New Rory & MAL – Episode 440 | Spread Em
Release Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Rory & Mal
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Episode Overview
In this lively and wide-ranging episode of New Rory & MAL, Rory and Mal ring in the first full podcast week of the year by sharing new stories, jokes, debates, and some signature “random hot takes no one asked for.” The duo dives deep into music industry rumors, especially the anticipation surrounding Bruno Mars's new release, industry mechanics, direct-to-consumer music sales, viral marketing in the digital age, SNL’s behind-the-scenes drama, rap “GOAT” debates, the NFL playoff “spread em” picks, and the strange joys of online review culture. The tone is playful and irreverent, loaded with sharp banter, authentic opinions, and plenty of side tangents.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Aging, Internet Takes & Bruno Mars Album Rumors
(02:23–14:38)
- Rory and Mal joke about the sounds made from aging and Mal stirring up the Internet within the first week of 2026 with a “hot” album drop prediction.
- Heavy speculation about Bruno Mars dropping a new surprise album – “The Romantic” (Feb. 27), with a single dropping that day.
- Mal shares, “My only issue with Bruno Mars has always been what does Bruno Mars sound like? …he always leans to a sound we’ve already seen or heard from before.” [08:54]
- They discuss Bruno’s transformative, derivative style, his new cover art giving Jimi Hendrix vibes, and the difficulty of pinning down his "real" musical identity.
- Bruno’s tour and collaborators (Anderson .Paak as DJ Peewee, Leon Thomas, Victoria Monét) spark excitement.
2. Music Biz: Features, Sound & Artist Identity
(14:38–18:37)
- Speculation on features for Bruno’s album (Leon Thomas, possible Taylor Swift cameo, etc.), with doubts about rumors making it to release without leaks.
- Rory: “I would like to hear the production get a little muddier, that’s all.” [11:03]
- Discussion of Bruno’s malleability. Rory dubs him “the first AI artist,” sparking jokes about Bruno as a musical chameleon: “Once Bruno Mars shakes your hand, he takes your talent.” [17:29]
3. Direct-to-Consumer Music: LaRussell, Kyrie, and the DIY Model
(18:49–23:33)
- Praise for independent artists like LaRussell, who launched a campaign to sell 100k album units directly to fans at any price via EVEN (with Kyrie Irving donating $11k).
- Reflecting on the momentum of artists controlling their rollout and revenue, referencing Nipsey Hussle as a pioneer.
- Mike Jones’s famed phone number resurfaces via social media, with funny anecdotes about group photos and his cultural legacy.
4. Hip-Hop Stats: Andre 3000 vs Biggie, Group vs Solo GOATs
(44:56–58:24)
- Correction on last episode’s debate: a listener shared stats showing Biggie had more rap verses than Andre 3000. Rory concedes, but the pair challenge whether mere stats can decide artistic legacy (“stats take out context… stats are dumb!” [50:14]).
- Deeper question: Can an MC be considered a GOAT without a solo rap album? (Mall: “If we’re going to say the top rappers… you have to have a solo rap album. You can’t be in the GOAT conversation in sports without championships, without rings.” [51:58])
- They compare group vs solo legacy: Wu-Tang versus Outkast, the effect of solo success on group ranking. The “entities vs group” debate ensues.
- Big Boi’s underrated status vs 3 Stacks’ overratedness in public discourse.
5. NFL Playoffs & Spread ‘Em Picks: Betting Talk
(67:40–71:47)
- “It’s playoff football time. … I only care about the spread!” [67:45]
- They make point spread predictions for playoff games (Patriots/Chargers, Bills/Jags, Eagles/49ers, etc.) in a mock-competitive “Spread ‘Em” segment, with listener involvement for a humorous losing punishment.
6. Viral Marketing, Food Fads & Internet Fools
(75:20–82:07)
- Discussion on TikTok’s ability to drive real-world crowds to AI-invented events (fake New Year’s fireworks, ramen “pop-up” of instant noodles for $45 a bowl), and the sheep-like behavior of “influencers.”
- The addictive power of viral food videos, with both hosts admitting to falling for food fads themselves (“It’s pretty easy to get me on a YouTube short for a restaurant…” [80:13]).
7. Yelp Clownery: Restaurants Clapping Back
(82:09–87:00)
- Hilarious segment about a New Jersey Italian restaurant owner who viciously insults negative Yelp reviewers (calling them “a blowjob,” “a cuck,” and referencing inches of genitalia).
