New Rory & MAL: “Checking In With The Kid Mero”

Episode Date: August 28, 2025
Special Guest: The Kid Mero (comedian, writer, podcaster, TV host)
Podcast Hosts: Rory Farrell & Mal
Network: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode is a lively, Bronx-centric conversation between Rory, Mal, and their guest, The Kid Mero. They explore their shared histories growing up in New York, the cultural shifts in hip-hop, the evolution of podcasting and media, and the challenges of parenting in a new era. The dialogue is filled with jokes, nostalgia, sharp cultural observations, and direct commentary on both their personal journeys and wider changes in entertainment and city life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bronx Upbringing and New York Neighborhoods

• The trio bonds over their Bronx roots and school experiences, swapping stories about neighborhoods, high school, and unique New York dynamics.
  • “BX in the building, bro.” — The Kid Mero (03:42)
  • Discussion of New York's distinct neighborhoods and local culture, with references to Sizzler on Sundays and “mongo pina in his lungs.” (03:59–04:20)
• They joke about never having met despite shared circles, a classic NYC experience of parallel lives (04:30–04:52).

2. Eric Adams & Relatability in Politics

• A critique of NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ performative attempts at being relatable, especially to already skeptical locals.
  • “Eric Adams is...the one person that, if you don’t think you’re living in a simulation, look at Eric Adams.” — Rory (05:32)
  • Jokes about Adams smoking hookah with rapper Nems, doing pull-ups on walk signs, and acting like a character from a '90s rap album skit (06:14–07:40).
  • Adams’ attempts to connect with Dominican and other communities are playfully roasted (06:41–07:14).

3. The Podcasting Boom & Digital Entertainment

• Evolution & Oversaturation
  • Mero reflects on the podcast industry’s transformation from niche to oversaturated, demanding more professionalism and innovation.
  • “Now it’s like everybody and their mother got a podcast. And to stand out, you got to do...something really, really well put. You gotta do TV now to have a successful podcast.” — The Kid Mero (10:21)
• TV and Podcasts Converging
  • Discussion of podcast formats bleeding into TV (e.g., Pat McAfee/ESPN, Howard Stern’s radio-to-TV model), and digital-native shows blending polished production with casual energy (12:13–13:22).
• Virality, Branding, & Social Clips
  • Mero shares strategic insights into using GIFs/memes to become a staple in online group chats.
    • “People will approach me in the mall and be like, yo, nigga, you in my group chat crazy.” — The Kid Mero (19:35)

4. Comedy Segment: The Smokey Robinson “Chinooka” Cameo

• The crew cracks up over a legendary Cameo video where Smokey Robinson mispronounces “Hanukkah” as “Chinooka,” using it as a metaphor for reading without context and making light of public errors (21:03–23:33).
  • “I want to wish Miss Sheila a happy Chinooka. I have no idea what Chinooka is.” — The Kid Mero imitating Smokey Robinson (21:41)

5. Graffiti & Changing New York

• Nostalgic tales about graffiti crews, near-street fights, and how neighborhoods like Five Points and Union Square have lost their gritty roots to gentrification (26:33–32:00).
  • “It was like a rite of passage...if you’re a young dude...and everybody else is like 20 years old, smoke angel dust and shit.” — The Kid Mero (31:02)
• Lamentations over lost cultural landmarks replaced by chains: “We’re losing recipes.” (30:44–31:30)

6. Parenting, Generational Change & Hip-Hop’s Evolution

• Mero and the hosts compare their childhoods sneaking rap CDs with parenting now: kids have unrestricted access to all content, including King Von, Playboi Carti, and Juice Wrld (33:32–45:40).
  • “You could try to stop them as a parent, but they're gonna find it.” — The Kid Mero (49:00)
• Reflections on the progression from Snoop Dogg controversy to today’s more explicit and direct music, and how what was once “crackhead beer” is now culture shifting (45:16–48:31).
• Jokes about setting time limits for devices and struggling to manage digital kids (41:48–42:15).

7. On Podcasting with Carmelo Anthony & Media Training

• Mero shares his experience collaborating with Carmelo Anthony on "7pm in Brooklyn," highlighting Melo’s rapid rise as a natural media personality and the importance of authenticity and vibe-setting in studio (51:11–53:48).
  • “Seeing him get into that space so comfortably so quickly...you built for this champ.” — The Kid Mero (53:25)
• The importance of retaining an audience with authentic long-form content, contrasted with "fake" late-night TV and tightly-scripted corporate gigs (53:48–54:57).
  • “All that late night is dying...that whole, like, [vibe] is played out, you know what I mean? It’s inauthentic.” — The Kid Mero (54:40–54:55)

8. The Future of Sports Broadcasting

• Anticipating a world where podcast personalities trade places with traditional sports commentators, drawing parallels with Peyton & Eli Manning’s alt-broadcasts, and predicting more personality-driven, conversational styles in mainstream sports coverage (57:21–59:27).
  • “Sports is going to end up being the same thing, dog.” — Rory Farrell (57:52)
• Mero describes new platforms like Playback that allow for this style of commentary, hinting that big networks will eventually embrace these digital personalities at scale (59:39–61:34).

9. Advice for Creators & The Business of Content

• Mero’s core advice: take your show to companies that actually make content, not just advertisers, and leverage direct fan analytics (“pitch decks”) to get backing (62:10–63:25).
  • “If you someone, bro, I know you got money, motherfucker. Cause you making a billion PlayStations, so you can’t cry broke to me.” — The Kid Mero (62:17)
• Legacy “star power” is no longer enough: now, it’s about measurable fan engagement, social virality, and being able to sell yourself in new ways (63:25–63:49).

10. Outro and Mero's Current Projects

• Mero plugs his social handles, his solo YouTube series “According to The Kid,” his forthcoming book on fatherhood, and his collective projects with Lisbel Ortiz, Reynio Valle, and, of course, “7pm in Brooklyn” with Carmelo (63:52–64:48).
  • “Working on this book, a collection of essays on fatherhood...I feel like I know enough...and I got stories to fill a motherfucking ten holy texts.” — The Kid Mero (64:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Podcasting's Overload and Need for Distinction:
  “Now it’s like everybody and their mother got a podcast. And to stand out, you got to...do something really, really well put.”
  — The Kid Mero (10:21)

• On Mayor Eric Adams:
  “Eric Adams is...the one person that, if you don’t think you’re living in a simulation, look at Eric Adams.”
  — Rory (05:32)

• On Parenting and Access to Music:
  “You could try to stop them as a parent, but they're gonna find it.”
  — The Kid Mero (49:00)

• On Media Training and Authenticity:
  “All that late night is dying...that whole like, [attitude] is played out, you know what I mean? It’s inauthentic.”
  — The Kid Mero (54:48)

• When Comedians Go Viral by Accident:
  “People will approach me in the mall and be like, yo, nigga, you in my group chat crazy.”
  — The Kid Mero (19:35)

• On the Future of Sports Coverage:
  “Sports is going to end up being the same thing, dog.”
  — Rory Farrell (57:52)

Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• Opening Bronx Banter & Eric Adams Roast: 02:24–07:40
• Podcasting’s Evolution (Then and Now): 10:21–13:41
• Viral Comedy & Social Memes: 19:35–20:05
• Smokey Robinson “Chinooka” Story: 21:03–23:33
• Graffiti/Early NYC Adventures: 26:33–32:09
• Industry & Media Analysis, Sports Commentary Future: 51:04–61:34
• Mero Plugs and Closing Thoughts: 63:52–64:48

Tone & Style

The episode delivers its insights with raw, unfiltered New York energy—balancing comedy, nostalgia, and critical observation. Mero's animated storytelling and cultural commentary are matched by Rory and Mal’s easy rapport and quick-witted pushback, making for a fast-paced, highly engaging conversation for both loyal listeners and new fans alike.

Perfect For:

• Fans of hip-hop culture, New York nostalgia, and the intersection of sports and media
• Aspiring podcasters or creators seeking industry insights
• Anyone reflecting on parenting and generational shifts in music and culture
• Media professionals interested in entertainment trends and authenticity in content

Catch The Kid Mero:

• Socials: @THEKIDMERO
• YouTube: AccordingToTheKid
• Podcasts: “7pm in Brooklyn,” “Victory Light,” “According to the Kid”
• Upcoming: Book of essays on fatherhood.