Strange Coordinates

In this episode, we trace the strategic history of fintech giant Chime to expose how design, psychology, and color theory fuel modern banking. We break down Chime’s calculated play for the underserved gig economy, the ethical entanglements of their early Doctor Phil daytime TV endorsement, and the catastrophic Covid-era algorithm errors that left paycheck-to-paycheck users locked out of their acco...

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (or just Cannes if you’re normal) is coming up, and we’ve got the perfect tour guides. Rachel Segall and Simone Mandel of the growth platform and consultancy NBZ take us behind the festival facades and endless flows of rosé they experienced last year to give us a sense of what to expect next week. We talk about the shifting ecosystem of adverti...

In our newest episode of Strange Coordinates, we’re diving into the pharmaceutical industry with Michelle Nguyen and Barbara Salami of Decyd to explore how AI is transforming how new drugs are brought to market. They break down why so many brilliant medical innovations flop on launch, how their platform acts as "genetic testing" for drug assets, and why the near-term financial payoff for commercia...

In our latest episode of Strange Coordinates, we dive into the fast-moving world of consumer electronics with Laura Kaye, Global Social Media Director at Booking.com. Drawing from her years at Samsung Mobile, Laura breaks down how tech giants engineer brand love, while navigating the rising consumer craving for digital detoxes. --- Show notes: Find Laura Kaye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/...

In our newest episode of Strange Coordinates, we’re going back to 2009: the year of Kanye at the VMAs, the Miracle on the Hudson, and the 56% market share peak of the BlackBerry. But this isn't just a nostalgia trip. We’re digging into how a tactile email machine reshaped global politics, contributed to the 2008 financial crisis, and turned us all into rats in a digital Skinner Box. Are you using...

Usually on Strange Coordinates , we use brands as roadmaps to arrive at surprising places. Today, we’re arriving somewhere literal: a production set. We’ve pulled back the curtain on our latest collaboration with Zesty Paws to explore the friction, the "hot lights," and the specific magic that happens when creative intuition meets analytical rigor. We’re interviewing the makers and the marketers f...

In our newest episode of Strange Coordinates, we dive into Eli Lilly and the fine line between being a "pharmaceutical company" and "a medicine company." We track their journey from standardizing doses in the 1800s to navigating the cultural minefield of GLP-1s and a $15 billion Twitter crisis. Everyone wants to be a hero… but do they have the history to back it up? --- territorial is an advertisi...

In our newest episode of Strange Coordinates , we dive into OpenAI and the identity crisis happening across the landscape. Everyone’s racing to make emotional, cinematic ads… but do they know what they stand for? --- territorial is an advertising agency that helps brands find their place in the world. To see our work and learn more about what we do, visit weareterritorial.com Follow us on LinkedIn...

In our latest Strange(r) Coordinates interview, we sat down with Kelly Colbert , fractional CMO for the Humane Society, to explore how brand strategy works when your goal is purpose, not profit. From her days at Anthem to leading communications for one of the world’s top animal welfare organizations, Kelly shares insights on authenticity, empathy, and storytelling that connects hearts as much as m...

How did a simple dog biscuit become a cultural icon? 🦴 In this episode of Strange Coordinates, Topher Burns and Robert Balog explore the surprising story of Milk-Bone — a brand that turned an everyday pet treat into a ritual, a household name, and even a piece of advertising history. You’ll learn: 🐾 How Milk-Bone went from functional snack to cultural symbol 🐾 Why advertising shaped not just wh...

In this episode of Strange(r) Coordinates , Aydan Sarikaya and Robert Balog talk with Ben Jenkins about the signals, impressions, and contexts that drive creative work and shape how people experience brands. From the way we read meaning before we hear messages, to the role of culture in creativity, this conversation explores the messy, human side of brand building. We discuss: Why brands are inter...

The history of Post-It Notes begins with a glue that didn’t work. What started as a failed aerospace adhesive at 3M became one of the most unlikely and influential inventions in creative culture. From agency war rooms to startup whiteboards to digital tools like Miro and Figma, sticky notes have shaped how we think, collaborate, and build ideas. In this episode of Strange Coordinates , Topher Burn...

