if you don't know Kelela. But the Washington, D.C. native has had a seismic impact on dance music since she broke into the scene ...
02.14.2023 Unlocking desire through smut; plus, the gospel of bell hooks This week, we're asking: do the fantasies we read in romance novels say anything about what we want in our real-life relationships? Devoted readers share how the genre has impacted their love lives. Host Brittany Luse also sits down with ...
02.10.2023 Hot and kinda bothered by 'Magic Mike'; plus Penn Badgley on bad boys The scintillating strip sensation is back! 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' hits theaters this weekend – and to celebrate, we're talking about male dancers in the media and in the clubs. Our host Brittany Luse sits down with sociologist Dr. Katy ...
02.07.2023 Everything leading up to Rihanna's Halftime Show This weekend Rihanna will perform on the world's biggest stage as the halftime headliner at the Super Bowl. Yet, in 2019 she turned down the gig because she said there were things within the NFL she could not support. Brittany ...
02.03.2023 The loneliness and longing of Luther Vandross; plus Grammy winner Samara Joy From "A House Is Not A Home" to "The Glow of Love," Luther Vandross' music has become a staple for weddings, family reunions and graduations. While Luther changed the sound of R&B;, brought ballads to epic new heights and influenced ...
01.31.2023 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 ...
01.27.2023 Saying goodbye to Pikachu and Ash, plus how Pokémon changed media forever It's the end of an era. After more than 25 years, The Pokémon Company is closing the book on the adventures of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu. To celebrate the cultural impact of this dynamic duo – and of the Pokémon ...
01.25.2023 Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu is everywhere, all at once Everything Everywhere All at Once is the critical darling of the 2023 awards season. The film is up for 11 Oscars, including a Supporting Actress nomination for breakout star, Stephanie Hsu. Hsu, who played Joy Wang AKA Jobu Tupaki in ...
01.20.2023 One of Grindr's favorite podcasts; plus, art versus AI It's in our homes and in our pockets, and now artificial intelligence is in our art. The runaway rise of AI generator apps has sparked hot debate around the technology's impact on creative industries. Brittany Luse talks to Karla Ortiz, ...
01.18.2023 M3GAN, murder, and mass queer appeal At first blush, M3GAN seems like your standard murder doll horror film. Uncanny appearance, eerily close relationship with a young child, and of course, murder. But it's become way more than that. She's got a viral dance, powerful side eye, ...
01.13.2023 What's worse than heat damage? Hair discrimination For Black women, hair is about so much more than beauty. It can affect how they're treated and what opportunities are available to them. It's tied to history, identity and politics. And though many Black women and girls now embrace ...
01.10.2023 Do you really know what turns you on? For women who date men, bad sex might feel like a personal problem, but Nona Willis Aronowitz says it's political too. In Bad Sex: Truth, Pleasure, and an Unfinished Revolution, Aronowitz tackles the historic and systemic causes of unsatisfying sex. ...
01.06.2023 What has Rep. Maxwell Frost gotten himself into? It's a new year, and with it comes a new Congress. This week, Brittany Luse sits down with the first Gen Z member to be raised to its ranks, Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida. They talk about his vision ...
01.03.2023 Millennials in Hollywood are making parents apologize on-screen In this episode from June 2022, guest host B.A. Parker and Vox entertainment critic Emily St. James dive into a trend that was all over Hollywood: parents apologizing on-screen. From miniseries like 'Ms. Marvel' to the indie darling 'Everything Everywhere ...
12.30.2022 Dancing into 2023 with legendary DJ Honey Dijon 2022 was a banner year for Honey Dijon. She co-produced two of the fiercest tracks on Beyoncé's latest record, 'Renaissance,' and she released her own studio album this fall, called 'Black Girl Magic.' But Honey – one of the only ...
12.27.2022 A critic's love letter to Black women in pop In this conversation from April 2022, former guest host Juana Summers sits down with author Danyel Smith to chat about her book, Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. They talk all about Black women in ...
12.24.2022 Tory Lanez is guilty, so why was Megan Thee Stallion's strength on trial? For the last two weeks, rapper Tory Lanez has been on trial for allegedly shooting Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion. Since Megan went public with the allegations in August 2020, she's faced significant backlash – on social media, on popular ...
12.20.2022 (Almost) 20 years of 'Love Actually' It's been almost two decades since the star-studded romantic comedy premiered, but Love Actually is still a holiday staple that plays in both movie theaters and living rooms across the country. Since the film is here to stay, we feel ...
12.16.2022 Dark academia's deadly allure and the timeless appeal of prep style Donna Tartt's The Secret History turned 30 this year. Since the book's release, the novel has sold millions of copies and become a classic - the blueprint for a cluster of aesthetic and literary works under the label "dark academia." ...
12.13.2022 There is no Twitter without Black Twitter #BlackLivesMatter. #OscarsSoWhite. #Zola. These huge cultural moments come from one of the most chaotic, beloved, and influential communities online: Black Twitter. But with Elon Musk at the helm, the future of the community is in question. What's next for the ...
12.09.2022 'Framing Agnes' flips the script for trans stories When the world never stops questioning you, do you refuse to answer... or do you play along to get what you want? These questions are at the heart of Framing Agnes, an award-winning documentary about the legacy of a young ...

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:

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

Fighting back against spams, scams and schemes

The 'vanilla girl' trend shows that beauty is power

Breaking down the Jennifer Lopez Wedding Industrial Complex Canon

Surviving long COVID three years into the pandemic

Silicon Valley Bank and the sordid history of 'Palo Alto'

The key to EGOT-ing with John Legend

How Hollywood squeezed out women directors; plus, what's with the rich jerks on TV?

Marilyn Monroe was more than just 'Blonde'

What's real about The Real Housewives?

Keyla Monterroso Mejia embraces cringe as comedy's newest star

Fear, Florida, and The 1619 Project

Ross Gay on inciting joy while dining with sorrow

Kelela's guide for breaking up with men

Unlocking desire through smut; plus, the gospel of bell hooks

Hot and kinda bothered by 'Magic Mike'; plus Penn Badgley on bad boys

Everything leading up to Rihanna's Halftime Show

The loneliness and longing of Luther Vandross; plus Grammy winner Samara Joy

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

Saying goodbye to Pikachu and Ash, plus how Pokémon changed media forever

Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu is everywhere, all at once

One of Grindr's favorite podcasts; plus, art versus AI

M3GAN, murder, and mass queer appeal

What's worse than heat damage? Hair discrimination

Do you really know what turns you on?

What has Rep. Maxwell Frost gotten himself into?

Millennials in Hollywood are making parents apologize on-screen

Dancing into 2023 with legendary DJ Honey Dijon

A critic's love letter to Black women in pop

Tory Lanez is guilty, so why was Megan Thee Stallion's strength on trial?

(Almost) 20 years of 'Love Actually'

Dark academia's deadly allure and the timeless appeal of prep style

There is no Twitter without Black Twitter

'Framing Agnes' flips the script for trans stories

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