Frankenstein’s Monster vs. Frosty the Snowman

Today's debate is a battle between two legendary characters: Frankenstein's Monster vs. Frosty the Snowman!


Frankenstein's Monster vs. Frosty the Snowman

Forever Ago: The history and mystery of mayonnaise

Hey Smash Boom Besties! Today we're bringing you an extra special episode from our sister podcast Forever Ago! 


Smarty Pass Bonus: Mini-Mosties

Molly is paging through piles of maps, trying to pick the ideal spots to visit during the Brains On Spring Break Road Trip. Marc and Shahla both have fabulous and funky destinations in mind – who will be the one to convince Molly that their roadside attraction reigns supreme? 


SPEAKER: Now entering Brains On! headquarters. 

[DOOR OPENING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Hi, Smarty pals, it's your friend Molly. Here at Brains On! headquarters, we're getting ready for spring break, and I'm looking at possible routes for our road trip. The problem is, I have so many maps, but no idea where I want to go. There are too many options. 

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES] 

SHAHLA FARZAN: All I'm saying is, I don't know if I'd go all that way just for bananas. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Well, I want to go see it. And what's the point of looking at a lobster, anyway? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Shahla Farzan and Marc Sanchez, fancy meeting you two here. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Hi, Molly. Cool maps. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Hey, did you decide where you want to go for our road trip? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ugh, no. But what were you guys just talking about? Lobster? Bananas? Is this a new project? Because I don't know if we're insured for lobsters, and I'm really hoping it's not a recipe. 

MARC SANCHEZ: No, no. Shahla and I were just talking about our favorite roadside attractions and trying to decide which one is cooler. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Yeah, like big sculptures, collections of weird stuff, places with funky art, basically just things along big American highways that attract tourists. 

MARC SANCHEZ: And my pick is the International Banana Museum in California. It has over 20,000 banana-related items that you can look at, and I find it very appealing. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Well, my pick is Big Betsy, the giant lobster sculpture in Florida. She's an absolutely gorgeous 30-foot-tall fiberglass celebrity, and I want to go meet her. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, those both sound very exciting and very different. [GASPS] And since you're both debating about your road trip choices-- 

MARC SANCHEZ: Oh, we walked right into this. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Mm. We sure did. 

MOLLY BLOOM: It's time for a-- 

MAN: A-ha! Hoo-ha! 

SPEAKER: Sneak Attack. 

MOLLY BLOOM: This Sneak Attack challenge is called one breath wonder. Marc, Shahla, your goal is to tell me as many cool facts about your favorite trip in one single breath. Whoever wins gets to decide where we go. Marc, you're going to go first. You ready? 

MARC SANCHEZ: [BREATHING DEEPLY] 

I'm just practicing my breath. I'm getting ready, and I'm very nervous. But yes, I'm ready. 

MOLLY BLOOM: All right, so take a deep breath, and then whenever you're ready, go. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Imagine three guys and one girl in a van going all up and down the West Coast playing music together. What could be better than that? It was such a great trip. I and my friends, we went in this van and-- oh, just breathe. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Take a breath. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Oh, my gosh. 

MOLLY BLOOM: It sounds like a cool van trip. 

MARC SANCHEZ: It was so stinky. 

[LAUGHING] 

And cool. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Did you have a lot of deodorant on that trip? 

MARC SANCHEZ: No, but the van ended up smelling like stinky feet. But in the best way. 

MOLLY BLOOM: What was the band called? 

MARC SANCHEZ: That band was called Things Explode. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, wow. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I know. Wow, right? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Things Explode, West Coast tour. 

MARC SANCHEZ: West Coast, baby. 

MOLLY BLOOM: All right. Shahla, it's your turn to regale me with a breath's worth of facts about your favorite road trip. Take a deep breath and let it rip. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Oh, OK. Molly, I think that you should go to the giant meteor crater outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. This was a massive crater that formed about 50,000 years ago when this giant meteorite, 150-foot-wide meteorite slammed into the ground, and it weighed as much as like 150,000 cars. And that the crater left behind, it's so cool. It's almost a mile wide, and you could stand on the edge of it. And you could look down into it. It's like looking into the ancient past. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Whoa. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Somebody call an ambulance. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Are you OK? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Breathe, Shahla. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: [INHALES DEEPLY] 

MARC SANCHEZ: Look at me. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Whoa, that was very impressive. You packed a lot of good facts in. It sounds like an excellent destination. It's going to be super tough to pick between that and being in a van with stinky feet. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Stinky feet are the best. 

MOLLY BLOOM: It's going to be super tough to pick. And the winner is Shahla. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Woohoo! Yes! Yes! 

MOLLY BLOOM: You did a really good job, though, Marc. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I mean, I would have picked you, too. 

[LAUGHING] 

SHAHLA FARZAN: As my prize, I get to pick where we go on our road trip? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Uh-huh. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Here's my solution. Betsy, the giant lobster's in Florida and the banana museum is in California. So, how about we start at the lobster and we'll road trip all the way across the country to the banana museum. We can find tons of other fun places to visit on the way. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Shahla, that's a great idea! I promise I won't make the van smell like stinky feet. And can we stop at the world's largest ball of twine in Kansas? 

