Active Listening + Ice Breakers Ice Cubes

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Active Listening + Ice Breakers Ice Cubes"

Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone – Dear Media
Date: September 17, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this witty, freewheeling episode of Ride, Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone dive deep into two central themes: the art of active listening and their appreciation for Ice Breakers Ice Cubes gum. Barely pausing for breath (or tangential asides), the duo reflect on listener engagement, internet culture, the shape of gum, their latest projects, and what it means to really feel “seen” in daily interactions. Delivered with their typical blend of honesty, sarcasm, and a dose of personal storytelling, this episode is a ride through pop culture, petty gripes, and genuine gratitude for their community.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Social Media and Rumors (00:36–04:43)

• Benito and Mary Beth riff on the absurdity of online rumors around their lives (plastic surgery, dating British actors):
  • "Respectfully, I think it's her rhinoplasty that makes people think she's from L.A.” – Mary Beth, (00:36)
  • “Thank God. You could say that on the pod. And how lucky are we to have a pod to just say, debunk that?” – Benito, (01:00)
• They poke fun at audience comments, and how “dunking” on them is sometimes a backhanded compliment.

2. Project Announcements & Gratitude (03:11–04:43)

• Overcompensating season 2 is green-lit. The hosts express real appreciation for fans:
  • “Thank you so much for all of you for championing the show. It really, like, did just, like, make…” – Benito, (03:53)
  • Benito jokes about lying to people about the project status everywhere, even "Hudson News in line at Shake Shack." (02:28)
• "We got greenlit … it really means a lot.” – Benito, (04:25)

3. Chronicles of Filming and Life Timelines (05:00–06:09)

• They walk through the blurry timeline between shooting, editing, and promoting their shows, poking fun at their inability to remember anything linear.

4. Nostalgia, Virality & Pop Culture (05:11–07:06)

• Benito shares a love for old viral YouTube content and spelling bee champions (shout-out: “Rebecca Seale”).
• They wax poetic on moments from their press tours, college events, and viral audience interactions: freebies like lighters, fidget spinners, and “rape whistles” at college promos.

5. The Joys and Pains of Vaping and Oral Fixations (08:15–09:23)

• A tangent about the “level of intimacy” when making eye contact mid-vape:
  • “If you have pulled from a vape and we’re making eye contact, I’ve seen you naked.” – Benito, (08:18)
  • Mary Beth admits: “I’ll never understand vaping ever. In all my days.” (08:49)
• Nostalgia for high school football and odd snacks — “Charleston Chews” as thigh pads.

6. The "Kerplunk" Meme & Viral Slogans (10:04–12:25)

• “Come on, Kerplunk” — Benito’s viral sketch — gets re-examined through the lens of who the joke is “for.”
  • “It feels more ballroom to me.” – Benito, (12:06)
• The pleasures and pitfalls of finding a straight male audience: “It seems like… for the first time, maybe straight couples are sharing something amongst each other…” – Benito, (11:32)

7. Snoring On Planes Should Be Illegal (13:05–13:17)

• Mary Beth issues a hot take: “Snoring on a plane is illegal. There's no good solution. But you can't snore…” (13:05)

8. Online Spaces: Reddit and Boundaries (13:33–14:13)

• The duo agree Reddit’s speculation about their private lives is officially forbidden for them to read:
  • “It makes us feel like high highs and low lows. It should just be a space for you guys.” – Mary Beth, (13:33)

9. Iconic TV, Film, and Acting Accents (14:13–17:10)

• Joyful, rapid-fire recommendations and cultural touchstones:
  • Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback is described as “genius.”
  • Fascination with actors adopting fake European accents after a few successful seasons:
    • “There’s a transatlantic moment that happens for all actors…” – Benito, (16:49)

10. The Ride For This Week: Odes to Ice Breakers Ice Cubes & Active Listening (17:11–49:20)

a. Active Listening (22:38–32:47)

• Mary Beth’s “ride”: Active listening. She breaks down why it feels increasingly rare and so essential:
  • “If you’re not active listening, I don’t feel safe around you.” – Mary Beth, (25:25)
  • On her frustration with “blank stares”: “…I’m just thinking, thinking, alright, I’m done. Let’s end it there...” – Mary Beth, (26:08)
  • The importance of conversational reaction: “Just nodding can be active listening.” (25:10)
  • Mary Beth’s favorite active listener: Herself—plus a friend Ashley, who always prioritizes genuine eye contact (27:13).
• They discuss phone distraction, the beauty of losing oneself in conversation, and “comfortable silence” as a sibling to active listening.

b. Ice Breakers Ice Cubes (36:04–48:17)

• Benito’s “ride”: A passionate appreciation for Ice Breakers Ice Cubes gum.
  • “To me, it’s a jar. Pandora’s box that I buy at the gas station…” – Benito, (36:27)
  • The joy is partly shareability — giggling at the gum’s “hourglass” and “cube” shapes.
  • Playfully laments the gum’s tendency to “burn bright and burn out” flavor-wise: “Yeah, they’re flavor-blasted. They burn bright… they burn out…” (44:19)
  • Gum as a social commodity: “Just like, after a meal. I also think a lot of people at events, it'd be fun to have them in your bag.” (45:36)
  • The double opening: “two openings... one to share and one... for you” (47:12)

11. The Mechanics of Conversation: Active Listening, Gestures, and Escape Hatches (37:26–38:54)

• Playful tips for “looking like” you’re listening without having to say much.
• Easy “escape” strategies for bad conversations: “Just say ‘I have to pee’.”

12. Sensory Experiences, Scents, and Human Oddities (45:44–46:52)

• Tangent into body odor as nostalgia:
  • “I thought BO was his scent. So now when I smell BO, I’m like, that’s what he smelled like. That’s his cologne.” – Benito, (45:53)
• Disgust at certain perfumes (“It’s going to be my 13th reason…” – Mary Beth, 46:05)

13. Ending Tangents: Outfits and Last-Minute Musings (49:22–50:00)

• Brief riff on the joy and “magic” of getting dressed up for dinner:
  • “Every time I kind of put my hair behind my ear…” – Benito, (49:49)
  • Mary Beth: It’s all about the “reveal” moment at dinner.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Online Backhanded Comments:

  • “Keep trying to dunk on me in comments and they don't realize that they're actually giving me a compliment.”
    – Benito, (01:36)

• On Intimacy & Vaping:

  • “If you have pulled from a vape and we're making eye contact, I've seen you naked.”
    – Benito, (08:18)

• On the Joy of Being Understood:

  • “...Thank you so much for all of you for championing the show. It really, like, did just, like, make…”
    – Benito, (03:53)

• Describing “Active Listening”:

  • “If you're not active listening, I don't feel safe around you.”
    – Mary Beth, (25:25)
  • “Just nodding can be active listening.”
    – Mary Beth, (25:10)

• Elevating Gum to High Art:

  • “To me it's a jar. Pandora's box that I buy at the gas station of these Icebreakers ice cubes.”
    – Benito, (36:27)
  • “They feel like an orgasm in your mouth.”
    – Benito, (45:24)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Rumor Debunking & Social Media Comments: 00:36–04:43
• Overcompensating Greenlight & Listener Thanks: 02:19–04:43
• Press Tours & Timeline Confusion: 05:00–06:09
• Vape Intimacy & Snack Tangents: 08:15–09:23
• The “Kerplunk” Meme and Audience Shifts: 11:32–12:25
• Active Listening – Deep Dive: 22:38–32:47
• Ice Breakers Ice Cubes Ode: 36:04–48:17

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Style, Tone & Dynamic

Throughout the episode, Benito and Mary Beth maintain their signature style: irreverent, playful, sometimes cutting, but always honest and affectionate. Their banter is fast, self-referential, and built on years of in-jokes and cultural touchstones. They aren’t afraid to get silly—whether riffing on trends, “commercial vs. ballroom energy,” or the physical comedy of hair clips and snoring on planes.

