Behind the Bots

Robot Rampage Recap with Team USA!

This week we will recap the Robot Rampage World Cup event from February with our very own Team USA! Henchmans Sam & Colin, Johnny Tsoumpas, and Corey Nason are joined by special member Aki to recap how America’s own Jump Rope, Spartan 30, Riposaw, and Synthesis 30 joined Bad Blood to compete in four days against top machines from New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil in a unique nation-vs-nation 5-a-side team match! 

 

Let us know what questions you have for Team USA! Also check out the Robot Rampage Youtube channel to rewatch each night of the four-night spectacle and follow Team USA’s road to silver medal!

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams where it will be shared to all of the audio apps the following week!

 

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Interview and February NHRL Recap with UIUC's iRobotics!

This week we will recap the NHRL February event with members of University of Illinois's iRobotics team! We'll talk about their experience with 30lb entries quack., FSH, and Killswitch and other famous entries from the team like Undertaker and Goose! 

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams where it will be shared to all of the audio apps the following week!

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NHRL Finals Recap with 3lb World Champion Alex Wang!

Alex has been steadily honing Pinevictus all year. Though Pinevictus has been around since November 2021 during his days at UMD as a Leatherback,  2025 is the year where the robot has been on a meteoric rise. It started the year strong by reaching the Semifinals at February NHRL with a Judges Decision loss to Silent Spring followed by solid runs at Motorama and Hive Hysteria. After designing and debuting a new version only two weeks out from Finals, it was a gamble that paid off to win the distinguished Golden Brett at the NHRL World Finals!

Let us know what questions you have for Alex!

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams on every other Thursday at 7pm EST! Otherwise, it should be available on all the podcast places later in the week!

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November NHRL Recap and Finals Preview with Golden Dumpster Winner Liam King!

Liam has been on a tear this year with Buzzzz-kill recently capturing the 12lb crown at November NHRL! Now the overall 2nd seed behind only Slam Plan, Liam looks poised for a deep run at Finals. Outside of 12lbs, Liam and the rest of Leatherbacks have been racking up wins in the insectweights at events like Water's Edge, MACRO and had a close fight with top bots like Mako at November NHRL with his 3lb Zenith. 

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams on every other Thursday at 7pm EST! Otherwise, it should be available on all the podcast places later in the week!

Interview with Turbofiend Driver and Announcer Dima Papasian!

Dima has launched onto the scene over the past year with her brother Julian as one of the most dynamic siblings at NHRL! First piloting the very kindly Turbofriend before helming the lethal TurboFIEND to a golden dumpster in October 2024, Dima has proven a very capable robot driver whose quick reactions and skills remain on display throughout the northeast robot scene. With a pedigree of professional gaming and now as a robot combat commentator Dima’s dynamism only grows! 

 

Interview with End Game Co-Captain Jack Barker!

Jack has been known for years as the driver and co-captain of End Game, winner of Battlebots World Championship V and the Golden Bolt! End Game not only brought the top trophy of robot combat with them to New Zealand, but the whole sport with them in the form of Robot Rumble! Give it a listen!

Interview with Team Whiplash Captain Matt Vasquez!

Behind the Bots 234 Interview with Team Whiplash Captain Matt Vasquez!

 

Matt has been building and competing in combat robots all his life with machines like Whomper, Lil Lash and Whiplash! Known as one of the best drivers in the sport, he’s qualified for NHRL Finals, won the Robot Combat Championship and mostly recently took part in Open Sauce!

 

Let us know what questions you have for Matt!

 

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams on every other Thursday at 7pm EST! Otherwise, it should be available on all the podcast places later in the week!

 

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Interview with Team Honey Cracked Captain Zoe Lambert!

 

Zoe and Team Honey Cracked have been perennial competitors at NHRL with entries like Minun & Plusle, BeeForce, HoneyBombers, and many more! Honey Cracked recently hosted the 2nd Hive Hysteria event on July 26th where 3lb & 12lb bots from near and far competed! Today we ask her about the team, the event, and her goals for the future!

 

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams on every other Thursdays at 7pm EST! Otherwise, it should be available on all the podcast places later in the week!

 

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Interview with GSCRL EO and Floor Letter Word Builder Alex Curtis!

Alex has been a perennial competitor at NHRL with Floor Letter Word and a member of the Brett Breakers! He's also well known for event organizing GSCRL whose season championship will be coming up on August 2nd!

 

Let us know what questions you have for Alex!

 

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams on Tuesday, June 17th at 7pm EST! Otherwise, it should be available on all the podcast places later in the week!

 

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June NHRL Recap with 3lb Golden Dumpster Winner Glenn Boxell!

This week on the podcast we will be Glenn Boxell, member of team 2 Hot 2 Handle  builder of Caldera 12 and recent 3lb Golden Dumpster winner Caldera !

 

Let us know what questions you have for Glenn!

 

To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams! Otherwise, it should be available on all the podcast places later in the week!

 

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!