Today’s debate is more about the journey than the destination! It’s a match-up between the winged wonders of our skies and the locomotives that love making tracks. It’s Trains vs. Planes! In one corner we’ve got Forever Ago producer Nico Gonzalez Wisler ready to roll for team Trains, and in the other we’ve got actor, director, and teacher Allison Vincent here to take off for team Planes! 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!
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ANNOUNCER: From the brains behind Brains On, it's it's Smash Boom Best.
SOPHIE: 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 is more about the journey than the destination. It's a match up between the winged wonders of our skies and the locomotives that love making tracks. Grab your luggage and your passports, because it's trains versus planes. In one corner, we've got Forever Ago producer Nico Gonzalez Wisler ready to roll for team trains.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: It's the most attractive way to travel.
MOLLY BLOOM: And actor, director, and teacher Allison Vincent is here to take off for team planes.
ALLISON VINCENT: Up in the sky, it's a bird. It's a plane. It's the superhuman capability of flight. So, yeah, plane.
MOLLY BLOOM: And here to judge it all is Sophie from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Sophie sings and acts. She's the owner of two incredible cats. And she once sang with Hans from Frozen. Hi, Sophie.
SOPHIE: Hi.
MOLLY BLOOM: Sophie, I need to know, how did you end up singing with Hans from the movie Frozen?
SOPHIE: So actually, it was one of their benefit bid things. So you could bid on it. And nobody else bid on it. So--
MOLLY BLOOM: What? No one wanted to sing with Hans?
SOPHIE: I think a lot of adults were not very proud of-- they didn't really like the idea of going up on stage and singing with somebody.
MOLLY BLOOM: So it happened in the moment?
SOPHIE: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, so tell us about your cats? I hear they're named after Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.
SOPHIE: Yes. My sister named Potter. And I named Percy. We got them in 2018, I believe. So they're five now. And they were found on the streets of Alexandria. So they were rescues. And we have reason to believe they are part Maine Coon, because they are gigantic.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. Sophie, are you ready to judge today's debate?
SOPHIE: Of course.
MOLLY BLOOM: Before we dive in, let's review the rules of the game. Every smackdown consists of four rounds of debate, the Declaration of Greatness, the Micro-Round, the Sneak Attack, and the Final 6. After each round, our judge, Sophie, will award points to the team that impresses her the most. But she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the episode.
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, Nico, Allison, and Sophie, are you ready?
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Absolutely.
SOPHIE: Yes.
ALLISON VINCENT: I am ready for takeoff.
MOLLY BLOOM: Then it's time for the Declaration of Greatness. 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, Nico, you're up first. Tell us why we should choo, choo, choose trains?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
THOMAS: Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, choo, choo. Another fine day to be a train. Hey, look, it's my old pal Jay Jay, the Jet Plane. He looks, yikes, really bad.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Jay Jay, what's wrong?
JAY JAY: Ooh, Thomas the Train. Every time I bring passengers somewhere, they always end up so grumpy. They've been waiting in long human lines. They don't have enough space for their human legs. Yeah, the snack stall cost too much human money. When they get off, they all say things like--
SPEAKER 1: Oh, I hate flying.
SPEAKER 2: [GROANS] Tell me about it. I'd rather lick a rat than get on another plane.
THOMAS: Dang, that sounds terrible. My passengers love traveling by train. They're always surprised by how much space and freedom they have. And I take them past stunning scenery.
JAY JAY: All my passengers can see are clouds, if they bought a window seat.
THOMAS: Dang, that's super depressing. If only there were a more relaxing way to travel.
[TRAIN HONKING]
THOMAS: Oh, yeah. That's me. Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, choo, choo.
[TRAIN HONKING]
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: This fictional cartoon is based on a very real problem.
[TRAIN HONKING]
Flying stinks. Luckily, there is an alternative. I recently decided to travel from New York to Montreal, which is about 350 miles. I could have flown. But I didn't want to spend three hours in the airport standing in line in my socks to get through security, then standing in another line to board, if my flight was even on time. Seriously, did you know that in 2023, 30% of flights were delayed.
[TRAIN HONKING]
CONDUCTOR: All aboard.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: So, yeah, I decided to take the train. Come with me. Boarding a train is a breeze. Plus, the ride is way more comfortable.
[SIGHING]
On a plane, we'd have about 30 inches of legroom. That's only a little bit longer than a baguette. Here, we've got a whopping 40 inches. That's like the size of a baguette plus a pie. More carbs and more room. So stretch those legs out.
[BABY CRYING]
Ugh, sounds like that baby behind us has a bad diaper rash. On a plane, we'd be stuck here scrambling for some earplugs. But on the train, we can just take a stroll to the cafe car. Ooh, let's grab a booth by the window and play cards. Wow, look. We're cruising by a sparkly blue lake right at the base of a mountain range.
Honestly, it's nearly impossible to be bored with a view like that. But if I need a distraction, I have the whole internet at my disposal, just like this guy.
[TYPING]
SPEAKER 3: Inbox zero, booyah. And check this pic out I took at the lake. I'm going to tweet it, gram it, blam it, and send it to my mom. And then I should give her a call. No such thing as train mode, am I right?
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: And check this out. If you just want to be left alone with your thoughts, you can come to the quiet car.
PASSENGERS: Shh, shh,
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Oops, sorry. Moving on. Trains are also way more environmentally friendly than planes. In fact, they have the lowest emissions by traveler ratio of any means of transportation. Airplanes, on the other hand, have one of the highest, with the average plane dumping 53 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every mile.
[COUGHING]
Trains are so Earth friendly that governments around the world are working to replace some flights with train routes. And engineers are building faster trains like ones that can go over 200 miles an hour. The future of train travel is bright. But honestly, so is the present. Light rail and subway trains help us move around our cities, something planes could never do. And long-haul trains let us explore the world in comfort and style. They say life is about the journey, not the destination, so why not enjoy that journey and still hit your destination on a train?
[TRAIN HONKING]
MOLLY BLOOM: A scenic and sensational argument there for trains. Sophie, what stood out to you about Nico's Declaration Of Greatness?
