The Havoc Rundown
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
- Update frequency
- every 16 days
- Average duration
- 78 minutes
- Episodes
- 40
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Oops-All Games – Trivia Chaos with the Crew
For the final episode in our Around the World summer series, we’re handing the mic to Ryan for something completely different: a full-on trivia showdown. That’s right—this one’s all games, all chaos,…
Summer Series Ep5: Inside UaiRrior, Brazil’s Combat Robotics Titans
In this episode of our Around the World summer series, we travel to Brazil to explore one of the most decorated and innovative combat robotics teams in the world: UaiRrior Robotics, builders of the l…
Summer Series Ep4: Building Bots Down Under with Ben Hayton
In this episode of the Havoc Rundown, we head to Australia as part of our “Around the World” summer series to spotlight one of the most creative forces in the southern hemisphere: Ben Hayton of Team …
Summer Series Ep 3: Across the Pond with Robot Rebellion
In this episode, we dive headfirst into the UK’s robot combat scene with two key voices behind Robot Rebellion: event organizer Gareth Anstee and head judge Ryan Bratley. Together with Justin and the…
Summer Series Ep 2: Steel Floors and Stroopwafels: Combat Robotics in the Netherlands
In this episode of the Havoc Rundown’s "Robots Around the World" series, the crew sits down with Tim Bouwens, the builder behind BattleBots' Ominous and the NHRL standout Wajoo. Broadcasting from the…
Summer Series Ep. 1 – Demon Core: Canada’s Melty Brain Mayhem
We’re kicking off our Robots Around the World summer series with a visit to the Great White North! In this episode, we sit down with Team Unforeseen Consequences, the Canadian builders behind the ter…
Breaking Down June NHRL: Suplexes, Upsets, and Dumpster Glory
On this episode of Havoc Rundown, the team dives into the June NHRL event to recap the most explosive moments from all three brackets. From Monkfish’s relentless run in the 3s, to Full Court’s suffoc…
Over and Under: June Fantasy, Flame Bots, and Melty Brain Mayhem
The June 7th NHRL event is almost here, and the Havoc Rundown crew is breaking it all down! We’re joined by fantasy league front-runner Dan Dischino for a stat-packed episode featuring Ryan’s chaotic…
Eight Arms, One Bracket: May NHRL Recap
This one’s for the family bots and fantasy league fanatics! In this jam-packed episode, we dive into the unforgettable May NHRL Event, spotlighting Sad Octopus’s phenomenal semifinal run and the Gare…
Full Crew, Full Breakdown, Full Chaos: May NHRL Preview
In this no-guest chaos episode of Havoc Rundown, the full crew returns for a jam-packed May NHRL preview. Things kick off with Ryan’s Game Corner and its debut segment, The Price is Fight—a Price is …
Tim Hebert Recaps April NHRL: Emotions, Experiments, and Epic Moments
This week on The Havoc Rundown, we’re joined by none other than Tim Hebert—robotics educator, NHRL fan favorite, and the brilliant (and slightly chaotic) mind behind Chubby Unicode. That’s right, not…
Robotics 401: Advanced Combat Skills Ft: The MIT Combat Robotics Club
In this special episode of Havoc Rundown, the crew welcomes an all-star lineup from the MIT Combat Robotics Club ahead of the April NHRL event. From bold design philosophies to open-source accessibil…
We Are So Backalope: Breaking Down NHRL’s March Madness
The March NHRL tournament was absolute chaos, and we’re breaking down every explosive moment! 🏆🔥 From shocking upsets to dominating performances, we dive deep into the fights that shook the combat ro…
Bots, Brackets & Bold Picks: How Aidan Took the Win in February
We're back with another action-packed episode ofHavoc Rundown! This time, we’re breaking down all the chaos from theFebruary 1st NHRL event—which bots dominated, which fell short, and how it all shoo…
NHRL February Preview: Glenn Boxell Talks Bots, Drafts, and Competition
In this episode, we kick off 2025 with a bang as we welcome Glenn Boxell, an incredible builder and the creative force behind the competitive bots Caldera and Caldera 12. We delve into Glenn’s journe…
End of the Year Extravaganza: Robots, Resolutions, and 2025 Dreams
In this special year-end episode of Havoc Rundown, we gather to celebrate an incredible 2024 season of robot combat and gear up for an action-packed 2025. Together, we reflect on standout moments, …
Countdown to NHRL Championships Featuring Brian Boxell
In this exciting episode of The Havoc Rundown, Justin and the team dive headfirst into the world of combat robotics! Special guest Brian Boxell, creator and driver of the formidable robot Eruption, s…
The Mechanics of Change: Insights into 2025 Robotics Regulations
In this episode of the Havoc Rundown, we dive into the latest developments in competitive robotics. We’re joined by special guest Ricky Willems, Safety Director at the National Havoc Robot League (NH…
October Recap: Costumes, Chaos, and Robot Tales
In this special episode of The Havoc Rundown, we take a more relaxed approach and are joined by Luke Stangle from Behind the Bots for an easy-going conversation packed with laughs and stories. We rec…
Building the Future with Team Honeycracked
Our October 26th preview episode is finally here! In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Team Honeycracked to explore their journey from fierce competitors to influential mentors and educat…