Feb 27
“Normal Gossip” from Kelsey McKinney, Alex Sujong Laughlin, and Defector Media Joins Radiotopia from PRX, A Podcast Network for Independent Creators
The highly acclaimed podcast returns April 5
The rumors are true: “Normal Gossip” and Radiotopia from PRX are going public. The highly acclaimed and popular podcast about the weird, strange world of normal people’s gossip and the award-winning network of independent podcasts announced a new partnership. To celebrate this new union, “Normal Gossip” will return with a new season of the podcast on Wednesday, April 5 as part of Radiotopia.
Co-created by Kelsey McKinney and Alex Sujong Laughlin for Defector Media, “Normal Gossip” launched in 2022. The podcast has released three seasons of episodes featuring juicy, strange, funny, and utterly banal stories which are anonymized and told to a guest.
McKinney and Laughlin will retain creative and intellectual ownership and control the production of “Normal Gossip,” reflecting the ideals of both Defector Media and Radiotopia. Radiotopia will provide support in areas including technology and distribution, advertising sales, and marketing and promotion.
“We’re psyched to be working with the team at Radiotopia, who care as much about the quality of the product we produce and the ethics of how we do so as we do,” said Kelsey McKinney, co-creator and host of “Normal Gossip.” At every step of this process, Radiotopia has made us excited for the future of this show, and we hope to soon corrupt them into being as messy as we are.”
“2022 was a whirlwind for us. It was amazing to launch the show and see it connect with so many listeners immediately. We’re so excited to be partnering with Radiotopia and we can’t wait to bring you season four in April,” said Alex Laughlin, co-creator and producer of “Normal Gossip.”
“Normal Gossip” was named one of the best podcasts of 2022 by critics at “The Atlantic,” “Fresh Air,” and “The Verge,” among others, and praised by “TIME” as a ”work of genius” and by “Vulture” as “impeccable… infectious.” The podcast recently sold out multiple live shows at the historic venue Sixth & I in Washington, D.C and appeared on the main stage at On Air Fest 2023. Stories on the show have ranged from a One Direction concert with a terrible paper cut-out, an HOA debacle involving catnip, a flushed hot dog that became family lore, and a knitting circle with a deep secret. Gossip-spilling guests on “Normal Gossip” have included authors Samantha Irby (“Quietly Hostile”) and Danielle Henderson (“The Ugly Cry”), beloved podcast personalities Lindsey Webber and Bobby Finger (“Who? Weekly”), comedians Josh Gondelman, Brian Park, and Matt Bellassai, and more.
Radiotopia launched in 2014 as a network of independent audio creators, empowering podcasters with the artistic freedom to thrive on their own terms and to bring audiences inspired, high-quality, and well-crafted soundscapes. Programming from across Radiotopia has received recognition from the Peabody Awards, the duPont-Columbia Awards, the Tribeca Festival, and the Pulitzer Prizes. Radiotopia has also been named one of the most innovative companies in media by “Fast Company” and was named network of the year in the inaugural “Adweek” Podcast of The Year Awards.
“We’re honored to partner with Kelsey, Alex, and the team at Defector Media on ‘Normal Gossip.’ It’s a show we not only love to listen to, but admire for their limitless creativity and dedication,” said Audrey Mardavich, Executive Producer of Radiotopia from PRX. “‘Normal Gossip’ and Defector Media are strong advocates and allies in independent media. They’re a perfect addition to the Radiotopia community, and we can’t wait for all that’s ahead.”
“Radiotopia is the perfect match for ‘Normal Gossip,’ as artistic freedom is central to the network and important to Kelsey, Alex, and Defector Media,” said UTA Audio Agent Shelby Schenkman. “I look forward to watching this partnership flourish as the show continues to thrive.”
Listen to “Normal Gossip” now. The show is available free on-demand across all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, and Overcast. Listeners are also invited to send in gossip by voicemail by dialing 26–79-GOSSIP or by email to normalgossip@defector.com.
Learn more about Radiotopia at radiotopia.fm.
About Kelsey McKinney
Kelsey McKinney is a reporter and writer who lives in Philadelphia. She is a co-owner and staff writer at Defector.com. She is the host and co-creator of the podcast “Normal Gossip.” Her first novel, “God Spare The Girls,” was published in the summer of 2021 and her writing has appeared in “The New York Times,” “VOGUE,” “Cosmopolitan,” “Vanity Fair”, and “GQ,” among others.
About Alex Sujong Laughlin
Alex Sujong Laughlin is the producer and co-creator of “Normal Gossip.” She is a co-owner and Supervising Producer at Defector.com. She has created podcasts for “The New York Times,” “The Washington Post,” Defector Media, “BuzzFeed,” NBC, and Spotify. Her writing has been featured in “Harper’s Bazaar,” “The New York Times,” “Catapult,” “Zora,” “Study Hall,” “Literary Hub,” and more. She lives in New Haven, Connecticut with her spouse and trash cat, Pong.
About Defector Media
Defector is an employee-owned sports and culture website. We also write about politics, TV, movies, science, weird shit that happens on the internet, and anything else that catches our attention, because we believe that a good publication is one that reflects the genuine interests and obsessions of its staff. We’ve created a financially stable and independent publication that exists for reasons beyond squeezing out profits for some people in a boardroom, or fattening itself up for an acquisition. We hope you’ll join us.
About Radiotopia from PRX
Created in 2014, Radiotopia from PRX is the first network of its kind. As a network of independent podcasts, Radiotopia empowers audio creators with the artistic freedom to thrive on their own terms and to bring audiences inspired, high-quality, and well-crafted soundscapes. Programming from across Radiotopia has received recognition from the Peabody Awards, the duPont-Columbia Awards, the Tribeca Festival, and the Pulitzer Prizes. Radiotopia has also been named one of the most innovative companies in media by “Fast Company” and was named network of the year in the inaugural “Adweek” Podcast of The Year Awards.
Immerse yourself in stories and conversations of all kinds — intellectual and emotional, real and imagined, entertaining and thought-provoking. Be part of a community that values bold authenticity and boundless creativity. Discover award-winning audio with vision at Radiotopia.fm.