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Final Thoughts

In Active Listening + Ice Breakers Ice Cubes, Benito and Mary Beth turn the mundane (snacking, vape encounters, bland conversation) into comic gold and gentle (but real) life advice. Their core message: pay attention, react, share your snacks, and don’t be afraid to get weird in a group chat. As always, nothing is off limits—and everything is a little bit fabulous if you just learn to listen.

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Quick Guide to the Hosts' Weekly "Rides"

• Benito: Ice Breakers Ice Cubes (gum as social currency, flavor-blasted energy, joy in the mundane)
• Mary Beth: Active Listening (making people feel seen, nodding is enough, don’t be a conversational brick wall)

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Listen for the cultural sidebars, the “rules” of active listening, and the gum-fueled revelations. No one leaves unseen—and no one leaves without a craving for minty cubes.

Transcript

[A]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production.

[B]

Hey, can you come pick me up? Yeah.

[A]

What's wrong?

[B]

Nothing.

[A]

Are you sure?

[B]

Yeah, no, I just need a ride.

[A]

Ride, ride.

[B]

I just want to have fun.

[A]

Start your engine.

[B]

Take it.

[A]

I'm Benito Skinner.

[B]

I'm Mary Beth Barone and this is Rye.

[A]

Ride, ride.

[B]

Respectfully, I think it's her rhinoplasty that makes people think she's from la. I've already broken the levels.

[A]

Wow, I knew you were gonna. You just broke the baby.

[B]

You brought the sound barrier with that one, kid. Love you.

[A]

Dear Media. Clip that and only clip that to show who she truly is. Your true colors.

[B]

I wanted to just say that I've never had a rhinoplasty. Not even once.

[A]

Thank God. You could say that on the pod. And how lucky are we to have a pod to just say, debunk that?

[B]

It's debunking. Also, when I see comments that are like, isn't she dating that British actor? I'm like, either like, pay attention or fucking clock out. Don't be half assing it.

[A]

Someone said. One person commented. The White House twink thinks he's really slick. Huh? He went and changed his name and got masculine defining jaw filler. I almost said, thank you.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

It's a movie. It's pretend.

[B]

You're an adult. You should know that.

[A]

Me at the White House, well, people.

[B]

Keep trying to dunk on me in comments and they don't realize that they're actually giving me a compliment.

[A]

That's my latest thing. Like, someone says that. Actually, no, I take that all back because sometimes people give me the compliment. And then they've also just said the meanest thing they could possibly say to me. So I love that you're getting that. Though the opposite you deserve.

[B]

Like, I get. You're a Tim Burton character.

[A]

So nice.

[B]

Don't quit your day job.

[A]

It is so nice.

[B]

Didn't anyone tell this girl that heroin chic is out?

[A]

And you're like, oh, I just got chills. I mean, I'm cold, but I got chills.

[B]

But I got chills too. Thank you for the wise words.

[A]

Speaking of two, that's my big transition. So. So that just happened. Me.

[B]

And it is happening. It's ongoing.

[A]

Me on a zoom with all of Amazon going, so that just happened. We are officially green lit. I was waiting for it. That green light. I wanted.

[B]

I want it.

[A]

And I was keeping it from you guys for a really long time. I'm sorry to everyone I lied to at malls, at the Grove Airport. Also, mall at the airport at Hudson, News in line at Shake Shack. I did lie to that girl and.

[B]

I, like, didn't want to because you couldn't say anything.

[A]

Well, it's all in the eyes. I knew she couldn't keep a secret because I do think she was filming our entire interaction. So that as well.

[B]

Awesome.

[A]

That sometimes will be kind of like, okay, I can't say that we're greenlit.

[B]

The filming thing is interesting to me because where is that going? Like, Because I think someone was filming me on the subway the other day and I was like, it's not like a problem. Like, I'm not doing anything. I don't want people to see it. But world stage, what is it for?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

I can't imagine me on the subway with headphones in. Is particularly riveting footage.

[A]

Sorry. And this is. Maybe this isn't relatable, but sometimes we're just talking about our lives on here. Okay. It's not all going to be relatable. Do you remember when we were doing those Q and A's and the same guys kept showing up to all of them and one of them one day said something that I think about every day of my life. He's like, can we get another photo? You have a different outfit on today. And I thought, no one's ever loved me like this.

[B]

No, I know. That's really cool.

[A]

I said, love me like you do and don't apologize. Of course we can get another photo. I'm wearing a different outfit. I am so excited. Yes. I have the entire outline of the season and I was ready to go and I have been working on it for a while, for a very long time. But I am so excited. And what I want to say and what I think we. We share this sentiment is thank you so much for all of you for championing the show. It really, like, did just, like, make.

[B]

It do numbers, so to speak.

[A]

So it kind of did. Fucking numbers. What do you want me to fudgeing say right now? Like, I could be humble. I could not. No. It just, like, it's just so incredible.

[B]

Jumped out.

[A]

He has a name.

[B]

Tucker McFucker. And thank you for voting.

[A]

Topher was pretty good.

[B]

I know. And Chase bank and of course, Brony.

[A]

He's not Chase bank, though.

[B]

Bron is leading the charge on getting all this stuff done for us. And it's.

[A]

Broni HQ is the reason. I swear to God, I. Broni HQ is the reason that I. We got greenlit. And I. I just. Thank you so much because this was a comedy and a new ip, if you will. And it's really hard to get people to go and turn on their TVs and watch something and commit to it. And you did. And it really means a lot.

[B]

You watch it on your TVs, your laptops, your iPads, your Apple watches, your ipod.

[A]

Oh, my God. Fifth episode is so good. On an Apple watch.

[B]

On an Apple watch.

[A]

Yeah. And I've got lots for you, kid.

[B]

This is going to be a new theme added to season three of Ride, which is talking about season two of overcompensating.

[A]

Oh, my God. Well, yeah, because we started season two.

[B]

Was when we were shooting season three, I think. I don't know.

