The Havoc Rundown

Hunter Bro Studios
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Hobbies
  • Updated Weekly

The ultimate podcast for all things combat robotics. From underground grudge matches to world-stage championships, The Havoc Rundown covers the full spectrum of competitive robot combat. Hosted by seasoned event staffers and builders, we break down fights, preview major events, and dig deep into the engineering, chaos, and creativity that fuel the sport. We interview builders, organizers, innovators, and legends from every corner of the combat robotics world. Whether you're a veteran of the pits or just discovered bots hit harder than your favorite sports team—this is your front-row seat to

  1. 2d ago

    Rundown Roundtable: Battlebots Pro League Kickoff

    BattleBots is back, and there is a LOT to talk about. Justin, Ryan, Thomas, Tony, and Chey sit down for a Rundown Roundtable covering the opening round of the new BattleBots Pro League, including our thoughts on the new YouTube format, production and editing changes, tap-out buttons, the faster tournament structure, and how this new era compares to the Discovery days. Then we get into the robots. - Has Tombstone finally been surpassed by the modern heavyweight meta?- Is Manta the bot to beat?- How did Switchback become one of the most improved robots in the field? - Are The Twins proof that heavyweight multibots can actually work? - What happens when Witch Doctor takes on an AI-assisted Orbitron? Plus, we talk Magnitude, Malice, End Game, HUGE, HyperShock, Copperhead, Jackpot, Minotaur, Bloodsport, Teratops, Valkyrie, Golden Fury, Death Roll, Disarray, Cobalt and plenty more from the opening episodes. We also dig into how rapidly combat robotics is evolving, why some veteran machines are suddenly struggling against newer designs, and what BattleBots could do to make the Pro League presentation even better as the season continues. ⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This episode discusses results from the first four episodes of BattleBots Pro League. 🌐 Havoc Rundown: https://havocrundown.com/en ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHavocRundown Listen, subscribe, and let us know which bot you think is taking the Pro League crown. 🤖💥

  2. Jul 30

    S3E13: Heading North to Talk Bot Brawl with Ravi Baboolal

    We’re heading north for the latest stop in our Around the World series! Justin, Ryan, Thomas, and Tony are joined by Ravi Baboolal, founder of Bot Brawl Canada and former BattleBots competitor with LYCAN and RED DEVIL, for an inside look at the past, present, and future of Canadian combat robotics. Ravi takes us back to Bot Brawl’s beginnings at Maker Expo, explains why its massive 30-pound and 150-pound sumo robots have become such a crowd favorite, and shares how the organization has grown into a thriving builder-first community. We also explore the BBRL fight-night format, Bot Brawl’s new event-management and national ELO ranking systems, the affiliate program helping smaller events across Canada, and the long-term roadmap toward 30-pound combat and a national championship. Along the way, we discuss the generosity that defines the combat robotics community, Canadian versus American design culture, spring-loaded weapon concepts, dream international matchups, the technologies shaping the next generation of fighting robots, and, inevitably, the proper construction of poutine. A huge thank-you to Ravi for joining us and sharing the story behind Bot Brawl Canada! Learn more about Bot Brawl Canada:https://www.botbrawl.ca/https://www.youtube.com/@BotBrawlCanadaVisit Havoc Rundown for episodes, merch, community links, and more:https://havocrundown.com/en

  3. Jul 17

    S3E12: "When Robot Combat Runs in the Family" Featuring Matt and Jason Vasquez

    In this episode of Havoc Rundown, we sit down with Matt and Jason Vasquez to talk about what happens when robot combat truly runs in the family. From growing up around their father’s robots to building and competing with Whiplash, Lil Lash, Defender, and 0-0, Matt and Jason share how their relationship as brothers has shaped the way they design, prepare, and compete. We also dive into the history of Whiplash, the evolution of their control-focused driving style, the pressures of working with family in the pits, and what may be next for the Vasquez brothers in combat robotics. Plus, Ryan’s Game Corner puts everyone through a snake-style robot draft featuring the best names, biggest trendsetters, and most underrated bots in the sport. A huge thank you to Matt and Jason Vasquez for joining us and sharing their family’s history, experiences, and perspective on the world of combat robotics. Visit our website for episodes, merch, links, and everything Havoc Rundown:havocrundown.com Follow Havoc Rundown on social media for episode announcements, clips, community discussions, and more combat robotics content. #HavocRundown #CombatRobotics #BattleBots #Whiplash #MattVasquez #JasonVasquez #LilLash #Defender #ZeroZero #RobotCombat #FightingRobots #Podcast #RoboticsFamily

  4. Jun 26

    S3E11: Branding the Bots with Hotkoin and Tom Farkas

    This week on Havoc Rundown, we’re joined by artist Hotkoin for a conversation about the creative side of combat robotics: logos, stickers, character designs, team branding, robot silhouettes, and why the look of a bot can matter just as much as what happens when the weapon spins up. Hotkoin has created artwork seen all across the combat robotics community, including team logos, robot art, stickers, and the official Havoc Rundown logo and rebrand artwork. We talk about how builders can make their bots more memorable, where art and engineering overlap, how a robot’s personality helps tell its story, and why sometimes the weirdest ideas are the ones people remember. We also kick things off with Ryan’s Game Corner, where the crew gets trapped in a very suspicious wizard room, drinks questionable potions, and solves a puzzle in the least intended way possible. Huge thank you to Hotkoin for joining us and for helping shape the visual identity of this show. Thank you as well to Tom Farkas for jumping in as our fifth chair and bringing the builder perspective to the conversation. Check out Hotkoin’s art here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotkoin/?hl=enArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/hotkoinBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hotkoin.bsky.socialTumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/hotkoin Make sure to check out everything Havoc Rundown has going on at https://havocrundown.com/en, including episodes, links, merch, fantasy league info, socials, and more. Follow, subscribe, share the episode, and keep supporting the builders, artists, and beautiful weirdos making combat robotics such an incredible community.

