'It's suss': Karl Stefanovic vanishes as podcast goes silent

Questions are being raised about the future of Karl Stefanovic’s independent podcast, with The Karl Stefanovic Show going quiet for more than two weeks after its major sponsor walked away.

The podcast has not released a new episode or posted fresh content across its social channels since 24 August, marking an abrupt pause for the venture that only months ago sat at the centre of Stefanovic’s dramatic departure from Nine.

The silence also comes as country clothing brand Ringers Western, which had been heavily promoted across Stefanovic’s video content, confirmed its sponsorship deal with the show had ended.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the brand has no plans to renew the partnership.

Stefanovic regularly appeared in Ringers Western clothing in content produced for the show, including during his August interview with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Mediaweek has contacted Stefanovic’s business partner and producer Keshnee Kemp for comment.

READ MORE: Karl Stefanovic exits Nine immediately over podcast conflict

‘He’s just not contactable’

Stefanovic’s absence has not gone unnoticed elsewhere.

His radio silence became a talking point on Kyle Sandilands Live, after the program’s executive producer Jaimee ‘Mayo’ Hassos revealed she had been unable to reach Stefanovic about appearing on the show.

“I feel bad for Karlo because something is amiss right now. He’s like vanished off the face of the earth. He’s just not contactable at the moment.”

The show’s gossip newsreader, Mary Madigan, then pointed to the lack of new podcast episodes and the questions being raised by Stefanovic’s followers.

“He hasn't been doing as many podcast episodes. And then there are all these people commenting under his Instagram, like, where's Karl? They're looking for him.”

Newsreader Brooklyn Ross was more succinct, describing the situation as “suss”.

Stefanovic has not completely disappeared from public view. He posted a video to his personal Instagram account on 29 August showing himself attending Griffith’s Taste of Italy Festival.

But on the platform that became central to the biggest professional upheaval of his career, things have become noticeably quiet.

READ MORE: Stefanovic stands down from ARN radio show amid Nine termination reports

The podcast behind his Nine exit

The uncertainty comes less than three months after The Karl Stefanovic Show became the catalyst for Stefanovic’s immediate departure from Nine.

In June, Nine confirmed Stefanovic would leave Today and the network immediately, bringing forward an exit originally planned for the end of 2026.

The decision followed controversy surrounding an interview on Stefanovic’s independent podcast with British activist Tommy Robinson, which disappeared from YouTube and other platforms less than 24 hours after it was published.

At the time, Nine stressed that the podcast operated independently of the network.

“The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production. Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes. However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.”

Within days, however, Nine and Stefanovic had agreed that the separation between his television role and independent media business was no longer workable.

“Nine Entertainment and Karl Stefanovic have agreed that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast,” Nine said.

“While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would leave Today at the end of this year, they have subsequently decided he will leave the Network immediately.”

The fallout also reached ARN, where Stefanovic stepped away from The Long Weekend, which he co-hosted with Eddie McGuire, to allow the parties time to “review the situation”.

ARN subsequently distanced itself from Stefanovic’s independent work.

“Karl's association with ARN is limited to specific radio engagements,” an ARN spokesperson said.

“His external media activities, including his podcast, are undertaken in a personal capacity and are entirely separate from the network, which we have no control over. They do not represent ARN's views, editorial standards or programming.”

Now, less than three months after the podcast proved powerful enough to help end Stefanovic’s two-decade relationship with Nine, the question is whether The Karl Stefanovic Show itself has a next chapter.