Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family

American Public Media

Smash Boom Best is a funny, smart debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! from APM Studios. Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best: Pikachu vs. Mario, Lollipops vs. Popcorn, Flamingos vs. Axolotls, Mermaids vs. Bigfoot, Cats vs. Dogs, Spiderman vs. Batman, Refrigerators vs. Toilets, Minecraft vs. Lego… the list goes on. Our star-studded line-up of debaters use facts and passion to make their case, teaching listeners how to defend their opinions along the way! Past debaters include Tim Platt, cast member of the comedy narrative play podcast Rude Tales of Magic, comedian and writer Jenny Yang, Minneapolis-based rapper NUR-D, comedian and creator of the Story Pirates Peter McNerney, Radio Ambulante’s Daniel Alarcón, journalist and host of Into It Sam Sanders, host of Terrible, Thanks for Asking Nora McInerney, food-writer Kenji Lopez-Alt and many, many more. To top it off, our State of Debate segment shows listeners how to identify logical fallacies in the wild. Ad hominem attacks and bandwagon fallacies, be gone! So if you’re looking to ignite a funny, feisty debate on your next roadtrip, or just want some amusing arguments for your kids to consider while they fall asleep… tune into Smash Boom Best, where we make debate – a blast!

  • 36 minutes 19 seconds
    Seaweed vs Peanuts

    Two savory snacks, one delicious debate. It’s Peanuts vs Seaweed! One grows on land and pairs perfectly with chocolate or jelly. The other is found in the sea and is key in soups and sushi. Which one will be deemed the best bite? We’ve got actress and Forever Ago host Joy Dolo sounding off for Team Peanuts. Actor and improviser Alsa Bruno is diving in for Team Seaweed. Tune in to see who wins and then head to smashboom.org to vote for your favorite snack.

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 March 2026, 8:30 am
  • 30 minutes 10 seconds
    Bass 🐟 vs Bass 🎸

    Today we’ve got a real brain buster. It’s bass vs bass. What? Well, the names are spelled the same, but they couldn’t be more different. One is a slippery, shimmery fish. The other is a boppin’, booming, guitar. Both are cool in their own way, but only one will triumph. On the side of the bass guitar we have Zak Rosen, host of the podcasts Weirdly Helpful and Care and Feeding. And repping the bass fish is Science Friday host Flora Lichtman. Listen to see which bass is best and head to smashboom.org to choose your favorite!

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 February 2026, 8:30 am
  • 35 minutes 52 seconds
    Stitch vs Yoda

    Two creatures from a galaxy far, far away go head to head in this interstellar debate. One is a little blue force of destruction and the other is a little green font of wisdom. It’s Stitch vs Yoda! Surfing in on a wave of enthusiasm for Team Stitch is comedy writer and Lego Master Sam Suksiri. And the Force is strong with actor, comedian and Story Pirate Peter McNerney, for Team Yoda! Which alien being will be crowned the best? Listen to find out and then head to smashboom.org to vote for the side you would’ve chosen to win.

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 February 2026, 8:30 am
  • 34 minutes 10 seconds
    Rock Climbing vs Sledding

    This debate has its ups and downs, literally! One side is all about scaling up mountains, boulders and walls. The other side goes down hills with a woosh. It’s Rock Climbing vs Sledding! This pulse pounding episode features writer, comedian, and podcaster Tim Barnes holding fast for Team Rock Climbing and host of NPR’s It’s Been A Minute, Brittany Luse for Team Sledding. Which side will come out on top… or bottom, as the case may be? Listen and find out. Then head to smashboom.org to vote on your fav.

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

    ​​​​Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 February 2026, 8:30 am
  • 34 minutes 19 seconds
    Tyranosaurus Rex vs Triceratops

    Get ready for an ancient throwdown of epic proportions. It’s Tyranosaurus vs Triceratops. One is a meat-eating, mega-predator and the other is a vegetarian with three horns for three times the protection. Dino experts Riley Black and Kallie Moore will duke it out to see which animal is crowned the Smash Boom Best. After the debate, head to smashboom.org to tell us who you think won.

