Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family
American Public Media
Smash Boom Best is a funny, smart debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! from APM Studios. Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best: Pikachu vs. Mario, Lollipops vs. Popcorn, Flamingos vs. Axolotls, Mermaids vs. Bigfoot, Cats vs. Dogs, Spiderman vs. Batman, Refrigerators vs. Toilets, Minecraft vs. Lego… the list goes on. Our star-studded line-up of debaters use facts and passion to make their case, teaching listeners how to defend their opinions along the way! Past debaters include Tim Platt, cast member of the comedy narrative play podcast Rude Tales of Magic, comedian and writer Jenny Yang, Minneapolis-based rapper NUR-D, comedian and creator of the Story Pirates Peter McNerney, Radio Ambulante’s Daniel Alarcón, journalist and host of Into It Sam Sanders, host of Terrible, Thanks for Asking Nora McInerney, food-writer Kenji Lopez-Alt and many, many more. To top it off, our State of Debate segment shows listeners how to identify logical fallacies in the wild. Ad hominem attacks and bandwagon fallacies, be gone! So if you’re looking to ignite a funny, feisty debate on your next roadtrip, or just want some amusing arguments for your kids to consider while they fall asleep… tune into Smash Boom Best, where we make debate – a blast!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 6, 2019 • 34min
Unicorns vs. Dragons
Unicorns and dragons have graced us with a magical, show-stopping debate! Which one of these whimsical, wondrous beasts will triumph? Will it be ferocious, fire-breathing team dragon? Or ethereal, elusive team unicorn? Debaters Sanden Totten and Katie McVay do their best to sway our judge. Press play to find out who comes out on top! And then head to smashboom.org to tell us who you think deserves the title of Smash Boom Best. This episode is sponsored by Relay (relaygo.com/boom for 15% off your purchase on Amazon).
Jun 6, 2019 • 32min
Piranhas vs Venus Flytraps
Venus flytraps and piranhas go leaf to teeth in this fearsome debate battle! That’s right, this matchup is killer plant meets fanged fish. Will it be treacherous team Venus flytrap or tricky team piranha for the win? Featuring debaters Jed Kim and Tracy Mumford. Which is cooler? Listen to find out what our judge decides, then head over to smashboom.org to cast your vote. This episode is sponsored by Relay (relaygo.com/boom for 15% off your purchase on Amazon).
May 23, 2019 • 2min
Season 2 Trailer
Smash Boom Best is back on June 6th! In 16 new episodes, our debaters tackle epic match-ups like chocolate versus cheese! Aliens versus robots! And unicorns versus dragons!This season, we have a challenge for you: If 150 people make a donation to support the show by June 30th, we’ll make a bonus episode featuring host Molly Bloom as a debater for the first time ever! Everyone who donates will receive a link to listen.Plus, donating automatically makes you a member of our brand new Debate Club. We have Debate Club pins, t-shirts, a card game and more as thank-you gifts. You can even get a special recording made just for you, by Molly and some of our all-star debaters. Click here to donate and join.Season 2 features a star-studded line-up of debaters, including Story Pirates’ Lee Overtree and Peter McNerney, the Splendid Table’s Francis Lam, and NPR’s Sam Sanders. And all of the debates are judged by listeners like you.So who will be crowned the smash boom best? Find out June 6th when our season kicks off with two new debate battles.
Feb 4, 2019 • 1min
Season 2 News!
Press play for an announcement from the Smash Boom Best team!
Jun 27, 2018 • 32min
Lava vs Quicksand
Two natural phenomena go head-to-head in our final match-up of the season. It's ooey, gooey molten lava versus tricky, shifty, fast-acting quicksand. Both are dangerous, both are fascinating, only one can win. Which side are you: Team Lava or Team Quicksand? Tune in to hear both sides and then cast your vote here: https://goo.gl/forms/m5ndQTmN1ZXW7B8r2
Jun 21, 2018 • 27min
Pizza vs Tacos
It's an all-you-can-eat buffet of difficult decisions in one of our toughest match-ups ever. In one corner, it's cheesy, shareable, savory-sauced pizza. And in the other, it's spicy, portable tacos deliciosos. What are you having?Are you Team Pizza or Team Tacos? Vote here!And click here to share your debate ideas with us!
Jun 13, 2018 • 32min
Books vs Movies
Who are you rooting for: the printed word or the silver screen? Bibliophiles face off with film buffs everywhere in this week's Smash Boom Battle. Hear both sides out and then vote here: https://goo.gl/forms/Qxk3Zqu9YbRBjQIk2 Smash Boom Best is sponsored today by KiwiCo (https://kiwico.com/boom)
Jun 7, 2018 • 32min
Castles vs Caves
We’re pitting noble medieval fortresses against naturally-made chambers of wonder. Which do you think is cooler: castles or caves? Our debaters aim to settle this millennia-old rivalry once and for all. Are you Team Castle or Team Cave? Vote here: https://goo.gl/forms/xFJGvYuCgatMuJ782 Today’s episode is sponsored by KiwiCo (kiwico.com/brainson).
May 31, 2018 • 25min
Cats vs Dogs
In one corner, human’s best friend, licker of faces, chewer of toys -- it’s dogs. And in the other corner, sleek and graceful, free pest control with a cute face to boot -- it’s cats. Are you Team Cat or Team Dog? Head to smashboom.org to cast your vote!
May 24, 2018 • 33min
Super Speed vs. Super Strength
Will muscly might or supersonic speed triumph? This Smash Boom Best battle takes on two out-of-this world superhuman powers. Which would you rather have: super speed or super strength?
