It's Been a Minute
Episodes
The Billboard Hot 100's doom loop; Plus, a new kind of true crime story
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The same songs are sitting at the top of the music charts longer than ever, and that has Brittany Luse wondering, are our listening habits stuck in a ...
Kylie Minogue's tips for staying on top
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kylie Minogue is having a capital-M moment, and Brittany sits down in studio with the pop star to talk about how to keep reaching new heights in a car...
The false promise of climate havens; plus, the 'help' in horror
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Extreme weather is becoming more frequent. Now some towns that were touted as "safe" are seeing hurricanes, floods or heat waves. This week, host Brit...
Sasha Colby takes us to Drag college
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sasha Colby is your favorite drag queen's favorite drag queen. That's because she's one of the most decorated and influential drag queens working toda...
Is the free speech debate dead? Plus, the devil!
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In anticipation of more pro-Palestinian protests, many college administrators rolled out new rules this fall that include getting pre-approval for pos...
The SMACKDOWN: Techno vs. Aaliyah vs. Motown
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?For the past two months Brittany has been hosting debates in cities and regions across the United States to find out w...
The 'reddit bro' vs. the 'wife guy'; plus, Fat Bear Week!
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tuesday night, JD Vance and Tim Walz faced off in their first debate. Host Brittany Luse is joined by NPR's national race and identity correspondent S...
The SMACKDOWN: Rihanna's greatest hits vs. Black Wall Street vs. Route 66
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?Welcome to The Smackdown! For the last few weeks Brittany has been hosting debates in cities and regions across the U...
An identity crisis at the heart of the election; plus, disrupting biracial fantasies
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Following the false allegations against the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, the city received over 30 bomb threats, saw school closures and e...
The SMACKDOWN: Serena Williams vs. Muhammad Ali vs. Trina
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the Unit...
Is Diddy hip-hop's Weinstein? Plus, Brittany gets rejected
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Monday, the embattled rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. He's been denied bail twice, and...
The SMACKDOWN: Brunch vs. Twerking vs. Louis Armstrong
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the Unit...
Trump goes podcasting and Harris turns a look
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Podcast and social media influencers have become important campaign stops for political hopefuls. But what kind of voters are the candidates courting?...
The SMACKDOWN: Gucci Mane vs. Angela Davis vs. Sun Ra
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the Unit...
Gen Z asks: what is school for? Plus, rebranding gentrification
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's September, which means millions of young learners across the country are dusting off their backpacks and heading back to school. But a new study ...
The SMACKDOWN: Video Games vs. Journalism vs. Robert Frost
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the Unit...
Chappell Roan and celebrity hazing; plus, MrBeast's entertainment charity
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Chappell Roan posted about how some fans have been making her feel unsafe, there's been speculation around whether the singer is really 'cut out...
The rise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's been 21 years since Starbucks debuted the first pumpkin spice latte in 2003. Since then, it's become a cultural phenomenon greater than itself: i...
"The Squad" loses two members; plus, Colman Domingo shines in 'SING SING'
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the dust settles on the DNC, host Brittany Luse takes a look at the challenges facing a group of progressive democrats commonly known as "The Squad...
The SMACKDOWN: Maya Angelou vs. Harvey Milk vs. MC Hammer
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the Unit...
The SMACKDOWN: The Peanuts vs. Prince vs. Dungeons & Dragons
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will win today's cage match?Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the Unit...
Does 'weird' work for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since Minnesota governor and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz called Republicans "weird," we've seen other Democrats embrace this na...
The summer hits reveal some complicated vibes
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Now that we're in the dog days of summer, host Brittany Luse wants to know - do we have a song of the summer this year? According to NPR Music reporte...
Code Switch: Do we need to stop using the word "felon"?
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the presidential race, things changed. Her campaign almost immediately started framing the election as...
The misunderstood humor of political memes
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From the attempted assassination of former President Trump, to President Biden dropping out of the election, and VP Kamala Harris stepping up... The n...
Quality chills and feel good content on Dropout
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It seems like there are countless streamers these days – there's Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Peacock, Roku, just to name a few. Still, success ...
Olympic hurdles for women athletes; plus, big trucks and big questions
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first year the Olympics have gender parity between men's and women's teams - but does it mean gender equity? ESPN writer Katie Barnes and ...
'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' gets 10s across the board
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, there are no singing cats. The actors have basically ditched the furry ears and velvet tails and ...
