Behind the Bots
204 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 68 ratingsThe podcast that brings you the stories of the builders behind BattleBots.
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Episodes
A Family that Bots Together, Wins Together: Our Interview with the Vasquez Family, Makers of Whiplash!
July 01, 2020 04:28 - 1 hour - 98.7 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with the Vasquez family—Jeff, Debbie, Matthew and Jason—who field the hard-hitting heavyweight Whiplash! Jeff and Debbie have been building combat robots since the early 2000s, and raised their sons in the sport. Today, the Vasquez family competes with robots in every weight class. They’re best known for Whiplash, the articulated lifter/vertical spinner that took on the hardest-hitting bots in 2019 BattleBots—and usually come out on top. Outside ...
BattleBots Past, Present, and Future with co-creator Trey Roski!
June 24, 2020 05:54 - 1 hour - 96.3 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with BattleBots co-creator Trey Roski! In the mid-1990s, Trey and his cousin Greg Munson built the competition’s first meta design—La Machine—a tanky wedgebot that won the Robot Wars middleweight championship in 1995, and finished second in the heavyweight competitions in 1996 and 1997. In 1999, as Robot Wars floundered in legal limbo, Greg and Trey launched BattleBots. Within a year, the competition was being broadcast to millions of fans on Com...
Our Nut-ty Episode with Bite Force Captain Paul Ventimiglia!
June 17, 2020 04:21 - 1 hour - 79 MBThis week on the podcast, we invite back to the show (for his third time!) reigning BattleBots champion Paul Ventimiglia! Bite Force remains the winningest heavyweight combat robot in modern BattleBots history, with three perfect seasons (2015, 2018 and 2019), and just one loss since the reboot—to the unconventional, AI-guided hammerbot Chomp. Paul enters the 2020 season knowing that the field of bots will likely be the toughest the sport has ever seen. The COVID-19 pandemic gave bui...
Our Chillest Episode with SubZero Captain Logan Davis!
June 10, 2020 04:43 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBThis week on the podcast, we talk to veteran BattleBots competitor—and first-time captain—Logan Davis! Logan purchased SubZero from longtime builder Jerry Clarkin in 2019, and took it to Robot Ruckus later that year, where it wowed audiences by flipping Kraken so high, it left wheel marks on the ceiling. Logan is eager to prove what SubZero can do in 2020. We also video recorded this episode - you can check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=873238303188338 Caleb Kem...
Our Hal-arious Episode with Duck! Captain Hal Rucker!
June 03, 2020 04:22 - 1 hour - 102 MBThis week on the podcast, we jump into the water with one of the most beloved builders on BattleBots, Duck! captain Hal Rucker! Hal is an artist, designer, inventor and serial entrepreneur who happens to build the toughest heavyweight combat robot since the reboot. We talk about his history in the sport, the other things he’s passionate about, his design philosophy and why he redesigned Duck (again!) for 2020. Plus...listen in for a Behind the Bots first! Lisa Winter’s tofu press: https:...
Our Anniversary Episode with Deep Six Captain Dustin Esswein and Teammate Andrew Rossol!
May 27, 2020 04:03 - 1 hour - 93.6 MBThis week on the podcast, we celebrate our one-year anniversary! We get sentimental with Deep Six captain Dustin Esswein—the first builder to join us on the show—and teammate Andrew Rossol to get a rundown of their experience as rookies in 2019, what’s new in 2020, and how it feels to get a BattleBots rule named after them. We also tease what is sure to be our biggest listener giveaway yet! Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts Tell a fr...
Our Cinematic Interview with HyperShock Captain Will Bales and ‘Bots High’ Director Joey Daoud
May 20, 2020 05:19 - 1 hour - 108 MBThis week on the podcast, it’s 2011, and a high school-aged Will Bales is racing to finish his robot in time for BattleBots IQ. He’s competing with his friends (and cross-town rivals) Elizabeth and Danielle, who are building their own robots at the all-girls Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart. Their story is captured by documentary filmmaker Joey Daoud, whose film “Bots High” premiered on YouTube earlier this month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7Gg7lvo8o We catch up with Will an...
Our Decisive Interview with BattleBots Head Referee John Remar!
