Honeydew Farms with Shea Couleé

Summary

Podcast Summary: Normal Gossip – Episode: Honeydew Farms with Shea Couleé

Podcast Information:

• Title: Normal Gossip
• Host: Rachel Hampton
• Episode: Honeydew Farms with Shea Couleé
• Release Date: June 11, 2025
• Normal Gossip Website

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Introduction

In the season finale of Normal Gossip's eighth season, host Rachel Hampton shares a deeply personal reflection on her journey as the podcast's captain before diving into an engaging gossip story with special guest Shea Couleé. This episode juxtaposes Rachel's vulnerability with a captivating tale set against the backdrop of a trendy bee farm, Honeydew Farms.

Rachel Hampton’s Reflections

Timestamp: [00:00 – 06:57]

Rachel opens the episode by acknowledging the challenges she's faced over the past few months, expressing her struggles with perfectionism and the pressures of hosting the podcast. She shares insights into the production process, highlighting the collaboration with her partner, Sierra Spragley Ricks, who edits the episodes. Rachel candidly admits, "Who is almost never satisfied with the quality of their own work," emphasizing her ongoing journey of self-improvement and gratitude towards her supportive audience ([05:30]).

Notable Quote:

"If I didn't have a team behind me and an ad calendar to abide by, I would probably still be tinkering with that first episode." – Rachel Hampton ([05:20])

Introduction of Shea Couleé

Timestamp: [06:57 – 07:07]

Rachel introduces the episode's guest, Shea Couleé, an internationally acclaimed non-binary drag artist, actor, and recording artist from Chicago. Shea is celebrated for winning Season Five of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and her upcoming role in Marvel’s Ironheart on Disney.

Notable Quote:

"It is so good to finally be here. I know that this has been something that's been in the works for a little minute, and I'm just like, oh, my God, today is the day." – Shea Couleé ([06:57])

Main Gossip Story: Honeydew Farms

Lynn and Cameron’s Relationship and Application to Honeydew Farms

Timestamp: [14:38 – 19:15]

Rachel narrates the story of Lynn and Cameron, a couple navigating their relationship amidst unexpected challenges. Cameron becomes obsessed with Honeydew Farms, a worker-owned bee farm gaining popularity on social media. Encouraged by Lynn, he applies for a six-month apprenticeship, leading them to relocate from their "square state" to the picturesque Northeast woods.

Notable Quote:

"Lynn decides to go with Cameron. She told us, quote, it was pretty exciting to tag along on something like this." – Rachel Hampton ([23:37])

Arrival at Honeydew Farms and Interactions with Raven

Timestamp: [19:15 – 32:19]

Upon arrival, Lynn is enchanted by the serene environment and the dedicated staff. However, tensions arise when Cameron exhibits increased interest in Raven, a charismatic beekeeper admired by many followers. Lynn's initial excitement wanes as she observes the growing chemistry between Cameron and Raven.

Notable Quote:

"Cameron couldn't shut up about Raven. He's been obsessed with bees, but he doesn't seem to care that much about learning the ins and outs of beekeeping." – Rachel Hampton ([26:31])

Development of Non-Monogamous Relationships

Timestamp: [32:19 – 43:06]

Faced with Cameron’s infidelity, Lynn decides to open their relationship, leading to complications as Cameron continues to pursue Raven despite reassurances. Amidst this turmoil, Lynn meets Chase, a Marxist beekeeper who becomes her new romantic interest. The dynamics become more complex as Cameron's behavior deteriorates, highlighting the challenges of navigating non-monogamy within a tight-knit community.

Notable Quote:

"Boundaries are part of it. It isn't a free for all." – Shea Couleé ([39:31])

Breakdown and Aftermath

Timestamp: [43:06 – 61:00]

As Cameron’s commitment falters, Lynn takes control of her situation by joining Honeydew Farms herself, uncovering Cameron’s incompetence in beekeeping. Raven and Vanessa, another beekeeper, join forces with Lynn to confront Cameron, leading to his departure from the farm. The story concludes with Lynn flourishing in her apprenticeship, mastering beekeeping skills, and finding stability alongside Chase and newfound allies Raven and Vanessa.

Notable Quote:

"Thank you for finally calling her out on it." – Shea Couleé ([51:50])

Conclusion

Rachel wraps up the episode by reflecting on Lynn's journey from a struggling relationship to personal growth and professional development at Honeydew Farms. The narrative underscores themes of trust, boundary-setting, and the empowerment that comes from overcoming personal and relational obstacles.

Final Notable Quote:

"You're living over here with hot Marxist and his wife. Sure. They make some, like, pretty okay food." – Shea Couleé ([55:22])

Key Takeaways

• Vulnerability and Authenticity: Rachel's openness about her personal struggles adds depth to the podcast, creating a relatable connection with listeners.
• Complex Relationships: The story of Lynn and Cameron explores the intricacies of non-monogamous relationships and the importance of clear boundaries.
• Empowerment Through Adversity: Lynn’s transformation from a dependent partner to a confident apprentice highlights personal growth and resilience.
• Community Dynamics: Honeydew Farms serves as a microcosm for social interactions, showcasing how tight-knit communities handle conflicts and alliances.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Rachel Hampton:
  "I have been so absolutely blown away by how well this first season has gone. It has been so deeply humbling to learn on such a public stage." ([12:30])

• Shea Couleé:
  "Boundaries are part of it. It isn't a free for all." ([39:31])

• Rachel Hampton:
  "See, we made the right choice. Lynn." ([24:43])

• Shea Couleé:
  "I love it when bad bitches link up to maximize their joint slay." ([53:41])

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Stay Connected with Normal Gossip:

• Email: [e-mail]
• Voicemail: 2679 GOSSIP
• Support: supportnormalgossip.com
• Social Media: Follow @normalgossip on Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Sierra Spragley Ricks and Jae Towle Vieira, Normal Gossip continues to deliver the most intriguing and relatable gossip stories with honesty and humor. Don't forget to check out the show’s creators, Kelsey McKinney and Alex Sujong Laughlin, and the stunning show art by Tara Jacoby.

