Mega Mini-Boom Bonanza

Summary

Smash Boom Best: "Mega Mini-Boom Bonanza"

Date: July 17, 2019
Host: Molly Bloom
Judge: Ty Poole (of CBC’s "Ty Asks Why")
Guests: Teen debaters from the Minnesota Urban Debate League

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Episode Overview

The "Mega Mini-Boom Bonanza" episode of Smash Boom Best is a fast-paced, fun-filled debate extravaganza featuring four mini-debates on classic showdowns, all judged by guest Ty Poole. Each debate, inspired by listener suggestions, pits two passionate high schoolers against each other for a single round plus a 30-second rebuttal each. The episode also features interludes on debate strategies, logical fallacies, and tips for young debaters, making it both educational and highly entertaining for kids and families.

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Key Segments & Debates

1. Spring vs. Fall

Debaters: Mason (Spring) vs. Zach (Fall)
Listener Suggestions (00:30)
Debate Start: 04:27

Key Arguments

• Mason (Spring):

  • Celebrates the end of winter and return of warmth and light.
  • “Spring is not only better temperature and vitamin D wise, but is also the time of birth and new life all around us.” (04:41)
  • Spring signals new opportunities—baby animals, plants growing, increased fun; compared to fall, when “animals begin to hibernate, the insects die, and so do most of the plants. How morbid is that?” (04:55)
  • School ends in spring, while fall marks its return.
  • Fall sports aren’t compelling; spring activities are more exciting.

• Zach (Fall):

  • Claims fall is actually warmer than spring on average (06:19).
  • Fall’s allergies and bugs in spring are a nuisance.
  • The name “Autumn” is “awesome,” cooler than “spring.”
  • Holidays: “Thanksgiving and Halloween…amazing food like turkey and stuffing and pies, and Halloween has oodles of candy and costumes and fun with your friends.” (06:59)
  • Fun autumn activities: leaf piles, pumpkin and apple picking, corn mazes.

Notable Quotes

• Ty Poole: “I always feel like spring’s like the wet underbelly of summer.” (04:13)
• Zach: “Spring is actually colder than fall…50 degrees vs. 59.” (06:19)
• Zach: “Autumn’s weather is what makes it so amazing…the leaves are fantastic to look at and that’s before raking them into an epic pile and jumping in it.” (07:15)

Rebuttals

• Mason: “A lot of the food that is best in fall, because we have GMOs now, is available throughout the entire year…spring is definitely a better name. It's all about springing forward and progressivism.” (08:21)
• Zach: Defends fall’s positive connotations and events.

Ty's Judgement (09:03)

Winner: Spring

• Ty: “I was really intrigued by the concept that spring opens opportunities and fall closes them.” (09:20)

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2. Zombies vs. Werewolves

Debaters: Maddie (Zombies) vs. Cassie (Werewolves)
Debate Start: 10:25

Key Arguments

• Maddie (Zombies):

  • Zombies are classic, relatable monsters: “Everyone feels like a zombie some of the time…There are all sorts of walking ones, running ones…There are zombies who don’t even know they’re zombies yet.” (10:40)
  • Variety and inclusivity; anyone can become one and "be monsters with your friends." (14:10)

• Cassie (Werewolves):

  • “Getting to turn into a super strong, super fast, super scary wolf—that’s a werewolf.” (12:50)
  • Only supernatural a few times per year; easier to blend in.
  • Werewolves have creative, unexplored “frontier” potential in classic horror.

Notable Quotes

• Maddie: “They have a refined palate. Only brains for them, so you know they have good taste. Us picky eaters in the world can really relate.” (10:40)
• Cassie: “Why are they linked to the full moon? Why turn into a wolf instead of, like, a bear? There’s way more fresh ideas with werewolves than overdone zombies.” (13:26)

Rebuttals

• Cassie: “Are you even trying to talk to them? Most of the time you’re trying to run away…” (12:06)
• Maddie: “Why go undercover with your friends when you can bite them and be monsters with them?...If you’re a werewolf, you better say goodbye to any jewelry, cool coins, anything that’s made with silver. With a zombie, you do not have to worry about that…Wet dog smell. You’re cursed to a life of every single month having the wet dog smell of your life.” (14:10)

Ty's Judgement (14:58)

Winner: Zombies

• Ty: “I feel like there’s never going to be a werewolf apocalypse. If you’re a zombie, you could still, like, have friends and like a weird Twilight-esque thing.” (15:09)

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3. Rats vs. Pigeons

Debaters: Isabel (Rats) vs. Simon (Pigeons)
Debate Start: 23:42

Key Arguments

• Isabel (Rats):

  • “Rats are secretly way cooler than people give them credit for. They can adapt to almost any habitat and can even go without water for longer than a camel can.” (23:42)
  • Great pets, like hamsters; can be teachers (Mr. Ratburn from Arthur).
  • “One study from Harvard found that rats can sometimes even be smarter than humans.” (24:29)

• Simon (Pigeons):

  • “Pigeons are like rats with wings. That seems like an upgrade to me.” (25:19)
  • Can fly, deliver messages, play ping pong, ride the subway; saved soldiers in WWI.
  • “Pigeons have been recorded flying up to 100 miles an hour, which is faster than a speeding car.” (25:51)

Notable Quotes

• Simon (Pigeons): “Have you ever wanted to call your friend or send them a funny picture, but didn't have a phone? Tie it to a pigeon's leg and send it away!” (25:51)
• Isabel (Rats): “Would you rather have an intelligent companion to share your pizza with or a bird to poop all over it?” (27:03)