SHAHLA FARZAN: Yeah, but only if we stop at the world's largest pistachio in New Mexico. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Deal! 

[THEME MUSIC] 

MOLLY BLOOM: That's it for this Smarty Pass episode. It was edited by Sanden Totten and produced by Aron Woldeslassie. Our executive producer is Beth Pearlman, and the AVM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kravati and Joanne Griffith. Brains On! is a non-profit public radio program. Thanks, Smarty Pass friends. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Smell ya later. 

SHAHLA FARZAN: See ya. 

(SINGING) 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 Smash Boom Best 

It's Smash Boom Best 

Tag vs. Hide and Seek

Today’s debate is a fun-filled face-off between two timeless playground favorites. It’s Tag vs. Hide and Seek!


 Tag vs. Hide and Seek

Eclipses vs. Aurora Borealis

Today’s debate is an out-of-this-world throwdown between two dazzling sky spectacles – Eclipses vs. Aurora Borealis!


Ketchup vs. Ranch

Today’s debate is a captivating clash of two condiments. It’s Ketchup vs. Ranch! 


Clowns vs. Magicians

Today’s debate is a real showstopper! It’s Clowns vs. Magicians! 


Smarty Pass Bonus: Road Trip This or That!

Let’s celebrate Spring Break! Rosie and Marc are getting ready to take a long drive to their favorite destination – The Troll Hole Museum in Alliance, Ohio. But in a terrible twist they need to play 3 new road trip games to see who gets to sit up front.


Listen to our debaters face off. Who will be crowned the Smash Boom Best?

SPEAKER: Now entering Brains On headquarters. 

[MECHANICAL WHIRRING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Hey, smarty pal. You caught us packing for an awesome road trip with two of my best buds, Rosie Dupont and Marc Sanchez. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Oh, thanks, Molly. I'm so excited for this trip. We're headed to the coolest place in the world. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, Marc is right. We're headed to the one and only Troll Hole Museum in Alliance, Ohio. They've got a collection of troll dolls, like you wouldn't believe. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, I believe it, because I've been preparing for this trip for the past three months. We've got snacks. 

[PLASTIC RUSTLES] 

MARC SANCHEZ: Check. 

MOLLY BLOOM: We got music. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Check. 

MOLLY BLOOM: We've got navigation. 

BOTH: Check. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Ooh. [SIGHS] 

ROSIE DUPONT: Wait a second, why didn't you say check, Marc? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Because I'm sitting up front and navigating for Molly. Everyone knows that. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Except they don't, because I'm doing that. Why do you think I brought this compass? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Oh, wow, nice compass. You should use it in the back seat. 

ROSIE DUPONT: I am not sitting in the back. You're sitting in the back. Molly and I are going to perfect my Robert de Niro impression. 

Are you talking to me? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Except you're not, because Molly and I are going to perfect my confused pirate impression. Are you talking to me? 

ROSIE DUPONT: You snake. 

MARC SANCHEZ: You mongoose! 

MOLLY BLOOM: Whoa, you two, come on! I didn't know you both wanted to sit up front so badly. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Molly, it's all I ever wanted. That is, until this betrayer came along. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Are you talking to me? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Enough! There's only one way to settle this-- with road trip games. We'll play three road trip games. The person who wins two of the games will get to sit up front with me. Got it? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Got it. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Yep, got it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK, perfect. Our first game is, would I lie to you? In this game, I'll tell you a short story about myself. That might be true. You both get two questions, asking me to elaborate on the story. After I answer them, you guess if I was truethen or lyin', then I'll reveal if you are right or not. Got it? 

MARC SANCHEZ: OK. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Yeah, sure. 

MARC SANCHEZ: All right. 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK. I'm going to tell a story about lying and that meta. OK, so when I was in second grade, I figured out that I didn't have to tell the truth all the time. And so one day, I came home from school. I didn't have my shoelaces in my shoes, because I took them out because I thought it was cool. 

And my mom said, "Hey, Molly, what happened to your shoelaces?" And I said, "They fell out." And she said, "Molly, shoelaces do not just fall out of shoes." And I said, "Yes, they did. You don't understand. I'm telling the truth." And I ran out of the room. 

And that was the last time I ever lied to my mother. So you each get two questions about my story. Rosie, you can go first. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Wow, that is such a such a fantastic story. And now, I'm intimidated by your mom, just like by hearing that story. My question is, what color were your shoelaces? 

MOLLY BLOOM: White. 

ROSIE DUPONT: White. OK. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Marc? 

MARC SANCHEZ: My question is, were you influenced by a friend to take your shoelaces out? 

MOLLY BLOOM: 100%, yes. Rosie? 

