Longform

Episode 579: Kelsey McKinney

May 15, 2024

Features writer Kelsey McKinney discusses the challenges of a creative career, balancing job duties with creative work, importance of studying successful creatives, and the evolution of her writing styles. She also talks about her upcoming book on gossip, career transitions, struggles with memory recall, and the growth in handling criticism. McKinney delves into her podcasting journey, embracing the role of a podcast host, and maintaining creative autonomy amidst external pressures.

01:08:21

Episode guests

Kelsey McKinney

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Understanding the strategic side of a creative career is crucial for balancing creative fulfillment with financial stability.

Exploring the complexities and power of gossip can lead to insightful podcast content and challenging societal norms.

Success in podcasting can provide creative freedom and opportunities beyond traditional writing, despite initial reservations.

Deep dives

Embracing Personalized Weight Management with Noom

Noom offers a weight management program focused on personalized plans tailored to individual biology, emphasizing sustainable habits over one-size-fits-all approaches. Their program integrates psychology and biology to promote healthy living, challenging traditional dieting methods and embracing unique body needs.

Introduction

2min

Exploring a Writer and Podcaster's Career Journey and Projects

2min

Upcoming Book Event and Discussion about Blogging at UT

2min

Navigating the Ups and Downs of Writing and Editing

20min

Exploring Memory Challenges and Career Gratitude

4min

Navigating Writing Styles and Media Gatekeeping

18min

Embracing the Role of a Podcast Host

19min

Embracing Creative Autonomy and Self-Belief

3min

Kelsey McKinney is a features writer and co-owner at Defector.com. She hosts the podcast Normal Gossip and is the author of the upcoming book You Didn't Hear This From Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip.

“I was always very interested in how you strategize a creative career. And I think that that is an unsexy thing to talk about, right? It's much sexier to be like, Oh, I love working on my sentence-level craft, which is not true for me. But I think that a lot of a creative career is understanding it is still a job, and then understanding how you make sure that within the container of the job you can do the work that you want to do. That is a really difficult balance to make. So if you can understand how people who have done it before you, you can copy them.”

Show notes:

@mckinneykelsey
kelseymckinney.com
McKinney on Longform
McKinney’s Defector archive
04:00 “Why Doesn’t Mrs. Dalloway Get a Day of Her Own?” (Slate • Jan 2000)
13:00 “Chris Evans: American Marvel” (Edith Zimmerman • GQ • July 2011)
23:00 McKinney’s Deadspin archive
31:00 God Spare the Girls (Harper Collins • 2022)
39:00 “Gossip Is Not a Sin” (New York Times • July 2021)
43:00 You Didn’t Hear This From Me (Viking • 2025)
58:00 “Learning To Play Piano When There Is No Recital” (Defector • Dec 2023)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

Longform

Episode 579: Kelsey McKinney

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Embracing Personalized Weight Management with Noom

Navigating a Varied Career in Media and Writing

Strategic Writing Routine and Balancing Creativity with Sustainability

Origin of the podcast from a Times op-ed

Navigating success and creative freedom

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts