What's the Res?: Recent Episodes
Josh Herring and Ethan Delves
What's the Res? is an ongoing conversation between a debate coach and a high school debater about the current high school debate resolutions (PF, LD, Coolidge).
Ethan is graduating, Josh has moved into more administrative responsibilities, and this is the finale episode. What's the Res? has, Ethan and Josh conclude, been a great success. They reflect on lessons learned, tips for new podcasters, and the overall value of debate as an academic activity. Please do comment on the episode or shoot us an email if this show has been a help to you! Thank you for listening over these last three years!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/WhatsTheRes
Josh and Ethan go back and forth about the March PF resolution: Resolved: On balance, the benefits of creating the United States Space Force outweigh the harms. Enjoy!
Ethan and Josh cover resolution analysis, definition of terms, key arguments, strategy suggestions, and value premises on the March/April resolution dealing with universal child care. Let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Luke Juday, an old friend who is now a city planner for Waynesboro, VA. They talk about Luke's debate story (NCFCA and then captain of Grove City College's debate team), and move into a discussion of urbanization, city planning, and the way pros and cons of rapid urban growth. Luke offers suggestions for research, and mentions several seminal works in the field of Urban Planning.They briefly discuss African population patterns, and close with suggestions of Pro and Con strategy.
Let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Ethan and Josh discuss the February Public Forum resolution - "On balance, the benefits of urbanization in West Africa outweigh the harms." They discuss urbanization, problems and potential gains from rapid population expansion, unique problems in African politics, and pro and con arguments. Let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Reddit/Instagram - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/WhatsTheRes
Ethan and Josh go in depth with this resolution, discussing the Department of Defense's definition of LAWs, framing possibilities on both aff and neg from both Kantian and Util perspectives, and argument strategies. Happy New Year - let's talk about killer robots!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interview Adam Key, Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, about the new Master's in Fine Arts in Debate and Communication he is launching. They discuss Adam's debate story, coaching experience, and Adam's desire to build this program. You can find all the program details here; let us know what you think of this episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Reddit/Instagram - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan give a very quick first impression (5 minute episode) on the Jan/Feb 2021 LD resolution - States ought to ban lethal autonomous weapons.
*Apology - we misspoke the resolution; it is States ought to ban lethal autonomous weapons., not "The USFG...".
Let us know what you think! And come back in a week or two for a full, educated breakdown on the resolution!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram/Twitter/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan provide resolution analysis and commentary on the Nov/Dec PF resolution - "The United States should adopt a declaratory nuclear policy of no first use." They offer framing advice, contention suggestions, and more. Let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Facebook/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan interview Dr. Mark Paul, economist, professor at New College Florida, and author of several papers on a Federal Jobs Guarantee (including this one, which includes a specific policy proposal with costs worked out). Along the way, Dr. Paul explains the history behind the FJG and the Civil Rights Movement, the Keynesian economic framework the FJG operates within, and addresses the ways an FJG program would solve for economic disparities Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Tyler O'Neil, Senior Editor for PJMedia and a friend from Hillsdale College days, about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the affect this legislation has on social media, and the ways it has been interpreted over the past 24 years. This episode is intended to help students prepare for the 11/14 Coolidge Debate League at Luddy Schools tournament hosted by Thales Academy Apex JH/HS. See this website for all the details about this league and this specific tournament!
Ethan and Josh discuss resolution analysis, pragmatic and philosophical approaches to the resolution, and both traditional values and plan-based case strategies. This episode is their first one on the Nov/Dec LD resolution - Resolved: The United States ought to provide a federal jobs guarantee - be sure to check back next week for an expert interview with economist Dr. Mark Paul!
Let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Ethan and Josh interview Matt Summers and Tessa Holtzman about their non-profit, Debate Spaces. They discuss the story of Debate Spaces, the way that Matt and Tessa's international experiences led them to start the organization, and the ways that debate enables student participation in democracy and a unique kind of friendship. Matt and Tessa are both graduate students at Harvard University, and they close out the episode with advice for high school debaters. Enjoy! Check out their website - https://www.debatespaces.org/.
Let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - What'sTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram/Reddit/Twitter - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan interview the co-executive directors of the New York City Urban Debate League, Amisha Mody Mehta and Stefan Bauschard; they discuss Amisha and Stefan's debate stories, the work of the NYC UDL, the story behind the Classrooms.Cloud, and more! Check it out - and if you want to support the work of the NYC UDL, visit their website: https://debate.nyc/
Let us know what you think of this episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Ethan and Josh interview Georgetown University professor Dr. Jason Brennan on the topic of the Sept/Oct 2020 LD resolution, "In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory." They discuss Dr. Brennan's recent book "Compulsory Voting: For and Against," his research interests, and his view of a democracy. They discuss arguments heard at the Duke Invitational, and potential responses. Dr. Brennan offers an alternative to route to solve voting barriers, and concludes the episode with advice about choosing college. Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Ethan and Josh interview Dr. Coyle Neal of Southwest Baptist University; Dr. Neal is a political scientist who teaches on American institutions. They discuss the nature of democracy, arguments pro and con on the resolution "In a democracy. voting ought to be compulsory," and barriers to voting. Enjoy! Also - Dr. Neal is the host of the City of Man Podcast - be sure to check out his show!
