How To! How To Gossip for Good
Jul 29, 2025
Rachelle Hampton, host of the Normal Gossip podcast and a former Slatester, joins the conversation to unveil the surprising benefits of gossip. They explore its role in building community, trust, and safety, emphasizing how whisper networks can empower marginalized voices. Rachelle also discusses the moral nuances of gossip and the importance of engaging in it thoughtfully. With humorous anecdotes about dating and the digital age, this chat reveals how gossip can be a force for connection rather than judgment.
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Gossip Is Morally Neutral
- Gossip is morally neutral and simply about sharing information without the third party present.
- It can bond communities, provide valuable info, or be used harmfully, depending on intent.
Gossip Gendered as Women's Vice
- Gossip is often labeled a vice of women to diminish their power.
- Men also gossip but it is framed as politicking or trading rumors, not 'gossip'.
Why Gossip Feels Good
- Gossip feels good because it is a communal experience that bonds people.
- It allows sharing stories that reveal both the subject and the teller's personality.
