Seaweed vs Peanuts

Summary

Smash Boom Best – Seaweed vs. Peanuts

Podcast Summary – Episode aired March 5, 2026

Main Theme

This lively, kid-friendly debate pits two snack sensations against each other: Seaweed vs. Peanuts! Hosted by Molly Bloom and judged by Axel from Austin, Texas, the episode features two passionate debaters: Joy Dolo for Team Peanuts and Alce Bruno for Team Seaweed. Both weave humor, trivia, and personal stories as they make their case, showing listeners how to reason and debate—all with a healthy serving of puns.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Introduction & Contestant Background

• Host: Molly Bloom introduces the format—four rounds: Declaration of Greatness, Micro Round, Sneak Attack, and Final Six.
• Judge: Axel, a creative teen from Austin with a passion for programming and music, explains what he finds convincing in an argument: "Extensive knowledge about the topic" (04:46).

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2. Declaration of Greatness

Seaweed (Alce Bruno, 06:03–09:50)

• Alce frames seaweed as a global hero: delicious, nutritious, flexible, versatile, and a climate change buster.
• Science & Utility: Seaweed is used in food, skincare, medicine, toothpaste. Look for "alginate," "carrageenan," or "agar" — these are all seaweed derivatives.
• Cuisine: Spotlight on nori (Japan), miyukguk soup (Korea), laverbread (Wales), and Chinese seaweed dishes.
• Global Impact: Seaweed fights climate change by sequestering carbon in ocean farms.
• Quote:

  "Seaweed is a straight up superhero of the plant world, nay, the whole world." (06:11, Alce Bruno)

Peanuts (Joy Dolo, 11:45–16:10)

• Joy celebrates peanuts’ taste, comforting aroma, and versatility: “Earthy, salty, warm. Then there’s the smell…reminds me of childhood.” (11:52)
• Personal Angle: Childhood memories in Tennessee, diverse ways to eat peanuts all day ("my clock is just a circle with 12 peanuts on it, because guess what? It’s always peanut time." (13:33))
• Cuisine: Peanuts appear in international dishes from Ghanaian peanut stew to Thai peanut chicken.
• Agriculture: Peanuts improve soil as "nitrogen fixers" and use less water compared to tree nuts.
• Quote:

  "Peanuts are power packed little legumes. They're helpful for crops. You can cook them a million ways and you can eat them pretty much anywhere except church." (15:28, Joy Dolo)

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3. Rebuttals

• Peanuts vs. Seaweed (Joy Dolo, 10:20) “Your argument is flawed... Plants naturally reach for the sun. They're not fighting gravity... They're learning. They're transitioning.”
• Seaweed vs. Peanuts (Alce Bruno, 16:42) “Peanuts... lead to gut problems. Okay? That’s why you don’t feed peanuts to babies, I think… Boiled peanuts are the worst thing to ever happen to water.”

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4. Micro Round: Fact-Off (21:06–24:57)

Each contestant rapidly fires three notable facts:

Joy Dolo / Peanuts

• US Presidents Jefferson and Carter were peanut farmers.
• Archaeological evidence of peanut farming goes back 9,000 years—older than the pyramids.
• George Washington Carver found 300+ uses for peanuts; shells can be used for particle boards, bioplastics, and even homemade clocks.

Alce Bruno / Seaweed

• Seaweed appears in romantic Japanese poetry over 1,400 years old.
• The "Seaweed Manifesto" touts seaweed as a solution to climate, hunger, and energy issues.
• 1800s Victorian "algologists" (women) foraged and cataloged seaweed, helping them escape social restrictions.

Judge Axel’s reflections:
"I liked how Peanuts countered seaweed’s global warming point a little bit... I like the poetry… that just shows how deep the cultural impact is." (25:08–25:21)

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5. Sneak Attack: News Report Challenge (27:10–30:39)

Seaweed (Alce Bruno)

• Improv newscast "Seaweed Everywhere," complete with a Chilean co-anchor and Spongebob shout-out.
• Highlights seaweed’s universal appeal and health benefits—“Seaweed is a cultural touchstone and has been for at least 14,000 years.”
• Memorable closing line: “Seaweed is better than peanuts. Dun dun dun dun. Seaweed don’t cause diabetes.”

