It's Been a Minute

When former President Donald Trump's mugshot was released, pundits immediately searched for meaning. Was it defiant? Was it embarrassing? Turns out what we see in that image could change over time. Brittany Luse is joined by Vanessa Friedman, senior fashion critic for the New York Times, to talk about the cultural meaning of infamous mugshots and their resounding impact on us.Then, we welcome Emory law professor emeritus Morgan Cloud to talk about the legal tool that's taking pop culture by storm: the RICO charge. We explore what the act was originally intended to do, and the role of the RICO reboot in several big pop culture cases today, from rapper Young Thug to fashion retailer SHEIN.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's been 20 years since Starbucks debuted the first pumpkin spice latte in 2003. Since then, it's become a cultural phenomenon greater than itself: it's shorthand for fall, for basicness, for femininity, and even for white culture. Why did the PSL become so powerful — and how do food trends garner so much meaning? Host Brittany Luse chats with Suzy Badaracco, food trend forecaster and founder of Culinary Tides, to discuss the $500 million dollar industry, and how little miss pumpkin spice has held on to her cultural power.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Renowned singer Luther Vandross's impact on music and why his name isn't often in conversation with other greats. Grammy award-winning Samara Joy talks about her album and creating timeless music.

Lena Katina and Julia Volkova, members of t.A.T.u., discuss the controversy surrounding their hit song "All The Things She Said" and its portrayal of queer love. They explore the impact of the song as an anthem for queer women and its place in the queerbaiting debate. Additionally, they analyze the influence of music videos featuring same-sex relationships, addressing both their intention and effect on queer viewers. The discussion also delves into personal experiences and reflections on romantic relationships before coming out, highlighting the role of media in shaping perceptions. Finally, they reflect on the progress made in queer representation and emphasize the need for continued progress.

Beauty reporter, Jessica Defino, questions the consumerism behind skincare and discusses the rise of celebrity beauty lines. They explore the concept of 'good skin' and the marketing strategies of Kim Kardashian's skincare line. Virgina Sole-Smith emphasizes the importance of challenging fatphobia and having conversations about fatness with children. They discuss the relationship between body size, health, and privilege. The speakers challenge societal expectations around healthy eating and address concerns about nutrition. They also explore the tactics used by famous people in Hollywood to promote their projects, with a focus on Jennifer Aniston's recent remarks.

Forbes staff writer Steffi Cao discusses the rise of 'clean girl' and 'vanilla girl' aesthetics on TikTok, examining their political implications and promotion of white femininity. They explore the associations and exclusivity of the 'vanilla girl' aesthetic, question why white women embrace these beauty standards, and discuss the co-opting of East Asian culture by white society. They also touch on cyclical cultural appropriation and the impact of trends on minority communities.

This week, we're looking at some of the best TV of the year. Brittany Luse revisits her November 2022 conversation with Abbott Elementary writers Brittani Nichols and Joya McCrory. They talk about creating a world that feels both authentic and funny to American teachers. Then, Linda Holmes of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour stops by to chat about the television episode that had our group chats in a chokehold, and how it eloquently captured the way we experience death and grief in real life.Note: all interviews were conducted before the 2023 Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The podcast discusses the abundance of TV shows and movies about rich jerks and the lack of stories about workers. It examines the allure of narratives centered around the super wealthy and the criticism of individual characters without addressing systemic issues. The conversation explores using politeness towards service workers to avoid confronting systemic inequities and the absence of impactful union storylines in media. It questions the prevalence of billionaire and superhero narratives and explores the reasons behind the lack of union storylines onscreen.

On August 11, 1973, hip-hop was born at a house party in the Bronx. 50 years later the genre has been reshaped in the image of cities and regions around the world. Brittany Luse and NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce take a tour of those regions and look at where hip-hop might go in the next 50 years.Plus, Brittany is joined by KQED's Pendarvis Harshaw to do a deep dive into a hip-hop scene from the Bay Area known as hyphy. It was loud. It was silly. But underneath all that partying, the hyphy movement also helped a community grieve.To see more of Pendarvis Harshaw's coverage you can check out KQED's year-long exploration of Bay Area hip-hop history. To dig into NPR's series on the regional sounds of hip-hop, you can check out All Rap is Local.You can email us at ibam@npr.org. This episode has been updated to include a listener question and the credits. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The crack epidemic has had seismic impact on American culture, from music to TV and film. This week, Brittany Luse talks to Donovan X. Ramsey, author of When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, about why pop culture can't let go of the "crack fiend" or the drug dealing anti-hero. They discuss how both those tropes miss some very big marks, where the stereotypes originated and who tried to set the record straight.You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at ibam@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy