Moss vs. Moths

Summary

Smash Boom Best: Moss vs. Moths

Episode Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Molly Bloom
Debaters: Emily Olcott (Team Moss), Tiz Irie (Team Moths)
Judge: Nora, from Durham, NH

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Overview

This episode of Smash Boom Best pits two underappreciated wonders of the natural world against each other for the title of "Smash Boom Best." Will the soft, ancient, and environmentally Mighty Moss take the crown, or will Moth, the winged master of the night, flutter away with the victory? Host Molly Bloom guides us through a kid-friendly, laughter-packed, and fact-filled debate between actor/comic/story pirate Emily Olcott advocating for Moss and comedian/writer/musician Tiz Irie repping Moths, with artsy pet-lover Nora judging.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Declaration of Greatness

[04:56–09:22] Team Moths — Tiz Irie

• Super Senses: Moths have “super vision” suited for the night, inspiring even NASA cameras (05:18–05:56).
  • Quote: “Moth eyes are so sophisticated, they even inspired a NASA camera that takes pictures of things in the deepest darkness of space.” (05:49 – Tiz/Narrator)
• Super Smell: Moths can smell mates up to six miles away via their antennae.
• Masters of Metamorphosis: From caterpillar to cocoon to moth, their transformation is compared to “you wrapping yourself in a sleeping bag and emerging a penguin or platypus.” (08:05).
  • Quote: “There are more than 160,000 different types... like nature’s winged rainbow.” (08:13 – Narrator)
• Diversity: Huge range from Atlas Moth (“wingspan more than a foot wide”) to Luna Moth (“lime green wings and markings that look like big eyes”).
• Moths are "mothrageous:" Fun, adaptable, and essential to ecosystems.

[13:06–18:11] Team Moss — Emily Olcott

• Chill Factor: Moss is relaxing and pleasant to the touch, “like I’m petting nature itself.” (13:17)
• Ancient & Unique: Mosses are ancient plants without roots, sticking to things via “little threads called rhizoids.” (13:53)
• Hydration Powers: “Mosses can soak up to 20 times their own weight in water—hydration heroes.” (14:29)
• Ecosystem Glue: Home to micro-critters like tardigrades, aka “moss piglets,” moss helps soil and supports big and small animals (15:30–15:47).
• Climate Champions: Mosses absorb over 6 billion tons more carbon than bare earth—crucial in fighting climate change (15:48–16:07).
• Aesthetic Inspiration: Moss comes in various forms, “like green mats of tangled noodles” or “mini pine forests,” and inspires artists and nature lovers.
• Personal Story: Moss was Emily’s “constant friend” on a 10-hour hiking trip in Ireland—supportive, soothing, and indispensable (17:22).
  • Quote: “Moss reminds us that simple, small things can have a big purpose.” (16:40)

Judge Nora's Take:

• Impressed by moths’ senses and transformation; loved the climate change benefit and animal antics in the moss argument.

2. Rebuttals

[09:48–10:24] Emily (Moss) on Moths:

• “Moths think they are better than us, okay? They’ve got superpowers. That’s not relatable!”
• Jokingly claims, “Moths don’t need apps to find true love, I also don’t relate to that.”

[18:47–19:17] Tiz (Moths) on Moss:

• Pun-heavy: “Boy, was that sporing. I’m more of a fun guy… Hang out with us, we could fly!”
• Positions moths as “dangerous butterflies” and hard-partying pollinators.

3. Micro Round: Fact Attack!

[23:01–26:03]

• Moss Facts (Emily):
  1. WWI Wound Care: Peat moss as a natural, bacteria-fighting bandage. (23:16)
  2. Nature's Diaper: Moss used as diapers by Indigenous peoples due to its absorbency. (23:58)
  3. Stops Erosion: Moss holds soil in place, fighting environmental damage. (24:56)
• Moths Facts (Tiz):
  1. Masters of Disguise: Some moths look like leaves, hornets—or even bird poop! (23:41)
  2. Night Pollinators: Moths work the graveyard shift, pollinating when everyone else is asleep. (24:20)
  3. Bat-Jamming Sound: Tiger moths “jam” bat sonar with high-pitched clicks. (25:29)
  • Quote: “Moths staying up late so bees don’t have to.” (24:50)

4. Sneak Attack: Superhero Challenge

[27:22–30:06]