Peanuts (Joy Dolo)

• Breaking News: “It seems to be raining peanuts… We will be ending world hunger because it is coming from the sky…”
• Culinary Corner: Peanut butter thickens traditional Liberian cassava leaf and rice soup.
• Comic aside: “Who's that? The ghost of George Washington Carver?” (30:29)

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6. Final Six

Sum it up in six words:

• Peanuts (Joy Dolo):
  “Weed out the competition. Peanut time.” (31:26)
• Seaweed (Alce Bruno):
  “Gut. Biome. Psychological support. Kelp yourself.” (31:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the friendship-turned-rivalry:

  "How dare you use our friendship against me?" (10:20, Joy Dolo)
  "Let it be known across the planet that seaweed is coming for gravity." (10:59, Alce Bruno)

• On diverse culinary uses:

  “Peanuts are in soups, sweets, salads, and sandwiches. They’re like the actor Pedro Pascal because they’re in everything.” (14:06, Joy Dolo)

• Poetic seaweed:

  “In the bay of Naniwa, seaweed-covered gemstone rocks appear, just so does my love for her.” (21:43, Alce Bruno)

• News segment descriptors:

  “Peanuts. We hate to interrupt this episode of Spongebob because we have some breaking shell news...” (28:58, Joy Dolo)

• Sincere epilogue:

  “If I had to lose to anyone, I’m glad it was you.” (33:49, Joy Dolo)

• Playful fusion:

  "Peeweed. Sea nuts. Aweed." (34:40, Joy Dolo)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Declaration of Greatness, Seaweed: 06:03–09:50
• Declaration of Greatness, Peanuts: 11:45–16:10
• Micro Round (Fact-Off): 21:06–24:57
• Sneak Attack (News Report Challenge): 27:10–30:39
• Final Six: 31:26–31:58
• Judge Axel Announces Winner: 32:20

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Final Decision & Judge’s Rationale

Winner: SEAWEED!

"I really liked how you talked about the environmental benefits of seaweed. That just seemed really like a good practical point to me, you know? Also, your news segment was really fun." (32:32, Axel)

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Episode Tone & Style

The show is packed with warmth, banter, and creative thinking—debater Joy and Alce needle each other with puns and affection. Judge Axel delivers thoughtful insights, and the segment structure keeps the pace brisk and playful.

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Conclusion

"Seaweed vs. Peanuts" is a delightful, joke-filled battle between snacks that covers culinary creativity, environmental science, poetry, and personal nostalgia—all wrapped in a spirit of friendly, educational competition. The episode not only crowns seaweed the champ but teaches listeners that even fierce rivals can still be friends at the end.

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For more fun debates, visit smashboom.org and join the vote!

Transcript

[A]

Friends, we are so super duper excited to tell you that we just added a bunch more Cities to our 2026 live show tour.

[B]

Get ready for singing, dancing, magic tricks, game shows, mystery sounds, and scientists falling from the sky in a totally safe way. We promise. Plus, there's a chance for you to attend special meet and greet parties in every city. So come on.

[A]

This spring, we're coming to Milwaukee, St.

[B]

Paul, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Chattanooga, Durham, San Francisco, San Francisco, Portland, Buffalo, Toronto and Ann Arbor.

[A]

We're basically gonna be everywhere. Look behind you. Are we there? No. Well, we probably will be soon.

[B]

Head over to brainson.org events for tickets and make sure you grab passes to our meet and greet party. You get to ask us questions, take pictures with us, and I'll even do some close up magic.

[A]

That's brainson.org events. Can't wait to see you.

[C]

Brains on Universe.

[A]

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 Smartypass 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 fact filled shows 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. From the brains behind Brains On.

[C]

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

[A]

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 is best. Today is a snacky smackdown. Peanut versus seaweed. One grows underground and pairs perfectly with jelly and chocolate. The other is from the sea and is key in soups and sushi. Which one will be crowned the champion of chomp? Let's find out. Here to give him shell for Team Peanuts is actress and forever ago host, Joy Dolo.

[B]

I'm here to crack open the competition. I'm gonna crack it wide open.

[A]

Yeah, you are. And sounding off for Team Seaweed is actor and improviser, Alce Bruno.

[D]

Seaweed is so powerful, it's gonna uncrack those peanuts.

