I don't claim to be an expert in much, but if there's one thing I really know, it's Ride the podcast. If you haven't already had the pleasure, allow me to catch you up. Ride is the brainchild of comedians and BFFs Benito Skinner (aka, BennyDrama7) and Mary Beth Barone, and is structured as weekly episodes in which the duo both ride for a different topic. It sounds simple enough, but the beauty is that literally nothing is off limits, from emotional support water bottles to spray tans.
Another personal favourite detail of Ride is the level of assumed knowledge to each episode. From made up words and phrases ('C'mon Kerplunk' is a recent gem that comes to mind) to niche pop cultural references, each episode has the kinds of layers you'd expect from a conversation with your IRL best friends. In order to maximise your listening experience, I really recommend starting from episode one. Or, if you're really committed to the bit, you might even want to do your homework with Obsessed, Skinner and Barone's podcast that came before Ride.
Ready to immerse yourself in the Ride universe? The RUSSH-approved guide to the best and funniest Ride episodes, below.
1. Traditional Family Values + Pranking
I wasn't lying when I said the first episode is a great place to start. This episode has become what's known as Ride heritage (IYKYK). In it, Mary Beth rides for traditional family values (think: rice cookers, feet on the couch, and daytime TV), while Skinner details his best pranks. There's some good inspo in there, if you consider yourself a prankster.
2. Zootopia as Neo Noir + Burgers
The introduction is where this episode really shines. Without giving too much away, Benny details a near-miss when his house is almost broken into, and the police officer who attends turns out to be a Ride listener.
3. CARPOOL: NARS
Another iconic listen. If you've ever looked at your NARS makeup and wondered why the shade name was so sexually explicit, you're not alone. Benny and Mary Beth deep dive into the NARS lore in this first-ever carpool episode.
4. MINIVAN SPECIAL: Kathy O'Connor aka Terry's mum
If you're a regular Ride listener, you'll know that guest appearances are not the norm. But the duo make an exception in this epsiode, which features Terry's mum, Kathy O'Connor. You might recognise her from Benny's Instagram – particularly the skits where he torments her. Here, we meet the woman behind the videos, and it's everything we'd hoped for and more.
5. Journalism + Girls Eating Crumbl Cookies in Cars
As a journalist, this episode is close to my heart. Benny and Mary Beth call out some of the most outrageous headlines in recent history, and also delve into the phenomenon of Crumbl cookie MUKBANGs on TikTok.
6. Haunted HayRide Spooktacular: The London Heckler + Halloween Hookups
This is what I would call a perfect episode. I had serious FOMO when Mary Beth and Benny took their Ride live shows to the UK (but not Australia), so this episode felt like the ultimate balm for that. The star of the show (literally) is their retelling of a heckler at their London show. OH YEAH!
7. Kids' Debit Cards + Peeing
An episode I will always return to. This episode opened my eyes to two icons of the Ride universe: Love, Corn and kids' debit cards.
