It's Been a Minute

Feeling stuck? In a rut? Family or work driving you up a wall? Maybe it's time to take a side quest.

Much like the optional, lore-building journeys in video games that enrich the main mission, real-life side quests bring a sense of whimsy to your daily routine. In real life, that could look like learning to sew, picking up kickball, or anything else that adds a little whimsy into your routine. To rediscover the childlike joy of taking a side quest, Brittany is joined by Marielle Segarra, host of NPR's Life Kit; Dr. Kyra Gaunt, associate professor of ethnomusicology at the University at Albany; and Sahara Moné, curator and owner of community activities collective Let's Play NYC.

Want more on improving your quality of life? Check out these episodes:
How to make friends & get good gossip
This is your summer of self-love

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Thin, is unfortunately in. 

The defining mantra of the 90s and early aughts, has reappeared as celebrities, influencers and everyday women shrink in size. But as people get smaller, others are talking. Online and in person, imperfect, candid and concern conversations are happening about the the thinner frames we see online and in person. But what’s the best way to have these conversations? To learn how Brittany spoke with Angelina Chapman, features writer at The Cut and Vanessa Scaringi, PhD, licensed psychologist, to learn how  to express concern, without pointing fingers.

Want more about body image? Check out these IBAM episodes: 
GLP-1s & eating disorders have a complicated relationship
The difference between losing weight & being "healthy"

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There are influencers taking money to promote music – and not telling you about it.

It's great when you find people who put you on to hot new music that matches your taste. But online tastemakers might be getting secretly paid to shill for labels. This is not a conspiracy theory – it's a real practice. NPR music reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento spoke to several online content creators who told her about how labels approached them – and who they’re being asked to promote. By the way – this is potentially illegal. But what does it mean for regular music enjoyers that music discovery is so weighed down by dollars? And can we ever disentangle money from the Internet – and from culture?

Brittany is joined by Isabella to get into the juicy details and the broader implications of this practice.

(00:00) Whose music recommendations do you trust?
(02:21) The influencers secretly paid to boost musicians
(04:31) The tea on which artists are getting promoted
(05:43) Is this secret money ethical - and legal?
(12:39) Why music fans are so wary of "industry plants"
(15:51) Do musicians need these secret campaigns to be successful?
(18:12) Is the internet kind of dead?

For more episodes on the state of music in culture, check out:
The shelf life of a pop star
The D-List pop star purgatory
Can TikTok spark a new era of protests?

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Are you feeling the heat? 

While this summer has been a nonstop ride of historic and unprecedented wins for the culture at large, Brittany has noticed a little bit of sour in all this sweetness: what’s up with everyone having a chip on their shoulder? 

From sports to reality TV to music - some real grievances are showing up in pop culture and Brittany wants to know why. Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix, hosts of Lemme Say This, join the show to give this summer a much needed vibe check.


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The United States is home to a silent epidemic - do you know about it?

We're referring to what researchers are calling femicide, or the gender-based killing of women and girls. And while some countries like Italy and Mexico have femicide or intimate partner homicide in their penal code, most countries, including the United States, do not. Today, Brittany is joined by Abené Clayton, lead reporter for the Guns and Lies in America Project for the Guardian, and Cheryl L. Neely, sociology professor at Oakland Community College in Royal Oak, Michigan to understand the pipeline from everyday and online misogyny to gender-based killings.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline via phone, text, or online chat. Their website is thehotline.org.

Want more deep dives into the social science of womanhood?

It only takes 30 minutes to be a good mom
Young women are struggling, too. Why can't we see it?
The women leaving the 'New Right'

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It shouldn’t be that hard to be a nepo-husband. Right? 

Nepo- husbands, the spouses of celebrity women come in many shapes and forms, but what unites them all is their proximity to the wealth, power and prestige of their famous partners. And while that proximity can be great for building a business, it can also lead to scrutiny... especially when things go wrong. Matt Kaplan, who’s married to Alex Cooper, the host of the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, recently faced a Vanity Fair expose which alleged a toxic work environment of their media company, Unwell. So, what does it take to be a nepo-husband? Brittany chats with Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton, hosts of the Good Noticings podcast, to discuss the benefits, and expectations of nepo-husbands. 

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Who owns the future of the Democratic party?

The Democratic Socialists of America – also known as the DSA – are having a solid year. DSA candidates won House primaries in New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Part of why this is kind of a big deal is that some of these candidates were going up against pretty powerful Democratic incumbents...and not just in races for federal seats. DSA candidates won down-ballot primaries for state legislature in New York, Oregon, Georgia, and Kentucky – and for mayor of DC. In the weeks since, there have been many stories of establishment Democrats frustrated by this, with different narratives coming from Democrats about why this is happening and why the DSA is a problem. But what public sentiment are Democratic voters expressing here? And if this is actually a Tea Party moment for Democrats, what does that change for everyday people?

Brittany gets into it with Akela Lacy, senior politics reporter at The Intercept and host of the “Intercept Briefing” podcast, and Michael Lange, New York political analyst, DSA member, and writer of “The Narrative Wars” on Substack.

(00:00) The Democratic Socialists of America are having a great year
(02:46) Are the DSA primary wins surprising, or to be expected?
(04:50) The strange racial narratives around voters of DSA candidates
(09:35) Do Black voters actually dislike socialism?
(14:18) How electable are DSA candidates outside of cities?
(17:14) Why Establishment Democrats fear the DSA's rise
(21:02) The impact of outside spending on elections

For more episodes on politics and culture, check out:
The women leaving the 'New Right'
Progressive women have 'had it!' And they're fighting back.
Christians are having a Trump-sized reckoning

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What we wear and how we wear it is more important than its artistic value.

When some people think of fashion, the Met Gala or maybe even luxury designers may come to mind. But what about the old college sweatshirt that gets you through the cold or even the brightly colored gym set that pushes you to go that extra mile? Is that not fashion? Perhaps the concept of fashion has been framed as an external commodity to be sought after, rather than an authentic expression cultivated through the rhythm of a well-lived life.

Brittany Luse sits down with CNN Senior Style Reporter and author of CNN’s Big Style newsletter, Rachel Tashjian Wise, to answer all those questions and more.

Want more on fashion? 

Was that the worst MET Gala ever?
American fashion isn't as liberal as you think


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Who counts as homeless in America?

If you ask the Department of Housing and Urban Development, around 750,000 people are homeless in America. If you ask the Department of Education, that number shoots up into the millions. What does this discrepancy tell us?  And how do our cultural ideas about homelessness shape who we see as homeless, and who gets help? To find out, Brittany talks with Dr. Margot Kushel, Director at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, and Dr. Molly Richard, assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Health Sciences.

Want more deep dives on cultural taboos?  Check out these episodes:
The truth about men on the 'down low'
Why can't we be normal about polyamory?

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How has your beauty routine changed in the past 10 years?

In 2016, the beauty world was obsessed with 12-step skincare regimens. Now, beauty influencers and experts are experimenting with peptides and looksmaxxing. Brittany chats with Brooke Devard Ozaydinli, host of the Naked Beauty podcast and Chief Content Officer of Refinery29, to understand how our relationship with beauty has changed over the years, and what that means for our relationships with ourselves.

00:00 How beauty standards shifted from expression to optimization
02:55 Navigating becoming 'project managers' of our faces and bodies
05:33 How Brooke's show has changed as beauty trends have changed
09:19 Looksmaxing and unrealistic beauty standards for Black women
13:40 Policing of Black women's appearance
17:48 The complicated reality of cosmetic procedures in the digital age
24:23 Finding agency in beauty beyond cosmetic procedures
29:16 How to find the beauty routine for you

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