Avocados vs Raspberries

**Molly Bloom** (0:02)
Lemonada.

**SPEAKER_3** (0:07)
Brains on Universe.

**Molly Bloom** (0:11)
Thinking critically is more important than ever. That's why we make Smash Boom Best. We want every kid to know how to spot a good argument and how to call out a logical fallacy. But none of it is possible without your support. Seriously, we could disappear if our listeners don't step up. But that part is easy.
Just join Smarty Pass. You'll get access to ad-free versions of our shows, special online hangs with our crew, discounts on merch, and more. Plus, you'll feel great knowing you're helping us pay our debaters, sound designers, writers, and more.
Join now at smartypass.org. Thank you. Now, it's showtime.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:48)
From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best.

**Ambrosia** (0:53)
The show for people with big opinions.

**Molly Bloom** (0:57)
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, we're picking between two perfect pieces of produce. One is buttery green goodness wrapped around a pit. The other, a syrupy sweet bright red treat. It's avocados versus raspberries.
Here to argue for avocados, it's audio producer and editor, Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong.

**Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong** (1:26)
Team Alligator Pear in the house.

**Molly Bloom** (1:28)
Yes, and raising a ruckus for raspberries, it's voice actor, Merk Nguyen.

**Merk Nguyen** (1:33)
Let's get juicy.

**Molly Bloom** (1:37)
Here to select a winning snack, we've got Ambrosia from Lethbridge, Alberta. Ambrosia plays percussion, loves puzzles, and has a cat named Aslan. Welcome Ambrosia. Hi.
Please tell us about your cat. What is your cat like?

**Ambrosia** (1:53)
My cat is the best and he knows it. He is so sassy and if you try and pet him while your hand is slightly dirty, he knows it and he will run away from you and furiously try and clean himself.

**Molly Bloom** (2:07)
He's a clean little guy. That's so sweet. Does he like to play?

**Ambrosia** (2:12)
He does. We think he might have been raised with dogs. He's a rescue cat and he will play fetch.

**SPEAKER_7** (2:18)
Oh, I love that.

**Molly Bloom** (2:21)
Speaking of playing, you play percussion. Does that mean drums or something else?

**Ambrosia** (2:26)
It does include drums. I'm not the best at playing the drum set as much as I would like to be, but I do tons of different things. I really love auxiliary percussion, which is just like everything else, like playing a tambourine and a triangle and a suspended symbol, and the crash cymbals and the snare. But sometimes in one of the pieces, you have to play all of those instruments. And so you have like two bars of rest to get between across the room from like the xylophone back to the triangle because it's really fun. It can get active.

**Molly Bloom** (2:58)
Awesome.

**Ambrosia** (2:58)
Especially seeing as sometimes when we perform in our band, it'll be in a different place from when we've rehearsed, and then everything is set up completely different.

**Molly Bloom** (3:07)
I was also in the percussion section in band in high school, and it was one of my favorite things. I love to count rests and then come in loud with a symbol.
The best. As a long time listener, do you have any advice or tips for our debaters?

**Ambrosia** (3:22)
I would just say try and go with it. Once you find a bit, just stick to it. See how far you can go.

**Molly Bloom** (3:31)
Excellent advice. Will Ambrosia go for avocados or raspberries? Stay tuned. But first, 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, Ambrosia, 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, Merk, Adwoa and Ambrosia, are you ready?

**Ambrosia** (4:08)
I'm ready to go.

**Merk Nguyen** (4:09)
I'm very ready.

**Ambrosia** (4:12)
I'm so ready. I'm so excited to be here.

**Molly Bloom** (4:14)
Excellent. Then it's time for the...

**SPEAKER_1** (4:17)
Declaration of Greatness.

**Molly Bloom** (4:21)
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 Merk, you're up first. Let's hear you rave for raspberries.

**Merk Nguyen** (4:37)