Who Smarted? – “Why is a Hamburger called a Hamburger?”

Podcast: Who Smarted?
Host: Adam Tex Davis
Episode Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Who Smarted? dives into the origins, history, and global variations of the hamburger, unraveling the mystery behind its name (hint: it’s not about ham!). With classic Who Smarted? humor, immersive storytelling, and interactive trivia, Adam Tex Davis (Host), the comedic Fast Food Worker (Jerry Colbert), and the wisecracking Smartie Genie (Chris In N out Okawa) guide listeners on a time-jumping journey through burger history. The episode answers intriguing questions like: Why is it called a hamburger when there’s no ham? Who really invented it? And what’s the deal with the world’s biggest burger?

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Hamburger Ordering Sketch and Set-up

• The episode opens with a fast-food skit which sets a playful, humorous tone, introducing the “Smarty Burger,” “Smarty Sauce,” and “Smartie Meal” to parody fast-food culture.
• [00:07] Host tries to order a hamburger but encounters branding confusion:
  • “Let me get hamburger.” – Host (00:07)
  • “You mean Smarty Burger?” – Fast Food Worker (00:09)
  • “If that's a hamburger, yes.” – Host (00:11)

2. Enter the Burger Genie

• Host finds a “tiny plastic lamp” in his meal which unleashes the Smartie Genie, who grants him burger-related wishes.
• Hilarious wish mishap piles 4–5,000 burgers on the host to illustrate that “average Americans eat 60 burgers a year—4 to 5,000 in a lifetime.”
  • “You asked for a lifetime supply.” – Genie (02:23)

3. Burger Name Trivia, Global Burger Styles

• Global variations make burgers a universal favorite, but the key question is raised: Why is there no ham in a hamburger?
• Host quizzes listeners on the burger’s name origin, providing multiple choice to boost interactivity:
  • “Why is a hamburger called a hamburger when it's usually made with ground beef and not ham?” (04:41)
• Answer: The name comes from Hamburg, Germany, not the meat.
  • “The hamburger gets its name from a city in Germany called Hamburg.” – Genie (04:58)

4. Tracing the Hamburger’s True Origins

• Explores multiple legends and claimants to the “first hamburger” title:
  • Walter Anderson (White Castle, Kansas, 1916): Flattened meatballs into patties for faster service, inspiring fast-food assembly (06:05)
    • “Look at that. Flat beats round. Hmm. You know what? I might be onto something here.” – Walter Anderson (06:14)
  • Louie’s Lunch (Connecticut, 1900): Library of Congress cite for the “first hamburger” on toast (07:50)
  • Hamburger Charlie (Seymour, Wisconsin, 1885): 15-year-old sells meatball in bread at fair (08:43)
  • British cookbook, 1700s: Hannah Glass mentions a “Hamburg sausage,” beef on bread, in London (10:03)
  • Mongol Warriors, 1200s: Meat tenderized under saddles, “first burgers” claim (10:25)
  • Ancient Rome, 1st century: Chopped beef patty references (10:44)
• Conclusion: Many people, many locations, and no single inventor.
  • “The idea of meat on bread is so simple and so portable... more than one person is said to have created the first one.” – Host (11:01)

5. Veggie Burger and Modern Alternatives

• The episode highlights that ~20% of the world’s population doesn’t eat meat and discusses the origin of the veggie burger.
  • “Most say the first one was sold in 1982 at a restaurant in London by a vegetarian cook named Gregory Sams.” (17:28)
• Notes health aspects—veggie burgers may be lower in fat but higher in sodium.

6. The World’s Largest Hamburger (Fun Fact Finale)

• Listeners travel to Germany (not Hamburg, but Pilsting, 2017) where a 2,566-pound burger was assembled and sold for charity.
  • “Any guess how much this monster weighs?...Try over 2,000 pounds. 566 pounds. Or 1,164 kilograms.” – Genie (19:26)
• The massive burger is not for single-person consumption!
  • “You should definitely not eat the world’s largest burger by yourself.” – Genie (18:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Burger Genie Wish Gone Wrong
  • “Average Americans like yourself eat at least 60 burgers a year… You asked for a lifetime supply.” – Genie (02:23)
• On the Elusive Origin of the Burger
  • “The idea of meat on bread is so simple… it’s no surprise that more than one person is said to have created the first one.” – Host (11:01)
• On Global Styles
  • “In Australia and New Zealand… fried eggs, beet slices or pineapple. In Japan… mustard and chocolate. In Mexico… egg and ham.” – Host (03:58)
• On Name Origins
  • “The hamburger gets its name from a city in Germany called Hamburg.” – Genie (04:58)
• Burger Record
  • “You’d need more than 8,000 Smarty Burgers to equal this one or two cows.” – Host (19:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:07] Opening Fast Food Parody
• [01:34] Smartie Genie Appears
• [02:23] Burger Statistics (average per American)
• [04:41] Trivia: Why "Hamburger"?
• [05:05] Explanation: Hamburg Origin
• [06:05] Walter Anderson Smooshes Meatballs
• [06:37] White Castle Founding
• [07:50] Louie’s Lunch in New Haven, Library of Congress
• [08:43] “Hamburger Charlie,” Seymour, Wisconsin, 1885
• [10:03] Hannah Glass, London cookbook, 1700s
• [10:25] Mongol Warriors, 1200s
• [10:44] Ancient Rome, 1st century
• [11:01] Why it’s hard to pinpoint the first burger
• [17:24] World’s first veggie burgers (Gregory Sams, London, 1982)
• [18:36] World’s Largest Burger (Pilsting, Germany, 2017)
• [19:36] Burger weight and fun math

Tone and Presentation

• Humorous, cheeky, and conversational. The episode uses playful banter, “genie wish” mishaps, and global trivia to keep kids engaged.
• Interactive: Frequent direct questions to listeners encourage participation (e.g., “Smarty pants, do you know why it’s so difficult to pinpoint the very first burger?”)
• Educational, but light-hearted: The podcast blends real historical facts with silly sound effects, jokes, and sitcom-style asides.

Summary Takeaways

• The “hamburger” is named after Hamburg, Germany, not the ham in the meat.
• No single person invented the hamburger; variations have appeared in many countries over centuries.
• Fast food culture popularized the modern burger, thanks to innovators like Walter Anderson and chains like White Castle.
• Burgers are enjoyed (and adapted!) worldwide—sometimes with surprising toppings.
• The veggie burger’s origin is modern, illustrating changing diets and food innovation.
• The world’s biggest burger tipped the scales at over 2,500 pounds and was a community effort for charity.

Final Quote

“Okay, that wraps up this episode. I’m ready to wish for my lifetime supply of burgers now—spaced out over time, not all at once.”
– Host (Adam Tex Davis) [19:54]

Who Smarted? continues to blend giggles and genuine science/history lessons, making learning about even a simple burger a deliciously fun adventure.