May 13, 2020 04:34 - 1 hour - 82.6 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with BattleBots head referee (and executive vice president!) John Remar to talk about the earliest days of BattleBots, his lifelong friendship with BattleBots co-creator Trey Roski, how the show has evolved, memorable moments, how sponsorships work, and where John would like to see the show go in the future. Link to the Bots High documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7Gg7lvo8o Plus! Our next installment of Robots Around the World. Stay ...
Our High-Flying Interview with Valkyrie Captain Leanne Cushing and Designer Alex Crease!
May 06, 2020 04:58 - 2 hours - 137 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with Valkyrie captain Leanne Cushing and Valkyrie designer Alex Crease to talk undercutters, organic designs, punk rock, robot startups, Doctor Who, Reddit fame and Leanne’s many accents. Nola and Billy Garcia’s GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nola-amp-billy-support-fund Plus! Our next installment of Robots Around the World. Stay safe, everyone. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts ...
Our Malicious Interview with Team Malice!
April 29, 2020 04:47 - 1 hour - 94.4 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with Team Malice! Captain Bunny Sauriol and her team: the three Davids (David Liaw, David Rush and David Small), Isaak Malers and Jeff Waters. Bunny is a longtime roboteer, having appeared on the reboot of the show with Shatter! and Wrecks. Plus! Our next installment of Robots Around the World. Stay safe, everyone. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts Tell a friend about the show; we really appr...
Our Wheel-y Delicious Interview with Nelly Teammate Reira Granger!
April 22, 2020 04:51 - 2 hours - 116 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with Nelly the Ellybot teammate and certified wheel-eater Reira Granger. We learn more about the insectweight scene in the UK, why she’s joining the Nelly team this year, and what type of wheel is most delicious. Plus: we talk shop about Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. MIT’s E-Vent project: https://e-vent.mit.edu/ Stuart Barnwell’s medical face shield’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/face-shields-for-nhs-key-workers Plus! Ou...
Our Electric Blue Interview with Overhaul Captain Charles Guan
April 15, 2020 04:33 - 1 hour - 155 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with Overhaul captain Charles Guan. Outside of combat robotics, he builds all sorts of electric vehicles, and has deep interest—among many, many interests—in 1980s-era Japanese box vans. Link to Bronco’s GoFundMe for medical supplies: www.gofundme.com/f/fund-emergency-medical-supplies Link to Valkyrie’s COVID-19 effort through Artisan’s Asylum: https://artisansasylum.com/donation/ Plus! Our next installment of Robots Around the World. Stay ...
Our Stinging Interview with Zach Lytle and Diana Tarlson from Skorpios
April 08, 2020 04:37 - 1 hour - 104 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with married roboteers Zach Lytle and Diana Tarlson of Team BotBash Party Crew, and their bot, Skorpios. Outside of BattleBots, Zach and Diana run Bot Bash (https://botbashparty.com), the super cool, San Francisco Bay Area-based combat robotics party rental service. Their stories about their best (and worst) parties are so, so good. Plus! Our next installment of Robots Around the World. Stay safe, everyone. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/beh...
We Keep Our Cool in Our Interview with Tantrum Captain Aren Hill
April 01, 2020 04:19 - 1 hour - 113 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with Tantrum builder (and former VEX Robotics engineer) Aren Hill to talk about his design philosophy, what it was like designing robot toys and why Tantrum is so dang small. Plus! Our second installment of Robots Around the World. Stay safe, everyone. 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!
Our Colorful Interview with BattleBots Builder and Judge Lisa Winter
March 25, 2020 04:17 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with longtime combat robotics builder (and now, BattleBots judge) Lisa Winter! We talk about her childhood as a competitor on Robot Wars and BattleBots, her design ethos and her perspective on the show as a judge. Out of an abundance of caution, we’re temporarily pausing the combat robotics event calendar during coronavirus. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts Tell a friend about the show; we r...
BattleBots Coronavirus Special Edition with SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Captain Joe Fabiani
March 18, 2020 05:14 - 1 hour - 89.3 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with the captain of this year’s weirdest (possibly) and longest (definitely) BattleBot, SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! New Yorker Joe Fabiani has competed in China with his big-wheeled bot Button Lee, and across the Northeast on the insectweight circuit with his beetleweight version of SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Plus, all things coronavirus. This week’s combat robotics event calendar! Saturday, March 21 Las Vegas, NV Robot Domination: Fight Night...
