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
Feb 27, 2026 • 19min
Looksmaxxing is teaching men that pretty hurts.
Jason Parham, senior writer at WIRED who covers internet culture and online dating, discusses looksmaxxing and its rise from incel boards to mainstream social media. He explores how loneliness, visual social platforms, and hive mentality push extreme beauty practices. The conversation also probes racialized Eurocentric ideals, who gets excluded, and the emotional cost of chasing surface-level attractiveness.
16 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 23min
The truth about men on the 'down low'
Kai Wright, veteran journalist on sexual politics; Jeffrey McCune, scholar of Black masculinity and sexuality. They trace the 'down low' from Black vernacular to mass media, unpack its role in HIV panic and racialized fear, examine online exposure and anti-trans links, and argue how secrecy, masculinity, and policing shape the trope.
Feb 23, 2026 • 24min
The high cost of getting food delivered.
Margaret Serino, an NPR Life Kit producer who scaled back her own food delivery, shares why many lean on delivery and how to change course. They dig into impulsive ordering, the emotional pull and tech conveniences, practical tactics to order less, and ways cooking can be easier, more social, and personally rewarding.
15 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 24min
What really counts as social media "addiction?"
Dr. Carl Erik Fisher, an addiction psychiatrist and author, offers a nuanced view of addiction as a spectrum. Shannon Bond, an NPR technology correspondent, breaks down lawsuits claiming platforms engineered addictive features. They discuss how algorithms, legal fights, and policy options could reshape what we call addiction. Short, clear takes on personal strategies and systemic fixes.
Feb 18, 2026 • 17min
Has the vegan business bubble burst?
Mark Bittman, longtime food journalist who writes about sustainable eating, and Rachel Sugar, New York Magazine writer who covered the vegan boom and bust, dig into plant-based trends. They trace celebrity-fueled market highs, debate whether veganism was a cultural fad or real shift, examine health and political vibes around diets, and consider what plant-forward eating might mean going forward.
Feb 16, 2026 • 26min
Make life harder (and better): Learn another language.
Emily Kwong, co-host of NPR's Short Wave and science journalist, talks about why learning another language matters. They explore adult advantages over the critical period myth. Conversation covers cognitive benefits, translation tech limits, realistic goals, and fun community methods like meetups and game nights.
20 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 17min
MAGA has a DEI policy. Just ask Nicki Minaj.
Russell Contreras, Senior race and justice reporter at Axios who covers race, policing, and immigration. He explores Nicki Minaj’s pivot to MAGA and how cultural figures gain access. He examines shifting definitions of whiteness and why people of color join the far right. He traces Border Patrol history and everyday experiences of perpetual foreignness.
9 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 15min
Did the Cult of the Tech Job trick you too?
Raya Jetta, tech culture reporter for the San Francisco Standard, explores Silicon Valley hiring shifts and the fallout from mass layoffs. She talks about how “learn to code” became a cultural promise and how that narrative shaped schools. The conversation also covers AI fluency demands and what happens when tech work no longer guarantees security.
15 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 24min
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl: a radical act of resistance
Alana Casanova-Burgess, La Brega host who centers Puerto Rican and Caribbean perspectives. Reanna Cruz, music critic who analyzes staging and cultural meaning. They unpack Bad Bunny’s vivid Puerto Rican imagery, the parade of flags and hemispheric unity. They discuss wedding and everyday scenes, plantation history references, joyful resistance, queer visibility, and the politics of performing on the NFL stage.
18 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 20min
Melania Trump isn't telling the whole truth
Bob Mondello, NPR senior arts critic, offers informed cultural critique. Alison Willmore, film critic and podcast co-host, brings sharp contemporary movie analysis. They dissect a glossy, tightly staged film about Melania Trump. They discuss posed scenes, authorship and who benefits from Amazon’s big payout. The conversation centers on image control, audience intent, and the film’s polished artifice.
