The Zeitgeist: July 25, 2025

Today's Edition: Link in Bio, Local News International and Tesla Diner

July 25, 2025

Good morning. You couldn’t scroll past ColdplayGate this week - an innocent kiss-cam moment turned corporate chaos, triggering a PR meltdown at Astronomer. As the memes flew and AI deepfakes multiplied, the company’s radio silence spoke volumes. PRLab’s breakdown shows how a failure to act fast (or at all) turned an HR headache into a full-blown credibility crisis.

Meanwhile, in less chaotic brand news: Hotel Lobby Candle hosted a Tomato Girl Summer influencer getaway to the Hamptons so on-theme it might’ve been directed by Sofia Coppola. Highlights include custom pillows (“My Candles Fly Private”) and room drops. A 3-part TikTok series from the founder explains how it all came together.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

Gift of Life’s Hero Gum offers a tasty way to join the bone marrow registry

The new initiative makes DNA collection easy to attract a new generation of life-saving donors.

By Tim Nudd | Ad Age

Ozzy Osbourne’s Margarine Commercial Proved the Power of the Personal Brand

The spot was a rare moment of cultural cool for a mainstream advertiser - and the birth of the enduring Ozzy personal brand.

By Robert Klara | Adweek

Also, Revlon x Guy Fieri’s Flavortown lip balm for National Lipstick Day AND National Chicken Wing Day (!), Olipop x Spongebob, Liquid Death x Sheetz’ chainsaw-sliced sandwiches, Van Leeuwen x Guinness’ “Lovely Day for a Guinness” ice cream and collabs with Netflix’s Wednesday from Cheetos, American Girl and Wendy’s.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

The Hottest New Cafe Is in Someone’s Living Room

Creators and aspiring food and beverage vendors are creating community building experiences focused on cozy hospitality - putting a spin on eating at home.

By Yola Mzizi | The New York Times

How displaying your DNA became a status symbol

Patients can tailor their health and wellness plans according to their genetic predispositions.

By India Birgitta Jarvis | Dazed Digital

Searching for Humanity’s Last Hope - and a Taste of the Future - at the Tesla Diner

WIRED dropped in on Tesla’s new retro-futuristic diner in Hollywood and served up a full review of the experience.

By Jason Parham | WIRED

Why My Generation Is Bad at Partying

Partiful, the party-planning app that gave Gen Z a way to re-connect IRL post-pandemic, is turning socializing into a performative experience.

By Sascha Seinfeld | The Free Press

Corporate

Gen Z are lying on their resumes and job applications - and it’s not why you think

Nearly half admit to lying on applications due to shrinking entry-level opportunities, social media pressures and hiring systems that favor experience over potential.

By Tony Case | Worklife

They helped make Waymo go. Now they’re building AI-powered robots to solve America’s labor crisis

Bedrock Robotics is retrofitting construction equipment, including excavators and bulldozers, with AI to address the construction labor shortage.

By Victor Dey | Fast Company

UN’s top court says failing to protect planet from climate change could violate international law

If countries fail to take measures to protect the planet from climate change, they could be in violation of international law.

By Molly Quell | Associated Press

Bolt CEO Ryan Breslow was a progressive workplace innovator. Now he’s axing it all

He explains why the four-day workweek, unlimited PTO and even HR no longer make sense for his startup.

By Rheana Murray | Fast Company

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Want to Know Where Your Friend Got Her Shoes? Click the Link in Bio

Platforms like LTK and ShopMy let everyday people, not just influencers, monetize product recommendations on social media.

By Ana Colón | ELLE

When it comes to winning at brick-and-mortar, store associates are the VIPs  

Today’s beauty shoppers come armed with TikTok and Reddit tips - sales associates need the expertise and energy to keep up.

By Emily Jensen | Glossy

The Robots That Are Taking Over Your Food Delivery

Billions of dollars in investment and years of research are going into efforts to fix a modern convenience: food delivery.

By Heather Haddon | The Wall Street Journal

Less selection, higher prices: How tariffs are shaping the holiday shopping season

Months of confusion over foreign import costs have cast uncertainty on the holiday shopping season.

By Anne D’Innocenzio, Mae Anderson | Associated Press

Connections

Feed intelligence

Can The Washington Post’s TikTok Guy Make It Without The Post?

WaPo’s social media star is leaving to launch Local News International, a satirical news channel built on his TikTok and YouTube following.

By Benjamin Mullin | The New York Times

‘E! News’ Nightly Show Axed As Versant Eyes Digital Future For Brand

It’s the first major programming move since Versant - now overseeing E! and other former NBCU cable networks - launched earlier this year.

By Peter White | Deadline

How Much Do Podcasters Really Earn? One Star Pulls Back the Curtain.

Former rapper Joe Budden offered a rare glimpse into podcast finances, and it was revealed his network is on track to top $20M this year.

By Jessica Testa | The New York Times

Media Moves:

  • Nick Mokey, formerly editor in chief at Digital Trends, is now editor at The Guardian for The Filter US, an independent shopping guide launching in September.

  • Kristin Stoller, editorial director at Fortune, is now at the helm of Fortune’s CHRO newsletter.

  • Orianna Rosa Royle, success associate editor at Fortune, has launched Fortune Success, a newsletter that offers “exclusive insights from top execs, fresh takes on work and leadership trends and real tools for building your version of success.”

  • Paris Martineau, formerly tech and investigative reporter at The Information, is now senior investigative reporter at Consumer Reports.

  • Dhruv Mehrotra, formerly investigative data reporter at WIRED, is now reporter at Bloomberg News.

  • Avram Piltch, formerly editor in chief at Tom’s Hardware, is now U.S. news editor at The Register, a UK-based IT/enterprise tech publication.

  • Brandon Doerrer, reporter at Ad Age, is shifting to a new beat covering creativity and media innovation.

  • Kennedy Dierks, formerly national contributor at Spoon University, is now food news and trends writer at Allrecipes.

  • Cristine Struble, formerly contributor at Foodsided, is now food news writer at Men’s Journal.

  • Layoffs were announced this week at Fortune.

Also... read about the history of Reading Rainbow, a show about the importance of literacy, in Smithsonian Magazine.

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