Julian O’Shea, a Melbourne-based city design YouTuber, joins Dani Siller and Bill Sunderland from 'Escape This Podcast.' They tackle quirky topics like bizarre food theft prevention and marketing campaigns, including Burger King’s Moldy Whopper. The trio shares playful anecdotes about unusual culinary ideas, like the 'Earth sandwich,' and explore a humorous historical tale about a deer presented as a horse. Their banter brings laughs while delving into cultural oddities and the intricacies of politics and perceptions in governance.
The unconventional 'Moldy Whopper' campaign effectively increased sales by showcasing the absence of artificial preservatives, challenging traditional advertising norms.
A historic anecdote about Zhao Gao's deer-and-horse ploy illustrates the complex political dynamics and loyalty tests within the imperial court.
Deep dives
Unusual Marketing Success
A restaurant chain in 2020 displayed photos of their food covered in mold, which surprisingly resulted in a 4% increase in sales. This unconventional marketing strategy aimed to highlight the absence of artificial preservatives in their offerings, with the tagline emphasizing the 'beauty of no artificial preservatives.' The campaign, known as the 'Moldy Whopper,' became quite notable as it challenged conventional advertising norms. Such a bold move sparked discussions on consumer psychology and the unexpected ways that branding can influence purchasing behavior.
The Concept of an Earth Sandwich
A unique interaction occurred between a New Zealander named Etienne and a Spanish chef named Angel through Reddit, resulting in a challenge that involved creating an 'Earth sandwich.' This entails dropping a slice of bread at a specific point in New Zealand and having another slice dropped simultaneously in Spain, marking the other side of the globe. The idea emphasizes the creativity and whimsy present in modern internet culture. It also sheds light on how online interactions can lead to fun and unconventional projects that transcend geographical boundaries.
K-Pop Fandom Dynamics
During a performance, members of a K-pop group, RM and V, experienced a phenomenon known as a 'black ocean' when their audience did not show support as expected. Fans expressed their disapproval by turning off their light sticks, which symbolize their allegiance to a different K-pop group, indicating a strong contrast in fan loyalty within the industry. This moment can be particularly alarming for performers as it visually implies a lack of support and could suggest a decline in popularity. Such incidents illustrate the competitive nature of the K-pop scene and the significance of fan engagement in determining an artist's success.
A Shocking Courtroom Revelation
In 207 BC, a strategist named Zhao Gao presented a deer to the Chinese emperor, claiming it was a horse, as part of a cunning ploy that eventually led him to acquire immense power. This act served as a litmus test to gauge the loyalty of members in the court, revealing those who sided with him versus those loyal to the emperor. The reaction of courtiers to his claim provided valuable insights into political allegiance, further revealing the intricacies of power dynamics within the imperial court. This historic anecdote underscores the lengths to which individuals might go to secure their positions and the clever tactics employed in the realm of political maneuvering.
Julian O’Shea, Dani Siller and Bill Sunderland face questions about fallen food, accidental advertising and cricketing circumstances.
LATERAL is a comedy panel game podcast about weird questions with wonderful answers, hosted by Tom Scott. For business enquiries, contestant appearances or question submissions, visit https://lateralcast.com.