Behind the Bots artwork

Behind the Bots

204 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 68 ratings

The podcast that brings you the stories of the builders behind BattleBots.

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Episodes

Our Interview with Rookie BattleBots Captain Kyle Miller with Glitch

September 08, 2021 04:06 - 1 hour - 72.8 MB

This week on the podcast, we’re sitting down with the brand-new team Glitch, built by students from U.C. Berkeley. This absolutely gorgeous robot combines a stealth bomber aesthetic, billet body, omnidirectional wheels and a punishing vertical eggbeater. We learn more about the team and their build process, now that filming of the 2021 season has wrapped.   This week’s combat robotics news: Filming of the 2021 season of BattleBots has wrapped New BattleBots slot machine: https://www.8new...

BattleBots S6 Championship Filming Week Special (From the Pits!)

September 01, 2021 04:05 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

This week on the podcast, we’re headed back to Las Vegas for a special report from Luke, who spent the first day of the 2021 championship in the pits.   This week’s combat robotics news: BattleBots unveils a BattleBots slot machine: https://www.facebook.com/SubZeroBattleBot/posts/335226058394453  Captain Shrederator’s new Wings of Freedom: https://www.facebook.com/spinwinning/posts/4149510125147862  Copperhead introduces Cuddles: https://www.facebook.com/CausticCreations/posts/495958385...

BattleBots S6 Filming Week Special

August 25, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 75.8 MB

This week on the podcast, we’re headed to Las Vegas to catch up with BattleBots superfan Mary Katherine Carr, who is attending every single taping session this season, and touring the pits as a fan. We’re chatting with her after the conclusion of day 1 of filming, where we’ll try to learn as much as we can without violating the show’s NDA.   This week’s combat robotics news: First look at The Shelf: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/p9qyys/the_shelf/ Bite Force takes a stand: ...

BattleBots S6 New Bot Preview: Switchback!

August 18, 2021 04:05 - 1 hour - 79.7 MB

This week on the podcast, we’re catching up with new captain Greg Needel to learn more about his drum(ish) hammer, Switchback! Greg is no stranger to robotics or BattleBots—he competed at the untelevised BattleBots R3 event with a three-headed pneumatic flipper called Tetracide, and for the last 7 years has been running Rev Robotics, which supplies parts to hundreds of FIRST Robotics teams.   This week’s combat robotics news: Captain Shrederator is in the crate: https://www.facebook.com/s...

Behind the Bots 100th Episode AMA Extravaganza!

August 11, 2021 04:04 - 2 hours - 143 MB

This week on the podcast, we’re doing something kind of unusual—we’re opening up the Q&A thread so you can ask us anything. No builder interview (it’s shipping week for BattleBots), so expect a couple weeks of kinda unusual shows from us. Oh! And it’s our 100th episode!   This week’s combat robotics news: BattleBots gets renewed for 2 seasons: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/battlebots-gets-two-season-pickup-at-discovery-channel-exclusive-1234992572  Jenny Taft is not return...

How a BattleBots Hexbug Gets Made, with Whiplash

August 04, 2021 04:05 - 1 hour - 83.5 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with BattleBots 2020 runners-up Jeff, Debbie, Matthew and Jason Vasquez from Whiplash! Lots of big news out of the team this past week—the Whiplash versus SawBlaze Hexbug Rivals kit is now available in stores, and the team revealed early renderings of their brand-new robot, Defender.    This week’s combat robotics news:   International teams are now shipping to BattleBots BattleBots reveals a new arena hazard, “The Shelf” Extinguisher begins reveal...

BattleBots Season 6 Preview with Robert Cowan and Luke Quintal from Copperhead

July 28, 2021 04:02 - 1 hour - 68.2 MB

This week on the podcast, we take our second look at Copperhead, the tiny, tanky drum spinner from Colorado, with builders Robert Cowan and Luke Quintal. With the Season 6 filming of BattleBots happening in less than a month in Las Vegas (and Copperhead still unconfirmed for the roster) we try our best to break some news on the show.   This week’s combat robotics news:   Captain Shrederator’s latest driveway test: https://www.facebook.com/spinwinning/posts/4045425978889611  Copperhead’s...

