Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone

Episode: Betty Draper + Courtney Cook
Date: January 14, 2026
Podcast Network: Dear Media

Episode Overview

Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone are back for another irreverent, pop culture-obsessed episode of Ride. This week, each host 'rides for' a particular blonde icon: Benito spotlights TikTok personality and English teacher Courtney Cook, while Mary Beth deep-dives into the Mad Men icon Betty Draper (and actress January Jones). The conversation dizzily careens through Gen Z TikTok trends, personal rituals, 2000s TV nostalgia, musical theater, and hot takes on eating culture, all delivered with the duo's signature, "bestie-brained" banter. The episode is a celebration of idiosyncratic womanhood, the joys of harmless obsessions, and the internet’s endless supply of comfort personalities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Infinite Universe of Music and Cultural Creation

• Reflecting on Timelessness: The show opens with an appreciation for how music continues to evolve, with Mary Beth marveling at how new songs become new obsessions, referencing Lizzie McAlpine's "Spring Into Summer" and Olivia Dean's growing stardom.
• Quote:

  “It must be so crazy as a musician. Like, we're still hearing new album titles. The first time I heard ‘Virgin’ I thought, that's so crazy that that hasn't been used.” — Benito (01:36)

• The hosts muse on how art doesn’t displace the old, it just adds more layers, leading to discussions of personal music phases and appreciating eras.

2. Social Encounters, Recognition, and the Weirdness of Microfame

• Not Remembering Everyone: Mary Beth speaks candidly about not remembering everyone she meets, noting it’s a “human thing” and not ego. Benito shares the unnaturalness of public figures being recognized by strangers, which can make remembering faces even harder.
• Quote:

  "So like the sheer amount of people that we're meeting is like, maybe I'm wrong. But no, I think you're right." — Benito (05:47)

• The hosts joke about developing “face blindness” and the awkwardness that can come with repeated brief interactions, touching on themes of connection vs. performance.

3. Algorithm Addiction and the Joy/Danger of Perfect Content

• TikTok Magic: Benito describes his TikTok algorithm as finally “getting him,” delivering exactly the soothing/chaotic content that perfectly fits his present obsessions (“It’s not trying to pander, it’s just like, 'we got you, kid'”).
• They swap TikTok stories, plushie unboxings, and the ease of unintentional purchases on apps (“TikTok Shop's trickery—you hit buy and suddenly, it’s done.”)
• Both hosts acknowledge the double-edged sword of content that’s too perfectly tailored—if it gets too good, “then I’ll never close the app.” (Mary Beth, 07:45)

4. The Cult of Comfort YouTubers/TikTokers (Spotlight on Courtney Cook: Segment ~20:25-29:36)

[20:25] – Courtney Cook Deep Dive

• Who is Courtney Cook?
  • Benito introduces the “relatable blonde bob queen” and TikTok English Lit teacher from Atlanta who posts about her meals, classroom life, and everyday joy.
  • She’s known for her signature phrase, “We ain’t stressing,” which Benito has adopted as a mental health mantra:

    “She goes, we ain’t stressing. And I’ve literally thought that was so—like, if she gets milk on the counter, she just goes ‘we ain’t stressing.’” (22:39)

  • Cook’s “onion cup” lunch hack (soup dumplings scooped with onion layers) and “Ploughman’s lunch” tantalize Benito, who marvels at her unselfconscious approach to eating, the real presence she has on camera, and her warmth as a teacher (24:11).

[24:30] – Details That Endear

• Teaching With Heart: Cook brings in her mom for recipes, shares pregnancy cravings, and is widely beloved by students and parents.
• Cooking as Self-Love/Abundance: Benito celebrates her lack of "calorie counting or guilt," seeing it as radical, joyful, and grounding.

  “There’s such a joy, and there’s, like, there’s no calorie counting. There’s no guilt about eating. It’s so, like, I eat and I’m hungry, and I’m eating right now.” (25:14)

• She’s Not “Trying to Entertain”: Benito and Mary Beth love that Cook’s viral fame seems authentic and uncalculated—she shares out of genuine enjoyment, not as a career maneuver (48:10).

