Podcast Summary: Stuff You Should Know – “Selects: How Black Friday Works”

Hosts: Josh Clark & Charles W. “Chuck” Bryant
Date: November 29, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck dive deep into the origins, culture, and controversies of Black Friday: the day after Thanksgiving that became synonymous with chaotic shopping, massive sales, and occasional mayhem. With their trademark blend of humor, skepticism, and curiosity, they unravel the myths, realities, and unintended consequences of America’s most infamous shopping day.

Episode Breakdown

1. Black Friday: Love It or Loathe It?

[03:10]–[05:30]

• Chuck admits he’s never attended a Black Friday sale and “would rather go to the DMV than go to a Door Buster.”
  • Memorable Quote:
    • “It is literally, and I'm not overstating this because people always say literally when they mean figurative. Figuratively. But is literally one of the last things I would ever, ever do in my life.” – Chuck Bryant [04:23]
• Both hosts express empathy for those who genuinely enjoy the day—provided “you don’t turn into a monster like others do.”
• They touch on how divisive the day is: some people plan for weeks and relish in the intensity, while others wouldn’t dream of participating.

2. What Exactly IS Black Friday?

[05:30]–[07:36]

• Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, recognized as the busiest shopping day in the U.S.
• It traditionally marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, dating back to department store parades like Macy’s, designed to associate Thanksgiving with Christmas shopping.

3. The Origins of “Black Friday”

[07:36]–[10:03]

• Josh traces the term’s etymology:

  • Philadelphia Police Origin:
    • In the 1960s, Philly cops began using “Black Friday” to describe the chaos and crowding downtown when people flocked to shop and attend the Army-Navy game.
  • Retailer Rebranding:
    • Retailers tried to spin a new meaning: “going into the black” (i.e., turning a profit), aiming to make the day sound positive and attractive.
  • Chuck debunks the “in the black” myth, clarifying that stores often did not start profiting only on this day.

• Economic Impact:

  • Stores can make 20–40% of their annual profits during the holiday shopping season.
  • Statistic: In 2013, predicted holiday spending was $602 billion in just two months.
    • Quote: “Americans are going to spend $602 billion in November and December.” – Josh Clark [10:37]

4. Manufactured Tradition and Retail Manipulation

[12:03]–[13:30]

• Black Friday’s prominence is largely fabricated through marketing.
• Until 2004, the Saturday before Christmas was usually the busiest shopping day; retailers collectively decided to hype up Black Friday instead, turning myth into reality.
  • “It was literally created. And then the myth kind of became reality.” – Chuck Bryant [12:09]

5. The Spread of “Shopping Holidays”: Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday

[16:51]–[18:03]

• Cyber Monday (2005): Created to lure online shoppers back after Thanksgiving.
• Small Business Saturday (2010): Launched by American Express to encourage spending at local shops.
• Retailers began extending sales past Friday—sometimes even encroaching on Thanksgiving itself.

6. Thanksgiving Encroachment & Retail Backlash

[18:03]–[20:49]

• In 2012, Walmart opened at 8 pm on Thanksgiving, kicking off a wave of retailers starting Black Friday earlier.
• In 2013, some stores (Kmart, Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Toys R Us) opened on Thanksgiving Day itself.
  • “Essentially, what’s happening is Thanksgiving evening is being ruined by retail.” – Chuck Bryant [19:20]
• Employees sometimes forced to work holidays, sparking criticism and even strikes.

7. International Perspectives & Unintended Consequences

[20:18]–[22:51]

• Other countries (Canada, UK, Netherlands) spend more overall in their longer holiday shopping seasons, which aren’t artificially bookended by a Black Friday kickoff.
  • “Without Black Friday in America, the retailers would possibly make more money.” – Josh Clark [20:49]
• Internet shopping (especially on Thanksgiving itself) increasingly erodes the uniqueness of Black Friday.
• The day has become as much a “sport” or tradition as a shopping necessity.

8. Doorbusters, Bait-and-Switch, and Risk

[24:44]–[26:29]

• “Doorbusters” date back to 1917, offering deeply discounted items—but in extremely limited quantities.
• The term is literal: “Doors actually being busted.”
• Chuck: “It’s a bait and switch. They’ve only got a very limited amount of these select items, which is why the violence happens.” [25:26]
• Most shoppers lure in for one deal end up buying regular-price items once the sale ones are gone.