Transcript

[Rachel Hampton]

I think it's safe to say that we're living through a pretty rocky present. Maybe the past can help. Check out Radiotopia's this Day, hosted by Jody Avrigan with historians Nicole Hemmer and Kelly Carter Jackson. Three times a week, they take you into one story from that day in U.S. history. From Eisenhower's weird vendetta against squirrels to the time we accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb on North Carolina, to the women who fought against the right to vote. It's smart, surprising, and actually fun. This is a big moment for history. Next year is America's 250th birthday. And, I mean, if you look around, there's definitely lots of history being made. Subscribe to this day for your historical perspective, wherever you get your podcasts, as well as YouTube and Instagram. Hello and welcome to Normal Gossip. I'm your host, Rachel Hampton, and in each episode of this podcast, we're gonna bring you an anonymous morsel of gossip from the real world, y' all. Oh, my God. We did it. It is episode 10, the last episode of season 8, the last episode of my first season as captain of this gossip ship. Anyone who knows me will not be surprised that I simply cannot let this moment pass without talking about my feelings. And if there's anything I've learned from watching exactly five episodes of Below Deck Australia, it's that as the captain, I get to do whatever I want. So I'm gonna be so honest right now and say that the past few months have been some of the. The hardest of my life. I don't really have a hard job. Like, I'm actually really fond of saying that there's no such thing as a podcast emergency. Like, I'm not a nurse or a teacher or a plumber or even a cashier at Trader Joe's. Why don't they let them sit down like Trader Joe's let them sit down? Anyway, most of my days are spent sitting behind my desk in the comfort of my home, which means that I'm very aware of the fact that I make my job much harder than it needs to be. A week or so after season eight launched, our business guy, Jasper Wang, told me something that has really stuck with me. He had asked how I felt about the premiere, which had honestly gone better than anyone could have ever really anticipated. Like, host, transitions in the podcast world tend to be pretty divisive. So we were all kind of just waiting to see what would happen. And what happened was a level of kindness and support and grace from y' all, our audience, our Little gossip birds that continues to humble me to this day. But at the time when Jasper asked me how I was going, all I could really think about was how much I wish I could have changed in that first episode and how much I wish I could still change in every episode that has released. And Jasper told me that this show requires the host to be a perfectionist, but the structure of it might actually be kind of perfectly designed to drive perfectionists insane. Every episode y' all hear has been recorded about four to five weeks in advance. The script has been finished before that and after the story is recorded, My incredible partner, Sierra Spragley Ricks, turns what can be two hours of tape into the final episode y' all hear. And as a writer at heart, I'm used to being able to edit until the very last minute. And to some degree, I still have that ability as a host. Like, sometimes we're making little precision cuts the day before the episode launches because there's, like, a pause that's too long. But once an episode is recorded, I can't really change anything essential to the story. I can't edit the way I laugh, and I certainly cannot edit my way into being Kelsey. I mean, like, I could try, but I don't think any of us would actually be happy with the outcome. This is getting really, really long. So I'm gonna wrap up this Feelings Corner with what I actually really wanna say, which is that who is almost never satisfied with the quality of their own work. I have been so absolutely blown away by how well this first season has gone. It has been so deeply humbling to learn on such a public stage. I think if I didn't have a team behind me and an ad calendar to abide by, I would probably still be tinkering with that first episode. So it really, truly means so much to me that from that very first episode, y' all have been so vocal in expressing how much you've been enjoying my time as the captain of this ship. Even as I feel like I'm figuring out exactly what direction we're going in. Y' all are easily the best and easiest part of this job. It is so much fun to be in the middle of writing a script or going through gossip stories or booking guests and thinking, ugh, they're gonna fucking love this one. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for making my job easy. That is the end of Feelings Corner. I'm so excited to meet some of y' all this September on tour tickets for Sierra and I's very first tour went on sale on Friday, May 9th. So that means that if you are listening right now and live in New York, Boston, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Denver, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, or Minneapolis, then you can go buy a ticket immediately. @normalgossiplive.com we are already dreaming up the live show. It's gonna be so fucking fun. And I guarantee that I will cry out of gratitude at at least one of these shows. Probably more than one, if I'm being honest. So if you wanna place bets on which city it'll be, that could be a fun game. Anyway, that is all the housekeeping for today's show. Now onto the gossip. Today for our season eight season finale, I am so, so excited to be joined by none other than Shay Coulee. Shea is an internationally acclaimed non binary drag artist, actor and recording artist from Chicago. You might know them from a little program called RuPaul's Drag Race. Yeah, Shea won season five of Drag Race All Stars, so they're a legend among legends. Starting June 24, you can catch Shea as a series regular in Marvel's Ironheart on Disney. I am well and truly so honored to be joined by Shay Shay. Hello. Thank you so much for joining me.

[Shay Coulee]

Hey, Rachel. Oh, my God, it is so good to finally be here. I know that, like, this has been something that's been in the works for, like, a little minute, and I'm just like, oh, my God, today is the day.

[Rachel Hampton]

I'm literally so honored that you're here. This is, like, such an exciting crossover event for me. The story I have for you is one of my favorites. Before we get into it, I did want to ask, what's your relationship with gossip?

[Shay Coulee]

I don't really spill a lot of tea. My cup runneth over. Like, it really. People love to, like, pour in stories to me because I'm a really good listener. I'm like that person that catches a lot without even trying. And then, like, probably the two or three people in my closest circle, when it's like, really juicy, I'll, like, spill it because it's always coming. It's gotta go somewhere. You know what I'm saying? So I'll give it to my partner, I'll give it to my two other besties, and that's normally where it lies, but I catch a lot of tea.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes, yes, yes. The little birdie told me that you have some gossip for me. Oh.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, yes. Oh, my gosh. Oh, this one. Oh, baby. This was like 2010. I'm freshly 21 years old, and at this time, this Was like one of, like, the nicest places I've ever lived in. It didn't make sense, but, like, my friend's dad owned this condo. It was like two floors, right. And there was like three of us that lived there. And we shared this kind of like loft space upstairs. And our other roommate, we'll call him Tito. Tito. He was precious. Sweet kid from Wisconsin. But like conservative, kind of like Republican. Nice. We were opposites. Very much so. Like different human beings. So anyway, you know, he's supposed to be gone for, like, the weekend, going to this game. I'm at a friend's housewarming party and meet this couple. Them. And then this other guy having a good old time. Right. So I was just like, oh, my God. Like, you know, I have, like, this really cute little condo. And we could go back there and, like, keep hanging out.

[Rachel Hampton]

Oh.

[Shay Coulee]

And we're chilling there. And I remember, like, when we walked in, you know, like, lights are all off, like, just how it left the place. But we had this entryway that you would come through. And then, like, the kitchen was to the right and on top of, like, the bar. Cause there was kind of like a countertop eating situation. There was a pack of beer. And I remember walking in and like, we were already, like three sheets to the wind.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

But I remember walking in and noticing that specific thing in my kitchen that I did not remember seeing before I left. And I was like, that's a little odd. But anyway, we're having a good time. There's this, like, L shaped leather sectional. Next thing I know, all four of us are, like, butt naked, getting it on. Full on for some early 21. Early drinking days. Messy.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes.

[Shay Coulee]

This couple. Tim and Jim, myself and Lorenzo. While Tito was supposed to be out of town.

[Rachel Hampton]

Oh, no. Oh, no. Not sweet, conservative Tito.

