Today’s debate is a sporty showdown between two playful pastimes. It’s Surfing vs. Ice Skating! Actor, writer and comedian Allison Reese is here to ride the waves for team surfing, and editor Nancy Yang will glide across the ice for team ice skating. Who will be crowned the Smash Boom Best? 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!
Audio Transcript
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MOLLY BLOOM: From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best.
ENZ: A show for people with big opinions.
[LIVELY MUSIC]
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 is a sporty showdown between two playful pastimes. It's surfing versus ice skating.
We've got actor, writer, and comedian Allison Reese ready to ride the waves for team surfing.
ALLISON REESE: It's surfing time, dudes!
MOLLY BLOOM: And editor Nancy Yang is here to glide across the ice for team ice skating.
NANCY YANG: The coolest people in the world ice skate. Just the facts. Hello!
MOLLY BLOOM: [CHUCKLES] And here to judge it all is Enz from Mount Prospect, Illinois. Hi, Enz.
ENZ: Hello.
MOLLY BLOOM: Enz plays three sports, loves video games, video editing, and coding, and was the unofficial president of his student council. So you play sports. What is your favorite sport you play?
ENZ: My favorite sport to play is soccer.
MOLLY BLOOM: And how long have you been playing soccer for?
ENZ: I've been playing House League Soccer since first grade, but then the pandemic happened. And then I started playing again in sixth grade.
MOLLY BLOOM: What's your favorite thing about playing soccer?
ENZ: I play goalie, so it's just really fun because you get to watch everyone do the work. And then it's just, like, you're relaxed. You're relaxing, and then they come over by you. And then you're freaking out and just diving on the ground. So it's very on and off, entertainment wise.
MOLLY BLOOM: And you get to wear those cool gloves, right?
ENZ: Yeah, gloves. You get the jersey. I actually have a purple jersey that goes over. So it's very flashy. And you can show an artistic side with your jersey because you can have tie-dye, solid color.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, because you have to stand out from the rest of the team, right?
ENZ: Yes, it's very fun.
MOLLY BLOOM: So have you ever gone surfing or ice skating?
ENZ: I have never gone surfing, but I've always wanted to. And I used to play hockey.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, so you have wanted to surf. You've ice skated a lot for hockey. What is your favorite thing about ice skating?
ENZ: I love gliding on the ice and then coming to a stop.
MOLLY BLOOM: And what looks most fun about surfing?
ENZ: The waves crashing around you, the smell of salts, the exhilaration of just gliding across the water.
MOLLY BLOOM: And do you have any advice for our debaters today?
ENZ: Be funny, draw a contrast between yourself and the other debater, and just be ruthless.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent advice. Will Enz side with Allison or Nancy? It's anyone's guess. But first, here are the rules of the game.
Every debate consists of four rounds, the Declaration of Greatness, the Micro Round, the Sneak Attack, and the Final Six. After each round, our judge, Enz, will award points to the team that impresses him the most, but he'll keep his 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.
All right, Allison, Nancy, and Enz, are you ready?
ENZ: Ready.
NANCY YANG: Ready!
ALLISON REESE: We'll see!
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Then it's time for the Declaration of Greatness.
[TRUMPET SOUNDS]
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 Allison, you're up first. Tell us what makes surfing so satisfying.
ALLISON REESE: It's time to go back in time.
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC]
Let's fire up the patented SBBTM, Smash Boom Best Time Machine, and wave goodbye to the present as we go to a place where you'll "see" the past and never be "bored," where puns may or may not even exist yet.
Welcome to the beaches of Polynesia more than 3,000 years ago. There are no cars polluting the air, no plastic bottles yukking up the ocean, no Instagram to distract you from the marvels of nature.
[MEN LAUGHING]
Ooh, check it out, a group of ancient Polynesian people fishing and using their canoes to surf the day's catch back to shore. You see, what started out as a way to transport and commune with nature became its own pastime, which we know today as surfing.
OK, so let's hop in our time machine and head back to the present.
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC]
Traditional surfing weather may be warmer, but compared to ice skating, surfing is definitely the cooler activity. All that snow gear is honestly exhausting.
SALLY: All right, let's go skating.
ALLISON REESE: Hold up. First, you gotta put on your long johns, then your pants.
SALLY: That's not so bad.
ALLISON REESE: Then your sweater! Then you put on your snow pants. Oh, and don't forget your gloves.
[DING]
SALLY: OK, this is getting to be a lot.
ALLISON REESE: And hat.
SALLY: Ugh!
ALLISON REESE: Oh, and a scarf! All this skating gear is bulky, and let's get real, uncomfy. And what if you have to pee once all that stuff is already on? What a pain! Isn't that right, Sally?
SALLY: [MUFFLED GROANING]
ALLISON REESE: Not only is surfing the warmer weather winner, it also inspires culture and works of art.
[FOLK MUSIC]
One of the most famous surfers was Duke Kahanamoku. Duke was a Native Hawaiian surfer and Olympic swimming champion who helped popularize surfing. Once, he even rode an enormous wave for more than a mile straight! Duke and other native Hawaiians saw surfing as a way to connect with nature.
Surfing not only has the power to inspire surfers like Duke to connect with nature, it also helped inspire music that we all know and love, Like surf rock from The Beach Boys.
(SINGING) Yeah, everybody's gone surfin', surfin USA
To the more modern influences of ska.
[LAURENT LOMBARD, "SKA PARTY"]
Surfing inspires people beyond the swell. And it's not just music. Have you heard of movies like Blue Crush or Blue Hawaii? That second one stars Elvis.
ELVIS: Ah huh huh, I'm Elvis from the movie Blue Hawaii and the song "Blue Hawaii."
ALLISON REESE: Surfing inspires fashion too. Clothes from brands like Billabong, and Rip Curl, and of course, the classic boardshorts. Hey, kid, want to trade out your skating snow clothes for some surf fashion?
SALLY: Yes, please. I've been waiting for someone to offer that.
ALLISON REESE: And how about we trade out those sharp, uncomfortable blade shoes for a sleek, awesome surfboard?
SALLY: I'm saying yes.
ALLISON REESE: I think we've established the many, many reasons why surfing is better than ice skating, but here's one more.
[SERENE MUSIC]
Surfing is the best way to connect with nature. You can be one with the water, not just on top of the water, cutting it to shreds when it's frozen. And surfing is so second nature that you technically don't even need a board to surf. Why waste money on gear when body surfing is a thing? Seals do it all the time.
The ocean is a magnificent, magical place full of wonder and beauty. So even if you do fall off your surfboard, you fall into the ocean. Imagine seeing a seal surfing, or bumping into a dolphin, or swimming with colorful fish. Surfing is so much more than boardshorts and an Elvis movie.
ELVIS: Hey, now, that's a good movie.
ALLISON REESE: The history, the traditions, the connections to nature, you could say that, like the ocean itself, surfing's influence is deep.
SALLY: Nice one.
MOLLY BLOOM: A smooth and expansive argument there for surfing. Enz, what stood out to you about Allison's Declaration of Greatness?