• Moth Superhero (“Super Librarian” – Tiz):
  • Super-reader, fast flyer, gentle, wise, “keeping the earth alive,” wears glasses, gray, teleport-fast.
  • Quote: “It has all the powers that all of the moths have… it can fly, it can smell things from really far away, it helps pollinate the Earth.” (28:04)
• Moss Superhero (“Ms. Moss” – Emily):
  • Green, inspired by Elphaba (Wicked), power is calming and healing everyone, advocating rest and relaxation—“embracing gravity.”
  • Quote: “Ms. Moss is all about getting comfortable…laying your head down on nature’s pillow.” (29:23)

5. The Final Six (Words)

[30:43–31:13]

• Emily/Moss: “Moss, Nature’s doctor, and nature’s diaper.” (30:54, Emily)
• Tiz/Moths: “Kings of bright lights.” (31:11, Tiz)

6. The Verdict & Reflection

[31:44–32:22]

• Nora declares Moss the winner—tied until the final six word round, where “Nature’s doctor and nature’s diaper” tipped the scales.
  • Quote: “I loved nature’s doctors, and I forgot what the rest of it was, but…” (32:12, Nora)
• Both debaters praise each other and their newfound appreciation for the rival side.
  • Emily: “War is not simple…but I was honored to be your opponent today in the ring.” (32:38)
  • Tiz: “You really showed the fighting spirit…might just lay down in some grass.” (32:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Is there anything more chill than sitting next to a patch of green, fuzzy moss?” (13:13 – Emily)
• “Butterflies are pretty cool... We're like the dangerous... We're dangerous butterflies. Hang out with... Hang out with the moths.” (18:53 – Tiz)
• “Moss reminds us that simple, small things can have a big purpose.” (16:40 – Emily)
• “Moths staying up late so bees don’t have to.” (24:50 – Tiz)
• Final kicker from Nora: “It was really, really close…they were tied until the final six. And the final six, I loved ‘nature’s doctors and…nature’s diaper.’” (31:54)
• Off-mic banter: “Come over here. There’s good sap over here.” (35:26 – Tiz)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:55 Episode theme and introduction of guests
• 04:56 Declaration of Greatness: Moths (Tiz Irie)
• 13:06 Declaration of Greatness: Moss (Emily Olcott)
• 23:01 Micro Round: Three cool facts each
• 27:22 Sneak Attack: Superhero Challenge
• 30:43 Final Six words round
• 31:44 Winner announced (Moss edges out Moths)
• 32:38 Debater reflections and appreciations

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Tone and Language

Upbeat, pun-filled, friendly, and wry with plenty of lighthearted banter and kid-friendly jokes. Both debaters balance scientific facts with humor and personal stories, and Molly keeps the energy playful. Judge Nora responds thoughtfully, often explaining her reasoning with care and insight.

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Conclusion

This laugh-out-loud debate is packed with quirky science facts and playful jabs, making both participants (and listeners) rethink the value of the humble moss and mysterious moth. Moss ultimately takes the prize thanks to its climate superpowers, absorbency, and relaxing aesthetic, but the respect for moths’ marvels is clear. The episode concludes with gratitude, laughter, and a call for listeners to vote for their winner.

Transcript

[Molly Bloom]

Lemonade.

[Nora]

Brains on Universe.

[Molly Bloom]

Have you heard the news? Smash Boom Best is now independent. We're so excited to be back with an epic new season. And it's all thanks to our Smarty Pass members. They're the big hearted helpers who power us by [e-mail] you can be one of them. Your support helps pay our debaters and sound designers so we can keep making the fun and fast your family loves. Plus, you get ad free versions of all of our shows. Bonus stuff and access to virtual hangs with me, Molly. Again, that's smartypass.org thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, on with the show.

[Emily Olcott]

From the brains behind Brains on. It's Smash Boom Best, the show for.

[Nora]

People with big opinions.

[Molly Bloom]

Hi, 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. Today we're debating two wonders of the natural world. One is a perfect little patch of groovy greenery. The other is a fine and fluttery friend. It's moss versus moths. Not the easiest to say, but easy to argue about. Here to be a megaphone for Moss is actor, writer, singer, comedian and story pirate, Emily Olcott.

[Emily Olcott]

Thanks, Molly. Yeah, I'm new to Smash Boom Best, so just like moss, I'm pretty green. But unlike moss, I will not be going soft on my opponent.

[Molly Bloom]

Oo. And flying in for fabulous moths is comedian, writer and musician Tiz Irie.

[Tiz Irie]

Yeah, I just want to say shout out to lights everywhere to bright lights.

