
It's Been a Minute
Has it been a minute since you heard a thought-provoking conversation about culture? Brittany Luse wants to help. Each week, she takes the things everyone's talking about and, in conversation with her favorite creators, tastemakers, and experts, gives you new ways to think about them. Beyond the obvious takes. Because culture doesn't happen by accident.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
Latest episodes

Oct 5, 2022 • 2min
May we present our new host...Brittany Luse
NPR is proud to present Brittany Luse as the new host for It's Been A Minute. Whether you're a long time listener or you're just finding the show, you know that culture doesn't happen by accident. Find out why with Brittany every Tuesday and Friday starting October 7.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Oct 4, 2022 • 30min
Presenting Alt.Latino: Rosalía on what makes a 'Motomami'
Today we have a special drop from our friends at NPR's Alt.Latino! The show just welcomed Anamaria Sayre as a new co-host alongside Felix Contreras. In this conversation, Anamaria chats with Spanish musician Rosalía about her recent album Motomami, how she uses the album to play in different genres, and why she embraces change. 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

Sep 30, 2022 • 35min
How Tiny Desk became a go-to spot for hip-hop
When folks think about where to get the latest in hip-hop, NPR doesn't usually come to mind. But that's changing, thanks to the team at the Tiny Desk Concerts, which was just nominated as the Best Hip-Hop Platform for the 2022 BET Awards. Since 2008, Tiny Desk Concerts have delighted millions of listeners and viewers on YouTube with stripped-down performances from their favorite artists. Now the series is proving it's also an authentic space for showcasing all forms of hip-hop. Guest host Elise Hu talks to Tiny Desk Concerts series producer Bobby Carter about bringing new musicians into the mix, what goes on behind the scenes and where the team wants to take the show next.Then, Elise plays a Tiny Desk edition of 'Who Said That' with Carter and video producer Josh Bryant.Finally, Elise chats with P.E. Moskowitz, author of the 'Mental Hellth' newsletter, about how terms from therapy have crept into our daily language. Does it help or harm how we think about mental health? 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

Sep 27, 2022 • 21min
For author Julissa Arce, 'sounding white' isn't a compliment
Julissa Arce used to think that the secret to fitting in was to "sound white" — to speak English perfectly, with no accent. And for years after her family came to the U.S. from Mexico, she did all the things immigrants are "supposed" to do to assimilate: she went to college, got a job at Goldman Sachs and became an American citizen. It wasn't enough. So Arce decided that the solution was to stop trying to fit in, and instead embrace her whole identity. Her ideas come to life in her book, You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation.In this encore episode from this past March, guest host Elise Hu revisits her conversation with Arce about the book, and what it means to celebrate your own culture and history. You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenaMin and email us ibam@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sep 23, 2022 • 33min
Judy Greer on 'Reboot' — And Why Are There So Many Reboots, Anyway?
We talk TV REBOOTS. Guest host Elise Hu chats with Judy Greer about her role in the new Hulu series Reboot; her work as a comedic actress, and the state of television. Then, Elise talks with Daniel Herbert, associate professor of film and TV at the University of Michigan and co-editor of the book Film Reboots, about why so many old shows are being remade now. Plus, a special reboot-themed "Who Said That!" with Rob Pearlstein, co-executive producer and writer of the CBS MacGyver reboot (note: Rob is also Elise's partner) and his sister Joanna Pearlstein, opinion editor at The New York Times.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sep 20, 2022 • 17min
How HBO transformed television
HBO gave us some of the most iconic television shows of our time: Sex and the City. The Sopranos. Game of Thrones. But is the era of HBO coming to a close?Earlier this year, HBO's parent company, Warner Media, merged with Discovery. By next year, the new Warner Bros. Discovery will combine HBO Max with Discovery Plus into an as-yet unnamed umbrella streaming service. The merger raises questions about what's next for the HBO brand – including whether or not "HBO" will still mean "quality TV" once the dust settles. Guest host Elise Hu talks to Charles Pulliam-Moore, who covers TV and film for The Verge, about HBO's legacy, how it paved the way for prestige TV, and what changes at the company could mean for what kind of television we'll see.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

Sep 16, 2022 • 33min
Who needs the monarchy? Plus, why gray floors and barn doors are everywhere
King Charles III doesn't enjoy the same popularity as his mother. In the face of mixed feelings towards the new king, some are asking: Is this the beginning of the end of the British monarchy? Guest host Elise Hu talks to Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, lawyer, activist and author of This Is Why I Resist about this new era for the British royals, the power they hold and the potential opportunities for the new monarch.Then, Elise chats with Atlantic writer Amanda Mull about the HGTV-ification of interior design and what the trend says about the housing market.Lastly, Elise plays a fast-food-themed version of Who Said That with Sarah and Kaitlin Leung, sisters and co-authors of the upcoming cookbook, The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family: A Cookbook.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

Sep 13, 2022 • 20min
How Girls' Generation shaped K-pop as we know it
Guests Tamar Herman and Michelle Cho discuss the cultural impact and lasting legacy of Girls' Generation, a K-pop girl group that revolutionized the industry with their music, choreography, and beauty standards. The podcast explores their timeless appeal, longevity in the industry, and the empowering nature of their music. It also highlights how their debut song has been repurposed as a protest anthem in South Korea, emphasizing the significance of their lyrics and the solidarity it brings to protest movements in Asia.

Sep 9, 2022 • 38min
Serena's final serve; plus, the Emmys in an era of too much TV
Serena Williams just played her last U.S. Open. In the historic two-plus decades of her tennis career, she's won 23 Grand Slams and four Olympic gold medals — all while becoming a mother, dealing with injuries and health crises and facing more scrutiny and downright bias than her peers. Guest host Elise Hu talks to Alex Abad-Santos, senior correspondent at Vox, about her legacy in sports and beyond. Plus, the 74th Annual Emmy Awards are on Monday, Sept. 12. In this era of so much TV, how are nominees rising to the top? And how are the different streaming services standing out in the crowd? Elise talks to TV critics Lorraine Ali of the Los Angeles Times and Roxana Hadadi of Vulture about what to expect. They also play Who Said That.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

Sep 6, 2022 • 20min
t.A.T.u's 'All The Things She Said' still runs through our heads
The Russian pop duo t.A.T.u released their smash single "All The Things She Said" 20 years ago this week. To this day, the bop is a queer staple, but should it be?From t.A.T.u to Britney Spears and Madonna, the early 2000s were full of straight women dabbling in queerness for profit. In this episode, senior producer Barton Girdwood sits down with author Jill Gutowitz (Girls Can Kiss Now) to talk about how these moments gave young queer millennials a taste of their sexuality even though it was all an act. They discuss whether or not a false representation can still be meaningful, and how the basic formula of "All The Things She Said" gets lesbianism right — even though so much of it is wrong.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