Ride with Benito Skinner & Mary Beth Barone — “Pinky + Coke Zero” ([November 5, 2025])

Episode Overview

In “Pinky + Coke Zero,” Benito Skinner (Benny Drama) and Mary Beth Barone return with the gleeful, freewheeling energy that defines their best-friendship. The episode riffs humorously on their public personas (and the wild speculations AI coughs up about them), dives deep into personal anecdotes about stand-up, dogs, and comfort drinks, and peppers in witty observations on modern life, gender neutrality, and self-care rituals. Centered around what the hosts are “riding for”—Mary Beth’s beloved rescue dog Pinky and Benito’s undying love for Diet Coke and Coke Zero—the episode is a blend of comic banter, genuine affection, and the duo’s signature cultural commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The AI Rumor Mill & “Neutralized Attraction”

[00:36-02:45]

• Benito and Mary Beth discuss a bizarre, AI-generated video analyzing their friendship, theorizing Benito chose Mary Beth because of her “neutralized attractions” (flat chest = less conventionally feminine, defines his image as “expert boyfriend”).
• They riff on how rapidly (and ridiculously) the internet invents rumors and analyze how public narrative gets shaped by strangers and algorithms.

Notable Quotes:

• “Neutralized attraction. Let’s talk about the pros of neutralized attraction.” — Mary Beth [01:43]
• “Do you know how that gets made?... I’d pay thousands [to trace the AI video’s source].” — Benito [03:06]
• “I kind of like a neutralized attraction with you. Wouldn’t want it to be too one way or another.” — Benito [04:15]

2. Friendship, Gender Fluidity & Social Status

[01:52-04:34]

• The hosts joke about how the internet pigeonholes gender, noting that “gay guys are somewhat girls, women with flat chests are somewhat boys,” riffing on how fluidity (and public perception of it) makes their friendship difficult to define.
• They poke fun at keeping ‘status within the friend group’ and “world building” personas for the sake of narrative.

3. On Editing Texts & Over-Obsessing

[04:34-05:22]

• Discussion veers to tech, with frustration over iMessage/Facebook edit functions exposing original texts—ruining the privacy of editing and feeding anxiety, especially with crushes.
• Both agree: “People are cruel,” but correcting genuine mistakes should be allowed.

4. Career Announcements & Stand-Up Special

[06:06-07:34]

• Mary Beth announces her upcoming Netflix stand-up special “Galaxy Brain,” directed by Kai Newman, with Benito’s team producing.
• Taping is March 19, 2026, in NYC; Benito effusively praises the special.

Notable Quotes:

• “It’s the power of stand-up I have seen, ever. Every atom of you.” — Benito [07:36]
• “I was first called galaxy brain for talking about microwaves on this pod.” — Mary Beth [06:54]

5. Kai Newman, Straight Guy Community & Platonic Chemistry

[07:34-10:14]

• Benito recounts befriending director Kai Newman, joking about their “crazy chemistry” and developing a platonic but affectionate bond within the “straight guy community.”
• Mary Beth shares her own foray into “straight guy nights,” embracing peer compliments and fluid, humorous exchanges about masculinity.

Notable Quotes:

• “He’s got me laughing at dinners… he talks about my fitness goals a lot.” — Benito [08:46]
• “What he said to me, ‘You’re what a man should look like.’” — Benito [09:35]

6. Emergency Intercom Kids, Meeting Podcast Peers

[10:15-11:11]

• Both gush over meeting Drew and Enya from “Emergency Intercom,” emphasizing the kinship and fuzzy boundaries in the creator universe.

7. Event Culture, Celebrity Run-Ins, and Social Faux Pas

[14:20-17:07]

• Benito talks “riding” for going to events (“you meet heroes!”), recounts meeting Hilary Duff, Rita Ora, and Taika Waititi, expressing how safe they made him feel.
• The conversation shifts to awkward moments when discovering peers (often at events) hold opposing, even problematic, political views—leading to “Simpsons meme” moments of quietly backing out.

Notable Quotes:

• “It’s like when Principal Skinner backs up into the bush and you just think: so this is the part of the conversation where I leave.” — Mary Beth [15:30]
• “If I’m not bringing it up, please God, don’t you bring it up.” — Mary Beth [17:07]

8. Owning Mean Girl Energy, Internet Perception, and Being Candid

[17:12-18:51]

• Mary Beth embraces her reputation for high standards and the “mean” trope assigned by internet strangers: “Yeah, I’m a woman and I’m sexual and I’m a bitch. I’m a little, like, she said it.”
• The duo affirm being unapologetic for their multi-faceted personalities.

