Story Pirates Podcast: “Introducing: Smash Boom Best! — Tag vs. Hide and Seek”

Release Date: December 25, 2025
Episode Theme:
This special crossover episode showcases a full debate from the award-winning kids’ debate show “Smash Boom Best,” pitting two classic playground games—Tag and Hide and Seek—against each other. Story Pirates’ own Peter McNerney and Nick Kanellis face off, each championing their game with humor, creativity, and plenty of audience engagement. The debate is judged by Truman, a theater-loving kid from Minnesota.

Main Theme and Purpose

• Highlight: The episode brings the fun and smart “Smash Boom Best” format to Story Pirates’ listeners, letting them experience a lively, comedic debate between two iconic children’s games.
• Purpose: To entertain, engage young (and young-at-heart) listeners, and inspire them to think critically and creatively about everyday favorites.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction & Episode Setup

• Host Lee (Story Pirates) introduces the "Smash Boom Best" show and explains that Story Pirate regulars Peter and Nick are the debaters.
• Fun Fact (00:59, Lee): “On August 14, 2019, I did appear on Smashboom Best and I did beat Peter in a debate about the Ice Age versus the Jurassic. … I have never been invited back. Whereas Peter has been invited back … Is it fair? No, it's not. ... But it's okay. I'm still a huge fan of smashboom Best…”

2. Meet the Judge (Truman) [03:17]

• Truman shares his experience in musical theater and interest in mental health.
• Advice for debaters (04:08, Truman): "Make me laugh. And references."

3. Debate Structure Overview (Molly Bloom, 04:11)

• Four rounds: Declaration of Greatness, Micro Round, Sneak Attack, and Final Six.

Round 1: Declaration of Greatness & Rebuttals

Team Tag — Nick Kanellis [05:15]

• Nick presents a “Tag Gym,” highlighting the physical excitement, variety, and worldwide popularity of Tag.

  • Many variations: freeze tag, TV tag, octopus tag, etc.
  • Even gorillas play tag! (07:01)
  • Tag is accessible anywhere, by anyone.

• Memorable Quote (07:43, Nick):

  • "You want to know what happens if you get good at hide and seek? You go missing."
  • “You could even play on the moon.” (08:27, with a funny lunar Tag sketch)

Judge Reaction [09:22]

• Truman: "I liked the switch of scenes. … I could see it in my head. I loved it. The wording was great. And, you know, tag is a go to."

Team Hide and Seek — Peter McNerney [10:40]

• Peter brings immersive audio comedy with a mock “extreme” hide and seek.

• Explains the evolutionary roots of hide and seek (“humans are hardwired to search for stuff”).

• Interviews Truman as a “professional kid”: hide and seek “by a mile” is better because it takes brains, while Tag is just for the fast.

• Hide and seek is ancient and “universal”.

• Notable Quote (13:31, Truman):

  • “Well, as a professional kid, I'd like to say that hide and seek rules and tag sadly drools.”

Judge Reaction [15:06]

• Truman: "I really did like the Minecraft reference. … it was just very immersive… and the sprinkled in like extremes of hide and seek I really liked. Four days is a long time."

Rebuttal Highlights

• Peter on Tag [09:49]:

  • “I call it running around...I'm faster than you, you’re it, game's over…who wants to go to the gym?...I need to be distracted in my exercise, and tag does not do the job. Tag. No one's it.”

• Nick on Hide and Seek [15:38]:

  • “Hide and seek, the game where you can't go to the bathroom… Also, that kid sounded an awful lot like Peter's child. I wonder if they're biased at all… it's the only game where you could fall asleep while you're playing it.”

• Funny Interlude (16:09, Peter):

  • “I hid in the toilet. I could go whenever I want to. That's the fun of hide and seek, is that you can. You know, let's not get too specific.”

Hosts’ Banter and Camaraderie (17:32–17:51)

• Peter: “Nick is my best friend and I love you.”
• Nick: “I would echo what Peter has said. I would love to play either hide and go seek or tag with Peter.”