Let us know what you think of this episode:
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the Sept/Oct 2020 PF resolution, "The United States federal government should enact the Medicare-For-All Act of 2019." They discuss Bernie Sanders, some nuances of this bill, Pro arguments, Con arguments, and the general flaws in socialistic programs. They also discuss the free market, inelastic demand, and Adam Smith. Enjoy! And let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
instagram/Reddit/Twitter - @Whatsteres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the first varsity LD resolution of the year: "In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory." They go over definitions, background on the resolution, and a series of Aff and Neg arguments. Enjoy! Let us know what you think of the episode:
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter/Reddit/Instagram - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the high points of season 2, the purposes of What's the Res, and lay out a plan for how often they will publish episodes this season. This episode also includes shoutouts to many of our season 2 guests, and call backs to episodes in our first season. Enjoy - and be on the lookout for our first resolution analysis episodes in a couple of weeks (after the NSDA releases LD and PF on 8/8).
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Tori Hope Peterson, social media influencer, foster care advocate, and Hillsdale College alumna, about her blog post "Dear Hillsdale College" and the responses to it. As she and Josh discuss the blog post they cover a variety of topics: sports and college, African Americans in the foster care system, and different kinds of advocacy. Tori's website can be found here - check out the interview, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram/Reddit/Twitter - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan welcome Dr. Ben Voth to the show. Dr. Voth directs the Southern Methodist University debate program, and he teaches in their communications department. Dr. Voth is a longtime leader in the debate community, and he is a partner with the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation in running the Coolidge Cup tournament. He is also a scholar of the Civil Rights Movement (here is a link to his Amazon Author page). In this episode, Dr. Voth weighs in with his thoughts about policing, race riots, the 2020-2021 policy resolution, and a comparison between two different frameworks: Afro-pessimism and Afro-idealism. Let us know what you think!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Dr. Nick Higgins, associate professor and department chair of the department of politics, government, and criminal justice at North Greenville University, joins Josh and Ethan for a discussion about justice, rule of law, and what Aristotle and Plato contribute to our current cultural moment. Along the way, Josh is reminded that Dr. Higgins is a former policy debater, and Dr. Higgins provides his thoughts on the 2020-2021 Policy resolution (Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing).
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the death of George Floyd, the protests and their relationship to riots, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s approach to nonviolent protest contrasted with Malcolm X's desire for radical revolution. We also outline the summer series of episodes focusing on race riots, rule of law, and prison reform as related to the 2020-2021 Policy Debate resolution, "Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing." Enjoy the summer, and use the time well to prep for next season!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Ethan attended an Institute for Speech and Debate (ISD) webinar with Crawford Leavoy on the NSDA Nats 2020 LD resolution, Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy. This episode is the high points from that webinar. Good luck to everyone who is competing!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter, Reddit, Instagram - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan continue their discussion of the LD NSDA Nationals resolution, "Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy." They cover Aff and Neg arguments, and Josh goes on a rant defending traditional property rights (with shout outs to Russell Kirk, Richard Weaver, and Alex de Toqueville).We also answer a question one debater wrote in to us - feel free to send your thoughts and questions, and we'll respond on a future episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram, Reddit, Twitter - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Earlier this year, Josh interviewed Dr. Robert Jackson, Chief Academic Officer for Great Hearts Academies, about the 2020 Nationals PF Resolution, "Resolved: On balance, charter schools are beneficial to the quality of education in the United States." They discuss the nature of charter schools, some of the big charter networks nationwide, and ways charter schools benefit and harm educational quality in the United States. Check it out, and let us know if this episode is helpful as you write your cases!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Adam Jacobi about his work with Wisconsin Speech and Debate, the NSDA, and the Harvard Debate Council. Their conversation roams across Adam's career, work in Congressional Debate, and contains equal parts advice, event distinctions, and resolution analysis. Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsThe Res@gmail.com
Instagram/Twitter/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the 2020 NSDA Nationals LD resolution, "Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy." They cover terms, values, and the big ideas behind this resolution with reference to several articles on the topic. Next time, they'll cover aff and neg arguments. Enjoy! And let us know if this is helpful for your preparation!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Reddit/Instagram/Twitter - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
On January 12, 2020, a giant in contemporary philosophy passed into eternity. This episode is a memorial to the work of Sir Roger Scruton. Josh is a student in the Faulkner University Great Books Honors College doctoral program, and he is joined by two friends in that program, Nick Kennicott and Landon Loftin, as they discuss the philosophy, writings, and significance of Sir Roger Scruton. Nick is a regular co-host on the Wrath and Grace podcast - if you what he says, be sure to check them out here. Enjoy!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
A few months ago, Josh suggested to Ethan and Patrick that we three read Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling, and then have a discussion about it. Here is that conversation! We describe the book, and then launch into a running conversation on thoughts inspired by reading the Danish father of existentialism. Fun times ahead - enjoy! Patrick runs the philosophy memes page Philosophy.Memes on Instagram, and always provides good conversation!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram/Reddit/Twitter - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Crawford Leavoy, director of debate for Durham Academy, about his speech and debate journey, his role in directing DA's program, and the various organizations that make up competitive Speech and Debate nationwide. Along the way, they discuss the Wording Committee of the NSDA, responses to COVID19, and advice for novice and varsity competitors. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Dr. Paul Mueller, assistant economics professor at The King's College in New York City, about the effects of the CARES Act (stimulus bill) on the United States and global economy, how COVID19 effects to the workforce, and the ways in which human dignity is impacted by shutting down work for a time. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
