Interview with MBA & National Impromptu Champion Mo Marks

Check out the condensed version of this interview on our website extempers.org!  Interview Timestamps:  0:00 - Introduction to Mo Marks. 0:35 - How did you got started in extemp? 1:20 - What specific qualities drove you to extemp? 3:11 - What was that aha! moment where everything clicked and you realized that you could be successful in this activity? 5:03 - Who were your extemp role models & whose speaking styles did you most appreciate? 7:10 - Mo’s harrowing source check story with Olivia Shoemaker. 8:40 - What was it like going to Roosevelt in the wake of Jacob Thompson, Lily Nellans, and Nathan Leys? 10:10 - Are there any particularly good or bad questions you remember drawing throughout your extemp career? 13:13 - Do you have any books or pieces of theory that you really enjoy using in extemp speeches? 17:27 - How do you answer really broad questions in extemp? 18:57 - What has been the most helpful piece of advice you’ve received in your extemp career? 23:17 - What are you favorite sources to read in extemp? 25:15 - What are some structural changes / rule changes you’d like to see in extemp? 28:28 - Why Mo doesn’t like autofilers. 29:14 - How did you win the most prestigious extemp round robin in the nation (MBA)? 35:28 - MBA is known for its very creative questions. Are there any really memorable questions that stand out from the round robin? 40:15 - One of the experimental rounds you discussed allowed extempers to write their own questions. What was the weirdest question you remember someone writing? 41:41 - How do answer really specific questions while still having relevant & up-to-date sources? 44:20 - You’re someone who comes from a smaller school. Do you have any pieces of advice for other extempers who come from smaller schools? 48:16 - What has been your proudest extemp achievement? 50:45 - If you didn’t extemp, what event would you do? 54:07 - Mo’s funny story on how she unintentionally got into informative speaking & wrote her info days before the tournament. 59:26 - What are you future plans now that you’ve graduated high school?