Normal Gossip is a podcast produced by Defector Media and Radiotopia.[1] Created by Kelsey McKinney and Alex Sujong Laughlin, the program features listener-contributed gossip stories that are anonymized and narrated alongside a guest, usually a comedian or journalist.
| Normal Gossip | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Presentation | |
| Hosted by | Kelsey McKinney |
| Genre | Conversation |
| Language | English |
| Length | ~1 hour |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Production | Defector Media Radiotopia (since 2023) |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| Publication | |
| Original release | January 5, 2022 |
Named one of the best podcasts of 2022 by Vulture, Time, The Atlantic and Here and Now,[2][3][4][5] Normal Gossip has released six seasons and garnered more than 10 million listens.[6]
History edit
McKinney, a writer and cofounder of Defector, was inspired to create the podcast during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she missed "the fizzy thrill of overhearing a good story at a bar." The pitch was not picked up by any major podcast platforms, so Defector hired Laughlin to produce the show as a freelancer.[6]
The show launched in early 2022, quickly attracting thousands of listeners per episode.[7] In April 2023, it joined Radiotopia, a network of indie podcasts administered by PRX.[8] In summer 2023, the show produced a series of live events across the United States.[9]
Format edit
Episodes originate with stories of interpersonal conflict submitted by fans, referred to as the show's "friend of a friend";[6] Laughlin has said she prefers they be contributed by a bystander rather than one of the subjects.[10] The stories lean light-hearted rather than serious, addressing topics such as romance, friendship, roommates, neighbors and colleagues.[11] Producers vet the submissions for basic fairness and accuracy, then remove identifying details such as locations and organizations.[10]
McKinney begins episodes by interviewing guests about their relationship to gossip, then tells them a story, soliciting reactions as the narrative progresses. Guests are encouraged to be judgmental and joke about the people involved.[10]
Seasons edit
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 10 | January 5, 2022 | May 3, 2022 | |
| 2 | 10 | May 17, 2022 | August 23, 2022 | |
| 3 | 8 | September 6, 2022 | October 25, 2022 | |
| 4 | 10 | April 4, 2023 | June 6, 2023 | |
| 5 | 10 | October 18, 2023 | December 19, 2023 | |
| 6 | 10 | April 17, 2024 | June 19, 2024 | |
References edit
- ^ "All The Gossip About Normal Gossip's New Partner". Defector Media. February 27, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Quah, Nicholas (December 6, 2022). "The Best Podcasts of 2022". Vulture. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Dockterman, Eliana (November 14, 2022). "The 10 Best Podcasts of 2022". Time. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ McQuade, Eric; Standley, Laura Jane (December 30, 2022). "The 35 Best Podcasts of 2022". The Atlantic. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ "The best podcasts of 2022: 'Mother Country Radicals,' 'Normal Gossip' and more". Here and Now. WBUR. December 29, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c Greenberg, Zoe (May 30, 2023). "Kelsey McKinney is building a (socialist) gossip empire from Queen Village". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Scire, Sarah (June 8, 2023). "You didn't hear this from me, but Defector is getting a subscriber boost from its podcast Normal Gossip". Nieman Lab. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ ""Normal Gossip" from Kelsey McKinney, Alex Sujong Laughlin, and Defector Media Joins Radiotopia from PRX". podnews.net. February 27, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Rosenthal, Abigail (August 10, 2023). "How Texas Tall Tales Became 'Normal Gossip,' the Favorite Podcast of Snoops and Blabbermouths". Texas Monthly. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c Quah, Nicholas (September 7, 2022). "The Best Gossip You've Never Heard". Vulture. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Erin (October 2, 2022). "'Normal Gossip' podcast is an alternative to desensitization". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved September 24, 2023.