[Molly Bloom]

Here to judge this woodsy debate is Nora from Durham, New Hampshire. She's into drawing, arts and crafts, training dogs and making her own costumes. Hi, Nora.

[Nora]

Hi.

[Molly Bloom]

So Nora, tell us about your dog.

[Nora]

Her name is Spice. She's a mini American shepherd, or most people know them as mini Australian shepherd. But yeah, she's only like seven months old, so.

[Emily Olcott]

Oh my gosh, so cute.

[Molly Bloom]

So how are you training her?

[Nora]

I'm doing like a few different dog sports and things I'm working with like, you know, positive reinforcement training, that kind of thing, and basic obedience also.

[Molly Bloom]

Would you say she's like an easy dog to train or is she sort of strong headed?

[Nora]

I mean, she's very smart but doesn't like to like cooperate sometimes, so that can be a challenge. But she is pretty eager to please and very loyal.

[Molly Bloom]

So does she love treats?

[Nora]

Depends on her mood.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, so not super food motivated. That's always tricky.

[Nora]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

So what's your favorite thing about your dog?

[Nora]

Probably that she's like Snuggly she likes to, like, climb up on you and lick your face.

[Molly Bloom]

Aw, that's so sweet. Okay, so you're also a sewer. You make your own costumes. Tell me some of the, like, coolest costumes or ones that you're most proud of, that you've created.

[Nora]

Probably the one that I'm most proud of is the one I did this year, which was a twi leak from Star Wars. And they're, like, the most people have heard of or seen them. They're like the alien that have, like, two, like, tentacles or head tails, like, on their head. And I made, like, a headpiece, like, out of foam. So that was pretty cool when it was finished.

[Molly Bloom]

That's very impressive. So you're a big Star wars fan.

[Nora]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

And I'm wondering, what life lessons have you gotten from the world of Star Wars?

[Nora]

Probably that war is not simple. There's many different angles, many different sides, and many different perspectives. And that goes for, like, almost all life. There's always another perspective.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, very good. Would you say you spend a lot of time in nature?

[Nora]

I like it as a concept, but not so much when there are bugs crawling on me.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, okay. Okay.

[Nora]

Yeah, I like it as a concept until I have, like, ten bazillion mosquito bites because I forgot to put on bug spray.

[Molly Bloom]

Mosquitoes. Yeah. Luckily, we're not debating mosquitoes. Thank goodness. Will Nora pick team Moss or team Moths? We're about to find out. But first, here are the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four. The declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge Nora will award points to the team that impresses her the most. But she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the debate. Listeners, we want you to judge too. Mark down your points as you listen. At the end of the show, head to our website, smashboom.org and vote for whichever team you think won. Okay. Tiz, Emily, and Nora, are you ready?

[Tiz Irie]

Yeah.

[Emily Olcott]

Let's do this.

[Nora]

I was born ready.

[Molly Bloom]

Then it's time for the declaration of greatness. In this round, our debaters will present a well crafted immersive argument in favor of their side. Then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements. We flipped a coin, and Tis, you're up first. Flap your mouth for those winged wonders known as moths.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Let's get right into it. Moths are the full package, and you wouldn't even know just by looking at them. But they have these incredible hidden superpowers. Think about it. Super vision, super smell. And they can shape shift. They're like three of the X Men rolled into one. Let's start with the eyes. Because most moths fly at night, they have these special eyeballs designed to take in as much light as possible. These powerful peepers help them navigate really dark places. In fact, moth eyes are so sophisticated that they even inspired a NASA camera that takes pictures of things in the deepest darkness of space.

[Molly Bloom]

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mothkind.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I mean, mankind. They use their antennae as noses. You know, those little pokey things on top of their head. And those antennae are tuned in on true love. Lots of insects use antennae, but moths use theirs to sniff out stuff that's really far away. Male silkworm moths have really fluffy antennae on their heads that look like feathers. And they use them to track down mates. They can actually smell a female moth from more than six miles away. They don't need an app to find that special someone. They just need a good whiff. And they could sniff out the plants they need for food. So that's like dinner and a date. But that's not all. Moths are also masters of metamorphosis. That's just a fancy word for when something starts out as one thing and then over time, it becomes something completely new. A moth begins its life as something funny looking. A little worm like caterpillar.

