Rachelle Hampton

That is true. so real i hate when my therapist does that i know she's like why do you think it's interesting and it's like hold on everyone thinks it's interesting let's stop let's stop thinking about me i'm here to host a lecture this is a tight 45 that i'm doing you're here this is a ted talk that you happen to be present for and that i'm paying to do Okay, back to you. Okay.

One thing I really, really love about You Didn't Hear This From Me and also just the project of normal gossip in general is that I think you really lean into the ambiguity of gossip's nature. There's not a lot of ambiguity in society today. Everything's a take.

One thing I really, really love about You Didn't Hear This From Me and also just the project of normal gossip in general is that I think you really lean into the ambiguity of gossip's nature. There's not a lot of ambiguity in society today. Everything's a take.

And to borrow Rose's phrasing, you do a really good job of kind of undermining the society-wide illegitimacy of gossip. But I also appreciate that you don't lean too hard in the other direction and make it out to be this inherently moral good. And you describe it, and you have said it already, as gossip is a tool.

And to borrow Rose's phrasing, you do a really good job of kind of undermining the society-wide illegitimacy of gossip. But I also appreciate that you don't lean too hard in the other direction and make it out to be this inherently moral good. And you describe it, and you have said it already, as gossip is a tool.

I'm curious as to whether you think the nature of the tool is controlled more by the wielder of the tool, so the giver of the gossip. Mm-hmm. Or by whom the tool is wielded against, which is the subject of the gossip. Or is it some secret third thing, in this case, the audience for the gossip? Who do you think kind of controls the nature of the gossip more? Ooh.

I'm curious as to whether you think the nature of the tool is controlled more by the wielder of the tool, so the giver of the gossip. Mm-hmm. Or by whom the tool is wielded against, which is the subject of the gossip. Or is it some secret third thing, in this case, the audience for the gossip? Who do you think kind of controls the nature of the gossip more? Ooh.

Yeah, it's like a piece of gossip will land differently with someone depending on the kind of societal context that they come from. Like something that feels even noteworthy in, I don't know, the UK might not feel noteworthy here. I think about this as One Direction. I think I said this on one of our bonus episodes. I think one of the reasons Larry Stylinson became such a big deal...

Yeah, it's like a piece of gossip will land differently with someone depending on the kind of societal context that they come from. Like something that feels even noteworthy in, I don't know, the UK might not feel noteworthy here. I think about this as One Direction. I think I said this on one of our bonus episodes. I think one of the reasons Larry Stylinson became such a big deal...

It's because there's a far bigger culture of touching in male friendships in the UK than there is here. And that cultural difference, I think, gave a lot of air for what is ultimately gossip.

It's because there's a far bigger culture of touching in male friendships in the UK than there is here. And that cultural difference, I think, gave a lot of air for what is ultimately gossip.

Ooh, what's the difference?

Ooh, what's the difference?

Your chapter, Knowledge is Power, is about one of our absolute favorite topics. Reality television. Reality television. Now's the time for me to read something you wrote. Oh, God. Uh-oh. You write, "'Knowledge is Power' and reality television is a kind of warped mirror. It shows us who we were, what we want, and how we relate to others."

Your chapter, Knowledge is Power, is about one of our absolute favorite topics. Reality television. Reality television. Now's the time for me to read something you wrote. Oh, God. Uh-oh. You write, "'Knowledge is Power' and reality television is a kind of warped mirror. It shows us who we were, what we want, and how we relate to others."

One of the many things it reflects is that gossip is how we decide whom to trust and whom not to trust. It helps us decide who is safe and who is not, who will protect us and who won't. You also write in that chapter about traitors in an incredible TV show and Tom Sandoval of Sandoval fame, who are currently engaging in one of the most iconic crossovers of the century. Oh my God.

One of the many things it reflects is that gossip is how we decide whom to trust and whom not to trust. It helps us decide who is safe and who is not, who will protect us and who won't. You also write in that chapter about traitors in an incredible TV show and Tom Sandoval of Sandoval fame, who are currently engaging in one of the most iconic crossovers of the century. Oh my God.

Can we talk for a second about Tom Sandoval's performance on Traitors? Do you think it is in any way a response to Scandival or is he just like that?

Can we talk for a second about Tom Sandoval's performance on Traitors? Do you think it is in any way a response to Scandival or is he just like that?

How did you know the next question I was going to ask, which is about Friend of the Pod, Gabby Wendy. And also Chrishell Stoss, who I feel like I have been trying to nail down recently. how to describe their game. They call themselves the Bambis. And I have a twofold question, which is how would you describe their game? You mentioned an emotional game.