How do ethics relate to real life? Nothing brings out real ethical convictions like a global pandemic. Josh Herring and Blake Faulkner discuss this article in The Atlantic, and then discuss how Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, Mill, and Nietzsche provide ethical paradigms that may (or may not) be helpful in making life or death decisions. Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan rehash the DNC presidential nominee debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. They talk about the coronavirus, the economic recession, political maneuvering of CNN through manipulating questions, and the core processes of capitalism. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram/Reddit/Twitter - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
With tournaments on hold for the time being, Josh and Ethan discuss their recent readings in Friedrich Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals and the relevance Nietzsche has for modernity and debate. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Dr. Andrew "Spence" Spencer about the nuances of commercial nuclear power. Dr. Spencer's career path combines several years in US Navy (nuclear submarines), a PhD focused on theological ethics, and current work as a nuclear engineering supervisor. He is a great voice to help the non-expert understand the world of commercial nuclear power; several of his analysis points lend themselves to climate change impacts of commercial nuclear power. Let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/WhatsTheRes
Josh and Ethan think through their experiences at Harvard, and what they learned. We encountered NatCirc debating in LD and PF, and we're learning how to be more competitive next year! Let us know what you think!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the March/April NSDA LD resolution, "Predictive policing is unjust." They discuss this Rand Corporation article (which summarizes the findings of this much longer report), the philosophy behind just policing, the obvious racial argument against predictive policing, and the insights Foucault's Panopticon offers to the Aff framework. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram/Twitter/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Ethan and Josh discuss kritiks, a debate tactic they've been working in preparation for competing at the 46th Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament (@harvardhsdebate). The Kritik is a divisive strategy, but common in national Lincoln-Douglas competition. Josh and Ethan provide a loose overview, discussion of the philosophical problems inherent n employing the K, and their attempts to break Ks. Enjoy - and wish us luck at Harvard!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Elliot Gaiser to build a well rounded perspective on means-tested welfare for the February 2020 PF resolution, "The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income." They discuss the foundations of welfare, the effectiveness of current programs, and the feasibility of a universal basic income. Elliot debated for the NCFCA and an Ohio-specific debate league in high school, as well as being a Hale Scholar on the Hillsdale College debate team. Since Hillsdale, Elliot has spent time in the think-tank world and has now embarked on a career as a lawyer. Let us know what you think of this conversation!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan analyze the Coolidge Foundation's March 7 resolution, "Resolved: The United States should adopt Medicare For All, thus instituting a single-payer system of healthcare." This resolution will be debated at Thales Academy Rolesville on March 7. The Coolidge Foundation has prepared a research brief for this resolution (located here), and if you want to learn more, click here to learn more about the Coolidge Debate League! This episode goes over terminology, affirmative and negative arguments, and weighs advantages and disadvantages of putting this policy change into effect. Let us know what you think!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Instagram/Twitter/Youtube - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Josh and Ethan celebrate audience growth, and also provide analysis for the March 7, 2020 Coolidge resolution, "Resolved: The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income." They go over terms, where the UBI has been tried, and initial argument strategies. Thanks for all your support! It's amazing to see what has happened with this podcast over 100 episodes! Enjoy - and let us know what you think!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter/Reddit/Instagram - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan walk through the January 2020 PF resolution, "Resolved: The United States should end its economic sanctions against Venezuela." They focus on the historical narrative of Venezuela's crisis, arguments for the Pro position, and arguments for the Con position. Be sure to check out our earlier interview episodes with Venezuela experts Analicia Vaamonde-Stolz and Tom Darin Liskey, and let us know what you think of this episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Instagram/Twitter/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Dr. Orlando comes back on the show to discuss the Jan/Feb 2020 LD resolution, "Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals." Josh and Nathan discuss which countries have nukes, both officially and unofficially, as well as what it would take to effectively disarm all nuclear states. Nathan outlines three arguments on Aff and three arguments on Neg. He also recommends specific authors that debaters should read for their cases. Enjoy! And let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Instagram/Reddit/Twitter - whatstheres_
Tom Darin Liskey is a journalist and photographer who spent a decade living in Latin America, including time in Venezuela. In this episode, he shares stories of his time living there and his perspective on Chavez, Maduro, and the current economic crisis. He goes into detail about the levels of crime and corruption that have contributed to Venezuelan collapse. You can find Tom's work at https://www.tomdarinphoto.com/. Let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Ethan interviews Dr. Robert Spalding, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and experienced military strategist, for the January/February LD resolution, "Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals." They discuss the status of global nuclear arsenals, the feasibility of disarmament, and further resources for both Aff and Neg case prep. Enjoy! And let us know what you think of the interview!