Rebuttals

• Simon: “Imagine if a pigeon delivered your pizza and ate it with you, too. Sounds pretty cool, right?” (25:19)
• Isabel: “Pigeons aren’t the brightest. …Rats, on the other hand, bond closely with their friends, which…is way more important and cooler than speed.” (27:03)

Ty's Judgement (27:43)

Winner: Rats

• Ty: “I was really, really, really excited about rats. But then I felt like pigeons really, really just brought it through for me…with messengers, fast, smart, and good companions. But I don't know, I just had to go with rats.” (27:51)

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4. Breakfast vs. Dinner

Debaters: Maddie (Breakfast) vs. Amy (Dinner)
Debate Start: 29:10

Key Arguments

• Amy (Dinner):

  • “Dinner is the best meal of the day. Countless studies show that families who eat dinner together are better together.” (29:10)
  • Emotional and physical benefits: better academics, self-esteem, lower depression if you eat dinner as a family.
  • Dinner has unmatched variety (“pizza, pasta, tacos…can you see yourself crunching on french fries for breakfast?”).
  • “Dinner can be literally anything your heart desires.” (29:49)

• Maddie (Breakfast):

  • “Breakfast. It’s the only meal where it’s very acceptable to eat pancakes, donuts, and bacon, on one plate. Who doesn’t love that?” (31:19)
  • Eating breakfast helps your body break down glucose, gives you energy, and improves focus, reasoning, and physical performance during the morning.
  • “Breakfast gives you that foundation to start your day.” (31:56)

Notable Quotes

• Amy: “Lunch…crying about how much cooler dinner is.” (29:17)
• Maddie: “Not to mention that breakfast energizes the body. …Eat breakfast. Be a super smart, active superhero.” (31:39)

Rebuttals

• Maddie: “Biggest problem with dinner: You do not get the same level of breakfast food. Sure, you can try and have breakfast for dinner, but are you gonna get the experience of seeing the sun rise…no.” (30:41)
• Amy: “Breakfast, it’s just such a lonely meal. Dinner can be eaten with your family, in front of your tv, with friends, with anybody. But breakfast, it’s kind of a solitary thing.” (32:35)

Ty's Judgement (33:20)

Winner: Dinner

• Ty: “I like how dinner is just more food, better food. Although I like to have breakfast cause I’m hungry when I wake up, I feel like dinner is always more variety and true.” (33:30)

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Additional Highlights

Debate Tips & State of Debate Segment (15:46)

• Lighthearted segment ("State of Debate") discusses the logical fallacy of hasty generalization, complete with a garden-themed example debate.
• Quote: “Logical fallacies are common mistakes people make when they're debating…weed all those hasty generalizations out.” (16:51-17:49)

Debate Coaching with Alex Demar (18:12)

• Judge Ty Poole discusses real-life debate with debate coach Alex Demar (Minnesota Urban Debate League).
• Tips given: Summarize your arguments clearly, provide multiple reasons, anticipate counterarguments (“even if…”), and organize points for clarity.
• On confidence: “Just believe in yourself. You can do it. Every single person up there has had a moment where they’ve felt like they were gonna drop all their cue cards and catch on fire. But you know what? They came out of it, and they were fine.” (22:12)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ty Poole on debate persistence: “It’s like, Ty, it’s three in the morning. No, I still think recess is better.” (02:21)
• On fall vs. spring: “I’m big advocate of not going to school for 10 months, like 2 months. I’m down, 10 months way too much.” (05:51)
• Ty, after making a tough decision: “I’m so not prepared. I need to get a drink of water. Oh, God, I’m freaking out. No, I’m ready.” (09:40)
• On classic monster creativity: “Now I'm gonna get nightmares about bear wolves.” (13:54)
• On rats: “If you have a pizza party and you have to share with rats, you might want to just...fix your decisions a little bit.” (24:54)
• On judging breakfast vs. dinner: “She was very passionate. I'll say that much.” (30:27)

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Timestamps of Major Segments

| Time | Segment | |----------|----------------------------------| | 00:00 | Episode intro / Host & Judge intro | | 04:27 | Debate #1: Spring vs. Fall | | 10:25 | Debate #2: Zombies vs. Werewolves| | 15:46 | State of Debate: Logical Fallacies| | 18:12 | Debate coaching with Alex Demar | | 23:42 | Debate #3: Rats vs. Pigeons | | 29:10 | Debate #4: Breakfast vs. Dinner | | 33:20 | Final decision on Breakfast vs. Dinner| | 34:04 | Show wrap-up and credits |

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Episode Takeaways

• Debate is fun, accessible, and for everyone—the episode showcases creative and fact-based arguments on topics both silly and serious.
• Critical thinking and humor go hand in hand; the show spotlights strategies, logical fallacies, and debate etiquette (listening, anticipating rebuttals, clarity).
• Listeners are encouraged to vote for their favorite arguments and try debating at home or in their communities.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

If you couldn’t tune in, this episode is a rapid-fire celebration of debate, with topics ranging from seasonal showdowns to monster mashups. The show is equal parts competition, education, and comedy—with memorable defenses (“breakfast is superhero fuel”), playful jabs (“fall is like the wet underbelly of summer”), and lots of inspiration to flex your own argument muscles. And if you ever wondered if a rat or a pigeon is cooler—now you’ve heard both sides!

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Transcript

[Zach]

From the brains behind brains on, it's.

[Ty Poole]

Smash Boom Best, the show for people with big opinions.

[Molly Bloom]

Hello, I'm Molly Bloom and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two things, smash them together and ask you to decide which one is best. One of my favorite things about making this show is all of the debate ideas you, our listeners, come up with hundreds and hundreds of them. Some are funny, some are surprising, and some are downright thought provoking.

