Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family

Smash Boom Best is back on October 15th! We’ve got 16 new epic debate battles, including Vampires vs Werewolves, Ice Cream vs French Fries, and Avengers vs Star Wars! Tune in for debates filled with shocking facts, laser-fine logic, and pithy puns -- all judged by a listener like you. Want something to listen to now? Check out episodes from S1 and S2 and vote for the teams YOU think are the smash...

Smash Boom Best is back with 16 new debate battles this summer! But before we kick off the season, we need your help choosing two debate match-ups. Cast your vote below before Monday, March 9th! Which debate do you want to hear? Which debate do you want to hear? Got a great idea for a debate? Send us your debate ideas here! In the meantime, stay tuned for more details about the upcoming season. Se...

We made a special bonus episode just for our Debate Club members! To join and get access to the episode, head to smashboom.org/debateclub and make a donation in any amount. The bonus episode features our beloved host and sloth lover, Molly Bloom, in a debate battle with Brains On producer and cheetah enthusiast, Sanden Totten. It’s cheetahs vs. sloths! Want to listen now? Join the Debate Club at s...

NPR’s Sam Sanders and Elise Hu go head to head in this futuristic faceoff! Sam is repping the extraterrestrial neighbors we’re still searching for. And Elise is here to defend those helpful machines we call robots. Who do you think won? Head to smashboom.org to cast your vote. This episode is sponsored by Candlewick Press, publisher of Judy Moody Book Quiz Whiz, available wherever books are sold,...

How could you ever decide between two foods so scrumptious? Today’s judge is eleven-year-old Paige Goehner, the winner of Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship. The Sporkful’s Dan Pashman serves up a platter of facts for Team Cheese. And the Splendid Table’s Francis Lam tries to sway our judge with the delicious decadence of Team Chocolate. Who do you think won this foodie faceoff? Cast your vot...

It’s killer fish versus stinky furballs! Science Vs. host Wendy Zukerman goes to bat for SHARKS, those ancient, blood-thirsty predators that make swimming at the beach just a little bit scary.... and Chompers host Rachel Ward represents SKUNKS, those smelly cuties we all wish we could pet! Which wiley creature will win this smash boom battle? Head to smashboom.org and vote! And while you’re at it,...

Which sport is tops? Is it swimming, the splashy, life-saving skill, or soccer, the super-popular game of strategy and speed? Debaters Anna Weggel and Tommy McNamara face off in this sporty showdown. Which team do you think came out on top? Head to smashboom.org and vote! And while you’re at it, join the Debate Club and get access to our bonus episode at smashboom.org/debateclub. This episode is s...

Story Pirates podcast hosts Lee Overtree and Peter McNerney duke it out in a debate of epoch proportions: it’s the Ice Age vs. the Jurassic!! Who will win this bruiser of a battle? Will it be the chilly, 2.5-million-year period known for woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats? Or the 54-million-year period known for dinosaurs like the Stegosaurus and the Brachiosaurus? Visit smashboom.org and vote...

Two of the world’s most beloved starches are taking the stage today. On one side, we have Joy Dolo repping mighty, multi-colored rice! And on the other, Meghan McCarty Carino argues for slippery, slurpable noodles! Which one do you think is cooler? Head to smashboom.org and vote! You can join the Debate Club and get access to our bonus episode at smashboom.org/debateclub. This episode is sponsored...

Grab some sunscreen, lace up your hiking boots and don’t forget your binoculars because... you’ll want to keep your distance from today’s debate. It’s venom versus claws! Venom-lover Tom Weber and claw-queen Brandi Brown go paw to fang in this smash boom battle. Which warrior will win? Go to smashboom.org and vote! While you’re at it, join our Debate Club at smashboom.org/debateclub, and get acces...

We’re blasting off, leaving Earth’s orbit, and grabbing front row seats at an interplanetary smackdown. Which planet will be crowned the Smash Boom Best? Will debater Tommy McNamara bring it home for our neighbor Venus? Or will Kasha Patel earn a win for larger-than-life Jupiter? Visit smashboom.org to cast your vote. You can join the Debate Club and get access to our bonus episode at smashboom.or...

Buckle up for our first ever Mega Mini-Boom Bonanza! Tai Poole, host of the CBC’s award-winning podcast Tai Asks Why judges four high-octane "mini-boom" debates between high schoolers from the Minnesota Urban Debate League. They’ll tackle Spring vs. Fall, Zombies vs. Werewolves, Rats vs. Pigeons and Breakfast vs. Dinner! Do you agree with Tai’s decisions? Head to smashboom.org and vote! You can jo...

One has no legs, the other has eight. It’s snakes vs. spiders! The Washington Post’s Anna Rothschild reps Team Snake, and comedian Jenny Yang comes out swinging for Team Spider. So which one is cooler? Creepy, crawly spiders? Or slithering, scaly snakes? Listen and cast your vote at smashboom.org. This episode is sponsored by Raddish, a cooking club for kids (RaddishKids.com/Boom and coupon code B...

It’s the ultimate disguise versus the freedom of the skies! Debaters Katie McVay and Brandi Brown face off in this superpower showdown. Who won your vote? Visit smashboom.org to share your opinion. This episode is sponsored by Circle (meetcircle.com/smash and enter SMASH at checkout for $30 off). You can join the Debate Club and get access to our bonus episode at smashboom.org/debateclub. See omny...

Loki and Athena battle it out for the title of smash boom supreme! Which one of these divine deities will triumph? Will it be Loki, the shape-shifting trickster of Norse mythology, or Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom? Debaters Jed Kim and Elyssa Dudley pull their most persuasive moves to win over our judge. But who do you think won? Head to smashboom.org and vote! This episode is sponsored by R...

Two epic landforms battle it out in a geological prizefight that’s going to rock your world! So which one of these stony-faced sluggers is going to win this showdown?! Debaters Shaena Montanari and Kasha Patel go head-to-head to win your vote. Tell us who you think won at smashboom.org. This episode is sponsored by Relay (relaygo.com/boom for 15% off your purchase on Amazon). See omnystudio.com/li...

Totally lit libraries take on the marvel of museums in a heated, high-minded debate about which institution is the most educational, the most impressive and, above all, the COOLEST. So who will take home the crown? Joy Dolo for Team Library or Marc Sanchez for Team Museum? Head to smashboom.org after the episode to cast your vote. This episode is sponsored by Relay (relaygo.com/boom for 15% off yo...

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...

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...

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 rec...

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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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

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! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...