Today’s debate will have you rolling, laughing and bouncing with joy. Grab your knee pads and helmet, because it’s pogo sticks versus unicycles! Actor, writer and improvisor Sean Holloway is ready to roll out for team unicycles, while piano player and extreme pogo sticker Nick Ryan is here to stick up for team pogo sticks! Who will win? Pogo sticks or unicycles? Vote below for the team YOU think won!
Also… do you have your Smarty Pass yet? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today. As an added bonus, your Smarty Pass will grant you access to a super special debate starring Sanden and Molly!
Educators - Lesson Plan for Smash Boom Best - Pogo Sticks vs. Unicycles (Right Click to Download)
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VOICEOVER 1: From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best.
VOICEOVER 2: The show for people with big opinions.
MOLLY BLOOM: Hi. I'm Molly Bloom, and this is Smash Boom Best. The show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Today's debate will have you rolling, laughing, and bouncing with joy. Grab your kneepads and helmet, because it's pogo sticks versus unicycles.
In one corner, we've got actor, writer, and improviser, Sean Holloway ready to roll out for Team Unicycles.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm wheely excited to roll over my competition.
MOLLY BLOOM: And piano player and extreme pogo sticker Nick Ryan is here to stick up for Team Pogo Sticks.
NICK RYAN: Life's too short to stay grounded. Let's jump for joy and bounce away with a victory. Team Pogo, let's go.
MOLLY BLOOM: And here to judge it all is Mabel from Bloomington, Minnesota. Mabel can play the piano, guitar, and bass. And when she isn't playing music, you can find her acting in a show or playing ultimate frisbee. Hi, Mabel.
MABEL: Hi, Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: So Mabel, you play so many instruments. They're all wonderful, but which one is your favorite?
MABEL: I have to admit, I'm not very good at the guitar or the bass.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK.
MABEL: But I have a lot of enthusiasm for them. And so I have to say that my favorite is piano, because that's the one I'm really committed to
MOLLY BLOOM: OK. I mean, enthusiasm means a lot.
MABEL: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: But piano is where you feel comfortable.
MABEL: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent. So you also play ultimate frisbee. Can you tell us a little bit about that game. What is it for people who aren't familiar?
MABEL: Ultimate is the best sport. I am biased, but it's like football and soccer mixed together. But you're playing with a plastic disc. And so you're working together as a team to try and catch the frisbee in the other player's end zone. And the biggest rule is having good spirit, which is the best rule ever. So everyone's just cheering each other on the whole time. And it's a lot of fun.
MOLLY BLOOM: Do you have team cheers you do?
MABEL: My team was called Narwhal. Not narwhal plural. We were one narwhal. And so we would shout, One Team, One Narwhal.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: I love that. Well, will Mabel side with Sean or Nick? Only time will tell. Mabel, are you ready to judge today's debate?
MABEL: Never been readier.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Before we dive in, let's review the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four rounds of argumentation-- the Declaration of Greatness, the Micro Round, the Sneak Attack, and the Final Six. After each round, our judge, Mabel, will award points to the team that impresses her the most. But she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the debate.
Listeners, we want you to judge, too. Mark down your points as you listen. At the end of the show, head to our website smashboom.org and vote for whichever team you think won. OK, Sean, Nick, and Mabel, are you ready?
NICK RYAN: So ready.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Let's put the pedal to the metal.
MOLLY BLOOM: Then it's time for the--
VOICEOVER: Declaration of Greatness.
MOLLY BLOOM: In this round, our debaters will present a well-crafted, immersive argument in favor of their side. Then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements. We flipped a coin, and Sean, you're up first. Tell us why unicycles are the one cycle for you.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Let me tell you about my favorite hobby, unicycling. I first wrote a unicycle when I was 12, and I loved it immediately. I spent countless hours learning to balance. And once I was able to ride a few feet, it was the greatest feeling. Unicycling is fun, it's silly, it's challenging.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
EXTREME EDDIE: But is it extreme?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Who are you?
EXTREME EDDIE: I'm Extreme Eddie. I only like the coolest, most heart pounding, most kick-buttingest of extreme-- sports, surfing, skateboarding, arm wrestling a bear.
[GROWLS]
SEAN HOLLOWAY: How'd you get in here?
EXTREME EDDIE: You left your door extremely unlocked.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Well, if you like extreme sports, would love unicycling.
EXTREME EDDIE: Cowabung-huh?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unicycles are like bicycles' cooler cousin. Anything you can do on a bike, you can do on a unicycle, all while balancing on one wheel. So it's so much more--
EXTREME EDDIE: Extreme?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Exactly. If you think mountain biking is cool, wait until you hear about mountain unicycling, or MUni. MUni riders unicycle down rugged mountain trails, taking on some of nature's most extreme challenges.
EXTREME EDDIE: Like what?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Like in 2015, when Gerald Rosenkranz completed one of the most extreme mountain biking races in the world, the Dolomitenmann, on a unicycle. Or in 2013, when Anne-Sophie Rodet rode her unicycle across the mountains of Patagonia. That's almost 1,500 miles on a unicycle. About the same distance from Boston, Massachusetts, to Miami, Florida.
EXTREME EDDIE: I did not know there were so many ways to unicycle.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: There's even more. Every year at Unicon, the Unicycling World Convention and Championships, cyclists compete in unicycle sports, like unicycle hockey and unicycle basketball. They also do special challenges, like races where you can only use one pedal, or a wheel walk where you can't touch the pedals at all. These are extreme tests of skill.
[PATHETIC SOUND EFFECT]
SENSIBLE STEVEN: That sounds too extreme for me.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Who said that? I got to start locking the door.
EXTREME EDDIE: That's my brother, Sensible Steven. Unlike me, he doesn't like things that are extreme.
SENSIBLE STEVEN: I prefer things that are safe, sound, and sensible. I guess unicycling isn't for me. I'll stick to sensible hobbies, like drinking tap water or applying sunscreen.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unicycling is for you, too, Sensible Steven. You can start with a beginner unicycle, which is smaller and helps you land on your feet. Or maybe a newfangled electric unicycle, which uses gyroscope technology to help keep you balanced and reduce your chances of falling.
SENSIBLE STEVEN: Avoiding falling is quite sensible indeed.
EXTREME EDDIE: Wait, there are other types of unicycles?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: So many. A thrill seeker like you could try the super tall giraffe unicycle. The tallest one ever ridden was over 31 feet tall. That's like two real giraffes stacked on top of each other. If you want a bit more of a challenge, there's the ultimate wheel, which has no seat. It's just a wheel with pedals. But if you want something more practical, try my favorite, the commuter unicycle. It has an enormous wheel, helping you go farther with each pedal.
It's perfect for Eddie, who wants to go fast.
EXTREME EDDIE: I've got a need for speed.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: But also more stable for Steven, who just wants a leisurely way to get around.
SENSIBLE STEVEN: That sounds satisfactory.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unicycles come in all shapes and sizes, and there are so many ways to ride. There's something for everyone, whether you're a thrill seeker looking for a challenge, a dabbler looking for a chill new hobby, or somewhere in between, just like me. So go ahead, try the coolest sport on one wheel.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, unicycles uniting all kinds of people. So very cool. Mabel, what stood out to you about Sean's declaration of greatness?
MABEL: I learned so many unicycle facts just then. My favorite was unicycle mountain biking. Never heard of that. I want to know what that looks like.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: It's so cool. It's so fun. I've done it one time.
MABEL: You've done it one time, wow.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I did. It was pretty scary. But I had a great time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Incredible. Well Nick, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why you're already tired of the solo tire. You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
NICK RYAN: OK, here's the deal, unicycle man. It's all well and good that you express the virtues of the one-wheeled ride. But I just want to really let you in on something. They did invent one of these that has two wheels. The name is escaping me. I think it's-- ah, the bicycle. And you know what's so great about it? It is--
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm not familiar.
NICK RYAN: --literally twice as good. All the things you mentioned can also do with the bike. And you know there's other ways to travel other than the commuter unicycle. I mean, I applaud you for turning your commute into a live comedy show for pedestrians.
MOLLY BLOOM: Time.
NICK RYAN: OK, thank you.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'll have to look up this bicycle. I'm not familiar.
NICK RYAN: You should really check it out.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: This is news to me.
NICK RYAN: --spelling, yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, Nick, I know you ran out of time there. But you got some more time now, because it's your turn. Please tell us why everyone is jumping to play with pogo sticks.
NICK RYAN: Pogo sticks are awesome. To prove it, I want to tell you a bounce-tastic story. Years ago, when Spam was just a type of meat and Zoom was only the sound of a fast car, a young kid got a classic three-foot tall pogo stick as a gift. He quickly learned to bounce.
But unlike most kids, that kid didn't stop at bouncing. He saw kids riding BMX bikes and skateboards and thought, hey, could I do tricks on my pogo stick? At first, he started small, jumping over the dog.
[BARKS]
Then, a 180 bar spin. Grabbing the foot peg mid-air. And pretty soon, he was jumping and tricking all day long.
MOM: It's dinnertime.
[SQUEAKING]
It's dinnertime. Dinner is on the table. Excuse me, you have to eat.
NICK RYAN: Soon, other kids in the neighborhood got sticks and did sick tricks, too.
[LAUGHING AND SQUEAKING]
As the tricks got more intense, the pogo started to break. So the kid and his pogo friends teamed up with the pogo companies to design newer, cooler sticks. Ones that used giant rubber bands. Huge fiberglass bendy bows, like a human-sized bow and arrow without the arrow. And best of all, compressed air for the ultimate bounce.
Now, instead of jumping a few inches off the ground, pogo sticks could launch a rider 10 feet in the air.
MAN: Up in the sky. Look, it's a bird, it's a plane. No, it's an extreme pogo stick.
NICK RYAN: Jumpers started doing flips, leaping over cars, grinding rails, and throwing the pogo under their legs or over their heads, all while mid-air. Pogo athletes and competitions sprang to life. And the sport of extreme pogo was born. That kid was so happy.
And who was he? Well, that kid was me. Full disclosure, I even launched a company with my friends because we loved pogo sticking so much. Soon, the Guinness Book of World Records was paying attention to pogo's new heights.
[TRUMPETS]
ANNOUNCER: We at the Guinness Book of World Records have recorded the highest jump on a pogo stick-- 11 feet, 2.5 inches. That's like jumping over a basketball hoop. The most consecutive cars jumped on a pogo stick is six. The most jumps on a pogo stick in a row is 115,170. So let the record show, pogo is awesome.
[APPLAUSE]
NICK RYAN: Pogo sticks are also an all-body workout. Did you know that you burn 600 calories per hour on a classic pogo stick? That's twice as much as riding a unicycle. And athletes who jump on extreme pogo sticks professionally can burn almost 2,000 calories in one hour. Pogoing gets your heart pumping and strengthens your legs, your back, your core, and your butt.
POGO COACH: OK, everybody pogo. I want to see 1,000 jumps. Let's go.
NICK RYAN: Plus it improves your mental health. Pogo fitness programs in Australia, Europe, and the USA help kids set goals, be aware of their body, and bounce back after failure. The thing I love the most about pogos, though, is that they make you happy. Studies show people love to jump, and it cheers us up.
I've taught thousands of people, from all cultures and backgrounds across the world, to pogo. And let me tell you, it is way easier to start pogoing than to start unicycling. No matter a person's age or background, as soon as folks get on that pogo stick, a smile breaks out across their face. Soon, they're bouncing, laughing, and enjoying life.
So whether you want to learn a sick trick, exercise, or just bounce around, pogo will bring you joy. Like I said, pogo sticks are awesome.
[BARKS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, Nick bringing pogo sticks to literal new there. Mabel, what stood out to you about Nick's argument?
MABEL: Oh my gosh, so much. I want to say, the Book of World Records thing was my favorite. I'm a huge fan of those books. I loved the mental health benefits to pogo sticking. I might have to give that a try.
NICK RYAN: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very good. Well, Sean, it is time for your rebuttal. Please tell us why no one should jump for joy for pogo sticks. You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: First of all, you can dress it up all you want with all these spins and flips. But ultimately, you're just bouncing up and down. On a unicycle, I can get around town. And that's what I want. I don't need a no-go stick. I already know what's five feet up in the air above me.
Second of all, you mentioned being in the Guinness Book of World Records. Well, there's also a section for the longest toenail, so that doesn't really impress me too much. And you're telling me all these calories that you have to burn just to bounce up and down on a pogo stick-- I want something a little leisurely. I want something I can ride around town with. So I'm still firmly Team Unicycle.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
NICK RYAN: All right, just because you're not in the Guinness Book, doesn't mean you got to be so jealous, Sean. That's--
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Whatever, it's fine.
NICK RYAN: And five feet? Try 10 feet. Maybe try--
SEAN HOLLOWAY: --one day.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, Mabel, it is time for you to award some points. Please give one point to the Declaration of Greatness that you liked best and one point to the rebuttal that won you over. You get to decide what makes a winning argument. Did one team's jokes make you giggle? Was another team's logic a step above the rest? Totally subjective, totally up to you. Please award your points. But don't tell us who they're going to.
Each person can get a point. Both could go to the same person. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: I have.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent. Nick and Sean, how are you two feeling so far?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm fired up. I'm feeling good.
NICK RYAN: There's a lot of ups and downs so far. But I think I'm going to stick the landing here.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm just going to roll with it.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh. This is impressive.
