Best Michael Hepburn Podcasts (2025)

Every year, several of our sixth formers run clubs and teach lessons in local state primaries. In this episode Michael talks with two of his students who were teaching debating last year, what they learned, what they loved and what were the challenges.By Michael Hepburn

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The 7 baby steps to becoming an amazing oracy school 23:42

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1M ago23:42

23:42

Inspired by Dave Ramsey, Kate and Michael discuss the seven steps to making your school a thriving hub of oracy.By Michael Hepburn

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Oxbridge Interviews- A how to (Re-issue) 59:05

2M ago59:05

59:05

Kate obtained a congratulatory first, a masters and a PhD at Oxford. During her time as a postgrad she was an interviewer for her college. In this episode, Michael picks her brain about Oxbridge interviews, how debating can help and some of the biggest mistakes students make with interviews. Kate also runs our 'Oxbridge Hub' which is a partnership …

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Framing 22:11

2M ago22:11

22:11

In this episode, Michael & Kate discuss 'framing' which can also be thought of as 'context setting'.By Michael Hepburn

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Opening Lines 53:48

3M ago53:48

53:48

Kate & Michael discuss opening lines. First looking at great opening lines in literature, we then discuss how to have a great opening line for public speaking and how to use opening lines in competitive debating.By Michael Hepburn

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Points of Information 1:17:09

3M ago1:17:09

1:17:09

In this episode, Kate & Michael discuss POIs, the short interjections that you are allowed to offer in almost all forms of debating. How to give them, take them, their importance and their applications in real life.By Michael Hepburn

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Rebuttal 47:57

4M ago47:57

47:57

In this episode, Michael & Kate dive deep on responding to and defeating arguments in competitive debating. To attend our debating summer camp for ages 12-16 click here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-hampstead-debate-academy-summer-camp-age-12-to-16-tickets-1394411475259?aff=oddtdtcreator To attend our debating summer camp for ages 9-11 clic…

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Impacting & Weighing 45:52

5M ago45:52

45:52

In this episode, Kate & Michael discuss the importance of 'why important' - more commonly called impacting. We also look at 'why more important' and 'why most important' commonly called weighing.By Michael Hepburn

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Adolescence- How to discuss in schools with Laura Coryton 59:17

6M ago59:17

59:17

In a special episode, Michael sits down with Laura Coryton MBE to discuss how schools can have productive conversations around the themes raised in the smash hit show Adolescence. Laura is the founder and director of the relationships and sex ed social enterprise 'Sex Ed Matters', the author of 'Speak Up!' and a prominent activist and campaigner. R…

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Analysis 52:33

7M ago52:33

52:33

In the second episode of season 2 Kate & Michael discuss how to properly 'analyse' (explain/justify) points to make compelling and persuasive arguments. We cover chains, chunking, characterisation, analogy, intuition pumps and micro comparisons.By Michael Hepburn

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Coming Up With Points 1:00:36

8M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

In this first episode of season 2, Kate & Michael discuss the tips and tricks of coming up with arguments, the most fundamentals and important skill in debating. Season 2 will focus on a different skill each episode.By Michael Hepburn

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Goal setting for competitive debaters 47:05

8M ago47:05

47:05

In our first episode of 2025, Kate & Michael decided to talk about goal setting! How to set goals as a debaters that actually help you improve, how to know if you are being realistic. What to focus on to improve, and more!By Michael Hepburn

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2024 Wrapped Part 2- Favourite Motions 40:48

10M ago40:48

40:48

In part two of our recap of 2024, Kate & Michael discuss some of our favourite motions we have seen and set, what we like about them and what they can tell us about what makes a good motion.By Michael Hepburn

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Death of a Name | Reviving a Mobit 42:05

10M ago42:05

42:05

What do you think will be the top baby names of 2025? Will "Mildred" make a comeback? What’s in a name…that makes it popular to one generation, and downright ugly to the next? From "Bertha" and "Layla" to "Reagan" and "Katrina," history shows us that politics, pop songs and news events all play roles in sending baby names skyrocketing or plunging i…

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Marlene Dietrich Goes To War | Reviving a Mobit 13:07

