This week on The Havoc Rundown, the crew comes together for a special roundtable episode to close out the year and officially wrap up Season 2. With no guest and no commercial breaks, this episode is a candid, free-flowing conversation covering combat robotics, the podcast, and the community that surrounds it.

The team reflects on the past year, discussing standout moments, how the sport continues to evolve, and what they’ve learned from covering events, builders, and competitions. Ryan brings a game segment to the table, sparking debate and laughs around pit life, tools, and shared builder experiences, while the conversation naturally moves into broader thoughts on events, volunteering, and what makes the combat robotics community special.

On the podcast side, the crew talks openly about what worked this season, how recurring segments and listener interaction shaped the show, and how everything is becoming more connected through havocrundown.com. Tony breaks down the vision for the website, including the robot registry, stats, rankings, events, games, and plans to continue building it into a central hub for the sport.

Listener mailbag questions help guide the back half of the episode, touching on future ideas, community growth, and where both the podcast and combat robotics could be heading next. As the final episode of the year and the final episode of Season 2, we want to sincerely thank our listeners for an amazing year of support. We couldn’t do this without you, and we’ll see you next season.

This week, we’re joined by Jamison Go, two-time NHRL worldchampion, BattleBots veteran, and one of the most respected builders in thesport. With the 2025 NHRL World Championships right around the corner, we sitdown to talk about what to expect across all three weight classes, who’slooking dangerous, and what it takes to show up and win on one of the biggeststages in combat robotics. Jamison shares his thoughts on the current meta, thebots and builders that could shake things up, and how experience, preparation,and adaptability all come into play when the pressure hits.

We also get into builder mindset heading into a high-stakesevent, why consistency beats flash, and what makes NHRL’s championship formatso intense. Along the way there’s the usual chaos—Game Corner antics, boldpredictions, and the crew does their best to keep things on track while Jamisondrops real insight. If you’re watching the championship, building for the nextseason, or just love hearing from one of the best in the game, this is the oneto queue up.

Guest
Jamison Go – Multi-division NHRL champion, builder of Silent X, Megatron,SawBlaze, and more

Background Music
"Memory" by Magiksolo – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/memory/63842
"Relax Bro" by Flint – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/relax-bro/134054
"Fat Banana" by Kicktracks – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/fat-banana/109019

More from Havoc Rundown
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In this episode, we’re joined by Richard Tieman, the newest addition to the NHRL commentary team and a rising voice in combat robotics broadcasting. Known for his high-energy pit reporting during Prime Time and thoughtful engagement with builders behind the scenes, Richard brings a fresh perspective to how the sport is covered, narrated, and grown.

We talk about his journey from radio broadcasting to combat robotics, what it takes to stay sharp on the mic during chaotic tournament weekends, and the importance of spotlighting builders, bots, and stories that don’t always make the stream.

This episode dives into the challenges of live commentary, the value of storytelling in robot sports, and how media coverage can shape the experience for both fans and competitors.

Guest: Richard Tieman – NHRL Commentator & Pit Reporter

Follow Richard: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtieman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real_richard_t/?hl=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp57rT5ejVCw5MP1aHiz2mA/videos

Background Music:"Morning" by Out of Flux – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/morning/137730"Late Brew" by Danny Shields – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/late-brew/137393"Wakalata" by Lalinea – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/walakata-creative-cut-chill/137439

Havoc Rundown Links:All our links, socials & merch: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

In this special episode, we welcome Kekoto Maane, builder of some of the most unpredictable, off-meta, and surprisingly effective robots in the combat scene, including Kill It With Fire and the multi-bot marvel Power of Friendship. We dive into his creative process, why building “weird” works, and how he turns chaos into consistency.

The crew kicks off with a festive Halloween edition of Ryan’s Game Corner, featuring AI-generated costume concepts inspired by popular bots and builders. Then it’s on to Choose Your Champion, where everyone shares their top picks and predictions for the upcoming November NHRL qualifier across all weight classes.