[A]

Yeah. And judging this mouth watering melee is Axel from Austin, Texas. Axel likes computer programming. He's working on making a video game about a post apocalyptic society. And he plays the bass guitar. Welcome, Axel.

[C]

Hello.

[A]

So Axel, tell me about your computer programming. What are you learning right now?

[C]

Well, my program is Python based and I'm still working on it, but it's coming along really nicely. I'm implementing music for the first time on one of my games, which is a bit challenging to make work because each song takes up a lot of storage and so does the software to play those songs in the game, but it always turns out really well.

[A]

That's awesome. Yeah. It seems like music is really important to video games, right? Yeah. How do you pick what music goes where?

[C]

It's just whatever I find that's cool on SoundCloud pretty much.

[A]

Oh, nice. So you're a video game. What is sort of the goal as a player?

[C]

To survive the events that take place around you.

[A]

Okay, what kind of events are happening?

[C]

I don't know. It's like, supposed to be a apocalyptic thing. I got the idea for it when I watched the 1957 movie Paths of Glory by Stanley Kubrick. It's about the first World War, and the grimy sort of aesthetic really stuck with me, and it inspired me to make him a game loosely based on the visuals and stuff like that. You can't win. The character always ends up losing his battles personally and externally. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, wow. Okay. Does it take place in that sort of World War I era?

[C]

No, it's in the future.

[A]

Oh, okay. But it kind of has that vibe from that movie.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Very cool. So what advice do you have for

[C]

our debaters today to judge how good your argument is? Do what you think is best.

[A]

Hmm. Very nice.

[B]

Those are words from Stanley Kubrick too, right? Yeah, Yeah, I believe he said that first.

[A]

Excellent advice, Axel. And when someone's trying to convince you of something, what do you find is really convincing to you?

[C]

Knowledge about the topic. Extensive knowledge.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I thought we were just talking about peanut butter.

[A]

Which taste treat will triumph today? Let's find out through debate. But first, here are the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four rounds. The declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge, Axel will award points to the team that impresses him the most. But he'll keep his 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. Joy, Elsie, and Axel, are you ready?

[C]

I'm ready.

[B]

I was born ready, Nutters.

[D]

I'm ready. As they say in Seaweedville.

[A]

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've flipped a coin and I'll say you're up first. Give us a deep dive on seaweed.

[D]

I need to start by apologizing. Joy Dolo and I have been friends for years. In fact, she's one of my favorite people. And that's why I have to apologize to her. She's representing Peanuts in today's battle. And yeah, I love peanuts. Peanut butter. Right on. Peanut oil. Versatile. But I'm so, so sorry that you have to go up against seaweed, because seaweed is a straight up superhero of the plant world, nay, the whole world.

[B]

Hey, look, a hero. It's a bird. No, it's a plane. Dude, look down. I'm pointing at the ocean.

[D]

Oh, it's seaweed. Seaweed is both delicious and nutritious. Stuff made from seaweed is super useful. And this powerful plant can help battle climate change. Meanwhile, peanuts, well, they go great with jelly. Seaweed is the name given to a whole group of plants that grow in lakes, rivers and oceans. They get energy from the sun, even in deep waters with very low light. Land plants like peanuts need to fight against gravity to grow. But seaweed just goes with the flow, literally. Seaweed is made to move as water flows around it. Its flexibility is its strength. It bends and sways, but doesn't break. We could all learn from this chill aquatic friend. When things get tough, channel your inner seaweed ebb and flow with life's challenges, and you'll live to sway another day. This strong flexibility is thanks to something in seaweed called hydrocolloids. This cool gel like stuff is used in food, skincare, medicine, toothpaste, and so much more. If you see a product with the words alginate, carrageenan or agar, that's our pal, seaweed. But let's talk taste, because seaweed is also a culinary rock star. Seaweed is a staple food all over. There's nori, the crispy and versatile sheets of seaweed used in Japanese food like onigiri, a wonderful bunch of rice wrapped in nori. In Korea, you eat a special seaweed soup called myokigguk on birthdays. In Wales, lava bread is a tasty seaweed puree. And in China, there's a savory fried seaweed dish called tai sai hua shung mi. Which is served with peanuts as a favorite. To peanuts. Not only is seaweed super delish, it's super healthy too. A recent study suggests seaweed is anti cancer, antiviral, antifungal, anti diabetic, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, anticoagulant, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, UV protective, and neuroprotective. I feel like that's every good thing a food can do for you. No peanuts. As if that weren't enough seaweed can fight climate change, researchers looked at seaweed farms and found that they were capturing carbon. That's great, because when carbon goes up into the atmosphere, it makes our planet warmer. More seaweed in the water equals less carbon in the air. So I'm sorry, Joy, that you have to go up against the tasty, healing, miraculous seaweed. It's not a fair fight, but I can't wait to eat some tai Tsai Hua Sheng mee with you afterwards.

