Why you should listen to the podcast Normal Gossip

By Julianne Giordano, 2023

Published 3/28/22

Whether people like to admit it or not, everybody loves gossip. You hear whispers of it in your classes and in the hallways, you see it posted on social media and you text your friends about it. Gossip is everywhere, it’s a form of entertainment that we consume every single day. But you could NEVER admit that you love it. Because gossip has a stigma around it, that it is something meant to harm others, therefore we should not be enjoying it.

But what about gossip simply meant for your enjoyment, that doesn’t harm others at all? Host Kelsey Mckinney has just come out with a podcast called Normal Gossip, where she has guests on the show to tell them stories about random people. It stays anonymous, and the stories aren’t ones that make fun of or put anybody in danger.

I started listening to it about two weeks ago, and immediately got addicted. The stories range from ones about a crazy camping trip to marathon runner drama to a girls' trip gone wrong. Sadly, there is only one season out so far, and it only contains eight episodes. However, she has announced that special episodes will be coming out soon. The episodes can range from thirty minutes to over an hour long, so make sure to check before you start.

Mckinney always starts the episodes off by giving her guest a brief interview, learning about their views and history with gossip. I was a little annoyed with that part at the beginning, but if you keep listening, you’ll realize that the guest’s answers to Mckinney’s “What would you do?” questions often relate back to what they said in the interview. It helps you get a better understanding of the person’s stance and views on what is going on in the story.

The stories she tells are extremely interesting, filled with plot twists that will leave you in shock. So if you’re craving some gossip but feel guilty participating in it, go listen to this podcast!

You can find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as several other streaming services.