[Ty Poole]

My debate idea is beach versus mountains, cookies versus cake, bikes versus motorcycles, Hummus versus guacamole, skiing versus snowboarding, ice cream versus bacon, pancakes versus waffles, Teleportation versus time travel.

[Molly Bloom]

Today we are tackling not one, not two, no, not even just three, but four debates suggested by our listeners. We're calling these short high octane debates mini booms. Which makes this our first ever mini boom bonanza. To help us judge each debate, we're joined by Ty Poole, host of the amazing podcast Ty Asks why from CBC Podcasts. How's it going, Ty?

[Ty Poole]

Things are great. Thanks so much for letting me be on this podcast, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

Well, thank you for being here. So Ty, can you tell us a little bit about Ty asks why?

[Ty Poole]

Well, my podcast is basically me and I have a question and it eats me up inside. So I decide to just take action and search the world, but mainly the general Toronto area for answers.

[Molly Bloom]

That's really awesome. Well, it is a great show. So everyone go check out Ty Asks why. So I need to ask, do you ever get into debates in your day to day life?

[Ty Poole]

Yes, I am a very spirited debater.

[Molly Bloom]

So who are you debating with?

[Ty Poole]

It's mostly just friends. One of the biggest ones for when you're in like grade 4, 5 and 6 is which one's better, gym or recess? This one. I remember arguing about this every gym period and every recess period and I'm like, guys, let's take a break. Let's actually enjoy this. They're like, no, we have to resolve this.

[Molly Bloom]

So where do you fall in that debate? Gym versus recess.

[Ty Poole]

I kinda like recess because it's like gym, but you can do whatever you want and you can go outside and you're not being graded on it.

[Molly Bloom]

Good point. So do you have a strategy for winning debates?

[Ty Poole]

Persistence. It's like, ty, it's three in the morning. No, I still think race s is better.

[Molly Bloom]

Never give up. Well, you are gonna be a great judge for today's bonanza. Here's how it's gonna go down. We asked seven high school debaters to t these mini Booms for us. They're all members of the Minnesota Urban Debate League. For this special episode, every matchup or mini Boom is just one round of debate and one 30 second rebuttal for each side. We recorded the mini booms in a studio together, so you'll hear our debaters cheering each other on. Ty, you'll listen closely, weigh the merits of each debater's arguments and then crown the winner. Listeners, we want to know who you think won too. Head to our website, smashboom.org and vote after the episode. And if you get really inspired, write your own declaration of greatness for your favorite side and send it to us. All right, Ty, are you ready to get this party started? Yeah.

[Ty Poole]

Debate party. I thought it would be like a really boring debate meeting. No.

[Molly Bloom]

Let the mega mini boom bonanza begin.

[Ty Poole]

Smash boom.

[Molly Bloom]

Best. First up, we've got spring versus fall. This debate idea was sent to us by Ellie Bear and River from Round Hill, Virginia.

[Ty Poole]

I think fall would win because it's pretty when the leaves fall off of the trees. I think spring would win because I really like bugs and the bugs come back in spring. I think spring would win because I like the flowers and they're pretty on the ground.

[Molly Bloom]

So Ty, do you already have an opinion about which season is better than the other?

[Ty Poole]

Well, I was born in the fall, so that creates a little bit of bias. I feel like all the leaves change and they fall and it makes all the mulch and you get Halloween. Halloween. Guys, Halloween's pretty good. I always feel like spring's like the wet underbelly of summer.

[Molly Bloom]

You're very persuasive for fall and I'm never gonna forget the wet underbelly of summer ever again. Well, Mason and Zach from Highland park high school in St. Paul, Minnesota took on this seasonal standoff.

[Mason]

My name is Mason and today I'm gonna be arguing in support of spring, the season, not the verb.

[Zach]

I'm Zach. I will be arguing in favor of autumn.

[Molly Bloom]

Lets hear Mason's take on sweet smelling spring.

[Mason]

I'm a Minnesotan and if there's one thing we dislike more than Chicago, it probably has to be the cold weather that we are subjected to every winter. So why would anyone in their right mind consider fall a notably more frigid season to be superior to the beautiful and much warmer spring? Spring is not only better temperature and vitamin D wise, but is also the time of birth and new life all around us. We can see adorable baby animals taking their first steps and insects hatching and plants poking their heads. Timidly from the ground, while in fall, animals begin to hibernate, the insects die, and so do most of the plants. How morbid is that? Spring is also much more fun. Despite the fact that fall claims maybe like a fourth of the debate season, most activities that occur during autumn are absolutely awful. Football, it's more like a concussion contest. Soccer, just another snooze fest, and the cult known as cross country starts mobilizing. But perhaps worst of all, fall is a season in which your freedom is stripped from you and you are forced to return to school. Spring contains exciting sports. It's the time when classes start winding down and you're released from the shackles and you can return to the wonderfully temperate world of spring.

[Molly Bloom]

So, Ty, tell us what you think so far. Any arguments from spring that stuck out to you?

[Ty Poole]

Well, it was actually really, really well put together. I really like the thought that fall's when school starts and spring's when school ends. I'm big advocate of not going to school for 10 months, like 2 months. I'm down 10 months way too much. And I just felt like he did a really good job with explaining, you know, how spring is kind of like it opens up opportunities.

[Molly Bloom]

I agree. Now let's hear Zach's rebuttal.

[Zach]

Okay, so first, so whoa there, cowboy. Let's get some facts down in here. Spring is actually colder than fall. It has an average temperature across the United States of america Something like 50 degrees, whereas fall is as high as 59. And I mean, that's not to say anything of just how icky all of spring is with, like, its allergies and all of those terrible little. You say the bugs hatching and mosquitoes and cicadas are all great.

