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Normal Gossip

Normal Gossip

Normal Gossip delivers juicy, strange, funny, and utterly banal gossip about people you’ll never know and never meet. Host Kelsey McKinney discusses reader-submitted comedic gossip with guests, diving into the lives and decisions of complete strangers. The second-hand truth really is stranger than fiction. Produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Show art by Tara Jacoby. https://normalgossip.komi.io/

Defector Media LLC

Normal Gossip delivers juicy, strange, funny, and utterly banal gossip about people you’ll never know and never meet. Host Kelsey McKinney discusses reader-submitted comedic gossip with guests, diving into the lives and decisions of complete strangers. The second-hand truth really is stranger than fiction. Produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Show art by Tara Jacoby. https://normalgossip.komi.io/

Defector Media LLC
73hr 15min
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Thumbnail for "Family Lore Drop with Hrishikesh Hirway".
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Thumbnail for "Hell in a Ham Bag with Carson Olshansky".
Thumbnail for "New England Stolen Valor with Tobin Low".
Thumbnail for "The Bro Never Dies with Josh Gondelman".
Thumbnail for "Emotional Support Fruits with Samantha Irby".
Thumbnail for "Nepo Baby for Trash with Alex Sujong Laughlin".
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Thumbnail for "MFAs and Other Mistakes with Brittany Luse".
It is the season 6 FINALE and we've got the amazing Brittany Luse here for a story about A-list authors, ill-advised MFAs, and pets in places where they shouldn't be.
Thumbnail for "The Wormhole of Sasha with Gabby Windey".
We are joined this week by our gayest Bachelorette, Gabby Windey, for a story about queer love, polyamory, and a pair of *very* special tie-dyed overalls.
Thumbnail for "Romancing the Stoned with Jenée Desmond-Harris".
Thumbnail for "Haunted and Constipated with Sonalee Rashatwar".
Sonalee Rashatwar joins us for an international story about families, inheritance, and haunting.
Thumbnail for "Sexy Mushrooms with Avery Trufelman".
Thumbnail for "Ready to be Bunco-ified with Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays".
Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays join us for a story where the protagonists find themselves, in the words of our submitter, "stuck in an inescapable Samuel Beckett style loop of scandal gossip, rumor and orthotic shoes."
Thumbnail for "The Joy of Being a Hater with Justin Ellis".
Justin Ellis is joining us for a story about indoor children's playgrounds and the Facebook groups that bind them.
Thumbnail for "All the World is Rollerblades with Marlena Rodriguez".
This week's episode features daddy issues, rollerblades, and comedian Marlena Rodriguez!
Thumbnail for "A Beautiful Blood Celebrity with Ronald Young Jr.".
We are back and pettier than ever with season 6! We're joined by our Radiotopia colleague and host of Weight for It Ronald Young Jr. for a story about the ridiculous things we do when we fall in love with familiar strangers.
Thumbnail for "Normal Gossip Investigates: The Poop Story".
Is the poop story gossip? An urban legend? Guerilla marketing perpetrated on us all by Big Toilet? All of the above?
Thumbnail for "A little announcement 🐥".
Popping into your feeds for a cute lil announcement — we are going on a mini tour this spring!
Thumbnail for "Splitting the Dog Vote with David Roth".
Defector editor David Roth joins us for our SEASON FINALE! We're about to dive into the stupidest election drama you've ever heard.
Thumbnail for "Getting Frisky at the Black Rose with Erika Casupanan".
Survivor 41 winner Erika Casupanan joins us this week for a story about the perils of gossiping at work.
Thumbnail for "Dog Salon Divas with Hayes Brown".
Hayes Brown joins us to learn just how deranged the world of upscale dog grooming can be.
Thumbnail for "Rich Mom Razzle Dazzle with Maitreyi Anantharaman".
Our Defector colleague Maitreyi Anantharaman joins us for a story about private school moms taking a theater performance — and "urban dance" classes — too seriously.
Thumbnail for "Weedsgiving with Zakiya Gibbons".
This week, our pal Zakiya Gibbons joins us for a story about a Thanksgiving home rental gone horribly, horribly wrong.
Thumbnail for ""Emily in Paris" Meets "Parasite" with Amanda Montell".
We're going abroad for a long-awaited au pair adventure with writer and podcast host Amanda Montell!
