Wonkybot Podcast Network Hits First Subscription Milestone, Announces Expansion Into YA, Adult-Skewing Content

Wonkybot, the award-winning content company known for creating the best in scripted, cinematic audio shows for kids and families around the world, today announced that it has reached its first subscription milestone since launching the Wonkybot channel exclusively on Apple Podcasts Subscriptions in June, and will expand its roots by moving into YA and adult-skewing shows this fall.

Exclusively focused on immersive scripted fiction with full casts, rich soundscapes, sound effects and original music scores, Wonkybot won the Parents Choice 2020 gold award for its original series Tara Tremendous and the 2021 Webby Award honorable mention for teen horror series Origins Unknown. Both shows were created, written and directed by award-winning screenwriter and Wonkybot CEO Stewart St John who is also creating the new scripted shows targeted for older audiences.

“We hope the journey into new, more mature content will continue to bring subscribers to the network,” said St John. “We’re very happy with the growth so far."

“At launch we set an internal first-round subscription goal that we wanted to achieve,” said Wonkybot co-founder Todd Fisher. “In August we met and exceeded that number, so that’s bolstered our confidence in taking chances on edgier material. Overall we’re just really grateful that people are subscribing because we recognize it’s become a super competitive space."

The company has dropped a video across its social media platforms thanking fans for their support.

“Our success in terms of subscriber growth is due to having the best in compelling characters, storylines, immersive sound design, music… and incredible brand recognition,” said Michael Plahuta, Wonkybot co-founder. “We entered the audio space with Tara Tremendous well before other companies recognized the power of audio storytelling. So Wonkybot’s been out there building awareness for quite awhile, and now the audience is more willing to follow a show like Tara Tremendous into a subscription model because they’re familiar with its characters and on-going storyline."

Wonkybot, which has achieved listeners across 170 countries, now has several projects in development for Film/TV based on its kids and tween audio series, including the Tara Tremendous property which is currently with Marc Platt Productions as a live-action musical written by St John and original songs written and produced by St John and Plahuta. The company sees an even bigger opportunity to expand into television and film with St John’s older-skewing shows.

“I’m thrilled to venture into some of the edgier projects I’ve been developing for awhile,” said St John. “First up is a gritty, sci-fi series that’s currently in production and will drop in October, a horror/thriller series we’re currently casting, and a Tara Tremendous spin-off that will appeal to older audiences who enjoy the Tara Tremendous saga and want more set in that world.”

“We’ll still continue producing our lineup of kids and family series,” added St John. “So listeners of Tara Tremendous, our mindfulness and meditation series Following Bliss, and super villain comedy The Doctor Epicopolis & 1102 Show of Shows will still get to enjoy new episodes of their favorite shows."

Wonkybot shows are available through the Wonkybot Channel on Apple Podcasts Subscriptions. The subscription features ad-free access to the growing library of Wonkybot Originals, access to bonus content, and upcoming music from Wonkybot shows.

About Wonkybot Studios

Wonkybot Studios is an award-winning production and publishing company with an audio-first strategy creating original fiction podcasts and audiobooks that serve as the foundation for TV series and feature films. Formed in 2015 by co-founders Stewart St John, Todd Fisher and Michael Plahuta, Wonkybot is dedicated to creating entertaining and engaging characters, stories and music across all media platforms that inspire, uplift and entertain the imagination.