9. What They Ride For: Pinky & Coke Zero

[19:29-36:32]

Mary Beth Rides for Pinky (her rescue dog)

• Tells Pinky’s adoption story from rescue in Tijuana to New York, the intensity of puppy blues, and the ways Pinky’s affection and personality have transformed her life.
• Dives into the realities of “dog mom” life (crate training, behavioral quirks, nannies, managing single-parent guilt).
• Emphasizes how Pinky reflects her own traits: “We are moody, we are demanding.”
• Shares inside jokes about Pinky’s “face card,” dramatic presence (“masculine and feminine”), and how both hosts love spoiling her.
• Stands firm: dog-momming is not the same as parenting, but equally life-changing.

Benito Rides for Diet Coke & Coke Zero

• Shares his Diet Coke journey: from childhood “butt-chugging” sodas to a more mindful relationship post-eating disorder.
• Celebrates Coke Zero (“tastes different, better; glass bottle preferably!”) and how it unites crew on set (story of bodega scene, 14-hour shoot, impromptu Coke Zero rounds).
• Champions the joy of small rituals: “It’s giving yourself a little treat.”
• Humorously defends all sodas (“Pepsi house” pride), marking soda choice as central to personality and group social contract.

Notable Quotes:

• “To me, you’re Diet Coke. To me, I’m Coke Zero.” — Mary Beth [36:22]
• “It’s neutralized attraction.” — Benito [36:30]
• “Face card is crazy. She’s brawny. She’s got these shoulders.” — Benito on Pinky [46:13]
• “Having something else to take care of, it’s what I want.” — Mary Beth [47:36]

Timestamps:

• Pinky’s story: [41:58–48:27]
• Coke Zero love: [27:26–35:36]
• Bodega/crew bonding over Coke: [32:27–34:05]

10. Soda as Social Catalyst & Comfort

[35:36-36:11, 50:59–53:38]

• Benito makes the case that ordering Diet Coke at dinner “empowers everyone else” to indulge: like ordering espresso martinis, it “shifts the vibe.”
• Both riff on mutual acts of care (sparkling water vs. flat, remembering bestie’s preference).

Notable Quotes:

• “When you order a Diet Coke at the table, you empower everyone else... It’s like an espresso martini. The whole table’s abuzz.” — Benito [53:00]
• “Soda always, equal opportunist.” — Benito [32:27]

11. Small Comforts, Self-Care & Survival

[35:36-36:11, 52:12-52:17]

• Both hosts advocate for finding little rituals of joy (“cozy coping”), especially in a world that feels overwhelming.
• Remind listeners: “Everything in moderation. Cope how you can.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Do you know how that [AI video] gets made? ...I’d pay thousands if anyone has the skill set.” — Benito [03:06]
• “I could go on. Sometimes you have to make sense of your life… everything I’ve done up to this point is so I can meet Kai Newman.” — Mary Beth [09:50]
• “She’s masculine and feminine. And now you know why... I mean, she’s got my jaw on the floor.” — Benito on Pinky [46:16]
• “Giving yourself just a little fucking treat. It really do just be the little things.” — Benito [34:31]
• “Love me or hate me, that’s a question. If you love me, well thank you. If you hate me, well then fuck you.” — Lady Sovereign, quoted by Mary Beth [18:04]
• “I just want a little sun on my face, feet in the sand... Not gonna happen, they [bees] swarm me.” — Benito [12:12]

Episode Structure & Flow

• Opens with banter about AI rumors and the public’s obsession with their friendship/gender.
• Transitions into lighter topics: friendship, iMessage woes, career and special announcements, funny takes on meeting colleagues and navigating event culture.
• Anchors to “what they ride for”: comfort dogs and sodas—using those as springboards for deeper (but still playful) discussions of self-care, daily joy, survival, and friendship.
• Infused throughout with their irreverence, supportive friendship jabs, affectionate digressions, and a balance between the silly and the sincere.

For New Listeners — Why This Episode Is a Standout

• If you’ve ever felt misunderstood or defined by rumor/AI/narrative: Benito and Mary Beth pull back the curtain, showing their ability to laugh at themselves and how quickly (and inaccurately) the world tries to box them in.
• If you love queer, irreverent, deeply bonded friendships: Their rapport is equal parts roast, vulnerability, and unfiltered honesty.
• If you find comfort in small pleasures: The discussions on favorite sodas, rescue dogs, and daily rituals provide both laughs and a bit of real-life wisdom.
• If you want a glimpse behind-the-scenes of creative careers: The talk of specials, set life, and mutual creative support is candid and inspiring.

If you want pure “bestie energy,” both in the bimbo and galaxy-brain sense, this episode delivers. “WE RIDE AT DAWN!!”