The Debaters - Is maple syrup superior to honey? And is nothing more fun than a sleepover?

Episode Date: May 30, 2025

We’ve got a buzzworthy battle on whether maple syrup beats honey, and a pillow fight on sleepovers.Featuring: Charlie Demers, Derek Seguin, Henry Sir, and Erica Sigurdson.

We're all looking for great places to visit in Canada. One of my favorites is the Stratford Festival. The theatre is truly of the highest caliber and there's so much selection. They have 11 large-scale shows on stage and trust me, whatever is on manure there will be exceptional. People always think Shakespeare when they think of Stratford, but it's so much more. Broadway musicals, family shows, classic comedy and drama. Whether it's Robert LaPage's Macbeth or Donna Fiora's Annie, you will be blown away. It's the perfect Canadian getaway. To quote William Shatner, who got his start

in Stratford, every Canadian should make the pilgrimage to Stratford. Start your next adventure at StratfordFestival.ca. This is a CBC Podcast. Hey Canada! It's time to fire up the comedy jets from Winnipeg home of the jets. It's the debaters! The debaters where comedians fight with facts and funny and this audience picks the winner. Now here's a man who gives a puck, Steve Patterson. Hey! Thanks Graham Clark, I do give a puck. Ha ha, we said it twice. Hello Canada and welcome back to the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Yes! Which takes place each year in Winnipeg. It's the second most anticipated celebration in the city, right behind Caesar Week.

Where over 30 bars compete to be named in the Bar Top Hall of Fame. Judges sit in a special roped off area of the restaurant, which I guess is called the Caesarian section. And each restaurant gets creative with the garnishes. Some keep it simple with a celery stick and a lime. Others go all out with things like waffles, bacon, or burger patties. Now I'm not a master mixologist myself,

but I am a bit of a history buff. So if I were in the contest, I would call mine the A2 Brute. Then anyone who wants to make one can just take a stab at it. It's time to meet two debaters ready to cause a calamity. This comic puts the chuck in chuckles. It's Vancouver's Charlie Demers! Charlie Demers, everybody!

One of our very favorites. Hi Charlie! Hello, hello Steve. Welcome back, friends. Thank you very much. And this comic is no Franco-phony. It's Brassau-Quebeck's Derek Seguin. Derek Seguin versus Charlie DeVos. Are you kidding me? We think we have the perfect debaters and the perfect topic, so let's just get on with

it. Your topic is a pretty sweet one. Maple syrup. Is it superior to honey? Whoa, murmur, murmur. I wouldn't want to answer this question myself, so let me compare two other things. The Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival and the Cleefield Manitoba Honey Festival. One is a winter fest and the other one's a summer fest.

Wow. If you miss the Maple Syrup Festival, it will really stick with you. But if you miss the Honey Festival, it might really sting. That one actually physically harmed some of the audience. Go to one, go to both, just don't waffle. Because if you miss the pancake breakfast, you're gonna flip out! Time now for a debate that really pours it on. So, whereas it's lower in calories, sweeter in taste,

and is an iconic Canadian symbol, beer-resolved maple syrup is superior to honey. Charlie, you're arguing for this, please. You have two minutes. Starting now, Charlie Demers! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE I don't quite know how to convey the sadness and confusion I feel as a French Canadian, face to face with another French Canadian arguing that honey is better than maple syrup. If you were from India, this would be like meeting someone who thought a double-double was better than chai. Or if you were from England, this would be like meeting

someone who thought sex was better than a vigorous handshake. Like all great traditions in this country, maple syrup was discovered and developed by Indigenous peoples, became a core component of Francophone society for centuries, and today provides Anglo-Canadians with something to differentiate themselves from Americans. Yeah. Except Americans from Vermont, who also support Bernie Sanders. Turns out, if you plan on slamming a 68% sugar elixir most mornings, you also want to sort out

that universal health care. you also want to sort out that universal health care. Laughter Honey, on the other hand, is the result of a process so unseemly that we do everything we can to cover it up. Honey is the only animal product that comes in a container shaped like a different animal. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha So the best we could come up with was, hey, you know who else likes this stuff? Bears! You know, that super discerning species we have to lock up our garbage from. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. cans of pure maple syrup in the suitcases. This is a core childhood memory. And these days, I honor those memories by always bringing maple syrup with me when I fly. These days, though, I put it in the carry-on, but only so that I have an excuse

to drink it in the lineup at Security. And no liquid? Oh, I had no idea. Well, if it's air Canada policy, then santé! Thank you, Steve. Charlie Dures on behalf of Maple Syrup. Thanks, Charlie. Now, with an argument for honey that'll no doubt earn him more than a B-plus... Let's hear from the one and only Derek Sagan! Wow, thank you. Thank you.

