Charlie Berens

Charlie Berens is an Emmy-winning journalist, comedian, and author, recognized for his authentic Midwestern humor and ability to connect with diverse audiences. After earning his first Regional Emmy Award as a reporter for KDAF-TV in 2013, Charlie Berens went on to establish himself as an Emmy-winning journalist, comedian, and New York Times bestselling author. Berens began his career in journalism, covering Wisconsin state politics for MTV News’s Choose or Lose, where he reported on protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention. In 2012, Tribune Media recruited Berens to host the comedic news show Nightcap, further showcasing his distinctive voice and storytelling abilities.

Expanding his reach across multiple platforms, Berens has also hosted CBS Sports Network’s game show You’re So Money and PMC’s comedy/entertainment news brand @Hollywood. In 2021, he authored The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat…Everything with Ranch, which quickly became a New York Times bestseller and has since been optioned for TV development. He continues to engage with his dedicated audience through the CripesCast podcast, launched in 2020, and the Bellied Up podcast, featuring conversational interviews with a diverse range of guests. In 2022, Berens delivered the keynote speech for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Winter commencement.

He further diversified his creative output with the release of the music/comedy album Unthawed in 2020 and Dive Bar Dinner in 2023, both of which charted on Billboard. His entrepreneurial ventures include the 2023 launch of the card-based party game ‘Card Sale’ and, in 2024, his signature ‘Berens Old Fashioned Brandy,’ developed in collaboration with Dancing Goat Distillery.