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
Nov 4, 2020 • 25min
What's Next For Trump And Republicans?
With the election still too close to call, The Atlantic reporter McKay Coppins joins Sam with the latest on what we know about the results, what they mean for President Trump, and how much Trumpism will live on in the Republican Party.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Nov 3, 2020 • 28min
How To Take Care Of Yourself This Election Season
It's Election Day, but instead of the latest politics news, we're giving you some therapy. Sam shares listener questions around mental health issues with psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb. In addition to her clinical practice, Gottlieb is the New York Times best-selling author behind Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed. She and Sam discuss burnout, white guilt, and when the right time is to reach out to a therapist. Gottlieb also co-hosts the podcast Dear Therapists and writes the weekly advice column 'Dear Therapist' for The Atlantic.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 30, 2020 • 39min
"Everything's Fine" With Sarah Cooper
With 2020 progressing the way it has, comedian Sarah Cooper wants you to know that Everything's Fine in her new comedy special. Sam talks to Sarah Cooper about her journey from going viral on TikTok lip-syncing to President Donald Trump, to starring in her own Netflix special. Then, Sam chats with Linda Holmes and Aisha Harris, hosts of the NPR Podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, about their favorite politics and election pop culture picks.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 27, 2020 • 30min
Election Night(mare): Bush v. Gore and Why It Matters in 2020
Election Night 2020 is a week away. It's hard to know whether we'll have results that night, in a week or maybe even a month. But that's exactly what happened 20 years ago — between candidates Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush.Sam goes back to that night with NPR's Ron Elving and Mara Liasson to chat about what they remember from working in the newsroom, why it was so chaotic, and what one of the most turbulent elections in U.S. history could teach us about... well, one of the most turbulent elections in U.S. history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 26, 2020 • 38min
Presenting 'Rough Translation': Dream Boy And The Poison Fans
On this bonus drop, we feature an episode from the NPR podcast Rough Translation. A Chinese idol had millions of fans who adored him for his kindness and good looks. Then, this February, one group of fans accused another of violating their image of him. What happens is a lesson in morality and revenge, love and hate, and how these feelings are weaponized on the internet.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 23, 2020 • 35min
Getting Gamers To The Polls, Plus The Pandemic Economy
Voter outreach took on an unconventional form Tuesday night when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez streamed her gameplay of the hit game "Among Us" on Twitch. While she played the game with friends, her stream became one of the 20 most watched streams in Twitch history. Sam chats with Wired writer Cecilia D'Anastasio who explains the streaming platform's potential to reach new voters. Also, the pandemic has hit the economy hard, but not everyone is feeling the blows. Sam talks to Scott Horsley, NPR's Chief Economics Correspondent, about the pandemic economy – who's winning, who's losing and why.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 20, 2020 • 26min
'They've Dismissed Us': How Latino Voter Outreach Still Falls Short
Latinos are the second largest group of eligible voters by race or ethnicity in the United States, but they continue to be misunderstood and underappreciated by political campaigns of all parties. Sam talks to Lisa García Bedolla, a scholar of Latino politics, about how the word "Latino" encompasses diverse communities of all political stripes and life experiences, and he checks in with the former mayor of a small town in Texas who's been thinking of Latino voter outreach for a long time.You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 16, 2020 • 35min
Voting In Texas, Plus John Paul Brammer Gives Advice
From fights over early voting applications to ballot drop-off sites, voting in Texas has drawn national attention. Sam talks to Texas reporters Ashley Lopez of member station KUT and Jessica Huseman of ProPublica to unpack what's happening and what it means for voting access. Then, Sam gets advice from John Paul Brammer, creator of the advice column "Hola Papi."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 13, 2020 • 46min
Presenting Throughline: 'James Baldwin's Fire'
Writer and thinker James Baldwin used the power of his words to confront in order to connect, something that feels especially relatable in a year when the United States has been forced to reckon with racial inequality. This week we share an episode from our friends at NPR's Throughline, about James Baldwin, his life and philosophy, and what we can learn from him to lead us into the future.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 9, 2020 • 29min
Joel Kim Booster On Religion, Identity, and Coming Out
In honor of Coming Out Day this weekend, Sam talks to comedian and actor Joel Kim Booster about his experience coming out to his evangelical Christian family. As Kim Booster grew up in this religious household, he struggled to come to terms with his sexual orientation. On top of that, he was also adopted into an all-white family living in an all-white town. Kim Booster often jokes about his upbringing in his comedy sets: "I fully knew I was gay before I knew I was Asian." He also talks to Sam about finding community outside of church.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
