It's Been a Minute

Welcome to 'The Republic of Wasia'

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Does 2026 belong to "Wasians?"Actor Hudson Williams (Heated Rivalry) and Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu recently became household names very quickly....

"Girl Math" does not add up to financial freedom

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sorry but...the "Girl Math" is not adding up.And by "Girl Math" we mean the class fantasies of young women; the dream of achieving financial freedom b...

The fanfic-ification of mainstream culture

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is fanfiction mainstream now?If you are anywhere near fan spaces online, you’ve probably seen people talking about fanfiction. And it's also behind ...

The hard work of having "good taste."

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Do you think you have good taste?Having a good sense of taste is something like a cultural badge of honor: the result of hard work understanding what ...

The morbid lifelessness of modern beauty

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There's a new beauty trend in town: why are women trying to look...lifeless?Today’s guest, Jessica DeFino - beauty reporter, critic, and author of t...

Many women don't want kids. And for good reason.

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone has to make the decision to have or not have kids. There are good reasons for both.Are you sick of dating? Terrified of how expensive everyth...

Don't get got by big MILK

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why is the government obsessed with whole milk?In January, the USDA account on X posted a picture, possibly AI generated, of President Trump with a mi...

Meet the billionaires who control your media

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when tech billionaires control the media you consume?With the help of his father, Paramount CEO David Ellison's purchase of Warner Bros. ...

The unbearable fear of being cheated on

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's easier than ever to cheat and to catch a cheater, but is that a good thing?For example, there are apps and social media groups dedicated to outin...

The beauty industry has an Epstein problem

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Epstein Files have revealed social and financial relationships throughout the beauty industry - and a toxic veneration for youth. Is it time for t...

Is tech making us too obsessed with our bodies?

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

All this health tracking might not be actually very...healthy.There's a lot of evidence that health tracking can be good for us. Studies have shown th...

Young women are struggling, too. Why can't we see it?

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, young men are in crisis, but young women are too. Why aren't we talking about it?Over the past two years, statistics about men's mental health, e...

Sinners vs. One Battle After Another: who should win Best Picture?

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The stakes feel especially high for this year's top Oscars prize.It feels like every few years there are two films that really set the tone for where ...

Welcome to "The Year of Pathetic Men!"

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A "pathetic man" is the guy who gets you to take care of him, because he's purposefully not taking care of himself.These are the men who lean into the...

You're healthier than they say you are. Here's why.

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Are Americans actually becoming less healthy?That’s an idea that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been repeating for a ...

Saviors come and go. Communities last a lifetime.

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?Last month, the world lost a titan in the struggle for civil rights: the Reve...

Sick of Democrats & Republicans? There's another option.

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Politically "independent" used to mean you were moderate. Not anymore. It's no secret that Americans are politically divided, as faith in political p...

Do you want to marry for love or money?

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Can you afford to get married? Or get a divorce?Nothing sets the internet on fire more than the fantasy of finding a partner (usually a man) to pay fo...

The joy of breaking up with dating apps

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If the apps aren't working for you, don't stress – there’s a different way to date.Dating apps have quickly become a fixture of modern dating. The...

The pain & loneliness of trying to be "attractive."

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Who gets to be "hot" in America? And, at what cost?Some young men are pushing beauty boundaries with guidance from an online trend that's been making ...

The truth about men on the 'down low'

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why is the culture so obsessed with men on the down low?To some, they're a secret, sexy symbol. To others, they're carriers of diseases and lies. What...

The high cost of getting food delivered.

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is it time to rethink our food delivery habits?According to data from the National Restaurant Association, around 60% of both millennials and Gen Z sa...

Are you a social media “addict?” Only time will tell.

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Social media could fundamentally shift our understanding of what is and isn't "addictive."Tech companies are back in court...and likely will be for a ...

Has the vegan business bubble burst?

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is veganism in its flop era?There was a time when veganism – or plant-based food – seemed to be in ascendency: from the early 2010s when Beyoncé ...

Make life harder (and better): Learn another language.

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Translation tech has improved a lot. So why learn a language?A lot of people around the world speak English. For those who don’t, AirPods offer live...

