The Havoc Rundown

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!

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. 💜🤖

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!

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

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.
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: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!
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: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
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: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...

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!

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...

02/01/2025

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

01/24/2025

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 journey through combat robotics, discussing his early inspirations, the challenges he’s faced as a builder, and his approach to designing bots that stand out in the arena. Glenn shares fascinating insights into the strategies and innovations that have helped him succeed, offering advice for aspiring builders and fans alike.
We also dive into the action from the Havoc Rundown Fantasy League Draft for the February 1st NHRL event. With 27 participants drafting bots across Beetleweight, Hobbyweight, and Featherweight classes, we break down the standout picks, the surprise draft strategies, and the competitive energy shaping this inaugural season. Whether you’re a league participant or just curious about the fantasy league format, you’ll love hearing about the drama and excitement of the draft.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-hunter2/episodes/NHRL-February-Preview-Glenn-Boxell-Talks-Bots--Drafts--and-Competition-e2tudid
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A Special Thanks to Glenn Boxell
We want to extend a huge thank you to Glenn Boxell for joining us on this episode. His passion for combat robotics and his openness in sharing his journey inspire us and countless others in the community. Glenn, it was an absolute pleasure having you on, and we can’t wait to see what you achieve in the arena this year!
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Background Music
This episode features the tracks Coffee Shop by Aves and Sunchilling by Vicate. Their music perfectly complements our conversations, adding a relaxed and engaging vibe to the episode. Be sure to check out these amazing artists for more great music!
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Stay Connected
Want to stay updated on the Havoc Rundown Fantasy League and all things NHRL? Join us on Discord and explore more at our Linktree! (https://linktr.ee/havocrundown)
You’ll find everything from event updates to in-depth coverage of the league and beyond.

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 journey through combat robotics, discussing his early inspirations, the challenges he’s faced as a buil...

10/10/2024

Havoc Rundown Shirts and Hoodies available now!!

Buy HAVOC RUNDOWN TEE merchandise from The Havoc Rundown. Featuring Dark Heather Grey Premium Unisex Tees, professionally printed in the USA.