A Maelstrom of Malarky with Captain Tom Brewster and Team Monsoon
March 11, 2020 03:38 - 1 hour - 96.6 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with Monsoon captain Tom Brewster, a mechanical engineer, video game designer, and the captain of the UK’s hardest-hitting vertical spinner. Bonus Surprise: we've also got the rest of the crew with Sarah Asplin, Rory Mangles, and the Tim Rackers! We have a fun and rowdy conversation that you'll want to batten down the hatches for. This week’s combat robotics event calendar! Saturday, March 14 Norwalk, CT Norwalk Havoc Beetleweights Organized...
Our Interview with HiJinx Captain Jen Herchenroeder
March 04, 2020 05:02 - 1 hour - 88.3 MBThis week, we sit down with HiJinx captain Jen Herchenroeder, who applied to the 2020 season of BattleBots with a very mysterious entry. We talk about her experience as a maker, welder, artist, BattleBots competitor, electric go-kart racer, and more. This week’s combat robotics event calendar! Saturday, March 7 Tupelo, MS Tupelo Con: Combat Exhibition Antweights, plastic antweights and beetleweights Organized by Angry Rooster Robotics https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/51...
Our Very Metal BattleBots Interview with Blacksmith Captain Al Kindle
February 26, 2020 05:46 - 1 hour - 70.6 MBThis week, 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. This week’s combat robotics event calendar! Feb. 28 to March 1 Santa Rita do Sapucaí, Brazil Iron Cup 2020 Fairyweights and beetleweights Organized by Robocore robotcombatevents.com/events/478 Feb. 29 Columbus, OH MakerX Columbus Com...
BattleBots Season 5 (Very Early) Preview with Greg Munson
February 21, 2020 05:38 - 55 minutes - 75.9 MBOn this episode, we sit down with BattleBots co-creator Greg Munson to get an early, early, very early preview of Season 5 of the show (filming live April 3-15 in Southern California; tickets still available on www.battlebots.com/tickets). We learn about new bots, returning bots, and bots that won't be returning - plus, the effect of the coronavirus, new rule changes, floor updates, and a whole lot more. This week’s combat robotics event calendar! Feb. 22 Tempe, AZ Sun Devil Sm...
We Trim the Grass (is that a saying?) with Team MowBot Captain Craig Danby
February 12, 2020 05:43 - 1 hour - 114 MBThis week on the podcast, Team MowBot captain Craig Danby! We talk about his very long history in combat robotics, what it’s like competing on Robot Wars versus BattleBots, and his plans for the now confirmed 2020 season of the show. Marc Thorpe’s GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/marc-thorpe039s-fight-against-parkinson039s This week’s combat robotics event calendar! Feb. 14-16 Harrisburg, PA Motorama Fairyweights to 30-pound sportsmen bots, with bonus Roomba comba...
The Biggest Story Ever Told: Our Interview with MegaBots Cofounder Matt Oehrlein
February 05, 2020 04:43 - 1 hour - 139 MBThe Biggest Story Ever Told: Our Interview with MegaBots Cofounder Matt Oehrlein This week on the podcast, we go big - literally - with a story so crazy it’s almost hard to believe. Cofounder Matt Oehrlein and his team made headlines in 2015, when they challenged Japan’s Suidobashi Heavy Industry to the world’s first international mech robot duel. The duel garnered 8.5 million views on YouTube...and 8.5 million different opinions on the outcome. Late last year, MegaBots declared bankrupt...
How to Build Your First Combat Robot, With FingerTech Robotics Founder Kurtis Wanner
January 29, 2020 05:15 - 1 hour - 93.2 MBThis week on the podcast, we catch up with FingerTech Robotics founder (and Behind the Bots sponsor) Kurtis Wanner to talk about how to build your first combat robot. Kurtis is a longtime builder, and most recently competed on BattleBots in 2018 as the driver of the pneumatic launcher Lucky. Just one event on this week’s combat robotics event calendar! Saturday, Feb. 1 Hinckley, UK Ant Freeze 7 Antweights Organized by @AntFreeze robotwars101.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2935 ...