ROSIE DUPONT: Did you feel so guilty about lying to your mom that you put the shoelaces back in, or did you continue with your cool, shoelace-free shoes? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Definitely shoelaces went back in, but not the ones that were taken out because those were gone. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, wow. OK. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Marc? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Did you get in trouble for this? Like, was there-- was there-- were there consequences? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yes. 

MARC SANCHEZ: OK. 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK. You guys, was I telling the truth or a lie? Let's have Marc guess first. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I think you were a-truethen because you had some specific details, but they weren't, like, overly specific. And I'll just-- I'll leave it at that. 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Yeah, yeah, specific details, and they weren't-- but they weren't overly specific. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Rosie, what do you think? 

ROSIE DUPONT: I think you were definitely telling the truth, Molly, because it's just-- it was so specific, and also, as a child who also lied about her clothing, and then really learned that wasn't a great tactic, it just really resonated with me. So I think you were-- I think you were telling the truth because it felt like a story that I have about myself. 

MOLLY BLOOM: You are both correct. 

[DING] 

Fun fact about me, I am a terrible liar, like, truly, I hardly ever lie because I'm really, really bad at it. All right. 

MARC SANCHEZ: This game is going to be great. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Time for our second game. We'll be playing alphabet categories. In this game, I'll give you a category, like foods, movies, or sports. You two will then go back and forth, listing something related to that category in alphabetical order. 

So if I said the category was fruits, Marc would say, A, apples. Rosie would say B, bananas. Marc would say C, cantaloupe, and so on. The first person to pause loses. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Are you ready? 

MARC SANCHEZ: I'm clearing my mind. I'm clearing my mind of everything, except for alphabet. 

MOLLY BLOOM: The category is ice cream flavors. Marc, you will go first. I'll count to three, and then you'll go. 1, 2, 3. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Applesauce ice cream. 

MOLLY BLOOM: 1, 2, 3. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Butterscotch. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Cookies and cream. 

[BUZZING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, Rosie. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Dragon fruit. Dragon fruit. Dragon fruit. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Rosie, I'm so sorry. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, man, that was so fast. I was-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: That was so fast. 

ROSIE DUPONT: I was eliminated so quickly. Can we try again? 

MARC SANCHEZ: I was worried I had to come up with an E-- eclair? 

ROSIE DUPONT: Eggnog? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Egg-- 

ROSIE DUPONT: What's a D? What's a D one? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Double chocolate fudge? 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, jeez. Oh. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Well, Marc, that is a point for you. Rosie, we will go get some ice cream later, I promise, and we can learn some more flavors together. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Thank you. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Enjoy it in the back seat. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Time for our last game. It is name that tune. I'm going to hum a tune, and I want you to tell me what that song is. Hint-- they're all related to kinds of weather. OK. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Whoa. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Oh, I like it. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Cool. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Marc, we'll start with you. 

MARC SANCHEZ: OK. 

[HUMMING] 

ROSIE DUPONT: I know it. I know it. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Oh, Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Nice. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, so good. 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK, OK, Rosie, your turn. 

[HUMMING] 

ROSIE DUPONT: Somewhere over the rainbow. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Excellent. Excellent work. 

[HUMMING] 

I'm singing the whole thing. Marc, what do you think? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Yeah, I'm just going to wait and see if you start singing it, because I don't know the words to that song. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, wait, I know, I know. 

MARC SANCHEZ: But I'm going to take a guess. 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK. 

MARC SANCHEZ: All right. Easy there. I can-- I can repeat it back to you. I'm just going to call it I Love a Sunny Day. 

[LOSING BUZZ] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, you're very close. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Whoa. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Rosie, what is it? 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun-- or shining sun. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Mr. Golden Sun Song. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Shine down on me. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I would never have got it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Sorry, Marc. All right, here is our final one. Rosie, you get first dibs. See if you can get it. 

ROSIE DUPONT: OK. 

[HUMMING] 

Oh, the weather outside is frosty. But the-- delightful-- frightful. 

[LAUGHS] 

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I was like, oh, she's going to not going to get to the chorus. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Congratulations, you two. You did such a good job. And it shows because this game has ended in a tie. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, wow, those were really fun games. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Yeah, they were. I can't wait to start this road trip. And, hey, I'm sorry I called you a mongoose. 

ROSIE DUPONT: Oh, that's OK. I'm sorry I called you a snake. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, you guys, you're getting along so well. This is going to be the best trip ever. Besides, all the snacks are in the back anyway. 

ROSIE DUPONT: They are? Wait, I want to sit in the back. 

MARC SANCHEZ: No, me, I'm sitting in the back. I'm going to get back there. 

ROSIE DUPONT: No, no, no, you get out of the way. You get out of my way. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Rosie, no, you're up front. 

ROSIE DUPONT: No, no, no. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I'm going in the back. 

ROSIE DUPONT: No, no, no. 

MOLLY BLOOM: That's it for this Smarty Pass episode. It was edited by Sanden Totten and produced by Aron Woldeslassie. Our executive producer is Beth Pearlman, and the APM Studios executives-in-charge are Chandra Kavati and Joann Griffith. Smash Boom Best is a nonprofit public radio program. Thanks, Smarty Pass, friends. 

