New Rory & Mal: "Best of Rory & Mal: Week of 9/29" — Episode Summary

Podcast: New Rory & Mal
Release Date: October 5, 2025
Description: New stories, new laughs, random hot takes, and the signature chemistry of Rory, Mal (absent this week but the crew holds it down), Damaris, and Ali as they dive into music, sports, internet culture, and deeper conversations about ego, forgiveness, and personal growth.

Episode Overview

This "Best of the Week" episode brings together the crew’s standout segments, full of unfiltered opinions and comedic banter. This week’s main themes include Bad Bunny being announced as the next Super Bowl halftime performer, a critical look at Doja Cat’s new album and artistry, an irreverent discussion about the ongoing public feud between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, and a poignant conversation about forgiveness, ego, and personal betterment.

Bad Bunny Announced as Super Bowl Halftime Performer

[02:47–07:35]

• Breaking the News: Rory shares his disbelief about Bad Bunny getting the Super Bowl halftime spot after Taylor Swift and Adele declined.
  • "I thought they would find somebody else and kind of fill in that slot. I didn't know if Bad Bunny wanted to even be a part of it... but now that he is, it makes sense. I mean, he's one of the biggest stars in the world." — Rory [03:30]
• Political & Cultural Implications: Damaris highlights potential backlash from conservative football fans, referencing past criticisms when hip hop artists performed.
  • "This is going to be the most racist halftime Twitter timeline you have ever seen in your life this time." — Damaris [04:25]
• Latino Identity & Commercial Strategy: Ali and Rory note the NFL’s business play and the cultural weight of putting a Latin megastar front and center. They joke about how marketing might play into ethnic stereotypes ("same way they market Modelo or Corona") and speculate on audience size.
  • "It's not so much about the people in the stadium... but how many people can we get to tune in for halftime to push these commercials..." — Rory [06:58]
  • "It might be the highest-watched Super Bowl." — Ali [09:20]
• Immigration, ICE & Tour Concerns: The conversation pivots to Bad Bunny’s previous hesitation to tour the US for fears of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) at his shows.
  • "He was concerned that ICE would be at his shows arresting [fans]." — Rory [05:21]
• NFL “Script” Talk: Joking about Raiders, Cowboys, Chargers, and 49ers—teams with large Latino fanbases—possibly being part of an “NFL script” to chase ratings.
  • "Is the NFL scripted if somehow the Raiders go from 1 and 3 and go on a Super Bowl run?" — Damaris [07:35]

Revisiting the Latin Halftime Show — Guests, Marketing, & Representation

[07:35–13:07]

• Marketing Strategies & Imagery: The crew pokes fun at the Roc Nation promotional images for Bad Bunny’s announcement (“looks like a Corona commercial”). They recognize the strong global pull of Bad Bunny.
  • "That's all you have to say—Bad Bunny's performing at Super Bowl." — Rory [09:15]
• Potential Guest Appearances: Speculation on who Bad Bunny might bring—Cardi B, Ricky Martin, Shakira, J Balvin (acknowledging current “static” between Bad Bunny and J Balvin).
  • "Cardi and Ricky Martin need to come out. Yeah, for sure." — Damaris [12:25]

Doja Cat’s Album "Big Doge" — Artistry, Comparisons, and 80s Pop Debate

[13:07–24:34]

• Doja Cat’s Evolution: Rory is unequivocal in his praise for the new album, stressing Doja’s artistry and versatility.
  • "Doja, bro... I think Doja, as far as her artistry, her talent, her vision, I think she's right there with the Beyonces and the Rihannas." — Rory [13:36]
• Comparative Analysis: The team contrasts Doja Cat with Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj, focusing on talent versus accomplishments.
  • "Skill set, yes, I'm with you. But to put them in the same category, she'd have to accomplish the same things." — Damaris [15:59]
• Rap vs. Pop: Ali frames Doja more as a pop star in contrast to Nicki’s "rapper-first" identity; speculation whether Doja could compete with Nicki in rap.
  • "I look at Doja like a pop star... You think Doja can sit with Nicki talent-wise with rapping?" — Ali [17:01]
• Writing Credits & Artistry: Discussion on misleading social media claims about Doja Cat’s songwriting (her being the sole writer) and what this means for the narrative of female rappers.
• 80s Pop Sound: Damaris critiques the album for being "too on the nose" with the 80s homage, wishing Doja had made it more her own, while Rory believes Doja’s personality shines through.
  • "It's a little too on the nose of 80s pop. I would have liked her to make it more of her own." — Damaris [20:52]
• Stage Show & Visuals: All agree her live performance is must-see; anticipation for visuals accompanying the album.

