Ride with Benito Skinner & Mary Beth Barone

Episode: "Getting a Massage + Medicine"
Date: October 1, 2025
Podcast Network: Dear Media

Main Theme & Overview

In this episode of Ride, besties Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone reunite in London to muse about two things they’re “riding for” this week: the art of getting a massage and the power of medicine. Amidst playful banter in the “Great British Library,” they share personal anecdotes about health, touch on privilege, and oscillate between irreverent humor and surprisingly practical advice for navigating modern wellness—always with their signature wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Updates, Library Vibes, and Running Bits

[00:28 – 05:37]

• Setting: The duo is recording in what they playfully call the “Great British Library,” riffing on bookish energy and “Beauty and the Beast” references.
• Vogue’s 73 Questions: Benito shares an anecdote about meeting the real “73 Questions” interviewer during a commercial shoot (02:06–02:37).
  • Quote: "He is Mr. 73 questions." — Benito (02:30)
• Podcast as a Job: Mary Beth jokes about treating the podcast professionally, balancing fun with a sense of duty (06:32–06:44).
• Social Media Games: They discuss the petty pleasure of blocking people on social media, “just to make them think” (04:25–06:12).
  • Quote: "I just want you to know, like, just in one moment, I had a flash of just pure, raw anger towards you, and I just let her rip." — Benito (05:58)

2. Mini Rides, Friendship & Petty Dramas

[16:23 – 18:38]

• Friends and Exes: Mary Beth’s “mini ride” is about staying unbothered when friends hook up with exes, calling it “a fascinating move” (16:23–16:52).
• Petty Justice: The duo talk about decimating people (in-person confrontations or blocking online) as cathartic, with the reference to Elizabeth Hurley’s character in "Gossip Girl" as inspiration (17:36–18:17).

3. What They're Riding For: Massage

[18:47 – 31:54]

• Massage Privilege & Accessibility: Acknowledgement that massages can be a luxury, but there are budget-friendly options, especially in places like Thailand (19:00–19:25).
• Favorite Massage Types:
  • Thai massage (“Truly so unbelievable...I love when someone walk[s]”—Benito, 19:25)
  • Swedish and sports massage for athletic relief; lymphatic and dry brushing, too (22:11–22:49).
• Personal Anecdotes:
  • Benito shares an alarming story about an inappropriate massage experience, stressing the importance of researching massage parlors before booking (26:03–28:03).
    • Quote: “All of a sudden the guy just goes and slaps my ass. … So I assume he got what he—” (27:04–27:19)
• Public Massages: They joke about the humiliation and thrill of getting a massage chair treatment in the middle of an airport (29:59–30:16).
• Tipping & Boundaries: Emphasis on setting boundaries (“Speak up, b*tch challenge” 24:28–24:29), advocating for adequate tipping for massage professionals (31:27–31:41).

4. What They're Riding For: Medicine

[31:54 – 43:43]

• Faith in Medicine: Mary Beth “rides for” medicine, both Western and Eastern, prioritizing whatever actually works (32:31–32:39).
  • Quote: "How cool is science?" — Mary Beth (33:11)
• Nostalgic Medical Memories: Both reminisce about childhood experiences with antibiotics, doctor visits, and fear of shots (33:45–34:41).
• Public Health Soapbox:
  • Mary Beth laments declining vaccination rates and anti-science sentiment in the States, especially in Florida (34:41–35:35).
    • Quote: “I’m waiting for Republicans to be like we're outlawing seat belts. It's like how many people do you want to die because of your policies?” — Mary Beth (35:19)
• Healthcare Privilege: The hosts reflect on the reality that many Americans lack access to quality healthcare, calling it “deeply detestable” (38:38–38:46).
• Advice: “Please just, like, go in for your checkups if you are able.” (41:05)
• Lighthearted Detour: Discussion about quirky doctors and whether banter in those settings helps or hurts (40:31–41:02).
• Gratitude: Both acknowledge current health, access to care, and the importance of medical professionals.
  • Quote: “I ride for medicine. Of course, I think medicine is incredible. Medicine can heal. Medicine can help.” — Benito (42:53)

5. Closing – Gifts, Compliments, and the Importance of Treating Yourself

[42:18 – 43:43]

• Massage as a Gift: Mary Beth calls massages “such a good gift...for your friend who’s going through it” (42:24–42:27).
• Dating & Massage: Comparing the hit-or-miss experience of finding a good massage therapist to dating (42:42–42:51).
• Affirmations: The hosts share compliments and end on mutual appreciation (42:51–42:53).
• Benito jokes about being able to write prescriptions soon: “Let’s just say that. Drama MD, my love.” (43:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you gave me a button that said, you can't be gay anymore or die, I would choose die. Actually, I'd be straight for two weeks, then come back and get the other button...”
  — Benito (08:54)
• “In many ways, I think for you, massage acts as a form of medicine.”
  — Mary Beth (31:57)
• “Who did it? You? I don't remember because I was driving. So probably Me, because, you know, I'm all about safety on the road.”
  — Mary Beth (17:19–17:25)
• “The disparity is going to get bigger, too...people are gonna have to travel further to get care.”
  — Mary Beth (38:46–39:25)

Timestamps for Main Segments

• 00:28 – Banter & “Great British Library” setting
• 02:06 – Vogue’s YouTube/73 Questions anecdote
• 04:25 – Blocking random people just to make them think
• 16:23 – Mini Ride: Friends and exes
• 18:47 – What They’re Riding For: Massage
• 26:03 – Benito’s inappropriate massage anecdote
• 31:54 – What They’re Riding For: Medicine
• 34:41 – America’s anti-vaxxers and public health discussion
• 42:24 – Massages as gifts; hit-or-miss nature of finding good practitioners
• 43:32 – Joking about MD credentials

Tone & Style

• Playful, irreverent, and confessional
• Frequent use of inside jokes, pop culture references, and friendly teasing
• Moments of genuine vulnerability, especially around issues of privilege, health, and boundaries
• Occasional detours into the absurd (“I would say life is a highway, I guess.”)

Final Takeaways

• Massage and medicine aren’t just self-care to these hosts—they’re entry points to larger conversations about health privilege, boundaries, and the importance of treating yourself (and your friends) well.
• The episode blends wellness advice, personal storytelling, and social commentary with a warmth and mischief that makes even “serious” topics accessible and entertaining.
• Listeners are left feeling seen, reminded to care for their bodies, trust science, and—always—block when the vibes are off.

If you missed the episode, this summary gives you all the wit, wisdom, and wild tangents you could ride for.