Podcast Summary: "How Dare We Speak Happy Thanksgiving!"

Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning with Sasha Stone
Date: November 26, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode, hosted by Sasha Stone, is a personal and cultural reflection on the meaning of Thanksgiving in contemporary America. Stone examines society’s polarized reactions to the holiday—especially the tension between the tradition of expressing gratitude and the rising critique from progressive circles who view the holiday as “problematic.” Through personal anecdotes, cultural commentary, and guest perspectives, Stone argues for preserving Thanksgiving as a unifying American ritual, despite efforts by some to recast or discard it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving in the Crosshairs of 'Generation Woke'

• Stone opens by addressing the atmosphere of scorn and guilt imposed on traditional holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas in recent years.
  • She recalls the “oppressed-oppressor” narrative that casts America as a colonizing force and Thanksgiving as a celebration of that crime.
  • High-profile social media influencers and activists are criticized for “virtue signaling” their disdain for Thanksgiving post-2020, as many on the left pushed for reflection on white privilege rather than celebration.
  • Quote [00:25]:

    “Thanksgiving was now problematic, celebrating it even more so… Once Trump was pushed out and Biden put in power, the waters calmed, the screaming stopped, and Thanksgiving was no longer a curse upon us all. Now here we are. Trump is in power again, and Thanksgiving has now become yet another crisis that must not go to waste.”

2. Political Weaponization of Holidays

• A mockery is made of the way political events shape public narratives around the holidays.
  • Stone mentions the hyperbolic state of discourse under another Trump presidency:
    • Comparison to “Nazi occupation” and references to suffering minorities and contested government legitimacy dominate the media narrative.
  • Presents hyperbolic statements from public figures (e.g., Senator Patty Murray, Kamala Harris) satirizing these culture war dynamics.
  • Quote [02:50]:

    “How dare we speak Happy Thanksgiving. How dare we speak Merry Christmas, says Kamala Harris. And when we all sing happy tunes…”

3. Personal Memories: The Real Spirit of Thanksgiving

• Stone reminisces about her own family Thanksgivings, emphasizing unity in hardship.
  • Vivid recollections of her grandmother’s parties, the food, the chaos, and the meaningfulness of a shared ritual during hard times.
  • Thanksgiving—regardless of material wealth—was a way to feel “normal” and give thanks, even for those on welfare.
  • She notes the evolution of the holiday as her family grew and changed, highlighting the lasting power of these memories.
  • Quote [04:21]:

    “Thanksgiving at my grandma’s house was one way we felt normal, doing what other families did. Even those at rock bottom need a day to say thank you and give grace, no matter their circumstances in life. That’s what it’s for. It elevates us out of our misery.”

4. Thanksgiving as a Unifier, Not a Divider

• Stone and her guests push back on efforts to shame or cancel the holiday.
  • Thanksgiving is presented as an “everybody thing” that transcends political, ethnic, and class divides—a rare non-religious, non-materialistic American ritual.
  • Quote [07:40]:

    “It’s the idea of it, one of the few rituals we have left that we can share, at least among those of us still holding on to the fragile idea of an America at all.”

5. Cultural Commentators: The Attack on Ritual and Community

• Guest commentator questions what drives progressives to “hate” Thanksgiving:
  • The holiday embodies peace, hospitality, and generosity—qualities deemed offensive to those who crave perpetual outrage.
  • Highlights acts of collective goodwill: community meals, inclusivity, sharing with strangers.
  • Quote [08:44]:

    “Thanksgiving represents hospitality, peace, transcending materialism, sharing, understanding, family, friendship, community. It’s the very best of our…It’s not a gorging, materialistic, present and gift-based holiday. It’s not a patriotic let’s shoot off fireworks… It’s unity, peace, love, friendship, and simplicity.”

• Concerns about the “mythicide” of American tradition:
  • Warning against the erasure of rituals which provide stability and joy, especially for children and fractured families.
  • Quote [12:37]:

    “All I’m saying is this: this is a kind of mythicide. Mythoside. It’s different than genocide. It’s taking every myth, every ritual… Spare it for the kids. Shut up. Let the 7-year-olds have their divorced parents meet. Let the uncle come over…You’re ruining everything in the name of a world that I can’t even envision.”

6. Thanksgiving—Imperfect, but Essential

• Stone closes with gratitude, underscoring why the holiday matters personally and nationally.
  • Shares the tradition of traveling to see her daughter and continuing the holiday ritual.
  • Emphasizes finding beauty and thanks even in difficult times, encouraging listeners to “hold on to the fragile idea of an America at all.”
  • Quote [13:59]:

    “It isn’t just a day to cook or eat, but a day to say thank you for the blessings in my life, for the luck I’ve had, for the love I’ve experienced, for the beauty I can still see in this country and its people from state to state.”

• Encourages listeners to claim Thanksgiving and gratitude despite the noise:
  • Quote [14:48]:

    “I hope you will have a wonderful holiday with your friends or your family. Or if you’re not doing anything, I’ll raise a glass to you and hope you’re doing okay.”

7. Musical Reflection on Ordinary Thanksgiving Joy

• A lighthearted original Thanksgiving song celebrates the humble, chaotic, and joyful reality of family gatherings.
  • Describes folding chairs, card tables, store-bought cranberry sauce, overcooked turkey, children’s tables, and the perfection of imperfect moments.
  • Quote [15:49]:

    “Thanksgiving, you’re an old familiar face—all my favorite people right here in one place…far from perfect, but it’s perfect for me.”

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• [00:25] Sasha Stone:

  "Thanksgiving was now problematic... Virtue signaling posts on Instagram... Charity could wipe clean the shame."

• [02:50] Sasha Stone:

  "How dare we speak Happy Thanksgiving. How dare we speak Merry Christmas, says Kamala Harris..."

• [04:21] Sasha Stone:

  "Even those at rock bottom need a day to say thank you and give grace, no matter their circumstances..."

• [08:44] Conservative Cultural Commentator:

  "Thanksgiving represents hospitality... It’s unity, peace, love, friendship, and simplicity."

• [12:37] Conservative Cultural Commentator:

  "This is a kind of mythicide…spare it for the kids. Shut up. Let the 7-year-olds have their divorced parents meet… You’re ruining everything…"

• [13:59] Sasha Stone:

  "It isn’t just a day to cook or eat, but a day to say thank you for the blessings in my life..."

• [15:49] Thanksgiving Song Performer:

  “Thanksgiving, you’re an old familiar face—all my favorite people right here in one place…far from perfect, but it’s perfect for me.”

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 — 02:59: Host’s opening monologue on Thanksgiving's politicization
• 03:00 — 08:29: Personal memories & emotional resonance of Thanksgiving
• 08:30 — 13:59: Guests discuss cultural meaning and the attack on rituals
• 14:00 — 15:48: Closing gratitude and reflections
• 15:49 — End: Original Thanksgiving song celebrating real family gatherings

Conclusion

With warmth, candor, and her trademark critical edge, Sasha Stone defends Thanksgiving as an American ritual worth preserving. Pulling from personal, political, and cultural perspectives, the episode critiques the instinct to shame or “cancel” meaningful traditions and urges listeners to embrace gratitude and unity, especially in divisive times. The musical coda encapsulates the essence—sometimes messy, always meaningful—of Thanksgiving as lived by ordinary people.