MARC SANCHEZ: See you on the highway. Bye bye. 

SINGER: Oh, you're the Smash Boom Best. Ooh, put you through the test. Oh, you're the Smash Boom Best. Oooh, better than the rest. It's Smash Boom Best. It's Smash Boom Best. 

Smarty Pass Bonus: Road Trip This or That! 

Jump Rope vs. Hula Hoop

Today’s debate is a high-energy showdown between two classic playground pastimes – Jump Rope vs. Hula Hoop!


Cake vs. Pie

Today’s debate is a boisterous bake-off between two desserts. It’s cake vs. pie!


Hamsters vs. Goldfish

Today’s debate is all pet and no peeve. We’ve got the titan of the tank vs. the rage in the cage. It’s Hamsters vs. Goldfish!


Matilda vs. Alice in Wonderland

Today’s debate is a showdown between two beloved stories — Matilda vs. Alice in Wonderland!


Smarty Pass Bonus: Squeak Attack

We’ve all heard of a sneak attack, but have you heard of a “Squeak Attack”? Well, Brains On Producer Marc Sanchez has and he’s ready to dish it out! Grab your Smarty Pass to hear how Producer Aron Woldeslassie fares against the squeak attack!


NARRATOR: Now entering Brains On headquarters. 

MARK: Oh, hi, smarty pals. I'm so glad you're here. I've been working on a brand new sneak attack, and I'm looking for people to try it out on. 

ARON: Hey there, Marky Mark. You look like you have a new sneak attack to try out on someone. 

MARK: Oh hi, Aron. How could you tell? 

ARON: Well, your eyes are darting about feverishly. You're sweating, but only on your upper lip, and your hair is disheveled from the classic Mark scheming pose. 

MARK: Oh, you mean when I stand on my head with my feet against the wall? 

ARON: That's the one. All that, plus you're carrying a cardboard box that has the words new sneak attack ideas written on the side. 

MARK: Ooh! Foiled again by my meticulous labeling practices. 

ARON: It's OK. I'll still play, even if you've lost the element of surprise. 

MARK: Honestly, surprises irrelevant here, because this isn't a sneak attack. It's a [PLAYING RECORDING] squeak attack! Yeah, today we're not being sneaky. We're being squeaky. I'm going to play three different squeak sounds for you, and you're going to have to guess what made that squeak. 

ARON: Oh, wow. You ended up surprising me after all. Was not expecting the attack to be a squeaky one. 

MARK: Indeed are you ready, Aron? 

ARON: I am absolutely ready. Lay it on me. 

MARK: Here's the first squeak. 

[PLAYING RECORDING] 

What say you? 

ARON: Oh, I know that squeak. That's the squeak of a rusty door opening back and forth. 

MARK: OK, OK. The answer, my friend, is a door squeak. You've got it 100% correct. 

ARON: Bam bam bam bam. 

MARK: I'm guessing, I'm just taking a wild stab in the dark here, but I'm guessing you've opened doors in the past. 

ARON: You know, I have opened up a few doors, both for me and others if I'm feeling polite. 

MARK: Wow, you're a gentleman and a squeaker. All right, here's your second squeak. 

[PLAYING RECORDING] 

ARON: OK. 

MARK: Sound familiar? 

ARON: This is weirdly hard. OK because when you introduced this idea, I thought these would be animals, first of all, so, that's where my head is at. 

MARK: I mean, maybe this is an animal. I'm not saying. 

ARON: OK. 

MARK: I'm not saying it is, and I'm not saying it isn't. 

ARON: OK, so it's definitely-- Can I hear it again? 

MARK: Sure, sure. Here it is. 

[PLAYING RECORDING] 

Do you need a hint? 

ARON: I think I might. So at first I was like, these have got to be bats or something, but now I'm hearing it again. Is this sneakers or is this basketball shoes hitting the court? 

MARK: Yes, exactly. It's a true sneak attack and a squeak attack. 

ARON: When I first heard that, I was like, are these balloons being rubbed against-- 

MARK: Together. 

ARON: Yeah, I was like, I had no idea. That probably tells you how often I play basketball. 

MARK: Well, you better get back out on the courts. 

ARON: Always. 

MARK: So you can enjoy that squeak. All right. Your third and final squeak for the day. Here it is. 

[PLAYING RECORDING] 

All right, before you answer, can I ask you a question? 

ARON: Yes, please do. 

MARK: Did that sound put a smile on your face? 

ARON: It did. I'm absolutely certain this is not basketball related. 

MARK: Correct. It's definitely an animal. 

ARON: The only question is, what kind of animal? Because it could be a baby. I want to say a rodent of some kind, because it was like-- 

MARK: You're in the right age group. You're in the right age group. 

ARON: I'm in the right age group, but it's not a rodent. Is that so? That's what I'm getting from that. 

MARK: Yeah. OK. 

