It's Been a Minute

Are we fueling violence against women? 22.07.2026 22分

The United States is home to a silent epidemic - do you know about it?We're referring to what researchers are calling femicide, or the gender-based killing of women and girls. And while some countries like Italy and Mexico have femicide or intimate partner homicide in their penal code, most countries, including the United States, do not. Today, Brittany is joined by Abené Clayton, lead reporter for the Guns and Lies in America Project for the Guardian, and Cheryl L. Neely, sociology professor at Oakland Community College in Royal Oak, Michigan to understand the pipeline from everyday and online misogyny to gender-based killings.If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline via phone, text, or online chat. Their website is thehotline.org.Want more deep dives into the social science of womanhood?It only takes 30 minutes to be a good momYoung women are struggling, too. Why can't we see it?The women leaving the 'New Right'Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

When does a husband become a liability? 21.07.2026 30分

It shouldn’t be that hard to be a nepo-husband. Right? Nepo- husbands, the spouses of celebrity women come in many shapes and forms, but what unites them all is their proximity to the wealth, power and prestige of their famous partners. And while that proximity can be great for building a business, it can also lead to scrutiny... especially when things go wrong. Matt Kaplan, who’s married to Alex Cooper, the host of the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, recently faced a Vanity Fair expose which alleged a toxic work environment of their media company, Unwell. So, what does it take to be a nepo-husband? Brittany chats with Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton, hosts of the Good Noticings podcast, to discuss the benefits, and expectations of nepo-husbands. Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. 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

The DSA vs. establishment Democrats 20.07.2026 24分

Who owns the future of the Democratic party?The Democratic Socialists of America – also known as the DSA – are having a solid year. DSA candidates won House primaries in New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Part of why this is kind of a big deal is that some of these candidates were going up against pretty powerful Democratic incumbents...and not just in races for federal seats. DSA candidates won down-ballot primaries for state legislature in New York, Oregon, Georgia, and Kentucky – and for mayor of DC. In the weeks since, there have been many stories of establishment Democrats frustrated by this, with different narratives coming from Democrats about why this is happening and why the DSA is a problem. But what public sentiment are Democratic voters expressing here? And if this is actually a Tea Party moment for Democrats, what does that change for everyday people?Brittany gets into it with Akela Lacy, senior politics reporter at The Intercept and host of the “Intercept Briefing” podcast, and Michael Lange, New York political analyst, DSA member, and writer of “The Narrative Wars” on Substack.(00:00) The Democratic Socialists of America are having a great year(02:46) Are the DSA primary wins surprising, or to be expected?(04:50) The strange racial narratives around voters of DSA candidates(09:35) Do Black voters actually dislike socialism?(14:18) How electable are DSA candidates outside of cities?(17:14) Why Establishment Democrats fear the DSA's rise(21:02) The impact of outside spending on electionsFor more episodes on politics and culture, check out:The women leaving the 'New Right'Progressive women have 'had it!' And they're fighting back.Christians are having a Trump-sized reckoningSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseSee 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

Fashion isn't art. It's something more. 17.07.2026 26分

What we wear and how we wear it is more important than its artistic value.When some people think of fashion, the Met Gala or maybe even luxury designers may come to mind. But what about the old college sweatshirt that gets you through the cold or even the brightly colored gym set that pushes you to go that extra mile? Is that not fashion? Perhaps the concept of fashion has been framed as an external commodity to be sought after, rather than an authentic expression cultivated through the rhythm of a well-lived life.Brittany Luse sits down with CNN Senior Style Reporter and author of CNN’s Big Style newsletter, Rachel Tashjian Wise, to answer all those questions and more.Want more on fashion? Was that the worst MET Gala ever?American fashion isn't as liberal as you thinkSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. 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

Homelessness is more common than you think. 15.07.2026 26分

Who counts as homeless in America?If you ask the Department of Housing and Urban Development, around 750,000 people are homeless in America. If you ask the Department of Education, that number shoots up into the millions. What does this discrepancy tell us? And how do our cultural ideas about homelessness shape who we see as homeless, and who gets help? To find out, Brittany talks with Dr. Margot Kushel, Director at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, and Dr. Molly Richard, assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Health Sciences.Want more deep dives on cultural taboos? Check out these episodes:The truth about men on the 'down low'Why can't we be normal about polyamory?Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