- Mal: “To me, that makes me want to go to that restaurant.” [87:00]
- They liken it to beloved rude service at Caribbean/West Indian restaurants – attitude is a sign the food’s fire.
8. SNL Drama: Chris Redd, Kenan Thompson & Unsolved Knockouts
(31:20–44:55)
- An engrossing breakdown of SNL’s Chris Redd getting knocked out after dating Kenan Thompson’s ex-wife – recapping his recent confession, the pill addiction backstory, violation of “friend code,” and open questions about relational boundaries.
- Mall on dating friend’s ex-wife: "If this is somebody I was married to or somebody that I have a family with… you can't do that. There's too many women out here to do that." [37:38]
- They probe the psychology and etiquette of dating within close circles, referencing SNL’s wild culture through the decades.
9. Absolute Tangents & Humorous Callbacks
- Tinder profile hi-jinks, swapping identities, and concocting fake app bios for fun. [88:22–91:12]
- The joys and pitfalls of responding to Internet comments—debating responding like a savage restaurant owner.
- Nicknames, voice icons in rap (Jay, DMX, Scarface, T.I.), and the “most distinct voices” in hip-hop history. [58:53–60:44]
- Brief TV/streaming recs: Emily in Paris’s sixth season, Paradise on Hulu, the new “Chad Powers” series. [94:47–97:34]
- Brief shout-outs to the ASAP Rocky single and upcoming drops from French Montana, Chief Keef, IDK/Pusha T.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Bruno Mars’s Chameleon Persona:
“He's such a great artist, but it's almost hard to pinpoint what is Bruno Mars sound? What is his sound?”
— Mall [09:32]
On Features and The Industry:
“Once Bruno Mars shakes your hand, he takes your talent.”
— Mall [17:29]
On Direct-to-Consumer Music:
“Anytime artists do this and do it in a very unique way. I'm always here to support. … What LaRussell is doing with his campaign is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while.”
— Rory [19:49, 21:23]
On The Stats Debate:
“Stats are dumb. ...They take out context of so many f*cking things – like, the most shark attacks are at the beach. Yeah!”
— Rory [50:11]
On Group vs Solo Artists’ “GOAT” Status:
“You have to have a solo rap album. You can't be in the goat conversation in sports without championships, without rings.”
— Mall [51:58]
On Respect for Friends’ Exes:
“If this is somebody I was married to or somebody that I have a family with ...you can't do that. There's too many women out here to do that.”
— Mall [37:38]
On Yelp Reviews Gone Wild:
“Anyone who gives the restaurant two stars is a blowjob.”
— NJ Restaurant Owner (read by Rory) [82:53]
Timestamps For Important Segments
| Segment/Topic | Start | End | |----------------------------------|-----------|----------| | Aging, Noises, Internet Takes | 02:23 | 03:43 | | Bruno Mars Album Rumors | 03:43 | 14:38 | | Music Biz: Sound & Features | 14:38 | 18:37 | | Direct-to-Consumer, LaRussell | 18:49 | 23:33 | | SNL Drama: Redd/Thompson | 31:20 | 44:55 | | Rap Stats/GOAT Debates | 44:56 | 58:24 | | Distinct Rap Voices | 58:53 | 60:44 | | NFL Spread ‘Em Segment | 67:40 | 71:47 | | Viral Food/Restaurant Fads | 75:20 | 82:07 | | Yelp Clownery | 82:09 | 87:00 |
Language & Tone
- Casual, humorous, often irreverent, with insider references and running gags.
- Frequent use of hip-hop and podcasting lingo. They directly engage each other's opinions, riff, and needle each other; tangents are part of the show’s style.
- No shortage of self-deprecation and meta-commentary about the podcasting process or Internet/fandom culture.
Summary Takeaway
Spread Em is quintessential New Rory & MAL, blending music industry talk, rap culture commentary, sports betting, pop culture reaction, and messy internet phenomena with their characteristic wit and chemistry. The episode’s anchor is their spirited, critical-but-playful approach: they hype, clown, and dissect trends—be it predicting Bruno Mars’s next move, questioning the rules of artistic greatness, or just marveling at the drama in food reviews and SNL greenrooms. Listeners get an entertaining, unfiltered window into both hip-hop’s present and the madcap state of the digital culture at large.