Josh interview Hillsdale College history professor Dr. Brad Birzer about his high school debate career, the ways debate has impacted his life, and his most recent book, Beyond Tenebrae. Click here to order Beyond Tenebrae on Amazon! Brad is a wonderful teacher, author, and communicator; debate, he explains, got him through high school. Let us know what you think of this episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Dr. Birzer is also the co-founder of The Imaginative Conservative, an online journal of conservative thought. You can access his work here.
Josh interviews Analicia, a Venezuelan lawyer now working in Washington D.C. For 25 years, Analicia lived in Venezuela. She describes growing up during the Chavez years, the route to Venezuela's current crisis, the results of socialism, and how Venezuela has come to have two governments (Maduro, and Guaido). Analicia provides three solid arguments for the negative; she thinks the sanctions are a sound policy tool. This is a great episode for context on the Venezuelan crisis - let us know if it's helpful!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Josh and Ethan analyze the January/February LD resolution, "Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals." They focus on the nine countries with nuclear arsenals, the history of the cold war and nuclear proliferation, and value structures that could help with either side. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss one of the most commonly used yet least understood philosophical paradigms (value or value criterion) in Lincoln-Douglas Debate - Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative. Based on Kant's Groundwork for a Metaphysics of Morals, they source the CI, explain how it works, what burdens it carries with it, and how to respond if the CI is used improperly. Let us know if this episode is helpful!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Whatstheres.com
Josh and Ethan host Alexis Franco, Will Begley, and Tyler Bonin for a conversation about Seattle Public School's Math Ethnic Studies Framework. This episode walks through the basics of the framework, and considers practical and theoretical problems with it. By the end, we conclude that there is a legitimate desire behind the framework, but math is not the proper home for it. Let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/WhatsTheRes
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Zak Doffman, CEO of Digital Barriers and frequent contributor to Forbes, joins Josh for a conversation about the 2019 Nov/Dec Public Forum resolution, "The benefits of the United States federal government’s use of offensive cyber operations outweigh the harms." As an international leader in cyber security concerns, Zak speaks about terminology, technological proficiency, and the existent of Threat Actors. This is a great episode to help with prepping for those tournaments in the middle and the end of a resolution cycle! Enjoy, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
David Deavel, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas and economics contributor at The Imaginative Conservative, joins Josh for a conversation about the Nov/Dec 2019 LD resolution - "Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels." Dr. Deavel covers the nature of subsidies, reasons why these subsidies might be valuable, and offers several avenues of response for both Aff and Neg strategy. Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - facebook.com/whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the Nov/Dec 2019 Public Forum resolution, "Resolved: The benefits of the United States federal government’s use of offensive cyber operations outweigh the harms." They recount a few key moments of Cyber Command activity, and suggest strategies on Aff and Neg. With ties to the Internet of Things and general anti-military industrial complex, this resolution has some weight to it. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan interview Dr. Joseph Aldy, Professor of the Practice of Public Policy at Harvard University' Kennedy School of Government. Dr. Aldy's research combines environmental management with economic policy (here is his faculty webpage, with CV), and his background as as LD and Policy debater in high school make him the perfect person to help with the November/December LD resolution: "Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels." This episode covers two different ways to think about defining subsidies, an analysis of fossil fuel pollution, and our mutual agreement that Neg has no ground on this resolution (we offer some alternative routes). Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Dr. Robert Jackson, Chief Academic Officer for Great Hearts Academies. They discuss charter schools, charter management organizations, and the unique curriculum Great Hearts offers through their Humane Learning courses. With one 2019-2020 LD resolution possibly focusing on charter schools and their harm to public education, this episode gives some helpful nuts and bolts details on the charter school movement. Let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Website - www.Whatstheres.com
Ethan interviews Nate and Ruth, two policy debaters in Texas about their experiences in debate! Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Reddit, Twitter, Instagram - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the Nov/Dec 2019 Lincoln Douglas resolution - "Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels." They go over definitions, strategies, a couple of article (links below), and suggestions on Aff and Neg for value structures. The Neg ground is harder to find in this one, but Ethan has the strategy angle covered! Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Links:
- https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-fossil-fuel-subsidies-a-closer-look-at-tax-breaks-and-societal-costs
- https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/05/how-much-does-world-subsidize-oil-coal-and-gas/589000/
- https://www.vox.com/2019/5/17/18624740/fossil-fuel-subsidies-climate-imf
Contact
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the implications of a vape ban, reasons for an against such a ban, and recent articles arguing for banning vape/e-cigarettes for those under 18. Josh maintains that a conservative can support a ban in this case, while Ethan remains skeptical. With shout out to fellow podcast Louder with Crowder, this episode is a lot of fun. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
In this episode, Ethan interviews Patrick, who runs a philosophy memepage on Instagram (@memes.philosophy). They have a conversation about the nature of reality and reason, and whether or not life has meaning. Ethan particularly enjoys conversations of this nature, and we are happy to have more of them in the future. So contact us about it!
Email: whatstheres@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit: @whatstheres_
Website: www.whatstheres.com
Josh interviews Bryan Brooks, debate coach for Grace Academy in Georgetown, Texas. They discuss the unique format of policy debate, the kinds of analysis pertinent to this debate, k-debate, spreading (with a demonstration of Bryan spreading), and the 2019-2020 policy resolution, "The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States." Bryan describes the major arguments he sees on Affirmative and Negative, and he closes with advice for novices. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebooks - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
In early September, Josh found two new books to read at the Knightdale Public Library - Empire of Silence and The Howling Dark, each by Christopher Ruocchio. Christopher graduated from North Carolina State University with a major in English rhetoric and a minor in classics. In this interview, Josh and Christopher discuss The Sun Eater series, the relationship between past literature and present writing, wisdom, and what it takes to be an excellent writer. Christopher is well connected, and shares about encounters with George R.R. Martin and Jordan Peterson. Enjoy! And let us know what you think! You can find out more about The Sun Eater at https://sollanempire.com/.
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres
Dr. Kelly Fitzsimmons Burton is a philosophy professor at Paradise Valley Community College, and the founder of both the Public Philosophy Society and Public Philosophy Press. She is a graduate of Faulkner University's doctoral program in humanities, and is the author of Retrieving Knowledge: A Socratic Response to Skepticism and Reason and Proper Function. In this interview, Josh asks Dr. Burton about the role of reason in the aftermath of the postmodern turn in philosophy; they discuss LD, philosophy, Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, and a lot more! Check it out! Click here to support Dr. Burton's work through the Public Philosophy Patreon Page, and here to access her website
Ethan and Josh take an episode to think back on What's the Res?, think about what's worked and what they've changed, favorite interviews, and funny moments. Tune in to hear some of the behind the scenes thoughts about where we've been, and where we're going!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh describes the philosophical framework, first articulated by Aristotle, called teleology. This framework looks at the nature of a thing, and from that nature derives a purpose; that purpose then becomes the measurement of goodness (or badness). A thing is good to the extent that it achieves the given purpose. This paradigm could be helpful for those preparing for the Sept/Oct 2019 Varsity LD Resolution (In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions) by considering the purpose of collegiate education and/or the purpose of standardized tests. Good luck! And let us know if this idea is helpful!
Email: WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit: @whatstheres_
Facebook: Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan discuss the exciting new format their team is exploring this years, Worlds Schools Debate! Modeled on British parliamentary debate, Worlds format is an international way of debating prepared and impromptu resolutions. They discuss the NSDA's way of doing Worlds, and the implications of some past international Worlds resolutions. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres
For Sept/Oct 2019, the NSDA LD resolution reads, "In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions." In this episode, Josh and Ethan discuss two changes that came out in the first week of September that have direct bearing on the arguments for this resolution: The College Board announced it will not deploy the Adversity Score system. Instead, they will use a new program called Landscape. Also, the NYC public school system announced a major change in their admissions procedure for arts-oriented schools - no performance or proficiency requirements in the name of increasing equity. How will these changes effect LD? Listen and find out! Be sure to let us know how your arguments go!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Ethan interviews Donald Bryson, president and CEO of the Civitas Institute, a Raleigh-based state level policy think tank. Donald was the Content Lecturer at the September 7th Luddy Debate League tournament focusing on North Carolina tax incentives. Donald is a former policy debater, and he explains how his debate years prepared him for a career that has gone in a variety of directions. He and Ethan discuss tax policy, the relationship between state, local, and federal dollars, education, and more! This is one of our best interview episodes yet - check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh interviews Thomas Starchia to get the college admissions perspective on the 2019 Sept/Oct LD resolution, "Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions." Thomas worked for five years in the Liberty University Admission department. He explains what admissions officers are looking for in the application, outlines a psychological harm argument, and points to a potential disadvantage where the Affirmative side loses access to scholarships that are tied to standardized test scores. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Reddit, Instagram - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres
In this episode, Josh goes over one way to structure an argument. This episode will be a helpful review to varsity debaters, and a good introduction to the Toulmin model of argumentation for novice debaters. It's a short episode (13 minutes) - enjoy! And let us know if this one help you write stronger cases!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Why do we follow laws? What moral imperative do we have to obey laws, just or unjust? These questions and more are the subject of this episode, where Josh discusses the development of the principle of Rule of Law across western civilization, and then how it as applies to Lincoln-Douglas debate! This paradigm has a lot of applications, but it is usually deployed in the Novice LD resolution at the beginning of each competitive season - "Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified." Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Should the EU join the Belt and Road Initiative? That's the question Josh and Ethan analyze in this episode. They focus on major studies, articles, and resources for both Pro and Con. Pro's case will be largely economic, while Con should focus on the human rights and values clash between the EU and Chinese Communist government under Xi Jinping. This episode was a lot of fun to put together - check it out, and let us know if our suggestions on"Resolved: The European Union should join the Belt and Road Initiative" worked!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Personalism is a 20th-21st century philosophy grounded in the axiomatic dignity of the human person. Articulated in the aftermath of the horrors of WWII, Personalism seeks to help form a society that seeks the good of each human person as a dialogical creature possessing inherent dignity. Josh has written on personalism for the Acton Institute; that article can be found here. This paradigm may be helpful for prepping the 2019 Sept/Oct LD resolution (Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions). If it helps, let us know!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
The Sept/Oct 2019 resolution for varsity LD reads, "In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions." In this episode, Josh and Ethan join forces to interview Ms. Courtney van Kleeck, the college admissions counselor for Thales Academy Rolesville. Courtney has helped four classes of Thales graduates get into college, and she lends us her expertise on what colleges are looking for in the application, how the standardized test fits into the picture, and why she thinks the SAT/ACT reinforces harmful stereotypes with impressionable students. We hope this episode is helpful for your preparation! Let us know how it goes!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh and Ethan analyze the 2019 Varsity LD resolution; they offer definition thoughts, strategy suggestions, and contenders for value/value criterion combinations for both Aff and Neg cases. Should colleges have objective standards for admissions? Do the SAT/ACT really fulfill those roles? What about the racial issues surrounding the SAT/ACT? Where does the Adversity Score enter this debate? What exactly is the purpose of college? Find out in this episode! Let us know what you think!
Email - WhatTheRAes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres
www.WhatstheRes.com
Josh and Ethan discuss the resolution for the first Luddy Debate League tournament of the 2019-2020 season - Resolved: The state of North Carolina should offer targeted tax incentives to businesses that relocate major parts of their operations to North Carolina. Tax incentives, business plans, crony capitalism, resource suggestions, affirmative and negative strategy - we cover all the bases! If you're interested in learning more about the Luddy Debate League, check out the website at https://www.coolidgefoundation.org/debate/luddy-schools/ - we'd love to see you at the Sept. 7th tournament!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Josh describes "flowing," the debater method of taking notes in a round. While there are lots of modifications and advanced ways to flow, the basics are simple and described in this episode. Josh then lists three key burdens: Burden of Definition, Burden of Clash, and Burden of Evidence, and he goes over how those burdens play out in a debate round. Enjoy! And let us know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram, Twitter, Reddit - @whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Tyler Bonin (@tylermbonin) returns to What's the Res to help with the NSDA Public Forum Sept/Oct resolution - "The EU should join the Belt and Road Initiative." What exactly is the Belt and Road Initiative? Tyler has published on the topic (that article is here), and defines the goals and efforts of the Chinese government in understandable English. Josh and Tyler discuss the nature, history, potential advantages and harms of Chinese lending policy to create global infrastructure. Does this count as predatory lending? Listen in, and let us know what you think!
WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Instagram, Twitter, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Faceboom.com/Whatstheres
Bob Luddy is the founder and president of Captivaire, and the educational entrepreneur behind St. Thomas More Academy, Franklin Academy, and Thales Academy. He is also a great supporter of debate through the Luddy Debate League, the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, and specific debate programs at Thales Academy. Josh asks Bob about a variety of topics: leadership, his entrepreneurial journey, economics, and why he supports debate. Join us for this episode, and let know what you think!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
In this episode, Ethan breaks down three debate formats, and discusses the nuances of each style. If you are having trouble choosing a format, this episode should help out! Enjoy!
Email: whatstheres@gmail.com
Instagram, Twitter, Reddit: @whatstheres_
Facebook: What's the Res?
