Join hosts Cameron Olds and Dallin Merrill on Differentiate or Die, the podcast that dives deep into the art and science of standing out in a crowded market. Each episode explores how businesses can carve out a unique identity, avoid blending in with the competition, and build a lasting competitive advantage. From analyzing iconic brands like Patagonia and Cotopaxi to uncovering strategies for clear, consistent messaging, this podcast is your guide to creating a brand that resonates. Sponsored by MessageOS, we’ll show you how to keep your team on-brand and your customers engaged. Tune in for actionable insights, lively discussions, and a fresh perspective on what it means to be truly different.

Join Cameron and Derrill as they journey into the world of Utah’s dirty soda shops, where customized sodas like Dr. Pepper with raspberry or Coke with lime have become a cultural staple. We dive into the rise of major players—Swig, Fiiz, Swig, and Sodalicious—exploring their near-identical offerings, catchy drink names, and social media strategies, while critiquing their lack of differentiation in a cutthroat market. From Swig’s dominance with its widespread locations to ideas for standing out, like simplifying menus or revolutionizing the drive-thru experience, this episode unpacks the challenges and opportunities in this bubbly, competitive scene. Tune in to discover how these shops are shaking up the beverage game and what it takes to win in a saturated market!

In this episode of Differentiate or Die, hosts Cameron Olds and Dallin Merrill dive into the crowded world of distraction management tools by comparing two nearly identical products: Brick and Blok. Both are physical NFC-enabled devices that pair with apps to help users reduce screen time by blocking access to distracting apps—requiring a physical tap to unlock them. The duo dissects the clarity and uniqueness of each brand’s messaging, noting Brick’s strong ad language and initial appeal, and Blok’s superior problem and failure language on its website. The episode explores how clarity in messaging is a must, but true competitive advantage lies in differentiation—whether through audience targeting, design aesthetics, or brand voice.