New Rory & MAL – Episode 434 | Pod 97
Date: December 16, 2025
Podcast: New Rory & Mal (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)
Episode Overview
This episode of New Rory & MAL is quintessential end-of-year banter featuring hosts Rory, Mal, and Damaris. The crew recaps their weekends, dives into radio shake-ups (especially the Hot 97/Ebro in the Morning change), offers candid new music reviews (Nas & DJ Premier, Conway, 21 Savage), and debates everything from the psychology of “alone time” to hygiene horror stories. Their typical witty, irreverent style is on full display, blending cultural commentary, hot takes, confessions, and therapy-sesh-level group chats.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Holiday Season Vibes & Mental Health
(03:00 – 07:00)
- The crew shares how they're winding down the year.
- Damaris reveals she spent the weekend in “vow of silence” mode—no talking, blackout curtains, not even opening the window to see the snow.
- This leads to a discussion about the fatigue of “talking for a living” and the joys/guilt of being antisocial, especially when your job is very public.
- Quote:
- Damaris (05:47): “We talk for a living. Then I gotta talk to my family. Then I talk to my friends all day. I'm tired of talking.”
- Rory and Mal debate whether they ever get tired of hearing themselves. Rory confesses he used to hate his voice.
2. Weekend Recap: Hip Hop Events & Karaoke
(07:41 – 15:00)
- Rory, Mal, and their crew attended the Mass Appeal “Legacy Installation” pop-up in Soho, with interviews from Ghostface Killah and surprise appearances from Conway.
- Upcoming Ghostface interview is teased as a “bucket list convo.”
- Post-show, they hit studio sessions with Conway: “just listen to amazing music…drink dark liquor. No pressure.”
- Rory recounts a karaoke/Birthday party with the viral “This Is Not The Occasion” TikTok theme.
- “Adults can still have fun, man.” (12:12 – Rory)
- Standout karaoke moments: Rory & Danielle perform Kelly Rowland/Nelly’s “Dilemma.”
- Shoutouts to Eden (the karaoke DJ) & Hector bringing out his inner Bad Bunny.
3. Radio Shake-Up: End of ‘Ebro in the Morning’
(18:45 – 34:59; revisited again at 76:24)
- Hot 97’s “Ebro In The Morning” comes to an end.
- Hosts praise Ebro, Rosenberg, and Laura Stylez for their run, time in the culture, and Laura’s legit contributions as a female voice in hip hop radio.
- Debate the hostile, changing landscape for legacy radio:
- “Radio needs to adjust and pivot.”
- “Radio, for the most part, if you think about it, when we were growing up, they treated radio like clubs. Like, we’re changing the name every year.” (20:00 – Rory)
- Discuss the competitive festival landscape and radio’s struggle to remain relevant as people make their own playlists.
- Rumors about the next host, with hints about a “local, innovative” New Yorker potentially breathing new life into Hot 97.
- Significance of the radio host’s job—how it can become a “box” limiting life experience.
- Quote:
- “It can box you in and keep you from growing…You have to put your personal life on the back burner when you have these positions in our culture” (33:43 – Mal)
4. New Music Reviews
(42:31 – 56:08, with further commentary at 68:22)
- Nas & DJ Premier – Joint Album:
- Rory is a fan: “the most rapping I’ve ever heard from Nas…a TED talk.” (44:15)
- Mal is underwhelmed by production: “Not as strong as I would have hoped…if we got this album before the Hit Boy albums, maybe I’d feel different.”
- Drums (or lack thereof) a major sticking point: “We need more drums on here” (50:17 – Mal).
- Both respectful of critiques: “People are allowed to have nuanced opinions about classic artists without being considered haters.”
- Conway – You Can’t Kill God with Bullets:
- Lavish praise; both call it one of his best works.
- Shout-out to the Justice League for production.
- “At this point, Conway’s discography is kind of untouchable.” (52:06 – Rory)
- 21 Savage – New Project:
- Mixed first-impressions; will revisit.
- Internet skepticism toward the Drake feature: “Y’all are bugging. That record is fire.” (54:29 – Rory)
- American Dream still Rory’s favorite 21 album; admits new one is a “different vibe.”
- Mini rant on the perils of sharing music opinions online: Damaris refuses to review new music after going viral for opinions, and Mal doubles down on saying what he likes.
- “I won’t say another motherf---ing thing about a motherf---ing rapper.” (68:00 – Damaris)
- “If I don’t like your song, I don’t like your song. Doesn’t mean I don’t like you.” (70:26 – Mal)
- Listener’s pick:
- Charity – "Warm and Soft" (new R&B project with spoken word elements, rec Damaris).
- Reggie – New singles (Rory’s pick, Houston R&B, featured on Rory's projects).
5. Personal Hygiene & Relatable Gross-Outs
(56:44 – 67:02)
- Marvelously comedic confessions about shower schedules, bidet depression, and “razor-thin tolerance” for hotel pillowcases and Airbnb cleanliness.