[A]

Season three was right before press.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

We had just started press. I mean, we had done a few shoots. I mean, this is all just fascinating. This timeline is.

[B]

We get some dates. Can we get some dates?

[A]

Can someone help us with the timeline? We're just. We're fucking dizzy. I mean, it had to have been.

[B]

So much before it was gone down. I mean, my God, we were waiting for the premiere.

[A]

I mean, it was. I think it was editing at the time, if I'm correct. Stop. I do love. There are these Vogue. Well, I love. Can I just say. I just love Vogue's YouTube channel. I just think there's all kinds of cool things. I love Allure's YouTube channel. Initial.

[B]

So unusual. I do want to just shout out the winner of. She won the national spelling bee. This was way back when. This is one of the first viral videos I ever saw. I think her name is Rebecca Seale. But she was talking about winning, and she got a. She got a word. She studied extra hard, and she just described it as. It was very. So if you look up Rebecca steel Fran on YouTube, that's where that's from. So. Love you, girl.

[A]

It took three weeks for you to say that? Because I think you said in a. In a previous episode, sometimes we're gonna.

[B]

Circle back on it, and sometimes we're not.

[A]

Well, you have to listen to the whole thing. Like, that's my thing with season two. It's like a lot of things maybe felt were unanswered are gonna get answered.

[B]

Kid.

[A]

I don't know what to say. The Grace Spy Truthers, though.

[B]

Let's not. Let's not talk about that.

[A]

I think they're gonna burn down my head.

[B]

Well, we don't know what's gonna happen.

[A]

Well, I do.

[B]

I know. I don't want them to be mad.

[A]

They're not gonna be mad about. And can I just say. All I can say for season two is it's, I think, a little surprising. It's very sweet. It's really wild. We're taking some really, I think, delicious, honest, big swings. And I'm very. Yeah.

[B]

And I have this today, so I'm gonna be playing with that.

[A]

Good.

[B]

So you guys can see I have a hair clip.

[A]

Yes. Save your hair.

[B]

And so this is what I'm doing on meetings. Underneath the zoom is I'm just playing with stuff, so I'm gonna try not to touch that again.

[A]

Oh, I have this favorite. Oh, my God. I have this little thing. It was what they gave out at one of the college events. It was like an overcompensating, like, ribbon tie. Yeah. So they were giving out fidget spinners. It was either that or lighters or rape whistles. We literally gave out rape whistles.

[B]

Remember when they blew all the rape in AMC in Union Square? And it was actually, again, a test of my mental fortitude. It was very similar pitch to the microphone.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, we're just. We're seeing how far we can take you.

[B]

I cut you off, though, when you said unusual. I wonder what you were gonna say. There's no way of knowing.

[A]

But what was the context? I don't remember something being unusual.

[B]

Yeah. Or you had said something.

[A]

And do you remember King? What did we say? Did you listen? Yeah.

[B]

There's no way. I would never expect him to wait.

[A]

Give me two seconds to think because that might be annoying.

[B]

We'll think of it. It's like when I Forgot the Cheryl Cr Crow 4 piece of toilet paper.

[A]

Keep all of this.

[B]

I mean, keep all of this. This is a peak. It's behind the curtain. You know, Oz. It's bit like that.

[A]

Oh, it's exactly like Oz.

[B]

You put this in.

[A]

Oh, wait. I said it was something I was obsessed with.

[B]

Bleep it.

[A]

Bleep it.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

That I loved. Okay. No, I'm done.

[B]

You wrote something in the doc. The pod opening.

[A]

Can I say it, please? So I just think it's important to note if you have pulled from a vape and we're making eye contact. I've seen you naked. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it. I'm just saying that I.

[B]

That's the level of intimacy.

[A]

That's the level of intimacy. If you. And we make eye contact. It's blowing out for some reason. Closer back.

[B]

Different.

[A]

Closer back.

[B]

Okay. I wouldn't. I spoiled. I think it's full, but to go the whole time.

[A]

And you know what? Everyone who does it kind of goes like this. And then they lock eyes with you, and I'm like, whoa.

[B]

I'll never understand vaping ever. In all my days.

[A]

You know what? I did it one day for another Del Rey video. I sucked on this. It was like an apple one. And I won't lie, midday, I was kind of like, hand me it. It was kind of nice. So I get oral fixation.

[B]

I understand.

[A]

One of my favorite things was seeds in football. My mouth was so chuck. Full of them. They would make sophomores dress up for the senior games, but they would never put us in because we were quite literally half the size of the guys who were seniors. Like, I was. Let's just say during that time, I was Runway. I hadn't gone commercial yet.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

So. So we're just, like, bone thin. And. And I just remember, like, I just would spend the. What felt like years, but the two hours of the game with a huge thing of, like, seeds in my mouth, just spitting them out. I became obsessed. I started getting, like, splinters in my mouth, but I was so obsessed with them. And I remember one time we were so far ahead that the coaches were like, fuck it. Put the sophomore guys in there. And I had to go like. Like, I. It's that, like, as if, like, I. And I really didn't have them after that. It was so.

[B]

It was like corn nuts on the golf course.

[A]

And that same game, I had. I had taken out my thigh pad and put in Charleston Chews.

[B]

You put in drag padding. Sorry, you. You with a huge.

[A]

No. I walked into the locker room and said, waste. Where? My body is tea. I got so cold recently when I went into the ocean, I just started screaming, my body is tea. And everyone around started doing it, and I'm like. It was kind of very like, come on, Kerplunk. Which I was gonna start today with thank. Can I just say thank you. I am so proud of y'. All. Oh, my God. You have done your daddy so good.

[B]

I have something we haven't talked about, but I. I do want to address. But it. It's tangential to Come on, Kerplunk, but I'm just kind of.

[A]

I can't get over you thinking I had drag. I had thigh pads and a full.

[B]

And you were feeling yourself. Said, do you like my body?

[A]

To everyone in the locker room.

[B]

And to be fair, the other team just walked off the field. He said, I don't want none of this gay Is that.

[A]

Dude, the. Is that. But yeah, I had Charleston shoes in my thigh, and they're so good, I would just eat them during the games. And, you know, I made myself popular by any means necessary. If it meant carrying a snack around it, I'll do it. But thank you for Kerplunk. There was before Kerplunk, and there's certainly an after. And it seems like what I'm feeling like I'm hitting lately. And you guys can correct me if I'm wrong. I'm appealing to the straight male audience. Randomly with these eras, they're kind of coming in, and in a way that it feels like for the first time, maybe straight couples are sharing something amongst each other. If it's this chick woke up in my house, and Come on, Kerplunk was. I mean, of course they latched onto that, but it wasn't for them, I would say, initially, because, like, yes, Kerplunk is more.

[B]

It's more for the girls.

[A]

It feels more ballroom to me.

[B]

Totally. If I had to say there's commercial, there's Runway, and then there's ballroom, and you get. And I get that. I would say, this chick will come in my house. More commercial.