Website: https://www.whatstheres.com/
Ethan and Josh describe Lincoln-Douglas debate, discuss traditional vs. progressive debate, value and value criterion elements of the LD case, and then launch into resolution analysis. They break down the resolution into three key terms, and then discuss research strategies and values for the Novice case. This episode is perfect for Novice debaters figuring out LD for the first time. Ethan and Josh also discuss important changes in Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship in 2019, and suggest good avenues for research in international politics and the Civil Rights Movement! Enjoy!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres
Intagram, Twittter, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Josh and Ethan interview Dr. Roberto Salinas-Leon, the President of the Mexico Business Forum and the Alamos Alliance; he is also the Director of the Center for Latin America with the Atlas Network. Dr. Salinas-Leon holds an MA and PhD in Philosophy from Purdue, and triple majored at Hillsdale College in political economy, history, philosophy. He is also a Senior Debate Fellow and debate lecturer at the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. He was instrumental in the creation of NAFTA, and the conversation between Josh, Ethan, and Dr. Salinas-Leon ranges from Dr. Salinas-Leon's experiences as an international student to his views on President Trump's economic policies to the value of debate as an intellectual pursuit of truth. Check it out! And let us know what you think in the comments, or email us at WhatsTheRes@gmail.com!
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Facebooks - Facebook.com/whatstheres/
This episode is a sample of our Premium Debates - if you like it, check out https://whatstheres.podbean.com/premium for seven more debate episodes! Ethan has affirmative, and Josh takes negative on the resolution "Religion does more harm than good." Dr. Melissa Edwards gives her verdict at the end of the episode; we recorded this on her last day as administrator of our school, and the episode is dedicated to her. Once you've listened to the episode, click here to vote and let us know who you think won!
Be sure to check out https://whatstheres.podbean.com/premium for all of our Premium Debates! Gun reform, public education, Marvel vs. DC - we've got a lot of great topics! We will be releasing one debate and one analysis episode per month! Enjoy! https://whatstheres.podbean.com/premium
Josh and Ethan interview Matthew Tweden, a high school debater from Texas, about debate jargon. Matthew competes in various national tournaments (most recently, the Coolidge Cup and the NSDA), and in this episode he lends us his understanding of debate terms and techniques that circuit debaters use. Let us know what you think of the episode!
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Facebook.com/whatstheres
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Premium debates - https://whatstheres.podbean.com/premium
At NSDA Nationals 2019, one female debater held up a sign indicating that 2/28 finalists on stage were female; this image reignited an ongoing discussion amongst coaches, debaters, and the community about gender bias in public forum debate. At the Coolidge Cup 2019 tournament, Josh interviewed Anna Clare S., a recent graduate of the Cambridge School and competitor in Public Forum for her perspective on gender bias in debate! Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres?
Twitter, Instagram, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
In this episode, Ethan sits down with David Parau, a debater with experience in both traditional and progressive debate environments, to discern the similarities and differences between the two different types.
Email: whatstheres@gmail.com
Instagram, Twitter, Reddit: @whatstheres_
www.whatstheres.com
facebook.com/whatstheres/
Over the past six weeks, we've been developing a series of premium episodes featuring real people holding real debates! We have seven episodes ready for Launch Day (July 1, 2019) and are thrilled to release these episodes. These debates are available for a $3 a month subscription, or a $30 season pass (good for one year). Each month, we will add at least one more debate episode. We are also developing a series of analysis episodes that explain each debate from a debater's point of view. We will have the first seven of those ready by the end of July!
You can begin accessing our premium content by going to https://whatstheres.podbean.com/ and clicking the orange bar under each premium episode. Thank you for your support of our work here at What's the Res!
Josh and Ethan rehash the first Democratic primary debate from 6/26. Elizabeth Warren, Beto O'Rourke, Cory Booker, and Julian Castro are the major players, and the debate focuses on economic issues, gender concerns, LGBTQ+, abortion, immigration, gun reform, climate change, and more! Check it out, and let us know what you think!
Instagram, Twitter, Reddit - @Whatstheres_
Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com
Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres/
The What's the Res team tested out Castbox' Livecast program on 6/26 with a live debate between Ethan and Patrick. This file is the edited version of their live debate (with pauses, table scraping, and random noises taken out). Ethan argues affirmative, and Patrick is on negative for the resolution "On balance, President Trump has done well in his first term." Josh is both moderator and judge for this one, but we'd love to know what you think! If you listen to the whole debate, click here and tell us who you think made the best arguments!
Poll to determine the winner: https://forms.gle/TTpJVe8hnDNYSeM7A
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit @Whatstheres_, or like our Page on Facebook to get notifications of our next Livecast debate! As always, you can email us any feedback at WhatsTheRes@gmail.com.
While traveling this summer, Josh Herring met Josh Davis, Executive Director of Proskuneo, a ministry focused on helping churches expand their outreach in multicultural and multilingual ways. In this episode, they discuss Clarkston, GA ("The most diverse square mile in the United States"), multiculturalism, and the way churches can come alongside international refugees to welcome them into the United States. Side note one - this episode is adjacent to a potential 2019-2020 PF resolution on international climate change refugees. Side note two - the day after recording, Josh Herring learned that as of 2016 the UN stated there were 21 million international refugees, rather than the 67 million number he cites in this interview. Enjoy!
Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to learn about our upcoming live debate via Castbox's Livecast platform on June 26!
@Whatstheres_ - Instagram and Twitter
www.facebook.com/whatstheres/
Whatstheres@gmail.com
In this episode, Josh interviews Mrs. Annette Kirk about the late Dr. Russell Kirk and the way his years debating in high school and college prepared him for his career in the public square. Dr. Kirk was the founder of the intellectual conservatism movement with the publication of his Conservative Mind, and he spent his career advocating for the "permanent things" in the face of the endless "whirl" of modernity. He advised presidents, debated radicals, and maintained a ceaseless pace of publication. Mrs. Kirk tells us about Dr. Kirk, including his shyness as a teenager, and their romance during the late 1960s! Check it out, and let us know what you think at WhatsTheRes@gmail.com!
In this episode, Josh interview Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University. Gleaves explains the history of the Common Ground Initiative, the value of finding common ground with those on an opposing political position, and outlines the unique debate methods used by the Common Ground Initiative at Grand Valley State University. Gleaves is also a Senior Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal, and towards the conclusion of the episode Gleaves explains Kirk's role in American intellectual history. Enjoy! And if you have questions or feedback, email us at WhatsTheRes@gmail.com!
This episode breaks from our usual pattern of focusing on resolution analysis to consider where debate happens outside of tournament competition. Josh interview his dad, Dr. Phillip Herring, about the role debate plays in the largest denominational gathering in the United States each year. Just in time for #SBC19, this episode explains the nature of the convention, the way Baptists function democratically, and how debate gives every Messenger a voice to leadership. Check it out! And let us know what you think! You can email us at Whatstheres@gmail.com, or follow on Instagram and Twitter @Whatstheres_.
In this episode, Josh and Tyler Bonin go into detail about unilateral free trade, and explain the ins and out as to what this would look like. Tyler Bonin shares his insight on the economics of free trade policy.
Email us: whatstheres@gmail.com
Instagram and Twitter: @whatstheres_
In this episode, Ethan and Josh discuss the Coolidge Cup (2019) resolution, and give insight on potential arguments and strategies. They talk about the meaning of "unilateral free trade," the impacts that such a position would have on current US-China trade relations, and the moral arguments vs economic arguments in this resolution. Check it out, and let us know what you think! This is the last episode in What's the Res? Season 1 - be on the lookout for our sporadic summer episodes, and Season 2 beginning in August!
Email us: whatstheres@gmail.com
Instagram and Twitter: @whatstheres_
In this episode, Josh interviews Albert Feng, graduate student at Stanford University, on his experience in the debate world, and his current plans on forwarding the practice of competitive debate. Albert is launching an online debate camp helping NSDA LD qualifiers prepare for nationals - check it out here: https://tinyurl.com/2019-nsda-ld-camp
Josh and Albert discuss the unique challenges facing small programs, the way debate summer camps can jumpstart a debate career, and the longterm value of debate. Let us know what you think: Email us at whatstheres@gmail.com, and you can follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @whatstheres_
Josh and Ethan analyze the #Nats19 NSDA Public Forum resolution - "Resolved: The United States federal government should enforce antitrust regulations on technology giants." After a grammatical breakdown, they walk through the Sherman Act, the FTC Act, and the Clayton Act. They describe the current top financial tech companies, and offer thoughts about Pro and Con argumentation strategy. Check it out, and let us know what you think at whatstheres@gmail.com!
Without administrative support, debate in a school setting could not happen. In this episode, Josh sits down with Dr. Melissa Edwards, Administrator of Thales Academy Rolesville JH/HS. They discuss her doctoral research, the value she sees in speech and debate, her view on #NCRedForEd, and the effects of speech and debate in students. We had a great conversation - check it out, and let us know what you think at Whatstheres@gmail.com.
Josh and Ethan explore the College Board's new Adversity Score system, and argue that it is an unjust system that compromises the objectivity of the SAT. They base their analysis on the Wall Street Journal's article (5/16) breaking the story, and focus on the many ways this adversity score system can be abused and how it harms students who have worked hard to demonstrate their academic prowess. By the end of the episode, Josh suggests boycotting the SAT and considering the Classic Learning Test as an alternative route. If you want to contact us about anything in the episode, or share your thoughts on this new College Board system, email us at whatstheres@gmail.com.
Correction - In this episode, Josh stated that the ACT is owned by the College Board. That statement was incorrect, and this correction means the threat of a testing monopoly is less severe than the conclusion of this episode explains. Apologies.
Josh interviews Nathan Orlando, an old friend who has gone on to pursue a PhD in International Relations from Baylor University and currently teaches at St. Vincent College. They discuss the #Nats19 LD resolution, expand on the analysis given in E24, and bring Nathan's research to the questions of justice, revolution, violence, and oppression. Check it out, and let us know what you think by emailing us at whatstheres@gmail.com!