It's Been a Minute

Would you pay for an app that might encourage your worst impulses?<br/><br/>Some users are asking themselves the same question as Meta rolls out Instagram Plus, a new suite of features that promises users the opportunity to 'deepen your relationships.' But what do these features say about the way we interact with each other online, and how might they reflect our deepest anxieties back at us? To find out, Brittany is joined by Tatum Hunter, writer and journalist covering digital privacy and internet culture.<br/><br/>Want more on tech and social media?<br/><br/><strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/07/27/nx-s1-5903240/the-hidden-money-financing-your-favorite-songs"target="_blank" >The hidden money financing your favorite songs</a></strong><br><strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/12/nx-s1-5853559/who-needs-to-know-where-you-are"target="_blank" >Who needs to know where you are?</a></strong><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Have our favorite shows and movies shaped the way we think about abortion?<br/><br/>Hollywood has a huge impact of how we understand abortion. It can drive a plot, like in Dirty Dancing, or inspire conversations about who gets abortions, like in the television series Maude. It can also be dramatized – turning a common medical procedure into something good, bad, or anything in between, depending on who is telling the story and how. Brittany Luse chats with <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2281334/"target="_blank" >Janet Goldwater</a>, a director of the documentary <a href="https://tribecafilm.com/films/hollywood-does-abortion-2026"target="_blank" ><em>Hollywood Does Abortion</em></a>, and <a href="https://www.ansirh.org/about/staff/steph-herold-mph"target="_blank" >Steph Herold</a> at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) to understand how Hollywood handles, or mishandles the topic of abortion.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

“Baby woman” is the girlboss’s Wario. <br/><br/>“Baby woman” is a term coined by Shannon Keating in <a href="https://www.thecut.com/article/shes-baby-just-a-girl-amanda-batula-famesick-hacks.html"target="_blank" >a piece</a> for <em>The Cut</em> to describe a particular kind of affect some women have: it’s not just girlishness, but also some abdication of adult responsibility. And Shannon’s seen some baby women behavior out in the culture, from Lena Dunham to Amanda Batula. But what drives some women to be baby? And what do they get out of it? <br/><br/>To find out, Brittany is joined by <a href="https://shannonkeating.substack.com/about"target="_blank" >Shannon Keating</a>, freelance writer, and <a href="https://x.com/offbeatorbit?lang=en"target="_blank" >Ashley Reese</a>, writer, culture critic, and author of the <a href="https://ashleyreese.substack.com/"target="_blank" >Bad Brain Substack</a>. <br/><br/>For more episodes on the women’s relationships to themselves and culture, check out:<br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/21/nx-s1-5791593/the-price-women-pay-for-being-online"target="_blank" >The price women pay for being online</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/10/nx-s1-5779780/the-world-is-awful-is-it-healthier-to-stop-caring"target="_blank" >Numb girls & the humiliation of caring too much</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5762232/girl-math-does-not-add-up-to-financial-freedom"target="_blank" >"Girl Math" does not add up to financial freedom</a><br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Monoculture is so back…in more ways than one. <br/><br/>From record breaking blockbusters, to nail-biting sports wins, to the chaos that is Love Island - there has been something for everyone this summer. <br/><br/>But while we were in the streets rooting for the Knicks, following the World Cup, or waiting for IMAX tickets… heatwaves, wildfire smog, and explosive diarrhea also made notable appearances. Apparently, monoculture can be good, bad, and everything in between.  <br/><br/>Friend of the show and senior correspondent at Vox.com, <a href="https://www.vox.com/authors/alex-abad-santos"target="_blank" >Alex Abad-Santos</a>, joins It’s Been a Minute to unpack the highs and lows of our deep desire for monoculture. <br/><br/>Read Alex’s article, <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/496026/world-cup-2026-us-soccer-embarrassing-corrupt-diarrhea-depressing"target="_blank" >Welcome to America’s post-World Cup hangover</a>, on <a href="http://vox.com"target="_blank" >Vox.com</a> right now. <br/><br/>Support Public Media. <a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" >@bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at <a href="https://www.npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" >npr.org/podclub</a>. <br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Feeling stuck? In a rut? Family or work driving you up a wall? Maybe it's time to take a side quest.<br/><br/>Much like the optional, lore-building journeys in video games that enrich the main mission, real-life side quests bring a sense of whimsy to your daily routine. In real life, that could look like learning to sew, picking up kickball, or anything else that adds a little whimsy into your routine. To rediscover the childlike joy of taking a side quest, Brittany is joined by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1123235730/marielle-segarra"target="_blank" >Marielle Segarra</a>, host of NPR's Life Kit; <a href="http://kyraocity.com"target="_blank" >Dr. Kyra Gaunt</a>, associate professor of ethnomusicology at the University at Albany; and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/letsplaynyc/reels/"target="_blank" >Sahara Moné</a>, curator and owner of community activities collective Let's Play NYC.<br/><br/>Want more on improving your quality of life? Check out these episodes:<br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/22/nx-s1-5581582/tips-for-dinner-parties"target="_blank" >How to make friends & get good gossip</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5844781"target="_blank" >This is your summer of self-love </a><br/><br/>Support Public Media. <a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" >@bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at <a href="https://www.npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" >npr.org/podclub</a>.<br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Thin, is unfortunately in. <br/><br/>The defining mantra of the 90s and early aughts, has reappeared as celebrities, influencers and everyday women shrink in size. But as people get smaller, others are talking. Online and in person, imperfect, candid and concern conversations are happening about the the thinner frames we see online and in person. But what’s the best way to have these conversations? To learn how Brittany spoke with <a href="https://www.thecut.com/author/angelina-chapin/"target="_blank" >Angelina Chapman</a>, features writer at The Cut and <a href="https://keepcalmatx.com/vanessa-scaringi"target="_blank" >Vanessa Scaringi</a>, PhD, licensed psychologist, to learn how  to express concern, without pointing fingers.<br/><br/>Want more about body image? Check out these IBAM episodes: <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/27/nx-s1-5835713/can-glp-1s-withstand-body-image-pressure"target="_blank" >GLP-1s & eating disorders have a complicated relationship</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/16/nx-s1-5677307/the-difference-between-losing-weight-being-healthy"target="_blank" >The difference between losing weight & being "healthy"</a><br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a> <br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