The naked truth of beauty 14.07.2026 35分

How has your beauty routine changed in the past 10 years?In 2016, the beauty world was obsessed with 12-step skincare regimens. Now, beauty influencers and experts are experimenting with peptides and looksmaxxing. Brittany chats with Brooke Devard Ozaydinli, host of the Naked Beauty podcast and Chief Content Officer of Refinery29, to understand how our relationship with beauty has changed over the years, and what that means for our relationships with ourselves.00:00 How beauty standards shifted from expression to optimization02:55 Navigating becoming 'project managers' of our faces and bodies05:33 How Brooke's show has changed as beauty trends have changed09:19 Looksmaxing and unrealistic beauty standards for Black women13:40 Policing of Black women's appearance17:48 The complicated reality of cosmetic procedures in the digital age24:23 Finding agency in beauty beyond cosmetic procedures29:16 How to find the beauty routine for youSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

The fame and (mis)fortune of family influencing 13.07.2026 28分

Do influencer parents trade in their kids’ privacy for the hope of financial security?Kids are everywhere on the Internet – and not just playing on Roblox. They're the stars of many family influencing pages that document kids’ lives: from the intimate details of their births, to starting school, to going through puberty. That can come with a host of problems – but also a ton of money. So what happens when parents trade their kids' privacy for the hope of financial security? And how does that content play into feedback loops about what family life should look like?Brittany gets into it with Fortesa Latifi, senior writer at Yahoo! and author of Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of Childhood Online.(00:00) The cost of a childhood online(02:48) How Mommy blogging transformed into family influencing(07:39) Just how much do family influencers make?(10:37) Online exploitation risks(16:36) How influencing distorts family life(24:59) Should kids be influencers?For more episodes on parenting, kids, and modern life, check out:The fear & shame of modern parentingAre children a marginalized group?The real meaning of "6 7"Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseSee 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

The Shelf Life of a Pop Star 10.07.2026 24分

What gives a pop star staying power?In our frenetic music landscape, it's clear that a lot of pop stars that defined the millennial "hopecore" sound -- think Lizzo and Katy Perry -- are no longer resonating with audiences. So who are listeners gravitating to these days, and how does that reflect the times we're living in? Brittany talks to music writer and critic Brittany Spanos on whether we're seeing a generational shift in music taste, and how legacy acts can stay relevant too.Want more pop music analysis? Check out this episode:The D-List pop star purgatorySupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

Can you say no to a friend's wedding? 08.07.2026 19分

Are we spending too much on other people’s weddings?Going to a friend's weddings can be so fun and meaningful… but it can also really hurt your wallet. A survey by LendingTree found that 31% of people who had been to a wedding in the past five years had accrued debt to attend. So what’s driving up the cost of weddings for guests? And what makes it so hard to say no to these expenses?Brittany breaks it down with Allyson Rees, senior analyst at trend forecasting firm WGSN, and Annie Joy Williams, assistant editor at The Atlantic.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

Love Island vs. Reality 07.07.2026 35分

Is it Love Island? Or a nightmare?Love Island USA, the reality show where attractive singles compete to find love, is in full swing. Over the course of its eighth season, there’s been everything from romance and friendship to betrayal and heartbreak. And what goes on inside the Love Island villa has sparked a lot of discourse outside of it. To understand this microcosm of modern dating and why the season's villains are finding defenders online, Brittany chats with Jonquilyn Hill, host of Vox's Explain it to Me podcast, and Marcus Jones, Awards Editor at IndieWire, to get into it.00:00 Cold open 00:22 Love Island USA: A microcosm of modern dating culture 01:08 What makes Love Island USA discourse so interesting? How has it changed? 02:56 A new audience has entered the villa 06:00 Love Island drama: misogyny and 'red pill' behavior 08:18 The KC and Aniya Discourse 10:13 The bastardization of 'exploring' 13:48 The KC controversy 16:07 The concern around Love Island casting 19:50 'Red pill' rhetoric and Love Island's 'villains' 24:42 Love Island reflects our broken dating world 26:48 The power dynamics at play on reality TV 29:02 What's the point of dating discourse?For more episodes on reality television, check out:How to Enter Your Sporty EraSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

