New Rory & Mal – Episode 425 | “New Edition”
Released: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of New Rory & Mal, titled "New Edition," blends the show’s signature mix of humor, candid life stories, and vibrant music debates. The main focuses are R&B group legacy, the culture and cycles of modern R&B, how personal experiences inform music and friendship, and childhood stereotypes. Spirited discussions include the merits of New Edition compared to other R&B groups, the boundaries of inspiration in songwriting, stories from the hosts’ lives, and plenty of music industry inside talk.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Maul’s Veneers, Mouthguards, and Adulting

[03:55-05:34]

• Maul shares his experience adapting to temporary veneers, noting the process isn’t over yet and joking about feeling the “temps.”
• Discussion leads into sleeping with mouthguards due to teeth grinding, with Damaris also relating.
• Playful banter about nighttime intimacy and inconveniences of mouthguards.

Notable Quote:

• "It's not like a frequent thing. But yeah, it's definitely happened multiple times when you're like in a relationship." — Mall [06:08]

2. Seasonal Depression, Daylight Savings, and Societal Habits

[06:27-14:22]

• Unpacking the impact of daylight saving time and seasonal depression.
• Damaris points out how many people she now recognizes with seasonal depression, prompting a discussion about mood changes and sunlight.
• They joke about OnlyFans as winter “tax season” and the science behind seasonal mood changes.
• Transition into how rain and New York’s infrastructure affect daily life, especially with flooding and ineffective street sweepers.

Notable Quote:

• "Seasonal depression is caused by a disruption in the body's internal clock, primarily due to reduced sunlight during certain seasons, which can lead to imbalances in the brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin." — Rory [10:23]

3. Viral Towns, Midnight Sun, and Dream Destinations

[11:47-13:46]

• Reflecting on viral content about places with months of sunlight or darkness (e.g., Norway, Alaska).
• Banter on whether they’d travel to see 24-hour daylight, and the effect such experiences have on people.

Notable Quote:

• “I would just want to see Antarctica and maximize my time by seeing it because it never gets dark.” — Mall [13:09]

4. Usher/Brian Michael Cox Business Drama & Video Budgets

[15:40-21:35]

• Delving into the news about Usher suing over a failed lounge investment involving Brian Michael Cox.
• Damaris reads Cox’s public response, clarifying there's no personal beef with Usher.
• Jokingly connecting the missing investment money to an expensive-looking music video Maul appeared in (“If I Get Caught” by DVSN), with playful accusations among the hosts.
• Transition to the questionable economics and logistics of big-budget music videos (e.g., Maybachs with hookah dispensers).

Notable Quote:

• "I've learned a lot recently about being careful with who you choose to invest in the business with, no matter how small the investment." — Read by Damaris, Brian Michael Cox’s statement [16:41]

5. Infidelity, Mistakes vs. Choices, and Love as a Verb

[21:07-23:44]

• Rory strongly argues cheating is a choice, not a mistake, spelling out the conscious decisions that lead up to it.
• Referencing “All About Love” by bell hooks, he discusses how love should be an action rooted in intent and honesty.
• Damaris and Maul play devil’s advocate, pushing the idea that some choices are also mistakes.

Notable Quotes:

• "Cheating ain't a mistake. That's a choice. It take mad steps to get to cheating. I know. I've cheated before. Mad steps." — Rory [21:52]
• "A mistake is an unintentional error, often caused by oversight, misunderstanding, or lack of information. While a bad decision is a conscious, deliberate choice to do something wrong..." — Maul (quoting Gary Vee) [23:15]

6. Music Video Appearances and R&B Show Fights

[26:26-30:55]

• The crew jokes about their many music video cameos (unlike Rory, who hasn’t been in one).
• Discussion shifts to the odd phenomenon of fights breaking out at R&B concerts, referencing incidents at a Leon Thomas show and even their own live pod show.
• Weighing why people might get into altercations at events with “peaceful” music, including catching cheating partners in public.

Notable Quotes:

• "Leon ain't got nothing in his catalog that feels like, Nuck, if you buck, like, it ain't no reason for y’ all to be fighting at a Leon Thomas." — Damaris [28:08]

7. Concert-Going, R&B Album Anticipation, and Brooklyn Debates

[32:40-36:39]

• The group makes plans to see Leon Thomas live, discusses New York’s concert culture, and jokes about who is really “known” in Brooklyn.

8. Wale, J. Cole, and Using Personal Experiences in Music

[40:48-51:34]

• Play audio and dissect Wale’s comments about confiding in friends Kendrick and J. Cole, and then feeling awkward when “False Prophets” appeared to reference their conversation.
• Deep dive into whether it’s fair for artists to use private conversations as creative inspiration.
• The conversation also highlights hypocrisy—the hosts admit to sharing personal stories from their own lives and families on the podcast without warning.

Notable Quotes:

• "You put our conversation in a song and didn't tell me." — Mall [46:52]
• "I've talked about personal stuff on this podcast...never asked for permission, never even thought to." — Mall [50:35]

9. Modern R&B: Album Cycles, Anticipated Releases, and Artistic Cycles

[52:13-63:31]

• A roundtable on current R&B: recent Summer Walker, Mariah the Scientist, anticipation for SZA, Maeta, Victoria Monét, Jasmine Sullivan, Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, Friday, Coco Jones, Amber Mark, Alex Isley, and PJ Morton.
• Critique of album release strategies: the effect of releasing singles far ahead of albums, fan expectations, and label-driven delays.
• Praise for Jasmine Sullivan as a “mother of R&B,” with her “Hotels” project discussed as a modern classic.

