Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone

Episode: Dancing + Pop Stars Talking in Songs
Date: August 27, 2025
Podcast Network: Dear Media

Episode Overview

This lively and irreverent episode sees besties and tastemakers Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone riffing on two main cultural fascinations: the art of dancing (specifically, the joys and existential need for a proper dance floor experience) and the particular thrill of pop stars talking (not singing) in their songs. The hosts interweave personal anecdotes, cultural critiques, chaotic bits, and genuine appreciation for pop music’s quirks, all with their signature playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Shenanigans & Warm-up Bits (00:19–04:20)

• The episode launches with playful audio drop-ins and a running in-joke about secret conversations being "the Epstein files."
• Benito theatrically sings an original song/poem with surreal lines and lots of emotion, setting the irreverent, performative tone.
  • “After the ecstasy. Testing for pregnancy. Praying in mp3. I’m scared to let you see into the machine…” — Benito (00:49)
• Mary Beth and Benito riff about inner children and the absurdity of toys coming without chargers, spiraling into a chaotic, funny exchange about AI, hands, and a recurring “Taika button” joke.

2. Pop Culture and AI (04:21–07:41)

• Querying how AI generates unnecessary content ("Austin Powers characters as babies") and the real-world effects of that on creative jobs.
  • “Was that someone’s job before to do that by hand?” — Mary Beth (05:44)
• Benito explains storyboarding for movies and how AI-generated art now replaces artists’ creative jobs, with comedic outrage.
  • “That person doesn’t have a job. And that pisses me off, dude!” — Benito (06:07)
• Defining the difference between acknowledging existence and endorsing culture or brands.

3. Running Bits: Birds, Appliances & Vibes (07:42–12:14)

• An extended bit about a mysterious owl outside Benito’s window, which segues into personifying appliances (a haunted washing machine being compared to “the ghost of a 50s housewife...”).
  • “My washing machine had the worst childhood.” — Benito (10:58)
• Side quips about J.K. Rowling and weaving in drag culture humor (“Jinkx Monsoon” reference).
• Mary Beth shares a recent visit to a holistic healer: “She told me I had rage in my liver.” (12:29)

4. Deconstructing Pop Lyrics & Face Value (12:15–15:34)

• Benito obsesses over specific rap lyrics for their literalism and face value, especially:
  • “‘In a French ass restaurant / Hurry up with my damn croissants!’ ...Can you picture him in a French restaurant yelling, hurry up with my damn croissants?” — Benito (13:26)
• The pair praise the “levels to the work” of surface-level lyrics.

5. Dinner Stories & Innuendos (15:00–15:34)

• At a dinner with Amber Bain (The Japanese House), Benito debates the meaning of “pork nights.” It’s ultimately just about eating pork, no innuendo.

6. Riding For: Dancing (21:09–34:54)

Mary Beth’s Manifesto: The Need to Dance (22:21–26:44)

• Inspired by reading Mark Ronson’s book, Mary Beth reminisces about unplanned New York nights out: dancing until 4 am, sweating, and the joy of the “MO on the D flow” (make-out on the dance floor).
  • “It was like a workout, like you were breaking a sweat. Maybe you made out with someone. ...You would tell your friends how much you love them.” — Mary Beth (22:51)
• Shares legendary nights gone wrong (accidental meth ingestion at a club), the impact of club culture, and specific venues they miss.
• Expresses frustration with current club scenes (“I want to dance to the top 40, not just disco”).

Benito’s L.A./NYC Club Observations (23:32–29:35)

• LA lacks true dance culture; New York holds nostalgic magic (e.g., Elvis Guest House).
• Recalls dancing with friends in Paris and funny/tragic club photos.

The Importance and Ritual of Dance (30:53–31:05)

• Benito expresses a desire to take choreography classes (“I just want to be like, I want a bunch of people at the playground going, woo, and then I come out and I’m, you know, I’ve got Step Up 2 the Street jeans on.” — Benito)

7. Riding For: Pop Stars Talking in Songs (34:54–43:35)

Benito’s Obsession Explained (35:01–39:01)

• The “pop stars talking in songs” phenomenon—spoken interludes and quips in the middle of pop tracks (e.g., Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter).
  • “I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but I’ve had a couple drinks and oh my God, which is my favorite of all time. And that’s Lady Gaga in Sex Dreams.” — Benito (35:13)
• The shared thrill when a pop star breaks form, connecting more intimately with listeners.