How to enter your Sporty Spice era 06.07.2026 21分

Reality dating and professional sports are not as different as you’d think.Brittany is in her Sporty Spice era – she watched the NBA playoffs, she’s following World Cup games, and she’s watching the New York Liberty play their WNBA season. These games are daily – and so is the reality dating show Love Island. And she noticed that the two formats are not very different at all. Defector.com staff writer and co-owner Kelsey McKinney came to the same conclusion – so the two of them discuss why these games of athleticism and love can bring us together… and why they get valued differently in our culture.(00:00) Brittany enters her Sporty Spice era(02:02) 'Love Island USA' vibe check(05:07) Why 'Love Island' is sports(07:47) The 'Terrible Son' theory for sports fandom(11:39) How sports and reality TV bring people together(14:25) Is sports fandom open to everyone?For more episodes on sports and reality TV, check out:Get rich or die trying: how sports betting is changing our love of the gameIs this the end of reality TV?The ugly truth of America's expensive homesSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseSee 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

To be or not to be a parent 03.07.2026 26分

Could you see your life just as easily with children as without? What if you're not cut out for parenthood? What if you grow lonely in your old age? Or what if you have a loving partner, but you disagree on this choice? Deciding between parenthood and a child-free life requires clarity about your fears and deepest desires — no easy task. This episode, psychotherapist and author of the book, The Baby Decision, Merle Bombardieri, helps us get clear. She discusses minimizing regret, normalizing feeling 'stuck' and why waiting to have a baby at 38 may be best. Want more about the decision to have kids? Many women don't want kids. And for good reason.Why are people freaking out about the birth rate?Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

How World Cup fans reflect America back at us 01.07.2026 21分

What does America look like to visitors?We're finding out in real time as fans and athletes from all over the world visit the United States for World Cup matches across the country. From Ranch dressing, to the wonders of all-you-can-eat buffets, tourists are getting a taste of all the USA has to offer, but how do we square the warm welcome for the World Cup with the United States' recent stances on immigration? Brittany is joined by immigration reporter Jasmine Garsd, and NPR reporter Juliana Kim to find out.Want more global perspectives on culture? Check out these episodes:How often do you think about the American Empire?Make life harder (and better): Learn another language.Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.This episode was produced by Liam McBain and Corey Antonio Rose. It was edited by Neena Pathak. Our Supervising Producer is Cher Vincent. Our Executive Producer is Barton Girdwood. Our VP of Programming is Yolanda Sangweni.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

Has the internet killed social etiquette? 30.06.2026 32分

How do you practice good etiquette online?Your online life shapes your offline life -- including how you talk, listen, and interact with the world. But often, good behavior offline doesn't necessarily translate to good behavior online. So when we get online, how do we uphold some social norms and common decencies we practice in the real world? Brittany chats with Senior Writer at Wired, Jason Parham, to discuss what it means to establish boundaries and social etiquette within our online worlds. Want more about good etiquette? Check out these IBAM episodes:Is your neighborhood riddled with dog poop?Who needs to know where you are?Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. 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

The safety and power of knowing your neighbors 29.06.2026 32分

Do you know how to connect with your neighbors?According to Pew, the share of Americans who know and trust their neighbors is on the decline. There are a lot of structural reasons why you might not trust the people around you and it can be hard to put yourself out there with people you don’t know – and don’t want to bother. But getting to know the people who live near you can bring so much safety, connection, and power to your life. So how can you get to know your neighbors – and what’s standing in the way?TED Radio Hour producer Katie Monteleone tells Brittany how she built her neighbor community brick by brick – and Brittany hears from experts on why good fences can sometimes make bad neighbors.(00:00) Why Americans know and trust their neighbors less(01:28) How do you get out of isolation?(04:18) Good fences make bad neighbors(06:01) The space between us and our neighbors(10:44) Building neighborly relationships brick by brick(16:13) Can microgrants bring neighbors together?(18:25) Safety, support, and communal problem-solving(24:37) Addressing segregation and building cross-class bonds(30:38) Recovering hospitality and embracing shared destinyFor more episodes on creating better connections in our lives, check out:Boundaries, bodies, and better sexThe joy of breaking up with dating appsHow to make friends & get good gossipSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