All Things Extinguisher, with Surprise BattleBots Guest John Flaacke
January 22, 2020 05:10 - 49 minutes - 67.6 MBThis week on the podcast, we sit down with surprise guest John Flaacke, the 17-year-old captain of Extinguisher, the fire engine-themed modular heavyweight that made its debut on the 2019 season of BattleBots. John talks about his high school capstone project (an autonomous firefighting robot), why he decided to build a heavyweight first, and how he chopped 35 pounds off his robot’s emergency siren. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: Jan. 25 Las Vegas, NV Desert Dust Up F...
All Things Bugglebots with Sarah Malyan
January 15, 2020 05:11 - 1 hour - 105 MBThis week on the podcast, we catch up with Bugglebots co-producer and pit reporter Sarah Malyan to talk all things Bugglebots, changes to Nelly the Ellybot and life in the BattleBots offseason. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: Jan. 18 Norwalk, CT Norwalk Havoc Beetleweights (with cash prizes!) Organized by 50DayStreet robotcombatevents.com/events/488 Jan. 18 Loughborough, UK Loughborough Robot Riot Beetleweights Organized by the Loughborough Fighting Robots So...
Building Your Own Heavyweight Combat Robotics Competition with Lilith Specht
November 27, 2019 05:35 - 1 hour - 132 MBOn this episode of Behind the Bots, we learn what it takes to build an indie, heavyweight combat robotics competition from the ground up, with someone who’s doing that right now! Robot Ruckus organizer Lilith Specht. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: Nov. 30 Blackstone QLD, Australia Beetle Buster Beetleweights Organized by Ipswich Robotics Sports Group robotcombatevents.com/events/460 Dec. 1 Corvallis, OR Battle at Oregon State University Fairyweight and antwei...
BattleBots Veterans Panel Discussion at Maker Faire Orlando
November 20, 2019 05:15 - 47 minutes - 64.9 MBOn this episode of Behind the Bots, our panel discussion on Veterans of BattleBots recorded live at Maker Faire Orlando, with Victor Soto (RotatoR), Charles Guan (Overhaul), Brian Nave (Captain Shrederator), Jason Brown (Bombsell), and Logan Davis (SubZero). Live Audio Warning: Maker Faire was a loud and dynamic environment, so please be aware that there may be some peaks and static/distortion in the recording. This week’s must-watch video: youtube.com/watch?v=D-CpDYqgRgY This w...
Unconventional BattleBots Designs Panel at Maker Faire Orlando
November 13, 2019 05:45 - 57 minutes - 78.9 MBOn this episode of Behind the Bots, our panel discussion on unconventional BattleBots designs, recorded live at Maker Faire Orlando, with Kurt Durjan (Axe Backwards), Earl Pancoast III (Bale Spear), Craig Danby (Foxtrot), Jonathan Schultz (HUGE), Adam Wrigley (Shatter) and Dustin Esswein (Deep Six). Live Audio Warning: Maker Faire was a loud and dynamic environment, so please be aware that there may be some peaks and static/distortion in the recording. This week’s combat robotics eve...
Maker Faire Orlando Preview with Witch Doctor Captain Andrea Gellatly
November 06, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 87.8 MBOn this episode of Behind the Bots, we preview Maker Faire Orlando (Nov. 9 and 10) with special guest host Andrea Gellatly, the captain of Witch Doctor, and Witch Doctor team member Paul Grata. We talk about the BattleBots teams competing in the heavyweight division, and some of the more interesting builders competing at the event. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Nov. 9 and 10: Robot Ruckus at Orlando Maker Faire, Orlando FL > Nov. 8 and 9: Sin City Shakedown, Las Vega...
BattleBots Interview with Minotaur Captain Marco Antonio Meggiolaro
October 30, 2019 04:45 - 2 hours - 168 MBOn 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. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Nov. 1-3: Big Boys Toys: Trans-Tasman Throwdown, Auckland, NZ > Nov. 2+3: BotBrawl 10, Mississauga, Ontario > Nov. 3: Bristol Bot Builders Halloween Robot Wars: Bodgebots and Ants, Bristol, UK Follo...
BattleBots Interview with Kraken Captain Matt Spurk
October 23, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBOn this episode of Behind the Bots, we catch up with Kraken captain Matt Spurk, who gives us the origin story of his fire-breathing, aquatic-themed crusher bot, why pirates, and who’s inside the anglerfish. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Oct. 26: MassDestruction 18, Boston MA > Oct. 26: ARC RoboRumble, Chandler AZ > Oct. 26: A Very Spooky Tournament 2: They Won't Stay Dead! Richmond CA > Oct. 26: MORF at the Expo 2, Joplin MO > Oct. 26 + 27: Kilobots 44: Calgary Ro...