There are influencers taking money to promote music – and not telling you about it.<br/><br/>It's great when you find people who put you on to hot new music that matches your taste. But online tastemakers might be getting secretly paid to shill for labels. This is not a conspiracy theory – it's a real practice. NPR music reporter <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/766798576/isabella-gomez-sarmiento"target="_blank" >Isabella Gomez Sarmiento</a> spoke to several online content creators who <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5849926/influencers-paid-music-promotion"target="_blank" >told her</a> about how labels approached them – and who they’re being asked to promote. By the way – this is potentially illegal. But what does it mean for regular music enjoyers that music discovery is so weighed down by dollars? And can we ever disentangle money from the Internet – and from culture?<br/><br/>Brittany is joined by Isabella to get into the juicy details and the broader implications of this practice.<br/><br/>For more episodes on the state of music in culture, check out:<br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5887464/the-shelf-life-of-a-pop-star"target="_blank" >The shelf life of a pop star</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5838108/the-d-list-pop-star-purgatory"target="_blank" >The D-List pop star purgatory</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5676124/can-tiktok-spark-a-new-era-of-protests"target="_blank" >Can TikTok spark a new era of protests?</a><br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Are you feeling the heat? <br/><br/>While this summer has been a nonstop ride of historic and unprecedented wins for the culture at large, Brittany has noticed a little bit of sour in all this sweetness: what’s up with everyone having a chip on their shoulder? <br/><br/>From sports to reality TV to music - some real grievances are showing up in pop culture and Brittany wants to know why. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hunterh/?hl=en"target="_blank" >Hunter Harris</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peytondix/?hl=en"target="_blank" >Peyton Dix</a>, hosts of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lemme-say-this/id1745170415"target="_blank" >Lemme Say This</a>, join the show to give this summer a much needed vibe check. <br/><br/><br>Support Public Media. <a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" >@bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at <a href="https://www.npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" >npr.org/podclub</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The United States is home to a silent epidemic - do you know about it?<br/><br/>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 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/abene-clayton"target="_blank" >Abené Clayton</a>, lead reporter for the Guns and Lies in America Project for the Guardian, and <a href="https://www.beacon.org/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=17370&Name=Cheryl+L.+Neely"target="_blank" >Cheryl L. Neely</a>, sociology professor at Oakland Community College in Royal Oak, Michigan to understand the pipeline from everyday and online misogyny to gender-based killings.<br/><br/>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 <a href="http://thehotline.org"target="_blank" >thehotline.org</a>.<br/><br/>Want more deep dives into the social science of womanhood?<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/26/nx-s1-5829928/it-only-takes-30-minutes-to-be-a-good-mom"target="_blank" ><strong>It only takes 30 minutes to be a good mom</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/03/13/nx-s1-5746167/young-women-are-struggling-too-why-cant-we-see-it"target="_blank" ><strong>Young women are struggling, too. Why can't we see it?</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5823768/the-women-leaving-the-new-right"target="_blank" ><strong>The women leaving the 'New Right'</strong></a><br/><br/>Support Public Media. <a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" >@bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at <a href="https://www.npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" >npr.org/podclub</a>.<br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

