Smash Boom Best

Ain't no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough to keep us from smash boom besting. It’s Death Valley vs. Mount Fuji! Journalist and podcast host Gloria Riviera defends sizzling Death Valley, while editor and …

The queens of condiments go jar to jar in today’s yummy rumble. Give it up for mayo vs. mustard! In one corner, we’ve got comedian, actor and host of

Grab your telescopes, cuz you’re in for a celestial smackdown. It’s black holes vs. meteors! Comedian and writer Max Maliga goes to bat for black …

Today’s ani-melee features an amphibian with frilly gills and a pink bird with a bent bill. It’s axolotls vs. flamingos!

Comedian, puppeteer and …

Today’s debate is a face-off between yearly sensations that rock the nation. Both involve candy and cake for eating, so grab your costumes and …

Check out another one of our classics: dogs vs. cats! Which furry friends are you most fond of? Playful pups or frisky felines? Listen to find out …

Listen to one of our first smash boom best debates ever: books vs. movies! Who are you rooting for? The printed word or the silver screen? Listen to bibliophiles and film buffs duke it out in this awesome smash boom …

Smash Boom Best is back on Thursday, January 5th with 16 new episodes of chatty, fact-y fun!

You’re in for some massive new matchups like Birthday Parties vs. Trick-or-Treating, Spiderman vs. Batman, and Mayo vs. …

Become a Smarty Pass subscriber today to access bonus episodes and ad-free episodes of Brains On!, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago -- all right here in your favorite podcast player.

Visit smartypass.org/…

You’re in for some bouncy, duck-billed fun from “down undah!” It’s kangaroos vs. platypuses! Comedian and writer Allison Reese reps kangaroos in a beastly brawl with platypus-fan and Brains On! co-creator Sanden Totten. …

Today’s debate is not too hot, not too cold, but just right! It’s Goldilocks vs. Little Red Riding Hood! Audio producer extraordinaire Tracy Mumford …

Today’s debate is fluffy, crunchy, and extra delicious. It’s peanut butter vs. marshmallows! Writer and producer Jeff Nucera champions the power of creamy, dreamy peanut butter in this salty smackdown with writer and …

Kitchen wizards and kitten whisperers take the stage in today’s career-off. It’s chefs versus veterinarians! Comedy writer and LEGO Master Model Builder, Sam Suksiri, defends chefs in a sizzling smackdown against comic, …

Looking for a rolling, bowling ballyhoo? Tune in for roller skating vs. bowling! Writer, actress, and roller skating maven Ashley Jaye dukes it out …

Today’s debate is all about roarin’ flora. It’s redwood tree vs. prickly pear cactus! Tobin Mitnick – actor, writer, and creator of internet phenomenon jewslovestrees – rages for redwoods against comedian, writer, and …

Today’s debate is quite the creature feature. It’s opossums vs. raccoons! Theater teacher, improv sensation and marsupial maven Roy Rodriguez dukes it out with super producer and raccoon-lover Rosie duPont in this …

Looking to spice up your life with a dreamy, creamy debate? Then we’ve got you covered… with nachos vs. sundaes! Writer, comedian, and nacho lover Linnea Frye gets salty with comedian, writer, and sundae queen Nikki …

Two stylish essentials go knee to toe in this week’s fashionable face-off. It’s sneakers vs. jeans! Writer, actor, and attorney Chas Carey defends …

Strap in, because today’s debate is a wild ride full of ups and downs. It’s roller coasters vs. mini-golf! Producer Anna Weggel gets loopy with …

Get ready, cuz you’re in for a poppin’ good time. It’s lollipops vs. popcorn! Producer and writer Aron Woldesslassie gets corny with comedian Katie …

Two little critters take the spotlight today. It’s hummingbirds vs. seahorses! Reporter Jill Replogle gets into a squeaky scuffle with comic and writer Brandi Brown in this awesome ani-melee. Which creature will carry …

Today’s debate is all about snoozin’ and groovin’. It’s naps vs. exercise! Journalist and author Tom Weber gets into a sleepy scrap with podcast host and voice actress Merk Nguyen in this dynamic (if drowsy) dispute. …

Smash Boom Best is back on Thursday, July 7th with 13 new episodes!