[A]

Thank you. Is Berlin.

[B]

And Come on, Kerplunk. Well, that's ballroom.

[A]

That's. Sweetie. That's New York City, honey.

[B]

So I. We might cut this. Who knows? But I. Oh, good. Oh. So you know what I'm about to say? Yeah, I just think now I can't say it.

[A]

Good. Keep all of this. Yeah. Keep it.

[B]

I just want to say that there's certain things that don't feel appropriate to say right before we say, come on, Kerplunk, or get into something like that. So not everything is appropriate to be addressed in every space.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

That's what I'm going to say.

[A]

I'm excited to see how everyone tries to figure out what you just meant.

[B]

I think people will get it.

[A]

I think so, too. I'm going to. It's going to. Yeah. I think I'm.

[B]

You're on board.

[A]

Yeah. What else did I put in this snoring.

[B]

This is something I put in. So snoring on a plane is illegal. There's no good solution. But you can't snore. I'm sorry? You just can't. And if you snore on a plane, you have to pay me $10.

[A]

I do agree. You know, it'd be fun if I was a flight attendant. I think I would straddle them and go right above their Head. So when they woke up, it was.

[B]

Like Batman, like Sydney Sweeney and anyone but you. When she's grabbing the tv.

[A]

That part I really did laugh during. I. That made me laugh a lot. Again, that made me laugh.

[B]

We're just saying she exists. We're not commenting on anything, I swear to God. Oh, we're not reading the Reddit anymore. Sorry. That's a space for you guys to have fun and get in fights or whatever. Hopefully support each other mostly, but sometimes getting fights. And I would say, like, have fun on there. You're totally welcome to speculate about our relationships and anything like that, but we won't be reading anymore. It makes us feel like high highs and low lows. It should just be a space for you guys.

[A]

It's my kid's diary. And who am I to read that?

[B]

Like, it's not for us.

[A]

What movie is it where the mom, like, actively does read her kid's diary? I forget that.

[B]

I don't know. But Ray and Charlie do it in Girls. I'm just obviously in a Girls rewatch right now, and they read Hannah's diary and it's really not. You shouldn't do that.

[A]

Well, I was. I've been watching the Comeback and I. I want to ride for it, but it almost, you know, when some things are like, there's such a middle ground of ride, you know, and that's what I tell people. Like, when I see them in the street, when I meet them outside, when I meet them in subway rides. Like, some are just too big to talk about. Like, I just. It's like the fleabag episode that could be a series finale.

[B]

I know.

[A]

So it's like, it's just hard to. But the Comeback, that's what I've been watching, and I highly recommend it for everyone. My God, Lisa Kudrow in It is like, I was trying to think of my favorite acting performances of all time, and this is like a top five.

[B]

It's one of them for sure.

[A]

It's just so genius.

[B]

And I love a Malin Ackerman vehicle. You know me.

[A]

God, I love her too.

[B]

But I haven't watched Hunting Wives and have you seen. I don't know if I will. I'm not sure.

[A]

Oh, I haven't either. That's with Britney Snow, right? Yeah, I'm sure we'll lock into that. She season eight. She is so genius in the Heartbreak Kid. I've never quoted someone more in it, so there are two movies that I quoted all the time. I was in the closet, mind you. So this is going to be confusing.

[B]

To say the least.

[A]

Yeah. Let's just say we're all. We're all trying to figure out why some people were like, really? You know, there were, like, three people who did. Really. But, you know, for those. She's in this movie called the Heartbreak Kid.

[B]

I haven't seen it.

[A]

I would quote it. It's with Ben Stiller, and it's a thing where he marries this girl, and then after the marriage, she's just, like, quite literally, like, the most psychotic person on Earth.

[B]

Women in a.

[A]

Fine. I mean, you would have loved this role. And then I would say the other performance that I think about all the time is Anna Faris and Just Friends.

[B]

Yeah, I. Anna Faris was. I mean, smiley face. I almost said happy face, but should.

[A]

I ride for her next week? Anna Faris.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I just have so much to say. I think her performance.

[B]

What a wonderful woman.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, one through. One through four on my top five is just Anna Faris.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Just Friends. House bunny, Scary movie. Like, I just. She's brilliant. Her and Just Friends. I quote all the time, but. Oh, my God, Malin Ackerman. She's fabulous.

[B]

You wrote in here. And then we'll get into what we write for.

[A]

Great.

[B]

Can't wait for our era of having an accent. All actors start to do this at some point.

[A]

Yeah. So all actors. It doesn't really matter.

[B]

And we are actors now. Now that the show's been renewed, we're officially acting.

[A]

Season one didn't count. Season two, you're gonna have to go with it. So here's the thing. No matter what, at some point in every actor's life, they're on a red carpet one day and they say. They say something like, it was quite interesting, wasn't it? And it's like, you're from Idaho, right? What the fuck? It's like you're from Detroit. And I just keep seeing it, and it keeps happening, and I don't know why it happens, but there's a transatlantic moment that happens for all actors, and.

[B]

Some of them really stick with it.

[A]

And I can't wait to watch yours. I'm gonna go, what the fuck? Like, you're gonna be on a carpet.

[B]

And you're like, I'm not gonna tell you I'm doing it because I won't even be aware of it.

[A]

Well, you won't. No, I. Well, I don't personally believe that it would be such, like, something and everything, like, such as. Of that regard. You know what I mean? And then it's like, whoa.

[B]

It's like, who is that?

[A]

I will be writing for Icebreakers Ice.

[B]

Cubes and I will be writing for active listening. Should we get into it?

[A]

Yes, of course.

[B]

Okay. Get it, girl.

[A]

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[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I live in California. You can't think I got on a plane to do that. That's fucking nuts. So this body oil was so fabulous because if you don't moisturize your skin after a spray tan or when you burn the out of your skin, it will peel or just look cracked. This fabulous Andaria algae.

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Wait, you said that to a family recently, right?

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[A]

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[A]

Oh my God, my collared shirt is so fabulous. It's this black one. It's so like, it hugs my rack really beautifully.

[B]

And the arms. I can almost see the arm vein when you're wearing it.

[A]

Ah, they've been bulging lately. I'm actually in the gym trying to get it for you.

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[A]

Express VPN where in the world is Mary Beth? This is so interesting because it looked like she was in the Cayman Islands, but this says she's in Salt Lake City.

[B]

Going online without ExpressVPN VPN is like walking your dog in public without a leash. Most of the time you'll probably be fine. But what if one day your dog wanders a bit too far and gets dog napped by someone? I mean, that's a nightmare. A nightmare. Every time you connect to an unencrypted network in CAFES, hotels, airports, etc. Your online data is not secure. Any hacker on the same network can gain access to and steal your personal data, passwords, bank logins, credit cards, etc. And it doesn't even take much technical knowledge to hack someone. I mean, you could probably figure it out. Just some cheap hardware is all you need. A smart 12 year old could do it.