ENZ: I liked how the connections to history, culture, and nature were all intertwined. Also, the Elvis impression, that was very good.
[LAUGHING]
And on top of that, I liked how you said, like, if you fall off, you land in the ocean.
MOLLY BLOOM: Hmm. Good point. All right, Nancy, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why surfing is a real wipeout. You've got 30 seconds, and your time starts now.
NANCY YANG: All right. So you said it's the best way to connect with nature. That's not true. It's more like it's destroying nature because, hello, all the surfers, all the hotspots, leading to large crowds, leading to increased human activity in your coastal areas. And over time, that contributes to coastal erosion, and it drives out the marine life.
Also, sharks, that's their home! People are up there. Sharks are just trying to take a nap, trying to get some grub. People are up there disturbing the water. So all I'm saying is people make sharks out to be the bad guys, but they're not. And those chemicals on the surf wax boards, that's so bad! That's terrible.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
ALLISON REESE: Uh, I "wave" goodbye to that argument--
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
ALLISON REESE: --and still say that surfing is cool.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] All right, Nancy, it is your turn. Tell us why ice skating is so cool.
[WIND RUMBLING]
SANDRA: Oh geez, It sure is snowing a lot out there. I hope we get our hot cocoa delivery.
NANCY YANG: Relax, Sandra. Everyone knows the post office delivers in the rain, sleet, and snow.
SANDRA: But what about the ice? The lake in front of our house is frozen solid, and there's no way around it.
NANCY YANG: Who's that magnificent creature gliding in the distance?
SANDRA: Looks like she's skating the package right to our front door? [GASPS] It's Gale Glider!
(SINGING) Gale Glider
Gale Glider
Skating over ice like you never knew
Skating packages to me and you
She's incredible
Yeah
[DOORBELL RINGS]
GALE: Somebody order some hot cocoa?
SANDRA: Wow! Thanks, Gale.
GALE: Don't thank me. Thank ice skating.
NANCY YANG: Gale Glider is incredible. But you'd be incredible too, if you traveled by ice skating. And traveling is actually why ice skating was invented.
Ancient Scandinavians created the first ice skates more than 3,000 years ago to glide across frozen rivers and canals. Instead of metal blades, their skates were made from animal bones. Back then, skating wasn't just cool, it was wildly practical.
MAN: Hey, Pete, you want to skate on over to the old candy shop, then skate over to the old opera house, then maybe skate to the old bakery for some bread?
PETE: Ooh, sounds great! I'll grab my skates.
NANCY YANG: Ice skating isn't just a great way to travel around. It's great for your health, too. Standing up on ice skates helps improve your balance and strengthens your quads, calves, glutes, and hamstrings. And unlike some sports, ahem, surfing, ice skating is easy to come by.
You don't need a massive body of water with perfect rolling waves or a complicated indoor wave pool. You just need a good old ice rink. Really, anyone with an ice rink can ice skate, like your grandma.
GRANDMA: I'm very good.
NANCY YANG: Or your neighbor.
WOMAN: This is the best part of my day!
NANCY YANG: Even that mean guy you go to school with.
MAN: I'm not mean. I just hate salsa.
NANCY YANG: Whatever, man. Ice skating even has special equipment. So people with physical disabilities can skate, too. And if you work really, really, really hard at it, you can even end up at the Olympics as a figure skater.
[CHOIR SINGS]
Pardon the pun, but figure skating is the "coolest." Growing up, I remember watching athletes like Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan gliding on the ice with power and beauty. The outfits, the artistry, and of course, the jumps!
One of the most famous figure skating jumps is called the Axel jump. It's an amazing sight to behold.
AXEL: That's true, my daughter.
NANCY YANG: Who are you?
AXEL: I'm Norwegian skating legend Axel Paulsen. I invented the Axel jump in 1882.
NANCY YANG: Why do you sound like that?
AXEL: Because 1882, Norway was totally gnarly! Anyway, the Axel jump is a totally radical, super baddical move! And every few years, people break records by adding more rotations to the jump. When I invented it, an Axel jump was 1 and 1/2 rotations. Now, there's even one skater who landed a quad Axel, which means 4 and 1/2 rotations! That's mondo cool.
NANCY YANG: The ice skating ghost is right. Axel jumps are showstopping athletic feats. One of the first female athletes to land a triple Axel was figure skating legend Tonya Harding. And she did it to the Batman soundtrack.
BATMAN: I'm Batman. And that moment was awesome.
NANCY YANG: Like Tonya Harding and Batman, figure skating is a balance between elegance and power, poise and precision, ambition and obsession. Skating on ice gives us so much. It's a great way to get around. It's a fun activity that anyone can enjoy, and it's an awe-inspiring sport that people adore.
Plus, it's the only way you can get your hot cocoa delivery during an ice storm. Don't take my word for it. Just ask my good friend Gale.
[MUSIC PLAYING] Gale Glider
Gale Glider
Skating over ice like you never knew
Skating packages to me and you
She's so cool
Undeniable
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Wow, ice skating has its own superhero and Batman, double superhero action. Enz, what did you think about Nancy's Declaration of Greatness.
ENZ: I like the history info. The Scandinavian practical uses were very interesting, and the Gale Glider jingle was very entertaining.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very catchy. [LAUGHS] All right, Allison, it's time for your rebuttal.
ALLISON REESE: All right.
MOLLY BLOOM: Tell us why skating should be fading? You've got 30 seconds, and your time starts now.
ALLISON REESE: Ice skating? More like ice grating. Am I right?
[LAUGHING]
You brought up a good point that ice skating existed as a form of travel before it became a sport. Well, guess what? Surfing does that, too. And guess what? Surfing also requires balance! So, yeah. And Olympics? Uh, you brought up the Olympics topical. Wonderful. It was repopularized in surfing by Duke Kahanamoku, who was an Olympic surfer.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
NANCY YANG: All I'd like to say is Batman is team skating. And so I think Batman could take on Elvis any day, so.
ALLISON REESE: Well, the only frozen I care about is the movie.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] OK, Enz, it is time to award some points. Please give one point to the Declaration of Greatness you like 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? Were you swayed by one of the team's logic? Award your point but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent. Nancy and Allison, how are you two feeling so far?
ALLISON REESE: I'm feeling good.
NANCY YANG: I'm having an "ice-cellent" time right now.
MOLLY BLOOM: Hmm.
ALLISON REESE: Oh, that was a good one. I'll give you that one. That was good.
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right. It's time for a quick break. Hang ten or lace up your skates.
ENZ: And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best.
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to State of Debate, home to raging rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Hey there, debaters-gators! I'm Taylor Lincoln. And with me is my favorite tall glass of root beer float, Todd Douglas.
TODD DOUGLAS: I'm sweet and bubbly. That's true. Hey, Taylor, did I tell you about the conversation I overheard at the gym yesterday?
TAYLOR LINCOLN: You went to the gym without me? I thought we were barbell buddies, plank pals!
TODD DOUGLAS: Oh no, I just went to sit in the massage chair and eat a cookie. Anyway, I heard Marge talking to her friend Valerie and caught a delicious, logical fallacy.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Ah, dang! That's a mistake, guaranteed to make an argument weaker. They always leave a funky taste in my mouth. Let's hear that convo.
[REELS ROLLING]
MARGE: Hey, Valerie.
VALERIE: Big news. I'm starting a totally new exercise routine. I call it cocoa size.
MARGE: Um, cocoa size? Is that why you're holding those giant chocolate bars?
VALERIE: Yeah. I was reading about this French woman, Jeanne Calment, who was born in 1875. She said that she ate chocolate every single day. And get this, she lived to be 122 years old. It's obvious that old people who eat chocolate everyday live super long lives! I'm not old yet, but you bet your buttery milk chocolate, I'm going to start early, Val.
[BUZZ]
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Oh my, Mademoiselle Marge sure fell into a tasty, hasty generalization fallacy.
TODD DOUGLAS: You got it, buddy. Marge assumed that because there was one case where someone ate 2 pounds of chocolate per week and lived to 122, that anyone who ate that much chocolate would live an extra long life.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: She took a tiny piece of evidence and made a conclusion without checking any other sources. It's really rare to live past 100 years old. Jeanne Calment's long life could have been because of good genes, or how she exercised, or lots of other factors.
TODD DOUGLAS: Come on, people, you got to exercise your debate muscles.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: That reminds me, want to go play kickball?
TODD DOUGLAS: You know it, hey. Let's kick it.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: We'll see you next time on State of Debate!
[NEWS MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: Brains On Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Smash Boom Best, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.
ALIEN: Here we are in Brains On Universe, home to my favorite podcasts. Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Forever Ago. [GASPS] I found one!
(SINGING) Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba, Brains On
Brains On, a science podcast for kids and families.
MOLLY BLOOM: Let's start with our pal, the sun.
SUN: Did somebody call their favorite star? It's me, the sun. The sun is made up of very, very hot elec--
[STATIC BUZZ]
ALIEN: Ah, what a great show!
[TYPING, BEEPING]
Need more Brains On now!
[BLAST]
ANNOUNCER: Listen to Brains On wherever you get your podcasts.
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC] Best Boom Smash Smash Boom Best
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
ENZ: And I'm your judge, Enz.
MOLLY BLOOM: And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this playful debate idea from Kora.
KORA: Hi, my name is Kora, and I'm from Chicago, Illinois. And my debate idea is slinkies versus puppets.
ENZ: A sensory sensation.
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Kora thinks should win.
ENZ: And now it's back to our debate in surfing versus ice skating.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's right. And it's time for round two, the Micro Round!
[DINGS]
For the Micro Round challenge, each team has prepared a creative response to a prompt they received in advance. For Allison and Nancy, the prompt was story share. In this game, the storyteller asks the listeners for words like nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and then puts them into their story to make an extra silly and off-the-wall tale.
Allison went first last time. So, Nancy, you're up. Tell us what words you need for your ice skating story.
NANCY YANG: All right. "Lots" do this.
[LAUGHTER]
First things first, we are going to need a first and last name.
ENZ: OK. Gale Glider.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
NANCY YANG: And then now, we're going to need the name of a town.
ENZ: Let's go Springfield.
NANCY YANG: And then an motion.
ENZ: Happy.
NANCY YANG: And now we need another emotion.
ENZ: Sad.
NANCY YANG: And an emoji type.
ENZ: Laughing crying.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
NANCY YANG: An adjective.
ENZ: Tall.
NANCY YANG: Another adjective.
ENZ: Small.
NANCY YANG: Now, we need a noun.
ENZ: Cat.
NANCY YANG: An article of clothing.
ENZ: Jacket.
NANCY YANG: A plural noun.
ENZ: Dogs.
NANCY YANG: And we need a verb that ends "ing."
ENZ: Swimming.
NANCY YANG: An adverb.
ENZ: Swiftly.
NANCY YANG: An exclamation.
ENZ: Wow.
NANCY YANG: A verb that ends with "s."
ENZ: Cries.
NANCY YANG: A food item.
ENZ: Pizza.
NANCY YANG: And a verb?
ENZ: Laughs.
NANCY YANG: And last but not least, one last verb.
ENZ: Sleeps.
NANCY YANG: And we're done.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right. Nancy, please, let's hear the story.
NANCY YANG: Susie flame is visiting her cousin, Gale Glider in Springfield next week. Gale Glider has a whole weekend of activities planned, starting with ice skating. Susie has never been skating before, and she is so happy, if not a little sad.
She's not sure what to expect, so she sends Gale Glider a laugh-cry emoji and ask for some advice before her visit. It's going to be so tall, Gale Glider tells her, because anybody can skate! I'll be able to hold your hand the whole time. So we can go as small as you want, and you'll love the feeling of the cat rushing by, he tells Susie.
[LAUGHING]
Most importantly, don't forget to wear your jacket, he reminds her. When Susie and Gale Glider arrive at the rink the following week, Susie can't believe the number of dogs gliding by. People are spinning, doing jumps, even swimming to each other while skating around.
Everyone looks like they're having so much fun, and Susie can't wait to get started. Swiftly, she straps on a pair of skates and steps out onto the ice. Wow! Gale Glider tells Susie as he laces up his skates. But Susie is already racing around the rink.
I'm inventing a new move, she tells Gale Glider as he catches up to her. She does a small leap, then twirls in a circle on one leg, stops, then immediately cries in the opposite direction on the other leg. I call this the twisted pizza flame, Susie says. The people of Springfiled laugh and sleep as they watch her. The end.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. I want to go to this place where the dogs and cats are skating.
NANCY YANG: And people are swimming.
MOLLY BLOOM: And people are swimming. There's a pizza move. It sounds delightful. Allison, now it's your turn. Tell us what words you need for your surfing story.
ALLISON REESE: All right. Could I get an activity?
ENZ: Running.
ALLISON REESE: Great. An adjective?
ENZ: Green.
ALLISON REESE: All right. This is fun. Can I also get a color?
ENZ: Blue.
ALLISON REESE: Can I get a noun?
ENZ: Let's go with a rock.
ALLISON REESE: My favorite actor. All right. And a verb?
ENZ: Let's go climbing.
ALLISON REESE: An adjective.
ENZ: Slowly.
ALLISON REESE: A body part.
ENZ: Knuckle.
ALLISON REESE: Knuckle!
[LAUGHING]
That's so specific. Can I get a noun?
ENZ: Table.
ALLISON REESE: An onomatopoeia, so a word that sounds--
ENZ: Whoosh.
ALLISON REESE: --how it is. Woosh, OK. How about a verb?
ENZ: Awakening.
MOLLY BLOOM: Ooh.
ALLISON REESE: Awakening! Hello. All right, another verb.
ENZ: Relaxing.
ALLISON REESE: An exclamation.
ENZ: Incredible.
ALLISON REESE: A position you might find yourself in.
ENZ: Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
[LAUGHTER]
ALLISON REESE: All right. Stuck between my favorite actor and a hard place.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
ALLISON REESE: Could I get another verb from you, my friend?
ENZ: Playing.
ALLISON REESE: Could I get another body part?
ENZ: Leg.
