Bermuda Triangle vs. Loch Ness

Summary

Smash Boom Best: Bermuda Triangle vs. Loch Ness

Podcast: Smash Boom Best
Episode: Bermuda Triangle vs. Loch Ness
Host: Molly Bloom
Debaters: Jed Kim (Bermuda Triangle), Sanden Totten (Loch Ness)
Judge: Isa Camargo
Date: May 17, 2018

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Episode Overview

This episode of Smash Boom Best takes young listeners and their families on a globe-trotting adventure, pitting two of the world’s most mysterious and legendary locations against each other—The Bermuda Triangle and Loch Ness. Hosted by Molly Bloom, with guest judge Isa Camargo deciding the winner, debaters Jed Kim (Bermuda Triangle) and Sanden Totten (Loch Ness) use science, lore, and creative arguments to convince everyone that their side is cooler, spookier, and more deserving of fame. The competition unfolds in four rounds: Declaration of Greatness, the Micro Round, Sneak Attack, and the Final Six, with a bonus tiebreaker at the end.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & The Stakes (00:19–04:22)

• Molly Bloom sets up the debate, introducing the two legendary locales and what makes them suitable opponents: "Which one is cooler, spookier, more mysterious? Today, we'll decide once and for all." (00:50)
• Judge Isa Camargo admits she’s totally new to both locations, making her a perfect, unbiased decision-maker.
• Each team is introduced:
  • Jed Kim for Bermuda Triangle, touting its “lovely weather—you might never want to leave, and there’s a chance you never might.” (02:29)
  • Sanden Totten for Loch Ness—“It’s misty, it’s murky... It’s probably friends with Bigfoot.” (02:51)
• Explanation of the debate format: Declaration of Greatness, Micro Round (creative challenge), Sneak Attack (surprise), Final Six (closing in six words).

2. Declaration of Greatness

Loch Ness by Sanden Totten (04:37–08:40)

• Starts with a 1500-year-old legend of St. Columba confronting the Loch Ness Monster—“This isn’t a scene from a movie... it’s from a book written 1500 years ago...” (05:16)
• Loch Ness claims:
  • Enormous: 22 miles long, deep enough for a 60-story building. (08:00)
  • Ecological marvel: “Scientists have found so many unique species nearby, they've actually dubbed it a lost world.” (07:18)
  • Unique features: radioactive elements from Chernobyl, strawberry spiders, a deep undisturbed “time capsule” of mud.
• The intrigue of Nessie, even if unproven, makes the place magical and legendary.
• Memorable quote: “Monsters and mystery. Loch Ness wins.” (27:35)

Bermuda Triangle by Jed Kim (10:21–14:09)

• Hundreds of ships and planes lost; disappearances from Columbus to modern times.
• Famous cases:
  • 1492: Columbus sees “strange lights” and compass weirdness. (10:53)
  • 1918: USS Cyclops vanishes with 300 crew—no distress call. (11:00)
  • Flight 19: “All planes close up tight. We'll have to ditch unless landfall. They were never seen again.” (11:32)
• Theories: “Disturbances in magnetic field, explosive methane gas, Atlantis, UFOs...”
• Demystifies the triangle: number of accidents is average, but the real scientific draw is the extraordinary deep sea life and climate research.
• “...the Bermuda Triangle has the name Bermuda in it. We're talking about a subtropical paradise here... You can snorkel, you can scuba dive, you can live out the rest of your life without wearing long pants.” (13:38)

3. Rebuttals & Banter

• Jed jabs at Loch Ness for being “a musty old lake in Scotland,” touts paradise and science. (13:38)
• Sanden counters: “Which would you rather see? A mysterious, beautiful lake where you might spot a monster, or a triangle where your keys might disappear?” (15:03)
• Throughout, the debaters keep it playful, roasting each other’s points—“I would also visit the Loch Ness, you know, if I were really, really sad and wanted to be even sadder.” (30:37)

4. Micro Round: “Vacation Commercials” (17:45–21:26)

• Loch Ness Commercial:
  • Urquhart Castle, record-breaking swims, mythic cruises, Nessie photo ops.
  • “If you want to make your vacation disappear, go to Bermuda. But if you want your boredom to disappear, come to lovely Loch Ness.”
• Bermuda Triangle Commercial:
  • “Sometimes you just really need to disappear...no better place to get lost than in the beautiful, sunny Bermuda Triangle.”
  • “Let your troubles crash land into our crystal clear waters. You'll never see them again.” (21:07)
  • Ends with: “It's probably fine here.”

5. Sneak Attack: Spelling Bee (22:08–26:55)

• Debaters stump each other with words from their respective sides:
  • Barbados, geomagnetism, wing-footed snail, Chernobyl, plesiosaur, peat.
• Lots of playful tension: “You have been depeated.” (26:34)

6. The Final Six (27:24–27:39)

• Each side gets six words to convince the judge:
  • Jed (Bermuda Triangle): “Enjoy Loch Ness. That mud hole.” (27:24)
  • Sanden (Loch Ness): “Monsters and mystery. Loch Ness wins.” (27:35)

7. Tiebreaker: Best Place for a Party (28:16–29:52)

• Loch Ness: “...party at Loch Ness in the castle where you're overlooking the lake...maybe the monster itself will come visit your party and show some sick dance moves...” (28:24)
• Bermuda Triangle: “...blue ocean, sandy beaches...the perfect weather...you can invite everyone. You can invite that kid you don't like, and maybe that kid will disappear.” (29:02)

8. Decision & Closing (29:52–30:45)

• Isa chooses Loch Ness as the winner after a tiebreaker: “It's a tie.” (27:57), followed by, “Okay, the winner is... Loch Ness.” (29:52)
• Lighthearted wrap-up with both sides conceding merits in the other's argument.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Jed Kim (Bermuda Triangle):

  • “The weather here is so lovely, you will never want to leave, and there’s a chance that you never might.” (02:29)
  • “Let your troubles crash land into our crystal clear waters. You'll never see them again.” (21:07)
  • “You can invite that kid you don’t like, and maybe that kid will disappear.” (29:28)

• Sanden Totten (Loch Ness):

  • “It’s misty, it’s murky...It’s probably friends with Bigfoot.” (02:51)
  • “Monsters and mystery. Loch Ness wins.” (27:35)
  • “Party at Loch Ness...maybe the monster itself will...show some sick dance moves...” (28:24)

• Isa Camargo (Judge):

  • “I'm so scared.” (08:47)
  • “Okay, the winner is... Loch Ness.” (29:52)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19 — Host, Judge, and Debaters Intro; setting the stage
• 04:22 — Rules and format explanation
• 04:37 — Declaration of Greatness: Loch Ness
• 10:21 — Declaration of Greatness: Bermuda Triangle
• 17:45 — Micro Round (Vacation Commercials)
• 22:08 — Sneak Attack: Spelling Bee
• 27:24 — The Final Six (six-word closing arguments)
• 27:57 — Declared Tie, moving to Sudden Death
• 28:16 — Tiebreaker: Best party location arguments
• 29:52 — Decision: Loch Ness wins

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Episode Tone & Style

The debate is playful, humorous, and punctuated by both real facts and fanciful legends. Friendly banter, puns (“Enjoy Loch Ness. That mud hole.”), and sound effects maintain a fun, accessible tone for family listening. The show exemplifies critical thinking with rebuttals and logical fallacy hunts (the “State of Debate” segment, omitted in this summary for brevity).

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Summary Verdict

Loch Ness emerges as the winner in a super-close match that highlights the depth of both myth and science at either locale. Listeners are encouraged to cast their own vote at smashboom.org, continuing the debate beyond the episode.

Judge Isa Camargo’s final word: "Okay, the winner is... Loch Ness." (29:52)

Transcript

[A]

We have steel drums. We have tropical tunes.

[B]

Two words. Bag pipes.

[C]

Ugh.

[B]

From the brains behind Brains on, it's.

[D]

Smash Boom Best, the show for loudmouths everywhere.

[C]

Hello, I'm Molly Bloom, and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two cool things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Before we reveal today's debate, let's meet our. We have Isa Camargo here from Orlando, Florida.

[D]

Hello, Issa.

[C]

I am going to give you the honor of introducing today's topic, so if you can tell everybody what it is.

[D]

Sure. Today's Smash Boom Battle will take on two famous places in the world. The Bermuda Triangle versus Loch Ness.