Later, in our new Bot Lab segment, we throw absurd design prompts at each other...like building bots with no motors or that lose weight every 30 seconds...to see who can come up with the most chaotic concepts. Finally, we dive into the Listener Mailbag for some great questions from the community, covering Kekoto’s robot ideas, creative philosophy, and plans for future builds.

From jelly-covered arenas to Easy-Bake flamethrowers and 6-driver bots, this episode celebrates the imagination and ingenuity that makes robot combat so exciting.

Guest: Kekoto Maane – Builder of Power of Friendship, Kill It With Fire, and more

Background Music: "Together" by Out of Flux – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/together/137731"Shoujo" by Magiksolo – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/shoujo/137681"Sunshine Rider" by Dor-C – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/sunshine-rider/135317

Follow Havoc Rundown: All our socials, YouTube, and merch: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

In this episode, we’re joined by Paige Clayfield, builder of Jelly Baby—one of NHRL’s most feared and consistent 3-pound control bots. Coming off her second dumpster win of the season, Paige walks us through the October 4th qualifier, the evolution of Jelly Baby’s design, and what it takes to dominate a division known for explosive spinners and fast turnarounds.

We also dive into a full recap of the October NHRL event, including standout performances in the 30-pound and 12-pound brackets, emotional moments from Maximizer, and the cage-breaking clash between Ares and Deadrise.

The episode opens with another chaotic edition of Ryan’s Game Corner, where the crew (with Paige’s help) struggles to guess the media references behind robot names—and slowly loses their minds in the process.

Later, we talk shop about forks, foam, floppy armor, and the power of orange juice. Paige shares advice for aspiring builders, reveals her dream matchup, and discusses the community-driven spirit that keeps her coming back to the box.

Guest: Paige Clayfield – Builder of Jelly Baby

Background Music:"Shoujo" by Magiksolo – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/shoujo/137681
"Blue Morning" by Johnny Gorillas – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/blue-morning/123397
"Coffee Stop" by Aves – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/coffee-stop/132138

Havoc Rundown Links: All our links, socials & merch: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

In this episode, we welcome veteran builder and BattleBots driver Zach Lytle, the mind behind Skorpios and founder of Bot Bash, a hands-on educational robotics program that teaches kids engineering through real robot demos and engagement. Zach shares his journey from BattleBots to Bot Bash and walks us through what it takes to compete, teach, and grow the next generation of builders.

We kick things off with Ryan’s Game Corner, featuring a pumpkin spice-themed trivia challenge that spirals into total seasonal chaos. Then we dive into predictions for the upcoming NHRL World Championship qualifier, share insights on standout bots across weight classes, and discuss what makes NHRL such a unique competition environment.

Zach also opens up about his latest bot H-Bomb, what excites him about entering NHRL for the first time, and the importance of community support in combat robotics, from LEGO bots to 250-pound monsters.

Guest:Zach Lytle – Skorpios BattleBot / Bot Bash

Follow Zach & Skorpios:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkorpiosBattlebot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skorpios_battlebots/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkorpiosBattleBot/
Bot Bash: https://botbashparty.com/

Background Music:
"Shoujo" by Magiksolo – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/shoujo/137681
"Late Brew" by Danny Shields – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/late-brew/137393
"Fold" by Nuer Self – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/fold/137527

Havoc Rundown Links:All our links, socials & merch: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown

For the final episode in our Around the World summer series, we’re handing the mic to Ryan for something completely different: a full-on trivia showdown. That’s right—this one’s all games, all chaos, and absolutely no structure.

Ryan takes over with a custom-built Jeopardy-style game covering everything from combat robot history to media appearances, obscure builder facts, and even some unhinged Over/Under challenges. The entire Havoc Rundown crew—Tony, Ashley, Megan, Thomas, and Justin—battle for trivia supremacy with custom buzzer sounds, questionable guesses, and a lot of shouting.

Expect nonsense, obscure facts, and a surprising amount of yelling about Gundams, syringes, and Mechagodzilla alloys. It’s loud, it’s weird, and it’s a lot of fun.

Huge thanks to all the builders who helped contribute questions and facts for this special episode!

