More Than Debate highlights the mission of the Boston Debate League (BDL) through conversations with members of the BDL community. Each episode gives listeners a behind the scenes look (or listen) at the programs and people propelling the organization toward new milestones and why…we are more than debate.
What happens when a handful of volunteers decide a whole city's students deserve something better?
In this episode of More Than Debate, we go back to 2005 — when debate was thriving in Boston's suburbs and nowhere to be found in Boston Public Schools. A small group of volunteers decided that wasn't good enough. What started with borrowed classrooms and weekend tournaments became Boston Debate League: a thriving nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth voice. We trace the journey from grassroots startup to citywide movement, and ask why the mission matters now more than ever. This episode features a conversation with:
Andrew Brokos – Founder, Boston Debate League
Alison Eggers – Founding Member, longtime volunteer, and former Board Member
Kim Willingham – Executive Director, Boston Debate League
👉 Hit play to discover how the Boston Debate League is empowering the next generation to lead.
To learn more about Boston Debate League, visit www.bostondebate.org (www.bostondebate.org).
10 Jun 2026
The ROI of Debate
What if one activity could completely rewrite a young person’s future?
In this episode of More Than Debate, we look beyond the trophies and practice rounds to explore the lifelong ROI of debate. It turns out, debate doesn't just teach students how to argue—it teaches them how to command a room, navigate the workforce, and lead with purpose. This episode features a conversation with:
Pam Reeve – Business Leader & Chair of The Women’s Edge Board
Nikheel Dhekne – Director of Strategy and Operations at IBM & Co-Chair of the Boston Debate League Board
👉 Hit play to discover how the Boston Debate League is empowering the next generation to lead.
To learn more about Boston Debate League, visit www.bostondebate.org (www.bostondebate.org).
26 Feb 2026
The Coach Effect
Behind every empowered student and inspired educator is a coach who believed in their potential. At Boston Debate League, coaching is the thread that runs through everything we do — from After-School Debate to Resolved to Debate-Inspired Classrooms. Coaches don't just teach skills like critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. They unlock agency and transform learning environments. In this episode, we explore what we call The Coach Effect.
In this episode, we feature David Rivera, a debate coach and alum, Omega Roberts, a debate coach and debate-inspired educator, and Marisa Suescun, Managing Director of Programs at Boston Debate League. Learn more about Boston Debate League by visiting www.bostondebate.org.
15 Oct 2025
Innovating on Debate - en Español
We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a special episode: "Innovating on Debate – en Español" . Tune in to discover how Boston Debate's Debate en Español is breaking barriers—giving Spanish-speaking students the tools to debate with confidence, build community, and excel academically.
This episode features Douglas Matute, Senior Director of Debate en Español; Marilú Alvarado-Hernandez; Gabriel Ponce Lemus, a Boston Debate Alum and current student at Suffolk University; and Sarah Sanchez, Director of Programs & Communications at the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues.
www.bostondebate.org
12 Oct 2025
Welcome to Season 2
Welcome back to the More Than Debate podcast - Season 2.
Join us this season to hear about how we've innovated on debate, where debate has taken our alumni and celebrate with Boston Debate League as we reach our 20-year milestone.
Want to catch up on last season? Subscribe to More Than Debate on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Amazon to listen to Season 1. And visit us at bostondebate.org (http://bostondebate.org/) or follow Boston Debate on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube to stay up to date.
15 Apr 2025
From Debate to the Real World
Each year, BDL debaters have a new, real-world policy debate topic. This year’s topic centers on intellectual property rights. Our debaters immerse themselves in rigorous research, critically analyzing evidence, and honing their arguments to adeptly debate both sides of the issue.
This journey of preparation unfolds in after-school practices and weekend tournaments, where debaters cultivate invaluable skills that transcend the debate arena. They learn to engage thoughtfully with the world, lead civil discourse, and become proactive agents of their own learning, both inside and outside the classroom. In this episode, BDL Executive Director Kimberly Willingham sits down with BDL debater Alana Laforest, and BDL alumni Rebecca Francois and Mosie Burke. Together, they share their personal experiences and insights, illustrating what it truly means to engage with the world beyond the debate stage.
This episode features BDL Executive Director Kim Willingham, alumni Rebecca Francois, Travel Team Coach Mosie Burke, and current debater Alana Laforest.
www.bostondebate.org
3 Feb 2025
Voices Amplified
Through Resolved, a culturally-responsive program working with cohorts of Black and Latino young men, the BDL took debate-inspired learning in a new direction. Now in its fourth year, the Resolved program has grown to include 40 young men across four schools where Black and Latino young men learn and apply the essential skills of debate, like research and argumentation, while exploring their identities as young men of color. Resolved is reimagining what engaging young men of color in debate can look like. This episode features Resolved Program Director Ranner Faugas; DI Classrooms Senior Coach Carlos Monteiro; and Researcher and Masters in Education Student specializing in Positive Youth Development, Kyle Broadnax.
www.bostondebate.org
11 Dec 2024
BDL Runs on Volunteers
Like any nonprofit making an impact, the Boston Debate League runs on the generous support of individuals, foundations, corporate and community partners. Reaching up to 800 students a year and working with approximately 200 educators requires the time, talent and treasure of supporters who believe in the vision. In this episode, we feature Larry Wallach, President of the Viney Wallach Foundation; Julie Kurd, Chief Customer Officer, Intuify and adjunct professor at Boston University; and Stephanie Byytebier, Chair of the Rhetoric Department in the College of General Studies at Boston University.
31 Oct 2024
The Debate-Inspired Approach
This year, a study will be released about BDL's Debate-Inspired Classrooms program that deciphers the elements of a debate-inspired classroom and how this approach supports meaningful learning and development and explores how debate-inspired activities, used across subject areas, leads to more engaging, inclusive classrooms. This episode features Sarah Mayper, Debate-Inspired Classrooms Senior Instructional Coach, Melanie Shea, Debate-Inspired Classrooms educator and Michael Medina, Assistant Professor and Program Director of Applied Human Development.
To learn more about the Boston Debate League, visit bostondebate.org (bostondebate.org).
29 Oct 2024
More Than Debate Podcast Intro Episode
The More Than Debate Podcast will highlight the mission of the Boston Debate League through conversations with the BDL community. Each episode will give listeners a behind the scenes look (or listen) at the programs and people propelling the organization toward new milestones and why…we are more than debate.
The Boston Debate League prepares young people for college, career, and engagement with the world through debate-inspired learning in the classroom and beyond.
To learn more about the Boston Debate League visit bostondebate.org (bostondebate.org).
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