Normal Gossip

When you cheat at bingo, the house always wins. Danielle Henderson joins us again for a story about how far parents will go to raise money for their kids' soccer team—and to gamble.  Follow Danielle on Instagram and subscribe to her newsletter !  Pre-order Kelsey's book,  YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME,  here! Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Kelsey and Alex, blog recommendations, and bo...

Welcome to season SEVEN of Normal Gossip! We're starting off the season strong with Ashley Reese and a story about a smutty fanfiction community. Check out Ashley on Twitter and Instagram and check out her Substack here . Episode transcript here .  Pre-order Kelsey's book, YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME, here! Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Kelsey and Alex, blog recommendations, and bo...

Surprise! In today's bonus episode, Rachelle Hampton (Normal Gossip's best friend) joins Kelsey for a basketful of updates on gossips past.  Spoiler warning! Make sure you've listened to the following episodes:  S1E8 Spot the Scammer S2E3 Squirrel Enthusiast S2E4 Short King of East Texas S3E1 Righteous Lesbian Energy S3E6 In Defense of Children S4E6 Vigilante Renovation See you on October 9th for...

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.  Listen to Brittany's podcast, It's Been a Minute , here!  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!  Y...

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.  Listen to Gabby's podcast, Long Winded with Gabby Windey .  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 sup...

Jeneé Desmond-Harris joins us for a tale of patriotism, fire drills, and accidentally getting too stoned at the wrong time.  Listen to Dear Prudence and follow Jenée on Twitter here .  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...

Sonalee Rashatwar (they/he) joins us for an international story about families, inheritance, and haunting.  Follow Sonalee on Instagram!  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-o...

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 m...

Avery Trufelman of Articles of Interest joins us for a story about mushroom foraging, cultbrain, and greige athleisure.  This is the mushroom video. Click at your own risk.  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 merc...

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."  Listen to their podcast, Text Me Back , and subscribe to their Patreon! PRE-ORDER KELSEY'S BOOK,  YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME,  HERE!!! Subscribe to our new newsletter for wri...

The editor becomes the edited this week because our editor Justin Ellis is joining us for a story about indoor children's playgrounds and the Facebook groups that bind them.  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 mer...

This week's episode features daddy issues, rollerblades, and comedian Marlena Rodriguez! Some of you will remember her from our Los Angeles live show. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram .  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 s...

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.  Follow Ronald on all social media at @ohitsbigron ( Instagram , Twitter , Threads , TikTok ) One thing to clarify from episode 1 of season 6: CMV does not cause mono, herpes...

Alex and Jae spent the last month trying to find the source of a tale we first heard back in season two. Is the poop story gossip? An urban legend? Guerilla marketing perpetrated on us all by Big Toilet? All of the above? 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...

Popping into your feeds for a cute lil announcement — we are going on a mini tour this spring! Come see us in Dallas, Atlanta, Durham, and D.C. Get your tickets: https://www.normalgossiplive.com/ If you want us to come to your city, fill out our zip code survey! And we'll see you for our new season in April! Sign up to hear Normal Gossip's next secret here . You can support Normal Gossip directly...

Defector editor David Roth joins us for our SEASON FINALE! We're about to dive into the stupidest election drama you've ever heard. If you love Roth, check out his podcast, The Distraction ! Sign up to hear Normal Gossip's next secret here . Support Radiotopia's fall fundraiser ! You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossi...

Survivor 41 winner Erika Casupanan joins us this week for a story about the perils of gossiping at work. Listen to Erika's podcast, Happy to See Me ! Sign up to hear Normal Gossip's next secret here . Support Radiotopia's fall fundraiser ! 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 McQu...

Hayes Brown joins us to learn just how deranged the world of upscale dog grooming can be. Follow Hayes on Twitter @HayesBrown . Sign up to hear Normal Gossip's next secret here . Support Radiotopia's fall fundraiser ! 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...

Our Defector colleague Maitreyi Anantharaman joins us for a story about private school moms taking a theater performance — and "urban dance" classes — too seriously. Follow Maitreyi on Twitter @maitreyiaa. Support Radiotopia's fall fundraiser ! 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...

This week, our pal Zakiya Gibbons joins us for a story about a Thanksgiving home rental gone horribly, horribly wrong. Zakiya is the host and editor of Hang Up , a new reality dating podcast from Radiotopia! We are obsessed. Check it out! Speaking of Radiotopia.... support Radiotopia's fall fundraiser ! You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Frie...

We're going abroad for a long-awaited au pair adventure with writer and podcast host Amanda Montell! Follow Amanda on Instagram @amanda_montell and make sure to pre-order her book, The Age of Magical Overthinking . 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 al...

TV writer and showrunner Sarah-Violet Bliss joins us for an evening of moral quandaries and infinite amounts of ceviche. 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....

Comedian Jasmine Ellis joins us for a tale about an absurdly large bachelorette party involving sardines, adult jocks, and an empathetic queen. Follow Jasmine on Instagram at @jasmineelliscomedy . 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 ab...

What happens when you send a manic pixie dream girl to CSI summer camp? Journalist, writer, law school graduate, and podcast host Josie Duffy Rice joins us to find out 👀 Check out Josie's podcast: Unreformed: the Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children . You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com ....

We are BACK for our fifth season! Get ready for 10 episodes of drama, scandal, and pettiness. This week, sports journalist Katie Barnes joins us for a story that brings us back to our high school days. Buy Katie's book, Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates , and follow them on Twitter @katie_barnes3 . You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend...