Making the Most of the Off-Season
If you’re like most people, summer means beaches, ice c […] The post Making the Most of the Off-Season appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticleTo All the Type A’s
You’re not all Type A. But a lot of you are. And so am […] The post To All the Type A’s appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticleDestroy the Arena; Win the Game
Any Hunger Games fans out there? We don’t own any […] The post Destroy the Arena; Win the Game appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View Article009 – How to give effective criticism (podcast)
Cumulatively, Isaiah and Nathan have given feedback professionally for over 15 years. In this episode, they reach into the past and discuss the secret sauce that makes their criticism pop. The post 009...
View Article30 Things a 15-Year-Old Dude Would Say
If you missed PHC Debate Camp this year, you missed som […] The post 30 Things a 15-Year-Old Dude Would Say appeared first on Ethos Publications.
View ArticleWhy your judges are out to get you “for no reason”
Picture us both holding a mug of tea, sitting on a comfy couch, and having a nice chat about your fears and insecurities. You share with me—as many, many students have—that “judges are out to get me:...
View ArticleA Glossary of Normalized Debate Terms
For a skill that hinges on unblurred communication, debating can be brutally muddled. Thank unexplained debate jargon, thrown around in every speech. In the 20th century, cultivated primarily by guides...
View ArticleDebate^2
You've been debating to a negative exponent. Multiplying your skills in the reverse of a positive direction. And your debates have been sub-par, missing the great purpose of debate. Have you ever...
View ArticleWhy 5th Graders Shouldn’t Debate
Bright-eyed, bright-minded, bright future. Brae is one of my weekly students. He’s like most of you. Eager to spot logical fallacies, quick to provide well-researched evidence for his beliefs, hopes to...
View ArticleThe World’s Most Memorable Judging Philosophy
I always tell my debate students that you should absolutely ask your judge at the beginning of the debate round to tell you a little bit about their background, experience, and/or expectations. But...
View ArticleDear Insecure Debater…
Dear insecure debater, I grappled with your deep-seated uncertainty for much of my debate career. The brooding fear that, while you appear controlled and composed, in some pivotal moment, your...
View ArticleWhen Did Ignorance Become Cool?
[Author’s note: For competitive debaters and coaches, even though this article does not specifically address debate, I write it for you in application of Isaiah’s thoughts here. While we may be...
View ArticleWhen doing the scary thing turns out good
About 4 months ago, I had the opportunity to speak in front of 1,500 people on a massive stage. I had only 2 minutes to prep (the prep had to be done up on the stage) and I had to speak for 5 minutes....
View ArticleVideo: Why I think Your Worldview Should be in Debate
Have you ever quoted a philosopher in a debate round? Like Aristotle, Rawls, or John Locke? These people tried to make sense of the world by discussing the deep things. Some in the sub-culture of...
View ArticleCommunity Judges #1 – The Necessity of Community Judges
You didn’t break. Or you were eliminated in a crucial outround. Or you barely lost in finals. You charge to ballot retrieval, seize your manila envelope, and frantically rifle through until you find...
View ArticleNever Lose The Same Way Twice
“I will never lose the same way twice.” Earlier in my career, when I would receive that horrible fifth and below circle on my speech ballots or when I’d lose a round, I would blame it on some judge...
View ArticleWhy You Should Debate Transparently
The ancient Greek philosopher and rhetorician Gorgias was a very talented orator. He was so persuasive that he said he could persuade people into believing him through charlatanry, which led to the...
View ArticleMy Story: How Debate Prepared Me for a Marketing Career
When I was fourteen, I was a computer nerd. I would grab 1,000-page behemoth books about programming and shred through them. My computery world went upside down when my mom met a fellow homeschool,...
View ArticleFailure is the Best Path to Success
This is it. This is what you’ve been waiting for. The stage is set. You’ve been wanting to debate in finals for two years, and now you finally get your chance. As you walk up the steps to take your...
View ArticleA Manifesto for Debate Training: Not What, But Why
Editor’s Note: As Isaiah steps down as CEO, Head Coach, and Leader of Ethos, it seems rather prudent to publish this post, which embodies everything Isaiah taught and will continue to teach. This idea...
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