It's Been a Minute

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...

Rejecting assimilation in 'You Sound Like a White Girl'

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A school crush once told Julissa Arce that she sounded "like a white girl." At the time, Arce believed that was exactly what she wanted. But over the ...

One year later, the Atlanta spa shootings; plus, tech on TV

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's been one year since the Atlanta-area spa shootings that claimed eight lives, six of whom were Asian women. Guest host Elise Hu reflects on the ev...

Presenting 'Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!': Everyone & Their Mom

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our friends at Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! have a new show out with host Emma Choi. It's called Everyone & Their Mom. For her first episode, Emma is ...

Sam says goodbye

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's Been A Minute is sticking around, but before our beloved Sam Sanders takes flight we've got news to cover! In Sam's last episode as host, he's jo...

The trouble with defining antisemitism

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With more extreme antisemitic attacks on the rise and more antisemitic rhetoric in the mainstream, antisemitism has become an increasingly pressing is...

Sanctions 101

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, global powers have put the pressure on with sanctions upon sanctions. But what does that even mean? Class...

'Jackass' star Johnny Knoxville has nothing left to prove

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's our 500th episode and what better way to celebrate than with Johnny Knoxville's first appearance on NPR? We couldn't think of a better milestone....

Trayvon, ten years later

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before George Floyd and Michael Brown, there was Trayvon Martin. And this weekend marks ten years since the watershed moment that planted the seed for...

Presenting 'The Limits': Gabrielle Union stands up for herself

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode from our friends at NPR's newest podcast The Limits, host Jay Williams chats with Gabrielle Union — actress, activist, producer, ent...

Ok. I guess we'll talk about the metaverse.

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the metaverse? How do you get to it? Why does it seem to dominate headlines every week? Is it possibly a sign of our dystopian future? Sam lea...

How to make and sustain Latinx TV

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Streaming has totally changed the face of TV, but in all its abundance, who gets to make a show, and which shows live to see another season? Sam chats...

The demand for salary transparency, plus a new fresh prince of 'Bel-Air'

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Victoria Walker, former The Points Guy senior travel reporter, didn't think much about tweeting her salary when she quit her job and offering advice f...

China's Influence Over Hollywood

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

China has held a soft power over Hollywood for the last few decades. Examples range from the cosmetic, like the way Chinese police heroically restore ...

It's all politics at the Winter Olympics, plus 'This Is Dating'

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's hard to believe the Winter Olympics have begun in Beijing, our second COVID Games. Sam talks to NPR correspondent Emily Feng about the political ...

Questlove's 'Summer of Soul' brings lost music back to life

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There were two big music festivals happening in the summer of 1969. While one defined an entire generation of culture and music... the other remained ...

Whodunit at 'The Afterparty' plus the lie of 'Laziness'

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sam sits down to chat, sing, improv and of course play Who Said That with actors Ben Schwartz and Sam Richardson, stars of the new murder mystery The ...

'Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations' from Wajahat Ali

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sam chats with author Wajahat Ali about his new book, Go Back To Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on Becoming American. The book...

Remembering André Leon Talley

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

André Leon Talley became a major part of the global fashion zeitgeist while navigating being one of the few, if not the only, Black, queer man at his...

The legacy of ACT UP and its fight to end AIDS

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sam revisits his 2021 conversation with Sarah Schulman about ACT UP. The organization united a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals committed to...

The financial aid conspiracy; plus, 'For Colored Nerds'

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A group of elite colleges and universities this week found themselves at the center of a lawsuit alleging that they conspired to limit financial aid t...

It's still Trump's GOP

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Donald Trump is still one of the most influential members of the Republican party even after leaving office nearly a year ago. Sam ch...

Revisiting the January 6 insurrection, one year later

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a full year since the January 6, 2021 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, perhaps the most shocking political event of the past year — or ev...

Presenting 'Throughline': Nikole Hannah-Jones and the war over history

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode from our friends at Throughline, co-hosts Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei explore the war over history with Nikole Hannah...

Looking back at Whitney Houston's 1991 national anthem

31 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year's Eve, y'all! Before we officially end 2021, we're revisiting on one of our favorite episodes of the year — our deep dive into Whitne...

2021 in music with 'Switched on Pop'

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sam chats with Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan, the two co-hosts of the podcast Switched on Pop, about the year in music. They discuss how TikTok and s...