    You can find Riley's books here and Kallie's books here! Kallie also hosts PBS' Eons

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 February 2026, 8:30 am
  • 33 minutes 40 seconds
    Moss vs. Moths

    We’ve got a showdown between two wonders of nature. One is a patch of perfect greenery, the other is a fluttery friend. It’s Moss vs Moths. Here to tell us why moss is boss we have actor, writer, singer and comedian Emily Olcott. And flying in for Team Moths we have comedian, writer and musician Tiz Irie. Tune in to see which one is deemed the Smash Boom Best. Then head to smashboom.org to tell us which side you think won!

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 January 2026, 8:30 am
  • 32 minutes 39 seconds
    Spaghetti vs Ravioli

    I hope you’re hungry, because we’ve got a heaping plate of debate for you. It’s spaghetti vs ravioli. Chef and cookbook author Julia Turshen is cooking up some arguments for Team Spaghetti. Science communicator and host Niba is boiling a pot of cool facts for Team Ravioli. Which tasty treat will take the crown? Listen to see who our judge picks and then surf over to smashboom.org to tell us who you want to see win.

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

     

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 January 2026, 8:30 am
  • 36 minutes 34 seconds
    Camping vs Hotels

    It’s vacation time and you have to decide where to sleep - under the stars or in a suite? Today we’re arguing Camping vs Hotels. Two prime destinations for travellers but only one can win. Taking us to the woods for Team Camping, we’ve got artist Andy DuCett. Checking in for Team Hotel it’s doctor and actor, Stuart Bloom. To make this even more interesting, both debaters are close to our host Molly! Andy is her husband and Stuart is her dad. Who will the judge side with? Listen to find out and go to smashboom.org to crown your own winner.

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    Click here to read a transcript of this episode. 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    15 January 2026, 8:30 am
  • 37 minutes 41 seconds
    Wizard of Oz vs Mary Poppins

    Get ready for magic, wonder, and whimsy! We’re pitting two beloved children’s franchises against each other. Both come from popular books and were made into even more popular movies. But only one will triumph. It’s Wizard of Oz vs Marry Poppins! Casting a spell for Oz is singer, writer, actor, and comedian Andrew Barbato! And floating in on the breeze for Mary Poppins is actor and singer Alex Nader! Which side will win? Listen to see who our judge picks and go to smashboom.org to pick your own winner!

    Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

    Click here for a transcript of this episode.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    8 January 2026, 8:30 am
  • 41 minutes
    Smash Boom Best presents: Story Pirates

    We're taking a little break for the holidays so instead we want to share one of our favorite shows with you: StoryPirates! In this first episode of their newest season, the Story Pirates receive an intriguing invitation and meet a new adversary. Featuring two new stories: ‘The Bed’, a song about an exhausted doctor just looking for somewhere to nap, written by Bentley, a 9 year old from New York, and ‘Do Not Disturb’, a story about one girl’s unending quest to keep her family out of her bedroom, written by a 9 year old from Virginia named Mallory. We also debut our new segment ‘Story Love’ where Lee and Peter read and discuss more stories written by kids with a special guest: the incredible actor Alison Pill.
    To hear more episodes, follow Story Pirates wherever you get your podcasts or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/StoryPiratesfd

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 January 2026, 8:30 am
  • 34 minutes 40 seconds
    Smash Boom Best Presents: Brains On - Why do we laugh?

     We're on a little winter break and we're gonna be back with a new smash boom battle on January 8th. Today we have an episode of the other show that Molly hosts: Brains On. This is an episode about something near and dear to every fan of Smash. Boom, best laughter.

    Laughter is like a language and humans are really good at understanding it.

    In this episode, Molly and co-host Milla decode different kinds of laughs, from uncontrollable goofy laughter to chuckles that make others feel good.

    They’ll meet laugh experts Sophie Scott and Adrienne Wood and test their knowledge in three rounds of the game show: Laugh Attack!

    Plus, a new mystery sound for you to guess

    Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free feeds, bonus episodes, and ticket discounts!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 December 2025, 8:30 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App