It's Been a Minute
Episodes
What's real about The Real Housewives?
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 McBa...
Keyla Monterroso Mejia embraces cringe as comedy's newest star
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Fear, Florida, and The 1619 Project
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 n...
Ross Gay on inciting joy while dining with sorrow
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Kelela's guide for breaking up with men
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ha...
Unlocking desire through smut; plus, the gospel of bell hooks
14 Feb 2023
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 s...
Hot and kinda bothered by 'Magic Mike'; plus Penn Badgley on bad boys
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The scintillating strip sensation is back! 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' hits theaters this weekend – and to celebrate, we're talking about male dancers...
Everything leading up to Rihanna's Halftime Show
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 becau...
The loneliness and longing of Luther Vandross; plus Grammy winner Samara Joy
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Lu...
George Santos and the great American tradition of "self-making"
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 pu...
Saying goodbye to Pikachu and Ash, plus how Pokémon changed media forever
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu is everywhere, all at once
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 nomi...
One of Grindr's favorite podcasts; plus, art versus AI
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 arou...
M3GAN, murder, and mass queer appeal
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At first blush, M3GAN seems like your standard murder doll horror film. Uncanny appearance, eerily close relationship with a young child, and of cours...
What's worse than heat damage? Hair discrimination
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Do you really know what turns you on?
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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, an...
What has Rep. Maxwell Frost gotten himself into?
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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, Democrati...
Millennials in Hollywood are making parents apologize on-screen
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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: par...
Dancing into 2023 with legendary DJ Honey Dijon
30 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
A critic's love letter to Black women in pop
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Tory Lanez is guilty, so why was Megan Thee Stallion's strength on trial?
24 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
(Almost) 20 years of 'Love Actually'
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Dark academia's deadly allure and the timeless appeal of prep style
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 bluep...
There is no Twitter without Black Twitter
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#BlackLivesMatter. #OscarsSoWhite. #Zola. These huge cultural moments come from one of the most chaotic, beloved, and influential communities online: ...
'Framing Agnes' flips the script for trans stories
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Lil Kim is a style icon. It's time she got her due.
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Think of the top women rappers of our time: Cardi B. Megan Thee Stallion. Nicki Minaj. They all showcase a signature style that involves multicolored ...
For Colored Nerds: Why Brittany wants to be a bad Black mom
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, host Brittany Luse has found herself curious about motherhood. As she's thought about the kind of mom she might be, she looked for models in...
Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'The Godfather' and the limits of on-screen representation
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour, a deep dive on The Godfather – and why the classic film was not universally loved by the Italian-America...
Sibling rivalry takes the stage on Broadway; plus Randall Park's latest 'Blockbuster'
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's nothing like the holidays for family drama. And in today's episode, Brittany Luse sits down with two actors who portray a classic brother-agai...
'The Long COVID Survival Guide' to finding care and community
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
According to the CDC, out of all the American adults who have had COVID — and that's a lot of us — one in five went on to develop long COVID sympt...
Lionel Messi's last World Cup? Plus, a 'Diasporican' Thanksgiving
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
They call him a 21st-century god of soccer. One of the all time greats. A king. But Lionel Messi's crown is still missing one big jewel: a World Cup t...
'Abbott Elementary' gets teachers
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brittany Luse watches a lot of TV, but there's one show she's always caught up on — Abbott Elementary. This workplace comedy follows a group of teac...
Black films that changed the game
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's a big week in Black cinema as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hit theaters Friday. But on the same day, another film dropped that may be just as p...
A vote for 'Black Disability Politics'
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's Election Day, and Brittany's focusing on those long lines at the polls. For years there's been a lot of talk about voter disenfranchisement - esp...
Are the Kardashians America's family? Plus, our skincare desires and delusions
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Kardashians. Whether you're into them or not, one thing is true: You can't avoid them. When they're not releasing new episodes of their long-runni...
Sophistication and sexuality at 70 with Christine Baranski
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you ask people to describe Christine Baranski, one word rises to the top: sophisticated. That's no accident; the actress has spent a lifetime refin...
Vampires are hot, y'all
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Spooky season is upon us, so we decided to sink our teeth into the world of vampires. Host Brittany Luse kicks off the conversation with Kendra R. Par...
