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?