Hello Smash Boom Besties, Molly here. Usually things at Smash Boom Best are pretty light. and breezy lemon squeezy. But right now, it's more like windy and cold and your lemon has mold because public media is threatened like never before. Funding for shows like ours is up in the air. To keep going, we really need you to step up right now. It's pretty urgent, so if you listen, we are 100% talking to you. Head to Smash Boom. slash donate right now. It takes less than a minute.
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Because if there's one thing that's not up for debate, it's that the world needs more Smash Boom Best. Thank you so much. A quick note before this episode, there are major spoilers ahead for both Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, so if you haven't finished either series, beware. Now, on with the show. From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best. The show for people with big opinions.
Hi, I'm Molly Bloom, and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Today's debate is a magical matchup between two wizards. One lives on Middle Earth, the other at Hogwarts. One's got a pointy hat, the other's got a pointy attitude. It's Gandalf versus Snape.
We've got comedy writer and Lego master Sam Sook Siri here to wield staff for Team Gandalf. I have not passed through fire and death to brandy crooked words without winning. Hi. And Brains On editor Shayla Farzan is ready to take up her wand for Team Snape. I solemnly swear that I'm about to blow your mind with Snape facts. And here to judge it all is May from Northfield, Minnesota.
May is a captain of her swim team, loves reading and playing the guitar, and has a deep knowledge of both the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings universes. Hi, May. Hi, Molly. So, May, what are your favorite songs to play on the guitar? Well, I love rock music, so I like to play a lot of Beatles music and things of that sort. You're wearing a Green Day shirt. Do you like to play Green Day or just listen to Green Day? I love to play Green Day as well. It's very different, but very fun.
So last time you were here, we talked a lot about your passion for Lord of the Rings. So I'm wondering, how do you feel about Harry Potter? Well, I love Harry Potter as well. I think that both universes are very delightful. Harry Potter was my first introduction to fantasy, so it certainly holds a special place in my heart for that reason. But that's not to say that I don't have the love of the Lord.
the Rings. I'm completely obsessed with that series, although it did come later. Do you have any advice for our debaters today? You've judged a bunch of times, so I'm curious what you would tell them. You know, there's lots of ways to win one of the rounds. You can be funny or share something really interesting or something that I hadn't thought of before. So, yeah, there's lots of ways to go about doing this. Okay. Will May side with Sam or Shayla?
We just don't know until we know. But first... Smash Boom Best is a non-profit public radio program. That's right, Mae, which means we rely on support from our listeners to keep the show going. There are lots of ways you can support the show. You can donate because... Now, on to the rules. Every debate consists of four rounds.
the declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge May will award points to the team that impresses her the most, but she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the debate. Listeners, we want... you to judge too. Mark down your points as you listen. At the end of the show, head to our website, smashboom.org, and vote for whichever team you think won. Okay, Sam, Shayla, and May.
Are you ready? Ready. So ready. I'm ready. Great. And 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 Sam, you're up first. Tell us why he should really be called Gandalf the Great. Let's play everyone's favorite game show. Meet your mentor.
The only game show that matches young heroes with the perfect guide for their quest. Today, we're looking for a mentor for me. Let's meet our contestants. Mentor number one is a 38-year-old wizard and a professor of potions who enjoys holding grudges and lurking in dungeons. So happy to be here. Mentor number two is also a wizard. He's thousands of years old and likes taking long walks to destroy evil jewelry. Greetings to you.
Let's get started. Mentor number one. What kind of magical tools or equipment do you have? I have my wand and my charming. Personality. Okay. Mentor number two. I have my sword, Glamdring, forged by the elves and wielded by Toron, the elven king of Gondolin. I also have my faithful steed, Shadowfax, Prince of Horses, and Nardia. The Ring of Fire, one of the three uncorrupted elven rings of power. Mentor number two, what did you used to do?
Before I was a wizard, I was a Maiar, one of the ancient spirits who helped Iluvatar create the world. Wow, amazing. Mentor number one, what did you used to do? Well, I was a part of a group. led by an evil wizard that tried to take over the world. Yeah, I think I've heard enough. I choose mentor number two. Mentor number two, what is your name? I am called Mithrandir by the elves, Tharkoon by the dwarves, but you can call me... Gandalf.