Get ready for some show-stopping smackdowns like Little Red Riding Hood vs. …

Hi Smash Boom Besties! We are hard at work on the new season of Smash Boom Best and we will be back with new debates SOON! But in the meantime we wanted to tell you about our other show Forever Ago - which returns this …

If you’re looking for more Smash Boom goodness, join us for our next live, interactive debate on February 26th! Fan favorite debaters Sanden Totten, …

Today’s debate is a slam dunk and a home run, rolled into one. It’s basketball vs. baseball! Hoopster and master producer Marc Sanchez mounts a full …

Today’s frightful free-for-all might just scare your pants off. It’s GHOSTS vs. ZOMBIES! Co-host of the Story Pirates podcast, Peter McNerney battles …

We know a lot of you debate heads like to take notes and keep score while you're listening to Smash Boom Best, BUT have you ever stopped to think how the pencil lead your’re using sticks to the paper? Strange concept …

Join us on Mount Olympus for a battle between two of the greatest Greek gods. It’s Apollo vs. Artemis! Journalist Jed Kim spars with producer Ruby …

We're super excited for you to hear our newest podcast: Moment of Um!

Whether or not you’ve heard of Moment of Um featured in Brains On, you’re in for a treat! The show answers those head-scratcher questions that seem …

Two iconic ecosystems hurl tree-mendous facts and rock-hard arguments in today’s colorful debate. It’s coral reefs versus rainforests! Comedian and …

Today’s fruity free-for-all is apple-solutely bananas! In one corner, we’ve got those crunchy, portable treats -- apples! And in the other, it’s …

Today, we’ve got a builder’s battle you’re gonna DIG. It’s Lego vs. Minecraft! In one corner, we’ve got the Lego-loving YouTuber and contestant on Lego Masters USA Season 1, Boone Langston! In the other, it’s Minecraft …

We hope you’re ready for today’s ragin’ rivalry, cuz it’s monstrous! In one corner we’ve got that legendary lizard with atomic breath… Godzilla! And in the other, it’s that gargantuan gorilla who scales skyscrapers… …

We hope you're hungry, cuz today’s debate stars two funny, fantastic foods. It’s Jello vs. Spam! Audio producer Tracy Mumford and American chef and food writer Kenji Lopez-Alt get serious in this squelching smackdown… …

Smash Boom Best will be back with eight new episodes starting December 2nd. Get ready for a slew of awesome battles, including one of our most requested debates of all time, Lego vs. Minecraft!

In the meantime, join us …

Buckle up for a brawl between two of the most iconic video game characters of all time. It’s Pikachu vs. Mario!! Radio producer and Pokemon trainer David Zha goes up against podcast pro and Mario maven Kristina Lopez in …

Today’s teams are in it to spin it. It’s chess vs. ping pong! Comedian and writer Joon Chung goes up against podcast producer Elyssa Dudley in this classic competition, but which team will smash their way to victory? …

Saddle-up, because today’s debate is the dolphinition of awesome. It’s horses vs. dolphins! Terrible, Thanks for Asking producers Marcel Malekebu and …

Today, we’ve got a brawl between two things we’d hate to live without. It’s refrigerators vs. toilets! Terrible, Thanks for Asking creator Nora McInerny and reporter Jill Replogle duke it out in this feisty fixture …

Pack your bags, cuz today’s episode is a trip. It’s spaceships vs. submarines! Too Beautiful to Live co-host Andrew Walsh and comedian Brandi Brown …

Two iconic foods go jar-to-jar in today’s fearsome flavor feud. It’s honey vs. pickles! Million Bazillion host Jed Kim goes up against comedian and journalist Anna Weggel in this sweet and salty showdown. Which team dill

Get ready to kickflip out -- cuz this debate is off the chain. It’s bikes vs. skateboards! Listen to radio journalist Daniel Alarcón and Brains On! star Sanden Totten drop some gear-grinding arguments and gnarly …

We’re stomping into season four with a debate of mythic proportions. One team is the size of a green bean, while the other towers over the whole …

This August 5th, Smash Boom Best is back! 

