The Zeitgeist: November 14, 2025

Today's Edition: Pinterest, AI Gift Finders and Fermented Foods

November 14, 2025

Good morning. After 232 years jingling in pockets and couch cushions, the penny has finally been retired - the first U.S. coin to get the boot since 1857. Pour one out for all the things a single cent used to buy: penny candy, a newspaper, maybe a rogue nail at the hardware store. CBS News rounded up what retailers plan to do without pennies, Forbes says the impact on consumers will be basically zilch and The New York Times wrote a surprisingly heartfelt obituary.

In other news, TikTok and iHeartMedia are teaming up to launch the TikTok Podcast Network - up to 25 creator-hosted podcasts distributed across all major audio platforms. It’s a move that could help creators grow their audiences and flex their creativity off-platform.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

More Products, Less Press: How ‘Wicked: For Good’ Marketing Stayed Relevant While Scaling Back

Subtler hype, strategic brand tie-ins and fan-first events aim to keep the new film culturally irresistible without overwhelming audiences.

By Rebecca Rubin | Variety

How McDonald’s turned K-pop fandom into a mass-market cultural play

McDonald’s created an experiential activation to capitalize on the growing buzz surrounding the boy band’s return.

By Chris Kelly | Marketing Dive

Also, Jell-O’s “No Thanks” Thanksgiving molds, Brach’s cane opener device, Ricola’s cough drop-scented scarves, Buzzball’s Ballz on the Wallz shelf, Natural Light’s Garageflage merch drop, Farm Rich’s mozzerella stick scarf, Garden Veggie Straws’ Snack Suit for game day and Campbell x Cynthia Rowley x Kit Keenan’s “sides collection” bags.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Sauerkraut, Kimchi and… Gut Nuts? Fermented Foods Are Having a Moment

More food brands are turning to fermentation for its gut health benefits, boosting fermented snacks and drinks.

By Andrea Petersen | The Wall Street Journal

The Patches That Want to Fix Your Sleep, Sex and Focus

Wellness patches claiming to ease anxiety, promote calm or boost libido are surging in popularity - driven more by aesthetics than ingredients.

By Yasmin Tayag | The Atlantic

What happened when these parents finally took away their kids’ iPads

Some families are pulling back from tech, whether by slowly reducing screen time or quitting cold turkey.

By Caitlin Gibson | The Washington Post

Corporate

Most people worry about AI’s impact, but don’t think it will come for their jobs, poll finds

New polling from four countries shows that even though workers see AI as a transformative force, they often view their own jobs as safe.

By Jared Perlo | NBC News

Women didn’t ruin the workplace. They did change it - and that’s a conversation worth having

A controversial New York Times podcast has sparked calls for more thoughtful, diverse conversations about how feminism and gender dynamics shape modern work.

By Emma Hinchcliffe | Fortune

Gates Foundation commits $1.4 billion for farmer climate resilience

The pledge will support smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with climate-smart tools, resilient crops and soil health programs.

By Staff | Philanthropy News Digest

Curious Gen Zers want to know what their peers are earning - so they’re sharing their salaries at work and won’t apply to jobs that don’t list wages

A Kickresume survey shows Gen Z is much more open about salary talks, seeing pay transparency as key to fairness and closing wage gaps.

By Jessica Coacci | Fortune

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Target debuts AI holiday gift finder

Shoppers can input age and interests to get personalized gift ideas - one of several new holiday tech features.

By Dani James | Retail Dive

DoorDash is booming - with boomers

DoorDash topped Morning Consult’s list of fastest-growing brands for 2025. Baby boomers are the reason.

By Alex Bitter | Business Insider

Beauty Brands Offer Lots of Gold Options This Holiday Season

They’re leaning into gold products and packaging, using its luxe, comforting feel to entice shoppers seeking small indulgences.

By Rachel Felder | The New York Times

Connections

Feed intelligence & AI tips

The Surprising Way Gen Z Is Using Pinterest

Gen Z is transforming Pinterest from a DIY-inspo site into a manifestation-driven “spiritual space,” now making up over half its users.

By Meg Donohue | ELLE

The Boss Has a Message: Use AI or You’re Fired

At companies big and small, employees have feared being replaced by AI. The new threat: Being replaced by someone who knows AI.

By Lindsay Ellis | The Wall Street Journal

I test ChatGPT for a living - use this 3-step prompt to make any piece of writing better

An easy process to instantly improve your work: find the insights, frame your angle and plan the final product.

By Alex Hughes | Tom’s Guide

The Farmers’ Almanac Succumbs to the Digital Age

Founded in Napoleon’s day and predating the typewriter, the Farmers’ Almanac is finally closing up shop.

By Thomas Fuller | The New York Times

Media Moves & Intel:

  • Emma Waldman, formerly editor at Harvard Business Review, is now editor at Forbes.

  • Brian O’Keefe, formerly executive editor at Esquire, is now editor at The New York Times for its Dealbook section.

  • Elazar Sontag, formerly restaurant editor at Bon Appétit, is now food critic at The Washington Post and has relocated from NYC to DC.

  • Megan Schaltegger, freelance for Delish and Cosmopolitan, is now also commerce writer at E!

  • Olivia Dubyak, formerly freelance and commerce editor at Purewow, is now editor at People. She’s based in Pittsburgh.

  • Layoffs were announced this week at Crain.

  • CNBC is launching a new podcast series, Executive Decisions, hosted by Squawk Box Europe co-anchor Steve Sedgwick, focusing on interviews with some of the world’s most influential business leaders and policymakers.

Also... check out illustrations from naturalist James Sowerby, arranged by color, drawn between 1802-1817.

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