[LAUGHS]
Well, we are going to be right back, so take a breather and a quick rest.
MABEL: And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best.
VOICEOVER: You're listening to State of Debate, home to rage and rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Hey, debate pals. This is Taylor Lincoln, and I'm here with my argument amigo, Todd Douglas.
TODD DOUGLAS: Hey there, Taylor. Or should I say, awoo?
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Todd, you good?
TODD DOUGLAS: I sure am. It's a full moon tonight, so I'm getting into the spirit. Awoo.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Todd, wolves don't actually howl at the full moon.
TODD DOUGLAS: So I've been perfecting my howl for nothing? That's real rough. But your lunar know-how has reminded me of a logical fallacy I overheard.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: A logical fallacy is a weak argument that makes a debate easy to beat.
TODD DOUGLAS: It sure is. Let's take a listen to the argument so we can spot the fallacy in motion.
DAVE: Wow you can really see all the stars once you leave the city.
BETH: I know. And the moon looks so bright out here.
DAVE: It's incredible. But that's the power of cheese for you.
BETH: What?
DAVE: You didn't know? The moon is made of cheese. Either Munster or a white cheddar.
BETH: Dave, the moon isn't made of cheese. That's an old fairy tale.
DAVE: Beth, I think I know what I'm talking about. I'm a cheesemonger. I make and sell cheese for a living.
BETH: Just because you're a cheese expert, doesn't mean you know about the moon.
DAVE: Yeah. But it does mean I know about cheese, which the moon is made of.
[BUZZER]
TODD DOUGLAS: Wow. When the moon hits your eye, that's a fallacy.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Yeah. Specifically, the appeal to authority fallacy. That's when you believe something must be true because an expert supports it.
TODD DOUGLAS: Just because Dave knows a lot about cheese, doesn't make him a moon expert. Now all this cheese talk is making me hungry.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
TODD DOUGLAS: Oh yeah. Let's fondue it.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: And we'll see you next time on--
TAYLOR AND DEBATE: State of Debate.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
AUDIO TRACK: Smash Boom Best.
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
MABEL: And I'm your judge, Mabel.
MOLLY BLOOM: And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this blockbuster debate idea from Sid.
SID: Hey, Smash Boom Best. My name's Sid, and I'm from Oxford, England. My debate idea is Jurassic Park versus Ghostbusters.
MABEL: Ooh, I'd watch that debate with a bucket of popcorn.
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Sid thinks should win.
MABEL: And now, it's back to our debate-- pogo sticks versus unicycles.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's right. And it's time for round two, the--
AUDIO TRACK: Micro Round.
MOLLY BLOOM: For the Micro Round challenge, each team has prepared a creative response to a prompt they received in advance. For Sean and Nick, the prompt was, of the future. Describe the unicycle or pogo stick of the future. What do they look like? Do they have new cool features? Does anything awesome happen when you ride them?
Sean went first last time, so Nick, you're up. What does the pogo stick look like in the not so distant future?
NICK RYAN: Pogo sticks of the future will no longer be springs or bands or bows or air. Instead, pogo sticks of the future will operate using magnets.
[BUZZING]
An astonishing collaborative breakthrough between scientists and the really smart kids who listen to Brains On will lead to a pogo stick that hovers just above the ground and jumps high and smooth using electromagnetic repulsion.
ANNOUNCER: And the Nobel Prize goes to the Pogo Stick of the Future.
[CHEERS]
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 1: Why, thank you very much. There were a lot of ups and downs.
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 2: And we got a little stuck this past fall.
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 1: But we decided to stick with it and bounced back.
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 3: And this spring, we did it. And jumped for joy.
NICK RYAN: Now you can hop while you hover, engaging the electromagnetic field beneath the pogo stick to push effortlessly off the air between the pogo and the ground. This means you will be able to bounce above any surface. Rocky, slippery, or gooey ground? No problem. You can hop anywhere on Earth. And even off Earth, like Mars.
ASTRONAUT: Houston, Houston, come in.
OPERATOR 1: Copy that, Mars Explorer I.
ASTRONAUT: Check out this double backflip over this Martian crater.
OPERATOR 2: We said no more tricks. You need to collect samples for--
[SQUEALS]
OPERATOR 1: OK, that one was pretty cool.
NICK RYAN: With the smoothest hop ever known, more airtime, and the ability to jump anywhere, pogo sticks of the future will elevate the game.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, I feel myself really drawn to that idea, attracted to it. Has a very magnetic quality. OK, I'll stop now. Sean, it's your turn. What will unicycles look like for future generations?
[NEWS JINGLE]
SEAN HOLLOWAY: News bulletin. March 7th, 2048. For centuries, riding on one wheel has been the peak of cycling prowess. Today, that has changed. Top unicycle-ologists and unicycle-onomers from across the world have gathered to create a cycle with not two, not one, but zero wheels. The none-a-cycle has been born.
WOMAN: It's the ultimate challenge. You need perfect balance to ride on no wheels.
SCIENTIST: Scientifically, it doesn't make sense. How do they ride no wheels? Are they just floating there? That's impossible.
[NEWS JINGLE]
SEAN HOLLOWAY: News bulletin. July 17th, 2049. Scientists have proven that the none-a-cycle does indeed defy the laws of physics and is a source of free energy.
News bulletin. December 1st, 2088. As of today, all of the world's energy is supplied by clean renewable none-a-cycle power. Pollution is practically zero.
WOMAN: It's a great workout, too.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: News bulletin. Fleet-tember 35th, 2190. Scientists have broken the wheel barrier by inventing a unicycle with negative one wheels.
SCIENTIST: After lengthy research, we have determined that the opposite of a wheel is a rubber duck.
[SQUEAKS]
There's not much use for this one. Fun to ride, though.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. That was cutting edge technology, and I always appreciate my cutting edge technology with a side of rubber duck. Mabel, what did you like about Sean and Nick's Micro Rounds?
MABEL: I loved the scientific aspects of that. I feel like I really could picture the product in my head. And I think they both also had some really good tagline ideas. So I mean, I don't know. You could get these to market probably pretty soon.
MOLLY BLOOM: Probably. They're both amazing. But Mabel, I'm sorry, only one of them can get a point. So please award a point to the Micro Round that impressed you the most. The criteria are totally subjective and totally up to you. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: Absolutely.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Fantastic. Then it's time for our third around. The super stealthy--
AUDIO TRACK: Sneak Attack.
MOLLY BLOOM: This is our improvised round, where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's Sneak Attack is called Dinglehopper. For this challenge, debaters will each list five uses for their side other than what it's really used. For example, if your side was marshmallows, you could say it's used to make the most amazing beds ever.
Sean, Nick, does this make sense?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: It does.