[C]

That's right. In one corner, we have the Bermuda Triangle, a mysterious patch of ocean where ships, planes, and plenty of people are said to have disappeared. And in the other, all the way across the Atlantic, we have Loch Ness, a Scottish lake best known for spooky sightings of a creature that's been dubbed the Loch Ness Monster. Which one is cooler, spookier, more mysterious? Today, we'll decide once and for all.

[B]

I'd say Loch Ness, because there's just. I don't know, it's darker for me. The Triangle, for sure. All the way, you know, just disappearing, planes and ships and everything. There are tons of planes, ships, crashes in that area. It's, in my opinion, more mysterious. Definitely the Bewmira Triangle, because things disappear there.

[D]

I think the Loch Ness Monster is much more cooler.

[C]

I like the legends about Nelly. There might be ancient creatures we think that I think are still alive today. Myths, legends, and, of course, facts are all in play to figure out which side is cooler. Isa, do you know much about either place?

[D]

I actually don't know anything about either place, so it's gonna be kind of a adventure for me.

[C]

Perfect. Well, you're a perfect blank slate, not biased at all to judge this debate. And we have a couple of convincing chaps here who are going to harness the power of persuasion to try and pull you to their side, arguing for that mysterious piece of ocean that triangulates between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda. We have Team Bermuda Triangle, represented by Jed Kim.

[A]

Hi, Issa.

[C]

In one sentence, tell us why we should choose the Bermuda Triangle.

[A]

Well, you should definitely choose a Bermuda Triangle, because, as I mentioned, the weather here is so lovely you will never want to leave, and there's a chance that you never might.

[D]

That sounds scary.

[C]

Maybe not convinced quite yet. Now traveling northeast across the Atlantic, let's meet our debater for Team Loch Ness.

[B]

Sandon totten Hey, welcome to Loch Ness. It's misty, it's murky. The Loch Ness Monster. Is it a serpent? Is it a dinosaur?

[A]

We don't know.

[B]

But we do know it's extra spooky, and it's probably friends with Bigfoot. That's why you should pick it.

[C]

Well, this is going to be a tough debate. I think. So let me set the ground rules. First, Team Loch Ness and Team Bermuda Triangle are going to compete in four rounds of impassioned debate. The first round is Declaration of Greatness, when both teams take us on a deep dive into the science, history, and lore of their side. Then it's the micro round, a creative challenge that our debaters have come prepared to compete in. Round three is Sneak Attack, a surprise challenge to keep them on their toes. And our last round is the final six, when both teams have one more chance to sway the judge in six words or less. Issa will award a point after each round to the team that she thinks did best. And, listeners, we want you to keep score, too. Find yourself a notepad and something to write with so you can keep your own tally. We also have a poll on our website, smashboom.org where you can cast your vote after you're done listening. All right, Isa, are you ready?

[D]

I am so ready. Let's do this.

[C]

Okay, Bermuda Triangle.

[B]

Just like all those planes and ships, you're going down.

[A]

Oh, I got nothing clever to say about the Loch Ness.

[D]

Roasted.

[C]

Okay. Well, this first round is where our debaters really have a chance to shine. We've given them the opportunity to take a deep dive for their side in order to persuade us. Declaration of Greatness, we flipped a coin, and, Sandon, you're up first.

[B]

I'm gonna start with a spooky tale, but I need to set the mood.

[A]

Let's see.

[B]

Oh, campfire. Perfect. So this guy in Scotland is on a walk. He comes across a group of people with shovels. They look sad, scared, even. The guy asks, what's going on here? They say we're burying a body. It's a man. They say he was swimming nearby when something happened. They say he was attacked by a monster. So the first guy, he hears this, and he maybe believes it, maybe he doesn't, but either way, he thinks these people are freaked out. So he comes up with a plan. He tells a friend walking with him, hey, why don't you go for a quick swim? And his friend, for whatever reason, says, sure. And in the time it takes to say cannonball, something lunges out. It's the creature, it's real. But the guy on shore, he's religious, so he keeps his cool. He makes the sign of the cross and yells out, do not touch the man. Go back at once. Just like that, the beast freezes like it's being held in place by ropes. Then it leaves. This isn't a scene from a movie or a TV show. It's actually from a book written 1500 years ago, all about St. Columba. He's the religious guy from the story. It's important because it's the first recorded instance of of the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. Since then, hundreds, maybe thousands of people claim to have seen the beast, affectionately known as Nessie.

