Smash Boom Best: Monster Trucks vs. Hot Wheels

Podcast: Smash Boom Best (Brains On Universe)
Host: Molly Bloom
Debaters: Mark Sanchez (Monster Trucks), Sanden Totten (Hot Wheels)
Judge: Archer from Irvington, NY
Release Date: November 27, 2025
Episode Theme: Which is more amazing—monster trucks or Hot Wheels? This debate showdown pits crushing, real-life behemoth vehicles against the tiny, collectible cars found in nearly every toy bin.

Episode Overview

This episode launches a new season of Smash Boom Best with a high-octane face-off: Monster Trucks vs. Hot Wheels. Two long-time co-creators, Mark Sanchez and Sanden Totten, compete to convince judge Archer (a cat parent and D&D enthusiast) that their pick is the ultimate winner.
The debate unfolds over four rounds—Declaration of Greatness, Micro Round, Sneak Attack, and the Final Six—combining fact, humor, pop culture references, and pun-filled quips in a format designed to be accessible and hilarious for kid and family audiences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Meet the Judge & Warm-Up (03:08–05:03)

• Archer shares about his cat "Princess Violet Von Floofypants Leah Rose Jones" and his love of Dungeons & Dragons.
• Archer encourages a pun-heavy debate, announcing:

  "If you make me laugh, bonus points. In my heart, in my soul." (04:54, Archer)

Round 1: Declaration of Greatness

Monster Trucks (Mark Sanchez) – (06:17–11:16)

• Origins: Tells the story of "Bigfoot," the original monster truck built by Bob Chandler.
• Technical Specs:
  • Tires up to 5’6” tall (“taller than Kevin Hart!”)
  • Over 10’ tall, 12’ wide, 17’ long, and 12,000 pounds (“that’s like 208 eight-year-olds”)
  • Over 1,400 horsepower—over seven times a normal car
• The Experience: Monster truck shows combine racing, acrobatics (backflips, donuts), and crowd-pleasing stunts.
  • “Seeing them perform is like being at a car show, a concert, and a competition all rolled into one.” (09:48, Mark)
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "Monster trucks are epic. They're large, loud, and have tires that are usually around 5ft 6 inches tall." (07:37, Mark)
• Humor:
  • Hot Wheels have “zero horsepower. Unless, of course, a horse steps on it...”
• Immersive Sound & Engagement: Audience shouts, "Yeah, buddy, did you see what that truck just did?!" (08:42)

Reactions & Rebuttal (11:23–12:42)

• Archer enjoys the humor and scale comparisons:

  “They can weigh up to 200 times my little brother. Hi Sasha, if you're watching...” (11:37, Archer)

• Sanden notes the noise pollution (90–125 decibels: "Talk about a monster headache.") and environmental impact (“Bigfoot may have a big carbon footprint.”). (12:06–12:39)

Hot Wheels (Sanden Totten) – (14:27–18:21)

• Timeless Fun:
  • Emphasizes car noises as “one of the most important steps in child development.”
  • Hot Wheels have been around since the 1960s with countless variations (drag racers, Batman and Barbie cars, buses, vans).
• Affordability & Collectibility:
  • Cheap and widely available ("sold almost everywhere")
  • Ultra-rare Hot Wheels fetch thousands of dollars, appealing to all collectors.
• Imagination & Play:
  • Encourages creativity: race on tracks, build towns, play anywhere ("on counters, down the stairs, into oblivion").
  • Durability: "made of tough as nails, die-cast metal."
• Portability:
  • Unlike monster trucks, "Hot Wheels are way easier to stuff in your pocket than a real car."
• Humor/Quotes:

  “Fire in your hand, Hot Wheels.” (33:04, Sanden’s Final Six) “Making pretend car noises is one of the most important steps in child development. It comes right after learning to walk and just before having empathy for your fellow humans.” (14:27, Sanden)

• Archer enjoys the laughter and playful tone:

  “I had to stop myself from laughing on multiple occasions. I had a great time listening to that.” (18:51, Archer)

Mark's Rebuttal (19:09–19:38)

• Points out that Hot Wheels tracks are plastic, which isn’t eco-friendly.
• “Your arguments end in a sad, sad crash.” (19:36, Mark)

Discussion (19:39–21:32)

• Banter about categories, sounds, and environmental impact.
  • “If you like one car sound, you like another.” (20:01, Archer)
  • “Not if you push ‘em.” / “Your arguments are driving into a dead end.” (21:21–21:32, Mark & Sanden)

Round 2: Micro Round (24:51–27:28)

Each debater presents three fast, fact-based arguments.