Round 2: Micro Round – “Top of the Hour” [23:09]

Prompt: Deliver a breaking news report about your game.

Peter (Hide and Seek) [23:39]

• Reports from a town where the “most obnoxious” member is about to win the annual hide and seek game.
• Comedic twist: The winner (Devin) is so annoying that the town dreads his victory—until he appears in disguise to gloat.

Nick (Tag) [25:21]

• News report on the mysterious “It” phenomenon:

  • Interview with someone who’s briefly “It”—describes a wild, contagious urge to run, laugh, and “pass it on”.

• Even the reporters get caught up and run out to play.

• Judge’s Response [27:09]

  • “I liked that both of them were like, everybody's involved.”

Round 3: Sneak Attack – “Sonic Stealth” [27:55]

Prompt: Invent a version of your game played with just sound; explain and then play it.

Nick’s “Ta Tag” [28:35]

• Players chant “T” repeatedly; when someone says “Ta,” the “it” player can tag them by saying “Ta” before they say “T” again.
• Hilarious, chaotic, tongue-twisting gameplay ensues.
  • “Peter’s the new tar!” (29:39)
  • “Todd is it. Todd, is it?” (29:47)

Peter’s “Can You Hear Where I’m Hiding?” [30:08]

• Hiders pick secret locations and give clues by adjusting their voices to sound like they’re in those spaces.

• Seekers guess the location from audio-only clues.

• Host Reaction (31:08, Molly): “I want to play that again.”

• Peter: “I’m going to call the game Can you hear where I’m hiding?” (31:25)

Round 4: The Final Six [31:51]

Each side gets six words to sum up their game’s greatness.

• Peter (Hide and Seek):
  • “Ready or not, here comes fun.” (32:03)
• Nick (Tag):
  • “Why hide. Have more fun. Run.” (32:16)

Winner Announced [32:47]

• Truman: “It is… Hide and seek.”
• Truman reflects: “Ready or not, Here I Come is such a classic, but adding the fun, it was just… perfect.” (33:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nick Kanellis promoting Tag’s variety (07:32):
  • “There’s also octopus tag, hot dog tag, blob tag, Star wars tag, and more.”
• Truman, as “professional kid” (13:31):
  • “Hide and seek rules and tag sadly drools.”
• Molly Bloom, loving the new game (31:08):
  • “I want to play that again.”
• Peter and Nick, on their friendship (33:19):
  • Peter: “Your presence makes everything better.”
  • Nick: “I feel like I won, even though I lost.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:07: Lee introduces the crossover and sets context for the debate.
• 02:23: Molly Bloom introduces the debate: Tag vs. Hide and Seek.
• 03:17: Judge Truman is introduced.
• 05:15: Nick’s declaration for Tag.
• 10:40: Peter’s declaration for Hide and Seek.
• 13:31: “Professional kid” Truman gives the edge to Hide and Seek.
• 15:38 & 16:09: Quick, funny rebuttals.
• 23:39: News-style micro rounds.
• 28:35: “Sonic Stealth” (audio games).
• 31:51: The Final Six-word showdown.
• 32:47: Winner revealed—Hide and Seek.

Episode Tone & Language

• The debate is playful, quick-witted, and very kid-centric, filled with puns, jokes, and good-natured ribbing.
• Both debaters—Nick and Peter—use cartoonish voices, creative sketches, and meta-commentary to keep the audience laughing.
• The judge, Truman, brings genuine curiosity and humor to the proceedings, often riffing on pop culture and Dungeons & Dragons.

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

• Creativity and Imagination: Both Nick and Peter use wild scenarios, fictional interviews, and sound effects to bring the debate to life.
• Camaraderie: Despite the competitive setup, the friendly banter and admiration between Peter and Nick shines through.
• Interactivity: Audience is encouraged to vote for their favorite; listeners are also invited to invent their own debates or games.

Best for:
Listeners seeking fun, unpredictable comedy; families looking for screen-free entertainment; and anyone nostalgic for playground games.

Ready or not, here comes fun!