You all know the old saying, paradise is the land of milk and honey. You've never heard anybody say, can't wait to get to the land of the labatsang out on maple syrup. Okay, maybe Charlie and I have heard that because we're Kimmy Kweb. Honey is the purest food.

No one's get hurt by honey. No slaughtering of animal or ripping fruit from a tree. It's just, we walk up, excuse me, Mr. B, I'm just gonna take a little bit of this bug vomit that you're producing for no reason other than that you're nice and you know that I have a sweet tooth. Thank you very much. Keep doing it, I'll be back tomorrow. Maple syrup?

Say, what's up? Who even thought to milk a tree? Trees don't have nipples! So we're forced to make like manmade tree nipples to suck the sap. tree nipples to suck the sap. And the sap is only slightly sweet water. So we have to suck like 500 trees almost dry to get like 40 liters of sap.

And then we have to build a caban with a giant furnace in it. And then if you were one of the lucky trees that didn't get violated with the tree nipple, well, we're chopping you down, and we're gonna use you as firewood to burn your cousin's blood down to make this sticky sweet brown crap that go with only one thing, pancakes.

Oh yeah, so worth it, Charlie. Let's cut down half the forest and then, quite frankly, violate the other half of the forest to make one cup of stuff that makes your flapjack slightly more palatable. What is wrong with you, man? Thank you. Derek, Derek, say yeah everybody. Wow, wow.

This is not an easy assignment going against maple syrup in Canada, but boy did we pick the right person for the job. It's time now for the Bare Knuckle Round. We're debating whether maple syrup is superior to honey, so let me sweeten the pot for you two sugar daddies. It's time to spout off, forcing your opponent to tap out while also be-hiving yourselves. Wow, getting swarming here. We may pull some of these puns, because they're appalling.

So let's start a buzz now. Charlie said it himself, maple syrup equals communism. Oh. Just review the tape here. I, first of all, your debate contained the phrase, honey doesn't hurt anyone. Why do you think beekeepers wear what they wear?

They're hurt? Like... What... What's your sense? They all have allergies. Oh, okay. It is... I mean, look, you say,

Charlie, what's wrong with you? You don't full well what's wrong with me. Yeah, you grew up in Vancouver. You mentioned that before. French people don't belong in Vancouver, buddy. I don't know what you're doing over there. Because I'm not just French, and that's not the only part of me that loves maple syrup. I also have a whole Scottish side of my family, and the Scottish side of my family adores maple syrup. My mom actually had an aunt named Jemima.

That is a true... 100% true fact. That is true. I think she was exaggerating about the godmother named Mrs. Buttersworth, but the Aunt Jemima, that's fact. You know who likes honey? Winnie the Pooh. Winnie the Pooh likes honey.

Yeah. And you know who likes maple syrup? My Aunt Winnie, and she smells like urine. These are great points, guys. And look, and honey, honey is a term of endearment, like, oh, thank you, honey. So nice. You can't, I just see you later at the after party, like, oh, hello, my little maple syrup, and then tomorrow we read,

socialist comedian Charlie DeMarris has been canceled. Listen, I, I, your suggestion that syrup is only used for one thing, that it's only good on pancakes, that's so untrue. There are a million different things you can use maple syrup on. They can also be used on... Two. Give me two other things. Forget the million.

Crepes? That's French for pancake, buddy. That's the Bare Knuckle Round, everybody. We got a little bit of a break. Crêpes? That's French for pancake, buddy. That's the Bear Knuckle Round, everybody. We got a good one going on here. Yeah. We're debating maple syrup versus honey. Charlie DeBeers versus Derek Seguin.

