Episode 46: Greg Dolph

Greg Dolph is a high school national champion in Dramatic Interp.  At the collegiate level, he has amassed an incredible twenty-four national college final rounds, nine national championships, five 2nd place finishes, and three individual sweepstakes championships.  After leaving forensics, he has acted and performed stunts film & TV Shows: Second Hand Lions, Resident Evil Extinction, and The Conan O'Brien Show.  For the past 27 years, he has played the main villain, Deacon, in the Water World Stunt Show at Universal Studios, Hollywood. In November he will reach 14,000 performances.

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In this episode, Robert and Greg discuss knowing your judges, the wall of defeat, and having fun in the moment that will never be there again.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Greg found this wall with his name written on it, and he just KNEW he had to get his picture with it.

Episode 45: C. Ryan Joyce

The 2017 National Speech & Debate Association Middle School Coach of the Year, C. Ryan Joyce had been part of speech and debate for nearly 30 years as a middle school, high school and college competitor and coach, an instructor at camps such as Interprod, FFI, GMIF, and UTNIF, a coach with various nationally recognized programs across the country (Logan High School, CA, Stuyvesant High School, NY and Holy Ghost Prep, PA), and as the Director of Forensics at Phoenix Country Day School, AZ from 2012-2019. A former 3-time high school national finalist and 1-time college finalist himself (Duo/OO/Poetry), Ryan has had the privilege of working with and learning from some of the most interesting middle and high school students from a variety of backgrounds - culminating in over 40 national finalists and 4 NSDA High School National Champions and over 20 NSDA Middle School National Champions.  From 2012-2019, Phoenix Country Day School was awarded several Schools of Excellence in Speech at NSDA High School Nationals and the Overall School of Excellence for Speech & Debate at the NSDA Middle School National Tournament four times in 5 years. In 2020, during the pandemic, Ryan created, alongside several of the most recognizable coaches in the country, a performance piece that ran during online nationals called, "You Are Not Alone."  Ryan is currently ‘retired’ from speech and debate and is the Director of Advancement at Leysin American School in Switzerland.

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In this episode, Robert and Ryan discuss what the changes in middle school forensics, the disappointment of not breaking when you’re expecting it, and the significance of the word “DING!”  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The only way to accept an award is in a pink tie. Everyone knows that.

Episode 44: Kimberly Lee

Kimberly Lee originally started competing for Summit High School in New Jersey back in 2014, graduated in 2018, and began competing for the University of Texas at Austin since then until the end of the 2022 season. She primarily kept her focus on interp, while she did dabble in Communication Analysis in college. In Kimberly’s time in speech, she won 2018 High School National Speech and Debate Association in DI, as well as the 2021 College National Forensics Association in Prose. Kimberly dedicated her speech career towards voicing AAPI issues. Throughout her career, she was a part of over 30 National final rounds.

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In this episode, Robert and Kimberly discuss what NSDA final rounds are like, how to cope with COVID forensics, and the anxiety that comes with having your parents watch you perform.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Pink is poppin’! Pop pop!

Episode 43: Jeremy Carson

Jeremy Carson competed back in the early 2000s for Cal State Long Beach, then coached both CSULB and Fullerton High School speech teams for 5 years after that. Along with a decent amount of finals in both interps and platforms, a three-year run as the Top Speaker in California, and a few Top 10 National Speaker Awards at AFA and NFA, his crowning achievement was when Jeremy and his sister became the first-ever brother/sister Duo to win at AFA while he was a senior and his sister was a freshman. When Jeremy left speech, some said a part of forensics died. Not many people said that. Mostly he did. And his mom.

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In this episode, Robert and Jeremy discuss the ways in which speech impacts graphic design, what it’s like to win a national championship in Duo with your little sister, and how coaches from other teams can sometimes be the biggest impact on your pieces.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

I mean, doesn’t he just LOOK like he’s in control of his audience?

Episode 42: Tiffany Brain

Tiffany Brain was an active speech & debate competitor for Glendale Community College from 2006-2009. In that time she enjoyed competitions at colleges around the country and, while she may be best known for her 2008 Hard Candy Duo interpretation with partner Robert Cannon, she is proud of her 2009 solo win for Programmed Oral Interp at Spring Champs in 2009. Hey look, Sheep!