ARON: Can I please hear it one more time? 

MARK: Sure. Sure. Here we go. 

[PLAYING RECORDING] 

ARON: OK. It's definitely a baby, but I don't think it's a baby pig, and I didn't hear any too long of whines. So I don't think it's a baby dog or puppy. Is it a kitten? 

MARK: It is not a kitten. I'm so sorry. You're overthinking it because you passed what it was. 

ARON: Is it a puppy? 

MARK: It is. It's multiple puppies nursing. Well, Aron, you did it. You played my [PLAYING RECORDING] Squeak attack. 

ARON: And yet another surprise, I actually had fun. Hey, what else is in that box, by the way? 

MARK: Well, let's see. I have plans for a sleek attack. That's where I make floors really slippery, and then there's a bleak attack. That's why I read your headlines from today's newspaper. 

[CLINKING] 

And, oh, a chic attack. This one is where I challenge you to make a stylish outfit out of whatever is in your refrigerator. And there is the leak attack. 

ARON: Where I have to fix the plumbing or something? 

MARK: That's a good idea, but no, not L-E-A-K. I mean L-E-E-K like leek, the edible plant that looks like a giant scallion. That's where I get someone to make me a big batch of potato and leek soup, because I'm pretty hungry. 

ARON: Well, mark, I'll let you know if we have any use for these for the new season of Smash Boom Best. 

MARK: I certainly hope you do. 

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING] 

NARRATOR: That's it for this Smarty Pass episode. It was written by Molly Bloom and produced by the squeaky Aron Woldeslassie. Our executive producer is Beth Pearlman and the APM studios executives in charge are [? Chandra ?] [? Kavadi ?] and Joanne Griffith. Smash Boom Best is a non-profit public radio program. Thanks, Smarty Pass friends. 

[? MARK: ?] Bye bye. 

NARRATOR: Sneak you later. 

[THEME SONG PLAYING] 

(SINGING) 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 smash boom best 

It's smash boom best 



Telescope vs. Microscope

Today’s debate zooms out to the farthest reaches of space then back in to the tiniest details of life on Earth. It’s Telescope vs. Microscope!


Viola vs. Keyboard

Today’s debate is a matchup between two musical marvels. It’s viola vs. keyboard!


Season 9 Trailer

Smash Boom Best is back on Thursday, February 6th with 16 new sizzling episodes!


Smash Boom Best is back with a brand new season on February 6th! Get ready for fierce and fascinating debates like Hamsters vs. Goldfish, Forts vs. Puzzles, Ketchup vs. Ranch and Gandalf vs. Snape. Who will win? Listen to Smash Boom Best on February 6, wherever you get your podcasts. 

INTERVIEWER: Hey, Smash Boom Besties. I'm excited to tell you we're coming back with a brand new season on February 6. Get ready for fierce and fascinating debates like hamsters versus goldfish, forts versus puzzles, ketchup versus ranch, and [GASPS] Gandalf versus Snape. Here's a sneak peak from our first episode, "Viola Versus Keyboard." Ha, ha, hoo, ha! Sneak attack. Sam, you are up first this time, so please make your instrument sound like it's laughing. 

[INSTRUMENT PLAYING] 

All right, [? Katie, ?] same challenge. 

[INSTRUMENT PLAYING] 

Mmm! Yeah! [LAUGHS] Crying. 

[INSTRUMENT PLAYING] 

A robot. 

[INSTRUMENT PLAYING] 

SAM: I would just like to point out that Katie's instrument is a robot. 

INTERVIEWER: Fair. Fair. 

SAM: And so I don't know about the fairness of that last one. I feel like mine should get to sound like a viola if she's going to get to sound like a robot. 

INTERVIEWER: Who will win? Listen to Smash Boom Best on February 6 wherever you get your podcasts. See you then! 

[THEME MUSIC] 



We're back on February 6th!

Smarty Pass Bonus: Guess that Debater

Molly is trying to figure out who she wants to invite to her birthday party and she can’t think of ANYONE. Anna tells her she has so many friends – so many that she probably can’t even recognize their voices! 


ANNOUNCER: Now entering Brains On headquarters. 

MOLLY BLOOM: No. No. No. No. Oh, hey, Smarty pal. You caught me at a bad time. I'm trying to make a list of people to invite to my birthday party, but I know so many people. Do I invite my friend Tito, the toad, or Elmer, the cow? Sebastian, the sea bass, or Clyde, the Clydesdale? Rudy, the rampaging rhino, or Ruby, the producer for Brains On? These are the questions that vex me. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Hi, Molly. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Producer Anna Weggel, what are you doing here? 

ANNA WEGGEL: Molly, I work here. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, yeah. 

ANNA WEGGEL: What are you up to? 

MOLLY BLOOM: I'm just making a list of people to invite to my birthday party. But I'm having a hard time since my bounce house only holds 15, and I know so many great people, animals, talking monsters, enchanted pieces of furniture, and really big plants that can walk. 