[A]

Sir, we hacked into Mary Beth Barone's icloud and let's just say Bazinga ExpressVPN.

[B]

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[A]

So I used ExpressVPN recently. We were in Canada and we needed to watch. And just like that. And I flipped my computer to you and I turned on ExpressVPN. I go, sweetie, we're in Miami. Trick.

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Secure your online data today by visiting a ExpressVPN.com RidePod that's E-P-R-E-S-S-V-.com RidePod to find out how you can get up to four extra months free. ExpressVPN.com RidePod Wait, where are we going?

[A]

Who cares? Ride.

[B]

So I'll go first. And I don't want to single out any specific active listener.

[A]

My ass.

[B]

I don't want to single out any one group.

[A]

Exactly. Start with that. Are you coming for gays, however?

[B]

Okay, there's straight men who don't do active listening. Right. And then there's gay attention. Gay male attention is when they are half listening to you, but they are able to respond. They're looking at you. They are what appears to be active listening, but they're not actually paying attention to what you're saying. So sometimes I'll say to Jake, I need your full attention right now. I don't need your gay attention, which is where you're half listening to me. I need you to lock in right now. But regardless of if Jake's giving me gay attention or full attention, I know he's looking at me and he's reacting to what I'm saying either way.

[A]

Yeah. Like I'm thinking about a season two storyline. But I'm also like, I'm here and I'm.

[B]

And I do think we're able to have two things going on in our minds at once. That's something that some people can do and some people can't. I would say what I've been Having trouble with lately is being in conversations with straight men, which is happening more recently. And I. Gosh, I'm just getting choked up thinking about it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm telling them something that happened to me, and there's just no reaction on their face whatsoever. It's just stone cold.

[A]

Well, this goes back to you saying that you thought for a while that straight men couldn't hear you when you talked.

[B]

They couldn't.

[A]

Yeah. It's like sometimes when I say what I want, people around me go, what was that?

[B]

Right?

[A]

Because I don't do it that much. So they're kind of like.

[B]

They're kind of shocked by it.

[A]

Like, is that Pinky?

[B]

Well, no. And is that Pinky? And why is she speaking English? Pinky just talks in conversations and in group chats. I would say I'm very generous. I want to make sure people feel heard. I want to respond to people. I hate letting a message hang in the group chat that goes unresponded to. Because I'm thinking about how that makes that person feel. When someone's telling me a story, I want to look at them. I want to be fully listening. And if they say something, I'm going, oh, my God, that's crazy. What? No, stop. Like, I'm reacting. Okay.

[A]

Everyone's like, jill Bates.

[B]

Everyone's like, calm down. I just told you I got back from the bathroom.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm always listening because that's you doing active listening.

[A]

They're like. They're like, have you ever talked to her lately?

[B]

She's not doing good.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I just think it's not that kind. When I'm telling a story and it's like, something that should elicit a response or reaction. I'm not asking you to, like, solve a problem. I'm just asking you to nod. Even. Even just nodding can be active listening.

[A]

Just be with me. Be in the passenger seat. Like, let's go on this.

[B]

Let's just in this together. Let's lock in and listen to each other. Because you better believe if you're telling me a story, I'm going to be reacting.

[A]

Of course.

[B]

And I want the same courtesy because like, my matters, my shit is important. And if you're not active listening. If you're not active listening, I don't feel safe around you.

[A]

Yeah. Because also, I think with active listening, it is also so obvious when it's gay attention or it's. It's not full. Like, I think what's special about active listening is the conversation then will be a true conversation that'll lead to other places. It will go. It will, you know, paint the town red.

[B]

Paint the town red. Let's just see where this goes. It's the seed of an idea.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

And we can watch it grow into a birch tree.

[A]

And it's like, wait, what about the. And then you can. You know, that to me. Did you feel that?

[B]

Or how about this? What does that make you think of? What I just said?

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

What does it make you think of?

[A]

I find that sometimes I say, yeah, too much, but it is what it is.

[B]

I just nod a lot, but it is, like, coming from a sincere place. And so I just think when I'm. Yeah. If there's a blank stare looking back at me, I'm just thinking, thinking, all right, I'm done. Let's end it there. Let's walk away from this with our heads held high. You tried your best. Maybe, but I just don't want to feel like I'm just talking to myself.

[A]

I know. Well, what can be cool, too, is, like, active listening is also questions. It baffles me just pretty consistently when someone kind of doesn't have those, because I'm like, I again. And I just. I. I want to say this a few times because then I think it'll stick, probably by the third or fourth. But it's not that I want to talk about myself. You. You just need to, like, kind of bring something up. You know what I mean? I don't know. I just.

[B]

It can be anything. It can be anything. It doesn't need to be about me specifically. Although I would say, like, I am a pretty interesting person and I'm an open book, so you can ask me anything, but if you ask me something and I'm responding in a sincere way, I need to feel safe. I need to feel safe, and I need to feel acknowledged. And sometimes I'm just not feeling that, and I don't like that.

[A]

Who's the best active listener, you know?

[B]

Probably myself. I would say me for sure, so.

[A]

I would say me. So if I had to say, I wonder who's the best. You're really good.

[B]

My friend Ashley, who I used to work with, like, she really does the eye contact thing, and she doesn't care about her phone.

[A]

She doesn't have blue eyes, does she?

[B]

No.

[A]

Oh, then that's fine.

[B]

I think with my phone, sometimes I do get distracted if I'm bored, but I only usually pick it up to look at it. If there's a lull in the conversation, I'm not pulling it out. When Someone's in the middle of talking. Especially if it's just one on one.

[A]

I will say. Also, as far as the phone thing, it can be really nice to actually lose yourself in a conversation. Like see how mindful you can get in it too. By the way, welcome to another POD studio, my darling loves. So there's this wood paneled wall. There's a spot for two guests.

[B]

Ghosts.

[A]

Yeah, right. Yeah, exactly. Our tethers are here.

[B]

And then there's a salt lamp.

[A]

Well, there's always a salt lamp, isn't there?

[B]

And okay. Something someone actually wrote on the Reddit. The last time I checked it, which I won't ever check it again. Someone was riding for comfortable silence and I would to do that in the future. It's a sister of active listening. Comfortable silence because it means. Yes, you have. We do it in the car all the time. We do in the car all the time.

[A]

But there has to be music or something.

[B]

No, no, there doesn't.

[A]

Remember when I cried in your arms recently?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Wait, clip that. I'm not going to say Dear Media, that's. Anyone watching.

[B]

That's the POD studio we're at right now. There was flooding at Dear Media, so I wonder if it affected the microphone, the one you bought, hopefully.

[A]

Oh, yeah, hopefully not hopefully.

[B]

It's so fine.

[A]

So I left my Lorde microphone there. We'll get into Lorde next week. But I did leave it at the Pacific Design center, so who knows? I bet Jackson's been in the mirror every day singing into it.

[B]

Jackson, we miss you.