ALLISON REESE: A direction.
ENZ: Above.
ALLISON REESE: Another direction.
ENZ: East.
ALLISON REESE: One more verb?
ENZ: Gliding.
ALLISON REESE: How about an adjective?
ENZ: Spiky.
ALLISON REESE: Spiky! A place?
ENZ: Europe.
ALLISON REESE: A past tense verb.
ENZ: Drew.
ALLISON REESE: Drew, thank you so much. All right. Enz, you human dictionary, thank you so much.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent work. All right, Allison, please read us your story.
ALLISON REESE: All right. Imagine, Enz, you are in ancient Hawaii when surfing was an elite running, reserved for the upper class and royals. You, Enz, are one of those royals. The sun is green against the backdrop of the bright blue ocean.
You look down at your surf rock. It's beautiful, because after all, as a royal, you have access to the very best materials for your board. You climbing on your board and enjoying the feeling of the slowly sun on your knuckle. You take in the smell of the salty table and listen to the whoosh of the waves.
It's time. You see the water begin to awakening. So you relaxing as the wave comes, and incredible! You lay stuck between a rock and a hard place on your surfboard. The wave is coming right up behind you. Without hesitation, you playing yourself up on your leg and find your balance.
The wave thrusts you above. From this position, you can see the beach in front of you and the vast everything of the ocean east of you. You're gliding, but it feels like gliding.
[LAUGHTER]
You are free. You are strong. You are spiky. You ride the wave back to Europe. You've done it. You've drew surfing for the first time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Amazing. Do you feel spiky? I do.
NANCY YANG: I'm going to start using that. We're making a thing.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah. Enz, what did you like about those great stories there?
ENZ: They were very funny, very candid. I love the cameo from a Gale Glider and stuck between the rock and the hard place on your surfboard was very interesting.
[LAUGHING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, you had a cameo from The Rock and Gale Glider, two superheroes. All right. It's time to award a point, but don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Fantastic. Then it's time for our third round, the super stealthy Sneak Attack. This is our improvised round where debaters will have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's Sneak Attack is called speed facts. We want to know how many facts you can say about your side in one breath.
You can whisper, you can shout, you can slur your words, do whatever you need to do to get the most facts in in one breath. Debaters, are you ready for your Sneak Attack?
NANCY YANG: Yes!
ALLISON REESE: I may as "swell" be.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] OK. All right, Allison, let's hear your fast facts for team surfing.
ALLISON REESE: [INHALES] Beginning 400 AD on the beaches of Polynesia and made popular by Duke Kahanamoku.
MOLLY BLOOM: Uh, did you breathe in?
ALLISON REESE: Oh, I did!
[LAUGHING]
No! Darn you, my human need for breath!
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, it's OK. You are human. Nancy, let's hear your turn.
NANCY YANG: OK, I'm going to try not to half Axle this.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, very good.
NANCY YANG: Taking deep breaths. Taking a deep breath.
[INHALES]
Ice skating probably developed in Scandinavia as early as 1000 BCE. The first skaters made them from shark bones or rib bones. Over 9.5 million Americans ice skates. Got great full body workouts. Works out nearly every single muscle group in the body. Fastest time recorded ever on skates was 64 miles per hour by Dutch speed skater.
Skaters averaged close to 150 miles foot pounds of torque and 300 pounds of force against the ice as they step into the air to complete a quad. Most people will say that the landings are somewhat between five to six times above body weight, up to maybe 10 times of their body weight. And that's all in one foot. I'm sorry.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow!
ALLISON REESE: Wow!
MOLLY BLOOM: I was holding my breath that whole time, and then I had to breathe out because it was so long. Oh my gosh.
NANCY YANG: The one skill I have is talking fast. So that's actually helps me.
MOLLY BLOOM: And lung capacity.
ALLISON REESE: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, Enz, think about which side impressed you the most and award your fourth point. But don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Perfect. Then it's time for our final round--
[CHIME, BASS MUSIC]
The Final Six. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Nancy, let's hear your six words for frosty cool ice skating.
NANCY YANG: All right. Surfing equals "board." Skating equals "ice-ordinary."
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] nicely done. OK, Allison, it is your turn. Give us your six words for sun-soaked surfing.
ALLISON REESE: No ice, no blades, just waves.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Oh, such good final sixes all around, Enz. But you can only give one of them a point. Please award your final point for this Final Six. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, tally up those points. Are you ready to crown one team the Smash Boom Best?
ENZ: I am.
MOLLY BLOOM: Drum roll, please. The winner is--
ENZ: Surfing!
ALLISON REESE: Yeah!
NANCY YANG: Boo!
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: So, Enz, what was your favorite part of the debate?
ENZ: The Declaration of Greatness was incredible for both sides. And I also loved the story Share Sneak Attack.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, yes. That was a super fun story. And you got to play a game today, too. So fun.
ALLISON REESE: Nancy, thank you so much for teaching me so much about ice skating, or as I'm going to call it now, nice skating. So thank you. It sounds like a fun time. And you know what? I'm going to give it a try.
NANCY YANG: Allison, I appreciate a good pun, and you had so many of them today. So thank you for bringing all the ice puns, nice puns today.
[LAUGHING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, that's it for today's debate battle. Enz crowned surfing the Smash Boom Best. But what about you?
ENZ: 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. It's produced by me, Molly Bloom.
ANNA WEGGEL: Anna Weggel.
MOLLY BLOOM: And--
ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Alex Simpson, [? Mish Entigua, ?] and Sean Baumann with sound design by Anna Weggel. Our editors are--
SHAHLA FARZAN: Shahla Farzan.
MOLLY BLOOM: And--
SANDEN TOTTEN: Sanden Totten.
MOLLY BLOOM: And we had production help from the rest of the Brains On Universe team.
TEAM: Rosie duPont, Rachel Brees, Anna Goldfield, Nico Gonzalez Wisler, Ruby Guthrie, Lauren Humbert, Jess Miller, Joshua Ray, Marc Sanchez, and Charlorre Traver.
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 special thanks to Austin Cross, Taylor Kaufman, and Phoebe Bowers.
Allison, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
ALLISON REESE: Yeah, shout out to my mom. I love you, mom.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, mom. And how about you, Nancy, any special shout outs?
NANCY YANG: You know, Gale Glider. She needs another one.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, she does. And how about you, Enz, any special thanks or shout outs?
ENZ: I'd like to shout out my family and The Rock.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes.
[LAUGHTER]
Before we go, let's check in and see Kora thinks should win the slinkies versus puppets debate.
KORA: I think slinky should win because they're more interactive, and they can go downstairs and act as a jump rope, where puppets, the only thing you can do with them is pop them back and forth.
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.
ENZ: Bye!
ALLISON REESE: Bye-vois!
[THEME MUSIC] Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, put you through the test
Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, better than the rest
It's the Smash Boom Best
It's the Smash Boom Best
MOLLY BLOOM: And is there anything about surfing that you will admit to liking?
ALLISON REESE: Ooh, see, this is difficult because I--
MOLLY BLOOM: I like your dedication.
