The Havoc Rundown

The Havoc Rundown We are a discussion podcast focused on robot combat specializing in events and builders from NHRL.

Hello to all our listeners and every member of the Havoc Rundown community. Over the past few months, both on the podcas...
11/23/2025

Hello to all our listeners and every member of the Havoc Rundown community. Over the past few months, both on the podcast and in our Discord, we’ve been dropping hints about some changes coming down the line. We originally planned to announce everything during an episode, but we didn’t want to take time away from the content you tune in for each week. We’ll still go into full detail during our end-of-year episode, but we wanted to give you a proper introduction to what’s ahead.

So what’s changing, and why?

At Havoc Rundown, we’ve set an ambitious goal: to become the number one source for combat robotics news and information. Big dream? Absolutely. But it’s a passion shared by everyone on our team.

The first step toward that goal is widening our scope. Instead of focusing so heavily on one event, we’re expanding our coverage to combat robotics as a whole. Many of you listened to our summer series, where we talked with builders and event organizers from all around the world. Those conversations made something very clear, combat robotics isn’t tied to one building, one state, or even one country. It’s a global community powered by people who love this sport as much as we do.

So we’re shifting our focus to reflect that. We want to shine a light on the incredible events and creators across the entire scene, not just one corner of it.

Part of this shift includes a visual rebrand. We’re officially retiring our previous logo, which borrowed inspiration from another mascot—and moving forward with something entirely our own. We had the incredible opportunity to work with the artist Hotkoin, who crafted our new logo, font, color scheme, and of course… our new mascot. Some of you might’ve already seen him pop into the Discord earlier this month, but it’s time to formally introduce him: Jimmy Havok, the newest member of the team.

But a fresh coat of paint isn’t the only thing we’ve been working on.

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website:

https://havocrundown.com/

You might be wondering, “What do I need a podcast website for?” Well—quite a bit, actually.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• A complete podcast hub.
Listen to every episode straight on the site, mark episodes as listened, pick up right where you left off, and browse our entire catalogue. You’ll also be able to do the same for some of our sister podcasts, like Behind the Bots.

• A streamlined event locator.
Looking for a combat robotics event near you? We’ve built an interactive map to make that easier than ever.

• A centralized news feed.
If you want a clean, organized place to catch up on the latest combat robotics updates, NHRL rule changes, builder logs, event highlights, and more, our News section has you covered.

• Havoc TV.
No more digging through YouTube for the good stuff. Watch event streams, builder videos, build logs, and more, all in one place.

And this is just the beginning. We’re already working on new features, including a worldwide robot database, builder-managed robot profiles, live episode streaming, and more.

As we head into 2026, we’re committed to covering more events, more builders, and more stories from across the combat robotics world. Our goal is simple: to become your one-stop shop for everything this sport has to offer.

We hope you’ll explore the new site, keep tuning in, and continue being part of this community we love being a part of. And if you have questions, comments, or suggestions, you can send them straight to our newest team member at [email protected]

Industrial esports coverage for combat robotics: episodes, stats, and builder intel.

New Episode of Havoc Rundown is live!!Creative Chaos with Kekoto MaaneThis week we’re joined by Kekoto Maane, builder of...
10/30/2025

New Episode of Havoc Rundown is live!!

Creative Chaos with Kekoto Maane

This week we’re joined by Kekoto Maane, builder of Power of Friendship, Kill It With Fire, and other bots that perfectly balance chaos and creativity. We talk about his approach to building the unexpected, how weird designs can throw off even the best drivers, and what keeps him inspired in the arena.

We kick off with a special Halloween edition of Ryan’s Game Corner, featuring AI-generated costume prompts based on builders and bots—and yes, we’ve got the visuals to go with it.

Check out the full costume gallery here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OfAOu4goHd7PMYNAiaIOrsJ9cIiaCL6V?usp=sharing

Then it’s on to Choose Your Champion, where we lock in our predictions for the upcoming November NHRL qualifier, followed by a brand-new Bot Lab segment full of unhinged robot design challenges. We wrap up with listener questions and community chaos.

Listen or watch now:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5J94ilAYCacDNYosDrcdXb?si=fj8ihm_gRyubOUozhPY63A

YouTube: https://youtu.be/i3-PAMwyIQY

All our links and socials:
https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

Huge thanks to Kekoto Maane for joining us and bringing a ton of energy, creativity, and chaos to the show.

View HavocRundown’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!

New Episode of Havoc Rundown is liveOops-All Games: Trivia Chaos with the CrewWe’re closing out the summer series with s...
09/05/2025

New Episode of Havoc Rundown is live
Oops-All Games: Trivia Chaos with the Crew

We’re closing out the summer series with something completely different—and for the first time ever, it’s available in video format.

That’s right: this episode is on YouTube, and it’s the start of us using the platform more consistently going forward. Expect full episodes, clips, and more behind-the-scenes content in the future.