[Shay Coulee]

Had the most fabulous night. And I wake up the next morning and Tito is sitting there, like, in the kitchen, like, eating a bowl of cereal. Just so quiet. And I like, have this moment where I look at that beer on the counter, and then I look at him over on the table, and I was just all like. He was in his bedroom on the first floor. Yeah. Because it was like past that entryway. Like, his bedroom was, like the first thing that you walked in. So, you know, whatever. Walked right on past it into the living room. Had this crazy foursome.

[Rachel Hampton]

Mm.

[Shay Coulee]

And poor little Tito was, like, locked up in his room the entire time. Heard everything. Everything. Talk about gossip. You heard everything.

[Rachel Hampton]

Oh, my God.

[Shay Coulee]

I was like, I only, like, acted out in such. Just like, you know, a crazy way, because I was like, I have the place myself.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes, yes.

[Shay Coulee]

So, like, of course we gonna get busy.

[Rachel Hampton]

Of course take advantage of all that space.

[Shay Coulee]

So, yeah, I made sure I gave that leather couch, like a good, nice and like, wipe down.

[Rachel Hampton]

That's really considerate. I wonder if Tito is also telling this gossip some way. You know, like, I want to hear Tito's side of this talk.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my gosh. I'm just thinking of him just, like, clutching his cover.

[Rachel Hampton]

No, exactly. He would not be telling it with, like, the joy that you told it.

[Shay Coulee]

It would be like horror story. Like sharp violins. Just like she, like, you know.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Wow. That was incredible gossip. And now I have some for you. Are you ready?

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, yes. I am so ready.

[Rachel Hampton]

Normal gossip is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates from multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy. When actor Nick Hamilton isn't on set, he's making cocktails and sharing them with his friends and fans on TikTok. In Sipsy Doozy, you will find all of Nick's original cocktail recipes, plus all his tips and tricks for making perfect drinks at home. Helpful cons and flavor tags under each recipe make this book fun to navigate, even for cocktail newbies. And make it easy to know if a recipe is gonna suit your palette before you even make it. I flipped through Sipsy Doozy, and I'm already looking forward to making this shaken espresso that includes cinnamon whiskey. We all know how I feel about Fireball. Get your copy of Sipsy Doozy wherever books are sold today. Our friend of a friend is named Lynn, and Lynn is in her mid to late 20s. And for most of her life, Lynn has lived in one of the square states. Like Wyoming. No, I'm New Mexico.

[Shay Coulee]

I worked in Wyoming once. And it's very square.

[Rachel Hampton]

It's so. It's so. It's so perfectly square. This is where Lynn got her bachelor's degree in philosophy. This is where Lynn met her boyfriend. And this is also where Lynn spent the first year of the pandemic. Okay, so our story takes place in 2021. And like a lot of people in 2021, our girl Lynn isn't entirely sure what her life is. Is gonna look like over the next few years.

[Shay Coulee]

T.

[Rachel Hampton]

Not relatable at all.

[Shay Coulee]

Well, we were all Scratching our heads, like.

[Rachel Hampton]

Certainly didn't have an existential crisis.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my goodness. Every day.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. So Lynn has spent the last few years working as a technical writer, which she doesn't love doing, but it was a fully remote job during the pandemic, so she's pretty grateful for it. Lynn is at the point where she is seriously considering a PhD in philosophy, which I think we all know is a cry for help. I.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay. I have a friend who has their minor in philosophy, and I will say they're one of the most charismatic people I've ever met.

[Rachel Hampton]

I mean, a minor that I can see.

[Shay Coulee]

You know, you could be like, okay, I'm getting a PhD in charisma with a minor in uniqueness, with a focus on nerve and an emphasis on talent.

[Rachel Hampton]

Definitely uniqueness. I will say, it's definitely unique. Yes. Have you ever had a moment like this in your life where you're kind of just, like, grasping at straws and you're like, maybe I will finally move to la?

[Shay Coulee]

Uh, no, no, no. Like, I don't like to think about the apocalypse, but if and when.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

Chicago's a really great place to be.

[Rachel Hampton]

That is so real, that thing. I have been thinking about this fresh water.

[Shay Coulee]

I can walk to it right over there.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Yes. And there's no, like, real natural disasters. Like, you're not by the coast. No Wildfires.

[Shay Coulee]

No fire.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Correct.

[Shay Coulee]

Not to be all apocalyptic, but I think about that.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Lynn also doesn't really have strong feelings about la, but she doesn't have strong feelings about anything right now. She's, like, searching for any kind of motivation.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

So when her boyfriend Cameron develops a new obsession during, like, the second season of the Pandemic, Lynn is like, you know what? Fuck it. A passion is a passion. And Lyn and Cameron have been dating for almost two years now. It's one of those relationships that probably lasted longer than it should have because they had gone through lockdown together.

[Shay Coulee]

Got you. People were like, I'm afraid to be alone.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. And Cameron has always been a good boyfriend. He has an incredible memory, so he always remembers the little details about Lynn's life. And he's tall and he's really good in bed.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay. Come on.

[Rachel Hampton]

Lynn and Cameron's one true passion in life right now is bees. How do you feel about bees?

[Shay Coulee]

I mean, we need bees.

[Rachel Hampton]

We do.

[Shay Coulee]

We need them. So he's out here trying to save bees. Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Cameron knows a lot about bees. But Cameron's new obsession has less to do with bees and more to do With a place that we are going to call Honeydew Farms.

[Shay Coulee]

Honeydew Farms.

[Rachel Hampton]

Honeydew Farms.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay. Tastes sweet, like Honeydew Farms. Okay, I'm sorry.

[Rachel Hampton]

So Honeydew Farms is a worker owned bee farm in the woods of Northeast America. And it's kind of a big deal in the bee world. They've got like half a million followers on TikTok and Instagram. They do like educational videos detailing how male honeybees are kicked out of the hive during the winter, which I find to be iconic.

[Shay Coulee]

Bye.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. You're not helping us. You can.

[Shay Coulee]

You're not helping. Bye. You're not going to eat this? No. She eats it. Queen.

[Rachel Hampton]

But if you look at the comments on the Honeydew Farms videos, it is very easy to tell that a decent chunk of the audience is there because a lot of the beekeepers are hot and because all the hot beekeepers really seem to love each other. Like they have incredible on screen chemistry. It's kind of giving like the Bon Appetit Test Kitchen before it imploded. Mmm.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay, guess. No, I see where we're ugly. Okay, okay, I'm listening. I'm actively listening to.

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, just like the Bon Appetit test kitchen circa 2019, Honeydew Farms is doing really well financially. Well enough that like in early 2021 they open up a few six month long apprenticeships on the farm. And Cameron obviously applies. He has Lynn help him film his little video to go along with his application. And in May, Cameron finds out he's been accepted to Honeydew Farms. So now our girl Lynn has a choice. She can either fill out grad school applications in her square state or she can go with Cameron to Honeydew Farms for six months. But before Lynn can really make her decision, she has to think about Raven. Do you have any like D list celebrity crushes? Like people you could feasibly run into at an event?