ANNA WEGGEL: I totally get it. I go through the same thing every birthday. But I figured out a really great trick to help make my list of my closest, truest friends for my birthday. 

MOLLY BLOOM: What's the trick? 

ANNA WEGGEL: Well, we play a game of Guess That Debater. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: What's that? 

ANNA WEGGEL: It's a great game, where I give you a series of voices from Brains On HQ. And you have to tell me who's speaking. 

MOLLY BLOOM: That's all? 

ANNA WEGGEL: Yeah. But I'm going to modify the voices. So if you can recognize them even after I've changed them, that means you must know that person really well. And that's how you'll know, you two are super close, and they should attend your birthday party. 

MOLLY BLOOM: All right. I'll try anything to get this list in order. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Perfect. Here is your first voice. 

ANNA GOLDFIELD: If the universe wanted me to learn patience, it could have just sent a postcard. 

ANNA WEGGEL: OK. Who, at Brains On HQ, do you think that was? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Hmm. The first person that popped into my mind when I heard that was Anna Goldfield. 

[CORRECT ANSWER TONE] 

ANNA WEGGEL: That's right. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Woo, woo, woo. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Bup, bup, bup. You truly know each other very well. 

MOLLY BLOOM: So well. We have a hello song. We sing when we see each other. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Well, that's so sweet. Sounds like she's scoring an invite. Lucky her. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Invited. 

ANNA WEGGEL: [CHUCKLES] OK. Here's voice number 2. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I'm not saying it's cursed, but that light flickers every time you touch it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: What? [CHUCKLES] I couldn't even understand that. 

ANNA WEGGEL: OK. So what this person said was, I'm not saying it's cursed, but that light flickers every time you touch it. Would you like to hear it one more time? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Sure. [CHUCKLES] 

ANNA WEGGEL: OK. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I'm not saying it's cursed, but that light flickers every time you touch it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Wow. OK. That was way more modified than Anna Goldfield. 

ANNA WEGGEL: [CHUCKLES] Or maybe, it wasn't. Maybe, it wasn't. Maybe, it's only slightly modified now. Who, at Brains On HQ, do you think that was, if you had to guess? 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK, here's my reasoning. It was made deeper, but it sounds super distorted, which leads me to believe that this person does not have a deep voice? Question mark. Is how that works? I don't know. I'm going to guess, Ruby. 

[BUZZ] 

ANNA WEGGEL: Oh, that is not correct. It is the one, the only, Marc Sanchez. 

MARC SANCHEZ: I'm not saying it's cursed, but that light flickers every time you touch it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, Marc Sanchez. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Yes. A fairly deep voice as it is. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I guess, my reasoning was totally wrong. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Sorry, Marc. OK. Here's voice number 3. You got this. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: I wasn't hiding the cookies. I was just saving them, for a snack. emergency. 

MOLLY BLOOM: 100%, Ruby Guthrie. 

[CORRECT ANSWER TONE] 

ANNA WEGGEL: OK. That is correct. Ruby gets an invite. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yay, bounce house. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Lucky Ruby. OK. Here is voice 4. 

TRACY MUMFORD: I didn't trip. I was testing gravity. Guess what, it still works. 

MOLLY BLOOM: That's my good friend, Tracy Mumford. 

[CORRECT ANSWER TONE] 

ANNA WEGGEL: That's right. Whoop, whoop, whoop, woo. OK, your party is going to be really cool. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, my gosh, we're going to have so much fun. I can't wait. 

ANNA WEGGEL: OK. Here is your final voice. 

LUNA: Can a dragon explode? Oh, no. My dragon exploded. 

[LAUGHTER] 

MOLLY BLOOM: What? 

ANNA WEGGEL: I believe, this person said, can a dragon explode? Oh, no. My dragon exploded. I believe, that's what-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: I need to hear that one more time. 

ANNA WEGGEL: OK. 

MOLLY BLOOM: [GIGGLES] 

LUNA: Can a dragon explode? Oh, no. My dragon exploded. 

ANNA WEGGEL: [LAUGHS] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Sounds like a child. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Is it? Or is it Sanden Totten? We'll never know. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I was going to say, Sanden. Here's my reasoning on that. It doesn't sound like him to me, but he was in unicorns versus dragons. And so is this from that debate? I don't know. But he did say things about dragons. So is it Sanden? 

[BUZZ] 

ANNA WEGGEL: Oh, great guess. So close. It's my three-year-old daughter, Luna. 

LUNA: Can a dragon explode? Oh, no. My dragon exploded. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, it was a child. Yes. 

ANNA WEGGEL: [LAUGHS] And guess what. She would not say what I wanted her to say. I gave her a simple line, and she refused to do it. I probably had nothing to do with dragons or explosions. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Can I hear it one more time, please? 

ANNA WEGGEL: Yes. Yes. 

LUNA: Can a dragon explode? Oh, no. My dragon exploded. 