[Emily Olcott]

Hey, who are you calling funny looking? I happen to have starred in a very important book. Maybe you've heard of it. It's called the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's true. Caterpillars are very hungry. They're basically eating machines because it's their job to store up as much energy as possible so they can become a moth. Here's how it works. Once a caterpillar gets big enough, it makes its own silken cocoon. And that's when things get really wild inside the cocoon. The caterpillar basically breaks down its body into a blob and reforms itself into something new, growing wings, a little feathery antennae, and long delicate legs. It becomes a moth.

[Emily Olcott]

And now, now to reveal my new look. Ta da.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I can't get over how wild metamorphosis is. It'll be like you wrapping yourself in a sleeping bag and emerging a penguin or platypus. And moths have range. There are more than 160,000 different types. And they come in all sizes, shapes and colors, like nature's winged rainbow. No matter what you're into, there's a.

[Nora]

Moth for you I like really, really big Stuff.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, that's easy. You'll like the Atlas moth. It lives in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and has a wingspan more than a foot wide. Picture a moth the size of a Subway sandwich.

[Nora]

Well, I also have a mysterious Goth side.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, you'd like the Luna moth. It's got long lime green wings and markings that look like big eyes, which confuse the animals that want to eat it. Like owls. Are they stacked with cool powers? Yep. Do they come in lots of cool shapes, sizes, and colors? Absolutely. Is the fact that they can change from one thing to another one of the coolest tricks in nature? Of course it is. There's nothing about these creatures that isn't totally mothrageous.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow. I was drawn into that argument. The glowing, beautiful light of that declaration of greatness. What stood out to you about Tiz's argument?

[Nora]

It was really cool. I learned a lot of new things, like, I didn't know about, like their eyes and things. So that was really cool to learn.

[Molly Bloom]

Mm, absolutely. Well, Emily, it is time for your rebuttal. You get 30 seconds to tell us why moths are just winging it. And your time starts now.

[Emily Olcott]

Wow. Wow, wow. So Tiz laid out quite an argument and has a beautiful voiceover voice, but do not be fooled. You guys, I'm doing the moth, and it does not add up. And let me tell you why. Moths think they are better than us, okay? They've got superpowers. That's not relatable. Okay, I have bad eyesight, so I don't relate on that point. Also, moths don't need apps to find true love. I also don't relate to that. Okay, and another thing. Moths star in books. The Hungry Caterpillar. You know that moths are raking in those residuals. Okay, Moths think they're better than us.

[Tiz Irie]

Blown away. I'm just, you know, I'm gonna fly somewhere now.

[Emily Olcott]

No, Tiz. Look, Tiz, I know you're reeling. That actually wasn't a moth pun. I kind of emphasized that word as if it was, but it wasn't. But it felt good to get that out.

[Nora]

I have to say, I can actually relate to the mob's good eyesight. I'm, like, the only person in my family that doesn't need glasses, so.

[Emily Olcott]

Nora, no.

[Molly Bloom]

Incredible.

[Emily Olcott]

No, don't go down this path, Nora.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Okay.

[Emily Olcott]

Okay.

[Molly Bloom]

Well, this is a frothy, mossy moth debate. We're going to hear more in just a minute. Today's episode is sponsored by Every Plate. Everyplate is the go to dinner solution for busy families juggling Work, school and activities. I don't know what it is, but I am not good at meal planning. I look at the week ahead and I think wow, I there's so many possible meals I could make and they would be so delicious. And then guess what? It doesn't happen. I end up composting ingredients that I never ended up using. I don't make it to the grocery store in time. We end up ordering out way too much. Everyplate is a huge help. It's a budget friendly meal kit offering tons of flexibility. Something that everyone will like. Every week you get over 35 weekly choices so you can tailor it to your family's preferences. It's cheaper than the grocery store, it's half the price of takeout and it has upfront everyday low pricing, no hidden fees or surprises. And the pre portioned ingredients reduce mess, stress and food waste. The meals are ready in just 30 minutes and there's step by step recipe cards that make it friendly for all skill levels. Even your kids can help. Try EveryPlate and get $2.99 per meal on your first box plus free steak for a month. Go to EveryPlate.com podcast and use code smashboombeststake to claim your offer. That's code [e-mail] podcast to get $2.99 per meal ON your first box plus free steak FOR a month. Offer varies by plan. One free 10 ounce serving of steak per box for four weeks with active subscription. Ditch the dinnertime dilemmas with EveryPlate. Smash smashed. Okay, we're back and it's time for Emily to lay out the case, take the stage and tell us why moss is boss.