BattleBots Interview with SawBlaze Captain Jamison Go
October 16, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 102 MBOn our second postseason episode of Behind the Bots, we catch up with SawBlaze captain Jamison Go, where we learn more about his champion three-pounder, Silent Spring, his advice for builders, and what we might expect next season at BattleBots. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Oct. 19: Design. Print. Destroy! Champaign, IL > Oct. 19 + 20: Australian Robowars National 2019, Brisbane, AUS > Oct. 19 + 20: Extreme Robots Live Maidstone, Maidstone, UK > Oct. 19 + 20: Dutch...
BattleBots Postseason Interview with Co-Creator Greg Munson
October 09, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 111 MBOn our first postseason episode of Behind the Bots, we chat with BattleBots co-creator Greg Munson about the history of the sport, its current state, and where he thinks it’s headed next. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Oct. 12: Bot'Geddon 2019 at the Rocklin Mini Maker Faire, Rocklin CA > Oct. 12: Antweight Open, Basingstoke UK > Oct. 13: Robodojo Featherweight Championships Round 5, Sherburn in Elmet UK Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and...
BattleBots S4E16 Recap (With Special Co-host Paul Ventimiglia!)
October 02, 2019 04:01 - 1 hour - 132 MBWe recap S4E16 of BattleBots, which featured Round of 8 matches Bite Force versus Lock Jaw, Tombstone versus Whiplash, Witch Doctor versus SawBlaze and Minotaur versus Death Roll. The Round of 4—Bite Force versus Tombstone and Witch Doctor versus Death Roll—and the Finals: Bite Force versus Witch Doctor. We’re joined this week by a very special cohost, Bite Force captain Paul Ventimiglia. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Oct. 5: NERC Franklin Institute, Philadelphia ...
BattleBots S4E15 Recap (With Shatter! Captain Adam Wrigley)
September 25, 2019 04:30 - 2 hours - 196 MBWe recap S4E15 of BattleBots, which featured Bite Force versus Uppercut, Black Dragon versus Lock Jaw, Tombstone versus Quantum, Whiplash versus HUGE, Witch Doctor versus Blacksmith, SawBlaze versus Son of Whyachi, Hydra versus Minotaur and Death Roll versus Yeti. We interview Shatter! captain Adam Wrigley, who talks about his experience in China, how that stacks up against BattleBots, and why he’s so bullish about hammer bots. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Friday...
BattleBots S4E14 Recap (With the Sarah Malyan, the Big Bonking Captain of Nelly)
September 18, 2019 05:31 - 2 hours - 195 MBWe recap S4E14 of BattleBots, which featured Quantum versus Valkyrie, Yeti versus Duck, Lock Jaw versus Skorpios, HUGE versus HyperShock, Uppercut, RailGun MAX and Bloodsport in a rumble, Blacksmith versus Rotator, Son of Whyachi versus Copperhead and the main event: Minotaur versus Cobalt. We interview Nelly the Ellybot captain Sarah Malyan, who talks about her introduction to combat robotics, the design thinking behind this season’s most colorful bonkerbot, and why she’s inspired by Mr...
BattleBots S4E13 Recap (Plus our Ribboting Interview with David Jin, Captain of Ribbot)
September 11, 2019 05:09We recap S4E13 of BattleBots, which featured HyperShock/Breaker Box, Yeti/Tantrum, WAR Hawk/Copperhead, Bite Force/Monsoon, RailGun Max/Free Shipping, Uppercut/Skorpios, and the main event: Hydra versus Bronco. After the recap, we interview David Jin, captain of the the impressive rookie bot Ribbot. He tells us about the rollercoaster journey getting Ribbot on BattleBots, what it felt like competing in the box for the first time, and his embarrassing first encounter with SawBlaze captain, J...
BattleBots S4E12 Recap (Plus, our Flipping Awesome Interview with Hydra Captain Jake Ewert)
September 04, 2019 04:30 - 1 hour - 144 MBWe recap S4E12 of BattleBots, which featured Minotaur/Shatter, Son of Whyachi/Kraken, RailGun Max/WanHoo, Witch Doctor/Gigabtye, Breaker Box/Bloodsport, Whiplash/Texas Twister, and the main event: HUGE versus Bronco. After the recap, we interview Jake Ewert, captain of the the hottest flipper bot this season, Hydra. He tells us about his family's infamous shop, making Thor's Hammer for the Marvel movies, and gives a deep dive into hydraulic equipment. This week’s combat robotics event cal...