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In this episode, Robert and Tiffany reminisce about how to build a Duo from nothing, the pains of watching yourself on video, and how one’s biggest enemies can become lifelong friends.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Just look at thosen power colors.

Episode 41: James Dobson

Jim has been involved in forensics since 1990. He started his forensics career at Glenbard West High School in the Chicagoland. From there he went on to compete for College of DuPage. While at College of DuPage he earned the Bavaro-Tabor award as the top speaker at the 1994 Phi Rho Pi National Championships. From there he went on to Northern Arizona University achieving the National Championship in Prose Interpretation at the 1996 National Forensics Association National Championships. Jim began coaching at a TA California State University Chico and inducted into the Chico Hall of Fame as part of the 2012. He is also in the National Forensics Hall of Fame. Jim has been the Director of Forensics at Las Positas College in Livermore California since 2001. He has coached multiple National Championship teams during his time there.

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In this episode, Robert and Jim discuss what it’s like to have to sit out from tournaments, watching your coaches go wild at awards, and how to meet your significant other through speech.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Like most professors, Jim teaches his online classes in a suit and tie, but no pants.

Episode 40: Bailey Hess

Bailey Hess, while a friendly ray of sunshine, encompasses the ‘Average Joe’ of the Speech community. While she competed in both high school and college forensics, the closest she had to fame was placing third at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in Duo. Instead, she has found her true calling as the head coach for Mounds View High School in Minnesota. Always a collection of rag-tag misfits and smarties, Bailey encourages one and all to join the team and find their voice. When not in season, she continues to consume Forensics in any way possible: listening to podcasts, watching performances on Youtube, and adding literature and topic ideas to an endless spreadsheet. Speech is life.

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In this episode, Robert and Bailey discuss navigating forensics without a coach, the trials of Creative Expression, and the originality of cleaning a kitty’s litter box.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Bailey causally posing for a picture when an entire forensics team snuck up to photobomb her.

Episode 39: Joel Mounts

Joel was introduced to debate through a teaching career in Asia where he taught American debate styles to international students in Taiwan. He's now retired from teaching in person but continues to remain active in providing Public Forum resources through Debatetrack. He also plans to expand to Policy lectures in the Spring of 2022. Find him on Instagram at @joelexperience or around the web @Debatetrack. 

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In this episode, Robert and Joel discuss teaching debate in a foreign land, creating content for free, and learning how to teach.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Joel shows off the wifi reception in his bathroom.

Episode 38: Jeff Moscaritolo

Jeff Moscaritolo holds an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University and is currently pursuing a PhD in American Studies at Indiana University Bloomington. As a speech competitor in high school and college, he earned numerous accolades; he was the 2005 NFL Champion in Humorous interpretation and a multiple-time national finalist at the AFA-NIET across many categories. His short fiction and other writings having appeared in Indiana Review, Los Angeles Review, Paper Darts, Carve, and Lincoln Journal Star. His academic interests currently revolve around race, dance, empire, and memory.

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In this episode, Robert and Jeff discuss the power of POI, the pressures of using a piece everyone knows, and the differences between high school and college speech.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jeff models his fall line of fashionable scarves.

Episode 37: Alexandra Smith

Alexandra Smith is a Congressional Debater from East Ridge High School in Central Minnesota. She has been heavily involved in the debate community nationally, is a two-time National Finalist and the 2021 NSDA House Champion. After graduating in June, she created an online company for Congressional Debaters to hone their skills and collaborate nationally while being accessible to everyone with an internet connection. Alexandra hopes to continue helping the Congress community grow and expand access to forensic activities during her time at university in British Columbia, Canada. 

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In this episode, Robert and Alexandra discuss when to speak in Congress, the stress of running a small company, and what happens when you actually read Robert’s Rules of Order.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

An old Congress joke begins, “Which came first, the Parliamentarian or the gavel?” I forgot the punchline.