Categorical Examples (36:11–43:03)

• Lady Gaga: Cinematic and theatrical asides; “But you know all these songs sound good.” (36:20)

• Taylor Swift: Famous for the meta “Old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now...” (36:37)

• Charli XCX: Uses voicemails and asides for emotional punch.

• Addison Rae: The “new darling,” praised for her experimental spoken bits in new tracks.

• Britney Spears: “This is a story about a girl named Lucky”; recognized as the origin point of this trope.

  • “All the icons and legends have done this. A new darling... has emerged, Ms. Addison Rae. Now just drop the Rae. It’s cleaner.” — Benito (38:22)

The Joy of Playful, Meta Pop (41:08–42:46)

• The hosts underscore how these moments break the fourth wall:
  • “It’s an ice cube down your neck when I was growing up.” — Benito
  • “It’s playing with form…it’s a little wink and a smile.” — Benito (41:24)
• These moments are “for homosexuals,” with a knowing nudge to pop’s queer fanbase.

Why They Love It (43:02–43:23)

• Mary Beth: “Sometimes, just doing it through one medium is not enough, so you need to add a little spoken word.”
• Benito: “I’m not even gonna say I ride for dancing, because that would minimize something that means the world to me.”

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On the necessity of literal lyrics:

  • “There’s levels to the work. That one is face value. He’s in a French ass restaurant. Can you picture him in a French restaurant yelling, hurry up with my damn croissants?” — Benito (13:25)

• On clubbing culture and nostalgia:

  • “When you go to dinner and you eat pork. So that simple. Today, I’ll be riding pork.” — Mary Beth (15:26)

• On dancing’s emotional catharsis:

  • “I want to dance, and I just want it to be songs that I know, and maybe some 90s songs, maybe some current stuff...” — Mary Beth (26:13)
  • “It was like a workout...You would tell your friends how much you love them.” — Mary Beth (22:51)

• On pop stars breaking song form:

  • “All the icons and legends have done this. A new darling...has emerged, Ms. Addison Rae. Now just drop the Rae. It’s cleaner.” — Benito (38:22)
  • “It’s a wink and a smile. It’s breaking the fourth wall. It's speaking directly to your reader. ...It’s to homosexuals.” — Benito (41:31)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:49 – Benito’s dramatic opening song bit
• 03:00 – On mental fortitude, letting inner child free, and toy chaos
• 05:30 – The existential threat of AI and artists losing work
• 08:02 – Owl-as-nemesis story; haunted appliances
• 12:29 – Mary Beth’s holistic healer visit (diagnosed with “rage in the liver”)
• 13:25 – Discussion of literal rap lyrics and their appeal
• 22:21 – Mary Beth’s nostalgia for old-school dancing culture
• 26:13 – Discussion on the ideal club vibe and struggle to find dance floors with proper music
• 35:01 – Introduction to “pop stars talking in songs” phenomenon
• 36:41 – Taylor Swift’s legendary asides and how they affect listeners
• 41:24 – The meta, queer, playful thrill of “talking in songs”
• 44:01–47:34 – Improvised performance and a callback to their “Soho House” song

Memorable Segments and Tone

• The episode is packed with spontaneous musical interludes—including a live “Soho House” performance (45:13–47:34).
• Tone is irreverent, quick-witted, and packed with inside jokes/pop-culture allusions (e.g., “Dear media, clip that,” “no shade to disco,” and queered reading of pop tropes).
• There’s frequent breaking of the fourth wall and meta-commentary on podcasting and pop fandom.

Conclusion / Why This Episode Resonates

This episode celebrates the little things that create cultural connection—dancing that makes you sweat, lyrics that make you laugh, pop stars breaking form to wink at listeners, and the everyday absurdities that Benito and Mary Beth turn into podcast gold. With a mix of vulnerability, comedy, and deep pop devotion, they make the case that sometimes, you just need a club, a little spoken word in your pop, and a friend who rides with you—at dawn, or at the club, or wherever the next dance floor is found.

Final Thought:

“It’s a wink and a smile. It’s breaking the fourth wall.” — Benito (41:31)
“You’re also my ride or die.” — Benito (41:50)

Action Item:
If you have tips on the best dancing spots in New York (especially those that play the hits), Benito and Mary Beth want to hear from you!