If you've read The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, you know Gandalf is an immensely powerful wizard. He fought armies of goblins, orcs, and all manner of evil creatures. But Gandalf isn't... Just super powerful. He's also really chill. When he's not saving the world, Gandalf loves to have fun. He is renowned among the hobbits for his amazing fireworks.
He loves to eat and drink with friends and kick back to blow magical smoke rings from his pipe. He knows that these things are important because he's one of the wisest beings in Middle Earth. There's a line from The Hobbit where Thorin, the dwarf king driven mad by his lust for gold and power, is mortally injured in battle, and he finally realizes the error of his ways and says, If more of us... valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold. It would be a merrier world.
That's literally how Gandalf lives. Gandalf so outpowers Snape, it's not even fair to compare them as wizards. So let's compare what kind of literary characters they are. Literary characters are things like the protagonist and the hero of the story. or the antagonist, the bad guy. Gandalf is what's called a mentor. Like Yoda, who teaches Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Do or do not. There is no try.
The mentor is a critical role in stories who will often call the hero to begin an adventure, as Gandalf did when he called Bilbo to join a questing party of dwarves. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure. And a mentor offers wisdom when the hero is struggling. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. There are forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.
It takes a great mentor like Gandalf to inspire the humble hobbits and inspire us, the readers, to believe in themselves. And that's a greater power than any magical spell or potion. Gandalf is an epic wizard, mentor, and party! beast! I don't think Snape passes the test to be the smash boom best. What do you think, Gandalf? No, Charlotte! Incredible. Glad Gandalf got the last word in that declaration. Mae, what stood out to you about Sam's argument?
I loved that. First of all, I loved your many references to the magical items that Gandalf possesses. I caught Narya, the Ring of Fire, Glamdring, all of his weapons. I love your references, even to some of his past. You summed that up. very nicely. It was almost an entire chapter of the Silmarillion that you said in like one sentence beautifully about him being a Maiar and, you know, things like the city of Gondal and everything. And then I also liked how you...
talked about his role as a mentor. That's very important. And the things that he does in his free time. He also used some of the most classic Gandalf quotes in a very effective way. Very nice. Okay. Shayla, it is time for your rebuttal. You have 30 seconds to tell us why Gandalf puts the mid in Middle Earth. Your time starts now.
okay first of all we're talking about mentoring i want to know what kind of mentoring Gandalf actually does for Frodo he gives him this evil ring he sends him on a seemingly impossible mission that he's pretty sure is gonna kill him he's like he's probably not gonna come back that doesn't sound like men
Also, Gandalf isn't even technically human. He's like this demigod angel who was sung to life. Snape is human, which means he's interesting and sometimes he makes mistakes. Also, who'd want to hang out with a perfect demigod angel anyway? Personally, I have other thoughts I will share later. Okay. Gandalf mentored Frodo. He didn't send him on his quest. Frodo famously says, I will take the ring the Mordor, though I know not the way. He volunteers.
You know who doesn't volunteer to save all of Wizarding World? Harry Potter is just like, I guess I got to do it. I don't know. Does Harry ever get a chance to say, okay, I'll be the chosen one. He's just used. Used! Poor child! Also, Frodo's like 42 and Harry Potter's, what, 12 when he starts? So, even if he did choose, why are you putting this much weight on a child? Wow. There is so much more to say. Shayla, please tell us why reading about Snape is such a good escape.
Have you ever read a book that's so original, so immersive, that it feels like you've fallen into a totally different world? That's how I felt the first time I read Harry Potter. I was 10 years old, and the first book had just come out. I was absolutely glued to it, reading along as Harry escapes his lonely life living in the cupboard under the stairs and discovers a magical world hidden in planes.
sight. His first wand, his first time riding a broom, first taste of earwax flavored jelly beans. It felt like I was there experiencing it with him. I read it as fast as I could in the backseat. under the covers at bedtime, even in the bathtub. Not my best idea. The point is, I had and still have a deep love for these books. And as a Harry Potter mega fan,
I thought I had all the characters figured out, including the world's grumpiest potions master, Professor Severus Snape. But when I read the last book and found out Snape had been one of the good guys... I was stunned. Since then, I've come to love this complicated and mysterious character. Sure, he does a lot of brooding and skulking around, but he's also one of the most underrated heroes of all time.
