New Rory & Mal – Episode 444 | Unpop The Oxy

Date: January 20, 2026
Hosts: Rory, Mal, and Damaris
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode marks Damaris' return to the New Rory & Mal podcast after a recovery from surgery. The crew dives into everything from surgery stories and 2016 nostalgia to new music releases, wild experiences in NYC nightlife, the concept of Nepo babies, and controversial marketing missteps. The episode is peppered with their trademark playful banter, witty takes on pop culture, and honest conversations about music, relationships, and generational trends.

Damaris Returns: Surviving Surgery & Oxy Stories

Timestamps: 00:12 – 03:35

• Damaris comes back post-surgery, joking about BBL rumors ("I have the same exact BBL scars, but I don’t have a BBL." – Damaris, 01:09).
• She describes her convalescence:
  • "Sent emails, cried, watched Law & Order. That's literally it. Sent emails, cried, and watched Law & Order." (Damaris, 01:57)
  • Discusses being on oxycodone and binging Law & Order ("Watching Law & Order off Oxy is mad fun." – Damaris, 02:13)
• The crew riffs about trauma and horniness, reflecting on how people cope with hardship and referencing pop culture.
  ("Trauma makes people horny though." – Mal, 03:35)

NYC Life, Going Out, and Dry January

Timestamps: 05:10 – 14:36

• The team jokes about Damaris missing out on episodes with Mitch and Major providing "feminine energy."
• Complaints and nostalgic tales surface about unreliable winter plans and snow keeping everyone inside.
• Debate over bar sports-watching—whether sound should be on or off, and why New York has turned "soft" about snow.
• Damaris laments missing out on football, asking, "Who's going to the Super Bowl?" (07:45)
• The Patriots are favored, and the crew is surprised at their quick franchise turnaround after a short rebuilding period.
• Hookah culture & NYC night scenes: Mal’s rare appearance at Mirror lounge, the prevalence of women out in groups, and gendered social dynamics.
• Splitting the bill: The crew laughs about women splitting checks—a supposed sign of progress and "the world healing."
• Discussion around Dry January – who cheated and who is still abstaining. Mal claims he's smoke-free for the year, while others reveal struggles and relapses.

2016 Nostalgia & Wild NYC Days

Timestamps: 15:11 – 51:10

• Damaris brings her "red demon" hair back in "honor of 2016," which launches a wave of nostalgia for that year.
• Endless jokes about how 2016 was the last universally “great” year.
• The art of the marathon NYC date:
  • Vivid breakdowns of legendary multi-stop outings ("If you go on a date, you’re going to seven spots and coming home at 4am." – Rory, 39:10).
  • Arguments about what a “real” night out entails, with a catalog of venues, brunches, barbecues, day parties, rooftop hangs, and eventual after-parties.
  • “When you with a baddie, you never know where the night’s going to end.” (Damaris, 46:59)
• The group admits these aren't 30s+ activities anymore, but were staples of their 20s.

Generational Fashion, Age, and Relatability

Timestamps: 18:05 – 31:56

• The hosts joke about how everyone in old photos looks so much older, tying into an MLK Day discussion and generational changes in fashion.
  • "They used to look real old back in the day." (Damaris, 18:08)
• Damaris rails against the modern fixation on "relatability" in celebrities and creative work.
  • "The people that I like watching or the content that I like consuming are people that I can't relate to." (Damaris, 31:05)
• They dive into the need for artists to be relatable versus aspirational, using Jay-Z's oeuvre as an example.

J. Cole's New Music & Literary Debate

Timestamps: 22:12 – 34:49

• The group debates J. Cole's latest song, dissecting lyrics and theories on whether he took a "shot" at Jay-Z:
  • "I was signed to the so-called rap king." ("I don’t think it was a shot." – Damaris, 32:00; "It was just an honest emotion." – Mal, 32:50)
• Discussion about double and triple-disc albums—what’s too much music in the streaming era?
• Hopes and speculations about Cole’s potential “bop” single and what would constitute a satisfying album rollout.