10M ago13:07

13:07

We’re celebrating the birthday month of the iconic Marlene Deitrich by revisiting a special episode from the "Mobituaries" audiobook. Marlene Dietrich cemented her status as a Hollywood legend with a series of iconic performances that flouted traditional women's roles and ignited the screen. But it's her passionate support for the United States, he…

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2024 Wrapped Part 1- What we learned and highlights 53:05

10M ago53:05

53:05

In this episode Kate & Michael discuss a year in debating. We cover some of the things we have learned over the past 12 months and some of the highlights of 2024. Mentioned in this episode are several resources including our Games Packs and cases for our Ethics Championship which are titled 'A little bit of Ethics'. All these resources can be found…

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Sammy Davis Jr.: Death of the Entertainer | Reviving a Mobit 50:15

10M ago50:15

50:15

This week, we’re celebrating the birthday of the legendary Sammy Davis Jr. by revisiting a special Mobit. From the age of three Sammy Davis, Jr. did it all better than anyone else - singing, dancing, acting, even gun spinning. Mo talks to friends and family about what drove him to keep performing, even after the car crash that nearly killed him. Fe…

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Debate Partners- A how to 36:43

10M ago36:43

36:43

This is a reissue of an earlier episode featuring two of our very successful sixth form debaters discussing how to succeed with a variety of partners, how important long term debate partnerships are and how to adapt to partners.By Michael Hepburn

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Wishbone: Death of a Working Dog | Reviving a Mobit 37:12

10M ago37:12

37:12

This week marks 8 years since the finale of the beloved series "Wishbone". In the 1990s, PBS introduced young audiences to a canine star like none other: a Jack Russell terrier who imagined himself as characters from classic works of literature. The show was called Wishbone. Today there's a whole generation of adults who were first weaned on Mark T…

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Neanderthals: Death of a Human Species | Reviving a Mobit 41:23

11M ago41:23

41:23

Did you know November 9 is National Neanderthal Appreciation Day? Reivist this episode where Mo welcomes his friend Michael Ian Black – comedian, author, podcaster, and, as it turns out, Neanderthal (we’ll explain). Mo talks to Michael and the world’s leading researchers about why our extinct human cousins Neanderthals have gotten such a bad rap fo…

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What makes a good schools debating competition? 36:14

11M ago36:14

36:14

In this episode- originally an unplanned 'emergency pod' Kate & Michael discuss all the new competitions cropping up on the circuit, the move to more schools running their own competitions and what makes a competition successful.By Michael Hepburn

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Sitcom Deaths and Disappearances | Reviving a Mobit 40:05

11M ago40:05

40:05

In honor of the anniversary of the first-ever sitcom broadcast on a U.S. television network (fun fact: it was "Mary Kay and Johnny" back in November 1947), we're revisiting "Sitcom Deaths and Disappearances." Characters on sitcoms aren't supposed to die. So when they do, it's never less than weird. Mo examines some of the most infamous sitcom death…

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'I've judged over 200 finals' 42:31

11M ago42:31

42:31

In this episode Michael chats to Craig McDonald, one of the most experienced debate judges on the planet about all things judging.By Michael Hepburn

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How to smash an Oxbridge interview (re-issue) 1:00:04

12M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

This is a re-issue of episode 19 in which Kate (who holds a first class undergrad and a PhD from Oxford and heads up South Hampstead's Oxbridge programme) discusses with Michael how Oxbridge applications work, how to do well in interviews, and how debating can help.By Michael Hepburn

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Sitting down with team England 31:18

1y ago31:18

31:18

In this episode Michael sits down for a conversation with three of the team England debaters who took part in the 2024 world championships in Serbia. We discuss their experiences at the tournament and what it takes to speak for your country.By Michael Hepburn

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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Speaker Series 1:03:49

1y ago1:03:49

1:03:49

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe spent over 5 years in an Iranian jail having committed no crime. In this special Speaker Series, Nazanin sits down with Anna Paul and a live audience and discusses the experience, what Boris Johnson said to her after she returned, and the women she met during her imprisonment.…

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Alexa, will you marry me? 7:51

1y ago7:51

7:51

This is a speech given at South Hampstead High School in 2024 by a year 11 student to an audience of roughly 1000. It has great examples of humour, repetition and juxtaposition of tone.By Michael Hepburn