Our Very Early BattleBots Season 6 Preview with Greg Munson

July 21, 2021 04:06 - 1 hour - 57 MB

This week on the podcast, we return from a very long vacation to chat with BattleBots co-creator Greg Munson, who this week confirmed that Season 6 of the show will be taped August 23 through September 4 in Las Vegas. We take your fan questions: How do we buy tickets? Who’s in and who’s out? Format changes? Arena changes? and more. Plus! Our preview of the July edition of Norwalk Havoc, happening this Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25. Catch the YouTube livestream with the four of us! htt...

Norwalk Havoc with organizer Austin McChord

May 12, 2021 04:12 - 1 hour - 68 MB

This week on the podcast, we dive into the history (and future!) of Norwalk Havoc, the world’s top beetleweight combat robotics league, with Norwalk founder Austin McChord. If you want to check out this weekend’s Norwalk Havoc, check out the YouTube livestream at https://youtu.be/5elaqlzA60k    This week’s combat robotics news:   BETA’s new manifold: https://www.facebook.com/Betarobot/posts/158201279642522  Deep Six’s latest terrifying weapons test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tohyY...

Blast from the Past: Our Interview with Minotaur Captain Marco Antonio Meggiolaro

April 28, 2021 04:20 - 1 hour - 68.5 MB

From October 2019!   On this episode of Behind the Bots, we catch up with Minotaur captain Marco Antonio Meggiolaro, who tells us more about what it’s like building bots and competing in Brazil, what makes Daniel Freitas tick, and his advice to new builders.

Blast from the Past: Our Interview with Blacksmith Captain Al Kindle

April 21, 2021 04:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MB

From February 2020!   We sit down with Blacksmith captain Al Kindle, and explore his long history in the sport, the design thinking behind Blacksmith, and what it was like seeing his bot turned into a Hexbug. Plus: we get into Al's secret love of Menudo.   Stay tuned for next week's blast from the past.

Caulk Talk with Caulk Builders Joe Fabiani, Brandon Zalinsky, Tommy Wong and Izzie Cao

April 14, 2021 04:05 - 1 hour - 92.1 MB

This week on the podcast, we go deep with Caulk builders Joe, Brandon, Tommy and Izzie, who (with the help of Pain Train captain Evan Arias) went against all odds last month to win the 12-pound division at Norwalk Havoc, with four championship 3-pounders: Smee, Starchild, Droopy and Shreddit Bro. Now, Joe, Brandon, Tommy and Izzie are back, and have applied to the 2021 season of BattleBots with the most exciting multibot in the show’s history. They’re coming on this week to make their case ...

BattleBots S5 Reflections with Skorpios Captains Zach Lytle and Diana Tarlson

April 07, 2021 04:53 - 1 hour - 96.9 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Skorpios co-captains Zach Lytle and Diana Tarlson—exactly one year (to the day!) from the last time they were on the show. In early April 2020, the world had just gone into lockdown, and it was unclear how long COVID would last. Zach and Diana run a small business in the San Francisco Bay Area where they host in-person combat robot parties, after-school programs and educational summer camps. During the pandemic, they were forced to temporarily close...

BattleBots S5 Postseason Reflections with Kraken Captain Matt Spurk

March 31, 2021 04:20 - 1 hour - 84.6 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with the captain of everyone’s favorite nautical monster-themed BattleBot, Kraken captain Matt Spurk! We talk toughness and reliability, judging, and what’s ahead for the bot and the team.   PLUS! Behind the Bots listeners get 5% off the Kraken merch store using code "behindthebots".....for real!   This week’s combat robotics news:   BattleBots Basement Fight: HiJinx vs. Tracer BuildersDB is down for the foreseeable future Axolotl plushies are sh...

BattleBots Post-Season Recap (With Pete Abrahamson, aka The Bot Whisperer!)

March 24, 2021 04:48 - 2 hours - 122 MB

This week on the podcast, we talk BattleBots, BattleBots: Bounty Hunters, apple sausages, and Norwalk Havoc. Plus! The return of The Bot Whisperer himself, Pete Abrahamson!   This week’s combat robotics news: Happy birthday Greg Munson: https://www.facebook.com/realghostraptor/posts/2963206237244982  WAR? EZ! vs. Axolotl Basement Fight is out for BattleBots Supporters on Facebook Apple sausage Bale Spear launches new merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/crazzyearl/shop Deadli...