Thumbnail for "Should've Said No to the Ceviche with Sarah-Violet Bliss".
TV writer and showrunner Sarah-Violet Bliss joins us for an evening of moral quandaries and infinite amounts of ceviche.
Thumbnail for "25 Bridesmaids and an Empath with Jasmine Ellis".
Comedian Jasmine Ellis joins us for a tale about an absurdly large bachelorette party involving sardines, adult jocks, and an empathetic queen.
Thumbnail for "Teenage Cop Camp with Josie Duffy Rice".
What happens when you send a manic pixie dream girl to CIA summer camp? Journalist, writer, law school graduate, and podcast host Josie Duffy Rice joins us to find out 👀
Thumbnail for "Vodka Sommelier Bullshit with Katie Barnes".
Sports journalist Katie Barnes joins us for a story that brings us back to our high school days.
Thumbnail for "Bonus Episode: Sexy Hide-And-Seek at the Shakespeare Festival with Brydie Lee-Kennedy".
We're releasing an episode from our secret feed vault to give you a taste of what you can get each month as a Friend or Friend-of-a-Friend subscriber.
Thumbnail for "Surprise! The Plant Story 🪴".
We're popping in with a little summer surprise: the recording from our December 2022 live show in Washington, D.C., with Brittany Luse!
Thumbnail for "Family Mealworms with Patrick Redford".
Friend of the show and fellow Defector comrade Patrick Redford is on the public feed for the first time! This week, we're talking about ~intentional living communities and their alternative sources of protein.
Thumbnail for "'Til Deb Do Us Part with Caroline Moss and Sally Tamarkin".
Sally Tamarkin and Caroline Moss get extremely triggered in this episode about a chill bride and her blissfully oblivious wedding weekend.
Thumbnail for "Murder Binders and Unthinkable Burgers with Mariah Smith".
Mariah Smith joins us for a true crime adventure.
Thumbnail for "The CHAIR SAGA with Hannah Giorgis".
The esteemed Hannah Giorgis returns for a tale about what happens when your cousin is too rich for your own good.
Thumbnail for "Vigilante Renovation with Jasmine Guillory".
Jasmine Guillory joins us for a tough lesson in bro friendships.
Thumbnail for "Processing Our Michael Phelps Trauma with B.A. Parker".
B.A. Parker takes a trip back in time to a community pool in the South that has some major logistical issues.
Thumbnail for "Is Mythology Just Gossip? With Liv Albert".
Liv Albert joins us to ponder the age-old question: follow your dreams, or follow the money?
Thumbnail for "I Love All Corgis with Dr. Eve L. Ewing".
One of you monsters made Dr. Eve L. Ewing cry by sending us a curséd PowerPoint presentation from a dog Facebook group.
Thumbnail for "The Only Single Girl at Disney with Blythe Roberson".
Blythe Roberson joins us for a story about how wrong a group text can go at Disney World.
Thumbnail for "Every Peach is a Miracle with Samin Nosrat".
Samin Nosrat joins us for a tale about fruit, #vanlife, and forbidden love.
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep9: Big Business Announcement Episode (new partner and new season!!!)".
We're back with some big announcements!
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep8: Steampunk-Ass Murder Mystery with Tuck Woodstock".
S3 Ep8: Steampunk-Ass Murder Mystery with Tuck Woodstock
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep7: The Science Behind Gossip with Eshin Jolly".
S3 Ep7: The Science Behind Gossip with Eshin Jolly
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep6: In Defense of Children with Youngmi Mayer".
S3 Ep6: In Defense of Children with Youngmi Mayer
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep5: You Can't Fight with Heiress Tongue with Matt Bellassai".
S3 Ep5: You Can't Fight with Heiress Tongue with Matt Bellassai
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep4: Christmas is Cancelled with Laurel Bristow".
S3 Ep4: Christmas is Cancelled with Laurel Bristow
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep3: Loud Cats and Thin Walls with Sabrina Imbler".
S3 Ep3: Loud Cats and Thin Walls with Sabrina Imbler
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep2: The Adventures of Flat Margaret with Jessica Goodman".
S3 Ep2: The Adventures of Flat Margaret with Jessica Goodman
Thumbnail for "S3 Ep1: Righteous Lesbian Energy with Samantha Irby".
S3 Ep1: Righteous Lesbian Energy with Samantha Irby
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep10: Poledancing, book clubs, and gay men's chorus: Your niche gossip".
S2 Ep10: Poledancing, book clubs, and gay men's chorus: Your niche gossip
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep9: Telephone Game with Alex and Justin".