[D]

It was huge.

[C]

It looked like a serpent.

[E]

I thought it was a dinosaur.

[F]

That thing stole my lunch.

[B]

That thing stole my boyfriend.

[C]

It had fangs the size of kitchen knives.

[B]

Whatever it was, it was definitely cooler than the Bermuda Triangle. I'll admit there's no solid evidence that the monster exists. It's likely just legend. The but the lock can still beat the Bermuda Triangle because the lock itself is just so cool. For starters, it's ginormous, 22 miles long and so, so deep. So deep you could actually stand a 60 story building in it. That's a lot of room for mystery. Oh, and did I mention that it sits on top of an active earthquake fault? Whoa. And how's this for magical? Scientists have found so many unique species nearby, they've actually dubbed it a lost world. Dun, dun, dun. Researchers found juniper shield bugs, blood red slave making ants, and what seems to be Scotland's largest population of strawberry spiders, which are actual spiders that have abdomens that look like strawberries. What is this, Hogwarts? Nope, just mind blowing. Dun Dragon Forest near Loch Ness. And yeah, people pretend the Bermuda Triangle is some kind of wormhole time warp thingy. Whatever. Loch Ness is like a real life time machine. It's all in the lake's mud or sediment. Since the lake is so deep, the bottom isn't disturbed by winds or boats. So unlike other places, stuff that sinks in the loch stays put. Over millennia, layer after layer of pollen, plants, dirt fell to the floor of the lake and built up, creating a time capsule of glorious gunk. In fact, scientists studying the loch sediments traced the history of the area back 10,000 years to the end of the Ice Age. They even found radioactive elements from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. And I mean, if there were a monster, that radiation would only make it more powerful. After all, that's how Godzilla got its start.

[C]

Sandin, there are some pretty convincing points there. Now, Issa, what stood out for you in Sandin's argument?

[D]

I'm so scared.

[C]

He spooked her.

[D]

While he was saying that, the room next to our room, the lights turned off. And I was like, oh, my goodness. I got so scared. I think my favorite fact from that statement was when he said, it's so deep that if you stuck a 60 story building in it, that's how deep it was.

[C]

That is really amazing.

[D]

That's probably my favorite.

[C]

Yeah, that is amazing. Well, Jed, it is time for your rebuttal. You have 30 seconds for a counterargument. On your mark, get set, go.

[A]

Well, Sandin, I will admit that it is pretty intriguing that you could stand a 60 story building in the likeness. That's pretty deep. That's cute. We'll see how deep the Bermuda Triangle gets. The best thing about this is that you can get buried alive in radioactivity. I think you need to work on your sales pitch. And finally, that legend where it all began, where somebody was burying a body. Maybe I should have called the cops.

[B]

Okay, first of all, that was like, 1500 years ago. I don't think that exactly. The cops were, like, easy to reach back then. With what phone would you call them?

[A]

Call the bobbies?

[B]

Again, no phones back then, so calling wasn't really an option.

[A]

You could pull out your bagpipes and signal them.

[B]

All right, well, I mean, to me, all those things are pluses. Cause I like a good spooky mystery. But.

[C]

Well, Jed, it is now your turn to go deep.

[A]

All right, let's do this.

[C]

Now let's hear what you've got.

[A]

Loch Ness? More like shlockness. If you want eerie mystery, you don't get spookier than the Bermuda Triangle. A patch of ocean that stretches from Miami to Puerto Rico to Bermuda. Hundreds of ships and planes have gone missing within its borders, and no one knows why. Weirdness has been reported in the Triangle going back hundreds of years. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, sailing the ocean blue, noted strange lights while his ships were in the Triangle. What the. And they got some strange compass readings there, too.

[B]

Santa Maria. What is wrong with this stupid thing?

[A]

Fast forward to 1918. The USS Cyclops, a Navy fuel ship, disappeared off the coast of Barbados, along with about 300 crew members. It never even sent out a distress signal. Most famous of all, though, is the mystery of Flight 19. Five torpedo bombers out on a training mission routine. But they get lost. The squad leader radios in.

[C]

Both of my compasses are out.

[A]

They Tried to head back to Miami, but they couldn't figure out which way to turn. They kept heading in the wrong direction. Their fuel ran low.