- Anthony Hamilton’s infamous bathwater tweet is referenced and roasted.
- Rory defends his cuddler habits and calls out dangerous hotel hygiene.
- “The way you just freestyle that whole night. Like, that did not happen like that.” (116:20 – Mal, re: compulsive liars)
6. Youth Culture: Growing Up Fast in the Scene
(76:24 – 87:58)
- 21 Savage's statement that “Atlanta is like a pedophile because it grooms you young” is discussed.
- The hosts parse his meaning: cities can groom kids into adult environments and club life early.
- Comparison to New York and gang culture, agreeing that our music/culture can “manifest” dangerous patterns.
- “A city can groom you, I did understand what he was trying to say.” (77:41 – Rory)
- Mal shares his first experiences in clubs at 16, witnessing the allure of money, cars, and women, and how that shapes worldviews.
7. Social Commentary: Friendship, Loyalty, and Cutting People Off
(113:35 – 119:58)
- Listener voicemail: “Have you ever cut someone off because of what they did to someone else?”
- Rory: Regrets not cutting toxic people off earlier, after believing “they wouldn’t do that to me.”
- Damaris: “If I see you’re a bad friend to other people–I have nothing for you.”
- Discussion of compulsive liars and people who avoid conflict/passive-aggressive types.
- “If you have bad personality traits and you’re a disloyal person, I’m cool.” (114:47 – Damaris)
8. Therapy Humor, Manifestation & Vision Boards
(72:21 – 76:24)
- Damaris realizes she should have been “more specific” with her vision board; speaks to the importance of “specific manifestation.”
- Rory admits battling negative self-talk.
- Damaris: “You need to work on that, your brain starts to believe it.”
- Suggestion to share vision boards/predictions on Patreon.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On radio change:
- “Radio needs to adjust and pivot to the times…and Breakfast Club is a perfect example of how you do pivot. That’s why they’re in the Radio Hall of Fame.” (20:00 – Rory)
- On Nas & DJ Premier album:
- “This was like a book…It was a dissertation, was a TED Talk. And I mean that in a good way.” (44:15 – Rory)
- “We need more drums on here. We need more drums.” (50:17 – Mal)
- On sharing hygiene/bathwater:
- “Using your mama’s bath water is crazy…Don’t ever put no swamp food on my plate.” (61:03, 97:28 – Mal)
- On being tired of online music debate:
- “I won’t say another motherfing thing about a motherfing rapper…Everything’s great. I love everything. Art is to be critiqued.” (68:00, 68:56 – Damaris, sarcastically)
- On manifestation:
- “Words are very powerful. I think you can speak things into existence. I mean it takes work, but it starts with speaking.” (74:57 – Rory)
- On cutting toxic people off:
- “If you have bad personality traits and you’re a disloyal person, I’m cool…I can’t have you sitting with these amazing ass people…” (114:47 – Damaris)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:00 – 07:00: Mental health, “vow of silence,” antisocial weekends
- 07:41 – 15:00: Weekend events recaps, Mass Appeal, Ghostface, Conway, Karaoke
- 18:45 – 34:59 & 76:24: Ebro in the Morning ends; radio’s future, rumors, culture shift
- 42:31 – 56:08: New music review—Nas x DJ Premier, Conway, 21 Savage
- 56:44 – 67:02: Gross-out stories, hotel hygiene, confessions about showers, Anthony Hamilton tweet
- 72:21 – 76:24: Vision boards, manifestation discussion
- 76:24 – 87:58: 21 Savage's “Atlanta is like a pedophile” remark, on growing up too soon, club culture
- 113:35 – 119:58: Listener voicemail: cutting off toxic friends, loyalty and lying in friendships
Recommendations & Listener Picks
- Charity – “Warm and Soft” (R&B, spoken word, Damaris’ rec)
- Reggie – Recent Singles (Houston R&B, featured on Rory’s album)
- Movie: Unexpected Christmas (Prime) – Holiday film with Lil Rel & Anna Marie Horsford
Tone & Style
The episode is freewheeling, conversational, and deeply self-aware. Hosts oscillate between irreverent comedy (“swamp food”), vulnerability (“negative self-talk,” shower confessionals), and thoughtful takes (music industry changes, youth culture). The group’s chemistry is on full display, creating an episode that serves as therapy session, group chat, and music barbershop in one.
For New Listeners
This episode is a strong example of New Rory & MAL’s distinct blend of hip hop insider talk, honest life stories, internet angst, and cultural commentary, all laced with humor and an undercurrent of friendship. Essential listening for those craving a real, hilarious, sometimes surprisingly deep look at the intersections of music, culture, and growing up hip hop.
End Note
If you want to follow up on these albums, recommendations, or catch the referenced Mass Appeal Ghostface interview, follow the New Rory & MAL socials or hit their Patreon for vision board sessions and more exclusive content.
Key Takeaway:
“Adults can still have fun, man…But you gotta pivot with the times, too.” (12:12, 20:00)