[Shay Coulee]

Oh my God. Oh. Oh my God. That is a. Ooh, that is a good one. All the people I'm attracted to are all so A list. I have such incredible high end taste, such great taste.

[Rachel Hampton]

I don't go for D list celebrity.

[Shay Coulee]

I'm like, oh. I'm like, no, I'm trying to screw up.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah, I actually think that is a great way to live your life. So Raven is one of Cameron's D list celebrity crushes. And Raven just happens to be one of the stars of Honeydew Farms. Raven's been working at Honeydew for nearly five years now. And Lynn is mature Enough to admit that Raven is objectively cool as hell. She has like 90s Julia Roberts hair.

[Shay Coulee]

Baddie. We go up for Julia Roberts.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. And she looks really cool. She's always wearing these, like really nice red cowboy boots. Like she's a third generation beekeeper. And she's famous on the Honeydew Farms channel for never, ever getting stung by a bee. Even after like sticking her hand in the beehive with no gloves.

[Shay Coulee]

Wow.

[Rachel Hampton]

So, like, before he even applied to the six month apprenticeship, Cameron couldn't shut up about Raven.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, Cameron, Cameron, he's simple.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

I mean, sorry to just jump to a snap judgment conclusion.

[Rachel Hampton]

Cameron, that's the point of the show is snap judgment conclusions.

[Shay Coulee]

It's giving. A little bit simple. Yeah. A little bit simple.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Yeah. But Lynn is like, you know what? Everyone is allowed their little crushes, including my boyfriend. And Cameron has always been such a good boyfriend to her. And he is so tall and he's so good in bed. So she's like a crush. Is a crush.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah. She's like, flirt all you want with little Raven, just as long as you just be coming home, bringing all that back to mama.

[Rachel Hampton]

So do you let your boyfriend go to the sexy beekeeping farm where his crush lives by himself or do you go with him?

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, oh. I mean, change of scenery, change of pace.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah, yeah. It's only six months.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh. And six months is gonna fly by, girl. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Mm.

[Shay Coulee]

We gonna go meet this engraving together. The three of us are gonna become best friends.

[Rachel Hampton]

Mm. So you and Lynn are on the same page. Lynn decides to go with Cameron. Uh, she told us, quote, it was pretty exciting to tag along on something like this. Not only was there this weird Internet celebrity aspect of. But the beekeeping community is kind of romantic and strange.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, okay. It's giving wanderlust.

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, at first, Lynn loves living on Honeydew Farms. Like, up until this point, she pretty much spent her entire life studying or working a desk job. So it's really refreshing to live off the land. She's never had eggs this fresh in her entire life. Everywhere she looks, there are mountains in the distance. The staff at Honeydew Farms lives in crew houses on the property. And the house that Cameron and Lynn are given is honestly nicer than the apartment they had been splitting back home in the square state. Like, there's a skylight in the kitchen and an outdoor shower and floor to ceiling windows. Right?

[Shay Coulee]

Okay, I see you, Lynn and Cameron. Okay. Good choice, girl. See, we made the right choice. Lynn.

[Rachel Hampton]

You did well. Lynn. Finds out a few days after arriving that the renovation was apparently fully paid for by a fan of the Honeydew Farms channel. Like, just a random subscriber donated a shit ton of money. What would you expect everyone's vibe at Honeydew Farms to be? Like?

[Shay Coulee]

So it's giving. I feel like they fucking. I feel like they really. It's giving. Yeah, no, they, they. It's giving like folks are passing it around. Like it's not just the joint, but like they're passing. They're passing it around over at Honeydew Farms. Like, it's just like, yeah, that is what my gut said. So I said, let me just speak that out. Well, I don't know.

[Rachel Hampton]

Please.

[Shay Coulee]

We still have some story to go. But I do like that too.

[Rachel Hampton]

We do, but definitely keep that in mind. Keep that suspicion in mind. So the vibe of everyone is what Lynn was most nervous about. Like, I'm sure we've had the experience of meeting Internet famous people in real life and being like, yeah, but everyone at Honeydew Farms is actually like, really cool and down to earth. They tell Lynn that the bees keep them humble. Lynn's like, this is working out great. She's still working her technical writer job and saving a bunch of money since she's not paying rent. And Cameron's having a great time. He keeps talking about how Raven is even cooler in person, but Lyn is still like a crush. Is a crush. And I have access to all the honey I could ever want, so everything's going great.

[Shay Coulee]

All right. Mariah Carey have access to all the honey I want. Okay. What you mean by that, Lynn?

[Rachel Hampton]

So the very first time Lyn thinks that she maybe made a mistake is the first time that she sees Cameron and Raven interacting. Irl, like every other week, all the beekeepers hang out at a bar in town. And as soon as Lyn walks into her very first of these happy hours, she's immediately like, uh, oh. It is so clear that Raven and Cameron have insane chemistry. Like, Lyn told us they were both two big goofballs, passionate about beekeeping with their little inside joke and these looks that they give each other. And the inside jokes of the kind that aren't even funny, you know? Like, Cameron is always asking Raven if she has an extra hair tie, but he'll just add the extra hair tie to his man bun, which was already tied down.

[Shay Coulee]

Um, I would be so turned off. I'd be like, baby, what?

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Do you think this is worth having a conversation about?

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah, I would be like, what was that? Yeah, because if you're gonna. If you're gonna flirt, I have little things in front of me. They better be fucking captivating.

[Rachel Hampton]

No jokes better be funny.

[Shay Coulee]

Like we out here together. So we are representations of each other.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes.

[Shay Coulee]

And corny flirting, putting extra hair ties in your man bun. That is corny loser behavior.

[Rachel Hampton]

It is corny.

[Shay Coulee]

Don't do that, baby. Don't do me like that. Yeah, not with all these influencers.

[Rachel Hampton]

Not with all these strangers.

[Shay Coulee]

Not with the B people. Everybody will be a buzz.

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, Lynn does bring it up with Cameron, but Cameron kind of just makes Lynn feel like it's her problem. He's like, jealousy is a totally normal emotion, but I actually think it's kind of retrograde for you to think that I can't have expansive friendships with women and still be devoted to you. And then he's like, trying to control your partner is actually kind of emotionally immature. Cameron tells Lynn that basically everyone at Honeydew Farms is non monogamous, which Cameron thinks is so interesting and super evolved. And this isn't the first time Cameron has dropped some not so subtle hints. And Lyn has mostly ignored these. Oh, until she meets Chase. Chase is one of the hot beekeepers at Honeydew Farms. He's a Marxist and he's got, like, salt and pepper hair.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ooh.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay, Daddy. Wait, what is it? What is it, Chase? Is it that we're. Chase.

