Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone

Heritage Collection: "I'm Ya Sista"

Release Date: February 18, 2026
Podcast Network: Dear Media
Hosts: Benito Skinner & Mary Beth Barone

Episode Overview

In this special edition of the Ride Heritage Collection, Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone revisit one of their most iconic episodes, titled "I'm Ya Sista." The duo dives into a full-fledged deep-dive and celebration of the legacy and hilarity of the teen drama series Gossip Girl, focusing on its impact, memorable quotes, and the hilariously bad but inspirational line delivery of Jenny Humphrey. The conversation is high-energy, irreverent, and full of personal anecdotes from both hosts about their own journeys with the show, plus playful banter about awards season, New York quirks, and formative pop culture moments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Heritage Collection Concept

[00:34 – 01:21]

• The hosts introduce the “Heritage Collection,” where classic, iconic, or favorite episodes are revisited and retitled for listeners.
• Examples of memorable episodes include "the lesbian cop at Ride Live" and "how many chickens there are in the world."
  Quote:
  • "This is something new we're trying where we are going to release iconic heritage episodes of the podcast in no particular order, and we're going to retitle them so you know exactly which iconic moment to expect." – Mary Beth [00:39]

2. Playful Banter: Bestie Awards & Award Shows

[01:46 – 04:47]

• Ongoing joke about the fictitious “Bestie Awards” and the hosts' nominations.
• Lighthearted discussion about desiring and not desiring awards.
• Benito shares his experience at the MTV TV and Movie Awards, only to discover his category was cut from the show after sitting through the entire show.
  Quotes:
  • "It's like. I know it's tacky to, like, really want an award, but I, like, really want it this year." – Mary Beth [02:41]
  • "I don't know. They didn't tell me that they weren't going to do it. And mtv, if you're watching, like, it's fine." – Benito [03:16]

3. Gossip Girl: An Iconic Show in Their Lives

[04:47 – 14:59]

• Transition into discussing Gossip Girl, regarded by both hosts as a foundational part of their pop culture education.
• Discussion about the nature of Serena and Blair’s friendship, the series' impact, and what watching as adults reveals.
• Host experiences: Benito’s “Gossip Girl resurgence” began with season two on a Delta flight; Mary Beth relishes the show’s rewatch value.
• Noting the massive ensemble cast and exhaustive, audacious storytelling – "go for broke" energy.
• Exploration of mature themes and societal undercurrents the show tackles; comparison to what’s missing from TV today.
• “The Bagel Bite Principle”—a favorite metaphor for not saving the best for last, applicable to both snack consumption and creative output:
  • "But what if you're full? So you should always eat the better bagel bites first." – Mary Beth [09:55]
  • "That's so true... they're going to get cold by the time you get to them." – Benito [10:01]

4. Deep Dive: The “I’m Ya Sista” Line & Other Iconic Gossip Girl Moments

[15:16 – 21:00]

• Focus on Jenny Humphrey’s (Taylor Momsen) meme-ified delivery of “I’m your sister, it’s what I do,” which becomes a touchstone joke for the duo.
  • "She says it like she's in the Italian mafia." – Mary Beth [15:41]
  • Impersonations and imagined scenarios if Jenny had kept up the accent.
• Serena’s recurring “I gotta go” catchphrase:
  • "She cannot stay in any scene for more than, like, four lines before she's like, 'look, I gotta go.'" – Benito [19:44]
• The show’s complex female characters—Serena’s unapologetic sexuality and Blair’s distinctive wit.

5. Social Satire, Controversy, and Pop Nostalgia

[21:00 – 24:00]

• Blair’s razor-sharp dialogue and the show’s habit of pushing characters to the edge.
• Brief polling on “worst Gossip Girl characters” with tongue-in-cheek disdain for Vanessa and Agnes, and recounting the latter’s over-the-top narrative arcs.
• Discussion of the Bart Bass Memorial Rotunda and the reality of NYC locations used on the show, plus iconic Rolling Stone covers and ad campaigns.
  • "I love the fact that they actually filmed in New York." – Mary Beth [22:57]

6. Fashion, Product Placement, and Cultural Time Capsules

[27:13 – 29:13]

• Memories of standout fashion moments (Serena’s DVF dress, blazers, statement necklaces).
  • "The blazers we see in Gossip Girl. Six seasons. In six seasons, right?... It's a tapestry.” – Mary Beth [28:58]
• Nostalgia for product placements like BlueFly, Gilt, and even Bing.
  • "We should bring Bing back. Is Bing, like, still out there? No way." – Benito [27:37]
• The series as a window into shifting tech, style, and shopping culture of the mid-late 2000s.