NICK RYAN: Sure does.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Sean, we're going to start with you. Please tell us your first interesting use for the unicycle.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: All right. First extra use for a unicycle. Ooh, let's say that your back is hurting and you really need something that can roll that out. Turn your unicycle upside down. Just put that seat right on your back. You'll get all those sore spots. You'll be feeling better in no time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Lovely. Unicycle as back massager. OK, Nick, it's your turn. Please show us a different way to use the pogo stick.
NICK RYAN: So after you're done jumping all day and you just really want to get your guitar on, you can just turn that thing to the side and just-- it's the perfect air guitar with an actual item in your hands.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, OK. We can pantomime some guitaring with a pogo stick. I love it. OK, Sean, please tell us your second extra use.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Well, let's say you're for some reason not a huge unicycle fan. You want a bicycle or a tricycle. You just tape two, three, maybe four if you want a car, unicycles together.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: A little scotch tape, and you are good to go. All right Nick, your turn, please.
NICK RYAN: So let's say that you're all out of landscaping tools. The pogo stick is the perfect multi-tool. You can dig with it. It can be a weed whacker. You can till your land. It's fantastic.
MOLLY BLOOM: Can't wait to see what the neighbors think about doing your gardening with your pogo stick. All right, Sean, please, let's hear another one.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: All right, so where are you supposed to keep a ladder anyway? If you need to get onto the roof, you don't need to keep a huge ladder that takes all the space in your home. Just get your giraffe unicycle. And as soon as you're up there, boom, step off. You're right there on the roof.
MOLLY BLOOM: Whoa. That sounds dangerous and wonderful. OK, Nick, your turn.
NICK RYAN: So let's say maybe you took a little spill on your unicycle, which here happens all the time. And you're all out of crutches. Pogo sticks, perfect crutches. Just slide right in there. It's just a natural fit.
MOLLY BLOOM: Pogo stick as medical device. Wonderful. Sean, please, your fourth use.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Let's say you find yourself back in time and all you have is your unicycle. You're trying to figure out how to reinvent electricity. You've got a water wheel right there. You set it in there, you've got a generator for electricity.
MOLLY BLOOM: Always room for a unicycle in the time machine. All right, Nick, your turn.
NICK RYAN: Bench press. Natural next step. You're just laying on your back. Your bar is gone. You just put your pogo stick and just press it right up. There you go. Strong as can be.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent work. All right, Sean, please give us your final use for the unicycle.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Listen, you're a unicyclist. You already have great balance. So you know what you can do? You can set it right on top of your head. Balance it there, you've got the most fashionable hat you've ever worn in your life. I guarantee it.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow Kentucky Derby, here you come. OK, Nick, please give us your last use.
NICK RYAN: Your dance partner stood you up. You're all alone. You just dance with your pogo stick. That's all I got.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. These are an incredibly diverse array of uses for these two forms of transportation. I am so impressed. But Mabel, your opinion is the only one that matters now. Please, award a point to the side that impressed you the most. Don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: I have.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Perfect. Then it's time for our final around.
AUDIO TRACK: The Final Six.
MOLLY BLOOM: In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. All right, Nick, please give us six words for pogo sticks.
NICK RYAN: Let's go pogo. Jump, jump, y'all.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Very nice. OK, Sean, it is your turn. Let's hear your six words for the bike with one wheel.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unis are slick, sticks are ick.
NICK RYAN: Aw.
MOLLY BLOOM: Two wonderful Final Sixes there. And Mabel, it is time for you to award your final point for this Final Six. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: Yes.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, please tally up your points. Are you ready to crown one team the Smash Boom Best?
MABEL: I'm so ready.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, drum roll please. And the winner is--
MABEL: Pogo sticks.
NICK RYAN: Yeah!
SEAN HOLLOWAY: No!
NICK RYAN: Woohoo.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: That stings.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh my goodness. OK, Mabel, please tell us, was there a moment that really decided it for pogo sticks?
MABEL: You know what, it was an extremely close match. I awarded a lot of points out. I mean, only as many as you told me to, but--
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent, excellent.
MABEL: A lot in my mind. But you know what? I think my favorite was the multiple uses for it. Everyone loves to exercise, pogo stick, unicycle. But there's not that many opportunities to use those things. And so I felt like the crutches, the guitar, the gardening tool were my favorites. And I really enjoyed imagining those things.
NICK RYAN: Sean, I loved your Declaration of Greatness. I loved the Micro Round. I learned a ton about unicycles. And just on a personal level, I love that you highlighted the extreme sport aspect of them. And I'm here for the expansion of extreme sports with anything, including unicycles. You were amazing.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Nick, honestly, that was so great. I really enjoyed your Micro Round. I really enjoyed your Declaration of Greatness. And let's be honest, unicycles and pogo sticks, they're cousins. And I'm a huge fan of extreme pogo stick and what you do. And to be honest, I want to ride a pogo stick after hearing all that.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well that is it for today's debate battle. Mabel crowned pogo sticks the Smash Boom Best, but what about you?
MABEL: Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won.
MOLLY BLOOM: Smash Boom Best is brought to you by Brains On and APM Studios.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: It's produced by Molly Bloom, Anna Weggel and Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Josh Savageau, Drew Jostad, and John Levasseur, with sound design by Otto Woldeslassie.
NICK RYAN: Our editors are Shahla Farzan and Sanden Totten.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: And we had production help from Rosie DuPont, Anna Goldfield, Hans Buetow, Ruby Guthrie, Marc Sanchez, and Nico Gonzalez-Wisler.
MOLLY BLOOM: Our executive producer is Beth Perlman, and the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marley Feuerwerker-Otto, and we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Sean, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Yeah, I'd just like to give a shout out to my hometown of Kansas City and to all my friends and family who are there now. Just want to send much love.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. And how about you, Nick? Any special shout outs?
NICK RYAN: Yeah, I'll give a shout out to my brother, Gabriel Ryan, who actually was the first person who introduced me to pogo sticking.
MOLLY BLOOM: Aw. And how about you, Mabel? Any special thanks or shout outs?
MABEL: I'll also give a shout out to my brothers. They're twins. And one of them had a pogo stick back in the day.
NICK RYAN: Yeah, he did.
MOLLY BLOOM: Before we go, let's check in and see who Sid thinks should win the Ghostbusters versus Jurassic Park debate.
SID: I think Jurassic Park would win, because I love all the super cool and scary dinosaur battles. Also, Ghostbusters freaks me out a little bit.
MOLLY BLOOM: If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you'd like to be a judge or if you're any age and you have an idea for a knock down drag out debate, head to smashboom.org/contact and drop us a line. And make sure to subscribe to Brains On Universe on YouTube where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes. We'll be back with a new Smash Boom Best debate battle next week.
