Normal Gossip

Mike Rugnetta, a writer and host of the podcast Never Post, brings his flair for storytelling to the table. He shares wild tales from a vampire ball in New Orleans, where he explores the striking Anne Rice fandom. Get ready for gossip about lavish guests at an Airbnb, mysterious characters like the elusive Gabriel, and the captivating emails that spark romance. The atmosphere of New Orleans, combined with a blend of goth culture and intimate encounters, makes for a lively discussion that will leave you intrigued.

Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and author, joins for a captivating discussion. She reflects on how public life has altered her perspective on gossip, sharing a cringe-worthy moment when a friend's secret slipped out. As the talk evolves, they dive into a wild college Eurotrip involving quirky dynamics, romance, and travel mishaps. Tensions rise as relationships form and unravel, culminating in a surprise proposal. Malala’s insights on friendship and relationships make for a delightful and thought-provoking conversation.

We've got one more treat for you before we'll be back with more gossip next month! This is the first episode of Patrick Redford's new podcast Only If You Get Caught. Only If You Get Caught is about how we can better understand sports and culture by examining how humans cheat in ways big and small. Sacramento Kings fans have long believed that the NBA fixed the 2002 Western Conference finals so the Lakers would win. Patrick is joined by Tommy Craggs to discuss whether they think it actually happened. Episode transcript here. Show CreditsOnly If You Get Caught is written and hosted by Patrick Redford. It’s produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin, with production support from Jae Towle Vieira. Editorial support from Tom Ley and Audrey Mardavich. Justin Ellis is Defector’s projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek Show art by Jim Cooke. Jasper Wang and Sean Kuhn are Defector’s business guys. Thank you to the Defector staff. Defector Media is a collectively owned, subscriber based media company. Only If You Get Caught is a proud member of Radiotopia.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, Erika Casupanan, the vibrant winner of Survivor 41 and host of Happy to See Me, takes center stage. She shares her journey from a timid choir alto with childhood dreams of stardom to confronting her karaoke fears head-on. Listeners are captivated as she recounts reclaiming her identity, the anxiety of public performance, and the supportive environment of a sapphic bar. Erika's transformation highlights that connection trumps perfection, proving that it's never too late to chase your passions.

Today's treat: an episode from our secret feed vault. If you'd like to get in on these monthly extra episodes, subscribe as a Friend or a Friend-of-a-Friend. Our guest this time is Sabrina Imbler! After catching up on Sabs' latest project—a series of interviews with federal workers fired by the Trump administration—Rachelle and Sabs partake in a batch of gossipy voice memos from our inbox.Sign up to watch SPLITSVILLE with Rachelle on August 16th here.You can find Sabs' interview with fired CDC Health Communications Manager Sarah Boim here.You can find the rest of the interviews in this series here.You can subscribe to Sabs' newsletter Creatures NYC here. Get your tickets for the Normal Gossip Live tour here!Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Rachelle, Se'era, Jae, Alex, and Kelsey, plus blog recommendations and 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 Rachelle Hampton (@heyydnae) and produced by Se'era Spragley Ricks (@seera_sharae) and Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira). Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs) is our Supervising Producer. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Show art by Tara Jacoby.Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Surprise! In today's bonus episode, Alex Sujong Laughlin and Patrick Redford join Rachelle for some delectable morsels of gossip and not one but TWO big announcements! Try Hard premieres July 28th! Subscribe here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look out for Only If You Get Caught this fall! Get your tickets for the Normal Gossip Live tour here!Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Rachelle, Se'era, Jae, Alex, and Kelsey, plus blog recommendations and 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 Rachelle Hampton (@heyydnae) and produced by Se'era Spragley Ricks (@seera_sharae) and Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira). Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs) is our Supervising Producer. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Show art by Tara Jacoby.Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

It is the season 8 FINALE and we've got the iconic Shea Couleé here with us for a tale of love and ambition amongst polyamorous bee farmers. Watch Shea in IRONHEART on June 24th and follow her on Instagram here. Get your tickets for the Normal Gossip Live tour here!Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Rachelle, Se'era, Jae, Alex, and Kelsey, plus blog recommendations and 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.Order Kelsey's book, You Didn’t Hear This From Me, 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 Rachelle Hampton (@heyydnae) and produced by Se'era Spragley Ricks (@seera_sharae) and Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira). Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs) is our Supervising Producer. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Show art by Tara Jacoby.Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Brandy Jensen, culture editor at Defector and former editor at Gawker 2.0, shares her hilarious neighborly feud saga. She dives into the absurdities of community living, complete with quirky characters like Uncle Tony and Foxy, who spark tensions over property disputes. The conversation meanders through heartwarming and humorous takes on heartbreak, music's impact on emotions, and the intricacies of friendship amid socio-economic changes. Expect laughter as they navigate the delightful chaos of neighborhood dynamics!

Vinson Cunningham, a staff writer at The New Yorker, brings his sharp wit to explore the outrageous world of private school fundraising. He shares hilarious stories of parental competition that spirals out of control, revealing the absurdities of wealth and privilege. The discussion dives into the life of Ellen, a mother navigating frenemies and high-stakes school events, all while dealing with the fallout of her daughter's choices. From Halloween pranks to the ethics of charity, the conversation is a delightful mix of humor and social commentary.

Sam Sanders, creator and host of shows like The Sam Sanders Show, brings his insightful humor to a lively discussion. He dives into an amusing story of 'accidental' love-bombing in a hostel, exploring the quirks of travel and relationships. The conversation touches on the dramatic highs and lows of traveling with friends, hilarious karaoke mishaps, and the complexities of emerging romances on the road. With anecdotes and reflections, Sam invites listeners to embrace the chaotic charm of connection and human experiences.