I can safely say you probably haven’t yet listened to a branded company podcast that is a food-based true crime satire. And that you should check one out:

The Burger Files

The show is from Wendy’s UK and produced by Fresh Air. I love the level of inventiveness and doubling down on a silly concept. The conceit is that there’s an incident someone eats a cheeseburger only to discover that there is a ketchup-covered plastic lid instead of a tomato. But really the specifics and plausibility of the crime are of only minor consequence. The plot is a conduit for many, many puns about food, for tropes about the excesses of true crime investigations, and segments that are proudly shameless excuses to have the narrator and other characters talk about Wendy’s products and stores.

It’s ridiculous, and won’t appeal to everyone. But it’s one of the most unique branded podcasts I’ve heard in a long while and I’d love to see more brands taking the plunge to do something silly that can break through the noise.

(Show credits include: Writer - Joel Morris Cast Sara Barron - Nina Noonan Natasha Hodgson - Jane Ewan Bailey - Male Characters Laura Shavin - Female Characters Jason Forbes - Male Characters)