This week, Ryan takes over with a custom-built Jeopardy-style trivia game featuring the full Rundown crew. We’re talking combat robot history, pop culture bots, obscure builder stats, and some truly absurd Over/Under rounds. No interviews. No structure. Just buzzer sounds, chaos, and deeply questionable guesses.

Listen to the audio version here:
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/justin-hunter2/episodes/Oops-All-Games--Trivia-Chaos-with-the-Crew-e37r5vt

Watch the full video episode here:
https://youtu.be/rVzlFX9J1Ro

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more:
https://www.youtube.com/

All our links and socials:
https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

View HavocRundown’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!

New Episode of Havoc Rundown is liveSummer Series Ep. 5 – Inside UaiRrior: Brazil’s Combat Robotics TitansWe’re wrapping...
08/29/2025

New Episode of Havoc Rundown is live
Summer Series Ep. 5 – Inside UaiRrior: Brazil’s Combat Robotics Titans

We’re wrapping up our Around the World summer series with a deep dive into Brazil’s most decorated combat robotics team: UaiRrior Robotics, the builders behind Black Dragon.

Pedro Paulo and Leonardo Labegalini join us to talk about the roots of the team, the highly competitive (and tightly knit) Brazilian scene, and what it takes to build reliable bots with limited resources. We get into everything from intense university rivalries and handmade electronics to weapon design choices, steel floors, and yes—Lucky Ducky’s rise to mascot fame.

This episode is packed with insight, heart, and serious respect for a team that’s helped put Brazil on the global combat robotics map.

Listen now: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/justin-hunter2/episodes/Summer-Series-Ep5-Inside-UaiRrior--Brazils-Combat-Robotics-Titans-e37fsr2

All our links and socials: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

View HavocRundown’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!

08/13/2025

At The Havoc Rundown, we love combat robotics for the same reason so many of you do, because it’s a community built on creativity, sportsmanship, and shared passion.

We’ve seen a recent post framing this sport through the lens of military application, and we want to be clear: this does not reflect our values or vision. Combat robotics is not about preparing for war, it’s about innovation, friendship, and the joy of building something incredible together.

We celebrate collaboration over conflict, learning over leveraging, and the connections we make both inside and outside the arena.

Let’s keep this community about what makes it truly special, love for the sport, respect for each other, and the thrill of creative engineering. 💜🤖

New Episode Alert – Havoc Rundown Summer Series Ep. 4"Building Bots Down Under with Ben Hayton"We're heading to Australi...
08/13/2025

New Episode Alert – Havoc Rundown Summer Series Ep. 4
"Building Bots Down Under with Ben Hayton"

We're heading to Australia in this episode of our Around the World summer series! Justin and the crew are joined by Ben Hayton of Team Panic Robotics—one of the most innovative and community-focused builders in the Southern Hemisphere.

We dive into the unique culture of Australian combat robotics, creative constraints like MDF arena floors, the rise of the antweight scene, and what it’s like balancing bot building with content creation. Plus: toaster bots, squeaky hammers, and the dream of building a robot entirely from a big box store.

If you’ve ever been curious about how robot combat works outside the U.S., this one’s a must-listen.

🎧 Listen now: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/justin-hunter2/episodes/Summer-Series-Ep4-Building-Bots-Down-Under-with-Ben-Hayton-e36qqql
🔗 All our links, socials & merch: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

View HavocRundown’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!

New episode of the Havoc Rundown is live!We’re continuing our Robots Around the World series with a trip to the Netherla...
07/21/2025

New episode of the Havoc Rundown is live!

We’re continuing our Robots Around the World series with a trip to the Netherlands. Tim Bouwens—builder of BattleBots' Ominous and NHRL’s Wajoo—joins us to talk about building bots across continents, what makes the Dutch scene special, and how the Netherlands crowdfunded a mobile steel-floored arena. We also dig into Wajoo’s wild design, the cultural quirks of international bot travel, and yes, we go deep on Lars—the mysterious figure with a heavyweight robot museum inside his third-floor apartment.

This episode has travel horror stories, arena engineering, robot design nerdery, and a whole lot of stroopwafel.

Special Thanks to: Tim Bouwens!

Listen here:
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/justin-hunter2/episodes/Steel-Floors-and-Stroopwafels-Combat-Robotics-in-the-Netherlands-e35quav

Merch, Discord, and more:
https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

Lars’ insane robot collection:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/56319454480/search/?q=lars%20weaving%20bakker

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 Netherlands, Tim shares his journey through nearly two decades of combat robotics—starting with ...

07/04/2025

Havoc Rundown: Robots Around the World - Canada Edition

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 terrifying melty brain robot Demon Core. We talk about how they got started, what makes the Canadian combat robotics scene unique, and how they engineered a 30lb bot that sounds like something out of a sci-fi nightmare.

