Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone

Episode: Benny as a Matchmaker + That Arm Vein that Guys Have
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Dear Media

Episode Overview

In this episode, Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone reunite for their signature blend of wit, pop culture analysis, and chaotic best-friend energy. The conversation centers on the irresistible (and strangely universal) "arm vein" on men, Benny’s ambitions as an amateur matchmaker, and a deep-dive into a memorable "And Just Like That" fashion moment. The duo banters about TikTok trends, recalls iconic pop culture, and reflect on their own comfort zones, joys, and what gets them excited these days.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Viral TikToks and Snapchat Character Creativity (00:36–01:59)

• Nina Humphrey’s TikTok: The hosts praise Nina Humphrey for her hilarious and creative videos using Snapchat filters to invent characters.
  • “She's basically taking Snapchat filters and making them into characters… She's so talented.” – Benito (01:10)
• Discussion about how digital personas can become bigger than real-life identity, and the challenge of monetizing these trends.
• Light commentary on how viral TikTok creators can pivot in unpredictable directions, sometimes going “right-wing influencer” unexpectedly, referencing past memes.

2. “This chick woke up in my house”: Merch Brainstorm & Fan Encounters (03:03–06:10)

• Phrase Origin: The phrase comes from a fan approaching Benny in an airport, which gave him “goosebumps in the best way” (04:17).
• Impractical merch suggestions from listeners (anklets, juicy tracksuits) and riffing on making “This chick woke up in my house” into T-shirts, hats, or pins.
• Playful back and forth about the logistics of arrow T-shirts for best-friend matching.

3. Cancelled Episode & Podcast Disclaimers (06:27–09:24)

• The duo confesses to recording (then scrapping) an episode for being too low-energy:
  • "It is crazy to know it's the first time we've ever left an episode on the cutting room floor." – Mary Beth (07:18)
• Discussion around their use of disclaimers, fueled by Reddit discourse and the desire to keep the vibe positive within their audience.
• Benito likens this to Sarah Jessica Parker “fake news” stories circulating, and how context is vital when listeners jump into internet culture or podcasts midway.

4. “Come on, Kerplunk”: Toxic Positivity Gone Wild (09:57–12:19)

• Benny recounts a bathroom story during which he accidentally cheerleads a friend on the toilet with the phrase, “Come on, Kerplunk!” sparking a new inside joke and episode theme (10:07).
  • "It's like toxic positivity, brain rot to such a degree." – Benito (10:44)
  • This becomes a recurring refrain, symbolizing over-the-top encouragement in absurd contexts.
• The pair riff on “gas leak era” humor—a period of life when reality feels slightly off and surreal.
• "Welcome to the Kerplunk era. Morning." – Mary Beth (11:21)

5. Pop Culture Breakdown: "And Just Like That" & The Power of Fashion (17:42–28:53)

• The Dress Scene: The hosts break down a standout moment in “And Just Like That” where Carrie Bradshaw wears an archival Vivienne Westwood dress.
  • "She never comes to things. She looks incredible." – Mary Beth (26:41)
• Benny describes the magic of the scene:
  • "It’s like true Sex and the City… just when you’ve got that dress on." (27:03)
  • Concept of the “power of a dress” that transforms a night.
• Discussion about the sexual tension, character arcs, and favorite Carrie suitors (debating Duncan Reeves, Justin Theroux, John Slattery, etc.).
• Mary Beth observes: “If you have an event coming up and you’re not sure if you should wear the dress, wear the dress. Just see how it pans out for you.” (29:48)

6. The Arm Vein Phenomenon (29:56–38:42)

• Mary Beth passionately articulates “the female gaze” as the attraction to the “arm vein” on a man, specifically visible down the bicep.
  • "There's nothing hotter on a man, in my opinion. Like, it adds so much to the total package to have this one vein." – Mary Beth (34:15)
• The hosts encourage listeners to send in pictures (fan cams) of their partner’s arm veins.
• Discussion expands to “pec privilege,” spaghetti-strap boob physics, and how everyone has their own body privilege.
• Playful back-and-forth about objectification and how women and gay men notice small details.

7. Benny the Matchmaker (38:49–46:48)

• Benny recounts previous matchmaking feats, including introducing friends who eventually had a baby (41:26).
  • “Like, life happens because of you.” – Mary Beth (41:44)
• Acknowledges the challenges of fixing up friends—"setting people up with straight men is such a risk… straight guys are so f***ing weird.” – Mary Beth (42:53)
• Reflects on his matchmaking approach as relaxed: simply “putting people in front of other people” and letting fate take over.
• Mary Beth playfully calls Benny out for giving her number at weddings, with recaps of his vetting process ("I watched him the rest of the night like a hawk." – Benito, 46:09).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On TikTok character creators:
  “She's so talented. I mean, I'm like completely… [starstruck].” – Benito (01:53)
• On scrapped episodes:
  “It is crazy to know it's the first time we've ever left an episode on the cutting room floor.” – Mary Beth (07:18)
• On “Kerplunk” as a state of mind:
  “It's like toxic positivity, brain rot to such a degree?” – Benito (10:44)
• On viral fashion moments:
  “When you've got that dress on, it’s so your Aliyah dress. I know this exact thing is gonna happen.” – Benito (27:16)
• On the arm vein:
  “There's nothing hotter on a man, in my opinion...I want fan cams of your guys.” – Mary Beth (34:15)
• On matchmaking risk:
  “Setting people up with straight men is such a risk… I will never do it again.” – Mary Beth (42:53)
• On body detail attraction:
  “On women... it’s when they’re in a spaghetti strap and their boobs sit so the strap floats off their body.” – Mary Beth (37:48)
• On letting fate do the work:
  “I’m not forcing anything... I'm not controlling fate.” – Benito (45:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:36-01:59| TikTok/Social Media: Nina Humphrey, viral filters | | 03:03-06:10| Airport fan encounter & Merch brainstorm | | 06:27-09:24| Scrapped episode story, disclaimers, podcast culture | | 09:57-12:19| “Come on, Kerplunk” tale and gas leak era humor | | 17:42-28:53| Sex & the City “the dress” scene & fashion analysis | | 29:56-38:42| The arm vein, body attraction, and pec privilege | | 38:49-46:48| Benny’s matchmaking history & philosophy |

Episode Tone and Energy

Benito and Mary Beth’s tone is chatty, self-aware, and peppered with inside jokes (“morning”, “Kerplunk”, “this chick woke up in my house”). They strike a balance between roasting pop culture and confiding real-life insecurities, all while keeping the vibe playful and welcoming. Their dynamic, full of running gags and spontaneous laughter, makes space for both earnest advice (“wear the dress!”) and mischievous vulnerability.

Final Thoughts

This episode captures the magic of Ride: a blend of oddly specific cultural analysis, confessions, trending moments, and the kind of banter only longtime friends can share. Whether dissecting the iconic power of a Vivienne Westwood dress or discussing the mystical allure of a guy’s arm vein, Benny and Mary Beth remind listeners that life is best lived with humor, curiosity, and (occasionally) a little matchmaking magic.

Ride at Dawn. Morning!