And it's time now for the firing line in my hand. I have a list of questions on maple syrup versus honey brought to you by bees that are allergic to maple syrup. Bees that are allergic to maple syrup. Why do you think they break out in hives? You're welcome. Winnipeg's own Bothwell Cheese Shop says if you can't decide between maple syrup and honey, you should do what? Charlie.

Use cheese. That's right there. That's a great slogan for a cheese shop. Yeah, three points. Derek's again. Uh, maybe see a therapist if you can. You can't make simple decisions like be to... I don't know what to do. My name is Charlie. I can't decide.

Do I start on my left foot or my right foot? I'm gonna run and... Oh, I always forget how accurate your impression work is. Bothwell Cheese Shop says if you can't decide between maple syrup and honey, you should try their product, Honey with Maple Syrup. If you're in advertising, I have a client that needs your help. Pfft. Yeah. One of the darkest varieties of honey in the world is produced right here in Manitoba by bees whose hives are located near what?

Charlie. Sarcastic flowers. Three points to those who get it. They get it a lot. One of the darkest varieties of honey in the world is produced in Manitoba by bees whose hives are located near Buckwheat Fields. Buckwheat Fields, one of the rejected Beatles songs. Morningchores.com's list of 23 interesting ways to use maple syrup includes using it to make butter, cocktails, as a popcorn topping, and what else? Derek. Tile adhesive. That's pretty good. Two and a half points.

Charlie de Maers. It's an embalming fluid. Wait, sorry, how do you spell morning in morningchores.com. Oh. Okay. You're clapping for a guy who can't decide between honey and maple syrup. Morningchores.com's list of 23 interesting ways to use maple syrup includes butter, cocktails, popcorn topping, and when making homemade soap. Oh, yeah. Nothing ladders up quite like maple syrup. popcorn topping and when making homemade soap. Oh yeah, nothing ladders up quite like maple syrup. Who needed all this pesky body hair?

In 2011 and 2012, $18.7 million of maple syrup was stolen from a storage facility in Quebec, an inside job that is now known by what name? Charlie. The short-stack flapjack tabernacle hijack. No. But eight points, a rare eight points answer. Anyone else like to try to answer? I don't know anything. Never heard of it. I was at the movies that day.

It was known as the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. Adjusted for inflation, it's the largest heist in Canadian history. Which I love. But you would be surprised how little things you can buy with maple syrup though. That's the firing line everybody. Yeah. It is just about time for our Jubilee Place Theatre audience to pick a winner. But first, here again to remind us that now is not the time for him to hear any honey boo-boos. Let's hear again from Derek Sige.

Thank you. Honey, it's the result of the magical work that bees do. They pollinate every fruit, flower, and blossom on our planet. And then they go home and say, you know what, we're not done giving yet. Let's, let's spit this pollen out into these cute little octagon bowls so people can enjoy it. It's delicious, and we learn geometry. Those little octagon honeycomb are so cool. And no one get hurt.

That's the other important thing. It's the only food on the planet where we don't kill or hurt anybody, to consume it. We still do it, like we're eating honey and just punch a cow in the face. And the bees are happy to share. Are the trees happy, Charlie? You think? Let me jam a robinet in you and suck out 40 liters of Charlie juice so that I can have

a little sauce to dip my sandwich in. So selfish. What has Vancouver done to you, bro? Aren't you supposed to be like tree hugger out there, not tree assaulters? That's it. Derek Sagan. Derek Sagan.

The way that only he can. 40 litres of Charlie juice. Remember that. Now, here with an argument that will make you syrup in your seat and listen. Let's hear again from Charlie Demares. Thank you. The world's leading exporter of maple syrup is Canada, and it is produced from our country's official tree, whose leaves display a dazzling symphony of colours every autumn. is produced from insects known to sting children to death.

... Organized into squalidly undemocratic hierarchies headed by absolutist monarchs headed by absolutist monarchs, and the planet's three largest exporters are the authoritarian regimes of China, Turkey, and Iran. If Derek insists upon his anaphylactic dictatorial strongman bug excretion. That's fine. It's his breakfast.

