The Debaters

We’re pitting parental holidays against each other, and deciding if coaches are a make or break mentor.

Featuring: Dave Hemstad, Elvira Kurt, Emmanuel Lomuro, and Patrick Dussault.

We decide if wearing denim is a dream and whether ordering delivery is a breeze.

Featuring: Stacey McGunnigle, Myles Anderson, Graham Clark and Lachlan Patterson.

We decide if plastic beats paper and whether being hated has its benefits.

Featuring: Ivan Decker, Martha Chaves, Nikki Payne, and Bruce Clark.

When it comes to raising kids, does Winnipeg win? And is compromise a happy ending?

Featuring: Chad Anderson, Lara Rae, Courtney Gilmour, and Jon Dore.

It’s a homerun when we talk about a day at the baseball stadium, and whether commuting in Toronto is enough to drive you up the wall.

Featuring: Patrick Dussault, Simon Rakoff, Isabel Zaw-Tun, and Don Kelly.

Which Canadian confection are you sweet on: Butter tarts or Nanaimo bars? And do quitters never win?

Featuring: Deborah Kimmett, Jon Steinberg, Graham Chittenden, and Leonard Chan.

We decide if quiet is something to treasure, and whether a smoothie is meal-worthy.

Featuring: Yumi Nagashima, Charlie Demers, Katie-Ellen Humphries, and Gavin Clarkson.

Which wealth bracket has it worse: Billionaires or millionaires? And we decide if Barrie, Ontario is the place to be!

Featuring: Dave Hemstad, Don Kelly, Chris Quigley, Courtney Gilmour.

In a debate that needed its own full episode, the elbows go up and the gloves come off when two of our favourite debaters take on Canada becoming the 51st state.

Which jewels rule: rings or bracelets? And being a trailblazer is great…right?

Featuring: Graham Clark, Heidi Brander, Faris Hytiaa, and Lara Rae.

We debate if Americans should relocate to Canada’s East Coast, and whether a trip to the dentist is anything to smile about.

Featuring: Jay Malone, Nikki Payne, Mayce Galoni, and Matt Wright.

(Originally recorded in September 2017)

It’s a throwdown when we decide if everyone should take up pottery. Then, should we all love lining up? We get down to the pros and cons of this social practice.

Featuring: Jacob Samuel, Brittany Lyseng, Abdul Aziz, and Ryan Williams.

We decide whether meeting on Zoom beats brainstorming in the boardroom, plus we debate the virtues of volunteering. Volunteering — should everyone do it? 

Featuring: Peter Brown, Julie Kim, Maddy Kelly, and Charlie Demers.

Are children smarter than their parents? Ivan Decker and Syd Bosel decide who wears the smarty-pants in their households. Then, does nothing beat a talent show? Sean Lecomber and Canada’s Got Talent finalist Sterling Scott bring more than the same old song and dance when they go toe-to-toe on this topic.

Do breakup songs rule? This Valentine’s weekend, Anesti Danelis and Jan Caruana hit all the right notes when it comes to these tragic tunes. Then, are Hard Rock establishments worth a visit? Elvira Kurt and Kyle Brownrigg make memora-believers of their Ottawa audience when they discuss this famed franchise.

Are Ontario’s own Hawkins Cheezies king of the chip aisle? It’s crunch time when Deborah Kimmett and Sean Cullen debate this delight. Then, should conspiracy theories be indulged? Don’t miss Nathan Macintosh and Chris Locke’s illuminati-ing takes on this topic.

In this meaty episode from Season 14, Rob Bebenek and Dave Hemstad air their beefs on plant-based meats. Then, Elvira Kurt and Hunter Collins take the plunge when they discuss scuba diving.

(Originally recorded in October 2019)

Erica Sigurdson and Dakota Ray Hebert rattle each other’s nerves when they decide if baby showers are great. Then, does nothing beat winter in Alberta? Brittany Lyseng and Ola Dada break the ice on this seasonal subject. 

Jon Steinberg and Ali Hassan compete for their Ottawa audience’s true patriot love when they decide if Canada has the best national anthem. Then, Courtney Gilmour and Nour Hadidi are masters of their own destiny when they debate if everything happens for a reason.

Is left superior to right? David Pryde and Derek Seguin do right by their Ottawa audience during this divergent debate. Then, Kate Davis and Ron Sparks turn the yule-tide when they discuss if Christmas markets are a holiday must.

Is the pickup truck the best type of vehicle? Katie Ellen-Humphries and Dan Taylor refuse to Dodge the question when they hit the road with this topic. Then, laughs are in store when Yumi Nagashima and Faris Hytiaa decide if the customer is always right.

Isabel Zaw-Tun and Paul Myrehaug think outside the box when they debate if it’s always great to move for love. Then, Chad Anderson and Graham Chittenden go steel toe-to-toe on whether being a jack of all trades is superior to being a master of one.

It’s the ultimate grudge match when Elvira Kurt and Arthur Simeon decide if you should never hold a grudge. Then, East Coast comedians Ryan Dillon and Nikki Payne refuse to play second fiddle when they debate if kitchen parties are superior to shed parties.

To honour the passing of Edmonton's wonderful and hilarious Kathleen McGee, The Debaters is re-airing one of her memorable debates from 2021. Featuring Kathleen McGee, Erica Sigurdson, Peter Brown and Ryan Williams in East Vancouver.

Charlie Demers and Lisa Baker are anything but fake when they discuss if it's okay to ignore the news. Then, are windows superior to doors? Graham Clark and Charles Haycock tear a weather-strip off each other in this architectural argument.

Is butter better than margarine? Derek Seguin and Matt Wright churn out jokes in a battle for the superior spread. Then, Nour Hadidi and Hisham Kelati get in the zone when they decide if Newfoundland has the best time zone.

There’s no topping Ivan Decker and Maddy Kelly debating Canadian restaurant chain Boston Pizza. Then, Abdul Aziz and John Hastings are weekend warriors when they decide if long weekends are overrated.

Myles Anderson and Sean Lecomber troll with the punches when they discuss whether kids should use social media. Then, are stripes superior to polka dots? Rob Pue and Kathleen McGee refuse to be clothed-minded with their patter on these patterns.

Patrick Ledwell and John Sheehan bring it home when they discuss if a staycation is the best type of vacation. Then, This Hour Has 22 Minutes’s comedy couple Chris Wilson and Stacey McGunnigle are in good company when they go head-to-head on whether it’s okay for one partner to have more success than the other.

Matt Falk and Lara Rae are not on the same page when they discuss if audiobooks are superior to books. Then, DeAnne Smith and Courtney Gilmour are on pointe when they go toe-to-toe on whether nothing beats a night at the ballet.

Personal Best is a podcast that celebrates small ambitions, half-wins and the quiet satisfaction of getting less bad at things. Each week they help ordinary people work through the little things they’d never bring to a life coach — like having the courage to dine alone at a fancy restaurant or getting less awkward at handshakes. Let them be your self-improvement sidekicks! More episodes from the brand new season of Personal Best are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/LenrN6rP

Matt Wright and Charlie Demers make waves in St. John’s, Newfoundland when they discuss if the Atlantic Ocean is superior to the Pacific Ocean. Then, Bree Parsons and Nikki Payne bring a wealth of wit when they decide if growing up poor makes you a stronger person.

It’s the premiere of The Debaters' 19th season and this is one for the bever-ages! Dave Hemstad and Lisa Baker are in Newfoundland trying to burst each other’s bubble when they decide if Coke is superior to Pepsi. Then, are family doctors overrated? Clifton Cremo and Martha Chaves checkup on these medical professionals.