Hi !
It's hard to believe Weird Darkness has been in existence now for more than five years, but only now am I finally getting out the first issue of the newsletter! While I would love to make this at least a monthly newsletter, I'm just glad to get this first one done - small as it may be!
As you part of the Weirdo family, I want to extend to you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! If you're subscribed to the podcast you know there are a lot of episodes being uploaded right now - more than double the normal schedule, in fact! I specifically want to let you know about the following three subjects though...
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"
I've been wanting to narrate this story ever since I began my voiceover career in 1990; now more than thirty years later I have finally done so - and you can listen to it absolutely free in its entirety, almost a full three hours in length. Perhaps you'd like to bring family and/or friends together and listen - creating a new Christmas tradition. Grab the eggnog, the holiday cookies, and stoke the fire, and
sit back to listen to this classic story narrated by Yours Truly!
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He had his own podcast last year, but this year Spooky Santa finds his permanent home in the Weird Darkness podcast! As the song "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" says, "There'll be scary ghost stories..." and that's what Spooky Santa brings every day from December 14th thru December 24th - the night of his big ride! The stories are more
"family friendly" so parents and children can listen together - but they still do hold some frights, so Mom and Dad might want to listen first, just in case!
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The 12 Nightmares of Christmas
The original Weird Darkness holiday tradition that began in 2016, and has continue every year since! With the help of writer Sylvia Shults, I bring true Christmastime tales from her book, "The Spirits of Christmas" every day from December 13th thru December 24th!
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While the internet memes have been fairly clear about most people's opinions regarding the year 2020, I thought you might like to know that some wonderful things have happened as well - thanks to you and the rest of our Weirdo family!
Throughout the year, 100% of all profits from the Weird Darkness store, as well as all money raised from our Darkness Challenge fundraiser in October brought in a total of over $3,000 which will bring hope to those who suffer from depression. Most all of the profits raised were donated to the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred.org). But in late 2020, and moving forward, we are splitting all proceeds equally between three wonderful organizations that help in the cause. While iFred helps with research and education on depression, the 7 Cups app (and 7Cups.com) has counselors and trained listeners ready
to talk with those who are in need - any time of day. Plus 7 Cups has done an amazing job of building a community where others who struggle can lift each other up and create relationships. We are also once again supporting the Suicide Prevention Lifeline who has always been for those in emergency situations who need to speak with someone by
phone or online chat immediately to keep from self harm. These three groups, all working separately and together, help make life for those who struggle with depression a little easier to live - and bring hope in the darkness.
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Every June and December I take time out to raise money for an organization I believe does amazing work - Food For The Poor. And with the pandemic crisis this year, the need was even greater than usual. Food For The Poor provides food for children and family in Latin and South America who have no way to provide for themselves, and the this year the pandemic has increased the problem several fold. This year we asked for a single one-time gift of $37 which would feed a starving child for a full six months. Weird Darkness was working in cooperation with others, but it is estimated that you (Weird Darkness listeners alone) raised at least $8,000 this year to feed those who would have otherwise gone without any food at all. That means
we literally saved the lives of over 216 children and family members. That's 216 people who would not be alive at this very moment if it were not for your generosity. That's how dire the need was this year due to the pandemic! Thanks to all of you Weirdos who gave and shared the information with others to help make this possible!
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At the beginning of 2020 something very unexpected happened; Weird Darkness exploded in popularity. I honestly don't know what the trigger was. I wish I did, because I'd repeat the process over and over again if I knew! I can only give credit to you, my Weirdo family for constantly telling your friends and family about the podcast! Podcast Magazine actually took notice of what the podcast was and what we were doing and decided to feature it in a five page story in their March 2020 issue! (Click the button below to read the whole article for free on my website.) Also this year, Weirdos voted so often that you made Weird Darkness #2 on the list of "Best Horror/True-Crime Podcasts" for 2020 by Podcast Magazine!
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