Latest Cross exam Podcast Episodes

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034 - [DEBATE] Should Everyone Have Access to Plans for 3D Printed Guns?

Cross Examined Life - September 23, 2018 17:15 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Gail & Jeremy debate whether 3D printed guns should be available online to anyone. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Don’t be afraid to verify that you heard the other side correctly. 2. Use series of questions with increasing specificity to drill down on a point you want to highlight. 3. If you d...

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033 - Should Players Be Permitted to Kneel During the National Anthem?

Cross Examined Life - August 25, 2018 09:55 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Michael defends: Players should be permitted to kneel during the national anthem. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Provide facts that might support your opposition – since good arguments is not about a great quantity of facts, but using the consequences of those facts more persuasively. 2. Don’t be...

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032 - Should Big Travelers Buy a 2nd Seat on an Plane?

Cross Examined Life - August 18, 2018 00:36 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Katie defends: Big travelers should buy 2 seats on a plane. Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/crossexaminedlife Tweet us: @CELpodcast Insta: @crossexaminedlife Keep the debate going in the Cross Examined Life C...

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031 - Should Hate Speech be Legal?

Cross Examined Life - August 11, 2018 03:11 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Bunmi defends: Hate speech should be illegal. Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/crossexaminedlife Tweet us: @CELpodcast Insta: @crossexaminedlife Keep the debate going in the Cross Examined Life Community on FB

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030 - Does Identifying as Transgendered Promote Stereotypes?

Cross Examined Life - July 24, 2018 01:08 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Rob defends: Transgenderism Perpetuates Gender Stereotypes and Ignores Scientific Definitions. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. If you're asked a confusing question, ask that it be rephrased! 2. Acknowledge when your conversation partner is able to neatly restate or summarize a point you struggled to ...

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029 - Should Free Speech on the Web Be Absolute?

Cross Examined Life - February 17, 2018 17:43 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Jessica Defends: Interactive Services and Companies that help to facilitate online sex trafficking should not be protected by the 1 Amendment right to freedom of speech. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS --> Don't be too quick to run to the flagpole of "freedom of speech" when you are frustrated in an ar...

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028 - Is Provocative Language Helpful in Conversation?

Cross Examined Life - February 04, 2018 00:15 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Dylan defends: Provocative language is helpful in conversation. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. When your conversation partner says something you disagree with or find insulting, try to table that issue for later if it’s not the main point you’re discussing right now. 2. Even when your conversation...

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027 - Will Tighter Gun Control Make America Safer?

Cross Examined Life - November 08, 2017 01:34 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Bob defends: Limiting America's access to firearms will not make America safer. Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/crossexaminedlife Tweet us: @CELpodcast Insta: @crossexaminedlife Keep the debate going in the C...

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026 - Is It Ok to Charge More for Water When Its in Short Supply?

Cross Examined Life - September 25, 2017 01:14 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Kwesi defends: In the wake of natural disasters (including hurricanes), companies should not inflate their prices on essentials, like water, gas and food. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. If you find yourself emotionally invested in a disagreement, take a step back and try to identify your own contrad...

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025 - Is it Time That Confederate Monuments Came Down?

Cross Examined Life - August 24, 2017 03:09 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Dave defends: Confederate Monuments Should Remain Standing. No Practical Takeaway Tips this week. Instead, let us know what you think by getting in touch via one of the methods below! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/cross...

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024 - Should Charter Schools Exist?

Cross Examined Life - August 13, 2017 16:02 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Emily defends: Charter schools should not exist. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Don’t hold fast to your position, when your experience tells you the answer is more complicated. 2. Don’t insist on an immediate implementation for a policy that would harm the people the policy is designed to protect...

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023 - Sometimes Might the Death Penalty be Appropriate?

Cross Examined Life - July 22, 2017 03:14 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Brandon defends: Sometimes, the death penalty is the only appropriate punishment. *No Practical Takeaway Tips this week* Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/crossexaminedlife Tweet us: @CELpodcast Insta: @crosse...

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022 - Should Everyone Eat a Vegetarian Diet?

Cross Examined Life - July 11, 2017 11:54 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
call or text 307-240-9190 to let Chris know your thoughts!

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021 - Is Gentrification a Problem?

Cross Examined Life - June 25, 2017 20:41 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Moira defends: Gentrification is bad for diversity. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. If the example or analogy you're using is not resonating with your opponent; find a new one or a new strategy. Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com face...

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020 - Should Teachers Be Allowed to Hit Children?

Cross Examined Life - June 17, 2017 16:45 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Eric defends: Corporal punishment should end in American public schools. Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/crossexaminedlife Tweet us: @CELpodcast Insta: @crossexaminedlife Keep the debate going in the Cross Ex...

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019 - Should the Govt Sell National Parks?

Cross Examined Life - June 10, 2017 22:42 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Andrea defends: Public lands should be protected. Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/crossexaminedlife Tweet us: @CELpodcast Insta: @crossexaminedlife Keep the debate going in the Cross Examined Life Community o...

