New Rory & Mal: “Best of Rory & Mal: Week of 11/3” (Nov 9, 2025) – Detailed Episode Summary

Episode Overview

This “Best of” episode delivers a blend of music industry discussion, hot takes, personal stories, and signature humor. The hosts, joined by guests including Ms. Pat and friends, dissect changes in the Grammys and Billboard charts, reflect on the evolving music scene, tackle listener questions about dating, and unravel heavier topics with a distinct balance of candor and levity. The show includes both newsworthy commentary and deeply personal moments, filtered through the group’s irreverent, unfiltered style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Grammy Category Changes & Beyoncé’s Impact (03:43–08:55)

• Premise: The Grammys have decided to split the Country Album category into “Best Contemporary Country Album” and “Best Traditional Country Album,” allegedly following Beyoncé’s historic win as the first Black woman to win Best Country Album.
• Panel Reaction:
  • The group jests about the move indicating further “segregation” in the awards.
  • Ms. Pat quips: “Keep that contemporary country over there… Don’t come over here with Johnny Cash and them. You ain’t Johnny Cash.” (04:39)
• Underlying Critique:
  • They view the change as a reactionary move to Beyoncé’s victory, implying that Black artists’ growing influence in country forced the institution to create separate spaces.
  • Josh: “Black country artists are smoking y’all. So we gotta split it up.” (05:19)
  • They compare it to other genre subcategories, ultimately questioning the intention—are new categories for inclusion or just to maintain the status quo?
• Debate on Genre Splits: While some appreciate genre diversification (e.g., splitting R&B and rap categories), they openly suspect the real motivation behind this specific split.

2. The State of Music Genres: R&B, Rap, and Grammy Prospects (08:41–11:56)

• Predictions & Standout Artists:

  • Speculation on who will dominate upcoming Grammy nominations, highlighting Leon Thomas, Kehlani, and breakouts like Folded and Mutt.
  • Discussion about how certain singles (like “Folded”) generated massive buzz and numerous remixes (see: Brandy, Tony Braxton, Tank, Mario, Plies, Ne-Yo), fueling debate over how hits are created and what deserves accolades.
  • Rory: “Folded got so crazy that… Brandy, Tony Braxton, Tank, Mario, Plies… have all made Folded remixes. Ne-Yo just volunteered, was like, ‘I want a Folded remix.’” (09:45)

• The Value of Recognition:

  • The group stresses how subgenres give diverse artists more chances for recognition—if done in good faith.

3. Billboard Hot 100 Rule Changes: Leveling the Playing Field or Participation Trophy? (13:14–22:39)

• New Rules Breakdown (13:25):

  • Songs dropping below #5 after 78 weeks, or below #10 after 52 weeks, are removed from the Hot 100.
  • Ostensibly to make charting fairer and prevent “blockers” from crowding out new acts.
  • Underlying Friction:
    • Josh contends that “everything is scrambling to change because everything is about to change. Bots have ruined everything… Billboard, labels, DSPs… everyone is getting ahead of everything changing.” (13:54)
    • Rory counters, suggesting chart longevity doesn’t necessarily matter to artists after a certain point.
    • Debate over whether these changes are genuine moves toward fairness or band-aids for deeper flaws.
  • Economic Realities: Discussion on how playlisting and label money, not just music quality, influence chart longevity.
  • Memorable Exchange:
    • Ms. Pat: “Are they changing the way artists are paid out, or is that going to remain the same?” (14:01)
    • Josh: “This is socialism.” (19:38)
    • Rory: “No, it’s not because… you have the accolade… after 78 weeks, Brody, how long 78 weeks is?” (19:44)

• Big Artist Conundrum: They cite Taylor Swift as an example of someone who can monopolize top slots, pushing small artists out—regardless of “fairness.”

• Conclusion: Changes may be cosmetic; music industry fairness will always be elusive.

4. The Current State of Rap in the Charts, Streaming, and Music Business (22:44–26:44)

• Viral Panic: Media panic as no rap songs appear in the Billboard Top 40 (for the first time since 1990).
  • Ms. Pat: “There’s a rap song number 50… they cut it at 40 just because it reads better.” (22:58)
• Industry Dynamics: The hosts argue this is a result of labels withholding marketing dollars from rap—not a dip in quality.
  • Ms. Pat: “Labels are not putting the money behind these rap songs that they once were… rappers care 1000% because this directly affects them and their business with the labels.” (23:44)
• Health of the Genre: Despite concerns, the crew thinks rap is “in a good place” musically.
• Albums vs. Singles: They critique the strategy of dropping only singles, noting that full albums (by superstars like Travis Scott, Drake, Taylor Swift) dominate and shape the charts.