BattleBots S5E14 Recap (With 2020 Giant Nut Champions Jack Barker and Nick Mabey!)

March 17, 2021 04:20 - 1 hour - 84.7 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with 2020 Giant Nut winners Jack Barker and Nick Mabey from End Game! This is our second time having Nick and Jack on the show this season—we interviewed them back in December, after their unexpected win over Tombstone in the first episode of the 2020 season. Little did we know, they had already taken home the Giant Nut. Wow, talk about restraint!   This week’s combat robotics news: BattleBots memorial to Gayle Roski: https://www.facebook.com/realghos...

BattleBots S5E13 Recap (With Mike and Andrea Gellatly from Team Witch Doctor!)

March 10, 2021 05:31 - 2 hours - 139 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Mike and Andrea Gellatly from Team Witch Doctor, to reflect on the 2020 season, their sprint in the middle of the season to build new weapon discs, and what’s next for the bot, and the team. The 2020 season comes to a close this Thursday, as BattleBots crowns a new winner of the Giant Nut!   This week’s combat robotics news: BattleBots: Bounty Hunters with Witch Doctor will drop on March 11 BattleBots: Bounty Hunters with Son of Whyachi will dro...

BattleBots S5E12 Recap (With Copperhead Captain Zach Goff!)

March 03, 2021 05:32 - 2 hours - 121 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Copperhead captain Zach Goff, to learn more about his history in the sport, his 2016 debut on BattleBots with the drum spinner Poison Arrow, and his return to the competition in 2019 and 2020 with the drum spinner Copperhead. Plus! What happened in that match with Mammoth.   This week’s combat robotics news: Deep dive on Bloodsport’s tribar: https://youtu.be/o0QrhjoAI9o  Copperhead AMA on Reddit: https://www.facebook.com/CausticCreations/posts/3...

BattleBots S5E11 Recap (With HiJinx Captain Jen Herchenroeder!)

February 24, 2021 05:21 - 2 hours - 149 MB

This week on the podcast, we kick off the Round of 32 with HiJinx captain Jen Herchenroeder. It’s been nearly exactly one year since we last had Jen on the show, back when HiJinx was still the best-kept secret in the BattleBots builder community. We heard some *WILD* rumors about the design, and were delighted when we finally got to see it—scary, short, wide, neon, and owl-inspired. We catch up with Jen to get her reflections on the 2020 season, and her plans for 2021.   This week’s combat...

BattleBots S5E10 Recap (With SawBlaze Captain Jamison Go!)

February 17, 2021 05:12 - 2 hours - 134 MB

This week on the podcast, we slash and burn with SawBlaze captain Jamison Go, getting his thoughts on his match last week against Rusty, the season so far, and his thoughts going into the Top 32. We also learn more about his smaller bots Silent Spring, Silent X and MegaTron, and his interests outside combat robotics.   This week’s combat robotics news: BattleBots 2020 Championship bracket and schedule: https://battlebots.com/bracket-2020/  Brent Von Kalamazoo’s fantasy league: https://ww...

BattleBots S5E9 Recap (With BattleBots Co-Creator Greg Munson!)

February 10, 2021 05:02 - 2 hours - 136 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with BattleBots co-creator Greg Munson for a midseason check-in. We talk BattleBots: Bounty Hunters, his thoughts on the main BattleBots season so far, and what he’s looking for next season (applications are now open!).   This week’s combat robotics news: Captain Shrederator AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lel8wh/captain_shrederator_team_logicom_ama_7pm_est_today/  Deadlift video with Gecko Robotics: https://youtu.be/v5y46CIQkFQ Ga...

BattleBots S5E8 Recap (With Bloodsport Captain Justin Marple!)

