Podcast Summary: "HERITAGE COLLECTION: MB Announces Her Breakup (In Joker Glam)"

Podcast: Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone
Host: Dear Media
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this Heritage Collection re-release, Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone revisit one of their most iconic episodes, marked by sharp humor, vulnerability, and high-camp Joker/Harley Quinn glam. The highlight: Mary Beth publicly announces her breakup with Edward, sharing heartfelt reflections in full Joker makeup, while Benito (as Lee/Harley) keeps the comedic banter at full throttle. The pair ride through muse-worthy cultural moments, personal confessions, and, above all, staunch support for women persisting through the modern dating wilds.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. The Heritage Collection Concept & Spooky Vibes (00:40–05:00)

• Launching the Heritage Collection: Iconic episodes released out of order, each retitled for the defining moment.
• Costume & Joker/Harley Glam: The duo is in character—MB as The Joker, Benito as Lee/Harley, planning to strut through the East Village post-recording in full costume.
  • Benito (02:12): “If you don’t call me Lee, I will not respond to anything but Leigh. Period.”
  • Mary Beth (02:36): “You did this makeup in about 20 minutes, which is just a testament to you as an MUA.”
• AMC Matinee Plans: Discussion of going to see “Foila Da” in costume, reminiscing about matinee experiences.

2. Cultural Musings & Media (05:00–07:09)

• Discussion of the movie "Foila Da," the swirling hype around it, and reactions to pop culture updates (Timothée Chalamet as Marty McFly/Bob Dylan).
• The joy in being topical, but not too predictable with Halloween costumes (Joker/Harley vs. Nolan’s Joker).

3. The Union Hall Heckler & Live Comedy Tangents (08:09–12:02)

• Mary Beth’s Stand-Up Show Incident: MB recounts being heckled by an Irish woman critical of her bisexual/lesbian dating jokes.
  • Mary Beth (10:04): “I literally said, this isn’t a Q&A. Like I’m not on trial here.”
  • Benito (10:23): “Lesbian cops go ride.”
• Reflection on the perils of heckling, safe spaces for actually enjoying comedy, and shout-out to a heroic show attendee, Anne from Australia.

4. Voter Engagement Message (12:21–13:48)

• Brian Derrick of OathVote delivers a PSA on maximizing voting impact and campaign donations during an important election year.

5. The Spookiest News: MB’s Breakup Announcement (14:00–16:50)

• Main Event: MB reveals her amicable breakup with Edward.
  • Mary Beth (14:20): “It is with a heavy heart that I share with the Baronis that Edward and I have broken up amicably. We are going to stay extremely close.”
  • Benito (14:49): “I love you both so much, and I’m really proud of you.”
• Emphasis on “conscious uncoupling,” continued friendship, and deep mutual support.
• Emotional, but uplifting, as they stress “We ride for Edward” and the importance of positive breakups.

6. Riding For: Girls Going On Dates & Being a Nag (17:00–44:15)

A. Girls Going on Dates (23:31–36:09)

• Benito’s admiration for women braving the modern dating scene, especially with straight men.
  • Benito (23:34, laughing): “I have so much respect for my girls who are going on dates with these straight men. That’s what I mean…I don’t want to talk about queers right now. It’s Gaga.”
• Story highlights:
  • Penne Guy: Dated someone who mispronounced “penne” and ate pasta with his fork between two fingers.
    • Benito (28:32): “He puts his fork in between his, like, middle and ring finger... That’s how he’s eating. So she’s watching this.”
  • Barbie Hand: Emily gives her date a stiff “Barbie hand” to signal no hand-holding interest. The man persists, unfazed.
  • Cocaine Guy & Mom Texts: Dates include men whose mothers text “Do you need money?” and offers of a ride home…on a bicycle.
  • Mary Beth (35:53): “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Wayne Gretzky.”
• Compassion for the gauntlet women endure, celebrating vulnerability and perseverance in dating.
  • Benito (34:41): “Put yourself out there…The search for love and companionship is so beautiful. And I just…I ride for you!”

Dating Wisdom:

• Keep going on dates, don’t settle, and don’t feel guilty for leaving bad situations.
• “Stay in line,” because “you’ll go on bad dates until you go on a good one.”
• Mary Beth (36:36): “Don’t force something with someone you don’t have chemistry with…Don’t compromise because you’re wasting your time.”

B. Riding for Being a Nag (43:04–46:32)

• Mary Beth embraces her natural “nag” tendencies, especially as the youngest of six kids.
  • Mary Beth (43:04): “How much would you charge to haunt a house?…Being a nag, it’s really invigorating to me.”
• Calls for women to stop apologizing and to use their so-called flaws to their advantage.
  • Mary Beth (43:38): “I’m done apologizing. You don’t want me to nag? You do it the first time I ask.”
  • Benito (44:34): “It’s the most fun a woman can have without taking her clothes off.”
• “Nagging” is reframed as assertiveness, project manage energy, and refusing to let up until the world works as it should.

7. Highlights, Humor & Miscellaneous Gems

• On Fashion: Everything looks like it has, or had, “a come stain on it” (51:00).
• On Opening Packages: Benito laments the lost joy of package-opening due to excessive deliveries (50:27).
• Joker & Harley Quinn Lore: Frequent call-backs to Batman/Joker movies, their own costumes, and how the characters would navigate modern life.
• Reframing “Nagging”: Repeatedly pointing out the double standard—men are “assertive,” women “nag.”
  • Benito (54:04): “When guys nag, they’re just, like, being authoritative. When girls nag, they’re nagging…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you don’t call me Lee, I will not respond to anything but Leigh. Period.” — Benito (02:12)
• “It is with a heavy heart that I share with the Baronis that Edward and I have broken up amicably. We are going to stay extremely close.” — Mary Beth (14:20)
• “It’s all positive vibes, which is so totally fabulous…but the spookiest part of it is I have another ex-boyfriend. I mean, that’s pretty spooky.” — Mary Beth (15:39)
• “I ride for girls going on dates. I’ve been that girl. They’re our strongest soldiers. It’s one of the hardest things a woman can do.” — Mary Beth (51:37)
• “Being a nag, it’s really invigorating to me…When the world operates the way I want it to as the Joker, I won’t have a reason to nag anymore.” — Mary Beth (46:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | Heritage Collection intro, costumes, AMC Matinee | | 08:09 | Heckler story, live comedy experiences | | 12:21 | OathVote message | | 14:00 | MB's breakup announcement | | 23:31 | Girls going on dates—war stories and dating wisdom | | 43:04 | Riding for being a nag—empowerment, childhood stories | | 51:37 | Final ride or die—dating resilience |

Tone & Energy

• Signature irreverence, high banter, warmth, and a dash of sincere vulnerability throughout.
• Intimate, supportive, and at times raucously funny—even as the topics shift between heartbreak and the heroic slog of dating in 2026.

For New Listeners

If you want an episode that captures everything “Ride” stands for—pop culture ridiculousness, genuine emotional processing, and a celebration of best-friendship as survival—this is it. Whether you’re moving through a breakup, braving the trenches of Hinge, or simply wish to revel in the bimbo magick of two supremely hilarious friends, Benito and Mary Beth are the ultimate ride-or-die.