We’re staging some very controversial debates this season, including Skateboards vs. Bikes, Godzilla vs. …

Smash Boom Best is coming back on August 5th.

While you wait for fresh episodes to drop, check out our awesome new merch at smashboom.org/shop.

We’ve got t-shirts, phone grips, face …

Meep Meep! Our bonus episode has arrived. That’s right, folks. It’s coyotes vs roadrunners!! In this season’s Debate Club exclusive, Brains On!…

Two marvelous, mythical legends make an appearance in this week’s episode. It’s mermaids versus Bigfoot! Which elusive creature will win this smash boom battle? Mermaids, the mysterious sirens that haunt our oceans? Or …

Today, we’re going to tickle your tastebuds with two mouthwatering flavors. It’s sugar versus salt! Which fabulous flavor will win? The savory …

This week, we’re heading to space for a celestial debate. It’s moon versus sun! Which legendary orb will win? The queen of the night sky? Or the star …

Two courageous critters take the stage for today's debate. It’s Armadillos versus Porcupines! Which brave and beautiful beast will claim the crown? …

Today, we’re letting the science rip in a seriously gassy showdown. It’s helium versus neon! One is famous for making balloons float and voices …

This week, two treacherous terrains take the stage. It’s deserts versus swamps! Marc Sanchez and Anna Weggel defend these exceptional environments with humor and pizzaz, but only one team will take home the title of …

One’s in the sky, one’s underground. One makes a buzz, the other? Not a sound. It’s ants versus bees! Comedians Ian Abramson and Tim Barnes take …

Today, we’re switching it up -- Smash Boom Best is going full on Smash Boom Pest. Two misunderstood critters go head to head in today’s debate …

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

Today’s debate is between two totally adorable, extremely popular animals known for their fashionable fur and frolicsome feathers. It’s pandas vs …

We’ve got a tasty debate for you today -- it’s ice cream vs french fries!! This is going to be a tough one for everybody, because let’s face it: we all scream for ice cream and we freak out over french fries! Comedians …

This week, two of the biggest movie franchises EVER go head-to-head in a blockbuster-worthy battle. It’s Avengers vs. Star Wars! Which team will win? The Marvel-ously superhuman Avengers saga? Or the space story from …

We’ve got a deep-sea debate for you today, so put on your scuba gear and jump on in! It’s Giant Squid vs. Blue Whales. Journalist Tom Weber goes up against science writer and stand-up comedian Kasha Patel in a fearsome …

Today, the ultimate immortal rivals go fang to claw in a blood-thirsty debate. It's vampires vs werewolves! Who will win? Pale, blood-sucking …

We’ve got a musical matchup to get your toes tapping: guitars versus drums! Smash Boom Best producer Rosie DuPont goes up against comedian Tommy McNamara in this raucous (and rocking) showdown.

After you listen, tell us …

We’re launching season three with a burst of color of delight. It’s flowers vs rainbows! Brains On star Sanden Totten goes up against Forever Ago …

Smash Boom Best is back on October 15th! We’ve got 16 new epic debate battles, including Vampires vs Werewolves, Ice Cream vs French Fries, and …

Smash Boom Best is back with 16 new debate battles this summer! But before we kick off the season, we need your help choosing two debate match-ups. …

We made a special bonus episode just for our Debate Club members! To join and get access to the episode, head to smashboom.org/debateclub and make a donation in any amount. The bonus episode features our beloved host …

NPR’s Sam Sanders and Elise Hu go head to head in this futuristic faceoff! Sam is repping the extraterrestrial neighbors we’re still searching for. …