[A]

Wow, a globetrotting, heroic argument for our pal seaweed. Axel, what stood out to you about Alce's argument?

[C]

I really liked the part where you talked about the positive health implications of seaweed, like how it's antioxidant, inflammatory, diabetic, etc. I thought that was really cool.

[A]

Very cool. All right, Joy, it is time for your rebuttal. You get 30 seconds to tell us why seaweed is all washed up. And your time starts now.

[B]

First of all, I'll say, how dare you use our friendship against. Against me. We have been friends for a long time, and I thought a lot of you up until this. Just kidding. I love you so much. Also, your argument is flawed. Okay, so. Okay, so how can, like, peanuts fight against gravity? That's what they're supposed to do. They're plants naturally. Somebody that's really fighting for global warming should know that plants naturally reach for the sun. They're not fighting gravity. They're growing. They're learning. They're transitioning.

[C]

See?

[B]

I didn't even see anything. Molly, were you really counting 30 seconds?

[A]

I really was. I'm so sorry.

[D]

First things first. I love you, Joy. I love you, Peanuts. I'm sorry you had to lose this way. And gravity. Seaweed's coming for you. Let it be known. Let it be known across the planet that seaweed is coming for gravity.

[A]

We've got an appetite for arguments today. And snacks. But we're gonna pause here and take a quick break. Be right back. Best smash. Smash. Back to our debate. We just heard all about that underwater marvel, seaweed. Now it's peanuts. Turn. Joy, tell us how peanuts pack a punch.

[B]

First of all, peanuts are not actually nuts. They're legumes, like beans. But I am actually nuts. For pe negumes, Pegums. Whatever. I love them. See how many I have in my cabinet. All right. I finished all my peanuts last night. Classic me. Come on, let's catch the bus to go get more. While we wait for the bus, let me regale you with my love of these tiny treats. For starters, the taste. Earthy, salty, warm. Then there's the smell of the nut after you crack the shell. Ah, reminds me of childhood. Oh, are we doing one of those going back in time things? Okay, picture me. I'm six and a half years old and adorable, living in Tennessee and eating roasted peanuts in the shell with my family. Gee, mom, these are the best snacks ever. And so fun to crack open. And the crunch, so loud.

[A]

Yes, Joy, but shh. Not in church.

[B]

I've been hooked ever since. You could say peanuts and me go together like ducks. And something that goes together with ducks. I don't know. I'm not a duck expert. My point is, I'm always eating them. In the morning, I drop peanuts in my yogurt. In the afternoon, I spread peanut butter on my peanut butter and regular butter toast. Trust me, it is so good. And for snacks, I pop cocktail peanuts. And at night, I have chocolatey peanutty Reese's candies. My clock is just a circle with 12 peanuts on it, because guess what? It's always peanut time.

[A]

Yay.

[B]

The bus is here.

[D]

Out of peanuts again, Joy?

[B]

Yep, bus driver happens way too often. Oh, look, we're passing my favorite Ghanaian restaurant. They serve a mind blowing savory peanut stew. The Thai place next to it has the best peanut chicken stir fry. In fact, cultures all over eat peanuts from Israel to India and Malaysia to Mexico. Peanuts are in soups, sweets, salads, and sandwiches. They're like the actor Pedro Pascal because they're in everything. And peanuts are basically a superfood. They're loaded with vitamins, minerals, protein, and healthy fats. And unlike seaweed, they fill you up. Give me a pack of peanuts and I'm good for hours. Give me a pack of seaweed and I'm good. Until literally the second I stop eating the bag of seaweed. Geez, was that even a snack? It's like eating salt flavored air. Oh, and peanuts aren't just good for us. They're good for farmers, too. Peanut plants are what's known as a nitrogen fixer. That means they put More nitrogen in soils, which helps other plants grow. Farmers often grow peanuts to make their soil better for different crops later on. And peanuts use much less water than tree nuts like almonds or walnuts. Meanwhile, seaweed uses so much water, like oceans of it. Geez. Water hogs.