The Grim Reaper of retail: Spirit Halloween
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every fall, with the same regularity as birds flying south, Spirit Halloween materializes in locations across the country. The superstore sells all ma...
Taylor Swift loves main character energy; Julio Torres hates it
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The It's Been a Minute team gives you a sneak peek at the event of the season: BravoCon, where our producer met his favorite housewife, and the Salt L...
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan tells those racist trolls to chill; Princess Peach can be Brown
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has big dreams. The 20-year-old gained full celebrity status with her breakout role as Devi Vishwakumar in the Netflix teen hit ...
Crafting the narrative of Elon Musk
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The saga around Elon Musk's deal to buy Twitter has been just that: a months-long soap opera involving lawsuits and subpoenas, the U.S. Securities and...
'The Woman King' and when movies aren't history lessons
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When our host Brittany Luse first heard of The Woman King – a film about an all-women warrior unit defending the West African kingdom of Dahomey dur...
Stacey Abrams is running against history
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stacey Abrams wants to make history again. After losing the Georgia governor's race to Brian Kemp back in 2018, Abrams — the first Black woman to be...
May we present our new host...Brittany Luse
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
NPR is proud to present Brittany Luse as the new host for It's Been A Minute. Whether you're a long time listener or you're just finding the show, you...
Presenting Alt.Latino: Rosalía on what makes a 'Motomami'
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we have a special drop from our friends at NPR's Alt.Latino! The show just welcomed Anamaria Sayre as a new co-host alongside Felix Contreras. I...
How Tiny Desk became a go-to spot for hip-hop
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When folks think about where to get the latest in hip-hop, NPR doesn't usually come to mind. But that's changing, thanks to the team at the Tiny Desk ...
For author Julissa Arce, 'sounding white' isn't a compliment
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Julissa Arce used to think that the secret to fitting in was to "sound white" — to speak English perfectly, with no accent. And for years after her...
Judy Greer on 'Reboot' — And Why Are There So Many Reboots, Anyway?
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We talk TV REBOOTS. Guest host Elise Hu chats with Judy Greer about her role in the new Hulu series Reboot; her work as a comedic actress, and the sta...
How HBO transformed television
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
HBO gave us some of the most iconic television shows of our time: Sex and the City. The Sopranos. Game of Thrones. But is the era of HBO coming to a c...
Who needs the monarchy? Plus, why gray floors and barn doors are everywhere
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
King Charles III doesn't enjoy the same popularity as his mother. In the face of mixed feelings towards the new king, some are asking: Is this the beg...
How Girls' Generation shaped K-pop as we know it
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate their 15th anniversary, the K-pop group Girls' Generation put out their newest album, 'Forever 1.' Today, we're taking a look back at the...
Serena's final serve; plus, the Emmys in an era of too much TV
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Serena Williams just played her last U.S. Open. In the historic two-plus decades of her tennis career, she's won 23 Grand Slams and four Olympic gold ...
t.A.T.u's 'All The Things She Said' still runs through our heads
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Russian pop duo t.A.T.u released their smash single "All The Things She Said" 20 years ago this week. To this day, the bop is a queer staple, but ...
The game has changed for D&D and 'A League of Their Own'
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For a long time, Dungeons & Dragons was stereotyped as a game for nerdy young white guys in their parents' basement. But not anymore — the game has ...
From cupcakes to private jets, how the quest for status drives culture
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is culture, where does it come from and why does it change? W. David Marx, author of the new book Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social R...
Will BeReal just make us BeFake? Plus, A Guidebook To Smell
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BeReal may be the hottest new social media app on the market, but can it live up to its promise to be a more authentic alternative to other platforms?...
Presenting 'Code Switch': The glittering neon universe of 'P-Valley' with Katori Hall
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Starz hit series P-Valley takes audiences to a strip club in a fictional town in the Mississippi Delta. Part soap opera, part Southern Gothic, the...
Bad Bunny's dream for Puerto Rico; plus, 'Koshersoul'
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bad Bunny is the biggest pop star in the world, so what does he believe in? Guest host Tracie Hunte and political anthropologist Yarimar Bonilla look ...
