"Going Nonverbal + Getting Bangs in Your Thirties"

Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone – October 22, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

In this candid, laughter-sprinkled episode, Benito and Mary Beth invite listeners into their intimate bestie bubble as they face seismic personal shifts and explore the joys of small reinventions. Benito announces a major breakup, both reflect on coping strategies (like “going nonverbal”), and Mary Beth shares her fresh anxieties and freedom after getting bangs in her 30s. Ultimately, it’s an episode about embracing transitions, letting go (with humor!), and finding connection through the messiness of change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Benito’s Breakup Announcement

[01:09-03:32]

• Benito shares he and his partner Terry have ended their nine-year relationship.
• Stresses the love and respect that remain, wanting listeners to see the longevity as a sign that love is real (“You should believe in love because I really had it…” – Benito, 01:56).
• Requests privacy and respect: “So I would love a little bit of privacy and respect for both of us. I love Terry, as I said, and his family and everybody. So. Yeah.”—Benito (02:42).
• The duo reassure fans: no drama, no “foul play,” and Terry remains “Grandpa Terry forever” within the Ride universe.

Notable Quote:

“If us breaking up makes you stop believing in love, I think it should be the opposite, because I was with someone so special to me for nine years … we championed each other. We grew up together in so many ways.”
— Benito Skinner [01:36]

2. Navigating Life Changes (& Crying at Airports)

[03:45-06:21]

• Benito reflects on how much their lives have changed since the podcast began: “Have you guys ever cried in every airport in the world?” (04:45)
• Shares a sweet moment breaking down at an airport, and a fan’s brief, supportive encounter (“She just grabbed my arm and said, ‘Love you, Benny.’ And then walked away. It literally makes me want to cry.”—Benito, 06:06)
• The duo riff about breakups being public, comparisons to grief, and audience reactions, with MB comforting Benito.

3. Humor as a Healing Tool

Throughout

• The pair skillfully lace humor through heaviness (“Should we be Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban for Halloween? Out of respect for them and for our nine-year relationship, we're not doing this.”—Benito, 09:30; “Halloween suggestions were almost as unhinged as your merch ideas”—Mary Beth, 10:03).
• Self-deprecating lanes: “Try everything. Some of it's gonna be painful.”—Mary Beth (27:26).
• Lighthearted debates on dating and personality quirks (“Would you rather date someone who smokes or someone who is a runner?” Mary Beth, 11:21).

4. “Going Nonverbal”: Discovery & Embracing Silence

[31:39, 37:37-39:25]

• Benito explains his recent embrace of “going nonverbal”—taking time for silence and offloading social pressure. This marks a new coping and self-care strategy.
• He credits learning it via long workdays and a wise TV co-star (“Wally”), realizing “the power and the gift of going non verbal. And I think everyone deserves to give themselves this gift.”—Benito (33:13).
• Mary Beth highlights the importance of comfortable silence between friends: “Sometimes you can go non verbal even around people, and that can be really powerful.” (43:13)

Notable Quote:

“Give yourself that time. Sometimes I even say after a long day of work, I'll be like, it's a non verbal night for me. I'm just gonna watch something.”
— Benito Skinner [37:48]

5. Mary Beth’s Bangs & Self-Transformation

[18:01-20:45, 43:47-45:06]

• Mary Beth details her journey: former hair obsessions as a kid, and now embracing “perfectly imperfect” bangs in her 30s.
• It’s an act of defiance and fun: “I've made this choice to make my life a little more complicated… I'm embracing it.” (19:46)
• Benito showers her with compliments: “Cutie makes cute— I love them on you. For some reason it really unlocked a Leighton meester-ness for me.” (20:01)
• Both encourage risks and low-stakes experimentation: “Go out there also, I think, take risks.” (44:42)

Notable Quote:

“So what's been really cool about getting bangs in my 30s is like, they don't have to look perfect. Like, I've embraced having bangs in my 30s in this beautiful way. Or it's like sometimes they don't look that good and I'm like, I just don't care.”
— Mary Beth Barone [19:08]

6. Guest Segment: Ruel on Bad Posture

[21:15-22:53]

• Australian artist Ruel sends a voice note riding for “bad posture,” humorously claiming slouching is way comfier and preferring a hunched walk to show-offs with good posture.
• Sparks a riff on posture, memes, and perfectionism in adulthood.

7. Reclaiming Singledom and Self-Discovery

[25:02, 27:08, 28:02-28:21]

• Both discuss how being newly single motivates them to try new things or reclaim past passions, and the pain/freedom that comes with it (“You’re going to do a bunch of stuff that you’ve wanted to do … some of it is gonna be really painful.”—Mary Beth, 27:08).
• Strong thread of “no more character-building experiences please!”

8. The Joy of Friendship & Platonic Love

Throughout

• The bestie dynamic is strong and healing—Mary Beth being there for Benito’s grief, their group chat with Terry, playful affirmations, and mutual support.
• Ending warmth: “I want to thank my friend. Love you. Because I love my friend. I’m sorry to do this.” — Benito (45:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On breakups in the public eye:

"Some of you clearly started to know something was going on... if any of you have predictions for the end of the world or the next Covid, I definitely will be paying attention."
— Benito Skinner [02:30]

• On learning from grief and endings:

“How I felt when we came back after your dad passed away... it’s kind of the exact same grief.”—Benito Skinner [05:13]

• Fan encounter:

“She just grabbed my arm and said, ‘Love you, Benny,’ and then walked away. It literally makes me want to cry.”
— Benito Skinner [06:06]

• Bangs philosophy:

“It's fun to have a little, you know, flair.”
— Mary Beth Barone [19:46]

• On friendship:

“And we can. And that's really cool.”
— Mary Beth Barone on group chat with Terry and Benito [07:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Benito's breakup: [01:09-03:32]
• Life changes, airports & healing: [03:45-06:21]
• On embracing pain & comedy in change: [11:23-12:19, 27:08-28:21]
• Bangs in your thirties: [18:01-20:45, 43:47-45:06]
• Ruel guest voice note ("bad posture"): [21:15-22:53]
• Going nonverbal: [31:39, 37:37-39:25]
• Supporting each other as friends: [25:02, 43:32, 45:29]

Tone & Style

• Irreverent, witty, and deeply affectionate for each other and their listeners.
• Candid honesty alongside playful (sometimes absurd) humor—using self-deprecation, cultural references, and personal anecdotes as coping mechanisms.
• Unafraid of both vulnerability and goofiness—proving that taking risks, big or small, is worth celebrating.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Breakups and new beginnings are complicated, but approached with openness, humor, and support, they can be transformative.
• Embracing change—whether through silence, self-care, or a new hairstyle—can destabilize, but also liberate.
• Friendship and mutual support are the real ride-or-die essentials.
• Don’t be afraid of nonverbal “off” moments; trust that you’re worthy of rest, not just constant performance.
• Try new things, take up small risks, and remember: perfect isn’t a requirement at any age.

Grandpa Terry forever!