David and I spoke in January of 2026 about the influence (perhaps undue influence) of Artificial Intelligence on the art and pedagogy of rhetoric. It was great to catch up with him after so long. David and I crossed paths at the University of Pittsburgh when we were both studying in the communication department at the University of Pittsburgh.

Our conversation goes from the symbol of the American soldier to how we teach rhetoric when AI tools are pervasive and even pushed by university administration.

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The cancellation/elimination/dissolution (depending on the term you prefer) of the so called Four Cs conference (Conference on College Composition and Communication) was the most explosive rhetorical event of the summer. Let’s discuss why this might have happened and what the event portends for other conferences, like NCA.

In the Bin is back with VIDEO now, thanks to a big computer error. So enjoy! But if you enjoy the podcast really consider subscribing as it helps with the costs of making the show what it is.

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The Botta e Risposta debate format is familiar to any Italian student who has debated since the early 21st century. Now, three University of Padua students hope to make it a global phenomenon.

Based on philosophy and rhetoric (in that order!) the format hopes to reach every country in the world in a matter of just a few years. We talk about the current World Cup of Debate and look ahead to the live semifinals and finals to be held in Padua in November.

Have a listen and learn all about Italian debate that might soon be global debate!

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Show Notes:

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Botta e Risposta Instagram

The Botta E Risposta YouTube Channel - lots of example debates!

Website

High School debate has always faced existential challenges to its existence. Is AI anything different?

I am so pleased to welcome my friend Randall Martinez from Savannah Country Day School in Georgia. Randall serves as Director of Debate there and has a very insightful perspective on this! So happy to be able to chat with him about AI, politics, and other challenges facing school debate!

The Florida Debate Initiative

Florida Civics and Debate Initiative

Rhetorical Criticism! What the hell?

You can’t go anywhere these days without hearing the intellectual elite, celebrities, actors, and popular musicians sharing their opinions about this incredibly popular form of writing esoteric academic essays that are always behind incredibly expensive Taylor & Francis paywalls!

I can’t open tik tok without seeing a viral dance about Raymie McKerrow’s Critical Rhetoric essay, or that popular trend where girls ask their boyfriends, “Would you still love me if I were Richard Vatz?” The youth of the world cannot get enough rhetorical criticism. It’s everywhere!

This can all be very confusing for those who are not deeply embedded in pop culture.

In the Bin, the “blood pressure medication of global rhetoric” is on the case, assembling a fine panel to help everyone from Boomer to Zoomer understand this super popular and fun trend!

Many thanks to our panelists for this episode!

Michael Steudeman, Associate Professor of Rhetoric at Penn State

Svilen Trifonov, Lecturer at the University of Georgia

Andrea Terry, Associate Professor of Rhetoric at Sacramento State

Brad Serber, Assistant Teaching Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences at Penn State, Adjunct Lecturer in Communication Studies at SUNY New Paltz

as always questions and comments are welcome here or by email!

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Join us for a fascinating conversation about the most challenging international debating format you’ve probably not heard of - the International Public Policy Forum, sponsored by the Brewer Foundation. This is a very unusual format, requiring multiple rounds of written and spoken debate, culminating in a free trip to New York City to debate other qualifiers in person before panels of incredible judges.

I interview Jasmine McClure, Coordinator of the IPPF about the format, the goals, benefits, and future direction of the IPPF. It’s a wide ranging conversation about how debate is perceive in educational spaces and what should be done to provide debate education to as many people as possible.

The International Public Policy Forum Website

Want to get involved? Email Jasmine

Watch IPPF format debates on YouTube

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HaroldRaitt.com

Fouracy Website

SeeHear.studio

SeeHear.education

End of an Era! The last debate assistant St. John’s ever had was Emilio, so it’s good to have him back on the show after such a long absence.

Emilio is a doctoral candidate at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he is finishing his dissertation. He debated for Cal Poly as an undergraduate, and holds a Master’s degree in politics from St. John’s University.

This is the first of two parts, we talked so long. The second part will be released in two weeks, right here!

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