MAGA has a DEI policy. Just ask Nicki Minaj.

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is the far-right in its rainbow coalition era?We're seeing quite a few examples in the culture that may suggest so: from Nicki Minaj's recent pivot to...

Did the Cult of the Tech Job trick you too?

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Learn to code, they said! And then the layoffs started happening...The tech industry is hemorrhaging jobs. According to one estimate, there have been ...

Bad Bunny redefined what "America" means

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance had a clear message for his fans and his haters. The pop star's show was a colorful and vibrant vision of Puerto R...

Melania Trump just made a lot of money (and a documentary)

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is Melania Trump's new film a documentary? Fan service? Or propaganda?The Amazon funded $40 million-$75 million film, follows the first lady as she pr...

Are you fit for the revolution?

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

So-called "swoletariats" are exercising for the resistance.There’s a lot of fitness content in conservative manosphere circles – that’s not new ...

Americans are tired. The grindset is to blame.

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

America’s workers are tired – here’s why.Do you feel like you can never get off the grind? From gig laborers to salaried workers, a lot of peopl...

The biggest threat to Trump? Ordinary people.

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest lessons from the clash between ICE and the citizens of Minneapolis is that communities are prepared to stand up for their neighbors...

Yes, romance is political too.

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do romantic tropes and fantasies impact how you understand politics?You might be a fan of Romantic Fantasy, or as the internet calls it: Romantasy...

You're not broken. The job market is.

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Job seekers are sending out hundreds of applications. Here’s why they’re not hearing back.The unemployment rate has been climbing over the past fe...

Everyone & no one can be a Finance Bro

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

He's mysterious and aspirational, but is he even real? Or is he just a reflection of all of our society?The ‘finance bro’ has become a pretty ubiq...

Sex is pleasurable. It should feel safe too.

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to feel safe during sex these days?From feeling comfortable with your partner to access to public health and medication, "safety" co...

Black women in their 30s: Then vs. Now

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're taking a trip back to the 90s and exploring the lives of single Black women and how their stories still show up in media 30 years later. This e...

The difference between losing weight & being "healthy"

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What are we missing something in the conversation around obesity and GLP-1s? Oprah Winfrey’s new book, Enough, co-authored by endocrinologist Dr. An...

Can TikTok spark a new era of protests?

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There's a new sound of protest going viral on TikTok. What is being said, and how much impact could it have?We're just two weeks into January, but thi...

Will Renee Good's death be a turning point?

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minnesotan mother, is just one of several victims of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violence in recent months. Bu...

Would you go *this* far for the 'perfect' body?

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ozempic and other GLP-1s have changed how we think of our bodies. Now, some are searching for other quick fixes for their body - far beyond weight los...

Enough is enough. Is it time to leave America?

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Young women, more than any other group, say they would leave America. Their list of reasons is long and plentiful. Have you ever thought about leavin...

Feeling depressed? Build a SAD routine.

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is the lack of sunlight in the winter months really getting to you? Do you find yourself fighting tooth and nail to keep up with life's demands every...

2026 Predictions: Beyoncé retires, AI busts, Democrats lift weights

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What's in and what's out in 2026? Let's set the stage for what to watch out for in the new year.As you fill out your own bingo card for what will or w...

Is "wellness" the answer to your problems?

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From CBD leggings to Soulcycle, wellness is reshaping our relationships to our bodies and souls. But what even is "wellness?" Well, for one, it's a gl...

Is it wrong to want to be "thin?"

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If society privileges "thin" people, should you aspire to conform? And at what cost?Last year, online influencer Slim Kim went viral for a TikTok wher...

How to manifest your best year yet

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you want something badly enough, should you have it?Today, Brittany is investigating so-called "manifestation." It's this popular belief that if yo...

How Christianity got popular again

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christianity showed up in the mainstream in unexpected ways this year. Are we in a revival?Take a look at this year's Billboard charts. For the first...

The not-so-secret lives of Mormon Women

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Mormons so popular, you ask? Because it's part of their faith.From Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to your favorite homemaking TikTo...

The embarrassing truth of dating men

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's it like to date a man? Ask pop stars or your friends, and you might hear it's a struggle.From Sabrina Carpenter to Summer Walker, some of the b...