[Emily Olcott]

Hey, what's up? Oh, right, the debate. Sorry. I was prepping for smashboom best when I saw some moss and decided to get some smashboom rest. Is there anything more chill than sitting next to a patch of green, fuzzy moss? Exactly. Bird that randomly landed on my shoulder. There's nothing this chill. Yeah, I know. And when I pet the moss, it's like I'm petting nature itself. So soft. But there is so much more to moss than just how ch chill it is. What's that badger who just sat down next to me? You want to know more? Well, pull up some moss and I'll tell you.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh.

[Emily Olcott]

Gather round, animals. Moss is a plant. In fact, it's a member of the oldest living group of land plants on Earth, the bryophytes. But it's not like your typical tree or fern or rosebush. No, no, for starters, moss doesn't have roots. It has little threads called rhizoids that help mosses stick to things like rocks or trees. But mosses don't suck up nutrients or water with those rhizoids. Instead, they get everything they need from their simple leaves. The leaves photosynthesize, which means they eat sunlight. And those leaves drink too. And boy, are they thirsty. Mosses can see soak up to 20 times their own weight in water hydration heroes. That would be like me drinking a whole pool of water. Not an Olympic sized one, but you know, like one of those above ground ones that you can put in your backyard. Yeah, you guys get it. It's like that, but in my belly. But mosses aren't just super sponges. They are the super glue holding parts of nature together. Yes, giant moose that is extremely big and kind of scary, but also clearly sweet and gentle. That just joined me on this patch of moss. This plant helps animals big and small. For starters, it's home to a jungle of microscopic critters, including one of the most famous micro critters of all time, the tardigrade. These nearly indestructible super mini little bear looking creatures are sometimes called, wait for it, Moss piglets. I know great nickname bird that I was talking to before. Moss helps add more nutrients to soil, which is like food for other plants. So trees and bushes do better when moss is around. When all that water in moss evaporates, it cools off the area like a fluffy green air conditioner.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow.

[Emily Olcott]

I want one in my apartment. And mosses even fight climate change. Climate change is caused in large part by too much carbon dioxide trapping heat in our atmosphere. But scientists have found that mosses absorb and store over 6 billion tons more carbon than the bare patches of soil moss is often growing near. So more moss equals less carbon. Hello. You said it, Wolf. Who was eating trail mixer on my hand? Moss is low key, saving the world. It's also so pretty. There are ones that look like green mats of tangled noodles. And ones that look like mini pine forests. That's why so many people use moss in their gardens or terrariums. Moss is also inspiring. Whether it's the awe you feel seeing this silent, resilient little plant just chilling in nature, or it's the woe you feel peeking at all that's going on in moss under a microscope. Maybe it's an artistic inspiration from seeing how moss paints the nooks and crannies of nature. Or maybe it's an eco inspiration thinking of how moss Helps the planet. Moss reminds us that simple, small things can have a big purpose. Right, Nature friends. Oh, that actually reminds me. One last thing. Animal friends. Do you mind if I get personal for a second? Oh, you want me to?

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, good.

[Emily Olcott]

So I recently went on a vacation to the Irish countryside, where I hiked 10 hours a day. And guess who was a constant friend throughout the trip? Moss. When my feet were sore, I rested them on moss. When my poncho was soaking wet, I dried it on moss. When I was suddenly overcome with the need to sit down and eat large amounts of dried mango to avoid crashing out, Moss supported me. Moss became a friend to me, and I consider moss my chosen family. So, yeah, I'm team Moss all the way, baby. Now, who wants to curl up on this moss patch and have a cat nap? I knew you'd be down, forest cat. Let's be like moss and chill.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent job, Emily, who is debating right now into a microphone. Really nicely done. Nora, what were your favorite points in that declaration of greatness?

[Nora]

You guys are making it really hard for me. They're both so good. I liked that the moss helped with climate change. That's really cool. And, yeah, the random animals that popped up throughout the thing were amazing.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, tiz, you get 30 seconds to step all over team Moss arguments. You got 30 seconds, and your time starts now.

[Tiz Irie]

Boy, was that sporing. I'm more of a fun guy, you know what I mean? Yeah. Hang out with we could fly. Hang out with us we could fly. We grew like. Butterflies are pretty cool. They're cool versions of us. There are cooler cousins. We're like the dangerous. We're dangerous butterflies. Hang out with. Hang out with the moths.

[Molly Bloom]

And Ty, wow.