BattleBots S4E11 Recap (From Drag Racing to Bot Battling, an Interview with Bob Girardi of Daisy Cutter)
August 28, 2019 04:48 - 1 hour - 144 MBWe recap S4E11 of BattleBots, which featured Duck/Quantum, Blacksmith/Captain Shrederator, Bombshell/Lock-Jaw, Tombstone/Gruff, End Game/Cobalt, SawBlaze/Ribbot, and the main event: Rotator versus Death Roll. After the recap, we interview Bob Girardi, captain of the elusive bot Daisy Cutter. He tells us about his life in drag racing, his quest to knock out a competitor in 3/10ths of a second, and shares incredible behind the scenes stories about his bot. He's a fascinating character! This ...
BattleBots S4E10 Recap (A Thousand Ways to Swine, an Interview with Bradley Hanstad of Chronos)
August 21, 2019 05:22 - 2 hours - 182 MBWe recap S4E10 of BattleBots, which featured Hydra/Petunia, Yeti/Rainbow, Skorpios/Tantrum, Free Shipping/Bronco, Valkyrie/Monsoon, Chronos/Copperhead, and the main event: Bite Force vs. Hypershock. After the recap, we interview Chronos teammate Bradley Hanstad, who tells us about what it's like building robots for TV shows, the experience of competing in China's King of Bots as an American, and shares a whole bunch of fun stories and anecdotes from BattleBots. This week’s combat robotics ...
BattleBots S4E9 Recap (Enter the Eggbeater: An Interview With Elaine Wu of Railgun Max)
August 14, 2019 06:00 - 2 hours - 165 MBWe recap S4E9 of BattleBots, which featured HUGE/Gigabyte, Breaker Box/Uppercut, Wan Hoo/Mammoth, Son of Whyachi/Texas Twister, SubZero/P1, Nelly the Ellybot/Deep Six, and the main event: Whiplash versus Witch Doctor. We interview the manager of Railgun Max, Elaine Wu, who tells us about the unique experience of being a manager for a BattleBots team, what it's like competing America, and why she would choose Bruce Lee as Railgun Max's crime-fighting partner. This week’s combat robotics eve...
Shark Week Recap (With Sword-Swallowing Sharkoprion Captain Ed Robinson)
August 07, 2019 10:00 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBOn this special, Shark Week episode of Behind the Bots, Chris talks about his fear of sharks and tells some terrible shark jokes. We interview Sharkoprion captain Ed Robinson, who tells us about the design thinking behind Sharkoprion, his newest bot, Excelsior, his history with large robots (Robotica! RoboGames! RoboJoust!), sword-swallowing, his early career as a clown, touring with Renaissance faires and armor-making. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > Aug. 10: Norwalk Havoc, ...
BattleBots S4E8 Recap (Black Dragon Captain João Marcos Giacometti Cavalheiro)
July 31, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 146 MBWe recap S4E8 of BattleBots, which featured the Desperado Tournament, where eight bots fought in seven sudden death matches to automatically secure one spot in the Top 16. Competing in the Desperado this year: Minotaur, Lucky, End Game, Gruff, Black Dragon, Captain Shrederator, WAR Hawk and Ragnarok, plus the bonus fight! Deep Six versus Axe Backwards. We interview Black Dragon captain (and Desperado Tournament champion!) João Marcos Giacometti Cavalheiro, who tells us about his early exper...
BattleBots S4E7 Recap (Bot Makes and Cheesesteaks With Jackson Cutrone)
July 24, 2019 05:05 - 1 hour - 142 MBWe recap S4E7 of BattleBots, which featured Death Roll/Quantum, Bombshell/Cobalt, Gemini/Tantrum, Lock-Jaw/Duck, SawBlaze/Blacksmith, Railgun MAX/Shellshock, Ribbot/Falcon and the main event: Tombstone versus Rotator. We interview future BattleBots captain Jackson Cutrone, age 11, who tells us about starting his school's first robotics club, why his dream matchup is Blacksmith versus Minotaur, and the advice he shared with SawBlaze captain Jamison Go. This week’s combat robotics event cale...