[A]

Jackson, we miss you, darling. It's hard. It's when you're like us and you're international. If you're doing something as important and exciting as we are, as in trying to go to every POD studio in the country. No, no, the world, sweetie. I want to take over the world. We're looking at POD studios in Paris. London.

[B]

London.

[A]

We actually are looking at one in London. We're looking at one in. I assume I was literally about to say Australia.

[B]

Perth.

[A]

That's why I can't do Australia.

[B]

No.

[A]

How would I say Australia?

[B]

Australia.

[A]

Australia. Something like, I can do it and I'm fine to not do it. I'm not going to force it down anyone's throughout. But here's the thing with this whole act of listening. I have nothing to say.

[B]

You're just amplifying.

[A]

I'm just amplifying because I think it's. It's true and it's. Honestly, I sometimes I dissociate. I go to places I think of ideas.

[B]

It's okay.

[A]

I'm so easily distracted. Yeah.

[B]

And what I would say is, I would rather have someone interrupting me in response. And in born in reaction to. As you yawn, then look at me with a blank stare, like the lights are on, but no one's talking.

[A]

Active listening can be yawning, it can.

[B]

Be yawning, it can be. You're reacting. Acting is reacting.

[A]

One of the best active listening situations that I can think of recently was you talking to a vet and going folklore. So that's perfect. Active listening.

[B]

Oh, sorry. And what I didn't say that I had pitched him was, you're a double vet, you're a veteran veterinarian, and you need to get a T shirt made. This is double. I surely did see.

[A]

That's. That's active listening. And also, you're having fun with it.

[B]

Oh, that was such a good example of active listening. Thank you for bringing that up.

[A]

Of course.

[B]

Even saying folklore while. Because I'm listening to what you're saying, and it's hitting me like a ton of bricks lately.

[A]

My thing is, somebody, they'll describe something and I go, show me. Like, when someone's telling me who they're hooking up with, I go, oh, I.

[B]

Instantly need a photo.

[A]

Sorry. Sue me, I want to see.

[B]

Sue me, I want to be. Aww.

[A]

Sue me, I want to see.

[B]

And on that note, I will say, and this is not about any song in particular. Yes, my love. I do believe that the music industry, in tandem with the government, they're working hand in hand. They're releasing songs that make so little sense. They want to see if we're going to notice.

[A]

What do you think I've been doing this whole season? Do you understand?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Those two things go hand in hand, sweetie. Yeah.

[B]

It's like, will they pick up on the fact that nothing that's. That's being said makes any sense? And the answer to now is no, But I'm saying I'm onto you.

[A]

I was actively listening one time to a straight guy when I was in college. That was so funny. He had this theory where he said that High School Musical was made by aliens and they were really close to reality, but not quite.

[B]

We just missed it. Just by a hair.

[A]

By a hair. They were so close. And I think about that a lot because there's a lot of things that I see that feel like that almost.

[B]

Yeah. It's like it didn't have any human touch or interaction. It was made by. It's the real of us. Of Course coming to NBC Thursdays at 8.

[A]

Oh, I can't wait. The real of us is very Season two. To me personally, that is the real of us. Well, I love active listening. This is really fun.

[B]

It's fun. I mean, it would be weird to have a podcast if you don't do active listening. And I have done straight male podcasts where they don't. And I'm like, everything you're saying isn't funny, and I'm listening, so can you just pay me the courtesy?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And do me the same.

[A]

But no, I'm wondering if you're also saying active listening as far as, like. Cause sometimes it can be really hard.

[B]

Absolutely. I'm not saying you have to do it all the time or you're a bad person. Obviously, there are situations where someone's going on and on, they won't shut the fuck up. That's really hard.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And in those situations, I am shutting down. But if you're talking to me, I mean, if you have the honor and great privilege, like, of course, as I do, you have a moment to take a peek inside my mind, you better take advantage of that, because not everyone gets that.

[A]

I agree. So I have this problem where every time I talk to someone, they look at my freaking rack.

[B]

When you walk onto the football field with drag pads on, how you guys.

[A]

Always looking at my bubbies and not actually listening to what I'm saying. I've got a brain.

[B]

I can't wait for ride the podcast.

[A]

I did not. I did not need padding on that ass in football. Trust. I missed those pants. Those pants were, like, really fabulous. They just. Actually, I got to wear them for season. The first season, they put me back in the old pads. Loved it.

[B]

Not season two, though.

[A]

Not season two. I've got a different thing on next season. By now, you've probably heard of bilt, where you can earn points on your monthly rent payment. But did you know they make it possible for you to get more outside of your home, too? If you're paying rent every month without earning anything in return, let Benny Drama introduce you to bilt, the rewards program designed for renters who want to earn something for their largest monthly expense. Let Mary Beth explain.

[B]

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[A]

But it doesn't stop there. Mary Beth Bildt is about making your entire neighborhood more rewarding. You can dine out at your favorite local restaurants or jeans and earn additional points. You get VIP treatment at certain fitness studios. Hey John. And enjoy exclusive experience just for Bilt members every month.

[B]

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[A]

To joinbilt.com ride that's J-O-I-N B I-L T.com ride join built.com ride make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.

[B]

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[A]

I've been sitting here in a cuck chair the whole hour.

[B]

Pleasure is power. Download Pure now. Should we get into gum? You're writing for gum this week and I can't wait to see how you talk about it for 10 to 12 minutes.

[A]

Yeah, see, here's the thing. I, I, I can, I really can actually. Well, I love you. I'm so tired.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

So I will be writing for Icebreakers Ice cubes. Fuck it. I have to just say that. Here's the thing. Okay, actually I'm gonna restart.

[B]

No, I liked that. Can we keep it?

[A]

Wait, wait.

[B]

The restart. But I just liked it.

[A]

Okay, but, but here's the thing. It just seems crazy to have to say this every time. Not a cent. I have bought so many of those. Little to me it's a jar.

[B]

It's a jar.

[A]

Pandora's box that I buy at the gas station of these Icebreakers ice cubes. We, we're not getting paid for this. You know. Mary. Maybe Mary Beth is under the Table. I wouldn't know.

[B]

I'm being paid handsomely by icebreakers.

[A]

Good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

A woman is making more than the men. It's about goddamn backing times. Nina Jama's such an active listener.

[B]

I know. I love.

[A]

She's always like, why the fuck is it like.

[B]

She's perceptive.

[A]

Of course.

[B]

I like follow up questions that lead to new topics. That's all I'll say. So anyway, let's go. Let's move on.

[A]

That's a perfect clip. And so something like that is exactly why we have a podcast.

[B]

And you don't.

[A]

And you don't.

[B]

You don't.

[A]

Oh, that'll be in the little.

[B]

Yeah. Ride the pod out of context.

[A]

Ride the pod out of context.

[B]

I watch it so many times, it's so. I love it. I crack up.

[A]

Yeah, fuck it. I'm like, like, no, no. I'm like, we're in our bag. Like, we're top of our game right now.