[C]

All planes close up tight. We'll have to ditch unless landfall.

[A]

They were never seen again. Oh yeah, and one of the rescue planes that went out searching for them also vanished. What the what? These and many other reported disappearances are why many people call this swath of ocean the Devil's Triangle. Can we make that sound devilier?

[B]

Nice.

[A]

All sorts of theories have popped up to explain what's behind the disappearances. Disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field, explosive methane gas pockets. Defensive countermeasures from the lost city of Atlantis. UFOs. Here's the thing though. Scientists and investigators have looked into the records and found a lot of the mysteries were simply misreported. And weather can explain a lot of the actual losses. After all, a lot of hurricanes cut right through the Bermuda Triangle. The kicker though, is that the number of accidents in the Triangle is pretty much average for any part of the ocean. So there's nothing mystically special about the Bermuda Triangle. But there are plenty of real things that make it much superior to some musty old lake in Scotland. For one thing, the Bermuda Triangle contains some of the deepest underwater trenches on the planet. Because of that, the US Navy has facilities there to research and test its underwater combat systems. Submarines, weapons, sonar, things like that. The deep sea also hides a lot of mysterious life. About a dozen years ago, scientists sent divers and nets down three miles below the ocean surface and collected more than a thousand organisms. They found completely new species. Things like wing footed snails, pulsing jellyfish, swimming worms. And by taking repeat measurements of some of the tiny organisms they collected, scientists will be able to keep tabs on how the climate is changing. So how long do you suppose it took scientists to do all this extremely valuable collecting? 10 years? 50 years? No, 20 days. Meanwhile, people have been looking for the Loch Ness monster for nearly a century and they can't even find that one single species. I mean, could Loch Ness shock less? Finally, can I just point out that the Bermuda Triangle has the name Bermuda in it. We're talking about a subtropical paradise here. Sandy beaches, crystal clear blue ocean, A Gulf Stream current that keeps things, oh, so warm and lovely. This is swimsuit country. You can snorkel, you can scuba dive, you can live out the rest of your life without wearing long pants. I rest my case. Also, Sanon is wrong and he smells bad.

[C]

Oh man. There are a lot of good points in there. Isa. What stood out for you?

[D]

I actually have a quick question. Did Christopher Columbus discover the Bermuda Triangle, or did he just find it after it was already discovered?

[A]

He sailed through the region that we now know today as the Bermuda Triangle. But the Bermuda Triangle didn't really catch on as an idea until about the mid-1900s.

[C]

Excellent question, Issa. So is there a fact that Jed gave that you thought was the most interesting?

[D]

Actually, I don't think I have one, because that was all pretty interesting.

[A]

Yes.

[D]

I never said I was gonna get a point to you. I never said I was gonna give a point to Lognus either, so.

[C]

Okay, she's still playing another mystery. Keeping the cards close to the vest. Okay, Sandon, it's your turn to rebut that chock full of interesting fact statement. Are you ready? You have 30 seconds.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And go.

[B]

Okay, so first, which would you rather see? A mysterious and beautiful lake where you might spot a monster, or a triangle where, like, your keys might disappear or something? Bermuda Triangle. It's literally flyover country. People fly over it all the time. Whereas 350,000 people made a point of visiting Loch Ness in 2015. I'm just saying, people put it on their bucket lists. I don't know if flying over a swath of ocean fits the bill. Also, the whole mystery of the Bermuda Triangle could have been solved if boats and planes used Waze.

[C]

Boom time. Okay, wow, you guys gave Issa a lot to chew over. So, now that you've heard both the arguments and the rebuttals, Issa, I want you to think about it and give a point to the team that swayed you the most. Don't say it out loud. And listeners want you.

[D]

I got it.

[C]

Okay, that was quick.

[D]

Got it.

[C]

So, listeners, you do the same on your score sheet. And feel free to pause and hash it out with a buddy if you need help deciding. And you can head to smashboom.org to share your big opinions, debate ideas, or to just give us a virtual high five.

[D]

And if you like the show, please help us grow. Just write and review us. Or tell a friend.

[C]

Yeah, like, next time you're talking to your friend at your locker, you too can be maybe a little too loud and say that smashboom Best podcast is so good, right?

