New Rory & MAL – Episode 457 | Hump Day

Release Date: February 19, 2026
Hosts: Rory, Mal(l), Damaris | Podcast: New Rory & MAL by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview

This episode, titled "Hump Day," is classic Rory & MAL: a blend of off-the-cuff humor, debates over modern social dynamics, and nostalgic takes on hip-hop culture. The crew, joined by Damaris, spirals through varied topics—ranging from whether baby mothers should get Valentine’s Day gifts, to the decline of rap concert intimacy, to bucket list concert moments, and a wild listener voicemail about planning a threesome. As always, their sharp banter and unfiltered honesty shine through.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Valentine’s Day and "Baby Mothers" Gifts

Segment: [03:57–07:44]

• Mal addresses backlash he received for his prior "baby mother" take, expecting to look like the hero but instead becoming the villain.
• The crew debates whether men should get their child's mother a gift on Valentine's Day, with varying takes on appropriateness and boundaries.
• Damaris notes many people don’t have healthy relationships with their child’s other parent, complicating these occasions.

Notable Exchange:

• Damaris (04:48): "A lot of people don't have healthy relationships with their baby moms. They really don't."
• Rory (06:07): "Some people look at [Valentine’s Day] as a day for lovers...that’s why on that day, people post their significant others."

Memorable Moment:

• Rory presses Mal: "If you had a girlfriend and she had a baby daddy, would you be okay with him sending flowers...on Valentine's Day?"
• Mal: “You gotta respect my house.”
• Damaris: “You don't put those in the bedroom. [Put them] in the living room.”
• [07:32–07:44]

2. Concert Culture: From Stadiums to Small Venues

Segment: [10:54–44:25]

• The crew discusses the J. Cole tour—how quickly tickets sold, and whether Cole could sell out a stadium like MetLife versus arenas.
• Comparison of rap and R&B acts who can fill stadiums and the changing feel of large venue performances.
• Nostalgic tales about legendary concerts at intimate NYC venues (SOBs, Highline Ballroom, Southpaw), reminiscing about the energy of the "blog era" and how rising artists used to break into the industry.

Memorable Quotes:

• Mall (11:44): "I don't really like rappers in stadiums...like how intimate a Cole show is."
• Rory (13:15): "I don't know how I feel about Cole in the stadium. I'm excited to see him in an arena. I'm excited to be drunk, swaying side to side."
• Mall (30:31): "The most slept on show...Jeezy at Highline [Ballroom], Jay-Z comes out for Go Crazy, then Kanye, then The LOX, then Fab. That was one of the greatest shows ever."
• Damaris (39:29): "First time Kanye performed was at SOBs in New York."
• Mall (43:41): "I got lifelong friends that I met at Southpaw in Brooklyn in 2010..."

Key Takeaway:
The episode laments the shift from community-driven small shows to industry-curated events fueled by social media and instant viral fame. The "blog era" was depicted as a golden age of cross-networking and grind.

3. The Evolution of Artist Come-Ups & Social Media

Segment: [42:24–49:25]

• Discussion on whether anyone "needs" to work their way through small venues or open mics anymore, given how social media can propel artists instantly to festival stages.
• Comparison to stand-up comedy, which still requires in-person grinding for most new comics.
• Damaris and Mall agree: new artists can skip the grind, but comedians can't.

Notable Quote:

• Damaris (42:46): "Artists...don't even feel the need to go that route...They feel awkward. So much social anxiety...no one knows how to go outside and meet new people."

4. Bucket List Concerts & Best Live Shows

Segment: [27:00–30:09]

• The team shares their bucket list artists and the best shows they've attended:
  • Highlights include Janet Jackson, Kanye's "Glow in the Dark," Drake & Migos, Missy Elliott, and Usher.
  • Mall recounts working a Jeezy anniversary show where Jay-Z, Kanye, Fab, and The LOX all performed in a 700-person venue.
• Debate about which tour (Kanye's Yeezus, J. Cole's) was the best.

Key Segment:
[30:31–33:48] – Mall's story about the Jeezy show with surprise guests.

5. Listener Voicemail: The Threesome Conundrum

Segment: [77:08–83:48]

• A listener calls in for advice: he and his girlfriend are planning a threesome, and want to find a woman of his girlfriend's type; he also compliments Damaris as his girlfriend's "type" and asks if she has a "twin."
• The team gives practical advice:
  • Let the girlfriend take the lead in finding someone.
  • Dating apps could be risky.
  • Consider hiring a professional ("it could get weird with a civilian broad").
  • Damaris isn't interested in participating.

