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This summer's hottest trend? Monoculture. episode artwork

Jul 31, 2026 18 min

This summer's hottest trend? Monoculture.

from It's Been a Minute

Monoculture is so back…in more ways than one. From record breaking blockbusters, to nail-biting sports wins, to the chaos that is Love Island - there has been something for everyone this summer. 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. Friend of the show and senior correspondent at Vox.com, Alex Abad-Santos, joins It’s Been a Minute to unpack the highs and lows of our deep desire for monoculture. Read Alex’s article, Welcome to America’s post-World Cup hangover, on Vox.com right now. Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub. NPR Privacy Policy

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