EVERYONE: Bye! See you later!
(SINGING) Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, put it through the test
Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, better than the rest
You're the Smash Boom Best
You're the Smash Boom Best
NICK RYAN: You're all alone, you just dance with your pogo stick.
[LAUGHS]
VOICEOVER 2: The show for people with big opinions.
MOLLY BLOOM: Hi. I'm Molly Bloom, and this is Smash Boom Best. The show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Today's debate will have you rolling, laughing, and bouncing with joy. Grab your kneepads and helmet, because it's pogo sticks versus unicycles.
In one corner, we've got actor, writer, and improviser, Sean Holloway ready to roll out for Team Unicycles.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm wheely excited to roll over my competition.
MOLLY BLOOM: And piano player and extreme pogo sticker Nick Ryan is here to stick up for Team Pogo Sticks.
NICK RYAN: Life's too short to stay grounded. Let's jump for joy and bounce away with a victory. Team Pogo, let's go.
MOLLY BLOOM: And here to judge it all is Mabel from Bloomington, Minnesota. Mabel can play the piano, guitar, and bass. And when she isn't playing music, you can find her acting in a show or playing ultimate frisbee. Hi, Mabel.
MABEL: Hi, Molly.
MOLLY BLOOM: So Mabel, you play so many instruments. They're all wonderful, but which one is your favorite?
MABEL: I have to admit, I'm not very good at the guitar or the bass.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK.
MABEL: But I have a lot of enthusiasm for them. And so I have to say that my favorite is piano, because that's the one I'm really committed to
MOLLY BLOOM: OK. I mean, enthusiasm means a lot.
MABEL: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: But piano is where you feel comfortable.
MABEL: Yes.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent. So you also play ultimate frisbee. Can you tell us a little bit about that game. What is it for people who aren't familiar?
MABEL: Ultimate is the best sport. I am biased, but it's like football and soccer mixed together. But you're playing with a plastic disc. And so you're working together as a team to try and catch the frisbee in the other player's end zone. And the biggest rule is having good spirit, which is the best rule ever. So everyone's just cheering each other on the whole time. And it's a lot of fun.
MOLLY BLOOM: Do you have team cheers you do?
MABEL: My team was called Narwhal. Not narwhal plural. We were one narwhal. And so we would shout, One Team, One Narwhal.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: I love that. Well, will Mabel side with Sean or Nick? Only time will tell. Mabel, are you ready to judge today's debate?
MABEL: Never been readier.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Before we dive in, let's review the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four rounds of argumentation-- the Declaration of Greatness, the Micro Round, the Sneak Attack, and the Final Six. After each round, our judge, Mabel, will award points to the team that impresses her the most. But she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the debate.
Listeners, we want you to judge, too. Mark down your points as you listen. At the end of the show, head to our website smashboom.org and vote for whichever team you think won. OK, Sean, Nick, and Mabel, are you ready?
NICK RYAN: So ready.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Let's put the pedal to the metal.
MOLLY BLOOM: Then it's time for the--
VOICEOVER: Declaration of Greatness.
MOLLY BLOOM: In this round, our debaters will present a well-crafted, immersive argument in favor of their side. Then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements. We flipped a coin, and Sean, you're up first. Tell us why unicycles are the one cycle for you.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Let me tell you about my favorite hobby, unicycling. I first wrote a unicycle when I was 12, and I loved it immediately. I spent countless hours learning to balance. And once I was able to ride a few feet, it was the greatest feeling. Unicycling is fun, it's silly, it's challenging.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
EXTREME EDDIE: But is it extreme?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Who are you?
EXTREME EDDIE: I'm Extreme Eddie. I only like the coolest, most heart pounding, most kick-buttingest of extreme-- sports, surfing, skateboarding, arm wrestling a bear.
[GROWLS]
SEAN HOLLOWAY: How'd you get in here?
EXTREME EDDIE: You left your door extremely unlocked.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Well, if you like extreme sports, would love unicycling.
EXTREME EDDIE: Cowabung-huh?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unicycles are like bicycles' cooler cousin. Anything you can do on a bike, you can do on a unicycle, all while balancing on one wheel. So it's so much more--
EXTREME EDDIE: Extreme?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Exactly. If you think mountain biking is cool, wait until you hear about mountain unicycling, or MUni. MUni riders unicycle down rugged mountain trails, taking on some of nature's most extreme challenges.
EXTREME EDDIE: Like what?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Like in 2015, when Gerald Rosenkranz completed one of the most extreme mountain biking races in the world, the Dolomitenmann, on a unicycle. Or in 2013, when Anne-Sophie Rodet rode her unicycle across the mountains of Patagonia. That's almost 1,500 miles on a unicycle. About the same distance from Boston, Massachusetts, to Miami, Florida.
EXTREME EDDIE: I did not know there were so many ways to unicycle.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: There's even more. Every year at Unicon, the Unicycling World Convention and Championships, cyclists compete in unicycle sports, like unicycle hockey and unicycle basketball. They also do special challenges, like races where you can only use one pedal, or a wheel walk where you can't touch the pedals at all. These are extreme tests of skill.
[PATHETIC SOUND EFFECT]
SENSIBLE STEVEN: That sounds too extreme for me.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Who said that? I got to start locking the door.
EXTREME EDDIE: That's my brother, Sensible Steven. Unlike me, he doesn't like things that are extreme.
SENSIBLE STEVEN: I prefer things that are safe, sound, and sensible. I guess unicycling isn't for me. I'll stick to sensible hobbies, like drinking tap water or applying sunscreen.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unicycling is for you, too, Sensible Steven. You can start with a beginner unicycle, which is smaller and helps you land on your feet. Or maybe a newfangled electric unicycle, which uses gyroscope technology to help keep you balanced and reduce your chances of falling.
SENSIBLE STEVEN: Avoiding falling is quite sensible indeed.
EXTREME EDDIE: Wait, there are other types of unicycles?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: So many. A thrill seeker like you could try the super tall giraffe unicycle. The tallest one ever ridden was over 31 feet tall. That's like two real giraffes stacked on top of each other. If you want a bit more of a challenge, there's the ultimate wheel, which has no seat. It's just a wheel with pedals. But if you want something more practical, try my favorite, the commuter unicycle. It has an enormous wheel, helping you go farther with each pedal.
It's perfect for Eddie, who wants to go fast.
EXTREME EDDIE: I've got a need for speed.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: But also more stable for Steven, who just wants a leisurely way to get around.
SENSIBLE STEVEN: That sounds satisfactory.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unicycles come in all shapes and sizes, and there are so many ways to ride. There's something for everyone, whether you're a thrill seeker looking for a challenge, a dabbler looking for a chill new hobby, or somewhere in between, just like me. So go ahead, try the coolest sport on one wheel.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, unicycles uniting all kinds of people. So very cool. Mabel, what stood out to you about Sean's declaration of greatness?
