#668 - Dogma Debate Reflection

After more than a decade of debates, thousands of hours of conversations, and countless guests, one question keeps coming up:Is Dogma Debate dead?In this episode, David Smalley explains why Dogma Debate slowed down, what changed in the debate landscape, and why stand-up comedy, content creation, and the rise of TikTok debate culture made the original format increasingly difficult to sustain. He shares behind-the-scenes stories about booking guests, producing the show, dealing with debate fatigue, and why so many potential guests stopped accepting invitations.David also discusses possible futures for Dogma Debate, including:

• Research-focused conversations instead of traditional debates
• Fact-checking and investigating claims together in real time
• Reacting to news stories and current events
• Revisiting classic Dogma Debate episodes
• The challenge of finding guests willing to engage honestly

Most importantly, he reflects on what made the show successful in the first place: a commitment to evidence, critical thinking, and following the facts wherever they lead.  Topics Covered:

• Why Dogma Debate slowed down
• Debate burnout and repetition
• TikTok debate culture
• Ben Shapiro, Bill O’Reilly, and high-profile guests
• The hidden workload behind podcast production
• Research vs debate
• Future directions for the show
• Comedy, purpose, and creative fulfillment

If Dogma Debate returns, it may look very different than before.But the search for truth isn’t going anywhere.