Oh, good point. Dobby the house elf? Actually, it's Blobby the house elf. Dobby's second cousin. Okay. Blobby house elf. had to come when he heard Sheila Farzan was discussing Professor Snape. He's a legend. Totally. Snape's a great example of a redemption arc. That's when a bad guy grows and changes to be good.
When he was young, Snape thought wizards were superior to non-magical people. He became a powerful dark wizard. He even joined forces with the evil Voldemort. But then, plot twist, Voldemort... kills the person Snape loves most, and he realizes how wrong he'd been. He takes his grief and anger, and he funnels it into sabotaging Voldemort. It's like the lobby always says, keep your friends close.
and your former Dark Lord mentor turned mortal enemy even closer. Exactly. Gandalf, on the other hand, is basically perfect from start to finish, which is, let's face it, kind of boring. Gandalf? More like bland? When you think about it, this makes Snape the ultimate double agent. For years, he works undercover, pretending to help Lord Voldemort. And it's super risky. Remember, Voldemort is the most dangerous dark wizard of all time. And he can literally read minds. So Snape...
has to be extra cunning. And he does such a great job that he fools everyone into thinking he's working for Voldemort when he's actually feeding information to Dumbledore the entire time. Here's the thing about Snape that people sometimes forget. He low-key saved the world by keeping Harry safe. Professor Snape!
Harry Potter when he was being attacked by a werewolf. And he kept Harry Potter from being thrown off his broom during his first Quidditch match. Yeah, just imagine if Snape hadn't been there to save Harry during that match. Harry's zipping through the air, hunting for the golden snitch. Look at him go! Looks like someone's cursed Harry's broom. That's been tampered with. Oh, no! Harry's fallen off his broom! He's headed straight for the ground. He's...
It'd be a pretty short book series, is all I'm saying. And Snape does all of this behind the scenes without expecting any attention. In fact, it isn't until after he's gone that we realize everything he did. Gandalf, on the other hand, loves attention. Think about it. Whenever there's an emergency, he rides in on his horse Shadowfax with his robes billowing and makes a big entrance. And they say Professor Snape is the dramatic one. Snape isn't your typical hero.
He's complicated and cranky. But when you look past the superficial stuff, it's easy to see why Harry calls Snape the bravest man he's ever known, and even names his son after him. Because... In the end, Snape sacrifices everything — his reputation, his happiness, even his life — to help save the world. Matching sweaters that say, I heart Snape? Thanks, Blobby. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Oh, my gosh, Shayla, that sweater looks so good on you. Wow, Bobby's very talented. Mae, what stood out to you about Shayla's declaration of greatness? I liked how you talked about Snape as a character and how he changed throughout the series. and the sort of mystery the entire time of us not knowing whose side he was really on. I also thought that Blobby was an excellent commentator. So that was a very interesting take on the professor.
Okay, Sam, it's time for your rebuttal. Tell us why we should cast a stupefy spell on Snape. You've got 30 seconds, and... Oh, interesting. You bring up the stupefy spell, which Harry and Hermione and Ron used on Neville in the in book one. And then very wisely, Dumbledore says, you know, there's many kinds of bravery, but the bravery to stand up to your friends is one of the most.
And that's what Neville exemplifies. And Harry doesn't name his child after Neville. He names after Snape. Sure, Snape is very brave, but he has a lot of issues he needed to deal with in a healthy manner, not through taking it out on the child of the girl he was obsessed with. And your problem with Gandalf is that he's perfect and always saves the day.
Part of the reason why Snape is a crabby dude is that he was intensely bullied as a kid. And I agree. He should probably deal with that in a healthier way. He kind of directs his anger and hurt out in the world for a while because he's working through a lot of trauma.
He's not a demigod angel who was sung into existence. We can't all be perfect like Gandalf. I'm so sorry. I want to be perfect like him. I want his hair and his amazing beard, too. But we can't have everything we want. He's got a great beard. Okay. May, it is time to award some points. 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 impeccable? Award your points, but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision? I have. Wonderful. Shayla and Sam, how are you two feeling so far? Hyped. Oh, I'm over here like shouting Wingardium Leviosa because I'm like floating on the ceiling with excitement.