SOPHIE: I really liked how practical they made it sound.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes. And what else did you notice? Any facts that stood out to you?
SOPHIE: That trains are much more environmentally-friendly than planes are.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very good. OK, Allison, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why trains are not on the right track? You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
ALLISON VINCENT: I take issue from the jump. Flying stinks. So actually, it's pretty smell neutral, because oxygen and fresh air is being pumped into that plane the whole time. And a train is literally a line. So it's actually like waiting in the world's longest line ever. [LAUGHS] It just eventually you get off into another line in a new city. And what about these snacks? You get free pretzels and peanuts and beverages. And there are no mice on planes, so you might rather lick a rat. But at least you're not going to see any up in the skies. No guarantees for those things on the ground.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
ALLISON VINCENT: I just can't imagine where you would ever see a mouse on a plane. And also, most airlines, they're getting rid of free snacks--
SOPHIE: No.
ALLISON VINCENT: --and free anything. You got to pay for bags. You got to pay for a backpack. Pretty much anything you want to do to make yourself more comfortable, they're going to charge you.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, Allison, I know there's a lot more to say. So please tell us why the best destination starts with aviation.
ANNOUNCER: Cabin attendants, all doors [INAUDIBLE].
ALLISON VINCENT: [EXHALES] Seated and stowed on my flight across the country. Let's see. Neck pillow, check. Headphones, check. No plane, no gain magazine, check. This is going to be so fun. Hey ouch.
PASSENGER: Oh, no.
ALLISON VINCENT: You just sat on me.
PASSENGER: Oops, oop. So sorry. I'm a little flustered. You see, this is my first time flying.
PASSENGER: That's great. Flying is the best. It is. I normally go everywhere by train. But for this trip, I need to get to the slow, old locomo convention all the way across the country.
ALLISON VINCENT: How long would it take to get across the United States on a train?
PASSENGER: More than three days?
ALLISON VINCENT: Lucky for you. Our plane will get there in only six hours. Plus, planes can be a lot of fun.
PASSENGER: I'll have to trust you on that. I'm a bit nervous.
ALLISON VINCENT: Don't be. Planes are as safe, as they are, speedy.
PILOT: Howdy, folks. I'm your pilot. Welcome aboard this very safe flight. Did you know that if our plane gets hit by lightning while we fly, it is designed to disperse the electricity without damaging the plane. And they stress tested the wings of our plane to bend nearly in half, before they show signs of breaking. That's true. Today, we'll be safely taking off at nearly 200 miles per hour. So sit back, relax, and enjoy.
PASSENGER: Wow, 200 miles an hour. That's about as fast as a bullet train.
ALLISON VINCENT: It is fast. And that's before we even got off the ground. Whoa. I love the feeling of taking off. Now that we're airborne, we'll reach around 600 miles per hour. But some planes can go even faster like faster than the speed of sound.
PILOT: If you look out the window right now, you'll see the X-1 airplane that Chuck Yeager flew in 1947 to become the first person to break the sound barrier. Hey, Chuck, what's it like to go that fast?
CHUCK YEAGER: It's amazing, cool to fly so fast.
PASSENGER: Wow, that makes trains look like snails.
ALLISON VINCENT: And now that you're looking out the window, what else do you see?
PASSENGER: Chattering choo-choos. My city is so small from up here. And the people look like ants. Look, there's my house.
ALLISON VINCENT: You know, some airplanes fly so high that they can see the curvature of the Earth.
PASSENGER: Whoa. To see the curve of the planet instead of a straight horizon, oh, makes you think about all the people who live on our little globe and how we're all connected.
ALLISON VINCENT: So true. And that's another reason to love planes. They help us stay connected. 200 years ago, if someone moved far away, it was very unlikely they would ever see the people they left behind. But now, with airplanes, families can reunite, even when they live thousands of miles apart. Plus, you can see other cultures and experience the wonders of the world. Instead of taking weeks or months to get somewhere, airplanes mean that you could wake up one day on one side of the planet and go to bed on the complete opposite side.
PASSENGER: That's true. I feel inspired. I feel jet fueled. I feel like the whole world is at my fingertips.
ALLISON VINCENT: It is. Unlike trains that only go on tracks, planes can go anywhere. Some don't even need a runway. They can land on water, ice, and even on top of huge boats.
PASSENGER: Get out of town.
ALLISON VINCENT: That's the point. It's way out of town. The world is so big and beautiful. There are millions of places to see and billions of people to meet. Don't you want to see it all? Lucky for you. Thanks to planes, you can.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, a heartwarming and jet-setting setting argument there for planes. OK, Sophie, please tell me, what stood out to you about Allison's Declaration of Greatness?
SOPHIE: I was not aware that some planes could see the curve of the Earth from their flight.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very, very cool. Anything else stood out?
SOPHIE: I was not aware that they were actually continuously pumping air throughout the cabin. I thought it was just like maybe there was air conditioning or something. I don't know.
MOLLY BLOOM: So not a tube of farts after all. [LAUGHS] OK, Nico, it is time for your rebuttal. Please tell us why it's better to be grounded than fly in a plane. You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: OK, well, first of all, Alison, I'm so glad you brought a neck pillow, because, as I mentioned, trains-- or planes are extremely uncomfortable. I also noticed you started after the worst part, which is getting through the airport, a nightmare. Also, planes, where you can see the curve of the Earth and go that fast, those aren't for passengers. We're not riding on those. And lastly, planes are the past, OK? Trains are the future. Scientists are already developing a Hyperloop that will go well over 600 miles an hour with way less emissions than an airplane.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time. Alison, anything you'd like to say?
ALLISON VINCENT: I just want to say that walking on a train is like being a rock'em sock'em boxer. [LAUGHS]. It's absolutely disorienting and just treacherous. I feel like I got concussed the last time I tried to go to the snack bar on a train. OK, well, first of all, so nice that there's a snack bar. Let's not forget about that.