Episode 36: Larry Radden

Larry Radden graduated from San Francisco State University in 1987 with a minor in Theater Arts and a major in Communication Studies. While attending SFSU he was actively involved in theater productions with highlights such as Tom Stoppards “The Real Inspector Hound” Charles Fullers “Soldiers Story”, Bernard Pomerance’s “The Elephant Man” and Cole Porter‘s “Hot and Cold.” He went on to audition for American conservatory theater and which he landed his first professional acting job in August Wilson‘s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” After touring the country with the production, he landed in Los Angeles and did commercial and television work. He also coached on the forensics teams at El Camino College and LA Valley College, receiving multiple state and national awards. Radden then enrolled for graduate school at Cal State Los Angeles and graduated with a degree in communications studies in 1994. Radden was hired at Saddleback College in 1995 and has continued to teach in the Communications studies department to present.

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In this episode, Robert and Larry discuss the time commitment to be excellent in both speech and theater, the unique casting opportunities in speech, and where you end up in a life after speech.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Can’t you just get lost in those eyes…?

Episode 35 - Lucas Ochoa

Lucas Ochoa competed for the Orange Coast College State national team, garnering several gold medals. Lucas then transferred to Cal State Long Beach qualifying numerous events for the American Forensics Association. Lucas advanced several interp events to the quarterfinal and semi-final Rounds. Finally, Lucas earned a master’s degree in communication studies from Cal State Los Angeles. Lucas is a tenured professor at Saddleback College leading his team to multiple State and national championships in interpretation and Readers Theatre. Lucas’s wife, Heidi, writes a family blog called The Autism Collection, which focuses on their son’s autism.  The link to that blog is: https://www.theautismcollection.com

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In this episode, Robert and Lucas discuss the pains of a Reader’s Theater, a forensics love life, and how to manage time when coaching alongside a family member.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lucas is world champion of cute selfies.

Episode 34: Alex Lee

In this episode, Robert and Alex discuss the changes from middle school to high school, navigating the waters of circuit LD, and get into the nitty gritty world of Worlds Debate.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Pink shirts will getcha killed.

Episode 33: Adam Sharples Brooks

Adam Sharples Brooks loves helping people impact others. He discovered speech in high school and won a national championship in Prose and earn second place in Poetry. He went on to compete at Bradley University where he would win a national title in Prose at NFA in 2008 and was a national finalist in Prose, Duo, and Poetry as well as a team sweepstakes title. He coached briefly at Bradley University helping the team earn a team title in 2010 and The University of Alabama where he earned his PhD in Communication. Adam left the activity in 2013 and become an assistant professor at UA, Director of the public speaking course and founder of UA’s speaking center The Speaking Studio. Since then Adam has led workshops with hundreds of organizations and businesses to train their talent in presentation and communication skills. He recently published his first book Engineered to Speak: Helping You Create and Deliver Presentations to help those with STEM backgrounds communicate to nontechnical audiences. He continues to use his skills he first developed in speech unironically on TikTok and in life.

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In this episode, Robert and Adam discuss the terror of joining a legendary team when they have expectations, the nuances of winning Prose, and do a full breakdown of one of the greatest interps to ever grace a final round (complete with 30 seconds of silence).  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

One part old man, one part child, one part Irish… all interprer.

Episode 32: Kevin Briancesco

Kevin is a professor and Director of Forensics at Los Angeles Valley College. He didn’t break any events at nationals his senior year, and it clearly ruined his career. Through hard work and sheer luck, his students have somehow managed to consistently win national championships despite having him as their coach. It is truly a marvel to witness. Outside of forensics, Kevin has been a mediocre slam poet, an average artist, a second-rate photographer, a so so husband, an adequate D&D Dungeon Master, a wannabe TikTok influencer, and most importantly, a dad of 3-the one job he will admit to being great at.

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In this episode, Robert and Kevin discuss ghosts, the trauma that coaches can inflict on students, and the joys of ADHD.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Doing last-minute run-throughs are better than getting the last-minute runs.

Episode 31: Katie Pengra

Katie Pengra joined the Arizona State University speech team after competing throughout high school. She placed second in Duo with AJ Moorehead at NFA in 2005 and 6th in POI at AFA in 2007. Pengra moved to Los Angeles where she coached high school speech, and failed at acting. She landed in Austin where she received a master’s degree in journalism, regularly performs stand up comedy, has worked on several short films, and co-directed a feature length documentary. She is currently working on a nursing degree, and lives with her husband and two-year-old son. 

