Smash Boom Best: Piranhas vs. Venus Flytraps

Podcast: Smash Boom Best
Host: Molly Bloom
Debaters: Jed Kim (Venus Flytrap) & Tracy Mumford (Piranha)
Judge: Kai
Air Date: June 6, 2019

Episode Overview

This episode of Smash Boom Best pits two fierce (but very different) predators against each other: the iconic plant Venus Flytrap versus the legendary Amazon fish, the Piranha. Debaters Jed Kim and Tracy Mumford face off in a spirited, fact-filled contest, vying to persuade young judge Kai and the listeners at home that their side is the "smash boom best." The debate unfolds in four rounds—Declaration of Greatness, Micro Round, Sneak Attack, and Final Six—culminating in a lively tie-breaker challenge.

Key Discussion Points & Debate Structure

Introduction & Rules (00:00–03:40)

• Host Molly Bloom introduces the playful "smash boom" format.
• Judge Kai reveals a fair and open-minded approach:

  "Even if I did [have an opinion], I couldn't be biased." (01:04)

• Debaters are reminded to be passionate but respectful.
• Structure of the debate is outlined:
  1. Declaration of Greatness (deep dives)
  2. Micro Round (creative challenge)
  3. Sneak Attack (improvisation)
  4. Final Six (six-word closing)

Round 1: Declaration of Greatness

Team Venus Flytrap - Jed Kim (04:07–09:02)

• Unique Adaptation: Both a plant and a predator—eats sunlight and bugs.
• Historical Clout: Charles Darwin described it as "one of the most wonderful in the world." (05:11)
• Fascinating Mechanism:
  • Leaves act as snap-traps with trigger hairs.
  • Two touches within 20 seconds = trap snaps shut.
  • Digestive enzymes dissolve prey.
• Ecological Niche:
  • Survives in nutrient-poor, soggy soils by supplementing with insect nutrients.
  • Smart fail-safe: timing mechanism prevents traps from closing by accident.
• Conservation Note:
  • Native to North Carolina; threatened by illegal collection.
  • It's now a felony to collect in North Carolina.
• Accessibility: Easier for families to buy as a plant (vs. illegal to own a piranha in many areas).
• Fun Fact: Scientific name Dionaea muscipula means "God's little mouse trap."
• Quote:

  "This is a plant that can't move and it still manages to eat things!" – Prof. Clyde Sorensen (07:58)

• Memorable Moment: Playful banter about “bribing” judge Kai:

  "You can't bribe me if that's what you're trying to do." – Kai (10:40)

Team Piranha - Tracy Mumford (10:55–16:17)

• Myth-Busting: Piranhas’ scary reputation is exaggerated—often more scared than scary.
• Pop Culture: Blame for bad rep goes to Teddy Roosevelt witnessing a staged feeding frenzy.
• Super Powers:
  • Bite with 72 pounds of force (~30x body weight).
  • Teeth so sharp indigenous people craft tools from them.
  • Some species can literally bite through steel.
• Behavior:
  • Can bark; make three distinctive sounds—not friendly, but fascinating.
  • Fast eaters—can reduce fish to skeletons in seconds.
• Ecological Role:
  • Often scavengers, not exclusive predators.
  • Clean up river ecosystems by eating dead/decaying material.
• Quote:

  "Piranhas are clean freaks. So to recap, piranhas can bark, they can bite hard, their teeth are like sharks, they’re super-fast eaters who never leave crumbs..." – Tracy (16:04)

• Expert Quote:

  "Bad guys in the natural world are seldom as bad as we make them out to be." – Richard Conniff (16:14)

Judge Kai's Insights (09:09 and 16:29)

• Praised Venus Flytrap facts, especially about Charles Darwin.
• Enjoyed Piranha “bark” and myth-busting, noted not as ferocious as believed.

Round 2: Micro Round – Susian (Dr. Seuss-Style) Poems (21:45–24:53)

Piranha (Tracy Mumford) (21:55)

• Poem gives voice to a “grumpy, bitey fish” who just wants to be liked:

  "I only bite when I’m hungry and when I fight. / And yes, I do bark all day and all night."

• Humorous shade at Venus Flytrap:

  "You can’t trust a plant that would try to dissolve you."

Venus Flytrap (Jed Kim) (23:32)

• Tells two stories: Kid with a finger-munching piranha vs. kid with bug-eating, friendly plant.

  “If only he’d been more like Susie Fedora / Who begged her dad for some really cool flora..."

• Delivers a creative insult:

  "Cause piranhas, you see, are just underpants."

Judge’s Reaction

• Kai: “That was like some, like, Lin-Manuel Miranda Hamilton stuff.” (23:09)
• Quick to mark a point for the round.

Round 3: Sneak Attack – Slogans (25:07–26:18)

• Venus Flytrap (Jed):

  “Got creepy crawlies? Send ‘em to Venus.” (26:04)

• Piranha (Tracy):

  “Super bitey, but not so frighty.” (26:13)

• Fast, funny round; both sides praised for creative marketing.

Round 4: Final Six – Six Words to Sway (26:45–27:09)

• Piranha:

  “Piranhas are misunderstood, but still winners.” (26:56)

• Venus Flytrap:

  “Sunshine and bugs eats it all.” (27:04)

Tie-Breaker: Crayon Color Challenge (27:36–29:03)

• Venus Flytrap's color:

  “Snappy Green Eater” – dark green outside with a red core; “if you’re a bug using this crayon, you die.” (27:50)

• Piranha’s color:

  “Red Bellied” – bright crimson, inspired by the aquarium-loved red-bellied piranha. (28:15)

Decisive Moment:

• Kai chooses Venus Flytrap, thanks to Jed's creative crayon lore:

  “I liked the little fact about, like, if you’re a bug using the crayon…” – Kai (29:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kai (Advice to debaters):

  “Be nice to each other. You can have a really good opinion and you can phrase it in a way that is good, but you don’t want to make the other person feel bad.” (01:27)

• Venus Flytrap expert:

  “Piranhas got nothing on a Venus flytrap. I mean, piranhas only work if you have a whole bunch of them, you know, attacking all at one time. This is a plant that can’t move and it still manages to eat things.” – Clyde Sorensen (07:49)

• Piranha expert:

  “They can literally bite through steel.” (13:25)

• On piranha reputation:

  “Would you want to be judged at your hangriest?” – Tracy (14:22)

• Six-word slam:

  “Super bitey, but not so frighty.” – Tracy (26:13)

• Crayon challenge clincher:

  “if you’re a bug using this crayon, you die.” – Jed (28:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Rules: 00:00–03:40
• Venus Flytrap Declaration: 04:07–09:02
• Piranha Declaration: 10:55–16:17
• Seuss-Style Poems: 21:45–24:53
• Sneak Attack Slogans: 25:07–26:18
• Six Word Finales: 26:45–27:09
• Crayon Color Tiebreaker: 27:36–29:03
• Winner Declared: 29:03

Conclusion & Winner

Although both debaters delivered creative, fact-packed arguments and fun poetry, Venus Flytrap clinched victory with a quirky crayon color pitch that delighted the judge. Tracy's piranha was a strong sentimental favorite, but Jed's plant power snatched the trophy.

Final thoughts:

• The episode was high-energy, silly, and loaded with trivia, myth-busting, and creative wordplay—true to the show’s mission to spark friendly debate and teach critical thinking.

For more matchups or to vote:
Visit smashboom.org.

“I liked the way that both of you described your colors, but I liked the little fact about, like, if you’re a bug using the crayon…”
—Kai, declaring Team Venus Flytrap the Smash Boom Best! (29:03)