[LAUGHTER] 

MOLLY BLOOM: It makes it even better, knowing she wrote that herself. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Yes. I really thought this was going to be the beginning of a beautiful, us using her all the time. And it was just, she's too much of a rascal. 

MOLLY BLOOM: She can't take direction. 

ANNA WEGGEL: No. And actually, all of these were specially recorded just for this episode. So none of them appear in-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: Really? 

ANNA WEGGEL: --any episodes. Yes. Yes, even from our good friend, Tracy. She took time-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: Tracy. 

ANNA WEGGEL: --out of her schedule to do this. Yes. 

MOLLY BLOOM: What a doll. Wow. She's definitely invited to my party. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Yeah. Well, you knew a lot of those voices, Molly. You did a great job. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Well, thank you so much. This is definitely going to help me whittle down my list a little bit for people who are invited to my birthday party. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Awesome. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really do have a full day ahead. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Let me guess. Another fun adventure? 

ANNA WEGGEL: I'll never tell. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: And that's it for this Smarty Pass episode. It was made by Aron Woldeslassie and Anna Weggel, edited by Sanden Totten, and produced by Lauren Humbert. Our executive producer is Beth Perlman. And the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Brains On is a nonprofit public radio program. Thanks, Smarty Pass friends. Bye. 

ANNA WEGGEL: Bye. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

(SINGING) Ooh, you're the smash boom best 

Ooh, putting through the test 

Ooh, you're the smash boom best 

Ooh, better than the rest 

You're the smash boom best 

You're the smash boom best 

Smarty Pass Bonus: Smash DOOM Best

Molly and Aron love horror movies! So to entertain them, Ruby plays small clips from some of the spookiest episodes of Smash Boom Best: We’re talking snakes! Spiders! Dragons! Vampires! Godzilla! Zombies! Then Ruby asks Aron and Molly a trivia question about each topic. Let the spooky fun commence!


ANNOUNCER: Now entering Brains On headquarters. 

[BEEPS, WHIRRS] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Smarty Pal, I'm so glad you're here. Producer Aron Woldeslassie and I are about to start our-- 

BOTH: Brains On movie night. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: That's right. BOMN is the best. It's a blend of our favorite movies and snacks. I brought popcorn, candy, and barbecue chips. 

MOLLY BLOOM: And I have pickled corn and corned pickles. Aron, do you want some? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Oh, my gosh, Molly, I'm so glad you asked. I don't. Anyway, what are we watching tonight? Angry Feet, Cinderfella. Some like it Lukewarm. 

MOLLY BLOOM: No, I don't feel like watching any of those. You know what I would really like? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Maybe some different snack options? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Close. I could really go for some horror. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: How is that close? 

MOLLY BLOOM: I want a fright, a scare, a heebie with plenty of jeebies. You catch my drift? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yeah, I got them, Molly. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I want to jump out of my skin and see it's covered with goosebumps. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Molly, I understand what you're saying. You don't have to keep repeating yourself. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I don't want to go [LAUGH]. I want to go [SCREAM]. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: You want to watch a scary movie, Molly. I got it. Let's move on. 

[DOOR CLACKS] 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Did someone say scary movie? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Producer Ruby Guthrie, are you here for Brains On movie night? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Uh, no. I was looking for my pet scorpion Melvin in the vents and I heard you two talking about scary movies. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: You lost your scorpion? Is that safe? 

MOLLY BLOOM: I just really want to watch a scary movie, Ruby. Do you have any movie suggestions? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: I've got more than movie suggestions. I've got a perfect game to play. Why watch a movie when you could play Smash Doom Best? 

MOLLY BLOOM: What's Smash Doom Best? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: It's a game I invented just for scary berries like you. I'll play you a clip from three of our scariest episodes of Smash Boom Best, and ask you a question related to the topic of each episode. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Shouldn't you be looking for your scorpion. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Uh, good point. We'll play a quick game and then look for all my scorpions. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Wait, there's more than one? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Now round one. It's time to hear about werewolves. This is a made up condition where people shapeshift into hairy beasts during a full moon. 

[FILM PROJECTOR WHIRRS] 

Werewolves. It's this amazing double life. You've got your normal side, and when you need it, your wild side. You can walk around outside in the sunlight. 

[CLEARS THROAT] 

Looking at you vamps. But also you get to run howling through the woods at night. Your majestic fur is blowing in the wind. 

You've got super speed, super strength, super smell. You can shapeshift as you please or maybe you have to wait for the moon. And you get to just cut loose when you need a break from the world and let it all go. 

[HOWLING] 

Wow! So fun. Now, for your question, what is a group of wolves called? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: OK, I feel like-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: I feel like I've heard this, right? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yeah. I feel like wolves and dogs, they do the same stuff and like a group of dogs. What is a group of dogs? Oh, my, no-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: A cuddle. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Actually, I do know this. 

MOLLY BLOOM: A cuddle of dogs. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yes, that is a cu-- That's different. But I know this. I know the wolf one-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: What? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: --because I was obnoxious in middle school with my buddies, and we were a part of the wolf pack. That's what we called ourselves. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, yeah, pack. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yeah. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I agree. I agree. Are we right? 