And second of all, if you try to walk on an airplane, and the belt sign is on, guess what? They're telling you to sit down. Got to pee? They don't care. [LAUGHS] I'm just saying that at least on planes, they care about your safety, hence all the security, hence the seat belts. Trains, you could literally be hanging from the back. And they'd be like, that's fine.
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm sorry.
ALLISON VINCENT: Have you ever had a bladder infection? It's not safe.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHTER] OK. And on that note, it is time to award some points. Sophie, 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? Award your point. But don't tell us who they're going to. Both could go to the same person, or each person could get a point. It's very subjective.
SOPHIE: OK.
MOLLY BLOOM: Have you made your decision?
SOPHIE: Yes, I have.
[BELL DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Alison, Nico, how are you two feeling so far?
ALLISON VINCENT: You know, I am sitting pretty on the train, so I feel great. I really feel like my D.O.G and my rebuttal were the wind beneath my wings. I feel like things are going well.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, we're going to take a quick break, so go check out the dining car or grab a tiny bag of pretzels. And we'll be right back with some more Smash Boom Best.
ANNOUNCER: You're listening to State of Debate, home to rage and rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Hello, debatiacs. This is Taylor Lincoln here with my flower friend.
TODD DOUGLAS: Todd Douglas. We're standing in my garden waiting for my tulips to bloom.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: I just wish they'd put the pedal to the metal and bloom already.
TODD DOUGLAS: You know, this reminds me of a real stinker of a logical fallacy I heard the other day.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Those are unbeliefably bad arguments that don't stand up to scrutiny.
TODD DOUGLAS: And this one was the hasty generalization fallacy. That's when you make a bold statement about a group or phenomenon without evidence to back it up. Here, let's listen.
[TAPE ROLLING]
TONY: Ah, is there anything better than a perfectly maintained garden, Tony?
JERRY: I don't think there is, Jerry. As a matter of-- [SCREAMS]
TONY: What's wrong?
JERRY: There's a bee in your rose bushes. Bees gobble up all the nectar flowers have to offer. Your garden is going to shrivel up in a few days.
TONY: What? Where'd you get that idea?
JERRY: Bees need nectar. It's how they make honey. If we don't stop this infestation, they'll drain your flowers to death.
[BUZZER SOUND]
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Ooh, wow. It sure sounds like Tony has a problem with bees.
TODD DOUGLAS: I'll say. But he didn't have any evidence to back up his claim. Sure, bees drink nectar from flowers. But that doesn't hurt the flower.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Yeah, bees actually pollinate flowers, which helps plants survive.
TODD DOUGLAS: Oh, my gosh. Taylor, look, the flowers are blooming. Quick, take a picture.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: We'll see you next time on State of Debate.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANNOUNCER: Brains On universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. And 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.
SPEAKER 4: Entering Brains On Universe. Ooh, so many podcasts. Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Forever Ago. [GASP] Picking up signal.
SINGERS: (SINGING) Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba ba ba ba ba, brains on
SPEAKER 4: Brains On, a science podcast.
MOLLY BLOOM: About 100 bolts of lightning strike the Earth's surface every second.
SPEAKER 5: But there are all different types of lightning. You can have lightning bolts between clouds, from the ground up to a cloud, even lightning that looks like glowing balls.
SPEAKER 4: Lightning balls. Zorb, where did the signal go? Must find Brains On pod.
ANNOUNCER: Search for Brains On, wherever you listen to podcasts.
SINGERS: (SINGING) Boom
Boom, boom
Boom
Boom
Boom,
Boom, boom
Boom
Smash
Boom
Best
MOLLY BLOOM: You are listening. to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
SOPHIE: And I'm your judge, Sophie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this intriguing debate idea from Lachlan and Marius.
LACHLAN: My name's Lachlan.
MARIUS: And my name's Marius. And we're from Cumberland, Maine.
LACHLAN: All debate idea is stingrays versus dragonflies.
MOLLY BLOOM: Nothing beats a creature feature. We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see, which side Lachlan and Marius think should win.
SOPHIE: And now it's back to our debate, trains versus planes.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's right. And it's time for round two, the Micro-Round. For the Micro-Round challenge, each team has prepared a creative response to a prompt they received in advance. Today's Micro-Round is pundamonium. For this challenge, we asked Nico and Allison to come up with three persuasive, passionate puns for their side. They're going to go back and forth, take turns delivering their puns. Since Nico went first last time, Allison, you're up. Hit us with your first pun.
ALLISON VINCENT: Jetset, write down, and listen. Did I prepare for cross-check of facts in this debate? Of con-course, I did. Better fasten your safety belts, because here comes tuburnulence.
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: Tuburnulence. [LAUGHS] I'm going to use that now. OK. Nico, it is your turn now. Please give us your first pun.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: All right, what makes trains better than planes? There are so many reasons. It's hard to keep track.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very nice. OK, Allison, you're up again.
ALLISON VINCENT: Unlike my opponent, I do not have a one-track mind. It's OK if you want to run away at this point, my train friend. I wouldn't want to make you feel like a chugga, chugga, chump.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh. All right, Nico. Time for your second pun.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Listen, Allison. The truth is truly locomotivated travelers know trains are the way to go.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, very good. Allison, it is time for your final pun. Make it count.
ALLISON VINCENT: Nico, you seem really great. And I would love to be a travel buddy of yours. So as long as you're taking the L on this debate, and it fits in the overhead bin, I think you'll be able to carry on.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, OK. And, Nico, last but not least, let's hear your very last pun.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Allison, I hope you have a great trip. But it's always a freight great day to take the train. [LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: That was so much pun, wasn't it? OK, Sophie, what stood out to you in that last round?
SOPHIE: That was very corny, I loved it.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Very corny indeed. All right, Sophie, it is time to award a point. But don't tell us who it's going to. The criteria, totally up to you. Who really brought out the corniness? Who made you laugh? Who made you think? It's up to you.
SOPHIE: OK.
MOLLY BLOOM: Have you made your decision?
SOPHIE: Definitely.