[29:36] – Viral Power & Wholesome Fandom

• Her affection for “bouderkaze” cheese, regular British roasts, and her penchant for giving credit for international dishes are all noted.
• Benito is open about finding comfort and safety in Cook’s presence, and wanting to cast her in future acting projects.

5. TV Nostalgia & The Complexity of Betty Draper (Segment ~34:52-44:56)

[34:52] – Mary Beth "Rides for" Betty Draper

• Mad Men Reverence: Mary Beth talks lovingly about her journey with the show, the complexity of Betty Draper’s character, and the significance of representation for complex women on TV.
• Quote:

  “She is definitely flawed…but I just have so much empathy for this character who I feel like…was just praised for [her beauty] her whole life. And then as women age…It was sort of beautiful to see that character navigating all that she was going through.” — Mary Beth (39:01)

• They discuss the importance of flaws and multidimensionality in “difficult” women characters, defending both Betty and, in tangential conversation, Carrie Bradshaw as necessary for dramatic storytelling.
• Quote:

  “There has to be conflict. And also, like, I haven’t met anyone who’s perfect except Courtney Cook. But we haven’t met.” — Benito (41:10)

[43:01] – Iconography and Fandom

• Memorable Moments:
  • Betty’s shotgun scene: “Her immediate response, that used to be my phone background. Just her, one cigarette hanging out of her mouth and holding the shotgun.” (43:01)
  • The hosts rhapsodize about the fashion, the water-cooler TV era, and January Jones’s magnetism.
• TV as Lifelong Companion:
  • The show is celebrated for its rich backgrounds, flashback structure, and the lasting power of its characters.
  • Mary Beth predicts Benito will fall hard for Mad Men on his own time, sharing her own experience of “waiting until you’re ready” for a big TV show to click (52:19).

6. Entertainment “Authenticity” & The TikTok Generation

• Concerns with Influencer Culture:
  • Mary Beth confesses initial apprehension about TikTok-viral personalities—not everyone needs to be an entertainer, and not every internet personality is authentic.
  • Cook, though, is praised for just doing what she likes (48:11).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On fandom & comfort creators:

  “I’m just completely enamored of her and I just, I, I, I wonder if she would listen to this. I hope she would.” — Benito (28:08)

• On the enduring power of complex women in TV:

  “It was important to me, as a young woman, to see that representation on TV, and just how much rich backstory you can create in an hour-long program.” — Mary Beth (41:13)

• Banter about cultural osmosis & TikTok fakeouts:

  “Are you annoyed because he's gay or is he annoying?” — Benito (45:07)
  “Is she a demon, or is she a woman?” — Mary Beth (45:10)

• On “British Lit” teachers and childhood obsessions:

  “Me and British lit. I would have gone. My paper’s already turned in. Five paragraph essay, assert, support, explain. It’s done.” — Benito (28:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:36] — Discussion on the infinity of music and naming albums
• [05:45] — The oddness of microfame and meeting fans
• [07:40–08:54] — TikTok Shop algorithm and plushies story
• [20:25–29:36] — Courtney Cook: who she is, why Benito ‘rides’ for her, her iconic TikTok habits
• [34:52–44:56] — Mary Beth on Betty Draper: her role in Mad Men, why women like this matter on TV, iconography, favorite moments
• [45:07] — Gender, queerness, and internet personality archetypes
• [52:19] — On timing your big TV show binge for personal readiness

Tone and Style

• The episode is playful, fast-paced, filled with in-jokes, and swings between frivolity and thoughtful critique. The hosts are warm, confessional, and often pivot mid-sentence—making the podcast both intimate and chaotic.
• There’s reverence for nostalgia, open fandom, and delight in the “unserious” sides of internet culture, but always with an undercurrent of sharp insight and earned affection for their topics.

Conclusion

This episode of Ride showcases Benito and Mary Beth at their best: earnestly evangelizing the people and characters who make everyday life brighter, with winking self-awareness and a love of pop culture minutiae. Whether they’re musing on the undemanding joy of a TikTok personality or defending the TV antiheroines of yesteryear, the show remains a space where obsession is celebrated—and where the distinction between high and low culture is lovingly blurred. If you’re after celebrity dish, TV nostalgia, TikTok deep cuts, or just a window into how internet best friends talk when the mics are on, Ride is a delightful listen.