It shouldn’t be that hard to be a nepo-husband. Right? <br/><br/>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 <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/story/alex-coopers-mean-girl-problem?srsltid=AfmBOopGTcd4PR6DIhZUJDXSfh_y6BJ-DV02QlraoRY58204VTePMU6l"target="_blank" >Vanity Fair expose</a> which alleged a toxic work environment of their media company, Unwell. So, what does it take to be a nepo-husband? Brittany chats with <a href="https://www.goodnoticings.com/about"target="_blank" >Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton</a>, hosts of the <a href="https://www.goodnoticings.com/"target="_blank" >Good Noticings</a> podcast, to discuss the benefits, and expectations of nepo-husbands. <br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at<a href="http://npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" > npr.org/podclub</a>. <br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Who owns the future of the Democratic party?<br/><br/>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?<br/><br/>Brittany gets into it with <a href="https://theintercept.com/staff/akelalacy/"target="_blank" >Akela Lacy</a>, senior politics reporter at <em>The Intercept </em>and host of the “Intercept Briefing” podcast, and <a href="https://www.michaellange.nyc/"target="_blank" >Michael Lange</a>, New York political analyst, DSA member, and writer of “The Narrative Wars” on Substack.<br/><br/>For more episodes on politics and culture, check out:<br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5823768/the-women-leaving-the-new-right"target="_blank" >The women leaving the 'New Right'</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5813744/progressive-women-have-had-it-and-theyre-fighting-back"target="_blank" >Progressive women have 'had it!' And they're fighting back.</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/17/nx-s1-5788072/christians-are-having-a-trump-sized-reckoning"target="_blank" >Christians are having a Trump-sized reckoning</a><br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

What we wear and how we wear it is more important than its artistic value.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>Brittany Luse sits down with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cnnstyle/?hl=en"target="_blank" >CNN Senior Style Reporter</a> and author of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/newsletters/big-style-newsletter-landing-page"target="_blank" >CNN’s Big Style newsletter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theprophetpizza/?hl=en"target="_blank" >Rachel Tashjian Wise</a>, to answer all those questions and more.<br/><br/>Want more on fashion? <br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/05/nx-s1-5811032/was-that-the-worst-met-gala-ever"target="_blank" >Was that the worst MET Gala ever?</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/28/nx-s1-5800808/american-fashion-isnt-as-liberal-as-you-think"target="_blank" >American fashion isn't as liberal as you think</a><br/><br/><br>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at<a href="http://npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" > npr.org/podclub</a>. <br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Who counts as homeless in America?<br/><br/>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 <a href="https://homelessness.ucsf.edu/leadership/margot-kushel-md"target="_blank" >Dr. Margot Kushel</a>, Director at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, and <a href="https://www.mollykrichard.com/"target="_blank" >Dr. Molly Richard,</a> assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Health Sciences.<br/><br/>Want more deep dives on cultural taboos?  Check out these episodes:<br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/25/nx-s1-5725495/the-truth-about-men-on-the-down-low"target="_blank" ><strong>The truth about men on the 'down low'</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/27/nx-s1-5797834/why-cant-we-be-normal-about-polyamory"target="_blank" ><strong>Why can't we be normal about polyamory?</strong></a><br/><br/>Support Public Media. <a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" >@bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at <a href="https://www.npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" >npr.org/podclub</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