[BELL DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Fantastic. Then it's time for our third round, the super stealthy Sneak Attack. This is our improvised round, where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's Sneak Attack is called Carnival Barker. Debaters, in this challenge, you're trying to lure people into buying a ticket to ride a plane or a train. Sell them on why this thing is what they want. Give a special spiel. Be a pushy salesman. Debaters, are you ready for your Sneak Attack?
ALLISON VINCENT: Yeah.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Oh, absolutely.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. OK, Nico. We're going to start with you. Please convince us to buy a train ticket.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: All right, step right up, step right up. Come on, Sophie, hop up onto the train. No need to wait. How many bags do you want to bring? Doesn't matter, they're all free. Load them up. Are you hungry, cafe car is stacked. We've got hot chocolate. We've got coffee. We've got sandwiches. We've got popcorn. Anything you want.
You could stretch right out. Do you have your computer with you? You can watch a movie. You don't have to turn anything away. Also, I hope you have a camera because the views on a train, you can't get them anywhere else. Don't fly. Come with me. Ride the train. [LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Nicely done, Nico. OK, Allison, it is your turn. Persuade us to purchase a ticket for a jet-set getaway.
ALLISON VINCENT: OK. Step right up. Step right up. Have you ever pondered what it would be like to be soaring through the air hundreds of miles an hour getting to go anywhere with anyone you've ever wanted? Well, I have the ticket for you. A golden ticket. A ticket to the skies.
Sophie, for a low, low price of depending on where you're going and how fast and who you want to sit next to, I can offer you the amazing ability of flight. Yes, buy a ticket on a plane, and you can get anywhere you would like to go on this Earth in a matter of hours. What could be better?
Just pack your things. The good news is you don't need to bring everything that you own, because you could fly back relatively quickly. So you can just go for a little vacation. And you could be conservative with your packing, which also feels nice. Come on, Sophie. What are you waiting for? Get out there, explore the world, meet new friends, and brag about it on your Instagram.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, Nico and Allison both coming in with the hard sell here, Sophie. But only one of them can get a point. So please think about which side impressed you the most and award your fourth point. Have you made your decision. Sophie?
SOPHIE: Yes.
[BELL DINSG]
MOLLY BLOOM: Perfect. Then it's time for our final round, the Final 6. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Allison, please give us six words for planes.
ALLISON VINCENT: Planes simply miles above the competition.
MOLLY BLOOM: Lovely, lovely. OK, Nico, it is your turn. Let's hear your six words for trains.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Don't be plain. Ride the train.
MOLLY BLOOM: I like it. OK, Sophie, it is time to award your final point for this Final 6. Have you made your decision?
SOPHIE: Yes, I have.
[BELL DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Are you ready to crown one team the Smash. Boom Best?
SOPHIE: I am.
MOLLY BLOOM: Drumroll, please. And the winner is--
SOPHIE: Planes.
ALLISON VINCENT: Let's go.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Nice, nice. Congratulations.
MOLLY BLOOM: So, Sophie, was there a moment that really decided things for planes?
SOPHIE: I will say it was probably the puns.
MOLLY BLOOM: Ah, the puns. The puns always do it. Push it over the edge.
ALLISON VINCENT: Sophie, you are my altitude. Thank you so much.
SOPHIE: [LAUGHS] That was good. That was really good.
ALLISON VINCENT: Nico, it's been a pleasure debating with you. And to be perfectly honest, I enjoy a good train ride myself, although I do have a special place in my heart for planes. But I really appreciated all your wonderful points. And I learned a lot about how environmentally-friendly trains are and how there are some really exciting things on the horizon for having even more trains and even faster ways to get to each other on the land.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Allison, first of all, if you were a real carnival barker, I would probably buy anything from you. You are a very convincing salesperson.
ALLISON VINCENT: Thank you. I have a bridge for you later.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Wow. Thank you so much. I learned some things that I didn't know about planes. I'm still not sold on the comfort. But you did make me really excited about traveling to some new places that are far away and, as of now, inaccessible by train.
ALLISON VINCENT: Very good.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's it for today's debate battle. Sophie crowned planes the Smash Boom Best. But what about you? Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won. Smash Boom Best is brought to you by Brains On and APM Studios.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: It's produced by Molly Bloom, Hans Buetow, Anna Weggel, and Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Jess Berg and Raphael La Costa with sound design by Aron Woldeslassie.
ALLISON VINCENT: Our editors are Shahla Farzan and Sanden Totten.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: And we had production help from Rosie duPont, Anna Goldfield, Ruby Guthrie, Marc Sanchez, Robbie Mitchem, and me, Nico Gonzalez Wisler.
MOLLY BLOOM: Our executive producer is Beth Pearlman. And the APM Studios. executives-in-charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marley Feuerwerker-Otto. We want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Nico, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Yes, I took the metro train here. And so shout out to whoever was the conductor.
MOLLY BLOOM: Allison, how about you? Any special shout-outs?
ALLISON VINCENT: Yeah, I'd like to shout out my lovely wife, Leslie Vincent and Anna Weggel and Brent Miller and their new baby, Remy. And also, of course, little Luna. So thank you all.
MOLLY BLOOM: And how about you, Sophie? Any special thanks or shout outs?
SOPHIE: To my parents and the rest of my family and friends.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Before we go, let's check in and see who Lachlan and Marius thinks should win the stingray versus dragonfly debate.
LACHLAN: I think stingrays would win, because they jump out of the water, and they're older than dinosaurs.
MARIUS: I think dragonflies. [INAUDIBLE] stingray, because they catch bad bugs, and they're very pretty.
MOLLY BLOOM: Ooh, a split decision. 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/content 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.
ALL: Bye.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Bye.
SINGERS: (SINGERS) Whoo, you're the Smash Boom Best.
Ohh, just prove the test.
Ooh, you have a Smash Boom Best
Ooh, better than the rest.
It's Smash Boom Best
It's Smash Boom Best
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Truly locomotive-- locomotive beta travelers, no. Trains are the way to go.