I'm wearing a robe and I'm realizing that's a bit hot. It's part of the Hobbit costume, but boy, hot under the collar. Good for trekking far. Not good in a studio. All right. It is time for a quick break. fluff up your beard and give your potion a stir. And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best. You're listening to State of Debate, home to rage and rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation. I'm Todd Dingley Dangley Douglas, and I'm here with... Taylor Lucy Goosey...
Lincoln. How are you today, pal? Oh, not bad. We're having some toasty summer weather, but I'm ready to beat the heat. I've got a blow-up jumbo-sized kiddie pool, an economy-sized tub of sunscreen, and a freezer full of ice pops. You should come over. Oh, that sounds so nice. Count me in. But I have to do some chores first. Then I will be there with my pineapple print swim trunks at a cooler of snacks. OMG, that reminds me, Todd. I have to show you this video I saw last night. It's so full.
of fallacies you gotta fallacy it to believe it hey nice one fallacies are holes and arguments that don't stand up to scrutiny Plus, they make it easier to defeat your side in a debate. This one is called a false equivalency. That's when you argue two things are totally the same, but they really only have one thing in common. Here's the tape. Hey, kiddo. You know, you really need to clean your room.
It's like an overgrown jungle in here. I can't even walk across the floor. Oh, sweet. I'm a jungle guy now, like Tarzan. Gotta get some vines so I can swing from my desk to the bed. Problem solved. I meant you should pick up your laundry and all of these toys from the floor. Tarzan never had to clean his room. If my room is a jungle like where Tarzan lives...
Then I shouldn't have to clean it either. We should leave the environment as it is. That's very eco-minded of you, sweetie, but I need to vacuum. You can start by putting your books back on the shelf where they belong. But mom, you said it was a jungle in here. What if the monkeys and jaguars want something to read? I'm not sure they can read. And while you might be my silly little monkey, I don't think there are any jaguars in the room, dear. But there could be, because it's a jungle. Ha!
That's good entertainment, Tay, but not a good argument. That kid got stuck on a false equivalency fallacy. He sure did. He was trying to argue that his room was just like a jungle because both are a bit on the wild side. But that's only... one thing they have in common a jungle and a messy room might both be difficult to walk through but the similarities end there and i'd never do any vacuuming in a jungle you know what they say what do they say
Nature can't stand a vacuum. Har har. Okay, I'm going to go do my cleaning, but I'll come over later for pool time. Save me some popsicles. And we'll be back soon with more State Out Debate. Brains on Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Smash Boom Best, you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore. It's Alien Exercise Hour! Hi-yah! Hoo-ha! While I stretch my snoodles and bounce on my trampolini, I'll listen to a new...
I'm going to try Forever Ago, the best history podcast ever. understand why anyone would think a TV show could change the world, we need to go way back. To America in the 1960s. Rock and roll was pretty new. Ford released the iconic Mustang muscle. Come back here, podcast. Must listen to forever. Listen to Forever A Goal wherever you get your podcasts.
You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom. And I'm your Judge May. And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this practical debate idea from Ria. I'm Ria from Maryland. And my debate idea is chores versus homework. Too fun. We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Rhea thinks should win. And now it's back to our debate. Gandalf versus Snape.
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. For Sam and Shayla, the prompt was... acceptance speech. We asked you to pretend that your side is accepting an award and to write an acceptance speech for that award. Sam went first last time, so Shayla, you're up. Give us your acceptance speech for Team Snape.
Students, quiet down, quiet down. Could someone please shoo the owls out of the back window? Thank you. It's time for our Hogwarts Superlative Awards, decided by you. our students. Our first award is for Most Authentic Student, and the award goes to Hogwarts seventh-year student Severus Snape. Thank you, Dumbledore. This award is most unexpected. I can't pretend to know what it means to be the most authentic student.
Is it because I refuse to chit-chat about the weather or the latest Quidditch scores? Small talk. Who needs it? I much prefer to discuss deeper subjects, like the latest innovations in potions brewing and the ethics of mind reading. Or perhaps you voted for me as most authentic because you never have to guess whether I'm interested in what you're talking about. Chances are I'm not. But...
Look on the bright side. I'll always be honest with you. If you come to me and ask why you didn't pass your history of magic exam, I'll say it's because you didn't study. Period. The end. Anyway, back to this award. Please take it back. I don't do awards. Thank you. So authentic. Ten points for Severus. Wow. Boss move, rejecting the award. Okay, Sam, it is your turn. Let's hear your acceptance speech for Team Gandalf.