Notable Quotes:

• "If you give us a good album, people care about your albums." — Rory [60:09]
• "Jasmine Sullivan, she could be in the room with, you know...No, she's legacy legend." — Mall [56:04]

10. The Great R&B Group Debate: New Edition vs. Boyz II Men vs. Jackson 5

[65:07-79:22]

• Citing Jermaine Dupri, Maul claims New Edition is the greatest R&B group ever, sparking comparisons with Jackson 5 and Destiny’s Child based on solo and group success.
• Group runs a fictional Verzuz battle between New Edition and Boyz II Men, song for song, debating “Can You Stand the Rain” vs. “End of the Road,” uptempo hits, and group legacy.
• Acknowledges New Edition’s impact, with Maul eventually conceding Jackson 5’s “chosen” quality with Michael, but reiterating that New Edition deserves their place on the “stage.”

Notable Quotes:

• "Every artist that went solo, the album went platinum...as great as the Jackson 5, what Michael did solo, obviously...but..." — Damaris [65:34]
• "New Edition is Wu Tang, like, they're Wu Tang, yo...they were children with hits." — Mall [69:55]
• “If I do just a quick little verses real quick, y’all choose for me. New Edition ‘Can You Stand the Rain’ vs. Boyz II Men ‘End of the Road.’” — Rory [71:28]

11. Childhood Stereotypes: Confessions and Mischief

[88:02-94:43]

• Listener voicemail prompts the hosts to reveal what childhood cliché they embodied (e.g. bedwetter, biter, rage-crier).
• Rory and Maul both admit to having biting phases, Damaris recalls being a “flirty” baby, and plenty of childhood (mis)adventure stories ensue.
• Jokes about the adult repercussions of childhood behaviors (e.g., manipulation, physical comedy).

Notable Quote:

• “As an adult, when I get angry, my first instinct. I want to bite people.” — Rory [91:08]

12. Manipulation, '48 Laws of Power,' and Self-Help Book Reflections

[95:32-100:09]

• Debating the value and morality of books like “48 Laws of Power” and “Art of Seduction.”
• Discussing where manipulation fits in the real world, business, and personal growth.
• Recommending other books: “50th Law” by 50 Cent, “The Art & Science of Respect” by J. Prince, “Rework,” and “All About Love” by bell hooks.
• Pitching a possible listener-participation book club.

Notable Quotes:

• “Being solid don’t get you far as manipulation. Being solid gets you blessings. Manipulation...” — Rory [96:05]
• "Everything I did in my day to day, I had to ask myself the question of does this contribute to my goal?" — Rory [99:19]

Notable Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• “Sex with anyone but once I'm sleep, I'm sleeping. See you on the other side.” — Damaris [05:49]
• "The town that has 24 hour sunlight for half the year and then like 24 hour darkness for the other half..." — Mall [11:56]
• "Winter is their busy season...all the guys are inside not doing shit." — Rory [10:14]
• "Cheating ain't a mistake. That's a choice. It take mad steps to get to cheating. I know I've cheated before. Mad steps." — Rory [21:52]
• “I was in a motion oranges video.” — Mall [26:43]
• “Who would fight an R&B show?” — Mall [30:09]
• “You’ve been in a couple. Roy, you’ve been in your own. You’ve been in other people’s.” — Mall to Damaris [27:04]
• “It’s just manipulation. Like, why do people want to learn how to manipulate people?” — Damaris [95:57]
• “I was the cousin that nobody wanted to sleep next to. Cause I pissed in the bed.” — Listener voicemail [88:44]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:49] Show begins in earnest (post-ads)
• [15:40] Usher/Brian Michael Cox business drama
• [21:07] Cheating, mistakes vs. choices, and love as a verb
• [26:26] Music video appearances and R&B show fights
• [32:40] Making plans for Leon Thomas shows/concert life debates
• [40:48] Wale, J. Cole, and “False Prophets” fallout
• [52:13] Modern R&B album cycles, Jasmine Sullivan praise, and industry insights
• [65:07] R&B group debate: New Edition supremacy case
• [88:02] Voicemail: revealing childhood stereotypes and confessions
• [95:32] “48 Laws of Power,” manipulation, and book club pitch

Episode Tone & Style

The tone throughout is casual, honest, often hilarious, and occasionally reflective. The hosts effortlessly mix irreverent hot takes with genuine insights, especially on the evolving nature of friendships, art, and the music world. Listener voicemails add personal flavor, and the entire cast works in their usual offbeat, colloquial banter.

Useful for New Listeners?

Absolutely. The episode covers the spectrum of the New Rory & Mal experience—blunt conversation, nostalgia, deep musical chops, and relatable lived experiences—making it a great entry point for new listeners wanting to see what the show’s about.

For further context-breaking, lighthearted takes on culture, music, and modern life, Episode 425 delivers in signature fashion.