February 03, 2021 05:12 - 1 hour - 104 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Bloodsport Captain Justin Marple! He talks about his fast and furious run on BattleBots season 5 so far, the major lessons he learned after competing with Bloodsport 1.0 last year, his start with Vex Robotics, and how it feels to knock out some of the top-rated bots in the competition.    Plus! We recap the 8th episode of BattleBots Season 5 and make our predictions for episode 9.   This week’s combat robotics news: Axolotl merch! https://www.f...

BattleBots S5E7 Recap (With Mammoth Captain Ricky Willems!)

January 27, 2021 05:19 - 2 hours - 117 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with the builder behind the biggest BattleBot to ever grace the BattleBox—Mammoth captain Ricky Willems!   Ricky is a tinkerer at heart, and spent his childhood taking apart basically anything he could get his hands on. That eventually translated into his career as an electrical engineer, and his hobby, building unconventional combat robots. We learn more about the 2020 build of Mammoth, and his season so far, following a massive win over HUGE and a fi...

BattleBots S5E6 Recap (Plus, Old Habits & New Beginnings with Sharko Captain Ed Robinson)

January 20, 2021 05:09 - 1 hour - 108 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Sharko captain and returning guest Ed Robinson, undoubtedly the most colorful competitor on BattleBots. He’s joining us after his match last week against Slap Box.   Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

BattleBots S5E5 Recap (Plus Our Interview with Hydra Captain Jake Ewert!)

January 13, 2021 06:02 - 1 hour - 105 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Hydra captain Jake Ewert, whose unconventional strategy against HUGE garnered a fair amount of controversy this week among BattleBots fans. We learn more about his 2020 build, how his weapon works and how the team planned for HUGE in the preseason. Plus! We recap episode 5 of the show, and look ahead to an explosive main event next week.   This week’s combat robotics news stories: > New petition: Bring BattleBots to the UK: https://www.change.org...

BattleBots S5E4 Recap (Plus, Happy 2021!)

January 06, 2021 05:30 - 1 hour - 71.4 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with ourselves—sadly, no guest this week due to the holidays. However! We recap S5E4 of BattleBots, plus the launch of the new series BattleBots: Bounty Hunters on Discovery+   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > BattleBots: Bounty Hunters launched on the new streaming service Discovery+: https://www.facebook.com/battlebots/posts/10157598030396406  > Bloodsport’s new Thicc bar: https://youtu.be/hunc-eLEg3o  > Chomp fanart: https://www.fac...

BattleBots S5E3 Recap (Plus, Coming Full Circle with RotatoЯ Captain Victor Soto)

December 23, 2020 06:06 - 1 hour - 107 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with longtime BattleBots competitor Victor Soto, captain of the tanky golden horizontal disc spinner Rotator. We get his take on the BETA-Rotator match, which generated almost no online controversy this past week, and learn how he got into the sport and became one of the core members of the Florida Bot Mafia.   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > BattleBots is taking NYE off, and will return on Jan. 7 > Meanwhile, BattleBots: Bounty Hunter...

BattleBots S5E2 Recap (Plus, Rising from the Ashes with Perfect Phoenix’s Tyler Nguyen and Juli Johnson)

December 16, 2020 06:40 - 1 hour - 134 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with the youngest BattleBots driver in the field, 11-year-old Tyler Nguyen! Tyler enters the competition this year with an impressive resume, with first-place finishes in insectweight competitions across the U.S., and a dominant showing in the UK at BuggleBots. We ask him about how he came to own Perfect Phoenix (originally built by Bite Force captain Paul Ventimiglia), how BattleBots compares to the other competitions he’s been to, and what it was like ...

BattleBots S5E1 Recap (Plus, our “Swift” Interview with End Game’s Nick Mabey and Jack Barker)

December 09, 2020 06:36 - 2 hours - 137 MB

This week on the podcast, we head to New Zealand to talk all things End Game with 2020 captain Nick Mabey, and 2019 captain Jack Barker. Nick and Jack both attended the University of Auckland, where they built robots through the Auckland University Robotics Association, winners of the 2017 VEX U Robotics World Championships. Jack later traveled to Australia and won the 2016 Australian RoboWars Nationals and appeared at the Chinese competition Fighting My Bots before earning a rookie spot at ...