Video: https://youtu.be/rVzlFX9J1Ro

Havoc Rundown LinksAll our links and socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/havocrundown⁠

Background Music
"Kissing the Moon" by Skygaze – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/kissing-the-moon/135750
"Roll the Dice" by DG Pacino – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/roll-the-dice-no-lead-vocals/135538
"Post Bloom" by Skygaze – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/post-bloom/137449

In this episode of our Around the World summer series, we travel to Brazil to explore one of the most decorated and innovative combat robotics teams in the world: UaiRrior Robotics, builders of the legendary heavyweight Black Dragon.

We sit down with Pedro Paulo and Leonardo Labegalini from UaiRrior to talk about what makes Brazilian bots so resilient, how they’ve built a high-performance team from the ground up, and the unique role that universities play in keeping Brazil’s combat robotics scene thriving. From handmade electronics to homemade rivalries (complete with team fight songs), this is a deep dive into a community fueled by passion, precision, and a whole lot of heart.

We also discuss the rise of micro hockey bots, the challenges of sourcing materials in Brazil, and how the UaiRrior team manages to remain one of the most feared—and beloved—forces on the global stage.

Guests
Pedro Paulo & Leonardo Labegalini – UaiRrior Robotics

UaiRrior Links
Website: https://uairrior.com.br/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uairrior

Background Music
"Morning Booster" by Elifas Sonaru – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/morning-booster/137482
"Bokeh" by Soundroll – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/bokeh/32670
"Extra Sauce" by Aves – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/extra-sauce/137138

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

In this episode of the Havoc Rundown, we head to Australia as part of our “Around the World” summer series to spotlight one of the most creative forces in the southern hemisphere: Ben Hayton of Team Panic Robotics.

Ben shares the evolution of Australia’s combat robotics scene—from grassroots antweight events in backyard sheds to national featherweight championships—and what makes the Aussie bot community so unique. We explore differences in design philosophy, resource challenges, the joys of putting on a show, and why MDF arena floors change everything.

We also dive into Ben’s prolific catalog of bots (including the squeaky hammer-bot “Squeak” and the toaster-themed “Breakfast”), how he balances building and content creation, and his dream of building a robot on-the-fly with only what he can find at a local store.

Whether you’re a longtime viewer of Team Panic or curious about how combat robotics looks outside the US, this episode offers insight, laughs, and plenty of robot inspiration.

Guest
Ben Hayton – Founder of Team Panic Robotics

Team Panic Links
Team Panic Wiki: https://ultimate-robot-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Team_Panic
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TeamPanicRobotics

Background Music
"Street Life" by Johnny Gorillas – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/street-life/135338
"Raindrops" by Ariel Shalom – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/raindrops-instrumental-version/134999
"Evening Elegance" by Avni Vibes – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/evening-elegance/131780

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

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the UK’s robot combat scene with two key voices behind Robot Rebellion: event organizer Gareth Anstee and head judge Ryan Bratley. Together with Justin and the Havoc Rundown crew, we explore how Robot Rebellion brings a uniquely British flavor to the sport, how their events have grown through grassroots passion and clever branding, and why their episodic YouTube content is setting a new bar for robot combat storytelling.

We discuss everything from the challenges of venue partnerships to the art of judging fights fairly—and even share some laugh-out-loud moments, like the saga of inflatable bananas and a rogue robot supervisor named Mortis. Plus, Ryan and Gareth drop advice for international builders, cultural differences in robot design philosophy, and which UK bots you need to be watching.

Whether you're a seasoned NHRL fan or curious about the global combat robotics scene, this episode delivers insight, inspiration, and plenty of laughs.

Guests
Gareth Anstee – Founder of Robot Rebellion
Ryan Bratley – Head Judge of Robot Rebellion

Robot Rebellion Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobotRebellionUK
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RobotRebellion

Featured Music
"Home Cookin’" by Jimit: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/home-cookin/136470
"Sunset" by Ben Handler & Randy Sharp: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/sunset-creative-cut-chill/136488
"Level Up" by Aves: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/level-up/137094

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