The rise of the AR-15; plus, why do comedians play so many cops?
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last Saturday, former president Donald Trump was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania when a gunman shot at him – killing one spectator and clipping ...
Simmering over summer books
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're at the peak of summer, which means sunny days on the grass with a good book! Bestselling authors Tia Williams and Jean Chen Ho join host Brittan...
'Hawk tuah,' the Zynternet, & the bro-vote; plus, cowboys are having a moment
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What did the raunchy joke say to the podcast host? That we might need to pay attention to the "zynternet." Host Brittany Luse is joined by Slate's Luk...
Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, ...
Defining 2024 so far; plus, why brands 'de-woked'
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It is the first week of July, which means we are officially halfway through the year. And what a year it's been! Brittany sat down with NPR Politics r...
A taste of Black Appalachia
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Too often, our attempts at nailing the family recipes end up in disaster and disappointment. This week, host Brittany Luse is joined by former Kentuck...
Girl, that remix, so healing; plus, gay vampires
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The internet freaked out when Charli XCX and Lorde revealed - and put to rest - their pop girl rivalry on Charli's "Girl, so confusing" remix. That sa...
Can't stop the (classical) music
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's Black Music month! This week, Host Brittany Luse invites Howard University professor and trombonist Myles Blakemore to talk about how classical m...
Fouling Caitlin Clark; plus, a shoplifting panic!
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
First up, there has been a media frenzy around the fouls made against rising basketball star and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. Commentators and ...
Carvell Wallace searches for 'Another Word for Love'
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In his new memoir, Another Word for Love, Carvell Wallace lays out his journey to find self-acceptance after a childhood colored by instability. Host ...
Conservatives want to burn flags too; plus, the power of a singing POTUS
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Flags have been making a lot of headlines lately, and it's not because today is National Flag Day. The upside down flag that was flown outside of Just...
Cole Escola literally changes history in 'Oh, Mary!'
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cole Escola is the star and creator of Oh Mary!, an upcoming Broadway play about Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln. But there's...
Republicans really want revenge; plus, can AI take a chill pill?
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is our justice system for? Many Republicans over the past week have suggested it's for revenge, calling for the prosecution of Democrats across t...
Devery Jacobs flies high in 'Backspot'
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cheerleaders are canonical when it comes to teen media - but is it time we expand our idea of who cheerleaders can be? Devery Jacobs's new film, Back...
Is it time to re-name "summer?" Plus, prom fashion is all grown up
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summer is supposed to be for vacation and more relaxation, right? Well, for climate watchers, this season goes by a more sinister name. Brittany and N...
You think you know true crime podcasts? Wait till you hear Tonya's story.
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When a daughter or sister disappears how does a family move on without closure? Host Brittany Luse is joined by Fresh Air co-host Tonya Mosley and and...
The Real Housewife-ification of Congress; And, 25 years of being pilled by The Matrix
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jasmine Crockett exchanged heated words on the House floor. Greene commented on Crockett's eyelashes, and C...
Tony nominee Jocelyn Bioh puts braiders centerstage
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Brittany Luse sits down with playwright Jocelyn Bioh, whose new play, Jaja's African Hair Braiding, is up for five Tony Award nominations, ...
Bumble & the trap of modern dating; plus, living ethically in COVID's aftermath
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the dating app Bumble could not stay out of the news. First, the company launched an anti-celibacy advertising campaign mocking abstinence ...
The miracle of middle age with Miranda July
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our culture is full of stories about what it's like to be young: to find yourself, to fall in love, to leave home. But there aren't nearly as many scr...
Drake and Kendrick are beefing, but who pays? Plus, moms as our social safety net
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Drake and Kendrick have been trading diss tracks for weeks, and it's gotten darker and darker with each track. Drake accuses Kendrick of beating women...
A 'Wild Card' game with Rachel Martin
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR's Rachel Martin is the host of a new weekly podcast called Wild Card. It's part-interview, part-existential game show. In this episode, Brittany s...
Suburban decay and choking on nostalgia
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brittany sits down with Jane Schoenbrun, the director of A24's coming of age horror film, I Saw The TV Glow. Brittany and Jane discuss suburban decay,...
An inside look at the campus protests; plus, Israel at Eurovision
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pro-Palestinian protests have been popping up at universities around the world, and in the last few days things have escalated at a number of those ca...
