It's Been a Minute

NPR

Want in on a secret? Your likes and dislikes didn't develop by accident. There are subtle and not-so-subtle forces around you, shaping what you think, how you act, and even who you think you are. Brittany Luse is here to break the spell and help you feel wiser in a society that makes things blurry.THE BEST POP CULTURE PODCAST AWARD WINNER AT THE 2025 SIGNAL AWARDSIt’s Been A Minute with Brittany Luse is the best podcast for understanding what’s going on in culture right now, and helps you consume it smarter. From how politics influences pop culture to how identity influences tech or health, Brittany makes the picture clearer for you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.It’s Been A Minute reaches millions of people every week. Join the community and conversation today.If you can't get enough, try It's Been a Minute Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/itsbeenaminute

  1. 15 hr ago

    The DSA vs. establishment Democrats

    Who owns the future of the Democratic party? The Democratic Socialists of America – also known as the DSA – are having a solid year. DSA candidates won House primaries in New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Part of why this is kind of a big deal is that some of these candidates were going up against pretty powerful Democratic incumbents...and not just in races for federal seats. DSA candidates won down-ballot primaries for state legislature in New York, Oregon, Georgia, and Kentucky – and for mayor of DC. In the weeks since, there have been many stories of establishment Democrats frustrated by this, with different narratives coming from Democrats about why this is happening and why the DSA is a problem. But what public sentiment are Democratic voters expressing here? And if this is actually a Tea Party moment for Democrats, what does that change for everyday people? Brittany gets into it with Akela Lacy, senior politics reporter at The Intercept and host of the “Intercept Briefing” podcast, and Michael Lange, New York political analyst, DSA member, and writer of “The Narrative Wars” on Substack. (00:00) The Democratic Socialists of America are having a great year(02:46) Are the DSA primary wins surprising, or to be expected?(04:50) The strange racial narratives around voters of DSA candidates(09:35) Do Black voters actually dislike socialism?(14:18) How electable are DSA candidates outside of cities?(17:14) Why Establishment Democrats fear the DSA's rise(21:02) The impact of outside spending on elections For more episodes on politics and culture, check out:The women leaving the 'New Right'Progressive women have 'had it!' And they're fighting back.Christians are having a Trump-sized reckoning Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    The DSA vs. establishment Democrats

  2. 3 days ago

    Fashion isn't art. It's something more.

    What we wear and how we wear it is more important than its artistic value. When some people think of fashion, the Met Gala or maybe even luxury designers may come to mind. But what about the old college sweatshirt that gets you through the cold or even the brightly colored gym set that pushes you to go that extra mile? Is that not fashion? Perhaps the concept of fashion has been framed as an external commodity to be sought after, rather than an authentic expression cultivated through the rhythm of a well-lived life. Brittany Luse sits down with CNN Senior Style Reporter and author of CNN’s Big Style newsletter, Rachel Tashjian Wise, to answer all those questions and more. Want more on fashion?  Was that the worst MET Gala ever?American fashion isn't as liberal as you think Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Fashion isn't art. It's something more.

  3. 5 days ago

    Homelessness is more common than you think.

    Who counts as homeless in America? If you ask the Department of Housing and Urban Development, around 750,000 people are homeless in America. If you ask the Department of Education, that number shoots up into the millions. What does this discrepancy tell us?  And how do our cultural ideas about homelessness shape who we see as homeless, and who gets help? To find out, Brittany talks with Dr. Margot Kushel, Director at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, and Dr. Molly Richard, assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Health Sciences. Want more deep dives on cultural taboos?  Check out these episodes:The truth about men on the 'down low'Why can't we be normal about polyamory? Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Homelessness is more common than you think.

  4. 6 days ago

    The naked truth of beauty

    How has your beauty routine changed in the past 10 years? In 2016, the beauty world was obsessed with 12-step skincare regimens. Now, beauty influencers and experts are experimenting with peptides and looksmaxxing. Brittany chats with Brooke Devard Ozaydinli, host of the Naked Beauty podcast and Chief Content Officer of Refinery29, to understand how our relationship with beauty has changed over the years, and what that means for our relationships with ourselves. 00:00 How beauty standards shifted from expression to optimization02:55 Navigating becoming 'project managers' of our faces and bodies05:33 How Brooke's show has changed as beauty trends have changed09:19 Looksmaxing and unrealistic beauty standards for Black women13:40 Policing of Black women's appearance17:48 The complicated reality of cosmetic procedures in the digital age24:23 Finding agency in beauty beyond cosmetic procedures29:16 How to find the beauty routine for you Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    The naked truth of beauty