[Rachel Hampton]

Okay, Chase has been married to his wife for 10 years, and both of them live on the farm and their marriage is open.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

Up until this point, Lynn's always been monogamous, but now she's like, I can't lie, I'm a little intrigued.

[Shay Coulee]

Uh huh. Mm. Because little Mr. Cameron out here with Raven, I can only imagine her meeting this Chase. Little salt and pepper, little seasoned, you.

[Rachel Hampton]

Know, seasoned, out on the farm, probably wearing a flannel.

[Shay Coulee]

Ooh, I'm imagining like the brawny man, like, all grown up.

[Rachel Hampton]

Oh, yes. Yes. Yeah. You and Lynn are actually on the exact same page. Because Lynn is not feeling super attracted to Cameron right now.

[Shay Coulee]

And yeah, I feel you, girl.

[Rachel Hampton]

Between his crush on Raven and the fact that he's been acting a little weird since they came to Honeydew Farms.

[Shay Coulee]

Mm.

[Rachel Hampton]

Like the whole reason they had come was because Cameron was obsessed with bees. Right? But he doesn't even really seem to care that much about learning the ins and outs of beekeeping. Instead, when Cameron comes home, all he can talk about besides Raven is what content is being filmed that day. Or, like, what advertisers Honeydew Farms is working with. Lynn can't help but notice how often Cameron appears shirtless in the back of, like, the Honeydew Farms livestreams. And she's like, that doesn't seem wise considering they're working with bees. But what do I know? It is giving her a little bit of the ick.

[Shay Coulee]

I'm feeling it too. I'm feeling it too, girl. Like, my stomach is literally going like it is churning. Like, I'm sitting here listening this in the way man bun shirtless in the background of these livestreams.

[Rachel Hampton]

Oh, my God, it is corny. That's such a perfect word for it. Like, it's so corny.

[Shay Coulee]

Like, it's just. Oh, the way my coochie was right up.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. So our girl Lynn is in a bit of a conundrum. Cause she's kind of starting to get the ick from Cameron, but she's also like, we can't break up. Where will I live?

[Shay Coulee]

Right. Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

All of this comes to a head a few weeks after Cameron and Lynn arrive at Honeydew Farms. The staff throws their annual Midsummer's night party. There is.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my God. Cause I was like, this is already giving, like Midsummer in this way.

[Rachel Hampton]

It's got weed infused honey. They've got honey wine, they've got shrooms that are probably also somehow infused with honey. I'm sure.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah, they're gonna go to another plane.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. So Lyn decides to partake of the shrooms, I'm sure.

[Shay Coulee]

Mm. Yeah. It's a party.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. So Lyn's on her little shroom trip and she's hanging out by the fire when she sees Cameron and Raven, like, sidle up to each other and she's feeling a mix of emotions. And then she sees Chase, our hot Marxist, sitting with his wife. And Chase catches Lynn's eye and winks. And Chase's wife smiles at Lyn.

[Shay Coulee]

Yes, Lynn. Lynn, you better, Lynn.

[Rachel Hampton]

Lynn is like, maybe it's the shrooms, but I feel like I'm having an epiphany.

[Shay Coulee]

Go and be at the top of that sexy little pyramid. This triangle, girl.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Lynn looks back and forth between Cameron and Raven, and then she looks at Chase and his wife. And Lynn's like, what if my relationship doesn't need to end? What if it needs to grow? Huge news. Our dowager queen Kelsey McKinney wrote a new York Times best selling book of beautiful essays about gossip. It's called you'd Didn't Hear this from Me. Mostly True notes on gossip and I am obsessed. It's about how we use gossip to learn about ourselves. It's about Britney Spears and West Elm, Caleb and Gilgamesh and Picasso. It's so fun. And not to be biased, but I kind of think it's pretty excellent. It's out right now in a hardback and a super sexy audiobook which Kelsey narrates. You can buy wherever you buy your books. You can Also go to KelseyMcKenneyBook.com to see all retailers. Lately I've tried to be a lot more intentional about my shopping habits, which means not only focusing on higher quality materials, but kind of honing in on the gaps in my wardrobe instead of just clicking around on a website and seeing what strikes my fancy. That usually gets me in trouble. Recently I've actually been on the hunt for the perfect summer vest to wear with like a pair of denim shorts or a set of linen pants. And Quinte actually had exactly what I was looking for. And the best part is everything with Quince is half the cost of similar brands because Quint works directly with top artisans and they cut out the middleman. The vest that I'm looking at is called the eco knit split front sweater and it looks so fucking cute. It's got these really delicate like hook and eyelets and a kind of sexy little open stomach moment. Give your summer closet an upgrade with quins. Go to quins.comgossip for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.comgossip to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comgossip this episode of Normal Gossip is brought to you by Graza, my new favorite olive oil. It's fresh, it's never blended, and it comes from a single type of olive straight out of high end Spain where over half the world's olive oil is produced. At this point, I feel like I use Graza for literally everything. I mean, the fact that they have three different kinds of olive oil for different heat settings makes it impossible not to reach for it. There's the frizzle which has a higher 490 degree smoke point which is perfect for frying or grilling. There's sizzle which can be used up to temps of 410 degrees, which is like a everyday olive oil. And then there's drizzle, which I think is their most famous. And it's like a finishing oil that you can sprinkle on salads or dip bread in. I use one of these Oils at least once a day. As someone who works from home and likes to cook as many of their meals as possible, it's just really helpful to know that I never have to worry when a recipe calls for frying or saute because I have Graza at my fingertips. So head to graza.com and use gossip to get 10% off the trio, which includes Sizzle, Frizzle, and Drizzle. So later that night, Lynn Lynn tells Cameron that she wants to open their relationship. And Cameron is over the moon. He's like, we should talk to Raven about this. She's been non monogamous forever. Lyn's like, you know what? Whatever knowledge is power. Except when they talk to Raven the next day, Raven is suddenly acting really fucking weird. Like Raven is Miss Tough Bitch who doesn't get stung. Except now Lyn told us. Raven's talking to me in this voice like a wounded little animal. Like a bit like how Mia Gott speaks. And this is how she will talk to me for the rest of my relationship with Cameron.

[Shay Coulee]

No, not that. Not Raven. Ew. What? I hope she called her out. I would be like, bitch, stop it. That's why. Why are you being like this?

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, now that Lynn is no longer high on mushrooms and it's the light of day and she's hearing Raven's weird little wounded animal voice, Lyn's like, what the fuck did I agree to?

[Shay Coulee]

Oh my.

[Rachel Hampton]

What's your like, usual response to stress?

[Shay Coulee]

I just wanna lay in bed and like doom scroll.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

Or eat.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Those are also some of my stress responses. One of them I have is googling. Like, I think it's because my mom was a researcher. But if I'm ever feeling anxious about something, I try to find like as much information about it. Cause I'm like, then I can control the outcome, right?

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. And this has never once backfired for me. I've never had to block my own access to WebMD. Cause I thought I had cancer when I didn't.