New Music Rundown: ASAP Rocky, TI, and Unexpected Features

Timestamps: 43:43 – 60:44

• ASAP Rocky’s new album: All hosts agree it sounds excellent, especially the production and Rocky’s energy.
  • "Every beat on this is better than any beat I heard all of last year." (Rory, 55:13)
  • "This is the best Rocky album probably since the first one." (Rory, 55:33)
• They question if Rocky belongs in the "new Big Three" of rap, cite his influence, and compare to contemporaries Tyler and Travis Scott.
• TI’s comeback and Grand Hustle talent: Reflecting on missed opportunities due to legal issues and label management.
• Fascinating trivia: Remixes and unreleased versions, like Lady Gaga’s take on “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and Beyoncé’s “In Da Club”—the team reacts to rare clips.

Nepo Babies: The Good, the Bad, the Complicated

Timestamps: 75:02 – 85:20

• North West drops her own music; everyone agrees it’s impressive for her age.
  • “Her dad is a musical genius and her mother understands visual aesthetic probably better than anybody in the modern era. She has some pretty good genes.” (Rory, 75:26)
• Conversation expands to famous children (Nepo babies):
  • Whether it’s possible to be a Nepo athlete—Jalen Brunson is discussed as a borderline case.
  • "You can have all the access in the world, but you got to do the work." (Rory, paraphrased, 85:10)
• Social media is seen as a double-edged sword but a potential creative outlet and “savior” for celeb kids.
• Discussion includes Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, the idea that true wealth can make you value money less, and more “crash out or supernova” Nepo kid examples.

Culture, Backlash, and Marketing Snafus

Timestamps: 93:33 – 107:49

• Ludacris pulls out of Kid Rock’s “Rock the Country” festival:
  • Mal criticizes the move as caving to backlash; Damaris counters, “I would rather him not piss off his core fan base.” (94:28)
  • The event is acknowledged as highly politicized, not just a regular festival, justifying Ludacris’ withdrawal.
• Nike and LeBron’s Martin Luther King Jr. sneaker error:
  • Hosts are shocked and disturbed by the colorway using the Lorraine Motel teal (associated with MLK’s assassination site).
  • “Who thought that was a good idea?" (Mal, 105:51)
  • "You don’t honor the murder site, the assassination." (Rory, 107:45)
  • “That’s like, if all Irish Americans wanted to honor JFK, we all went in drop-tops and drove around for the day.” (Rory, 107:49)
• The group jokes about other failed, tasteless tributes in marketing and pop culture.

Closing Moments & Community Shout-outs

Timestamps: 102:26 – End

• Celebrating Cass' new morning radio show gig—joking he’s a “Staten Island legend” now (103:46)
• Wishing Damaris continued healing, with playful jokes about her return and her “titty push up.”
• Wrapping up with self-deprecating humor, sneak previews of future Patreon topics, and roasts on themselves and marketing missteps.
• "We'll talk to y'all soon. Be safe, be blessed. I'm the…He's just ginger." (Mal, 108:34)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Damaris on her recovery:
  "Sent emails, cried, watched Law & Order. That’s literally it. Sent emails, cried, and watched Law & Order." (01:57)

• Mal on bar sports:
  “I can’t watch the game like that. The sound is not on, the DJ’s playing his latest mix… I just can’t.” (07:00)

• Rory on NYC nightlife:
  "If you go on a date, you’re going to seven spots and coming home at 4am on a date? Yeah." (39:10)

• Mal on trauma and coping:
  “Trauma makes people horny, though.” (03:35)

• Rory, critiquing Nike's MLK sneaker:
  "Out of all the things you could find to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, you’re choosing… the heel off a motel that he was murdered in." (105:39)

• Damaris on online ‘relatability’ obsession:
  "The people that I like watching or the content that I like consuming are people that I can’t relate to." (31:05)

Episode Takeaways

• This episode is a testament to the podcast's blend of honest, irreverent banter and in-depth discussion. Nostalgia flows into sharp pop culture critiques; music geekery and NYC life experiences anchor much of their chat.
• They discuss the changing tastes and behaviors of urban nightlife, the pitfalls of too much music in the streaming age, and the double-edged sword of Nepo baby privilege.
• The team isn’t afraid to call out tone-deaf marketing schemes, nor to lovingly roast themselves and each other.

Anyone tuning in will come away entertained—packed with inside jokes, breakdowns of music and cultural phenomena, and plenty of moments that feel like overhearing smart, funny friends riffing on what’s happening in the world.