Will physical media take us back to the future? 26.06.2026 25分

Is a return to analog the way to a better future?While vinyls, DVDs, and CDs might be considered ‘vintage’ to some, for others it’s a way to fight against subscription fatigue. Price hikes, licensing battles, and storage issues can make music, films, TV shows - and even your own photos - inaccessible. And sometimes without warning, your comfort watch might just vanish from all streaming platforms.So what does agency look like for the modern consumer? And how has the expectation -- that you own what you pay for -- shifted so dramatically?To answer that question, digital archivist K.D. Kemp and culture writer at The Cut, Cat Zhang, join the show to break down how physical media and buildable tech could empower us to envision a better future. Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. 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

Boundaries, bodies, and better sex 24.06.2026 24分

What does it mean to feel safe during sex these days?From feeling comfortable with your partner to having access to public health interventions and medication, "safety" comes up a lot in sex. And having the tools you need to feel confident in your own sexual health is an essential part of the pursuit of pleasure. Brittany Luse is joined by Dr. Leisha McKinley-Beach, founder and CEO of the Black Public Health Academy, and Dr. Jasmine Abrams, a research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, to give us a booster on how to live our best sex lives.Want more on the culture of sex and dating? Check out these episodes:The truth about men on the 'down low'Why can't we be normal about polyamory?Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

What do we owe our parents? 23.06.2026 36分

Do we owe our parents? Even in the best of scenarios, caring for an aging parent can be difficult and intense. But for those who may have had a complicated, fraught, or even abusive parent-child relationship, caring for the person who harmed them can be triggering. So, what options are there?To answer that question Brittany is joined by Washington Post advice columnist, Carolyn Hax, and Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice, adjunct professor at Northwestern University, and the author of Love Every Day to talk through the complexities of managing - or completely opting out of - caring for your parents. Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

So you've changed. Will it stick? 22.06.2026 25分

What makes us change – or not change?Change happens to all of us – but what actually happens to us when we change, and how does that change stick? Sometimes there isn't a clear answer, but Benoit Denizet-Lewis, associate professor at Emerson College and author of the book You've Changed: the Promise and Price of Self Transformation, tried to find out what makes change happen. He followed bullies who became Buddhists, gay atheists who became straight evangelicals, political party switchers, people in personality disorder therapy, and prisoners seeking parole.Brittany is joined by Benoit to find out how change happens to us – and how we understand personal transformation in our culture.(00:00) What makes change happen to us?(02:29) When your friend changes - and you don't recognize them anymore(05:47) Can we intentionally change our core personalities?(11:38) How social media shapes our understanding of change(18:17) Parole hearings and the performance of change in the prison system(21:11) Should we spend time trying to change ourselves, or trying to change the world?For more episodes about how we change or how to make it happen, check out:This is your summer of self-loveFree will and the cult of "high agency"How to survive a millennial midlife crisisSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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

What does freedom actually look like? 19.06.2026 20分

What does freedom mean today?Happy Juneteenth! For those not in the know, today commemorates when U.S. federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed – a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Since then, Juneteenth has been celebrated all over the country, especially in Texas and across the South, where Juneteenth parades, cookouts, festivals and pageants happen every year. Two weeks from now, the country will celebrate the Fourth of July – and its 250th anniversary. For many Black Americans, there’s always been a tension between these holidays – and their two different ideals for what it means to be free. As voting rights protections are rolled back and Black history is being scrubbed from government websites, what does freedom look like for Black Americans today?To get into it, Brittany is joined by Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley College.For more episodes about the quality of Black life in America, check out:Jesse Jackson & the end of the civil rights superheroIs the economy slowing? Ask Black women.What to expect when you're expecting racismSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.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