[D]

Oh, and your friends could say for sure it's the best. I can't believe they chose as the winner between Loch Ness and the Bermuda Triangle.

[C]

Yeah, and then you're all, I am so glad smashboom Best is available in places like Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

[D]

And then she'd say, or wherever you'd like to download your podcasts.

[C]

And then the bell would ring and it's off to social studies. Bye bye. Exactly. Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best. Best.

[B]

Boom.

[C]

Smash. Smash. Boom. Best. This is Smash Boom Best, the show about showdowns. Like, have you ever thought about who would win this battle?

[D]

My idea is Donuts versus Cupcakes.

[C]

That matchup was sent to us by Elliot from Springfield, Virginia. We'll give him a call at the end of the show to see who he thinks would win. Now, we've already heard one smashing round, but no side can claim mic drop status just yet. It's time for Team Bermuda Triangle and Loch Ness to get creative in the micro round. Micro round. We let both sides know about this micro round in advance so they had time to prepare their best commercials. Jed and Sandin, are you both ready to sell out and go commercial?

[A]

I am so ready.

[B]

I've been waiting for someone to ask me.

[D]

I'm really excited to hear this.

[C]

Alright, Sandon, you are up first. Roll it.

[F]

The sun, sandy beaches, warm ocean waters. Och, boring. This year dates that Bermuda snooze fest and come to where the real excitement is. Beautiful Loch Ness. Located in the Highlands of Scotland. We have it all. You want islands? Come see Cherry Island. The loch's only crannog, which is a cool way of saying an island made by humans. It once had a castle on it. Speaking of castles, Loch Ness is home to Urquhart Castle, one of the majestic structures that inspired the animators of Pixar's movie Brave. What did the Bermuda Triangle inspire? A movie about yawns, probably. Who cares? Like swimming. Maybe you can beat Brenda Sherrit's record. She was the first to swim the entire length of the loch. It only took a relaxing 31 hours and 27 minutes. So get going. And what trip would be complete without a cruise? On one of our many ships, maybe you'll spot our biggest celebrity. Nessie. Oh, there she is.

[B]

Please, no pictures.

[A]

Aw.

[C]

I really want a selfie.

[F]

So if you want to make your vacation disappear, go to Bermuda. But if you want your boredom to disappear, come to lovely Loch Ness.

[C]

Okay, Isa, are you ready to book your travel to Scotland?

[B]

Operators are standing by.

[D]

I just have one thing to say. When it said that the person it took them a relaxing 31 hours to swim. I don't get why you said relaxing. Because how is that relaxing? Just imagine swimming for 31 hours.

[C]

Well, maybe if you love swimming. Nothing you'd rather be doing for 31 hours. Yeah.

[A]

Issa, this sounds like this vacation is gonna be a lot of work.

[D]

I love swimming, but I don't think I'd swim for 31 hours.

[C]

It was just the beginning. Just a suggestion.

[D]

Cause at the beginning, I would be. Okay, I got this. This is gonna be the best thing that ever happened to me. And at the end, I'm gonna be like, water. I need water, food, water. Anything to help me survive.

[C]

At the end, you could hang out in a castle. Hmm. Maybe. I don't know. Well, let's see if Jed can convince you. You're up next, Jed. Lights, camera, action.

[E]

Your history paper's due, but you haven't started. Your mom's furious at you for no reason. Just saw you pick out your wedgie. Sometimes you just really need to disappear. Well, there is no better place to get lost than in the beautiful, sunny Bermuda Triangle. Let your troubles crash land into our crystal clear waters. You'll never see them again. Or maybe you just need people to think you've vanished. They'll blame crazy conspiracy theories for your absence while you laugh from your lounge chair on our white sand beaches.

[C]

Act now.

[E]

It is just a quick plane, ship or UFO ride to this Devil's Triangle of a good time. And remember, scientists say the chances something terrible will happen to you on your way aren't statistically significant. The Bermuda Triangle. It's probably fine here.

[C]

Oh, man. Issa, does that have you calling your travel agent?

[D]

I was laughing so hard during that commercial because when it said, want to get lost? Go to Bermuda Triangle. The best place to get lost.

[C]

Oh, man. Well, Issa, it's time to mark down a point to either Team Bermuda Triangle or Team Loch Ness. And, listeners, you mark a point, too. Did you decide, Issa? Yes. Moving on to round three. It's time for a sneak attack.