SOPHIE: Do it again.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: OK. [LAUGHS]
SOPHIE: 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 is more about the journey than the destination. It's a match up between the winged wonders of our skies and the locomotives that love making tracks. Grab your luggage and your passports, because it's trains versus planes. In one corner, we've got Forever Ago producer Nico Gonzalez Wisler ready to roll for team trains.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: It's the most attractive way to travel.
MOLLY BLOOM: And actor, director, and teacher Allison Vincent is here to take off for team planes.
ALLISON VINCENT: Up in the sky, it's a bird. It's a plane. It's the superhuman capability of flight. So, yeah, plane.
MOLLY BLOOM: And here to judge it all is Sophie from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Sophie sings and acts. She's the owner of two incredible cats. And she once sang with Hans from Frozen. Hi, Sophie.
SOPHIE: Hi.
MOLLY BLOOM: Sophie, I need to know, how did you end up singing with Hans from the movie Frozen?
SOPHIE: So actually, it was one of their benefit bid things. So you could bid on it. And nobody else bid on it. So--
MOLLY BLOOM: What? No one wanted to sing with Hans?
SOPHIE: I think a lot of adults were not very proud of-- they didn't really like the idea of going up on stage and singing with somebody.
MOLLY BLOOM: So it happened in the moment?
SOPHIE: Yeah.
MOLLY BLOOM: OK, so tell us about your cats? I hear they're named after Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.
SOPHIE: Yes. My sister named Potter. And I named Percy. We got them in 2018, I believe. So they're five now. And they were found on the streets of Alexandria. So they were rescues. And we have reason to believe they are part Maine Coon, because they are gigantic.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. Sophie, are you ready to judge today's debate?
SOPHIE: Of course.
MOLLY BLOOM: Before we dive in, let's review the rules of the game. Every smackdown consists of four rounds of debate, the Declaration of Greatness, the Micro-Round, the Sneak Attack, and the Final 6. After each round, our judge, Sophie, will award points to the team that impresses her the most. But she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the episode.
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, Nico, Allison, and Sophie, are you ready?
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Absolutely.
SOPHIE: Yes.
ALLISON VINCENT: I am ready for takeoff.
MOLLY BLOOM: Then it's time for the Declaration of Greatness. 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, Nico, you're up first. Tell us why we should choo, choo, choose trains?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
THOMAS: Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, choo, choo. Another fine day to be a train. Hey, look, it's my old pal Jay Jay, the Jet Plane. He looks, yikes, really bad.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Jay Jay, what's wrong?
JAY JAY: Ooh, Thomas the Train. Every time I bring passengers somewhere, they always end up so grumpy. They've been waiting in long human lines. They don't have enough space for their human legs. Yeah, the snack stall cost too much human money. When they get off, they all say things like--
SPEAKER 1: Oh, I hate flying.
SPEAKER 2: [GROANS] Tell me about it. I'd rather lick a rat than get on another plane.
THOMAS: Dang, that sounds terrible. My passengers love traveling by train. They're always surprised by how much space and freedom they have. And I take them past stunning scenery.
JAY JAY: All my passengers can see are clouds, if they bought a window seat.
THOMAS: Dang, that's super depressing. If only there were a more relaxing way to travel.
[TRAIN HONKING]
THOMAS: Oh, yeah. That's me. Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, choo, choo.
[TRAIN HONKING]
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: This fictional cartoon is based on a very real problem.
[TRAIN HONKING]
Flying stinks. Luckily, there is an alternative. I recently decided to travel from New York to Montreal, which is about 350 miles. I could have flown. But I didn't want to spend three hours in the airport standing in line in my socks to get through security, then standing in another line to board, if my flight was even on time. Seriously, did you know that in 2023, 30% of flights were delayed.
[TRAIN HONKING]
CONDUCTOR: All aboard.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: So, yeah, I decided to take the train. Come with me. Boarding a train is a breeze. Plus, the ride is way more comfortable.
[SIGHING]
On a plane, we'd have about 30 inches of legroom. That's only a little bit longer than a baguette. Here, we've got a whopping 40 inches. That's like the size of a baguette plus a pie. More carbs and more room. So stretch those legs out.
[BABY CRYING]
Ugh, sounds like that baby behind us has a bad diaper rash. On a plane, we'd be stuck here scrambling for some earplugs. But on the train, we can just take a stroll to the cafe car. Ooh, let's grab a booth by the window and play cards. Wow, look. We're cruising by a sparkly blue lake right at the base of a mountain range.
Honestly, it's nearly impossible to be bored with a view like that. But if I need a distraction, I have the whole internet at my disposal, just like this guy.
[TYPING]
SPEAKER 3: Inbox zero, booyah. And check this pic out I took at the lake. I'm going to tweet it, gram it, blam it, and send it to my mom. And then I should give her a call. No such thing as train mode, am I right?
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: And check this out. If you just want to be left alone with your thoughts, you can come to the quiet car.
PASSENGERS: Shh, shh,
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Oops, sorry. Moving on. Trains are also way more environmentally friendly than planes. In fact, they have the lowest emissions by traveler ratio of any means of transportation. Airplanes, on the other hand, have one of the highest, with the average plane dumping 53 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every mile.
[COUGHING]
Trains are so Earth friendly that governments around the world are working to replace some flights with train routes. And engineers are building faster trains like ones that can go over 200 miles an hour. The future of train travel is bright. But honestly, so is the present. Light rail and subway trains help us move around our cities, something planes could never do. And long-haul trains let us explore the world in comfort and style. They say life is about the journey, not the destination, so why not enjoy that journey and still hit your destination on a train?
[TRAIN HONKING]
MOLLY BLOOM: A scenic and sensational argument there for trains. Sophie, what stood out to you about Nico's Declaration Of Greatness?
SOPHIE: I really liked how practical they made it sound.
MOLLY BLOOM: Yes. And what else did you notice? Any facts that stood out to you?
