Episode 18

Thumb Kind of Wonderful (ep 18)

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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Show notes: A brief, ignoble history of the BlackBerry on Wall Street: https://www.marketplace.org/story/2011/12/13/brief-ignoble-history-blackberry-wall-street Wall Street’s ‘CrackBerry’ Withdrawal (Published 2011): https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/wall-streets-crackberry-withdrawal/ A Romance With Risk That Brought On a Panic (Published 2011): https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/a-romance-with-risk-that-brought-on-a-panic/ Clinton BlackBerry photo led to State official’s query about email account: https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/06/hillary-clinton-emails-probe-blackberry-224154 What's Behind BlackBerry Addiction: https://www.inc.com/hardware/articles/200610/blackberryaddict.html

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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

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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/

About the Podcast

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Strange Coordinates
Brands are compass points to unexpected places

About your host

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Topher Burns

Born in Albuquerque, hardened in NYC, and rapidly softening in Portland Oregon. Former TV blogger, current tarot novice, and future bronze medal gymnast at the 2048 senior olympic games in Raleigh-Durham. Founded a branding agency for regenerative businesses. DM for pics of his cats.