Joyful protests and funny rituals with Reservation Dogs' Dallas Goldtooth
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In FX's Reservation Dogs, Dallas Goldtooth plays the character "Spirit" — a Native American warrior in feathers and buckskin who curses and makes di...
Russia's long played with U.S. racial politics. Brittney Griner is the latest example
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does Brittney Griner's hypervisibility as a tall, queer, Black woman have to do with her 9-year sentence in a Russian prison? A lot, according to...
In 'Industry,' Myha'la Herrold makes herself undeniable
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In HBO's Industry, Myha'la Herrold plays Harper, a ruthless young trading floor analyst working for a bank in London. We've seen characters like her b...
All things comedy: HBO's 'Rap Sh!t,' plus, what's going on with late-night TV?
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do we expect from women rappers? Guest host Tracie Hunte and music and culture journalist Naima Cochrane discuss HBO's Rap Sh!t — and how it po...
Why protecting the 'viral underclass' can keep us all healthy
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After years of covering HIV and AIDS, journalist Steven Thrasher knew that the hardest hit communities were almost always the poorest and most margina...
Bow down, Queen Bey's 'Renaissance' era has finally arrived
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Beyoncé's new album is here! Guest host Anna Sale chats with Dan Runcie, founder of the hip hop site Trapital, and Joey Guerra, music critic for the ...
Presenting 'The Limits': Colman Domingo on success, grief and powerful characters
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode from our friends at The Limits with Jay Williams, host Jay Williams speaks with Colman Domingo, the ultimate character actor, known fo...
'Nope' and the history of Black horror; plus, when to say 'no' to the news
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
These days, following the news can be utterly demoralizing. How do we deal? Guest host Anna Sale talks to Amanda Ripley, journalist and anchor of the ...
Presenting 'Death, Sex & Money': From manager to labor activist
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From guest host Anna Sale's other podcast Death, Sex & Money, we bring you this story about Mary Gundel, whose journey from manager to labor activist ...
988 is the new mental health hotline. Can it change how we respond to crisis?
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Starting July 16, anyone in the US experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis can call the phone number 988 and reach a crisis counselo...
Writer Erika L. Sánchez on mental health, Lisa Simpson and 'Crying in the Bathroom'
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2017, author Erika L. Sánchez was making her dreams come true, her young adult novel I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter earning critical acclai...
Hoochie daddy shorts give more than a lil leg; plus, let's get 'Seen, Heard and Paid'
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
They're short, sexy and on-trend: Hoochie daddy shorts are all the rage for cisgender straight men this summer. And this week, they are the center of ...
'X' explores pleasure and pain in a dystopic world
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do freedom and rights intersect with sex, pleasure and the self? It's a question the U.S. is facing in the wake of the Supreme Court's recent deci...
Staying grounded after Roe v. Wade; plus, let's talk about fat liberation
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Supreme Court gutted abortion rights by overturning Roe v. Wade. For those who have been in the trenches of the reproductive justice movement — ...
When parents say sorry on-screen
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Family conflict is a cinema staple. But recently Hollywood has come out with a slew of stories about parents and children confronting gaps in culture,...
Guess who's back in the house (music scene); plus, 'Would it Kill You to Laugh'
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a matter of days Beyoncé and Drake both released music that draws deeply on 90s era house music. Neither of them are queer, but the they're borrow...
Fangirls rule the internet in 'Everything I Need, I Get From You'
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fangirls often don't get taken seriously in pop culture. But in her new book, Everything I Need, I Get From You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as ...
Why old is new again in pop music; plus, 'Rutherford Falls'
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When singer-songwriter Kate Bush released "Running Up That Hill" in 1985, it peaked at number 30 on the Hot 100. Now it's soared into the top ten, th...
Joseph Han on U.S. imperialism, Korean ghosts and Guy Fieri
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We don't often think of Hawaii and the Korean peninsula as having any kind of shared history. But author Joseph Han disagrees — and he makes the cas...
Even influencers are burning out; plus, there's nothing boring about 'Normal Gossip'
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
These days, it seems everyone wants to be an influencer. But as content creators realize that it's a demanding, often short-lived career, they're forc...
Joel Kim Booster on making a queer, Asian American 'Pride and Prejudice'
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The first time Joel Kim Booster vacationed on New York's Fire Island with his friend, comedian Bowen Yang, he brought with him Jane Austen's Pride and...