The holiday movie machine

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do holiday movies actually make money for networks like Hallmark and Netflix? How many Vanessa Hudgens characters is too many Vanessa Hudgens characte...

'The View' is cultural (and political) canon

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In an era when social media and streaming reign supreme, how has a daytime talk show on network television managed to stay relevant? With help from Ra...

Did That Really Happen This Year?

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look back on the year in news and pop culture... in quotes. For this special episode of It's Been a Minute, Sam is joined by NPR All Things ...

Presenting 'Alt.Latino': Elvis Costello, reimagined en español

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode from our friends at Alt. Latino, host Felix Contreras talks to Elvis Costello and Grammy-winning producer Sebastian Krys about...

What has Biden accomplished (or not) in 2021?

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Now that we're nearly a year into Joe Biden's presidency (and out of Donald Trump's)... what has Biden actually achieved? What promises has he kept or...

How to make working from home better

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Has working from home during the pandemic been frustrating for you? You're not alone. Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen's new book Out of Office:...

Was 2021 labor's year? Plus, 'Like a Virgin'

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Was 2021 the labor movement's year? It certainly felt like it — thousands of workers went on strike this year, at numbers considerably higher than ...

Presenting 'Pop Culture Happy Hour': is 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' stuck in nostalgia?

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode from our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour, guest host Ayesha Rascoe joins co-hosts Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson as well a...

What people miss when talking about banned books

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Guest host Ayesha Rascoe is joined by NPR senior editor Barrie Hardymon and Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, to talk about banned books. They...

From Taylor Swift to Thanksgiving, Dear Prudence gives the gift of advice

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What better gift to give this holiday season than the gift of... advice? And solicited advice at that! For this episode, Sam is joined by Jenée Desmo...

The hidden costs of holiday consumerism

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of consumers are worried about supply chain delays this holiday season — but there are also other issues to watch out for when shopping. Guest...

Permission to feel joy with Rax King's 'Tacky'

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we feel shame for sincerely enjoying something that others don't like? That's one of the big questions tackled in Rax King's new essay collecti...

Why flying feels so hard; Plus, 'Queer Love in Color'

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Now that more people are getting comfortable flying again, it's about time to remind ourselves that, oh yes, flying was sometimes terrible in the Befo...

Presenting 'Throughline': The Nostalgia Bone

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The global pandemic has spawned a different type of epidemic, one of an entirely different nature: a nostalgia outbreak. Longing for 'simpler times' a...

New threats to Roe v. Wade; Plus, Jo Firestone's 'Good Timing'

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sam talks to Slate staff writer Mark Joseph Stern about the Supreme Court hearing challenges to the Texas abortion law and what it all means for Roe v...

Presenting 'Code Switch': Kat Chow's 'Seeing Ghosts'

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode from our friends at NPR's Code Switch podcast, Kat Chow chats with former host Shereen Marisol Meraji about her memoir, Seeing Ghosts....

Should I have kids? Move? Recycle? Your climate questions answered

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow this weekend, Sam chats with climate experts Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist and writer, and Kend...

Presenting 'Switched On Pop': the Cyndi Lauper conspiracy

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this special bonus episode, Sam joins Switched On Pop co-host Charlie Harding to talk Cyndi Lauper. Many fall for "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," bu...

Shea Serrano answers existential questions about rap in 'Hip Hop (And Other Things)'

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author and host of the No Skips podcast Shea Serrano gets obsessive about things — movies, basketball, and now, rap. In Hip Hop (And Other Things), ...

Why can't Democrats pass legislation? Plus, 'Succession'

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sam chats with NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson about why dysfunction in the Democratic Party is putting the big "Build Back Better" ...

Why aren't Black and Indigenous missing persons cases covered enough?

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jermain Charlo was an Indigenous mother who went missing in Montana in the summer of 2018. Relisha Rudd, an 8-year-old Black girl, went missing in Was...

Nicole Byer's '#VeryFat #VeryBrave' guide to bikini confidence

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sam revisits his 2020 conversation with comedian and Nailed It! host Nicole Byer on her coffee table book: #VeryFat #VeryBrave: The Fat Girl's Guide t...

Pop music's 'Latin Explosion' of 1999

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Latino artists like Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira ruled the pop charts. But who was that s...