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We talk pop culture pumpkin spice lattes: they're basic but we love them

NPR | By Stephen Thompson,

Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Aisha Harris, Hafsa Fathima, Jessica Reedy, Mike Katzif

Published October 10, 2024 at 9:08 AM EDT

Singer Post Malone is featured on the hit song I Had Some Help. — Singer Post Malone is featured on the hit song I Had Some Help.

The word "basic" often gets thrown around to describe anything that's mainstream, popular, frictionless, or otherwise inoffensive. But sometimes basic stuff is just what we crave, whether it's a binge-watch, a popular song, or a pumpkin spice latte. It's fall, so today we're talking about what we're calling... Pop Culture Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Copyright 2024 NPR

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Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.

See stories by Stephen Thompson

Linda Holmes

Linda Holmes is a pop culture correspondent for NPR and the host of Pop Culture Happy Hour.

See stories by Linda Holmes

Glen Weldon

Glen Weldon is a host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. He reviews books, movies, comics and more for the NPR Arts Desk.

See stories by Glen Weldon

Aisha Harris

Aisha Harris is a critic and host of Pop Culture Happy Hour and author of Wannabe: Reckonings With the Pop Culture That Shapes Me.

See stories by Aisha Harris

Hafsa Fathima

See stories by Hafsa Fathima

Jessica Reedy

[Copyright 2024 NPR]

See stories by Jessica Reedy

Mike Katzif

[Copyright 2024 NPR]

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