[Shay Coulee]

Webmondy will get you.

[Rachel Hampton]

Mm.

[Shay Coulee]

She will get you.

[Rachel Hampton]

She's dangerous. Yeah. Lynn has the same kind of response. Lynn's like, mama, let's research. She basically becomes like a self taught scholar of non monogamy. She speed reads Poly Secure and the Anxious Person's Guide to Non Monogamy. She learns about the relationship escalator and its alternative, the relationship menu. She learns that being polyamorous doesn't actually mean like a free for all. She still gets to have boundaries, which is why one Night, while she and Cameron are in bed, Lyn turns to Cameron and she's like, I want to start this new chapter of our relationship out on a strong note. And then she's like, if I'm being so honest, I don't think I would feel secure in this relationship if you were to hook up with Raven. Do you think this is a fair boundary?

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah, no, it absolutely is. Boundaries are part of it. It isn't a free for all.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Lyn's honestly, like, a little worried when she asked him not to hook up with Raven because of all this, but Cameron's like, you know what? I totally get that. I want you to feel secure, so I won't hook up with Raven. Do you believe him?

[Shay Coulee]

No, no, no, no. Never trust somebody with a man bun, sweetie.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

What is he hiding up there?

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly.

[Shay Coulee]

What is he hiding up there?

[Rachel Hampton]

His hair's full of secrets.

[Shay Coulee]

Secrets. Yeah, girl. Mm. Mm.

[Rachel Hampton]

At first, Cameron is true to his word. Give him credit. He starts dating another beekeeper at Honeydew Farms named Vanessa. Which would be fine, except that Vanessa is Raven's best friend. So Lynn's like, that's a little bit weird. And Raven, in her weird little baby animal voice is like, they're so cute. So Lyn's like, I can't pitch a fit if Raven doesn't care.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay with the act, Raven.

[Rachel Hampton]

At this point, Lyn and Chase, our hot Marxists, have officially started dating. So Lyn is a little bit like you, do you? I don't actually care. Like, Chase has a motorcycle, so she spends a lot of afternoons on, like, winding mountain roads on the back of his bike. She's like, I don't give a fuck what you're doing back at the farm.

[Shay Coulee]

I wouldn't give a fuck either, Lyn, if I was riding on the back of that motorcycle in the woods. Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

With Mr. Bronny. Yes.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah, those vibrations. Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. And like, honestly, for a while, things actually go well in this newly opened relationship. In addition to Lynn's request that Cameron hold off on dating Raven, they set down some ground rules. So rule number one is if they like someone, they have to talk about it first and tread lightly. Since they're living in, like, a really tight knit community, so word gets around very easily. Rule number two, no dates in the house. And then rule number three, for sexual health reasons, they have to check in with each other before getting physical.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Lynn told us at the end of the day, we were gonna do what we wanted to do. But the point was to show care and consideration, to not blindside anyone. So at this point in our story, Lynn is elated. She's like, we're being so mature. Everyone should be poly. Chase has been non monogamous for so long that by being in a relationship with him, Lynn is like, I'm learning so much about myself and my own boundaries and, like, in a relationship. She even starts volunteering at Honeydew Farms on the weekends so she can spend more time with Chase. She checks in with Cameron first to see if that would be too much. She's like, I can totally pump the brakes. Chase and I are just having fun. And Cameron's like, it's a little weird, but I'm willing to work through the discomfort. Do you have any experience with non monogamy? I feel like straight people have only recently discovered it, like, in the past ten years.

[Shay Coulee]

Um, yes. And it's really about, like, what she said. Setting boundaries so that, like, everybody feels comfortable and, like, safe and, like, taken care of and being able to have, like, conversations. I'm actually really shocked that Cameron, Mr. Shirtless Man Bun, is able to navigate these complex conversations. Like, it. Actually, I'm sitting over here. I'm gonna give him the credit that I feel like I can. So far.

[Rachel Hampton]

So far.

[Shay Coulee]

See?

[Rachel Hampton]

See?

[Shay Coulee]

Knew it.

[Rachel Hampton]

So far, you're right. Up until this point, he's doing pretty well. So one night in mid July, Lyn and Cameron both have dates with Chase and Vanessa, which isn't uncommon. What is uncommon is how squirrely Cameron is being when he gets back from his date with Vanessa. Lynn's like, how was your date? Like, checking in. And Cameron's like, it was good. And then he's like, we were actually supposed to hang out with Raven, but then Vanessa didn't feel great. So Vanessa went to bed early. And Lyn's like, how early? And Cameron's like, I guess a few hours ago. So Lyn's like, what have you been doing since then? And Cameron's, like, just hanging out with Raven, but he's, like, refusing to meet Lynn's eyes. And Lynn's like, y' all were just hanging out. And that's when Cameron's finally like, I'm sorry. He's like, we were at the bar, and one thing led to another, and, yeah, I'm really sorry. Raven and I hooked up.

[Shay Coulee]

Boo. Boo. See, that's what I was saying. So far. Knew it.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. He lasted, like, two weeks.

[Shay Coulee]

Two weeks.

[Rachel Hampton]

He did well for two weeks. Lyn, like, feels her heart drop. She's not like, jealous necessarily. Like, she's a little jealous. Like, her and Cameron have been together for two years at this point. But mostly, Lyn is like, I just feel really betrayed. Like, this was my one big, clear boundary that I gave you. So your partner's just broken the clearest boundary you set down. What do you do? All right.

[Shay Coulee]

You know, it's just like, we'll have to have, like, a conversation, and, like, we're all human.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah, we're all a human.

[Shay Coulee]

We don't make mistakes. I don't feel like Man Bun is gonna prove to be worthy, but I'm sure there's more. I'm sure there's more we'll get from Cameron.

[Rachel Hampton]

And you're right. There is more.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my God. I'm just like, dude.

[Rachel Hampton]

After this, Lynn's like, I need some space. And Cameron's like, yeah, of course. The next morning, Lynn has a hike planned with Chase. She texts him, like, I'm probably not gonna be in a fun, flirty mood. Like, I had an argument with Cameron last night. And Chase is like, that is totally fine. So they go on their hike as planned, and Lynn just kind of, like, unloads everything on Chase. She's like, is it even okay that I'm mad? Like, I don't want to be controlling. And Chase is like, yeah, of course you're allowed to be mad. He crossed, like, a major boundary. And she's like, I don't know if I want to break up. We still live together, you know? And Chase is like, yeah, that's really, really tough. And he doesn't really have any answers, but it feels good to just talk it through together.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

And Lyn is feeling a little bit better by the time they start heading back to Honeydew Farm. So, of course, that is when Cameron texts her.

[Shay Coulee]

Of course.

[Rachel Hampton]

And he's like, vanessa's coming over for a date tonight.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh. All of a sudden, she's feeling so much better. Huh. Huh? Is Raven gonna come with Vanessa?

