Vampires vs. Werewolves: a spooky debate

Marley Feuerwerker-Auto (0:00)

From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best.

Kate (0:04)

The show for people with big opinions.

Molly Bloom (0:08)

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, the ultimate immortal rivals go fang to claw in a bloodthirsty debate. In one corner, we've got vampires, and in the other, werewolves. Which terrifying tormentor will win this Smash Boom battle? With such a monstrous matchup, it's hard to say.

Luckily, Kate is here to help us decide. Hi, Kate.

Kate (0:39)

Hello.

Molly Bloom (0:40)

So, Kate, when I say vampire, what comes to mind?

Kate (0:45)

I think of Twilight and the Vampire Diaries. Yes, I watched all of it, unfortunately.

Molly Bloom (0:49)

And what about werewolves? What are your associations with werewolves?

Kate (0:55)

I think they're pretty cool. Whenever I think of vampires and werewolves, I always think of Team Jacob and Team Edward in Twilight.

Molly Bloom (1:05)

Edward was the vampire in Twilight and Jacob was the werewolf. So, Kate, are you Team Jacob or Team Edward?

Kate (1:12)

I'm Team Jacob.

Molly Bloom (1:14)

Would you say that you already think one of these fictional sides is cooler?

Kate (1:21)

Just going into the debate, I guess I like werewolves a lot. But also, I think vampires are cool, too.

Molly Bloom (1:28)

All right. Well, I think you are the perfect judge for today's debate. And I think it's time to meet our debaters. Here to defend the historically Transylvanian team vampire, it's Anna Weggel.

Hi, Anna.

Anna Weggel (1:42)

This is spooky and fun.

Molly Bloom (1:45)

So, Anna, tell us in a single sentence, why are vampires the Smash Boom Best?

Anna Weggel (1:52)

Vampires are the Smash Boom Best because they are scarier, toothier, more powerful and more deadly than any creature on the face of the earth. And if you don't agree with that, then you're in some serious danger.

Molly Bloom (2:03)

And here to represent werewolves, those mythical beasts that have been clawing their way through fiction for thousands of years, it's Tracy Mumford. Hi, Tracy. Hello.

In one sentence, why are werewolves cooler than vampires?

Tracy Mumford (2:21)

Werewolves live a wild double life, where they get to go out like normal people during the day, you know, in the sun, but then cut loose with super speed and super strength at night.

Molly Bloom (2:33)

All right. Excellent arguments already. Let's review the rules of the game. Round one is the Declaration of Greatness. Using facts, logic and top-notch storytelling, our debaters will present the most persuasive arguments for their side.

After each declaration, the opposing team will have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statement. Then we've got the Micro Round, a creative challenge each side has prepared for in advance. Round three is the Sneak Attack, a surprise challenge debaters will respond to on the spot. And to top it all off, we've got the Final Six. In this round, each team will have six words to make a closing case for their side. Our judge, Kate, will award one point after each round, but she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the debate. Listeners, we want you to judge too. This is a tough one, so 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, everybody, are you ready?

Yes!

Kate (3:36)

Let's go.

Molly Bloom (3:37)

Then it's time for the...

Marley Feuerwerker-Auto (3:39)

Declaration of Greatness.

Molly Bloom (3:42)

Our debaters will present the most fascinating facts and awesome arguments in favor of their side.

We flipped a coin, and Anna, you're up first.

It's time for a Declaration of Greatness for those shadowy hunters of the night, vampires.

Anna Weggel (3:57)

Vampires are the greatest, most deadly, and horrifying creature in the history of the world. And let's be honest, they're fun for us to think about because being scared is super fun. It's really the whole point of Halloween, besides the candy. Let's explore this further.

So exactly what is a vampire? If you're a fan of the Twilight books and movies, which I definitely, let's face it, am, you might think of vampire as a cute boy named Edward who's very cold in body temperature, but also in his demeanor in the way that he seems distant and unavailable, but that's only because he's never found his one true love until he does fall for a human teenager, and then he has to fight to protect her both from the dangers of the world, but also the dangers of his own cold skin.