Social Media Feuds: Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B — Crossing the Line

[29:41–41:42]

• The Drama Explained: Ali breaks down the escalation of insults between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B on social media, including attacks on each other's children—a new low the hosts unanimously condemn.
  • "When you're sending direct insults to the children, calling the children slow, saying they banging spoons, talking about the children's teeth... it got really, really bad and nasty." — Ali [31:00]
• Perspective & Backlash: Damaris notes that even the most loyal fan groups (“the Barbs”) are uneasy, calling both sides’ behavior "gross and disgusting."
  • "This is the weirdest fucking thing I've ever seen. Two A-list artists trying to one up each other on Twitter about who can insult their child the most. What are we doing?" — Damaris [32:15]
• Brands, Business, and Hip-Hop Culture: They discuss how such behavior reflects poorly on artists’ brands and sponsors. Rory muses about whether the "no holds barred" insult style is endemic to hip-hop or something else.
  • "If we being real, that's... our culture of hip hop culture? Who can say the worst shit about each other?... But tweeting about someone's kid? That's not hip-hop to me." — Damaris [38:13]
• Drawing the Line: All agree the feud has become personal, mean-spirited, and unproductive.

Mental Health, Rumors, and Social Media Speculation

[41:42–44:51]

• Nicki Minaj Drug/Schizophrenia Rumors: Ali highlights internet chatter about Nicki's perceived erratic tweets and rants, which some interpret as drug use or mental health struggles. Rory pushes back, arguing against amateur diagnosis and reminds that social media isn’t the place to air grievances—"nobody cares on Twitter."
  • "I can't call somebody drugged out and schizophrenic because they're saying something that I'm not informed about or I don't believe. To me, that's not fair." — Rory [43:28]

Forgiveness, Ego, and Personal Growth — A Candid Conversation

[45:00–56:13]

• Forgiving Without an Apology: Ali asks Rory about spiritual growth and forgiveness, especially when an apology never comes. Rory shares his journey with profound honesty, discussing his late brother’s death, the quest for forgiveness, and the practical (and spiritual) process of letting go for one’s own peace.
  • "I forgive people that have done some crazy shit to me that most people probably wouldn't forgive. But me not forgiving them does what?... When you forgive, you're like, listen, it's all good. And you kind of just move forward. I think that's a little easier sometimes because it's not on you." — Rory [45:26]
  • "Depends on what day you ask me... Some days I'm strong. Some days I'm weak as a motherfucker. If you ask me the weekday, where that nigga at? I'm ready to go." — Rory [47:24]
• Letting Go of Ego: Ali talks about the struggle of not getting an apology and how ego shapes our need for vindication. Rory urges reframing:
  • "When you know you right, the truth speaks for you. You ain't gotta say a motherfucking thing." — Rory [50:07]
• Ego in Relationships: Ali opens up about patterns of tit-for-tat behavior stemming from insecurity and childhood experiences. Rory gives encouragement, saying recognizing ego's role is the first step to healthier reactions.
  • "As long as nobody put their hands on you... but if it's just actions and something somebody said, I don't care about that, man. That shit is... that's all ego talking to you." — Rory [52:24]
  • "You start analyzing shit—just remove your ego from it a lot of times and just kind of look at the whole situation, and you'll land on the right side." — Rory [54:42]

Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

Bad Bunny Super Bowl Take:

• "So you thought right wing football was mad at Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg? This is going to be the most racist halftime Twitter timeline you have ever seen." — Damaris [04:25]
• "Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S." — Rory [04:57]

Doja Cat as Superstar:

• "She might be... right there for me... as far as her artistry, her talent, her vision, I think she's right there with the Beyonces and the Rihannas." — Rory [13:36]

On Hip-Hop Feuds Going Too Far:

• "This is the weirdest fucking thing I've ever seen. Two A List artists trying to one up each other on Twitter about who can insult their child the most. What are we doing?" — Damaris [32:15]

On Forgiveness and Moving On:

• "When you forgive, you're like, listen, it's all good. And you kind of just move forward... because it's not on you... that's a little easier sometimes." — Rory [45:26]
• "When you know you right, the truth speaks for you. You ain't gotta say a motherfucking thing." — Rory [50:07]

Final Thoughts

With their trademark blend of irreverent humor and raw honesty, Rory, Damaris, and Ali navigate some of the week’s most viral moments, both in music headlines and in matters of the heart. While they skewer pop culture and each other, real wisdom seeps through—the kind that makes “New Rory & Mal” a staple for listeners needing laughter, insight, and a healthy dose of reality.

No one asked for these takes, but listening will make you feel like one of the crew.