ALLISON REESE: Yes. It does sound peaceful at times. I will say that, it does sound very peaceful.
ENZ: A show for people with big opinions.
[LIVELY MUSIC]
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 is a sporty showdown between two playful pastimes. It's surfing versus ice skating.
We've got actor, writer, and comedian Allison Reese ready to ride the waves for team surfing.
ALLISON REESE: It's surfing time, dudes!
MOLLY BLOOM: And editor Nancy Yang is here to glide across the ice for team ice skating.
NANCY YANG: The coolest people in the world ice skate. Just the facts. Hello!
MOLLY BLOOM: [CHUCKLES] And here to judge it all is Enz from Mount Prospect, Illinois. Hi, Enz.
ENZ: Hello.
MOLLY BLOOM: Enz plays three sports, loves video games, video editing, and coding, and was the unofficial president of his student council. So you play sports. What is your favorite sport you play?
ENZ: My favorite sport to play is soccer.
MOLLY BLOOM: And how long have you been playing soccer for?
ENZ: I've been playing House League Soccer since first grade, but then the pandemic happened. And then I started playing again in sixth grade.
MOLLY BLOOM: What's your favorite thing about playing soccer?
ENZ: I play goalie, so it's just really fun because you get to watch everyone do the work. And then it's just, like, you're relaxed. You're relaxing, and then they come over by you. And then you're freaking out and just diving on the ground. So it's very on and off, entertainment wise.
MOLLY BLOOM: And you get to wear those cool gloves, right?
ENZ: Yeah, gloves. You get the jersey. I actually have a purple jersey that goes over. So it's very flashy. And you can show an artistic side with your jersey because you can have tie-dye, solid color.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, because you have to stand out from the rest of the team, right?
ENZ: Yes, it's very fun.
MOLLY BLOOM: So have you ever gone surfing or ice skating?
ENZ: I have never gone surfing, but I've always wanted to. And I used to play hockey.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, so you have wanted to surf. You've ice skated a lot for hockey. What is your favorite thing about ice skating?
ENZ: I love gliding on the ice and then coming to a stop.
MOLLY BLOOM: And what looks most fun about surfing?
ENZ: The waves crashing around you, the smell of salts, the exhilaration of just gliding across the water.
MOLLY BLOOM: And do you have any advice for our debaters today?
ENZ: Be funny, draw a contrast between yourself and the other debater, and just be ruthless.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent advice. Will Enz side with Allison or Nancy? It's anyone's guess. But first, here are the rules of the game.
Every debate consists of four rounds, the Declaration of Greatness, the Micro Round, the Sneak Attack, and the Final Six. After each round, our judge, Enz, will award points to the team that impresses him the most, but he'll keep his 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.
All right, Allison, Nancy, and Enz, are you ready?
ENZ: Ready.
NANCY YANG: Ready!
ALLISON REESE: We'll see!
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Then it's time for the Declaration of Greatness.
[TRUMPET SOUNDS]
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 Allison, you're up first. Tell us what makes surfing so satisfying.
ALLISON REESE: It's time to go back in time.
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC]
Let's fire up the patented SBBTM, Smash Boom Best Time Machine, and wave goodbye to the present as we go to a place where you'll "see" the past and never be "bored," where puns may or may not even exist yet.
Welcome to the beaches of Polynesia more than 3,000 years ago. There are no cars polluting the air, no plastic bottles yukking up the ocean, no Instagram to distract you from the marvels of nature.
[MEN LAUGHING]
Ooh, check it out, a group of ancient Polynesian people fishing and using their canoes to surf the day's catch back to shore. You see, what started out as a way to transport and commune with nature became its own pastime, which we know today as surfing.
OK, so let's hop in our time machine and head back to the present.
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC]
Traditional surfing weather may be warmer, but compared to ice skating, surfing is definitely the cooler activity. All that snow gear is honestly exhausting.
SALLY: All right, let's go skating.
ALLISON REESE: Hold up. First, you gotta put on your long johns, then your pants.
SALLY: That's not so bad.
ALLISON REESE: Then your sweater! Then you put on your snow pants. Oh, and don't forget your gloves.
[DING]
SALLY: OK, this is getting to be a lot.
ALLISON REESE: And hat.
SALLY: Ugh!
ALLISON REESE: Oh, and a scarf! All this skating gear is bulky, and let's get real, uncomfy. And what if you have to pee once all that stuff is already on? What a pain! Isn't that right, Sally?
SALLY: [MUFFLED GROANING]
ALLISON REESE: Not only is surfing the warmer weather winner, it also inspires culture and works of art.
[FOLK MUSIC]
One of the most famous surfers was Duke Kahanamoku. Duke was a Native Hawaiian surfer and Olympic swimming champion who helped popularize surfing. Once, he even rode an enormous wave for more than a mile straight! Duke and other native Hawaiians saw surfing as a way to connect with nature.
Surfing not only has the power to inspire surfers like Duke to connect with nature, it also helped inspire music that we all know and love, Like surf rock from The Beach Boys.
(SINGING) Yeah, everybody's gone surfin', surfin USA
To the more modern influences of ska.
[LAURENT LOMBARD, "SKA PARTY"]
Surfing inspires people beyond the swell. And it's not just music. Have you heard of movies like Blue Crush or Blue Hawaii? That second one stars Elvis.
ELVIS: Ah huh huh, I'm Elvis from the movie Blue Hawaii and the song "Blue Hawaii."
ALLISON REESE: Surfing inspires fashion too. Clothes from brands like Billabong, and Rip Curl, and of course, the classic boardshorts. Hey, kid, want to trade out your skating snow clothes for some surf fashion?
SALLY: Yes, please. I've been waiting for someone to offer that.
ALLISON REESE: And how about we trade out those sharp, uncomfortable blade shoes for a sleek, awesome surfboard?
SALLY: I'm saying yes.
ALLISON REESE: I think we've established the many, many reasons why surfing is better than ice skating, but here's one more.
[SERENE MUSIC]
Surfing is the best way to connect with nature. You can be one with the water, not just on top of the water, cutting it to shreds when it's frozen. And surfing is so second nature that you technically don't even need a board to surf. Why waste money on gear when body surfing is a thing? Seals do it all the time.
The ocean is a magnificent, magical place full of wonder and beauty. So even if you do fall off your surfboard, you fall into the ocean. Imagine seeing a seal surfing, or bumping into a dolphin, or swimming with colorful fish. Surfing is so much more than boardshorts and an Elvis movie.
ELVIS: Hey, now, that's a good movie.
ALLISON REESE: The history, the traditions, the connections to nature, you could say that, like the ocean itself, surfing's influence is deep.
SALLY: Nice one.
MOLLY BLOOM: A smooth and expansive argument there for surfing. Enz, what stood out to you about Allison's Declaration of Greatness?
ENZ: I liked how the connections to history, culture, and nature were all intertwined. Also, the Elvis impression, that was very good.
[LAUGHING]
And on top of that, I liked how you said, like, if you fall off, you land in the ocean.
MOLLY BLOOM: Hmm. Good point. All right, Nancy, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why surfing is a real wipeout. You've got 30 seconds, and your time starts now.