[B]

We've never been better at the podcast than me.

[A]

Now I agree. We're locking in. I feel the most myself, if that makes sense.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Does that make sense? So that's also a way to be an active listener, I would say. Actually, I'm gonna give some rules before we move on to be an active listener. If you don't want to say anything, I'm just gonna walk you guys through some gestures, if you want. That can really hook a man.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

So one is your index finger. Curve it into a hug straight to your canines and just go like this and look them. Make sure you don't blink. And your head. And that's a really easy way to active listen. Another one is in the middle. Is in the middle. Rub your back of your neck and then push it forward. And then just keep looking and then go. And then sometimes it's good too, to just do like a light grab of the rack. Yeah. Like, I'll just touch my chest.

[B]

Big or small and doesn't matter.

[A]

Pop your neck. Also another way what I found lately is the immediate. If I'm really not enjoying a conversation, I'll put on chapstick or something, which I don't want people to read into.

[B]

Wait, you know what you can do if you don't want to be somewhere? You go, I have to pee.

[A]

Oh, that's good. Yeah, that's really good. Fuck, I have to pee. My. My trick is to, like, ugh. If I'm like, having a really weird interaction.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I'm like, time to put on chapstick. It's kind of, like, the vape thing. Because if I look you in the eye when I put chapstick on, you're maybe seeing my pants off. But it's not.

[B]

Not fully. It's not. Shaft.

[A]

You just did it.

[B]

I keep having to clear my throat. I don't understand it. You know what? Active listening just made me think of such a good joke we have from season one of Overcompens. Like, like, actor's life. Hashtag that.

[A]

Set life. Is there anything better than that? Set life. It's so relatable.

[B]

We'll never be able to do it. We'll never be able to do it because it reveals too much of what went on on set.

[A]

Oh, fuck the ice cube. Oh, my God.

[B]

We can't give any context.

[A]

God damn it.

[B]

Maybe season six, we'll get permission from the person that it's about.

[A]

All I'm going to say is to. Because I want to give people a little tease of what that was. It is someone's job to pick where people live. And I just thought it was funny.

[B]

Of the actors.

[A]

Of the actors. And I just thought it was funny. Thinking of my queen who picked that. Some of the choices she made. I was laughing to myself thinking of her putting an ice cube on her.

[B]

Neck and going, and it melts.

[A]

Enjoy the summer. This one's gonna be a scorcher. And she just laughs. And they're like, hey, is everything okay in here? She's like, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[B]

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

[A]

Oh, sorry. It's a little hot, though.

[B]

Who?

[A]

Yeah. Okay. So, icebreakers, Ice cubes. These little gumlets. They're fuckers. I love them. They're gumlets. Well, they're gumlets.

[B]

Wherever New Jersey football team plays, I just want to shout that out as one of my best moments in history.

[A]

Probably I will say we're writing a script right now. Me, Mary Beth and Owen Thiel. And there is one joke in it that I'm fine to ruin because I keep laughing about it. But I had this joke where straight guys. One straight guy calls us Fargots, and they're like, isn't it? And he's like, no, it's Fargo. And I just. I don't know why I've been, like, laughing to myself, like, a lot, just because it's so. Like, I remember that being, like, in eighth grade with, like, a straight guy. And I would say, like, isn't it this? And they're like, nah. Man 1 Convinced me it was Kun. Instead of come, I was like, wait, that's not right. And he's like, it's.

[B]

That's someone that's not active listening because he'd be able to hear the consonant at the end of that word.

[A]

Exactly. I'll let him know. So these gummers, they're in every gas station. I don't think you could even try to find these in a grocery store. But you know the ones. They're in little Pandora's box. You shake them, and they. You know, they. They jiggle. But these little gummers, they're so refreshing. And the flavor, I mean, yeah, it's not there for a long time. It's not.

[B]

It's there for a good time.

[A]

Not a long time. But they're very. Fuck it, we ball. Because, yeah, they have aspartame, which.

[B]

And, yeah, they're shaped like fucking cubes. What are you gonna do about it?

[A]

Ice cubes. And I can, like, picture. Do you remember, like, five gum? Those ads, like, the sensorial sensation of five gum. I just remember, like, that's how I feel when I chew these and I chew four in my mouth. I got a big cavern, like, I'm trying to chomp. Oh, well. With my masculine defining. Jaw filler.

[B]

Jaw filler? Yeah.

[A]

I have to.

[B]

You have to prove something.

[A]

Well, of course.

[B]

Can I just say, you have nothing to prove.

[A]

Say that to someone in the middle of a conversation. See what they do? That's a challenge. You have nothing to prove.

[B]

So sometimes when we're at dinner, I'll go, I'm gonna go to the bathroom, and then I go, what if I just never came back and, like, you never saw me ever again?

[A]

I love this bit.

[B]

Like, ever again in. In your whole life.

[A]

I know.

[B]

I just completely disappeared.

[A]

And then years later, I would go to the beach you told me about once in Mexico, and you'd be building a ship there.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

That's my big Shawshank Redemption callback.

[B]

Call back. To right now.

[A]

Yeah, to right now. Yeah.

[B]

You're being extra funny today. And you have nothing.

[A]

So let's see how much more time I got on the icebreaker's ice cubes. So this ice.

[B]

You have nothing to prove.

[A]

Hey. Or doing this to someone. Grabbing one of their fingers, grab the person across from. Just grab one of their fingers, it goes, you are safe. And then make your eyes really big. You're safe.

[B]

I've noticed when people go maha, which is make America healthy again. I don't know if you've heard about it.

[A]

I think it's Maha.

[B]

Their eyes get bigger. I saw Aaron Rodgers in it. Aaron Rodgers was doing a junket Don't.

[A]

Don't do these eyes.

[B]

He was doing a junket and someone on the plane next to me was watching it and I just saw this and I thought, you look really healthy, dude.

[A]

I'm good as fuck. The fuck?

[B]

So they do have. It's a sensorial experience. Yes.

[A]

These gummers. And I just. I love them. Like, I have at least five in my car at the same time. I've tried every flavor. They're all fun. The smoothie ones get a little, you know, when they go too berry fresh. It's a little much, but for me. And then every brand has followed suit. So I think that it started well, of course. Well, just wait until I get to the. The orbit ones are so good. But I can't find them anywhere. They were in Europa, but I can't find them.

[B]

They're probably. They're probably illegal here for some reason.

[A]

Oh, that's probably true. But they were so good and those burst. So I guess what I'm writing for is these little absolute, like akin to.

[B]

Gushers, I would say such.

[A]

It's gum, but gushers gum. But make it gushers.

[B]

And how are you gonna make it gushers?

[A]

But I. I just think that we all could have a little bit more gum in our life. And.

[B]

Let'S get into ride or Die.

[A]

I think you're gonna die. I gotta. No, I gotta sell you.

[B]

No way. I don't. I love gum.