MABEL: I learned so many unicycle facts just then. My favorite was unicycle mountain biking. Never heard of that. I want to know what that looks like.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: It's so cool. It's so fun. I've done it one time.
MABEL: You've done it one time, wow.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I did. It was pretty scary. But I had a great time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Incredible. Well Nick, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why you're already tired of the solo tire. You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
NICK RYAN: OK, here's the deal, unicycle man. It's all well and good that you express the virtues of the one-wheeled ride. But I just want to really let you in on something. They did invent one of these that has two wheels. The name is escaping me. I think it's-- ah, the bicycle. And you know what's so great about it? It is--
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm not familiar.
NICK RYAN: --literally twice as good. All the things you mentioned can also do with the bike. And you know there's other ways to travel other than the commuter unicycle. I mean, I applaud you for turning your commute into a live comedy show for pedestrians.
MOLLY BLOOM: Time.
NICK RYAN: OK, thank you.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'll have to look up this bicycle. I'm not familiar.
NICK RYAN: You should really check it out.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: This is news to me.
NICK RYAN: --spelling, yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, Nick, I know you ran out of time there. But you got some more time now, because it's your turn. Please tell us why everyone is jumping to play with pogo sticks.
NICK RYAN: Pogo sticks are awesome. To prove it, I want to tell you a bounce-tastic story. Years ago, when Spam was just a type of meat and Zoom was only the sound of a fast car, a young kid got a classic three-foot tall pogo stick as a gift. He quickly learned to bounce.
But unlike most kids, that kid didn't stop at bouncing. He saw kids riding BMX bikes and skateboards and thought, hey, could I do tricks on my pogo stick? At first, he started small, jumping over the dog.
[BARKS]
Then, a 180 bar spin. Grabbing the foot peg mid-air. And pretty soon, he was jumping and tricking all day long.
MOM: It's dinnertime.
[SQUEAKING]
It's dinnertime. Dinner is on the table. Excuse me, you have to eat.
NICK RYAN: Soon, other kids in the neighborhood got sticks and did sick tricks, too.
[LAUGHING AND SQUEAKING]
As the tricks got more intense, the pogo started to break. So the kid and his pogo friends teamed up with the pogo companies to design newer, cooler sticks. Ones that used giant rubber bands. Huge fiberglass bendy bows, like a human-sized bow and arrow without the arrow. And best of all, compressed air for the ultimate bounce.
Now, instead of jumping a few inches off the ground, pogo sticks could launch a rider 10 feet in the air.
MAN: Up in the sky. Look, it's a bird, it's a plane. No, it's an extreme pogo stick.
NICK RYAN: Jumpers started doing flips, leaping over cars, grinding rails, and throwing the pogo under their legs or over their heads, all while mid-air. Pogo athletes and competitions sprang to life. And the sport of extreme pogo was born. That kid was so happy.
And who was he? Well, that kid was me. Full disclosure, I even launched a company with my friends because we loved pogo sticking so much. Soon, the Guinness Book of World Records was paying attention to pogo's new heights.
[TRUMPETS]
ANNOUNCER: We at the Guinness Book of World Records have recorded the highest jump on a pogo stick-- 11 feet, 2.5 inches. That's like jumping over a basketball hoop. The most consecutive cars jumped on a pogo stick is six. The most jumps on a pogo stick in a row is 115,170. So let the record show, pogo is awesome.
[APPLAUSE]
NICK RYAN: Pogo sticks are also an all-body workout. Did you know that you burn 600 calories per hour on a classic pogo stick? That's twice as much as riding a unicycle. And athletes who jump on extreme pogo sticks professionally can burn almost 2,000 calories in one hour. Pogoing gets your heart pumping and strengthens your legs, your back, your core, and your butt.
POGO COACH: OK, everybody pogo. I want to see 1,000 jumps. Let's go.
NICK RYAN: Plus it improves your mental health. Pogo fitness programs in Australia, Europe, and the USA help kids set goals, be aware of their body, and bounce back after failure. The thing I love the most about pogos, though, is that they make you happy. Studies show people love to jump, and it cheers us up.
I've taught thousands of people, from all cultures and backgrounds across the world, to pogo. And let me tell you, it is way easier to start pogoing than to start unicycling. No matter a person's age or background, as soon as folks get on that pogo stick, a smile breaks out across their face. Soon, they're bouncing, laughing, and enjoying life.
So whether you want to learn a sick trick, exercise, or just bounce around, pogo will bring you joy. Like I said, pogo sticks are awesome.
[BARKS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, Nick bringing pogo sticks to literal new there. Mabel, what stood out to you about Nick's argument?
MABEL: Oh my gosh, so much. I want to say, the Book of World Records thing was my favorite. I'm a huge fan of those books. I loved the mental health benefits to pogo sticking. I might have to give that a try.
NICK RYAN: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very good. Well, Sean, it is time for your rebuttal. Please tell us why no one should jump for joy for pogo sticks. You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: First of all, you can dress it up all you want with all these spins and flips. But ultimately, you're just bouncing up and down. On a unicycle, I can get around town. And that's what I want. I don't need a no-go stick. I already know what's five feet up in the air above me.
Second of all, you mentioned being in the Guinness Book of World Records. Well, there's also a section for the longest toenail, so that doesn't really impress me too much. And you're telling me all these calories that you have to burn just to bounce up and down on a pogo stick-- I want something a little leisurely. I want something I can ride around town with. So I'm still firmly Team Unicycle.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
NICK RYAN: All right, just because you're not in the Guinness Book, doesn't mean you got to be so jealous, Sean. That's--
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Whatever, it's fine.
NICK RYAN: And five feet? Try 10 feet. Maybe try--
SEAN HOLLOWAY: --one day.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, Mabel, it is time for you to award some points. Please give one point to the Declaration of Greatness that you liked best and one point to the rebuttal that won you over. You get to decide what makes a winning argument. Did one team's jokes make you giggle? Was another team's logic a step above the rest? Totally subjective, totally up to you. Please award your points. But don't tell us who they're going to.
Each person can get a point. Both could go to the same person. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: I have.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent. Nick and Sean, how are you two feeling so far?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm fired up. I'm feeling good.
NICK RYAN: There's a lot of ups and downs so far. But I think I'm going to stick the landing here.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: I'm just going to roll with it.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh. This is impressive.
[LAUGHS]
Well, we are going to be right back, so take a breather and a quick rest.
MABEL: And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best.
VOICEOVER: You're listening to State of Debate, home to rage and rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Hey, debate pals. This is Taylor Lincoln, and I'm here with my argument amigo, Todd Douglas.
TODD DOUGLAS: Hey there, Taylor. Or should I say, awoo?