SOPHIE: That trains are much more environmentally-friendly than planes are.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very good. OK, Allison, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why trains are not on the right track? You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
ALLISON VINCENT: I take issue from the jump. Flying stinks. So actually, it's pretty smell neutral, because oxygen and fresh air is being pumped into that plane the whole time. And a train is literally a line. So it's actually like waiting in the world's longest line ever. [LAUGHS] It just eventually you get off into another line in a new city. And what about these snacks? You get free pretzels and peanuts and beverages. And there are no mice on planes, so you might rather lick a rat. But at least you're not going to see any up in the skies. No guarantees for those things on the ground.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time.
ALLISON VINCENT: I just can't imagine where you would ever see a mouse on a plane. And also, most airlines, they're getting rid of free snacks--
SOPHIE: No.
ALLISON VINCENT: --and free anything. You got to pay for bags. You got to pay for a backpack. Pretty much anything you want to do to make yourself more comfortable, they're going to charge you.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, Allison, I know there's a lot more to say. So please tell us why the best destination starts with aviation.
ANNOUNCER: Cabin attendants, all doors [INAUDIBLE].
ALLISON VINCENT: [EXHALES] Seated and stowed on my flight across the country. Let's see. Neck pillow, check. Headphones, check. No plane, no gain magazine, check. This is going to be so fun. Hey ouch.
PASSENGER: Oh, no.
ALLISON VINCENT: You just sat on me.
PASSENGER: Oops, oop. So sorry. I'm a little flustered. You see, this is my first time flying.
PASSENGER: That's great. Flying is the best. It is. I normally go everywhere by train. But for this trip, I need to get to the slow, old locomo convention all the way across the country.
ALLISON VINCENT: How long would it take to get across the United States on a train?
PASSENGER: More than three days?
ALLISON VINCENT: Lucky for you. Our plane will get there in only six hours. Plus, planes can be a lot of fun.
PASSENGER: I'll have to trust you on that. I'm a bit nervous.
ALLISON VINCENT: Don't be. Planes are as safe, as they are, speedy.
PILOT: Howdy, folks. I'm your pilot. Welcome aboard this very safe flight. Did you know that if our plane gets hit by lightning while we fly, it is designed to disperse the electricity without damaging the plane. And they stress tested the wings of our plane to bend nearly in half, before they show signs of breaking. That's true. Today, we'll be safely taking off at nearly 200 miles per hour. So sit back, relax, and enjoy.
PASSENGER: Wow, 200 miles an hour. That's about as fast as a bullet train.
ALLISON VINCENT: It is fast. And that's before we even got off the ground. Whoa. I love the feeling of taking off. Now that we're airborne, we'll reach around 600 miles per hour. But some planes can go even faster like faster than the speed of sound.
PILOT: If you look out the window right now, you'll see the X-1 airplane that Chuck Yeager flew in 1947 to become the first person to break the sound barrier. Hey, Chuck, what's it like to go that fast?
CHUCK YEAGER: It's amazing, cool to fly so fast.
PASSENGER: Wow, that makes trains look like snails.
ALLISON VINCENT: And now that you're looking out the window, what else do you see?
PASSENGER: Chattering choo-choos. My city is so small from up here. And the people look like ants. Look, there's my house.
ALLISON VINCENT: You know, some airplanes fly so high that they can see the curvature of the Earth.
PASSENGER: Whoa. To see the curve of the planet instead of a straight horizon, oh, makes you think about all the people who live on our little globe and how we're all connected.
ALLISON VINCENT: So true. And that's another reason to love planes. They help us stay connected. 200 years ago, if someone moved far away, it was very unlikely they would ever see the people they left behind. But now, with airplanes, families can reunite, even when they live thousands of miles apart. Plus, you can see other cultures and experience the wonders of the world. Instead of taking weeks or months to get somewhere, airplanes mean that you could wake up one day on one side of the planet and go to bed on the complete opposite side.
PASSENGER: That's true. I feel inspired. I feel jet fueled. I feel like the whole world is at my fingertips.
ALLISON VINCENT: It is. Unlike trains that only go on tracks, planes can go anywhere. Some don't even need a runway. They can land on water, ice, and even on top of huge boats.
PASSENGER: Get out of town.
ALLISON VINCENT: That's the point. It's way out of town. The world is so big and beautiful. There are millions of places to see and billions of people to meet. Don't you want to see it all? Lucky for you. Thanks to planes, you can.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, a heartwarming and jet-setting setting argument there for planes. OK, Sophie, please tell me, what stood out to you about Allison's Declaration of Greatness?
SOPHIE: I was not aware that some planes could see the curve of the Earth from their flight.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very, very cool. Anything else stood out?
SOPHIE: I was not aware that they were actually continuously pumping air throughout the cabin. I thought it was just like maybe there was air conditioning or something. I don't know.
MOLLY BLOOM: So not a tube of farts after all. [LAUGHS] OK, Nico, it is time for your rebuttal. Please tell us why it's better to be grounded than fly in a plane. You've got 30 seconds. And your time starts now.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: OK, well, first of all, Alison, I'm so glad you brought a neck pillow, because, as I mentioned, trains-- or planes are extremely uncomfortable. I also noticed you started after the worst part, which is getting through the airport, a nightmare. Also, planes, where you can see the curve of the Earth and go that fast, those aren't for passengers. We're not riding on those. And lastly, planes are the past, OK? Trains are the future. Scientists are already developing a Hyperloop that will go well over 600 miles an hour with way less emissions than an airplane.
MOLLY BLOOM: And time. Alison, anything you'd like to say?
ALLISON VINCENT: I just want to say that walking on a train is like being a rock'em sock'em boxer. [LAUGHS]. It's absolutely disorienting and just treacherous. I feel like I got concussed the last time I tried to go to the snack bar on a train. OK, well, first of all, so nice that there's a snack bar. Let's not forget about that.
And second of all, if you try to walk on an airplane, and the belt sign is on, guess what? They're telling you to sit down. Got to pee? They don't care. [LAUGHS] I'm just saying that at least on planes, they care about your safety, hence all the security, hence the seat belts. Trains, you could literally be hanging from the back. And they'd be like, that's fine.
MOLLY BLOOM: I'm sorry.
