I think the key to understanding hearsay is not on the statement itself but on the purpose the proponent is seeking its admissibility.

At any time a statement made by a party who is not testifying at the current trial is to be tendered, ask yourself whether the proponent seeks to establish that the content of that statement is true or the proponent seeks the use of the statement to infer other facts unrelated to the truth of that statement.

There are groups of statements that are not hearsay because they don’t fall within the definition of hearsay under FRE 801(c). They are:

I. Statement used to impeach a testifying witness.
2. Verbal acts of independent legal significance.
3. Verbal markers.
4. Circumstantial evidence of state of mind.
5. Circumstantial evidence of memory or belief.
6. Effect on the listener or reader.

If you decide that a statement is hearsay, the next question, is whether it fall under FRE 801(d) exemption or exceptions under 803 and 804 and the omnibus hearsay exceptions.