13. Thanksgiving and Black Friday | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

Is Thanksgiving just a myth about Pilgrims and turkey? And has Black Friday always been about doorbuster deals? In this special holiday episode of What Are We Talking About?, host Ben Lewis strips away the revisionist history and consumer gloss to reveal the gritty, theological reality of Plymouth and the chaotic, true origins of retail’s biggest day.In This Episode:We explore the "Starving Time" of 1620 to uncover the deep Christian theology of gratitude that defined the Pilgrim story—moving beyond the secular "Turkey Day" narrative to a biblical worldview of providence. Then, we pivot to the dark history of Black Friday. Discover how a term coined by the Philadelphia Police Department to describe traffic jams evolved into the violent "doorbuster" era of Cabbage Patch Kids and Tickle Me Elmo, before shifting to the digital age of Cyber Monday.Topics Covered:The Pilgrim Story: William Bradford, Squanto, and the theology of "Providence vs. Luck."Thanksgiving Myth-Busting: Addressing modern revisionist history and the "Starving Time."Black Friday Origins: The 1869 Gold Market crash vs. the 1960s Philadelphia police blotters.Retail History: The rise of the "Doorbuster," the "Thanksgiving Creep," and the invention of Cyber Monday.Cultural Commentary: How conservative Christians can reclaim the holiday from consumerism and secularism.Mentioned in this Episode:Of Plymouth Plantation by William BradfordGenesis 50:20 & 1 Thessalonians 5:18The Cabbage Patch Kid Riots (1983) & The Tickle Me Elmo Stampede (1996)Ellen Davis (National Retail Federation)Support Our Sponsor:Cowboy Revolution ApparelBridge the gap between the western lifestyle and the concrete jungle. Shop veteran-owned, premium outdoor gear—from heavyweight fleece hoodies to structured trucker hats. Use the gear that stands up to the grit of the West.Shop Now: cowboyrevolution.comConnect with Us:If you enjoyed this deep dive into history and culture from a Christian perspective, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review!Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@428PodcastsHost: Ben LewisWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠428 Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] Date: 11/26/2025Keywords:Thanksgiving History, Black Friday 2025, Christian Worldview, Pilgrims, Mayflower, Squanto, William Bradford, Providence, Doorbusters, Cyber Monday History, Retail Trends, Consumerism, Biblical Gratitude, Conservative Commentary, Cultural Analysis.