Shameless Media, the publisher of the well-known podcast of the same name, has entered into a multi-year partnership with the KICPod and KICBump podcasts.
The deal marks Shameless Media’s first acquisition since its founding. KICPod and KICBump had been represented by the LiSTNR network since 2022 and will move across to Shameless Media in late September.
The licensing deal between Shameless Media, KICPod and KICBump also marks the launch of Shameless Media Studios, the licensing arm of the country’s fastest-growing independent media company.
Shameless is hosted Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews. The Shameless Media network, which includes five other podcasts, has racked up more than 155 million listens and 1.8 million social media followers, along with a growing suite of newsletters, since its launch in 2018.
The Australian Financial Review reported in 2025 that Shameless Media now commands 10 per cent of Australia’s total podcast revenue. Since the start of 2026, the flagship Shameless podcast has grown its listenership by 39.5 per cent, and is on track to exceed three million streams this month alone.
KICPod and KICBump are hosted by entrepreneurs Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire Smith. Henshaw is married to Dalton, former boss of agency Bullfrog and CEO of RALLY.
KICPod and KICBump’s move to Shameless Media reflects a shift that is happening in the industry. Shameless Media’s open infrastructure means KICPod and KICBump will be available as full-length video on both YouTube and Spotify, meeting audiences where they already are.
“What Steph and Laura have done in the podcasting space is exceptional. They have incredible chemistry, a loyal listenership, and are deeply committed to the next era of their shows. We’re all very excited to see what the ‘Shameless Media take’ of KICPod is,” said McDonald.
“Up until this point, we’ve been firmly focused on launching original products. By the end of the year, when we launch our original parenting podcast, we will have five, always-on original shows. Which means we’re now officially in a place to turn our minds to the best licensing opportunities in the country – KICPod and KICBump are the perfect additions to our roster,” added Andrews
“This is a really special moment in time for KICPod and KICBump. We’re so grateful to the team at LiSTNR for everything we achieved together. Now, it’s an absolute honour to become the first licensed podcast for Shameless Media Studios – an empire which we’ve had the privilege to watch the incredibly talented Michelle and Zara build from the ground up. As an independent, women founded media company, we couldn’t be prouder to be working together,” Henshaw said.
“Being female founders and friends, we’ve often turned to Michelle and Zara and connected on challenges, or exciting opportunities. Laura and I have always been inspired by the empire that they have created. We have really enjoyed watching and supporting them from the sidelines, and now joining forces is truly exciting,” Smith added.
This deal also signals the company’s tilt into the parenting space. KICPod and KICBump will be represented by the network in September, and Shameless Media’s own original parenting podcast will launch the following month.
“We have been working on our original parenting podcast for almost a year now. The prospect of having two complementary, parent-focused podcasts under our network is a real strength, given the depth of that space,” said McDonald.
“This development bolsters our advertising offering to brand partners and will unlock new revenue in the health and wellness space while also expanding our parenting offering. We expect KICPod and KICBump to have a strong impact on how Shameless Media competes for ad spend across audio and digital categories,” said Shameless Media chief commercial officer Rhiannon Joyce.
