Knitting vs Pottery

**Molly Bloom** (0:02)
Lemonada.
If you're looking for answers to all of your kids' questions about puberty, just find our new show, Brains On Universe presents Puberty, the podcast. Designed for kids aged 7 to 12, the show answers their questions in a straightforward and digestible way. Puberty, the podcast is hosted by me, Molly Bloom of the award-winning science podcast Brains On, and co-hosted by high schoolers who've just been through it. Experts are on hand to provide science-filled explanations. Search for Brains On Universe presents Puberty, the podcast.

**SPEAKER_3** (0:37)
Brains On Universe.

**Molly Bloom** (0:41)
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** (1:19)
From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best.

**Amelia** (1:24)
The show for people with big opinions.

**Molly Bloom** (1:28)
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 debating two popular pastimes. One lets you make your own cozy, cuddly creations. The other lets you design hearty, helpful homeware. It's Knitting versus Pottery.
Two cool crafts with endless possibilities, but only one winner. Yearning for yarn, it's comedian Katie McVay for Team Knitting.

**Katie McVay** (1:57)
I am casting on for victory.

**Molly Bloom** (2:00)
Craving the kiln for Team Pottery, it's science writer Menaka Wilhelm.

**Menaka Wilhelm** (2:05)
It's very hard to choose a favorite craft, but pottery is I think as close to winning the lottery as you could get.

**Katie McVay** (2:10)
Oh my gosh.

**Molly Bloom** (2:12)
Here to judge this craft-tastic debate is Amelia from Chicago. Amelia does debate. She loves learning the why of things, has three siblings, and just moved from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to the Windy City, aka Chicago. Hi Amelia.

**Katie McVay** (2:27)
Hey.

**Molly Bloom** (2:28)
So do you do any crafts yourself?

**Katie McVay** (2:30)
Yeah.

**Amelia** (2:30)
I love to draw and I also love writing, if writing is considered a craft.

**Molly Bloom** (2:36)
Sure. Have you tried pottery or knitting?

**Amelia** (2:40)
I wish.
They're both two things that I really want to do, but I have unfortunately never done either. I tried to learn to knit once, but then my brother stole the knitting needles and used them as swords.

**Molly Bloom** (2:53)
Oh man.

**Menaka Wilhelm** (2:54)
Oh no.

**Molly Bloom** (2:56)
Well, that's good though. So you're a blank slate when it comes to these two things. So okay, you moved to Chicago recently, which was probably like a big change, at least weather wise.

**Amelia** (3:06)
Definitely.

**Molly Bloom** (3:07)
How was your first winter in Chicago?

**Amelia** (3:09)
It was very snowy, which apparently was not normal.
I have only seen snow falling from the sky a few times because we've been living in Arizona for seven years. So you don't really see that. And I come here and I think it's fantastic that there's so much snow and everyone's like, this is not normal. Usually it's much more depressing.

**Molly Bloom** (3:30)
Did you enjoy the snow though? Yes.

**Amelia** (3:32)
No, I did like the snow.

**Molly Bloom** (3:33)
Excellent. So you have three siblings. Where are you in the order?

**Amelia** (3:38)
I'm the oldest.

**Molly Bloom** (3:39)
Nice. I'm the oldest too. So I'm guessing there are debates happening in your family?

**Amelia** (3:46)
Yeah, debates, arguments, however you want to phrase it.

**Molly Bloom** (3:50)
So since you do debate, does that help you with family arguments?

**Amelia** (3:55)
I guess. I think so. I think because this is my first year that I've done debate because they didn't have it at my old school in Arizona. So I think that it's made me a better arguer.

**Molly Bloom** (4:08)
So what kind of topics do you find yourselves debating with your family?

**Amelia** (4:12)
If the movie that my siblings have picked is a fair choice.

**Molly Bloom** (4:15)
Okay.

**Amelia** (4:16)
If we have to eat our dinner.
If we have to play the game that someone wants to play. Okay.

**Molly Bloom** (4:24)
Since you have done debate this year, what's a takeaway you've learned this year about how to be a good debater?