[Mason]

There's cube bugs.

[Zach]

Oh, oh, really?

[Molly Bloom]

Really?

[Zach]

There's some cube bugs. There's some cute bugs in full, too.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, well, let's hear if Zach can persuade you. Back to autumn. Let's hear it.

[Zach]

The first thing I want to say is that autumn is the best season. I mean, what kind of name is fall, but Autumn? That's awesome. It's nothing like spring or summer or those other dull season names. But onto the real awesomeness, the best part of autumn, the holidays. Fall is a fantastic time of celebration. According to a CBS poll, the most popular non religious holidays, Thanksgiving and Halloween. What does spring have? St. Patrick's Day, who cares? Thanksgiving has amazing food like turkey and stuffing and pies, and Halloween has oodles of candy and costumes and fun with your friends. But autumn's weather is what makes it so amazing? The leaves are fantastic to look at, and that's before raking them into an epic pile and jumping in it. There are also many opportunities for fun with picking pumpkins or apples, which are most tasty in the fall, or doing a corn maze. It's pretty clear spring's gotta take the fall. Ya, Autumn. Vote for me.

[Ty Poole]

That was awesome.

[Maddie]

That was really good.

[Molly Bloom]

With a pun at the end and everything. So, Ty, what did you think about autumn's argument that stood out to you?

[Ty Poole]

You know, again, pun was brilliant. Like 15 points just to Autumn, just for that. And you know who doesn't like Thanksgiving and Halloween? Guys.

[Amy]

Boom.

[Ty Poole]

You get to eat a big chicken. Get to have a half day for some of you, and for Halloween, you get to stay up late and eat candy.

[Molly Bloom]

It's true. But maybe Mason's rebuttal will change your mind. And go.

[Mason]

Despite some brilliant puns you just made there, there's actually a lot to dislike about fall. First of all, a lot of the food that is best in fall, because we have GMOs now, is available throughout the entire year, so we can enjoy it even in spring. Additionally, spring is definitely a better name. It's way more positive. It's all about springing forward and progressivism. But fall is just like. There's so many bad things related to fall. Like falling off a cliff, falling in love. Those are all like, icky and stuff.

[Zach]

Love is bad.

[Mason]

Yes.

[Zach]

What's the wrong with falling in love?

[Mason]

Lots of different things. Having a significant other. I can't imagine how terrible that would be.

[Molly Bloom]

All very fun things. So, Ty, it is time to make a decision. Who are you going to crown the smashboom best of this spring versus Fall debate?

[Ty Poole]

You know what? I think that I'm going to have to give this championship to spring.

[Molly Bloom]

A twist ending. I was not expecting that. So, Ty, can you tell us why spring pulled ahead?

[Ty Poole]

I was really intrigued by the concept that spring opens opportunities and fall closes them, so.

[Molly Bloom]

So you were swayed by Mason's argument. All right, we want to know who you think should have won too. Listeners, head to smashboom.org and vote. Tie. One down. Three more mini booms to go. Are you ready? Oh.

[Ty Poole]

Oh, God. I thought that was it.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, God.

[Ty Poole]

I'm so not prepared. I need to get a drink of water. Oh, God, I'm freaking out. No, I'm ready.

[Simon]

Okay.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent. Next up, we have the undead going head to muzzle with furry fiends. Zombies versus werewolves. Do you already have a stronger passion for one of These creatures, I don't.

[Ty Poole]

Know, I always thought zombies were kind of interesting and werewolves just kind of seem just kind of lackluster. Werewolves are just like boom. Moon strikes, you get hairy, you get clausy. I think it's just kind of cool that like zombies are like infected with a pathogen.

[Molly Bloom]

Got it. Well, we invited Maddie and Cassie from Central high school in St. Paul, Minnesota to take on this frightening assignment.

[Maddie]

I'm Maddie and I'm way for Team Zombie.

[Cassie]

My name's Cassie and I'm definitely voting for werewolves.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Maddy is up first. Let's hear her defense of those salivating, brain hungry creatures we call zombies.

[Maddie]

Zombies. One of the classic monsters. Super cool, good spooky appeal. And they have a refined palate. Only brains for them, so you know they have good taste. Us picky eaters in the world can really relate. And everyone feels like a zombie some of the time. If you have to wake up really early, that's feeling like a zombie time. If you're really bored, feeling like a zombie time. Most importantly, zombies come in a million different flavors. There are all sorts of walking ones, running ones, some that can work together, and some that are happier hunting for brains alone. There are zombies who don't even know they're zombies. Yet in any zombie apocalypse you happen to find yourself in, there's always going to be a new kind of undead friend right around the corner. And isn't that lovely? Zombies are the monster you can relate to. And they have a billion different kinds to choose from. And that is why they're always going to be better than a werewolf who's only one kind of monster a couple of nights out of the month.

[Molly Bloom]

Hmm. So Ty, what did you think about Maddie's tribute to zombies?

[Ty Poole]

First of all, Oof. To werewolves. And yeah, I have always liked the concept of a zombie apocalypse. Always so cool. I was really, really intrigued by that. That was very powerful.

[Molly Bloom]

Alright, well, let's hear what Cassie has to say in her rebuttal.

[Cassie]

Okay, so you keep talking about how zombies have all these different flavors, but really, doesn't that mean you can't specialize in any zombie specifically? You're not arguing about one type. You don't really get to understand how the zombie feels. You're not really thinking about them as a friend, you're thinking about them as an enemy in these zombie apocalypses. Are you even trying to talk to them? Most of the time you're trying to run away. And what about when you become a zombie? You're not thinking, so you're not really interact with each other. So really, it's not actually that great to be a zombie. You don't get to think about other people. You don't think about them.