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Todd, you good?
TODD DOUGLAS: I sure am. It's a full moon tonight, so I'm getting into the spirit. Awoo.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Todd, wolves don't actually howl at the full moon.
TODD DOUGLAS: So I've been perfecting my howl for nothing? That's real rough. But your lunar know-how has reminded me of a logical fallacy I overheard.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: A logical fallacy is a weak argument that makes a debate easy to beat.
TODD DOUGLAS: It sure is. Let's take a listen to the argument so we can spot the fallacy in motion.
DAVE: Wow you can really see all the stars once you leave the city.
BETH: I know. And the moon looks so bright out here.
DAVE: It's incredible. But that's the power of cheese for you.
BETH: What?
DAVE: You didn't know? The moon is made of cheese. Either Munster or a white cheddar.
BETH: Dave, the moon isn't made of cheese. That's an old fairy tale.
DAVE: Beth, I think I know what I'm talking about. I'm a cheesemonger. I make and sell cheese for a living.
BETH: Just because you're a cheese expert, doesn't mean you know about the moon.
DAVE: Yeah. But it does mean I know about cheese, which the moon is made of.
[BUZZER]
TODD DOUGLAS: Wow. When the moon hits your eye, that's a fallacy.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Yeah. Specifically, the appeal to authority fallacy. That's when you believe something must be true because an expert supports it.
TODD DOUGLAS: Just because Dave knows a lot about cheese, doesn't make him a moon expert. Now all this cheese talk is making me hungry.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
TODD DOUGLAS: Oh yeah. Let's fondue it.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: And we'll see you next time on--
TAYLOR AND DEBATE: State of Debate.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
AUDIO TRACK: Smash Boom Best.
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
MABEL: And I'm your judge, Mabel.
MOLLY BLOOM: And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this blockbuster debate idea from Sid.
SID: Hey, Smash Boom Best. My name's Sid, and I'm from Oxford, England. My debate idea is Jurassic Park versus Ghostbusters.
MABEL: Ooh, I'd watch that debate with a bucket of popcorn.
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Sid thinks should win.
MABEL: And now, it's back to our debate-- pogo sticks versus unicycles.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's right. And it's time for round two, the--
AUDIO TRACK: Micro Round.
MOLLY BLOOM: For the Micro Round challenge, each team has prepared a creative response to a prompt they received in advance. For Sean and Nick, the prompt was, of the future. Describe the unicycle or pogo stick of the future. What do they look like? Do they have new cool features? Does anything awesome happen when you ride them?
Sean went first last time, so Nick, you're up. What does the pogo stick look like in the not so distant future?
NICK RYAN: Pogo sticks of the future will no longer be springs or bands or bows or air. Instead, pogo sticks of the future will operate using magnets.
[BUZZING]
An astonishing collaborative breakthrough between scientists and the really smart kids who listen to Brains On will lead to a pogo stick that hovers just above the ground and jumps high and smooth using electromagnetic repulsion.
ANNOUNCER: And the Nobel Prize goes to the Pogo Stick of the Future.
[CHEERS]
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 1: Why, thank you very much. There were a lot of ups and downs.
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 2: And we got a little stuck this past fall.
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 1: But we decided to stick with it and bounced back.
POGO STICK OF THE FUTURE 3: And this spring, we did it. And jumped for joy.
NICK RYAN: Now you can hop while you hover, engaging the electromagnetic field beneath the pogo stick to push effortlessly off the air between the pogo and the ground. This means you will be able to bounce above any surface. Rocky, slippery, or gooey ground? No problem. You can hop anywhere on Earth. And even off Earth, like Mars.
ASTRONAUT: Houston, Houston, come in.
OPERATOR 1: Copy that, Mars Explorer I.
ASTRONAUT: Check out this double backflip over this Martian crater.
OPERATOR 2: We said no more tricks. You need to collect samples for--
[SQUEALS]
OPERATOR 1: OK, that one was pretty cool.
NICK RYAN: With the smoothest hop ever known, more airtime, and the ability to jump anywhere, pogo sticks of the future will elevate the game.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, I feel myself really drawn to that idea, attracted to it. Has a very magnetic quality. OK, I'll stop now. Sean, it's your turn. What will unicycles look like for future generations?
[NEWS JINGLE]
SEAN HOLLOWAY: News bulletin. March 7th, 2048. For centuries, riding on one wheel has been the peak of cycling prowess. Today, that has changed. Top unicycle-ologists and unicycle-onomers from across the world have gathered to create a cycle with not two, not one, but zero wheels. The none-a-cycle has been born.
WOMAN: It's the ultimate challenge. You need perfect balance to ride on no wheels.
SCIENTIST: Scientifically, it doesn't make sense. How do they ride no wheels? Are they just floating there? That's impossible.
[NEWS JINGLE]
SEAN HOLLOWAY: News bulletin. July 17th, 2049. Scientists have proven that the none-a-cycle does indeed defy the laws of physics and is a source of free energy.
News bulletin. December 1st, 2088. As of today, all of the world's energy is supplied by clean renewable none-a-cycle power. Pollution is practically zero.
WOMAN: It's a great workout, too.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: News bulletin. Fleet-tember 35th, 2190. Scientists have broken the wheel barrier by inventing a unicycle with negative one wheels.
SCIENTIST: After lengthy research, we have determined that the opposite of a wheel is a rubber duck.
[SQUEAKS]
There's not much use for this one. Fun to ride, though.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. That was cutting edge technology, and I always appreciate my cutting edge technology with a side of rubber duck. Mabel, what did you like about Sean and Nick's Micro Rounds?
MABEL: I loved the scientific aspects of that. I feel like I really could picture the product in my head. And I think they both also had some really good tagline ideas. So I mean, I don't know. You could get these to market probably pretty soon.
MOLLY BLOOM: Probably. They're both amazing. But Mabel, I'm sorry, only one of them can get a point. So please award a point to the Micro Round that impressed you the most. The criteria are totally subjective and totally up to you. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: Absolutely.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Fantastic. Then it's time for our third around. The super stealthy--
AUDIO TRACK: Sneak Attack.
MOLLY BLOOM: This is our improvised round, where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's Sneak Attack is called Dinglehopper. For this challenge, debaters will each list five uses for their side other than what it's really used. For example, if your side was marshmallows, you could say it's used to make the most amazing beds ever.
Sean, Nick, does this make sense?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: It does.
NICK RYAN: Sure does.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Sean, we're going to start with you. Please tell us your first interesting use for the unicycle.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: All right. First extra use for a unicycle. Ooh, let's say that your back is hurting and you really need something that can roll that out. Turn your unicycle upside down. Just put that seat right on your back. You'll get all those sore spots. You'll be feeling better in no time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Lovely. Unicycle as back massager. OK, Nick, it's your turn. Please show us a different way to use the pogo stick.