ALLISON VINCENT: Have you ever had a bladder infection? It's not safe.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHTER] OK. And on that note, it is time to award some points. Sophie, 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? Award your point. But don't tell us who they're going to. Both could go to the same person, or each person could get a point. It's very subjective.
SOPHIE: OK.
MOLLY BLOOM: Have you made your decision?
SOPHIE: Yes, I have.
[BELL DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Alison, Nico, how are you two feeling so far?
ALLISON VINCENT: You know, I am sitting pretty on the train, so I feel great. I really feel like my D.O.G and my rebuttal were the wind beneath my wings. I feel like things are going well.
MOLLY BLOOM: Well, we're going to take a quick break, so go check out the dining car or grab a tiny bag of pretzels. And we'll be right back with some more Smash Boom Best.
ANNOUNCER: You're listening to State of Debate, home to rage and rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Hello, debatiacs. This is Taylor Lincoln here with my flower friend.
TODD DOUGLAS: Todd Douglas. We're standing in my garden waiting for my tulips to bloom.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: I just wish they'd put the pedal to the metal and bloom already.
TODD DOUGLAS: You know, this reminds me of a real stinker of a logical fallacy I heard the other day.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Those are unbeliefably bad arguments that don't stand up to scrutiny.
TODD DOUGLAS: And this one was the hasty generalization fallacy. That's when you make a bold statement about a group or phenomenon without evidence to back it up. Here, let's listen.
[TAPE ROLLING]
TONY: Ah, is there anything better than a perfectly maintained garden, Tony?
JERRY: I don't think there is, Jerry. As a matter of-- [SCREAMS]
TONY: What's wrong?
JERRY: There's a bee in your rose bushes. Bees gobble up all the nectar flowers have to offer. Your garden is going to shrivel up in a few days.
TONY: What? Where'd you get that idea?
JERRY: Bees need nectar. It's how they make honey. If we don't stop this infestation, they'll drain your flowers to death.
[BUZZER SOUND]
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Ooh, wow. It sure sounds like Tony has a problem with bees.
TODD DOUGLAS: I'll say. But he didn't have any evidence to back up his claim. Sure, bees drink nectar from flowers. But that doesn't hurt the flower.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: Yeah, bees actually pollinate flowers, which helps plants survive.
TODD DOUGLAS: Oh, my gosh. Taylor, look, the flowers are blooming. Quick, take a picture.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: We'll see you next time on State of Debate.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANNOUNCER: Brains On universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. And 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.
SPEAKER 4: Entering Brains On Universe. Ooh, so many podcasts. Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Forever Ago. [GASP] Picking up signal.
SINGERS: (SINGING) Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba ba ba ba ba, brains on
SPEAKER 4: Brains On, a science podcast.
MOLLY BLOOM: About 100 bolts of lightning strike the Earth's surface every second.
SPEAKER 5: But there are all different types of lightning. You can have lightning bolts between clouds, from the ground up to a cloud, even lightning that looks like glowing balls.
SPEAKER 4: Lightning balls. Zorb, where did the signal go? Must find Brains On pod.
ANNOUNCER: Search for Brains On, wherever you listen to podcasts.
SINGERS: (SINGING) Boom
Boom, boom
Boom
Boom
Boom,
Boom, boom
Boom
Smash
Boom
Best
MOLLY BLOOM: You are listening. to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
SOPHIE: And I'm your judge, Sophie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this intriguing debate idea from Lachlan and Marius.
LACHLAN: My name's Lachlan.
MARIUS: And my name's Marius. And we're from Cumberland, Maine.
LACHLAN: All debate idea is stingrays versus dragonflies.
MOLLY BLOOM: Nothing beats a creature feature. We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see, which side Lachlan and Marius think should win.
SOPHIE: And now it's back to our debate, trains versus planes.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's right. And it's time for round two, the Micro-Round. For the Micro-Round challenge, each team has prepared a creative response to a prompt they received in advance. Today's Micro-Round is pundamonium. For this challenge, we asked Nico and Allison to come up with three persuasive, passionate puns for their side. They're going to go back and forth, take turns delivering their puns. Since Nico went first last time, Allison, you're up. Hit us with your first pun.
ALLISON VINCENT: Jetset, write down, and listen. Did I prepare for cross-check of facts in this debate? Of con-course, I did. Better fasten your safety belts, because here comes tuburnulence.
[LAUGHTER]
MOLLY BLOOM: Tuburnulence. [LAUGHS] I'm going to use that now. OK. Nico, it is your turn now. Please give us your first pun.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: All right, what makes trains better than planes? There are so many reasons. It's hard to keep track.
MOLLY BLOOM: Very nice. OK, Allison, you're up again.
ALLISON VINCENT: Unlike my opponent, I do not have a one-track mind. It's OK if you want to run away at this point, my train friend. I wouldn't want to make you feel like a chugga, chugga, chump.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh. All right, Nico. Time for your second pun.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Listen, Allison. The truth is truly locomotivated travelers know trains are the way to go.
MOLLY BLOOM: All right, very good. Allison, it is time for your final pun. Make it count.
ALLISON VINCENT: Nico, you seem really great. And I would love to be a travel buddy of yours. So as long as you're taking the L on this debate, and it fits in the overhead bin, I think you'll be able to carry on.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, OK. And, Nico, last but not least, let's hear your very last pun.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Allison, I hope you have a great trip. But it's always a freight great day to take the train. [LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: That was so much pun, wasn't it? OK, Sophie, what stood out to you in that last round?
SOPHIE: That was very corny, I loved it.
MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] Very corny indeed. All right, Sophie, it is time to award a point. But don't tell us who it's going to. The criteria, totally up to you. Who really brought out the corniness? Who made you laugh? Who made you think? It's up to you.
SOPHIE: OK.
MOLLY BLOOM: Have you made your decision?
SOPHIE: Definitely.