We dive into their experience at NHRL, their last-minute flight fiascos, the joys of testing terrifying machines in small garages, and how they plan to evolve Demon Core after a strong showing in June. There’s plenty of technical talk, great laughs, and a heated debate about the best poutine in Canada (spoiler: Costco fans, rise up).

Plus, we answer your listener questions, discuss scaling melty brains to larger weight classes, and hear some incredible stories about inspiring the next generation of builders.

Listen on Spotify:
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-hunter2/episodes/Summer-Series-Ep--1--Demon-Core-Canadas-Melty-Brain-Mayhem-e353r2i

Special Thanks to: Team Unforseen Consequences!

Music by:

“Baby” by EG404
“Crème” by Barrell
“Forgotten Dreams” by Aves

Links & Support:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown
Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/havoc-rundown-tee/

Send a message to learn more

By popular demand our newest episode is dropping early!!!!In this special episode of Havoc Rundown, the crew welcomes an...
04/03/2025

By popular demand our newest episode is dropping early!!!!

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 accessibility, this conversation dives into what it takes to build competitive bots under pressure—while juggling coursework, team dynamics, and the love of the sport.
Each builder brings their own unique flavor to the fight, and you’ll get an inside look at six exciting bots being prepped for the arena. Plus, things get competitive in our Game Corner with a round of Name That Bot, putting the MIT crew’s trivia skills to the test.
If you’re into design innovation, builder culture, or just love a good rivalry, this episode’s got something for you.
________________________________________
:tada: Special Thanks To Our Guests from the MIT Combat Robotics Club
Huge thanks to the brilliant MIT team for joining us and sharing their builds:
• Ryan Duarte – Budgetboi, an open-source 12lb bot designed for maximum accessibility
• Abi Dixon – Killer Queen, a striking new contender with creative weapon architecture
• Anhad Sawhney – Kratos, featuring a custom axial flux motor for peak performance
• Miles Roper – Traiano, a hammer saw bot built with precision and power
• Tom Nguyen – Marshmallow, returning with smart design and tactical flexibility
• Carlos Lopez – Underdawg, a bot with heart, grit, and sharp engineering instincts
We loved having you all on the show—good luck in April!
________________________________________
:link: Follow Us & Join the Community!
Stay locked in with everything Havoc Rundown—from fantasy league updates to bot breakdowns:
:calling: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown
________________________________________
:notes: Music Credits
This episode features royalty-free tracks from Artlist:
• Paving the Way by Danny Shields
• Hands Held High by Aves
• Pine by Joley

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-hunter2/episodes/Robotics-401-Advanced-Combat-Skills-Ft-The-MIT-Combat-Robotics-Club-e312t8a

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 accessibility, this conversation dives into what it takes to build competitive bots under pressure—while jugg...

The gang is almost all here at Motorama we have been fighting, announcing and judging since yesterday! Check out the res...
02/16/2025

The gang is almost all here at Motorama we have been fighting, announcing and judging since yesterday! Check out the rest of the stream and you can hear some commentary from Ryan and Justin and you might catch glimpses of Thomas and Ashley as fights happen in the small and large cage!

New Episode Alert!!We're back with another action-packed episode of Havoc Rundown! This time, we’re breaking down all th...
02/13/2025

New Episode Alert!!

We're back with another action-packed episode of Havoc Rundown! This time, we’re breaking down all the chaos from the February 1st NHRL event—which bots dominated, which fell short, and how it all shook up the Havoc Rundown Fantasy League.
But that’s not all—we have a special guest joining us! Aidan Reichenberg, the first-ever fantasy league event winner, stops by to discuss his draft strategy, his biggest takeaways from February, and how he plans to approach future drafts. We also preview Motorama, our standalone mini-league, and what to expect from this high-energy event.

🎉 Congrats to - Radix, Radon !
A huge congratulations to Aidan for winning February’s fantasy event! His strategic picks and well-calculated draft decisions earned him the top spot. Thanks for coming on the show, Aidan, and best of luck in the next round!

🔗 Stay Connected & Support Us!
Follow us on all our socials, check out our merch, and stay up to date with everything Havoc Rundown through our Linktree:
👉 https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

🎵 Background Music
This episode features music by:
🎶 Traffic Jams – Aves
🎶 Forgotten Dreams – Aves
🎶 Sunset – Ben Hendler

Thanks for tuning in, and as always—keep the bots spinning and the draft picks winning!
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-hunter2/episodes/Bots--Brackets--Bold-Picks-How-Aidan-Took-the-Win-in-February-e2ur0ud

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 shook up theHavoc Rundown Fantasy League.But that’s not all—we have aspecial guest joining us!Aid...

These are the team rosters for tomorrow's tournament! Who are you rooting for?
02/01/2025

These are the team rosters for tomorrow's tournament! Who are you rooting for?

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