How Chicago's Black press shaped America
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Host Brittany Luse sits down with Arionne Nettles, author of We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything. Arionne shares how Black med...
TikTok gets the boot; plus, a 'tradwife' fantasy
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, President Biden signed a law that could ban TikTok nationwide unless its Chinese parent company sells the media platform within a year. Bri...
Dating skills vs. dating gimmicks in 'Love on the Spectrum'
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of Brittany's latest TV obsessions has been Netflix's Love on the Spectrum. It's a reality series that follows several autistic adults as they wad...
The backlash against protests; plus, how OJ Simpson changed media forever
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this week, pro-Palestinian protestors blocked traffic on highways and bridges in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Seattle. On that same da...
An argument for the art of whistling
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some of us whistle while we work, but what happens when your work is whistling? This week, host Brittany Luse is joined by professional whistler, Moll...
The car culture wars; plus, the problem with child stars
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
President Biden has been pushing new regulations to promote electric vehicle production to combat the climate crisis — and former president Trump is...
Boots with the spurs: 'Cowboy Carter' and the need for validation
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grab your cowboy hat, and saddle up that horse, because Beyoncé's highly anticipated album, Cowboy Carter is here. So far, the album has spurred prai...
Is DEI a slur now? Plus, control & basketball
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last week, the city's 39 year old mayor, Brandon Scott, a Black man, stepped out t...
The hidden costs of hair braiding
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're revisiting an exploration of hair braiding gone wrong. Online, women looking to get box braids have gone viral with their complaints ...
Harvard's TikTok strategy; plus, Shirley Chisholm, the coalition diva
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok has come under fire for its addictive algorithm and for being a place where misinformation spreads. But still, there is one institution that th...
'Love Lies Bleeding' and the fear and allure of strong women
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Erotic thrillers are meant to be sexy, bloody, and fun. The best of them also deal with shifts in culture that people are anxious about: Fatal Attract...
Brittany talks bad accents and bad sex
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dune: Part Two is a marvel of cinematic wonder. Amongst all the chatter around the cinematography and lore, Brittany also noticed that there was a par...
The spectacular femininity of bimbos and 'Barbie'
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Awards season is finally over and even though Oppenheimer took home the top prize for best picture at the Oscars, Barbie still seemed to be a fan favo...
The déjà vu election; plus, losing faith in politics in "Great Expectations"
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The 2024 presidential election will be a rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden; and with that rematch comes political ...
Jennifer Lopez's love affair with love
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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....
And the winner is... outrage? Plus, if the economy is good, why does it feel bad?
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend's Oscars ceremony will mark the close of awards season. But what has been an exciting year in film seems to have turned into an opportuni...
'The Harlem Renaissance' and what is Black art for?
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's Been a Minute host Brittany Luse and producer Liam McBain took a little field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York — and after ha...
Three ways to think about journalism layoffs; plus, Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The American journalism industry is in crisis - layoffs, strikes, and site shutdowns have some people talking about the potential extinction of the th...
Da'Vine Joy Randolph on 'The Holdovers' and becoming a matriarch
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Da'Vine Joy Randolph just keeps winning — she's won best supporting actress for her role in The Holdovers at the BAFTAs, the Golden Globes, and Crit...
Have we hit celebrity overload? Plus, Miyazaki's movie magic
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brittany feels like we've entered a new phase of celebrity oligarchy; new celebrity business enterprises are popping up daily, and we can't seem to ge...
Jada Pinkett Smith, the artist
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jada Pinkett Smith is the kind of celebrity that makes headlines just by breathing. But looking at those headlines — mostly about her marriage to ...
Legendary choreographer Fatima Robinson on moving through changes in dance
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Choreographer Fatima Robinson has had an incredibly prolific career: she gave us the iconic King Tut-style moves from Michael Jackson's 'Remember the ...
Unlocking desire through smut; plus, the gospel of bell hooks
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 sh...
A Super Bowl in 'new Vegas'; plus, the inverted purity of the Stanley Cup
10 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend, Vegas hit the jackpot. For the first time ever, Sin City will host the Super Bowl; and the halftime headliner is the current Vegas resid...
Sam Reich on revamping the game show - and Dropout's success as a small streamer
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It seems like there are countless streamers these days – there's Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Peacock, Roku, just to name a few. Still, success ...
Charlamagne tha Pundit?; plus, was Tony Soprano white?
