July 2025 Friday’s e-links: Contemplating the Consumer

Every once in a while, (and sometimes each day) I listen to a great podcast, enjoy an article, or see a good video that I want to share with you. These are my e-links.

Last updated 7/25/25

While I am a weekly Slate Money fan, I rarely listen to its sister, the Money Talks podcast. Last week, however, the topic grabbed me and I was not disappointed. In an episode on the consumer, author Emily Mester first referred to Costco’s potential for discovery, and a good deal. Then also, for some of us, there are the stages of a dopamine rush that begin with the search and end with the arrival of the package. Next, the podcast switched perspectives, taking listeners to the Olive Garden and Times Square, to in-store and remote shopping, and to how much we really need. Continuing, they then touched the unexpected on the sales side and even Ozempic.

Together, the topic assortment formed a model for us to consider what it means to be a (wasteful) consumer. It was worth 41 minutes.