In this kickoff to the 2025–26 season, Eric and Elijah unpack the boom—and backlash—around Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). From viral memes about financing hot dogs to real concerns about “invisible debt,” they trace how BNPL morphed from an inclusion play for thin-file borrowers into a system that can nudge impulsive spending. The conversation hits consumer psychology hard: why splitting payments feels like “free money,” and why short-lived purchases create unique collection headaches.00:00 – Intro & Definition of BNPL
01:00 – BNPL in Everyday Life
03:00 – Psychology of “Free Money”
05:00 – Financial Inclusion vs. Predatory Lending
07:00 – Consequences and Collections
09:00 – FICO Scores and Invisible Debt
11:30 – Credit Limits and Hard Inquiries
13:30 – IPO Failures and Market Uncertainty
15:30 – Regulation and Global Impact
17:30 – Banks Entering the BNPL Space
19:30 – The Shake-Out Period
21:30 – Conclusion & Sign-Off