[D]

Here's your stop, Joey.

[B]

Oh, great. Thanks. This is Peanut Palace. They've got raw peanuts, roasted peanuts, salted, unsalted, brittle, butter chews, chapsticks, everything. Hey, Joy, the usual? Yep. Attention, please. Bring one pallet of peanuts in the shell for Joy Dolo. That should last me till tomorrow. So to recap, peanuts are power packed little legumes. They're helpful for crops. You can cook them a million ways and you can eat them pret much anywhere except church. Oh, my watch. Guess what time it says. That's right now and forever. It's peanut time. Peanut time. Peanut time. Peanut time. It's time for peanuts. Yeah. I didn't know we were gonna keep that part.

[A]

A very punchy and positive argument there for peanuts. Axel, what stood out to you about Joy's declaration of greatness?

[C]

I like the segment where you talked about your personal collection connection. Sorry, personal connection?

[A]

My whole personal collection?

[B]

Yeah, that too.

[C]

The peanuts and how you used to eat them as a child in Tennessee. I also like the Pedro Pascal joke.

[A]

Excellent. Alse. You get 30 seconds to crack open team peanuts arguments. And your time begins now.

[D]

Okay, first off, yes, peanuts should not be moonlighting as legumes. I don't know who's spreading that lie, but peanuts need to get back in their lane. Peanuts, they taste fine, but they lead to gut problems. Okay? That's why you don't feed peanuts to babies, I think. Cause it makes them nervous. And boiled peanuts. Talk about peanut collection. Boiled peanuts are the worst thing to ever happen to water. It's a nasty. It's a nasty expense. No one should do it. Peanut brittle. That's a dentist nightmare. Peanuts don't belong on clocks. That's my last one. Peanuts should never be near a clock.

[B]

What do you think the clock is made out of?

[D]

All say it's just a peanut brittle circle.

[B]

Collective shells. Collective shells.

[A]

Well, I'm glad you're using the shells for something. You know, you got a lot of them.

[B]

Isn't everybody?

[D]

That's the legume part of a peanut.

[A]

Yeah. Okay, Axel, please award some points we'd love you to give. One point to the declaration of greatness that you liked best and one point to the rebuttal that won you over. Have you made your decision?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

All Right. Joy and Alsei, how are you feeling so far?

[B]

I feel good. I feel like not only is my argument strong and well rounded, I also feel like our friendship is stronger. I'll say. I don't know if it's because of the debut, but, you know, if you win, that's cool. But if I win, that's probably right. That's what the universe.

[D]

I feel like the hydrocolloids of this friendship are improving the neuroplasticity of our ability to stay strong beyond the legume of disaster that is between us.

[A]

Oh my gosh. I am loving this. Okay, it is time for a quick break. Grab your snack of choice and we'll

[C]

be right back with more smashboom Best.

[A]

You're listening to State of Debate.

[C]

Home to ragin rhetoric and awe inspiring argumentation.

[A]

Hello, debate ics. This is Taylor Lincoln here with my flower friend, Todd Douglas.

[D]

We're standing in my garden waiting for my tulips to bloom.

[A]

I just wish they'd put the petal to the metal and bloom already.

[D]

You know, this reminds me of a real stinker of a logical fallacy I heard the other day.

[A]

Those are unbeliefably bad arguments that don't stand up to scrutiny.

[D]

And this one was the hasty generalization fallacy. That's when you make a bold statement about a group or phenomenon without evidence to back it up. Here, let's listen.

[A]

Ah.

[D]

Is there anything better than a perfectly maintained garden, Tony?

[B]

I don't think there is, Jerry.

[D]

As a matter of.

[A]

Ah.

[D]

What's wrong?

[B]

There's a bee in your rose bushes.

[D]

Bees gobble up all the nectar flowers have to offer. Your garden is gonna shrivel up in a few days.

[A]

What?

[D]

Where'd you get that idea?

[B]

Bees need nectar.