NANCY YANG: All right. So you said it's the best way to connect with nature. That's not true. It's more like it's destroying nature because, hello, all the surfers, all the hotspots, leading to large crowds, leading to increased human activity in your coastal areas. And over time, that contributes to coastal erosion, and it drives out the marine life.
Also, sharks, that's their home! People are up there. Sharks are just trying to take a nap, trying to get some grub. People are up there disturbing the water. So all I'm saying is people make sharks out to be the bad guys, but they're not. And those chemicals on the surf wax boards, that's so bad! That's terrible.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
ALLISON REESE: Uh, I "wave" goodbye to that argument--
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
ALLISON REESE: --and still say that surfing is cool.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] All right, Nancy, it is your turn. Tell us why ice skating is so cool.
[WIND RUMBLING]
SANDRA: Oh geez, It sure is snowing a lot out there. I hope we get our hot cocoa delivery.
NANCY YANG: Relax, Sandra. Everyone knows the post office delivers in the rain, sleet, and snow.
SANDRA: But what about the ice? The lake in front of our house is frozen solid, and there's no way around it.
NANCY YANG: Who's that magnificent creature gliding in the distance?
SANDRA: Looks like she's skating the package right to our front door? [GASPS] It's Gale Glider!
(SINGING) Gale Glider
Gale Glider
Skating over ice like you never knew
Skating packages to me and you
She's incredible
Yeah
[DOORBELL RINGS]
GALE: Somebody order some hot cocoa?
SANDRA: Wow! Thanks, Gale.
GALE: Don't thank me. Thank ice skating.
NANCY YANG: Gale Glider is incredible. But you'd be incredible too, if you traveled by ice skating. And traveling is actually why ice skating was invented.
Ancient Scandinavians created the first ice skates more than 3,000 years ago to glide across frozen rivers and canals. Instead of metal blades, their skates were made from animal bones. Back then, skating wasn't just cool, it was wildly practical.
MAN: Hey, Pete, you want to skate on over to the old candy shop, then skate over to the old opera house, then maybe skate to the old bakery for some bread?
PETE: Ooh, sounds great! I'll grab my skates.
NANCY YANG: Ice skating isn't just a great way to travel around. It's great for your health, too. Standing up on ice skates helps improve your balance and strengthens your quads, calves, glutes, and hamstrings. And unlike some sports, ahem, surfing, ice skating is easy to come by.
You don't need a massive body of water with perfect rolling waves or a complicated indoor wave pool. You just need a good old ice rink. Really, anyone with an ice rink can ice skate, like your grandma.
GRANDMA: I'm very good.
NANCY YANG: Or your neighbor.
WOMAN: This is the best part of my day!
NANCY YANG: Even that mean guy you go to school with.
MAN: I'm not mean. I just hate salsa.
NANCY YANG: Whatever, man. Ice skating even has special equipment. So people with physical disabilities can skate, too. And if you work really, really, really hard at it, you can even end up at the Olympics as a figure skater.
[CHOIR SINGS]
Pardon the pun, but figure skating is the "coolest." Growing up, I remember watching athletes like Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan gliding on the ice with power and beauty. The outfits, the artistry, and of course, the jumps!
One of the most famous figure skating jumps is called the Axel jump. It's an amazing sight to behold.
AXEL: That's true, my daughter.
NANCY YANG: Who are you?
AXEL: I'm Norwegian skating legend Axel Paulsen. I invented the Axel jump in 1882.
NANCY YANG: Why do you sound like that?
AXEL: Because 1882, Norway was totally gnarly! Anyway, the Axel jump is a totally radical, super baddical move! And every few years, people break records by adding more rotations to the jump. When I invented it, an Axel jump was 1 and 1/2 rotations. Now, there's even one skater who landed a quad Axel, which means 4 and 1/2 rotations! That's mondo cool.
NANCY YANG: The ice skating ghost is right. Axel jumps are showstopping athletic feats. One of the first female athletes to land a triple Axel was figure skating legend Tonya Harding. And she did it to the Batman soundtrack.
BATMAN: I'm Batman. And that moment was awesome.
NANCY YANG: Like Tonya Harding and Batman, figure skating is a balance between elegance and power, poise and precision, ambition and obsession. Skating on ice gives us so much. It's a great way to get around. It's a fun activity that anyone can enjoy, and it's an awe-inspiring sport that people adore.
Plus, it's the only way you can get your hot cocoa delivery during an ice storm. Don't take my word for it. Just ask my good friend Gale.
[MUSIC PLAYING] Gale Glider
Gale Glider
Skating over ice like you never knew
Skating packages to me and you
She's so cool
Undeniable
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Wow, ice skating has its own superhero and Batman, double superhero action. Enz, what did you think about Nancy's Declaration of Greatness.
ENZ: I like the history info. The Scandinavian practical uses were very interesting, and the Gale Glider jingle was very entertaining.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very catchy. [LAUGHS] All right, Allison, it's time for your rebuttal.
ALLISON REESE: All right.
MOLLY BLOOM: Tell us why skating should be fading? You've got 30 seconds, and your time starts now.
ALLISON REESE: Ice skating? More like ice grating. Am I right?
[LAUGHING]
You brought up a good point that ice skating existed as a form of travel before it became a sport. Well, guess what? Surfing does that, too. And guess what? Surfing also requires balance! So, yeah. And Olympics? Uh, you brought up the Olympics topical. Wonderful. It was repopularized in surfing by Duke Kahanamoku, who was an Olympic surfer.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
NANCY YANG: All I'd like to say is Batman is team skating. And so I think Batman could take on Elvis any day, so.
ALLISON REESE: Well, the only frozen I care about is the movie.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] OK, Enz, it is time to award some points. Please give one point to the Declaration of Greatness you like 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? Were you swayed by one of the team's logic? Award your point but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent. Nancy and Allison, how are you two feeling so far?
ALLISON REESE: I'm feeling good.
NANCY YANG: I'm having an "ice-cellent" time right now.
MOLLY BLOOM: Hmm.
ALLISON REESE: Oh, that was a good one. I'll give you that one. That was good.
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right. It's time for a quick break. Hang ten or lace up your skates.
ENZ: And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best.
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to State of Debate, home to raging rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Hey there, debaters-gators! I'm Taylor Lincoln. And with me is my favorite tall glass of root beer float, Todd Douglas.
TODD DOUGLAS: I'm sweet and bubbly. That's true. Hey, Taylor, did I tell you about the conversation I overheard at the gym yesterday?
TAYLOR LINCOLN: You went to the gym without me? I thought we were barbell buddies, plank pals!
TODD DOUGLAS: Oh no, I just went to sit in the massage chair and eat a cookie. Anyway, I heard Marge talking to her friend Valerie and caught a delicious, logical fallacy.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Ah, dang! That's a mistake, guaranteed to make an argument weaker. They always leave a funky taste in my mouth. Let's hear that convo.
[REELS ROLLING]
MARGE: Hey, Valerie.
VALERIE: Big news. I'm starting a totally new exercise routine. I call it cocoa size.