Reframing guns on screen; plus, is it just us, or are movies getting longer?
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once again, Americans are asking how to end mass shootings. With consensus on gun laws unlikely, some are turning to Hollywood to help change the narr...
Bruce Talamon on photographing Black excellence in the 1970s
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Name a Black musician from the 1970s and chances are Bruce Talamon has photographed them. The Jackson 5. Aretha Franklin. Marvin Gaye. Donna Summer. B...
Presenting 'Life Kit': Making the most of travel and your time off
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode from our friends at Life Kit, guest host Elise Hu teaches us how to make the most of our time off. Joined by travel writer Torre deRoc...
Phoebe Bridgers On 'Punisher' and Hate Touring
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Singer Phoebe Bridgers had a huge year in 2020. She was nominated for four Grammys for her work on her album Punisher. The album was released to wide ...
Presenting 'Pop Culture Happy Hour': Beauty & pain of 'Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel'
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode from our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour, guest host Aisha Harris talks with journalists Tre'vell Anderson and Jarrett Hill ...
From Odd Future to The Internet, Syd
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this encore episode from 2018, former host Sam Sanders speaks with singer-songwriter Syd about her work with the hip-hop collective Odd Future and ...
'End of Roe' and your digital search history; plus, the villain of 'Selling Sunset'
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the anticipated repeal of Roe v. Wade, it's unclear how Americans will access abortion and other reproductive care. Will tech platforms continue...
Singer Yebba on 'Dawn'
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Yebba had a huge year in 2016. The singer and songwriter's career was taking off. But 2016 was also the year that something awful happened: Yebba's mo...
The consequences of losing Roe v. Wade, plus, Summer of Books
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Protests erupted across the nation this week in the wake of a leaked Supreme Court brief suggesting the landmark "Roe v. Wade" abortion ruling will be...
What makes Drake's 'God's Plan' a hit pop song
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Attention to all the music lovers out there! All month, we're revisiting our best music episodes from It's Been a Minute. In this episode from Februar...
Anti-trans legislation; plus, Broadway is back
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Legislation targeting transgender Americans and trans children has increased sharply in the last year. Guest host Ari Shapiro speaks with the Florida...
The power in owning your 'Big Feelings'
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Guest host Juana Summers speaks with co-authors Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy about their new book, Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are ...
COVID travel mask mandates drop; plus, 'Oprahdemics'
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With travel mask mandates dropping, increasing cases, and more COVID variants, precaution exhaustion is real, but the pandemic is far from over. Guest...
Danyel Smith highlights Black women who defined pop music in 'Shine Bright'
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Guest host Juana Summers talks with Danyel Smith about her new memoir, Shine Bright: A Personal History of Black Women in Pop. As a previous editor-in...
Etsy sellers on strike; plus, the creators of 'ROAR'
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From homemade candles to jewelry, leather goods to cloth masks, online marketplace Etsy has been a haven for makers looking to sell their goods and bu...
Presenting 'Broken Record': An Interview With Nas
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode from our friends at the Broken Record podcast, we will hear producer Rick Rubin's conversation with hip-hop legend Nas. Rick t...
The problem of diversity in 'Bridgerton'; plus, the Latinx history of punk music
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Guest host Jasmine Garsd talks to Kristen Warner, an associate professor at the University of Alabama, about Bridgerton's diversity problem. They disc...
'True Story': Danielle Lindemann on 'What Reality TV Says About Us'
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this special new episode of It's Been a Minute, we share a conversation Sam Sanders recorded about one of his favorite things: reality TV. He's joi...
The vibe has shifted; plus, 'Conversations with People Who Hate Me'
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You may see it in the news or on social media. You may be feeling different in your relationships or with your job. The "vibe" has shifted. Our guest ...
Bringing 'Pachinko' from page to the screen
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Elise Hu chats with Soo Hugh, writer and showrunner of the much anticipated series Pachinko, based on the 2017 novel by Min Jin Lee. It's the epic sto...
And the Oscar goes to...
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A trimmed telecast? A crowd-sourced award? DJ Khaled as a presenter? The Oscars are back like you've never seen them before. Guest host Elise Hu is jo...