[Emily Olcott]

I had no idea that moths were the bad boys of the insect kingdom. But just on a personal note, Tiz, wow, like, deeply, deeply offended by what you said.

[Molly Bloom]

We had to wake him up for that rebuttal. Okay, Nora, it is time to award some points. Please give one point to the declaration of greatness that you liked best, and one point to the rebuttal that won you over. You get to decide what makes a winning argument. Did one team's science strike a chord with you? Did another team's jokes make you lol? Award your points, but don't tell us who they are going to.

[Nora]

All right, point you warded.

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh, wonderful. Tiz and Emily, how are you two feeling so far?

[Emily Olcott]

I feel alive. I mean, I'm scared. I don't know what's gonna happen next. I'm freaking out. And I feel great all at the same time.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent.

[Tiz Irie]

I feel like I'm curled up next to a campfire. I feel great. I feel real good.

[Emily Olcott]

Right? Cause moss is so relaxing. So.

[Molly Bloom]

Mmm. Of course it is time for a quick break. Go flap around a light bulb or gather on a sitting stone.

[Nora]

And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom. Best.

[Emily Olcott]

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

[Molly Bloom]

Hello. How are you?

[Emily Olcott]

What's new?

[Molly Bloom]

I'm debate champion Taylor Lincoln and I'm here with my cheesy chum, Todd Douglas.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Today's debate comes to us courtesy of my pal Patty Provolone when she was shopping for new record albums.

[Molly Bloom]

Let's see if we can spot the problem in this musical homage to fromage.

[Emily Olcott]

Excuse me, do you have a section for Cheese Core Records?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hmm, a fellow cheese core head. Nice.

[Emily Olcott]

You can find them over there between the banana rock and the. The drip hop albums.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Cool.

[Emily Olcott]

So I guess that's where I can find the new Breeders album.

[Molly Bloom]

As if the Breeders are totally soft cheese rock.

[Emily Olcott]

No, true cheese core music is only made up of hard cheese.

[Nora]

Oh, alright, alright.

[Emily Olcott]

No problem. I guess I'll just take this old Red Hot Chili Pepper Jacks album then.

[Molly Bloom]

Pee.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That answer stinks worse than a wedge of Limburger that's been sitting on the counter for a week.

[Molly Bloom]

You said it, Todd. Classic. No true Scotsman's fallacy. That's when someone has very strict rules about what something is and argues that if something doesn't exactly follow those rules, it's not the real thing.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, I guess it's time to Ossi a Go Go.

[Nora]

Oof.

[Molly Bloom]

Gouda one. Todd. See you next time on State of the Art.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Smash Boom.

[Tiz Irie]

Best.

[Molly Bloom]

You're listening to smashboom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.

[Nora]

And I'm your judge, Nora.

[Molly Bloom]

And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Like this competitive suggestion.

[Nora]

My name is Kaia from Boise, Idaho, and my debate idea is video games versus board games. Either way, it's fun to play.

[Molly Bloom]

We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Kia thinks should win.

[Nora]

And now back to Moss versus Mobs.

[Molly Bloom]

Get ready for round two. It's the.

[Emily Olcott]

Micro round.

[Molly Bloom]

Emily and Tiz, you will each get three chances to make a micro argument backed by a cool fact. Tiz started things off last round, so Emily, you're gonna go first this time. Let's hear your first fact.

[Emily Olcott]

Okay, let me tell you about Dr. Moss. Yes, in World War I, when doctors were running out of bandages. What did they slap on? Wounds. Not moths, I'll tell you that much. That would be gross. They used a type of peat moss. Not only did it absorb blood like nobody's business, it turns out moss had special properties that help get rid of bad bacteria. So fewer infections. Thank you, Dr. Moss.

[Tiz Irie]

Yeah. Moths are masters of disguise. They do this to keep other things from eating them. And some of those disguises are wild. There are ones that look like dead leaves. Even the hornet moth looks like a hornet to scare off enemies. There's even a moth that mimics bird poop because no animal's gonna eat that.

[Emily Olcott]

I'm so glad you brought up poop, Tiz, because another cool moss fact coming in hot. Native people used moss bags instead of diapers. Yes. They would put a young kid in a moss bag, and when that little one let a number one or two go, the moss would absorb the mess. Moss is a super pooper trooper. A moth could never.