[Alex Demar]

Time.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, a round of applause for Cassie. Well, let's hear what she has to say in her declaration of greatness about werewolves.

[Cassie]

You know what sounds like the coolest thing in the world? Getting to turn into a super strong, super fast, super scary wolf.

[Simon]

Boom.

[Cassie]

That's a werewolf. And a lot of werewolves are stronger and faster in their human form, too. With that kind of power, you definitely win a few races. Being a werewolf means you also only have to deal with being supernatural a few times a year. And the rest of the time, it's super easy to blend in with everyone else. That means you can go undercover with your human friends. Not so true if you're a zombie. Plus, werewolves are way more interesting than any other classic monster.

[Molly Bloom]

Why?

[Cassie]

Because so little has been explored. Why are they linked to the full moon? Why turn into a wolf instead of, like, a bear? There's way more fresh ideas with werewolves than overdone zombies. Everyone knows Minecraft and the Walking Dead. Werewolves though, that's the final frontier of classic horror. So let's go howl at the moon and.

[Maddie]

Vote werewolf.

[Molly Bloom]

Hmm. So, Ty, what did you think about that declaration of greatness?

[Ty Poole]

The wording of that was awesome, first of all. And second of all, I'm now gonna get nightmares about bear wolves.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, bear wolves. Definitely not a movie I would want to see. Let's hear Maddie's rebuttal.

[Maddie]

Why go undercover with your friends when you can bite them and be monsters with them? Just be monsters with your friends, be monsters with the whole world, spread zombies everywhere and have a good time while you're. But if you're a werewolf, you better say goodbye to any jewelry, cool coins, anything that's made with silver. With the zombie, you do not have to worry about that. All the earrings you want, you've got it. Not to mention something you maybe forgot. Wet dog smell. You will never get used to it. You're cursed to a life of every single month having the wet dog smell of your life.

[Molly Bloom]

Fierce rebuttal. Okay, Tyler, time to take it all into account. Think about the rebuttals, the declaration of greatness, and. Time to select a winner. Who takes the prize for this one? Zombies or werewolves?

[Ty Poole]

Well, Molly, I think this time I'm gonna have to go with zombies.

[Molly Bloom]

Tell us why. Tell us what won you over?

[Ty Poole]

I don't know, I just. I feel like there's never going to be a werewolf apocalypse. If you're a zombie, you could still like, have friends and like a weird Twilight esque thing.

[Molly Bloom]

Mm.

[Ty Poole]

There may be untapped potential werewolves, but I feel like the things we have about zombies are pretty cool.

[Molly Bloom]

Very good point. And maybe werewolves are untapped because maybe they're not as cool.

[Ty Poole]

They're not tap worthy.

[Molly Bloom]

They're not tap worthy. Well, zombies takes home the title this time. But listeners, who do you think is cooler? Go to smashboom.org and vote.

[Ty Poole]

And stay tuned. We'll be right back after our halftime break.

[Molly Bloom]

You're watching State of Debate. Home to rage and rhetoric and awe inspiring argumentation.

[Ty Poole]

Taylor Lincoln here with 10 time debate champ Todd Douglas. Indeedy doody Taylor. And we captured an unbeliefable debate earlier between two gardeners arguing about which is cooler, cactuses or orchids.

[Molly Bloom]

Who are you rooting for?

[Ty Poole]

Get it root. Oh, man, Taylor, that one's growing on me. Get it growing.

[Maddie]

I got it.

[Molly Bloom]

Roll the tape.

[Simon]

Cactuses are obviously the better houseplant.

[Molly Bloom]

They're super easy to take care of.

[Alex Demar]

Because you barely have to water them.

[Molly Bloom]

If you don't have to water them, why bother having them?

[Zach]

Relationships take work, Lisa.

[Alex Demar]

Whatever.

[Simon]

I bought an orchid once and it died in two days. Orchids are impossible to keep alive.

[Molly Bloom]

Impossible?

[Alex Demar]

Impossible?

[Ty Poole]

She only had one orchid once. How does she know they're impossible to keep alive? She doesn't, Taylor. Lisa's making a hasty generalization.

[Molly Bloom]

That's when you jump to a conclusion.

[Ty Poole]

Before you have enough evidence to support it. Hasty generalizations are a classic logical fallacy.

[Molly Bloom]

Logical fallacies are common mistakes people make when they're debating.

[Ty Poole]

They make it super easy for your opponent to take your argument out. So did Lisa bounce back from her hasty generalization? Let's check it out.

[Isabel]

Not impossible, Lisa.

[Molly Bloom]

You just have to pay attention and they'll thrive.

[Simon]

Okay, they're not impossible to keep alive.

[Alex Demar]

They're just really, really fussy.

[Simon]

You need to fertilize them every other week. Keep them in well drained soil and indirect light.

[Molly Bloom]

Cactuses. Forget about them and they'll be fine.

[Simon]

Some of them barely need sunlight.

[Molly Bloom]

Way better. Lisa really rose to the occasion. You grow, girl.

[Ty Poole]

Remember to weed all those hasty generalizations out of your arguments, debate heads.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, and always make sure you have.

[Amy]

Evidence to support your claim.

[Ty Poole]

Tune in next time for State of Debate.

[Molly Bloom]

Best.

[Simon]

Boom.

[Molly Bloom]

Smash. Smash.

[Ty Poole]

Boom Best.