[D]

It's how they make honey. If we don't stop this infestation, they'll

[B]

drain your flowers to death. Oh, wow.

[A]

It sure sounds like Tony has a problem with bees.

[D]

I'll say. But he didn't have any evidence to back up his claim. Sure, bees drink nectar from flowers, but that doesn't hurt the flower.

[A]

Yeah, bees actually pollinate flowers, which helps plants survive.

[D]

Oh my gosh, Taylor, look. The flowers are blooming. Quick, take a picture.

[A]

We'll see you next time on State of Debate.

[D]

Smash.

[A]

Boom.

[D]

Best.

[A]

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

[C]

And I'm your judge, Axel.

[A]

And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners.

[B]

Like this one.

[A]

Hi, my name is Paz, and my

[C]

debate idea is brain versus heart. Sounds like a good debate for the Scarecrow and Tin man from the wizard of Oz.

[A]

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

[C]

And now back to Peanut Nuts versus Seaweed.

[A]

Get ready for round two. It's the micro round. Alse and Joy, you will each get three chances to make a microargument, backed by a cool fact. Alse started things off last round, so, Joy, you get to go first this time. Let's hear your first fact for peanuts.

[B]

Paging President Peanut. Okay, peanuts haven't been president yet, but two different US Presidents have farmed peanuts. Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter. No president or even vice president has ever farmed seaweed. Ever. I'll say. Ever.

[D]

Here's the thing. Farmers care about cute things, and peanuts are cute. But seaweed is the stuff of romance. And one of the oldest known collections of Japanese poetry from the seventh century. Yes, 1400 years ago. Is this beautiful verse. Alas, she is no more, whose soul was bent to mine like the bending seaweed. Or how about this one from the 11th century? In the bay of Naniwa, seaweed covered gemstone rocks appear, just so does my love for her. Aren't you swooning? I'm swooning. What would a romantic verse dedicated to peanuts even sound like? Crispy, crunchy, crunchy. Oh, Peanuts, you are so funky, it doesn't even rhyme. I know. Come on, Peanuts.

[B]

You know. You know, it's okay. I know that. Like, I love that. We're leading with our heart, with romance. And also, speaking of things from a long time ago, peanuts, you know, they're not. They are. They go way, way, way back. Right? So some researchers found evidence that suggests people in the mountains were farming peanuts as far back as 9,000 years ago. So that makes peanut farms older than the pyramids. Take that and see your way out.

[D]

Oh, okay. Well, see how I did that? What the Andes Mountains people would like to see is the world be the change they want to be.

[A]

Huh?

[D]

And people say that a lot. But seaweed is the change. There's a person named Vincent Dumizel who sees a coming seaweed revolution. He co authored the Seaweed Manifesto, which outlines the way that seaweed can be harnessed to address global problems, including, but not limited to, hunger, climate change, and renewable energy. Take that, Andes Mountains. You're welcome. Andes Mountains.

[B]

The Andes Mountains above water. Let's not forget, peanuts, you know, aren't just for eating. I mean, we've talked about several uses of seaweed in so many ways, but peanuts are Also very malleable, if you will. So in the early 1900s, Dr. George Washington Carver found over 300 uses for peanuts. Today, peanut oil is used as a lubricant for engines. The shells can be made into particle boards or clocks. As I had said earlier, some researchers are making earth friendly plastics out of them. That goes also with your global warming argument. And you can use them as little stones to throw at your lover's window to wake them up so you can recite peanut love poetry to them like. Like Romeo and Juliet. Like nut. Wherefore art thou, peanut? Art thou whilst in the wind blowing against the crack of dawn? Nay shall I say?

[D]

Nay shall I say?

[C]

I hear it.

[B]

Shall you see how I did that? That could keep going for a while.

[D]

We shall remember that in the 1800s, no offense to George Washington Carver, but before George Washington Carver was carving. In the 1800s, women living in Victorian England were swept up in a seaweed craze. These seaweed lovers, or algologists as they were called, would go foraging on the coast for different kinds of seaweed and catalog them in scrapbooks. The hunt for these sea flowers allowed women to cast aside their restrictive clothing and put on practical outfits for seaweed hunting and spend time amongst the waves and wildlife.

[A]

Okay, incredible facts all around. Romantic, poetic. So many facets there to consider. Axel, what stood out to you about these facts?