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018 - Should Children Be Allowed to Vote?

Cross Examined Life - June 03, 2017 12:16 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
William defends: There should be no minimum voting age. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Re-engage with the same question if it hasn’t been answered. Bonus points for finding a respectful and thoughtful way to do that. 2. Avoid cutting one another off. 3. Ask just a single question at a time

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017 - Should Copyrights Exist?

Cross Examined Life - May 27, 2017 17:00 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Link defends: Intellectual Property rights are a contradiction in terms and should not exist. Get in touch! call or text (+1) 307-240-9190 [email protected] crossexaminedlife.com facebook.com/groups/crossexaminedlife Tweet us: @CELpodcast Insta: @crossexaminedlife Keep the debate ...

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016 - Is Death a Problem?

Cross Examined Life - May 23, 2017 10:58 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Sara defends: Death is not a problem that needs fixing. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Respond to your opponent honestly, even when your response surprises you. 2. Respectfully acknowledge the principles and values held by your opposition, while indicating why you prioritize them differently. 3. Ow...

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015 - Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide?

Cross Examined Life - May 13, 2017 04:49 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Marc defends: Physician-assisted suicide should not be legal. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Define terms both within and implied by your argument. 2. Don’t suggest things are wildly different from one another when they are in fact, more closely related. 3. Answer the question asked, without tryi...

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014 - Should Babies be Born at Home?

Cross Examined Life - May 06, 2017 02:00 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Mary Kate defends: In 9 out of 10 cases, a mother and her baby would be safer giving birth in a home vs hospital setting. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Be bold and direct when your position second-guesses or questions the wisdom of experts or professionals. 2. If you’ve lost track of someone’s que...

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013 - Is Attending College a Right?

Cross Examined Life - April 28, 2017 21:53 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Rich defends: A four-year bachelor degree is a right and should be paid for by the government. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. If you are arguing that something is a right, try to be precise about where that right comes from. 2. Mirror the language your opponent uses back at them. 3. Identify and me...

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012 - Should Cars Have Drivers?

Cross Examined Life - April 22, 2017 01:22 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Mark defends: Driverless cars should not be widely implemented. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. When there’s no way for either speaker can be factually right or wrong, just let go of the point and shift gears to a new point. 2. Try to identify before your disagreement or early on during the conversa...

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011 - Should We Stop Using the word 'Terrorism'?

Cross Examined Life - April 14, 2017 23:13 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Teresa defends: The likelihood of misusing the words terrorist/terrorism is so great that these words should not be used. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. When you’re at a loss for words, try to return to the arguments laid out by your opponent and choose the next one to address. 2. Don’t let someone...

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010 - Is there an Urgent Need to Colonize Other Planets?

Cross Examined Life - April 08, 2017 00:46 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Christine defends: We should prioritize the advancement of space travel, with the goal of becoming an interplanetary species. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Explain your choice of words used to state your position, early on. 2. Figure out if the future you are arguing for is inevitable – if it is, ...

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009 - Does Voting for the Independent Candidate Ever Make Sense?

Cross Examined Life - April 01, 2017 16:55 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Mark defends: A vote, even for a candidate you expect to lose, is not a throw-away vote. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Don’t just knock out the competing options to your idea, but give reasons why your opponent should affirmatively support your idea. 2. Recognize when you’ve used words or phrases ...

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008 - Is Traveling the World Essential?

Cross Examined Life - March 25, 2017 09:00 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Faith defends: World travel is an essential; not an expensive luxury. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Present alternatives when you think someone is wrong. 2. Unpack the explanation of your opponent in the smallest chunks possible. 3. Ask for specifics before calling a claim that sounds wild or ...

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007 - Does the Way We Draw Voting Maps Really Matter?

Cross Examined Life - March 18, 2017 02:00 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
John defends: Excessive gerrymandering is bad for the health of the American polity. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY TIPS 1. Point out where things are going well or show promise, as you outline a problem. 2. Be willing to point out that the problem isn’t 100% true all the time, even if it means walking ba...

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006 - Is Government Really Necessary?

Cross Examined Life - March 11, 2017 00:48 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
Anthony defends: Anarchy/Privatizing government functions is smarter. 1. Clarify what you’re not talking about. 2. Note when you’re limiting a word’s definition for the purposes of this conversation. 3. Suggest an example you and your opponent can walk through, to avoid muddying the waters. ...

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005 - Is a College Degree Obsolete?

Cross Examined Life - March 04, 2017 04:33 ★★★★★ - 30 ratings
(call or text 307-240-9190 to let Chris know your thoughts!) Liam defends the position: In this day and age, a college degree is obsolete. Ten Takeaway Tips: 1. Keep your explanations brief. 2. Challenge the foundational definition. 3. Don’t be afraid to flip an assumed advantage on its head...

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