How has your beauty routine changed in the past 10 years?<br/><br/>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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brookedevard/?hl=en"target="_blank" >Brooke Devard Ozaydinli</a>, host of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nakedbeautyplanet/?hl=en"target="_blank" >Naked Beauty podcast</a> 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.<br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at<a href="http://npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" > npr.org/podclub</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Do influencer parents trade in their kids’ privacy for the hope of financial security?<br/><br/>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?<br/><br/>Brittany gets into it with <a href="https://www.fortesalatifi.com/"target="_blank" >Fortesa Latifi</a>, senior writer at <em>Yahoo!</em> and author of <em>Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of Childhood Online</em>.<br/><br/>For more episodes on parenting, kids, and modern life, check out:<br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/17/nx-s1-5609314/fear-shame-modern-parenting"target="_blank" >The fear & shame of modern parenting</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/16/1182680954/are-children-a-marginalized-group"target="_blank" >Are children a marginalized group?</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/17/nx-s1-5646566/meaning-of-6-7-meme"target="_blank" >The real meaning of "6 7"</a><br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

What gives a pop star staying power?<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>Want more pop music analysis? Check out this episode:<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5838108/the-d-list-pop-star-purgatory"target="_blank" >The D-List pop star purgatory</a><br/><br/><br>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at<a href="http://npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" > npr.org/podclub</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Are we spending too much on other people’s weddings?<br/><br/>Going to a friend's weddings can be so fun and meaningful… but it can also really hurt your wallet. A survey by <a href="https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/study/expensive-weddings/#:~:text=From%20bouquets%20to%20bills:%20Wedding,racked%20up%20the%20highest%20bills."target="_blank" >LendingTree</a> 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?<br/><br/>Brittany breaks it down with <a href="https://x.com/theintlshopper"target="_blank" >Allyson Rees</a>, senior analyst at trend forecasting firm WGSN, and <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/annie-joy-williams/"target="_blank" >Annie Joy Williams</a>, assistant editor at <em>The Atlantic</em>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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.<br/><br/>For more episodes on reality television, check out:<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/nx-s1-5879207/how-to-enter-your-sporty-spice-era"target="_blank" >How to Enter Your Sporty Era</a><br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at<a href="http://npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" > npr.org/podclub</a>.<br/><br/><br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Reality dating and professional sports are not as different as you’d think.<br/><br/>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. <a href="http://Defector.com"target="_blank" >Defector.com</a> staff writer and co-owner <a href="https://defector.com/author/kelsey-mckinney"target="_blank" >Kelsey McKinney</a> came to the <a href="https://defector.com/i-love-my-daily-sports-shows-baseball-and-love-island"target="_blank" >same conclusion</a> – 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.<br/><br/>For more episodes on sports and reality TV, check out:<br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/19/1263527117/its-been-a-minute-draft-sports-betting-gambling-investing"target="_blank" >Get rich or die trying: how sports betting is changing our love of the game</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/07/nx-s1-5775802/is-this-the-end-of-reality-tv"target="_blank" >Is this the end of reality TV?</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/24/nx-s1-5797969/the-ugly-truth-of-americas-expensive-homes"target="_blank" >The ugly truth of America's expensive homes</a><br/><br/>Support Public Media.<a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" > Join NPR Plus.</a><br>Follow Brittany on Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" > @bmluse</a><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Could you see your life just as easily with children as without? <br/><br/>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, <em>The Baby Decision</em>, 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. <br/><br/>Want more about the decision to have kids? <br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/03/24/nx-s1-5751175/many-women-dont-want-kids-and-for-good-reason"target="_blank" >Many women don't want kids. And for good reason.</a><br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/25/1263527152/its-been-a-minute-birth-rate"target="_blank" >Why are people freaking out about the birth rate?</a><br/><br/><br>Support Public Media. <a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >Join NPR Plus.</a><br/><br/>Follow Brittany on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmluse/?hl=en"target="_blank" >@bmluse</a><br/><br/>For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at <a href="https://www.npr.org/podclub"target="_blank" >npr.org/podclub</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>