[BELL DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Fantastic. Then it's time for our third round, the super stealthy Sneak Attack. This is our improvised round, where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's Sneak Attack is called Carnival Barker. Debaters, in this challenge, you're trying to lure people into buying a ticket to ride a plane or a train. Sell them on why this thing is what they want. Give a special spiel. Be a pushy salesman. Debaters, are you ready for your Sneak Attack?
ALLISON VINCENT: Yeah.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Oh, absolutely.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. OK, Nico. We're going to start with you. Please convince us to buy a train ticket.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: All right, step right up, step right up. Come on, Sophie, hop up onto the train. No need to wait. How many bags do you want to bring? Doesn't matter, they're all free. Load them up. Are you hungry, cafe car is stacked. We've got hot chocolate. We've got coffee. We've got sandwiches. We've got popcorn. Anything you want.
You could stretch right out. Do you have your computer with you? You can watch a movie. You don't have to turn anything away. Also, I hope you have a camera because the views on a train, you can't get them anywhere else. Don't fly. Come with me. Ride the train. [LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Nicely done, Nico. OK, Allison, it is your turn. Persuade us to purchase a ticket for a jet-set getaway.
ALLISON VINCENT: OK. Step right up. Step right up. Have you ever pondered what it would be like to be soaring through the air hundreds of miles an hour getting to go anywhere with anyone you've ever wanted? Well, I have the ticket for you. A golden ticket. A ticket to the skies.
Sophie, for a low, low price of depending on where you're going and how fast and who you want to sit next to, I can offer you the amazing ability of flight. Yes, buy a ticket on a plane, and you can get anywhere you would like to go on this Earth in a matter of hours. What could be better?
Just pack your things. The good news is you don't need to bring everything that you own, because you could fly back relatively quickly. So you can just go for a little vacation. And you could be conservative with your packing, which also feels nice. Come on, Sophie. What are you waiting for? Get out there, explore the world, meet new friends, and brag about it on your Instagram.
[LAUGHS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, Nico and Allison both coming in with the hard sell here, Sophie. But only one of them can get a point. So please think about which side impressed you the most and award your fourth point. Have you made your decision. Sophie?
SOPHIE: Yes.
[BELL DINSG]
MOLLY BLOOM: Perfect. Then it's time for our final round, the Final 6. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Allison, please give us six words for planes.
ALLISON VINCENT: Planes simply miles above the competition.
MOLLY BLOOM: Lovely, lovely. OK, Nico, it is your turn. Let's hear your six words for trains.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Don't be plain. Ride the train.
MOLLY BLOOM: I like it. OK, Sophie, it is time to award your final point for this Final 6. Have you made your decision?
SOPHIE: Yes, I have.
[BELL DINGS]
MOLLY BLOOM: Are you ready to crown one team the Smash. Boom Best?
SOPHIE: I am.
MOLLY BLOOM: Drumroll, please. And the winner is--
SOPHIE: Planes.
ALLISON VINCENT: Let's go.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Nice, nice. Congratulations.
MOLLY BLOOM: So, Sophie, was there a moment that really decided things for planes?
SOPHIE: I will say it was probably the puns.
MOLLY BLOOM: Ah, the puns. The puns always do it. Push it over the edge.
ALLISON VINCENT: Sophie, you are my altitude. Thank you so much.
SOPHIE: [LAUGHS] That was good. That was really good.
ALLISON VINCENT: Nico, it's been a pleasure debating with you. And to be perfectly honest, I enjoy a good train ride myself, although I do have a special place in my heart for planes. But I really appreciated all your wonderful points. And I learned a lot about how environmentally-friendly trains are and how there are some really exciting things on the horizon for having even more trains and even faster ways to get to each other on the land.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Allison, first of all, if you were a real carnival barker, I would probably buy anything from you. You are a very convincing salesperson.
ALLISON VINCENT: Thank you. I have a bridge for you later.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Wow. Thank you so much. I learned some things that I didn't know about planes. I'm still not sold on the comfort. But you did make me really excited about traveling to some new places that are far away and, as of now, inaccessible by train.
ALLISON VINCENT: Very good.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's it for today's debate battle. Sophie crowned planes the Smash Boom Best. But what about you? Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won. Smash Boom Best is brought to you by Brains On and APM Studios.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: It's produced by Molly Bloom, Hans Buetow, Anna Weggel, and Aron Woldeslassie.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had engineering help from Jess Berg and Raphael La Costa with sound design by Aron Woldeslassie.
ALLISON VINCENT: Our editors are Shahla Farzan and Sanden Totten.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: And we had production help from Rosie duPont, Anna Goldfield, Ruby Guthrie, Marc Sanchez, Robbie Mitchem, and me, Nico Gonzalez Wisler.
MOLLY BLOOM: Our executive producer is Beth Pearlman. And the APM Studios. executives-in-charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marley Feuerwerker-Otto. We want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Nico, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Yes, I took the metro train here. And so shout out to whoever was the conductor.
MOLLY BLOOM: Allison, how about you? Any special shout-outs?
ALLISON VINCENT: Yeah, I'd like to shout out my lovely wife, Leslie Vincent and Anna Weggel and Brent Miller and their new baby, Remy. And also, of course, little Luna. So thank you all.
MOLLY BLOOM: And how about you, Sophie? Any special thanks or shout outs?
SOPHIE: To my parents and the rest of my family and friends.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wonderful. Before we go, let's check in and see who Lachlan and Marius thinks should win the stingray versus dragonfly debate.
LACHLAN: I think stingrays would win, because they jump out of the water, and they're older than dinosaurs.
MARIUS: I think dragonflies. [INAUDIBLE] stingray, because they catch bad bugs, and they're very pretty.
MOLLY BLOOM: Ooh, a split decision. 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/content 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.
ALL: Bye.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Bye.
SINGERS: (SINGERS) Whoo, you're the Smash Boom Best.
Ohh, just prove the test.
Ooh, you have a Smash Boom Best
Ooh, better than the rest.
It's Smash Boom Best
It's Smash Boom Best
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: Truly locomotive-- locomotive beta travelers, no. Trains are the way to go.
SOPHIE: Do it again.
NICO GONZALEZ WISLER: OK. [LAUGHS]
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