Smash Boom Best

By American Public Media

Kids & Family

What's Smash Boom Best about?

Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On. Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and let's you decide which is best. Cats versus Dogs. Pizza versus Tacos. Super Speed versus Super Strength. Who will be crowned the Smash Boom Best? Our debaters use facts and passion to make their case...teaching listeners how to defend their own opinions along the way. Produced By American Public Media. @smashboombest

4.6

5,088 ratings

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LAST EPISODE

Teleportation vs. Telekinesis

12.03.2020

It’s time for another superpower showdown! Challenger one is teleportation, the ability to instantly zap yourself to any place in the world. Challenger two is telekinesis, the power to move things with your mind. Which tele-power will take the crown? ...

Smash Boom Best episodes:

12.03.2020 Teleportation vs. Telekinesis It’s time for another superpower showdown! Challenger one is teleportation, the ability to instantly zap yourself to any place in the world. Challenger two is telekinesis, the power to move things with your mind. Which tele-power will take the crown? ...
11.26.2020 Pandas vs. Penguins Today’s debate is between two totally adorable, extremely popular animals known for their fashionable fur and frolicsome feathers. It’s pandas vs penguins!! Comedians Katie McVay and Brandi Brown defend these charming cuties in an intense, delightful debate. Who are you ...
11.19.2020 Ice Cream vs. French Fries We’ve got a tasty debate for you today -- it’s ice cream vs french fries!! This is going to be a tough one for everybody, because let’s face it: we all scream for ice cream and we freak out over ...
11.12.2020 Avengers vs. Star Wars This week, two of the biggest movie franchises EVER go head-to-head in a blockbuster-worthy battle. It’s Avengers vs. Star Wars! Which team will win? The Marvel-ously superhuman Avengers saga? Or the space story from long ago, in a galaxy far, ...
11.05.2020 Giant Squid vs Blue Whales We’ve got a deep-sea debate for you today, so put on your scuba gear and jump on in! It’s Giant Squid vs. Blue Whales. Former MPR News host Tom Weber goes up against science writer and stand-up comedian Kasha Patel ...
10.29.2020 Vampires vs. Werewolves Today, the ultimate monstrous rivals go fang to claw in a blood-thirsty debate: vampires vs. werewolves! The pale, blood-sucking predators who sleep in coffins take on the supernaturally speedy, mutant wolf-humans who howl at the moon! Anna Weggel and Tracy ...
10.22.2020 Drums vs. Guitars We’ve got a musical matchup to get your toes tapping: guitars versus drums! Smash Boom Best producer Rosie DuPont goes up against comedian Tommy McNamara in this raucous (and rocking) showdown. After you listen, tell us who you think won ...
10.15.2020 Flowers vs Rainbows We’re launching season three with a burst of color of delight. It’s flowers vs rainbows! Brains On star Sanden Totten goes up against Forever Ago host Joy Dolo in a breathtakingly beautiful battle. Who do you think will win? Cast ...
10.01.2020 Season 3 Trailer 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 ...
07.21.2020 Season 3: Important Updates! Smash Boom Best is returning this fall. We're hard at work on new episodes and we can't wait to share them with you! In the meantime, we’re launching an awesome new YouTube series called In Defense Of — a collection ...
05.05.2020 We need your help! BIG NEWS! Smash Boom Best has been nominated for a Webby Award! But we need your help to win. Cast your vote here: https://bit.ly/3cTAOVK. We can't do it without you!
02.04.2020 Season 3 News! 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 ...
09.26.2019 Want a Bonus Episode? 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, ...
09.11.2019 Aliens vs Robots 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 ...
09.05.2019 Chocolate vs Cheese 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 ...
08.29.2019 Sharks vs Skunks 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 ...
08.21.2019 Swimming vs Soccer 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 ...
08.14.2019 Ice Age vs Jurassic 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 ...
08.07.2019 Rice vs Noodles 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 ...
07.31.2019 Venom vs Claws 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 ...
07.25.2019 Venus vs Jupiter 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 ...
07.17.2019 Mega Mini-Boom Bonanza 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 ...
07.11.2019 Snakes vs Spiders 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, ...
07.03.2019 Invisibility vs Flying 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 ...
06.26.2019 Loki vs Athena 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 ...
06.19.2019 Grand Canyon vs Mount Everest 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 ...
06.12.2019 Libraries vs Museums 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 ...
06.06.2019 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 ...
06.06.2019 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 ...
05.23.2019 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 ...
02.04.2019 Season 2 News! Press play for an announcement from the Smash Boom Best team!
06.29.2018 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 ...
06.27.2018 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 ...
06.21.2018 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 ...
06.13.2018 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 ...
06.07.2018 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: ...
05.31.2018 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 ...
05.24.2018 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?
05.17.2018 Bermuda Triangle vs Loch Ness Ready for some mystery? This Smash Boom Battle takes on two famous places: the Bermuda Triangle and Loch Ness. Which is cooler? Is it the Bermuda Triangle -- a puzzling patch of ocean where ships, planes and plenty of people ...
05.15.2018 Bats vs Owls Wings out, eyes wide -- we’re swooping in on a battle between a perfect pair of creatures of the night. Which is cooler: Bats? Or owls? We’re going to hear lots of facts and feelings from our debaters: Brandi Brown ...
05.08.2018 Season One: The Trailer Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and let's you decide which is best. Cats versus Dogs. Pizza ...

Smash Boom Best

What's Smash Boom Best about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Smash Boom Best episodes:

Teleportation vs. Telekinesis

Pandas vs. Penguins

Ice Cream vs. French Fries

Avengers vs. Star Wars

Giant Squid vs Blue Whales

Vampires vs. Werewolves

Drums vs. Guitars

Flowers vs Rainbows

Season 3 Trailer

Season 3: Important Updates!

We need your help!

Season 3 News!

Want a Bonus Episode?

Aliens vs Robots

Chocolate vs Cheese

Sharks vs Skunks

Swimming vs Soccer

Ice Age vs Jurassic

Rice vs Noodles

Venom vs Claws

Venus vs Jupiter

Mega Mini-Boom Bonanza

Snakes vs Spiders

Invisibility vs Flying

Loki vs Athena

Grand Canyon vs Mount Everest

Libraries vs Museums

Unicorns vs Dragons

Piranhas vs Venus Flytraps

Season 2 Trailer

Season 2 News!

Lava vs Quicksand

Lava vs Quicksand

Pizza vs Tacos

Books vs Movies

Castles vs Caves

Cats vs Dogs

Super Speed vs Super Strength

Bermuda Triangle vs Loch Ness

Bats vs Owls

Season One: The Trailer

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