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
Episodes
Mentioned books
8 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 33min
The beauty industry has an Epstein problem
Jessica DeFino, reporter and author of the Flesh World Substack who covers beauty culture and power dynamics, joins to unpack ties between the beauty world and powerful figures. They trace the industry’s obsession with youth, name financial and social entanglements, and debate how beauty functions like a secular religion shaping worth and sacrifice.
9 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 20min
Is tech making us too obsessed with our bodies?
Lindsay Gellman, a health and business reporter who digs into industry trends and privacy, and Adam Clark Estes, a technology correspondent who tests multiple trackers firsthand. They discuss how wearables became mainstream and why people get hooked. They contrast different relationships to tracking, question whether metrics equal health, and raise concerns about who profits and how data privacy is handled.
Mar 13, 2026 • 16min
Young women are struggling, too. Why can't we see it?
Meg Jay, clinical psychologist specializing in young adulthood, and Faith Hill, Atlantic writer on culture, discuss why young women’s mental health is often ignored. They examine how the twenties are a peak time for anxiety and depression. They compare struggles across genders and probe structural causes like costs and policy gaps. The conversation questions why male distress makes headlines while female suffering is normalized.
Mar 11, 2026 • 28min
Sinners vs. One Battle After Another: who should win Best Picture?
Robert Daniels, associate editor at RogerEbert.com who writes on film and representation, and Nadira Goffe, Slate culture writer who analyzes race and fandom, debate Sinners versus One Battle After Another. They discuss why fans pit the films against each other. They trace historical Oscar parallels, unpack marketing and visibility, and examine portrayals of Black characters and revolutionary politics.
Mar 10, 2026 • 32min
The danger of falling for "Pathetic Men"
Josh Lora, writer and creator known as Tell the Bees, riffs on modern masculinity and dating. He maps the ‘pathetic man’ archetype and contrasts performative neediness with genuine vulnerability. Pop culture examples, internet masculinity types, race and attention dynamics all come up in a sharp, provocative conversation.
10 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 23min
You're healthier than they say you are. Here's why.
Selena Simmons-Duffin, an NPR health policy correspondent who tracks health data and federal policy, breaks down why Americans are not as unhealthy as claimed. She explores long-term trends in life expectancy, how medical and social changes improved survival, and how nostalgia and policy shifts shape health narratives. The conversation also covers policy levers that could actually improve population health.
7 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 23min
Who will be the next great civil rights leader?
Kellie Carter Jackson, Africana Studies chair at Wellesley College, recalls compassionate, community-rooted organizing. Marcus Lee, Princeton assistant professor of African American studies, analyzes Black political leadership and shifting archetypes. They discuss the decline of charismatic savior figures, the rise of networks and local civic action, and new queer and female leadership reshaping movements.
8 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 19min
Sick of Democrats & Republicans? There's another option.
Dr. Omar Ali, historian of Black politics and third-party movements, and Elena Moore, NPR political reporter tracking Gen Z trends, explore how 'independent' has shifted from moderate to a broad, issue-driven identity. They discuss Gen Z's surge toward independence, historical roots of third-party movements, who appeals to independents, and the systemic obstacles that keep challengers out.
Mar 3, 2026 • 38min
Do you want to marry for love or money?
Reema Khrais, host who explores money and relationships, and Wailin Wong, business journalist on economics and marriage, discuss how money steers dating and partnership choices. They unpack class signals, selective financial disclosure, prenups, tax and insurance incentives, rising women breadwinners, assortative mating, and how marriage can amplify inequality.
Mar 2, 2026 • 26min
The joy of breaking up with dating apps
Manuela López-Restrepo, NPR All Things Considered producer and writer, shares her offline dating experiments and how apps shaped her romantic life. She talks about the shift in app culture, why people stick with swiping, and the strange social effects of avoiding face-to-face rejection. Expect candid stories about singles nights, zine ads, and trying to reconnect with in-person dating.