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In this episode, Robert and Katie discuss how to cut a POI, the terrors of peer critiques, and how to use speech to springboard into stand-up comedy.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Katie shows just how far she’s come as a hand model.

Episode 30: Dontae Hill

Dontae Hill, a.k.a. “The Forensics Guy” is a Speech and Debate coach from Wisconsin currently creating an impact in California and around the world.  From YouTube videos, a weekly podcast, to an awesome TikTok, you can find him making content that sparks joy and gives value to speech and debate coaches, students, and judges everywhere!  Feel free to follow him on all platforms @Theforensicsguy to join his unique journey!

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In this episode, Robert and Dontae discuss the impact that Poetry has on a middle school student, secretly repeating literature, and the difficulties of coaching a team completely solo.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Dontae demonstrates the interp skills that earned him all these trophies.

Episode 29: Michael Miller

Michael H. Miller has been deeply involved in both high school and college debate since 1965.  At the University of Houston (TX), from which he graduated with a B.S.in Political Science in 1970, Michael won first place in more than twenty major college debate tournaments, and was Top Speaker at the National Debate Tournament his senior year.  He won the National Professional Debate Tournament in the Summer of 1970 before moving to California. Michael began coaching debate full-time in the Fall of 1970 and, among other achievements, mentored the NDT National Champions of 1971 (UCLA), as well as the high school Lincoln-Douglas National Debate Champion in 1982.  He was named the California High School Speech Association "Speech Coach of the Year" for his work at Notre Dame High School in 1982-83, was unanimously elected the University of Houston Forensics Society Hall of Fame in 2007, and was a featured character in the 2008 documentary film, "Debate Team."   Michael co-founded Glendale Community College's NFA Lincoln-Douglas debate program in the Fall of 2008.  In addition to his debate training, Michael earned his Juris Doctorate degree (J.D.) from the Southwestern University School of Law in 1984, and is a licensed trial attorney.

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In this episode, Robert and Michael discuss the changes from tournaments in the 1960s to today, review what Extemp questions were offered back then, and somehow get into the way that politicians debate differently than forensics.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Michael, considering opening his own trophy store.

Episode 28: Iain Lampert

Iain Lampert is thrilled to promote empathy, equity, and excellence as a ModernBrain regional director. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, his M.A. in Education and Human Development from the George Washington University, and his Certification in Advanced Education Leadership from Harvard University. He is in the process of attaining a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Vanderbilt University; his thesis will focus on the intersection of burnout, accessibility, and ableism in the Speech and Debate community.  Iain is a lifelong advocate for competitive communication; he founded eight teams, coached winners of over 1,000 individual championships, including six national champions, and received the National Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the activity. Iain’s students are the only team in the history of Southern California to earn the National Speech and Debate Association’s high school Outstanding Distinction team award (twice!). In 2019, his team won sweepstakes at the Tournament of Champions. He’s coached NSDA national semifinalists, finalists, and champions in PF, Oratory, DI/HI/POI, Congress, IX/NX, Storytelling, Expository, Commentary, and Impromptu Speaking. During his college years, he won the American Mock Trial Association’s national championship twice.

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In this episode, Robert and Iain discuss the differences between forensics and mock trial, the ‘inside baseball’ of competing at a national level, and how burnout affects the greater forensics community.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

You know Iain means business when his collar is a different color than his shirt.

Episode 27: Larry Schnoor

We’re back for season 2! And this one’s a doozie! The one. The only… Larry Schnoor joins Robert Cannon for the season 2 premiere.

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Larry Schnoor is one of the most respected voices in competitive speech and debate.  now retired, he served as professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato since the 1960s.  Schnoor was instrumental in starting the American Forensics Association - National Individual Events Tournament and served as the organization’s chair from 1977-1979 and as the long-running tournament director from 1994-2016.  Additionally, Schnoor also served as the National Forensics Association’s president from 1995-2015 and tournament director in 2004.  He is currently enjoying his retirement in Minnesota.

In this episode, Robert and Larry discuss the differences between forensics in the ‘50s and today, the disappointment when controversies like Peter Pober’s are brought to light, and having some tough love for students who jeopardize the rest of the team.  Listen for free through Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Overcast, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Even The Godfather of Speech knows how to rock a matching shirt-tie combo.