[B]

Sneak attack.

[C]

Our debaters have no idea what they're in for, because this round is always a surprise. Are you ready, guys?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I was born ready.

[C]

All right. Today's challenge is spelling bee.

[B]

Oh, not my strong suit.

[D]

Oh, man.

[C]

How do you spell victory? By stumping your opponent with some tricky words. We want you to come up with three words related to your side that you'd like your opponent to try to spell. We'll see how much opposition research you did leading up to this debate. And while we're waiting, we have some lovely hold music for you. Ooh, Loch Ness Bermuda Triangle. Ooh, Loch Ness Bermuda Triangle. Ooh, Loch Ness Bermuda Triangle. Hey, is that messy. Ooh, Loch Ness Bermuda Triangle. Ooh, Loch Ness Bermuda Triangle. You might get lucky or you might disappear. Fear. Sandin started the first round. So, Jed, why don't you give Sandin a word first?

[A]

It's a name. I want you to spell. Barbados.

[B]

Barbados. B A R B A D O, S. Yeah.

[C]

Correct. Excellent work, Sandon. Okay, what is your word for Jed?

[B]

So I mentioned there are traces of radioactive elements at the bottom of Loch Ness. From Chernobyl. So that's your word. Chernobyl.

[A]

Chernobyl. C H E R. N O, B Y, L. That is correct.

[C]

Correct. All right, Jed, do you have another stumper for Sandon?

[A]

Yes, I do. One of the things that they think might have caused these disappearances into the Triangle, something called geomagnetism.

[B]

Geomagnetism. So I'm thinking geo, like geographic. G E O M A G N E T I. Yeah.

[C]

Guys are doing well so far. Okay, Sandon, try to stump Jed.

[B]

Okay, I got one for you, Jed. A lot of people think the Loch Ness Monster might be the last surviving member of the species of giant marine reptile called a plesiosaur. So that's your word. Plesiosaur.

[A]

You know, I once was really obsessed with the Loch Ness and plesiosaurs, and I thought that was definitely what the Loch Ness Monster was. And I read that word over and over again, but it has been a long time since I've read that word. Plesiosaur. P L E I S I O S A U R. Plesiosaur.

[B]

Is that your final answer?

[C]

Uh, yes. What?

[D]

So close.

[C]

We were so close. It's P L E S I O S A U R. So that was incorrect. Jed, you have one more chance to try to stump Sandon.

[A]

All right, this might seem easy at first, but I'm gonna see one of the new species that was found. Wing footed snail.

[B]

Wing footed snail. W I N G Dash. F O O T E D Space. S N A I L. That's it.

[A]

Yeah. I thought that dash was gonna get you.

[B]

It's like Spider Man. You put a dash in there.

[A]

I didn't know he'd be good at grammar.

[B]

All right, Jed, your final word.

[C]

Uh.

[B]

Oh, the loch. Water itself is incredibly murky and hard to see through because there's all of this peat from the hillsides that have drained into the loch. How do you spell peat?

[A]

My best friend's name growing up was peat. But I also know that's not how you spell this.

[B]

Peat is spelled P E A T. That's right. And Pete is like a Soil, like material that you'll find in the lock.

[A]

And Jed correctly spelled it, but I missed one.

[B]

You have been depeated.

[C]

Okay, Issa, you get to decide who did better in that round, and it's not necessarily based on who spelled all the words correctly. Oh, really? It is based on who. Maybe you think it's worse, but it should be. Come on, who did the best spelling? Issa, it is up to you. So you give a point to which side you think performed better in that round.

[D]

Okay, I think I got it.

[C]

Now we are nearing the end of this transatlantic word wrangle, and tensions are high. Sandon and Jed, this is your final round. Your last chance to persuade Issa and everybody listening that your team is the best. It's time for the final six. You have just six more words to win Issa's vote. Jen, let's start with you.

[A]

Enjoy Loch Ness. That mud hole.

[C]

Short and sweet. Okay, Sandon, take it away.

[B]

Monsters and mystery. Loch Ness wins.

[C]

Mmm. Okay, Issa, so you heard your six word closing statements from each contestant. I want you to award a point and add it to the rest of the tally. Okay? All right, tell us, who are you choosing as today's winner? Team Loch Ness or Team Bermuda Triangle?