[Tiz Irie]

You're talking about fertilizer. Moths are the greatest pollinators in the world. Lots of plants rely on little creatures to pollinate them so they can survive. Our planet will be cooked without pollinators. And guess who's working the night shift at the pollination factory? Malsar Garrett. After other creatures have called it a day, moths come out and keep the pollination party a going. In fact, some flowers stay closed during the day and only open at night. Thank goodness moths Are there moths staying up late so bees don't have to.

[Emily Olcott]

Well, moths aren't the only hard workers around, Tiz. In fact, your arguments are crumbling, just like soil without moss. So moss can help keep soil from eroding? Yes, that's right. So they're hard at work in a different way. Every year we lose billions of tons of valuable soil to erosion. It just crumbles and falls into bodies of water where it can mess with the careful balance of minerals. But slap on a carpet of happy growing moss and that ground is going to do a better job staying in place. Moss. Small but mighty.

[Tiz Irie]

Well, I'm not going to defend myself against your attacks. But I will tell you how some moths defend themselves. Check this out. The tiger moth is active at night. And so are bats, who would love to eat a juicy moth. Bats hunt by using short bursts of sound called echolocation. They listen to the echoes of the sound to figure out how near or how far things are. Kind of like nature's radar. Well, tiger moths jam that radar by making their own high pitch clicks. It confuses the Bats. And messes up their hunting. Later. Bats. Moths win again.

[Emily Olcott]

Wow.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh my goodness. This was an incredible micro round. Nora, what stood out to you about the facts that they were throwing around?

[Nora]

Oh, there was some really interesting ones in there. I gotta say, I love Dr. Moss. That's pretty cool. But also the pollination, that is also really cool. So there's a lot of cool stuff they can both do. You guys are making it hard for me.

[Molly Bloom]

This is really tough. This is really tough. But yes. I'm so sor. Sorry, Nora, you can only pick one side to receive a point, so please award that, but don't tell us who it's going to. Criteria totally subjective and totally up to you. Have you made your decision? Yep. Fantastic. Hold tight. We'll be right back with more debate after this. Want smashboom Best without the ad breaks. Join Smarty Pass and get an ad free feed of this and all the other brains on universe shows. Plus, you'll get to do virtual hangs with me and the crew and discounts on merch. Sign [e-mail] thanks. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Boom.

[Molly Bloom]

Boom. Smash. Boom. We are back and it's time for our third round. The super stealthy sneak attack. This is our improvised round where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. And appropriately enough, the challenge is superhero. Imagine your side has a caped crusader dedicated to them. What would this superhero's name be? Describe their costume, their superpowers. Maybe tell us how they saved the world. Or maybe who their arch nemesis villain might be. Tiz, you are gonna go first. Please tell us about a superhero based off of moths.

[Tiz Irie]

The Super Librarian. This moth hangs around and reads. It's the greatest moth ever. It's great and it's smart, and no one hates it because it's awesome. It's a moth. Ah, yeah. And it has all of the powers that all of the moths have, right? It could. It could fly. It could. It can smell things from really far away. It helps pollinate the Earth. Like, people are worried about bees going away because climate change. Moths are doing it. That's right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Moths.

[Tiz Irie]

They have. They have jobs. They're not just chilling on trees. They're great, man.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, so your superhero is called the Super Librarian. Did I get that right?

[Tiz Irie]

That's right. That's right. It's keeping the earth alive. The Earth's memories.

[Molly Bloom]

I love that. Can you describe the costume?

[Tiz Irie]

It wears glasses, right? It's gray and it flies so fast, it looks like teleportation this month. It's the best month.

[Molly Bloom]

Speedy, gentle, bookish. That's how we like our superheroes here at Smash Moon Best. Excellent work. Okay, Emily, please tell us about your mossy hero.

[Emily Olcott]

Absolutely. I'm imagining a fabulous superhero named Ms. Moss. And, you know, naturally, Ms. Moss is all green. Of course, not dissimilar to Elphaba from Wicked, But I feel like instead of having, like, a theme song, like, defying gravity. Her theme song is called embracing gravity because Ms. Moss really encourages everyone to lie down. Ms. Moss is all about rest. She's all about getting comfortable. She's all about laying down, Laying your head down on nature's pillow. And she's all about, you know, let's try embracing gravity. So she's a diva, and she also knows how to calm down and relax and kind of, like, reset the nervous system. I don't know. I feel like we all need that right now. Ms. Moss.

[Molly Bloom]

Ms. Moss coming through for the whole world. All right, Nora, these are both excellent superheroes. They're here for us. But only one of them can receive a point. Which hero are you calling for? In times of trouble? Please award a point to the superhero that impressed you the most. Have you made your decision?