[A]

Do you know why? No. But why they're so fun is also because the shareability. And there's not that extra paper in it like other gum. It's just like.

[B]

Right. It's just a ton of plastic.

[A]

I think if I was gum, I'd be this. It's doing a little too much. They're trying hard. They're flavor blasted. They burn bright.

[B]

They have nothing to do.

[A]

They burn out. They've got too much to prove. And let me tell you, body tea. But wait, I just.

[B]

No, they do. They do have a little hourglass shape.

[A]

So pear. And for me, well, the Mentos one is very like full. It's got curves. But the Mentos one, I like. I think the flavor kind of it. It pewters out pretty fast.

[B]

It pewters out pretty fast.

[A]

Is I supposed to say Peter's out?

[B]

You say whatever you want to say, honey gun. I have nothing to prove.

[A]

You have nothing to prove. You're saying that to a double veteran. You have nothing to prove.

[B]

You've done so much.

[A]

Oh, no, no, no. You know, it's even worse than anything that people would do to me. You know, like, forced intimacy, people.

[B]

Oh, my God. And when we do another die episode, I'm going to talk about die because holy fuck, don't do that to me. I can smell on you.

[A]

Ready?

[B]

Don't.

[A]

You should be really proud of yourself. And I'm like, oh, I'm not.

[B]

Yeah, sorry. That's not really how this works.

[A]

As I'm biting my finger, I'm like, oh, fuck, I can't do that with you. You're, like, making this weird. I just think this gum, it's like, they'll just knock your socks off. They feel like an orgasm in your mouth.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

It's. It's fun. See how many you can fit in your mouth. They're great. Just, like, after a meal. I also think just like a lot of people at events, it'd be fun to have them in your bag.

[B]

People smell so bad lately.

[A]

I know. Including me. Like, I recently, I was working out, and to Junior, I apologize because I was kind of giving, like, just raw bio.

[B]

Doesn't matter.

[A]

Did I tell you that I was in love with this kid and when I was growing up and he had such bad BO that I thought BO was his scent? So now when I smell bo, I'm, like, burped. I'm like, oh, that's what he smelled like. That's his cologne.

[B]

Oh, there's a perfume right now that's gonna be my 13th reason. It's the one that was worn at your party where I had to leave because it gave me a headache. I don't know what perfume it is, and I can't ask anyone wearing it because I wouldn't be able to hide my response, which is like, I fucking hate it. It's actually, I have to go home right now. But it's just. It's so. For some reason, the type of person that wears it just douses themselves, and it's just making me want to leave.

[A]

Well, you know what? I'm thinking it's maybe the Regina George, which I think that moment is so brilliant in Mean Girls of complimenting something you see and you're actually. You despise. It is actually such a normal, human thing because it's like, you want to call it out because it's.

[B]

Yeah. You don't know how to respond to it.

[A]

It's fucking up your reality somehow. So you're like, I love that. What's the scent? So then that person hears it and they're like, I'm about to bathe in this shit.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I think Something that'll kind of offset that is the. Is the blast of an icebreaker's ice cubes. Also, putting a few of those in your mouth, not only you've seen me naked, you've seen whole.

[B]

Yeah. You've seen whole. You've seen the manicure picture.

[A]

But I love the shareability of them. The whole thing is kind of like, open up the safe. Bitch has got a lot to say. Very Iggy Azalea.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because there's two openings. They have one thing where they go to share and then they go for you, and it's.

[B]

Oh, yeah, that's nice. It's very clever. I'm glad they did that.

[A]

That's 10 minutes on icebreakers Ice cubes.

[B]

You know what you are, Benny? Hmm?

[A]

A f it.

[B]

Your word's not mine, babe. You're my ride or die.

[A]

Ride or die.

[B]

So let's get into ride or die. I ride for Icebreakers ice cubes. I like innovation. I like interesting packaging, and I like reinventing the form. I mean, after they came out with those little foil packets with the gum, they probably thought, well, this is as far as we can push the form. It's sort of like talking in pop songs.

[A]

Well, they thought. They. I assume they thought, are all these gonna melt and stick together?

[B]

Are they gonna. Can we bake these? Can we bake gum?

[A]

Of course.

[B]

And they said, yes, we can. Si se puede. And I'm always ready to bring that back.

[A]

Sisipuede si puede. Oh, my God. Please bring. This is so the season of Si se puede and kerplunk. Here's my thing on the. Wait, I just forgot. Fuck it.

[B]

Okay, perfect.

[A]

We ball keeping that.

[B]

Yeah, I.

[A]

You can forget these.

[B]

And can I just say one thing?

[A]

These are tight.

[B]

Can I say one thing?

[A]

What? The headphones.

[B]

I love how much you love them.

[A]

Thank you. And you know how much I love them. How many cases were in the car?

[B]

Many.

[A]

It's so fun. But I have one in each holdern in the middle. But I'm really trying to stop driving soon, so we'll see. We'll see where I put them. Sometimes they are hard to fit in a tiny clutch, but I just do this.

[B]

You make it work.

[A]

I put a handful on. Make it work. Make it work.

[B]

I keep having to clear my throat. I'm sorry.

[A]

It's so annoying every time you do Tim Gunn.

[B]

Well, Tim Gunn. It's guttural.

[A]

It's hard to get.

[B]

It's bringing some stuff up for me.

[A]

It's hard to get there Sometimes, yeah. I write for active listening. I think. I always try to. I try to be thoughtful of it because I think at times I get distracted easily. And I also get in my head and the intrusive thoughts. If I told you everything I was thinking, I don't know if you'd want to be talking to me. But, yeah, sometimes the intrusive thoughts are there, but at times they can almost wake me up to, like, I'm not being present enough with this person. And it can be. All I can say is when you tap into it, a really beautiful conversation can happen and. Or you just made someone feel heard, which is really nice. So I love active listening. I ride for it. Period.

[B]

Absolutely. No, absolutely.

[A]

Do you get that?

[B]

Yeah, now I get that. And I guess on that note, did you want to just quickly touch on dinner outfits or.

[A]

Yeah, it's just. I can't think of anything. You put.

[B]

You wrote that in the document with two exclamation points.

[A]

I just think, like, there's something so cool about putting on an outfit and going to dinner and just showing whoever you're going to dinner with them seeing it for the first time. What a magical moment of, like, I don't know, every time I kind of put my hair behind my ear, like, I have.

[B]

You know what it is. I'm gonna tell you exactly what it is. And then we're gonna. And we're not. We're gonna have to mute this because then we can't monetize. But it's very this.

[A]

Well, just describe it. What is it?

[B]

I can't.

[A]

I love you.

[B]

Me walking out of my room at your house in my outfit tonight.

[A]

Wait. Turn that off and I'll just sing it.

[B]

It.

[A]

Kiss me. That was the first time I've ever been pitching. Oh, my. Exit.

[B]

Benny, babe. Eyes on the road.

[A]

Benny.

[B]

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