Nobody can stop him from drizzling the diabetic equivalent of Niger Delta crude all over his granola if that's what he wants. Me? No, merci monsieur. I believe in something called democracy. I believe in something called Ozempic. Take your breakfast from zero to zero. Merci. Ladies and gentlemen, wow.

Great points on either side. The audience has a tough decision to make, but make it they must. By applause, who has won over the most by Derek's? Honeycomb over Derek's again! Whoo! Whoo! The big, big shout-out for Derek.

And who more supported Charlie's syrupy Syrupsity? Charlie Demers! Oh my goodness. It's so close. It is so close. I can't do it to either of them. It's inconclusive. We have a tie, ladies and gentlemen. A tie, syrup, and honey. Thank you, after Derek's again, Charlie DeBeers. You're listening to CBC Radio's The Debaters.

Want access to bonus content and information on upcoming tour dates? Then be sure to follow us on Instagram at atcbcdebaters.com We're all looking for great places to visit in Canada. One of my favorites is the Stratford Festival. The theatre is truly of the highest caliber and there's so much selection. They have 11 large-scale shows on stage and trust me, whatever is on when you're there will be exceptional. People always think Shakespeare when they think of Stratford, but it's so much more.

Broadway musicals, family shows, classic comedy and drama. Whether it's Robert LaPage's Macbeth or Donna Fiora's Annie, you will be blown away. It's the perfect Canadian getaway. To quote William Shatner, who got his start in Stratford, every Canadian should make the pilgrimage to Stratford. Start your next adventure at StratfordFestival.ca. At Desjardins Insurance, we know that when you own a nail salon, everything needs to be perfect, from tip to toe.

That's why our agents go the extra mile to understand your business and provide tailored solutions for all its unique needs. You put your heart into your company, so we put our heart into making sure it's protected. Get insurance that's really big on care. Find an agent today at Desjardins.com slash business coverage. Hey, Winnipeg, I just have one question for you. Are you ready to meet your next pair of debaters? Let's do it. Looking forward to this!

This comic likes to be addressed as Sir Henry. It's Edmonton, Alberta's Henry Sir! Welcome Henry! There he is! Making his way to the podium to my left. Hey Steve. Hi Henry. Hey man. And this comic wants a discount on a big yacht but keeps missing all the big sales. It's Vancouver's Erika Sigurdsson!

There she is! One of our very favorite Erika Sigurdsson making her way across the stage. Hi Steve. All right debaters, your topic is one that will keep you up all night. Sleepovers. Sleepovers.

Sleepovers. Sleepovers. Sleepovers. Are they the most fun you can have with friends? Even though I have some very good friends, I have very few sleepovers. Though I have been known to have a fun night out with buddies and then oversleep. Kidding. I have two young daughters.

I never oversleep. My daughters are entering prime sleepover age now, so they're starting to have friends stay overnight and they laugh and they talk all night long, which means for my wife Nancy and I, sleep is over. But it's time now for us to turn in a dream debate. So whereas it can be a great bonding experience that provides endless enjoyment and memories, be it resolved, nothing's more fun than a sleepover.

Henry, sir, you are arguing for this, please. We have two minutes starting now. Henry, sir! Yes. Thank you. Steve Winnipeg, many top philosophers have said friendship is the greatest gift of all. What greater joy is there than time spent with dear friends? Nothing consummates a friendship like a sleepover.

Looking at your dear friend saying, hey, I prefer life a lot better when we're together, so why don't we stick it out through the cold, dark night? Sleepovers are the platonic friend equivalent of going all the way. It's the anticipation, the buildup. We made plans on Monday, and it's all I've been able to think about. There's the payoff, gleefully giggling the night away without a worry in the world, playing, watching movies, staying up later than usual in hopes of even a glimpse of nudity on the showcase review.

Sleepovers are social progress. And what's more fun than self-improvement? I grew up in Alberta in the 90s, a time where we ignorantly and shamefully called everything gay. Reading a book? What, are you trying to expand your mind like a lady, bud? Smoke a pack of cigarettes? Get in the forklift, bud! There's no time to call anything gay.