[Molly Bloom]

This is Smash Boom Best, the show about showdowns. I'm your host, Molly Bloom, and this is our judge for the day, Ty Pool.

[Simon]

Hello.

[Molly Bloom]

Before we get back to our mini boom bonanza. Let's talk with Alex Demar, a middle school debate coach for the Minnesota Urban Debate League and a teacher at Minneapolis Public Schools.

[Ty Poole]

Hi, Alex.

[Molly Bloom]

Hi. So we asked Ty to tell us about a real debate from his life so he can get some debate coaching. Ty, what is your debate of the day?

[Ty Poole]

Well, I've had this one way too many times, so I think this is a good opportunity for me to refine this so I can finally crush my enemies. Just squish them under my thumb. What's the better way to get to school, walking or public transit?

[Molly Bloom]

What side are you on, Ty?

[Ty Poole]

I take the bus, but that's just because I sleep in. I wish I could walk every day.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, so even though you take the bus a lot, you still think walking is better? So give us your best argument for walking to school.

[Ty Poole]

Well, I take public transit, and I still like walking better. If you walk for the entirety of the school year, you can see the seasons change. There's so many different routes to take. It all looks so new. There's so much variety. Public transit is just. It's crowded, very unreliable. I'll just be like, oh, just let's check the times. Okay, the one bus comes in 20 minutes, and then every bus after that's like, one minute apart. Exercise, Breath of fresh air. It's beautiful. It's so much better than public transit. Trust me, I've done both sides, and walking is far superior.

[Molly Bloom]

Very nicely done, Ty. So, Alex, in what ways was Ty's argument effective?

[Alex Demar]

Well, I think one of the most important things is that he did a really good job of summing up his thoughts at the end. It's really easy to forget what someone said by the time they're done with their argument. So I thought that was really effective. And in addition to that, I liked that he gave multiple reasons why. So even if someone was like, well, I don't like walking outside because I don't care about the seasons, they're like, but you know what? Public transit is really crowded, and I hate it when it's late. So I think both those things added a lot.

[Ty Poole]

And how might I be able to improve my argument?

[Alex Demar]

So I think one of the biggest ways to improve your argument is by starting by thinking about what you know your opponents are going to say back to you. One of the most powerful things that you can say in a debate is even if. So, like, even if it's bad weather outside and you don't want to walk, there are umbrellas, there are rain, Boots. And then I'd say the other thing that you could do to really make your argument even pack more of a punch is just organizing it in a way that is a little bit more structured. So you did a really good job of, like, touching on all those points, and I loved all of your little flourishes and ways to make it sound more engaging, but adding a little bit more organization so it's really clear to whoever's listening, like, oh, here are the three points Ty made that would really help people be able to listen and absorb your point.

[Ty Poole]

Yeah. So what are some common mistakes for the listeners that you tell your debate teams to try to avoid? Some common ones, you know, like, don't forget to drop all your cue cards and then just start crying and spontaneously catch flame on stage. Stuff like that.

[Alex Demar]

Well, that happens to all of us, right?

[Ty Poole]

Has to happen at least once in our lives.

[Alex Demar]

Yes, of course. Character building. I think one of the biggest things, speaking of listeners, is sometimes kids forget to listen to what their opponents are saying. They're really focused on their points and how amazing they think their side of the argument is, and that's awesome. But if the other side goes up and states their points that they also think are super awesome, and you don't have anything to say back because you weren't listening, you weren't paying attention, you weren't taking notes, it's gonna be really hard for you to feel successful and to succeed when you go up to counter their argument and bring yours forward.

[Ty Poole]

So do you have any parting wisdom for us? Wise debate mentor?

[Alex Demar]

Confidence is key, and that sounds scary, especially when you're just starting, like, well, if I'm not confident, how am I just supposed to magically be confident? But really just getting up there, standing up straight, speaking up, that's gonna be one of the hardest things you learn how to do. And once you get there, it's gonna be so much easier for all the rest of that stuff to fall into place. So just believe in yourself. You can do it. Every single person up there has had a moment where they've felt like they were gonna drop all their cue cards and catch on fire. But you know what? They came out of it, and they were fine. And you will be too.

[Molly Bloom]

Alex, that is really good advice. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.

[Simon]

Of course.

[Alex Demar]

Thank you.

[Ty Poole]

Goodbye.

[Simon]

Bye.

[Molly Bloom]

Bye. Well, now back to our mini boom battles. Next up, rats versus pigeons. Ty, are you ready to learn about these pesky vermin?

[Ty Poole]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

Do you think one is cooler than the other already?

[Ty Poole]

They're both gross. Let's get that out of the way. But I feel like pigeons are just kind of like. They're just like, old school gross. You know, they're like, ugh, they pooped on me. Rats. They live in the sewers. They teach turtles to fight and get awesome, and then they'll, like, form packs and they'll make the rat kings.

[Molly Bloom]

Very good point. Yeah, I'm with you. I think pigeons are kind of gross. But let's see what Simon and Isabel from Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have to say about it. Isabel is up first, defending those tenacious, bewhiskered furballs we call rats.

[Simon]

All right, let me tell you about my favorite animal in the universe. Rats. Rats are secretly way cooler than people give them credit for. Rats are cool because they can adapt to almost any habitat and can even go without water for longer than a camel can. Some of the habitats I see rats in a lot are city streets, my high school cafeteria, and even in people's houses as pets. Rats make really good pets, like hamsters or guinea pigs. They're soft and you can pet them. And they also like to sit on your shoulders while you do stuff, Almost like you're a real life pirate. Rats are also a lot like people. They like a lot of the cool stuff that we love, like pizza. You could get a pizza and some friend rats and have a super cool pizza party with all of your rat buddies. There are also the fictional rats you know and love, like Mr. Ratburn from Arthur.

