Sponsored by

"We produce podcasts for companies from A-Z”

This edition is brought to you by

Hey there!

In this issue, we’re spotlighting two very different brands—Ansarada and McDonald’s—that used podcasts to punch way above their PR weight.

One used a mic to break into the boardrooms of Wall Street. The other turned a sauce shortage meltdown into a fan-favorite redemption arc.

What do they have in common? They didn’t talk at their audience—they invited them in.

Because today, the smartest brands aren’t just putting out messages. They’re telling stories that people actually want to hear.

Let’s dig into how they did it—and why your brand should be thinking audio-first, too.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• 🔥 How Ansarada Used a Podcast to Win Over Wall Street

• Why Podcasts Are the New Power Move in PR 🎙️

• McDonald’s Turned a PR Mess Into a Hit Podcast — Here's How 🍟🎧

📈 Trending news

• Build a Podcast People Come Back To

• Measuring Podcast Success in the Metrics That Matter

• From Presence to Performance: Rethinking Branded Podcasts

🔥 How Ansarada Used a Podcast to Win Over Wall Street

When Aussie FinTech firm Ansarada set its sights on the US market, it knew it needed more than a flashy pitch deck to get noticed by VCs and private equity pros. So it called in Amaze Media Labs to craft something a little louder.

Enter: The Pathfinders, a custom podcast hosted by NFLer-turned-investor Dhani Jones.

Here’s how they turned conversations into conversions:

• 🎯 Right host, right room: Dhani Jones brought industry cred and charisma, landing interviews with major players from Bain Capital, Intel’s VC arm, and LionTree.

• 📈 Real reach, not just buzz: The series delivered 250k+ media impressions, strong social engagement, and downloads growing 200% every month.

• 🎧 Proof of concept: After a 10-episode test run, Ansarada saw a clear lift in brand visibility and is now going all in with a 20-episode second season.

Your Brand Story Deserves the Spotlight!

In today’s attention economy, powerful storytelling isn’t a luxury—it’s a growth strategy. That’s why top companies are turning to Amaze Media Labs to launch podcasts that entertain, educate, and truly connect.

From internal comms to branded content, Amaze handles everything—concept development, world-class production, guest coordination, and platform distribution.

With 1000+ episodes produced, clients trust Amaze to turn every conversation into impact—on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and beyond.

Ready to create a show your audience won’t skip?

Why Podcasts Are the New Power Move in PR 🎙️ read the full 931-word article here

Article published: December 4, 2025

Just read Releasd’s "The ROI of Audio"—and if podcasts aren’t in your PR mix, you’re behind.

With 600M+ listeners expected by 2026, podcasts are more than a channel—they're the new PR power play. Branded shows drive 89% more awareness, 57% more brand consideration, and 24% stronger recall than ads.

In a fragmented media world, podcasts cut through with intimacy, authenticity, and trackable ROI. TL;DR: They're not optional—they're essential.

Key Takeaways

• 🎧 Audio dominates attention: 98% of UK listeners engage with audio weekly—averaging 28+ hours—making podcasts a top-tier attention platform.

• 📈 Branded podcasts outperform ads: They drive 89% more awareness and 57% higher consideration than traditional advertising, per BBC research.

• 🔗 Boost SEO and GEO: Podcasts offer valuable backlinks and generative engine optimization through show notes and cross-platform discovery.

• 🎯 Small shows, big impact: For B2B, niche podcasts outperform big names due to targeted, highly engaged audiences that actively seek expert voices.

McDonald’s Turned a PR Mess Into a Hit Podcast — Here's How 🍟🎧 read the full article here

Article published: December 4, 2025

I just read “The Secret’s in ‘The Sauce’” by Vantage Point, and it’s a wild case study in branded podcasting done right—by none other than McDonald’s.

After the infamous 2017 Szechuan sauce shortage triggered internet outrage (and actual riots), McDonald’s didn’t issue a boring press release. Instead, they created a three-part podcast called "The Sauce" to tell the whole story—from internal chaos to fan meltdowns to brand redemption.

Produced with Gizmodo and Onion Labs, the podcast used humor, transparency, and serialized storytelling to turn a corporate oops into a clever content moment. Think Serial meets snack food.

It’s proof that even giant brands can take bold, human-first approaches to PR—and that podcasts aren’t just for thought leadership anymore.

Key Takeaways

• 🎙️ Podcasts build trust through voice: Hearing real McDonald’s staff—and even fans—added emotional depth and authenticity no press release could match.

• 📚 Storytelling matters more than spin: The podcast format let McDonald’s admit mistakes, walk through what happened, and keep it entertaining all the way.

• 💡 Transparency > polish: They didn’t pretend it was perfect. That honesty made the brand feel more human and relatable.

• ⏱️ Smart timing = smart marketing: All three episodes dropped just days before the sauce relaunch, building buzz while smoothing over the past.

Why It Matters

Here’s what these brands nailed: They didn’t just make a podcast. They made content people actually want to spend time with.

From Ansarada’s C-suite interviews to McDonald’s self-aware deep dive into internet chaos, both prove that when your brand uses voice well, people listen—and trust.

Podcasting isn’t a trend. It’s where real conversations build real results.

See you next time,

Jenna Blake
Editor-in-Chief
The Corporate Podcast Playbook

P.S. – If you’ve been thinking about launching a podcast for your brand but didn’t know where to start, now’s the time. Amaze Media Labs makes it easy—with full production, distribution, and marketing support that gets you heard in all the right places. Click here to learn more and get started.