The Lorax vs The Cat in the Hat

**SPEAKER_1** (0:08)
Lemonada.

**Molly Bloom** (0:12)
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_3** (0:50)
From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best.

**Teo** (0:55)
The show for people with big opinions.

**Molly Bloom** (0:59)
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've got two classic characters created by Dr. Seuss. On one side, we have a mustachioed defender of trees, and on the other, mischievous feline with stylish accessories. That's right. It's The Lorax versus The Cat in the Hat.
Here to cause some mayhem for The Cat in the Hat is Story Pirate, Peter McNerney.

**Peter McNerney** (1:29)
Oh, boy! The Cat in the Hat?

**Taylor Lincoln** (1:31)
Hey, how about that?

**Molly Bloom** (1:33)
And fighting for the short orange guy with a heart of gold is improviser Nick Kanellis.

**Nick Kanellis** (1:38)
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. We need the trees for our breath and our lungs.

**Molly Bloom** (1:46)
And back to judge today's fanciful debate is Teo from Montclair, New Jersey. Teo just graduated from 8th grade, got his first ear piercings, and just started playing the guitar. Hi Teo.

**Teo** (1:58)
Hello.

**Molly Bloom** (1:59)
First of all, congratulations on graduating.

**Teo** (2:01)
Thank you.

**Molly Bloom** (2:02)
Does that mean you're starting high school next year?

**Teo** (2:04)
I am.

**Molly Bloom** (2:05)
Oh, are you excited?

**Teo** (2:08)
We're nervous, but it'll be okay.

**Molly Bloom** (2:10)
So what is something that you're looking forward to about high school?

**Teo** (2:14)
So at my high school, we have like an hour for lunch and you can leave the building. So I'm probably just going to go home and take a nap for 30 minutes.

**Molly Bloom** (2:22)
That sounds great. Okay. And you also just got your ears pierced for the first time. Is this one ear, both ears, multiple holes in both ears? Like, tell us, describe for us.

**Teo** (2:32)
I only got my first piercings, but I got it for both ears. I'm really excited.

**Molly Bloom** (2:36)
Awesome. It's just like in the earlobe?

**Teo** (2:37)
Yeah.

**Molly Bloom** (2:38)
Do you have plans for more ear decoration?

**Teo** (2:40)
So many more piercings.

**Molly Bloom** (2:43)
Excellent. Did it hurt?

**Teo** (2:46)
It did not hurt. I was really scared and I was like, it's already done. It's really not scary.

**Molly Bloom** (2:52)
That's great. So hopefully when you go to high school, you'll feel like, wow, this wasn't anything to be nervous about either just like my ear piercings.

**Teo** (2:58)
Yeah.

**Molly Bloom** (2:59)
So you just started learning guitar, which is very cool. What made you interested in starting in that instrument?

**Teo** (3:04)
Well, a lot of my friends are like, oh, I want to start a band. Oh, bands are so cool. I'm like, my mom has a guitar and it's basically in perfect condition. I want to play guitars. It's awesome.

**Molly Bloom** (3:16)
That's awesome. So you're like, now I can be in bands.

**Teo** (3:19)
Yeah.

**Molly Bloom** (3:20)
Okay. Have you started one yet? Are you got to get up to speed first?

**Teo** (3:23)
Yeah. I have to learn the basics.

**Molly Bloom** (3:25)
Do you play other instruments as well?

**Teo** (3:27)
I do not.

**Molly Bloom** (3:28)
Okay. So your first one, that's awesome. What kind of music do you hope your future band plays?

**Teo** (3:33)
I don't know.
I want to do a cover band because covers are really cool. But if not, I would definitely do like indie.

**Molly Bloom** (3:40)
Very cool.
Teo, I'm very excited for you. It's so fun to learn all the new things you're doing since last time we chatted.

**Teo** (3:46)
Thank you.

**Molly Bloom** (3:47)
Will Teo choose the Lorax or The Cat in the Hat? Let's find out. But first, the rules of the game.
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 Teo will award points to the team that impresses him the most, but he'll keep his 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.