Strange Coordinates

Thumb Kind of Wonderful (ep 18)

Wed, 06 May 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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 your phone, or is it using you?

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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

Want to see our faces while we talk? You can also find Strange Coordinates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeCoordinates

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Show art & design by Chris Allen

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Strange(r) Coordinates: Zesty Paws Shoot BTS

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700

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 from both the territorial and Zesty Paws teams to find out what actually happens behind the monitor.

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Learn more about Zesty Paws: https://zestypaws.com/

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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

Want to see our faces while we talk? You can also find Strange Coordinates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeCoordinates

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Learn about our approach to Bot-Friendly Branding: https://www.weareterritorial.com/bot-friendly-branding

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Credits

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Topher Burns

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Branded Little Pill (ep 17)

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0700

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?

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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

Want to see our faces while we talk? You can also find Strange Coordinates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeCoordinates

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Show art & design by Chris Allen

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Do Robots Dream of Brands? (ep 16)

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0700

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?

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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

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeCoordinates

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Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Strange(r) Coordinates: Kelly Colbert

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0700

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 minds.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellycolbert/

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📌 Subscribe on YouTube for more Strange(r) Coordinates: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeCoordinates?sub_confirmation=1

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Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Learn about our approach to Bot-Friendly Branding: https://www.weareterritorial.com/bot-friendly-branding

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Credits

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

In For A Treat (ep 15)

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0700

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 what dogs eat, but how people relate to them

🐾 The role of play, absurdity, and memory in building lasting brands

If you’ve ever given your dog a treat without thinking twice, you’ve been part of Milk-Bone’s story.

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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

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Learn about our approach to Bot-Friendly Branding: https://www.weareterritorial.com/bot-friendly-branding

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Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Strange(r) Coordinates: Ben Jenkins

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0700

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 interpreted faster than they’re understood
How ambiguity and creativity go hand in hand
What it means to make meaning in a world of noise and speed

If branding is about stories, this episode shows why you don’t always get to hold the pen.

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Ben Jenkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensjenkins/

Okay Human on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okayhuman/

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Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Learn about our approach to Bot-Friendly Branding: https://www.weareterritorial.com/bot-friendly-branding

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Credits

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Paper Brain (ep 14)

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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 Burns and Robert Balog unpack:

How Post-It Notes were accidentally invented
Why they became the universal language of brainstorming
What their survival in the digital era tells us about branding and innovation

If you’ve ever stuck an idea on the wall, you’re already part of this story.

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Learn about our approach to Bot-Friendly Branding: https://www.weareterritorial.com/bot-friendly-branding

Check out our YouTube channel to look at our faces while you listen: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeCoordinates

Credits

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Strange(r) Coordinates: Andrea Buccilla

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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 series.

From WNBA valuations and brand sponsorships to why women’s sports are finally getting their spotlight, we explore:

• Why now is a breakthrough moment for women’s leagues

• How Andrea crafts authentic stories in a space often overlooked

• What smart brands are doing right when entering this space

• The power of product placement, athlete-driven content, and fandom as cultural currency

If you're into branding, sports media, or the future of advertising in culture—you’ll want to hit play.

👇 Drop a comment if you’ve been to a WNBA game—or want to.And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share.

Andrea Buccilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-buccilla/

Veteran Made: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veteranmadeproductions/

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore

Fast Fashion (ep 13)

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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

Want to see our faces while we talk? You can also find Strange Coordinates wherever you get your podcasts.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Strange(r) Coordinates: Eli Altman

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0700

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

Learn about our approach to Bot-Friendly Branding

Want to see our faces while we talk? You can also find Strange Coordinates on YouTube.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

BONUS: How AI Can Learn To Love Your Brand

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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 means for a brand to be ready for the AI revolution; we’re including it here as a bonus episode for our podcast listeners / watchers.

Learn more about Evertune at https://www.evertune.ai/

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Low Hanging Fruit (ep 12)

Thu, 15 May 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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.

Subscribe to our mailing list

Want to see our faces while we talk? You can also find Strange Coordinates on YouTube.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Strange(r) Coordinates: Sree Sreenivasan

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0700

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.group/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/digimentors/

Check out Sree’s NYT Readalong series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEB5yMzF2sQ&list=PLpcj64uXCCR-TTeP4RrCnF9pAYutl4iuL&index=2

Want to see our faces while we talk? Watch instead! You can find Strange Coordinates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeCoordinates

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Follow territorial on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareterritorial

Follow Aydan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreenivasan/

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Beauty Secrets (ep 11)

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0700

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.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Video editing by Patrick Elmore: https://www.patrickelmore.co/

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Big Button Energy (ep 10)

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0700

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).