[Emily Olcott]

Yep.

[Molly Bloom]

Wonderful. All right, it is time for our final round.

[Emily Olcott]

The final six.

[Molly Bloom]

In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Emily, make it count for team Moss.

[Emily Olcott]

Okay, I'm ready. Moss, Nature's doctor, and nature's diaper.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent work. Okay, Tiz, it is your turn. Last chance to mouth off for moths.

[Tiz Irie]

Kings of bright lights.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow. Sounds like a really excellent, like, novel or movie, too. Okay.

[Emily Olcott]

Totally. So poetic.

[Molly Bloom]

Amazing. Nora, please let these six words sink in, mull it over, and then award your final point for this final six. Have you made your decision?

[Nora]

Yep. Not an easy one.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, my gosh. This is not an easy one today. All right, tally up the points. Drum roll, please. And the winner is.

[Emily Olcott]

Moss.

[Molly Bloom]

Moss. M, O, S, S. Yes.

[Emily Olcott]

We have to double check.

[Molly Bloom]

We need to spell the winner today.

[Emily Olcott]

Wow.

[Nora]

Oh, my gosh.

[Emily Olcott]

I'm honored. Thank you so much.

[Nora]

It was really, really close.

[Molly Bloom]

Was there a moment that really, like, stuck out to you that kind of.

[Nora]

Swung it so they were tied until the final six. And the final six. I loved nature's doctors, and I forgot what the rest of it was, but.

[Emily Olcott]

Nature'S diaper, of course.

[Nora]

Yes, of course.

[Emily Olcott]

Of course.

[Nora]

Wow.

[Molly Bloom]

As close as a debate can be.

[Emily Olcott]

Today, Tiz, I love that we were neck and neck and makes so much sense. You really, really made me laugh.

[Nora]

Today.

[Emily Olcott]

I love your joke style. I was cracking up here in my home studio, so. You know, as Nora mentioned earlier when she was talking about Star wars, war is not simple. But I was honored to be your opponent today in the ring.

[Tiz Irie]

Yeah, Emily, it was great. You really showed the fighting spirit and I enjoyed the debate that we had. And I'm really appreciating Moss more and more. Might just lay down in some grass.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, it sounds very relaxing. A great way to recuperate after a fierce debate. Well, that is it for today's debate battle. Nora crowned Moss m O S S the smashboom best. But what about you?

[Nora]

Head to smashboom.org and vote and tell us who you think would win.

[Molly Bloom]

This episode was produced by me, Molly bloom, Sandon Taunton and Mark Sanchez. We had sound design by Mark too, and he also wrote the theme music. Wow, he is busy. We had engineering help from Jake Smith. Our announcer is Marley Feuer worker Otto. And we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Tiz, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?

[Tiz Irie]

Yeah, shout out to my cousin, the butterfly monarch peacock red admiral. You know the family.

[Molly Bloom]

Awesome. And how about you, Emily? Any special shout outs?

[Emily Olcott]

I want to shout out my friends at the story pirates because I love that there's a story pirate Smashboom Best crossover. That's so fun and inspired by Tiz. I'll also give a huge shout out to grass, bushes, leaves and trees, which I feel like are kind of in the moss family.

[Molly Bloom]

Totally. And Nora, how about you? Any special thanks or shout outs?

[Nora]

I am so glad that we have both mobs and moss in our world. They're super cool, both of them. And I learned a lot today. So I'm gonna shout out both of moths and moss.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent. Well, before we go, let's check in and see who kya thinks should win video games or board games.

[Nora]

I think board games would win because you do not need lots of equipment to do them.

[Molly Bloom]

If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you'd like to be a judge or if you're any age and you have an idea for a knockdown drag out debate, head to smashboom.org contact and drop us a line. And if you're a fan of the show and want to to keep it going, head to smartypass.org to subscribe. We'll be back next week with a new smashboom best episode. T. Rex versus Triceratops. Tata. Bye.

[Tiz Irie]

See you later.

[Emily Olcott]

Bye.

[Molly Bloom]

Better than the rest. It's smash the West.

[Emily Olcott]

You can't snuggle them all. No. You know from star wars? Yeah. That's not a good place to go. Don't become darth vader. Moth vader.

[Tiz Irie]

Come over here. There's good SAP over here.

[Emily Olcott]

No. Stop. No.