[Rachel Hampton]

No, Raven does not come. But it's like, one of their only rules is no dates in the house.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my God. Okay, Cameron.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Every single ounce of emotional maturity leaves Lynn's body.

[Shay Coulee]

Would have left mine, too.

[Rachel Hampton]

She walks into the house, she sees Vanessa on the couch with Cameron, and without a second thought, Lynn is like, hey, Vanessa. And then she's like, you might want to look out for this guy. He's not very considerate or communicative. Did he tell you that he hooked up with your best friend last night? And that our one hard Boundary is that he can't date Raven. And then Lynn goes upstairs, locks the bedroom door, washes her face, does a honey mask and goes to bed.

[Shay Coulee]

That's so funny because she said every ounce of emotional maturity left her body. To me, that was a bucket full of emotional mat.

[Rachel Hampton]

That's real. Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

I would have snatched him. So, yeah. Stand ten toes down, Lynn, and tell Vanessa what was up.

[Rachel Hampton]

By the time Lynn wakes up the next morning, Cameron is already gone. And Lynn suspects that he's at Raven's. But she doesn't have the time or energy to figure it out. Cause she has got a volunteer shift at Honeydew Farms that morning. Could you give me like, what are like three tasks that you think a volunteer might have to do at a honey farm that mostly seems to employ influencers?

[Shay Coulee]

I would say move the honey, scrape the honey.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Harvest the honey.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah, girl. Take pictures of people working with the honey.

[Rachel Hampton]

Set up the ring light.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Those are great choices. So Lynn arrives at Honeydew Farms ready to just like, spend some time in her body and not in her mind. She's like, let me do some physical tasks. Except who else is on duty with her that day but Raven and Vanessa? Okay.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, oh, oh, oh. Y' all think that you gonna show up with your like little best friends, try and jump me on my shift. Oh, no, no, it's okay. You got this, Lynn. You got this, Lynn. Don't think just because she got her little friend with her that you're outnumbered, Lynn, that you can't take these hoes.

[Rachel Hampton]

Okay, yeah. Lynn's like, I can't fucking deal with this shit.

[Shay Coulee]

And you know what? You. You are well within your right too to feel that way too.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah, yeah. And the thing is, at first, the vibes are actually horrendous. Like it's early in the morning, so everyone's had swarmed the day before, which is like when an old queen leaves with like two thirds of the bee colony to find a new location. So everyone's working really quickly to get the new colony set up.

[Shay Coulee]

Uh huh.

[Rachel Hampton]

So everyone's like sweaty and stressed out. And Lyn is doing her best to avoid being left alone with Raven and Vanessa, which she manages to do until lunch when Raven and Vanessa corner her.

[Shay Coulee]

Okay, so what the fuck is y' all gonna say?

[Rachel Hampton]

Okay, you're about to be trapped in a conversation with your boyfriend's other two girlfriends. What do you do?

[Shay Coulee]

I'm his main bitch, so what the fuck are y' all gonna do? Yeah, yeah, I knew him when he was in a square state. Bitch. What the fuck?

[Rachel Hampton]

I knew him before he got into bees, right?

[Shay Coulee]

I knew him before he had hair long enough to snatch.

[Rachel Hampton]

Cut it too, man. I watched him grow that man bunny.

[Shay Coulee]

I watched it when it was a boy bun. Okay? The fuck? So what the two you gonna do?

[Rachel Hampton]

Lynn doesn't even really have a chance to do anything because Raven immediately apologizes. And she even does it in like a normal grown up voice. She's like, vanessa called me last night after she left your place. And then she's like, I had no idea that you'd asked Cameron not to hook up with me. I like, would not have made a. If I wasn't under the impression that it was okay. Do you believe her?

[Shay Coulee]

Okay, you're giving me your real voice. You ain't giving me this little, little baby voice telling me that you didn't know and that you made the move. Raven, I'm gonna take you at your word. I'm gonna take you at your word, but don't let me find out you.

[Rachel Hampton]

Were lying in these.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah. And these honeycomb streets that you were lying.

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, Raven seems to be like, legitimately upset. And Lyn kind of feels like the wind of righteous anger get taken out of her sails. Because Vanessa is also corroborating everything Raven is saying. Lyn has also long suspected that Cameron probably didn't tell Raven or Vanessa that he had agreed not to hook up with Raven. So Lyn is like, I'm going to be honest. I had a feeling Cameron didn't tell you. And then she's like, this is mostly Cameron's fault if we're being honest here.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

And from here, the floodgates just open. Like, shit starts spilling out. Lyn and Raven finally confess, like, how jealous they've been of each other and how they both tried to deal with it the best they could. Raven's like, yeah, I had a really big crutch and I was trying to be diplomatic, but I think I just made it awkward. And Lyn's like, yeah, you fucking did. You talked to me like a wounded baby animal.

[Shay Coulee]

Yes, thank you for finally calling her out on it. Oh. Period. I was hoping you would.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah. But it's nice that you guys could do the in, like in this moment where you're coming together to like, really realize how corny Cameron is.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. And Raven's like, I'm so sorry. That's a stress response I have. I didn't mean to talk like that. Lynn is like, this is maybe one of the Realest conversations I've ever had with someone.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Like, I could picture us being friends after this.

[Shay Coulee]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

And at this point, Lyn and Raven and Vanessa just start trauma bonding over how dumb Cameron is.

[Shay Coulee]

I love it. Yes. How dumb? How dumb is he?

[Rachel Hampton]

Ooh. Well, they're like, God, he's so good in bed. Right? But he always poops with the door open and he clips his nails in bed.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my. No. So he does that in multiple beds. He did that?

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Raven and Vanessa are like, cameron is always trying to get on camera and he won't shut up about growing our platform. He even suggested that we make inroads with the raw milk community, and we hate those guys.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

Lynn's like, okay, well, since we're doing, like, truth and reconciliation, I've been dying to know, is Cameron actually any good at beekeeping? Like, I could never ask him, obviously. And Raven and Vanessa both sort of giggle and then they're like, yeah, not really. They're like, honestly, we've both low key been covering for him, and at this point, Lyn is feeling a bit chaotic, so she's like, what if you just stopped covering for him? Oh. All three of them agree to take some time away from Cameron. Lyn just tells him she needs space to process her emotions and she's gonna stay with Chase and his wife for a few days. Is Raven redeemed in your mind at this point?

[Shay Coulee]

I love it when bad bitches link up to maximize their joint slay.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Yes.

[Shay Coulee]

Because I feel like that's what's on the horizon.

[Rachel Hampton]

No, I love this. This little triad.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah. Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

Cameron very quickly finds out about this John Tucker must die situation. He doesn't know what they said, he just knows that he said he could sense.