MARGE: Um, cocoa size? Is that why you're holding those giant chocolate bars?
VALERIE: Yeah. I was reading about this French woman, Jeanne Calment, who was born in 1875. She said that she ate chocolate every single day. And get this, she lived to be 122 years old. It's obvious that old people who eat chocolate everyday live super long lives! I'm not old yet, but you bet your buttery milk chocolate, I'm going to start early, Val.
[BUZZ]
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Oh my, Mademoiselle Marge sure fell into a tasty, hasty generalization fallacy.
TODD DOUGLAS: You got it, buddy. Marge assumed that because there was one case where someone ate 2 pounds of chocolate per week and lived to 122, that anyone who ate that much chocolate would live an extra long life.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: She took a tiny piece of evidence and made a conclusion without checking any other sources. It's really rare to live past 100 years old. Jeanne Calment's long life could have been because of good genes, or how she exercised, or lots of other factors.
TODD DOUGLAS: Come on, people, you got to exercise your debate muscles.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: That reminds me, want to go play kickball?
TODD DOUGLAS: You know it, hey. Let's kick it.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: We'll see you next time on State of Debate!
[NEWS MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: Brains On Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Smash Boom Best, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.
ALIEN: Here we are in Brains On Universe, home to my favorite podcasts. Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Forever Ago. [GASPS] I found one!
(SINGING) Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba, Brains On
Brains On, a science podcast for kids and families.
MOLLY BLOOM: Let's start with our pal, the sun.
SUN: Did somebody call their favorite star? It's me, the sun. The sun is made up of very, very hot elec--
[STATIC BUZZ]
ALIEN: Ah, what a great show!
[TYPING, BEEPING]
Need more Brains On now!
[BLAST]
ANNOUNCER: Listen to Brains On wherever you get your podcasts.
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC] Best Boom Smash Smash Boom Best
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
ENZ: And I'm your judge, Enz.
MOLLY BLOOM: And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this playful debate idea from Kora.
KORA: Hi, my name is Kora, and I'm from Chicago, Illinois. And my debate idea is slinkies versus puppets.
ENZ: A sensory sensation.
MOLLY BLOOM: We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Kora thinks should win.
ENZ: And now it's back to our debate in surfing versus ice skating.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's right. And it's time for round two, the Micro Round!
[DINGS]
For the Micro Round challenge, each team has prepared a creative response to a prompt they received in advance. For Allison and Nancy, the prompt was story share. In this game, the storyteller asks the listeners for words like nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and then puts them into their story to make an extra silly and off-the-wall tale.
Allison went first last time. So, Nancy, you're up. Tell us what words you need for your ice skating story.
NANCY YANG: All right. "Lots" do this.
[LAUGHTER]
First things first, we are going to need a first and last name.
ENZ: OK. Gale Glider.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
NANCY YANG: And then now, we're going to need the name of a town.
ENZ: Let's go Springfield.
NANCY YANG: And then an motion.
ENZ: Happy.
NANCY YANG: And now we need another emotion.
ENZ: Sad.
NANCY YANG: And an emoji type.
ENZ: Laughing crying.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
NANCY YANG: An adjective.
ENZ: Tall.
NANCY YANG: Another adjective.
ENZ: Small.
NANCY YANG: Now, we need a noun.
ENZ: Cat.
NANCY YANG: An article of clothing.
ENZ: Jacket.
NANCY YANG: A plural noun.
ENZ: Dogs.
NANCY YANG: And we need a verb that ends "ing."
ENZ: Swimming.
NANCY YANG: An adverb.
ENZ: Swiftly.
NANCY YANG: An exclamation.
ENZ: Wow.
NANCY YANG: A verb that ends with "s."
ENZ: Cries.
NANCY YANG: A food item.
ENZ: Pizza.
NANCY YANG: And a verb?
ENZ: Laughs.
NANCY YANG: And last but not least, one last verb.
ENZ: Sleeps.
NANCY YANG: And we're done.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right. Nancy, please, let's hear the story.
NANCY YANG: Susie flame is visiting her cousin, Gale Glider in Springfield next week. Gale Glider has a whole weekend of activities planned, starting with ice skating. Susie has never been skating before, and she is so happy, if not a little sad.
She's not sure what to expect, so she sends Gale Glider a laugh-cry emoji and ask for some advice before her visit. It's going to be so tall, Gale Glider tells her, because anybody can skate! I'll be able to hold your hand the whole time. So we can go as small as you want, and you'll love the feeling of the cat rushing by, he tells Susie.
[LAUGHING]
Most importantly, don't forget to wear your jacket, he reminds her. When Susie and Gale Glider arrive at the rink the following week, Susie can't believe the number of dogs gliding by. People are spinning, doing jumps, even swimming to each other while skating around.
Everyone looks like they're having so much fun, and Susie can't wait to get started. Swiftly, she straps on a pair of skates and steps out onto the ice. Wow! Gale Glider tells Susie as he laces up his skates. But Susie is already racing around the rink.
I'm inventing a new move, she tells Gale Glider as he catches up to her. She does a small leap, then twirls in a circle on one leg, stops, then immediately cries in the opposite direction on the other leg. I call this the twisted pizza flame, Susie says. The people of Springfiled laugh and sleep as they watch her. The end.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. I want to go to this place where the dogs and cats are skating.
NANCY YANG: And people are swimming.
MOLLY BLOOM: And people are swimming. There's a pizza move. It sounds delightful. Allison, now it's your turn. Tell us what words you need for your surfing story.
ALLISON REESE: All right. Could I get an activity?
ENZ: Running.
ALLISON REESE: Great. An adjective?
ENZ: Green.
ALLISON REESE: All right. This is fun. Can I also get a color?
ENZ: Blue.
ALLISON REESE: Can I get a noun?
ENZ: Let's go with a rock.
ALLISON REESE: My favorite actor. All right. And a verb?
ENZ: Let's go climbing.
ALLISON REESE: An adjective.
ENZ: Slowly.
ALLISON REESE: A body part.
ENZ: Knuckle.
ALLISON REESE: Knuckle!
[LAUGHING]
That's so specific. Can I get a noun?
ENZ: Table.
ALLISON REESE: An onomatopoeia, so a word that sounds--
ENZ: Whoosh.
ALLISON REESE: --how it is. Woosh, OK. How about a verb?
ENZ: Awakening.
MOLLY BLOOM: Ooh.
ALLISON REESE: Awakening! Hello. All right, another verb.
ENZ: Relaxing.
ALLISON REESE: An exclamation.
ENZ: Incredible.
ALLISON REESE: A position you might find yourself in.
ENZ: Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
[LAUGHTER]
ALLISON REESE: All right. Stuck between my favorite actor and a hard place.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS]
ALLISON REESE: Could I get another verb from you, my friend?
ENZ: Playing.
ALLISON REESE: Could I get another body part?
ENZ: Leg.
ALLISON REESE: A direction.
ENZ: Above.
ALLISON REESE: Another direction.
ENZ: East.
ALLISON REESE: One more verb?
ENZ: Gliding.
ALLISON REESE: How about an adjective?