[BELL DINGS] 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Ding, ding, ding. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yes. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: You are correct. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Shout out to the wolf pack by the way. I miss you, fellas. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Aw, aw! 

RUBY GUTHRIE: All right. Awesome job. On to round two, the kraken, a mythical monster that's like a giant squid, but scarier. 

[FILM PROJECTOR WHIRRS] 

DECKHAND 1: Look, you can see its enormous arms all around the boat. 

CAPTAIN: Abandon ship! 

[SCREAMS] 

DECKHAND 1: Look, the arms! They're closing in around the ship. 

DECKHAND 2: It almost looks like it's cradling the ship strangely gently. 

DECKHAND 3: (WHISPERS) Quiet you two. The kraken is speaking. 

KRAKEN: Oh, the woodwork on this ship is exquisite and so well polished. The crew has done a wonderful job taking care of it. I should go congratulate them. 

[SCREAMS] 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Now that you've heard about the kraken, here's your question. How many eggs should be cracking using a traditional recipe for an angel food cake? 

[GIGGLES] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Wow, that is very tangentially related. I do love angel food cake. I love to eat them. And here's a fun fact about Aron-- he's an excellent cake baker. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: That's true. I am an avid baker, which is why I know this might be a trick question because I feel like you need way more information. But at the same time, sometimes recipes are so set in stone that this number might be universal. I would be shocked if it was more than a carton of eggs. Because the idea of buying two cartons of eggs to make one angel food cake, that sounds preposterous to me. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: True. That's coming from the expert. Molly, do you have thoughts? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Well, here's what I know about angel food cake is that it is leavened with eggs because you can eat it on Passover when you can't eat other baked goods. So I'm going to say 10. I'm going out on a limb, but I'm going to say 10 eggs. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Are you ready for the answer? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yes. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: All right. Tricky. It is actually 12 egg whites, no yolks. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: What? 

MOLLY BLOOM: No yolks. That's why it's like angel food because it's so-- there's no yellow in it. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Yes. Light and fluffy. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: So 12 whites, no yolks. So that's like-- would you say that's like six eggs then. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: That's like six average. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yeah. 

MOLLY BLOOM: That was tricky. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: You do go through a whole carton though. That's quite a lot. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: That's preposterous. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: All right, on to round three. Spooky see-through ghosts. 

[FILM PROJECTOR WHIRRS] 

NARRATOR: When I say ghosts, I mean the soul or spirit of a dead person. Some people see them, but you can also just feel them. They're that unknown presence that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. And even though there's no scientific proof of their existence, around 50% of Americans believe in them, in (STUTTERS) guh-- ghosts! 

RUBY GUTHRIE: OK, this is a multiple choice question. In the 1995 classic hit movie Casper, what is the name of the mansion where Casper and his uncles live? Is it A, Creepsville Manor, B, Whipstaff Manor, C, Phantom Heights, or D, Ghostwood Mansion? 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK, I've never seen Casper. He is a ghost. He's a little ghost. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yes. Yes. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Are his uncles also ghosts? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: They are also ghosts. 

MOLLY BLOOM: So it's a family of ghosts. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yeah. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I haven't seen this. So Aron, I don't know if you've seen Casper. Have you seen it? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: I saw it a long time ago as a child. And I remember enjoying it, actually, so much so that I weirdly got into the comic book for some reason. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: I don't remember the name. I'll say this, I feel like it's got to be one of the mansions or the manors because Phantom Heights sounds like the name of a high school full of ghosts. 

MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] 

Yes. I'm going to. I'm going to choose Ghostwood Mansion. Because if I lived in a fancy mansion, that's what I would want it to be called. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: I'm going to choose Whipstaff Manor because I like the way Whipstaff just rolls off the tongue. And that sounds like a good ghost house mansion name. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Nice. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yeah. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Aron, you are correct. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yes! 

RUBY GUTHRIE: It's Whipstaff Manor. 

MOLLY BLOOM: You know what's cool? The way you remember Whipstaff Manor, that's how the kids who listen to Smash Boom Best will one day remember the Sneak Attack Stinger. It'll come up in their brain. They'll be like, what? I remember that. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Wow, you guys did a great job. Don't you just love Smash Doom Best? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Yeah. It's fine. Now, can you please look for all your scorpions? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: No need. Nothing attracts scorpions like pickled corn. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, no, my snacks! And that's it for this Smarty Pass episode. It was made by Aron Woldeslassie and Anna Weggel, edited by Sanden Totten and produced by Lauren Humpert. 

Our executive producer is Beth Perlman. And the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Brains On is a nonprofit public radio program. Thanks, Smarty Pass friends. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: See you later. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Ciao! 

[THEME MUSIC] 

Oh you're the smash boom best 

Oh put you through the test 

Oh you're the smash boom best 

Oh better than the rest 

You're the smash boom best 

You're the smash boom best 

Smash Boom Best Premium