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Your favorite host Molly Bloom went head to head with debater extraordinaire Sanden Totten in an epic debate battle — and we asked YOU to help us choose their matchup! 


Listen to Molly and Sanden debate!

Play Smash Boom Best at home! Our kit has score sheets, bingo cards, and even a music playlist full of jams to get pumped up for competition. 


Listening Party Kit

Play a Smash Boom Best judge at home and decide the winner by filling out this with your own colorful take on the debate battle!


Download the Scoresheet

Extras

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Molly’s super casual emergency

Brains On HQ is riddled with emergencies! A bowl of pudding is chasing Sanden. Marc’s piano has challenged him to a rap battle. And Rosie is out of mustard. Anna and Ruby need Molly’s help to solve these problems, but Molly is in her favorite chair so she can’t be bothered. Hopefully, a sneak attack can get her on her feet.


Listen to our debaters face off. Who will be crowned the Smash Boom Best?

MOLLY BLOOM: Hi, Molly Bloom here. We love playing games at Brains On! We like tricky trivia, grueling guessing games, and challenging challenges. If you want to play along with us, sign up for the Smarty Pass. For just $5 a month, you'll get access to ad free versions of Brains On, Smash, Boom, Best, Forever Ago, and more. Plus, you'll get a bonus feat of all new episodes where we play games like this one. 

SUBJECT 1: On the first floor, a witch has cursed Sanden Totten's pudding because he refused to answer one of her riddles. And now, the pudding is chasing him around and won't stop until he learns a thematically appropriate life lesson. 

SUBJECT 2: Hmm, I always prefer Jell-o anyway. 

SUBJECT 1: Well, on the second floor, Mark's self-playing piano and longtime music rival Do-re-mi-mi has challenged him to a rap battle. And the loser will be banished from Brains On HQ. But Mark can't rap because he's lost his backwards rap cap. 

SUBJECT 2: That's so whack. 

SUBJECT 1: And on the fifth floor, Rosie's run out of mustard. OK, I know that one doesn't sound that bad, but altogether, it's not great. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Listen, you two, I would love to help, but I'm already sitting in this glorious love seat and I am too relaxed to get up. So maybe you can find someone else to handle the pudding, the rapping, and the mustard. 

[THEME MUSIC] 

To hear more, head to smartypass.org and subscribe. A monthly pass costs about the same as an ice cream cone and gets you fun bonus content like this plus ad free versions of all of our shows. Again, that's smartpass.org. Thanks for supporting the Brains On! Universe, Smarty pals. 

Smash Boom Best Podcast

Mars vs. Saturn

Today’s debate features two powerful planets in a cosmic clash – it’s Mars vs. Saturn! Brains On Editor Sanden Totten will rep the red planet while astronomer Mark Popinchalk will glimmer for the gassy giant. Who will be crowned the most precious planet?


Jack and the Beanstalk vs. The Ugly Duckling

Today’s debate throws two timeless tales into the ring for a clash of the classics. It’s Jack and the Beanstalk vs. The Ugly Duckling! In this epic showdown, author and “Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest” podcast host Adam Gidwitz climbs to the top for Jack and the Beanstalk, while author Soman Chainani helps The Ugly Duckling soar to new heights!


Our mission is to encourage kids’ and curious adults’ natural curiosity and wonder using science and history…but there’s no age limit on curiosity, and episodes of Brains On can be enjoyed by anyone.


Brains On!

Julie and her daughter, children’s author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton, invite you into their library to read their favorite children's books. Every story comes to life with sound, music and activities. Authors, kids and other special guests chime in, too! 


Julie's Library

A history show for the whole family! Every episode explores the origin of just one thing — like sandwiches, video games, clocks and more — while teaching listeners to think critically about history.


Smash Boom Best

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