5. Listener Voicemail: Dating “Losers” and The Search for Love (32:12–39:54)

• Caller Josephine from Amsterdam confides about struggling to find meaningful connections after years of being single and only encountering “losers.”
• Advice Roundtable:
  • Rory: “Everything happens when it’s supposed to… if something isn’t coming to you, it’s just not… the time in your life for it.” (33:55)
  • Josh: “Getting back out there is a volume game… have to keep getting out there.” (34:47)
  • Ms. Pat: “Settling is more like, ‘well, I guess this is it.’” (36:38)
  • They debate the negative connotations behind “settling,” distinguish it from “compromise,” and share anecdotes about self-worth and not tolerating discomfort.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Ms Pat: “If that’s the energy, if it’s like, ‘oh, well, this is’—we don’t have to do this. We can go our separate ways.” (36:52)

6. Blunt Talk, Candid Comedy & Deep Disclosure: Childhood Trauma & Family Culture (43:03–61:14)

• Sensitive but Unflinchingly Honest Segment:
  • The show veers into deeply personal territory when Josh discusses childhood sexual abuse, prompted by jokes about “blinking.”
    • Ms. Pat’s friend: “I could tell he got child molestation eyes.” (46:30)
    • Josh: “Finally everyone thinks this is me, Ms. Pat. Finally, I’m being seen.” (46:38)
  • Catharsis, Not Just Comedy:
    • Josh and others reflect on the power of humor in healing, stating that the ability to laugh signifies gaining control over trauma.
    • Ms. Pat’s friend shares her own experiences, creating a poignant, powerful, and at times darkly humorous group therapy session.
    • Ms. Pat: “But that is the greatest read I think Rory has ever gotten in his life. I don’t know how you figured all of that out just by him blinking his eyes.” (54:28)
  • Cultural Comparisons:
    • Discussion shifts to how different cultures (especially Black vs. white families) address abuse, talks about “Chester the Molester,” predator reporting, and the role of strong Black mothers.
    • Ms. Pat: “When you bring a woman home, your mom be like, ‘hey, let me tell you, that’s a hoe right there.’” (54:34)
    • They emphasize that direct conversations about predators are more common in the Black community, for protection.
• Notable Quote:
  • Ms. Pat’s Friend: “…when you can laugh about it, that means you have control of it… I could tell something had happened to him because he don’t have no control on his eyelids.” (47:46)
• Real Talk on Generational and Structural Issues: Extended reflection on abuse in all communities; call for verbal openness and accountability.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ms. Pat, on new Grammy categories:
  “Keep that contemporary country over there. Don’t come over here with Johnny Cash and them. You ain’t Johnny Cash.” (04:39)

• Josh, on Black country artists’ success:
  “Black country artists are smoking y’all. So we gotta split it up.” (05:19)

• Ms. Pat, on “Folded” remixes:
  “These Brandy, Brandy, Tony Braxton, Tank, Mario, Plies… have all made Folded remixes. Ne-Yo just volunteered, was like, ‘I want a folded remix.’” (09:45)

• Rory, on Grammy subcategories:
  “I like that there’s a traditional R&B category… now, I know that's not what they're doing here.” (06:05)

• Josh, on why Billboard is changing:
  “Everything is scrambling to change because everything is about to change. Bots have ruined everything…” (13:54)

• Ms. Pat, on career advice:
  “Just continue to make good music. F*** the charts. F*** all that. Great music always pierces through.” (26:44)

• Listener Josephine’s dilemma:
  “I just cannot get over the fact that there’s so many losers in the world… I just see the flaws all the time and I’m just like, ugh. Just makes me icky.” (33:05)

• Ms. Pat’s Friend, on generational trauma:
  “When you can laugh about it, that means you have control of it.” (47:46)

Important Timestamps

• 03:43 – Grammy country split dissected
• 05:19–08:41 – Critique of industry response, “urban” vs. “real” country banter
• 08:55–11:56 – Artist nominations, “Folded” remix phenomenon
• 13:25 – Billboard Hot 100 rule changes, streaming’s impact, industry “reset”
• 19:38–20:50 – “Is this socialism?” – debate over music industry fairness
• 22:44 – No rap in the top 40, impact for artists and business
• 32:12–39:54 – Listener voicemail: dating advice and “settling”
• 43:03–61:14 – Deep dive: humor, disclosure, and cultural handling of abuse

Tone & Style

The episode is a masterclass in balancing unfiltered humor, cultural commentary, and real-life vulnerability. The conversation flows from biting satire to honest, sometimes raw sharing, peppered with jokes but underpinned by a genuine sense of community—and a refusal to avoid hard truths.

Takeaways for New Listeners

• Expect a bold, conversational style that veers from pop culture to personal stories and back in a heartbeat.
• Music industry debates are grounded in both insider knowledge and cultural critique.
• Listener questions are taken seriously but always laced with the show’s trademark wit.
• The episode’s pivot into discussions of trauma and family culture sets it apart—with laughter used not as deflection, but as a tool for ownership and relief.

In sum:
This “Best of” delivers exactly what New Rory & Mal listeners crave: smart, snarky, real talk about music, culture, and life’s messiness, by a crew willing to take it as far as it goes—on the charts, in relationships, and within themselves.