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The principles of a running a great debate club part two (Re-issue) 48:44

1y ago48:44

48:44

For motions, resources and competitions, check out www.debatehub.co.ukBy Michael Hepburn

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The principles of a running a great debate club (Re-issue) 35:58

1y ago35:58

35:58

With the new academic year fast approaching, we are re-publishing one of our most popular episodes. In the first half, Kate and Michael discuss some of the key principles to running a successful debate club. Remember our website debatehub.co.uk is jam packed with lesson plans, debate topics and instructional videos to help your club thrive!…

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The Global Issues Oracy Project 21:02

1y ago21:02

21:02

Michael sits down with Zoe Brass to discuss the global issues oracy project ran recently at South Hampstead High School.By Michael Hepburn

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Year 12s coaching year 5s 24:37

1y ago24:37

24:37

In this episode, two of our year 12s discuss their experience of running debate clubs for year 5s in some of our local state schools.By Michael Hepburn

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Public Speaking Competitions- Part 2 34:53

1+ y ago34:53

34:53

In part two of our bumper long episode about public speaking competitions, Michael & Kate discuss the importance of the 'compere' role and all the skills it brings, as well as why we let students have complete free reign on topic choice.By Michael Hepburn

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Public Speaking Competitions- Part 1 37:12

1+ y ago37:12

37:12

In the first half of this bumper episode, Michael & Kate discuss the format Debate Hub uses for our public speaking competitions, the reasons we designed it this way and how schools can replicate either our model or the principles behind it.By Michael Hepburn

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The Oracy Conference 18:10

1+ y ago18:10

18:10

The South Hampstead Oracy conference takes place July 6th 2024. In this episode, Michael and Kate give a brief overview of what the conference is, who it's aimed at and why you should attend.By Michael Hepburn

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Literary Frontierswoman: Laura Ingalls Wilder 20:35

1+ y ago20:35

20:35

This special episode comes from the audiobook edition of ROCTOGENARIANS, a brand-new collection of stories from Mo Rocca that celebrates the triumphs of people who made their biggest marks late in life. Chances are, you know something about the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. If, like sixty million other people, you once enjoyed the Little House book…

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State Schools & Team England 34:56

1+ y ago34:56

34:56

In this episode we sit down with Cesca Reynolds, who runs the 'development squads' wing of England's national debate team, as well as her own organisation 'Impart.' Development squads is designed to help more state school students trial and speak for the England team. You can apply here: - https://forms.gle/ZURg2py7m4SiKxGw5 Cesca can be contacted …

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Primary Head & Author, Zoe Paramour 29:34

1+ y ago29:34

29:34

Zoe Paramour is the author of 3 education books: The Writing Book, The Grammar Book & How to be an Outstanding Primary Middle Leader. She has also been instrumental in the debating programme at South Hampstead Junior School and has a lot of thoughts on primary school oracy.By Michael Hepburn

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Oxbridge Interviews 1:00:04

1+ y ago1:00:04

1:00:04

An in-depth discussion about the Oxbridge application process: admissions tests, what they really want to read in your personal statement and the dreaded interviews. How can debating help students prepare and what else can teachers and students do to maximise their chances of admission?By Michael Hepburn

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The principles of a great debate club- part 2 48:44

1+ y ago48:44

48:44

Part 2 of our bumper length discussion about the most important aspects of running a great debate clubBy Michael Hepburn

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The principles of a great debate club- part 1 35:58

1+ y ago35:58

35:58

In part 1 of this bumper episode, Kate and Michael discuss the principles that are key to success in a debate club and how to practically implement them in your club.By Michael Hepburn

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Rapid Improvement in year 10 26:53

1+ y ago26:53

26:53

In this episode Michael and Kate talk to two year 11 students who both improved hugely during their year 10 and are now reaping the rewards as they break and win at seniors competitions.By Michael Hepburn

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Physics, Classics, English & Econ discuss how to use debate in the classroom 43:40

1+ y ago43:40

43:40

In this week's episode Michael is joined not only by Kate but two of our colleagues from Physics and Classics, to discuss how to use debates and other oracy activities to enhance teaching, even if you don't have a debate background as a teacher.By Michael Hepburn