ENZ: Spiky.
ALLISON REESE: Spiky! A place?
ENZ: Europe.
ALLISON REESE: A past tense verb.
ENZ: Drew.
ALLISON REESE: Drew, thank you so much. All right. Enz, you human dictionary, thank you so much.
MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent work. All right, Allison, please read us your story.
ALLISON REESE: All right. Imagine, Enz, you are in ancient Hawaii when surfing was an elite running, reserved for the upper class and royals. You, Enz, are one of those royals. The sun is green against the backdrop of the bright blue ocean.
You look down at your surf rock. It's beautiful, because after all, as a royal, you have access to the very best materials for your board. You climbing on your board and enjoying the feeling of the slowly sun on your knuckle. You take in the smell of the salty table and listen to the whoosh of the waves.
It's time. You see the water begin to awakening. So you relaxing as the wave comes, and incredible! You lay stuck between a rock and a hard place on your surfboard. The wave is coming right up behind you. Without hesitation, you playing yourself up on your leg and find your balance.
The wave thrusts you above. From this position, you can see the beach in front of you and the vast everything of the ocean east of you. You're gliding, but it feels like gliding.
[LAUGHTER]
You are free. You are strong. You are spiky. You ride the wave back to Europe. You've done it. You've drew surfing for the first time.
MOLLY BLOOM: Amazing. Do you feel spiky? I do.
NANCY YANG: I'm going to start using that. We're making a thing.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah. Enz, what did you like about those great stories there?
ENZ: They were very funny, very candid. I love the cameo from a Gale Glider and stuck between the rock and the hard place on your surfboard was very interesting.
[LAUGHING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, you had a cameo from The Rock and Gale Glider, two superheroes. All right. It's time to award a point, but don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Fantastic. Then it's time for our third round, the super stealthy Sneak Attack. This is our improvised round where debaters will have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's Sneak Attack is called speed facts. We want to know how many facts you can say about your side in one breath.
You can whisper, you can shout, you can slur your words, do whatever you need to do to get the most facts in in one breath. Debaters, are you ready for your Sneak Attack?
NANCY YANG: Yes!
ALLISON REESE: I may as "swell" be.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] OK. All right, Allison, let's hear your fast facts for team surfing.
ALLISON REESE: [INHALES] Beginning 400 AD on the beaches of Polynesia and made popular by Duke Kahanamoku.
MOLLY BLOOM: Uh, did you breathe in?
ALLISON REESE: Oh, I did!
[LAUGHING]
No! Darn you, my human need for breath!
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, it's OK. You are human. Nancy, let's hear your turn.
NANCY YANG: OK, I'm going to try not to half Axle this.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, very good.
NANCY YANG: Taking deep breaths. Taking a deep breath.
[INHALES]
Ice skating probably developed in Scandinavia as early as 1000 BCE. The first skaters made them from shark bones or rib bones. Over 9.5 million Americans ice skates. Got great full body workouts. Works out nearly every single muscle group in the body. Fastest time recorded ever on skates was 64 miles per hour by Dutch speed skater.
Skaters averaged close to 150 miles foot pounds of torque and 300 pounds of force against the ice as they step into the air to complete a quad. Most people will say that the landings are somewhat between five to six times above body weight, up to maybe 10 times of their body weight. And that's all in one foot. I'm sorry.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow!
ALLISON REESE: Wow!
MOLLY BLOOM: I was holding my breath that whole time, and then I had to breathe out because it was so long. Oh my gosh.
NANCY YANG: The one skill I have is talking fast. So that's actually helps me.
MOLLY BLOOM: And lung capacity.
ALLISON REESE: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, Enz, think about which side impressed you the most and award your fourth point. But don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Perfect. Then it's time for our final round--
[CHIME, BASS MUSIC]
The Final Six. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Nancy, let's hear your six words for frosty cool ice skating.
NANCY YANG: All right. Surfing equals "board." Skating equals "ice-ordinary."
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] nicely done. OK, Allison, it is your turn. Give us your six words for sun-soaked surfing.
ALLISON REESE: No ice, no blades, just waves.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Oh, such good final sixes all around, Enz. But you can only give one of them a point. Please award your final point for this Final Six. Have you made your decision?
ENZ: I have.
[BELL RINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, tally up those points. Are you ready to crown one team the Smash Boom Best?
ENZ: I am.
MOLLY BLOOM: Drum roll, please. The winner is--
ENZ: Surfing!
ALLISON REESE: Yeah!
NANCY YANG: Boo!
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: So, Enz, what was your favorite part of the debate?
ENZ: The Declaration of Greatness was incredible for both sides. And I also loved the story Share Sneak Attack.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, yes. That was a super fun story. And you got to play a game today, too. So fun.
ALLISON REESE: Nancy, thank you so much for teaching me so much about ice skating, or as I'm going to call it now, nice skating. So thank you. It sounds like a fun time. And you know what? I'm going to give it a try.
NANCY YANG: Allison, I appreciate a good pun, and you had so many of them today. So thank you for bringing all the ice puns, nice puns today.
[LAUGHING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, that's it for today's debate battle. Enz crowned surfing the Smash Boom Best. But what about you?
ENZ: 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. It's produced by me, Molly Bloom.
ANNA WEGGEL: Anna Weggel.
MOLLY BLOOM: And--
ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Alex Simpson, [? Mish Entigua, ?] and Sean Baumann with sound design by Anna Weggel. Our editors are--
SHAHLA FARZAN: Shahla Farzan.
MOLLY BLOOM: And--
SANDEN TOTTEN: Sanden Totten.
MOLLY BLOOM: And we had production help from the rest of the Brains On Universe team.
TEAM: Rosie duPont, Rachel Brees, Anna Goldfield, Nico Gonzalez Wisler, Ruby Guthrie, Lauren Humbert, Jess Miller, Joshua Ray, Marc Sanchez, and Charlorre Traver.
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 special thanks to Austin Cross, Taylor Kaufman, and Phoebe Bowers.
Allison, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
ALLISON REESE: Yeah, shout out to my mom. I love you, mom.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, mom. And how about you, Nancy, any special shout outs?
NANCY YANG: You know, Gale Glider. She needs another one.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, she does. And how about you, Enz, any special thanks or shout outs?
ENZ: I'd like to shout out my family and The Rock.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes.
[LAUGHTER]
Before we go, let's check in and see Kora thinks should win the slinkies versus puppets debate.
KORA: I think slinky should win because they're more interactive, and they can go downstairs and act as a jump rope, where puppets, the only thing you can do with them is pop them back and forth.
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.
ENZ: Bye!
ALLISON REESE: Bye-vois!
[THEME MUSIC] Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, put you through the test
Ooh, you're the Smash Boom Best
Ooh, better than the rest
It's the Smash Boom Best
It's the Smash Boom Best
MOLLY BLOOM: And is there anything about surfing that you will admit to liking?
ALLISON REESE: Ooh, see, this is difficult because I--
MOLLY BLOOM: I like your dedication.
ALLISON REESE: Yes. It does sound peaceful at times. I will say that, it does sound very peaceful.
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.