Like the Best Summer Camp Ever: Our Interview with BattleBots Showrunner Aaron Catling

December 02, 2020 05:27 - 1 hour - 99.5 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with BattleBots executive producer and showrunner Aaron Catling! Aaron has been instrumental in crafting the look and feel of BattleBots since the 2015 reboot, and is deep in producing the 2020 season AS WE SPEAK. We talk about the new season, what a typical day looks like for him, and why he loves this sport so much.   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > Wednesday’s BattleBots preview: https://www.facebook.com/MammothBattlebot/posts/291970...

Part 2: I Like Big Fans and I Cannot Lie, with “The Bot Whisperer” Pete Abrahamson

November 25, 2020 05:48 - 2 hours - 110 MB

This week on the podcast, we wrap up our conversation with BattleBots veteran, and newest member of the show’s broadcasting team, Pete Abrahamson!   In this segment, he takes all of your fan questions, including the weird ones, and takes us on a delightful detour into the unrealized (but absolutely valid) BattleBots and Dungeons and Dragons mashup.   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > A Group Where We Pretend to Be the BattleBots Live Audience charity contest: https://www.fa...

Part 1: From The Blob to BattleBots, with “The Bot Whisperer” Pete Abrahamson

November 18, 2020 05:14 - 1 hour - 87.4 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with the newest member of BattleBots’ on-camera broadcasting team, BattleBots veteran Pete Abrahamson! In 1994, Pete formed Team Sinister with his high school friend Mark Setrakian and competed in the very first Robot Wars competition in San Francisco with The Master. He encouraged Greg Munson to build a robot the following year, and later competed on the original run of BattleBots with bots like Gigan, Gigan II and Ronin.   We learn more about the ea...

Hittin' it Big with JackPot Captain Jeff Waters

November 11, 2020 05:47 - 1 hour - 86.1 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with a returning guest, JackPot captain Jeff Waters! The last time Jeff was on the show, he was working on the pit crew for Team Malice. BattleBots later invited him to build his own heavyweight, so he struck out on his own and built JackPot in less than a month. We talk Las Vegas, fast builds and filming.   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > BattleBots published the 2020 team roster: https://battlebots.com/2020-season-robots/ > Surprise,...

Shredding it with Pain Train Captain Evan Arias and Teammate Anthony D’Ambrosio

November 04, 2020 05:27 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Team Shreddit captain Evan Arias, who went from beetleweights to BattleBots in just one year. We learn more about Pain Train, his sprint to finish the robot, and what it was like competing on BattleBots for the first time.   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > Builders are getting their crates back this week, in various states of repair > First look at Axolotl: https://www.instagram.com/p/CG0ftQwLoFn/  > Bloodsport S5 recap video: ht...

It's Rusty, Oh yes it's Rusty! Getting our Tetanus shots with Rusty Captain David Eaton

October 21, 2020 04:35 - 1 hour - 84.7 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with David Eaton, the man behind what’s quickly become the favorite rookie heavyweight of the 2020 season of BattleBots—Rusty. This tank-treaded, rusty garage build quickly captured the heart of combat robotics internet, and we get the whole story.   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > 2020 sticker haul: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RobotCombat/permalink/2811617232455432/ > ATOM 94 glamor shots: https://www.facebook.com/teamAVRobotics/p...

Season 5 is going to be BONKers: Our Interview with Nelly the Ellybot Captain Sarah Malyan

October 14, 2020 04:55 - 1 hour - 66.1 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Nelly the Ellybot captain Sarah Malyan, to talk COVID, bots she’s excited about this season, Rusty (naturally), hammers, butt fire, and another rousing game of Bonk, Tag Team and Incinerate. Oh! And our first original song! An Ode to Rusty by Sarah Malyan Well, I’m bored and going crazy at the lack of robot fun Nelly’s stuck in Britain and she ain’t the only one I wonder if Kenny and Chris Rose are still alive I’d love to hear Faruq shout, ...