The real meaning of "6 7"

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been a lot of discourse about what “6 7” means, but what actually makes it meaningful?The “6 7" meme was everywhere this year, online...

The Winners & Losers of 2025

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the third annual IBAMMYs Culture Awards Show, where we reflect and honor the best and worst cultural moments of the year.Brittany is joined...

Sex sells (especially gay hockey sex)

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Heated Rivalry - the hit HBO Max series - has it all: scintillating romance, hot guys, sports (kind of), and, most importantly, portrayals of gay love...

My friend’s wedding is too expensive to attend…what now?

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are we spending too much on other people’s weddings?Going to a friend's weddings can be so fun and meaningful… but it can also really hurt your wa...

Do kids need a dad? Ask single moms.

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More women than ever are choosing to raise their children by their self. Is it time to hit reset on what we mean by "family" in America?America has so...

Woke is BACK! ...really?

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some say we're entering the Woke 2.0 era. Is that real or imagined? From declining Target sales to Mamdani's election, some folks online are feeling a...

The social etiquette of sharing your location

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is location tracking building relationships? Or ruining them?Four in ten U.S. adults share their locations with at least one person. But while it’s ...

The myth of modern "adulthood"

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to be an independent adult?More young adults live with their parents than in the past, and are also delaying the traditional markers...

Why some families stop speaking

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's an incredibly painful thing to do, so why are some kids cutting their parents out of their lives?27% of Americans are estranged from at least on...

Dreading family conflict? Here's some advice.

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fighting with your family doesn’t have to be a holiday tradition.The majority of Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow. And while it’s me...

Kids are expensive. Do they have to be?

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can you afford to pay two rents?Families across the country are asking that same question when it comes to childcare, as the yearly costs for daycare ...

Do you want out of The Cult of Homeownership?

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When the dream of buying a home seems unattainable, is it time to find a new dream? Or is there another option on the table?Bill Pulte, the director o...

Searching for safety in an unsafe world

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the difference between feeling unsafe and being unsafe?According to Gallup, about half of Americans see crime as being extremely or very ...

The fear & shame of modern parenting

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you talked to a parent recently? Are they...okay?From textbook bans to health food trends, there’s a whole culture of fear and political propag...

We've lost the plot. Here's how we find it again.

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

No disrespect, but...when President Trump threw a Great Gatsby-themed party for Halloween, it kind of missed the point of the book. And, it's not just...

Exercise is more important than ever

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you picked up a couple weights recently? Started walking, or jogging, or doing pilates? So have a lot of other people. You see the fitness Instag...

How 'Fascism' became a meme

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The word "fascism" is being thrown around a lot right now. Does it capture our current cultural and political moment?Nearly 50% of Americans have asso...

Rosalía & the evolving definition of Latinidad

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Spanish artist and musical chameleon Rosalía released her latest album, Lux, today. The single, "Berghain," seems like a return to form. Operatic voc...

Should we all start locking up our phones?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does your phone feel like a blessing or a burden? Either way, there's probably a lot you can learn from new phone bans. Many K-12 students are going p...

How 'Socialism' got sexy

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does ‘socialism’ mean to a generation that grew up with COVID… not the Cold War? How have the compounding effects of college protests, fina...

The politics of hunger

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is hunger in America a choice?This week, over 40 million people worried about losing their SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown. But with Than...

Brittany meets Sam Sanders, and things get spooky

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For longtime fans of this show, here's a name you know: Sam Sanders. Before Brittany, Sam was the host of It's Been A Minute, and recently Brittany ra...

Are you caught in a bad bromance?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What can we all learn from stories of men trying to find friends...and failing?Men in real life - and in the movies - are trying to figure out how to ...

How 'Capitalism' became a dirty word

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it a bad thing to be a "capitalist?" Why is the word being used as a diss?And how do Americans' shifting attitudes towards it show up in your disco...

Nazism has entered the group chat

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is there so much Nazism in the news? And when does a "joke" become hate speech?Politico broke a story last week featuring what it said were leaks...