At a sleepover, we're already in our boxers in the same waterbed. There's a lava lamp on next to said waterbed. Thank you, Winnipeg. Thank you, Winnipeg. Thank you, Steve. Henry Serves! With his first debate opening for us. And he has really put sleepovers in a whole new light for me.

Now, here to tell us why she always chooses sleep over a sleepover, let's hear from Erica Sigerton. Thank you. Thank you. My opponent wants you to believe sleepovers are good fun. What he isn't telling you is one out of every two children at a sleepover will be murdered in their sleep. Now, of course this isn't true, but it is an example of the rampant misinformation shared between children at a sleepover. Sending your child to a sleepover is akin to sending them to a Trump rally. They come back to you full of lies and undercooked hot dogs.

Fun fact about me, I wet the bed until eighth grade. Let me tell you, sleepovers were a dangerous game. There's no discreet way to hang a sleeping bag outside of a cabin at summer camp. When you wet the bed at a sleepover, you always claim someone must have put your hand in warm water, which is a lie you really have to commit to when it's just you and one other kid. Who are sleepovers fun for? Definitely not the parents hosting it. There's always a weird kid with food sensitivities and the other one that stopped drinking liquids

after 4 p.m. Now they have a raspy voice from dehydration. Call my mom. I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature,

I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, I'm in my mid-nature, were the knockoff pumpkin patch kids who had pink hair and an eye patch. Mine was named Bambi, like they knew she'd grow up to be a stripper. I was a bedwetting child with type 1 diabetes who arrived at every sleepover with insulin needles, blood tests, and no concept of the biohazards I was causing. a bedwetting child with type 1 diabetes who arrived at every sleepover with insulin needles, blood tests, and no concept of the biohazards I was causing.

Wake up, people. Sleepovers are for suckers. Thank you. Erica Sigurdsson, the very passionate argument against sleepovers. It is time now for the Bare Knuckle Round. We're debating whether nothing beats a sleepover. So don't be afraid to tell the truth or dare to tell some popcorn-y jokes.

Don't let sleeping bags lie. Instead, make blanket statements. So wake up and prove your opponent is full of sheets, starting now. Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!

Woo! Woo! Uh, Henry, I think we need to be talking about these sleepovers you were going on where you were consummating. Like, nothing at a child's sleepover should involve consummating. That's the rule. I and by rule I mean law I

Take a lot of issue with what you're saying quite frankly you talk about the misinformation the innocent lies That's part of what's fun about a sleepover. Like what do you want him to talk about like the truth? The cruel horrible truth of what lies ahead in life? Hey, you want to have fun and play games that require imagination? Nah, let's make LinkedIn accounts so we can network. Yeah, that's good. I don't know what happened at Boy Sleepovers,

but I would have killed it if I had a LinkedIn page. You talk about how sleepovers aren't fun for parents. Maybe if parents had a sleepover every now and then, their idea of fun wouldn't just be comparing mortgage interest rates and complaining about how much time they don't have for fun because of the kids they wanted to have so bad who are so busy trying to have fun with sleepovers Try that

Wow, that sounds real personal and maybe your parents could have had more fun if they didn't have two horny 11 year old snuggling Yeah, all night Said what I said I do have to give you respect though because as a bed wet, former bed wetter I should say. I think we're gonna leave it right there. That's the Baron up around everybody. No shame. There's no shame, Erica. I thought, should I let her go on or not? And then I thought, depends.

One point for me. I'm taking a point. All right. It's time now for the firing line. In my hand I have a list of questions on sleepovers brought to you by Sleep Unders. Not a lot of people know this. Sleep Unders are what they call sleepovers in Australia. In Good Housekeeping dot com's list of 40 fun things to do at a sleepover, number one is create a scavenger hunt. What is number two? Henry?

Keeping liquids away from Erica. create a scavenger hunt. What is number two? Henry? Keeping liquids away from Erica. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Two points. Erica? Calling your parents to come pick you up when they were right in the middle of role play. And now dad has to explain why he's in a tennis dress. Not from personal experience. Let me just... No, that's not what I have here.