How could you ever decide between two foods so scrumptious? Today’s judge is eleven-year-old Paige Goehner, the winner of Food Network’s Kids Baking …

It’s killer fish versus stinky furballs! Science Vs. host Wendy Zukerman goes to bat for SHARKS, those ancient, blood-thirsty predators that make swimming at the beach just a little bit scary.... and Chompers host …

Which sport is tops? Is it swimming, the splashy, life-saving skill, or soccer, the super-popular game of strategy and speed? Debaters Anna Weggel …

Story Pirates podcast hosts Lee Overtree and Peter McNerney duke it out in a debate of epoch proportions: it’s the Ice Age vs. the Jurassic!! Who will win this bruiser of a battle? Will it be the chilly, …

Two of the world’s most beloved starches are taking the stage today. On one side, we have Joy Dolo repping mighty, multi-colored rice! And on the …

Grab some sunscreen, lace up your hiking boots and don’t forget your binoculars because... you’ll want to keep your distance from today’s debate. …

We’re blasting off, leaving Earth’s orbit, and grabbing front row seats at an interplanetary smackdown. Which planet will be crowned the Smash Boom Best? Will debater Tommy McNamara bring it home for our neighbor Venus? …

Buckle up for our first ever Mega Mini-Boom Bonanza! Tai Poole, host of the CBC’s award-winning podcast Tai Asks Why judges four high-octane …

One has no legs, the other has eight. It’s snakes vs. spiders! The Washington Post’s Anna Rothschild reps Team Snake, and comedian Jenny Yang comes …

It’s the ultimate disguise versus the freedom of the skies! Debaters Katie McVay and Brandi Brown face off in this superpower showdown. Who won your …

Loki and Athena battle it out for the title of smash boom supreme! Which one of these divine deities will triumph? Will it be Loki, the …

Two epic landforms battle it out in a geological prizefight that’s going to rock your world! So which one of these stony-faced sluggers is going to …

Totally lit libraries take on the marvel of museums in a heated, high-minded debate about which institution is the most educational, the most impressive and, above all, the COOLEST. So who will take home the crown? Joy …

Unicorns and dragons have graced us with a magical, show-stopping debate! Which one of these whimsical, wondrous beasts will triumph? Will it be ferocious, fire-breathing team dragon? Or ethereal, elusive team unicorn? …

Venus flytraps and piranhas go leaf to teeth in this fearsome debate battle! That’s right, this matchup is killer plant meets fanged fish. Will it be treacherous team Venus flytrap or tricky team piranha for the win? …

Smash Boom Best is back on June 6th! In 16 new episodes, our debaters tackle epic match-ups like chocolate versus cheese! Aliens versus robots! And …

Press play for an announcement from the Smash Boom Best team!

Two natural phenomena go head-to-head in our final match-up of the season. It's ooey, gooey molten lava versus tricky, shifty, fast-acting quicksand. …

It's an all-you-can-eat buffet of difficult decisions in one of our toughest match-ups ever. In one corner, it's cheesy, shareable, savory-sauced …

Who are you rooting for: the printed word or the silver screen? Bibliophiles face off with film buffs everywhere in this week's Smash Boom Battle. Hear both sides out and then vote here: …

We’re pitting noble medieval fortresses against naturally-made chambers of wonder. Which do you think is cooler: castles or caves? Our debaters aim …

In one corner, human’s best friend, licker of faces, chewer of toys -- it’s dogs. And in the other corner, sleek and graceful, free pest control with …

Will muscly might or supersonic speed triumph? This Smash Boom Best battle takes on two out-of-this world superhuman powers. Which would you rather …

Ready for some mystery? This Smash Boom Battle takes on two famous places: the Bermuda Triangle and Loch Ness. Which is cooler? Is it the Bermuda …

Wings out, eyes wide -- we’re swooping in on a battle between a perfect pair of creatures of the night. Which is cooler: Bats? Or owls? We’re going …

Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! Every episode takes two cool things, …