Welcome back, everyone, to the 86 Academy Awards, the oddly grim award show that honors epic deaths of fictional characters. And I'm your host, Jacob. Marley! And our next award is the highest honor for a fictional character. It's the best death that actually helps the story. Our nominees are Gandalf the Grey, who single-handed...
fought a Balrog, an ancient and powerful demon of fire named Durin's Bane, so that his friends could escape to save Middle-earth. And Severus Snape, who died from a snakebite. And the winner is... Gandalf! Wow, what an honor. You know, as I plunged into the depths pursuing that fiery beast, and as we spent ten days fighting from the depths of the earth to the highest mountainside where I finally vanquished my foe before succumbing...
to my many injuries and pass me on the veil, all I could think about was, I hope my sacrifice helped my friends. Wait, wait, wait. Gandalf, I'm going to let you finish, but I just have to say, I had one of the best deaths of all time. I got stuck. in a bottle with Voldemort's pet's neck, and it bit me. Um, uh-huh. Now, you see, Voldemort thought that by killing me, he would become the true master of the Elder Wand, but he made a mistake.
So he didn't actually become the master of the Elder Wand. So you were bitten by a snake in a bubble, and also it was a mistake? Okay, you know what? I don't want the award anymore. Damn now, no hard feelings. Let's celebrate with some bubbly! Ah! Bubbles! Are there snakes in them? Oh, my gosh. Incredible work. Okay, Mae, what did you like about those two acceptance speeches? I loved your ideas for both of their awards. They were both very fitting for the characters.
Absolutely. And Snape rejected both of the awards, ultimately. He's just so humble. He's so humble. I just really want to emphasize that. Also, I'm so glad you brought up the Balrog because, like, the Balrog is cool, right? Who hasn't taken down a giant fiery demon with horns and a fire whip? It's pretty common these days, honestly. It's very relatable. It's what makes him relatable.
Okay, May, it is time to award a point, but don't tell us who it's going to. Criteria are totally subjective and totally up to you. Have you made up your mind? I have. Wonderful. 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... Raid my fridge. We want you to tell us what's in your side's fridge. Is it stocked with snacks galore?
Is there only spoiled milk? Delicious leftovers? Tell us everything about what's in Gandalf for you, Sam, and Snape's fridge for you, Shayla. And please do it in under one. Minute. Debaters, are you ready for your sneak attack? Oh, yeah. I'm ready. All right, Sam, we're going to start with you. Let's hear all about Gandalf's goodies. Well, you know, Gandalf does know a lot about what's in other people's larder when he first...
goes and visit Bilbo. He's just like, bring out the tea cakes, the seed cakes. When he was at the Prancing Pony, he blessed the beer of the bar owner, whose name is Butterbur, which is very similar to Butterbeer. He put a magical spell to make his beer taste really good.
Gandalf would also have a lot of cream and berry and cheese because he's friends with Tom Bombadil. And that's sort of the thing that Tom Bombadil likes to make for his wife, the lady of the forest. And I think Gandalf would also have like a lot of Yakult. because he knows the importance of staying regular and microbiotics. And then for funsies, he would probably have like a bunch of chocolates with sort of like a really good minty interior, sort of like a creme de mint.
but dark chocolate on the outside. Yeah. Absolutely. Love that. Staying regular, staying fit. And then having a little fun. Yeah. Right. The importance is balance. Now, Shayla, it's your turn. Tell us about... any and all Snape Snacks.
Okay. Something you probably don't know about Severus Snape is that he's a huge chocolate frog fan. So, you know, the chocolate frogs from the Harry Potter universe, they're those magical chocolate frogs that hop around. They look like real frogs, but you can actually eat them. He's really into those. So his fridge is probably like about 90% chocolate frogs. Also pumpkin pie because Severus Snape eats pumpkin pie all year round.
Comes home at the end of a long day spent skulking around the castle, whipping his robes back and forth. And what does he do? He sits down. He cracks open that fridge. He gets a big pumpkin pie with a canned whip. cream and he kind of on the top. Then he digs in. And so he's a really big sweets fan, which is relatable. It's another way that he's so relatable. And it means he has to go to the dentist a lot. So really, the fridge is chock full of sweets.