In this episode of Strange(r) Coordinates, we're diving into the explosive growth of women’s sports—and the powerful branding and storytelling opportunities that come with it. Co-host Aydan Sarikaya is joined by territorial colleague Julie Sullivan and special guest Andrea Buccilla , a documentary and commercial director known for her work on Shattered Glass and Power Forward, a Delta x WNBA serie...

How did a nondescript running shoe like New Balance become a millennial fashion statement? Topher Burns and Robert Balog explore the surprising intersections of atheltics, fashion, inequality, and barnyard animals. - Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28 - Learn about our approach to Bot-Friendly Branding: https://www.weareterritorial.com/bot-friendly-branding - territ...

In our latest Strange(r) Coordinates interview, Eli Altman of A Hundred Monkeys gives us insight into the world of naming. Also, we explore how he thinks of sustainable growth and why the least-tenured person at his company has been there for six years. It’s the best of interviews, it’s the… blurst of interviews? Eli Altman on LinkedIn A Hundred Monkeys on LinkedIn Subscribe to our mailing list Le...

Watch the full webinar here Subscribe to our mailing list AI comes up a lot on Strange Coordinates, and it comes up a lot in our ad agency’s work as well. You might have a brand people love, but if you can make AI love it too, you can tap into a whole new world of growth. We recently held a webinar with our co-founder Topher Burns and Brian Stempeck of Evertune AI for a conversation about what it...

Register for our upcoming webinar on the intersection of AI and brand design Our Chiquita episode bounces between anthropomorphic fruit mascots and Columbian death squads, with a lot of thoughtful criticism of greenwashing and cultural insensitivity in between. Classic #StrangeCoordinates. - territorial is an advertising agency that helps brands find their place in the world. To see our work and l...

On our latest Strange(r) Coordinates, we talk to Sree Sreenivasan , digital mentor and expert in training people to adopt generative AI. Aydan and Topher chat with Sree about how this disruption might compare with the social media revolution of the 2010s, and how we can collectively envision a better future for this nascent technology. Find out more about Digimentors : https://www.digimentors.grou...

Eleven episodes in, and it feels like our podcast is aging gracefully. That’s why it feels like a perfect time to twist the cap on Oil of Olay , also known as Olay — depending on how old you are. Topher and Robert explore the various ways Olay has been ahead of its time and unfortunately very much of its time throughout its storied history. - territorial is an advertising agency that helps brands...

In our new episode on Cuisinart, we learn that Weird Al Yankovic described his brain as a “pop culture Cuisinart.” Interestingly, the episode itself is a sort of pop culture food processor, full of digressions on topics like Macbooks, 30 Rock, American spycraft, and even Con Air (1997). - territorial is an advertising agency that helps brands find their place in the world. To see our work and lear...

If you’ve worked with territorial over the last three years, you’ve experienced our signature flavor. For 2025, we’re truly kicking things up: joining us to explain what’s changing is Aydan Sarikaya . Check out Aydan’s GoodReads profile Topher’s gardening podcast, Clippings - territorial is an advertising agency that helps brands find their place in the world. To see our work and learn more about...

Why do Ferrari, Porsche, and Ducati all have black stallions emblazoned on their logos? The answer is probably more interesting than you think — from both a historical and sociological perspective!  Topher and Robert are firing on all cylinders as Strange Coordinates covers Ferrari ’s identity and origins. Links discussed in the episode: Most Mentioned Vehicles in Rap and Hip-Hop Songs: https...

’Tis the season for… brand activations? PR is all about creating a moment that grabs attention — and few moments hold our collective attention like the holidays. On our latest Strange(r) Coordinates, we talk to Maureen Golga of Weber Shandwick about how some brands are able to cut through the noise in the hectic final stretch of the year. More info on the answers to the “Off Brand” quiz: “When Chr...

No matter who you are, the past few weeks have probably felt stressful. Take a break from the doomscrolling and enjoy two brand guys gushing about Crayola . - territorial is an advertising agency that helps brands find their place in the world. To see our work and learn more about what we do, visit weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareterritorial -...

Strange(r) Coordinates is back. This time, we’re chatting with Rameez Tase , co-founder and president of our client Antenna , about the long love affair between brands, media, and entertainment. - territorial is an advertising agency that helps brands find their place in the world. To see our work and learn more about what we do, visit weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.li...