Episode 433

full
Published on:

1st Nov 2025

Lightning Round: Netflix In Theaters, Hot Santa, NFL Yoga Pants & Red Bull Advent | Fast Five Shorts

Chris and Anne tackle the week's quirkiest retail stories: Netflix bringing Stranger Things' finale to theaters, Target's Weirdly Hot Santa returns for year two, Lululemon's NFL licensing sparks more debate, and Red Bull drops a $50 advent calendar. Fast takes, sharp opinions, and laughs from retail's most entertaining podcast duo.

Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.

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#strangerthings #targetholiday #redbull #retailmarketing #holidaycampaigns #lightninground #omnitalk



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Transcript
Speaker A:

Let's go to the lightning round.

Speaker A:

Netflix is bringing back Stranger Things, but in a new strategic move, the finale will be available in select theaters versus just on streaming devices.

Speaker A:

Will you go see the finale on the big screen, Chris?

Speaker A:

Ooh.

Speaker B:

You know, at first, yes and no.

Speaker B:

I think I'll watch it at home first, and then I'll go see it on the big screen.

Speaker A:

Oh, okay.

Speaker A:

So double feature.

Speaker A:

You want to.

Speaker A:

You want to see both of them in both spots?

Speaker B:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.

Speaker B:

And it also depends on how good it is.

Speaker B:

So then if I like it, then I can go to the theater.

Speaker B:

If I think it sucks, I can save my money.

Speaker B:

That's.

Speaker B:

That's my plan.

Speaker A:

And.

Speaker B:

All right, Weirdly Hot Santa is back for the second year in a row.

Speaker B:

My question for you is, is he any more or less hot the second time around?

Speaker A:

Yeah, I mean, I feel like he's this.

Speaker A:

I. I saw him and I was like, oh, there's the cute Santa again.

Speaker A:

They're doing the cute Santa campaign.

Speaker A:

That's.

Speaker A:

I don't mind it.

Speaker A:

I'm not.

Speaker A:

I'm here for it.

Speaker A:

That's okay.

Speaker A:

Must have done well because they're doing it for the second year in a row, so I don't know.

Speaker A:

Is it the same actor?

Speaker A:

I didn't even look at that.

Speaker B:

Yeah, it's the same guy.

Speaker A:

Yeah, same guy.

Speaker A:

Same guy.

Speaker A:

So it's just like he's just getting a glow up from year to year.

Speaker B:

Yeah, I don't even know if he's getting a glow up.

Speaker B:

He's just getting a return appearance, you know?

Speaker B:

And for those watching.

Speaker B:

Those listening and watching, this was our number one YouTube short last year.

Speaker A:

Was.

Speaker B:

And talking about Weirdly Hot Santa.

Speaker B:

So, yeah, you're thinking he's equally hot as he was last year.

Speaker A:

I mean, yeah, I stopped.

Speaker A:

I stopped to listen to the ad.

Speaker A:

So I guess, like the one of him in the chalet or whatever, I was like, all right, I'm here.

Speaker A:

Let's finish talking about getting ready for.

Speaker A:

For the holidays, I guess.

Speaker A:

Weirdly Hot Santa making his debut.

Speaker A:

Like, great for this guy.

Speaker A:

I mean, he was probably like a D list actor before this, and now he's Hot Santa two years in a row.

Speaker A:

Congrats.

Speaker B:

You're telling.

Speaker B:

You're telling our audience you want to ride in Weirdly Hot Santa's sleigh tonight?

Speaker B:

That's what you're saying?

Speaker B:

That you would know.

Speaker A:

If I want to ride in a sleigh, I'll.

Speaker A:

I'll keep the space between me and the TV screen.

Speaker A:

Glass Here.

Speaker A:

I don't know that I feel.

Speaker A:

Yeah, I don't know that I'm riding in a sleigh, but I'll.

Speaker A:

I'll be here to listen to what he wants to pitch me for Black Friday at Target.

Speaker A:

Sure.

Speaker A:

All right.

Speaker A:

All right, Chris, as we mentioned earlier, Lululemon is now licensing product with the NFL.

Speaker A:

Does this make you want to change where you're sourcing your Cardinals gear?

Speaker B:

No, absolutely not.

Speaker B:

And more so because of the Cardinals.

Speaker B:

Because the Cardinals are terrible.

Speaker B:

They're atrocious.

Speaker B:

I'm a lifelong 30 year fan of them and they're terrible.

Speaker B:

And it's so depressing.

Speaker B:

So I don't even want to talk about this anymore.

Speaker B:

And.

Speaker A:

All right.

Speaker B:

Bull is reportedly dropping a:

Speaker B:

The Cardinal.

Speaker B:

The Cardinal.

Speaker B:

The calendar will include 24 cans of various flavors and cost between 45 and $50, reportedly.

Speaker B:

When was the last time you had a Red Bull?

Speaker B:

And when you did, did give.

Speaker B:

Did it give you wings and.

Speaker A:

Probably college.

Speaker A:

I mean, I just.

Speaker B:

No way.

Speaker A:

I don't think I've had a Red Bull.

Speaker A:

There's no way.

Speaker B:

College.

Speaker A:

I don't really.

Speaker A:

I mean, not.

Speaker A:

I honestly cannot tell you that.

Speaker A:

I. I've never been a fan of the taste of it.

Speaker A:

It'.

Speaker A:

I was never into Red Bull to begin with, so I. I would much rather do a coffee drink or something else, or an espresso Martini.

Speaker A:

That would be my go to instead of a Red Bull and vodka or anything like that.

Speaker A:

It's not.

Speaker A:

Not my jam.

Speaker A:

Never has been, really.

Speaker B:

Never had like the late night at the bar and you're like, just struggling to keep up and you're like, I need a Red Bull and vodka.

Speaker A:

No, I think I would go for like a soda of some kind, like a Coca Cola or Diet Coke or something.

Speaker A:

That would be my go to.

Speaker A:

And I'm dancing usually by that point, so I don't need any more caffeine.

Speaker A:

I'm.

Speaker A:

I'm just using natural endorphins to keep me going at the bar.

Speaker A:

So that's if I've made it out that far.

Speaker A:

Maybe my son will take on my genetics and he'll be partying until midnight this weekend.

Speaker A:

Who knows?

Speaker B:

Yeah.

Speaker B:

Well, I remember mine vividly.

Speaker B:

It was:

Speaker B:

It was a crazy story, which is a story for another time at another venue.

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About the Podcast

Omni Talk Retail
Omni Talk Retail provides news, analysis, and commentary on the latest trends and issues in the retail industry
Omni Talk Retail provides news, analysis, and commentary on the latest trends and issues in the retail industry. It covers a wide range of topics related to retail, including e-commerce, technology, marketing, and consumer behavior. The podcast regularly features industry experts, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, as well as retail thought leaders who all share their insights and perspectives on the latest developments in retail.

About your hosts

Anne Mezzenga

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Anne Mezzenga is an entrepreneurial Marketing Executive with nearly 20 years in the retail, experience design, and technology industries.

Currently, she is one of the founders and Co-CEOs of Omni Talk.

Prior to her latest ventures, Anne was most recently the Head of Marketing and Partnerships for Target’s Store of the Future project. Early in her career, Anne worked as a producer for advertising agencies, Martin Williams and Fallon, and as a producer and reporter for news affiliates NBC New York and KMSP Minneapolis.

Anne holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

When Anne is not busy blogging, podcasting, or sharing her expertise with clients, she loves spending time with her husband and two boys and partaking in all the Minneapolis food scene has to offer.

Chris Walton

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