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Strange(r) Coordinates: Aydan Sarikaya

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0700

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 what we do, visit weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow territorial on LinkedIn

Follow Aydan on LinkedIn

Subscribe to our mailing list

All the Pretty Horseys (ep 09)

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 07:45:00 -0700

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://www.caranddriver.com/features/g26087850/cars-in-rap-hip-hop-songs-music/

These Are The 12 Most-Mentioned Cars In Hip-Hop: https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/expensive-cars-rappers-favorite/

Ferrari Logo History: https://www.ferrarilakeforest.com/manufacturer-information/ferrari-logo-history

The tale of the domesticated horse: https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2022/tale-domesticated-horse

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Strange(r) Coordinates: Maureen Golga

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0700

’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 Christmas Started Creeping”, Contingent Magazine

“Christmas Season Starts Earlier Every Year!”, Slate

“Consumer Spending Trends: How Much Will Holiday Shoppers Spend This Year?”, Salsify

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow territorial on LinkedIn

Follow Maureen on LinkedIn

Subscribe to our mailing list

Colorful Language (ep 08)

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:30:00 -0700

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.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Strange(r) Coordinates: Rameez Tase

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0700

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.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow territorial on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareterritorial

Follow Rameez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtase

Subscribe to our mailing list: https://forms.gle/YH9y99y1d9ZVKNm28

Canceled Flight (ep 07)

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Is Boeing living up to their brand strategy of "leading on safety"? On the latest Strange Coordinates, Topher Burns and Robert Balog are taking to the skies with the first B2B brand we've covered on the show.

For more about our ad agency territorial and how we help brands find their place in the world check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Strange(r) Coordinates: Adam Christensen

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0700

In this spinoff series, we bring along a guest on our Strange Coordinates journey. We call it: Strange(r) Coordinates.

Inspired by our investigation into NordicTrack, we chatted with Adam Christensen, CMO of Notified, about ownership and walled gardens in the digital age. What does it mean for brands when software updates — or user tinkering — can totally change a product from its original designs?

For more about our ad agency territorial and how we help brands find their place in the world check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow Adam on LinkedIn

Check out our NordicTrack episode

Lion of Tinseltown (ep 06)

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0700

Can a movie studio really be a brand? We were as surprised as you'll be, but it took sinister Hollywood fixers and lions in airplanes to make us get this existential. Join us on an exploration of MGM.

For more about our ad agency territorial and how we help brands find their place in the world check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Strange(r) Coordinates: Kirstyn Nimmo

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 03:00:00 -0700

We're spinning a new format into the Strange Coordinates mix, in which we bring along a guest on our brand excursions. Introducing: Strange(r) Coordinates!

The theme for this episode is brand spokespeople inspired by "Shiploads of Fun", our show about Carnival Cruise Line. We're joined by Kirstyn Nimmo who leads inclusion at Code & Theory and is the founder of Good Worx. Connect with Kirstyn Nimmo on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.

For more about our ad agency territorial and how we help brands find their place in the world check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions

Steep Thoughts (ep 05)

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0700

The kettle's whistling, and just in time because Topher is ready to brew up two steaming mugs of tea on Celestial Seasonings. If you're thinking it's all going to be sleepy bears in night caps, you might want to grab another afghan to clutch.

For more about our ad agency territorial and how we help brands find their place in the world check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Links from our episode:

Cults, Conspiracies, and the Twisted History of Sleepy Time Tea

Getting Owned (ep 04)

Wed, 15 May 2024 02:00:00 -0700

NordicTrack isn't just responsible for a small part of Robert's childhood trauma. It's also a brand that has managed to spend almost 50 years gliding right down the center track of a fascinating cultural conversation. So strap on those indoor skis, fitness fans, you're about to get owned.

For more about our ad agency territorial and how we help brands find their place in the world, check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Want to see the full NordicTrack instruction video?

Want to read the Wired article Robert mentioned about god mode?

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions: Bitter Roll, Feeling Fine, Longtime Rye, Iowana

Thirst Trap (ep 03)

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0700

We don't love throwing the word "viral" around, but when Topher takes on the Stanley tumbler there's pretty much no other word appropriate for its sudden, wild ubiquity. But did you know the brand is more than a century old? And what can we learn about our world today from its phoenix-like reemergence?

For more about territorial check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions: Bitter Roll, Iowana, Parade Shoes, Vernouillet

Shiploads of Fun (ep 02)

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0700

All aboard! We're hitting the high seas with Carnival Cruise Line. Ye landlubbers beware, there be singing and show tunes ahead.

For more about territorial check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Editing by Steph George

Marketing by Billy Silverman

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions: Bitter Roll, Vernouillet, Longtime Rye, Feeling Fine

Sweet Satisfaction (ep 01)

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -0700

It's our inaugural episode, and Topher's got a sweet tooth. Obviously that led us straight to the Great Depression and, later, disco murder.

For more about territorial check out our website weareterritorial.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Show art & design by Chris Allen

Episode music by Blue Dot Sessions: Bitter Roll, Longtime Rye, Parade Shoes, and Lina my Queen