It's Been a Minute

Bad Bunny & the battle for Puerto Rico

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bad Bunny's new album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, has struck a chord with fans worldwide. He's always expressed a deep love for Puerto Rico, but his late...

Is your favorite pop star spreading propaganda?

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter-themed NFL halftime show performance showcased Black Americana, and drew in millions of viewers, but it left some viewers ask...

Bad news for protein bros: you might be getting scammed

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How much protein do you really need to consume?According to Pew Research Center, 79% of New Year's resolutions are about one thing: health. It's Been ...

Is The Squad dead? Cori Bush on the future of progressive politics

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Five years ago progressive Democrats seemed to be on the rise. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had just ousted a moderate Democrat, and Senator Bernie Sander...

Sober-curious? Why your friends (and maybe you) are going dry.

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is sobriety more popular than ever?According to Pew – 79% of New Year's resolutions are about one thing: health. It's Been a Minute is kicking o...

2025 Predictions: social media is OUT & food politics are IN

03 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Brittany has some predictions for the big trends to watch for in 2025. First, social media is OUT. Not that people will stop using social platforms, b...

All hail the queen of rom-coms

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year! Pop champagne, kiss a loved one, and turn on the rom-com that made New Year's Eve a backdrop of your fall inspo Pinterest board: When ...

Kill your daddies? TV's obsession with patricide

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From HBO's Industry to FX's The Bear, 2024 was full of TV characters working out their "daddy issues" the tough way...by committing patricide. This we...

Ranking the best and worst of 2024: Moo Deng, Drake & Crashing Out

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To close out 2024, Brittany and friends are running through the best and worst pop culture moments of the past 365 days. Along with NPR's Weekend Edit...

2024's ACTUAL Sexiest Men Alive? We have thoughts.

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

PEOPLE Magazine has done it again. Last month they revealed this year's "Sexiest Man Alive"...John Krasinski. And, Brittany and the hosts of the Who W...

Drones, TikTok & Luigi Mangione have us asking: who's watching us?

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From the drones over New Jersey, to the surveillance cameras that captured Luigi Mangione, to even TikTok - our movements, our likeness, even our shop...

Blocking your mom: why adult children are going no contact

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's the holiday season. The time of year when many of us go back home to see our families. But this year, a lot of people aren't going home, and mayb...

Luigi Mangione & America's pent up pain

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Luigi Mangione is alleged to have shot and killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and even before he was identified, the reaction to the shooter...

Your date gave you 'The Ick?' That might be a YOU problem.

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's cuffing season: the time of year where the weather cools down and folks look for a warm body to cuddle up with. But we're getting into some of th...

Thin is back in, but did it ever leave us?

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When TikTok user, Slim Kim, posted a video expressing how much she loves 'being skinny,' she set off a wave of internet discourse. What's the line bet...

So you got dumped... should you post your breakup deets online?

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's cuffing season: the time of year where the weather cools down and folks look for a warm body to cuddle up with. But we're getting into some of th...

"Is it OK to ask about salary on the first date?" How to marry romance and finance

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's cuffing season: the time of year where the weather cools down and folks look for a warm body to cuddle up with. But we're getting into some of th...

Who deserves to be a parent?

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our culture loves to celebrate adoption stories - and a lot of state governments put millions into promoting it. But adoptees and birth parents are op...

UFOs to RFKs: How conspiracy theories went mainstream

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are UFOs real? Maybe, but that's not the point. From Congressional hearings on UFOs to the claims of RFK Jr., conspiracies have gone from fringe to ma...

Make America Male Again? Fifteen years of aggrieved men

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The boys are not alright. They are falling behind in education and employment, and many have responded by leaning into the politics of the aggrieved. ...

Why pop stars aren't having kids (and why you might not either)

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Baby fever just isn't spreading like it used to. The United States fertility rate hit an all-time low last year, and some of our biggest musicians, li...

Mormon Moms: Unpacking a national obsession

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to your favorite homemaking TikTok influencers, the women of the Church of Latter Day Saints have been ga...

"Are you surprised?" Three Black women react to the election

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's surprising about Trump returning to the White House? For Brittany Luse, Pop Culture Happy Hour's Aisha Harris, and NPR's Alana Wise there isn't...

The hot mom rom-com phenomenon

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's Election Day, but instead of focusing on politics, we decided to do something a little lighter for the occasion: we're looking at this year's hot...

America's Next Top Scapegoat; plus, Inside the Black Manosphere

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 2024 presidential candidates are making their closing arguments. While VP Harris is focused on the economy and abortion rights, Donald Trump has d...

Onscreen cannibalism and our hunger for love

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For the third and final installment of our Trilogy of Terror series, host Brittany Luse turns her attention to the ultimate taboo: cannibalism. Cannib...

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 ...