Quote:

• Damaris (79:33): "There was no question. He was literally just saying, Damaris, we both find you a trouble."
• Mall (82:18): "That's the most logical way to pay for sex, in my opinion…hire a professional."

6. Male-Female Friendships & Platonic Boundaries

Segment: [53:33–59:57]

• The team debates whether men and women can really be platonic friends, triggered by Cam Newton's viral claim.
• Damaris pushes back hard against the "can't be friends unless I'm trying to smash" mentality:
  • Damaris (56:13): "You can't have a female friend and just chill? You just too horny! Lock you up!"
• They joke about setting each other up with their friends, being "curved" after hookups (and handling rejection), and the gendered pettiness of post-sex dynamics.

7. Sexual Escapades, Bluechew Stories & Swingers

Segment: [89:03–96:17]

• Damaris recounts being hit on by a couple in Texas who looked like Chuck Liddell, being offered Bluechew, and nearly participating in a swinger situation.
• Discussion of hotel sex "kits," awkwardness around buying condoms, and preferred public sex etiquette.
• Blunt sex talk about going “raw,” “sex kits” at the Mondrian, and what happens if you run out of condoms – all with self-deprecating humor and details.

Notable Story:

• Mall (90:58): "He was the first person...to tell me about Bluechew. He was like, 'Bro, trust me. With no headache, naturals, like, you gotta try.'"

8. Nostalgia for NYC’s “Come Up” Scene

Segment: [39:29–44:25; 46:47–49:42]

• Detailed nostalgia for NYC’s live music scene—SOBs, Highline, Southpaw, Knitting Factory, Vashti as a DJ icon, relationships forged in those days.
• “Blog era” memories contrasted with today’s influencer-dominated environment.

Notable Quotes & Quick Moments

• On concert culture:
  • "Some type of rapper can do a stadium. You have to have certain type of energy, certain type of stadium." (Mall, 12:01)
  • "Hov by himself would be weird in the stadium… it just adds a different effect." (Rory, 12:12)
• On changing music industry:
  • “You catch a record and you end up on the Rolling Loud stage in one week. Like, Ice Spice would have done SOBs if it was a different era.” (Mall, 48:14)
• Curving and post-sex awkwardness:
  • "First time a woman left my crib immediately after sex, it did hurt a little bit. Like, when I was treated like the hoe..." (Mall, 61:54)
• On male-female friendships:
  • "You're missing out on good friendships. You don't have to fuck everyone." (Mall, 58:27)
• On platonic predicaments:
  • "Cam is the king of Twitter topics…he should bring back $200 dates, but with inflation, it's $500 dates." (Mall, 55:18)
• On nostalgia and the come-up era:
  • “I'm so happy that I was blessed to be in that era...Outside was a lot of fun.” (Mall, 41:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Hump Day/Baby Mom Valentine’s Day Debate | 03:57–07:44 | | Concert Culture & J. Cole Tour Tickets | 10:54–15:03 | | Stadium vs Arena Lives & Nostalgia for Small Venue Shows | 15:10–44:25 | | Nostalgia: Legendary NYC Venues & Blog Era | 39:29–44:25 | | Social Media & the New "Come Up" | 42:24–49:25 | | Bucket List Concerts/Best Shows Ever | 27:00–30:09 | | Listener Voicemail (Planning a Threesome) | 77:08–83:48 | | Can Men/Women Be Platonic Friends? | 53:33–59:57 | | Sex Kit/Bluechew & Swinger Stories | 89:03–96:17 |

Tone & Banter

• Language: Unfiltered, humorous, and candid, mixing pop culture references with real experiences.
• Chemistry: Fast-paced, irreverent, everyone gets roasted—even the listeners.
• Theme: Celebration of old-school hustle, skepticism about today’s clout economy, and hilarious, honest talk about love, sex, and rejection.

For New Listeners

This episode is a snapshot of why “New Rory & MAL” resonates:

• If you love hip-hop culture, miss the pre-social-media grind, or just want to laugh about 21st-century relationships, this is your jam.
• The hosts go deep, get messy, but always keep it real and funny.

Skip to [10:54] for concert talk, [27:00] for bucket list moments, [53:33] for the friendship/gender dynamic debate, and [77:08] for the voicemail.