Black Friday vs. Propriety: Nothing Left to Sell

Nov 28, 2025

It's a Black Friday special filled with intriguing insights! The hosts dissect commercialism's impact on community-driven Buy Nothing groups facing trademark challenges. They explore Mariah Carey's unique partnership with Sephora and the odd trend of toddler skincare. The episode also touches on Walmart's misuse of Dr. Seuss nostalgia and the rapid-fire nature of new media shaping consumer culture. Additionally, they debate Timothée Chalamet's bold marketing tactics and the dangers of grooming children within a commercial landscape. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion!

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ANECDOTE

Craigslist Knife Fight Turned Buy Nothing Praise

Phillip Jackson recounts a violent Craigslist sale where a buyer brandished a knife and tried to lowball him after opening the box.
He stopped using Craigslist after that and praises Buy Nothing groups for disintermediating that risk.

INSIGHT

Trademarking Mutual Aid Creates Fragility

The Buy Nothing Project trademark enforcement disrupted local groups during a SNAP benefits pause, removing crucial community resources.
Trademarking a movement turned informal mutual aid into gated, fragile infrastructure at the worst possible time.

INSIGHT

Black Friday Isn’t Dead — It Evolved

Black Friday remains robust because digital channels let more brands and retailers participate than ever before.
Complaining that Black Friday is dead ignores rising online spending and expanded digital activation.

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It’s a Black Friday special! Phillip and Brian explore how capitalism commercializes everything it touches, as exemplified beautifully by community-driven Buy Nothing groups facing trademark enforcement and Walmart's WhoKnewVille campaign, which misses the point of Dr. Seuss entirely. They examine Mariah Carey's evolution from background music to Sephora partner, the disturbing rise of skincare for toddlers, and why new media's infinitesimally short news cycles are reshaping how we consume culture itself.

PLUS: Get Plus! Use code BLACKFRIDAY for a year of Future Commerce Plus at our lowest rate ever.

Black Friday Isn’t Dying, and Neither Is Kris Jenner!

Key takeaways:

Buy Nothing chooses to wage its trademark battle during the SNAP benefits pause.
As long as digital channels and Kris Jenner continue to thrive, Black Friday will never die.
Mariah Carey’s “It’s Time” video is sponsored by Sephora. Finally!
The new media ecosystem demands we live in the immediacy of the moment. Media cycle half-lives grow shorter by the day.
“Mel Gibson was for Boomers what Johnny Depp was for Gen X, and I get the same feeling about Timothee Chalamet for this generation.” –– Brian Lange
“Any gift you give or receive is actually a flaming fireball in the sky of your identity.” –– Brian Lange
“Let he who is without screen time cast the first stone.” –– Phillip Jackson
“Buy Nothing groups disintermediate the knife fight.” –– Phillip Jackson, Craigslist knife fight survivor

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