  5. Jun 5 ·  Bonus

    Rundown Roundtable: An Interview with NHRL and DAZN

    In this special Havoc Rundown Roundtable, Justin Hunter, Ryan Hunter, Tony Baker, and Thomas Carrol sit down with Kelly Biderman, CEO of NHRL, and Ed Cracknell from DAZN to discuss one of the biggest developments in combat robotics in recent memory: the partnership between NHRL and DAZN. Over the course of this conversation, we explore how the partnership came together, what attracted DAZN to combat robotics, and what both organizations hope to achieve as they work to grow the sport on a global stage. We also discuss audience growth, builder recognition, storytelling, content strategy, sponsorship opportunities, international expansion, and what the future of combat robotics could look like over the next several years. This discussion was shaped in part by questions submitted by the combat robotics community, and we'd like to thank everyone who participated in our mailbag. A huge thank you to Kelly and Ed for taking the time to join us and provide insight into the future of NHRL and the sport as a whole. Check out the rest of our episodes and interviews at our website: https://havocrundown.com/en

  6. Jun 3

    S3E10: Deadrise, DAZN, and the Future of Pro Combat Robotics

    This episode on The Havoc Rundown, we’re diving into one of the biggest weekends in modern combat robotics: the first-ever NHRL Pro Tour event. Justin, Ryan, Thomas, Tony, and special fifth-chair guest Julian Papasian break down the atmosphere, format, fights, production, and what this new pro-style event could mean for the future of the sport. We also sit down with Joe Copenhaver, builder and driver of Deadrise, to talk about competing on the Pro Tour stage, controlled chaos in the cage, his background in robotics and engineering, and what makes Deadrise such a dangerous machine in the 30-pound division. Huge thanks to Joe for joining us, sharing his stories, and giving us an inside look at the event from a builder’s perspective. Check out everything Havoc Rundown at https://havocrundown.com/en, including our merch store with shirts, hats, jerseys, and more. New merch is dropping regularly, so go grab some gear and support the show. Share this episode with your team, your friends, your local builders, or anyone who loves combat robotics. We’ll see you in the arena.

  7. May 27

    S3E9: College Robotics, Late Nights & the Next Generation of Builders

    This week on Havoc Rundown, we’re doing something a little different with our official College Robotics special. Justin, Ryan, Thomas, and Tony are joined by graduating builders Evan Rosenblatt and Ezequiel Gonzalez Solano from WPI, Samuel Herman and Daphne Yan from Brandeis University, and Ian Talbert from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for a roundtable on what it’s really like balancing combat robotics with college life. We talk about how each guest found their way into the sport, the robots they started with, late nights in the lab, team culture, machine shop access, passing knowledge down to younger builders, and what changes after graduation when the school resources are no longer right down the hall. Plus, Ryan puts everyone through a quick college-themed Game Corner, we dig into the differences between the WPI, Brandeis, and Rose-Hulman build styles, and we answer listener mailbag questions from the community. Huge thanks to Evan, Ezequiel, Sam, Daphne, and Ian for joining us and sharing their stories. The future of combat robotics is looking terrifyingly well-educated. For more episode, merch and more check out our website: https://havocrundown.com/en

  8. May 7

    S3 E8: Return of the Evil Henchman ft Sam Hanson

    This episode on Havoc Rundown, the crew sits down with NHRL’s own “Evil Henchman” Sam Hanson for a massive behind-the-scenes look at how combat robotics content gets made, how NHRL has evolved over the last few years, and what fans can expect as the Pro League era begins. From announcing events and creating viral content to helping shape the fan experience at NHRL, Sam talks about how his role has transformed since first joining the team and what it’s like becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the sport. The episode also dives deep into the future of NHRL, including Pro League structure changes, prize payouts, stream presentation updates, builder communication, and the growing push to make combat robotics feel like a truly global sport. Sam also shares stories from filming Side Quests in New Zealand, building weird robots, nearly losing a robot to the ocean forever, and why the Synthesis vs Booty Brigade fight still stands above the rest as the greatest fight NHRL has ever had. Ryan debuts an all-new “Who’s That Henchman?” Game Corner featuring evil sidekicks, stolen points, and complete chaos as the crew struggles through movie trivia ranging from Star Wars and Austin Powers to Hercules and Goldfinger. Somewhere along the way, the conversation also spirals into maple syrup crime syndicates, robot skateparks, mushroom foraging, battle boats, robot Pokémon tournaments, and the possibility of a future steel floor invitational. The episode closes out with updates on Havoc Rundown merch, Havoc TV, Bot of the Day, and a spotlight on CFA Laser, a Connecticut-based fabrication shop helping builders get combat robot parts cut fast and locally before events. If you’re into combat robotics, NHRL, behind-the-scenes production stories, robot builder culture, or just hearing a group of people completely derail into absurd conversations about syrup economics and evil henchmen, this episode is for you.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The ultimate podcast for all things combat robotics. From underground grudge matches to world-stage championships, The Havoc Rundown covers the full spectrum of competitive robot combat. Hosted by seasoned event staffers and builders, we break down fights, preview major events, and dig deep into the engineering, chaos, and creativity that fuel the sport. We interview builders, organizers, innovators, and legends from every corner of the combat robotics world. Whether you're a veteran of the pits or just discovered bots hit harder than your favorite sports team—this is your front-row seat to

Information

  • Creator
    Hunter Bro Studios
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hunter Bro Studios
  • Show Website
    The Havoc Rundown

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