The Ordinary Effect
Welcome to The Ordinary Effect—the podcast that shines a light on life’s most overlooked moments. Each episode explores something you’ve likely seen, felt, or wondered about—but never really unpacked. Whether it’s a tiny social habit, a quiet cultural shift, or just that odd thing people do on elevators, host Guido Piraino digs beneath the surface to reveal the deeper meaning behind the mundane. It’s smart. It’s human. It’s what happens when you start paying attention.
The stuff we all notice—but rarely talk about.
Subscribe and join the conversation—new episodes every week.
The Ordinary Effect
How Black Friday Hijacks Our Joy — And Why the Holidays Feel Heavier Than Ever
The holiday season is here — but instead of joy, many of us feel rushed, pressured, and oddly unsettled. In this episode of The Ordinary Effect, Guido takes aim at the shopping chaos we’ve all been swept into, and asks a question almost no one stops to consider:
When did the holidays stop feeling magical and start feeling like a competition?
Black Friday becomes the doorway into a much deeper conversation — about comparison, obligation, loneliness, financial strain, and the quiet emotional toll that rarely gets acknowledged. This isn’t a rant about shopping… it’s a reflection on why so many of us feel drained instead of delighted this time of year.
If you’ve ever stood in a store, scrolled a sale, or wrapped a gift and thought:
- Why am I doing this?
- Who is this really for?
- Why doesn’t this feel good anymore?
…then this episode will hit home in a way you didn’t expect.
Listen in — not to feel guilty, but to feel seen.