S2 Ep9: Telephone Game with Alex and Justin
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep8: Conflict Archaeology with Julia Furlan".
S2 Ep8: Conflict Archaeology with Julia Furlan
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep7: Dishing in the Confessional with Emma Eun-joo Choi".
S2 Ep7: Dishing in the Confessional with Emma Eun-joo Choi
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep6: Podcast Famous with Brian Park".
S2 Ep6: Podcast Famous with Brian Park
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep5: Personality of a Tan Wall with Tobin Low".
S2 Ep5: Personality of a Tan Wall with Tobin Low
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep4: Short King of East Texas with Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger".
S2 Ep4: Short King of East Texas with Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep3: Squirrel Enthusiast with Tracy Clayton".
S2 Ep3: Squirrel Enthusiast with Tracy Clayton
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep2: The Not-Quite-Magicians with Kalyn Kahler".
S2 Ep2: The Not-Quite-Magicians with Kalyn Kahler
Thumbnail for "S2 Ep1: Grandma's 'Best Friend' Dot with Danielle Henderson".
S2 Ep1: Grandma's 'Best Friend' Dot with Danielle Henderson
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep10: Bonus #2: Your FAQ + Some BIG Announcements!".
S1 Ep10: Bonus #2: Your FAQ + Some BIG Announcements!
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep9: Season 1 BONUS: Your Family Gossip".
S1 Ep9: Season 1 BONUS: Your Family Gossip
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep8: Spot the Scammer with Claire Fallon and Emma Gray".
S1 Ep8: Spot the Scammer with Claire Fallon and Emma Gray
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep7: No One Tells Josh Gondelman the Good Gossip".
S1 Ep7: No One Tells Josh Gondelman the Good Gossip
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep6: Nemesis by Proxy, with Delia Cai".
S1 Ep6: Nemesis by Proxy, with Delia Cai
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep5: Leave ‘em a Little Bit Broke, a Little Bit Mad with Laci Mosley".
S1 Ep5: Leave ‘em a Little Bit Broke, a Little Bit Mad with Laci Mosley
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep4: Always Google Your Neighbors with Megan Greenwell".
S1 Ep4: Always Google Your Neighbors with Megan Greenwell
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep3: Can I Say Something Bitchy? With Rachelle Hampton".
S1 Ep3: Can I Say Something Bitchy? With Rachelle Hampton
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep2: Dickmatized with Sam Sanders".
S1 Ep2: Dickmatized with Sam Sanders
Thumbnail for "S1 Ep1: Gossiptonin with Virgie Tovar".
S1 Ep1: Gossiptonin with Virgie Tovar
Thumbnail for "S1: You didn't hear this from me".
After two years where gossip has been hard to find, we decided it was finally time to create a space for the silly, strange, banal gossip we all know and love. This is Normal Gossip, a podcast from Defector Media. Check back here January 5, 2022 for episode 1.

Minder, the Finder, and the Grinder with Elise Hu

Thumbnail for "Minder, the Finder, and the Grinder with Elise Hu ".
May 22, 20241hr

Elise Hu joins us for a tale of startup bros and the hermit crabs that come between them. 

Buy Elise's book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital

PRE-ORDER KELSEY'S BOOK, YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME, HERE!!!

Subscribe to our new newsletter for writing from Kelsey and Alex, blog recommendations, and bonus secrets! 

You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com.

Our merch shop is run by Dan McQuade. You can also find all kinds of info about us and how to submit gossip on our Komi page: https://normalgossip.komi.io/

Episode transcript here.

Follow the show on Instagram @normalgossip, and if you have gossip, email us at normalgossip@defector.com or leave us a voicemail at 26-79-GOSSIP.

Normal Gossip is hosted by Kelsey McKinney (@mckinneykelsey) and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs) and Ozzy Llinas Goodman. Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira) is our associate producer. Abigail Segel (@AbigailSegel) is our intern. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor.

Show art by Tara Jacoby.

Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia.

Thumbnail for "Minder, the Finder, and the Grinder with Elise Hu ".
Minder, the Finder, and the Grinder with Elise Hu
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