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Welcome to Skeptical Sunday. I'm your host, Jordan Harbinger. Today I'm here with Skeptical Sunday co-host, writer and researcher Jessica Wynn.

On the Jordan Harbinger show, we decode the story as secrets and skills of the world's most fascinating people and turn their wisdom into practical advice that you can use to impact your own life and those around you.

Our mission is to help you become a better informed, more critical thinker.

During the week, we have long-formed conversations with the variety of amazing folks,

from spies to CEOs, athletes, authors, thinkers, and performers.

On Sundays, though, it's skeptical Sunday,

where a rotating guest co-host and I break down a topic you may have never thought about

and debunk common misconceptions about that topic,

such as the lottery, GMOs, toothpaste, rakey healing, self-help cults, diet pills, bottled water, and more. And if you're new to the show or you want to tell your friends about the show, I suggest our episode starter packs. These are collections of our favorite episodes on persuasion, negotiation, psychology, disinformation, junk science, crime and cults and more that'll help

new listeners get a taste of everything we do here on the show. Just visit jordanharbinger.com

slash start or search for us in your Spotify app to get started. Today we're talking about

Black Friday, that wonderful time of year when Americans express gratitude on Thursday

and commit petty violence over flat screen TV is on Friday.

Black Friday is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, but is it really a deal?

What actually drives us to run for these sales?

Are we saving money?

Are we just buying the illusion of discounts?

...