Top 5 Episodes of Normal Gossip (and why I'm betting on podcasts that break the form)
Plus introducing my secret project: Book Pong
Spring of my junior year of college, I distinctly remember texting my friend Julia, “we should get really into podcasts.”
There was such a manageable number of podcasts back in the good old days before anyone and everyone decided their conversations were worth overhearing. That said, I’m a fan of the podcast as a medium. I’m especially interested in podcasts that experiment with the medium, breaking it or pushing its boundaries somehow.
Back in 2020, my friend Rachel and I co-produced a romance fiction podcast called ConSensual. Think: Audible original romance but available on Spotify. We produced two seasons on a shoestring budget funded almost entirely by the small settlement I received for my sexual assault lawsuit, and it’s one of the most special projects I’ve ever worked on; a true feat of theatre, collaboration, friendship, and smut in an era where the winds of the romance genre were beginning to change. It had an immersive element with Instagram accounts for the main character and the love interest, another early iteration of what would become BookTok culture. When I’m not writing, these are the kind of projects I’m passionate about. I like to tinker in multimedia projects that break traditional forms.
The unique form of the Normal Gossip podcast is one of the things that drew me to it when it released in 2022. Each episode features a gossip story sent in by “a friend of a friend” (an anonymous stranger), but the story has been anonymized beyond recognition. According to Kelsey McKinney, the creator and original host of the podcast, it’s more of a writing gig than anything else. Adapting the truth into a script that keeps listeners hooked for a full episode is a feat of storytelling, and I was excited about this sort of kinda-fiction kinda-nonfiction podcast with a charming raconteur bringing us juicy tidbits from ordinary lives.
As promised, I give you my top 5 episodes of Normal Gossip, for your listening pleasure:
25 Bridesmaids and an Empath with Jasmine Ellis
If you are between the ages of 22 and 38, you are almost guaranteed to have a tragic and hilarious story of a bachelorette party gone wrong. Here’s the bachelorette horror story to end all others.
The Adventures of Flat Margaret with Jessica Goodman
Internet friends meet up IRL for the first time to go to a One Direction concert. They share a hotel room. It goes about as poorly as you’d expect.
The Not-Quite-Magicians with Kalyn Kahler
This one hits close to home because I can 100% envision my college theater friends getting roped into a gig as amateur magicians. For anyone who as ever tried to make a living as an artist, you simply must listen.
Spot the Scammer with Claire Fallon and Emma Gray
Listen to this one an then message me the answer to this question: would you have bought the bird lamp?
Grandma’s ‘Best Friend’ Dot with Danielle Henderson
This episode feels like an episode of a Bravo show. Just savor it.
I am not only a Normal Gossip fan; I am a Kelsey McKinney fan. If I could copy/paste anyone’s career onto my own, she’d be top of the list. Well, maybe second. Oprah first.
It’s an honor, then, to introduce my newest multimedia project, Book Pong, and my first episode in which I interview Kelsey McKinney about her New York Times Bestselling book YOU DIDN’T HEAR THIS FROM ME.
What is Book Pong?
Book Pong is an author interview series a la Hot Ones, but instead of eating chicken wings, we’re playing beer pong. I’ve produced a 3-episode miniseries as a proof of concept before casting the first full season, so expect a fresh new episode in your inbox next Friday.
Where can I watch?
Here :) Like and subscribe, please. It really helps.
More please.
If you like the show, I have a separate Book Pong Substack where I’ll be posting some bonus content. It’s free for now, so come hang out! There’s something coming soon.
MORE PLEASE!
Do me a huge favor and please like, subscribe, comment, share etc. every time Book Pong stuff comes across your screen! Making a professional show like this one isn’t cheap, but I wanted to create something sleek and legitimate to be able to bring on higher-profile guests faster. If these three episodes do well, I can work towards pitching it to networks or sponsors!
Alright, that’s enough out of me for one Friday! If you’ve made it this far, please tell me in the comments who you’d want to see play Book Pong in the future.