The Zeitgeist: November 21, 2025

Today's Edition: Sunday Scaries, College Radio and Parasocial

November 21, 2025

Good morning. Thanksgiving travel is already in full sprint. AAA says nearly 82M Americans are on the move - an all-time record and 1.6M more than last year. With fresh flight-cancellation drama in the air, some travelers may abandon the skies for the sweet, predictable hum of a road trip. Hope your playlists are queued and snack strategy is airtight.

On the food front, turkey discounts are doing their part - bringing the cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner down for the third straight year (5% cheaper than 2024), according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. But side-dish prices are still climbing, keeping the nation’s cost-of-living debate very much alive.

And in case you’ve been living under a boulder in Munchkinland, Wicked: For Good hits theaters today. Liquid Death’s social media manager captured the circus of licensing deals perfectly:

Source: LinkedIn

Please note, we’re closed next Friday, November 28, so we’ll arrive back in your inbox on Friday, December 5. Happy Thanksgiving!

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

How Oura Is Capitalizing on the Gen Z Woman’s Wellness Obsession

The rapid growth is driven by younger women embracing the ring as a stylish, data-rich wellness tool.

By Amy O’Brien | Vogue

From ‘Wicked’ to ‘F1′ - a marketer’s playbook for choosing the right film collaboration

Ad Age asked four experts when to join a rollout, how to pick the right project and how to make a collaboration soar.

By Parker Herren | Ad Age

Also, Firehouse Subs’ gravy extinguisher, Away’s 8-foot suitcase, Cotton x Lisa Says Gah’s holiday tees, Yahoo x Graza’s keyboard oil, Heinz’s Leftover Gravy sauce and King’s Hawaiian’s Bing Crosby-inspired gingerbread house.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Young diners want community, elbow room optional

A recent Resy survey found that 90% of Gen Z diners enjoy shared tables with strangers and view them as chances to meet people and build community.

By Molly Liebergall | Morning Brew

Feel a Connection to a Celebrity You’ve Never Met? Your Bond May Be ‘Parasocial’

One-sided “parasocial” relationships have become so common that the term is Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025.

By Sarah Kuta | Smithsonian Magazine

The Kids Are Up All Night, With Jewels and Bones

Sometimes the best discoveries happen after dark, when quiet museum halls spark new wonder.

By Alexis Soloski | The New York Times

Gen Z’s hottest new job: Nannying for billionaires

They’re flocking to private staffing roles for the ultrawealthy, drawn by the pay, perks and sense of purpose, despite the pressure.

By Emmalyse Brownstein | Business Insider

Corporate

‘Forever Layoffs’ and ‘Slo-Mo RTO’ Lead Glassdoor’s 2026  Workplace Trends

The report says 2026 is shaping up to be a reset year as companies nail down hybrid work, navigate cuts and rebuild trust.

By Bruce Crumley | Inc.

Are We in a Corporate Giving Recession?

Many companies are pulling back from charged donations and tightening compliance, even as most keep 2026 philanthropy budgets steady.

By Paul Williams | Los Angeles Times

On-site workers get worse ‘Sunday scaries’ than remote workers

New data suggests commuting, rigid schedules and on-site pressure fuel more pre-Monday stress than remote work.

By Eve Upton-Clark | Fast Company

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

It’s looking like a ‘K-shaped’ holiday season, reports show

Holiday spending is strong, but a credit divide between higher- and lower-income shoppers will shape the season.

By Jessica Dickler | CNBC

Target and Starbucks are both looking for a turnaround. They’re teaming up on an exclusive new drink

In their first exclusive holiday drink collab, Starbucks and Target are hoping to spark some customer excitement.

By Jordan Valinsky | CNN

How Ikea started selling inside Best Buy

IKEA has set up mini showrooms inside Best Buy, turning the electronics retailer into an unexpected home-decor one-stop shop.

By Alex Vuocolo | Retail Brew

Connections

Feed intelligence & AI tips

TikTok will now give you badges for limiting your doomscrolling

It’s one of several new well-being tools to encourage healthier screen habits.

By Ivan Mehta | TechCrunch

College Radio Keeps Its Cool

Despite the odds, campus broadcasts still offer a space for discovery for students and listeners.

By Nathan Deuel | The New York Times

Deepfake Videos Are More Realistic Than Ever. Here’s How to Spot if a Video Is Real or AI

Tips include looking for the Sora watermark, checking the metadata and remaining vigilant.

By Katelyn Chedraoui | CNET

Media Moves & Intel:

  • Jason Del Rey, formerly tech correspondent at Fortune, has launched The Aisle, an independent media company covering the AI era of commerce.

  • Max Zeff, formerly senior AI reporter at TechCrunch, is now senior writer at WIRED covering AI.

  • Alana Levinson, founder of editorial consultancy Top Down Studio, is now features editor at WIRED.

  • Natasha Mascarenhas, formerly reporter at The Information, is now reporter at Bloomberg covering VC and startups on the Global Tech team. She’s based in SF.

  • John Hewitt Jones, formerly congressional policy editor at Bloomberg Government, is now deputy editor at Politico on the Tech team.

  • Juliana LaBianca, formerly deputy features editor at Food Network Magazine and HGTV Magazine, is now deputy digital editor at Good Housekeeping.

  • Laura Gurfein, formerly shopping director at PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly, is now freelance for Apartment Therapy.

  • Adriana Diaz, formerly features reporter at the New York Post, is now lifestyle reporter at Newsweek.

  • Lauren Hertz, formerly assignment editor at Spectrum News NY1, is now assignment editor at Fox Business.

  • The Daily Beast has launched The Looker, a beauty, health and wellness sister site helmed by Joanna Coles.

Also... read this National Geographic article about breathwork, a practice used by Navy SEALs and crucial as we move into the holiday season.

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