It's Been a Minute

Poet Ross Gay talks with Brittany Luse about the complexity of joy and finding delight in the midst of sorrow. They discuss how joy and sorrow can coexist, the importance of connection and sharing sorrows, and finding joy as a form of resistance and incitement to joy. They emphasize the significance of staying connected to one another and seeking help, and reflect on the power of writing about joy in troubling times.

Lonnie Holley, a painter, sculptor, and musician, shares his journey of healing after a traumatic childhood in Jim Crow Alabama. He discusses intergenerational healing, turning trash into art, and the power of listening. The podcast also explores reframing New Year's resolutions and finding gratitude in difficult circumstances.

Pendarvis Harshaw, KQED reporter and expert on the Bay Area hip-hop scene, joins Brittany to discuss the hyphy music scene in the Bay Area and how it helped the community grieve. They explore the energy and impact of hyphy, the connection between grief and celebration, and the influence of local grief-inspired music worldwide.

Aviation and travel journalist Benét J. Wilson joins the podcast to discuss the frustrations of flying, including overbooking and lost baggage. They also explore the impact of the pandemic on air travel and the enduring popularity of A Christmas Carol.

Brittany Luse is joined by Celebrity Memoir Book Club hosts Ashley Hamilton and Claire Parker to discuss the rise of celebrity memoirs in 2023. They share their favorite memoirs, reflect on public personas, and discuss Prince Harry and Elliot Page's memoirs. The conversation explores the desire for truth, the impact of memoirs on celebrity protection, and the value of relatable celebrity memoirs.

Host Brittany Luse, NPR's Ayesha Rascoe, and Vox's Alex Aband-Santos present the first ever IBAMmys, diving into the biggest cultural moments of the past year, covering topics like the word of the year, the best beef, Taylor Swift's impact on American football, a shoe-stealing Tinder story, and the villain of the year.

Brittany Luse chats with Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding, co-hosts of Switched on Pop, to break down the rise of Mexican Regional music, the emergence of AI artists, the dominance of country music, and the challenges faced by independent artists in the evolving music industry of 2023.

Nicki Minaj just released her first album in half a decade, Pink Friday 2. The self-proclaimed 'Queen of Rap' has an unparalleled career, but the rap game - and women's position within it - has changed dramatically during her hiatus. While Nicki helped shape rap today, the artist has also faced a slew of controversies and an erratic album rollout that all have us asking: is Nicki still the verified 'Queen of Rap'? Host Brittany Luse sits down with NPR Music Editor and Louder Than A Riot host Sidney Madden to discuss. Then, we're breaking down one of the most powerful symbols in America: the cowboy. Brittany is joined by New York Times culture critic J Wortham, and Museum of Contemporary Art Denver director Nora Burnett Abrams to unpack the history of the symbol and explain why it continues to lasso Americans.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In the credits for 'Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé' the Queen Bee makes it clear who is in charge. Written by? Beyoncé. Directed by? Beyoncé. Produced by? Beyoncé. And of course, starring...Beyoncé. For someone who is so in control of their own image, what is spoken and what is unspoken are equally loud.In this episode, Brittany and B.A. Parker, co-host of NPR's Code Switch, get into key takeaways from the film and why people are calling on her to speak directly to today's politics. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New Yorker television critic Inkoo Kang joins the podcast to discuss Showtime's historical romance 'Fellow Travelers' set during McCarthyism and the Lavender Scare. They explore how the politics of the time shape the characters and how survival isn't always pretty. Singer-songwriter Olivia Dean also joins the show to talk about her debut album, Messy, and gives an unforgettable live performance.