How to make friends & get good gossip

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you want to know the secret to making deeper friendships? Throw a dinner party.You'll feel less lonely, take care of people you love, and find out ...

Why the internet sucks (and keeps getting worse)

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like the internet just doesn't work as well as it used to?  Or maybe you wish you could go back to the old internet?  Where your s...

Is Taylor Swift exploiting her fans? Yes, but there's more to it.

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Love it or hate it, your favorite pop star is a person and a product. How much are you willing to pay?Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Sho...

Art, faith, & your tendency to overthink it.

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the harshest critic is the one in your head. What if instead you had faith in yourself, and what you're making?It's a familiar, paralyzing f...

Brittany pops off on Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour asked Brittany to go to the movies and bring them her thoughts on The Rock's new movie, The Smashing Machine. She fulfill...

TikTok, Censorship, & Algospeak

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's his trend on social media of using code words for different topics so you can trick the algorithm from categorizing your content in a certain ...

People say college doesn't matter. They're right and wrong.

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does a college degree get you anything these days? Some people say no, but the reality is far more complicated. About 19 million people are going to ...

Is the economy slowing? Ask Black women.

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Black women’s unemployment rate is hovering at 6.7% — higher than the rate for white workers. Is it a sign the broader economy could sour? These ...

If American films are meh...are China’s better?

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hollywood isn't performing as well at home or abroad. Is it losing its cultural dominance to China's burgeoning film industry? ‘Survive until 2025’...

Why is ketamine the party drug of now?

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Recreational ketamine use is on the rise. But why are some people using it to dissociate in the club? Ketamine – a dissociative anesthetic – is il...

Should teens have political opinions?

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At what age did you have a fully formed political perspective? Did tens of thousands of people listen to you? Well, teens today are more influential t...

How AI impacts the environment (and your energy bill)

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AI is the future, but how is its infrastructure impacting your air, water, and utilities bills today? You asked, and Brittany delivered. Many of you w...

The Rapture was a bust, but it still feels like doomsday.

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Christian rapture didn't happen as predicted, but a lot of you still feel like we're living in end times. Why is that?Right now - from religion to...

The cancer quietly killing young people

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If more and more young people are dying of colorectal cancer, why aren't we talking about it? Is it because we're too ashamed of our bodies?Rates of c...

Can you trust AI search results?

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After Grok's MechaHitler gaffe this summer, and President Trump's executive order to, "strip AI models of ‘ideological agendas," Brittany wondered, ...

Trump lost the battle. Will he win the "war?"

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Trump sending the National Guard to cities when crime is already falling?Earlier this month, President Trump posted this: “I love the smell o...

The key to thriving later in life

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There comes a time in every woman's life that we don't talk about enough: menopause. And reframing it may be the key to unlocking a more fulfilling li...

AI can keep you alive forever. Should it?

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The AI digital afterlife industry is here. But can legal and ethical frameworks keep us safe from it?Companies are already popping up to create artifi...

How do we talk about Charlie Kirk?

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How did you respond to the assassination of Charlie Kirk? Many mourned or called for revenge. Others pointed to Kirk's extreme, bigoted statements as ...

Is he a good guy? Or is he manipulating you?

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's a new man in town: the "performative male." Is he trying to trick you into thinking he's open-minded, or does he really like reading books and...

How AI slop is clogging your brain

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bizarre videos, uncanny photos, and Luigi Mangoine's likeness on Shein...? AI slop is taking over the web. It's putting money in people's pockets, and...

Is “Kidz Bop: It’s the Devil” the song of the summer?

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

KPop Demon Hunters, or as Brittany's mom keeps mistakenly calling it "Kidz Bop: It's the Devil," is dominating the music charts. And, thank god! These...

The lessons I learned from 'Alligator Alcatraz'

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Florida detention center, "Alligator Alcatraz," may close, but what can you learn from its short but impactful run?First, the name echoes old Sout...

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce need your attention

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's official: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce posted one of the most liked Instagram photos of all time. Also, they're officially engaged. Swift and ...

Did Trump bet wrong? Americans are flip-flopping.

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have Americans changed their minds? Polling on immigration suggests a seismic shift in public opinion.According to Gallup, 79% of Americans now say im...