[Molly Bloom]

I thought I'd better bring you the spring reading. Oh, are you having cake?

[Simon]

Mr. Ratburn is a really good teacher, which shows that rats know a lot of cool things and they can teach us about them. One study from Harvard found that rats can sometimes even be smarter than humans. I love rats because they can do so many things. They can be teachers, friends, and pets. This is why I think they're the coolest animal.

[Ty Poole]

Tyee.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow, Isabelle coming with facts and some humor. Ty, what did you think about Isabel's ode to rats?

[Ty Poole]

Well, I feel like if you, like, have a pizza party and you have to share with rats, you might want to just, like, just fix your decisions a little bit.

[Molly Bloom]

Maybe that wasn't the best argument.

[Ty Poole]

Have a rat pizza party. It's like, well, no wonder you don't have any friends there. You're sharing your pizza with rats.

[Molly Bloom]

Well, let's hear Simon's rebuttal.

[Isabel]

Everyone knows the saying pigeons are like rats with wings. That seems like an upgrade to me. Pigeons are capable of all of the cool things that rats can do, plus fly faster than a car. A rat pizza party Sounds cool and all, but imagine if a pigeon delivered your pizza and ate it with you, too. Sounds pretty cool, right? Pigeons are speedy and heroic, making them the coolest animal around.

[Ty Poole]

Time.

[Molly Bloom]

Well done, Simon. Let's hear his declaration of greatness about pigeons.

[Isabel]

Pigeons blow away the competition when it comes to coolness. The first reason is that pigeons can fly and deliver messages. Have you ever wanted to call your friend or send them a funny picture but didn't have a phone? Tie it to a pigeon's leg and send it away? Also, pigeons are capable of all sorts of cool stuff. They have been known to play ping pong and ride the subway, but they can't, under any circumstances, drive buses. Pigeons are also super fast. They have been recorded flying at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour, which is faster than a speeding car.

[Molly Bloom]

Catch that pigeon.

[Isabel]

Pigeons can be very heroic. One pigeon saved an American infantry division that was trained trapped behind enemy lines in World War I, giving them a message to people who could help them. In conclusion, pigeons are far cooler than the flightless and dim wooded rats because of their speedy and heroic actions.

[Simon]

Time.

[Molly Bloom]

Hmm. Surprisingly heroic pigeons. Ty, what did you think of Simon's declaration of greatness?

[Ty Poole]

That was awesome. Like, I like how they're fast, they're speedy. He's like, you know what? I'm not going to try to appeal to you. Pigeons are cool, and I'm gonna prove it with my panache.

[Alex Demar]

Exactly.

[Molly Bloom]

Let's hear Isabel's rebuttal.

[Simon]

Let's get straight to the facts. Pigeons aren't the brightest. Would you rather have an intelligent companion to share your pizza with or a bird to poop all over it? Because pigeons poop on everything. They might be able to get around faster, but that doesn't make them good friends. Rats, on the other hand, bond closely with their friends, which, when it comes down to it, is way more important and cooler than speed. Also, we have owls from Harry Potter to deliver letters. So your pigeons. Not necessary.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Ty, it is time to make your judgment. Which animal is the smash Boom. Best, Rats or pigeons?

[Ty Poole]

I'm gonna give this one to the.

[Simon]

R.A.

[Molly Bloom]

Tell us why.

[Ty Poole]

It was a roller coaster of emotions. I was really, really, really excited about rats. But then I felt like pigeons really, really just brought it through for me, you know, with the messengers. Now, they're fast, smart, and good companions, but I don't know, I just had to go with rats.

[Molly Bloom]

I got it. Well, listeners, do you Agree or Disagree? Go to smashboom.org and vote. And now for our final debate of the day. Breakfast versus dinner. This idea was sent to us from Tim in Gillette, New Jersey. Let's see who he thinks will win this debate.

[Ty Poole]

I think breakfast will win because you can eat breakfast in bed.

[Molly Bloom]

Breakfast in bed is a delightful treat. Ty, which meal do you think is the coolest?

[Ty Poole]

I don't, I don't really know. I don't think I have opinion for this because they're both really good. Dinner's like the best meal of the day. The biggest, the tastiest, most time to prepare. But at the same time, breakfast is really good because when you wake up your mouth like, ugh, I'm parched. Time to eat food. So I don't know. Give me an opinion guys.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, very tough. Well, let's see what Amy from Southwest High School has to say. She is here to defend dinner. And Maddie from Central High School is touting breakfast. Let's start with Amy and team dinner.

[Amy]

What do you think about when I say the word dinner? Pizza, pasta, tacos? Whatever it is, I know your mouth is watering.

[Simon]

Why?

[Amy]

Because dinner is the best meal of the day. Countless studies show that families who eat dinner together are better together. Improved academics, higher self esteem and lower depression rates are all benefits of eating dinner as a family just a few times a week. Do you all hear something? Oh, that's just lunch. Crying about how much cooler dinner is. There's also studies that show how great dinner is for your body and physical life. Looking to get ripped this summer?

[Ty Poole]

Yeah.

[Amy]

Eating protein and carbs before sleep can help you gain muscle. Looking to stop those scary nightmares?

[Molly Bloom]

Uh huh.

[Amy]

Eating some types of carbs during dinner has been linked to better dreaming. Looking to solve all your problems? Eat dinner. Dinner can be literally anything your heart desires, which makes it different from other meals. Can you see yourself crunching on french fries for breakfast? Digging into an apple pie for lunch? I don't think so. But can you eat cereal and sandwiches for dinner?