[Shay Coulee]

He's like, mm, mm, mm, something's up. He's like, they all switched it up on me all at once.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's like, I feel like the village idiot. Can you guys just give me some grace? And Lyn's like, you are the village idiot, and right now is not the time to be asking for grace.

[Shay Coulee]

Tell him, Lynn. Let him know. Let him know.

[Rachel Hampton]

Lynn also can't help noticing that over the next few days, Cameron stops talking about Raven and sponsorships and he starts complaining about the bees and how much work they are. And at one point he's like, I don't even know if I want to be on this stupid farm anymore. I keep getting stung by bees. Lyn at this point is like, I could not possibly care less than I Do. Because she's still living with our hot Marxist and his w. She and Vanessa and Raven have a group chat now where they just bitch about Cameron. So everything's low key coming up, Lynn.

[Shay Coulee]

Yes. Yes. I love it. Good for you, Lynn. What do you even need him for anymore? Now.

[Rachel Hampton]

No, exactly. You're good. You're free. Free yourself.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah. You're living over here with hot Marxist and his wife. Sure. They make some, like, pretty okay food.

[Rachel Hampton]

I'm sure their pancakes are good.

[Shay Coulee]

I'm sure they make a mean pancake.

[Rachel Hampton]

Right.

[Shay Coulee]

On a fierce griddle at a farmhouse with a dou. Outdoor shower.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. So the next time Lynn sees Vanessa and Raven is at the monthly Honeydew Farms staff meeting. And usually this meeting is just like, should we plant lavender instead of clover so that our honey tastes different? But this meeting is different because at the beginning of this meeting, Raven stands up and she's like, I've been talking with some of the senior beekeepers. We've noticed that the people who do the most work are too busy to film content. And then Raven's like, in the interest of fairness, we think time on camera should be directly proportional to time spent doing actual manual labor. That way no one's doing too much of any one thing. And she is very poignantly not looking at Cameron when she says this. And Lyn's like, wait, do I have a crush on Raven now?

[Shay Coulee]

I do. Yes. Julia Roberts.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. She redeemed herself.

[Shay Coulee]

Yes. Early 20s Julia Roberts. Like, yeah. Mm.

[Rachel Hampton]

How do you think Cameron will react to this?

[Shay Coulee]

He is sweating out the edges on that man bun. I know. That shit is lifted.

[Rachel Hampton]

Frizzy.

[Shay Coulee]

Lifted. Sweating. He's like, oh, my God, not on camera anymore. Oh, gotta work with the bees.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Yeah. He throws a bitch fit. Not at the meeting because he's a bitch, but over text later with Lyn. He's like, raven did that because she's jealous of how much the subscribers like me. And then he's like, I do carry my weight. I do so many things. He's like, I made us a media press kit on Canva.

[Shay Coulee]

Crazy flex, bro. But go off.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's like, what about that PowerPoint I made on a potential partnership with the Raw Meat diet subscription box?

[Shay Coulee]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's like, I bought our new ring light. I contributed so much to the branding.

[Shay Coulee]

Aw, baby. And you're saying this after being told that you were the village idiot that you then threw. This would sound very village idiot esque right now. My sweet baby.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. At this point, Lynn is Like, you know what, maybe it is actually time for me to go to grad school just to get away from Cameron. Do you think Lynn should start studying for the GRE at this point?

[Shay Coulee]

At this point, okay, it's like we're still pandemic, still feeling a little aimless. Like, do you feel passionate about being a part of this beekeeping community or have you had your little moment where you're like, okay, it was fun. I did it for like a little month. Kind of felt like a little sexy. Summer camp.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

And now I'm ready to like move on with my life. I would say if you don't see like a future here at Honeydew Farms, then maybe, yeah, girl, start looking into to grad school just to have it as a safety net.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Well, luckily Lynn never has to pick up a practice test for the GRE because without Raven and Vaness a covering from him, everyone on the farm starts slowly figuring out that Cameron is useless. His six month long apprenticeship isn't extended when his contract runs out. And it's at this point that Lynn decides to officially break up with him. So Cameron leaves town with no job and no bitches.

[Shay Coulee]

None. None. And one. After a while they're like, oh, well, yeah, yeah, it's gotta go.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah, you actually have to do work here. That's the point. Mm. It's a workers co op.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah, you gotta work, bitch. Just like Britney Spears said.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes, yes, Lynn does know how to work. So she gets accepted for her own six month long apprenticeship at Honeydew Farms because turns out she's a natural at beekeeping.

[Shay Coulee]

See, see, look at you learning this new skill.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yes. Raven even teaches her how to stick her hand in a hive without getting stung. While she continues to date our hot Marxist Chase, who is a model of being poly.

[Shay Coulee]

Yes.

[Rachel Hampton]

A few weeks into her apprenticeship, Lynn and Raven are like scrolling on TikTok together. And you know when you get a video on your FYP from someone in your contacts?

[Shay Coulee]

Oh yeah. Oh my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

So on Lynn's FYP is a video from a phone contact and it's none other than Cameron. And he's like, hey guys, it's me, Cam. And here's how I eliminated seed oils from my diet. And that's the end of our story.

[Shay Coulee]

Oh my God. That was some good, good, good, good gossip. Good for you, Lynn. That's a great one. That one was so good, so juicy. I mean, did you and Raven ever hook up? Because that's where it was doing it for me. That's where in the romance novel. It was going off for me. I was like, oh, I know where it goes after that.

[Rachel Hampton]

No, exactly. You're holding hands with piles of bees. Yeah.

[Shay Coulee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Thank you for listening to Normal Gossip. If you have a gossip story to share with us, email us@normal gossipefector.com or you can leave us a voicemail at 2679 GOSSIP. If you love this podcast and want to support us, become a friend or a friend of a [e-mail] you can follow the show on Instagram and TikTok. At ormalgossip you can follow me on all social media. Eydanae H E Y Y D N A E this podcast was produced by Sierra Spragley Ritz and J? Tol Vieira. Thank you to Samantha Gatsick, our audio engineer and thank you to Danielle Hewitt for your additional production help this season. The co creators and dowager queens Normal Gossip are Alex Laughlin and Kelsey McKinney. Justin Ellis is defective project editor. Jasper Wang and Sean Kuhn are Defectors business guys. Alex Sujong Laughlin is Defectors supervising producer. Tom Le is our editor in chief. Dan McQuaid runs our merch store which you can find at normalgossip store. Tara Jacoby designed our show art. Thank you to Katherine Shue, Brandi Jensen, Louise Payas Pumar, Chris Thompson, Jasper Wang, Sabrina Embler, Dave McKenna, Patrick Redford and Ray Rato for all your help on this season. Thank you to the rest of the Defector staff. Defector Media is a collectively owned subscriber based media company. Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia. I'm your host Rachel Hampton and remember you didn't hear this from me.

[Shay Coulee]

Radiotopia.

[Rachel Hampton]

From PRX.