9. The Dark Side: Crowd Crushes, Violence, and Viral Tragedy

[29:27]–[39:02]

• The 2008 Walmart Trampling (Valley Stream, Long Island):
  • A crowd of 2,000 surged through the doors, trampling employee Jdimytai Damour, who died of asphyxiation.
  • Local police abandoned the crowd, Walmart provided insufficient security, and a lack of crowd control led to chaos.
  • “When the doors finally opened after the festive countdown... the doors started to open and were literally busted by this wave of humanity.” – Josh Clark [32:56]
• Other incidents:
  • Toys R Us Shooting (Palm Desert, 2008): Shoppers’ husbands got into an altercation, leading to a deadly shootout.
  • Walmart Pepper Spray Incident (Los Angeles, 2011): A woman purportedly defending her children used pepper spray on a crowd; chaos ensued, but she still completed her shopping.
    • “She pepper sprays a bunch of people, affects 20 people, causes a bit of a trampling pandemonium. And then… went to the store and checked out, bought her stuff.” – Josh Clark [37:58]

10. The Employee Perspective & Labor Backlash

[38:34]–[39:45]

• Many employees are pressured to work on holidays with no real choice, especially seasonal workers.
• Strikes have rarely succeeded due to fear of job loss and the use of non-full-time labor.
  • “They kind of do have to work. There's a lot of ugliness on Black Friday.” – Josh Clark [40:02]

11. Psychology and Social Science of Black Friday

[40:05]–[41:12]

• Individuals who plan the most exhibit the highest levels of antisocial behavior (shoving, pushing).
  • “They feel like they've really put the time in and they're not about to lose that doorbuster.” – Josh Clark [40:21]
• The discussion references deadly crowd surges elsewhere (like The Who concert) to highlight the overlooked dangers of unmanaged crowds.

12. Buy Nothing Day and Anti-Consumer Movements

[41:33]–[44:07]

• First advocated in the 1990s by artist Ted Dave, Buy Nothing Day encourages people to refrain from shopping on Black Friday—a protest against rampant consumerism.
• Marked by stunts (zombie costumes, “sheep” costumes, credit card cut-up stations) aimed at drawing attention to the absurdity of consumer culture.

13. Other Shopping Holidays: China’s Singles Day

[44:11]–[45:47]

• Singles Day (November 11) in China eclipses even Cyber Monday—with $5.7 billion spent in 2013 on Alibaba alone.
  • “It’s the biggest online shopping day in the world... $160 million in the first six minutes.” – Chuck Bryant [45:17]
• Many Black Friday shoppers aren’t buying gifts but shopping for themselves—up to 41–47%.

14. Final Thoughts and Thanksgiving Wishes

[46:01]–[46:49]

• The hosts don’t judge anyone who enjoys Black Friday sales, but encourage safe, humane behavior.
  • “Just act like a human being. Don’t take anyone’s life. Don’t trample over somebody who’s fallen down. And most importantly, have a very nice Thanksgiving.” – Josh Clark [46:01]
• They urge listeners to cherish time with loved ones and offer the classic SYSK permission to debunk “tryptophan makes you sleepy” at the table.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I'm not, like, casting dispergence on people who... disparaging remarks. Is dispergence a word?” – Chuck Bryant [05:06]
• “Black Friday is pretty much a uniquely American experience.” – Josh Clark [05:30]
• “The holiday shopping season is when stores make up between 20 and 40% of their retail profits.” – Chuck Bryant [10:14]
• “Cyber Monday... another self-fulfilling myth... now it is because the retailers said it was and the media reported it.” – Josh Clark [17:03]
• “Thanksgiving evening is being ruined by retail.” – Chuck Bryant [19:20]
• “Without Black Friday in America, the retailers would possibly make more money.” – Josh Clark [20:49]
• “It’s a bait and switch.” – Chuck Bryant [25:27]
• “When the doors finally opened, they actually gave way and were literally busted by this wave of humanity.” – Josh Clark [32:56]
• “They and a Toys R Us [were shot] because their wives got in a fistfight.” – Josh Clark [36:59]
• “If you go to a Black Friday sale and you see a bunch of people dressed as zombies, they’re making fun of you.” – Josh Clark [43:04]
• “Be with your family, turn off your smartphone, maybe even... just be in the moment.” – Chuck Bryant [46:31]

Key Takeaways

• Black Friday is a deliberately manufactured retail event, rooted in both genuine tradition and aggressive marketing.
• The day’s history involves myth-making, economic manipulation, and at times tragic consequences from poor crowd management.
• Modern variations (Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday) and international equivalents show the globalization of consumer “holidays.”
• Anti-consumer responses like Buy Nothing Day seek to challenge the inevitability and necessity of shopping as a civic ritual.
• Despite—or perhaps due to—its notoriety, Black Friday is already in a state of flux, challenged by online shopping, shifting traditions, and increasing criticism.

For those considering Black Friday shopping:
Enjoy the deals if it’s your thing, but remember to be safe, be kind, and maybe take a cue from the episode: don’t forget to simply enjoy Thanksgiving and the people around you.