[Ty Poole]

Yeah.

[Amy]

Other meals can be skipped or forgotten about. Skipping dinner feels like a betrayal to your stomach. Why would you skip the best meal of the day? I know I wouldn't. Because dinner is the bomb.

[Simon]

Ty.

[Molly Bloom]

Fighting words from Amy there. So Ty, what did you think about her declaration of greatness about dinner?

[Ty Poole]

It was very passionate, I'll say that much. I also like, you know, how dinner has a lot more variety.

[Molly Bloom]

So definitely it was a very well organized argument. Very logical. Let's hear Maddie's rebuttal.

[Maddie]

All Right. Here's the biggest problem with dinner. You do not get the same level of breakfast food. Sure, you can try and have breakfast for dinner, but are you gonna get the experience of seeing the sun rise over your backyard of, like, a few feet and get a few bites of stuff? Cereal, pancakes, bacon, everything your heart desires? No. You're gonna be stuck around a tiny dining table with the sun already set and gone. It's just not as atmospheric. Dinner lacks potential.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, well, let's hear what Maddie's declaration of greatness about breakfast is all about.

[Maddie]

Breakfast. It's the only meal where it's very acceptable to eat pancakes, donuts, and. And bacon on one plate. Who doesn't love that? Some fun breakfast facts for you. Eating in the morning actually helps your body better break down glucose, which is also called blood sugar. And who wants your blood to be sweet?

[Ty Poole]

Blech.

[Maddie]

I certainly don't. Now, that isn't actually how blood sugar works, but I'm gonna go with it in favor of breakfast. Not to mention that breakfast energizes the body. People who eat breakfast show an increase in physical activity throughout their mornings compared to people who skip breakfast. Also, eating breakfast gives you a mental edge. Those stable glucose levels we talked about earlier helps your ability to focus, reason, and process information. Sure, dinner can say they're gonna help you be the best at school, the best at sports, but it's actually breakfast giving you that foundation to start your day. So eat breakfast. Be a super smart, active superhero.

[Molly Bloom]

Hmm. Ty, what did you think about Maddie's argument there?

[Ty Poole]

Well, now I'm kind of leaning in for breakfast. I was leaning in to dinner. I'm excited for the rebuttal.

[Molly Bloom]

Yes. Let's hear Amy's breakfast rebuttal.

[Amy]

So just hearing about breakfast makes my skin crawl. You know, it's just such a lonely meal. Dinner can be eaten with your family, in front of your tv, with your friends, with anybody. But breakfast, it's kind of a solitary thing. And I feel like when you eat breakfast, you miss out on the community and the love and the happiness that dinner can give you. So I really think that dinner is just superior in that sense. And also, while breakfast may be this good start to your day, dinner is the preparation for your start of the day.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Ty, they've given you a lot to chew over. Weigh the evidence and tell us which one is the smashboom. Best breakfast or dinner?

[Ty Poole]

True. Over. Really?

[Molly Bloom]

Mm.

[Ty Poole]

Oh, well, I think I'm gonna have to go with dinner.

[Molly Bloom]

Why? Tell us why.

[Ty Poole]

I was liking breakfast, but I just, I like how dinner is just more food, better food. Although I like to have breakfast cause I'm hungry when I wake up. I feel like dinner is always more variety and true.

[Molly Bloom]

Well, it has been decided. Ty thinks dinner won the breakfast versus dinner debate.

[Ty Poole]

But we'd love to know what you think. It's a really tough call.

[Molly Bloom]

So go and vote on all four of these mini [e-mail] and if you'd like to send us your own declaration of greatness for one of these topics, write it down or make a video.

[Ty Poole]

And practice your epic debate skills.

[Molly Bloom]

And that's it for our first ever mini boom bonanza. Go us. Smashboom Best is a creation of the people at Brains on and American Public media.

[Ty Poole]

It's produced by Rosie Dupont, Elissa Dudley, Mark Sanchez, Molly Bloom and Sandon Totten.

[Molly Bloom]

We had engineering help from Lauda Antonelli and Veronica Rodriguez.

[Ty Poole]

And we had production help from Manica Wilhelm, Christina Lopez and Lauren D. Our.

[Molly Bloom]

Announcer is Marley Foyer, Worker Auto. And we want to give a special thanks to Rebecca Froehlich, Amanda Buckowitz, Veronica Simmons, Nikki Poole, Min Nguyen, Justin Koo, Austin, Austin Cross, Taylor Kaufman, Josh Holt, Max Nesterak, Melanie Renee, Evan Frost, and all the kids who sent in their debate. Eowyn Camden, Neva, Sita, James, Eli Everly and Severin. And finally, we'd like to thank the Minnesota Urban Debate League, a non profit program of Augsburg University which believes when kids learn how to have positive, healthy arguments, they are happier, smarter and more powerful listeners. If you live in Minnesota and you're interested in becoming a member, just Google the Minnesota Urban Debate League. They'd love to argue with you. Ty, do you have any special shout outs today?

[Ty Poole]

Well, again, if you guys would like, check out my podcast, Ty asks why.

[Molly Bloom]

We love it. We endorse. Ty asks why. And that's it for this episode of smashboom Best. We'll be back soon with another debate battle farewell. See ya. Better than the rest in Smash the West. In Smash the West. I would also really like to see a video of the pigeon playing ping pong.

[Ty Poole]

Pigeon.

[Molly Bloom]

Pigeon pong.

[Ty Poole]

Pidgeong. Ping pigeon. I can't. No, just cut that all out. That was.

[Molly Bloom]

I enjoyed it.