[C]

I liked how Peanuts countered seaweed's global warming point a little bit.

[A]

Very true.

[C]

I like the part about the poetry that was written a really long time ago about seaweed, and that just shows how deep the cultural impact is.

[A]

Very true. All right, amazing facts all around. But Axel, only one team can get a point. The criteria are totally subjective and totally up to you. Please award your point, but don't tell us us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

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 up at Brainson. Thanks.

[B]

Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom.

[A]

Smash. 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. Your challenge is called Top of the hour. Pretend you are a local newscaster and you have a story about your side. It could be A quick report of some breaking news, a human interest story, maybe a weather report. Whatever you want. It's up to you. You could play multiple characters. You could play one character. All right. And maybe bonus points if you can do a little intro music for the show. I don't know. We're gonna time you, though, okay? So you're gonna have 90 seconds, tops. You can go shorter if you want, but 90 seconds is the limit. All right, I'll say you're gonna go first this round. When you're ready for your news report to begin, hop right in.

[D]

It's seaweed time. It's seaweed Everywhere. Hey, folks, welcome back to Seaweed Everywhere with me, your host, Capital Seaweed. I'm here with a bunch of people from Chile, and they want to let you know about something from seaweed. Yes, I'm from Chile, and this is my Chilean accent, and I love seaweed. As a matter of fact, there's a food we call cocha yuyo, and it's also very old, and we use the inside of the seaweed for our teeth. Not we don't put it in. We don't replace our teeth with seaweed. We use the in the inner part of the seaweed to improve ourselves. Back to you, capital C. Thanks, man. Cut it out. We're still talking about seaweed. One thing you should know about seaweed is that if you are feeling lonely, you can always find seaweed in the ocean water. And also when you watch impressive shows like spongebob, they also have seaweed. Seaweed is a cultural touchstone and has been for at least 14,000 years. Use it for yourself if you want to not have aphasia like me. Aphasia is when you forget words. Play us out, band. It's seaweed time. Seaweed is better than peanuts. Dun dun dun dun. Seaweed don't cause diabetes.

[A]

It's a catchy tune.

[D]

It's a great song.

[A]

I would watch that every night for the nightly seaweed news for sure. Okay, Joy, it is your turn. Let's hear your newscast about peanuts.

[B]

Peanuts. We hate to interrupt this episode of spongebob because we have some breaking shell news going on in the area. Let's turn to our on, on site reporter. Peas and carrots. Thank you so much for letting us know. Right now we are out outside next to the peanut dome. It seems to be raining peanuts. People have gathered outside with sacks. Trisha, it's sacks. They all have sacks to catch the peanuts. We will be ending world hunger because it is coming from the sky and it is efficient for everyone to chew and swallow the crunch. Trisha, the crunch has really taken over the stadium. People are.

[A]

Are.

[B]

Are crying from joy of the crunchiness and the tast. These unsalted roasted peanuts. That's repairing back to you, Trish. Thank you so much. You. Next up, we have the culinary corner with our child actress Shirley Blimple. Thank you so much for having me on the show. Today I'll be making a traditional Liberian cuisine dish called cassava leaf and rice. I've already boiled the leaves for approximately three hours because that's always how long it takes. I don't know why. And I've added a scoop of crunchy peanut butter just to thicken it up. It's a classic cultural means for thickening any kind of soup.

[D]

Who's that? The ghost of George Washington Carver. And he's allergic to peanuts.

[B]

That's not true.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

He is allergic, but he's not here.

[A]

Incredible work. Holy cow. Really? On breaking news on the ground reporting. So much to consider. Okay, Axel, you heard those two brilliant newscasts, and it's time to award a point. Did someone make you feel like you were there on the scene? Did someone inform you? Did someone make you laugh? Please award a point.

[C]

I already did.

[D]

Dang.

[A]

Wonderful. Okay, then. It's time for the the final six. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Joy, give us your final appeal for peanuts.

[B]

Weed out the competition. Peanut time.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

Do you really?

[A]

It could have taken a bunch of different directions.

[B]

There was a lot of choices, and I chose that one, and now I live with it.

[A]

All right, alse your turn to sum up. Seaweed.

[D]

Gut. Biome. Psychological support. Kelp yourself.