[D]

It's a tie.

[C]

What? Sudden death. This race is too close to call, so we're going into an extra sudden death round. Issa, I'm going to have both teams answer a question, and I want you to decide who has the best answer. Okay?

[D]

Okay.

[C]

The question is, why would your side be the best place to host a party? Sandon, you're up first.

[B]

Have a party at Loch Ness in the castle where you're overlooking the lake. And you're going to have all your friends. And you can dress. Game of Thrones theme if you want. Not only will you have great food, sausage, maybe some haggis, there'll be a bagpipe player. Maybe the monster itself will come visit your party and show some sick dance moves that only a serpent from a loch could do. And you could all take pictures with the monster and post it in Tag. And everyone will be supes gels, because they're like, whoa, you were with a monster? That's so cool. So, yeah, have your party at Loch Ness.

[C]

Okay. Pretty convincing. Jed, your turn.

[A]

I mean, I cannot think of a better place to have an epic party than in the Bermuda Triangle. You've got blue ocean water, you've got sandy beaches that stretch for miles. You've got the perfect weather. You don't have some moss covered mystery Rolling around saying, hey, do you want to look at me? I might show up at your party or I might totally flake out.

[D]

Nevermind.

[A]

What you can expect from the Bernina Triangle is a good time. And you can invite everyone. You can invite that kid you don't like, and maybe that kid will disappear. There's always the chance.

[C]

Okay, Issa, you've heard both arguments. I want you to award one more point. And now let us know who won this tiebreaker.

[D]

Okay, the winner is. Loch Ness.

[B]

Yeah. Nessie's proud of you. Nessie's really happy. I can see her doing her little dance in the water, like, hi, Finn.

[A]

Well, I hope you enjoy your raincoat vacation.

[C]

I will, but it was clearly a close debate because we had a tie originally. So this was not an easy decision, was it, Issa? It was not so well done. Both Jed and Sandon well debated.

[B]

Sandon. Yeah, yeah. I mean, look, I would definitely go check out the Bermuda Triangle after I visited Loch Ness. Cross that off my list. It would be like third or fourth maybe. It's definitely in the top 10. Definitely in the top 10.

[A]

That's very nice. I would also visit the Loch Ness, you know, if I were really, really sad and wanted to be even sadder.

[C]

Oh. All right, listeners. Issa has crowned Team Loch Ness the Smashboom Best. But how about you head to our website, smashboom.org and vote? You can see if the public agrees with our judge.

[D]

Vote Loch Ness.

[C]

While you're there, you can check out the rest of our smash boom Besties. And that's it for this globetrotting test of tongues. Before we sign off, let's give Elliot a call. He's the listener who suggested a Cupcakes versus Donuts matchup.

[D]

I picked it because I really like both, and I want to see who likes what.

[C]

Which side would you choose to be the winner in Donuts vs Cupcakes?

[D]

Donuts. Because they're yummy. They're okay for breakfast. You mostly get to choose toppings.

[C]

And remember, if you have an idea for the perfect showdown, visit smashboom.org and tell us all about it. Smashboom Best is brought to you by the good people at Brains on and American Public Media.

[A]

It's produced by Alyssa Dudley, Mark Sanchez, Sendin Totten, and Molly Bloom.

[B]

We had engineering help from Corey Schreppel, Bill Johnson and Jeff Peters.

[C]

And a very special thanks to the voice of our hold music, Brenna Everson, and our announcer, Marley Feuerworker. Otto. Jen Sandon. Is there anyone you want to especially thank.

[B]

Yeah. Shout out to my Loch Ness players. Taylor Kaufman, Michael Rowe, Ben Titcomb, Carla Javier, Adrian Hill, Jennifer Miller, Ewan Caire, Frank Stoltz, Kate Moose and Peter Cox.

[A]

I would like to thank the professional Rima Krais, Kyle Stokes. And I need to thank the excellent voice acting team of Kevin Elliot and Eloise Thompson.

[C]

And I would like to thank Jill Ferris, Lauren D And John Lambert. That's it for this episode of Smash. Boom. Best. We'll be back soon with another debate battle. See you later. Thanks for listening through the test. Smash Better than the rest? It's smash the west? It's smash the West?