Frogs, pie. I mean, I would love to get in there, honestly. Me too. Just a fridge full of giant pumpkin pies and chocolate frogs. Wait, let me ask you a question, though. When Snape cracks open his fridge... Is anybody eating with him?
Oh, no, he's definitely eating alone. He's all alone. Gandalf is always throwing a party. He's going to the house next door and cracking open their fridge. Oh, he's setting off those fireworks that everybody loves so much. It's terrorizing all the local flora and fauna. Terrorizing the plants. Wait, the floor? Oh, man. Okay, May. It is time to award a point. Please think about which side impressed you the most with their stocked fridge and award your fourth point.
Have you made your decision? I have. Perfect. Then it's time for our final round. The final six. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. All right, Shayla, let's hear your six words for how super Snape is. Fearless hidden hero, Snape saves humanity. Oh, very nice. Okay, Sam, it's your turn. Give us six words on the glory of Gandalf. Led Zeppelin loved Gandalf and rock.
Did you know that, Mae? Led Zeppelin, huge Lord of the Rings fan. Good to know. Oh, yeah, you can catch Lord of the Rings references. Half of their songs. How many songs did Led Zeppelin write about Harry Potter? I'm forgetting. He wrote a whole album about Snape. It's a hidden album that not many people know about, actually. Oh. All right. May it is time to award a final point for this final six.
Have you made your decision? I have. Oof, okay. Tally up those points. Are you ready to crown one team the Smash Boom best? I am. Drumroll, please. And the winner is... Gandalf. I would like to say it was very close. It came down to a single point. And both sides did fantastic. But at the end of the day, the tally says it all. And Gandalf won. I'm expecto patronum with shock right now, May. Truly. But no, I honestly.
This was such a fun debate. Sam, you're so much fun to debate with. And I was really, really impressed with just like your deep knowledge of Lord of the Rings, which I also love. And now I can say, honestly, I'm also a Gandalf fan. I'm a fan.
of both but you were just such a great opponent and this was the most fun debate This was a really fun debate, and I loved your way to make Snape, who, like, all of his negative qualities in my mind, you know, his isolation, his kind of meanness, you made those all into positives, which I just, like, commend you for turning what I would have thought was the hardest thing to do. into your frontrunner argument.
Well, that is it for today's debate battle. May crowned Gandalf 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. It's produced by me. Molly Bloom, Anna Wegel, and Aron Woldeselassi. We had engineering help from Josh Savageau and Brian Hartman with sound design by Anna Wegel. Our editors are Shayla Farzan and Sandin Totten. With fact checking by...
And we had production help from the rest of the Brains on Universe team. Our executive producer is Beth Perlman, and the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marley Foyerworker Otto, and we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Sam, is there anyone you'd like?
like to give a shout out to today? I'd like to say thanks to all the librarians I had growing up because I also got introduced first to Harry Potter and then that led me to reading Lord of the Rings. And so thanks for the recommendations as a kid.
from my librarians. And I'm not a librarian, but if you're out there and you like fantasy, I would highly recommend reading Legends and Lattes. It's like medieval fantasy, but also coffee and chocolate. I love a book wreck. Thank you so much. How about you, Shayla?
Oh my gosh, Sam, you took the words right out of my mouth. I was also going to thank my local librarians because they really introduced me to a love of reading. And it was just the most fun ever to enter some of these magical, fantastic. world, and especially my St. Louis Public Library here. I love public libraries. May any special thanks or shout outs. Yes, thank you to my family who fostered my love of reading and of fantasy in particular. Thank you to Jay.
or Tolkien for creating this amazing universe. And yes, this was a fantastic debate. Excellent. Before we go, let's check in and see who Rhea thinks should win the chores versus homework debate. I think homework would win.
because you don't have to get up to do it, and because it helps you more later in life so you can get a good job. 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.
slash contact and drop us a line. And make sure to subscribe to Brains on Universe on YouTube, where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes. We'll be back with a new smash boom best debate battle next week. Goats. versus boa constrictors. Bye-bye. Goodbye. See ya. Bye. Read lots of books. Who did that Snape voice? Was that you, Sam? Yeah. Oh, my God. That was so good. That was a very good Snape impression. So happy to be here.