BattleBots S4E6 Recap (Plus Our Interview With the Unbreakable Paul Ventimiglia From Bite Force)
July 17, 2019 09:07 - 1 hour - 104 MBWe recap S4E6 of BattleBots, which featured Hydra/WAR Hawk, Sidewinder/Skorpios, Valkyrie/Ragnarok, Free Shipping/Yeti, Gruff/Copperhead, HyperShock/Monsoon, and the main event: Bronco versus Bite Force. Later, our interview with Bite Force captain Paul Ventimiglia, who tells us about his first bot, and why he wanted to originally name Bite Force “Chompy.” This week’s combat robotics event calendar: July 20: Deadline to enter the 2019 Canadian National Championship in Saskatoon, Canada F...
BattleBots S4E5 Recap (Plus Our Hypnotizing Interview With Andrea Gellatly From Witch Doctor)
July 10, 2019 09:20 - 1 hour - 131 MBWe recap S4E5 of BattleBots, which featured Black Dragon/Bloodsport, Captain Shrederator/Witch Doctor, Jasper/HUGE, Gigabyte/Minotaur, Mammoth/Uppercut, Wan Hoo/Shatter and the main event: Son of Whyachi versus Whiplash. Later, our interview with Witch Doctor captain Andrea Gellatly, who tells us how she got into the sport, why Miami is such an epicenter for combat robotics, and why she wears a little piece of Witch Doctor every day. This week’s combat robotics event calendar: > July 12: B...
BattleBots S4E4 Recap (The Meaning of Life, With Hannah Rucker of Team 42 Robotics)
July 03, 2019 07:41 - 1 hour - 121 MBWe recap S4E4 of BattleBots, which featured Duck versus Cobalt, Rotator versus Bombshell, Nelly the Ellybot versus Rainbow, Quantum versus Lock-Jaw, Kraken versus Blacksmith, End Game versus Ribbot, Death Roll versus Foxtrot and the main event, Tombstone versus SawBlaze. Later, our interview with Team 42 Robotics captain Hannah Rucker, her teammate Julia Chernushevich (former captain of the team behind Bucktooth Burl), plus a surprise pop-in from Hannah's dad Hal. Hannah tells us about fall...
BattleBots S4E3 Recap (Bath Salts and BattleBots: Will Bales of HyperShock)
June 26, 2019 09:22 - 1 hour - 156 MBWe recap S4E3 of BattleBots, which featured Skorpios versus Copperhead, Bloodsport versus Lucky, Hydra versus Free Shipping, Monsoon versus Ragnarok, Railgun MAX versus MadCatter, Breaker Box versus Falcon, WAR Hawk versus Petunia and the main event: Bite Force versus Yeti. Later, we sit down with HyperShock captain Will Bales, to talk about changes he made to the bot for the 2019 season, how much it costs, and why so many great BattleBots teams come from Florida. This week’s combat roboti...
BattleBots S4E2 Recap (Plus Our Big Interview with HUGE!)
June 19, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 138 MBWe recap S4E2 of BattleBots, which featured Son of Whyachi versus Huge, Texas Twister versus Black Dragon, Duck! versus Bombshell, Shatter! versus Witch Doctor, Axe Backwards versus Mammoth, WanHoo versus Captain Shrederator, and the main event, Minotaur versus Whiplash. Later, our interview with HUGE captain Jonathan Schultz and his teammate, Peter Lombardo. They take a half-dozen listener questions, and talk about the improvements they made to their bot this year. We’ll wrap up our show ...
BattleBots S4E1 Recap (We're in Deep Six! An Interview with Dustin Esswein)
June 12, 2019 08:02 - 1 hour - 108 MBWe recap S4E1 of BattleBots, which featured Blacksmith versus Quantum, HyperShock versus Valkyrie, Kraken versus Ribbot, End Game versus Death Roll, Cobalt versus SubZero, SawBlaze versus Rotator and the main event, Tombstone versus Lock-Jaw. Later, we interview Deep Six team captain Dustin Esswein, a U.S. Navy diver who was inspired to build one of this year’s most ambitious combat robots, a 4-foot-tall vertical spinner with a 100-pound bar. We’ll wrap up our show with this week’s combat ...