AME launches News of the Weird Podcast

Media Contact:

Kathy Hilliard
Vice President, Marketing
Andrews McMeel Universal
khilliard@amuniversal.com
(816) 581-7497

Kansas City, MO (October 10, 2022) – Andrews McMeel Entertainment (AME) has launched the News of the Weird podcast, announced AMU Entertainment Executive Producer Bridget McMeel. The series, which debuts October 10, 2022, will include six episodes and is the first podcast released by AME, a division of global media company Andrews McMeel Universal (AMU).  It will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

“News of the Weird, created by Chuck Shepherd, has been one of the most popular syndicated newspaper features ever distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication,” said McMeel. “We are thrilled to present it in an ideally-suited new format to an established and enthusiastic following.  It consistently affirms that the truth really is stranger than fiction, and after one episode, listeners will undoubtedly be eager to hear more.”

The News of the Weird feature started as hobby more than 35 years ago, and is now the most widely syndicated compendium of strange-but-true news stories today.  Drawing from legitimate reportage, podcast hosts, musician Nikki Shallenberger and comedian Kirk Zipfel, hilariously present a distillation of the best bizarre dispatches from around the world.  From otter attacks to less than competent criminals, it’s funny, it’s factual, and decidedly odd, sure to entertain podcast listeners everywhere.

In addition to McMeel, Executive Producers include Daniela Bone, Development Marketing Director, Matt Sheppo, Development Director, and Sarah Hill of the boutique social media firm, Bobi NYC.

About Nikki Shallenberger
Nikki was born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, and is a musician with a band of friends.  She lives in Venice, CA with her husband, Rob, and her four children.

About Kirk Zipfel
Kirk is originally from Ohio, but now lives in Hollywood, CA. An actor and comedian, Kirk has appeared in TV and movies, and a variety of commercials.

About Sarah Hill
Sarah Hill is the founder of Bobi NYC, the social media content agency. The company began in 2018 with its first client, the Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda podcast, who remains a client today.

For additional information, please visit @newsoftheweirdpod, www.andrewsmcmeel.com.

ANDREWS MCMEEL UNIVERSAL

Founded in 1970, Andrews McMeel Universal is an independent, multi-faceted, global entertainment company. Distinguished by a creator-first approach and the uncanny ability to tap into the zeitgeist of popular culture, Andrews McMeel specializes in comics, illustrated humor and inspirational content distributed across multiple platforms, with a remarkable roster of talent across syndication, book, calendar and greeting card publishing, digital consumer experiences, and entertainment licensing, including dozens of New York Times bestselling authors and Pulitzer Prize-, Reuben Award- and Emmy-Award-winning creators.