It's Been a Minute

Her debut novel is one of this summer's most buzzed-about books. It's about race and dating, men and women, stereotypes and sexuality. Sam talks to Candice Carty-Williams about all that and more — and she reveals what she absolutely won't change in the coming television version of 'Queenie.' Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p...

It's been 50 years since a group of LGBT people faced off against police at the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village. That moment is credited with launching the modern gay rights movement, but what was happening before the Stonewall riots? Plus, Sam talks to a student loan lawyer about managing debt and why some students find themselves in financial hardship. Rund Abdelfatah and Ramt...

Drag is having a moment ⁠— from RuPaul's Drag Race, to DragCon, to drag queens appearing on the big screen. In this episode, we walk through the history of drag, chat with the creative minds of the show that made drag mainstream, and talk to some drag performers about where drag is headed next. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to...

Capitol Hill's interest in aliens grows, tensions rise between Iran and the U.S. and Facebook has big plans for its new cryptocurrency? Plus, Sam goes deep on the breakup anthem of a generation: Robyn's "Dancing On My Own." Tweet feels @NPRItsBeenAMin. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preference...

Maya Erskine has come a long way from the NYU experimental theater department where she met her 'PEN15' co-creator Anna Konkle. Now she's the star of a new romantic comedy that turns the genre on its head. She talks to Sam about 'Plus One' and how the second season of 'PEN15' might differ from the first. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection...

Former Daily Show host Jon Stewart went to Capitol Hill this week to ask Congress for a permanent 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Veteran homelessness sees some improvement thanks to federal vouchers. Could a self-declared Socialist ever win a general election? Plus, a look at the #ChurchToo movement at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Libby Denkmann, veterans and military reporter...

Coming out as gay was easy for Ryan O'Connell. Coming out as disabled — admitting the cause of his limp was cerebral palsy and not, as he lied, a car accident — was a lot harder. Ryan tells Sam how that experience became the basis for his Netflix show, 'Special.' Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship...

The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission are taking early steps into investigating tech giants Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House of Representatives are looking into whether tech companies are too big. Plus, where the term "intersectionality" originated, what it means and why it's popping up in culture more and more. NPR Congressional reporter K...

Shelby Lorman has long been taking note of society's low standards for men on her popular Instagram account, whether they're manspreaders on the subway or Tinder dates who brag about reading feminist literature. Now she's turned those incisive illustrations and vignettes into a book that awards — and lambastes — those men. She sat down with Sam to share some "tales of dating, double standards, and...

Netflix, Disney, NBCUniversal and other Hollywood production companies say they may stop filming in Georgia if the state's recently passed, restrictive abortion law is upheld. With Boeing's 737 Max airplane still grounded, are travelers in for headaches when it comes to flying this summer? Plus why Apple's wireless AirPod headphones pose an environmental conundrum. ProPublica politics reporter Jes...

Before she was the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing, before her Showtime series 'The Chi', and before she was listed on the Time 100, Lena Waithe met Sam on a Saturday morning at NPR, and he bought her Doritos from the vending machine. Encore episode, first released in 2017. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

A series of severe storms battered states across the country this week, but have communities drawn any connection between the weather and the effects of climate change? Meanwhile, the Trump administration admitted that a sixth migrant child died in U.S. custody within the past eight months. Plus, what are the perks of being a VIP diner at restaurants in the nation's capital? NPR reporter Nate Rott...

NPR's Elise Hu steps in for Sam and sits down with Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist for Google, while listeners share their tech burnout stories and solutions. We also hear from WIRED senior writer Nitasha Tiku on what regulation is happening in the tech industry right now. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your...

The U.S. this week expanded its tariffs on products from China to include items such as toys and sneakers. What will that mean for consumers? Alabama joined the list of states moving to impose restrictions on abortion. Plus, the glitter-infused, 42-country singing competition known as Eurovision is about to take the stage. Which country's song will take the cake? WBUR reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka an...

'SNL' season 42 started before the 2016 election and ended months after Donald Trump's inauguration. During that whirlwind year, the show was steered by co-head writers Sarah Schneider and Chris Kelly. After it, they created and wrote 'The Other Two' for Comedy Central, hailed by critics as one of 2019's best new comedies. It was recently renewed for a second season. Email the show at samsanders@n...

For this special live edition of the show, Sam is joined by NPR national correspondent Sarah McCammon and Iowa Public Radio host and reporter Clay Masters. To Sam, it seems the Democratic Party is running two different primaries: one for their progressive base and another for hypothetical moderate general election voters. Plus how are Iowans feeling about 2020? See pcm.adswizz.com for information...

The social media app Instagram is plastered with artwork, ranging from selfies inside Yayoi Kusama's mirrored rooms, to snapshots of the iconic "Mona Lisa" to short poems and colorful, inspirational messages. But how does the app affect how we engage with all these works — and how makers and museums create and share it? We talked with artists, curators and critics for a look at art in the age of I...

Cases of measles have cropped up in almost two dozen states, and health experts are working to contain the disease. In San Francisco, a drama is unfolding between city officials, billionaires and residents on how to fight homelessness. Plus, are meatless burgers having a moment? Sam is joined by KPCC health care reporter Michelle Faust Raghavan and L.A. Times national correspondent Matt Pearce. Se...

Shane's career caught fire when he famously defended Guy Fieri (and his shirt flames) in a bit on 'Conan.' Now, he talks to Sam about life on the road, why political comedy is hard, and their shared Texas roots. Shane's debut comedy album is called 'Established 1981.' Email the show at samsanders@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsors...

The Trump administration's ban on transgender people serving openly in the military is in effect, but how is it being felt? A new Pew study dives into who actually uses the social network Twitter. Plus, Sam calls up a fashion critic to find out why big, chunky sneakers made a comeback — particularly in the world of high fashion. Sam is joined this week by KUT reporter Ashley Lopez and Dallas Morni...

Kathy Griffin isn't ashamed of being a comic who spills the tea. That's what she tells Sam she does — whether she's calling out celebrities like the Kardashians or taking photos with a bloody Donald Trump mask. Griffin is out with a new feature all about how her life changed after publishing that photo. It's called 'Kathy Griffin: A Hell of A Story.' See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our c...

The U.S. Department of Justice released a redacted version of Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Where do things stand now that it's out? After a massive fire destroyed portions of the centuries-old Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, billions of dollars have already been pledged to rebuild it. Plus, what does a historically black, all-male college's decision to begin...

The Atlantic staff writer Adam Serwer explains how racism and white nationalism were deeply embedded in America not just from its founding, but throughout the 20th century — and how one man corralled those ideas into a grand pseudo-scientific theory that influenced U.S. immigration policy and eventually Nazi Germany. His article about that man, Madison Grant, is called "White Nationalism's Deep Am...

The deadline to file your taxes is right around the corner. We ask a tax preparer how things have changed since the Republican-led tax overhaul. After Facebook introduced a new feature to help memorialize deceased users, Elise wonders what becomes of our online presences after we die. Plus what's going on at the U.S. southern border and what closing it could mean. Guest host Elise Hu is joined by...

A few years after he was told he should quit acting, Anthony Carrigan shines as NoHo Hank on HBO's 'Barry.' He talks to guest host Elise Hu about working with Bill Hader, empathizing with the villains he plays, and finding peace with a condition that once made a career in Hollywood seem out of reach. 'Barry' airs Sunday nights on HBO. Email the show at samsanders@npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for i...