[A]

Kelp yourself. Excellent. It is time to award a final point for the final six. Maldo's final words. Have you made your decision?

[C]

I have, yes.

[A]

All right, are you ready to declare one side the smashboom bet?

[C]

Absolutely.

[A]

Drumroll, please. And the winner is.

[C]

Seaweed.

[A]

Decisive. Wow. Wow, wow. Okay, Axel, what pushed it over the edge for seaweed?

[C]

I really liked how you talked about the environmental benefits of seaweed. That just seemed really like a good practical point to me, you know?

[A]

Very true.

[C]

Also, your. Your news segment was really fun.

[D]

Oh, thank you.

[A]

Excellent.

[D]

I've been working on being a news person for a long time, so. I appreciate that.

[A]

Axel, news channels. Snap him up. He's ready.

[D]

Joy.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

Thank you for being my friend so long that I could argue so viciously. You've invited the seaweed Monster in me to come out and show its best face. Also, honestly, this was a great debate. I feel like peanuts. I'm from peanut country, so I'm also from kelp country.

[C]

Ah, yeah. Yeah.

[D]

My home was halfway in the ocean and halfway a farm.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[D]

Yep. But the way that you. You brought your own history into the history of peanuts. I mean, I had to talk about people 14,000 years ago. You talked about a dish you had. Maybe this year.

[A]

I did.

[B]

Maybe like a couple weeks ago.

[D]

Yeah. Yeah. It is always a pleasure to talk to you and to see you and to fight with you. And I'm glad that you invited the world to enjoy food with you. Consequentially.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, I'll say. I love you. I'll say. I have to say that, like I said earlier, I'm not, like, I don't know much about Japanese food or, like, seaweed, really. Like, I've had seaweed chips before, and I think it's so cool, like, all of the environmental, wonderful things that it's doing for the environment and for people, like healthy snacks and being a part of the biodomes. I learned a lot today. And he has some really, really cool facts. And I'm really glad that you're still my friend and you're, like, one of my favorite people. And if I had to lose, if I had to lose to anyone, I'm glad it was you. I wish I didn't lose, but I'm glad it was you. You're my favorite. And I hope we can show other smash boom besters that we can get along outside of these topics. We don't need to be mad at each other. No, we can take our and we can go to the top of the

[D]

mountain where the peanuts and the gravity.

[B]

Listen to this world. Listen to this. Peeweed Sea Nuts Aweed.

[A]

Peeweeds Playhouse. Okay, that is it for today's debate battle. Axel crowned Seaweed the smashboom best. But what about you?

[C]

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

[A]

This episode was produced by me, Molly Bloom, Santa Totten and Mark Sanchez. We had sound design by Rachel Breese and Mark Sanchez. We had engineering help from Jake Pearlman and Jackson V. Our announcer is Marley foyer worker Otto. And we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Joy, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?

[B]

I'd like to shout out my dad, who still eats a pallet of peanuts, like, a month.

[A]

Awesome. How about you Alse any special shout outs.

[D]

I'd like to shout out the people's closet. Actually, it's in south Minneapolis. It's actually right at George Floyd Square. And they make sure that there's, like, accessible, nice clothes for folks and anybody can just come and, like, donate more. It's run by one person.

[B]

Awesome. Wow.

[A]

That's incredible. That's amazing. Axel, any special thanks or shout outs?

[C]

Firstly, everyone here did an incredible job today. And I would like to shout out my best friend Sarah, who's in St. Paul.

[A]

Nice. Before we go, let's check in and see who Paz thinks should win the brain versus heart debate. I think the brain would win because

[C]

that's where your emotions actually come from

[A]

and it controls most of the human body. 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 keep it going, head to smartypass.org to subscribe. We'll be back next week with the new smashboom best episode. Maple syrup versus soy sauce. Ta ta.

[C]

Goodbye.

[B]

See you later, seaweed.

[D]

You soon.

[A]

Oh, through the test. Oh, yeah. The smashable west. It's magical West.

[B]

It's magical West. You know, I don't. I. You know, I don't know why we're talking about Victorian women when we have a woman right here in front of you right now.

[D]

Okay, Victorian women were also.

[B]

Let's talk about the woman that's right here, right now.

[A]

Let's last fast.

[B]

No, I got one. I got one.

[A]

Sorry. Only got three.