The Everlasting Botstomper: Our Interview with Cobalt Captain Dave Moulds

October 07, 2020 04:31 - 1 hour - 83.9 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Cobalt captain Dave Moulds! Dave is a member of the rare Three Continents Club in combat robotics, competing in the UK with Robot Wars S9 champion Carbide, in China with This is Fighting Robots champion Tungsten and in the U.S. on BattleBots, with the scary vertical spinner Cobalt. Dave has been building combat robots since 2002 and is a regular fixture on the UK live circuit.   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > Filming began Monday,...

Take It Up With the Billings Department! Our Interview with Tombstone Captain Ray Billings

September 30, 2020 04:13 - 1 hour - 57.1 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with the King of Kinetic Energy, Tombstone captain Ray Billings. Filming of the 2020 season of BattleBots begins Friday, and Ray’s bot is looking more competitive than ever. New this year? He’ll be helping out in the pits with a second team, captained by 11-year-old Tyler Nguyen, who’s behind the controls of Perfect Phoenix (aka 2009 Giant Nut winner Brutality).   This week’s combat robotics news stories:   > Aegis chariot: https://www.instagram.com/...

Out-Standing in His Field: Our Interview with Bale Spear Captain Earl Pancoast III

September 23, 2020 04:30 - 1 hour - 69.6 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Bale Spear captain Earl Pancoast III to talk farming, New Jersey, memes and BattleBots. He’s bringing a brand new machine to the 2020 competition, and we get the scoop on what to expect.   This week’s news stories: > Shatter’s new frame: youtube.com/watch?v=8mYdcw5FoLQ > BETA’s shorter hammer: instagram.com/p/CFVHRiGDb0t/  > Captain Shrederator’s new shells facebook.com/spinwinning/photos/a.954050624693844/3180730832025801, new chasses facebook...

The Balance Between Fun and Function: Our Interview with Lock-Jaw Captain Donald Hutson

September 16, 2020 04:57 - 1 hour - 107 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Lock-Jaw captain Donald Hutson, a combat robotics veteran who’s competed on every season of BattleBots to date, and holds 6 Giant Nuts (and one Giant Bolt!). We get his take on how the competition has changed over time, and what he’s looking forward to in the season ahead.   This week’s news stories: > Pain Train GoFundMe: https://gf.me/u/yxfypc  > New Duck! CAD renderings: facebook.com/BlackandBlueRobotics/posts/2784608558435863  > Bale Spear ...

“Objection!” Our Entirely Legal Interview with Double Jeopardy’s Evan Wooley, Bryce Wooley and Bill Wooley

September 09, 2020 04:15 - 1 hour - 76.5 MB

This week on the podcast, we get an inside look at Double Jeopardy, the first cannon bot to compete on the modern reboot of BattleBots! We learn about their early start in combat robotics, the inspiration behind their unique design, and how their legal background comes in handy in the battlebox. This week’s news stories: > Bite Force for sale: https://www.facebook.com/1429663704021735/posts/2749175778737181/  > Axolotl GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/uhoh-robotics > Bloodsport vs. t...

Our Live Panel with BattleBots Designers Orion Beach, Leanne Cushing, Emmanuel Carrillo , Isaak Malers and Ellis Ware

September 02, 2020 04:03 - 1 hour - 71.6 MB

This week on the podcast, our panel discussion with top BattleBots designers Orion Beach (HiJinx and Skorpios), Leanne Cushing (Valkyrie), Emmanuel Carrillo (MadCatter, Cat King and WAR Hawk), Isaak Malers (Malice) and Ellis Ware (Pulsar, Magnatar, Great White, Sandstorm).   We filmed the panel before a live (virtual!) audience at Maker Faire Miami, and took tons of questions from fans. It was a lot of fun, and we’re looking forward to hosting more BattleBots panels in the future.   Link...

Our Live Panel with Female BattleBots Captains Andrea Gellatly, Sarah Malyan, Jen Herchenroeder, Julia Chernushevich, and Lilith Specht. PLUS! A Bonus Appearance by Greg Munson!

August 26, 2020 04:56 - 1 hour - 94.6 MB

This week on the podcast, we have a special, last-minute guest—BattleBots co-creator Greg Munson! On Monday, BattleBots announced that filming would start in October, with 57 teams competing. We try to extract as much information from Greg as possible.   Later, our panel discussion with female BattleBots captains Andrea Gellatly (Witch Doctor), Sarah Malyan (Nelly the Ellybot), Jen Herchenroeder (HiJinx), Julia Chernushevich (Ferocity) and Lilith Specht (Sporkinok)!   We filmed the panel...