NICK RYAN: So after you're done jumping all day and you just really want to get your guitar on, you can just turn that thing to the side and just-- it's the perfect air guitar with an actual item in your hands.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, OK. We can pantomime some guitaring with a pogo stick. I love it. OK, Sean, please tell us your second extra use.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Well, let's say you're for some reason not a huge unicycle fan. You want a bicycle or a tricycle. You just tape two, three, maybe four if you want a car, unicycles together.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: A little scotch tape, and you are good to go. All right Nick, your turn, please.
NICK RYAN: So let's say that you're all out of landscaping tools. The pogo stick is the perfect multi-tool. You can dig with it. It can be a weed whacker. You can till your land. It's fantastic.
MOLLY BLOOM: Can't wait to see what the neighbors think about doing your gardening with your pogo stick. All right, Sean, please, let's hear another one.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: All right, so where are you supposed to keep a ladder anyway? If you need to get onto the roof, you don't need to keep a huge ladder that takes all the space in your home. Just get your giraffe unicycle. And as soon as you're up there, boom, step off. You're right there on the roof.
MOLLY BLOOM: Whoa. That sounds dangerous and wonderful. OK, Nick, your turn.
NICK RYAN: So let's say maybe you took a little spill on your unicycle, which here happens all the time. And you're all out of crutches. Pogo sticks, perfect crutches. Just slide right in there. It's just a natural fit.
MOLLY BLOOM: Pogo stick as medical device. Wonderful. Sean, please, your fourth use.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Let's say you find yourself back in time and all you have is your unicycle. You're trying to figure out how to reinvent electricity. You've got a water wheel right there. You set it in there, you've got a generator for electricity.
MOLLY BLOOM: Always room for a unicycle in the time machine. All right, Nick, your turn.
NICK RYAN: Bench press. Natural next step. You're just laying on your back. Your bar is gone. You just put your pogo stick and just press it right up. There you go. Strong as can be.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent work. All right, Sean, please give us your final use for the unicycle.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Listen, you're a unicyclist. You already have great balance. So you know what you can do? You can set it right on top of your head. Balance it there, you've got the most fashionable hat you've ever worn in your life. I guarantee it.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow Kentucky Derby, here you come. OK, Nick, please give us your last use.
NICK RYAN: Your dance partner stood you up. You're all alone. You just dance with your pogo stick. That's all I got.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. These are an incredibly diverse array of uses for these two forms of transportation. I am so impressed. But Mabel, your opinion is the only one that matters now. Please, award a point to the side that impressed you the most. Don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: I have.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Perfect. Then it's time for our final around.
AUDIO TRACK: The Final Six.
MOLLY BLOOM: In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. All right, Nick, please give us six words for pogo sticks.
NICK RYAN: Let's go pogo. Jump, jump, y'all.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Very nice. OK, Sean, it is your turn. Let's hear your six words for the bike with one wheel.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Unis are slick, sticks are ick.
NICK RYAN: Aw.
MOLLY BLOOM: Two wonderful Final Sixes there. And Mabel, it is time for you to award your final point for this Final Six. Have you made your decision?
MABEL: Yes.
[DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, please tally up your points. Are you ready to crown one team the Smash Boom Best?
MABEL: I'm so ready.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, drum roll please. And the winner is--
MABEL: Pogo sticks.
NICK RYAN: Yeah!
SEAN HOLLOWAY: No!
NICK RYAN: Woohoo.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: That stings.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh my goodness. OK, Mabel, please tell us, was there a moment that really decided it for pogo sticks?
MABEL: You know what, it was an extremely close match. I awarded a lot of points out. I mean, only as many as you told me to, but--
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent, excellent.
MABEL: A lot in my mind. But you know what? I think my favorite was the multiple uses for it. Everyone loves to exercise, pogo stick, unicycle. But there's not that many opportunities to use those things. And so I felt like the crutches, the guitar, the gardening tool were my favorites. And I really enjoyed imagining those things.
NICK RYAN: Sean, I loved your Declaration of Greatness. I loved the Micro Round. I learned a ton about unicycles. And just on a personal level, I love that you highlighted the extreme sport aspect of them. And I'm here for the expansion of extreme sports with anything, including unicycles. You were amazing.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Nick, honestly, that was so great. I really enjoyed your Micro Round. I really enjoyed your Declaration of Greatness. And let's be honest, unicycles and pogo sticks, they're cousins. And I'm a huge fan of extreme pogo stick and what you do. And to be honest, I want to ride a pogo stick after hearing all that.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well that is it for today's debate battle. Mabel crowned pogo sticks the Smash Boom Best, but what about you?
MABEL: Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won.
MOLLY BLOOM: Smash Boom Best is brought to you by Brains On and APM Studios.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: It's produced by Molly Bloom, Anna Weggel and Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Josh Savageau, Drew Jostad, and John Levasseur, with sound design by Otto Woldeslassie.
NICK RYAN: Our editors are Shahla Farzan and Sanden Totten.
SEAN HOLLOWAY: And we had production help from Rosie DuPont, Anna Goldfield, Hans Buetow, Ruby Guthrie, Marc Sanchez, and Nico Gonzalez-Wisler.
MOLLY BLOOM: Our executive producer is Beth Perlman, and the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marley Feuerwerker-Otto, and we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Sean, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
SEAN HOLLOWAY: Yeah, I'd just like to give a shout out to my hometown of Kansas City and to all my friends and family who are there now. Just want to send much love.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. And how about you, Nick? Any special shout outs?
NICK RYAN: Yeah, I'll give a shout out to my brother, Gabriel Ryan, who actually was the first person who introduced me to pogo sticking.
MOLLY BLOOM: Aw. And how about you, Mabel? Any special thanks or shout outs?
MABEL: I'll also give a shout out to my brothers. They're twins. And one of them had a pogo stick back in the day.
NICK RYAN: Yeah, he did.
MOLLY BLOOM: Before we go, let's check in and see who Sid thinks should win the Ghostbusters versus Jurassic Park debate.
SID: I think Jurassic Park would win, because I love all the super cool and scary dinosaur battles. Also, Ghostbusters freaks me out a little bit.
MOLLY BLOOM: If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you'd like to be a judge or if you're any age and you have an idea for a knock down drag out debate, head to smashboom.org/contact and drop us a line. And make sure to subscribe to Brains On Universe on YouTube where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes. We'll be back with a new Smash Boom Best debate battle next week.
EVERYONE: Bye! See you later!
(SINGING) Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, put it through the test
Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, better than the rest
You're the Smash Boom Best
You're the Smash Boom Best
NICK RYAN: You're all alone, you just dance with your pogo stick.
[LAUGHS]
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.
