Can a 1970s tagline save a modern brand? 🦉🔥

This week on The Owlgorithm, JC Perez and David Verjano are breaking down a massive week in branding and business. From Tostitos ditching real-world photography for bold illustrations to the return of BIC’s most iconic slogan, we’re looking at the strategies winning the scroll in 2026.

Inside this episode:

• Brand Reviews: Why Tostitos went illustrated and why ESPN’s new look is built for the "multi-screen" era.
• State of AI: Ideogram’s huge text update and how Pixa is scaling Claude into a creative powerhouse.
• CPG Moves: Unilever buys Grüns, Proda launches at Sprouts, and the current state of Men’s CPG.
• Creative Revivals: Is the 70s vibe the secret to 2026 success? We talk BIC and Pringles.
• April Fools' Recap: The brands that actually made us laugh (and the ones that missed the mark).

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Is your marketing too "perfect" to be trusted? 🤳🍔

In this episode of The Owlgorithm, JC Perez and David Verjano pull back the curtain on the biggest "vibe shift" in 2026 branding: The Anti-Campaign. We’re moving away from high-gloss production and leaning into the raw, messy reality of consumer life.

We kick things off with McDonald’s "Camera Rolls"—a brilliant "anti-advertising" play that proves your customer's blurry, accidental photos are more powerful than a million-dollar food stylist.

On this week’s agenda:

• McDonald’s Camera Rolls: Why the "perfect" ad is a red flag in 2026.
• Tennessee Titans Brand Reset: How a legacy sports franchise navigates a full identity pivot without losing its soul.
• The Semrush Evolution: Why the world’s biggest SEO tool is rebranding as a "Discovery Platform" (and what that means for your search strategy).
• Perplexity Computer: Is AI-first hardware the next major brand interface, or just another tech hurdle?
• The "Un-Campaign" Trend: Why the most successful marketing today doesn't feel like marketing at all.

📍 Episode Chapters

00:00 – Intro: The Rise of the "Anti-Campaign" in 2026

04:50 – McDonald’s "Camera Rolls": Why messy is the new perfect

13:10 – Authenticity vs. Production: Breaking the 4th wall

20:45 – Tennessee Titans Brand Reset: Modernizing a legacy identity

31:20 – Semrush Evolves: From SEO tool to Discovery Platform

42:05 – Perplexity Computer: Is AI-first hardware the future?

51:30 – The "Un-Campaign" Trend: Marketing that doesn't feel like ads

01:02:15 – Q&A: Keeping your brand human in a digital-first world

01:10:45 – Final Thoughts: One strategy to humanize your brand today

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Is your brand a signal or just noise? 🛒🦉

In this episode of The Owlgorithm, JC Perez and David Verjano dive deep into the world of Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) following one of the year's biggest industry events: Expo West 2026.

The natural products industry is undergoing a massive shift. We’re moving away from venture-backed hyper-growth and toward sustainable, science-forward brand systems. We’re cutting through the "mushroom-everything" noise to discuss what’s actually gaining traction on the retail shelf.

On this week’s agenda:

• Expo West 2026 Recap: The signals vs. the noise.
• Functional 2.0: Why hydration and brain health are the new industry gold rush.
• Brand Evolutions: Analyzing the recent CPG rebrands that hit the mark—and the ones that missed.
• The Agency Perspective: A look inside Cultura Creative at how we’re building brand systems and solving high-level creative challenges for our clients right now.

The Owlgorithm is a live, weekly conversation about the intersection of brand, business, and creativity. Whether you're a founder, a creative director, or a brand architect, this is your playbook for staying ahead of the curve.

#ExpoWest2026 #CPGTrends #BrandStrategy #TheOwlgorithm #CulturaCreative #ConsumerPackagedGoods #MarketingTrends2026 #CreativeDirection

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