Our Live Panel with BattleBots Top 4 Paul Ventimiglia (Bite Force), Andrea and Mike Gellatly (Witch Doctor), Ray Billings (Tombstone), Julie Pitts and Miles Blow (DeathRoll)

August 19, 2020 04:39 - 1 hour - 75.4 MB

This week on the podcast, our panel discussion with the 2019 BattleBots Top 4: Paul Ventimiglia (Bite Force), Andrea and Mike Gellatly (Witch Doctor), Ray Billings (Tombstone) and Julie Pitts and Miles Blow (DeathRoll).   We filmed the panel before a live (virtual!) audience at Maker Faire Miami, and took tons of questions from fans. It was a lot of fun, and we’re looking forward to hosting more BattleBots panels in the future.   This week’s news stories: Extinguisher’s firefighting can...

A New Player Has Entered The Game: Our Interview with Tracer builder Jason Woods

August 12, 2020 04:40 - 1 hour - 84.6 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Tracer builder Jason Woods!   As a high schooler, Jason built his first bot which he took to compete at BattleBots during the Comedy Central days. Since then, Jason has been building nonstop - everything from combat robots to ingenuitive curiosities. You may recognize him from his appearances on Shark Tank where he once sought funding for his rad invention, the Kymera Body Board. Jason is full of stories and hard learned wisdom that he's gathered ...

Quantum is Us, We are Quantum: Our Interview with Quantum Captains James Cooper and Grant Cooper!

August 05, 2020 04:25 - 2 hours - 117 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Quantum captains (and brothers) James Cooper and Grant Cooper!   Outside of combat robotics (Robot Wars! BattleBots! King of Bots!), the Coopers run Robo Challenge, a studio that makes robots, and other cool things, for TV shows, commercials and promotional campaigns. They’ve built things for everything from the Abu Dhabi Royal Family to Xbox, notably an inflatable ball that someone used to run across the Irish Sea, one piece of a scary attraction...

Eating the Souls of Your Opponents: Our Interview with MadCatter Captain Martin Mason!

July 29, 2020 04:27 - 1 hour - 92.8 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with MadCatter captain Martin Mason! Martin is an engineering and physics professor, rocket propulsion enthusiast, combat robotics competitor across the US and China, and one of BattleBots' biggest personalities. We chat with him about his many experiences in and out of the box...and he talks some trash along the way!   Angry Sloth Robotics’ review of the new Duck! and Rotator Hexbugs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vrymsRQ64I    Follow us on Faceb...

Solving Big Challenges with Team Chomp Captain Zoe Stephenson and Jascha Little!

July 22, 2020 05:12 - 1 hour - 98.7 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up two incredible engineers—Chomp captain Zoe Stephenson and teammate Jascha Little! Zoe and Jascha are a wife-and-husband team who work together as engineers on experimental projects at Applied Invention. Their most visible project, perhaps, is The Long Now Foundation's 10,000 Year Clock, a massive mechanical timekeeper that is designed to survive and tell time until the year 12,000. (Some fans may know that Bronco team captain Zander Rose is the director...

Our Electric Green Episode with Team ORBY Captain Cheog-Gyu Hwang!

July 15, 2020 04:08 - 1 hour - 57.6 MB

This week on the podcast, we catch up with South Korea’s coolest combat robotics builder, Team ORBY captain Cheog-Gyu Hwang!   Cheog-Gyu’s story is familiar in many ways—he started watching combat robotics on TV as a middle schooler, and decided to build his own combat robots in college, where he was studying to become a mechanical engineer. Today, he builds robots for a living.   What’s unique is that his community of builders is almost entirely virtual. There are less than a dozen comb...

Our Abbreviated Fourth of July Episode!

July 08, 2020 04:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MB

This week on the podcast, an abbreviated look at the week’s top news stories from the world of BattleBots and combat robotics, plus two stories from Robots Around the World. No interview this week—we’ll be back next week with a very special guest.   Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

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