Kelsey McKinney

And more than anything, it requires its creators to be entertained. If I'm bored by a story, you'll be bored by a story. Like, if I'm not excited about something we're doing, it won't feel exciting for you. I never want to half-ass an episode for y'all. I do not want to run this thing into the ground on my own ego or hubris or some other weird third thing.

And more than anything, it requires its creators to be entertained. If I'm bored by a story, you'll be bored by a story. Like, if I'm not excited about something we're doing, it won't feel exciting for you. I never want to half-ass an episode for y'all. I do not want to run this thing into the ground on my own ego or hubris or some other weird third thing.

The stories being good has always been our priority. And for the stories to continue being good on Normal Gossip, it needs new minds. Which is all to say we have been keeping a secret from you this whole season. And it has been so hard because it is such an exciting secret. Last week's episode with Rishikesh Hereway was the last episode that Alex and I controlled. We babied it. We loved it.

The stories being good has always been our priority. And for the stories to continue being good on Normal Gossip, it needs new minds. Which is all to say we have been keeping a secret from you this whole season. And it has been so hard because it is such an exciting secret. Last week's episode with Rishikesh Hereway was the last episode that Alex and I controlled. We babied it. We loved it.

We love all of our episodes, our beautiful children. Don't ask us which one is our favorite. We don't know. For us, the gossip era is changing. I have written a book about gossip that's out in February. I'll tour it in February, and then I will be moving on. Alex will move on. We will move on to something else that I can't tell you yet because I don't know what it is.

We love all of our episodes, our beautiful children. Don't ask us which one is our favorite. We don't know. For us, the gossip era is changing. I have written a book about gossip that's out in February. I'll tour it in February, and then I will be moving on. Alex will move on. We will move on to something else that I can't tell you yet because I don't know what it is.

We need time to figure it out. But this show is so good, and I'm so proud of what we built here, and we could not leave y'all gossipless heading into what is sure to be a nightmare few years. You deserve a good product and great stories. You deserve to be entertained. And so we are handing it off.

We need time to figure it out. But this show is so good, and I'm so proud of what we built here, and we could not leave y'all gossipless heading into what is sure to be a nightmare few years. You deserve a good product and great stories. You deserve to be entertained. And so we are handing it off.

The podcast will stay in-house at Defector Media, where Alex will still keep an eye on it as supervising producer. We will stay with Radiotopia, and I will still be around and involved like some kind of overbearing auntie. This is a peaceful transition of power. You will be in new, beautiful, brilliant hands. I am thrilled, beyond belief even, shaking.

The podcast will stay in-house at Defector Media, where Alex will still keep an eye on it as supervising producer. We will stay with Radiotopia, and I will still be around and involved like some kind of overbearing auntie. This is a peaceful transition of power. You will be in new, beautiful, brilliant hands. I am thrilled, beyond belief even, shaking.

I'm so excited to introduce to you the new host of Normal Gossip, America's next top Normal Gossip host with podcast absolute best friend, Rachel fucking Hampton. Rachel, hello.

I'm so excited to introduce to you the new host of Normal Gossip, America's next top Normal Gossip host with podcast absolute best friend, Rachel fucking Hampton. Rachel, hello.

I can't tell you how excited I am. The thing is, like, the handover isn't even in the future. It starts right now. This episode is being produced by Rachel's partner in crime, Sierra Spragley-Rix. These are the very last moments that I am in charge. And because I am in charge for, like, a couple more minutes, I'm going to brag about you, Rachel. I'm so sorry. Uh-oh. Scary. Scary. I don't know.

I can't tell you how excited I am. The thing is, like, the handover isn't even in the future. It starts right now. This episode is being produced by Rachel's partner in crime, Sierra Spragley-Rix. These are the very last moments that I am in charge. And because I am in charge for, like, a couple more minutes, I'm going to brag about you, Rachel. I'm so sorry. Uh-oh. Scary. Scary. I don't know.

I just think that people need to know that like you have been in this show's DNA from the beginning. You were the second episode we ever recorded. That story became season one's Can I Say Something Bitchy, which people still say is their favorite episode. When we wanted to try out a live show a million years ago, you did us a favor and were the guest.

I just think that people need to know that like you have been in this show's DNA from the beginning. You were the second episode we ever recorded. That story became season one's Can I Say Something Bitchy, which people still say is their favorite episode. When we wanted to try out a live show a million years ago, you did us a favor and were the guest.

Like not to make you cry, but like you're fucking brilliant. Like after Rachel joined Defector this summer, she came to all of our meetings and helped with the stories and gave notes on the episodes. Oh my God. Stop.

Like not to make you cry, but like you're fucking brilliant. Like after Rachel joined Defector this summer, she came to all of our meetings and helped with the stories and gave notes on the episodes. Oh my God. Stop.

You already love her work. I'm crying because I have so much faith in her. It's ridiculous. There's no one I would have handed this show off to except for Rachel. Rachel, as a water sign, are you thrilled that I have cried on the podcast for the first time?

You already love her work. I'm crying because I have so much faith in her. It's ridiculous. There's no one I would have handed this show off to except for Rachel. Rachel, as a water sign, are you thrilled that I have cried on the podcast for the first time?