7. Guest Star Mania and Behind-the-Scenes Gossip

[30:34 – 31:34]

• Celebrating notable guest stars: Hilary Duff, Tim Gunn, Rachel Zoe, Tyra Banks, Liz Hurley.
• Playfully critique some plotlines as over-the-top yet foundational to the show’s charm (i.e., easy Ivy League transfers, college subplots).
• Highlight of how Serena sometimes worked implausible jobs (PR, on film sets).

8. Representation, Queer Characters, and Show Legacy

[31:34 – 34:48]

• Shoutout to the show’s gay and bisexual characters, notably Eric and Elliot.
  • "Eric, he never became the villain. And, like, I love that he always had, like, good ethics." – Mary Beth [31:48]
• Reflection on how, while problematic in some ways, Gossip Girl still holds up as compelling TV.
• Fun IMDb trivia: Ed Westwick was almost not cast because he was deemed too “serial killer” for a romance lead; Leighton Meester dyed her hair brown to win the role of Blair.

9. Personal Impact and Why They ‘Ride’ for Gossip Girl

[34:52 – 36:13]

• Both hosts explain the show’s comfort and significance, especially for Benito who connected with it deeply during his closeted years.

  • “It's brought me so much peace, and it's brought me back to that time, which is so fun.” – Benito [34:53]

• Mary Beth and Benito appreciate being able to “ride” together for the show, and encourage listeners to rewatch classics with friends.

  Memorable Finish:

  • "I'm your sister. It's what I do." – Mary Beth [35:31]
  • "I gotta go." – Benito [35:35]
  • "We ride and die for Gossip Girl, obviously." – Mary Beth [35:45]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "It's the bagel bite principle ... start with your best stuff and you'll write better stuff." – Mary Beth [09:55]
• "They go for broke nonstop on Gossip Girl. They're going for broke. And just the sheer amount of episodes is dizzying." – Benito [09:16]
• "She says it like she's in the Italian mafia." – Mary Beth [15:41]
• "I'm your sister. It's what I do." – Jenny Humphrey line, impersonated by both hosts [various, ~17:07]
• "She cannot stay in any scene for more than, like, four lines before she's like, 'look, I gotta go.'" – Benito [19:44]
• "The line reads that she gives are just so... it's at the level of, I see." – Benito [20:54]
• "The blazers we see in Gossip Girl... It's a tapestry." – Mary Beth [28:58]
• "We ride and die for Gossip Girl, obviously." – Mary Beth [35:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Heritage Collection intro & awards banter: [00:34 – 04:47]
• Deep dive into Gossip Girl: [04:47 – 14:59]
• “I’m Ya Sista” and iconic dialogue: [15:16 – 21:10]
• Worst character polls and show controversies: [21:45 – 24:22]
• Fashion and product placement nostalgia: [27:13 – 29:13]
• Guest stars/behind-the-scenes trivia: [30:34 – 31:34]
• Representation and legacy: [31:34 – 34:48]
• Personal reflections and wrap-up: [34:52 – 36:13]

Tone and Style

True to their “bimbo” persona, Benny and Mary Beth keep the conversation fast, witty, and irreverently affectionate for Gossip Girl. Their tone is playful, self-aware, and deeply nostalgic. They mix jokes, personal confessions, and fandom-level knowledge, making this episode a love letter to formative TV—with a heavy dose of millennial sass.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for Gossip Girl fans, pop culture nostalgia-seekers, and anyone who enjoys witty, best-friend banter with unexpectedly insightful media criticism. At its heart, it's a celebration of formative television, shared obsession, and friendship—reminding listeners to unapologetically “ride” for what brings them joy.

"XOXO – Ride."