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
Jun 18, 2019 • 40min
Interview: Maya Erskine on 'Plus One' and 'PEN15'
Maya Erskine has come a long way from the NYU experimental theater department where she met her 'PEN15' co-creator Anna Konkle. Now she's the star of a new romantic comedy that turns the genre on its head. She talks to Sam about 'Plus One' and how the second season of 'PEN15' might differ from the first. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. 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
Jun 14, 2019 • 38min
Weekly Wrap: Jon Stewart on 9/11 Fund, Veteran Homelessness, & Women's World Cup
Former Daily Show host Jon Stewart went to Capitol Hill this week to ask Congress for a permanent 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Veteran homelessness sees some improvement thanks to federal vouchers. Could a self-declared Socialist ever win a general election? Plus, a look at the #ChurchToo movement at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Libby Denkmann, veterans and military reporter at NPR member station KPCC, and Tonya Mosley, co-host of the KQED podcast Truth Be Told, join Sam to wrap up this week in news.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
Jun 11, 2019 • 38min
Interview: Ryan O'Connell On 'Special'
Coming out as gay was easy for Ryan O'Connell. Coming out as disabled — admitting the cause of his limp was cerebral palsy and not, as he lied, a car accident — was a lot harder. Ryan tells Sam how that experience became the basis for his Netflix show, 'Special.' Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. 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
Jun 7, 2019 • 39min
Weekly Wrap: Government Takes On Big Tech, What 'Intersectionality' Means, RIP iTunes
The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission are taking early steps into investigating tech giants Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House of Representatives are looking into whether tech companies are too big. Plus, where the term "intersectionality" originated, what it means and why it's popping up in culture more and more. NPR Congressional reporter Kelsey Snell and Washington Post tech reporter Tony Romm join Sam for a look back at this week.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
Jun 4, 2019 • 29min
Interview: Writer Shelby Lorman Has Plenty Of 'Awards For Good Boys'
Shelby Lorman has long been taking note of society's low standards for men on her popular Instagram account, whether they're manspreaders on the subway or Tinder dates who brag about reading feminist literature. Now she's turned those incisive illustrations and vignettes into a book that awards — and lambastes — those men. She sat down with Sam to share some "tales of dating, double standards, and doom" and to explain why rewarding men for doing "the barest of minimums" may not be so great.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
May 31, 2019 • 39min
Weekly Wrap: Hollywood Versus Georgia, AirPods, 737 Max Troubles And Summer Travel
Netflix, Disney, NBCUniversal and other Hollywood production companies say they may stop filming in Georgia if the state's recently passed, restrictive abortion law is upheld. With Boeing's 737 Max airplane still grounded, are travelers in for headaches when it comes to flying this summer? Plus why Apple's wireless AirPod headphones pose an environmental conundrum. ProPublica politics reporter Jessica Huseman and Quartz editor David Yanofsky join Sam for this week's roundup.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
May 28, 2019 • 55min
Interview: Writer, Actor, & Producer Lena Waithe
Before she was the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing, before her Showtime series 'The Chi', and before she was listed on the Time 100, Lena Waithe met Sam on a Saturday morning at NPR, and he bought her Doritos from the vending machine. Encore episode, first released in 2017. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. 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
May 24, 2019 • 38min
Weekly Wrap: Severe Weather And Climate Change, U.S. Migrant Deaths, VIP Dining
A series of severe storms battered states across the country this week, but have communities drawn any connection between the weather and the effects of climate change? Meanwhile, the Trump administration admitted that a sixth migrant child died in U.S. custody within the past eight months. Plus, what are the perks of being a VIP diner at restaurants in the nation's capital? NPR reporter Nate Rott and KCRW reporter and host Steve Chiotakis join guest host Elise Hu.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
May 21, 2019 • 22min
How Tech Hijacks Our Brains, Corrupts Culture, And What To Do Now
NPR's Elise Hu steps in for Sam and sits down with Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist for Google, while listeners share their tech burnout stories and solutions. We also hear from WIRED senior writer Nitasha Tiku on what regulation is happening in the tech industry right now.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
May 17, 2019 • 38min
Weekly Wrap: Eurovision Takes The Stage, Plus China Tariffs, Abortion Restrictions
The U.S. this week expanded its tariffs on products from China to include items such as toys and sneakers. What will that mean for consumers? Alabama joined the list of states moving to impose restrictions on abortion. Plus, the glitter-infused, 42-country singing competition known as Eurovision is about to take the stage. Which country's song will take the cake? WBUR reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka and 'Endless Thread' podcast co-host Ben Brock Johnson join Sam in Boston.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