Hot Wheels (Sanden):

• Designed with the help of car and aerospace engineers. (“Space age tech in the palm of your hand.”) (24:51)
• Can reach up to 280mph on tracks—triple a monster truck’s top speed. (25:50)
• Ultra-rare collectibles: The pink VW “beach bomb” is worth $175,000, and “treasure hunt” cars are hiding on shelves everywhere. (26:43)

Monster Trucks (Mark):

• Monster trucks let kids' fantasies come alive—real-life Bigfoots performing Hot Wheels-style stunts. Monster Jam has a Hot Wheels tie-in. (25:15)
• Monster Jam is huge: Sold over 4.2 million tickets in 2024, rivaling Taylor Swift’s concert draw. You can meet drivers and trucks up close. (26:14)
• Monster trucks save lives: Rescued people (including a woman in labor) during Houston’s Hurricane Harvey floods when no other car could. (27:04)

Judge Reaction:

• Archer is torn:

  “The monster trucks saving lives was pretty cool. Never seen a Hot Wheels truck do that... but if you’re talking family-friendly, playing by yourself with a little car is great too!” (27:37–27:54)

Round 3: Sneak Attack – Fashion Line "Style Sense" (29:05–32:23)

Monster Trucks (Mark):

• “Monster Chucks”: Monster trucks line of Converse Chuck Taylors—giant, pop-out wheels, make car noises, come in unique fire-shooting boxes.
  • “The most dangerous fashion. But, you know, monster trucks and Chuck Taylors—Monster Chucks!” (29:30, Mark)

Hot Wheels (Sanden):

• Complete “Hot Wheels fashion moment”—hats (Hat Wheels) shaped like wheels, “hot heels” in signature orange track color, color-change metallic dresses, pockets to store Hot Wheels, and every outfit has painted-on flames.
  • Outfits are “die-cast metal so you can spill on them and everything slides off.” (31:46, Sanden)
• Judge and debaters riff on the dangers and impracticality: launching cars as you walk, Hot Wheels tracks doubling as shoes.

Round 4: Final Six (Six Word Slogan) (33:04–33:19)

• Hot Wheels (Sanden):
  “Fire in your hand, Hot Wheels.” (33:04)
• Monster Trucks (Mark):
  “Imagination. All grown up. Yeah, buddy.” (33:15, Mark/Archer)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Archer’s Cat’s Full Government Name:
  “Princess Violet Von Floofypants. Leah Rose Jones.” (03:13, Archer)
• Monster Trucks’ Size Comparison:
  "Monster trucks...weigh 12,000 pounds, which is like 208 eight-year-olds." (08:55, Mark)
• On Monster Truck Rallies:
  “If you’re lucky enough to go to a monster truck rally, you’ll see the trucks do a couple things. They’ll race each other and they’ll do freestyle stunts. We’re talking obstacle jumps, backflips, wheelies and donuts.” (08:01, Mark)
• On Hot Wheels Sounds:
  “Making pretend car noises is one of the most important steps in child development...it comes right after learning to walk and just before empathy.” (14:27, Sanden)
• Archer on Debaters’ Use of Puns:
  “This is going to have the highest pun per minutes of any episode.” (05:03, Molly)
• Fashion Line Concept (Monster Trucks):
  “Monster trucks...with Chuck Taylors: Monster Chucks! Shoes with pop-out monster truck wheels that let you crush a bus.” (29:16, Mark)
• Fashion Line Concept (Hot Wheels):
  “Hat wheels…hot heels…the dresses are metallic and color-change, with pockets for Hot Wheels cars. Clothes that are die-cast metal.” (30:58, Sanden)
• Archer on Decision:
  “The final six got me, honestly. Like, I was like, oh yeah, normal sentence. Yeah, buddy. It's always the classic final six.” (34:05, Archer)

Round Breakdown & Timestamps

• Introduction, Meet the Judge – 02:01–05:03
• Declaration of Greatness: Monster Trucks – 06:17–11:16
• Monster Trucks Q&A & Rebuttal – 11:23–12:42
• Declaration of Greatness: Hot Wheels – 14:27–18:21
• Hot Wheels Q&A & Rebuttal – 18:36–19:38
• Open Discussion, Points Awarded – 19:39–21:32
• Micro Round – 24:51–27:28
• Micro Round Feedback – 27:37–28:14
• Sneak Attack: Style Sense – 29:05–32:23
• Final Six – 33:04–33:19
• Crowning the Winner – 33:45–34:31
• Post-show Shoutouts & Closing – 34:43–36:54

Conclusion & Results

Winner: Monster Trucks

• Archer’s tie-breaking comment:

  “The final six got me, honestly. Like, I was like, oh, yeah, normal sentence. Yeah, buddy.” (34:05)

• Acknowledges the difficulty of choosing, as both sides brought facts, humor, personal connections, and wild creativity.
• Friendly, celebratory vibe at the end:

  “Mark, I just have two words for you—Yeah, buddy. I can't wait to go to the next monster truck rally with you, friend.” (35:06, Sanden & Mark)

Notable Takeaways

• Monster trucks won on real-world awe, rescue power, and raucous fun.
• Hot Wheels wowed for their portability, imaginative scope, technical achievement, and inclusiveness (affordability, collectibility).
• Both sides overlap in the “joy of play”—be it big and loud, or tiny and creative.
• The episode is loaded with car puns, playful banter, and relatable nostalgia, all perfect for a family audience.
• Listeners are encouraged to vote for their favorite at smashboom.org.

Listen For

• Archer’s D&D and cat stories (03:08–04:43)
• Enthusiastic crowd noises and monster truck spectacle (09:08–10:30)
• Collectible Hot Wheels fact: the $175,000 “beach bomb” (26:43)
• Monster truck Hurricane Harvey rescue story (27:04)
• Hilarious Hot Wheels fashion line ideas (30:58–32:17)
• Final six-word summations (33:04–33:19)
• Vibrant, inclusive energy—great for both new and returning listeners

Overall Tone:
Playful, pun-heavy, fun-loving, and deeply informative—Smash Boom Best at its engine-revving, tire-screeching finest.