Number one is create a scavenger hunt. Number two is have an at-home drive-in movie. Fun! Number two is have an at-home drive-in movie. Fun. In 2014, England set what sleepover-related Guinness World Record? Erica. St. Patrick's Day. I like that.

Three points. Henry. England? Is that what you said? Yes. World's longest dental procedure. That was an over bit. In England, they set the Guinness World Record for the largest sleepover with 2,004 participants.

They also had a multi-year sleepover with the rest of Europe and then left. Childmind.org's list of steps to make your child feel brave enough to go for a sleepover includes have a camp out at home, sleepover at a relative's house, and what else? Erica. Watch Karate Kid. Showing the Karate Kid pose and still the crowd not believing her. Henry? I just like drop them off in the wrong part of town and see if they get home. Toughing them up.

They do parenting different in Alberta, don't they? You can, if you want to help your child feel brave enough to go for a sleepover, you can be the host of the first sleepover with a friend. Huh? That's the firing line, everybody! It's a close one as we head down the homestretch here at the jubilant Jubilee Place Theatre in Winnipeg, and it's almost time to pick a winner. But first, here to remind us why to her a sleepover means when you don't snooze, you lose.

Let's hear again from the very, Erica Sigurdsson. I know a lot of parents in the audience are thinking, but what about a sleepover at Grandma's house, Erica? You can't think those are bad. Well, you'd be wrong. Grandma doesn't believe in nightlights, and her bedtime stories are about living through the war. LAUGHTER She always chucks you in that guest room slash sewing room with the wonky lamp. Your five-year-old body pinned down by a 70-pound wool blanket.

LAUGHTER Laying in the dark thinking, Oh, the Germans coming, Nana. LAUGHTER APPLAUSE laying in the dark thinking, oh, the German's coming, Nana. And then just as you're drifting off, you look up at that shelf and you see them, the doll eyes staring down at you. Well, Winnipeg, those are memories I am still paying my therapist to forget. at you. Well, Winnipeg, those are memories I am still paying my therapist to forget.

Thank you. Erica Sigurdsson. Very vivid. Good point. Thank you, Erica. Now, here to tell us that anyone who's against sleepovers should wake up and smell the coffee, it's Henry Serr. Woo!

should wake up and smell the coffee, it's Henry Sir. (*applause*) Sleepovers are specifically designed for fun and literally nothing else. Most fun events have a fun loophole in them. Going to see your favorite band, it sounds fun until the guy ahead of you sings along out of key the whole time, doesn't know the words and you have to be like, hey man, those aren't the lyrics to Nickelback's photograph, show some respect.

Let Shag Kroger sing. You're not finding this at a sleepover. World peace would be attainable if our political leaders would cozy up to the other, slip on some PJs, put on the showcase review and bask in the glory of fellowship. Thank you. Henry's serve.

Yeah. This argument just got a lot bigger. Audience, it is up to you to decide, if you can, who thought that Henry's argument made an excellent pillowcase in favor of sleepovers. Henry's serve. Okay. made an excellent pillowcase in favor of sleepovers, Henry Sir. A lot of support for Henry. And who agreed with Erica that anyone who supports sleepovers is just asleep at the wheel, Erica Sigurdsson. The audience has spoken. The winner is Erica Sigurdsson.

Down with the sleepovers. Big hand for Erica Sigurdsson. Down with the sleepovers. Big hand for Erica Sigurdsson and the debut of Henry Sur, everybody. Well, that's all for this week. I'm Steve Patterson saying if you're sleeping over at a friend's house soon, remember to BYOTFGS. Bring your own toothbrush for God's

sakes. I'll argue with you again soon, Canada. Good night! The Debaters is created by Richard Side. This week's episode was produced by Nicole Callender, Chloe Edbrook, Dean Jenkinson, and Graham Clark. With continuity by Graham Clark, Diana Francis, and Gary Jones. Technical production by James Perella and Lloyd Peterson.

Story editing by Gary Jones. With special thanks to Katie Ellen Humphries, David Pride and Emily Ferrier. Executive producer of CBC Radio Comedy is Lee Pitts. And thanks to everyone at the Jubilee Place Theatre and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.