  5. 13 Jul

    The fame and (mis)fortune of family influencing

    Do influencer parents trade in their kids’ privacy for the hope of financial security? Kids are everywhere on the Internet – and not just playing on Roblox. They're the stars of many family influencing pages that document kids’ lives: from the intimate details of their births, to starting school, to going through puberty. That can come with a host of problems – but also a ton of money. So what happens when parents trade their kids' privacy for the hope of financial security? And how does that content play into feedback loops about what family life should look like? Brittany gets into it with Fortesa Latifi, senior writer at Yahoo! and author of Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of Childhood Online. (00:00) The cost of a childhood online(02:48) How Mommy blogging transformed into family influencing(07:39) Just how much do family influencers make?(10:37) Online exploitation risks(16:36) How influencing distorts family life(24:59) Should kids be influencers? For more episodes on parenting, kids, and modern life, check out:The fear & shame of modern parentingAre children a marginalized group?The real meaning of "6 7" Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    The fame and (mis)fortune of family influencing

  6. 10 Jul

    The Shelf Life of a Pop Star

    What gives a pop star staying power? In our frenetic music landscape, it's clear that a lot of pop stars that defined the millennial "hopecore" sound -- think Lizzo and Katy Perry -- are no longer resonating with audiences.  So who are listeners gravitating to these days, and how does that reflect the times we're living in?  Brittany talks to music writer and critic Brittany Spanos on whether we're seeing a generational shift in music taste, and how legacy acts can stay relevant too. Want more pop music analysis? Check out this episode: The D-List pop star purgatory Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    The Shelf Life of a Pop Star

  7. 8 Jul

    Can you say no to a friend's wedding?

    Are we spending too much on other people’s weddings? Going to a friend's weddings can be so fun and meaningful… but it can also really hurt your wallet. A survey by LendingTree found that 31% of people who had been to a wedding in the past five years had accrued debt to attend. So what’s driving up the cost of weddings for guests? And what makes it so hard to say no to these expenses? Brittany breaks it down with Allyson Rees, senior analyst at trend forecasting firm WGSN, and Annie Joy Williams, assistant editor at The Atlantic. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Can you say no to a friend's wedding?

  8. 7 Jul

    Love Island vs. Reality

    Is it Love Island? Or a nightmare? Love Island USA, the reality show where attractive singles compete to find love, is in full swing. Over the course of its eighth season, there’s been everything from romance and friendship to betrayal and heartbreak. And what goes on inside the Love Island villa has sparked a lot of discourse outside of it. To understand this microcosm of modern dating and why the season's villains are finding defenders online, Brittany chats with Jonquilyn Hill, host of Vox's Explain it to Me podcast, and Marcus Jones, Awards Editor at IndieWire, to get into it. 00:00 Cold open 00:22 Love Island USA: A microcosm of modern dating culture 01:08 What makes Love Island USA discourse so interesting? How has it changed? 02:56 A new audience has entered the villa 06:00 Love Island drama: misogyny and 'red pill' behavior 08:18 The KC and Aniya Discourse 10:13 The bastardization of 'exploring' 13:48 The KC controversy 16:07 The concern around Love Island casting 19:50 'Red pill' rhetoric and Love Island's 'villains' 24:42 Love Island reflects our broken dating world 26:48 The power dynamics at play on reality TV 29:02 What's the point of dating discourse? For more episodes on reality television, check out: How to Enter Your Sporty Era Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

    Love Island vs. Reality
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About

Want in on a secret? Your likes and dislikes didn't develop by accident. There are subtle and not-so-subtle forces around you, shaping what you think, how you act, and even who you think you are. Brittany Luse is here to break the spell and help you feel wiser in a society that makes things blurry.THE BEST POP CULTURE PODCAST AWARD WINNER AT THE 2025 SIGNAL AWARDSIt’s Been A Minute with Brittany Luse is the best podcast for understanding what’s going on in culture right now, and helps you consume it smarter. From how politics influences pop culture to how identity influences tech or health, Brittany makes the picture clearer for you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.It’s Been A Minute reaches millions of people every week. Join the community and conversation today.If you can't get enough, try It's Been a Minute Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/itsbeenaminute

Information

  • Creator
    NPR
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2k
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2015-2025 NPR - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    It's Been a Minute

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