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Charlamagne tha God has been dominating hip-hop radio for years, and lately, his influence has extended far beyond the music industry; for better or w...
Ayesha Rascoe on 'HBCU Made' — and some good old college memories
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're taking it way back — all the way to college. This episode is a mini-reunion: host Brittany Luse and Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR's Weekend Editi...
South Africa's case for preventing genocide in Palestine; plus, why people love cults
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This morning, the International Court of Justice shared a decision on South Africa's genocide case against Israel. The courts found sufficient evidenc...
Benny Safdie on 'The Curse' — and performing goodness
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Director and actor Benny Safdie is probably best known for co-directing the film Uncut Gems, but he's also acted in Oppenheimer, Licorice Pizza, and o...
The political power of white Evangelicals; plus, Biden and the Black church
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, Evangelicals have propped up Republican presidents. And while church attendance has fallen across the board, Evangelicals are still makin...
Anna Deavere Smith plays real Americans on stage - and she shares her lessons
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Deavere Smith is an acclaimed actress, journalist, and playwright. She's a pioneer of what's known as 'verbatim theater,' which is performance ba...
The life lessons Fantasia brought to 'The Color Purple'; plus, Personal Style 101
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fantasia Barrino-Taylor is picking up awards buzz for her portrayal of Celie in The Color Purple, and Brittany is sitting down with the former America...
American Fiction is a rich story — but is it a successful satire?
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
American Fiction is a movie you can spend hours discussing. Based on Percival Everett's novel Erasure, the movie is a satire of what the publishing in...
Looking ahead to the 2024 election; plus, getting "sober curious" for Dry January
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Brittany Luse is starting with the biggest story of the year - the upcoming presidential election. The economy, foreign policy, reprod...
Ross Gay on inciting joy while dining with sorrow
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for joy? Then it might be worth exploring your sorrow. In his collection of essays, Inciting Joy, poet Ross Gay considers the breadth of joy, ...
'Oh Me Oh My': Finding grace after something hellified (a New Year's story)
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To close out the year, Brittany is sitting down with Lonnie Holley. He's a painter, sculptor, and musician who released his latest album, Oh Me Oh My,...
Why grief sometimes looks like a hyphy party
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 arou...
Why does flying suck so much?
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Flying can be a frustrating experience, but holiday travel tends to shift our stress levels into overdrive. Overbooking, delays, lost baggage, and lon...
2023: The year of the celebrity memoir
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
2023 has been huge for the celebrity memoir game: Britney Spears, Prince Harry and Jada Pinkett Smith are just a few of the many A-listers who dropped...
The IBAMmys: The It's Been A Minute 2023 Culture Awards Show
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first ever IBAMmys, the It's Been A Minute 2023 culture awards show! It's been a minute - a whole year - and we're looking back at the ...
Music trends that took us by surprise in 2023
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's been an eventful year for music; we saw the rise of Mexican Regional music on the charts, the emergence of AI artists, and the dominance of count...
Nicki Minaj's bars, Barbz and beefs; plus, why 2023 was the year of the cowboy
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicki Minaj just released her first album in half a decade, Pink Friday 2. The self-proclaimed 'Queen of Rap' has an unparalleled career, but the rap ...
The 'Renaissance' film and what we hear in Beyoncé's silence
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the credits for 'Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé' the Queen Bee makes it clear who is in charge. Written by? Beyoncé. Directed by? Beyoncé. Produ...
McCarthyism and queerness in 'Fellow Travelers'; plus, IBAM unplugged with Olivia Dean
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Brittany chats with New Yorker television critic Inkoo Kang about Showtime's historical romance, Fellow Travelers. The show follows the liv...
All The Only Ones: I can't wait
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're bringing you a special episode from the Embedded series 'All the Only Ones.' The series looks at the history of trans youth next to th...
Defending the Disney Adult; plus, what it takes to stand up for Black trans people
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Disney recently celebrated its 100th birthday, so we're exploring a fandom that's kept the magic alive while also generating lots of online hate: Disn...
How gratitude improves your relationships and your future
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the millions of Americans that celebrate Thanksgiving, it's a time when a lot of us reflect on the things and the people in our lives that we appr...
The return of Andre 3000; plus, 'Rap Sh!t' puts the music industry on blast
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As many male rappers seem to become more depressed or vindictive in their lyrics, the women of rap appear to be having all the fun. One show that capt...